What have I done?

It is no wonder that I have trouble finding shoes to fit. I had always thought that it was due to having wide feet but I have just realised that is not the case. It must be because of the obviously enormous size of my feet. They must be huge as they create such a splash when I jump into things with both of them! And, those of you who know me, will know that I often do jump into things – generally without thinking about them first!

Well, I’ve done it again! This time I have signed up to a quilting Block of the Month. ‘Why?’ you may ask and the honest answer is because it sounded a good idea at the time plus, of course, I didn’t stop to think about it. [I shall obviously never learn to think first and act later!] My explanation now is that I signed up as a challenge to myself – and it will certainly be a challenge. Actually, it is probably a good idea to try to discipline myself into doing something the correct way, instead of cutting corners [apologies for the pun]. It may also help me to shift some of my stash of fabric so that I can buy some more without feeling guilty, or wondering where I could hide it.


Please click here to read about the project

The Block of the Month is being run by Alyssa Lichner of Pile O’ Fabric and is called a ‘Skill Builder’. One of the aims of the project is to help participants to gain confidence in Free Motion Quilting [FMQ] which is something I would like to achieve. Alyssa is being kind to us and making the quilt using the Quilt As You Go [QAYG] method so that we are not faced with a huge amount of quilting to do when all the blocks have been made. I’m really rather pleased about that. 

There will be two blocks per month with instructions on how to create them. Sometimes the instructions will be on video but all blocks should have a .pdf instruction sheet.

If you are interested in taking part just click here [sorry, I couldn’t figure out how to include a link on the actual button above !] or click on the Skill Builder button on the righthand side of this page.

Have you ever taken part in a Quilt A Long? Are you tempted to sign up for this one? Let me know what you think about projects like this by leaving a comment below. It’s always lovely to read what you say.

Now I’m Aiming For Normality

It’s Boxing Day so my thoughts are turning towards bringing life back to something resembling normality. With all the upheaval over the three months, I haven’t had a chance to have my sewing machine out, let alone my lovely embellishing machine. I have tried to do some hand sewing but it hasn’t been terribly successful. This has been because (1) I could not have a good run at it, and (2) when I did manage to do some I didn’t have something or other that I needed. Now that I am at home with nothing that I have promised to do for anyone else, I’m hoping to make a start on some of the things I’ve been wanting to make.

I am one of those people who don’t like to waste any fabric. It infuriates me when I see people cutting a shape from the middle of a piece of fabric, rather than near the edge. It leaves what is often a large, virtually unusable piece, rather than a piece that could easily be sufficient for another project. I dislike seeing fabric being thrown away and have been known to retrieve (clean) fabric from a bin. After I had made my Tumbledown quilt I realised that the whole thing had probably only cost me about fifty pence, as most of the fabric was scraps or had been given to me. When I realised how little I had spent, I wished I had only used scrap or donated fabric so that I could say the quilt had cost me nothing (even the thread andmwaddinmhad been given to me!).

As a consequence of my fabric frugality I have amassed quite a collection of scraps which I would like to use for a quilt – so that is one project I should like to start. Another thing I aim to do in January is make more washable reusable sanitary items. These will be sent to Algerian Action via Loving Hands. I am also hoping to make some “wiggly” bags which are used to hold chemotherapy drugs for children – these would also most likely be sent under the auspices of Loving Hands.

All I need now is the motivation to get started!…

So This is Christmas

I think it’s probably fairly accurate to say that I have just woken up to the fact that Christmas is almost upon us. I don’t mean that I had not been aware of the fact that 25 December was fast approaching, rather that the reality of being in the pre-Christmas build-up had not sunk in. If that sounds like nonsense, I apologise and will try to explain.

In December 2001 my husband was in hospital suffering from the final stages of a terminal illness. Every day as I drove to the hospital I would pass a house which had a large Santa Claus apparently attempting to climb in a bedroom window – and every day I would be startled into wondering why there were Christmas decorations on people’s houses, even though I knew it was well into December. Because of what was a happening in my life I could not see, let alone understand, the connection between December and Christmas.

This year I have again found it challenging to link the date and the season but I finally managed to make a start on preparations for Christmas whilst staying with my mother. During my stay we managed to fit in a huge amount of shopping for presents for my grandchildren (her great-grandchildren). And now? Well, all that’s left is wrapping everything! And what a lot there is!

Before my husband died I absolutely loved everything about Christmas (except receiving Christmas cards!?!) I would buy presents throughout the year, make the cake and mincemeat in October, make my cards in October or November, perhaps make some new decorations for the tree, more shopping, more cooking, lots of wrapping and, of course, writing the gift tags. But now…

Now, everything about Christmas is a chore. I have no interest in it whatsoever and sincerely wish I could withdraw from society for the entire Christmas period. Does that mean that I am a female Scrooge? No, I don’t think so. It shows that I still struggle with people celebrating what is the anniversary of my husband’s death.

I hope that everyone has the Christmas they would like – but please remember that not everybody will be hoping for a similar Christmas.

Sometimes It’s Worth Being Cheeky

I am SO excited!

Life has been throwing the usual nasty stuff in my direction this week. My mother tried to trick me into going to visit her a few days earlier than planned by being admitted to hospital – again! I am very pleased to report that this time appears to be far less serious than the last so I don’t think I need to change my travel plans at the moment. There’s also been other ‘stuff’. However…

Today was different.

Today something wonderful happened: something that sent my mood soaring high into a cloudless sky from the murky, misty low that it reached earlier in the day.

On occasion, I have been known to be just a tiny bit cheeky – only the teeniest smidgeon, you understand. OK – I admit it, sometimes I have the cheek of the devil! And, today was one of those times.

On the Shortcutstosewing forum, Debbie Shore had asked members to post questions which could be put to the guest appearing on Create & Craft TV at 3.00 pm this afternoon. Of course, I jumped in immediately and, when the show was aired today, mine was one of the first questions asked. What’s so cheeky about that? Nothing much.

The question I posed was about using colour in projects – whether the interviewee had any tips or hints about using colour. It was definitely worth asking the question because the person it was put to was none other than the genius who is Kaffe Fassett! The man whose use of colour makes me weak at the knees. I wish I had even 1% of his ability to use colour. He is amazing.

Now we arrive at the point at which I was cheeky…

Having heard Kaffe Fassett’s response to my question and seen that other viewers were sending in pictures of projects they had made, I decided to chance my arm. I sent an email to Debbie Shore and Kaffe Fassett and attached a photograph of the quilt that I made earlier this year. [It is not a particularly good representation as the quilt looks much lighter than it actually is.]

The photograph I sent to Create & Craft TV

I explained that it was my first quilt and that I was fairly satisfied with it, but that it doesn’t ‘sing’ and asked for Kaffe’s opinion on why that is. [On the ‘cheeky’ scale I think that probably scores quite highly!] Much to my amazement and delight, he responded. He said that he thought there was too much white in the quilt and that I had used some very dark colours as well. He suggested that I should try to use more medium tones in my next quilt.

I still can’t quite believe it! I asked for Kaffe Fassett’s help and he gave it! I am so thrilled and extremely honoured to be the recipient of advice from the great man himself. I cannot thank him enough with words. I think the only way that I could even begin to repay his kindness is to try to achieve a higher standard with my next project.

So you see, sometimes it’s worth being cheeky!

An Amazing Christmas Giveaway

There is an amazing Christmas giveaway happening at Tilly and the Buttons. Click on the link to see how to enter!

Good luck!