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

February 2012

Ok first post this year.  Since christmas I've been a bit busy.  Decided to continue with making presents for birthday's and christmas.  The first cardigan is done and I've even bought the buttons but still haven't stitched them on.

Someone from Daves' work is having their first baby and as he's a mate Dave wanted me to make something for them.  Made a lovely cardigan but think I've screwed up the button band so will have to re-do it.  What a surprise.

Made mum a cardigan for her birthday (not till May).  Just need to sew the second sleeve in place and then, of course, the buttons.  What a surprise.  Will need to start photographing these things so it makes more sense and acts as an archive of stuff I've made so far this year.

Nici at the wool shop was having problems with a matinee jacket someone ordered from the shop.  I bought it home last week and managed to do 2 pattern repeats and gave it back to her all sorted but she still couldn't do the pattern - not surprised really as it's horrid and the pattern is written like a novel and you have to pick out the bits to do, she gave up again and gave it to Rita her professional knitter who gave it back a week later saying she couldn't do it.  She even undid the 2 repeats I'd done.  I collected it again much to Dave's disgust as last time I was evil when I tried to sort it out.  This time I sat down and rewrote the pattern into my english and then it worked perfectly and I finished the b*****y thing in two days.  Whoohoo.....

Began knitting some socks for MIL's birthday.  She admired my socks and slippers, so I've bought her a pair of slippers the same and I'm knitting her some socks.  I've just turned the heel on the first one so I should have them done in the next week or so, something else I can wrap and label and put away till her birthday.  She also admired the cardigan I'm making for mum so may do her one for christmas.

Last week I started a long teal Aran cardigan and so far I've done the back, one front and half the second front, so that's going really quickly.  This one is for me.  Now I start listing what i've done so far I can't believe how much I've achieved so far this year.  All I need is to carry that progress into the housework and my weightloss and I'll be fantastic....

With patchwork I've made the Layer Cake quilt top I bought with the money I got from mum for christmas, after I made it I found a jelly roll in the same fabrics so I think I'll make it bigger so it goes on our bed.  The hand applique quilt is coming along too - all the blocks are complete and I'm putting the colour blocks around them prior to piecing it together.  I'm having to hand do each square after drawing it out so that it fits properly but it's worth it as it's going to look great.

I've bought the border, backing and fusible wadding for the brown and cream floating stars quilt which I need to get ready to quilt.

Think that's enough craft stuff on the go for now so I will try not to start anything else.

Took the kids out today for a walk in the forest, it was a really good walk and we walked further than we expected to.  It was good for Mike tonight as he didn't have a double whammy with swimming and cubs on the same night.  He passed grade 3 swimming two weeks ago and now has changed nights to Tuesday - we're so proud of him.  Tonight he's at cubs - total chaos as the Beaver's are meeting with them tonight and then staying for a sleepover.  The cubs are having their sleepover next friday so it will be quiet next week.

School has been out for a week now and we've had a quiet week.  They go back on monday but Dave has another week off before finding out if he still has a job.  He's pretending not to be bothered but I know he is, but to be honest there's nothing we can do about it so no point worrying.

Will update all the projects and other stuff later on but this is really stuff for me to read and remember as no-one reads these things anyway.

Just had a call from my mum to say my Aunt Nancy has died today - mum's really sad.  Gonna go now and try to contact my sister.