Away Too Long

Where do the hours, days, weeks go to.  I seem to be constantly apologising and thats not what this blog is all about.  We need positive vibes and lots of encouragement in order to keep our heads up and enjoy the process of our quilting in general.  I hope you have had a more successful few weeks completing your projects in time for gifting.  I have sat down a number of times over the last few weeks with my iPad to pen a quick note - just to say I am still here and have not abandoned my followers.

Unfortunately for some reason I am no longer able to write my blog from the Blogger App!! on my iPad. It keeps crashing on me and telling me the app needs to be updated, however I know all my apps are up to date and all working well.......that is except for Blogger!

Here I am now, what have I been doing since last time?  Caring for my Dad, preparing for Christmas and trying to keep things on an even keel which I am struggling with a bit.  Hubby's Mum was admitted as an emergency, to hospital at the beginning of this week very, very poorly, however she seems to be on the mend and is now sitting up at the side of the hospital bed giving out her orders to her sons!

Sewing takes too much concentration when your mid is a bit congested with other things so although my Connecting Threads table runner/quilt is still on the design wall not a lot has been done.  I did receive my Connecting Threads order which I placed in Black Friday Sale - that was exciting!

I have however been knitting, keeping my fingers busy.......... how many of you remember these jumpers?  

This is a small size, for the big boy who was 2 years old last week.  I think it will keep him cosy when he is out in the garden running around - he is such an outdoor boy, following in his parents footsteps already.  Their little family went Christmas tree picking yesterday and of course he had to be dressed for the occasion.  He makes me smile!  This photo's on Facebook so I guess its ok to post here

I got his Christmas stocking finished and hopefully Santa will visit and drop a few parcels inside, complete with the orange and the penny in the bottom.

In other news Techie's room here has been completely emptied and the painter will be coming soon to transform it for its new use........whatever that might be.  

Once again sincere apologies for lack of updates, but now I know there is a problem I will try and make time to sit down at the computer.  Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas.

Mainly Handstitching

Well I am pleased to say my sewing corner remains fairly tidy due to the fact I have been hand stitching this week and doing a bit of knitting.  I had forgotten how much I enjoy a bit of knitting.  I don't normally sit and watch television but for some reason this week I have been watching and knitting at the same time.  Very relaxing and enjoyable and sometimes sitting on my new chair with my feet up.  

Before the buttons were attached

and my new chair and stool before the legs were attached!

Preparations are being made everywhere for the festive season and many stitchers are posting lots of photos of their Christmas makes on the internet.  I must be odd - I think the only Christmas make for me this year is Santa's stocking for our little grandson.  I have finished the hand quilting and have a few sparkly star buttons to put on it and then I will put it all together this week.  

the buttons still need to be sewn in place

This little project has been on my design wall for a wee while - another of Connecting Threads kits.  It should be a table runner however as always plenty of fabric will make it into a little quilt for a charity.  

Rows still to be sewn together

The pattern

I hope you are all starting to think about the festivities and getting all your preparation done ahead of time so you can enjoy the holidays with your family and friends.

Never Ask A Lady Her Age

Well now it has gone I don't mind telling you I celebrated a big birthday last weekend.  I didn't want a fuss its just another day, week, month, year, decade!  

After a pretty hectic few weeks visiting Dad in hospital, attending to all the usual housework, getting his house back in order and moving things around to make thing easier for him, finally he got home. He now is managing with a new routine with some extra help each day.  It has given me a bit more peace of mind knowing that he is well and someone is checking on him.

Birthday celebrations were the last thing I wanted.  Thanks to a wonderful family and good friends, they all managed to make my 'Special' Birthday a big success.  Lots of very pleasant surprises but no big fuss - exactly how I wanted it. 

Progress has been made in the clearing of Techie's space now he has moved off to his own little empire.  We have had lots of discussions of how to make best use of the rooms in our own home.  No firm decision has been made but there will be a lot of moving 'stuff' around over the next few months to get it all the way it suits us both!

Well as every quilter will tell you the main issue we all seem to have is lack of time.  I'm no exception, I just don't have enough time to do and make all the things I want.  Part of this is down to time-management and also tidiness or maybe I should say untidiness.  Each time I try to do some sewing I have to clear a space or look for thread, or decide on my next project, or sort my fabric or.......... so it goes on.

So with all that in mind I have decided I must sort, catalogue, re distribute, pass on and declutter my sewing paraphernalia.  Hmmm!  I know what you are all thinking - yep I know, I don't think it will ever happen either.  I'm trying though I am really trying!

All my books are now listed on a spreadsheet, and relocated and organised in Author order in their new home on the bookshelf upstairs.  

this of course now leaves a gaping hole in the bookshelf downstairs

which will now allow me to clear the end of my worktable of these fabrics

which have been sitting waiting to be 'filed' on the appropriate shelf, but there wasn't enough room! 

On with the job then instead of procrastinating!  I will put on some cheery music pull up a chair and rearrange my fabrics this afternoon - if I manage it all I will reward myself by starting a new project, or more likely sitting with my feet up with I nice glass of something.  

Watch this space.  Have a lovely weekend doing whatever you have planned.

****UPDATE****

Cleared that table

Tidied the Fabrics

                              

                              Put my feet up - with a coffee

and finished off the binding of another linus quilt

A very productive afternoon - feeling happy!

Another Hiccup

The only sewing done this week was last night when I at last put my feet up after a very tiring week.  I managed a wee bit of hand stitching on the Christmas Stocking I have started for our little grandson.  This year I fully expect he will be aware of all thats going on over the festive holiday.  This little project gave me the perfect opportunity to focus on one thing and helped me relax.

Unfortunately Dad had a couple of falls this week. Fortunately there was no major damage done, his legs just wouldn't hold him.  He has been admitted to hospital with a suspected UTI.  Its a worrying time but I am comforted to know he is safe and being looked after.  Of course there's been more work for the family and travelling up and down to hospital visiting.  He is feeling fine though and in good spirits and hopefully the antibiotics will clear up the infection.

I will continue my stitching in the evening when I can and I am hopeful I might manage a few more donations for the PHEW Christmas Fair.

There may be a little lull in the usual posts if I am busy with other things but bear with me and enjoy your stitching.

The De-Cluttering Continues ........

............So not a lot to say about anything new on quilting.  I've just been working on the same quilts and doing a little bit of stitching for the charity fundraisers.  Until next week here are a few photos.

Needlecases

Ahhtishooo!  

This Way - all finished

My finished folded log cabin cushion - Happy Halloween!

Hubble Bubble

It's that time of year, season of mellow fruitfulness, beautiful autumn colours and making hedgerow jams, jellies and preserves.  Plum jam was the first at the end of last month then Rowan and Apple jelly last week and this is the second batch of plum jam yesterday, and before the jelly pan was returned to the back of the utility room cupboard hubby decided to have a try at quince and apple jelly, quinces bought at the local market and crab apples from his Mum's trees.  Store cupboard full!

It's a quieter house now without Techie and he is settling into his new home and getting everything put in its own space.  We have being trying to do the same - slowly tidying and rearranging rooms, doing a bit of decluttering as we go along.  This is not a quick fix and it could take a   l  o  n  g     while.

I have managed a few evenings sewing this week and on Tuesday at class T gave a tutorial on how to do a folded log cabin block.  This made for an enjoyable evening with all the equipment in use and the sewing machines humming.  I used some autumn colours with cream all found in my scrap bucket.  I continued with the block and decided I will make three others to join together and perhaps make a cushion cover.

The binding has been stitched down on That Way but the label is still to go on.  I like how this one has turned out its so bright and cheery.

I have no plans for this week other than I have a couple of ideas for small items for some fundraising for a few charities which are looking for crafty items for their Christmas Fayres so I might try them out to see if they are worth passing on for sale.  

Have a good week.

Under The Needle

This has been a much more productive week for me all round.  Not only have I managed a bit of sewing I have managed to calm myself and don't feel quite as manic.  My mind is a bit calmer and I have tried to make time for myself as well as my family this week.  The results you will see below.  I am in the process of working on four, yes four UFO's.  Under the needle today have been Which Way and That Way.  I must admit I have made quite a bit of progress on these bright cheery quilts.  I like everything about them, the colours the patterns,  the stitching - they have just come together well and no hitches so far!

That Way - Half Square Triangles

Which Way - Flying Geese (very appropriate for the season)

Last night I put the final stitch in the binding of the scrap quilt I started in Canada.  This was fun stitching all the little 2.5 inch squares and remembering all the projects I have made using the fabrics, you may even recognise some of them too.  I bought the trellis fabric for the background in Sugar Pine from their sale room. The border was from my stash and I have had it a long long time. I knew I wanted to put the blocks on point but my head was not allowing me to work it all out and I wasn't quite sure how to go about it until I remembered the exploding block!  yep success although of course I forgot that you lose the points don't you.  Ahh well not to worry, this is another charity quilt and while I do like try to perfect my points (don't we all) I am sure this little quilt will keep someone cosy throughout the winter.

I am a very contented and happy quilter tonight - I am up to date again with my blog posts, the Gallery Page is about to be updated and I'm looking forward to finishing off Which Way and That Way over the next week.  I believe today was 'Sew Saturday' with events going on all over the country, however I enjoyed my Sew Saturday in my sewing room stitching away merrily on my own and I achieved lots.  I hope you all had a good day!