Wednesday 11 February 2015

FNWF.... saved by the BOM

When I signed up for FNWF I had plans... BIG plans... for the most perfect, self indulgent sewing day you could ever imagine.   I was so confident of that I even commented about it when I signed up. 
Talk about tempting fate.

Friday morning was a dead loss and I was seriously worried that the whole day was going to go the same way when..... the postman arrived.....



with the first part of my new BOM.    I would have hugged him but he shot out of the gate like a scalded cat.......scaredy cat!     

Held my breath while I opened the package  Would you believe my hands were trembling with anticipation.....

 


it took me all of a second to fall in love with the contents.   Who wouldn't love them... they're gorgeous!   My face is aching from grinning every time I look at them. 

The day didn't go as planned but suddenly I was fine with that.   All the spare moments that came my way I spent happily blanket stitching circles while Tiggy  looked on....


We agreed that it was so nice to relax .....


just wish I could chill out as well as she can.

I finished stitching this too....


it's the latest free pattern from Hatched and Patched that's kicking off the 2015 SAL.  You might have noticed the button on my sidebar.   I'm chuffed to bits to be part of this stitch-a-long and determined to keep up with the rest of the girls.... no matter what.

Heck... I forgot to mention that the SAL project is the BOM that just arrived.  Honestly... if brains were dynamite I couldn't blow my  hat off!

Well... that was my FNWF... hope you had a good one.   I will be checking out what everyone else got up too.... better late than never eh!     Thanks again Cheryll for another fabulous Friday and thanks a million too for the lovely pressies my name came out of the hat for last month.   I love them all but have to admit I have a real soft spot for this cutie....


It has a special place dangling on my sewing machine right over the needle plate.... prettied up the Pfaff no end don't ya think   :o)

In case you're interested in why I've been an absentee blogger lately here's a clue....


First off....my laptop croaked!   When I switched it on it sounded like a demented squirrel chittering at me.   Kitty says that noise means the hard drive was 'stitching'.... how about that.  That's the term systems gurus use for the clicking noise that tells them the hard drive died... trust her she was married to one of those geeks.

I tried everything to revive it.  Even considered the kiss of life but decided I didn't want to risk electrocuting my lips.... anything that might stop me talking is a no go in my book.   I'm not one to give up easily hence I wasted way too many days looking for a fix.    Finally.... I caved in and ordered a new laptop.  It came last week.. loaded with Windows 8.1....arrrrggggghhhhh.  

Wish I could say I was getting to grips with the new software but the fact that...so far...it's taken me since Saturday afternoon to write this speaks volumes.  My brain is as fried as the dead hard drive.   The keyboard on the new machine is much more sensitive than the old one too.... for every word I type it deletes two.  I could cry.... hang on... I did!  Sniff!!

What's next.....   a rundown on retreat I think.   It won't take long to show you what we were all up too.  That's not to say we didn't do much because we were all busy but I just didn't get enough interesting photos of the proceedings.     How come I get friends who are all camera shy.  Other bloggers retreat posts are full of photos of girls having fun... eating ... drinking and doing a bit of stitching too.    I tried creeping up on my pals but either I'm just not stealthy enough or they have some inbuilt radar that can pick up a camera coming from a mile off.

Without further ado....here's what I worked on....


recognise it?    Of course you do.. it's the Economy Blue quilt from Kaffe Fassett's book Country Garden Quilts that I did all that triangle cutting for before our fated September retreat.

That's not a glass of water on my table..... it's soluble headache meds!  


Progress was slow but steady.......


Just got an outer row of small square in squares to attach  (squares are made just not joined together)
and the top is done.     How about this for a bowl of triangle trimmings....


I like to cut big and trim down to size wherever possible.   Clever or just chicken?

I did get one photo with a real person in it......



Chris... displaying her quilt of the week.   Apart from the borders and setting triangles I don't think there was one piece bigger than a two and a half inch square.   It was almost finished... just one more red border to add.  She purpose made it for her D/H for those odd moments when the cows stop phoning him (no kidding) and he gets to nap.  

She added the prairie points to this too.....


It's a cot bumper to match the quilt she made on an earlier retreat.   You can see it here.... lovely Bunny Hill fabrics.

Sally pieced this one.  It's two layer cakes of Moda Persimmon simply sewn together.  Love those fabrics... which is just as well because I have two layer cakes of it too!   Guess who got sucked into the Craftsy sale.... all four of us!


She went on to piece this one too..... totally from scrap


Love how she used all the remaining bits and pieces to cobble together a border... looks great.

Kitty almost drove herself to distraction peicing this,,,,,,


it's one of those designs that messes with your brain.  The pattern is Surfside by Camille Roskelly.  It's one of those patterns that makes you feel dizzy if you stare at it too long.   That's  the top of Kittys head above the quilt.... she did survive the making after all.

Suffice it to say we all had a fabulous time at the cottage.   So much so we've booked a week at the beginning of June and another at the end of September.    We haven't won the lottery.... we've all decided not to go to the Quilt Festival in Birmingham this year.    We worked out for the cost of our accommodation/travel/food  for that trip we can afford two weeks in the cottage.... bit of a no brainer eh!

I'm going to shut up now.     Combining FNWF with a retreat update and computer woes  might not have been such a good idea.  

If you are still awake and reading this..... thank you!   I much appreciate your stamina and dogged determination to make it through to the end.    If you were here I'd pour you a glass of vino but as you're not I'll raise my glass to you..... cheers!  :o)

I've set aside the whole of tomorrow for blog visiting.... can't wait.    I'm so out of touch with what you've all been up too it's going to be fabulous catching up.

Have fun and stitch loads.....
Hugs
Josie  xxx

19 comments:

Anita said...

Heaps of cool stuff happening here, love your little companion. Lol...that's how I feel about my computer sometimes.
Cheers, Anita.

Lynda said...

What a fun retreat for you all. Love your blue quilt. The view out the window is fantastic. I can see why you like to go there.

sunny said...

Sorry about your computer! I HATE Windows 8.1. I was so excited to get a new laptop, but it's been relegated to the basement because I hate it so much. My DH showed me how I can use most of it as if it had 7.0 on it, so I do use it some, now. Love all your quilty pics It looks like you had a fabulous time. Glad you'll be able to go again.

Susan said...

That was a marathon post! So much lovely inspiration on your retreat, great quilts. Love your blue quilt. So glad that postie saved your FNWF. The blocks look super just with the blanket stitch!

kiwikid said...

Love to read your updates!! Good to hear you have a new computer, I too had to come to grips with 8.1...not happy times here either! Your blue quilt is beautiful...the ladies on retreat did wonderful things...such a beautiful view out the window! I too would love to be able to relax like a cat!!!Enjoy your SAL.

Cheryll said...

WOW you packed a lot in this post...
all good stuff though.
Great to hear the "win" arrived safely!

marina said...

I thought you had run away!
instead you have been busy, busy busy.
love your KF quilt top it looks wonderful! The girls may be photo shy but they made such lovely quilts.
enjoy your new sal project.

Ondrea said...

Lol, I am worn out just reading your post! Can't stop giggling though as I sit in bed reading it. Hubby is wondering if I have lost my marbles. Looooove your Kaffe quilt, awesome colours. I am constantly amazed at how popular our quilt designers are overseas. Anni is a fav of mine too but I have not committed myself to the SAL, too many other things to complete. Windows 8 is a pain in the .... but you will get used to it....eventually. The retreats sound a wonderful idea and very productive by the looks of things. If I get to England and Scotland in a few months I may agree to a pic with you if I get the chance to catchup somewhere. Us Aussies aren't as shy obviously. Thanks for another entertaining post. Hugs.

Anonymous said...

Hi Josie love the quilts,clever ladies and you,lol. Oh I hope the computer treats you gently ,they can be so frustrating xx

FloS said...

Hi Josie ! I'm glad you like your Natures Journey fabrics !!We will make this new a venture together !!
And what a wonderful retreat you had !! very busy girls !!
Florence

Anthea said...

Well I'll take that wine now that I've finished reading your post Josie!
Good luck becoming friends with your new 'puter... & the SAL... don't get behind with it!

Raewyn said...

Great to see your blogpost come up:-) How exciting to be starting Nature's Journey - I must confess I didn't join the SAL (hard decision) but I have bought the pattern - ahem!!! Sorry to hear about your computer - aren't they just the most frustratng things - at times! It sounds like you really enjoyed retreat - I love your quilt top so far... and good on you for committing to 2 more!!

Helen said...

Lots of georgeous projects happening will look forward to more progress pictures. computers :(

Jeanette said...

Hi Josie, love reading your posts. You always give me a smile. Sorry to hear about you computer. Beautiful quilt tops. Hugs,xx

audrey said...

Lots of very good stuff to peruse! Love that new BOM! So sorry about the computer woes. I would have been having a good cry too.:)

wish2stitch said...

Such a lovely moment when a little ray of sunshine lands in your letter box to save the day. Windows 8, yes well I feel your pain there. I got a new laptop last September . I fairly used to it now.....but it takes a while. Take lots of deep breaths and I'm sure a glass of wine might help too.

Esther Aliu said...

Love your blog!

Chookyblue...... said...

glad you got some SAL done...........nice quilts...........

Käthe said...

Hi Josie,
what a great post !
Have a nice day and happy sewing !
Käthe