scraptastic!

Lookie! My first layouts in a year! I even found some papers I must have bought just before embarking on my fabric obsession - they had matching stickers and chipboard and are too cute! I'd forgotten how much I love the Sassafrass range. But boy am I rusty!!

Being 7 - the Chook's birthday last year. The tag behind the title (with the Wish lettering) is the list of her gifts. Although we can't remember a couple - which is why you should scrap immediately!!

Hey, Santa! - is from last Christmas. Again, I always include a list of gifts but there's an actual letter to Sants tucked in there, too. Don't tell, okay?

It felt good to get these done. I think my scrapbooking is largely finished with (I have an incredibly well documented first 5 years for the Chook) but I'd like to keep up with the birthday and Christmas pages. Just the shoe layout to go and I'm what passes for up-to-date around here these days!

half-assed mid-week mundanities.

I fancied doing one of these tonight but I can't be bothered finding the template and doing it all proper. So.

All is happy here in Lynzland. Cool and groovy and contented. Yay!


I've been watching lots of Dr Who (loving Matt Smith - phew!) and Glee and Stargate Universe and have bought the DVD boxset of "My so-called Life" from Amazon. Happy 90's memories and a total flashback of wanting Jordan Catalano so badly. Although, I do think I prefer Jared Leto as he is now. Marshawk and all.


My favourite tune of the moment is Compliments by Band of Horses. I think they sound like early Eagles with Neil Young singing. Very addictive.


And I have been scrapbooking!! 2 layouts totally finished and 2 all done but for photos and some embellishment tinkering. I am very rusty but I admit I enjoyed my evening. And it's quiet enough to do when the Chook is sleeping. Bonus!!

perfectly real life

I read the most wonderful blog post today here at Pink Chalk Studio about being PISSY (see the post for a definition!) and generally being awed by other people's effortlessly beautiful crafts, homes and - I suppose - lifestyles. There was also a fabulous reply to Kathy's post found here at Mostly Knitting which made me nod in agreement, cringe in sympathy and laugh like a drain all at the same time! Really, anyone with children (or a cat, or just a life with other STUFF going on) will empathise. Sarah hit that nail right on it's wee metal head.

Now, I have never claimed to have one of those awe inspiring crafty homes. It's a very ordinary modern 3 bedroom semi in a wee town in Scotland but I think it has it's pretty bits. But sometimes the pretty bits get.....well, they get clothed in everyday life. Which I obviously clear out of the way before taking photos. Like the Amy Butler pillow rocking chair photos from the weekend. The chair in question is in my very small 3rd bedroom which is my playroom. As well as hosting all the things that don't fit anywhere else in the house. Like the ironing. So in the interests of being transparent? Here is the wee room as it looks today.
Not so pretty now, eh? I mean it's still there. But the pretty Love cushion has disappeared under school uniforms and jeans. And yes, they are still all there adorning the rocker coz I can't be arsed putting away the ironing tonight. Is it just me or is the worst bit about ironing the hanging of the clothes in the wardrobes? Maybe I should be like my friend Mrs Wookie - she just doesn't iron. Problem solved!!!!

here's to friends!

Firstly, thank you SO much to everyone who commented and e-mailed on the down-in-the-dumps post below. I really have no reason to be all woeful but sometimes putting it out there reduces the feelings. And it did. And all the cuddles were wonderful - the hug felt round the world!

I did a little sewing yesterday. Just pick-em-up and see where you go sorta stuff. And ended up with a lovely wee cushion that matches my coin quilt. Lookie. (The rocking chair was my wedding present from friends at work, the picture on the left is a cross stitch baby sampler from my old friend Biff - friends all over this post!)
If you remember the coins were sent from Greta and the fabrics I used in the cushion were part of my recent swap from Lara. Very VERY pretty Amy Butler "Love."

More love on the back and some green that was in my birthday parcel from my the aforementioned Biff - this quilt and cushion combo is totally the friends set!

And behold! I managed a reasonable buttonhole! Mark the date on the calendar! I do like that variegated thread. Although my free-motioning was a bit wonky. I will learn to not sew when I'm tired - no matter how keen I am to get it finished!

I see the second lot of hexagon piecing instructions are up at Jaybird quilts. Guess what I'm doing tomorrow!

hold my hand - it'll be okay..

I'm having one of those (admittedly rare) days where the tough inner-me that holds everything together needs a little hand holding. So I'm going to have me a little pity party this afternoon since it's my early finish day. A pot of tea, some junk food and a favourite book or Zak Efron. And hopefully chase the blues before I launch into Mummy/Wife mode at 3pm.

D'ya think my boss would be up for a hug? *grins*


P.S. Not my rat or my photo (though she is a dead ringer for our Wilson) - cute, though, eh?

Aaaaaaaaargh!!!

This is my April Scraptastic Bee offering. Cute pattern and the quilt will be amazing but, bloody hell, this took 4 hours!!! And it's FAR from perfect. What a pain in the arse and if I never see a 1 inch block again it will be too soon!!! My quarter inch seam needs work, too. It's cute though, eh?

my day so far.

It hasn't been especially exciting stuff, I have to say! This is the view from Chookie's riding stables. Pretty nice, eh? That's the end stretch of our Ochil hills (remember the angry cat noise in the middle if you please!) and the very typical farming landscape that our wee towns and villages are surrounded by.

This handsome chap is Joe. He is very pretty and he was showing us his bowing trick this morning. Right before Hugh demonstrated why his stable door is locked all the time by undoing the latch himself. Clever horse!!

The farm breeds geese (I'm not sure why and I'm not thinking about it too hard!) and they were noisy beasts this morning!

And this auld girl is Jasmine. She's a teenager (which is really old lady stuff in dog years, innit?) and has baaaad arthritis. She hobbles about, the poor thing, but always loves a cuddle and a scratch. And sunbathing.

And not found on the farm but in my wee room are these 1 and a half inch squares. It's for a quilting bee block - have you been hearing weird noises over Scotland? That would be me trying to accurately piece the bloody things together. Teeny tiny piecing appears to SO not be my thing. The block is looking good, though. Honest.

Back to the swearing...ahem...I mean the sewing, obviously. Have a nice weekend!!

cathedral-ed out?

I think I could be but don't they look nice all lined up? And you can totally see the skill progression as you go along - my last one was actually pretty neat. Points all matched and everything!! *grins*

P.S. I'm the "featured Blogger Quilt Festival quilter" at Amy's Creative Side today (Amy is the awesome Park City Girl - she's got a book coming out, y'know! So exciting!!) and I feel like I've snuck into the big girl's playground! I'm just waiting for someone to notice and send me back to the new kids playpen. *grins* If you've followed the linkie from Amy's blog then "Hiya!!" *waves madly* and please say hello. It would be lovely to hear from you!!

Mid Week Mundanities.

Please will someone remind me to take an up-to-date photo for this!!

My general mood? Is chirpy! I'm one of those weird working Mums that love the school holidays - it's one less ball to juggle and since my own Mum watches the Chookie for me I have no childcare issues. And when I'm really lucky (which is most days) Mum is at our house and she cleans!! Woop!!

What am I wearing? It's almost bedtime here so I'm in my favourite brushed cotton jammies. See the photo of the black and white cathedral windows cushion down there? \/ My jammies are the black with white stars thing hanging over the chair back. The absolute bestest thing my mother-in-law has ever bought me!

What have I been watching? Just telly this week. Lost (what the hell is going on?!?!), Fringe (Josh Jackson....mmmmm), Dr Who (love!), and still to watch the restarts of Stargate Universe and Warehouse 13 and (and AND AND!) Glee starts back on Monday!!!!

What am I reading? I'm a few chapters into "the Book Thief" by Markus Zusak. That's the weird one that's narrated by death. Anyone wanting it when I'm done just let me know - it's an actual book (not an eBook like usual) and has been round half my family!!

What have I been listening to? Paramore "the Only Exception" (it's so sweet!) and Sick Puppies "Odd One " (new favourite band, a recommendation from my very cool cousin!)

What have I been creating? This week? A 30's reproduction coin quilt, 3 cushions and some hexagon block bits. Busy bee, eh? Good job my Mum's been cleaning!!

and this is my real blog post for today!

love hexies
Originally uploaded by ochil_lynz

Straight from Flickr! I totally DID NOT know you could do this, saves me loading stuff up twice. Very cool. Anyhoo, these are my first hexagon pieces for the ORB round 6. Hexagons, funnily enough! The fabric is Moda L'Amour (yes, the infamous Daddy jellyroll from Vegas!) and I spent aaaages cutting out the pieces this afternoon while watching Stardust again with the Chookie. Who lost a huge piece of chin scab today. She looks much better for it! Although now there's NO excuse for not cleaning her teeth!!

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

the kirk windaes

Oh, have I been having fun!! I was browsing Flickr a few weeks ago when I happened upon this absolutely beautiful cushion (quite how she managed to give it away for the swap I do not know!). So, curiosity got the better of me and I started hunting for cathedral windows tutorials. The one I liked best is here at hyena in petticoats although I used a few wee tricks from others I found, too.

My first attenpt was with my go-to colour combo, pink and green. (Can you spot the not-so-deliberate mistake? Poor wee pear...)

Turns out that it was a good job I planned on adding buttons - they handily cover up my less-than-perfect point matching! It worked out pretty well, though, and became a pretty wee (10in square) cushion. Pretty enough that I wanted another shot. So, in my contrary manner, my next go was using the groovy black scraps left from Freddie's Pinwheels.

I didn't need the buttons quite so much this time (practice, practice!!) but added them anyway (my button mountain has disappeared! Does anyone have a favourite supplier?) and to be honest, couldn't choose a favourite. Not that it matters. These are both gifts for.......people. *sneaky face* I'm pretty sure I couldn't bear to make a whole quilt in this manner, though. Unless it was as a portable handwork project, kinda like the 1in hexagons that are so popular around the quilting world currently. That could be quite cool, I suppose. I may make another to round off my giftage. In the colours of a certain football team. And you may decide yourself if I mean American Football or proper football. Heh heh.

P.S. The post title? The Kirk in Scotland is the church - the organisation and the building. Windaes should therefore be pretty self-explanatory (pronunciation - in my accent at least - is "kurk WIN-days". Lesson for the day!!)

the Counterfeit Change quilt

A few months ago, a passing comment about loving 30's reproduction fabrics resulted in the most amazing RAK of a stack of coins from Greta (the original post is here.) So, in the weeks break between finishing ORB round 5 and starting round 6, I made this wee chap. (why do my coins never line up perfectly? I must try smaller units or something - v. annoying!!)

The light here today is terrible for photos! The sun is splitting the skies so these are in the shade. Hmph, it's much prettier IRL.

The backing fabric is Alexander Henry's Willow Grove - I knew it would do well on this when I saw it!

One in the full sun - you see the soft yellow better. Pale lemon, I think, so fresh and clean but not too glow-in-the-dark!

I wasn't totally sure about this binding (it's Robert Kaufman Citronella) as it's *just* on the wrong side of bright for the softer shades but it's not terrible. It's growing on me a little. The thread is a Gutterman variegated affair in all shades of yellow. Saved wondering what shade to go for and I like how it fades in and out. I'd actually forgotten how much I enjoy stippling, I had a pleasant couple of nights diddling away 20 minutes at a time last week.

Anyhoo, all done and I love it!! Thank you, Greta, for your gift. I'm a happy girl today! I've not started my hexagon sewing yet but I've made some cathedral windows for the first time. They are fun!! More on them tomorrow. Hasta pasta!!

the deets:
The pattern is a basic stacked coins quilt.
The fabric is an unknown collection of 30's repro prints and a maize plain cotton. The backing a Alexander Henry's Willow Grove and he binding is a Robert Kaufman Citronella stripe.
It measures 37in x 51in. 

swappie goodness!

I have been involved in a "may we always be quiltie friends swap" over at the Old Red Barn Company group on Flickr. I sent mine off to Lara in New Zealand before Easter (it had Eastery things in it so I had to be sharp!) but the deadline isn't until May 1st so when the postie chapped this morning when I was in the shower? I assumed it was a parcel for the Spouse - who was scrambling out of bed and into his dressing gown to get to the door. He appeared in the bathroom "it's fabric for you..." with a slight eyeroll and I knew I hadn't ordered anything. Even when I saw the NZ post labels and Lara's name? Didn't figure it out. Here was fat quarters and little wrapped parcels - huh? That's a bit of a big "thanks for your swap" thank you. Then I read the card. Doofus. The random number generator had paired us up!! Check it!

Amy Butler "Love" which I, well, love! It's so pretty but still cool, y'know? AND a charm pack of Wonderland!! Which I missed when it was readily available and have been drooling over whenever I see something created with it. Got plans for it, I think!! And the funkiest kiwi tea towel. Spouse has a habit of staining dish towels mopping up spills (usually coffee or beer!) so he shall be well warned about using my precious NZ boys. I admit the temptation is pretty large to make something with them! Think how cute they'd be as a tote!

And bless her cottom socks, she had included a wee parcel for ma pair wee Chook. Brace yourselves.

Actually, it's not so bad if you keep the photo small. It's her chin that's really sore, apparently. Anyhoo, her unicorn clasps (UNICORNS!!!) and bead kit were MOST happily received. There's been a bead bracelet made already and the necklace is planned out on the kitchen table. THANK YOU LARA!!!

Everything has stopped, however, because the Grand National is about to start!!! We have money on Snowy Morning, Tricky Trickster and Black Apalachi and I suspect I would have been as well burning my tenner since we never win a bean. I've watched it since I was a wee girl, though (with Beloved Wee Granny usually) so it is a deep rooted tradition. Wish us luck!!

thrills and BIG spills.

This was the Chook's view today. A nest on the couch, juice and snacks on hand the the PS3 controller. Why?

Do you see the bowl on the arm of the couch with the pink flannel in it? That was for mopping up the drool and blood that is still dribbling from her mouth. We had a bit of a fall yesterday evening while rollerblading and what broke her fall was her teeth hitting her lip hitting the kerb. So she's a bottom lip like a balloon with a horrid big squishy scab forming (sorry for the overshare!) a sore chin (we don't think the teeth punctured right through but that's a recent diagnosis coz we thought they had) and even a skint nose. There's a reason this photo is of the back of her head!

Her teeth seem fine, though (thank the baby dolphins!) and she's had a nice day pottering about in her jammies. Keep everything crossed she doesn't get a dunt at her riding lesson tomorrow, yeah?

pretty, pretty, pretty!

The postie got me up at half 7 this morning but I forgave him coz he had the last of my stash for the hexagons quilt-along! The jelly roll is the one my Dad brought me back from Vegas and I've fat quarters from all over to co-ordinate. Some Kokka, some Lecien, some Moda, a wee Marcus Bros Civil War repro (I do like them!) and - would you believe - an Anna Griffin. The pink polkadots are by Stof of Denmark and are justgorgeous!! I'm so excited to get started now!!

I delivered Freddie's Pinwheels to Sue last night. Look what she had for me!! It's a "Freddie" Trollbead - wasn't that just excellent of her? *smooches* I was very touched. She's blipped about her quilt, too. I think she likes it. *grins*

And Lara was asking how the Paintbox quilt blocks were going. Well, they're not. I've not made ANY since week 2 (it's finished, I think!) but I'll get round to it eventually. I'm a quarter of the way there!

And yes, Lynne, that was a sneak of the 30's reproduction coin quilt the other day. I'm off now to finish sewing on the binding!

square-eyed.

I've seen a load of celluloid treats the last few days, some pants, some good, some GREAT. So.

Twilight: New Moon.


As you may (or may not) know, I am not a fan of Edward and Bella. Twilight, the Cullens and the Wolves? Oh, yes. Eddie & Bells? Nope. Especially the whinie, over-dependant, doormat Ms. Swan. Even the spouse was telling the telly to get over it and shut up! But the wolves rock in this - it's my favourite of the books (only a little Edward? Coincidence? *grins*) and I loved Jake even more after seeing him in the flesh. VERY in the flesh. How often does Taylor Lautner take off that shirt??!!?

How to train your dragon.


Go see it!!! It is amazing and I had heard very little about it. We only went because Spouse refused point blank to sit through Nanny McFee and they were the only 2 kids films on! We couldn't put our finger on WHY is was so brilliant other than the story was excellent and it wasn't patronising. And anything with "I'm proud of you son" makes me happy!!

Fame.


Meh. Same old same old.

Dr Who


Yeah, so not a film but come on!! Matt Smith was superb as the Doctor, I love his new companion and his new sonic screwdriver is green!! I may have squeed like a fan-girl. Ooops. I AM a fan-girl. Heh heh. Outstanding writing, shiny new TARDIS (with a hatstand!) and still quintisentially British. Perfick.


And it appears I STILL can't figure out the sizing thing on YouTube!! Pah...

thrills (but no spills!)

Last day of our impromptu staycation - at least for me it is. We went ice-skating today for the first time in about a year. In fact it was the Chook's first time on single blade skates (my boss and his family are great skaters so we inherit all manner of kids skates!) and she was brilliant!

All the rollerblading since Christmas, I think! Spouse was cruising as usual - pesky ex-hockey players with their fancy-schmancy stopping skills!

I was spectating. Someone had to watch the shoes!

finished Freddie's Pinwheels!

Isn't he cool? I do love that Flora & Fauna range and am so glad I went with the grey solid (it's not a Kona, fact fans, but is a match for medium grey.) I should point out, too, that wee rogue block in the bottom right corner. A size adjustment created a fabric shortage so I came up with a block of mini pinnies to fill the space. I think they're cute - like kids sneaking into a grown-up party. "nobody move and they might not notice us!"(fabric is Flora and Fauna by Patty Young for Michael Miller fabrics)

I kept the back and the quilting really simple and graphic, too. It is destined for friends who like purdy and funky but not so much of the girlie. They also have a b&w spaniel so I decided against the black backing that was my original plan. The black binding finishes it off nicely though, I think. It's weird but as much as I love him? I'm happy to give him away - maybe because he really doesn't match anywhere in my house and is perfect for Freddie the camper van.

So delivery as soon as I can (I even remembered to embroider my initials and the year - go me!) and onto ORBC - round 6 (hexagons) next weekend. Woo-hoo!

Pinwheels? Done.

the deets:
the pattern is the ORB round 5 pinwheels.
The fabric is Flora and Fauna for Michael Miller, mid grey and black plaln cottons.
It measures 60in square.

happy chocolate egg day!

Our Easter Bunny got stuck in the snow so he was late delivering the Chook's hidden eggs this morning. Okay, I forgot. No one let on, okay? We got there in the end!

"I got one!"

"Is that another way back there.....?"
"aaaaaaw! A wee hamster Zhu-Zhu friend for Chunk and Nugget!"

"Lip gloss, great! That bunny knows I'm growing up." sob

I love how she shoves her hair behind her ears when she's concentrating!

And in other unrelated news? Freddie's pinwheels is in the tumbledrier and this chap is ready to be stippled to death. Woo-hoo!

Have a lovely long weekend wherever you are!

not the holiday we had planned (picture heavy!!)

So, today we were due to head up north (proper into the highlands) to spend the Easter weekend in a wigwam. Not a teepee (there's a difference - a wigwam is wooden, not canvas, and while ours hasn't running water or plumbing, it has Sky telly and wi-fi!!) but sorta gentle camping. Only there was heavy snowfalls up there earlier in the week and the roads are blocked and the activities we had planned are all closed since they're under 2ft of the white stuff. We had not a flake round our way! So. Plan B. Staying at home and lots of days out.


This is Auchengarrich Wildlife Park in the heart of Perthshire (on the opposite side of our Ochil hills) and the Spouse and I hadn't been. Chookie had (school trip last year) but was excited about another visit.


Here we are - captured by Chook - at the very top of the whole site. It was beautiful and sunny but very cold! As you'd imagine from somewhere with a farm as a base there were loads of farm animals roaming around.

Like this chap crowing his lungs out! Despite the fact it was 11am and sunrise is at about 6am! Dunderheid!!

She found a pony! What a surprise. He was very friendly trying to get into the bag of feed we'd bought at the shop.

I was snapping away at these ducks trying to get a good shot of them splashing when I noticed this poor wee fella getting shoved right under the water by this other chap. I stood and watched for a few minutes until I realised that the noise he was making was excited and the chap getting dunked was actually a girl. I had been photographing ducks making baby ducks. Ooops. I hurried away after that!!

Isn't this guy magnificent? There was another three or four over the park (one with his plumes right out looking for a ladyfriend) but this one was happy catching some rays.

This is my special people on a deer track heading up to that very high viewpoint in the photo above. I loved how the park was still really natural and hadn't been concreted over - I love traipsing through bracken. Reminds me of my Daddy taking me up the hills on rambles when I was a wee girl.

And it being Easter? There were golden eggs hidden all over the farm. Find one and get entered into a draw for a prize - her smile makes me equal parts laugh and cringe. Her staged grin is SO like her Daddy's!!

Anyways, as well as the regular animals, there were a lot of more exotic chaps.

Hello? *clap clap* Monkey boy? (Gotta love Aladdin!) This chap was teeny! Like, fit in the palm of your hand weeny. His sign had all weathered off so I've no idea what he was. Apart from monkey and very cute.

Porcupines!! I loved them! I hadn't seen any IRL before and hadn't realised how cute they are - like a big guinea pig with jaggy bits. And they snuffle!!

The prairie dogs were something else, too. Their burrow was out in the open next to the kids play area. Which meant if you were careful you could get....

...this close! Isn't it cool! Although, bless her, she's trying to hand feed him and he was NOT interested. "You are in my sun, do you mind?!?"

I think this chap was my favourite, though. Another animal I had never seen in the fur, this wee skunk was too, TOO cute. He was behind a fence but I hunkered down next to it and prepared to get a lovely shot of him as he watched me. Only, you'll notice the photo's a bit fuzzy? That's cause he started to run towards me and did his whole arse-in-the-air display and I was frantically backpedalling out of the way just incase he was serious and turned that nasty posterior on me! I know nothing about them so have no idea how likely this was but, y'know, skunk stink was not on my to-do list today! He was adorable, though, I loved that wee nose!!!

And I had also never seen an albino wallaby!! There was a couple of them about the place so we reckon there's a recessive gene somewhere in their pack. Group. Herd. Er......anyone know what a bunch of wallabies is called? A pouch? *snort* There were also reindeer, meerkats, otters, llamas, foreign deer, a falconry centre and birds of all varieties. I was really impressed!

And last photo taken on the way home (aren't you glad!) Well done if you got this far....no prizes, just the knowledge that you're either stubborn or have nothing better to do! I forget what a beautiful country I am bred to AND just how in the boonies I really live. I love Scotland and will never move (actually, Spouse got an opportunity for a job in Canada last week - no, we're not going!), some things are just to the bone.