Funk

Not much to say at all this week I'm afraid.  Been in a bit of a funk. 
I wanted to get a move on and start my Dresden quilt for Lily's QAL, but I couldn't decide at all which fabric to use, each stash I had seemed to need something else to complete it and I didn't want to keep buying and not getting good matches.  Its not easy choosing fabric online, but it sure is fun for a while!    Anyway, I got my monthly surprise parcel from Pink Chalk Fabrics, 8 mystery co-ordinating solids.  I liked them, didn't have a predestined use for them, so thought "sod it, just forget all the other options and use them for the Lily's Quilts QAL."  So I did.

Thing is, I don't think I like it.  It is actually nicer than the picture cos I couldn't get the light right to show that there is a difference between those blues!  But, somehow, I just don't like it.  So I haven't gotten any further with that.

I did do a few stints at the single girl hand quilting, but the hole I dug in my finger kept bursting open and so I had to stop for a few days to let it heal. 

So, what to do when you're in a funk, you cant get motivated, you don't like what you've done lately, and everything seems poo...  Why you sign yourself up for multiple commitments making things for people way more talented than you are of course!  Hmmm, not sounding quite so sensible...  But then I'm not feeling sensible am I?  Actually feeling more like a whiny brat to be honest, my poor man is taking the brunt of most of it!  So maybe this was me whining "I'm bored, someone play with me..."  Whatever it was, I'm still glad I've done it.  I'm sure I'll snap out of all this soon enough, then I'll have lots of lovely things to do! 

So, what have I signed up for?  Well, Lynne @ Lily's Quilts had the bright idea to start a flickr group for British Quilters.  Quilting seems to be such a big thing in the states, Canada, Australia etc, and such a small hidden society in UK.  Well not anymore, Lynne's group has unearthed loads of us!  From which has stemmed Brit Bee.  Yay, my first ever BEE!  Ever so slightly intimidating, but only due to to talent of all the other participants, the participants themselves all seem ever so lovely. 
I've made a start practicing for Mays Block...  Based on Lynnebobsquarepants. 

Yes, first block in the bee and I meet my nemesis.  The Half Square Triangle. 

These are some pics of the process, which I think highlight my problems with them..  See how as soon as its pressed its no longer a square.. 

See also how every single one has to be trimmed precisely...  (Love my HST ruler though, makes things much easier and you know how I love easy!) 

See how there's always at least one that is way too small?  Then you have to make more...

See how despite all my painstaking precision trimming,  50% of my points don't match up?  Gonna need a whole heap more practice....

I'm also signing up for Lynne's mini quilt swap, of which I can tell you no details cos I know none myself...  Yup, she said "do you want to ..." and I said YAY!  To what I really don't know....  But I'm sure it'll be fun!

And, yes there's an AND...  I've opted to take part in Pay it Forward.  You've seen the movie, well this is the principle applied to sewing, minus the cute wee boy, single mother, scarred teacher and all that mushy jazz.  Dianne, of Quiltova will be making me a little something, check out the link as she explains the rules better and if you're really lucky you too could join in!
So, if you would like to receive a wee thing made by me, (and judging by the photys on this post you might wanna think carefully bout that!) then you comment below.  The first three comments will receive an email from me requesting a postal address to mail to, and in return they need to promise to post the same on their blog, and commit to making a wee something for 3 people.  Oh, and the beauty is you get 365 days to do it!  So, the first three numpties brave faithful followers to comment will, at some point in the next 365 days, receive a wee surprise pressie from li'l ol' me....

Domestic Numpty

Last I wrote I was anticipating the return of my man.  He called on the Friday night to say he'd gotten safely off the ship and was awaiting flights, "what have you been up to?" he asked. 
"Well, I've done 2 loads of laundry, some ironing, done the shopping, cleaned the oven, the grill, the fridge, the microwave..."
"Why?"  He says, "Its not like I'll be going anywhere near any of them!" 
I know I probably shouldn't encourage him but he doesn't half make me laugh.  He did then say that as long as there was beer in the fridge and the living room looked tidy he'd be more than happy.  Phew!  Cos after all that on Thursday and Friday the Crash came big on Saturday...  Eventually managed to stay awake for a wee while in the evening so I thought I'd make a start on the Welcome Home dinner, and do a cheesecake.

Got the base made, and thought I'd tidy as I go and get everything washed, wiped and put away before I started on the creamy filling bit, you know, proper housewife that I am... 
Next thing I know, I'm standing over by the bin.  The base tray is in my hands.  It is empty.  The base is all over the top of the closed bin, and all over the floor beside it, and even in Elliecats food dish.  Around me, the dishes are done, the counter is wiped, the crumbs and empty digestive packet are in the freezer, and I binned the cheesecake base.  '*$"&!^%*@!!!  Unbelievable.  Elliecat seemed quite pleased with it though!
I don't know, when I was working I had been known to answer the phone and apparently be quite helpful in my sleep - at home I blank out for 2 minutes and things go POO.  Snot fair!!!

Anyway...  Been a little distracted so not a huge amount of sewing done ;-)  Did have a few minutes here and there, so I used up some scraps and did some practice.

Bleugh scraps but I do so need Triangle practice.  Nope, still hate 'em! 

Had a go at this idea which I have to admit was great fun...

Did my first Mug Rug, and practiced sewing circles.

Did a cushion cover sized scrap block and I'm going to use it to practice Free Motion Quilting. 

Might need to do this a few more times...  Just as well I've got a few more ideas for scrappy cushion cover blocks!

Falling behind

Ah to be back in the cupboard....  I do so love my cupboard.  And boy oh boy has Elliecat missed me!  She took 48 hours to accept I was home and detach herself from my leg.  Awwww, it's awffy nice to be missed. 

I had a lovely week with mum and dad, and granny of course.  Even got a little sewing done.

I got most of it done with mum at the iron, steaming away, and I only had to sew a few strips together and add a border once I got home.  Tired as I was, I thought I'd get the borders done today...

Yup.  Should know by now not to sew when I'm tired.   Ho hum, need to remove the borders tomorrow and try and put them on the right way around this time.

I wish I had a completed single girl to show you...  I have made a start on the hand quilting but ohmygod it is tough!  If I attempt it again on another quilt it will only be on a quilt done in super soft cotton, as the cotton on single girl, although perfect for machine quilting, is quite tricky to get the needle through more than one stitch at a time.  I'm getting it done, but oh so slowly...  I can only draw on one ring at a time cos it takes me so bloomin long to stitch it that the vanishing marker vanishes before I'm done sewing!  I've got one full circle done, so only another four halves and four quarters still to go...  I think you might be waiting a while to see that one.  Have a holiday photo instead.  Here's some deer...





See the teeny tiny specks on the top of the hill?  Them's the deer...



The Lily's Quilts QAL seems to be flying along, as yet with out me!  I just cant seem to decide on my fabrics...  I've got another couple of projects in mind that I'm dying to get started, and I'm going to be doing a fantastic swap with the lovely Magpie Mimi so that needs to be organised - really looking forward to that one, I'm quite excited about it!  Also, it would seem that I've got rather a lot of tidying / dusting / hoovering / laundry / baking / shopping etc to get done.  I don't know...  I go away for a week, thinking my man will be home in May, I come home and find he's apparently going to be home this weekend!  Obviously I am excited, this is very good news, but, well, I was looking forward to a week in the cupboard now I've got 2 weeks worth of home preparations to get done in a few days!  D'oh!  Now where on earth am I going to put (hide) all the fabric that's snuck out of the cupboard?

P.S.  Thanks for all the comments on last post, it was lovely to come back and read them :-)  Did anybody like the songs or was that just me being a bit too daft?  Most likely...