001 - Christmas Greetings!

Happy New Year!

It's been a while, hasn't it?  I've been thinking a lot about my blogging habits, and whether blogging is dead, and whether I just want to shut the whole thing down.

But truth be told, I miss it.  And even if blogging is dead, I think I'll keep on going with it, just because I like it.  So there.

Hopefully I can keep up with it.  I'm approaching a big number birthday at the end of the year and I want to use this year as my year of discipline.

Oh yes, it's hilarious I know just how many times I start a year with that statement.  But maybe my big number birthday will be the spur I need.  We shall see.  You guys will have to hold me accountable.

So as to how I have been, I blinked and six months had gone.  It wasn't my intention to stay away so long but life really didn't slow down like I had hoped.  I've had a few epiphanies over the last six months - mainly that something's going to have to give if I want to fit all the things I want to do into my life.  I don't want that thing I have to give up to be my blog, so I'm just going to have to let other things fall by the way side.  I'm still working out what those other things will be.

It's all a work in progress.

But until that all falls in line, I'd love to share with you my Christmas photos.  

We had a Christmas function at the start of December and I finally got around to fixing the big space in the kitchen.  I had another quilt hanging, and it fell down a few years ago and I never got around to putting another one there.  The quilt that I have just hung was intended for our bed, but as it's a long arm quilted quilt, it's not really squishy and we've opted for a crochet blanket on those days we need extra warmth.  This quilt hangs so beautifully straight - I don't know what I did that was different it hangs so well it would be a shame to put it anywhere but on a wall.  And so it's found its new home there.  

And we also have our lovely tree again - from our local Christmas tree farm.  The girls were determined no 'clutter' went on the tree, so we only have round baubles.  It's a bit of a shame as I have a lovely collection of decorations that were deemed 'not good enough'.  I let them have their way this year, as they seemed to be quite determined.

I also made a lovely arch hanger, I'm not really sure what its proper name should be, but it hangs over our doorway and it looks amazing.  Took me five minutes to make, and I'm really proud of it!

I also purchased a lovely new Iphone with a portrait lens, and that has given me the wonderful photo above.  It's such a good feature, makes me feel all clever.  Almost like I am a proper photographer!

So that's my update.  I won't give you grand promises about posting every day, or being the perfect blogger, but I will certainly try to devote the attention that this blog deserves.  

I hope your Christmas was fantastic, and your family and friends have all spoilt you rotten.  And I hope to see more of you as the year goes on.

Happy Quilting!

blogging break...

Seems so dramatic to announce a blogging break when I've been gone for too long anyway.  

But I think it's only polite.

Life is kicking my backside currently (not in a bad way - just can't quite keep all my balls in the air at the same time) and most of the other balls are Have To.  Much as I love this blog, it's not Have To and the Have To's need to come first, at least till the dust settles.

So I'll be back when I can, lovely readers.  Please check back on me, won't you?

Lucy Boston update

Another two blocks done.

I had to spend long hours waiting at dance this week.  The studio is too far for me to drive home and normally I share the load with other mums, but this week it was me and me alone who had to wait.  So I used my time very productively!

I can get one done in a few hours.  And now that they are prepped, I barely have to think about it.  Travel packs for the car are totally the way to go!

Hope your weekend turns out well!

Another Flimsy - or what you can do with 'cheap' fabrics

I seem to be in a routine of posting once a week.  I do aim for more but as with the rest of the universe, time slips away...

I have been UFO'ing!

Some time ago last year I brought some fabric from Aldi.  It was cheap, as in not expensive but it feels lovely.  Nice and sturdy, and so I put it in my trolley and came home. 

(I am still on my non buying challenge and despite feeling a little jumpy around a craft shop, I'm doing well!).

I made a whole other quilt with this fabric that I will show you soon, but with the remaining squares (I cut too many - I always do) I made this:

I broke my 'don't machine applique' rule and machine appliqued it, and it looks very nice!

I'm off to Mum's house to use her long arm again (always learning, always learning!) and when that's done I shall bind it and call it finished!  I'll show you those photos soon!

Lucy Boston update

Everyone is a little flat here this morning - every time you open your news there's more depressing/awful/horrifying crap happening.

So I've chosen to sew, which is what I do when times are rough.

I managed to finish another Lucy Boston yesterday - they take so little time now they are prepped, I've decided that this is the next quilt to be finished.  This is the one that I will devote my energy on in the next few months.

This is the most recent one.  It's not perfect but if I aim for perfect I'll never get anything done.  I can only try to do better.

And here are the rest of them:

Slowly but surely they are getting there.  Then I have the mammoth task of doing all the surrounding parts.  I'll worry about that later.

See you soon.

Suzie

Show and Tell - Completely Finished, Quilted, Bound and Labelled!

One down, goodness only knows how many more left.

This is the second quilt I've ever long armed, and I think it turned out okay.

So it's only a small quilt, but it might bring some colour to someone, maybe?

Hope your day is going to be a good one!

More sewing to show you

I've been lucky enough to be able to squeeze in a few days of all day sewing over the last months at our quilting rooms.  I have another one on Tuesday which I'm looking forward to, but I thought I might show you my latest endeavour.

Longer readers may remember my Rachelle Denneny class I took?  Back here?  I'm embarrassed to tell you that class was three years ago. 

Well, I've been finishing!

It took me a long time to finish the applique, then another long time to decide to do the quilting.  And then a further long time to actually do the quilting, which I managed on my last all day sewing.

And this is where it stands now.  Hanging on my wall.

Certainly far from my best quilting but it's done. 

I was toying with the idea of binding it in two different colours but I can't find the matching fabric, so I'm going to bite the bullet and have a go at facing it.  That's Tuesday's job - I figure there'll be better sewers than me there to ask. 

So that will be one more job off my (very very very long) list.  It's slow going but it is getting there.

Hope you have a lovely quilty weekend, and I'll see you soon!

Popping in to say hi....

Guess where I've been?

On retreat!

Admittedly only for the day, and the rest of then were there for the whole long weekend, but it's a start!  And I got lots of sewing done!  

I don't have any photos of that yet but I haven't been idle!  

A few weeks ago I made a choice to go to my mother's house and learn how to use her long arm.  God forbid something happen to her, but I should know how to use it, shouldn't I?  That's our logic.

I dug out an old flimsy (I only have a couple *cough*) and after a devil of a long time 'loading it up', I got going.

And I did okay really.  It took about four hours from start to finish which was quite long, I think considering the size of the quilt.  But I'm hoping I'll get quicker as I get better.

I did this one a week ago - I did okay...ish...but I must admit I need some work on my inner curves.

The most recent one I did this week, I chose a panel from the cupboard (I found a whole bag I'd not even known was in there filled with panels!) and a different pantograph and armed with my notes and the videos I'd taken I was more of less left to my own devices.

And you'll be pleased to know I did much better and my curves worked well too!

Not too shabby really.  

This one only took me two hours this time, it was much quicker.  I'd still like to get my 'loading' time down, that's the part that takes so long.  But I shall get there!

That's my update.  I'll hopefully pop back in to show you some actual piecing I have done, but until then, happy sewing!