Saturday 7 December 2013

Fiddly Friday Night With Friends

I had a really great time last night (and a bit of the afternoon too) preparing applique pieces for my  In My Garden   block of the month......


Working on Block 2 here.  Its got pear trees..... dragonflies.... butterflies and a bunch of really cute snails. Unlike the real snails I find in the garden I won't be flexing my throwing arm and hurling them half way across the neighbouring field.   Before you say it.... I know they'll just come back coz their home is here with us but I live in hope they'll find some greener grass and decide to relocate.

I had loads of lovely fiddly bit's to cut out and play with (and occasionally cuss at).  I'm using Ricky Tims Stable Stuff and a fabric glue pen.   The stable stuff is designed to be left inside the quilt... seemingly it softens to fine poly fibres when the quilt is washed.  I'm more than a bit nervous I can tell you.   There are so many tiny applique pieces in this project I'm going to be terrified to wash it for fear they'll all fray and fall off!   Oh me of little faith.    Maybe I can learn to live with a 'stiff' quilt..... hummmm.


Just look... I've numbered every little pear to indicate the tree they belong on and their place on it.   A bit too anal... even for me....  d'ya think?  

Completed prep on these two mini blocks from Block 1 too.   That block is set aside all ready for stitching now.


Can you believe it's almost a year since I made a resolution to get to grips with this and every other BOM I have secreted here.   Well... this is as far as I've got!   I know it's embarrassing isn't it.    Reckon  I'll be carrying that resolution forward for another year.

Now... Mum wanted to say 'Hi'......


she joined in the Friday Night fun with her knitting.  Another completed cardigan for the Preemie Unit and another in the works.....



That's my 6" ruler on the cardigan and the little hat would fit a tennis ball.... so cute.  Hard to imagine a baby so tiny.  

I'd say we both had a successful FNWF.  

All that and a batch of Marmalade Buns too....


I'd say 1 to be taken 3 times a day sounds about right.....

OK... that's all for now.     Maybe the 'prep' bug will bite me again tonight.... makes a change from the darned midge that is biting me to bits right now.   I'm sitting here armed with a spray can of fly killer ready to commit insecticide at a moments notice.

Hope you all had as good a time at FNWF as we did......

See ya soon.... I mean that.
Have a brilliant what's left of your weekend...

Hugs
Josie

Thursday 5 December 2013

HO...HO...HO.......

Santa has been to my house already.........


 courtesy of my SSCS partner Sandy.     Of course I'm not allowed to open this gift until Christmas Day (sitting on my hands here)  but I was allowed to open two packages.....


Isn't that Christmas ornament gorgeous.  The reindeer button is so cute.  That lovely pouch has a matching pincushion inside.  Ahem..... a certain idiot forgot to take it out of the pouch for the photograph.  What was I thinking!   That the camera could take X-Ray photos perhaps....DUH!    I will show you it soon....promise.
Thanks for my presents Sandy....... itching to open the 'BIG' parcel... determined to be a 'good' girl.

Now I'm wondering if you are wondering what I've been up to since I last posted.   Even if you aren't I'm going to tell you anyway coz I'm funny like that and this is my blog after all.     In keeping with the Christmas theme.... I've been going cold turkey!

Yes.... I've ditched all medication and have opted for this instead.....


Victoria Sponge!   It's been a month since I last popped a pill and I think the cake is finally kicking in.... I'm feeling much better.... fatter but better.    It didn't help that I discovered it's not as hard as I thought to bake bread either.....


and it's a whole lot of fun knocking seven bells out of it before it goes in the oven.  Great stress reliever. Who'd have thought!

The last month hasn't all been about baking.... as if!     I've been sewing up a storm too....

 
Licky Lou was a big help in that department.....


she's asked Santa for opposable thumbs for Christmas.......


imagine that!  If he comes through for her she'll be hosting her very own quilting class on Craftsy soon.... wonder if she needs an agent?

Swap gifts have been dispatched.....


headed for two partners who knows where.....


OK... call me cheap because I only bought one roll of wrapping paper and a job lot of ribbon!   It's the thought that counts... right!

I'm in the process of giving my little sewing room a bit of a tidy.......


I'm really pleased with today's effort......  hanging all my rulers.    Great use of the end of the shelving if I do say so myself.    Looks a bit like a quilt shop display don't ya think.

The girls (Chris, Sally, Kitty) and me had an away day to The Fat Quarters where they convinced me that I not only needed this......


but there was actually a good reason why I should have it....... my looming 60th birthday!!!!!    Well... once they'd persuaded me that I was so old I didn't have a minute to waste procrastinating..... I got a bit feckless and bought these too.....


What the heck.....  a gal is only 60 once... right!      Actually it's not my birthday till next week but better a bird in the hand........  etc..etc.

Well... I think that's you all caught up for now.  

Oh..... I've signed up for Friday Night With Friends sew in over at Cheryl's place this week too.   If you haven't signed up already why don't you follow the link and join in right now.    I'll be happy to share my vino..... if you get in quick!

I'm off up the golden staircase to bed now... to sleep?   Nah.... to play on my Nintendo DS for a while.... who says an old dog can't learn new tricks!

Thanks for stopping by.....  taking pity on a lonely old woman..... enough!!  <lol>

Have a great week filled with fun and fecklessness.....
Hugs
Josie