Tuesday 22 January 2008

Chit Chat.

I took a picture to proove that I have been busy, packing and patching! But the cable that hooks the camera to the computer is packed and gone to the new place! So no picture, sorry.

I'll just have to chit chat to you to make up.

I was woken early this morning and lay in bed listening to the black birds chirruping away out side. It was lovely lets me know that the dark mornings will soon end and that spring will arrive.

I've finished the top of the Trailing Hearts kit my sister Moya bought for me for Christmas. If you remember though I want to make it a bit wider by adding an extra side border, I have some fabrics laid by it just now and I take a look everytime I happen to wander by. (I took a picture, hoping to ask for your opinion, but as I said, the cable is temporarily unavailable).

Yesterday as the weather was poor Moya and I took our walk around the Manx Museum. It is currently host to a small collection of quilts. Some antique and some new. I bought a book about the exhibition and the history of quilting here on the island, I'd show you some of the pages, but you can guess what happened to the scanner huh? I'm gonna have a lot of catching up to do!

Marne, from Nanas Quilts asked if I had mentioned where I'm moving to. I didn't, I'm sorry, but I shall make amends now. I'm niot leaving the island, I'm not even leaving town, our new place is very close by. Why move at all you ask? I shall leave here with mixed feelings, I love this apartment, it is beautiful and the house is set in equally beautiful gardens. The downside is, the sound proofing is very poor, we can hear everything our neighbours upstairs do. The lady upstairs works at the local bakery and gets up at 4.15 am most mornings, we can also hear what is going on downstairs, I could moan on for ages, better to look forward.
The new place is another apartment, but we'll be on the top floor, I also happen to know that the sound proofing is much better as the previous tenants are known to a colleague of mine. There is no gardens but there are more rooms. A lovely big bright airy kitchen / dining room. A cosy sitting room, bathroom and under stair storage on the lower floor. Upstairs is a master bedroom with a walk in wardrobe, and two other bedrooms, one of which we'll convert into a study for Hunney. At the moment it takes me about 4 minutes to walk to work, at the new place it will take me 5-6 mins, because I have to cross a busy road! I'll take some pics once we're in and I've got rid of all the boxes.

It's dry today, so Moya and I are off out walking.
Have a good day.


Monday 21 January 2008

Hi, Sorry I seem to only manage one post a week at the moment, I'll try to do better honest, but things are going to get worse before it gets better I'm afraid.

I have to start packing today as we move house on Saturday. There is no internet connection at the new place and Telecom say they can't get to it until 31st! No sky tv either, but the guys will be there for that on 28th.

On a brighter note I will have a special little area where I can leave my sewing machine set up and possibly even the ironing board. The first job will be to get some curtains sorted out. I found a single huge curtain in a nearby charity shop which will cover both windows in the dining room. It still feels new I don't think it got much use in it's previous home. I'd say over £150 worth and I got it for £10. I just need to get the shears out and hem the new edges.

Moya and I are going out for a walk again today, weather permitting, I watched the poor kids troop into school in the pouring rain, but that seems to have cleared now they have all arrived. We also want to go to the manx museum some time this week as they have a quilt exhibition on at the moment. They also have classes and demonstrations and other quilty events going on, but I don't think I'll get a chance to attend any of those.

Speaking of Moya here she is ......BYE!


Thursday 17 January 2008

More progress.

Here I am again, sorry it took a week. I've been busy you see.
Almost two years ago I quit smoking and since then I've put on a great amount of weight and I've decided it's time to do something about that! Sooooo! My sister and I have been out walking a lot, which cuts into my free time. Any way, you're not here to count pounds with me, you want to see my progress.


Here it is, the pieces are all appliqued into place now and the vines are stitched. I've used DMC 3364 for the vines, not too strong, not too pale, just right in my opinion. Once again the picture is a bit wishy washy, maybe it's not the light at all, maybe it's because the fabrics are so pale.


I have a thin inner border on now, it's an inch wide in a pale blue colour. I've also added the top and bottom sections of the wider pieced border. I want to try and convert this into a crib blanket for a colleagues expected baby, I'm thinking another border just on the sides, as at the moment I think it will be long and thin but hope that with the addition of extra side panels it will be a better shape. I'll have to go shopping, see what I can find.

I'm off now to get the pieced border finished before Moya turns up to go for our walk.

Have a great day.

Wednesday 9 January 2008

Progress Report.

I finally got to do something. But, first a christmas present I forgot to mention! How could I do that? My penpal Maxine sent me these lovely fat quarters and a whole bunch of ribbons and braids.


There are some very pretty fabrics here, I've washed a folded them and added them to my small stash. I've no idea yet what I'll do with them, something will come to me.

Yesterday I decided to start on the 'Trailing Hearts' applique kit. Here it is, sorry the pic is so washed out, it was took dark to get a decen photo without a flash, even in the window.

I have it all cut and bond a webbed ready to applique into place either later today or tomorrow. Then I'll have to do a little stitchery for the vines before adding the borders.

Have a good day all.

Tuesday 8 January 2008

What a dismal day.

It's dark and miserable, with lots of low cloud and rain. Just the sort of day for staying indoors and doing something nice.

My cross stitch is calling to me, I haven't looked at it for ages, perhaps an hour or two on that. My christmas goodies are also calling to me, that little appliqued quilt kit my sister gave me, I have the wadding, backing and bond a web for it, it all arrived in the post last week. One of my colleagues is due to have a baby in March, I ought to have a poke about, see what I could surprise her with. Hmmmm?

So while you're waiting for a progress pic of something.....Here's Hunneys birthday prezzie. His name is Geek!


It was his birthday on Saturday. I've had this little guy stashed away since May last year. LOL I wasn't sure if he would be for christmas or birthday, but the moment I saw him I knew he was for Hunney.

Well, thats me, time to go do something. Have a good day.

Sunday 6 January 2008

I have an award.

I've been awarded with the "You make my day award" by Julia at Camille's Place. Thank you Julia, what a lovely surprise.
The awards rules are to“Give the award to up to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel so happy about blogland! Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so that they can pass it on.

So after much reading of blogs, oohing and aahing over pictures of quilts, kids, pets and other assorted animals not to mention countless other images. Smiling, laughing and sympathising, where necessary I'm still none the wiser, so I'm off to read it all again. LOL


OK So I'm back again, this was so much harder than I thought it would be, but I've finally decided on........

Jeanne at Spiral.

Julia at Camilles Place.

Rose Marie at Applique 'n Patch.

Tazzie at Tazzie Quilts.

Tracey at Ozcountryquiltingmom

Anne at Quilting Bebbs.

Thats it, I'm stuck at six. I love all of the blogs I read and draw inspiration from all of you even if I don't leave a comment. Thank you for being such a wonderful bunch of folks and for sharing your lives in this way.



Wednesday 2 January 2008

Happy New Year.

Sorry I've been gone so long, it wasn't intentional I assure you, I just didn't seem to find time to blog. So if you're still with me, best wishes for 2008 may it be a happy and productive year.

Now, please forgive me, but I do have to show off some of my goodies. This first picture is of the gift my dear son bought for me. Isn't she divine?


Ignore the blind cord and the window lights, just look at my fairy! She is supposed to be an earring stand, so she got to model the earrings DD gave me. I've got the best kids!

Hunney didn't do so bad either, he bought me a quilt kit. Cindys butterflies. The kit includes all the fabrics needed to make the top, beautifully presented in a basket as you see.

I can't get a better picture of this, I've tried several times in different lights, look here for a better view. The batiks in the kit are beautiful. I'm not ready to start this yet, I want to play with the fabrics some more first.

From the strong brightly coloured batiks, to soft muted pastel florals. This much smaller kit is a gift from DS Moya. I think I'll get on with this one soon. It's a little wall hanging and shouldn't take long to do once I put my mind to it.


Hunney has gone back to work today, and just as soon as the kids go back to school, I have to get ready to move house! So I'm not sure exactly when I'll get chance to put my mind to it but I will, and you'll see pictures. LOL

Thankyou to eveyone who sent their good wishes over the festive season. I hope your Christmas was all you wished for and that you have a wonderful and prosperous 2008. Happy New Year to you all.