Wednesday 4 October 2017

Getting Ready


I am glad that I didn't have another 4 a.m. start as I did yesterday.  I couldn't sleep, so went downstairs "for a while", and that was it for the rest of the day.  I have to say, after 12 hours I was feeling wiped out.  Fortunately that was when my patchwork afternoon ended, so I was able to pack up my red-work lap quilt and toodle home.  I now have another round of fabric (reds) on 4 blocks.  Doesn't sound much for an afternoon's work, but there was the usual chatting too, and it was a lovely afternoon.

I have added a couple of bits to my white dresser - the Unicorn centre bottom (who needs his broken horn sticking back on) and when I was in the Range, looking for glue, I decided I would forgo the little table lamp I was looking for to go on here, and instead have some LED lights and a clear crackle glass jar.  It looks lovely and cheers up what had been a dark corner.




Above, I've just finished the Peter May book - the first of his Enzo series, set in France.  I can recommend it - hard to put down, especially at the end.  Now I've just started the Elly Griffiths book which so far is a lot tamer, but enjoyable all the same. 



Above.  A quilt for my daughter which I started two years ago and then abandoned because I had pieced several blocks badly, and getting it right was sending me nuts.  Plus I was busy with the business as well, so it got put away (along with the one for her sister, which is a Pinwheel block).  Anyway, whilst I have been laid up with my arm, I have got back to this.  I have pinned, and sewed and unpicked and kept getting it wrong.  I realized I had no alternative but to remake a couple of the problem blocks.  Now I have done the sashing for two rows and think I have the other rows more or less as they should be. . . 



We are now preparing for the 2 day Antiques Fair at the National Botanic Gardens.  This isns't my stall (for some reason I can't find photos of it), but it is a good example of some of the lovely things which will be on offer this weekend.

I have my stitches out in the morning, which is just as well as they are itching as it heals up.  I will still have to be wary of lifting anything much, of course.

Right, this won't do.  Downstairs to do a bit more on the quilt to the gentle tones of the breadmaker in the background.

10 comments:

  1. I love the colours of the unfinished quilt, never tried pinwheels, think it is beyond my capability.... and the dresser looks so pretty with all its china.

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  2. Thelma - pinwheels are just squares with two colours. You draw a line across the middle of each piece of material you are using. Put your two materials print side to print side and pin. Using the central line as a guide for your 1/4" seam, sew down either side, and then cut along the middle line. Press flat. Then sew together into a square (e.g. four of them, making sure you get the points neatly meeting. If I can do it reasonably well, then you can. Check it out on YouTube for foolproof instructions.

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  3. I am envious of the quilting BB. I used to do such a lot at one time but now my hand too shaky to hold a needle.

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    1. Sorry you can't sew now Pat. I find my neck gets sore if I am looking down a lot (at sewing). As my late m-in-law used to say, "Old age never comes alone"! Too true . . .

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  4. Your dresser looks lovely. I think the lights are a nice touch.
    I popped a floral display into an unused fireplace and added lights like these. They do really cheer up a dark place

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    1. HiSharie - Little pools of light make such a difference when you live in a dark house (as we do). I'm glad you like the dresser. I have to sand it down and repaint it when my arm is all healed up. There will be some Meadowsweet flowers painted round the top too. I like the sound of your floral display and lights in an unused fireplace . . . you've just given me an idea!

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  5. Adore the white dresser with all the green and white pieces.
    The green horse on the top shelve is beautiful.

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. I bought him to sell on, but no takers, so I thought I would keep him myself. He is probably Middle European and once contained fruit wine or something, as he has a cork in his head!

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  6. Your afternoons chatting and quilting with friends sound so wonderful! Looking back, I read of your plans to use velvet for the center of your hexis. One of my favorite quilts ever has a center block of velvet. Also I was amused by your comment that most bloggers seem to prefer reading about "normal" things, rather than castles and such. However, I must say I rather enjoyed your posts on Berkeley Castle.

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  7. Jim walked by as I was scrolling down this post and asked, "Is someone having a yard sale?" Such venues proliferate here--if it rains, the event becomes a 'garage sale.'

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