FNSI tonight!

They say when life hands you lemons.... make lemonade and that is just what I'm doing today.

I'm not really making lemonade I'm signing up for FNSI.... better late than never eh!   I can't for the life of me figure out how to get a link attached to the above photo but if you're up for a last minute bit of self indulgent sewing pleasure then click on the link on the sidebar and it'll take you to sign up.

 I should have been in Edinburgh today having a fun time with Sally, Kitty and Tilly at the Scottish Quilt Championships but I had to pull out at the last minute.   That's why I didn't get to sign up sooner.    In case you think we were planning on sneaking off without Chris.... she's touring New England USA with her DH right now... jammy devil!  Hope she's finding some gorgeous quilt stores to tell us about when she gets back.

OK.... I'm off to sort out something nice to do this evening.    Hope all the rest of you FINSIers have fun too.  I'm looking forward to seeing what you all get up to tonight.

Have fun!
See ya soon
Josie

The end is nigh!

Don't worry!    Mac hasn't convinced me that the world will end on 21st December (however hard he tries).   Well... it would make stitching Christmas Swap gifts a bit of a waste of time wouldn't it.   The end I'm talking about is.....

the end of another yard of my Vignette flower border.   I'm so far behind with this project it just isn't funny.  As soon as I've finished Christmas stitching (and providing the world doesn't actually end)  I'm going to knuckle down and stitch like a woman possessed to catch up.  Feel free to remind me I said that.

Here's the tiniest of sneak peeks of something I've been working on.

All I can say is I loved stitching it.... oh... and it's finished.  One in the bag for me then!  Happy days.

I wasn't so happy yesterday when I was pulling the place apart looking for an embroidery floss.  Frustration resulted in this.......

I finally got out the Floss-a-Way bags I bought ages ago and made a start organising my stash of floss.  Don't think for a minute this is all I have.... it's the tip of the iceberg!      Doesn't my table look tidy.  Tidier than normal anyway.  I've been having a bit of a sort out.   This room could really do with a massive re-organise but there is no hope of that any time soon.

I'm hoping to speed up stitching projects with this......

I love the idea of being able to photocopy stitchery designs and 'stick' them onto the fabric.  No more time consuming tracing of really detailed patterns.  Sounds too good to be true.   You stitch through the Solvy then pop the finished article into warm water and it disappears.... maybe I'll try just a small piece to be sure.    A whole roll of it is winging it's way here right now.... can't come fast enough for me.

Now... I just have to show you what I saw through the kitchen window first thing this morning.....

a little family of Deer.   There were actually three of them in the garden just yards from the window.   It was early... still a bit misty and raining heavily.  I grabbed my camera and just hoped for the best.  Taking shots through the window is not so good... especially when the window is not as clean as it could be !

Those little critters put a big smile on my face for sure.  Breakfast made sure the smile stayed a bit longer.....

Strawberries.... Greek yogurt and fabulous grain free toasted muesli.   I am loving the whole Primal Living thing.  I feel great.  Full of energy.  And the best part is the pounds are dropping off... all by themselves!!   Mac might just get back the woman he proposed to.   He hasn't been legally married to a third of me for years! 

Before I go I wanted to mention that I've turned off word verification on comments.   I hate those horrible jumbled letters myself so I'm glad to see the back of it.   I am having a problem though.   I'm getting strange 'Anonymous' comments.   Only one of them has shown on a blog post.... I deleted it.  The rest appear in my e.mail and look for all the world like they've come from Blogger ....but... they don't appear on the blog and the text is a bit 'off'.    Strange!    Even though they are anonymous all of them have a name with a link to click.  Obviously I don't.  I'm way too suspicious for that.   I'm just wondering if I'm alone in this or are others out there having the same problem.

OK.... I must go.  I'll never reach the end of that flower border if I don't knuckle down to it. Besides I need the quiet time to think about more Christmas swap gifts.  I wish I was more decisive! 

Hope you are fit and having fun doing what makes you happy

Till next time
See ya
Josie X



Play Day!

I'm really late showing you photos of our play day.... one week late to be exact.   This is what happened last Monday when Chris and Sally and I got together to try something completely different.

Felt making!

Sally wasted no time in getting stuck in.....

And Chris threw herself into it with gay abandon.   Me, I was a bit slower.... mainly because I was the one reading the instructions out loud and it's tricky to work with wool in one hand and a book in the other.

Stage two.......

I bet this is the one and only time they've had fun doing anything that resembles cleaning!   At this point the potential felt had been wetted, covered with tutu (every girl should have one) netting and liberally rubbed with Olive Oil Soap.   The Dynamic Duo are now aggitating it with balls of bubble wrap.  I don't know how well they were doing with the felt but they were certainly aggitating me. 

Felting is not something I've had any sucess with.   I decided to felt a Spectacle Case for Chris's birthday... a few years back.   Did everything as per the instructions.  Made a card template and felted around it so I could make a moulded one piece case.   Ambitious eh!    I rubbed and scrubbed at it till I was blue in the face to make sure it was really going to be felted then removed the template and set it aside to dry. 

Imagine my surprise next morning when I discovered I'd made a mobile phone cozy.... for a small mobile phone!!   It wasn't my best creation not when you consider that in parts it was as thick as a slice of bread and in others you could see right through it!    Still... it was made with love and Chris treasures it to this day (if I find out otherwise she's a dead woman)!  

Back to the felt in hand...... this is how it all turned out

This piece belongs to Sally.  I really don't know what it's going to end up as but I think she's going to embellish it with bats hanging from the branches of the tree.... she's strange like that.   It has a bit of a surreal look don't ya think.... that's Sally all over!

Now this bit belongs to Chris.   I think you can tell that she's a farm girl (actually so is Sally... funny that) with her depiction of a meadow full of flowers catching the last of  the sunshine before a huge storm hits.  Have to say it's a work of imagination.... her fields are full of dairy cows and dairy cow dung.  Wonder why she didn't go for realism.

Now for mine....

Well I did tell you that feltmaking isn't my forte!    It's supposed to be a garden of flowers but it looks more like someone just let go of a bunch of balloons.   The bit of pink and green scrim that I artfully (!) arranged is now no more..... I picked it off!   What can you say..... stick with the day job?

Here's something I did manage to make sucessfully........

LUNCH!   

If you fancy a Mediterranean  style warm bacon and egg salad you know where to come.  Bet you didn't know Cavewomen ate so well... yummy.

Well... I'd better go.   Cat's need their supper and I need to stitch a bit more before bedtime.

Hope you are enjoying yourself..... wherever you are and whatever you are doing.....

Take care

Till next time....

Josie

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