Yoo-hoo......I'm back!

Did you miss me (just a little bit)?   I missed all of you... loads.

It's been a strange old summer here.   Life has been taking so many pot shots at me this last few weeks I'm worn out from dodging bullets.   More about that later (maybe).   

I can hardly wait to show you this....

the dastardly quilt frame has a new home in the conservatory.    Perfect place for it don't you think.  Lots of light and plenty of room to wrestle with quilts.   Now all it needs is a quilt on it.......

It took all of my negotiating skills (and one or two threats of violence) before Mac finally agreed that the dining table and chairs could go to make room for the frame.    I would have preferred them to go far away to a new home where someone would love them again but Mac (the pack rat) wasn't having any of that. They are now stashed in the caravan (mobile shed).   Don't you just love a compromise.... better than murder and much less messy!

Now I've something else to show you. Something that I'm thrilled to bits with.....

my first piece of hand painted (by me) furniture.    Amazing what you can so with a can of Laura Ashley Pale Duck Egg paint and a few knobs!   I dismantled all the door furniture,  cleaned and oiled the hinges,   fitted new magnetic catches and put the whole lot back together again all by myself too.   Now I'm on the hunt for more things to paint .... my pine bed perhaps.... I'm thinking big!

Picked up a new lampshade for the standard lamp on a trip to Ikea.   Love the stitching on it and loved the price too.    Oh... and I painted the lamp stand with leftover duck egg paint too.   Waste not... want not  ;o)

Now I have a confession...... I signed up for both FNWF and FNSI this month and didn't post after either of them!   A crime worthy of being put in the stocks and pelted with rotten eggs for and one for which I am shamefaced and sorry.    No excuses.... when push came to shove.... I lost the ability to communicate.   No words would come however hard I tried to write.    Like I said.... it's been a strange old summer here.

I did work on FNWF.    Kitty was here visiting so she joined in too......

    

get a load of those blue fingernails.... they match her car!!   Honest. 

I thought starting a new project would be just the tonic I needed....

I'm hiding behind the pattern because I look as rough as a Badgers behind (being polite here).   Now... because my fingers were still misbehaving  I decided to prep the applique using the  Apliquick tools I bought at the Quilt Festival last year..... 

I cut out shapes in lightweight fusible Vilene (medium weight is recommended but... you know me).   Yes... that is a glass of Chardonnay sitting next to me.   I make no apology for being tipsy in charge of  an iron when I fused the shapes onto the back of the fabric.   Luck was on my side and I didn't mess up.   Next I took up my tools (they look like metal chopsticks don't they) and with a little bit of fabric glue on the seam allowance I started shaping.

The tool in my left hand is a little heavier than the right and has a forked end to help hold and steady the applique shape.  The right hand tool has both a point and a shaped wedge  to smooth over the seam.  It's amazingly easy!   Makes small pieces so much easier to handle... especially if you are feeling all fingers and thumbs.     

I managed to prep this block while Kitty stitched

Flushed with success I prepped this one too.....

So....why didn't I post about it?     Hummmmm......

Followed through with the same project on FNSI  when I prepped these......

those of you who are observant will no doubt notice that my fountain block is facing the wrong way!  Oh well... I never claimed to be perfect! :o)  Now I have four mini blocks waiting till I can stitch again.

So why didn't I post about these either?   Hummmmm........

I give in.  I'll tell you.  I might be about to indulge in a bit of a whinge so I'll apologise now just in case.  

I've been depressed!  There... now you know.     Hurting all over and feeling constantly exhausted will to that to a gal.     

After a lot of blood tests and visits to 2 doctors so far I've been referred to a third  GP... to check for ME.   That's the chronic fatigue ME not the me...me!    Are you with me?   Reckon I'm the surgery's 'hot potato' right now.    So far they've diagnosed Diabetes and a dodgy thyroid!  Do I win a goldfish?   Nah... just more tests!   Luckily my blood sugars are normal I just failed the glucose tolerance test.  Seemingly it's genetic..... Dr said I should have taken more care when selecting my parents!   I really must speak to my mum about the milkman!   Dodgy thyroid could be caused by an infection and might clear up on it's own.... fingers crossed.   See what I mean about dodging bullets!     

But......I'm writing again..... yippee...... things are looking up!  

I can see a lot of blog visiting happening soon ..... something else I've been unable to do recently.  Boy does it feel good to be getting back to normal (!).   

OK..... I'm going to shut up now before I bore you all to bits.    It's time for a glass of wine and an hour of mindless TV before I turn in for the night.    

Hope you've all been having a great summer.....  

See ya soon 

Hugs

Josie