Chaos!

The country has gone mad!  What was traditionally the start of the holiday season shopping after Thanksgiving day in the US - Black Friday and Cyber Monday has arrived here in the UK only to cause all sorts of problems and issues over people trying to pick up a bargain.  I understand why human nature is such that reduced prices and sale items will always attract interest like bees to a honeypot, but why oh why does there need to be violence and angry scenes.  The roads were so busy on Friday and shopping centres and supermarkets filled to capacity.  My original plans for Friday, while waiting for Dad on his hospital visit, was to have a  pleasant wander around the shops - that all changed when I saw the local news and realised the centre I had proposed visiting had called in police to curb angry and exuberant crowds.  Plans changed.  Well I hope some folks out there got the bargains they were looking for without being hurt in the rush.

Sadly once again I cannot show you what I've been working on this week - all soon to be Christmas pressies!  I don't want to spoil the surprise.

Today I've had a lot on my to do list and I have managed to get through some of it also having time to sit and enjoy my coffee and my knitting.  I cannot believe how quickly this year has passed.  December tomorrow - I hope you have all got your Advent Calendar at the ready.  Techie will be looking for his but I have bad news - I forgot to pick one up for him!!

Have fun this week whatever you do.

 

Project Linus ......

.........Providing security and comfort to sick and traumatised children and young adults through quilts.

I am delighted to report that 11 little quilts were handed over to E,  the Regional Co-ordinator of Project Linus for Lanarkshire and Glasgow East, this week. As you will remember our Exploding Block tutorial produced quite a few blocks which we then pieced together and produced four quilts.  A few of our ladies made their own contributions too.  I was so pleased with the results and am sure these will provide a hug and some comfort to a few more children coming up to Christmas.   E gave a very interesting talk on her work with Project Linus and would be delighted to receive any donations if there are more quilters out there wanting to help this very worthwhile cause and can be contacted via the Project Linus website.  She even brought along some lovely pieces of fabrics and fleece - these were given out to some of our ladies who have kindly agreed to make them into quilts for PL.  There are so many youngsters out in the community needing a little extra comfort.  We often think of little quilts being needed for babies but in actual fact PL help all ages, tots to teens.  She demonstrated an easy and quick way of how her group make 'whole cloth' quilts using novelty fabrics and fleece from fat quarters, a quick and easy way to produce a warm and cosy neonatal blanket.  However, I am a quilter first and foremost and I just love cutting and piecing, so I won't be using her 'quick fix' method.   I will continue to cut and piece and layer and quilt as that's how I get my buzz and it will be a pleasure to hand them over to her to distribute.  I am also continuing to support Marie Curie and have a few more ready to deliver next month for their fundraising.  

This week there is a display of our quilting projects in the local library.  We have been asked again by the staff to set up a Christmas display.  Although a little early it was felt we all needed our projects returned by the beginning of December as some will be gifted and used to brighten up our own homes during the festive period.



Those Carol Singers are so Cute



Such a variety of techniques



Once again thank you to all our ladies who have contributed and help set up the display.

The sun is shining this morning and I seem to have lots to get done.  Housework seems to have been ignored this week, so I will try and rush through the chores so that I can get some sewing time later.  I have a number of little projects which need some finishing stitches - these are all destined for Christmas gifts and shouldn't take too long to complete.  I also need to get a baby quilt started, I've found a pattern and some fabric arrived in the post yesterday which I didn't expect to receive until next week.  Plush Addict is a good online site I use, they have always had a quick, efficient and well packaged system which works for me.

Have a good and productive week.

It's Getting Busy

A shopping trip was necessary yesterday to replenish Dad's freezer of ready meals.  It was not a very nice morning when I headed off to do the shopping.  Where did everyone come from?  I reckon everyone must have had the same thought as I did when I opened the curtains - miserable day I'll head to the shopping centre!  I guess we are now on the run up to the festive season and perhaps everyone is preparing early this year - or is it normally like this?  Oh well I got everything I needed and had a good wander round the shops spending a little here and there.  It was a typical November day wet windy and dark but although the Christmas lights are not yet switched on everyone seemed cheery and bright - no shopping frenzy yet for the masses, everyone seemed quite relaxed.

What have I managed this week - sadly not a lot really.  A lady from Project Linus is coming to visit our group this week and I have working on a few quilts to get them finished off so that she can distribute them to the children.  I think she will be pleasantly surprised by our little bundle of quilts. Here are just three of them. I will tell you next week how many we actually give her.

The Exploding Block Again!

 

I have been hand stitching small things this week, I have finished my 2nd BOM. Here's part of it.

One Little Stocking

I am trying to empty some of my baskets and complete some WIPs.  I did manage a few more Farmer's Wifey Blocks this week. No more new starts this week until I get something finished.

Four More

 

I haven't made my list of things to do yet for next week so again I will fly by the seat of my pants and see how my progress goes.

Have fun and this week whatever you are doing. 

   

Activities This Week

I've had a good week this week, achieving most of my goals and a few more.  It's been bright most days, which helps get the chores done.  Tuesday was my day for the housework as I had to stay at home as some parcels were being delivered.  Fortunately they all arrived in good time and I could have headed out but I had got myself engrossed in sorting again - this time family photos.  Well I am happy to say that exercise for this week is done - lots more to do but I have run out of photo sleeves for the moment.  I guess that will be another delivery next week!  

Sorting Photos

 

I have also sorted all the embroidery threads, saving most other than a few which I had managed to get in a proper tangle.  I thought at one point I was going to have to buy another storage box but I managed to fit them all in. Strangely there doesn't seem to be two shades the same, how awesome it that?  I also told you I was doing some rearranging in my sewing area here is my new storage for my quilts.



Tidy for a wee while

 

I managed a bit more of my BOM.  I didn't however make any progress with the Farmers Wifey blocks. My Mini Mosaics book arrived with my fabrics so the half moon modern quilt which I am calling 'Charmed' is now finished. I like this one bright and cheery and the inky black gives definition and makes the charms pop.  I love the spotty binding.

Charmed

 

The huge knitting project is finished too and it's gorgeous, even although I say it myself.  I loved doing it although at times I didn't think I was ever going to get it finished.  At one stage there were over 700 stitches in the round, or did I miss count, I did say it was a large project - it just needs to be blocked now, I will show you it soon. 

Today is my day for technology - I have just updated my operating system on my iPad and now need to do the same for my phone.  Then I will reorganise some files on my PC. It is so easy to forget to back up your system.  I lost everything from my PC a number of years ago, photos, patterns,  documents - all gone.  I try now every couple of months to back up my computer to an external hard drive.  Doesn't cost a lot other than a few hours preparation, I would be very upset if I lost all my stuff again.  If you don't do it perhaps you should consider it.  Although with the 'cloud' some things are stored there anyway.

The sun is shining this morning and as I sit here drinking my cuppa I see that I should really clean my windows, perhaps I will get that done too.

I hope you have a busy and productive week.  

A Little Dissapointed

My Mini Mosaic book didn't arrive as expected this week with my little order of fabric.  There has been a bit of a mix up.  When I ordered my book I ordered some Dashwood Studio 'flurry' fabric for the binding of the little charm pack quilt but the order has been delayed.  However these things happen and I will just have to be patient.  

I have managed to complete most of the goals I set myself last week, apart from reading my lost book.  The charm pack half moon modern quilt has been sandwiched and quilted and is now just waiting for the fabric to arrive and I will get the binding done.  Yes I probably could use something else from my stash but I have my mind made up on this one so I'll wait.  

The third exploding quilt 'All Square' is complete.  A bit windy again this morning so you will have to make do with it draped over the acer, and its taken with my phone so not ideal.  You get the idea though don't you.



Exploding Block Quilt No 3 - All Squared

Exploding Block Quilt No 2 - Sweet Memories

Exploding Block No 1 - Autumn Rays

It is amazing how, when put into different settings and colour ways the exploding block can look completely different.  We are putting some of these little blocks together at class this week for Linus Quilts and that will be the last time I will be doing them for a while.  Time to move on. 
 

The large knitting project is coming along nicely and the second stocking on the second BOM is almost complete too.  I am pleased with what I have achieved.  I have decided that listing a small set of goals is a good idea so I will continue trying this out over the next few weeks.

My plans for this week?  A little reorganising of my Sewing Space, finish the large knitting project, add the binding to the half moon modern linus quilt. (If my fabric gets delivered). Stitch down the third stocking on the second BOM and make a few more blocks of the Farmers Wifey quilt which is an ongoing long term project.  I also bought a few more bobbins this week so I will continue to sort out Mum's embroidery threads. I could go on but I better not be too adventurous.

Have a good weekend whatever you are doing - I can't believe it's November already!