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

A bit more B.S!

Things are looking up.    My mojo is holding and I'm having fun working on Boys Story.    Sunday I got to work piecing the Alien block.

 Take a look at that shiny new window pane in my craft room.   You can actually see what's outside now.  The Double Glazing man came out last week and replaced all the 'blown' units including this one.  It's much brighter in here now. 

Sunday wasn't all about playing with fabric.   My Mum came over for a painting lesson.   Boy... you know how folks warn you about teaching relatives to drive.... well the same should apply to painting.   Wasn't as bad as it could have been though we both lived to tell the tale......

Once Picasso had settled in  I carried on stitching......

and finished the block.    Here's how the whole quilt is looking now....

Just the Dog block to fit in the bottom corner and I'm working on that one.   So near eh!

It's a sunny day in Scotland.... for a change!    Work on the front of the house is under way.....

Can't tell you how good it feels to have help with the maintenence.  I can't wipe the grin off my face... feels like all my Christmas's have come at once.  Yeh... that good!!

One of my favourite flowers is beginning to bloom....

it's an Astrantia... also know as Hattie's Pincushion.   An appropriate flower for a stitcher eh.

Lastly...... Mac hasn't been well enough to do a second rotavation on his veggie bed......

but there is a nice crop of  'green manure' there now ready to be plowed in.   I offered to rotavate for him but he won't let me.  He's convinced I'll be minus my toes if he lets me loose with the machine.

That's about it for today.   Hope you all feel as happy and content as I do right now..... amazing how watching men at work can perk a gal up isn't it!

See ya soon.... have fun

Hugs

Josie 

Time to find out who won.........

so here goes......

This is the scene in Macs workshop just after he'd dipped into the tin of folded blog comments to pick a winner....

Now for the big reveal.  Wait for it.........

Congratulations......  SHARON FROM LILABELLE LANE   it's you!!!    Your new book and charm packs will be winging their way down under very soon.   I for one can't wait to see what you'll create with them.

I've been feeling like I won a prize too this last couple of days too..... my mojo is slowly coming back!  OK.. I didn't tell you all I'd lost it in case you got to thinking that all I do is whinge but the truth is I've been finding it hard to pick up any sort of stitching/sewing this past few weeks.

Until now that is....

I'm finally getting to grips with finishing off  the Boy's Story quilt for Mac.   The fish block is now pieced only the Alien and Dog to go.    The Alien is appliqued ready to piece (I aim to do that tomorrow) and I intend to finish up the applique on the Dog block tonight while I'm watching more Greys Anatomy.   Fingers crossed the old mojo has some staying power this time.

I've been having some fun with more cross stitch too.    How about this for a cute pattern.....

  

The colours are gorgeous and the Humming Birds are so pretty.   The pattern says it's a scissor fob... you can see on the photo it's a two part one connected with a bead.  I think it's going to be a bit on the big side though...  like twice the size of my scissors big!   Well... I suppose that's the whole point isn't it.  Having something big enough tied onto them so you don't loose them... duh!

I was forced to put down my hoop on Wednesday evening to go to the rescue of this not so little baby.....

Can you see his predicament?     He's got his head stuck in the stock fence and I bet his mum already warned him of the perils of thinking the grass is greener on the other side.   Now I've learned not to panic when you see a sheep stuck somewhere like this..... they usually figure out how to get free themselves after a while.   I kept well away from this one till the constant bleating of his whole extended family almost drove me to distraction.  Then I took action.....

I grabbed a pair of heavy duty bolt cutters.... pulled on my Wellies (because the pesky lamb was on the other side of the gill (stream) that runs through the garden) and went to the rescue....

Don't let this photo fool you.... the gill is wider than the photo shows plus it's slippy and deep in places.   The bank on the far side is very steep too.... a good 7 feet to the top where the poor wee lamb is.  It's a 3 foot drop into the water on our side too.   But I'm not stupid.... not me.... I got into the water down by the gate where the bank is much shallower and walked back up the stream.  I'm still amazed I didn't fall in.

I scrambled up the bank brandishing my bolt cutters and came nose to nose with the little critter who took one look at me..... screatched.... dislodged his/her head and scarpered up the field followed by his mum and sibling.   You wouldn't believe the dirty looks they gave me!  Ungrateful lot.   I only went to the rescue because there's a big (nay huge) dog fox hanging around the area which has all of the farmers spooked and I didn't want the little lamb to be fox fast food! 

Apologies for the 'premature launch' of this blog post!   I know a few of you will realise I've been writing virtually 'live -on air'.   I'm trying to get to grips with my first ever laptop computer and so far tonight it's almost driven me to drink!!  It prematurely published my post without my permission..... at least I don't think I gave it my permission but that bit where you tap your fingers has a mind of it's own.    I gave up in the end and am now writing on my good old faithful PC.... this I can cope with.

All that's left to say is.... have a great weekend.... enjoy yourself and have fun.

See ya soon

Hugs

Josie

Happy 100 Give-a-Way!

No... it's not my birthday and I haven't been lying about my age (much) this post you're reading is my one hundredth!!

To celebrate I'm having a  'Happy 100th' Give-a-way and this is what I'm going to be sending to one of you very soon......

 

  
I'm giving away a copy of the new... hot off the press.... book from Fat Quarterly (click here to see inside) .  Not only that... I'm throwing in a couple of charm packs of  Curio by Basic Grey.  I love this fabric.  Fortunately I have plenty of it left for myself.... not that I'm greedy you understand.   How about that for a nice little bundle of quilting fun!

What could you make with the charm packs.  Well there is always one of my favourite patterns.... remember this....

its the Nanny Sharon's Picnic quilt that I pieced last year.  I still haven't got around to quilting it.... shame on me!    This quilt uses 2 charm packs and just a little yardage for the borders.  I think it would look stunning in Curio.  Of course you'll have ideas of your own.  That's the magic of quilting.

OK.... here's what you need to do to be in with a chance of winning.    It's no secret that I'm 'process' person.   I love the whole process of making things and can flit from one thing to another stitching away for all I'm worth with no concerns over when anything is going to get done.  My mum is very much a 'project' person.  She beavers diligently away on one project at a time and won't move on to another until it's finished.   Chalk and Cheese eh!

Now.... I'm curious to know who's with me and who's with my mum.   Are you a  Process or a Project person?

For one entry into the draw just leave a comment on this post telling me which you are.

If you are a follower you can have a second entry by leaving another comment telling me so.

Entries close at Midnight GMT on Thursday 17 May 2012.

So what are you waiting for......

++++++++++++++++++++++

Have to tell you it's been a bit of a lean time for sewing around here.   Every time I find a little time to stitch I'm too darned tired and cross eyed to do anything.   Last Friday I thought I'd give myself a little break and do a bit of cross stitch.

This is it......

don't get the idea that I did all this on Friday.  Oh no!   It took me 4 whole days to stitch one hare and a pair of scissors!!  Tilly was with us for the weekend  and she didn't fare much better.  Must be something in the air over here.  Maybe Mac is right and the government are drugging everyone so that they don't revolt over the financial mess they inflicted on us.  He might have a point.  I don't suppose they want a hoard of revolting peasants messing up their nice lives do they! 

I haven't decided what the hare is going to be yet.   I like the look of that French General fabric with it.  Maybe it'll be a pin cushion.  Perhaps a needle case.  Who knows... I don't.  I did enjoy the bit of cross stitching though.   I'll be doing a bit more in future I think.

Things are looking up .... I'm having a lot of men next week!   Men to fix the conservatory roof.... a man to replace some 'blown' double glazing and a lovely man from the village who is going to put up a whole new stock fence.    I finally caved in and admitted that all these jobs are beyond the capabilities of one short.. round.. middle aged woman working mostly alone.  But I have to say it took two trips to a stress councellor to clue me in to the fact that I'm not Superwoman.   Drat.... I'll have to throw the costume away!

Maybe I'll sit with a cup of Earl Grey and a shortbread biscuit stitching while I watch them work.  Hummmm....  

Now... spare a thought for Licky Lou.  She's having a terrible week.....

  Last Friday when I went to bed I had a happy bouncy little cat.  Saturday morning she couldn't walk!  Tilly and I rushed her to the Vet who diagnosed Chronic Progressive Arthritis.  What?  Could that happen overnight?   She was given a shot of steroids and sent home with orders that I take her back if she didn't improve in a few days.   Tuesday I took her back and it was decided X.rays were needed.  Wednesday she went into 'hospital' for the day.   X rays were taken and her joints were pronounced clear of any sign of arthritis.  In fact we were told they are  'remarkable' for a cat her age.   So what was wrong.

Cystitis!!!!!

Honest... I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.   I'd spent days hovering over my precious pussy who seemed to be going downhill on roller skates.  Obviously I was thinking the very worst... that I might loose her.  Heck the vet had even hinted at it.  You can imagine my relief to get the real diagnosis.   She's still not walking properly.   It appears that her paralysis is caused by a very swollen bladder and her determination not to pee because it hurts!  Bless her.    She's on antibiotics and pain meds now and I'm on covert 'potty' duty.    Spying on a cat.... what's next I wonder!!

Heck I'd better go and give you all a break.  It's time for me to retire to my chair with a glass of wine and and an old episode of Greys Anatomy.   Peace perfect peace!

So...don't forget to enter the give-a-way and have a great week enjoying everything you do to the max..


See ya soon
Josie
X

Precious little progress...

on the sewing front but I'm ever hopeful that things are about to change.    I know I've said that before but this time things might just work out.... fingers crossed!

I did work on framing the Lori Smith quilt block I showed you all last time.   Now... I've never framed anything fabric before and don't know what the rules are so I just winged it.  Did what I thought might work.

First off.....

I stitched on a wide border to give me some fabric to 'stretch' over mount board.    I loved how it looked surrounded by white.  Almost made me decide to make a whole quilt like it using more of Lori's blocks.... heck I still might.

Then.....

I layered the block with a piece of wadding and a square of sticky backed mount board.  The mount board is sticky side up hence the piece of backing paper in the centre to stop me sticking myself to it.   That stuff really is sticky.  I finally had to give up on trying to pluck Licky Lou's fur off it (that stuff gets everywhere around here) so you could say at this stage it has a textured finish.

After that....

I turned the outer border to the back making sure it was tensioned.   See how the paper in the middle comes in handy.... actually I have to admit this was Chris's idea.  I'd already stuck myself to it before she mentioned the paper trick.  Some folks just know it all... but I love her anyway.     What you can't see here is that Chris also suggested mitring the corners and I did do that too.   She didn't bother taking a photo of me un-peeling the fabric and chopping a triangle off all the corners so I'm afraid you'll have to use your imagination.

Now for the really devious bit

I centred up the prepared block on the picture frame backing board and pressed down firmly.  Ta Da!!  The sticky back mount board stuck the block firmly to the backing.   Clever eh!   

I popped on the top mount and dropped the whole lot into the frame......

it's resting on the bookcases on the landing just waiting to be hung.   Have to say I really love it.  In fact I love it so much I'm going to make another one.   This one....

I think they'll make a great pair.  I'm going to reverse the design on this one so that the birds will be facing each other once they're hung on the wall.    I intend to make a couple of those cute fabric birds to hang in that little bird cage on the bookcase too.   Guess I have a 'theme' going on.   More by accident than good planning I must say. 

I chose bird block number two from this Lori Smith pattern.....

Heck there are so many lovely blocks on this pattern I was spoilt for choice.   I think these 'Fit to Frame' patterns are a brilliant idea.  I'm addicted.

That's it for the sewing stuff I'm afraid. 

In case you're wondering what's been taking up most of my time I'll show you.....

I re-claimed this path.  It's been buried under a foot of soil and debris for the last couple of years.  One of those jobs I just couldn't get around to in the past because the weather was too bad.   Lots more digging done here then.... I'm proud to tell you that  my trouser 'seat' is still intact.  Love the way the path disappears into the distance in the photo.   Do you wonder where it goes.....

right to these steps which take you down to the lower part of the garden.  Had to dig these out too... fun!  

The steps at the other end of the path are a work in progress...

and I've still to find the lower connecting path.   It's somewhere under here...



Wish me luck!

The neighbours have been snooping around to see what I've been up to .....

this lot thought if they kept to the tree line I wouldn't notice them.....DUH!!

This bunch weren't quite so intelligent....

it's a sheep thing!!

OK... I'm off to watch a bit of baseball (Brewers v Cardinals) and I've a Yankees game recording.... well a girl needs to chill out in her own way.  Right!   Now... where did I put the Gin......

See ya soon...

until then have a great time doing whatever makes you happy (that you can't get arrested for)!!

Hugs

Josie