Monday 2 July 2012

Trouble in Paradise

So be warned..... this post could contain some serious whinging!!

First I want to show you something really pretty.....


I picked up a copy of  McCalls America Makes Fast Quilts and low and behold inside was just the quilt I need to make right now.

It's just the right quilt for me at the moment because it's easy!   It's beginner level.   It's big blocks.  It's simple (supposedly) just like me.   What could possibly go wrong with this one?   I don't want you to answer that.... I can't afford to tempt fate.   All is well so far..... I haven't started it yet!

As luck would have it I have something else pretty to show you.....


I've managed a teenie weenie bit more progress on my Schnibbles soon to be table cover for the conservatory.   Ooop's... I wasn't going to mention the conservatory.   I'm  totally guilt ridden because it's still in the upside down state it was two weeks ago and I feel as much like painting it as I do baring my bum in the Harbour Square and hanging a sign on it saying.... 'Kick Here'!!   

Kitty has been here for the weekend and I have her to thank (!) for bullying encouraging me to save the trimmed triangles from the Schnibbles blocks to make another little project.  The woman is a sadist.   She suggested a mug rug.  I really didn't like the smirk on her face when she made that suggestion.   Click here to understand why.

So.... if you have any ideas (that don't involve mug rugs) as to what to do with these inch and a half (hopefully if I sewed straight) squares


don't keep them to yourself.  Share them... you'll feel better for it.

I'm making some blooming headway on my next Vignette border too....


it's growing slowly unlike the weeds in the garden here.   I've almost reached the halfway mark and I must be honest and tell you I'm still enjoying stitching it.   Just as well because there's still miles more of it to do!

I bet you're wondering why I haven't mentioned my trip to Fobbles for Philippa Naylor's workshop. 
I could say I was saving the best for last but the truth is 99% of the photo's I took were rubbish!   I'm not best friends with my camera at the moment.  Although I suspect the blame for the bad photography is more my fault than the cameras.

This pic of Chris... Sally and Kitty doing their homework turned out ok....


but then it was taken outside... where there was light!    Our stay in the Dairymaids Cottage was lovely... as always.  We ate dinner outdoors most nights.  Nothing short of a miracle this summer!  

Here's a lucky shot of Philippa preparing her next dastardly demo....


I'm only kidding.   She makes even the tough stuff easy to get to grips with.   The workshop was brilliant and we all had a great time.   I'm really ticked off that the photos didn't turn out and I can't show you.

OK.... on the wall tonight is the project I started in class......


I don't know what to say about it except that is so far out of my comfort zone I need to triple my tranqs just to look at it! 

It's my first ever arty farty piece and I am really enjoying working on it.  Believe it or not it does have a meaning but for the moment you're gong to have to guess what that is.    Actually that could be fun.... feel free to tell me what you think it represents.... apart from the fact that I'm loosing my mind that is!

Well...... what do you know.   I was planning on telling you all my troubles... in great detail but talking to you all has cheered me up so much that maybe I won't.    Bet you're relieved about that!    

Look at the time!!    It's really late and I have an early start tomorrow.   I'm taking my mum to get her hearing aid tweaked.    How much fun can one gal have eh!

See you soon....
Be good and have fun....

Josie

10 comments:

Sharon - Lilabelle Lane said...

Dear Josie, I am not a fan of mug rugs myself but I don't have any suggestions for those tiny squares either :( Your first photo in thei post looks beautiful and if you keep up the great work on your Vignette quilt you will have caught up with me very soon :) I love stopping by to catch up, hugs

Anonymous said...

my amusing friend i love reading your posts,you are so funny,i think your piece represnts the flowers in your garden,xx

Wendy said...

I love making mug rugs, and am so sorry that you do not! But you could use the little squares to make a mini quilt to hang in your studio.

HillyFilly said...

You could make them into a border strip & insert on to one side of your quilt for an 'arty' touch or add it to the back... I have bags of these too.. It always seems such a shame to throw them away doesn't it?

Ada Plouvier-Kopitopoulou said...

Love the vignette border you're making. Have a nice week.

Anonymous said...

I attended a lecture by Mary Ellen Hopkins (author of It's Okay If You Sit On My Quilt), and she had a fun idea for those little leftover triangles- you line them up and sew them in a line from point to center until you get a foot or two of them in a string, like flying geese in a row. You keep doing this until you have several strings. Then you safety pin them to the back of your t-shirt and go roller blading or biking. They stream out behind you and look very effective-a little bling in motion. She wore them roller-blading on the Santa Monica Pier and had tourists taking pictures!

Lynette said...

Hehe - Love the tiny triangles. I have a shoebox full of triangle trimmings that I will someday do something with. For now I have the perfect excuse of too many UFOs to finish up, though.

The McCall's and Schnibbles projects are both very lovely. Must be nice to work with those fabrics. And the Vignette border is fantastic! (What did you use to print the sewing guide on the fabric?)

Fun post :)

Deborah said...

How fun to have just found your delightful blog!

Wendy said...

Looks like you're making great progress with your Vignette, I haven't worked on mine for a while :( Your new arty block is beautiful. Hope you're still having lots of fun, Wendy xx

Raewyn said...

So pleased we have all cheered you up -- that's what great about Blogland - a trouble shared is a trouble halved! Your Vignette is lookng great. I have little boxes of triangles too but don't askme what I am saving them for - one day I'll know!! Glad yo enjoyed the workshop - I look forward to seeing your arty piece in more detail!