Mandala Madness Part 10

I have finished Part 10 of the Mandala Madness CAL.

The popcorn and diamond motif was the part 10 addition and a bit of a challenge, but very enjoyable.

Love how this is turning out.

Only 8 more parts/weeks to go on this, lol. 

It should be a lovely tablecloth for my round Ercol walnut table when finished.

Mandala Madness part 9

Part 9 is complete. 

The 6 rounds of Part 9 starts above the long white stitches on my mandala.

And I am half way through Part 10. Up to round 66, which is quite labour intensive with all the changes of colours and multiple repeats, and is causing quite a stir with others who are in this CAL. Personally I quite enjoyed this challenging row, and hence was singing along to the song of a similar name. 

But I have a few rounds to go until Part 10 is complete, so on to it.

And Part 8 of Mandala Madness

Part 8 of Mandala Madness is complete.

And here's a close-up of the outside edge.

Those long 'spiky' stitches were a bit on the fiddly side to keep in place.

I have been in the garden a lot lately and have started a new wild-flower area that I hope will be a great show of colour in a couple of months.

Also, have been working on my vegie patch.

One other thing for this week.

We have been adopted by Billie. Her previous owner lived in this house, and Billie wants to stay here.

We renamed her Billie because her original name was Furry, which seems rather 'non-personal' to me. The name Billie came about from Billy Fury (hahaha).

Mandala Madness CAL - part 7

Mandala Madness crochet along - part 7

Part 6 - with a pink blush

Mandala Madness - Part 6 added

Complete with a 'blush' of peachy-pink and with an orange glowing edge as the sun sets once more on another beautiful day.

We are told that the 'points' will curl a bit at this point in the proceedings.

And another MM round

Another round on the Mandala Madness CAL bites the dust.

Part 5 complete.

I'm calling it 'Summers End' because that is where we are in this part of the world (NZ) at the moment, and my colours, so far, resemble the glow of the sun on the lower arc as it rises from behind Mt. Egmont every morning, and then sets over the beautiful white surf sea in the eve. 

Not sure where I want to go with my colours next though. Will ponder on it some more.

Mandala Madness Part 4 - Summers End

Mandala Madness Part 4 complete.

Summers End

Mandala Madness Part 3

I'm still playing catch-up with the Mandala Madness CAL.

Here it is with Part 3 added. 

Love the yellow addition to my neutrals here. I wasn't sure if yellow would work with the other colours, but I needn't have worried.

Onwards and outwards - part 4 awaits me.

Mandala Madness CAL part 2

The next couple rounds are complete now, and I am about to start with Part 3 soon.

Catching up slowly. I don't know how so many of the other CAL crafters are managing to get two or even three of these mandalas done each week.

I expect that things will get even slower when the 'rounds' get larger as it will take an awfully long time to complete just one round.

But for now, we are given a few rounds to complete each week.

Did I mention that this is a mystery CAL too, so we don't know what the finished Mandala will look like.

Here is mine so far -

  Coffee, Cream & White Chocolate

And I made a Ruffled Hexagon before I began on the mandala, and I am thinking about what border I want on it.

It needs blocking yet but I can't find which of the million packing boxes my pins are in 

(I may have to buy more pins)

Here it is -

Mandala Madness Crochet Along

I've joined in on the Mandala Madness CAL (Crochet-A-Long)

I'm a bit late starting it. I only managed to get rows 1 - 10 done so far, which is only about half way through Part One. 

Part Two and Part Three have already been posted.

Here is the link to the CAL.

http://www.crystalsandcrochet.com/crochets/mandala-madness-cal-2016/

Not a great deal of stitching has been done in the Lewis residence as the gardens have been taking up most of my time, 

A Little Bit of Stitching - Building Blocks

My Building Blocks Quilt has had quite a few more 'bricks' hand stitched to it this week.

Our house is almost empty now. All the packing is done, just need a couple more trips to take it all to the new place.

And another one bites the dust - PINK block done

YAY..... I've finished this block now.

It's PINK.

I like this one, it has some interesting shapes and seam treatments.

So now I have to await the big move in November when I shall be reunited with my stash to make the next naked block and start embroidering on it.

I shall have to invent a new crafty project to occupy my hands in between packing. ALL my 'stuff' is now out of reach, and I dare not go shopping for more because I'm fed up with packing it all away and out of sight.

And while I'm on the subject of packing --- I was in a dilemma about what to do with this:

It's a lovely piece of furniture, and I love playing on it (a perfect sound). I have been trying to get Tony to agree to keeping it, but it is rather big, bulky, and heavy, and he says we are rapidly running out of storage space. So I have been thinking about giving it away to someone who will love it as much as I do. Maybe the local primary schools could suggest a child or family who could make very good use of it.

Anyway, the problem of what to do with it solved itself yesterday.

I turned it on and started to play a sad tune on what I thought would be my very last time on the lovely organ. After about 3 minutes there was a splutter, a loud fizz, and then an even louder bang, followed by an enormous amount of smoke coming up through the keys.

Yes..... I killed the keyboard.

 How sad.

CQJP 2015 Purple Block finished

Last week I couldn't find my camera attachment to upload photos.

This week I have found the missing chord/lead/usb thingy (someone put it in my crochet bag and put some crochet leaflets on top of it).

As I have had a great stitching week I am going to cut to the chase and show you the completed Purple Crazy Quilt Block, because, yes, I have completed it.

Please don't ask me what that 'thing' is on the left because I have absolutely no idea. It just developed into that, that.... thing.

And here is the next naked block, hand stitched as per all my blocks this year.

Once this block is finished I cannot make any more until after the end of November, as all my fabrics, and threads are are packed and have already made the trip to the new place.

I'm getting excited about moving now, and can't wait to reunite with my 'stuff'. 

Oh what a lovely adventure awaits me. 

Once we have settled there I plan to write all those books that are in my head, and make all those quilts that need making, and paint all those paintings that are just waiting to be inspired by the scenic location, and crochet all those 'things' that need to be created, and finish all those UFO's.

Haha! famous last words........

Reflecting on the week

I have been doing just a little bit of stitching - honest.

No photos though as I've lost misplaced my camera usb plug I really hope I haven't accidentally packed it away and sent it to our storage place.

Sorry I missed being here last week, phew what a week. Still packing, packing, packing, and meetings with solicitor, accountant and bank account adviser.

When will it all end? I am so looking forward to going, and relaxing, and sitting in the sun and just stitching full-time. 

Tony was down at our our new place for a couple of days last week sorting 'stuff' out. He says it is soooo quiet there he thinks he might get bored. Not me though, I'm so looking forward to the peace and tranquility. I shall be lost in my own world there, far from the madding crowds (and maddening).

My Purple Crazy quilt block has progressed a bit, and has some of my usual unique seam treatments. I have packed away my sewing machine and fabrics and most of my embroidery threads now. I just have two small baskets with threads in left out by my armchair now. One is the purple threads for my current cq block, and the other is the next colourway (as yet a secret) for the next cq block. I have also stitched the naked block for the next one, as all the fabric has gone into storage now as well, and I needed to have the next block ready for stitching when I finish the purple block.

Just a small case of hand sewing tools, along with the threads, are all that remains in the house now.

My office is packed up (equipment, paperwork, files etc.). My craft room is packed up and all in storage. Most of our clothes have gone, unnecessary furniture has gone. TV & lounge suite are about to be gone. All the cupboards except one are packed and gone.

The house is looking quite bare now.

Roll on November.

Close-up on the Orange CQ block

Here are some close up photos of my Orange block crazy quilt

The next naked block is ready and waiting for it's thread colour to be chosen.

I just can't decide which colour I want to work with next. It's not that I don't like the next colours, it's just that I have so many ideas and I'm finding it rather difficult to channel my thoughts into one colour.

Hubby & I have an exciting day out tomorrow, so I shall see if I'm inspired by any particular colour on our travels.