Missed the electrician yesterday so will have to wait till later in the week, bummer.  Got loads more of the studio packed into boxes - can't believe there's so much stuff - not all mine I hasten to add.  But there's so much more in the house that will need to go in there - I want it to be warm and welcoming.  Daves' getting a paint chart to give me some ideas.  The ceiling will stay white and the wooden beam across the middle will stay black but need to decide on the walls.  I would like to put up some of my craft stuff and maybe some of the kids art too.  Have to see how much wall space I'll have once the furniture is back in.

This is just a small corner.  My rocking chair is in the corner, this will be coming back in.  The bikes are temporary whilst we use the shed to store the boxes.

The wall behind the bookcase looks terrible - there's soil stacked up on the other side of the wall and the damp has come through the single brick wall, hence the work being done to stop it coming through.  The bookcase will be staying as I have a lot of reading books which have spilled out of the house, about six boxes full to go on there somehow, may have to get another one if there's room.  The craft books will be going on the long shelves at the other end of the room above the desk.  Neither of which are there yet.

I'm feeling a little hemmed in as I can't get at my 'stuff'.  Everything is closing in at the moment as the house is filling up a bit with some of the 'stuff'.  I find it very difficult to get motivated with all the stuff around me.

Sarah is away this weekend on camp taking a qualification in Yachting apparently, should be having fun, the weather is pretty good for it at the moment.  Just got Mike off the DS and he's vanished upstairs, probably trashing his room.  Dave has gone for a bow-saw as he's taking down the Lilac Trees behind the playhouse,  Only down to around five feet but it's an awful lot of wood.  The wheelie bin is full and so is the patio at the side of the house.  Any excuse to light the burner in the garden again.

What would I do without back-to-back episodes of Morse this afternoon.

Sally

Had a lovely big thunderstorm this morning.  Sky went so black we had to put all of the lights on just to see to walk around, haven't had one like that for a long time.

Spent yesterday at Quilt group.  Got the last quarter of the Brown Stars quilt machine quilted and squared up the quilt, trimming off the excess backing and wadding.  Have decided to do the binding in a deep red to reflect that colour within the quilt and to keep it looking warm.  Think I've decided on the border quilting but want to think about it a bit more first.  Will probably get the binding on first so if I do choose to do triangles I don't lose the points.

Finished the hexagon book cover but learned a lesson that leaving 1/4" round the book is not enough and so now it is a little to small - but hey ho - I've started another one.  I'll have to find another notebook to fit the other one.

Dave has been moving stuff out of the studio ready for the builder - but we now need to move the bikes and we can't remember the four letter word on the bike lock... this could get interesting.

Had to call the Electrician this morning as all of the sockets in the studio have fused and tripped the circuit.  You can't reset the trip so it means a call to Steve.  Got some other jobs for him too....

Going to help move stuff in a minute - need more exercised.  Still trying not to start anything new until the studio is done.

Must resist

try harder.......

Things are moving in the Studio front.  Spoke to the builder at the end of last week and he thinks he will be starting on the conversion in about two weeks and that it should take about a week to do.  Yesterday Sarah and I unloaded the bottom of the bookcase (the bit you couldn't see behind doors) into a moving crate as it's all belongs to Dave and he needs to sort it all out.  All the books are now boxed up ready to move too.  Will take some before during and after pictures.

In the meantime I've been busy

Finished this little cardigan for the daughter of one of the mums at Mike's school.  Little Rebecca is six months old.  This knitted up with just one ball of wool.  May knit a bigger one in white for my great Neice Evie.

The brown Floating Stars quilt is coming on.  Finished hand quilting the stars in brown perle and I've machine quilted around them.  Just got the last quarter to do.  Hopefully get that done on Wednesday at quilt group.  If I can get that quarter done and the edges trimmed then I can decide how to do the borders and the binding.

Really pleased with the way this is coming out.

Started playing with some little hexies last night - wanted something to do that wasn't knitting.  So sat watching The Thomas Crown Affair and stitchd this flower motif.  Going to make it into a cover for my diary.  I always have the same one from 'mumsoffice' so it should always fit.  Will probably decorate it a bit too.


Sally

Had a lovely morning with Beverley and a cup of tea (or two) brainstorming over the quilting of the border of her latest quilt.  It's beautiful and she loves it - it's gonna get hammered at University in September  though.  Decided on the quilting and she left with a smile.

Went to the garden centre again.  Dave being at home now is having an input into the look of the garden - he's mowed more this year so far than in the last three years put together.  He wants more colour variety in the back garden so off we toddled.

We picked up some yellow and orange flowers (don't ask what they're called, i'd need to get the labels.

Had lunch in Clent Nurseries and then headed over to the Clent Hills for a mug of Bovril.  The sun was so hot I've got a little burnt.

View from Clent

It was packed up there and the only place to sit was in the full sun.  The metal table was so hot I couldn't touch it.  Shouldn't complain it's back to heavy rain tonight - the usual British summer weather.

Got back and put the plants in - did a bit more weeding too and the garden is starting to look cared for now.  I'd rather be sorting out my sewing stuff but I can't do anything much until the studio conversion is done.  I've chased up the builder but I'm waiting for him to ring me back.  Everything is packed up so all I can do is look at the stuff in the boxes and wait.  I have a couple of quilts I can get on with but....

Been looking for little things to dress up the studio when it's done and I'm trying to think of a witty name for over the door but I've not come up with anything yet.

It's me again.  Weather was fairly nice this morning but I'm not holding my breath.  Took Mike to school and then came home to do the shopping - still with Hubby in tow, but at least he helps carry and brings his wallet.  He bought me a couple of pairs of shoes this morning so no complaints there.

Didn't do any sewing or knitting last night and may not do any tonight either but I have sorted and reorganised my kitchen worktops and they are lovely and clean and tidy - unfortunately it all had to go somewhere and at the moment it's all on the kitchen table.  This cannot last as we use the table several times a day and it will be needed for breakfast.

Sarah has to get herself up earlier tomorrow to get to school for a meeting about the Latin summer school.  Hopefully she will be awake enough to listen.  How many 13 year olds would volunteer for a weeks extra schooling in the holidays to learn Latin - but she's looking forward to it.  Good for her - would like to join her so maybe she gets it from me.

Made some scones this afternoon when I got back from school - surprisingly there's not many left now - last lot I made lasted about 10 minutes out of the oven.

Swimming lessons tonight - Mike did really well although he wasn't listening as well as he should be but at least he's swimming fairly competently now.

Got to think about what quilt to work on next.  Think it might be the one for my room as I want to get the millennium one finally ready to quilt but as Carolyn is starting the quilting company with the longarm quilter which can baste the quilt for me I'll hold off on that one till later in the year.

The next Quilt

Oh yes - and she adds a photo - said I'd give it a go.  I bought this as a kit with a layer cake and a bit of extra fabric along with the pattern from White Cottage out the money my mum gave me for christmas 2011.

I must have really liked the fabric as when I got it home I found I'd already bought exactly the same fabrics in a Jelly Roll.  So.... made this centre (not all joined together in the picture but it is now) and put the borders on but I want it to go in my room so it needs to be a bit bigger...enter the jelly roll.  Think I may do extra borders with it - maybe with piano keys? maybe something more adventurous.  But that with another border should make it big enough to go over the bed - can't wait the colours are perfect.  Need to give it a name though.

Will add pics of other stuff on the go later now I've done the first one they'll be no stopping me.

Night



Two days in a row - this could get addictive.

Haven't done any quilting at all today - hands are still a bit sore from all the big stitch quilting on the Stars yesterday.  Got to decide how to quilt the borders.

Father's day today - Mike had made his dad a card at school and Sarah bought one after school on Friday which they both gave hime when he finally appeared from the bath this morning.

After a lazy couple of hours we tore the kids away from the television and went out to Clent Nurseries.  All went well until we got to the major flower display, this is when I realised I'd forgotten to take my antihistamine this morning and started filling up...not a good look.  Headed straight for the garden furniture section till my eyes came back to normal.

The rain really started lashing down - like that's a surprise, so we went and ate cakes in the cafe - real hardship there.

Left there and much to Mike's disgust headed over to another garden centre.  This one had an animal section so sent the kids over to give us five minutes peace and quiet.  Had a look around the craft section for ideas on decorating the Craft Studio and then got the kids and went out to look at some gargoyles.  Found some that really looked like they belonged in the family...lol

Knitted the sleeves on the baby cardigan I'm making for Rebecca, the baby sister of one of the boys in Mikes' class at school. 

Celebrated fathers day by buying him a chinese and even had it delivered so he didn't have to go out and fetch it.  Aren't I a sweetie.

Sarah watched Dirty Dancing for the first time and I think she enjoyed it.

Got the dentist again tomorrow and then the dreaded mammogram on Tuesday morning.  Going to have to miss my second knitting group tomorrow so that's a pain in the tooth but need to get the temporary filling from last week checked. 

Got a busy week planned but not very interesting stuff.  Going to chase up the builder again and see how close we're getting to getting the studio converted.  Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Here's to the most boring blog on the planet - but then it's only meant for me to read anyway - if you're not me and you're reading it - good on you for getting this far and not falling asleep.

Night night

Hey is it really that long since I posted on here... must be.

Oh Well

Loads has been going on since last time.  I've finished knitting pretty much everything that was on the go last time plus loads more.  Knitted two Christmas presents and wrapped them... how's that for getting ahead of myself.

We are now a no-income household so things might get a little sticky later but we're ok for now so just keep your fingers crossed.

Sorted out a builder and am waiting for him to give me a date to come and insulate the garage at the bottom of the garden properly so it is a real room and can be heated.  As it's only single brick you can't really use it for six months of the year.  Once done I am my friend Beverley will be moving all my crafting supplies into it.  That's knitting, art, scrapbooking and more importantly these days Patchwork. 

I've a long list of unfinish patchwork quilts and a load of ideas for new projects.  Can't wait to make all sorts of things for the new STUDIO (yeah....) Two quilts which have been outstanding for ages are the purple and cream Floating Stars and the same quilt but in country colours - muted browns, greens, creams and reds etc.  The purple one is now done - part machine and part hand quilted and just needs a label.  Think this one is going to my great neice Poppy for her 3rd birthday in August.  The brown one is definitely staying at home as I love it.  The machine quilting is about 3/4 done and all the hand quilting on the stars was finished tonight.  Got to decide how to quilt the borders and then bind and label.  Hopefully will be done by the end of the month.

Want to make cushions and furnishing stuff for the Studio and make it really part of me and really crafty.  If it works I'll try and post pictures.  I will figure out how to do that so this is more interesting.

Just found out this week that my friend is starting a Long Arm quilting business soon and will be offering a basting service as well as many other things.  This could mean that my Millennium quilt which is all pieced might actually get sandwiched and then quilted - don't hold your breath though.  I am trying very hard to finish things though.

Next quilt after the brown stars though will be 'A Quilter Lives Here' the applique quilt, top is all finished and I've now got the wadding and the backing so there's nothing to stop me but time and money....lol

Got to go to bed now.

Night Night