Sunday 9 June 2013

Me One - Housework Nil

I'm sitting watching the Canadian F1 feeling guilty (probably not enough guilt) that I have hardly done any housework this weekend.  I managed to finish work on time on Friday so called round to see my babies:
Fresh from the bath
They have just signed contracts on their new house.  New to them - it's a 'project' to put it mildly.  They will be staying in the flat until it's habitable. They may be some time!

When I got home there was a lovely little parcel waiting for me.
The yarn is 100% linen and is for a special project I'm working on (more to follow soon).  Check out the website: quinceandco.com.   It took ages to wind into a ball but I had to do a quick sample.
It's a lovely crisp yarn but has no stretch at all.  It knits to 4-ply tension on 3mm needles so I have cast on the first part of the project.  It's something I can knit in little bursts.

Saturday morning started well:
A nice little poached egg with fresh tomatoes 
My favourite breakfast - thanks to the little white hen - her eggs are the best.
Mavis and I went up the 'the hill' for our Saturday morning fix.  



QUILTS FOR COMFORT - If you want to have an excuse to make a lap quilt check this link to learn about a call for donations to a fabulous cause (quilts or even blocks,  but not money).

No-one was about when I got home so had a quiet afternoon marking more of the strippy quilt.  I had a bit of problem seeing the pattern through the floral fabric so thought I would try making a card template to draw around.
Actually that didn't work so I reverted to the tried and tested method of the paper stuck to the table.
I bought a roll of paper from the children's department in Ikea ages ago.  It's really economical for doing things like this.  I worked until the light started to deteriorate.  I'm so looking forward to quilting this.  I'll need to check I've got enough sharp needles.  On this pattern I will have eight needles on the go, one for each line in the braid - it makes the quilting much more even and there are not nearly so many stops and starts.

It's Ben's Naming Day next week and I want to give him a Memory Box so I was up with the sun this morning.  I had a papier mache box (as you do) in my store so I undercoated it last night.

I sketched out a pattern.
I printed some letters from the computer. Then I traced round the sketch of the bunny. I painted a ghost image with watered down paint.
I have worked on this for most of the day but won't post the finished pictures until I've given it to Ben.  It's nearly nine o'clock now and I'll be wearing crumpled clothes for work if I don't get on.  The housework?  That will have to wait.

Sunday 2 June 2013

Where was I?

I've been off the radar for a while.  Got really busy at work and  then out of the habit of sitting quietly on a Sunday afternoon to blog.  So now I'm getting back in the habit and will be blogging with my usual weekly chatter.

Lots has happened of course - Baby Ben has been born:



But now he looks like this:


He's a jolly baby and as cute as a button.  Notice the large amounts of toys and the one he is actually playing with!

I've been on holiday from work this week - off work and on my own has been a rare thing over the past year.  I had an enormous to-do list which is only slightly smaller but I am totally chilled now.  I've pieced a quilt for a friend but won't post a picture until I've given it to her.

For a long time I have wanted to make a strippy quilt.  I love hand-quilting and it's a long time since I made a traditional quilt rather than a patchwork quilt.  I'm busy marking it up today. 

First of all I vacuumed thoroughly.  The quilt is a shabby-chic floral and ivory strippy quilt and my floor is always fluffy!

I always tape a strip of white paper to the table so that I can see the designs through the fabric. 

Gathering together the designs
I chose a Weardale Chain because you can put small designs in the centre. I'm also using a four strand cable for the floral strips because it is more effective to have a crisp design.  Too much detail becomes lost.



I am using a traditional Durham Rose for the spaces in the Weardale Chain but I'm interspersing these with designs which are personal to me:
  • A strawberry and beehive (who would have guessed?);
  • A robot (Will, my oldest son, built lots of robots when he was younger and we travelled the country for competitions);
  • A rugby ball for John (I spent many cold but happy hours on the touchline, and many hours in casualty too....);
  • A butterfly for beautiful Steph;
  • A bunny for Ben, but it should probably be a jack-in-the-box;
  • A swan for my oldest friend Karin (it was her maiden name);
  • A diamond for my lovely friend Alison, aka Mavis.

Last time I made a Durham Quilt it took me nearly ten years.  Hopefully this one will be quicker.  I'll keep you posted.

When I get myself more organised I will be posting blocks for my new quilt -

Picture the Year



It's about 34" square and intended to be a wall quilt but I will be making some individual blocks which can be made into little cushions or bags.

I better get on then.