Another Year Almost Gone

What an eventful December!  Dad I am delighted to say is back to his normal self, he no longer has the help of the care team in the mornings and is doing fine.  Our little grandson was a year old last weekend and we all enjoyed his 1st Birthday party, he had a great time, needless to say he soon got the hang of opening parcels, now well practised for the 25th.  I have to say though I think he had more fun playing with the wrapping paper and boxes than the contents!

Sewing has been slow but I did manage to make a little Christmassy something for our class swap.  We had a lovely evening at a local restaurant where we enjoyed a lovely meal followed by the usual chat and camaraderie.  The swap was great fun too - it's always good to see what others enjoy making, there was no fixed theme this year the only stipulation was it had to be Christmassy!  We as a group decided to buy a Christmas Gift for the whole group to use - a Sizzix Big Shot has been purchased with a few dies, I am sure we all look forward to having fun with our new toy next session.

This is what I made - I found it on the wonderful worldwide web and adapted it a little. (What would we do without all these sites to inspire and share ideas)  I hope C can put it to good use.

Sorry K - hijacked your photo - deleted mine by mistake!

In return I got a little parcel wrapped with a fat quarter of Christmas fabric!  Inside these 3 delightful little bears and the pattern too.  They are so cute I will need to make the others for next year.

Spot the 3 Teddies!

As this year comes to a close I feel although I have made a fair number of quilts I haven't challenged myself with new techniques.  I have managed to donate a few to good charitable causes.  Time is so precious and is spread sometimes thinly around so many different areas of life there is not always any spare to do the things you really enjoy.  I found this year I was sewing quickly to get things finished and not spending time on intricate cutting and piecing which I enjoy most.  There will be fewer 'simple' patterns used from now on and I will try and plan better and do some slow sewing.  I have a few plans for next year, techniques and projects I would like to try but who knows what 2016 will bring.  So for now I am signing off my blog until the beginning of next year and wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2015

Christmas Quilt 2015

I have a few Christmas quilts in my display case which will be brought out of storage and will be decorating the house very soon.  Each year since starting quilting I try and have a Christmas project.  I realised this afternoon I had not made a start, nor had I even thought about this year's quilt.  

I remembered I had bought a few charm packs when I was in Canada this summer when I was already planning ahead for this year's project.  I ordered them online in a sale and I remember thinking when I received them they were not quite what I had hoped for, yes I know that is the problem with online shopping, the results are sometimes not as planned or hoped for. 

Never mind, I rummaged in my baskets and found them.  

I know I had a plan when I bought them involving HST's but not having written said plan down I have absolutely no idea now what it was.  Too many things floating around in my head as usual.  This is not the first time I've done this.  I buy fabrics with patterns and quilts in mind and when I come around to using the fabrics I can't remember what that plan was.  This is what I've done tonight.

I always make notes in my notebook when I make that first cut of fabric for a quilt but I think I also need to make some notes when I buy fabrics too, as I nearly always have pattern in mind when I see a fabric I like.  That may well be my first resolution for next year.

A new plan has been hatched and I have started, I'm not sure if I will get it finished on time but I will give it a try anyway.

I hope you are all safe and have managed to stay out of the wind and rain this week. How awful for all these poor people down in the Borders and Cumbria who appear to have been worst hit by storm Desmond.

Mojo is Back!

Well it seems I'm not the only one to have lost my quilty mojo.  Sometimes it's very difficult to get motivated when life is difficult.  Family always comes first but it's so difficult to get the balance just right. Everyone has their times of difficulties to overcome and we all have our different ways of working through them.  K came to the rescue again!  We have both had a difficult few weeks and last Saturday we had a day of therapy. A new, exciting, different for us, project in hand, we set off to Kaleidoscope for some fun.  A day of looking, playing and choosing fabrics.  I needed two sets of backing for projects which had been lying for a long time.  Anyway I digress.  

First stop coffee and scones as usual in Dobbies Garden Centre, yummy!  A trot across the car park to the delights of the fabric shop.  Susan was very welcoming as always and our plan was put into play.   I quickly chose my backing fabrics, a nice batik for the Oakshott Interlocking squares and a Moda Marble wide backing for Toes in the Sand (no it's not finished yet!).

The Two Backing Fabrics

Interlocking Squares - almost done just to finish the binding

Our joint project is a Craftsy Class, one K has had for a while, and desperate to start - I was not convinced - seemed a bit complicated and fiddly but I agreed we should make a start to it and hopefully my uncertainty would be banished.  We choose appropriate fabrics - K gave me that look - not green again?  Ok it was put back.  Choice no 2 was approved! We had a look at the books too and I made a purchase - lots of inspiration here and food for thought for the next project.

The second choice - burnt orange and grey. -  I love crackle fabric

A most enjoyable time and of course lots of encouragement to tackle a new project and blow away the dark clouds looming over us.  Here are some of my purchases.

Lunch at the Tickled Trout rounded off our day.

We agreed to make a start to this new project yesterday.  I cleared my diningroom and turned it into a mini classroom.  What a buzz.  We spent the first 2 hours planning, cutting and chatting.  A quick lunch and then the sewing machines started humming.  We did get a bit bored sewing strips so decided to call it a day and finish them off as homework.  

Progress so far

Hopefully my mojo is back to stay, I really enjoyed my sewing day yesterday and it's so nice to have a buddy to encourage you and push you to get things going.  So if you ever feel in a rut, find a buddy to sew with and embark on something new.  Thanks again K, you are a star!

As time creeps up on us and November is almost gone I hope you are looking forward to the festive season taking time to spend with family and friends and of course finishing off all those crafty Christmas gifts.

Another Hectic Week

Dad has now been discharged from hospital and seems to be on the mend.  It's been a very busy week visiting hospital each day which coincided with the worst November weather, cold, wet and windy. The surprising phonecall from the hospital telling me he was ready to come home and I could come to collect him on Thursday morning was a bit of a shock to me.  His house was not quite ready for him coming home but we managed to get everything back in place, his bed made up and the shopping done.  I think this UTI has been working on Dad for a wee while, but the antibiotics seem to have cleared it all up.   Today he was bright cheery and moving around much better than before.

I am in dire need of quilting inspiration - I have lost my mojo as they say and need a new project to make me think and get the grey matter working again.  I still have a few WIPs lying around but not quite so many.  I really need to find the opportunity to take a photo of my Disappearing Pinwheel Churndash which was completed last week to let you all see.

This week I didn't think I would make the quilting class due to hospital visiting but.......thankfully I managed to get there in time to take part in the tutorial Chris had organised for us.  Now as you all may know I'm a topper, a piecer,  a quilter and not a bag maker.  I don't think I have ever made a bag, this was a tutorial on making the One Hour Fabric Basket.  This uses the new fusible Bosal R form double sided fusible stabiliser.  Interesting stuff to use and I'm sure there will be plenty of uses for it found by the class.  I didn't quite manage to get it finished in the hour but I did finish it the following evening - I knew if I didn't finish it it would lie in the bundle of WIPs.  However little grandson now has a basket at grannie's house, to put his cars and books in.  I am sure it will find lots of uses over the years.

I hope you all have a quiet relaxing week - I certainly hoping mine won't be as hectic.

Sorry

Apologies for not posting last week and no sewing news today either.  Last weekend was rather hectic to say the least.  Dad became unwell and was admitted to hospital on Sunday evening.  He is responding well to antibiotics and hopefully it won't be too long before he is on the mend.  

Needless to say there has been no sewing done, naturally I have been spending most of my time visiting Dad in the evenings as no visiting was allowed in that particular ward in the afternoons.  He has now been transferred to another ward and life is not quite as manic.  I have managed a few late evenings after visiting trying to switch off, sitting under my Autumn churndash pinwheel quilt sewing on the binding.  Very relaxing after very busy days.  I know we are not out of the woods yet but I'm hopeful things will continue to improve this week and I might just get another quilt sandwiched.  No photos I'm afraid - maybe next week. 

No Sewing This Week

Gosh where is this year running away to - I cannot believe it's November already.  I hope you all had fun last night - don't gorge yourself on all the sweets, apples and peanuts left over from the guisers.  We had a quiet night, not my favourite night of the year and thankfully the children have all grown up and no longer come around trick and treating.  I did have just three of my pumpkins and gourds on display in the hall though.  Hubby brings them from the market mid October and they bring a nice bright splash of colour to the house 

.......... they usually last right through till Christmas until it's time for the festive decorations.  We will be counting down soon I guess.

As it says on the label no sewing this week but as I sit typing this I realise that's a lie.  I finished sewing down the binding of my Racing Minis at class on Tuesday night!  This is a bright easy and very simple pattern, the top has been finished for ages and has been waiting to be quilted.  All done now and will be a good teenage boys gift.  It's quite a big one measuring roughly  50 X 70ins

I did also manage to sandwich another of the tops sitting in the bundle waiting for the final push to completion.  This one first appeared here way back on the 1st of August!

It's another biggish one for me around 70 X 70 which was pieced with the practice blocks for a tutorial I gave at class.  This is another Missouri Star pinwheel design which used up a lot of my autumnal scraps.  The sashing background strips are Kona espresso and sets off the blocks quite nicely.  Sorry not a great photo.  The backing for this one has been pieced with lots of biggish scraps too - I had gathered a lot of brownish fabrics from my early days of fabric collecting so I took the opportunity to use them up in this very autumnal quilt.  Now the next challenge (always an issue for me) is to decide on the quilting.  Again watch this space!

It's a beautiful day today the sun is shining and making the Autumn colours glow.  It's been a challenging and very busy week for me and I know it's been a difficult week for my friends and family too.  As we start another busy new week hopefully you will find a little down time for yourself to sit and sew, craft or read or indeed just time to stop and look at the lovely colours of nature before they fade for the winter.

One, Two, Three and nearly Four

Our Sew-in was a great success the other week at class and I forgot to report on the progress here last week.  Everyone joined in and I think we managed enough blocks on the night for about 4 tops! I will try and get photos of each of them as they are completed.  As we were running short of the background fabric I decided to improvise and changed the pattern slightly.  I have been working on quick and easy projects for some time and have completed these two.  As requested there is no batting in either of these, only a fleece on the back - more easily washed and dried for the recipients.  Sadly in my opinion i would rather put in the batting as I feel it gives more body to the quilt, but thats only my view and I know I'm in the minority on this one.  They will keep a little child cosy though I hope during the colder months ahead.

and the Reel Time quilt is finished too all bar the label.  I still haven't quite mastered the Photoshop programme and I need to install new ink cartridges before I do any more printing.

The fourth quilt is my Racing Minis which has been sandwiched and quilted this week, and now is just waiting for the binding to be cut - but that's where the decision making lies.  Should it be a red binding or a black binding......or maybe both?  Watch this space!

I feel I am in a bit of a rut - I need a challenge I think, looking at the quilts I have been sewing recently are all quite straightforward, and while I have enjoyed making them they have not been all that challenging.  So......I'm looking for a new project and will set out this week to look for something a wee bit different.

I had a lovely parcel of fabrics arrive today and I've spent some time playing with it, refolding it and wrapping it around the cardboard comic boards in readiness for stacking on my bookshelves ....what fun!

Hope you've all had fun this week doing something you enjoy.  

Sew Saturday - Sew Everyday

Today is Sew Saturday, a nationwide uk day to raise awareness of sewing and local sewing and fabric shops.  The last thing I need is more fabric so no visit to our local quilting supplies shop, but  when hubby asked me this afternoon what I was going to be doing today the answer was of course sewing - its national Sew Saturday today!  .........the reply?  Well everyday is national sew day for you!  Yes indeed there is rarely a day goes by that I don't manage to do something with needle, thread, fabric and my trusty sewing machine.  Call it passion, obsession, relaxation, addiction or whatever you like but I just love it.  It's an escape, it's chill out time, it's tidy the dining room time but most of all it's my time and we all need that now and again don't we.  My frustration is that I feel slightly guilting sitting in my sewing/diningroom sewing when I could be doing housework, cooking, cleaning windows, dusting etc etc.  Chill out time is needed though for all of us and it's good to accept we need it now and again.

This morning was spent running around doing errands (for other people) and this afternoon has been me time.  I have been putting the binding on my Reel Time quilt.  I am now sitting comfortably under my quilt and my daylight lamp stitching said binding down listening to a selection of lighthearted tracks from movies, can I guess which movies?.....eh well not all of them.  

Even my top and cardi are co-ordinating with my quilt

Dear hubby has just brought me a little bowl of olives and a gin and tonic....... Heaven on earth what more can a girl ask for, sewing in her own space, peace and quiet  (well relatively).  I might even sneak a wee piece of my favourite chocolate later which I've been hiding from Canmore!!  Bliss.

Hope you have had a good sewing day too.

Scrap Busting Again

I was determined to get some sewing done this week as well as getting to know my new computer.  so I have spent a bit of time doing both.  As well as the usual visits to Dad for our regular lunch and shopping trips I had a really lovely day with our little grandson.  His Mummy will be returning to work soon and she had to go to a meeting so Grannie was in charge.  What a great time we had.  I was a bit concerned that the old tricks wouldn't work after 30 years but I needn't have worried.  Yes it was a bit like riding a bike - once you've mastered it, it all comes back in a rush.  We played, we read stories, 

Lift the flap to see the cows - Moo!

We even managed lunch without too much of a mess, he even settled for me quite quickly at nap time - but and there is always a but isn't there …….I had forgotten how much an almost 10 month old can wriggle and squirm when it comes to changing a nappy!!!  

I suppose sewing and knitting are very similar in some respects, what we learn from our mothers, teachers and mentors in our younger years sticks with us - once shown never forgotten.  I remember being taught sewing at school.  Starting off with the binca and the thick wool doing cross stitches, then moving on to our lapbags  [mine was yellow with blue and green embroidery]  This was my first real sewing project and was used throughout primary school to keep sewing and knitting projects in for our weekly lesson.  The lasting memory I have is Miss Smith standing over me as I struggled to thread my needle.  Wet soggy thread all frayed at the end just wouldn't go through that tiny eye .......and woe betide anyone who lost that precious needle.  Ahh memories.

I finished an I spy charity quilt this week, scraps and leftovers, the top is one of a few that's been lying waiting to be quilted.  This one is all done just a label to go on.......but I'm still trying to fathom out the label printing process on my new Photoshop - for some reason it is insisting on printing in the middle of the page which I don't want!  Techie needed again to sort it out I think.

I bought a charm pack called Reel Time a few months ago which I have lifted and moved quite few times not quite knowing what to do with it.  It has now been transformed - a very quick and easy project combined with just under a metre of the new Lewis and Irene Bumbleberries in cream as a background.

And on the wall 

We are going to make one like this at class on Tuesday, using our scraps and stash, no new purchases allowed, so a good stashbuster.  We are having a 'sew in' I'll let you know how many blocks we manage to complete in the evening.  They will eventually be made into children's quilts for charity, a win win situation for everybody. 

So until next week enjoy your stitching.

Stitchless

This week has flown and not a stitch has been sewn!  A week of catch up with lots of things in the house and with family.  

I hate to admit it but I have gone over to the other side - technology speaking.  Before I went off on holiday my PC was running very very slowly, so slowly it was beginning to frustrate.  I can’t complain I have had it for a long long time, and as we all know technology has progressed in leaps and bounds even in a year never mind 10.   I have an Apple TV, an iPhone and an iPad so I guess the next step was an iMac or equivalent.  Techie made a good job of convincing me, so a Mac Mini was purchased instead of a PC.  Wow - Speedy Gonzales!  I no longer need to go and make a cup of tea after switching on the box.  Less than a minute and it is powered up ready to go. I thought I was just getting the ‘box’ but surprise surprise a new magic mouse appeared and a dinky wee wireless keyboard.  So this week has been a whole new learning curve, getting used to typing again with all ten fingers for a start!  

Techie needless to say did all the technical stuff and  backed up and transferred all the old files on to a separate hard drive then put only the files i really needed on to the new machine. I have been assured it will take me a long long time to fill up all the available space - eh really!  All that being said I have enjoyed embracing change, Techie has been really patient with me and I am delighted to say so far so good.   I am enjoying this new piece of kit.  I can even listen to my music - some of my Cds were almost antique - while I type up this blog post all done wirelessly.

So as far as sewing goes as I said earlier not a stitch as has been sewn.  It was good however to catch up with everyone at class on Tuesday.  Some of the ladies had brought along their purchases from the Quilt Show at Ingliston and a few bargains were to be had.  I managed to reorganise my desk/table/room and tidied everything up a wee bit.  Last night I spent an hour preparing another of my Night Before Christmas Blocks, so although no stitching a bit of preparation has been done.  Tonight I plan to make a list of all my unfinished WIPs,  then slowly work my way through them.  I have lots of tops sitting waiting to be sandwiched and quilted so that must be a priority and I have no excuse as my new roll of batting arrived this week too!

The sun is shining here and has been most of the week so I am heading out to the summerhouse to sit and drink coffee and enjoy the garden and the changing colours. This  is an unexpected bonus.  Enjoy this week as autumn creeps in.

Holidays Over

We are back!  Safe and sound after a very long day travelling.  We had a reasonable overnight flight and I managed to get a few hours sleep which is unusual for me, I usually find it difficult to sleep well on the plane.  It was good to see Techie waiting for us at the airport and I am looking forward to seeing the rest of the family over the weekend.

Sadly we left this behind - 

these blue skies are just something I would love to bottle up and bring back home with all the other gifts and things in my suitcase but I will have to make do with the photos and the memories until next time.  I might even print some photos and hang them on the wall in my sewing room.

The suitcases were almost at their limits this year coming home. I managed a few bargain pieces of fabrics to add to my stash. Of course I have plans in my head for theses pieces - but perhaps I should write them down in my notebook so as not to forget what they are!!   I also brought the Hardware quilt back (without the batting) - I did think I was going to have to leave it till next time as space was tight, however DH offered to carry it in his hand luggage. So yet another top waiting to be sandwiched and quilted.  

Before I left Canada I did manage to get all 80 blocks finished for my wonky log cabin quilts I told you about last week.  That means I can get them sewn together next spring - it's always good to have a project in progress for snowy days.

This week will be a quiet one I hope - getting the body clock back in kilter, unpacking and catching up with what's been going on here over the last month.  Hopefully a few of you will be heading to the Quilt Show at Ingliston in Edinburgh this weekend.  I am sure there will be bargains to be had, lots of inspiration, new fabric lines and there is bound to be some lovely quilts on show as always.  I am looking forward to catching up with all the ladies at class on Tuesday to see what I have missed, and finding out what everyone has been stitching over the last four weeks.

Now as the summer comes to a close and we head into the autumnal days and darker evenings I for one am looking forward to cosy nights in my sewing chair - I've certainly got lots to finish and lots planned!  How about you? Have a good week.

 

Sorting Scraps and Counting Blocks

One of my plans for this break was to make a scrappy quilt.  Unfortunately that's not going to happen as time is going in so quickly.  I guess summer holidays are not when most of the sewing gets done but I must admit the curtains are closing earlier and the darkness falling sooner each evening.

This week I did make an attempt to sort out the scraps which have accumulated here.........

To this ........

A bit more organised and perhaps that scrappy quilt will be made next time I'm this side of the Atlantic.

Did I tell you I'm making quilts for the twin beds in the downstairs bedroom?  Yet another ongoing project which I am thoroughly enjoying.  The pattern is from the Mod Block Magazine by Missouri Star Co.  It's a wonky log cabin and the fabrics were purchased last year from Connecting Threads, unfortunately this company doesn't ship internationally but their prices are very good.  I now have 68 blocks completed and I reckon I need 80 to make the two quilts, so I almost there.   I did lay the blocks out - but then I realised I had them all wrong.  A nice layout but not the one in the pattern!

This car knitting project was fun!  Hopefully these will keep a young man cosy during the winter months ahead - oops pun not intended.

                                          

We managed a shopping trip to the city this week too, it's always nice to see different shops in the malls and take advantage of the exchange rate which is certainly in our favour this year.  A few bargains just had to be picked up for gifts.

I hope you have all got your winter projects planned for the longer evenings throughout the coming months when it's always good to snuggle up under a quilt and get some stitching done.  If you haven't yet perhaps this is the time to start looking.  If I have my dates right I think the Ingliston Quilt Show is next weekend.  I will be giving it a miss this year but I am sure a few of you out there will be going along and perhaps will be inspired by the lovely quilts and fabrics on show.

Enjoy the week ahead. 

 

What a Pain

Not a lot to report this week.  Unfortunately I tweaked my back at the beginning of the week and have been in a bit  of discomfort, I have no idea what I did but thankfully it's getting better, now I just need to be careful and not do anything silly.  We have managed to get out and about and strangely enough sitting in the car was reasonably comfortable.  The sun has been shining and we continue to do things at a more relaxed pace.

So not a lot of time at the sewing machine this week,  I did manage to piece the backing for the Hardware quilt top but this is as far as it goes while I'm here.  I will be taking it home to sandwich and quilt.

I have been forced to do a bit more reading while sitting with the heat pad on my back.  Hubby bought me a quilting magazine - the Fall edition of Fons and Porter Easy Quilts which features some nice patterns especially the one called In the Middle - I've seen this one before as it was designed by a lady who's blog I follow here -  http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.co.uk. She featured it on her blog on the 28th August this is  yet another one to be added to my wish list.  I've also been browsing around the usual quilting sites online.  The Missouri Star Quilt Co have just published the next edition of  their Block magazine, so I might be tempted to buy the digital edition for some more reading material and to inspire me.  The only real stitching, as opposed to the virtual stitching going on in my head, has been my hexis  - but I suppose that's ok.  

We have had two really hot days which have been lovely, we sat and enjoyed the garden yesterday, unfortunately this morning it is pouring with rain - I feel sorry for everyone working hard all week when the sun shines and then when the weekend comes along it rains and curtails plans for outdoor activities, such a shame.  

Well whatever you are doing this week enjoy!

Missing ..........

Thankfully we have now recovered from our jet lag and the tiredness which we had last week and are now definitely in the Canadian time zone.  We have had a good week, lots of rest and relaxation and drives out to some of our favourite spots on the warm and sunnier days.  I even made some cookies for our afternoon picnics - I don't know the last time I had time for baking.

I have unpacked my sewing stuff too - it's so good to get my machine out and set up. Everything put in its place, my machine mat and machine, cutting mat and rotary cutter, fabric boxes and rulers........eh wait a minute, where's my 6 x 24 .......... Well it's missing - I have absolutely no idea where it has disappeared to and its not where it should be.  We have had the house upside down and is gone awol.  Fortunately we have a quilting shop just down the road and I was able to buy a new one, it's one piece of equipment a quilter (at least this one) cannot do without.  

Do you remember this block?  

The kit contained these fabrics 

This is one I've been working on for a couple of years in fact when I look back my notebook it tells me this kit was bought from Connecting Threads in 2012 so this one has been a long while in the making and I am so pleased that it's now almost done.  Unfortunately when you buy a kit you need to take the fabrics you are given, and while I really liked the pattern the fabrics were a bit busy for my liking and had I known then what I know now I should have substituted and put in some solid fabric.  As a result instead of making all 35 blocks I stopped at 16. The blocks should just be joined together as is but I though I would use a nice bright sashing to break it up.  I'm now working on a strippy panel for the backing which I am piecing with the extra fabric which should have been used for the rest of the blocks and gone into the front. 

Here is my 'car project' - I always like to have something in my bag to keep the fingers moving.  I do have my hexi pouch and I bought this wool this week in our little wool shop downtown.  We are so lucky to have a sewing and knitting shop just down the road, and there is one in the next town too!

It's a bit cooler here this morning - only 5 degrees and a bit rainy.  We wondered why the heating had switched on at 7.00pm!  Hopefully the sun will come out later and warm things up.  I need to go into the basement and look out some of our winter clothes if it doesn't.  I don't think we will be sitting on the deck today.

We are enjoying the slower pace at the moment and trying to take each day without making plans so unless the clouds lift and the temperature warms up today we will have a day 'at home' enjoying a quiet day reading, sewing, knitting, sudoku and drinking coffee in the den.  I hope you all have time to stop and slow the pace this week and enjoy a bit of stitching too.

Dreadful Feeling

I promised you last week I would have my blue Oakshott quilt top finished.  It has still to have a border but here it is all sewn together and up on the design wall - aka my flannelette sheet!

That little blue bundle of fat eighths turned out just fine and the shading is really quite nice when you see it close up.  Another success I think.  

What do you do when you are so tired, you can't think straight, you can't sleep or read or function properly.  This is how I have been feeling the last couple of days. I am starting to wind down, having been so busy over the last few weeks, and organising things for my holiday at last it has arrived but I have exhausted myself.  Now I am here on the other side of the Atlantic, in the middle of the Rockies, ready for a well earned break, I am suffering from terrible jet lag.  I know I am on holiday - a time for reading and relaxing but my fingers are itching already.  I can't concentrate to cut, piece and sew so I have  brought out my little pouch which I sometimes carry around just for times like this.  

A few more scrappy hexis have been produced - this is a trend which has had a revival again. This is where I started my quilting experience many years ago in the early 1980s when my boys were of nursery age.  I joined a class and was taught EPP (English Paper Piecing). I made my very first pincushion and I still have it today!  

Every now and again I go back and make a few more hexis with my scraps - who knows where they will end up or what they will turn into but for this week they are keeping me sane.  

Hopefully over the next few weeks when we are out and about I will post some photos and show you all some of the lovely lakes and mountains in the area.

Happy stitching - whatever or wherever you might be.

Where Does The Time Go

I feel a little like the hamster on his tread wheel at the moment and I think I am in need of a break.  I have also been considering for a while whether or not to continue with this blog.  Many I read in the blogging world take little breaks now and again, (some have even gone over to Instagram - too technical for me) in the hope of finding more inspiration, bigger challenges and some time to breathe.  I am not sure just how many follow this page - but I do know there are a few.  I don't get a lot of feedback and that's just fine because I am not even sure if this page is set up properly to get comments and feedback and I'm afraid I don't want to upset any of the settings by messing them around.  Sometimes I think I'm talking to myself but then again that's no bad thing as long as I don't get an answer back.  It does help though to write thoughts down.

It's been a challenging summer for me (if we can call it a summer) not a lot of sunshine or blue skies, everything seems damp and dismal and already the nights are closing in and the darkness is falling much earlier.  Can you tell I'm feeling a bit low?  Well I will give myself a wee shake and give myself a talking to and hopefully I will feel a bit more up beat soon.

Last week I started on the Oakshott bundle, I'm not convinced that I like this fabric.  It is a woven fabric, with different coloured threads it has a very definite sheen and the colour changes in the light, it also tends to fray quite a bit so it's been a bit of a challenge.  The pattern I have chosen is not ideal either and no matter how I place said blocks they change their light and shade, this might become a design feature or it might be a disaster but as they say I've started so I'll finish.  

The single block from last week now looks like this

Well it doesn't really - because they are not joined together in a four block but in rows and if you come back next week you will see that the placement gives a whole new dimension to the pattern.

I should really be doing some quilting not piecing!  I have three, eh no five, oh maybe it's six tops waiting to be sandwiched and quilted, oh well tomorrow is the start of another week and I know for a fact I won't get much sewing done.  Hope you do!

A New Start

This little bundle of fat eighths has been sitting on my shelf for a long, long time.  

They are Oakshott fabrics which I bought at one of the Ingliston shows a good number of years ago, when I was a rookie at this craft, and I didn't know any better.  Yes you know I don't really like pre cuts or fat anythings don't you, but I know they have their uses sometimes.  I seem to remember being given a free pattern with the bundle but having looked for it a few times unsuccessfully the little package has always been returned to its little corner unopened to sit beside two other bundles of precuts!  

On a recent tidy through my books and magazines one evening last week, I came across a pattern in one of the magazines, from a Fons and Porter Easy Quilts issue, which I thought might just make use of the bundle of blues.

These little eighths have been folded for so long it took a bit of pressing and even some steam to get the creases out before I was able to make a start.  

Start I did though and as all those who know me will be pleased to hear - this quilt will not have any green in it!  If you have a look through my gallery you will see that most of the quilts I have made to date seem to be green tones or have green featured somewhere in there. We all seem to have our own little idiosyncrasies and mine seems to be having a touch of green somewhere in the mix.

This is the first block -

I have adjusted the pattern slightly as I will be limited by the fabric I have, I am sure the range and dye lot will have changed by now.  Look out for the progress - you may need to wait a while but I'll get there, no rush for this one!

Hope you can make a New Start this week and enjoy some time stitching.