September's Instagram catch-up.

The usual disclaimer peeps - apologies for duplication but my archive, yadda yadda...

Chook's arrival home from her school trip. This was supposed to be a cheesy-grinning selfie of the two of us but as the shutter clicked she dived in for a hug. Cute, eh?

Spouse and the jungle that is our over-the-back-neighbour's garden. Hence our solid fence we re-erected!

My birthday from my brother and his wife. Super-duper expensive NY city perfumes! I'm currently wearing a different one every day trying to pick a favourite - impossible!

Chook's House Captain election posters. She didn't get in again but as the girl couldn't do show-and-tell for years, to stand up in front of her whole house and give a speech is result enough for her Dad and I!

The ponies at her riding club waiting for their breakfast!

Beans?!?!? I hate them. Except now I love them. And, no, I am not growing a baby!

Chook and BFF on the school trip. Mine on the left - not that I have to tell you that, right? Especially given that...

...that is ME on the left here. With my BFF's in the pub in 1994. Apples. Trees.

My measly stash!

And my innocent cat after his fabric holing escapades yesterday.

More next month!

another busy weekend

I was kinda hoping that after the energies of the last few weekends (sorting our back garden out) I'd get a nice lazy one at the end of this week. Not so! But it was busy in a good way - the sort where you've got loads done!

Yesterday (Saturday) when we dropped Chookie off at the stables for the day at 9am, we headed straight to Ikea. Yay! We were really there looking at storage solutions for Chook's bedroom but also checked out the kitchens for ideas for our own major overhaul next year and spent quite a lot of money on stuff. You know the sort I mean, right? The stuff you didn't know you needed until you saw it really cheap in Ikea? Paper napkins, tealights - typical Swedish fare. Although I got a light for my side of the living room so this winter I will actually be able to see to read and sew and stuff! And a new wok/frying pan. Chair cushions for my mini kitchen-makeover. And fabric. Yay! Not the Britten numbers (shock!) but other £3 a metre stuff. I couldn't choose so got them both.

We headed into the Gyle shopping centre on our way home, really to go to Gap for spousal clothes. But I had to take a trip into the Disney store for the ubiquitous mug (Sully!) and I got a wee Christmas present, too. Don't hate me. Then it was straight to picking up Chook at 4pm, making tea, eating tea, watching "Atlantis" and bed! Knackered.
Today started early, too. Spouse and Chook were away swimming just after 9 and I was houseworking. And catching up on laundry that didn't get done yesterday! A quick visit to my folks, home for a spot of lunch and then some sewing!! This is the progress so far on the baby clothes quilt. Just a rough layout to see how it's looking. I've made another since then, too. 4 more to go!

This flower was on the front of her romper suit when she took her first steps. I've enjoyed working in little tags and embellishments as I've been sewing. These bows were on the ruched sleeves. I'm definitely going to handquilt it (yikes!) so will be making lots of use of my new Ikea lamp this winter!

I also painted my neighbour's side of our front fence. We've new neighbour after the house next door being empty for 4 years. He is lovely and had replaced a crooked fencepost and some rotten boards - so I was neighbourly and painted the new boards to match the rest (I did our side during the week) which led to giving the whole fence a going over. It only took about half an hour but looks so good now! And we really are so grateful to have such a nice bloke next door.

Then I hunted Jones from the bannister he was trying to climb. And half an hour later found this. *expletive*

Damn cat!! This is just the backing for Chook's St Louis 16 patch and it's not basted or anything. We're going to applique some precious Heather Ross ponies on top. No biggie really. But still - CAT!! It's a good job he's a big cuddly teddy bear, I tell ya.

Me me me me meeee....

No, not limbering up for some opera. This post is all about yours truly.  I've received a Liebster award from Jess (Reene at Nellie's Niceties daughter) and I get to answer questions on my favourite subject. Me! (not really - talking about myself? *shudders*). But first - since I hate posts without pictures - here's one of me modelling my new geek-chic specs on Instagram a few weeks ago. My most current pic of me - I need a haircut!

Q1. What’s your favourite genre of music?
I am a rock chick! I mean, I like lots of music. Good pop, indie, punk, Tamla Motown, 80's Goth, classical. But if I could only listen to one genre ever again?  It would be rock. My last 3 downloads (on my iPod - not the festival!) are classic System of a Down, new Korn and ...*coughs* John Newman..

Q2. What’s your favourite fabric line?
I'm not sure I have one! I love anything by Heather Ross but haven't owned loads of her ranges. But a favourite line? Pass.

Q3. Where in the world do you want to visit?
Japan! It's a future plan. I love everything about it - from its massive history to technology to Kawaii and Harajuku style!

Q4. Which celebrity would you most like to meet?
Oh god. You know I bet the Queen could tell some amazing stories!  If she chose to. I think I might have said my favourite author,  Anne McCaffrey, but she died. Ooh, ooh!! Blinding moment of realisation - Wil Wheaton!! He's just a guy, y'know? *g*

Q5. What was your favourite subject at school?
I liked physics and English and loved PE but I have to say art was my favourite.

Q6. Do you dance even if there is no music playing?
I caught myself sashaying across the kitchen floor last night to a song in my head!

Q7. What was the first album/single you bought?
The first album I owned was a gift and was Outlandos D'Amour by the Police. The first I asked for was Guns N' Roses Appetite for Destruction. I don't remember the first cassette I bought with my own money. But when I bought my first CD player when I started working the first CD I bought was Stone Temple Pilot's Core.

Q8. Do you play games (video or board)? If so, what’s your favourite one?
I like a good video game and have especially fond memories of Super Mario Bros 3 (with my brother), Diablo (with Spouse) and Little Big Planet (with Chookie). The big debate in our house right now is whether to buy Bioshock:Infinite or Diablo 3 OR whether to wait til Christmas and go for a Playstation 4 and then buy either of them.

Q9. What is your favourite type of weather?
I like spring so cold enough to need to wear a jumper but dry and bright.

Q10. Do you scrapbook?
I do! Or at least I did!  And still do a little back and forth.

Q11. Have you played/do you play an instrument?
I was pretty decent on the recorder at primary. Proper decent - it didn't sound like cat-strangling. And did a bit of clarinet at secondary.  But not really. I'd like to be a drummer, I think.

Now, I'm s' posed to pass this on to another bunch of blogs with less than 200 followers but the whole follower thing went a bit wonky with the demise of Google Reader when everyone went to Bloglovin' or Feedly. So I am going to say I am nosey and would love to read your answers to these questions if you fancy answering them. Yes, you! Now, y'all want to go and say hi to Jess, right? Right.

Sunshine on a grey day.

I think I told you about the bright St Louis 16 patch I was working on using all stash and wearing sunglasses. Well I finished the top a couple of weeks ago - it really does fly together - but hadn't got round to taking photos. In fact as I write this (during my tea break at work) I still haven't taken pictures. Although the spouse and I have spent 2 weekends replacing our back fence and tidying up our garden, including 2 tons of gravel hand shovelled out and then in, so I have a nice plain backdrop of newly painted fence to use now for quilt hanging. At least, I hope so. If there's no photo below this text than perhaps not.

I used almost all my FQ's from the Stitch Gathering goody bag (did you see they're having a mini Christmas retreat? It looks fun - I can't go. *pouts*), the goody bag FQ's I got from Dee, my winnings from the Avery Homestore Modern Quilt Exhibition and another half a dozen lengths that I've had forever. It is a riot!!

But Chookie loves it and has asked for it. She's due a room makeover in November (a proper one, not like the wee tart up from the spring) so this will be a nice new thing for her new day bed. I even have backing fabric! So I just need wadding and to decide what LOUD thread colour to go with. I have luminous yellow from my goody bag!

The weather's definitely changing though, right? Much colder here lately. And grey today - so this is a lovely burst of sunshine!

back in the (paper)fold

Before I was a quilter I spent 7 years as an avid scrapbooker. For a few years I actually taught classes at a local papercraft shop and accidentally ended up on the design team of a British magazine! I discovered scrapping while browsing QVC when Chook was 6 weeks old and have the albums to prove how much I enjoyed it and valued its archiving purposes. I've actually just spent a very happy hour flicking through Chookie's baby and toddler albums, I had totally forgotten some anecdotes and just how bloody cute she was! 

Anyway, as she grew and I took less photos I did less and less papercrafting (although if you go back far enough into the archives here at DLM there's the last of my regular scrapping. Lynz BQ. Before quilting.) and pretty much now I am lucky to manage her birthday and a general Christmas layout every year. And I've not done even that the last 2 years!

Now. The first (and I think best) Brit scrapping site is UKScrappers and it was here that I met my longstanding friend Missus Wookie a lot (maybe 7 or 8?) years ago.  I know her real name but it's a closely guarded secret. Y'know, like Batman. *g* She stays in London and has often commented lately that if only we stayed closer to each other I could get her sewing and she could maybe rekindle my scrapbooking. Well, she kinda did just that last week when she sent me a fabulous pizza box full of goodies!* But, gosh, am I out of practice!

First up was Chookie's 9th birthday. It was quite hard going and I don't really know how I feel about it so we'll skip right past that and I'll show you this one from her 10th birthday. I always include a list of her gifts and this time it's right out there in the open on my last piece of Making Memories Noteworthy paper! That has been the best fiver I have spent - used as design elements AND journaling cards. I wish I'd put a skinny cardstock echo round that shaped paper, though. About a half inch inside would have pulled it together a bit more. I'm happy enough here, though. And you can't see it but the brown paper shimmers. It's super pretty. That was from Missus W along with the background paper, that awesome washi tape (the grey chevron and little flowers) and the die cut flowers.

But this is more like it! More my style and everything. A circle, a strip and a cluster of....stuff. It's Chookie's 11th birthday there in July and this time her gift list is written on a giant tag and tucked behind the photos on the left hand side. I always cut a slit in the page protectors in my albums so you can get to the interactive bits and actually read the important things.   

I've had some of these embellishments a looong time. I think the "my girl" zipper pull is from her toddler years and I know the felt flowers (the black) are at least 5 years old. But the clock brad? That was from Missus Wookie. *g* As was the text flowers, journalling spot and title. She has such amazing taste!

So, I've been a bit fired up again and actually ordered some stash! Nothing mental; some Christmas papers and a new book of journaling papers. An alphabet sticker sheet. Coz I must get the Christmas stuff filed away before we forget any more. It has to be said that paper is much cheaper than fabric! And it was SO satisfying to get this stuff down. But I do think after this wee time-splurge that'll be me until there's more birthdays and Christmases to record. My scrapping time just seems to be over. Weird, eh?

* the standard size for scrapbooking patterned paper and cardstock is 12x12in. Which obviously won't fit in an A4 envelope if you're buying online. And you really need something a bit deeper if your order includes anything 3D or in a pot (glitter or Prima flowers - do you still get those in the fabulous glass jars? I still have 2 or 3) The perfect size packaging? Pizza boxes.

P.S. Scrapping buddies - I know there's a couple of you out there - does anyone manufacture Sassafrass Lass papers? They were always my favourite and I see they had a change in the company a few years ago. Did anyone take them up and actually make the stuff? I'll be so sad if they are no more.

Vinnie the Cat - a bee quilt top

I have spent the last year as a member of the Hipbees virtual quilting bee and when June rolled round it was my month as "Queen Bee."  For those of you not in the online quilting sorority, that means June was my month to send out fabrics and have the girls make whatever I wanted. Oh, the possibilities for corruption inspiration.

I visited Design Seeds since I was totally at a loss what colour scheme to plump for. And when I saw grumpy cat here? I knew he was the one.

I put in an order of Kona Solids that I thought looked pretty close. Hard to do from a computer screen! And I asked for Denyse Schmidt style "Drunk Love in a Log Cabin" blocks. Freestyle, not too wonky. And could I please have a weeny bit of your own patterned fabric included. And the blocks started rolling in. A few were delayed but when I finally got them all together? I knew they were going to be a cool quilt. A cool pink quilt. Excellent.

(Kona: white, butter, brick, melon, dusky peach and ash)

 I hemmed and hawed a bit over to sash or to not sash. In the end I wanted a little bit of separation from each block so they are sashed with yet another Kona solid (Smoke) at just an inch wide finished. It gives just enough breathing space between blocks. I think I'll probably bind in the Smoke, too.

Here's a wee selection of some of the patterned fabrics the girls included. Lovely, right? I must admit, I expected much more grey fabric - it was lovely to get all that pink home, though!

One more just because I can. The blocks finish at 13.5in so it's a not bad sized top for only 12 blocks. We've had a bit of rain here lately and it's been super overcast today so these aren't great photos. But I'm planning an excursion with the finished quilt to get really good ones - it's got such groovy colours, I'm delighted with it and want to show it off properly.

The more I do to it the more I love it (I've got on-sale Geekly Chic pink specs coming for the back - yay!) so thank you so much, ladies of the Hipbees. I do hope you have a fabulous second year!

P.S. The name? Sarah remarked (upon seeing my inspiration pic for the first time) that the grumpy cat wasn't so much Temple and Jones - my 2 cats - as Vinnie Jones. And since I do love the ridiculous, it stuck!

Butchering baby clothes

It's perhaps not so strange that last week when I was childless (and missing Chook terribly) my thoughts turned all nostalgic and I finally made a start on the baby clothes quilt.

At the very start of last year I'd been cleaning out the loft and donated boxes and boxes of baby clothes to various sources - new babies with not-much-money and the like. I did keep a small pile of precious outfits, though. And thought perhaps they might be better served in a wee memory quilt, rather than lurking somewhat creepily in a drawer.

These wee rompers were well worn during Chookie's first 6 weeks! And I couldn't bear to part with them. But really - who wants a pile of clothes getting moved from cupboard to cupboard over the years!  I do hope I'm doing the right thing getting all mental with the scissors, though.

First slippers from the Disney Store. Bought by Granny, natch.

So the pile sat in a....pile.......for a few months while I mused. And then the Fat Quarter Shop had one of its Wednesday Facebook sales and Cape Ann had lots of money off. Perfect!! And that was in March of last year. And everything had sat stuffed in a Liberty cord bag until I could pluck up the courage to take the rotary cutter to those wee cotton memories.

I've got 4 blocks done. They're finishing at 13in since I've just been sewing until they were done. And it's going to be a bigger quilt than I envisioned but I didn't just want charms of clothing, I wanted a bit of framing for them. They've got quite a lot of framing!

I guess they're quite Drunk Love-ish and will get more unique as I go since I can't cut a 5in charm from all the outfits. But I've had fun including the labels on a couple, the popper studs from the blue romper (they're daisy studs!) and tiny half inch finished squares of the jammie bottoms on the dark pink centre one. Ladybirds and daisies, oh my! There's a couple of bits of selvedge, too. The Cape Ann has "made with love" and things on it! I've kept a few buttons, too. They may or may not get added later.

So I think I'll have about 12 blocks by the end. And really one should be a pocket to keep those darling slippers in. There's a weenie pair of socks, too. And *whispers* I think I might hand quilt it! But that's not a promise since I've never done a whole quilt by hand. I'm having fun, though!

She's home!

Knackered and with a case full of muddy clothing but happy and having had an absolute ball. And talking about abseiling, raft building, fencing, blindfolded assault courses and all sorts of tree top climbing and zip wires. Not the sort of school trip I remember! She had a wee disposable camera with her, if there's any cool photos I'll share - with her permission, natch. And I got a huge cuddle in the playground when she got off the bus and she may have shed a wee tear. Aaaaw.

 

Back to earth with a bump today with a very early alarm call for riding. I said I'd pick her up early (she really is tired to the bone) which gave me a lovely excuse to watch her afternoon lesson. Here she is on Fudge, one of her favourites. That's her concentrating face - Jane her instructor is talking.

And I'm not sure what's up with my camera but it was really struggling today with exposure and speed. So Chook's face is totally blown here and it is NOT sharp in the slightest. But you get the idea. Lots of jumps!

I got so fed up with rubbish captures that I took a video instead. Quite glad I did, actually, it's a better record of her riding than photos and she loves watching (and criticising!) herself.

long distance friendships

You know how some people just get you? Even if you haven't actually been in the same room together? Well that's how I always was with Dolores, pretty much from the moment we "met" during one of the Old Red Barn Co quiltalongs. When we finally met in real life last year? It was easy and comfy and funny and awesome.

Well, she's back in the country this year! Visiting her most excellent daughter Maria really but squeezing in a day at the Stitch Gathering and some time with us all the same. Here's the three of them in Edinburgh - you can see why we get on, yeah?

Now, Dee (I will insist on calling her that!) works in a fabric shop, Webfabrics, and always totally spoils us with her gifts. This is Chookie's bundle. See the turquoise skulls? Baby cord. And the extruder for her Fimo creations? Absolutely perfect - many thanks to Don for enduring his airport pat down after a metal syringe showed up on his carry-on!

And this is all miiiine!! Doesn't she know my tastes well? Such great fabrics and more than 3 metres of the green and blue hydrangeas - a quilt back! Woo-hoo!

But - my favourite part - would you look at these wee birdies? Made by her Dad and now nesting happily on my new-to-me dresser in my wee room. SO sweet. I do love wooden things.

One last shot taken by Dee. This is the Wee Dude, Katy, Fiona and me after the pizza (or cannelloni or salad if you were awkward like me an' Katy) after the Stitch Gathering. Great pic, right? Although I look about as tired as I felt! Spouse, Chook and I had a lovely evening with Dee, Don and Maria, too, a couple of nights after this. Basically eating, chatting and laughing like old friends. Good times!

So, my friend, many thanks again for your generosity, humour and general fabulousness. And we WILL visit you guys at home. It may take a few years but it's non-negotiable and will happen!

P.S. I am childless!!! The house is so quiet with Chookie on her school trip but I got so much done yesterday evening! We're both trying not to dwell on the empty feel of the place - thank god for the furry hooligans - and not wondering how she is or what she's doing. We've no contact at all until she gets home on Friday (unless there's a disaster) which is surprisingly hard to deal with!



Late Fresh Sewing Day

Told you I'd be late!! But here's my makes for August.

Not too shabby, right? Particularly when I add in this chap.

So I've just put my kid on the school bus for her week away - I get her back late on Friday afternoon. If the buzz around the bus was anything to go by she will have an absolute ball. I'm a bit twitchy about having an empty house - but I suppose it's not really empty with those cats about! Spouse doesn't count. *g* We have plans for a cinema trip and I'm hoping for maybe a meal out since we've no babysitters to arrange. But we also are mid-back-garden-renovation so we might just be having beans-on-toast with a paintbrush in hand!

Linking up with Lynne's Fresh Sewing Day!