Oh noooooo....

Uhh ohh, what on earth's up with her now, you're wondering.

Well I'll tell you.  Postie has just been and did not bring me the fabrics I wanted for today's Christmas Quiltalong!

Now, what am I going to do?

Well, I'm going to finish binding something that is intended as a Christmas present this evening in front of the TV so today I shall carry on with my Drunkard's Path quilt.

See you all later, when I hope to have a photo or two of my progress.

Jingle bells, jingle ......

...WHAT????

  Well, Christmas is coming you know, so tomorrow don't forget that the Christmas Quiltalong starts.  All the fun and games is being hosted by Cathi at Shakerwood Quilts this month, so grab your tinsel and your chocolate (oh and don't forget your fabrics) and let's all hurry over to Cathi's to join the party.

We're off again ...

... today's stop on the Scrap-Basket Sensations blog tour, is Quilt Hollow, here.  Don't forget to leave a comment on Mary's blog to win the copy of the book which she is giving away.  Make yourself a coffee and sit down to spend some time visiting Mary.  Her blog is great and she has wonderful photos of  her longarm quilting.

Now, I'm off to finish piecing some Drunkard's Path blocks.  I've only got about 5 to do, then I'll have to decide how to lay them out.  I've only got about eleventy-seven different ideas stored in EQ7!

Let's go touring ....

.... to today's stop on the Scrap-Basket Sensations blog tour, which is A Quilting Life.  Sherri gives us the opportunity to learn a little more about Kim Brackett, the author of this book (and of Scrap-Basket Surprises) and she also shows us the quilt she has already started making from Kim's new book.  Don't forget to leave a comment on Sherri's blog for the chance to win your own copy of this book.

Would you like to win ....

... one of these books?

Well, starting tomorrow, you could do just that. 

There is a blog book tour, with ten stops and at each stop a different blogger will tell you a bit about projects in the book and will give you the chance to win a copy for yourself.  Here is the tour itinerary:

Sherri at A Quilting Life - February 10th
Mary at Quilt Hollow - February 11th
Stephanie at Loft Creations - February 12th
Nicole at Sister's Choice Quilts - February 13th
Millie at Millie's Quilting - February 14th
Sinta at Pink Pincushion - February 15th
Darlene at Quilting Daze - February 16th
Karen at Nana Girl Quilts - February 17th
Sue at Quilt Times - February 18th.  Hey, that's me, everybody.
Carol at Brown Quilts - February 19th

So, come on everyone, let's go touring!

Just look ....

... at what the postie brought me today.

A week or so ago Debbie  held her first ever giveaway on her blog.  The prize was a lovely charm necklace made by her daughter-in-law.  Well I was the lucky winner, and the postie delivered it today.  When I opened the package, I found that  Debbie had wrapped the necklace box in some great fabric to protect it.  (I already have a use for some of that fabric as it goes beautifully with the civil war fabrics I am using at the moment.)

I tried to take a close up photo of the charm, but couldn't get it in focus, so I have taken the one that Debbie had on her blog instead.  Isn't it great?

If you go to www.etsy.com/shop/treasuredcharms, you can see all the other great things that Debbie's daughter-in-law makes.

Thank you Debbie so much for your generosity.

Guess what? ....

So, you know what that means?  Yes the Christmas Quiltalong is starting up again on Saturday.

If you go to Cathi's blog, here, you'll find that she is hosting the first Quiltalong day of 2011.  If you sign up to have fun with us, as Cathi says, you will get the instructions for the first block of Scatty Christmas Stars.  I've already made my block, and so has Cathi.  I've used a dark background, Cathi's used a light, and we're both really looking forward to seeing everyone else's blocks.

Who won?

Well, it is that time again.

What time? 

Time for coffee?

Time to go and sew?

Nope, it's time to announce the winner of Scrap Basket Surprises.

As you know, I love this book, and have made quite a few things from it.  I am sure the lucky winner will also love it.

I used Random.org to draw the winning number, and it chose no. 64,

So who is no. 64?  It is Sunny, who said... "I'd love to have this book. Thanks for the chance to win."

Sunny, please send me your snail mail address so I can get this out to you.

I'm celebrating ....

.... the fact that my mojo has come back, so I thought this calls for a giveaway celebration.

Remember these quilts?

Or these table runners, which were based on quilt patterns

Well, they were all made from patterns in this book:

This is a book full of gorgeous patterns.  Kim uses clever piecing techniques so you will hardly ever make a half-square triangle and you will find that the patterns are all jelly-roll friendly too as they all use 2 1/2" strips.  I love this book, and so I have got together with Martingale & Company to give you a chance to win a copy of it for yourself.  Of course, Scrap basket Surprises has been out for a while now, so it is possible that you already have a copy on your bookshelf, and if so, why not enter and give the book to a friend if you win?

It's simple to enter, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post.  If you are a follower and leave me a separate comment to tell me that then you will be given another entry.  The giveaway is open to everyone, wherever you live, and will close at midnight GMT on Saturday so I will ask Random.org to select the winner and I will announce who that is on Sunday.

Just a little hint here, Kim has just had her second book published, called Scrap Basket Sensations, which is full of Sensational patterns, and you might like to keep an eye on my blog for some Sensational news about it soon!

I think it's back ....

 .... my missing mojo has returned.  So today I have spent a lot of time cutting.  I've cut all the pieces for a Drunkard's Path kit, which was a doddle thanks to my Go! cutter, and I've cut all the pieces for a gorgeous quilt from Kim brackett's new book called Scrap Basket Sensations. 

So where did it go, and why has it suddenly returned?  Well I haven't a clue where or why it went, but I think I know why it's returned.  I recently placed an order with Connecting Threads for loads of fabric and also for two kits.  I hoped they might get my quiltivation going again and it worked.  It's thanks to barb that I was able to buy these things as Connecting Threads don't ship overseas, so Barb volunteered to be my go-between. 

 When she forwarded things to me, Barb also put a little giftie in each package, and just look at what she has given me.  Some gorgeous tropical Samoan fabrics and a lovely pen.  Thank you so much Barb.

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.