Christmas giveaway .......

........... Christmas?  Well it is July, so I think it's time for a Christmas giveaway and so did those wonderful people at Martingale & Co.

If you’re anything like me, every year, when December rolls round, you promise yourself that next year you will start your Christmas projects early.  Well this year, I can help one of you to do just that.  I have a copy of this super book, called Christmas Quilts from Hopscotch to give away, thanks to the wonderful Martingale.

This was written by a mother and daughter called Heather and Elissa Willms, and it is a really clever book as there are seven country-style projects, then you flip the book over and there are seven bright and contemporary ones.

Please note the following pictures are copyright and you must have Martingale's permission to use them.

Like applique?  How about this wallhanging then?

Like working with wool?  How about this?

Want to make a Christmas stocking or two?  Here they are.

Fancy snuggling up under a cosy quilt on a cold Christmas evening?  Here is the perfect quilt for you.

or maybe you prefer this one

Really, there are projects in this book to suit everybody, whether you are an applique fan, a paper piecing novice or just love traditional piecing as you can see.  The instructions are all beautifully clear, and I particularly loved the "Hopscotch Hints" which appear here and there which are little boxes with helpful tips, such as how to apply your binding to a curved edge.

Sadly, I have to give this book away, I can't keep it for myself, so, if you want to win it here's what to do.  You get one entry just by leaving a comment on this post.  If you become a follower, or already are one, you have another entry,  and if you post on your blog about this giveaway you can have a third entry as long as you tell me that you are claiming a second and/or third entry.  

Here's the small print:  please, if you are entering, make sure you leave an email address so I can contact you if you win.  I can not accept anonymous entries and this giveaway is open to everyone, wherever in the universe they live.

This giveaway will be open until Wednesday (28 July) evening, and I will draw a winner and post the name on Thursday  morning.  Since I did not get on with the random generator thingy, I will probably get Mr Fixit to pick a name out of the hat.

The Grand Days Out ....

myspace layouts

............are over.  They've all gone home. I'm sad.  I'm also very hoarse with a sore throat.  I think we may have talked too much cos we've all got the same problem.

One came from the Midlands, one from the Lakes, one from the east coast and me.  We all met at RHS Harlow Carr on Monday, and, despite not having all been together for several years, the talking started immediately.  It didn't stop for the next 48 hours, apart from when we were asleep.  

We had not made any plans, other than when and where we were meeting.  First things first, we decided to have lunch.  The menu was so wonderful none of us could decide what we wanted, so we probably horrified all the "ladies who lunch" who were enjoying a nice quiet and refined meal by ordering 4 different meals and sharing them!  There is no picture of the food - we were too busy eating it, but I can say there were no leftovers!  Then we went for a walk around the fabulous gardens.  Sadly Mrs Flummery from VegHeaven could only be with us for the one day, so we returned to the carpark, where we had the only bit of "quilty" talk or time in the day.

In the evening, Mr Fixit and Sewali's OH joined Bilbo, Sewali and I and we went out for dinner in a nearby restaurant.  Again, there are no photos, but we enjoyed our meals and there wasn't much left on our plates.

The next day was spent here, and we talked a lot, and had a demonstration from Bilbo about designing a quilting pattern.

We had a ploughmans lunch which was lovely and simple after all the rich food we had eaten.  Then everyone went home.  So now we will have to start planning our next gathering.

Only one more sleep .............

......... till three good friends and I meet up for a couple of days of fun, food and talk. We live in various parts of the country, so meeting like this doesn't happen often, which is why I'm looking forward to it so much.

I got this cartoon from here.

I thought you might like to see .......

This slideshow design created with Smilebox

The story of a quilt .......

........... This is the story about Sew-Easy Railfences, which is the quilt which I have been showing as my current favourite.

One day when I was working at the shop, Mrs PennyPot and I were talking about a workshop I wanted to do which would allow a beginner to make a quilt top in a day.  I wanted to do something a little more unusual than a 9-patch or railfence quilt which are what immediately came to mind.  We thought that using one fabric from a new range, which I loved as a feature fabric in large squares, would help to achieve the make-it-in-a-day aim that I had.  Anyway, I went home and we both had a think. Have you ever tried to collaborate with someone by email about a design?  It's not easy.  Mrs PP would suggest something to me, I would draw it up in QuiltPro and email it to her with my adaptations where appropriate.  She then emailed back suggestions, and so we went on.  Yes, I know it would have been easier to do it when we were together, but there you are.  This is the resulting design, which I thought was a good easy one, although it looks complicated.  It doesn't even have setting triangles to worry about.  It was certainly a popular one, and we ran the workshop several times, and also sold the pattern or a kit for it.  One person loved it so much she made about 4, in various sizes after her first one.  I still love this pattern, and one day, I might even get round to making one for myself!

I forgot to tell you .........

.....I was one of the lucky winners in Amy's online Quilt Festival.  I won a fabulous jelly roll and some co-ordinating fabrics from Burgundy Buttons! Woohoo.  Thank you Amy, and thank you Leah.

I have spent today thinking about what to make with it. I have also spent a little(?) time on Burgundy Buttons' site, and I reccommend that you all do the same.  There are some fantastic fabrics at fantastic prices, and Leah is lovely to deal with.

To all my blogging friends in America

Happy Independance Day.

4th Of July Animations

Psstt ...........

......... Wanna see some pictures?  I'm still enjoying the tennis, so I thought I'd tell you about a quilt slide show I've found.  Apparently McCalls Quilting is having a competition, and we can all see the quilts that have been entered, (and vote for their favourite) here.  There are 148 entries, so I had a lovely cup of coffee before the tennis started and thoroughly enjoyed the show.

Something for everyone ..........

I've interrupted my tennis viewing to just give you a couple of links.

For anyone who is a non-quilter, but thinking about starting, Quilting Tidbits is a wonderful online resource.  It is also great for people interested in quilt history, so go on over and have a browse around. Oh, and if you go here, you may see a quilt design you recognise.  (Hint, the name just might contain the words "leaves", "and "cabins).

On the other hand, if you are an experienced quilter, this video might give you a laugh.  The song is by Cathy Miller and is on youtube, here.

Right, I'm back to the tennis now, see you all later.

Excuse me ............

.......... if I am a bit quiet for the next couple of weeks.  It's Wimbledon fortnight.

and the winner is............

Number 6, Dave, who would wear a red, white and blue hat!

Please contact me so I can tell you what to do next.

I used the random generator thingy, but I cant get it to appear in the right place on this post to prove it. Other people manage, so it's obviously something I'm doing wrong!

Thanks to everyone who entered. I just wish I could have given everyone a prize. I do think if we went to Ascot next year in our hats we'd make a real sight for sore eyes.

Who wants to come to the races?

I've had quite a few emails asking about Ascot and what it's like etc so I thought I'd take you there today. First, the background: traditionally it is one of THE events of the Season, and fits in between the annual exhibition at the Royal Academy of Art and Henley Regatta. Entry to the Royal Enclosure is by special invitation only, but after you have been invited on 4 (or 5) consecutive years, you are able to go in your own right, which is how come I am able to go.

So, to the day itself.  It is some years since I last went, so I am doing this from a hazy sort of memory (well we all know how forgetful I can be don't we?).

Are you ready?  Quick, the chauffeur's here.  I do have a tip for you here. Don't bother to put that big hat on until you arrive - it's a flipping nuisance in the car, (and, of course, it might obscure the public's view of one.)  There is a lot of traffic, so we'll be in the car in traffic jams a bit, so let's hope the chauffeaur remembered to restock the bar. Ahh, we're here....  quick, put your hat on, check we've all got our gloves (ladies and gentlemen) as we won't be allowed in without them.  Out of the car and in through a special gate.  (Yes, you may wave to the onlookers if you wish.)

Right, we're in.  The first thing is to check where our "box" is as that's where we'll have lunch. (It's also the only place where one may be seen without one's hat.)  OK, next is to go for a walk (ie a fashion parade).  See and be seen, that's the main thing.  This is where you realise that those stillettos were not such a good idea after all.  It's difficult to look elegant when you heels keep sinking into the grass!  Oh yes, and hats with very big brims are not too clever either, specially if it's windy, and hats with veils have a problem too - how does one eat elegantly in one? Have a good promenade around, and then we'll go and place our bets for the first race.  It's good to do this early, as we'll probably still be eating our 5-course lunch when it starts.  Placing a bet is easy.  There are special little windows within the Enclosure where we go, and there is no queuing necessary - well, one can't have the Queen having to queue up to place her bet can we?  Now we'll go and have our lunch, which will include strawberries and champagne of course.  Some people take picnics, but I prefer this way.  OK, finished lunch?  Let's go watch a race then shall we? Shall we stay in our box?  Good idea if the weather's nasty, or shall we go out into the stands. Being in the stands is more exciting, and I learnt a lot of interesting language from those who lost their bets. Woohoo, you've had a win too?  Let's go and collect our winnings from the same little windows, and place a bet on another race.  All this activity has made me thirsty, is it time for afternoon tea yet?  Go and have a drink and then do a bit more mingling, repeat until all the races are over.  The last race has been run, so now it's time to go and find your chauffeur.  Shall we stop for dinner on our way home? Yes?  OK, I recommend The Compleat Angler which has lovely surroundings and wonderful food.  Now we're home again, and I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted, so I shall just choose my outfit for tomorrow and then go to bed.

When I think about Ascot, I remember the excitement, the crowds rushing to be in the right place to see the Queen when she walks around, the noise, the quails eggs, the wind one year, the rain another, and the great feeling of winning when a horse I picked totally at random, wins the race (and that did seem to happen a lot to me).  Oh and by the way, cameras were not allowed, so no photos!

I hope you enjoyed a quick trip to Ascot with me. Now you know a bit more about it, don't forget there's still time to enter my giveaway.

Oops ......

... it has dawned on me that I was not very clear in my last post.  The $40 voucher is for anything from the CSN website, not just for the bathroom sink.   They do some great kitchen gadgets and accessories, and I am also eyeing up a great slow cooker (and yes, I know the one I have is fine, but this one looks great and it's DIGITAL!)  So really you could get anything from a wooden spoon up to furnishing your whole house from them.

What's this? Royal Ascot and a Giveaway.

I have had several questions about my last post, so I thought I'd tell you a little more about a "Typical Day at the Races", but first, I have a giveaway for you because .... well, just because really.  It's not my birthday, or my Bloggiversary, it's not to celebrate getting eleventyseven followers, it's just because.

There are some really nice people at a shop group called CSN Stores, based in the UK and the USA, who have given me the chance to give one of you a $40 gift certificate.  How cool is that?  These really nice people sell everything from a bathroom sink to a swing and from a bath to a barbecue.  I have been thinking of revamping our en-suite (sshh, Mr Fixit doesn't know yet) so I was having a browse round, like you do and I found they have some of the coolest bathroom sinks I've ever seen.

 They even had a red glass one which  would be a real economy actually, cos it would match my bath towels! Just head on over to CSN's website to see the variety of things they have, but don't buy the red sink in case they sell out before I get there!

So I had better stop waffling, and tell you how you could win this $40 certificate. You can have up to 3 chances:

1. Leave me a comment, telling me what colour outfit you would wear to Royal Ascot to meet the Queen.
2. Become a follower of my blog and then leave me another comment to say you have.
3. Post about this giveaway on your blog then leave me a comment to say you've done that.

Don't take too long to decide about your outfit though, and leave your comments by midnight on Saturday 19  June, and I will announce the winner on Sunday.

Now I think I've talked enough for this post, so I'll come back later and tell you about a day at the races.

Tomorrow ...........

............. is the start of Royal Ascot, and I am lucky enough to have the right to not just attend, but to be in the Royal Enclosure.  For those of you who don't know about Ascot, it is considered to be one of the highlights of the "Season" and anyone who is anyone attends.  If you are in the Royal Enclosure there is a strict dress code, although it has relaxed somewhat over recent years.

Ladies were not allowed to have bare arms, or to wear trousers and a hat and gloves were compulsory - well, you couldn't be seen in the company of Her Majesty the Queen without your hat and gloves, could you.  Gentlemen had to wear Morning Suits with a hat, and gloves also.  Just to give you a laugh, here are a couple of photos from those days.

I used to love going, the atmosphere, the champagne, the hats and fashions, oh yes, and the occasional horse race, all made for wonderful days.  I don't go any more, but I did love it while I was going - and not just cos it was a few days off work.

Aahhh, Those Were the Days, as they say.

I don't do circles .............

................. well, not if I can possibly help it.  But this is the quilt that Mr and Mrs Teacher wanted when they werre expecting Little Person, so, how could I not do circles for them?

The pattern was in a magazine (I think it was Fons and Porter?), and I really loved it too, so I was really happy when they chose it.  This was just before I was going to the Amish country on a quilt tour, so I bought loads of FQ's of 1930's style fabrics while I was there, and this is the result.  They are not the colours or the type of fabrics I would normally choose, but I was really happy with the way it turned out so I thought I ought to share it with you.  I hope you like it too.

Does any one else do this? ...............

Way, way back in the dim and distant past, well January actually, I ordered 5 patio clematis plants to put in pots in our new garden. 
All well and good, but January was a long time ago.  In other words, yes, I forgot I had ordered them.
Imagine my surprise then when the post office van pulled up on our drive this morning before 8.30 and in his hand he had a box. 
I wasn't expecting anything, so that was exciting. 
You've all guessed what was in that box haven't you? 
Yes, 5 baby clematis (clematii?). 
Oh heck, what was I planning to do with those? 
Oh yes, put them in pots. 
Which pots?
Aah yes, those pots - the ones I planted summer flowering plants in over the weekend. 
Oops. 
Guess where I went this morning then?  Off to the garden centre, to buy some more pots.
Does anyone else do things like this?
Last Thursday was my sister's birthday, and Friday was Mr QuiltFan's (aka my father's) birthday.  Happy birthday to both of you. 

Since I can't show you .......

........ what I am working on at the moment, I thought I'd show you a couple of small quilts I made in 2006 or thereabouts.

Tulips from Harrogate.
This was adapted from a pattern in a Fons and Porter magazine.  I foundation pieced it, and it was made as a shop sample to show a small project that could be made from a few charm squares.  It would make a lovely table runner, but I don't use it as one in case I spill something on it and spoil it!

Sunset over Yorkshire.
I was given the pattern for this by Mrs PennyPot.  It is by Jenny Rayment- she of the fabric twiddling fame.  Mrs PP went on a course being run by her, and brought this back for me.  I love it, but so did my father, so guess where it lives now?  I think I'm going to have to start calling him Mr QuiltFan.

I'll be back soon, with some more quilts and other ramblings - well, you know me, I can't keep quiet for too long.  Oh yes, and keep checking up on me, soon I'll be able to show you what I've been up to.

Excuses, excuses ...........

Dear Blogland Police

Please excuse QuiltSue for her absence from blogland recently.

This has been due to a combination of unavoidable domestic events.  Firstly, Mr Fixit has been in hospital for his gallbladder op, and secondly her laptop died, totally at the same time.

Mr Fixit is now home, minus his gallbladder, and really, you would not know he has ever had an operation and she has bought a new laptop, so hopefully life can now return to what passes for normal around her.

Thank you from

QuiltSue's Conscience

Bloggers' Quilt Festival

Amy's at it again - she's found a way for me to not do the housework today!  She's now hosting her third Bloggers' Quilt Festival.  To take part, you have to show one of your quilts and then share it's story, then post a link here.  That's also the link to go to to see over 420 (so far) quilts.

So, without further ado, here's my entry for this year.  I started this quilt a few years ago as a mystery quilt.  When I had finished the top, I decided I hated it, so it went in a cupboard and was ignored for some years.  When I got my long-arm machine
(aka Big Bertha), I needed "stuff" to practice on.   That's when this top saw the light of day again.  I spread it out on a bed to work out how I was going to quilt it, and guess what?  I loved it!  It's only trouble was that it wasn't big enough for a bed quilt.  Luckily, I managed to find some marble fabrics that were an almost exact match and I still had some of the original fabrics too, so 3 borders later, I had a quilt top that fitted our queen size bed, and I am really happy with it. The only thing is, it's just dawned on me that this is one of the few quilts I've made that doesn't have a name.  Any suggestions anyone?
Now I am off to look at some more quilts - perhaps I'll meet some of you there?

Wishing and hoping and hoping and praying ............

...... remember that song?  Yes, I know I'm showing my age here but hey you've only got to look at my photo to see I'm not 21 anymore.


What am I wishing for?  Well I probably shouldn't tell you this, but there are a few people who are giving me (yes, OK, and you) the chance to win a copy of EQ7.  How wonderful would that be? So I've entered the draws on these blogs: Quilt Whangarei, Mequilter, Highway Cottage  Cherry House Quilts,and Handcrafting with Love. (There were other blogs too, but they have finished their competitions.)

Just remember though, you musn't enter these giveaways as that will reduce my chances of winning!

It's coming ...............

.......... "What is", you're all wondering.

Electric Quilt 7

that's what.   Now I currently use another software package for wasting time designing quilts, but I've just been looking at the website and reading about EQ7, and I have to say

I want this programme.

The list of features it contains is just completely amazing, and would keep me playing on the computer even more than I do at the moment.  Apparently it's due out in mid-June, but my birthday isn't till January.  Hmm I'm going to have to think about this one............................. 

Look what happens when I go skiing .............

OK, hands up everyone who thought they were going to see a picture of me with a leg in plaster?  No, the sort of skiing I do is Spending the Kids' Inheritance!  (Why anyone should want to do the other sort, with all that horrid snow and falling over and so on is totally beyond me, but this sort is fun.)  As you all know, I collected my new frame from Martha who makes the New English Quilter (you can see it here ), last week.  I could not set it up straight away, but we put it up at the weekend, since when Bertha and I have done 3 quilts on it.

The beauty of this frame is that it is all handmade, and they will happily customise it to your own requirements.  Being tall, I wanted mine to be a bit higher than average.  Being downright fussy, I also wanted to be able to set it up at a length of 6ft, 8ft or 10ft.  Being awkward, I use a PCQuilter, so I needed very specific distances between the runners.  Being very flexible, they were happy to do all this for me.

Here's another view of it.  Doesn't Bertha look comfortable on her new perch?

A lovely day .....

.... today we went and collected my new quilt frame.  It's beautiful.  Tomorrow we'll put it together and then I'll take some pictures.

On the way home we stopped at a pub near Lincoln, and had a fantastic lunch - the steak and the gammon were probably about the best we've ever eaten.  It's a shame it's about 75 miles away, which is too far to go for lunch, although my father is now trying very hard to convince me it's almost like our local pub!

It's finished ........

When I was talking to Bilbo the other day, she pointed out that I had never shown any pictures of the back garden since you saw this, in December. Trust us to decide to have it all dug out in the wettest November and snowiest December for decades!

Anyway, after many delays because of the snow, it was finally finished, and a couple of weeks ago we bought a few plants, and here is what it looks like now.

Of course it still needs a lot of plants, but we'll take our time over that.  I've got some clematis on order and some summer flowering bulbs, but other that those, we haven't decided what else we want to put in yet.

Who knows, perhaps I'll post about some quilting next time?

Hello, is there anyone out there ....

...... who still comes to visit me?  I've been quiet for so long, you've probably all got bored and found new friends.

We had a lovely family Easter but can anyone tell me when your kids grow up?  How did Mrs Nomad end up with yoghurt all over her face, courtesy of her little brother Mr Teacher?  I only turned my back for a moment and that's what happened.

On Saturday we had a lovely dinner of lasagne followed by Lemon and Lime cheesecake, all made by Little Person - OK Mummy helped a bit. 

He also helped Mr Fixit to feed the birds:

In my last post I was struggling to make those rectangles.  I finally did it, BUT... I forgot what would happen when I joined them together - no nice sharp points.  I'm not doing that design now.  I am having dreadful trouble with precision in my piecing at the moment.  I blame my new glasses, but my father has another theory.  He reckons the new specs just mean I can see that my piecing is inaccurate now.  How cruel.  Just wait till he wants another quilt.

How many ........

......... attempts does it take to make one unit like this when you're trying to do it without having to make a template?

Answer?  Quite a lot. I got there in the end though. 

Mind you, I would rather not hear anyone saying they think it would have been quicker with a template.  I know it would, but my middle name is Stubborn.

Have a Happy .........

...... International Quilting Day.  I hope everyone manages to get some time with their fabrics and threads today.

International Quilting Day isn't celebrated much here in the UK, but I think it's quite big in the US and I'd love to hear what other people are doing to mark the day.

Poor(ly) me

Had you noticed how quiet I've been lately?  That's because I've got bronchitis and shingles.  To add to that, I've reacted badly to 2 different asthma inhalers recently, fingers crossed it'll be third time lucky, and I went for my annual eye check last week only to be told I'm developing cataracts in both eyes.  Just not my week/month/year so far is it?

Anyway, hopefully the antibiotics will sort out the bronchitis, paracetamol for the shingles, a new inhaler and carrots for the eyes will get everything sorted out.

Meanwhile, Happy St Patrick's Day.

and the moral of this story is ..............

First I'll set the scene for you.

I have had my Big Brother sewing machine for about 7 or 8 years now.  I do love it, but I have always wished it had a seam guide to help me sew a nice, straight 1/4" seam rather than having to eyeball it whilst keeping my fingers crossed, which I can tell you is not an easy way to feed the fabric.

A couple of days ago, I was looking through the instruction book to check something, and guess what I found?  A picture and some words about a seam guide.  What?  Have I got one of these?  So I start rootling through the bag of extra feet and accessories that came with Big Brother and guess what I found?  A lovely seam guide.  So now I'm a happy me.

The moral of this story?  Always read the instruction manual.

Shhhh, it's a secret ..........

...... so I can't tell you what I'm working on at the moment, so I thought I'd show you some pictures of a quilt I am especially proud of.  It is hand quilted and the design started from the Sanderson Star in the centre, and I just made it up as I went along from there on.  It's a queen size quilt and it took me about 6 months from start to finish in 2004 - 2005. It was difficult to get good photos, but I think you can see it fairly well in these pictures if you click on them to get a larger view.

 

 

Good news, bad news and an announcement.

The good news is that Mr Fixit has gallstones.  The bad news is that Mr Fixit has gallstones.  This is good news, as the suspicion was that it might have been cancer.  The bad news is that he now has to have 2 operations to firstly remove some which have escaped from his gall bladder, then he will have to have his gall bladder out.  It could have been so much worse though.

Now the announcement.  SewCalGal is having A Golden Quilter awards ceremony.  Here is what she says on her blog here:

Anyone can nominate a candidate who has made a difference in the world of quilting. Key awards will be given for the following categories for 2009 that are the most inspiring :

1) Designer:
2) Teacher/Instructor:
3) Author: Most inspirational
4) Quilt Store (physical)
5) Quilt Store (online)
6) Best Long Arm Quilter
7) Most Innovative new product (physical item)
8) Most Innovated new product (software item)
9) Most influential person in the world of quilting to-date, aka "Lifetime Achievement".

If you haven't yet submitted your nominations, you can submit via email or by posting a comment on this blog.  Visibility to all announcements will be made March lst, when votes for winners of the Golden Quilter Awards will be accepted...and entries to a March Golden Quilter Awards giveaway will also be accepted.
    
Do go and enter your nominations, you might even win a prize if you do.

Finished...........

...... well, almost.  I've still got to put the binding on.  This is the quilt that Dad claimed at the end of last year.  It was made from a jelly roll and a pattern from Kim Brackett's book "Scrap Basket Surprises" and I quilted it yesterday.

I used an allover design which was chosen by Professor, who happened to be here when I was trying to decide what pattern to use.  It is somewhat more dense quilting than I usually do but I am very happy with the result, and so was Big Bertha I think, cos she didn't skip any stitches at all!

Happy anniversary .........

........ yes, we were married 43 years ago on Valentine's Day. The date was chosen by Mr Fixit.  "Aah, how romantic" I can hear you saying.  Sadly, no, not romantic at all.  His reason was that if we got married on that day, he would never forget our anniversary.  Well guess what?  He forgot our first anniversary, until my mother reminded him!  I can promise you he's never done it again though!

Happy birthday to me - again..........

....... The postman came down my path yesterday with a huge box in his hands.  It was addressed to me and was from my bloggy friend Yuki.  I couldn't think what it was.  Well, when I opened it, just look at what was inside:  there was loads of gorgeous batik fabrics, some great patterns, a ruler set that will be really useful for doing triangle-rectangle thingies, some wonderful shower gel (which isn't in the picture cos it's already being used so is in the shower room) and some fun teabags.  Each bag has a funny joke or quote on the tag - things like "well-behaved women rarely make history" .  I love it all.  Thank you so much Yuki.

A mathematical puzzle ...............

........... so, here I am with 15 blocks in front of me.  8 of Block A and 7 of Block B, all with a directional print in the centre.  I want to turn these into 3 rows, 2 as block A, Block B, etc and 1 starting with Block B.  How many errors can I make when it's late and I'm suffering with a cold and a bad throat?  We tried to work it out last night, but when we got to something like 192 to the power of............. my eyes glazed over and my brain stopped working.  Actually I don't think it was working in the first place, which is why I made so many mistakes.

Have you seen..........

............ this fabric?

My friend Bilbo, a quilter with the biggest stash in the world, is in desperate need of a yard or two of this. 

You can read more about her desperate plea on her blog here.  She's searched Quiltshops.com, most of the big stores and even googled, all to no avail, so now she's appealing to her quilting buddies.  Obviously, she's happy to pay the current price for it, so if anyone has some lurking around their sewing area that they don't want, please would you consider liberating it and sending it to here?

Since I feel a bit responsible, cos it was a comment from me that had her dig out some unfinished blocks that use this fabric, I thought I'd better send out an SOS too.

An important announcement..........

Ms Polkadotsandrickrack and I have decided to proclaim this week as a "no housework" week, where we are all free to just have fun with our quilty friends.  Good idea don't you think?

Since it's February ......

......... and it's Mr Fixit and my wedding anniversary this month, I decided it was time to change my snowy header and background.  Hope you like the new one.

Hello, I am still here.......

......... life's been a bit hectic though, which is why I haven't been sitting here chatting to you all much lately.  Bearing in mind that this blog is called "Quilt Times", I thought it was about time I showed you something quilt related.  So, without further ado, may I present...

I made the stack'n'whack kaleidescope blocks at a workshop in about 2005, but I didn't want to make them into a quilt, so..... this tote is the result.  The pocket made from 4 blocks is just the right size to take a 12 1/2" square ruler, and the long pocket on the other side takes a standard 6" x 24" ruler.  The other 3 outside pockets take whatever I want them to take.With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had made the bag the other way round, so that it is not so deep, but there we go, nobody's perfect! (Specially not me!)

You never know, tomorrow I might show you what I've been working on recently.......

They're back.....

......... so, I log on this morning and what do I see?  My Followers have come back.  Obviously this is due to my technical skills in deciding NOT to change anything.!!

So I say, welcome back Followers.

What's going on? ..........

I prefer to use Mozarella rather than IE, but suddenly funny things are happening to my blog when I go in through Mozarella.  For several weeks the link I had on my sidebar to Quilting Gallery disappeared.  Then yesterday, all my followers have disappeared too.  When I visit myself through IE, everything is there. 

So I ask again "what's going on?"  Any ideas anyone?

She's not colour blind at least...........

............. "Who's not?"  I hear you ask.

Bertha, that's who.

I've been busily, with Bertha's help, quilting a top made from 3 fabrics, a dark green batik, a light green batik and a neutral non-batik fabric, all backed with a plain calico.  Well, Bertha is quite happy on the light green, and on the neutral, but as soon as she gets to the dark green, she misbehaves and skips stitches, breaks thread and so on. 

So I reckon she doesn't like dark green.

Happy Birthday...............

......... to Me and Chatterbox.

It's our birthday today, Chatterbox is 8 and I am a few years older than that.

I have had some lovely pressies, including subscriptions to 2 quilting magazines, a gift voucher for to buy some books for my iPod, some money, which is burning a hole in my pocket, and this beautiful journal with a quilted cover from my friend Bilbo.  She knows me so well, it is in a lovely mellow yellow fabric, and she has quilted my favourite feathers on it. Note: here is the photo I promised:  
Another note:  Bilbo has sent me much better photos so I've put these in instead.  She did also point out in passing, that I had shown the back.  Well, in my defence I would say that was cos my photo of the front was not very good.  As for opening it up, well, I never thought of that.  Duh!!!!

     

The weather is horribly grey and icy today.  Just the day to curl up with my new quilt magazines this afternoon, and this evening Chatterbox is bringing his family round, and on the way they will be picking up his favourite meal of fish and chips for us all.  I'm looking forward to that.

What WAS I thinking of? .............

.............. so, there I was. 120 blocks made (6" blocks too, what was I thinking of when I started this?).  These blocks had to be turned into 12 rows with 10 blocks in each and the layout of each row was a little different to the others.  I ask again, what was I thinking of when I started this?  I checked each row and pressed as I went cos there were bias edges, and lots of points in these little blocks.  Everything was looking good.  No stretching, lovely pointy points.  Perfect, even if I do say it myself.  Next, turn my 12 separate rows into a quilt top, making sure I was adding the rows in the right order.  Easy, shouldn't take long, should it?  Sew 6 rows together, then sew the other 6 rows together, then sew the 2 halves together, and stop for the day and go and cook dinner, then press it all after dinner.  I felt very smug about how much I'd achieved.  Then I started pressing it.  Why, oh why hadn't I checked as I added each row?  You know my pointy points?  Well, where I'd joined the rows, they weren't pointy any more.  I really should have taken it more slowly.  Could I live with it as it was?  No way.  So start unsewing all my rows.  Next day, sit down to put it all together again.  Checking after each row this time.  All looking good UNTIL..... I came to join the two halves together.  Guess what?  They didn't match to create the overall pattern.  (What was I thinking of when I came up with this design?)  What had I done wrong?  Each half was fine.  It took Mr Fixit and I quite a while to work out that I had sewn the 7th row in the position of the 12th row, so no way was it going to work.  Out with my trusty friend the seam ripper again, then resew this half with that rogue row in the right place.  Sew the two halves together and check very, very, very carefully that everything was OK.  So the moral of this story is check everything, every time, even when you know it's right!

So I ask again, "what was I thinking of?"

Remember this?

well look at her today

It snowed a little bit more last night, just in case we'd forgotten what it looked like!

Guess what?

It's been snowing.  I got up at 4 am and it wasn't.  I looked out at 6 am and it was.  Since then it has hardly stopped, although since midday it has been very light, but here's a pretty picture to prove it:

Read any good books lately?

I was lucky enough to get an iPod for Christmas, which I wanted so I could have music and books on it to listen to while I am sewing. 

Now, I can't decide what books to get.  Anyone got any good ideas?  I like autobiographies, Jane Austin, mysteries, (but not really scary gruesome ones cos I'm a wimp really and they'll give me nightmares!)  I don't like Catherine Cookson cos she's too depressing, and I'm not keen on the Bronte's for the same reason.

There's a new blogger on the block:  Yuki has been reading my blog for a while and has finally decided to start one herself.  If you have a few minutes to spare, why not pop over there and say hi?  Her stash, which she shows in her first post is amazing.  I am so jealous.

My new Favourite Quilt

Because it's STILL snowy and it's STILL cold, I have a new quilt on our bed.  This is made from lovely soft brushed cottons and is really snuggly.  The block pattern is, I think, called BuzzSaw.  I originally planned this as a throw-sized quilt, but when I laid it out on our bed to check the measurements for the backing, I loved it so much that I added extra borders and hey-presto... a bed quilt.

This is the back.

You can click on the pictures to see close ups of the photos.