Arthur or Martha?

I’m sorry for dropping off the face of the earth for ages, well, it feels like ages but I think if I go back it will only be about a week maybe a few days more than….

Anyways, I’m doing an experiment on myself.  Nothing dangerous.  But for most of this year when people tell me to eat less or slightly healthier I get slightly (ha! try extremely) defensive and go “it’s just not that easy” and then proceed to trot out all the excuses to those that are trying to help me.

So, on a forum that I frequent someone put what they were doing into numbers and for me it really clicked cause at the heart of it all, I am a huge numbers girl.  So I’m trying what they are doing and it involves me going to the gym more than the sporadic twice a week that I was going.

Which then cuts into my quilting and hence blogging time

So far (1 week) it seems to be working so I’ll keep at it and just remind myself that at the end of the day it is about consistency, not being perfect!

Anyways, enough of the excuses, on the quilty stuff.

I haven’t done much since I last posted although you are going to all laugh at me when I tell you how much I’ve done cause when I write it down it seems like I’ve done heaps.

I’ve done the quilting on the Easy Double 4 Patch and have handsewn the binding onto half of it.  I’ve also quilted the first baby quilt and just have to attach the binding by machine and hand.

Hmmm… perhaps I haven’t done that much!

There is a challenge (I think it’s a challenge) where you list 5 quilts that you would like to finish by the end of July.  I have a few (ha! try hundred!) on the go at the moment some in the beginning stages others very close to being done and I’m feeling like I don’t know where to start to get any of them done so I think a list will be very handy!

I’ll make my list and as I finish one project I’ll add the next one to the list.

1. Memories of Spring (applique 3 butterflies)
2. Easy Double 4 Patch (finish hand binding)
3. Blue Pinwheels (to flimsy stage)
4. Asian Pinwheels (finish hand binding)
5. Green Ladybirds (attach binding – machine & hand)

Ack!  For some reason – no idea why – I thought it was the middle of June.  But it’s not it’s the end which means that July is right around the corner….

Isn’t it strange when you know it’s a certain date as you write it down and see it everywhere but then you think about something in the future it sometimes seems further away than what it is?

Ok, I’m off now to start on that list.

Have a good weekend everyone

Scrap Basket Lattice

Finished Size: 50′ x 50′

This quilt was the third or fourth quilt that I made.  I had been at Patchwork by the Sea to pick out fabrics for Square Bright #1 & #2 and noticed that this quilt was hanging on the wall.  Looking at it, I knew immediately that I had to make it.

So I signed up for the class and then had to start buying fabric so that I had scraps as at that point I didn’t have any!

So I lurked around Spotlight, Lincraft (when they actually had fabric there!) and also the quilt shops.

One of my family friends in Sydney also sent me some of her scraps.

I then set about cutting out the scraps into rectangles and squares.  It took forever!  I also think that perhaps at that point – or at least at the start – I didn’t have rotary cutter and board so I was measuring with a ruler and pen and then cutting the fabric with scissors!  I know that I did Square Bright #1 & #2 as when I was finishing them up they weren’t quite square.

I thought when I did the class that the quilt would be finished in that day!  Ha!  Little did I know.  I spent the whole class doing just one portion of it and came home quite disinheartened.

I then spent the next month or so working solidly on the quilt and finishing it off.  It took longer than what I expected!

When it was finished I looked at it and went “how am I supposed to get this quilted?  I can’t do this!”

And so it sat until November 07 when I decided that I’d take it to my Long Armer to get finished.

It is machine quilted in a solid blue thread in a daisy pattern with wool wadding and cost $50 for the machine quilting.

I then put the binding on it and finished it with a label in April ‘08.

It now lives on the back of the couch in my sewing room.

A Day In My Life: 16 June 2008

I’m back dating this entry, I’m writing it today – 18 June.  I’m really tempted to let this month slide as I don’t really have the time at the moment to write it.  However, I know that if I don’t I’ll regret it later down the track.

So, I’m making this one short and sweet.

***

Today I had the day off as Annual Leave so that I could take Gma to the doctor’s.  It is her last appointment before the big surgery on 30th June.

We get there and are early as she was anxious and wanted to leave early so that we would be there on time.

Hudson’s have opened up at the hospital so we buy the New Idea and Women’s Day and sit there and peruse the magazines and sip our Hot Chocolates.

We then go up to the Day Surgery rooms to find that they haven’t actually booked Gma in for her appointment on the computer!  But the doctor does want to see her.  So we sit and wait 30mins until he can fit us in.

He give us a run down of what is going to happen and what she can expect.  We are then passed to the nurse who goes into it with more detail.

In terms of whether she comes home the week after surgery or to a respite home well, it is up to her and we won’t know what she is wanting to do until the Monday after the surgery.

If she wants to come home then that’s ok and I won’t stop her.  If she feels that she would be better off at respite then that’s ok too.  It just means that I’ll have to take the Monday after off and then not know if I’m going to work on Tuesday or not till then.  Hopefully, work will be understanding and flexible with me.  But to be honest, I don’t know.  I’ll talk to them tomorrow about it.

After the hospital we took a scenic detour to Quiltaholics so that I can get some light grey fabric for the butterfly block (middle one) of Butterfly Garden.

Then we dropped into Arndale to grab lunch (starving!) and a coffee.

Once home I put my head down and bum up to finish this first monthly portion of the BOM.  Do a few posts on here and at 5pm decide that no, I’m not going to the gym as I can’t be bothered and I have my quilting groove back!

I then go and join Gma to watch some TV – Sea Patrol – and handsew the binding for Asian Pinwheels down.  I haven’t touched that quilt in a while and didn’t realise that I hadn’t done that much on it at all!

And then it was off to bed with good intentions of getting up early to go to the gym.

Secrets Revealed!

So what is the big secret???

Well…

I know that I said I wouldn’t.  But I have.

As you know I got a package from Foothills Fabric and Threads on Friday night and I did have really good intentions not to start it.

However…

I was looking at the pattern and then I looked at the fabric and choosing which bit to go where just seemed too hard.  So then, I remembered a post Leanne had done about some of her student’s work on Butterfly Garden and how Phena is doing it in black, white and orange and it looks really good!

So I went and looked in my stash and pulled out my favourite fabrics – the asians, jinny beyer and brights.  I also pulled out the black and white fabric that I bought in December for a pattern that I’ve now decided not to do and thought that this would be perfect for them.

And then I went to work.  Whilst I was working it out I decided that I’m going to do all the flowers, hearts and butterflies in the same fabric.  I also decided in order not to overwork my brain (ha!) that for each mini block I’ll use the same black and white fabric the whole way round.

I quite like how my version has turned out and now can’t wait until I get next months pattern so I can keep working on it.  Although that’s probably a good thing cause if I had all of the patterns now I don’t think I’d stop to do other stuff!

At this stage, I still planning on doing it with the florals but we’ll see how that one goes.

So, I’m guessing you want to see what I did?  The original by Leanne can be found here.

And then here’s mine:

Shh… Secret Squirrel!

I’m currently working on something that (’cause I’m a perfectionist!) only want to show when it’s done.

I have talked about it before and I wasn’t planning to do it but it hit me over the head Friday night and got my creative thoughts happening once again so I thought “who am I to turn it down?”

I will hopefully have enough to show you later today (after the gym).

I’m hoping when it’s done it will turn out like it is in my head!

I’ll catch you all later

Lookey, Lookey!!

I’ve decided to reply back to everyone’s comments through email from now on as sometimes I don’t post for a while and then I feel bad that I haven’t responded, so look out for some emails this weekend!!

***

I came home last night from a bad day at work – I didn’t agree with what my Team Leader was telling me so I went to another one who agreed with me, hence, overiding my Team Leader and mine found out and went “we’ll talk about this” and left it at that!  Grrr.  I also stayed back another 50minutes to help a customer and hence missed the gym class that I was really looking forward to that is not going to be on at that time anymore.  It also helped me talk myself out of going to the gym as well.  So it wasn’t a good day.  I really need to find a new job.

I then decided to go give blood so that something good could come out of it!

***

Anyways, enough about work, this is a happy blog!  Back to coming home from work….

Well, there was this package waiting for me!

It was the fabric for Butterfly Garden and Month 1 of instructions

I’m sooo happy.  It really made my day.

Leslie, from Foothills and Fabrics in Melbourne, and I have been talking – well, I’ve been telling her that I want the Butterfly Garden and she was only too happy to help!  And so she sent the fabric that I needed – like Leanne’s, ’cause I’m a copycat – and the first pattern.

Yay!

Now, I need to learn something other than backstitch and cross-stitch and find the time to learn.

Hmmmm….

***

I do have a catch up post in the works but for now I need to go have a shower and then take my Nanna out for coffee and cake to cheer her up.  And then I might go for a swim.

I also have to study for my test on Tuesday and learn a squat track for Pump that I promised I would present on Thursday.  Yikes!

Dad was here last weekend and visited her every day and so she also saw me and my brother more often.  Now that life has gone back to normal she is missing the contact.  That and the other week she fell over and hit her head and is now in a lot of pain.  At the moment it is a “will she get better?” or “if she gets better”  She’s 94 (end of June) so she’s had a long life and she misses her husband a lot.  Doesn’t mean I have to agree with the “if” version though!

Here’s a really good photo of me, my brother and Nanna:

As Promised

So… I thought I’d poke my head out of the sand and do a post about the crazy weekend I’ve just had!

My brother’s 21st party was on Saturday.  My Mum arrived with her partner Thursday night and hence forth kicked me out of my room – I sleep on the sofa bed in the sewing room when she’s down.  My Dad arrived Fri night and stayed with a friend.  She left Monday afternoon and he left Tuesday afternoon.

Theoretically, I was supposed to go to work Tuesday however, I wasn’t feeling all that well so decided to stay home and recuperate.  So today it was back to work.

Saturday I spent mid morning/afternoon at the hairdresser making me look pretty and from there my Dad and I hung out until I had to go home and get ready.

We had the party at The Palais down at Semaphore – I love it there.  The food is sooooo yummy!!

Everyone had a good time and it went till midnight!  I am such a granny, I haven’t stayed up that late in ages.

I gave the quilt to my brother (sans label, I’m a slacker!) and Mum took a photo of the two of us:

Yes, he is really that tall and yes, I’m really that short (and I’ve got heels on)!!  Not quite sure what happened there!

So, I asked him on Tuesday if he liked the quilt and he said that he did so I’m hoping that he is being honest.  Although, if he isn’t I’m not sure I really want to know.  I did tell him that if he didn’t like it I’d make him another one some day in colours and a pattern that he liked.

I showed him in the quilt all the fabrics that were my favourites and he didn’t understand how I could have more than one favourite!!  Poor boy

I’ve just received fabric from Hancocks of Paducah for backing fabric like Tazzie has and I’ve also bought some fabric for the setting triangles for the Galaxy of Scraps and have put 2 rows together but will show and tell all of that on the next post which I promise I will do before the end of the weekend.

I’ll leave you with a pic of me and my Mum.  There are many more photos in flickr if you want to look.

I’ll be taking it easy this weekend and perhaps going for a swim at the Aquatic Centre and going to see a movie.  Hope you all have a great weekend

Procrastination Tactics

Hi Helen.  It was nice to sleep in, but I was expecting to go later!  Oh well….

***

I’m going to have to admit that after all that I didn’t end up going to quilt class.  I’ve still been feeling a bit blah this week and I just couldn’t face packing up my stuff, driving there and then unpacking it.

So, I rang early and gave my apologies to Tazzie who understood.

I then sat down at the sewing machine with the “intention” of only sewing for a little bit before redoing the assignment for tafe.

However, before I knew it the whole day had passed in a whirl of trimming, cutting, sewing and piecing!

I worked on 3 or 4 tops yesterday and nearly have all the blocks for Galaxy of Stars done.  I must say, that pattern is very good at using up the scraps!  I think by the time I’m done my 2′ squares will have been diminished significantly

I have a few bits of other scrap fabric that I’ve got to cut down but I think I’ll do that once I’ve finished this top.

I had a spray tan tonight, getting ready for my brother’s 21st tomorrow night.  I smell like a fruit tingle and feel all gross.  I just want to shower but I can’t!!  I’m also getting my hair done tomorrow which I’m looking forward to as I should have had it done a couple of weeks ago but put it off cause of the party.

Well, I’m going to go and do a bit more piecing.  I’m supposed to go meet my Dad in Norwood at 9.30am but as I’m feeling exhausted right now I don’t know if I’m going to get there.

Hope everyone has a loverly (long) weekend and I’ll come back as I finish (ha!) stuff off and update how the party went

Relaxing Day

Hi Candace.  Great to see you here

Hi Kathleen.  I did enjoy today.  My ironing board also has a big brown patch from where the water has leaked on the cover.  I must get around to washing it.  Although, I’ve just found a hole in it so I’m not sure if that is a good idea.

***

I had a relaxing, go with the flow kind of day today.  It was really great.  I did mean to sleep in however, I woke up at 8.45am and couldn’t get back to sleep.  Although, I guess when you get up at 5.20am every day 8.45am is a “sleep in”!!

So Grandma and I went food shopping and where there knocking on the door of Coles at opening time.  It does seem to be a really good time to go food shopping if you have to go on the weekend….

We were home and unpacked by 12.30pm so it was a quick trip.

Then in the afternoon, I did a bit of sewing and then my friend came over and we went to Spotlight as I needed to buy more of the blue that I’m going to use in Galaxy of Stars, more of the mulitcoloured circles and some other fabric for the binding on the baby quilt.

I got a blue(ish) dotted fabric for the binding.  I’m not totally in love with it however, I think it is a hard quilt to find a suitable binding for and this will still look ok.

From there we went and got an icecream – choc orange and choc mud – yum

Then when I got home I’ve just been leader endering 3 quilts.  One is an easy double four patch that I got off Mary’s site.  It is scrappy and I have no plans for it whatsoever.  I am thinking of perhaps making 5 or 6 and giving them to the home where my Nanna lives so that the old people can put them on their laps when they watch tv.  My Nanna already has 2 and a tablerunner that matches one of the quilts.

The second one is the Galaxy of Stars quilt.  It is really coming along and I’m certainly using my 2′ squares!  I’m thinking of a pink/purple(ish) fabric for the setting triangles however, I think at this stage once I’ve got the blocks done I’ll put it to the side until I’ve done a few others.  We’ll see.

And the third one is another Green Ladybird baby quilt.  I was going to give it to my friend due in November – and still might – however, I’ve found another quilt that already has the fabric cut up that I also want to make and get out of the house so this one might be spare.

My work friend is due in January and I think she’s having a girl so I’m going to make a pink quilt next for her.  And if I’m wrong then the second Green Ladybird can be used!

I have Thursday off this week so I’m going to quilt class.  I’ll take the first Green Ladybirds with me to quilt and also Memories of Spring to put another butterfly on it.  I’ll eventually get this one done.  Hopefully by the end of the year!

I hope everyone had a good weekend and I’m now off to bed to get some sleep for another jam packed full day tomorrow