There ain't no cure.....

for the Summertime Blues!

Tell me does this look like an idyllic summer day to you.....

I didn't think so!  

That abandoned wheelbarrow has been there for a month.  Ever since the day it started to rain while I was doing some garden clearance.   It hasn't stopped raining since!     You know that old adage about one Swallow not making a summer...... well....

it seems that four Swallows don't make a summer either.   They're camping out under the portico over the kitchen door waiting till it's time to head off to Africa.   At least they get to go to Africa.... where the sun actually shines.  

Enough whinging about the weather although I have to say it's a national pastime in the UK and we're internationally famous for it.  On with some sewing stuff then.......

I can't show you any actual sewing because the projects I've been working on are top secret and I'm not clever enough with my camera to take any of those blurry shots that keep you guessing.  So I'm going to show you some goodies I bought recently.

Chris, Sally, Kitty and little (!) me headed off for couple of days at the Quilt Festival in Birmingham.  It was touch and go whether I'd get to go this year but my luck held.    Can't show you any photo's of the fabulous quilts we saw there I'm afraid..... I was half way down the M6 Motorway when I realised I'd left my camera behind!   Idiot!!

OK.... here's the goodies I bought there......

I love Don't Look Now patterns.   Thank goodness I had the foresight to buy some great jelly strips of Rowan fabrics for the applique.   Sound like a good reason for buying more fabric to you?   I thought so!

Now for a pattern I've had my beady eye on for a while....

It's 'The English Basket Quilt' by Corliss Searcey.    I picked up my copy at Petra Prins booth at the show.  Got those great templates there too.  They have nothing at all to do with the basket quilt.... I just liked them.  Besides as I'm getting older and my eyesight fails the luminous yellow templates will be easy to see.  Makes them an essential buy don't ya think.

You know I love applique and doing it every which way don't you.  Well... now I'm all tooled up for yet another method.....

The very first demo we watched at the show was at the Girona Artquilt booth.... about 5 minutes after we rushed in the door on day one.   Check out that link..... there's a little video on the right hand side of the page showing the tools in action.     I saw in an instant how invaluable they'd be as I get older and my little (!) fingers are not quite so deft.   Whoever tells Mac that a couple of double point knitting needles would do the same job... cheaper... is a dead woman.  Capiche!! 

Now... a book that was actually top of my shopping list for the show.....

I know a lot of you already have a copy.  I was tempted to order online but held off in case I went to Birmingham and could pick up a copy  'postage free'.   How about that for frugal then.

Then came these...

Reiko Kato's cute book has lots of tiny applique that I can try out my new tools on.  As for Aunt Millie's Garden pattern... it was on sale and it would have been silly to miss out on a reduction ... wouldn't it?  Of course it would.  Another Brownie Point for frugality to me then.

That's about it.    I did pick up a few nice fat quarters for my little basket stash and a couple more for Dear Jane and that's about it.

It could have been worse but I'm not exactly firing on all cylinders at the moment.   However... I have a plan....

I'm going to be a Cavewoman!!   Just as long as I don't have to wear a fur frock with no knickers that is.    I'm on my third day without wheat or grains of any sort.  So far.. so good.  I haven't killed anyone or chewed off my own arm..... yet!    Strangely enough.... I think I'm feeling a bit better already.

I'm going to leave you with a dire warning....... Don't Play With Puppies.... they're Dangerous!!   Chris played with the new pup on her farm and look what happened to her....

she could barely see to trace her stitcheries!   Her poor husband is having an awful time trying to persuade people that.... the dog did it!!    Be warned.

That's all for now.   Keep up all your good work..... reading your blogs is keeping me this side of sane right now.  

I'm off to nibble a few nuts before bedtime.....

Have fun

See ya soon

Josie

  

Blue......

definitely my favourite colour when it comes to skies!

I can't stop looking at it.  Can't get the stupid grin off my face either.  One sunny day and I'm euphoric!

Ok....  so the table cover in the photo still isn't finished.  I can't decide on the border although I am leaning towards a wavy one.  I've never scalloped and bound an edge before so it'll be a learning curve.    I need to buy fabric for it too.... once I decide on the colour of the binding.  This could take a while.

The conservatory still isn't decorated although I have made some progress in transforming the window sills from varnished mahogany to brilliant white gloss.  Wow... it makes the room look so much wider and lighter.

I'm painting Macs old standard lamp white too.  It was looking way more shabby than chic....definitely time for a change.

I've a few more baskets appliqued......

If calling 4 'a few' isn't too much of a stretch.   I've glued up another few....

all ready to stitch.    Then I got sidetracked... again!

Unfortunately I can't show you  the projects I'm working on as they've got something to do with my Christmas Angels Swap.  I'm sure you wouldn't want me to spoil any surprises. 

I didn't even let the arrival of these.......

tempt me to take off my Christmas Angel costume  (I'm a method stitcher) and dive right in to yet another diversionary project.  Though I was tempted to gather up all the zips in the house and insert them into.... anything and everything!  Lisa makes inserting zippers (in more ways than one) look ridiculously easy.  Heck she doesn't even swear.... not once!  I've got some purse frames and soopa doopa fabric glue in here somewhere.  I think I deserve a gold medal for resisting an urge.... don't you.

What else.....

I started another garden clearance chore....

 
The photo's don't come close to showing the sheer scale of the job in hand!    The great guy who did the stock fencing came back and felled five 20 foot fir trees that had outgrown their space.  I was jumping for joy.... until I realised who'd got the job of clearing away all the debris!    Honestly.... if I'd wanted to be a Lumberjack I'd have emigrated to Canada!! 

Now that I've mentioned the new stock fencing I can tell you.... it isn't working!    The fence is great... strong, upright and true.   It's the cows that are the problem... they're sneaky!  They've taken to just strolling up the drive and coming into the garden through the front gate!!!   I've only got one thing to say about that.....   Bullocks!!!!!

Well now..... I've got days more clearing to do in the garden and the conservatory waiting to be painted.   I must be really busy...right?    Wrong!!    I'm currently on 'staycation' and I'm loving every minute of it.   Last week I totally ran out of steam.  Hit a brick wall.  My get up and go..... got up and went!   You know you have a problem when you don't even notice your knickers are on back to front.  Apart from the fact that you're walking a bit funny that is.

So... I'm on holiday.... right here!    You should try it.... it's great.   Guilt free sitting.   Guilt free watching Olympics. Guilt free stitching (or not).   Guilt free snoozing in a comfy recliner.  Guilt free....... heck I could go on and on but I reckon you get the picture.    How long I can make it last I don't know....  watch this space.

OK.... I'd better get going.   I've got more lazing about to fit in before bed time!    I will catch up with life soon but for the moment I'm enjoying my 'go slow'.     Time to breathe.... bliss! 

See you soon.... calmer and more collected

In the meantime..... relax and have fun.... you deserve it!

Hugs
Josie

Basket Case.....

or a simple case of irresistible baskets?

I've succumbed... again!   The lure of hundreds of gorgeous little baskets over at Supergoof finally got to me.   I promised myself I wouldn't start any more projects till I finish at least one of the multitude of works in progress.   I can't think of a good reason for doing this......

therefore  it's obvious I have no willpower whatsoever!

I knew the packs of A4 sheets of freezer paper I bought would come in useful one day.  I made a master template of the basket shapes on card then photocopied it onto the reverse of the freezer paper.  Cutting out the paper baskets was very therapeutic.  I was having a bad day!

Found a bit of relaxation in doing this too.....

pressing freezer paper to fabric then cutting out... turning... and tacking the little shapes.   There is something to be said for taking it slow and tacking these little baskets.   So what if it isn't as quick as starch  it's really enjoyable and gives a nice result.

Now the Eagle Eyed amongst you might have noticed the blocks behind the baskets......

see.....I haven't forgotten the table topper for the conservatory.   I haven't progressed much further on it either.   So far I've joined  one and a half rows.... that's six blocks.  Only ten to go..... how long that's going to take me is anyones guess.

I should be shot for not finishing my Schnibbles but I was so enjoying these...

This is the first time I've tried out applique with the freezer paper left inside till the stitching is done.  It felt a bit funny to a gal who's used to sticking everything.  I admit....I did use a bit of glue baste to attach the baskets to the backgrounds.   There is only so much tacking I can take!

When the stitching was done I trimmed out the basket backs and removed the paper.   This is how they look on the backside.....

I luv em!!!       Can you look at these little cuties without wanting to make some of your own?   If the answer is 'yes'.... you really should have talked to me earlier.  You could have saved me from starting another time consuming if ever so gorgeous not to mention cute project.

OK... what else.    I have stitched another foot or so of my Vignette flower border.  I'm not going to bore you with another photo of that.   It's growing slowly but surely.     I also decided I'd make more Dear Jane blocks... ahem.... that was before the baskets got to me!   

What else...... there have been visitors in my little room.

First off... my Mum.......

she spent a day finishing off her latest batch of little vests for Aids Babies in Africa.   They've to be knitted to a very basic 'T' pattern and should be really colourful.   Mum knits them in the round on 4 needles to avoid scratchy seams.    She's back to making dog blankets for Dumfries & Galloway Canine Rescue right now then it'll be back to cardigans and hats for the Premie Babies at Dumfries hospital.    She's such a well organised get on and get it done type.... who'd have thought she'd be my mum!   Certainly not me!! 

Then came Tina with her hexies.....

and let me tell you they are perfect.   I really mean.... PERFECT!   She's sewn them with invisible thread (masochist) and I promise there is not a single stitch to be seen anywhere.   She's using Minick and Simpson's Bar Harbour fabric.   It's lovely.  So far she's made 10 rows and is working on the connecting hexies.   How come she started making hexies way after I did and yet she's nearly finished?    Don't answer that!

Then came Chris and Sally.    Chris finished off a kit she bought at the Quilt Festival in Birmingham last year....

Another pretty flimsy added to her heap of tops waiting to be quilted!   Alright....don't get your knickers in a knot Chris.... I know I'm as bad as you.   We both live in fear of the  MACHINES!!!!!!!

Sally is fortunately... fearless (she doesn't know any better)!    However she's sticking to a bit of safe stitchery for now.....

she's got the first two blocks of the Fernhill Button Club all done and dusted and they look so cute!  NO.... I'm am not starting mine anytime soon.... I think!

Well... that's it for all the crafty stuff that's been happening here.    I've still not painted out the Conservatory.  Still blushing with shame.   I have worked in the garden... between torrential downpours.  I swear the whole population of the UK will be conscripted into Ark Building before long.  I really feel for all you folks in England hit by the floods.  For once Scotland hasn't fared too badly in terms of flooding but we certainly have had way more rain than is natural.  

Good news...... we have new stock fencing around the garden.....

no more sheep sneaking in here.

No more uninvited cows getting in either.... oh joy!    I'm getting to old... slow and nervous to chase them round the garden.

Flowers are blooming.....

I love Alstromeria...

pretty eh!

That's all my news.   Not a lot considering I haven't posted for 17 days... not that I'm counting.    I do want you all to know that I'm still reading your blogs and loving them.   I'm only sorry that I haven't been commenting as much as I'd like to.

Mac's health problems are changing in a very worrying way.   He is oblivious to the changes and I'm stressed to the point of twanging like overstretched knicker elastic.... and belived me I know everything there is to know about that!     Who knows.... one day the medical profession might step up to the plate and see to it he gets the help he needs.  At the moment there is more chance of Pigs flying over Parliament!   Don't get me started on Parliament!!!!!!!!     Oooop's sorry.... you didn't... did you!  ;o)

I'm going before I drag my soapbox into the middle of the floor.   If I start to rant tonight.... I'll never stop!

Hope you are all enjoying life and having a lovely time doing whatever makes you happy.   I've got my beady eye on you all....

See you sooner rather than later....
Hugs
Josie 

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

Useless!!!

I've been nothing short of totally useless for the last couple of weeks.    I've done nothing..... well almost nothing. 

On the sewing front I did manage to start work on my Schnibbles table cover.....

see..... I'm chain piecing 

I could have stopped here... called it bunting and claimed it as a finished project.  But I just can't tell a lie.

Actually I might have told a little white lie if there hadn't been witnesses.......

Chris........ who looks very happy to be stitching a few more Hexies

and Sally showing off her progress on her Fernhill block of the month.    Chris and I haven't started ours yet! 

I found time to cross stitch another bunny......



poor soul.  Her feet aren't finished and her baby is faceless..... looks creepy.   Don't know what I'm going to do with her... yet.

I finished the Humming Birds  ....

Don't they look cheerful.   Don't know if I'll turn them into a scissor fob or do something different with them.  I'm waiting for inspiration..... so don't hold your breath.

Bagpuss says to tell you he's been helping me out.....

he thinks you'll believe that he's actually stitching the next yard of Vignette border.   You don't do you?

That's it.   That's all I've managed to stitch/sew in the last two weeks!

I wish I could tell you that I've been super busy working on the house but that would be a big lie.  This is how the conservatory looks right now....

this is it from the other end.....

I should have finished decorating it by now but all I've managed so far is to repair the plasterwork where we had leaks.  Good news is it's been pouring with rain for the last two days and not a single drop has made it inside.   If it can stand the deluge we've just had it can stand anything.

The builders are almost done.....

The house is looking very.... white!    You need sunglasses to look at it.     Next job for me... power washing the paths and patio.  That will have to wait till I get back.

Chris... Sally... Kitty and me are off to Fobbles tomorrow for a 5 day workshop with Philippa Naylor.  It's Sally's first ever quilting workshop and she's terrified (don't tell her I told you).   The workshop is called 'Drama & Detail'....Studies in Contemporary Machine Applique and Free Motion Machine Quilting!   nothing to panic about there then (gulp).    Better make sure I pack extra tranq's! 

Too late to back out now my bags are packed....

I only wish my brain was as organised as my equipment!  I've just been chatting to Kitty on the phone about our trip.  She was really surprised to hear that I'm looking forward to getting to grips with Invisible Machine Macrame!!    Do you think there could be a market for that?   Reckon I really do need to sleep. I give in. I'm off to bed right now.....

See ya soon

have a brilliant week everyone

Hugs

Josie

Crazy Days.....

I swear if my life gets any crazier I'm going to hand myself in at the asylum before they send a truck to pick me up! 

Before I say anything else here's a photo of the very last block of Boys Story....

just got to attach it to it's pals and the quilt top is done... fini... complete.    Phew!!    Now I've just got to do battle with this beast and get it quilted.   Apologies for Chris's wellington boots making it into the photo and the free advertising for Morrisons supermarket. 

Tilly visited for almost a week.   I was counting on some more free labour in the garden but the weather got in the way.   We had a heatwave.  It actually got hot in Scotland... can you believe that!  So hot that we just couldn't go outside.   Not during the hours of daylight anyway and as for going out in the dark - it gets really spooky here what with the Owls and the Bats etc!

For some strange reason Tilly did more sewing than me.   She finished off both of these....

I particularly like the little rabbit pincushion.  It's the same design I stitched but Tilly did hers with one strand of cotton over one thread of fabric.  That is one midget rabbit..... and I  thought I was OCD!

Tilly, Chris, Sally and I went on an away day too.   We travelled down to the the North East of England to visit a couple of quilt stores.... what else.   First off we hit the The Fat Quarters.......

That's Chris and Sally on the outside looking in.  I hadn't a clue they were out there till I saw the photo.  Maybe they'd gone outside to get some fresh air.  Fabric fumes are dangerous after all... a girl can so easily loose control of her senses not to mention her credit card. 

With such temptation.....

It's a wonder we didn't blow our credit limits!   I was very good.  I limited myself to 10 fat quarters to top up my Dear Jane stash.... a packet of 1/2" hexie papers and  this stitchery pattern by Kathy Schmitz.  It reminded me of home.

We discovered a new Yarn Store had opened right next door.  Of course we had to have a look in there too.....

it's called Woolaballoo  great name eh!   Wool fumes must behave just like fabric ones because both Chris and I left with enough cotton yarn to knit a dozen baby beanie hats.   Heck.... I don't even know any babies!  The hats are really cute though and the yarn colours are gorgeous.

Next stop was Just Quilting and another lovely selection of fabrics.  Sadly the photo's I took inside didn't come out too well so you'll just have to take my word that it's a lovely friendly store with a gorgeous selection of fabrics.   Does this remind you of anything?......

It should do..... it's the quilt pattern that I bought at the Edinburgh Quilt Show last September

the version at Just Quilting was made in Etchings by Three Sisters for Moda.   Hummm... now I can't decide which one I like best.... no surprise there.

Well... that's it for the quilty stuff.    Lots of other things happened like my old faith full 4x4 chose this week to play up.  Have to say it's the first time ever she's been temperamental.   She's been stopping and refusing to start again on and off all week until yesterday when she just took the huff and refused to start at all.  It didn't help that I was 40 miles from home at the time.  It could have been worse.... I suppose.

I'm busy trying to decorate the conservatory now that the external repairs have been done and we are watertight again.  Problem is I just bought the small white table and two chairs that you can see in the first photo and now I'm far more interested in making a quilted cloth for the table than repairing plasterwork and painting.

I bought  this PDF pattern today....

my very first Schnibbles pattern.  I think it'll be perfect cover for my new table.... what do you think?

Ok.... I'd better go now.  It's getting late and I desperately need to get some beauty sleep.   I must work in the conservatory tomorrow so all hope of playing with my Schnibbles pattern is going to have to go on hold till Monday.

Hope you are having a great weekend where you are.   It's the Queens Diamond Jubilee this weekend...  didn't she do well.   God Save The Queen.... bless her cotton socks!

See ya soon....  be good
Hugs
Josie