Lucky Cow!

Before I start, thank you so much for all the wonderful comments on my Stained finish - it means a lot that so many folks I love and respect have said such sweet things about something I've made; you guys know how to make me smile, and I will answer all your comments as soon as I can.

And if that wasn't enough to boost my ego today, remember my little not-the-FUNC thread catcher for Sunni's Farmer's Wife In Your Life linky party?  Well I only went and got an honourable mention from Laurie Aaron Hird didn't I!!! 

So, I've been meaning to show off tell you about this too for ages.  Before Easter I received a discount code for Moo, combined with some googled free shipping and cashback, (I use TopCashback to keep me in the lifestyle to which I have become accustomed!), I excitedly sent off for some minicards.

Ordered Wednesday, received Saturday!!

I know some of you already have them, and I have been jealous for a long time, stewing away quietly, but now I have some too; oh they are so lovely!

Obviously I won't be handing any out, they are just for me to look at and add to the illusion that I am way more important than I really am!  I don't think there is anything wrong with that, once in a while ;)

Farmer's Wife - Get a Life!

My wives have had a rather terrible existence, confined to a box with only each other for company - sounds like a movie or some terrible story you see on the news.

Anyhow, Sunni over at LoveAffairWithMyBrother hatched a rescue mission for these neglected old ladies and has just finished running the brilliant Farmer's Wife In Your Life series.





Unfortunately I had to decline doing a tutorial as it all came about in mid-terrible February and I wasn't really up to committing; however this week, whilst the kids were happy being ill in front of the TV, I grabbed my least dreary old dear and gave her freedom!

I decided right away that I wanted to use as few additions as possible, making nothing bigger than the original 6" block.  Not a lot of scope there really, but a challenge none the less.

Now, in the winter, I favour flannel pyjamas as evening attire. We have leather sofas, so when I am hand stitching a binding or trimming threads, I tend to use my knee as a thread catcher, needle-saver etc.  All well and good, works a treat!

But now it is getting warmer, my winter 'jamas are almost ready to be put away for 6 months and I need a simple replacement.   So here, may I present my Calico Puzzle Threadcatcher.

I used a square of lightweight wadding, and some flannel for it's awesome sticky powers and added a little felt for the needles.  A hairband and button to hold it all together, and now I have a wife with a purpose!

I kind of like it, and know I will use it, but it is giving me a little too much FUNC flashback to be confident about it!

So have you got any rogue Wives in need of a makeover?  Check out the wonderful tutorials and if you make something, link up with Sunni and you could win prizes! 

Laurie Aaron Hird, author of The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt book and Michele Foster from Quilting Gallery are the judges!  So I have potentially embarrassed myself in front of more than the regulars (again)!

My Big Day In...

I have been busy, although just looking at the photos, it doesn't really look that way; you decide.

I was home from school by 9am and did not move from the conservatory for the next 6 hours, all bar a 'comfort break' (so polite), and to pick up the post from the mat!

So want to see what a 'day off' looks like? 

Firstly, what some of it sounded like was Rhonda!  She kept me company and in stitches for hours, (OK not hours, but at least one!); another fun podcast, and lovely to know more about you **nicke.

There was more cutting to start with.  The binding for the Across The Sea, just because I want to be ready, and even though I haven't checked if I have enough batting yet!

I trimmed and cut all my Oakshott Fat-eighths into 9" squares for the Dead Simple QAL, they do look lovely, and even the trimmings looked great!

...and a quick stack of 2.5" squares cut, to add to the mini charm pack of Sherbert Pips that I converted to hexies last night...

After that, I needed to sew.   So an instant hit, 2 Farmer's Wife blocks using some left over HSTs from my last blitz; matching them to blocks they would fit, (well I still have a lot of choice), today Broken Sugar Bowl and Flock...

So now there are 10... and so far behind it's not funny!

Then I got a pang of the guilts that my machine is almost 3 months old and has never been given a good clean.  Oops...

Dust-free from now on, I promise.

After that, I knuckled down to the Japanese Scrap Bag Challenge, and I have just finished for the day.  I took some 'in progress' photos; but they are rubbish, so I will make one or two more tags before the competition finishes and post about making them properly.  In all honesty, they are so simple, a few written 'instructions' would be more than enough. 

So do you want to see?  OK, just a peek...

These were made with some non-competition scraps, as I didn't have enough 'pink' for both girls to have 2 more each of this batch; and Twin 2 threw a complete wobbler over the first pair; so anything for a quiet life.

The 'real' ones I will keep under wraps for a little longer, just to keep the Competition on their toes.  I have made six that are already in use daily on the girls' book bags, lunch boxes and PE Kit bags, and including the two above, and I made 7 more today.

So that was my making, and this was the icing on the cake... Post!

I have been eagerly awaiting 2 packages from the US, and one arrived today.  My super-duper Rainbow Swap Charms from Jennifer.  She is such a lovely friend, she also sent me a beautiful mug rug, I was so excited I was trying to type a 'thank you' and lay out the charms simultaneously!

OK, so the Across the Sea will go into piecing-overdrive again tomorrow - but having received such a lovely gift, those 170+ pieces have been well and truly excused!  Once the other parcel arrives, I will get Goodie 2 sorted, and then I'll almost be on top of things again, phew!

Next Wednesday I have my long-awaited, full-on dentist appointment, so I can't imagine getting much done before (nerves), or after (pain and dribbling!); but this was definitely a lovely interlude in this working week.

Awesome August!

A whole month of school holidays passed by in a flash!  So here I am again linking up with Lily's Quilts and Fresh Sewing Day.

We took a week away near Weymouth and had another week of family time, but I still managed to clock up a few finishes in August.

Firstly, I was able to reveal the mini-quilt prize I made for Rhonda at the end of July...

There were Bee blocks for Sarah...

... and also an eventual finish with a zip! ...

Phone cases...

Hexies...

... and a little Mystery...

A mini prezzie for Lizzie...

FWQAL blocks at long last...

... and my first 241 Tote...

I was lucky enough to win some lovely fabric from both Lizzie and Renee & Yvonne, plus a Jelly Roll from Mandy at Simply Solids; I got a spot on Rhonda's podcast and Cindy's Name Game, and also won a place in Pings' Japanese Scrap Bag Challenge!!

Some wonderful pressies came my way too...

There was the start of the Across the Sea QAL...

... and also a little shopping and behind the scenes preparation for my November Bee blocks (Mwaah ha ha - so excited!), and quite a bit of secrecy with Project 51, which I am so proud to say can be revealed really soon.

Oh, and this bargain baby...

I have to admit that even I am surprised at how much I was able to fit in!

September is going to be an even busier month, with Goodie swaping, QALs and the competition to make for.  School will be back and the girls will be starting for the first time on Tuesday!  I go back to work next week too and I'm shattered just thinking about it. 

Anyone got any energy going spare, I think I am going to need extra!

A demanding wife...

Not me! (Dear husband, if you leave a comment, I will delete it!).

Not satisfied with just 4 blocks, I made 4 more...

As you can tell, I am using a rather limited palette, I may venture further afield, but I'm not sure yet.

Here we have Northern Lights...

Friendship Star...

Churn Dash (I love this one, even though there was a little seam-ripping action)...

and Contrary Wife...

I forgot to fussy-cut this one on point, but I am not too worried with the scale of things to come.

So far I am not using the templates, there are a nice number of blocks that my mental arithmetic can cope with; once I leave this simple territory, I will be relying on the FWQAL group for assistance for sure!

These were photographed in a rush, I drew the curtain to stop the shadows, and was confronted by the biggest spider ever, (arachnosaurus rex), I was not touching that curtain again nor stopping long for anything until hubby got home!

E-i-adio...

It was raining, the kiddies were happily playing, so I couldn't drag out the engagement any longer.  I have finally started on some, albeit easy, FWQAL blocks; the pile of fabric put aside for the nuptials was driving me crazy just sitting there waiting.

So we have my first, and least favourite Basket Weave, I think because it looks odd against the others with no white; but I will make more without or with different solids, so it will balance and fit in fine, but just not today...

Box...

Autumn Tints...

and the one I am proudest of, Calico Puzzle...

OK, so I am very late, and have at least 20 more blocks to do until I catch up, but these only took a couple of hours, so I am hoping I will be able to catch up at some point before... the end!!

Jubulant June!

Linking up with Lily's Quilts on the 1st of the month is pretty satisfying.  I have taken to looking back over the whole month, and it is cool to see that although I didn't feel like I got masses done, I did actually have a few, long awaited, finishes.

My Dad's Union quilt for Father's Day was as well received as I had hoped...

... and hubby's Father's Day pressies were just as appreciated...

I completed my Brit Quilt Swap skull, finally naming it the 'Resurrection Tea Party'...

...and my partner loves it!  I was so excited and relieved, even the postmen were in on the fun and instead of taking at least 2 days to get to her, my parcel arrived within 24 hours!  Until she calms down and lets the world know, I'm keeping schtum about the recipient!  So check back over the weekend and we will both have revealed all!!

I got to sew quite a few 'secrets' this month, which are starting to arrive...here's a glimpse...

... and I also made a block for the partnership quilts of next year's Tokyo Quilt Festival...

... read more over at Ayumi's blog about this great cause.

Also in June my Dad held 3 successful Open studio weekends, and I had a birthday!  Look at my new baby…

... and these long awaited books...

I am hoping for great things; a bad workwoman can no longer blame her tools!

A heads up, whilst I have a captive audience, I'll be celebrating my first year of blogging in a few weeks, so I am planning a little something, or perhaps a big something… I haven’t quite decided yet!

Thank you for stopping by, I hope you had a great June too x