For those of you who don't like housework ....

Free MySpace Animations!
.... here's a handy hint to make it easier and quicker.

Don't wear your glasses.  I've discovered that if I don't, I can't see the dust on surfaces, or the bits on the carpets, so I don't need to get right into all the little nooks and crannies!  It's amazing how much time I can save.

Here it is ...

... the Christmas Quiltalong free pattern.

Scatty Christmas Stars

Quilt size: 50” x 62 ½”

Finished block size: 9” x 9”

Fabric requirements:

Star blocks:

Blue for star backgrounds:  1 ¼ yds

Light yellow for stars: ¾ yd

Dark yellow for stars: ¾ yd

Connector blocks:

Red: 2 ½ yds 

Green: ¾ yd

Border 1 and cornerstones for Border 2:

Dark yellow: ½ yd

Border 2:

Red: 1 yd

Binding:

Blue: ½ yard

Designed on EQ7

by Sue Abrey (Quilt Times) and Cathi Gainey (Shakerwood Quilts) 

for Christmas Quiltalong 2011

Instructions will be supplied each month for 6 months to make the star blocks.  That will be followed by one month to make the connector blocks and the remaining months will cover the assembly of the centre and adding the borders.  With a bit of luck, and a following wind, you can finish the top during the October Quiltalong which gives time to quilt it and have it finished by Christmas.

The really eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed a new tab at the top of my blog, called

2011 Christmas Quiltalong

If you click on that tab, you can find all the basic information about what the Quiltalong is all about, how it works, etc.

Oops ....

.... so there I was.  I had set up the frame (well, actually, Mr Fixit had set it up for me), sat Bertha on her throne on the frame and loaded up the backing and the wadding.  Tell the computer I want to baste the two together, press the button and ....

.... nothing.  Nada.  Zilch.  Zippo.  WHAT???  OK, it's been a long time since they were used, so try again.  Still nothing.  Tried again.  Same result.  I was getting cross by now.  Then I had a thought.  So I checked.  After that it worked.  What did I do?  I turned it on at the socket this time..

Are you ready ....

For Christmas?

Got all your quilty presents planned, made, wrapped and ready to give?

No?

Well we can help

Cos it’s back.

From February to November

On the 2nd Saturday of each month.

This year Cathi from Shakerwood Quilts and I will take it in turns to host the days.

Now, you know me, there will be some fun and games along the way and sometimes prizes too.

There will also be a free quilt pattern for those taking part, and if you quilt-along with us, you could have a new quilt finished in time for Christmas.

Guess ....

.... what's in here?

Here's a clue:

Yep, it's the page proofs of my book.  Now (all) I have to do is check through it all and send it back by the end of the month, then I just have to sit back and wait for 11 July, which is publication day.

Whoohoo and yippee!

Am I still here?

Yes I am, but I bet you never knew I could be so quiet did you?  Don't anybody tell Mr Fixit though, as he'll want to know why I can't be so quiet all the time!

Why have I been so quiet?  Cos it's January, and I HATE January (I hate February too by the way).  I can't seem to get my brain in gear and have Bloggers' Block and Quilters' Block.  Would you believe, I haven't picked up a needle or plugged a sewing machine in since before Christmas?  It's just not good enough, I must get a grip.

Last week I was given a Kindle for my birthday, and I love it.  It's great to be able to order a book and have it magically appear on the Kindle just a few seconds later, and I love how easy it is to use too.

I also received this lovely quilted card from Trudi.  The quilting is just beautiful.  Thanks so much Trudi.

Also I have acquired a "new-to-me" smartphone.  It is my Mrs Nomad's old Blackberry, which she gave me when she upgraded to an iphone last week.  Anyway, having registered it and got a new phone number from Orange, yesterday I've broken it already!  I decided it would be a good idea to wipe all the info she had on it before I connected it to my email, so I did what they call a "security wipe".  That, it turns out, was a stupid thing to do.  Now I have lost the option to connect to any email unless it's a special business one.  Not quite sure what to do about this as the obvious solution of doing a "restore" didn't work.

Anyway, talking of Christmas (well I did mention it earlier), The Christmas Quiltalong will be back soon.  I'll let you all know the details just as soon as we've worked them out.

An envelope full of ....

.... sunshine.  That's what the postie brought me yesterday.  Just look at these

 

aren't they gorgeous?  I was lucky enough to win these hand dyed fabrics from SewCalGal in her Christmas quilt show, and they arrived on a very cold, grey, damp January day.  Perfect timing.  Thank you so much for these beautiful fabrics Darlene, I know I am going to have fun with them.

'scuse me, but ....

.... I don't recall anyone telling me this was going to happen today.

I thought we'd seen the end of the snow for this year.

Oh well, it did make me so fed up that I decided to sit and ignore it and do my tax return instead.  Wish I hadn't bothered with that now, I seem to owe him money again. 

Perhaps tomorrow will be a better day?

So there we were ....

.... Little Person's Mummy and Daddy, Mr Fixit and I, all sitting downstairs with Little Person upstairs in bed.  All of a sudden comes the cry all parents know and dread:

" Mummee.  Daddeeeeeeee ....."

So up goes Daddy.  A few minutes later, back he comes.  Most 4 year olds are calling for a drink of water, aren't they?  Not this one.

"Daddy, how do you spell caboodle?"   was the question.

Do you make ....

... New Year's resolutions?  Nope, me neither.

As I mooched around in blogland yesterday, I realised that almost everyone had been busy making resolutions, setting themselves goals, challenging themselves to learn something new, and reviewing the past year.  It seems like I'm the only person who hasn't been doing any of these things.  So why haven't I?  I think it's cos if I did, I'd spend half of 2011 writing out my lists, and the other half feeling exhausted!  It's also cos I know myself too well, so why set myself up for failure?

I am going to try and stop being Mrs Prevaricator though, so for that reason, I'm getting of this computer NOW and going to put some washing in the machine.