Friday Night Snow In!

Honestly..... I'm jinxed!    First time in nearly three weeks I get some free time and along comes a blizzard!

Now I bet you're thinking what a perfect opportunity to sit in front of the stove and stitch.  That's what I thought too.... till the power went out!    How women managed to sew by candle light beats me.  I couldn't do it even with the benefit of bi-focals!  

I'd just settled down to stitch when the power failed for the first time....

I was really enjoying working on Vignette (which from here on in will be called Old Faithful) when the lights went out.    There was a fair bit of fumbling in the dark (not that sort) before I found a candle and the means to light it.    That's when the lights came back on!  Figures!

Terrified the power would go again I dashed into the kitchen and threw some fish into the oven.... no way did I want to miss dinner!   Plated up a salad and crossed my fingers.   In the time it took to cook the fish the power went out 4 times  Still... I got to eat in the end.   In case you are wondering where Mac was in all this.... he was tucked up in bed sound asleep and blissfully unaware of the gale force wind howling through the trees and the 'white out' conditions outside.   Did I mention he's nocturnal now....  

Because I've nothing much by way of progress to show you from FNSI I thought I'd show you the little present I made Chris for her birthday (it was Tuesday).....

It's a little needle book......

I used a great little tutorial from NanaCompany.  If you haven't visited there before let me tell you it's fabulous!  Just be prepared to be there for hours.   

Chris liked her pressie.... but that was a given... it's PINK!! 

If I'd had reliable power last night I might just have made another one.... they are so addictive.....

had the fabrics cut out ready.....

managed a few minutes between black outs to practise my free machine embroidery (with hoop).   Honestly.... 59 and I still can't write my name!! 

I'm afraid there is not much else to say about Friday night except that I really did enjoy it.... blizzard and all.   I'm off now to check out what you all got up to last night so I'll leave you with some snaps of the day after the night before.....

so silent... not to mention white!

The big greenhouse  (behind the little one) is almost buried.   That drift is 8 feet high if it's an inch!  

The bridge at the bottom of the garden looks so pretty.....  only the roof of the wishing well (on the right) is visible above the snow.

The road out of here.....  which is impassable.   I walked it this morning and the snow came up over my knees.   Reckon I'm going nowhere till there's a thaw!

Down around the bend there a part of the Hawthorn hedgerow has fallen under the weight of the snow.   It's blocking the track.   Before anything gets in or out of here I'll need to get to grips with the chainsaw.

It's just so darned pretty though.......

The sheds look so wonky.... like they should have a gnome in residence.  Wonder if I can persuade Mac....   The doors are not going to be opened any time soon.... the whole of the back of the garden is under 3 feet of snow.

It's not all pretty though.   Just heard the horrible news that a large shed roof at the farm behind us collapsed under the weight of snow....... crushing and suffocating the cows inside.   Mums to be and mums with their new calves........ makes me feel sick to my stomach.  

We are totally cut off here.   There's been no traffic on the through road since yesterday morning.  Not surprising as there are 8 foot drifts blocking it in both directions.   Just seen the weather forecast and we have a warning of more snow to come tonight.

Its forecast to freeze later too which could make things difficult for Mac when he gets up at 2am.   I cleared snow in the little courtyard this afternoon.   All for the good.   A while later I discovered Mac with the garden hose washing away the residue!!!   What part of  'it's going to freeze tonight' isn't clear?   He's said he'd put down some salt.   So... we have a salt water feature now and that's supposed to make it alright.   I'm not happy! 

I'll need to set my alarm to wake me around the time he gets up.  He goes straight outside to his workshop  to watch TV.    What if he finds himself figure skating in the dark?  Lands badly after an unexpected Triple Salchow with back flip.   What if he breaks something or  knocks himself out.  He could be an icicle by the time I woke up and found him.   I don't think the emergency services have a team of sled dogs available to transport him to hospital.    You may think I'm getting worked up about nothing but believe me...... the way things go around here anything is possible!

OK.... I said I was going ages ago and I'm still here.   This is one of those times when my Dad would say I'd been vaccinated with a gramophone needle!  

I leave you in peace....... while I try to calm down.  

Have yourself lots of fun and frolics......

See ya sooner rather than later....

Hugs

Josie

FNWF and doing what I do best....

Procrastinating!     Well... it is what I do best.

I started out with a plan.   I'd cut out the templates and had everything out ready to get to work....

should have know things were going too smoothly.    When it came to the cutting..... I just went right off  the idea of using the fabric bundle I'd pulled out.   It's nice fabric but I just don't think it suits this quilt pattern.I fancied some really vibrant and zingy fabric so I searched  my fabric stash for some.   Can you tell me why I wasted an hour rummaging through boxes looking for something I knew I didn't have?   

That was the original plan down the drain then.

But.... while I was searching for the 'perfect' fabric for the first project these caught my eye.....

Two cute plastic cubes of 3" squares... one in greens the other neutrals.  What could I make with them?  They were cut out and ready to go and I was starting to panic that the clock was ticking on my FNWF and I hadn't done anything.

What could I make with 520 3" squares.....  nothing that I could think of on the spur of the moment that's for sure!  

I put them back in their little hidey hole then turned to the bookshelves for inspiration. Thank goodness I found some.....

courtesy of Camille Roskelley    I love this pattern in her book 'Simplify' and I just happened to know where I'd hidden stored a Pom Pom de Paris jelly roll that I got free when I took out a magazine subscription.   That makes this a FREE quilt... how cool is that.

Wasted no time (!) getting down to work.....

Got this far (those are little bundles of cut pieces) when I realised it was 8pm and I hadn't had dinner!   Of course as soon as I thought of food I was ravenous so I'm afraid the project was abandoned and I hit the kitchen.  You wouldn't want me to starve would you.  Salmon... yummy!

With a full tummy and a nice glass of wine I settled down to spend what was left of the evening stitching something I can't show you without having to kill you afterwards.   Wish I could figure out how to get those blurry photo's of secret stuff but it's beyond me.

So.... that's it.   My Friday Night With Friends...... thanks for your company everyone.   Thanks to you too Cheryll for making it all possible.   I'll be round to see what you've been up to very soon.

I've got loads of bloggy catching up to do.  Had the most frustrating week ever!  Apologies for being late responding to comments and e.mails.   I'm wearing my horsehair nightie to bed tonight as punishment...... I promise to do better.... honest.

Speaking of bed...... gotta go count some sheep!

See ya soon.... in the meantime.. have fun

Hugs
Josie

Great Escape!

It was touch and go for a while this week but Lady Luck was on my side and I made it to Edinburgh for the quilt show.

I picked up Lucy and Sally and headed for the Capital where we met up with Kitty and this pair.....

Recognise Tilly on the right there?  Doesn't she clean up well!    That's the lovely Pat Archibald on the left. Super talented quilter/teacher and all round nice person.    Tilly was helping man the booth for Pat while she taught her mini workshops.

Seemed to me that there were less quilts on display this time and many of the best ones had a 'No Photography' request posted against them.   Such a shame because there were some beauties I'd have loved to have shown you.

This one really took my fancy......

I'd love a real jug like this one......

and I'd love to be able to hand quilt so beautifully too.

It was made by Clare Kingslake.   You can't buy the pattern for this particular hanging but she has a similar jug pattern for sale on her site .... if it takes your fancy.

Loved these baskets too....

the fabrics are woven just like a real basket.   Would you believe I have the pattern for this quilt.......one day I'll have a go at it.   It's another of Clare's patterns which if I remember rightly was featured in a past Quilt Mania magazine.

Here's another one......

Guess I really was a basket case on Friday! I've had the pattern for this one for a couple of years too.   Think when I make it I'll leave out the hanging hearts and birds and just go for the basket on the shelf.... square it up a bit.    I know just where I'd like to hang it too.....

OK..... I blew the fabric diet... again!

In my defence.... traditional looking fabrics are hard to get around here.   How could I not buy them?

I really needn't have bought these......

but when did need have anything to do with it.    You can tell I was having a Folk Art Friday!   Reckon the Bag Bug got me again.

How about this......

A little peek at our new car!   It's not much of a peek but I'll get a better photo when I'm out somewhere scenic.  It finally arrived last Monday... been waiting since November for it to get here. Haven't had a new car for  10 years so there are lots of new things to test my intelligence in this one.... like 6 gears!!    Still.... it tells me when it wants to change gear and which one it wants to change to so there is hope for us as a team.

Really enjoyed the drive to Edinburgh in it....  not sure the girls did though!  Well... it's a learning curve!

See that strange bird lurking in the branches next to the car?    It's not a native bird...... it's plastic!    Mac has a penchant for plastic birds.   Here's another one.....

see that beady eye..... I'm certain there's a spy camera in there.    I swear I've seen it's head swivel.  Just look at it..... don't you think it's watching you?

Mac's plastic menagerie includes a range of birds, bugs and beasties.   Balanced.... nailed and glued everywhere it's possible to balance, nail or glue one.    There's even a plastic stags head that hangs outside the kitchen door!    It's not a problem..... as long as I can avoid talking to them!!!

Bagpuss ventured out of hibernation this week......

He's swapped the duvet for his favourite vantage point on the back of the sofa.    Looks like he's wondering if he should go back to bed.... till April!

No sewing to show you this week.... what little I managed to do.... is secret!

The BUG is still hanging on.   The only thing I find funny about it is this.......

Cracks me up every time ;o)

OK.... you know the drill.   I have to get my hour of TV before bed and I'm running late.   Will it be Gibbs.... or Bones... or Criminal Minds.....  decisions... decisions!

Have fun and don't do anything I wouldn't do...... gives you plenty of scope!

See ya soon
Hugs
Josie

You might like to know this....

but to find out you need to read on.   Sneaky eh!

A while back  (when I made my first set in circular block) Tilly told me a great way to do it.   I tell you  trying to learn a new technique over the telephone is a brain numbing experience.   That's when I realised I'm a visual learner.   Tilly turned to drink!

If you read this and you feel like I'm trying to teach my Granny how to suck eggs.... just humour me.   I mean well.

OK..here we go.....

First take you circle block and turn under and tack the 1/4" seam allowance.   Use a contrast thread that you can spot easily.   You can just about see the red thread I used.   Tacking like this gives you control over any points you may not want to cut the tips off!

Next....  take a square of background fabric slightly larger than the finished overall block size and  mark the centre.  Mark the centre of the circle block too.  OK.. you know what's coming next... match the centres and pin the circle to the background.   Both background and circle block are right side up.

Now to tack the two together.    Tack with the thread you will be using to machine sew.    Why?   Because you are not going to remove this tacking.

Bring the thread up through the background fabric right alongside the edge of the circle.     Here's where it gets a bit like applique..... (don't worry... it's not applique).

Insert your needle into the fold of the seam allowance on the circle... right on the outer edge... directly above where the needle exited the background fabric.... and take a long (1/2") stitch between the two layers of fabric.    Then insert the needle into the background  fabric directly below where the needle exited edge fold on the circle and make a similar long stitch through the background.   Repeat till you have the entire circle secured.   Finish with a back stitch.

Now.... remove the contrast thread that you used to tack the circle seam allowance.    Here's the bit I like.....

Cut away the background fabric behind the circle... leaving 1/4" seam allowance.   It's easy to do by eye.  You have the centre circle seam allowance as a guide....

Looks good already eh!

Now for the even easier part.    Take it to your sewing machine and stitch .... like this....

Fold back the background fabric.  Make sure the seam allowances are totally flat... then.... sew around the fold crease of the circle seam allowance.  Clever eh!   If you keep to that line you won't cut off any points... I promise.  

Press the seam of the inner circle... outwards

Turn the block over and congratulate yourself on being a genius!!

You can trim the block to size now.   Believe me this method is so quick not to mention painless.

Well...   that was a very long winded way of  telling you what I've been doing this week.    I've done some secret sewing too.... (no slacking for me) but of course I can't show you that.

Here's how the Crisis Wall looks now....

a little bit different too the last time I showed you.

I fiddled about a bit with this block too.....

The circle (that looks like propellers) is attached to the purple(ish) circle (as method above) and that segment at the bottom is pieced too.   I'm still  swithering over which background fabric to use.     Only three blocks more blocks to go.   There's another story behind one of them but I'll tell you that another time.

I got a new magazine this week.....

which is rather nice.   I do like the quilt on the cover.

Found these 4 blocks I hand pieced a long time ago too....

well.... my newly developed interest and expertese(!) in machine stitched "Y" seams lead me to this box of scrap strips....

just the right width for cutting more "Klosjes".   I'd love to hand piece the whole quilt but I'm no spring chicken and at the speed I hand stitch.....  time is not on my side!

Well.... that's about it for now.   The BUG has come back for another bite of this particular over ripe Cherry and I am wallowing in self pity right now.... sniff!!  ;o)

It's time for me to shut up and have my TV hour before bed.     An episode of NCIS would go down well tonight I think.   Gibbs is my kind of eye candy!     Love it when he drinks Whisky out of a dirty jam jar... what a man!

OK...... be good and have fun.   If you can manage both together .... well done!

See ya soon
Hugs
Josie

Diamonds are a girls best friend.......

Well... maybe the ones you don't have to 'Y' seam in place are but the jury is still out on these ones.....

That's the last unit about to be pieced.   At last... another finished block!

I tried counting all the 'Y' seams but honestly I got so cross eyed looking at them I had to give up.  My best estimate is 55 but I don't see how an odd number can be right.    If I wasn't much good at 'Y' seaming when I started this block... I'm a lot better at it now!

What you are looking at here is another block of my Crisis Quilt.    My so called friends named it that not me.  They all seem to think it's hilarious.   It's a block of the month I signed up for at 3am one dark and lonely night.  In the grip of a mid life crisis and slurping the last comforting dregs of a bottle of Shiraz... I pressed that button.   Seemed like a great idea at the time........

This is it.   Regardless of being the constant butt of the girls jokes.... I don't regret it..... really!    OK... I've had one or two 'what was I thinking' moments but I've made my peace with it.    I wanted a challenge and I certainly got one.   If you've been hanging around here for a while you'll have seen some of the dastardly blocks I've already pieced.   I've cut and prepared another 2.....

Those two bits at the top do fit in.... once the seams are stitched.   I like this one... it looks easier than the others.  Then there is this one.....

I love this one..... it speaks to me.  Told you my brain was addled!     This is how the design wall looks tonight.....

My mum's been over this afternoon and you could have knocked me over with a feather when she announced that.... she loved it!!!    Oh boy.... do you think I can get her to take this one instead of the one I was making for me?  I showed her the finished 'flimsy' of that too and she looked decidedly unimpressed so maybe I'm in with a chance.  

Bet you've already guessed that this is one big frog I'm hell bent on consuming.... sooner rather than later.

Been doing a bit of secret sewing this week too.... but you are not getting to see that.... it's a secret!  So I'll show you some lovely New York Beauty blocks that Kitty made last weekend in lieu.....

They are so precise.   These are Kitty's practise blocks  (she took a class) but  I suspect that she's been bitten by another bug and that a Beauty quilt might be on the cards.

Frazer the postman brought me a lovely surprise today.   A package from Australia containing these gorgeous goodies......

Thank you so much Tracee!   I was lucky in Tracee's recent giveaway.... I was picked to receive that lovely Gumboot Garden  fabric.  Only wish I could buy real Wellies that look like the ones on the fabric.  I can just see myself prancing around the garden in rainbow striped mud boots.   Tracee popped a fabulous quilting magazine into the package too.... thank you... thank you.... thank you!   I settled down for a good read this afternoon with the magazine (it's one I haven't seen over here) a cup of tea and a packet of scrumptious biscuits.  Who needs George Clooney!  

This arrived in the post this week too.....

you know I like applique.    I pinned this block on my Pinterest a while back and just had to buy the pattern. I think the Cupcake 'flowers' are so cute.   It looks great as a mini quilt.

Lucy came over this week for a little lesson in half and quarter square triangles.   She brought her very first quilt top... made from a layer cake to show off......

She did a great job with the piecing and she's thrilled to bits with her first big flimsy.   She's coming with us to the Edinburgh Quilt Show at the end of the month too.  Little does she know there is no hope for her now!

OK.... I think that's you all up to day with the goings on here.   Oh.... Licky Lou and I had another 'Spa' session......

What a hussy!!   She lay there legs akimbo for ages while I combed her tummy fluff.  Talk about a diva!  Just in case you are wondering.... Bagpuss is alive and well and in bed for the Winter!  

Hope you all have a fabulous week.....

See ya soon....

Hugs

Josie

Fab Friday Night With Friends

Did you enjoy FNWF last night?   I hope so.

I had a brilliant time.  Not only did I have you all for company last night Kitty is visiting this weekend so there were two of us trying to outdo encouraging each other to do great things!

My evening started with a bit of decisive stash diving.   Kitty was well impressed with that.  I'm not exactly known for making quick decisions but since 'Speedy' seems to be my new middle name I got straight down to business... no messing.  

Drawing around then cutting out and marking templates slowed me down a fair bit......  

Cut a lot of diamonds and......

sewed a few of them together too.....

I was going great guns till the time came to start adding squares into the mix then the trouble started!   Now the pattern for this block includes templates for diamonds, squares and triangles.   Instructions for the squares let you choose between cutting squares using the template or by cutting strips of fabric 3 1/8" wide then cutting into 3 1/8" squares.    I chose the second option.... for speed!  

Now one thing I do well is precision cutting...... see.......

spot on 3 1/8"!!     So far so good.   Next instruction is to place template over fabric square and mark corner placement dots on the fabric........

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr................  the template is bigger than the cut square!!    Measured the template itself and low and behold it measures 3 1/4" square!   Bugger....bugger.....bugger.... RATS!!! 

At this point Kitty...... who was quietly stitching away in the background and looking very serene (she only let me take the photo because she's got a new hair do).......

decided we should re-name FNWF....... Foul Mouthed Friday!

Does this face look happy to you?    Let me tell you the only thing between me and total meltdown at that point is that big glass of  El Vino Collapso!

While I take a moment to calm down (again) take a look at what Kitty was stitching.....

she's a woman on a mission to finish her Tailfeathers quilt.   Gorgeous eh!

Right..... back to my 'square' problem.    Fortunately it's not that big a problem.  I can centre up the template and mark corner dots... I'm not that big an idiot (!).  Sure it'll leave me with a scant 1/4" seam on all sides but I can live with that.   I'm just really ticked off because the problem wasn't of my making (for once).   Oh well.... no point crying over scant seams is there.

The faux pas didn't didn't really stop me having a fab time last night and of course a glass or two of wine helped put a smile on my sour puss!

I wasn't the only sour puss yesterday.   Get a look at Licky Lou.....

she is one ticked off cat for sure.     She's just had half a bath...... the bottom half.    Pour little girl had a spot of tummy trouble this week which resulted in her being just a tad aromatic as in stinky enough to knock out a Bull Elephant!      I'm happy to say (so is Kitty) that she's now as sweet as a nut again...

Enough.... it's high time I visited you all to check out what you got up to last night.....

Till next time
Have some fun....

Hugs
Josie