Finished!

Finished last night! Flutterwheels quilt that I won the blocks for. It has taken me ages to do - mostly because I couldn't bring myself to sew down the binding. I finished the last side last night after insisting Mark took a turn with looking after Scarlett on the sofa. The fireworks have been terrible and last night was the worst. Scarlett drapes herself across me on the sofa and shakes from her ears down to the tip of her tail. She pins me against the sofa so that I can't move. I made Mark take a turn at sitting under her so I could sew down the last side of the binding.

Bramble Patch and coffee with Clara

Met Clara today for coffee at Bramble. We must have sat there for about 1 1/2 hours putting the world to rights! We left enough time for shopping though before Clara had to get home as her son had forgotten to take his key to school with him..... I bought some sale fabric (of course) and a cushion kit (most unusual for me - I don't like cushions) and some fat quarters from a design called Barnyard which is pigs, chickens and cows - brilliant.

Southall and sewing machines

Mark took me to Southall in London yesterday to pick up Bernina. We had a long but really good day. Spent about an hour in the sewing machine shop and then went round the shops in Southall - amazing - like a different world! Bought some fabric which started at 50p a yard.... Bought a huge dyeing bucket. Had a great time. It was freezing cold though. Haven't had a chance to play with new machine yet as we stopped in Milton Keynes on the way home (to break up the journey) (bought some more fabric - African 2 x 6 yards for £20). We got home, had a quick cup of tea and then went to a firework party in Nuneaton at the house of someone Mark works with. Scarlett spent Friday night and all of Sat with Fred and Wilma as we couldn't leave her on her own Saturday night because of fireworks. They took her up Everdon stubbs at about 7am on Sat! She had a great time. We picked her up on the way home Sat as we came home earlier than we thought we would as Mark was worn out from all the driving.

Feeling guilty

Feel Guilty. Mark has bought me a sewing machine. I sulkily said (about a month or so ago) "When are you going to buy me a Bernina". It was a throw away remark as I was in a stroppy mood - he has bought me one..... He found it on e-bay. It is reconditioned and he bargained and they are throwing in a walking foot for an extra £15.00 (it is a shop doing the selling and they have just serviced it). We are going to London next Saturday to collect. £274.

Then, to add to my guilt, it was raining this morning and the roof is leaking. Mark investigated and rather than it being a blocked gutter as we originally thought (hoped), it is the roof. Friendly roofing man Andy is coming to have a look tomorrow night but we are thinking worse case sceniro could be three grand.....

While on the subject of (lack of) money, Fred rang this morning and we went up the Dun Cow and met up with Fred, Wilma, Nan and Grandad and Fred bought us all lunch (and pudding!). Mine was very nice - I had Goat's Cheese and Nut Wellington. Eve's Pudding for afters. Then, as the sun was shining when we came out, Mark took me to Fosse Park and we went in Borders and he bought me two quilting books. Even more guilt!!!!!! Good fun though. We went in the sports clothes shop and Mark got a few casual tops for work as they had a bit of a sale on.

Book Barn and Car Boots

Went to Lutterworth yesterday - we needed to get some cat food and other bits so went to Morrisons in Lutterworth as I wanted to visit the Book Barn. I have never managed to get there before as it is only open 9am - 2pm on Thursdays and Saturdays. I was amazed at the amount of books there - well worth the trip. I got a pile of patchwork magazines, about five paperbacks and Mark got a computing book - all for £3.50 - BARGAIN!

I took a prototype of the bag I want to make for Lutterworth to show Chris in the Leukaemia shop but she was having a well deserved day off - typical!

Tried out my prototype bag at Crick car boot this morning. It was a useful exercise as it highlighted a few tweaks to make - nothing major but it means making another prototype (which will be the third). Bought some more books and some beads. It was freezing cold. Mark bought some bits and Scarlett loved it!

Piecemakers

Went to Lutterworth Piecemakers on Wed eve. Took Pat and Gaynor. Took my finished Linus quilt to hand over and Lynda made me "show and tell" it. Muriel had previously pinched it off me to show Chris and they were both amazed at how hideous it was! When I showed and telled it, Muriel kindly said it looked better from a distance! With friends like these......... It was the AGM night so not the best event of the year but there was a sales table and lots of magazines etc. I bought some fabric (but don't tell Mark). It was a good night. Spoke to Leukaemia Chris and asked about making some bags for her to sell - she was very keen on the idea as they are moving to a new, larger, shop soon which will mean higher rent. I've made a prototype but need to make it again out of slightly heavier weight fabric. I am thinking this will be a good way of getting rid of all the curtain weight fabric I've accumulated.

I have a finish!

Finished the Linus quilt I was making last night. Result! Not very often I finish anything - means I can give it to Lynda tomorrow night at Lutterworth Piecemakers.

Mark is holding it up for me - what would I do without him!

This pattern is called Endless Stars and is from the book I bought a few weekends ago at the Weeden exhibition from the Oakleaf Quilting lady.

Rocheberie Linus

Had a Rocheberie Linus day yesterday. 11 people turned up but the sun was shining and it hasn't all Summer so.... I took a top with me to quilt as I didn't want to start another UFO. Completed all but two sides of binding so very good going for me! Not the best quilt top I have ever made - bought a book a couple of weekends ago at the exhibition in Weeden (from the Oakleaf quilting lady) called Endless Stars and I wanted to try out the technique and did it with fabric I didn't especially like - made 4 lots and put them together. I like the technique a lot but my choice of fabric was a bit crap to say the least! I was happier with it once I added a border but it didn't improve it that much! Never mind - I am sure somebody somewhere will like it (perhaps). At the end of the day when we were all packing up and tidying up, Lynda gave me a bit of fabric as she thought it was similar to what I had been using today, ie, it's brown and hideous! Thanks Lynda! (I actually quite like the fabric but couldn't bring myself to say so....)

I have also had the idea (a little while ago) of making morsbag type bags from curtain fabric but rather than guerrila bagging them, giving them to the Leukaemia charity shop in Lutterworth. Chris (who runs it) once told me that the only things they buy for the shop are tea and coffee for the staff, heavy duty bags for collecting the rags (which they sell on) and carrier bags. I always find August a long month as I never go on holiday and no groups run so I suggested a "bag day" with us all making bags for Chris. Muriel and Lynda liked the idea and Lynda gave me a HUGE bit of fabric towards it! I have masses of curtain material to get rid of already but I like the idea of keeping Chris stocked in bags.

Time to go back to bed. It is 4.59am and I can't sleep. I don't know what keeps me awake - probably too much stuff running round in my head. I used to find that I would have trouble sleeping on a Sunday night before going back to work the next day but just lately, it seems to be any night. I went downstairs (after listening to Mark and Scarlett snoring for what seemed like hours), tested my sugars (no problem there) and had a glass of milk. The only problem with turning the computer on is that I am now more wide awake than ever. It is very cold though so perhaps going back to bed and getting warm under the duvet (if Scarlett will move over so I can get in....) will help.

Oakleaf Quilting

Yesterday Mark was still busy so went on a field trip to Oakleaf Quilting in Northampton. The lady was at the exhibition last Sunday and her fabric was lovely - and very soft for some reason! Had googled it for directions - what a mistake! Drove round Northampton for most of the morning, eventually backtracked on myself and pulled into the garden centre at Harleston and asked a man if I was anywhere close - NO basically! He gave me further directions which got me there eventually. What a disaster! Nice shop though but very small and basic. Managed to spend £30 - well, felt like I should make an effort after it being so difficult to get there....

Quilt exhibition

Went to a small quilt show in the church at Weedon yesterday afternoon. All the quilts/cushions/bags etc were made by just 12 ladies but there was plenty there. Nice afternoon out on my own - Mark was fiddling with the central heating or the boiler or drain pipes or something..... Spent a small fortune (as Mark wasn't with me) and bought some fabric, a book, some magazines, a stencil. Lady from Oakleaf Quilting had a stall there and her fabric is really soft - lovely. Must go find the shop - especially as she has some nice workshops coming up and is cheaper than Bramble.

Shopping via the train

Caught the train this morning to Northampton. Only £5.20 return which I thought was good - considering the price of petrol and paying to park... Pat had told me about a shop with the window packed full of African fabric - had to go and have a look! Found the shop (although the display was no longer in the window but I did find it). Fabric was very nice but too expensive. £15 for 2 metres when the same sort of stuff is about £10 for 5 metres (6 yards) on Milton Keynes market. Found lots of bargains though. Visited all the charity shops (of course) and bought a book and a CD. Bargain of the day was sewing cotton (blue polyester but makes no odds to me) at 5p a reel. I bought £1.00's worth and then as I didn't buy any fabric and had to go past the same shop (British Red Cross) on the way back to the train, called in again and took the basket to the counter and said I wanted the rest of the cotton that was left. The nice lady behind the counter informed me they had 100s of reels and did Iwant any more? Long story short, I had £5.00 worth - real bargain but it is all the same blue! Must get making some kind of blue wall hanging....

Care in the Community

Was walking to work. A big white van drove past me belching out huge plumes of foul smelling blue smoke. Sign written along the side of the van it said "caring for the people of Coventry and Warwickshire".........

Wednesday already

Half way through the week. Yesterday was a mad house. Mark had the day off work as we had our new boiler fitted. He has been working for ages on installing new pipework and new radiators all around the house and yesterday was the day he discovered whether he had installed a heating system or a sprinkler system. Fortunately it all worked beautifully (I had every faith in him) and now we have a fully functioning brand new and shiny central heating system. He is very grumpy this evening but he should be very proud of himself. I think he is grumpy because he is tired - that or he is just a plain old miserable git now he is pushing 40......
I still love him though - grumpy or not!

Park again

Managed NOT to get locked in this evening - always a bonus. Watched a bat doing its thing for quite a while and saw a hedgehog on the way out. Scarlett always rushes over to sniff hedgehogs - you would think prickles up the nose once would be enough but no, every time she sees one she rushes over for a sniff.

Got a nice parcel in the post. I pendant I ordered from http://www.homestudio.etsy.com/ I liked it as soon as I saw it. I might give it to Nan for Christmas (she won't ever read this!) as we tend to like the same things......

Saw the most stupid thing this morning on my way to work. Rugby school kids were crossing Barby Road en masse as they usually do, an ambulance was coming up the road with blue lights flashing and sirens wailing and three Rugby school pupils stepped out in front of it. I thought I was going to witness an en masse "squashing" but the ambulance slowed down for them..... I am sure they get more stupid every year.

Drama in the park

Out walking the pooch in the park this eve with Mark, it was starting to get dark and we heard the bell rung which usually means we have time for about another lap. Continued on our way round, got to our gate and it was locked. Went to the next gate - locked, the next gate - locked. Saw a hedgehog scuttling about and then headed (a bit swiftly) to the main gate thinking that would be the last one locked so we should get out there, only to find it locked. Good job Mark was with me or I would still be walking round in the dark. Even if I could have climbed the fence on my own to get out, I wouldn't have been able to lift Scarlett out.....

Rocheberie Quilters

Rocheberie day today - no speaker. We had a bag day. Not sure how successful it was. We had quite a good attendance but not everybody was making a bag. The next committee meeting will be the decider on whether today was good or not. I was in the kitchen most of the day. I didn't mind in the morning but the afternoon seemed long as there wasn't a speaker and the rush for tea and coffee had subsided and there was no cake left! Brought Mark home two bits of cake as Muriel hadn't made her usual lemon drizzle. I have told Muriel I will make a formal complaint at the next committee meeting so it is noted in the minutes! Mark had to be content with a bit of chocolate and a piece of banana and walnut with chocolate topping - he was devistated at the lack of lemon drizzle but slightly consoled by the fact he got two bits of cake...... I helped him eat the chocolate bit and it was very nice - I think June made it but I can't remember. I am quite pleased with myself as I didn't spend much money (miracle). I made £4 on the sales table and spent £10.50 so by the time I was reimbursed my money for buying the coffee and milk, I about broke even! There were so many donated magazines I needed help with getting the box in and out of the car. A good day so far - still have casualty to watch on the telly yet this evening - fun packed Saturday night!!

Adding a photo...

First photo - of my baby girl! Upside down on the kitchen floor but still sweet!

Stuff

Went to Lutterworth Piecemakers last night. Talk was on Charles Rennie McIntosh. Interesting but canoe not completely bobbing..... Nice cup of tea though and friends Pat and Gaynor BOTH won a prize in the raffle - I didn't win anything though.... Chairwoman announced she was resigning which is a shame but I hope the group carries on - I am sure it will. Pleased to hear today that Ferret has won a prize in America for one of her many fantastic quilts. I am desperate for her to be a speaker AND do a workshop for my local quilt group Rocheberie - will have to keep plugging away at the committee until it happens......

First stuff

First stuff. Do I really want a blog? What will I say on it? If I look at it as an online diary, do I want other people reading it?