Turning the corner!

Well I have used a bit of trial and error in the quilting and binding on the long-time-coming Cowboy quilt. I will master those corners, I will not give up until they are perfected! Not on this quilt, but eventually! If I get it done, I will post a picture tomorrow.

Where has the sun gone? Sitting out at the beach cafe at lunchtime was a bit chilly, but that didn't stop dear son enjoying his ice cream! We stopped at the little sewing shop by the nursery and got some black thread, as I couldn't live with the niggle of dark blue!

It's the weekend, so hopefully Open Houses and family time (mess, noise, fighting, crying.... can't wait!).

You've got a friend in me...

Well I cannot recommend Toy Story 3 enough if you have young ones to occupy. We had a lovely afternoon, the 3D was surprisingly good; the specs need working on, as they give you a bit of an earache and I hate to think how you cope if you have to wear specs to see - fortunately I can get by without for a short while. We ate too many sweets, as you do, but the 'Ken - le freak dress up' scene and Spanish Buzz were worth it!

I got all the wadding I will need for a while, and some stuffing for the sock monkeys. Unfortunately 2 hours in the dark and 3D glasses meant that I ended up grabbing the darkest blue thread rather than black, but I don't think the monkey-huggers will notice!

The Cowboy quilt is now moving on, I have tacked everything together, and will hopefully get quilting tomorrow - bit of a dilemma about whether to do regular squares, or diagonals (they worked last time and looked good). I will ponder some more...

Now I go cleanin' windows to earn an honest bob...

I got the three kiddies to help wash down the windows and sills at the back of the house this afternoon, taking advantage of the hot weather; not sure the windows look much better, they couldn't reach very high, but it kept everyone entertained for about 15 minutes!

I have added a stripey border to the cowboy quilt, as it was looking a little on the small side, and I'm glad to say it looks much better. Looking forward to getting it all together.

This morning I actually managed to get the copy of Kaffe Fassett's 'Quilts In The Sun' from the library, so beautiful. I am now surrounded by fantastic images and serious self-doubt. I don't think I am every going to have the patience to perfect those complicated patterns.

There is a super tutorial by Ashley of Film In The Fridge today for starburst blocks, I might give that ago...one day!

Well better go to bed, I need to rest my eyes before the 3D experience that is 'Toy Story 3'...excited!

The postman always rings...

The postmen were extra busy today, a new catalogue from Clothkits full of beautiful and wacky things to make arrived first, the second came with my long-coverted Material Obsession and Material Obsession Two books - I have only skimmed through the pictures so far but WOW! And the final knock of the day was my Kona charm packs.

A quick trip to the shops and school uniform for next term all bought and ready to be name-taped, and it's only day 2 of the holidays!

I have booked seats to see Toy Story 3 in 3D on thursday, so that should be fun for dear son and I; I will also be able to get my wadding from the fabric shop in town at the same time, and get cracking again. I have ordered some red polka dot fabric for the binding, so hopefully everything will all fall into place by the end of the week.

I am also hoping to pop into some of the Worthing Open Homes this weekend, for a bit of a beak and inspiration. Hopefully the hosts will all be happy to have photos taken so I can report back.

I've had a couple more lovely posts on flickr about my quilt - a boost I'd recommend to anyone!

It's all good x

What I want...

Popped to town with dear son this morning (it's the holidays - yippee) to buy backing (big success - red/white stripes) and wadding, but all those eager weekend shoppers have gone and bought it all! I have only stitched the strips together so far, but will have to find something else to occupy me before the next delivery.

I had some eBay successes over the weekend, an American Jane Pindot and a couple of Kona solids charm packs should be winging their way to my door very soon. Being new to all this, I am completely jealous that American quilters have the most fantastic array of fabrics, and here it seems the fabrics of choice are mostly old fashioned (in a bad way) or extortionately expensive :(

What I want...















What I find...














Good news though on the sock front - I got a 5 pack (enough for one each!) half price this morning - fun stripes, cotton-rich and going to look fabulous as monkeys!

A Sunny Saturday

Nursery summer fair, eaten too many cakes, sat in the sun, submitted my quilt picture to the Sew Hip flickr group and watched a Tommy Lee Jones film. Very relaxing day.

The children are wanting sock monkeys, so daddy better guard his drawers!

Schools out!

6 weeks off work - how happy am I?

I have spent the evening trimming 60 squares for the cowboy quilt, and dipping biscuits in chocolate and sprinkles for the nursery summer fair tomorrow morning. Not exactly a cookery masterclass, but 3 year-olds will love them.

Another follower today, (Hi Helen), I better start trying harder and sewing faster! Night Night x

I've got a follower!!!

Hello GrandmaRockton! My first follower, how exciting is that!
I've registered my blog with a few quilting-based sites, as it was getting a little bit lonely talking to myself!
No quilting as such today. I've ordered a 4.5" square for getting all those perfect pieces, especially as I have a pile of 'almost squares' destined for the Cowboy quilt, so I'll be cracking on with that soon.
I bought a copy of Sew magasine at the supermarket this evening, with a Jelly Roll quilting article, free pattern, including a dress my girls would look sweet in, and more inspiration.
There's no stopping me now....

Priscilla the Musical - Summer 2010

Just a bit of 'feel good' before the school run!

Woo hoo!

Finished!!! Apart from my 'experimental' corners, I am so pleased and raring to get on with the next one.

I love the colours, and the fact that the top is made purely from samples I collected for my City & Guilds. It will remind me of a year of happy Thursday evenings! A perfect memento.

Poor Peter Pointer!

I have completed the quilting - machined diagonal straight lines, looking good; and hand finished the edging to the top and bottom, so my right index finger is now sore! No pointing for me tomorrow! Hopefully I will get everything finished by this time tomorrow - I can't wait, I am really chuffed.

Only 3 more mornings of work until the holidays! Dear son got his first school report today - brilliant, so proud of him; this time last year he could read and write his name and not a lot else, but now there's no stopping him. Obviously a genius, like his mummy! His Cath Kidston Cowboys arrived in the post today, yee haw!

All tacked up and ready to go...

Here's the quilt, getting there. I'll be able to machine quilt the whole thing tomorrow. I am a little apprehensive about getting the needle through the block corners, but fingers crossed...

Hoxton Hotel

Loving the 'luxury-budget' rooms! See, quilting is everywhere!
www.hoxtonhotels.com

Where did the time go?

Another weekend over - and I have got the quilt top all sewn up! It does look far better than I ever thought it would, and for my first attempt, most of the blocks match up! I'll take some photos tomorrow.

I have just bought some Cath Kidston fabric squares on eBay, the classic Cowboy print for my son - he has placed his quilt order, so who am I to say 'No'! I have my eye on some blue and red mixed lots of spots, stripes and gingham which I think will all go together nicely.

This time next week I won't be full of the usual Sunday night angst as I'll be starting my summer holiday! Term-time working is the best (well better than working all summer anyhow!).

Long, but constructive day...

Up before 6am, Next sale, post office and home, all before breakfast. I have sewn up most of the strips for the first quilt, learnt the hard way that the remnants of sticky labels burn very quickly, and had enough time and energy left to set up my Flickr account, upload a few piccies from my 40th birthday trip to London, and now I have a date with Stephanie Plum. Night night.

Open2view - Eastbourne, NZ

Open2view - Property ID# 227783
I want to live here!

Here we go...

This is my first foray into the wonderful world of quilting. I recently completed a City & Guilds in Interior Design, and along the way I gathered many fabric samples destined to remain in a box never to be seen again. Until now...

Coming soon...

Testing testing... Just getting myself all sorted, and then I will begin to unleash my musings on unsuspecting folk!