Difficult times.

Well I've had better weeks.  But all told - compared to L - I've had a good week.

I've sold my moped.....I have to say, great timing as the money will be useful as our building work starts soon at WR, and it will certainly be handy having the space for the building rubbish.

Bye, bye - I hope you will be very happy with your new owner and he looks after you well. I have to say I have my doubts as it wobbled away up the road!!

The whole cloth quilt - which I started three years ago - July 4th 2009 - the day we received the keys to the beach house has been finished.  I have even washed it (while my heart was in my mouth) , and it looks great.  I was very concerned that the red marking lines would not disappear and my burgundy cotton would run.  But all is fine - nothing untoward happened - thank goodness.

Before wash....

If you look closely, you can see the red marking lines....

Ta Dah...... no more red marking lines.

I have spent some time supporting L this week with funeral arrangement but she has everything under control.  Her Dad would be so very proud of his daughters, dealing with such a difficult situation. Our support has been minimal but I understand from C much needed by both of them.  They have been away from their home for several days now and on returning Wednesday found that the shower had leaked through their living room ceiling.  Ironic as they were not touched by the 4ft floods we had a few weeks back.  They have riped everything out that they can and now will leave to dry until after the funeral.  We will of course head back with them and help sort (I know what it like to have a damp patch (!!) and it is a bit distressing). 

Decorating her Mum's house and sorting is on the cards this weekend - starting with the bathroom tonight!!

Restless

I have been very restless this week, I so want to get many of my ongoing projects finished and move onto new things ..... This include ongoing quilting projects and of course house hold projects ... mainly that pesky crack.  I so need the weather to cheer up - I am in desperate need of some proper long term sunshine and warmth. 

The building projects I have no control over and am in the hands of the builders. I just have to be as patient as I can be until things get underway.

Quilting projects I do actually have some control over. I have two quilts on the go at the mo. - one hand and one machine. And as the BH is being used by friends this weekend, I am determine to try and progress my whole cloth quilt by sorting the edging. I WILL NOT start something new or different until this has been pined and tacked (repeat in chalk on a black board 100 times), please, of course, feel free to slap my legs should you see any other quilt appear on here.

So edging... Having cut a small section of the whole cloth quilt last weekend . I had a small melt down mid week, that maybe I had cut it wrong, but luckily a quick chat with HW on Wednesday night put my mind at rest and what I was trying to complete was a 'proper' technique.

So with my heart in my mouth I set about cutting the rest of the quilt....

Then cutting the wadding.....



Pinning and then of course tacking



I have managed to achieve exactly what I needed to achieve this weekend - and the quilt is ready to pick up go when I need it.  I do find that I set myself (sometime huge) goals to achieve, and sometime fail to achieve with great disappointment to myself but this weekend I do feel I have achieved a great deal,  I have set myself a deadline of July 4th to finish this whole cloth quilt - this will be three years to the day that I started the project.  (Note to myself: Yes, three years is a long time, but I have done many other quilts in between and I do actually have quilts that I started more than three years ago still to finish - but I won't say anymore about that little bundle!!!)

Other things done this weekend - using the slow cooker to make a home made curry - won't give you the recipe as I would not make again!!



 Irish stew for D -  one of his favourites - for the freezer!

Car boot sale at St Philomena's - never been before but would definitely go again!  Amazing building and grounds.  One bargain purchased at £2 - body board for the coast - I will of course be testing at some point this summer (NOT) - will leave testing to some little poeple!!!



That time of year......

A couple of weeks ago this was my life - for about seven days.  I so very much hate being ill - not being able to keep on top of chores, more important not being able to quilt or craft!  It is actually very rare that I'm really poorly but this cold knocked me for six.  In bed as soon as I returned home from work and then the whole weekend in bed.

I'm much better now but still have a slight cough and runny nose - not getting through the three boxes of tissues at I did at the height - and being able to get back to my normal routine quilting and crafting (notice I didn't mention the chores!).

We had Mum and Dad to stay the following week - luckily with the cold mostly gone I could sit in the same room!!  They had come for a special visit as Dad had got tickets for Cirque Du Soleil - at the Royal Albert Hall.  Its always a massive treat for my parents to spend the day in London.  Although they had their honeymoon in London some 45 ish years ago they have only started going again since I moved  1/2 an hour away by train. 

They had a wonderful day - and really enjoyed the show - recommendation was given as very much yes if you were considering going!

Saturday, I had my monthly meet with the QQ (Quirky Quilters) - we all went to HW this time as she had the kids (they are so very good - we never know they are there).  A great day was had (as always) catching up after Christmas and New Year.  I took my wholecloth hand quilting that I have been working on for sometime now!  I would have taken the English Patchwork that I have been working on but the recipient was present so I didn't want to give the game away!  The wholecloth quilt was purchased the same time as we purchased the Beach House - with the idea that I could hand quilt in the evening - this really hasn't worked out and some three years later I'm still doing it!!  I have taken it several times but we have spent so much time doing the place up I don't really get much time to quilt when I'm there.

     

One whole side and corner was completed - so very pleased with my day!  Not much more to go!!

Saturday night we went to the Beach House - and D indicated in the car that it was going to be a restful weekend - but Sunday morning - not being able to help himself - he reached for the hammer!!  The final counter was removed and the oven came out.  The final tiles were taken off. We really have taken/removed everything now from the kitchen that we can.  Just a matter of waiting now for the new kitchen to come.

August 2011

August 2011: 70th Party at the BH

August saw the whole family celebrate Dad's 70th down at the BH.  Ten of us all under the same roof for a whole weekend.......and what a great weekend it was!!  Maybe sametime same place next year??


              

     

August 2011: FOQ 2011


Festival of Quilts - several courses taken during the two days.  All need to be finished!!

         

Also for the first time ever - I exhibited a quilt - made back in 2005 for my Mum and Dad's 40th Anniversary. I have to say I did feel a bit sick trying to find it when we arrived but was very happy with the display.  It is interesting to see old work - I can really see how much my skill have improved.
I did question my decision to exhibit as I tried to locate my quilt on that day but having seen my work hanging - would I exhibit again - yes I would.




August 2011: TLC

When at university I decided to purchase a selection of material to complete a quilt during my time away.  I knew there would be times I would not be able to afford to go out and this was my (very successful) alternative!  So first quilt - not actually knowing what I was doing - hand cut individual squares, hand sewn together but not quilted (as I didn't know I needed to).  The boarders got damages a few years back while I lived in a small flat so decided to unpick and re-do boarder and actually quilt together.  So many memories while adding a little TLC to this quilt!


 

July 2011

July 2011: Project Linus 2011


Project Linus month.  Meet at BH with other QQ to produce as many quilts as we can for Project Linus. http://projectlinusuk.org.uk/- theme this year was transport. Simple blocks for quickness - with fleece backing. 

    

Managed also to complete one started last year - theme was Seaside in 2010.  Happy to hand over two completed quilts this year.  One quilt in 2010 so will try for three in 2012!




July 2011: Cushions

Rainbow Cushion for BH - needed to start using some scraps - have boxes full - decided on english patchwork - using paper templates - loved doing this cushion both for the actual patchwork technique and the colours.




Cushion for BH - found this fabric and could not walk past - £2 (!!) Made giant cushion for beach house - bit of a problem with zip but got there in the end!

April 2011

April 2011: English Patchwork

Started in Patchwork Classes (I think 2007/8) - using paper templates - Hand sew together in 2010 while having Double Glazing fitted at BH.  Hand quilted 2011.  I get there in the end!!  One of my fave quilts I have made and most certainly one of my fave techniques.