Fiddly Friday Night With Friends

I had a really great time last night (and a bit of the afternoon too) preparing applique pieces for my  In My Garden   block of the month......

Working on Block 2 here.  Its got pear trees..... dragonflies.... butterflies and a bunch of really cute snails. Unlike the real snails I find in the garden I won't be flexing my throwing arm and hurling them half way across the neighbouring field.   Before you say it.... I know they'll just come back coz their home is here with us but I live in hope they'll find some greener grass and decide to relocate.

I had loads of lovely fiddly bit's to cut out and play with (and occasionally cuss at).  I'm using Ricky Tims Stable Stuff and a fabric glue pen.   The stable stuff is designed to be left inside the quilt... seemingly it softens to fine poly fibres when the quilt is washed.  I'm more than a bit nervous I can tell you.   There are so many tiny applique pieces in this project I'm going to be terrified to wash it for fear they'll all fray and fall off!   Oh me of little faith.    Maybe I can learn to live with a 'stiff' quilt..... hummmm.

Just look... I've numbered every little pear to indicate the tree they belong on and their place on it.   A bit too anal... even for me....  d'ya think?  

Completed prep on these two mini blocks from Block 1 too.   That block is set aside all ready for stitching now.

Can you believe it's almost a year since I made a resolution to get to grips with this and every other BOM I have secreted here.   Well... this is as far as I've got!   I know it's embarrassing isn't it.    Reckon  I'll be carrying that resolution forward for another year.

Now... Mum wanted to say 'Hi'......

she joined in the Friday Night fun with her knitting.  Another completed cardigan for the Preemie Unit and another in the works.....

That's my 6" ruler on the cardigan and the little hat would fit a tennis ball.... so cute.  Hard to imagine a baby so tiny.  

I'd say we both had a successful FNWF.  

All that and a batch of Marmalade Buns too....

I'd say 1 to be taken 3 times a day sounds about right.....

OK... that's all for now.     Maybe the 'prep' bug will bite me again tonight.... makes a change from the darned midge that is biting me to bits right now.   I'm sitting here armed with a spray can of fly killer ready to commit insecticide at a moments notice.

Hope you all had as good a time at FNWF as we did......

See ya soon.... I mean that.

Have a brilliant what's left of your weekend...

Hugs

Josie

HO...HO...HO.......

Santa has been to my house already.........

 courtesy of my SSCS partner Sandy.     Of course I'm not allowed to open this gift until Christmas Day (sitting on my hands here)  but I was allowed to open two packages.....

Isn't that Christmas ornament gorgeous.  The reindeer button is so cute.  That lovely pouch has a matching pincushion inside.  Ahem..... a certain idiot forgot to take it out of the pouch for the photograph.  What was I thinking!   That the camera could take X-Ray photos perhaps....DUH!    I will show you it soon....promise.
Thanks for my presents Sandy....... itching to open the 'BIG' parcel... determined to be a 'good' girl.

Now I'm wondering if you are wondering what I've been up to since I last posted.   Even if you aren't I'm going to tell you anyway coz I'm funny like that and this is my blog after all.     In keeping with the Christmas theme.... I've been going cold turkey!

Yes.... I've ditched all medication and have opted for this instead.....

Victoria Sponge!   It's been a month since I last popped a pill and I think the cake is finally kicking in.... I'm feeling much better.... fatter but better.    It didn't help that I discovered it's not as hard as I thought to bake bread either.....

and it's a whole lot of fun knocking seven bells out of it before it goes in the oven.  Great stress reliever. Who'd have thought!

The last month hasn't all been about baking.... as if!     I've been sewing up a storm too....

 
Licky Lou was a big help in that department.....

she's asked Santa for opposable thumbs for Christmas.......

imagine that!  If he comes through for her she'll be hosting her very own quilting class on Craftsy soon.... wonder if she needs an agent?

Swap gifts have been dispatched.....

headed for two partners who knows where.....

OK... call me cheap because I only bought one roll of wrapping paper and a job lot of ribbon!   It's the thought that counts... right!

I'm in the process of giving my little sewing room a bit of a tidy.......

I'm really pleased with today's effort......  hanging all my rulers.    Great use of the end of the shelving if I do say so myself.    Looks a bit like a quilt shop display don't ya think.

The girls (Chris, Sally, Kitty) and me had an away day to The Fat Quarters where they convinced me that I not only needed this......

but there was actually a good reason why I should have it....... my looming 60th birthday!!!!!    Well... once they'd persuaded me that I was so old I didn't have a minute to waste procrastinating..... I got a bit feckless and bought these too.....

What the heck.....  a gal is only 60 once... right!      Actually it's not my birthday till next week but better a bird in the hand........  etc..etc.

Well... I think that's you all caught up for now.  

Oh..... I've signed up for Friday Night With Friends sew in over at Cheryl's place this week too.   If you haven't signed up already why don't you follow the link and join in right now.    I'll be happy to share my vino..... if you get in quick!

I'm off up the golden staircase to bed now... to sleep?   Nah.... to play on my Nintendo DS for a while.... who says an old dog can't learn new tricks!

Thanks for stopping by.....  taking pity on a lonely old woman..... enough!!  <lol>

Have a great week filled with fun and fecklessness.....
Hugs
Josie

FNSI.... I was there!

I was not only there I was working like a woman with a brain for the first time in a long while.   The old mojo is still there it just takes a bit of coaxing to get it up and running.

Fist off I finished off a batch of  rotary cutting I started earlier in the week.  

How I managed to cut the minuscule ears from 160 tiny triangles using a rotary cutter on a rotating board without lopping off a fingernail or worse beats me but I did it... not an Elastoplast or a drop of blood in sight.    

Then I did a spot of sewing........

if you look closely you can see the odd white triangle sticking up.   Can't show you what I'm sewing because for the moment it's a potential secret.... depends how it works out if it's an actual secret or not.  Hope that makes sense to you.     I'm hard at it working on gifts for a couple of Christmas swaps again this year.    One is between friends and the other is none other than Chookyblues Secret Santa Christmas Swap.   What with that and other little gift making projects I have in the pipeline I reckon you'll be seeing more secret photo's for a while.

Like this one....

another potential secret that I added some stitching to on Friday.    There's another....

must say I love that little spool of YLI silk thread..... gorgeous colour isn't it.    Stitched with it on Friday evening and enjoyed every minute.    

That's it for FNSI projects.   Have to tell you that I didn't do it all on Friday evening I sewed quite a bit during the day too.... lucky me eh!  Well... that's it 

Only thing left to say about FNSI is why don't you pop over to Wendy's  and follow the links to see what everyone else got up to.  

What else....

My laptop suffered a terrible mishap...... I reclined on it!   When I woke after a little nap I found it wedged under my recliner chair.  I'm clueless as to how it got stuck under there but it took some tugging and pulling to get it out.   No sign of damage on the outside.  All seemed well... till I switched it on....

  

That black leaf shaped blob is screen damage!!     Nothing for it but to order a replacement screen... still that's better than forking out for a new laptop any day of the week.

Now... contrary to popular belief I'm no dummy.  I'm savvy enough to replace a screen.   Checked out a 'how to' video on YouTube just to confirm that it was doable and I was all set.   That was until Mac got wind of my intentions and lost no time instructing me on how to do it.

Now... call me stubborn but no way was I going to attempt such a delicate task while wearing industrial rubber gauntlets!    OK.... I know it's electric but I wasn't planning on connecting it to mains power while I dismantled it.  Didn't see the point of standing on a rubber mat for the same reason.  And having one leg tethered to a central heating radiator by a wire to 'earth' me was not going to be happening either.    At least he didn't suggest I wear the wet suit and deep diving flippers he keeps in the loft.... but given time......

Fortunately Chris and Sally were here when the screen arrived and more fortunately Mac was in bed fast asleep (did I mention he's almost nocturnal).   So I got down to business....sans rubber!

In a matter of minutes......

Good as new.     Never underestimate the power of a woman with a screwdriver!

What else.....

Almost forgot to show you the bit of cross stitch I started....

Haven't made my mind up what to do with it yet.... assuming it doesn't disappear down the ufo route.

Took advantage of a dry minute to see what was happening in the garden......

the Sedum is still cheering up a little corner....

love the colour of these Ajuga leaves....

and call me perverse but I think I prefer Hydrangea blooms when they are dying!  They have a lovely antique look.

Bagpuss inspected weeds......

and pointed out some odd looking mushrooms.  Hope Mac doesn't find them......he'll eat them for sure and to my mind these look suspect!    If you're a mushroom expert you might enlighten me.

Baggy and I both got the feeling we were being watched.....

I'm sure this girl thought we couldn't see her.... silly moo!

Hummmm..... I'm wondering if someone put the wrong legs on the front of this one!

Can you tell I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel for something more to say.   Why do I never know when to just shut up.  OK  I'm going to turn off my brain now and settle down to an evening of mindless TV.   Will I stitch?  Don't know.... depends how long I can resist the bottle of Shiraz in the kitchen.... not long I think! 

So.... it's bye, bye from me for now.    Have a great week and I'll see you soon.....how about that for optimism! :o)

Hugs

Josie

Claiming my blog!

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3533009/?claim=kk3dvr2fy3x">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Haven't got the hang of the whole Bloglovin thing yet.   Seems I have to lay claim to my blog.... as if anyone else would want it!    I only hope I'm doing this right.

Just so you haven't come here for nothing.....

A brave but foolhardy  Bagpuss laid claim to Licky Lou's favourite chair in the conservatory.    Not hard to see the kind of snit she's in.   I won't tell you what happened next..... it involved a lot of flying fur!  
Ho Hum...... that's cats for you.

Hope you all had a great weekend....
See you very soon
Hugs
Josie

Stash Crisis!

One bright and sunny morning  with  laptop tuned into the Craftsy Class I began work on my Tinker Tote.   

I don't normally need sewing supervision but Licky Lou obviously thought differently.   Have to say she took her self appointed role of Quality Controller very seriously......

given half a chance she'd have had her nose under the needle.    Won't tell you how long it took me to choose fabric ( it's way too embarrassing) but eventually the first side was finished.

Quickly got the hang of the quilt as you go method of making the bag.

Second side is almost done now too.

It's easy as long as you're not the sort of gal who finds the concept of 'random' piecing somewhat akin to having your fingernails pulled with rusty pliers (or having a boil treated by your mother)

Since I mentioned my mother.....

she and her woolly stash (this is the tip of the iceberg... you can't move for the stuff) are making yet another take over bid for my little sewing room.

I tried to get her to tidy up......

she flapped her knitted pseudo elephant ears at me.    When I tried to force the issue.... 

she threatened to yarn bomb me!!     I'd have defied her but I know she's too good a shot.    In case you're wondering she's back to knitting squares again.   Not for the Dog's Home this time.  This time her needles of fire are clicking furiously to help knit enough squares to  make a story blanket for the Minister at Chris's Church.   I have to keep reminding her they only want a blanket.... not a fitted carpet!  

Now for my Stash Crisis.    After years of randomly squirrelling fabric in tubs and boxes in nooks and crannies everywhere I have a burning desire to get rid of it!!    Not all of it of  (heaven forbid).  But enough to substantially reduce the fabric mountain and maybe warrant buying a few of the trendy fabrics I love and don't have room for ;o)   I need to make scrap quilts and I need to make them NOW!!  

Now (before you mention it) I know need to finish all the ones I've got that are in various stages of construction too.     We all have those... don't we?  Makes me feel so much better knowing I'm not alone ;o)

So... wish me luck and watch this space.

What else.

There hasn't been a good day to get to grips with the Flame Gun yet.   It's way too wet and 'steaming' weeds is not the object of the exercise.  It was decided that Maintenance Man would be the one to burn off the weeds.   However...   Mac obviously wanted to be the first to use it (it's a man thing)  so he sneaked out early one morning.   I almost had a fit when I looked out of the landing window and saw him shooting flames across the drive.  Puff the Magic Dragon had nothing on him!   Good job there were only a few cows about to witness me flapping about in my dressing gown trying to stop him from melting the soles of his trainers and spot welding himself to the gravel.   That strip is as far as he got before thinking better of it and beating a hasty retreat back to his workshop.  Thank goodness.

What else...

It's official.... I have M.E.... and here was me thinking I was morphing into a sloth!  Fortunately I  now have some medication to help with some of the symptoms.   Unfortunately my little brain is so worn out some days it just won't boot up.   Deletes words when I'm in the middle of a sentence...  makes me look like a real numpty (idiot) in conversation.   Makes it hard to string a written sentence together too hence the lack of blog posts and comments this past few weeks.   Heck... it's taken me so long to write this post my hair has grown an inch!

Never mind..... it's not going to get in the way of my plan to decimate my stash!     Like I said... watch this space.

OK..... I'd better publish this post before my brain does something stupid like deletes it.   Believe me it has happened!

Hope you are all beavering away creating beautiful things to brighten your world but if you happen to be making a mess of everything you touch right now... join the club!! :o))

See you soon.....

Hugs

Josie

Be More Dog!

Are you feeling listless and down in the dumps?  Lost you joie de vivre?  Been a while since you saw your mojo?    Do yourself a favour and take a look at this.......

OK...   have you decided to 'Be More Dog'?    I have and it's cheered me up no end.   I don't intend to go the whole way with it though.... there are certain body parts I can't reach even if I did feel the urge to lick them!

While I haven't actually being sewing much this last couple of weeks I haven't been totally cut off from all things stitchy.    I signed up for another great Craftsy class....

settled down with a cup of tea and a biscuit (or two) and devoured the whole class in one sitting.

Thoroughly enjoyed it and got so engrossed by the time the video ended I felt like I'd actually made a bag (wishful thinking)!   I did make a start......

I printed out the pattern and prepared it ready to go.    In the pic I've not quite finished trimming the handle part of the pattern.   Honestly... I'd have carried on and worked till the cows came home to make the bag if I'd had all the fixings to do so.    Had to order then wait for some interfacing and canvas to arrive.   It's here now so no excuses for not tinkering with my Tinker Tote this weekend.   Kitty is coming down for a couple of days and I'm sure she'll crack the whip.

What else.

Chris.... Sally and me had a play day.   We decided to work on some little embroidery kits we picked up.....

this is me 'distressing' a piece of organza by singeing the edges.   That part wasn't in the instructions it just seemed like a good idea at the time..... till it caught fire!  

The three of us had a great time stitching.....

Above is Chris's .....below is Sally's

and finally....mine

OK.... I didn't get finished... surprise!   I'm just excited that my fingers are getting back to normal and I can stitch again :o))   Happy day.

What else...

A visit to a local antique (junk) shop paid dividends.   I found this....

A great mirror that's exactly what I had in mind for my bedroom.  It's blemish free and well worth every penny of the £20 price tag.   It's next on the list of things to be painted.

Still doing battle with these dastardly things....

I've lost count of how many I pulled or poisoned this summer and still they keep on coming.  Look....

there wasn't a weed in sight a week ago....grrrrrrrrr!   I will not be beaten.... NO!    I have a new weapon in my weed killing armoury.....

a Flame Gun..... I don't mess about.   Mac has made me promise I'll have a hose pipe with me at all times in case I accidentally incinerate something I shouldn't.... he's fond of that caravan (shed).  Hummm... maybe giving the ability to shoot flames to a middle aged woman in a bit of a snit isn't such a good idea.

Well.... I'd better get going.   It's time I walked down to the post box to see what goodies the postman has brought me.    Fingers crossed it's something nice and not more junk mail and bills!

Hope you are all in good fettle and are milking every opportunity for having fun that comes your way...

See you soon (hopefully with a finished Tinker Tote to show)

Hugs
Josie  xxxxx