Tuesday 13 September 2011

Death to housework...

Hmmm, I'm starting to think that as much as I'm thoroughly enjoying my hand sewing, a task that takes place with me sat on my arse with my feet up on a comfy sofa with a daft cat on my shins (I know, shins... its her new thing, she wont sit anywhere else) is probably not a suitable thing for me to do.  Not if I actually want to get things done to blog about and show you...  Oh its sooo nice - sew a bit, fall asleep, sew a bit, fall asleep...  no face glued to sewing machine scenarios, no waking up with a safety pin imprinted on my forehead (fell asleep basting...), no head dropping and thumping off tables...  But no nice pretty finishes to show in over a week either!  And its not that I feel under pressure to show you things, its more that I'm really missing the high of actually finishing things!

Little miss distraction...


So, with very little to show and tell, this'll just be a few brief highlights of the last 11 days...

I got some proper sewing done the first weekend.  I made some borders to add to the not-so-hidden stars quilt top from last post, to up the size a bit and make up for the blocks all being too short.  Took a little longer than it should have, I somehow managed to stretch one of the borders as I was attaching it the first time and it was twisting the top.  Still, seam ripper and I got it sorted eventually.
Basting also took 2 attempts.  I don't understand it, I basted 4 or 5 quilts on the bed, no problems at all, but the last 3 have all been disasters!  I took it over to the ironing board and did it very slowly top to bottom, I think it worked...  I also got some free motion quilting done!  I'm doing a free motion squiggle all around the outside of the stars, and I'm hand quilting inside the stars.  I must say I'm liking how its going so far.

I had my appointment at the hairdressers.  Got up early enough, and sat down with a cuppa since I had half an hour to kill.  Bad move.  Since quitting smoking my sleep attacks have been an awful lot more sudden and unexpected.  I woke up 25 minutes later, with a whole cup of tea emptied all over me and the sofa...  And I use a big mug...
I got a good haircut this time tho ;-)  I've been trying purple this year, and its not been particularly successful.  However, I know that red always works, so this time I went for purple and red!  It worked quite well :-)

I've killed the hoover.  I didn't mean to.  I know I say I hate it, well I do hate it, but not enough to wish it dead, I do need it after all.  I didn't mean to snap its head off, it was self defence I swear.  I mean, really, it was me or the hoover.  It started it...  I was just bending down hoovering the stairs when it decided to launch itself at me when I wasn't looking.  It tried to kill me!  I managed to dodge out of the way, but I needed  both hands, one to grip the walls or I'd have been down the stairs backwards, and the other to grab its chubby little butt so it didn't end up smashing into the front door.  Only having two hands,  I had to drop the extending neck bit that the heads attached to, I wasn't throwing it away for no reason...

I finally came up with an idea or two for my mug rug swaps...  One is totally cracking me up, so I'm not showing anyone until I get it finished, just in case it doesn't work as planned!  The other I can show, its a work in progress.

My For the love of Solids reached my partner in a record 6 days from Shetland to America, and phew, she likes.  You can be nosey here if you want...  when you see what she's sent out to her secret partner you'll get why I was worried mine was a bit boring!  Also, Project 51 got to its destination and has been the cause of many a teary eye. (not that its awful or anything!  Its pretty cool...)  you can see pics on these posts if you haven't already ;-) Rags to bagsFlying Blind on a Rocket Cycle, and Quilting Prolifically to name a few!

So that's me pretty much up to date...  I'd like to finish up by wishing mum a Very Happy Birthday!  As you might know by now, mum is my number one fan, and she is the very reason I am blogging and sewing and meeting all you lovely people in the first place.  Mum "lent" me her sewing machine a year ago, and she did a whole lot of work creating the sewing cupboard for me.  And she taught me to sew!  She encourages me, eggs me on, and actually listens when I ramble on for hours about new fabric lines, bee blocks, quilt designs.....  She's had a week in the sewing cupboard with me this year, and hopefully will again someday.  Meantime she is catching the quilting bug herself (one or two of you may have come across her already ;-)  So, with a whole lotta love, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM!  XXX

17 comments:

  1. "Me or the hoover"... Classic Sarah :-) EllieCat is looking particularly mischeivious in those pics, but give her a good shin snuggle from me because she is as cute as a button!

    Loving the rainbow star block. Could it be for me???

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  2. I love your solids projects and am glad to hear you are enjoying some hand sewing on the sofa. I love your stories about sewing as an extreme sport and now hoovering too!

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  3. Haha, your kitty cat is adorable!
    Happy birthday to your mum! :)
    Ashley x

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  4. How can you get any sewing done with that gorgeous distraction on your shins! I've said it before the star is truly gorgeous. Glad you came out the winner in the battle with the hoover - better just to leave it in the cupboard I find :)!

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  5. Oh Happy Birthday NIAC's Mum! Your Le Moyne Star is amazing - trying to get all those points to meet is really tricky - you've done a fab job! And I want to see your hair, sounds so cool - pretty pleeeeeeeeese?

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  6. Please wish your mum a happy birthday from me and Archie! Love the rainbow star and I'm amazed your wonderful solids swap parcel arrived so quickly!! Sounds like you taught the hoover a lesson - I'm sure he'll behave from now on (unless he really is dead in which case he may come back to haunt you in the guise of a new hoover - young ones are easy to possess!). I'm with Judith, any chance of a peek at the new hair?!

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  7. You are too funny!! What I would give to see the hoover sketch!!

    Happy Birthday Mum!!

    Hair pics please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  8. I'd be surprised if any other hoover has died so dramatically! Mine just blow up when all the cat hairs make them overheat!

    Hair colour sounds fun! Shame about the cuppa, but hey ho, there's always another in the teapot :)

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  9. i'm with Hadley - hair pic please! Cool kitty and what a great idea to make a kitty mosaic.

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  10. Snigger Snigger! (muffles hand over mouth!) lol Sarah, I know it's not funny following the hoover down the stairs, but oh, the images! Loved your for the love of solids cushion, best thing eva! And yes pic, pics pics! Happy Birthday Sarah's Mum!

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  11. Happy Birthday to your mum!

    Glad you survived the hoover, you need to watch out for these so called harmless home appliances, they have evil streaks! ;)

    I'm liking your star mug rug and you know how I love the other one!

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  12. The best post. Loved it! You make me laugh too hard so then the girls want to know what's going on and it all gets very complicated around the computer. But thanks for that housekeeping tip. I am going to go kill be hoover now. Fix that bugger and get me out of doing the downstairs which I have been avoiding like the plague.

    Love the star, and can't wait to see the other one. Like the idea of warm cat and hand sewing. So peaceful.

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  13. you totally crack me up! I am so in love with that star~! i pinned it, yes i did.
    i wish my husband wasn't allergic to cats because i would have 3.

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  14. Love your hoover story, very funny!! Would love to see some pics of the hair: before and after please!
    Your cat looks really cute, I am so allergic to them, but would really love one (but not so keen on those hairless ones, they look waaayyy creepy!)

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  15. Well done Sarah YOU KILLED THE HOOVER.......Whoo Hoo!
    Bravo to you, indeedy :-)
    Think I'll go shove mine down the stairs now too.
    Miss Elliecat looks most photogenic, posing just like a professional model ;-)

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