Wednesday 6 April 2016

Reasons to be cheerful.......


Fluffy Chicken bums!      


Don't you just love them!     At last I've got some chickens..... 7 of them.      I picked them up on Easter Sunday (how apt) and I haven't stopped smiling since.    I was supposed to be choosing a maximum of 6 but you know how I am at decision making.     I'll introduce them later in the post once I've brought you up to speed with what I've been doing the last few weeks.

What have I been doing.    Not a lot!  

I'm still wondering what happened to all the lovely optimism I woke up with on January 1st.   It didn't hang around for long that's for sure.    It's darned hard to be optimistic when your spouse is the Prophet of Doom.   Take this week.... he's pronounced the end of the world is nigh yet again.    This time it seems we need to stock up on tinfoil (not for the first time).    How a roll of Bacofoil will save us when a hidden planet sneaks out from behind the sun to destroy Earth with a burst of radioactive rays  I don't know.   But.... if he wants foil he'll get foil.   Anything for a quiet life.   Hot tip..... buy shares in Aluminium!

To cut a long story short..... my Anti Mac pills weren't up to the job so the nice Dr. upped the dosage.
Plus it turns out that my Thyroid blood results showed that the dodgy gland was on the fritz again.  Another increase in medication required.     Some days I haven't know up from down. I've tried to blog (believe me I have tried really hard) but no words would come.   Who knew there was such a thing as Bloggers Block.  Trust me.... there is.

Right.... that's the whinge over with.   Now down to the business of catching up.   I'll start with the sewing.... what there is of it.

Back in late January the girls and I retreated to the cottage again.    I did sew....


I made quite a lot of quarter circle blocks for my scrap project.    Haven't touched them since.

Made a start on a new BOM too (I know... I should be shot for signing up)....


It's the Lucy Boston quilt Patchwork of the Crosses.   I resisted this project for ages but when I saw it as a BOM made with Liberty print fabrics I was sunk.   Resistance was futile.    Kitty signed up for this one too and she is actually bang on target with the blocks.    Me..... well... guess what!    This is as far as retreat took me......



I have finished one project this year.  I made a bag..... I had to... it was a class.....

 

It's an homage to my new chickens.   If you look carefully you'll see the main fabric has rows of chickens parading back and forth.    I love it!    Kitty and I signed up for the bag class ages ago.  It was held in March at my new local quilt store Holm Sown in Castle Douglas.    Rachel (the store owner) is lovely and both Kitty and I learnt lots about interfacing's and bag hardware.   Just goes to show it is always possible to teach an old dog new tricks.

While I'm on the subject of bags I didn't show you the gifts I made for Chookyblue in the SSCS swap.   Truth is I made a real hash of taking photos of the finished main gift and I've had to 'borrow' these pics from Chookys blog (sorry Donna I know I should have asked first but I'm on a roll and I'm scared to stop)

Here's the bag I made for her.....


Talk about pressure to come up with the goods!   I mean.... making for the Chookster herself... phew!
Was I relieved when she opened the parcel and actually liked it.

Lovely photos Chooky......


I had a lot more grey hairs by the time I'd finished choosing all the applique fabrics I can tell you.


I did get a halfway decent photo of the Christmas Ornament though.....


Had fun making it too.    Seems I was tuned in to chickens before I ever knew I was getting some for Christmas!

Finally I have been working on circles for my Quilty 365 project.   Apologies Audry for not linking up yet.....


I'm not exactly following the rules for this project either.    One circle a day is the requirement but it seems cutting out circles was the limit of my abilities this last few weeks..... I've cut and ran running stitches around over 300 of them.     No apologies for cheating..... circles have been saving my sanity.

Here's a few of them.    Not as imaginative as those of some of the other girls working on this project but hey.... it's all my own work and I'm happy with it.


Heck.... I screwed up another photo.   I'm actually setting these 'on point'!     Actually... now that I've seen this pic I might change my mind on that.   Why make it any harder..... ho hum!

That's it for the sewing stuff I'm afraid.   Doesn't amount to a hill of beans does it!

I did make a supreme effort to fix the driveway earlier this year.....


Believe me this is the best bit.   It got worse further down.


I'd just finished barrowing in 3 tons of hardcore and was choking back tears as the realisation dawned that 3 tons was a drop in the ocean and I was going to need more... like 20 tons more!  Right then my bacon was saved by the arrival of a man in a van offering a good deal on Tarmac (Asphalt).   Now I know it's prudent to beware of men turning up unexpectedly offering to Tarmac anything  but heck.... I was desperate.   I said OK.    

Four hours later this is how it looked.....


The piggy bank took a big hit but it was worth it.    No way could I ever have made it look this good. Can't tell you how giddy with relief I was.   The darned drive is 500 feet long... I'd have still been filling holes next Christmas.   One job less to worry about.

At last.... it's time to introduce you to my little flock.....  scroll to the bottom now if chickens are not your thing.

Meet the girls.....

Dora the Explorer a Blue Laced Red Wyandotte

Ditsy Dorothy (aka Dotty) a Plymouth Rock
Bashful Blanche a Buff Laced Barnvelder

 Ruby Runabout a Rhode Island Red

Miss Prudence a Blue Laced Barnvelder

Sweet Molly Malone a Welsummer
and last but not least....


Rosie Posie a New Hampshire Red

You've probably guessed I couldn't decide on just one breed of chicken so I got a selection!
They are still young and just beginning to lay but I have a feeling I'm going to have more eggs than I know what to do with when they all get the hang of things.

OK.... I'm going to leave you in peace now.   I might just manage to grab a bite to eat before TV time if I'm lucky.

I'm not going to promise to be back soon just in case I end up on the dark side again.   Hope that doesn't happen.

Can you believe it.... writing this post has got me all excited again.   Heck.... I can even feel a bit of enthusiasm bubbling up.   Wonders never cease.

Bye for now then.
Hope you are all having a brilliant year and sewing for all you're worth
Have fun...

Hugs....
Josie
xxxxx

29 comments:

kiwikid said...

So nice to see you back again!!! Your posts always make me smile and laugh!! Good to hear the Dr was able to help you...hope the foil supplies helped Mac. Good to see you have been able to do some sewing...we all succumb to a new project when we probably shouldn't!!! Your circles are looking wonderful, and your chooky birds are super cute!! Well done on the driveway, so much easier than having to heave around many tons of fill by yourself. Yay for strange men offering help!!! 😁 I hope your chooky girls enjoy your garden and bring you much happiness.

Susan said...

Love the names of the Chooks - so much better than Barbque etc.
of course you need a new project - we all do - if not we would never have UFOs and WIP and PIGS (projects in a grocery sack...)I love the effect of the backgrounds for the circles. You will get there.
Cyber hugs to you and the chooks - even to tin man (Mac).

marina said...

You definitely haven't been idle!
Lucy Boston will be a great hand work project looking forward to seeing your blocks come together.
Love your circles and those chooky girls are gorgeous.

Yvonne W said...

Your blog posts always makes me smile-- a big smile! So please keep blogging. I am sorry to hear that you have been down--- this post sounds like you are feeling better. Your girls are just gorgeous. My daughter who is a primary school teacher has bought chooks for her school kids and they run around the garden at school and produce eggs for the canteen. I cannot stand chook poo everywhere and the dog perhaps eating it-- hence we do not have chooks in our suburban yard. Sounds like you have a big yard though. Love all your sewing projects especially the 2 bags.

Lynda said...

Great blog post. You always make me smile. Love the bags, the partially finished projects and the circle project to keep you sane. Love the chickens too. They are fun to watch. Hope to see you back again soon.

Christine M said...

Welcome back Josie. Looks like you've been keeping yourself busy.

Carole~Quilter on the hill said...

Welcome back Josie, I've missed your entertaining posts. I understand completely about Bloggers Block as I have suffered from the same affliction this year and coincidently have just broken it. I can understand why you signed up for the Liberty Lucy Boston quilt, it's going to be gorgeous.I love your version of the Quilty 365 circles, you've done heaps by already prepping 300!I could feel your relief at getting your driveway finished, what a wonderful twist of fate for you.

Cath said...

Hello Josie....Now as much as I loved your sewing bits....I couldn't wait to be introduced to the chicklets! I love your name choices and you sound like me....I call my cows: Anna....Anna Banana! Rosie...Rosie Posie (or sometimes Dozy Rosie)! Bessie....Bossy Bessie! and Nigella....Jelly Belly! Pippa and Joy are the only two that don't have any rhyming add ons!

Michelle Ridgway said...

Welcome back. Not too nice having health issues. Hope you are feeling better now. Lovely stitching. Adorable names for your fluffy girls x

Unknown said...

Good to see you back. x

Ondrea said...

So lovely seeing you back in blogland. I understand how life and lack lustre days get in the way of creativity. It's hard enough putting one foot in front of the other somedays. Welcome to the world of Lucy Boston. I started this year after putting it off for a couple of years. Hiwever, I am only making 12 blocks and fillers for a much smaller quilt..love all your other projects and Donna's bag is gorgeous. Lol, chooks everywhere. I have chooky things all over my kitchen. I used to have a few silky bantams and the last one lived around 16 years! We buikt a retirement home for her as she was blind. Love your chooks, quite a pretty bunch. Flock? Hope you are feeling better these days. Angel hugs.

Fiona said...

Oh how lovely to hear from you... did you get my email... I wrote to see if you were still with us?????? and what a lovely post to write - full of nonsense and humour .. I did miss you...x
Hugz

Lin said...

I love your posts so great to have you back making me smile first thing in the morning. Even if you don't like chickens there's got to be a lifetime of designs in their gorgeous feathers but as it happens I do like chickens and even more I love free range eggs! Great gifts for Chookyblue and your chicken bag looks very professional. Hope to hear from you again soon. All the best. xx

margaret said...

so much you have shared today, do hope you are feeling much better now. loving the bag you made beautiful applique and as for those chickens, I am envious, my neighbour used to keep them as did others at the back of me but they were told not allowed used to love to hear them clucking. Have been thinking about Lucy Boston but so far resisted, doing too many BOMs this next year I will resist them all and catch up with my to do list along with 7 quilts that need quilting!

Helen said...

love your girls and their names. Hope you are feeling much better now. It is so nice to see you back again doing what you do so well, have missed seeing your creative blog :)

Unknown said...

LOVE the hens :) Looking forward to seeing how your Liberty quilt progresses - looks like it is going to be gorgeous.

Janice said...

Great to hear from you again. You will get so much joy from your chooks. We have moved back into town and I do miss ours. I hope you find your sewjo again soon. Everyone seems to be enjoying Lucy Boston (I've resisted so far), so I'm sure you will too.

Debra said...

Josie - so nice to hear from you again. Yes, time does fly, hard to believe is already April and you have had a LOT of stuff going on in your world. Hope it is all straightened out soon. LOVE the chickens - they are beautiful - enjoy them! Great to see your stitching!

Melody said...

What a great post. Sorry to hear you have been a sickie but it has not stopped you producing some gorgeous stitching. Love those little chickens too, very pretty indeed

Anthea said...

Lovely to see your name on my reading list Josie! The chickens are very posh, no wonder you love them... great projects you've been working on... The sscs bag for Chooky is just gorgeous,, well done!

gracie said...

The driveway looks great...it was a good idea to have it done. I absolutely love all the chicks and their names are perfect. Be sure to find the time to post more about them and the goings on! Oh yes, love the sewing too!

audrey said...

Always so much fun to read your posts! Love the names of your chickens and seeing all your current projects. No apologies needed for the linkup at all. Just hope you can keep up your quilting enthusiasm for your own sake.:)

Chookyblue...... said...

so so pleased to see you back..........firstly my bag is absolutely GORGEOUS and perfect.....absolutely perfect........you did an amazing job and when your spitting in a post about your needleturn and sewing its because you are a perfecionist.....it was a hit with those who saw it at GDITC.......

love the chooks plenty of variety to choose from...........

such a great and for someone who hasn't done much in the last few months you have some lovely sewing to show..........

Lucy Boston so so addictive and you will love putting that together.....can't wait to see it in liberty prints.......how many blocks are you going to make........

Rebecca in AK said...

Hi Josie! So wonderful to read your post! The bag you made for Chookyblue is absolutely beautiful! I have been eyeing the Lucy Boston pattern, but better wait for now. Yours is going to be lovely! So glad you got help with the driveway. Love the names for your chickens, I have definitely experienced Bloggers Block. I hope for good days ahead for you!

Quilter Kathy said...

Love your circle project, and if it's saving your sanity then it has a very important job to do!
Your chickens are beautiful too!

FloS said...

Hi Josie ! That's life… up and downs…. we make what we can !! I hope you're feeling well now !
Say Hello to your girls and give us some news !
Florence

Jo said...

Cute chickens

Chookyblue...... said...

Hey fluffy bummed chickens did you do any sewing on the weekend?????

cocoya said...

You definitely haven't been idle!
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