I look ...

out of the window, and this is what I see:

Can you see all the rain and the grey sky?  What you can't see is how strong and cold the wind is too.

Then I turn the other way, and this is what I see:

This fabric range is called "Delighted", but to me it is just Pure Sunshine.  I love it.  I actually won a voucher from Sunnybec over at Living The Dream a while ago, and these are the fabrics I chose. Thanks again Ms Sunnybec for these. They are so far from my normal choices which are Civil War/autumnal shades, but I just fell for them, and had to have some!

Now I'm off to work some more on this top.

Beauty and the Beast!

Pretty,

Pretty,

                  

                                                                                                                              Downright Ugly.

You'd think I had enough experience to check before I cut when I'm using a striped fabric wouldn't you?  Not much else I can say really.

Please help me ...

I have entered Wimbledon Squares into this week's contest over at Quilting Gallery. I'm sorry, I just couldn't help it, I am so pleased with how this quilt looks.

I am sure you get fed up with me asking this, but please would you go here, have a look at all the entries, and vote for the 7 you like best.  (Hint, Wimbledon Squares is the very last one.)

Now that's what I call service ...

Yesterday afternoon, at 2.30, I placed an order with Tracey at Quiltmehappy.

This morning, at 11.30, it was delivered.

When I opened the package, it looked so pretty.  Anyone would think it was my birthday wouldn't they?

Thanks so much Tracey.

Why is it ...

... if I lose something, it's MY fault.  If he loses something, it's MY fault?

Christmas QAL - Post 2

Well, here I am again.  All visitors are now safely back in their own homes and I've had a lovely time catching up with friends at Tuesday Quilters' exhibition.  Of course, me being me, as I drove over there I realised I'd forgotten my camera.  Never mind, I thought, I can take photos using my phone.  Nope.  I'd forgotten that too.  What a dope.  There were some lovely quilts there that I was hoping to share with you too.

Now I'm home, I've had a coffee, I'm about to visit you all and see what you've been up to while I haven't been watching you, then I'm going to spend the evening in my reclining chair, unsewing.  Last week, I started quilting my Christmas Wreaths quilt that I made last year.  I had to take it off the frame and take the frame down when our visitors were due, so we could use the conservatory as a reception room.  When I took the quilt off, I realised that the back was a mess.  Look at where the design is oversewing.

I don't really understand what's happening here, because the front looks OK,

but whatever is going on, I can't live with this, so, out with my BFF, The Seamripper, and I have 6 motifs to unpick this evening.

Christmas QAL - Post 1

Well, I've just popped in to see our hostess for today, Lesley over at The Cuddle Quilter.  She's got the coffee on, and yummy cinnamon rolls waiting for us.

I couldn't stop for long as I have quite a busy day ahead of me.  First, I have to see my sister off.  She has been up here for a few days.  Then Mr Fixit and I are being taken out for lunch by our son, daughter-in-law and grandson 3.  They have also been here for a few days, and will be leaving after lunch.  When they've gone, I am hoping to go to a local quilt exhibition which is being organised by my local group.

After all that, if I still have any energy at all, I will be sewing.

See you all later.

It's time for a ...

... parteee!

Yippee, This Saturday is time for the next Christmas Quiltalong.  This month our wonderful hostess is Lesley and she will be waiting over at the Cuddle Quilter, for us all.  When you get there, do tell her how wonderful she looks, cos she told me she's buying a new dress just for the occasion.  I've also heard a rumour that she might have a giveaway, so one of us could go home with a little pressie.  I know she will also have the next installment of our mystery quilt, Festive Mystery, waiting for us.

Lone Star - more progress ...

I sewed my pairs together, and was very happy with how well the points of the diamonds matched.
Then I sewed my pairs together to make half stars, and was very happy with how well the points of the diamonds matched.
Then, I sewed my halves together, to make a complete star, and was very happy with how well the points of the diamonds matched.

Here it is: (sorry about the turned under point at the top.  Blame Mr Fixit, he spread it out on the floor for me.)

I watched a video from Fons and Porter that Mary over at Quilt Hollow told me about. I had to take a subscription to QNN tv before I could watch, but I think it was well worth it.  One useful tip they gave was to sew to within 1/4" of the ends of the sections, in order to help the centre lie flat (well that definitely worked) and also, they say that makes it easier to do the inset seams.  I don't know about that part yet, but I'll find out soon as that's the next stage.

All in all, I am delighted with this so far, and must say thank you to Jayne for hostessing today, which made me get up from my sick-bed, stop feeling sorry for myself and get on with it, and to all of you for your encouragement.  Now I'm off to see what the rest of you are up to today, then I'm going to watch some TV.  

Lone Star progress

No photo at the moment, but I now have 2 halves of a star.  I'll sew it together after dinner and take photos then.

Aaa-tish-oooooooooo

This is where I was up to last month on my quilt.

I had made all 8 diamonds, and just couldn't resist laying some of them out on the floor to see how they were going to look.  I was really happy with it so far.

This is where I am up to so far this month on the quilt.

Can you spot the difference?  No?  That's cos there isn't any.   I woke up this morning with a rotten, horrible cold.  Boohoo.  That means that I have not done anything so far today on my Lone Star.  I am off now to see if I can't make some progress.

Tomorrow is ...

... Lone Star day.  Jayne is our hostess this month, and I have to tell you, she is far more efficient than I am.  She did a reminder post for everyone several days ago, and here am I, Last-Minute-Sue, only just getting round to it.

Actually, I think it's a psychological thing, cos now I have got to admit that I have not worked on my Lone Star since last month.  Yes, I know, that's a terrible thing to have to admit, but I do have a good reason/excuse/whatever.  My new quilting robot arrived this month, so I had to stop everything else and start playing didn't I? If I hadn't done that, Mr Fixit would have been wandering around with a face like thunder, and muttering things like "what a waste of money" and "why did she buy that if she wasn't going to use it?" and so on.  You all know what they're like.

So, no progress this month, but I'll be up nice and bright and early tomorrow to make progress on joining my diamonds together.  See you all at Jayne's.

The grand day out ...

... that wasn't.

Some months ago, my friend Quilthaze and I bought tickets to spend a day with Ricky Tims.  He very rarely comes to the UK so this was a big thing.  He was to do a talk in the morning, and another in the afternoon, and in between we were to be served a pie and peas type of lunch.

Now, last week, on Wednesday, the temperature in my back garden reached about 84F.  This week on Wednesday it reached 30F.  We got up yesterday to find the world had turned white overnight.  Lots of pretty snow.

Anyway, we decided to set off and try and get to where we needed to be, about 50 miles away.  Talk about a triumph of hope over experience.  After 3 hours we had traveled probably about 20 miles.  There were roads closed all over the place, the motorway was hardly moving.

We turned round and came home.

Today, there is no snow whatsoever, and the sun is shining in a lovely blue sky with small fluffy clouds.

Sadly, that was the only stop in England that he was making on his European tour.

PS If you live in the UK, Tuesday Quilters are having a quilt exhibition on Saturday 14 April at Clifford Village Hall between 10.30 and 3.30.  There will be quilts, (obviously) on display, a raffle quilt you could win, refreshments and a trade stall.  It should be a good day.

Wimbledon Squares ...

... is finished, and here are some photos to prove it.

It is actually too big to show the whole thing, but you can get the idea, despite my rubbish photography.

Here it is draped over the rotary line in the sunshine.  This was a big quilt for the first outing of my new robot, and I am delighted with how well it works.

The backing is a bright yellow, with teeny-tiny white flowers on it.
This is the quilt with the bamboo wadding.  Although it quilts up nicely, this wadding is very heavy, and quite stiff.  It doesn't drape very well, and therefore I would not use it again.

This is a close up to show the quilting, which is an allover feather pattern.

Finally, here it is, on the bed.   I couldn't get far enough away (unless I climbed out of the window) to get the whole quilt in unfortunately, but I do love how it looks on the bed.

Now this ...

... is what I call cutting it fine!

Wimbledon Squares is all quilted, and the binding has been sewn on.  This is what's left of the quilting thread, and the binding fabric.

She didn't inherit ...

... the baking gene from me!

Yesterday was Mothering Sunday in the UK.  My daughter arrived with a lovely big box of chocs, and this cake:

It is gorgeous, thank you Mrs Nomad.

My son sent some roses and chocolates and a card which really made me laugh.  On the front it said:

          Dear Mum

          Sorry I can't be with you on Mothering Sunday, 

          but I've got no washing that needs doing and I'm OK for cash.

I think he was joking!

What a lot of firsts ....

The first time I've used my new robot, the MQR. I love it.  It's quicker, quieter and more accurate then the PCQuilter was.

The first time I've had the frame extended to 10 foot.  (I hope Bertha doesn't get travel sick.  It's a long way for her to travel on each pass!)

The first time I've used bamboo wadding. It gives a great result I think. 

OMG ...

 ... this morning I was going to tell you that it is now time to vote for your favourite nominees in the various categories of SewCalGal's Golden Quilter Awards.  There are various categories, including Best Designer, Best Teacher, etc. and you can vote for one person in each category.  You can read all the nominees, etc, here, and just by voting in one or more categories, you might win one of the fabulous prizes that are on offer.

Well, that's what I was going to write about, until I saw that I had an email from SewCalGal in my inbox with the title

"Congratulations - you are a nominee for the 2012 Golden Quilter Awards, Best Author"

Oh boy, to say I was gobsmacked would be a major understatement. This was a complete surprise, and I have no idea who nominated me, but thank you so much.  I am in such illustrious company as Carrie Nelson, Eleanor Burns, Jinny Beyer, etc.  I can hardly believe it and I am floating around on cloud nine now. Now I know just how the actors feel when they are nominated for a film Oscar.

Christmas QAL - post 4

I'm sorry everyone that I'm not showing you what I've been doing today.  The reason is that it's a present for someone who reads my blog.

I wonder what it is, and who it's for?  Well, that's a silly thing to write isn't it, cos I know what it is and who it's for.

Anyway, Im signing off for now, but thanks to our wonderful hostess for making us all so welcome, and thanks to all of you for being at the party too.

Christmas QAL - post 3

I am not going to show anyone what I'm up to at the moment, but I have realised that I have never shown a picture of one of my Twisted ~Christmas Wreath toppers that I made last year during a QAL day.  I know I showed you the top, but here it is now all finished.

I love this, and can definitely see me making some more for presents for other people.