Christmas is coming.........

and the heat is on!!     I don't know exactly how many days it is till Santa slides down the chimney but methinks I'm going to have find my turbo boost button and make a serious effort to finish this.......

Mad Mac's Christmas surprise!   I guess it'll be a surprise if I get it done in time.    In case you're wondering why I'm showing photos of these blocks again..... they have changed since the last time I blogged about them.    I've finally finished tweaking all the stitchery bits.

The plane has it's markings and flight path (albeit in the wrong direction).....

And the ship can be steered and the anchor dropped .......



The next block.... the kite..... is my project for the weekend.   If I don't get sidetracked that is.

 I've been busy double glazing My Town church too......

Ta da!!  It's finished.... done... complete... not another stitch to do.   That makes three blocks finished this week.  Actually it gets even better than that.  I've been working on Vignette blocks 2/3 too and am now only 4 tiny applique hearts away from another finish.    I won't show you a photo yet.  I've got to hold something back for blogging emergencies!

Now I don't know if you've noticed but.............

I'm officially a SWAPPER!!    Am I allowed to say that before I actually 'swap' anything or do I have to wait till it's a done deal before claiming the title.    Actually I'm a virgin swapper as this is my very first time.    I'm taking it all very seriously.  In fact.... earnest procrastination over choice of gift is well under way.  I'll let you know when I reach the hair pulling and feeling permanently nauseous stage.

Chookyblue has sent me my partners name (it might be YOU) but as I'm sworn to secrecy and her reputation for violence scares me.... I will not reveal even a single letter of her name.  Guess that rules out the boys eh!

Last Friday I took a trip and bought a treat........

after seeing the sample on display I just couldn't walk away without the pattern.   It's called Flower Garden and it's made with a jelly roll.   I bought the pattern from Daisy Chain Designs stand at the Scottish Quilt Championships show in Edinburgh.

Last week was very hectic for me.... for someone who's entire annual social calendar can be documented on the head of a pin in capital letters..... a day out constitutes a hectic week.   Get the picture?  Actually you can't 'get the picture' because I forgot to take my camera!!   How lame brained was that. 

Here is how the day went.....   Chris and I drove to Edinburgh.  Picked up coffees at Costa Coffee on the way... I get a skinny latte with peppermint syrup in case you're interested.  A store bought coffee is a real treat for me.... like I said... I don't get out much.

 We met up with Kitty and Tilly at the show.   Looked at lovely quilts.  Laughed a lot.  Bought one or two goodies.  Laughed some more.  Met up with Pat who laughed till she almost cried. A nice customer of hers laughed a lot too.   If you happen to be her..... 'HI'!!   Finally Chris and I hugged Kitty and Tilly... in the best possible taste.... and headed for home.

We stopped off at Ikea so's I could buy more of the plastic storage containers I'm addicted to.  Picked up a bookcase with doors (reckon it's a cupboard) for my mum.  Then on to the good bit..... we bought hot dogs and chips on the way out.

Don't you just love hot dogs!  They way the skin 'pops' when you take that first bite.... enough!

Kitty arrives tomorrow for a long weekend.   I'm hoping to get lots done.  I'm hoping to blog about it too.

Right now it's getting very late and I really need to stop boring you all and go to bed.....

Night...night then....

Josie X

A hive of industry....

and what busy bees we were... for once!

When Chris and Sally come over we almost always do more chin wagging than anything else.  Not this time.  This time we were ready for action.   First off they assisted me at the design wall (sounds posh eh) with the layout of my new quilt ......

I thought 6 eyes on the job would be faster but I hadn't allowed time for differences of opinion.  Silly me... I should have known!    In case you're wondering where the girls went while I took the photo.... they were huddled in the corner behind me.   Guess they thought that was the safest place for camera phobic folks to be... well they were wrong!

Chris realised what I was doing at the very last minute

Good job this photo hasn't got sound.  I don't think it's actually possible for a human being to do what she's telling me to and she's saying it without moving her lips too... talent eh!    She'd just finished cutting out and started sewing one of these.....

the one with all the little squares in the centre.    Tough choice to make.... all of the cushions are gorgeous.

They are from Camille Roskellys  wonderful book Simplify.    I just had to get a copy after seeing the gorgeous projects made from this book by Krystine over at Pretty By Hand.   As soon as Chris saw them she ordered a copy too.   We both showed Sally and I'll be amazed if she hasn't bought the book by now.  Birds of a feather eh....

While we're on the subject of Sally...... she's becoming a quilter!!   See.....

Miss Glue & Stick is actually sewing!!  Eureka.... we've finally worn her down.   Just for the record she's even bought herself a new sewing machine.  She's only using mine here to save a bit of room on the table.

Typical Sally she's jumping in at the deep end and making not one but two baby quilts.....

She found the pattern at Crazy Mom Quilts.    It's a brilliant project for a newbie quilter don't you think.  Not much can go wrong with this one.    Well... that's what Sally thought right up to the moment she realised she'd sewn on one of the coin strips upside down!!    All her strips had numbers pinned on with a big 'T' for top too..... sometimes there isn't any reason or rhyme is there.  Of course Chris and I laughed our heads off were very sympathetic as good friends are.

While the girls were hogging using the tables I sat stitching quietly (!) on the sidelines generously offering advice when I felt it was needed......  I won't show you my black eye!! 

Hope you are all having a wonderful week working on whatever takes your fancy.....

See you soon...
Josie X

What did you do last night?

I'm talking about FNSI (Friday Night Sew In) here.   What you got up to when you put your sewing to one side is really none of my business. 

I was a good girl and had a very ecclesiastical evening......

I worked on the Church Block of My Town.     Choice of project was down to Raewyn.... that girl certainly is persuasive.  

Have to admit my FNSI kicked off early.   I spent the afternoon making freezer paper templates and turning edges ready for applique.   I used the spray starch and glue baste method on all but the inner scalloped edge of the steeple roof.   It's much easier to use traditional needle turn on the fancy bits.  Believe me I've tried starching wiggly bits in the past.... the result was partial baldness and a bad attitude!

Got as far as stitching the windows too....

Only one window and the door hinges to go then I can settle down to applique all the pieces in place.  I'm already thinking about which block to do next.

I had a lovely time at Sew In...... how about you? 

I'm going blog hopping right now to find out for myself what other FNSI'ers were doing last night.....

See ya soon...

Josie X

It's here......

and I can hardly wait to look inside.



It just so happens that Sandy timed it's arrival perfectly to coincide with this........

how about that for the icing on the cake!   Now.... which one will I choose?   More to the point... will I be able to stop at one.

Before my fingers get too sticky to type I thought I'd show you where I'm up too with the new quilt project. First there are these.....

and then there are these.....

24 blocks in total.  All pieced and ready for sashing.   I wish you could see in 'in the flesh'.   Hushabye is such a gorgeous fabric it's impossible not to be in love with this project.   I'll be snuggling under this quilt this winter for sure.

Boy... that was a rash statement.  I've got to overcome my dread of FMQ before I can do any snuggling at all.   I do have a plan though (when have I not) but you'll have to wait a while to find out what it is.  Sorry.

Right now I need to decide what I'm going to do this Friday because.....

it's that time again!    I'm really looking forward to this one because for reasons unbeknownst to me I managed to miss out on the last two Friday Night Sew In's.    I don't intend to miss this one.   If you fancy joining me and all the other FNSI'ers just click on the button on my sidebar and sign up... easy peasy!

Back to plans for Friday.  Will I choose... A Boys Story.... Vignette.... My Town... Tiny Town...  Up Town... Down Town... Around the Town.... Hexies... or something completely different.    Decisions.... decisions.    My brain is all fired up.  Unfortunately my body hasn't realised yet! 

Heck.... my cuppa tea's gone cold.  I'm off to make another then I can get my soon to be sticky fingers on those cakes!!  Yummmmm.......

You'll need to get here quick if you want one.......

Till next time
Josie X

Have you guessed.....

which Moda Bakeshop recipe I'm cooking up.   I'm sewing every opportunity I get....

Got my pedal to the metal chaining pieces.   That's no mean feat for me because chaining has a tendency to really confuse me.    I start off  determined to concentrate really hard but somehow I always end up in a guddle (mess).  

So... I decided to cut myself some slack and chain in small batches so I do  have a few complete blocks.

It's good to have something straightforward and relaxing to work on  

and the more I piece the prettier it gets.  It was a good choice to get me back in the saddle.

Another project making a  welcome return is this....

yes... it is blocks 2/3 of Vignette and it's still a WIP but I'm back to working on it too.    Notice the magnifying lamp.... it's my new best friend.    I can't believe the difference it's making to my stitching.  Now that I can actually see what I'm doing.... I'm doing it much faster!  

OK... I have a hot date with the TV and this.......

an evening of American Major League Baseball.   I'm a total addict.   I was lucky enough to go to a Mariners game in Seattle a few years ago and that was me.... hooked.   Who'd have thought...... I even sing the song at the 7th inning stretch!!    Wonder if I can persuade Mac to have Hot Dogs for supper......

Till next time.....

Josie X 

Summer is over!

It's official.

National news announced it so it must be true.  Personally I don't know how something that never actually arrived can be gone but hey.... what do I know!

What I do know is that change is in the air.   Change outside and change inside.   I spent yesterday cleaning and sorting my craft room and today.... today I actually took rotary cutter to fabric!    Almost had to read up on how to do it... it's been so long.

Here's the fabric in question....

a Hushabye jelly roll that I've had earmarked  for a project for way too long.  Some white yardage there too.

First I sliced and diced.   Then I sorted it into little units.  It was so good to be playing with fabric again I forgot to procrastinate.  Well almost!

Chris and Sally are coming over for a sewing day tomorrow so I couldn't just leave it all laying on the table.  So....

I stacked it high.    Can't tell you how good it feels to have everything ready for a productive sewing day tomorrow.

Can you guess what it's going to be?    Here's a little clue.....

I know..... it's yet another project and I've more than enough under way without starting another.  But I assure you.... I have a plan!

I've gotten so far behind with all of my projects I've lost the plot.   Don't know how to even begin to catch up.   So.... I've started something fresh and new and more to the point quick to piece.   Nothing like a bit of instant gratification to get a gal firing on all cylinders.   That's my theory anyway. 

Watch this space.......

Actually... back to the end of summer thing..... I think there might be something to it.   This little critter made a surprise visit last week.....

.... sampled a few sunflower hearts while scoping out the peanuts.   For non UK residents.... it's a native Red Squirrel and I was thrilled to bits to see it.  Even more thrilled that I managed to grab my camera and get a picture.   Please ignore the bird poop on the window ledge.  Seems out feathered friends don't know it's not hygienic to do it near your dinner!! 

Anyhow..... a squirrel on the trail of nuts to store might just be heralding the arrival of Autumn after all.   

I've done my duty and reported the squirrel sighting to Red Squirrel Watch.  Had to provide date... time... ordinance survey map co-ordinates... the whole nine yards.    They are an endangered species you see.  Once they were the only squirrels in the UK until someone (lets blame the Victorians) brought the bigger Grey Squirrels over from the USA.    They've been eating the Reds out of house and home ever since. 

For some strange reason the Greys haven't populated this little corner of Scotland.   Maybe they don't like rain!! 

I'm rambling now..... it must be time for bed!

Lovely day in store tomorrow.........

Till next time...

Josie X