Bye bye baby Belle.

Sadly we had to say goodbye to our friend Belle today.

She was the best quilt and blanket inspector and crafter could ever have.

We got her as a tiny kitten way back in 2015.

She settled right in and ruled the roost right from the start.

She didn't just inspect quilts.

Cross stitch got close scrutiny too.

She was a bit off last week vomiting and not going to the toilet, so we visited the vet who gave her an injection and seemed quite positive.

She seemed to improve, the vomiting stopped and she was still eating.

Then yesterday she collapsed. Her back legs wouldn't work anymore.

Another visit to the vets and a wait and see diagnosis.

If there is no change in 24 hours.......

When we got home she crawled out of the vet box and collapsed in to the middle of the floor then wouldn't / couldn't move so we lifted her on to a quilt.

She stayed there all night.

This morning we took her back to the vet and said our last goodbyes.

Although she was an indoor cat, never going out in to our garden, she did like to sit in her castle in the corner of my quilting room and look out at the garden and watch the birds and bees going by.

There is a spot just under that window which makes a very good final resting place. 

Rest in peace dear friend. 

Crumbs again.

Do you recall the crumbs I was playing with last month?

I came across an idea on facebook yesterday and was inspired to have another play with them today. 

This is the results so far.

It is not at all like the idea I found on facebook except that it is crumbs. LOL

Somewhere between inspiration and execution the stars I had seen became these blocks.

LOL

Going forward I see a very scrappy sash between the blocks and a less busy border.

Well thats's the plan, but we all know how plans can change right?

LOL

While I was busy with all of that, Miss Belle was basking in the sun.

Oh for the life of a spoiled rotten cat!

I'm on leave for the rest of the week, so hopefully I'll have a finished top to show off in a day or two. 

My weekend offerings.

I've been to work both days this weekend. Yes, that means I missed out on the Zoom session. I did join briefly during my break, I only stayed long enough to say Hi. 

Before work my little mini kits came in very handy and I made up a few of my scrappy triangles.

These first three are Saturday mornings.

And this next image shows Sundays offerings, two for the morning and three for the evening while I wait for the chicken to roast.

I had a little play and began to lay them out on the floor.

I do like this layout, so this may be how they end up. We shall see.

I have a whole bunch more mini kits to sew and I have printed more foundation papers. I had thought to stop at lap size. LOL Maybe there will be two quilts? Or one much larger quilt. I'm enjoying the journey so will keep on sewing. 

*

I have some days off now. I'm not sure what I will be doing.

I'll keep you posted.

I hope you had a good weekend.

Three days off

My three days off are nearly over. They have been good though.

Day one, Wednesday I spent enough time in my room to complete a pair of Scrappy triangle blocks.

(Hmm, but for some reason I didn't get a photo).

 Then I got on and completed lots of chores before spending the afternoon with my cross stitch.

On Thursday I spent some time preparing more kits ready for my 15 minutes in the mornings before work.

I also had a good tidy up of the drawer that contains the smaller scraps I'm using for these blocks. It was an awful mess, hopefully next time I'm making up kits I will find it a little easier to source the fabric sizes I need. 

Then I spent the afternoon stitching again.

Today, Friday I again spent time in my happy room, this time sewing together some of those mini kits I've been making up.

It was nice to be able to just pull everything out of the bag and start sewing.

These two were very quick and easy to put together.

This block was challenging to prepare for. All those tiny little pieces.

But the two completed blocks look sew cute.

And once I'm done here I'll be picking up my cross stitch again.

I have the first ornament almost complete. Hopefully I will finish it before Tony gets home looking for food. 

I did it!

 My plan worked. This morning before heading out of the door to go to work I spent a little more than 15 minutes in my room. I pulled out one of the scrappy triangle kits and made up a block.

I'm delighted to have it done and hopefully I can do the same again tomorrow.

I need to take the time on my days off to prepare a few more mini kits.

It would be great if I can keep this going.

*

After work I got changed right away and went back out of the door for a ride on my new to me bicycle.

This model is called Apollo, but I just call her Polly.

And best of all, she is blue.

Tony found her on a local trade page. She has been very well looked after by one previous lady owner.

We picked her up yesterday morning before the grandies arrived. 

I may be able to jump around doing aerobics for an hour and I often go out walking for miles and miles and still feel fine, but I am not cycle fit! I was out of puff in no time. I think this will be good for me. 

Right, I'm off to play with EPP diamonds.