Catching Up - Part 1

Time to say goodbye........

Early Sunday morning a couple of weeks ago Licky Lou woke me up in obvious distress.  I rushed her to the vet who diagnosed a blood clot blocking the circulation to her rear legs.   Fortunately we got there in time for the vet to begin treating her with clot busting drugs and pain killers for her sudden paralysis but sadly..... despite all his best efforts and hers too..... she wasn't able to recover.

The sewing room is so empty without her.  

Licky was 'one of the girls'.    She never missed a sewing day and never missed her share of the boiled ham Chris and Sally brought for lunch either.   She contributed a little something to all our projects in the form of her 'signature' black fluff.  

I miss our daily love fests........

Lou loved to cuddle and kiss and I count myself so lucky to have been the recipient of her affections for the last 16 years.

Love you Lou Lou......


Hugs
Josie

I'll be back very soon with part 2  - the sewing update.

One Fine Day.....

Let me tell you....one fine day is nothing short of a miracle around here so that makes it a good enough reason to take a photo.    An even better reason is...... being on retreat with the gang when the beautiful day dawned.

The girls and I were down on the Mull of Galloway for a few days of R & R (and a lot of quilting fun and frolics) when the Gods decided to treat us to one sunny day.   What a change from the horizontal rain and gale force winds we've become accustomed to over the last three months.   What a tonic!

When we arrived at the cottage Chris and Kitty didn't waste a second in getting down to business in the best sewing room in the world.

Sally was deep in thought for ages.... cogitating on the orientation of her Pin Wheels.

Here's the quilt that both Sally and I were working on.   I prepped my half square triangles before I left home in the hope that it'd give me a fighting chance of keeping up with Speedy Sal (when she stops thinking that gal is fast).

 
Actually there is a bit of a story behind these half squares.   Ages ago I pieced a lot of 8" pinwheel blocks... joined them all together then decided I didn't like them.  So.... I cut the whole project apart and downsized the pinwheels to 6" blocks.  Guess what... I didn't like those either (now can you see why I drive the girls crazy) so I sliced and diced until they were half square triangles again.  Albeit smaller still.... at this point they measured 2 3/4".    But... I was happy so what's the problem!  

Actually it's quite a stealthy way of getting rid of fabric....trimming it away... cool eh!   Maybe not quite what I had in mind when I decided to reduce my stash but hey... if it works don't knock it.

Here's my workstation and my pile of now 'scrappy' pinwheels taking shape.

No prizes for guessing what Chris is making.   Same blocks... different quilt.

Proof if ever there was that we all share one brain cell.....  except for Kitty who just had to be the odd one out.....

she'd decided to bring her Tailfeathers quilt to work on.     Oh my.... I desperately want to get mine started now.  It's so gorgeous.

We sewed.... we laughed. We ate... we laughed.  We drank wine... we laughed even more.   Good times.

The sunny day came and went.  Then it snowed.....

but only on them thar hills!

The mail got through to the farm.....

and all was well with the world.  

We sewed on until... finally..... Chris produced this gorgeous baby quilt.....

the Prairie Points are just so cute.....

Kitty got all her blocks finished and joined together.....

She did make most of the log cabin border too.  Just ran out of time to attach it.    Did I mention I love this quilt.

Sally made all of her pinwheels and almost completed the sashing too....

she was catching up on me way too quickly but I did manage to stay one step ahead of her.....

Nice to see the same quilt in two different colour ways.  The pinwheel blocks finished at 4 1/2" by the way!

The End...... (of the retreat)

You might have noticed that I've been missing for a good while.   2014 started out pretty crappy here.  After loosing Beau I came down with a nasty chest infection.  Dr. thought I might have caught it from Baggy and gave me some even nastier antibiotics and (after telling me my lungs sounded like a set of Bagpipes) an inhaler!  It really knocked me off my game I can tell you.   My recliner and I were inseparable for weeks.  Still... there is good news.   I don't have M.E.   Yippee!!

Turns out my Thyroid gland is on the fritz.... I'm now officially 100% Hypothyroid!  Well done me!    I've got the right meds now and I can feel my inner engine revving up again.  Oh joy!   I actually vacuumed all the cobwebs off the ceilings today...  lot of spiders homeless tonight... shame.   I never thought I'd say it's great to be doing housework again.

Even better to be interested in sewing again..... I hadn't picked up a needle since I finished my Christmas swap gifts... hence I didn't have anything much to write about till going on retreat got me playing with fabric again.

OK..... I  really have to go.   It's after midnight but I just can't go to bed without watching the next episode of The Walking Dead.........   never expected to be addicted to Zombie TV.

Hope you are having a great time doing what makes you happy....

See ya soon
Hugs
Josie

  

Christmas past.....

It was not such a happy Christmas here.     

My gorgeous boy Bagpuss (aka... Beau) bravely fought a nasty bacterial infection that attacked him out of nowhere and for no good reason......

He endured two weeks of daily visits to the Dr for antibiotic jags without complaint till....on Monday...
Beau passed away peacefully in his sleep at the time of his choosing.

Tuesday I made a space for him under his favourite tree..... where he used to hang out with the pheasants. I'm sure those daft birds thought he was one of them.  In fact I think Beau thought he was one of them too... he had some funny ideas!

Wednesday we took a little walk around the garden together just checking things out before I tucked him into his special place.    His final patrol as Head Of Security.    A month short of 16 years on the job deserves a mention.... don't you think.

The house is so quiet now.  Baggy was a 'talker' and boy did he like to talk... about anything and everything (a bit like me) but mostly his conversations revolved around him getting what he wanted..... Dreamies   He'd do anything for Dreamies......

This is is patented gimme the Dreamies look...... just ask Chris.... he suckered her in every week for years!

He didn't spend all of his time mooching snacks.  He doubled as quality controller in the sewing room when Licky Lou was unavailable.....

 and let me tell you.... he missed nothing!   He could be bribed to turn a blind eye though... no prizes for guessing what with.

He was an expert at pimping for tummy rubs too.....

I mean... could you resist.

Now Licky Lou is very sad and lost without her brother and I miss him so much it's hard to breathe.   If a million tears would bring him back he'd be here with us now...... Love you Beau.

Cuddle your furry friends close today
Hugs
Josie

p.s   Thanks to everyone who commented on my 'Pressie' post.   I will be replying to you all in the next couple of days....  Hugs.

Past & Presents......

I know it's a bit late in the day to be talking about Santa but...... he rocks!   

Before I show you the swap gifts he brought me I really must apologise to Sandy my Secret Santa from Chookyblue's SSCS  for not posting sooner to show you all the gorgeous Christmas gift she sent me.   To Chookyblue too..... believe me I don't break rules... as a rule!

I was so happy on Christmas morning when I opened my main parcel from Sandy and found this gorgeous stitchery....

 

I totally love it!!    I've had my beady eye on this design for ages but never got around to actually buying it.  It seems that as well as being a talented needlewoman Sandra is a mind reader too.    It is not going into storage till next Christmas it's going to be a year round resident on my craft room wall.  Actually the cute reindeer ornament isn't being put away either it will have it's own special place where I can enjoy it every day. 

I did remember to get the little pincushion inside the pouch into the photo too..... I forgot that when I showed you the ornament earlier.   Brain dead eh!

Thanks again Sandy for all the beautiful gifts you made for me..... you are a star!!  

Now I can show you what I made for Jenny in the SSCS swap.......

Jenny likes to crochet so I sent a project tote and a crochet hook organiser along with her ornament.  I'm thrilled to bits that she likes her gifts too.

I swapped Christmas presents with my friend Leanne too.    Here's what she made for me....

A string of really pretty bunting in colours that I love.   A super cute little Santa wall hanging too.  Love him! Bet you can guess that he's not being put away till next year either.

Leanne made me a gorgeous sewing roll too.... love the stitched flowers... and the inside......

packed with more gorgeous goodies.  Super new applique needles to try out.  Pretty ric rac and buttons too. 

Thanks Leanne...... you are a real star too!    

Here's what I sent Leanne......

A hexie tote....

and a storage roll for needle packets.... or any stuff of choice that will fit inside....

Love this little pattern.

I'll pop back soon to update you on the goings on in Stormy Scotland as soon as I can get my act together.

Hope you are all having fun and that 2014 brings you all the very best that life has to offer....

Hugs

Josie

Fiddly Friday Night With Friends

I had a really great time last night (and a bit of the afternoon too) preparing applique pieces for my  In My Garden   block of the month......

Working on Block 2 here.  Its got pear trees..... dragonflies.... butterflies and a bunch of really cute snails. Unlike the real snails I find in the garden I won't be flexing my throwing arm and hurling them half way across the neighbouring field.   Before you say it.... I know they'll just come back coz their home is here with us but I live in hope they'll find some greener grass and decide to relocate.

I had loads of lovely fiddly bit's to cut out and play with (and occasionally cuss at).  I'm using Ricky Tims Stable Stuff and a fabric glue pen.   The stable stuff is designed to be left inside the quilt... seemingly it softens to fine poly fibres when the quilt is washed.  I'm more than a bit nervous I can tell you.   There are so many tiny applique pieces in this project I'm going to be terrified to wash it for fear they'll all fray and fall off!   Oh me of little faith.    Maybe I can learn to live with a 'stiff' quilt..... hummmm.

Just look... I've numbered every little pear to indicate the tree they belong on and their place on it.   A bit too anal... even for me....  d'ya think?  

Completed prep on these two mini blocks from Block 1 too.   That block is set aside all ready for stitching now.

Can you believe it's almost a year since I made a resolution to get to grips with this and every other BOM I have secreted here.   Well... this is as far as I've got!   I know it's embarrassing isn't it.    Reckon  I'll be carrying that resolution forward for another year.

Now... Mum wanted to say 'Hi'......

she joined in the Friday Night fun with her knitting.  Another completed cardigan for the Preemie Unit and another in the works.....

That's my 6" ruler on the cardigan and the little hat would fit a tennis ball.... so cute.  Hard to imagine a baby so tiny.  

I'd say we both had a successful FNWF.  

All that and a batch of Marmalade Buns too....

I'd say 1 to be taken 3 times a day sounds about right.....

OK... that's all for now.     Maybe the 'prep' bug will bite me again tonight.... makes a change from the darned midge that is biting me to bits right now.   I'm sitting here armed with a spray can of fly killer ready to commit insecticide at a moments notice.

Hope you all had as good a time at FNWF as we did......

See ya soon.... I mean that.

Have a brilliant what's left of your weekend...

Hugs

Josie

HO...HO...HO.......

Santa has been to my house already.........

 courtesy of my SSCS partner Sandy.     Of course I'm not allowed to open this gift until Christmas Day (sitting on my hands here)  but I was allowed to open two packages.....

Isn't that Christmas ornament gorgeous.  The reindeer button is so cute.  That lovely pouch has a matching pincushion inside.  Ahem..... a certain idiot forgot to take it out of the pouch for the photograph.  What was I thinking!   That the camera could take X-Ray photos perhaps....DUH!    I will show you it soon....promise.
Thanks for my presents Sandy....... itching to open the 'BIG' parcel... determined to be a 'good' girl.

Now I'm wondering if you are wondering what I've been up to since I last posted.   Even if you aren't I'm going to tell you anyway coz I'm funny like that and this is my blog after all.     In keeping with the Christmas theme.... I've been going cold turkey!

Yes.... I've ditched all medication and have opted for this instead.....

Victoria Sponge!   It's been a month since I last popped a pill and I think the cake is finally kicking in.... I'm feeling much better.... fatter but better.    It didn't help that I discovered it's not as hard as I thought to bake bread either.....

and it's a whole lot of fun knocking seven bells out of it before it goes in the oven.  Great stress reliever. Who'd have thought!

The last month hasn't all been about baking.... as if!     I've been sewing up a storm too....

 
Licky Lou was a big help in that department.....

she's asked Santa for opposable thumbs for Christmas.......

imagine that!  If he comes through for her she'll be hosting her very own quilting class on Craftsy soon.... wonder if she needs an agent?

Swap gifts have been dispatched.....

headed for two partners who knows where.....

OK... call me cheap because I only bought one roll of wrapping paper and a job lot of ribbon!   It's the thought that counts... right!

I'm in the process of giving my little sewing room a bit of a tidy.......

I'm really pleased with today's effort......  hanging all my rulers.    Great use of the end of the shelving if I do say so myself.    Looks a bit like a quilt shop display don't ya think.

The girls (Chris, Sally, Kitty) and me had an away day to The Fat Quarters where they convinced me that I not only needed this......

but there was actually a good reason why I should have it....... my looming 60th birthday!!!!!    Well... once they'd persuaded me that I was so old I didn't have a minute to waste procrastinating..... I got a bit feckless and bought these too.....

What the heck.....  a gal is only 60 once... right!      Actually it's not my birthday till next week but better a bird in the hand........  etc..etc.

Well... I think that's you all caught up for now.  

Oh..... I've signed up for Friday Night With Friends sew in over at Cheryl's place this week too.   If you haven't signed up already why don't you follow the link and join in right now.    I'll be happy to share my vino..... if you get in quick!

I'm off up the golden staircase to bed now... to sleep?   Nah.... to play on my Nintendo DS for a while.... who says an old dog can't learn new tricks!

Thanks for stopping by.....  taking pity on a lonely old woman..... enough!!  <lol>

Have a great week filled with fun and fecklessness.....
Hugs
Josie

FNSI.... I was there!

I was not only there I was working like a woman with a brain for the first time in a long while.   The old mojo is still there it just takes a bit of coaxing to get it up and running.

Fist off I finished off a batch of  rotary cutting I started earlier in the week.  

How I managed to cut the minuscule ears from 160 tiny triangles using a rotary cutter on a rotating board without lopping off a fingernail or worse beats me but I did it... not an Elastoplast or a drop of blood in sight.    

Then I did a spot of sewing........

if you look closely you can see the odd white triangle sticking up.   Can't show you what I'm sewing because for the moment it's a potential secret.... depends how it works out if it's an actual secret or not.  Hope that makes sense to you.     I'm hard at it working on gifts for a couple of Christmas swaps again this year.    One is between friends and the other is none other than Chookyblues Secret Santa Christmas Swap.   What with that and other little gift making projects I have in the pipeline I reckon you'll be seeing more secret photo's for a while.

Like this one....

another potential secret that I added some stitching to on Friday.    There's another....

must say I love that little spool of YLI silk thread..... gorgeous colour isn't it.    Stitched with it on Friday evening and enjoyed every minute.    

That's it for FNSI projects.   Have to tell you that I didn't do it all on Friday evening I sewed quite a bit during the day too.... lucky me eh!  Well... that's it 

Only thing left to say about FNSI is why don't you pop over to Wendy's  and follow the links to see what everyone else got up to.  

What else....

My laptop suffered a terrible mishap...... I reclined on it!   When I woke after a little nap I found it wedged under my recliner chair.  I'm clueless as to how it got stuck under there but it took some tugging and pulling to get it out.   No sign of damage on the outside.  All seemed well... till I switched it on....

  

That black leaf shaped blob is screen damage!!     Nothing for it but to order a replacement screen... still that's better than forking out for a new laptop any day of the week.

Now... contrary to popular belief I'm no dummy.  I'm savvy enough to replace a screen.   Checked out a 'how to' video on YouTube just to confirm that it was doable and I was all set.   That was until Mac got wind of my intentions and lost no time instructing me on how to do it.

Now... call me stubborn but no way was I going to attempt such a delicate task while wearing industrial rubber gauntlets!    OK.... I know it's electric but I wasn't planning on connecting it to mains power while I dismantled it.  Didn't see the point of standing on a rubber mat for the same reason.  And having one leg tethered to a central heating radiator by a wire to 'earth' me was not going to be happening either.    At least he didn't suggest I wear the wet suit and deep diving flippers he keeps in the loft.... but given time......

Fortunately Chris and Sally were here when the screen arrived and more fortunately Mac was in bed fast asleep (did I mention he's almost nocturnal).   So I got down to business....sans rubber!

In a matter of minutes......

Good as new.     Never underestimate the power of a woman with a screwdriver!

What else.....

Almost forgot to show you the bit of cross stitch I started....

Haven't made my mind up what to do with it yet.... assuming it doesn't disappear down the ufo route.

Took advantage of a dry minute to see what was happening in the garden......

the Sedum is still cheering up a little corner....

love the colour of these Ajuga leaves....

and call me perverse but I think I prefer Hydrangea blooms when they are dying!  They have a lovely antique look.

Bagpuss inspected weeds......

and pointed out some odd looking mushrooms.  Hope Mac doesn't find them......he'll eat them for sure and to my mind these look suspect!    If you're a mushroom expert you might enlighten me.

Baggy and I both got the feeling we were being watched.....

I'm sure this girl thought we couldn't see her.... silly moo!

Hummmm..... I'm wondering if someone put the wrong legs on the front of this one!

Can you tell I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel for something more to say.   Why do I never know when to just shut up.  OK  I'm going to turn off my brain now and settle down to an evening of mindless TV.   Will I stitch?  Don't know.... depends how long I can resist the bottle of Shiraz in the kitchen.... not long I think! 

So.... it's bye, bye from me for now.    Have a great week and I'll see you soon.....how about that for optimism! :o)

Hugs

Josie