Weekend already, thankfully :)

What a week!  What can I say, we lost our water for more than 24 hours, and now have not one, but 2 leaks, and need not one, but 2 new stop cocks.  Fortunately they will get fixed and the water is back on.  I can't tell you how much you appreciate something when you've had to struggle on without it! 

And then we got sick!  Both of us, the Teenage Diva and I had to take time off work and school, but we seem to be getting over it. 

So when I got home from work yesterday, the washing was on, the bathroom was cleaned and all was under control, I made a list .....  and I lost my energy ...

but I can show you my progress from last Sunday...

the sun shone, and the made pretty patterns with the blinds :)  I got my Sassy Christmas stars pieced, just borders to attach, they are cut ready and I think I'll take Sue's lead and piece the corners  (because some fabrics are running short)

and I got the first 6 blocks of the Happy Quilting Stars quilt along done, and the second set of 6 are on their way, 

So this morning, the last of washing has been done, I hung it out in the vein hope I might get some of it dry before the rain showers started, nope, it's in again!  I was hoping the Diva would sleep in to her usual 11 am, nope, she's up already! 

But I have my list:

Finish Susan's Brit Bee blocks

Add borders to Sassy Christmas stars

Bee Blessed blocks (at least 2)

Pea Room block

finish piecing block 2 blocks (6) for HQqal

catchup on Mystery quilt

load up a quilt on the frame

Oh, and maybe one or two other things might slip in along the way!

that should keep me busy for the weekend!  And the Diva is heading out later for a sleep over, so I can really get a move on!

How about you, do you have plans for the weekend, have you made a list?  Will you get a few minutes for some uninterrupted sewing? 

Happy Quilting!

Christmas Quilt Along - September

It's that time again already!  The Christmas Quilt Along hosted by Sue over at Quilt Times.   But first of all, we had to go to the allotment for a little harvesting, tidying and sorting out after all the strong winds we've had. 

And then I had to supervise the installation of these for a pathway to the studio ...

and then it was time to get down to trying out one of these ...

thanks to the wonderful tutorial on Stephanie's blog Loft Creations ...

really, I've never made anything so quick in my life!  I can see more of these, useful little key Leashes/Lanyards in my very near future.

and I've done a little cutting, for Melissa's Stars Quilt Along (shh, I'm way behind!)

then himself decided it was tea time, and I was dragged to the kitchen to cook!  Shocking!

especially as I should have been doing these for Miss September! (tomorrow Susan!) 

so, after a delicious chicken curry, it was back to catching up on the Sassy Christmas Stars, so lots of this ...

and I'm playing catch up because, last month I was Christmas Shopping at Festival ...

but I did get it all laid out ready for piecing in the morning ....

and I got a whole one of my stars pieced ...

Mmm, loving this Joel Dewberry Heirloom fabric ...

I got mine from The Fat Quarter Shop

and I made good progress in getting the other 5 of block One on their way too ....

I can finish those in the morning too!

and lastly I had to wash these ...  Sloes...

tomorrow I need to go buy Gin, not in my cupboard at all, but I feel some sloe gin in my immediate future and maybe next week a little sloe jelly too!  (at least that will be ready for Christmas!)

Busy, busy, busy  :) 

12 Days - Day 5

Another early morning trip down to the allotment  ...

I noticed yesterday that the blackberries were ready ... and last year I missed out, because someone kept stripping the plants bare ...

not this morning!

that amounted to 800 grams of blackberries, added to the remainder of last years berries, they have now been made into some lovely tarte blackberry jam!  Delicious!

And there's nothing that matches the intoxicating perfume of these  ...

A quick emergency trip to the dentist for the Diva, bless her, as suspected, the offending tooth was removed.  Better out, that's for sure  :)

I made good progress on Jean's quilt, in fact I am more than half way through the quilting ...

this is a big quilt, 80" x 94" 

And I moved onto my Scatty Christmas Stars ...

you know you're tired when ...

and this was the second lot of reverse sewing!

fortunately I got it right in the end!

At least I am caught up on this one now  :)

And whilst I think about it, the postman left some really good mail today ...

but I can't show that just yet  :) 

So, tomorrow?  I think I'd really like to get Jean's quilt finished, if I can, bobbins willing  :)

and  ...  and then, time permitting, I'd like to get caught up on the Brit Mystery Quilt Along ...

or at least make a good start as I have 3 weeks worth to catch up on! 

What plans afoot?  Well, haircut, and a trip to the cinema with the Teenage Diva  :) 

Progress so far ...  another successful day  :) 

But I am tired!

Christmas Quilt Along - Part 4

Time's up!  Well for me anyway  :) 

I got my Stars made ...

I'm really enjoying this quilt along, thank you Sue and Cathy :)

And this is the jam I made this morning...

1.5 Kg of strawberries freshly picked from the allotment yesterday evening.  Now it's ready to remind me of the summer long after it has gone  :) 

I hope you all had a productive day! 

Happy Quilting!

Sunny Sunday!

The sun finally emerged today!  Yayyy!  So when I finally got round to doing some work, at least it was warm  :)

I took this quilt off the frame, it's been sitting there done for a few days now... it was time, don't you think!

Thought you'd appreciate a sneaky look at the quilting ...

I got binding made and sewn onto it ready for stitching down tomorrow afternoon at the Many Jeans quilting group.

I caught up with my Scatty Christmas blocks for the Christmas Quilt Along.

And I caught up on these pretty blocks for Wendy who asked for tropical colours to accompany her cream fabric, love the lime and purple combo! 

They have to come with me tomorrow afternoon.  I have a few more to catch up with.  (Ever feel like it's all a little overwhelming?  Just me huh?)

AND, in really big news, get this Angela .....  I DID some of my City and Guilds work!  I hope you were sitting down!  (I've been unable to touch it since just before Christmas and the news of redundancy)

Now that feels much better  :)

Happy Quilting!

Christmas Quilt Along Porgress Report

OK, this is a quick one, it's been a long day and I'm tired - too much digging - oops shouldn't have done that!

I got a set of 4 coasters made :)  Love Amy Butler fabrics!

Reverse

and started on my Scatty Stars ...

I'll finish these off in the morning, in the mean time ...

... time for bed said Zebedee!

Happy Quilting!