Getting caught up...

I hope you all had a lovely weekend; we had a kid-free couple of hours on Saturday, which is always good, and managed to have our first BBQ of the summer yesterday, woo hoo.

I cut another 96 hexes for another Amitié Mystery BOM border, each from a different fabric…

I am planning on saving the two hexie borders for my holibobs, to appliqué on if/when the mood takes me, but I will baste these at my leisure and look forward to finishing them off.

I also finished the book I have not been reading since about September!  I have about a dozen books piled up ready to read, and I am loving being able to lounge in the sun and see what is in front of my face, so happy!

This evening I made my Stitch Tease Bee blocks for Di.  These, from an Ashley - Film In The Fridge tute were super easy and nice to make; thanks Di!

I now have to just get the Inbox under control, well you can't have everything!

Well hello!!

I'm back!!

I had a lovely break, we were away in Menorca for 11 days of the past 14, and only had a sporadic internet connection for 24hrs, and as that was so rubbish, I couldn't be bothered to drag myself from the sun lounger to keep trying.

I have missed you all, don't get me wrong; however it has been so relaxing and liberating not to be tied to my MacBook/iPad/iPhone.

I read a couple of amazing books, The Girl Who Saved The King Of Sweden and I Am Pilgrim, did practically no sewing as it was either too hot or too dark, and took it as easy as I possibly could!  I really wish we were still there, I can feel my blood pressure rising and suntan fading already.  I am not even going to mention the pile of ironing I have inadvertently created!

So linking up with Fresh Sewing Day is a little bit of a lightweight affair this month…

Excuse toes!

The only new things to show are another Green Tee block, the beginnings of my Cartwheels EPP, and a tote I made for the evenings on holiday for carting all our gear to the bar and entertainment; sparkly linen and faux silver-leather and blatantly copied from a Victoria Beckham design; it did the trick.

I also trialled and wrote up another commission, the real-deal will be made in the next week, but you will have to wait until Christmastime for that, which isn't long, seeing as the festive goodies are already hitting the shops!!

So looking out the window today pretty much confirmed that Summer is gone from these here shores, dammit, so back to reality we go.

Oh you missed my chirpy, positive outlook I'm sure xxx

Legoland 2012

We have made the annual trip to Legoland for 3 years now; the kids love it, and using good old Tesco reward vouchers it is pretty painless too.

It was much as always, although this was out first weekend or school holiday visit, so it was a bit more crowded and the queue times a little longer; but we managed 9 rides/features in about 7 hours, so everyone was happy and the ends of tethers were not reached.

We headed straight for Atlantis (again) as soon as the gates were open and were underwater in about 5 minutes - so my top tip is to head for the one ride you really want immediately and the rest of the day, que sera sera.

The other attraction on our list was the new Star Wars Miniland exhibition - possibly the most impressive as far as the actual Lego goes, and as we waited until the end of the day we just strolled right in and walked through at our own pace with only a few other folks for company.

The wasps may have been a little too abundant, and the attractions of the Continent now looking a little faded, but we will be back again next year I have no doubt.

Summer blues...

Well apart from a stroll to the park, feeding the ducks and lounging around in the sun again, I finally finished a book that seems to have taken me f.o.r.e.v.e.r. and I have even started a little embroidery.  Perfect day then.

All around I was seeing the blues, and for want of a bunch of blog-worthy photos, this seemed a good way to go...

I am linking up my 'random-ish' photos with Cindy over at Live A Colorful Life and her brand spanking new Really Random Thursday linky party.  Next week I will try harder to be more random, and if that's not an oxymoron, I don't know what is!

Some more of what you fancy...

Today there has been a lot more sunshine, in fact it is actually 'summer', really, who'd have thought we would get any, which means a lot more of this...

... some car washing, swimming lesson and lounging about, as well as completing the first secret project on my list.

I also received a lovely parcel from Jo-Bearpaw; I know that's not Jo's real name, but that is what I call her in my head.

I am experiencing, what I am nick-naming 'nesting by proxy' in fabric form.  I am planning on making one of the quilts from Hexa-GoGo for my sister's baby, but seeing as they won't be finding out which flavour they are having for a few more weeks, I am pulling, gathering, and now buying, for both options!

So when Jo announced a discount on purchases from her lovely online shop over the weekend, a quick peak turned into a little shopping and some more FMF...

Jo popped in some lovely buttons too, which will come in handy when the weather breaks and I need to keep the girls occupied for a while.

Tomorrow I have a few errands to run, including getting my In The Frame Purse Swap parcel all wrapped up for mailing later in the week, and then it'll be time to fill the paddling pool and bust open a box of Cornettos!

Happy Days xxx

BQS Summer...

Summer is here at long long last, we have just had our first BBQ of the year and I have finished my BQS - a great day!

Now I don't generally name my quilts, other than with the pattern name and maybe, if I am feeling a little adventurous, a colour or fact to make it a bit more special, Brit Bee Constellation, Rainbow Cherry Star for example; but whilst making my Brit Quilt Swap mini, two images kept coming to mind, from the iconic Clockwork Orange film and the Pink Floyd record cover.

Although Clockwork Frog did seem quite amusing, to the young and innocent, it conjured up something more Harry Potter than I wanted, or at the other extreme, would perhaps give my partner nightmares, what with those googly eyes, scissors n'all!

And so was born, The Dark Side of The Pond!

If you had asked me to embroider a label a couple of months ago, I would have laughed my socks off.  I loved stitching this - it's not perfect, but that's more due to my handwriting, but I think it is a nice finishing touch.

The mini measures up at 19.5" square.  I quilted using my walking foot as the guide and then hand finished the binding and label.

Is it wrong to love your own makes?  I am pleased with every step of this, from the Y-seams to the embroidery, now I just hope my partner feels the same way.

Right, I'm off to soak up some rays before someone realises we have stolen their great weather and asks for it back, and a quick final reminder for the giveaway xxx

Woo Hoo for the Holidays!

Yep, that's me and the kids done for another 61/2 weeks!

Presents given and 'thank you for helping' card received, work pass hung up, dear son's rock-pool sewing project brought home and a big old pile of washing...

... so happy for now; even though by Tuesday we will probably be driving each other potty!

*** Don't forget, the Giveaway closes on Monday ***

Food, family and fabric...

We had our first, and probably only BBQ of the summer today - Mum and Dad came down and we did the whole shebang, including grabbing the plates and heading indoors after a couple of mouthfuls when it began to rain.

Immediately we were re-seated it stopped, obviously, then the sun came out and we ended up with water fights and snoozing in the shade. 

'Chillaxing', as our four year olds like to exclaim, I decided to try some hand stitching embellishment on my hexies, but it didn't look good, so I have binned off that idea.

Even the breakfast cereal is in on the hexie-fun!

I can go no further now until my anticipated lining arrives from the US; I will search out my stash for anything else that may look good; what if I wait, and then what I am thinking of looks pants?  I don't want to be back to square (hexie) one eh!

I have also been playing with the fabrics I have in mind for my Across The Seas QAL and my Bee month - they are a little interchangeable, so I need to make the decision soon.  Water-fights and sunglasses made this a short-lived attempt, so I will be back to it, after this.

Finally the missing pic from yesterday, more goodness from Lizzie...

Hope you've had a happy Saturday too x

Summer's gone...

I went back to work today, and had to consciously force myself through the door; it's now raining too, so summer has definitely ended. I would be looking forward to cozy evenings quilting, but I am having a nervous breakdown every-time a see a bit of sock fluff on the carpet or a wonky cushion, so all those loose threads are not going to relax me - until we sell the house!

However I have spent the evening laying out and cutting the sections for the back of the Freebird quilt, I think it should turn out as planned...

Please excuse the terrible picture - the quilt is rather big, and I couldn't get it all in!

The girls and I stopped in at the library before school pick-up today, and I sadly handed back the Kaffe Fassett 'Quilts in the Sun' that I had already renewed, and had for the past 6 weeks. On the way out, it was sitting on the pile ready to go back on the shelf, so I grabbed it again and have another 3 weeks to look at the stunning pictures!

The sun has got his hat on!

Finally blue sky, t-shirts and tea in the garden again!

We took a trip out today to scope out some more areas where we would like to live, and added a few more villages to the 'list', so that was useful, especially as we are being very particular. I was getting a bit worried for a while that nowhere other than one teeny-tiny village we found (with an over-subscribed school, expensive houses and hardly any ever for sale!) would live up to expectations.

We then we stopped off in Arundel for lunch, as it is the annual festival at the moment, with street entertainers, musicians, art exhibitions and the like, and the tiny streets closed off to traffic, whilst everyone enjoyed the sunshine. It was like being on holiday in a town we love and got married in almost 7 years ago.

Most of the shops are tiny and often change hands, despite the tourists; it must be pretty bleak sometimes, and I am one of those all too guilty of browsing and not buying. Today I discovered 'fabric buttons & beads', full of lots of gorgeous things, including the book Annabelle has in her giveaway. So I had to have a flick through, and I can see why she has bought and given so many copies as gifts. The children were traumatizing the owner's kitten and touching everything in sight, although I would have loved to too, given half the chance (well not the kitten bit!), so I promised to return alone!

And my old favourite Sparks Yard came up trumps with their Sale outlet shop. Look at my beautiful Gisella Graham gardening gloves...


(Only £3.47, but don't tell anyone!)

Now the weather is potentially going to be lovely for the long weekend, but the bank holiday means no postman, and that means no parcels for me, particularly disappointing as my lovely package from Saints & Pinners, (I think I forgot to mention that I gave into temptation and ordered some Meter Scrap Rolls), along with my Prints to Polka Dots bundle were dispatched today.

Oh well, I should actually get on with some of those things I've started! 4 more sock monkeys remain in pure sock state, and I have reached a dilemma with the Freebird quilt. I was going to back it in a blackcurrent purple, but now I can't decide what colour to quilt in? Purple/dark thread will look a bit odd on the top as there is so much white, but white/light thread is going to show every wobble on the back (I'm not sure my sewing machine is up to the job of free-motion quilting, but I may do a practise run and see). Any ideas of a what may work? I may just re-think the backing!

Well let's hope the sun keeps shining... x