I’ve been rather missing in action this week. It’s been a week of major decisions and one where I nearly threw in the towel on my new job. However I think now I have made it clear that I can’t possibly do a full-time job in three days a week and have finally found some solutions that may I hope make the whole thing workable.

After several sleepless nights, a migraine and a very helpful pep talk from my husband at 3am one morning.

Phew. I don’t want to go through that again!

However on a positive note, I finished the binding on the Sea Glass quilt. I chose a light pinky/bluey/white batik…..I’m sorry all you batik-haters out there, but I think it works really well! The same fabric was used for some of the little sea glass squares and although I initially thought of binding in teal or turquoise, at the end of the day I think it provided a contrast that the quilt needs.

The other lovely thing that happened this week is that my Stitch Tease quilt top arrived from Di in the Czech Republic. I still can’t show it to you – we’re going to have a co-ordinated big reveal of all the quilt tops at the same time…but hopefully that will be in the next few days once all the quilt tops have arrived. Stitch Tease has been such a fun bee, challenging, but fun. I hope you’ll agree when you see the tops!

I’m dedicating this weekend to puttering around and taking things easy. I think I deserve it!

Helen

So March has been and gone – the coldest in a hundred years apparently….Today it’s April, we woke up to snow, but by this afternoon the sun (wow! what’s that??) had come out and melted it all away and within a couple of hours these were to be seen….

I can’t tell you how hardy these flowers must be. They were clearly waiting for the snow to melt and burst into bloom as soon as it had. I hope to goodness we’ve finally seen the last of the snow. I can’t remember ever having been quite so desperate for spring to arrive!

Unfortunately I can also report that the weeds have been making hay under the snow……and there’s already a lot of work that needs doing in the garden ;-( Don’t ask where I’m going to find time to do the garden on top of everything else. Can’t say I’m relishing having more to do.

This morning I finally managed to finish quilting the Sea Glass quilt. I was dreaming about quilting the pebbles in my sleep last night. I love the effect, but pebbles are not something a sane person should really undertake on a quilt of any size. This one is a little under 5’x6′ and it has taken me days and days to do pebbles in all the kona snow boxes. I’m sticking to table runners in future!

Now just a little gentle binding and then I’ll sew on all the siggy blocks and the first Sew Euro-bee-an quilt (as far as I know) will be done and dusted. It’s been a real departure for me – way outside my comfort zone really, but I’m so pleased with the result. It turned out just like I hoped it would.

Anyway, don’t die of shock, but here are some photos taken outside with real sunshine…..it’s been a LONG TIME!

The binding is calling, so I’m off to get it done 😉

Helen

The weather this Easter is so inutterably disgusting that there is absolutely no point in heading up to the mountains and trying get some skiing in. Here in the foothills it’s alternating between wet snow and lashing rain, all out of a thick foggy sky. It doesn’t get a lot worse than this. Spring feels like it’s still a long way off.

So I’m hibernating at home and doing bits and pieces – finishing things off, doing all the odds and ends that have been hanging around for ages. Rather nice actually and I’m just about to go off and light a fire and light some candles before cooking curry for dinner. 😉

The Sea Glass quilt is taking some serious heavy duty quilting – this could take a good while to get finished. So far I’ve quilted 11 out of the 30 blocks. I really like the effect – but the quilt is starting to feel a bit armour-plated with all this quilting!! It will be more for effect than for cuddling, but that’s OK!

I’ve also finished my Honeycomb socks – and properly girlie ones they are too. These are heading off to be a surprise present. I think they will be utterly brilliant inside a pair of wellies!!

V Junkie socks by Alice Yu in Soctopus, knitted in Smooshy Dream sock weight in colourway Cool Fire.

Happy Easter to you all,

Helen

Pebbles and waves….

I could be a while….

(and before you ask, yes, I’m very glad that I didn’t decide to make the quilt bigger!)

Helen

Wednesday. My day off….and it is. I’m being strict with myself and my employers and today is officially a day for me (well OK, a little gentle housework and laundry did sneak into the equation – but not so much as to disturb the general equilibrium!).

Whilst I had visions of sewing along happily all morning, what I actually did was the basting for the Sea Glass quilt. My absolutely least favourite part of quilting, but hey ho, needs must. Anyway it’s done – and backed with a lovely turquoise checked pattern from Fresh Palette by Carrie Nelson. I didn’t have quite enough, so the sides are augmented with some turquoisy solids.

Next up some FMQ – pebbles I think – that would fit pretty well with the whole theme.

(Sorry for the rather dark photos – we are back into the depths of winter with snow and absolutely no sun).

Something wonderful happened to me this week. I’ve been scouring Switzerland for ages trying to get my hands on some of the Aurifil threads that everyone is always raving about. Normally I don’t really enter many giveaways, but Lynne had an Aurifil threads giveaway on her blog last week  – and guess what? I won! Out of 725 entries I was the first one out of the hat – and this lovely lot are winging their way to me…

Thank you so much Lynne – you made my week!! (I still can’t quite believe it!!)

Happy knitting and sewing out there ladies…and I’ll be back before long!

Helen