Saturday 20 September 2014

Sew looking forward.....

To tomorrow!    I'll tell you why in a bit.   After I've brought you up to speed with the happenings here.  

You'd think after being absent for a month I'd have loads of sewing/stitching/quilting to show you but (sorry to disappoint) .... I don't.     I haven't totally neglected my projects but I've come darned close to it.    

First off......


I started hand piecing (!) the first official blocks of Stonefields.   It looks like very paltry progress but since I took that photo I've finished the pink star... made a green one and am almost finished a brown and white one.   Only had to make 4 so I've got the first blocks in the bag.

Really need to get my hand piecing act together soon... I'm still a bit cack handed which goes to show I need more practise.    Hummm... I really do need to speed up since I  bullied persuaded Marina to order  Sweet William and promised to stitch along with her.    Hi Marina!!  (waving and grinning).... I haven't forgotten... honest!  :o)

Began building works.....


on the centre block of In My Garden.      I love this block!    The colours are so soft and delicate... it's got to be my favourite block so far.



Don't get to thinking it's all been appliqued because it  hasn't!    I just laid it all out to check I'd prepped all of the pieces.   It's been dismantled and is waiting patiently for me to get my act together and start stitching.

This last few days I've spent every available spare moment cutting fabric.....



and as you can see... I had help.   Notice anything different in this photo?    Honestly... if I never had to cut another triangle in this lifetime it would be too soon....


These are just the tip of a very large iceberg!   My back is breaking from all the slicing and dicing.. but it had to be done.... I'll tell you why later.

Now... I have some sad news.    Mac's Bonsai is officially dead......



Well... we all know it's been dead for some time but finally Mac has accepted that fact.   Have to say the little branch tree didn't collapse on it's own....


Good fun... this tree felling malarkey.    Did you spot this little girl in the photo with Maisie above?   You did... well done!  :o)   She's not the only new arrival around here......



she has a sister.     They are a couple of real cuties with the loudest purrs you ever heard.    They do everything together.   Eat together.....


but they are more than happy to share with their big sister too....



Maisie is a real star!   She's taken to the big sister role like a duck to water.  So... we are now officially a three cat family.   Surprise!!     Now I haven't mentioned their names because we are having a bit of an issue choosing them.    Mac refers to the little ginger girl as 'Ginger Bread' and her little ginger and white sister as 'Apache'.... where the heck did that come from!    It'll take at least a dozen experts to figure out how that mans mind works... I haven't a clue!    He won't call Maisie by her name (the one she arrived with) he refers to her as Flea Bait... Flea for short.  Actually I think she likes it.... but then.... she's a real daddies girl.     I'll let you know what we decide on as soon as we do.... if I've not been incarcerated for murder before then.

So... what have I been doing with my time.    Gardening (if that's what you call outdoor demolition).   Since I'm dieting (I've lost 14 lbs so far that's 6.35 kg to those of you who are metricated)  I decided that the exertion of reclaiming the 'secret garden' would potentially burn up thousands more calories than I could eat on any given dieting day.

So far...


I've located and dug out the 18 steps down from the top of the garden  (known as Hill 69 ) into the secret garden.   Cleared the embankments too.   Did some tree felling to let in more light....



Hit a brick wall of brambles!   It's hard to tell from the photo but they are almost as tall as I am.  I haven't a clue how far back they go but I do know it's going to take a while to cut my way through.


Thinned out branches and cleared the path of the stream......


 hard work but.... I love it!  

Well... that's it for the update.

Now... the reason I've been cutting triangles till I needed a back brace is.... I'm going on retreat tomorrow!!   Yippee!!

The girls and I are headed back down to our favourite cottage on the Mull of Galloway....


for a whole week... yes... 7 days of fun, frolics and a lots of sewing.    Hence the triangle prep.  Can't tell you how ready I am for this.   I'm taking the laptop and I'm so looking forward to a spot of blog visiting and catching up.    Feels like forever since I had the time or the energy to do that.

Mac is going to be 'home alone' this time.   Not ideal but as he and my mum don't exactly hit it off these days it's the only option.   I need a break!!     Mum is OK staying at her own place but I don't know how Mac is going fare taking care of 3 kittens without the aid of a resident skivvy.  Something tells me they are going to run rings around him...:o)

So.... I'm following this little Swallow chick... and heading out of here first thing in the morning....


Wish I could take you all with me.... think of all the fun we'd have......:o))

Hope you all have a great week......
See ya soon....  
Take care
Hugs
Josie  xx

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Josie such a lovely post with a coupe of chuckles,how cute are your new kitties,have a wonderful time away my friend.xx

Brenda said...

That is a very pretty block you are working on! And that indeed is a lot of triangles. Have a great time at your retreat!

margaret said...

I popped over to see all about the quilt you are making, looks like a great challenge and will be wonderful when finished. Little house looks good too.
As for the kitties they are so cute. I am a cat lover but not got any myself however Alfie my daughter`s ginger cat is coming to stay for a few days on monday looking forward to it just hope he leaves the new stair carpet alone.

Envious of the garden you have there until I think about maintaining it and then maybe not, struggle with my and it is tiny compared to yours
Have a wonderful time with your friends on your retreat, can imagine how lovely it will be.

audrey said...

Stonefields is looking wonderful! So soft and sweet. I will be coming back here to cheer you on for sure especially if you get going on Sweet William. ha! No pressure. I just LOVE that quilt too.

marina said...

great start on your stonefields Josie,
don't feel bad about sweet william, I keep getting thrown extra projects that take me away from starting it.. I have sorted (shuffled) the pattern quite a bit and gathered background fabrics for the applique, Can't decide whether to start with piecing or applique? So you can take a breath on that one and don't panic.
Wow two new kitty babies! they are absolutely gorgeous.
Love your retreat project. I have just finished a quilt with kaffe fassett fabrics. Are we in a parallel universe?
Your garden must be amazing!
Very sorry for your botanical loss..

Susan said...

Your retreat venue looks amazing. Hope you have a wonderful break. Hope Mac and the kitties survive together. Love that house block too.

Diane-crewe said...

oh my goodness! that .. non-bonsai made me snort in my morning tea xx loving the new addition to the family x

Anthea said...

Josie, you're in danger of becoming one of those Cat Ladies that my daughters joke about!! Love your new babies...
Have an awesome time during the week, I'm glad you can't see how green-with-envy I am!! x

gracie said...

I am sorry sorry for your loss....well actually that poor bonsai! At least the kitties enjoyed it for awhile. I have never grown one but I think they must be difficult to maintain....are you going to adopt another one?

Rebecca in AK said...

Love, love, love your new kitties! I am so glad Maisie accepted them with no trouble. I am so sorry for the loss of the bonsai. lol I love the house block and the new projects you have going. I would love to do the Stonefields and the Sweet William quilt! I hope you have a wonderful retreat and Mac survives being taken care of by three cats!

Quilting Moesje said...

Ginger bread ...sooo sweet name for your kitten :0)))
Have a lot of fun !

greetings,
Simone

Unknown said...

just worried about the retreat photos,hope you loaded photoshop before you left = kitty!!

Jeanette said...

As always a pleasure to read your blog post. I was only thinking of you the other day & realised i hadn't seen a post from you in a while. Glad to see everything ok & you've been busy gardening. I haven't(still) made a start on Stonefields. Guess i'd better since you've made a start. Have a fab week away. Hugs,xx

Jeanette said...

As always a pleasure to read your blog post. I was only thinking of you the other day & realised i hadn't seen a post from you in a while. Glad to see everything ok & you've been busy gardening. I haven't(still) made a start on Stonefields. Guess i'd better since you've made a start. Have a fab week away. Hugs,xx

Leanne said...

All your sewing looks beautiful. Mac will be fine while you are away. The kittens will keep an eye on him. Have the best time at your retreat. xx

Michelle Ridgway said...

My that is some extreme gardening you've been doing. Love the house block too. Some very good progress on stone fields. Have a wonderful retreat.

Fiona said...

as always your blog posts are full of fun and wonderful things you are doing... well done with all of it... have a wonderful time...
Hugz

Lynda said...

I hope you have a fabulous week away. You are making incredible progress in your garden. It's looking so fantastic.

Wendy said...

Great to catch up with what you've been doing, although it makes me feel tired just reading about your gardening! Love your little kitties, too cute. I hope you have a wonderful week away and Mac and your mum behave/survive!!

Debra said...

Oh Josie - your post is wonderful. But the BEST part are those two new darlings!!!!! Congratulations, it is so nice to see your home filled with so much kitten love again!

debbie said...

Your blocks are looking great and I love the applique the most :) Reminds me of "Tiny Town" tablerunner I recently purchased with the cute applique houses. Not prepped yet, of course...Thought of you when I was planting more tomatoes in hanging pots this week. You were going to try that one day. xx Debbie

Janice said...

My goodness, you do take on some mammoth gardening tasks. The new additions to your family are super cute. We took on two litter mates a few years ago. We named one Molly, but had to change it to Joey once we discovered he was not a she. Have fun at your retreat. Mac certainly won't get bored with three girls to keep him amused and busy.

Raewyn said...

Golly gee I missed this post but have been wondering how you are. I guess you are enjoying the last bits of summer before the weather changes completely. I hope you had a wonderful time at retreat and do hope you had enough triangles. Your new sister kittens are beautiful. As soon as you said Apache, the name fitted...same colouring! Your gardening work is amazing - and great work on the weightloss. Hope all is well, take care my friend. (PS Marina is making great progress on her Sweet William!)

Krafty Connie said...

Oh, I love the house applique block! I love to applique but haven't been keeping myself busy, need to get back to it.

Marie said...

Lucky you for getting ready to stitch Sweet William - I love that pattern - and thanks for the link as to where to buy the pattern. I've been looking for it so that Santa could maybe wrap it up for me...

kiwikid said...

Wow you have a jungle there to tame..you are going great guns so far...we are attempting to garden here but are over run with rabbits...they are very happy with the new plants we have provided for them!!! Love the new kittens and your house block is amazing...good luck with sweet william...wonderful to read your adventures again.