Humour me....

*Update*  Well don't I feel like a right little numpty.  Half an hour I spent trying to get the needle and or pin out of my machine.  I did try.  Really hard.  24hrs I spent after that, moping and whining, then my man had a look at it. To be more precise, he sat down, pulled the needle out, pulled the pin out, and said "I don't get it, what did you say was the problem?"

Never mind eh, my beloved machine is working again.  Not that I have anything to show I'm afraid!  The only things I've been working on are still surprises at the moment so are under wraps for the meantime.  

Another thing that's really making me feel like a dunce is my rotary cutter.  With blades costing about a fiver to replace, I invested in a rotary sharpener at over £25.  Tonight was my third attempt at using it, and the third time I've failed and will need to go buy another blade...

This is it, and this is the tutorial I've been watching and following avidly.  Does anyone else have one?  Is anyone else having a problem with it?  Am I just really really thick?!!

On a nicer note - I've been tagged, three times in fact.  I am "IT"....  Each person asks 11 questions.  I've cut a few out so that you're not sitting reading 33 questions, I hope that's okay and that my answers dont bore you all too much...  

Katys Questions

1. If you had a whole day entirely to yourself when you could do anything you want, go anywhere you want, and money was no object, what would you do?

Go to Monkey World in Dorset...  

2. Where is your favourite holiday spot?

Either York, or Lisbon.  I've had holidays in York before and I just love it, and I lived in Lisbon for a few years and still long to go back!

3. What is your favourite time of the year?

Spring....  There's something in the air... 

4. What's the favourite part of your garden, if you have one, and if not, what would you like to have?

My garden....hmph.  Got a 6ft square of paving that hardly ever gets sun out the back ,which I did try and pretty with pots and I have brought some burds to it...  Out front I have a wee patch of gravel just off the pavement... which I've stuck a few pots on and a raised bed box.  And a tree, in a pot.  As for my gardening skills though, its survival of the fittest...

I'd love to have a walled garden, like the secret garden.  Wild, hidden, private, and a tree swing....   and a grumpy old gardener to do the work...  Or a a forest with a stream.  Ooooh yeah a forest with a stream.  

5. What is your favourite book ever?

My favourite book, aside from "the broons" and "oor Wullie" was "Sophies World" by Jostein Gaarder.  Its fascinating thought provoking stuff, in a great story, and I have a brain like a sieve so never remember a single word of it....  I've read it 4 times, and each time enjoy every minute of it,  and still wont remember any of it...

7. I've come round for dinner - I don't like fish, lamb or avocados, and am deathly allergic to bananas and kiwi fruit, so what are you making me? (and no Susan and Hadley, you are not meant to be trying to kill me ;o) )

Mushroom and Ale pie with peas and mash, and cheesecake for afters.  That do you?  I used to LOVE cooking.  These days I dont like it, it tires me out so much, and the chances of me getting it cooked without falling asleep are slim to none.  Mostly I do comfort food!  I do a mean Mac and Cheese...  or Veggie sausage beans and mash pie... or veggie nutty "sausage" rolls.  Basically, you'll be gettin veggie, and if you want anything more than just comfort food, then you better keep me company in the kitchen!

8. I've won the lottery and I'm buying all my friends one special gift, what would you like?

Oooh can I have a new hip please?  No?  Well, can I please have tickets to see "Avenue Q"?  You and Jack can come too....

9. I'm running the ideal job centre, where we can find you any job you'd like, what would it be?

I'd make a damn fine Mattress tester.  I'd still like to be a writer.  Or, I'd love to be an editor....

11. You have a day to spend with anyone you like in the world, who would it be?

So many friends in other countries that I'd love to see, then there's mum and dad too.... but to choose right now, I'd love to spend the day with my brother and his wife cos I miss them so much.  

Tanyas Questions

1) What is the meal and/or cake you most regularly cook?

Sweetcorn fritters and salad.  (I'm assuming you weren't referring to what I transfer from freezer to oven...)  And cake wise, probably a banana cake :-)

2) If you had a totally free weekend coming up (and a decent amount of cash in your wallet) what would you choose to do with the time?

Edinburgh....  Meet up with mates, have a wander round old haunts, eat out!

3) What have you made that you are most proud of?

My Single Girl quilt, and the first Stained Quilt!  Single girl cos I never thought I'd get it done it was such a challenge, and Stained Quilt cos I loved it, and it's made me so happy that others have liked it enough to want to make one themselves.

4) What makes you happy?

Getting a hug.  Elliecat purring and nuzzling up to me.  Being with my family.  Getting post - letters, emails, fabric... Being in Edinburgh.  Playing around with fabric!

5) What tip would you give me?

Have some sour cream with your chocolate cake... yummm.  And a coffee.  And put your feet up.

6) What was your best moment of the past year?

Mum visiting and spending 2 and a half weeks in the sewing cupboard with me.  Oh, and when some of my wonderful Brit bee ladies volunteered to help me get to the FQ retreat when I'd said it was something I couldn't really do alone.

10) What colour should I decorate my loft bedroom?

Very pale grey, then your colour scheme is always in whatever bed linen / curtains you have and you can change it easily!

11) What's your best time saving advice?

Switch the telly off and put Radio 6 or 4 Extra on instead...

Judiths Questions

1.       What is your favourite ice cream flavour/brand?
Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey and Coconutterly Fair.  Haagen Daz Praline.

2.       What kind of stuff do you like to watch on telly?
Mostly Sky Movies, and comedy.  I LOVE the big bang theory.  That really makes me laugh out loud.  So does Miranda.

3.       What are your favourite colour combos for fabric at the mo?
Grey.  Grey with Orange.  Grey with Teal.  Grey with Red.  Grey with Yellow.  Just cant seem to get enough shades / prints of grey!

4         & 5. Who in your life do you most admire and why?
My dad.  He's just awesome.  I dont want to start saying why cos I'd go on and on and on, and I'm getting teary already...bet mum is too.  And brother and sister in law ;-)  Don't worry, he's not dead or anything.  He just is pretty wonderful and we're all utter softies....

6.       What inspired you to first start sewing/quilting?
I'm not entirely sure, but I think it was a mix of wandering around really fancy Interiors shops in Lisbon with no cash, and the "make it yourself" mentality that mum always displayed!  That and the fact that I'd already started buying fabric, so was bound to think of something to do with it eventually...

7.       What part of your body do you like the most?
Big surprise here I'm sure - none of it.  Sorry to be so pathetic but I really do have a zero common sense complete incapability of liking anything about it in any way.  I cant stand it.

9.       Would you describe yourself as more of a patchworker or a quilter, or both?
Ooh, well, I suppose if we're being technical it has to be patchworker as I really dont like the
"quilting" aspect!!  I'm sure I'd feel differently if I had a large table with a sinky bit for the machine, or a big machine with stitch regulator and a frame, or a long arm....

11.   What are you most looking forward to this year?
Meeting my lovely Brit Bee ladies and many many more at the Fat Quarterly Retreat in June...  AS IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW!



My questions are the following.
1  Who did you blame for your last public fart?
2  What's your favourite TV theme tune and why.
3  Tell me, what's on your 15 minute mix tape?
4  Roller boots or roller blades?
5  If a cushion is a pillow what's a pillow?
6  Who is your Dr. (who)?
7  If you don the ruby slippers and click your heels etc, where you gonna end up?
8  What fragrance is your fabric softener?
9  Bananas - young and firm or old and soft?
10  Why IS a raven like a writing desk?
11  What was the last thing that totally grossed you out?

I'm tagging Ceri, Susan, Laura, Hadley, Judith, Katy, Giles, Magpie Mimi, Lynz, Nicke, Kat, and since I should really tag 33 I'm also gonna tag Annabella, Rhonda Lucy, Sarah, Cindy, Julie, Jan, Jennie, Reene, Sarah pings, Fiona, Trudi, Di, Leanne, Shevy, Emily, Alison and I'm getting really sleepy doin all these links so I'll say  AND anyone else who'd care to indulge me :-)

In fact, everybody do a blog post just with your answers, no explanations, and lets all just have a good laugh eh?  Or not... whatever...  ;-)