all five horizons

I have FINALLY started making my sampler quilt for our bedroom.  I visited the Festival of Quilts which was about this time last year and met Lynne Edwards, a fantastic quilt-maker.  I bought her book The Sampler Quilt Book which takes you through lots of different blocks, each one lets you learn new techniques. This is the first block which is called Tumbling Blocks:

I have decided to do all the quilting by hand which means they are not small and neat but they are all stitched with love. I followed the quilting which was done on the example shown in the books as it made sense and I did not see why I should do something different for the sake of it.

I think my attitude to quilting is quite different to other ‘quilters’. I love putting the quilt top together and I love hand quilting but I am not one for over-quilting.  I like it kept simple and rustic (another word for not very neat!).

I love the fabrics that I have picked out for the quilt. I have chosen beiges and creams to complement our newly painted bedroom.  We chose Crown Paint’s Toasted Almond which is a bit darker than the Magnolia we had inherited but is still lovely and neutral and warm.

In lieu of a post about craft I have done (since I haven’t), here is a post about someone else’s craft! I just love Lara Cameron’s Kirin Notebook blog. She has just posted about her new clutch bags which use her lovely fabric.

I have just snapped up this one:

I have not decided yet whether to keep it for myself or give it as a gift (if you know me, you might be getting this for yor birthday!).  I love the dusky pink with the fawn of the linen.

I have got the following craft books lined up in Amazon just waiting to be bought (I am waiting to make sure I get the right ones)… has anyone got these or got any others that they can recommend?  I am not interested in making clothes, only quilts, bags, soft furnishings and crafty things…

Bend-The-Rules Sewing: The Essential Guide to a Whole New Way to Sew - Amy Karol - I love her blog so I really want this.

Amy Butler’s in Stitches: 25 Simple and Stylish Sewing Projects - Amy Butler - I hear a lot of good things about Amy Butler…

Lotta Jansdotter’s Simple Sewing - Lotta Jansdotter - am pretty sure this has been recommended elsewhere

The Crafter’s Companion - Anna Torborg - not sure about this one

I still need to do lots of research about sewing machines too as I want one for my birthday in July.  Kirsten at Two Lime Leaves has given me plenty of helpful pointers (which I will be happy to share if anyone is interested), I just need to get myself to a shop so I can have a good look around.  I want a really good but cheap one!  Is that so wrong?  They seem so expensive in the UK.  Or am I just looking in the wrong place?

I am also looking for a good fabric shop online (preferably in the UK as the postage is so hefty when ordering from the States).  Admittedly, I haven’t spent much time on this but I only seem to find quite old-fashioned fabric online and I am still clinging to my youth (I am NOT 31 in a month and 9 days, I AM NOT!!!  ok I am).

I am thinking in bullet points at the moment so to keep you up-to-date with what’s new in my world:

• holiday is BOOKED!  Flight to San Francisco, drive down the coast then over to Vegas.  We go in less than 5 weeks.  eek.
• strangely addicted to a shoot em up game called S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl.  I rarely play games on account of my total ineptitude but I seem to be ok with pc games.  Ricardo thinks it is funny when I play because I FREAK OUT everytime I get shot at or surprised by anything.  I literally jump out of my skin.  He even took a picture to show me how red I went the last time it happened but ‘alas’ the photo did not come out.
• quilt top is almost finished which means I have to start thinking about the scary quilting part - good job I have the slightest idea what I am doing…
• Easter was fun and relaxing.  Weather was warm.  BBQ was had.  It’s amazing how good it feels to have two bank holidays.
• another essay looms - this is the penultimate with the next one due just after I go away on hols so I better get cracking so I can get them both done and out of the way.  I haven’t even started to think about revising for the exam in June.  It makes me feel a bit queasy.
• work = SSDD
• finished reading Mansfield Park by Jane Austen.  Very much enjoyed it although Fanny Price needs a slap at times.  I also felt the denouement was very rushed and I felt kind of cheated to have no dialogue with declarations of love.  Plus they are cousins which skeeves me out.  But I do love Austen.
• watched the entire Spaced series (seasons 1 and 2) over the weekend and LOVED IT.  It is very funny and the actors/writers Jessica Stevenson and Simon Pegg are adorable.  I still have a few extras left to watch (which I am saving for when I need cheering up!).  Fully intend to trawl the website when I have a spare mo.
• have started a kinda diet to try to shed some bulk before our trip.  I think I might get kicked out of California for looking like I do.
• went down the driving range for the first time for about 2 years.  Was pleasantly surprised I could still hit a ball.  Might venture out onto an easy 9 hole course soon.
• am still listening to Daughtry over and over.  It is getting to be a bit of a worry…

Cheerio!

I am very excited indeed because we are going on holiday in 4 weeks.  Nothing is booked yet but we have flights on hold and I am just having a look around for accomodation.  We are flying to San Francisco then driving down to LA via Carmel and Santa Barbara and then over to Las Vegas.  It is going to be amazing and I can’t wait.  Any recommendations or ideas for places to visit would be gratefully received!!!

In other news, I went to a sewing and craft exhibition on Sunday with my mum at the NEC.  It was fab!  We walked and walked completely overwhelmed by the number of stand and things to buy.  I managed to get some material for my quilt back and also a book to help me with some techniques.

More news on my holiday and quilt soon - because let’s face it, it’s riveting stuff!!!

This is my sewing machine.  It was given to me by the mum when she bought herself a new one about 10 years ago.  It was her 21st birthday present which makes it 40 years old.  It looks fantastic, and the stitches are still pretty great provided you don’t ask too much of it.  I have no idea how to change the tension (although I know this function has become temperamental so I am a bit scared to fiddle with anything).

I have been getting advice from the very lovely Kirsten at two lime leaves about buying a new machine which I am absolutely going to do as soon as I can afford it.  In the meantime, I doubt I will risk my quiltbaby on this old girl.  She will probably cope fine but I would hate to ruin my first quilt or break the machine as both are equally precious.

As promised, here are some little pictures of my quilt. Apologies for the poor quality - I still need to learn how to use our new camera.

This one of the bundles of joy that inspired me to start making the quilt. I just loved how the colours looked together and the cute floral fabric.

And this is how far I have got so far. It is a happy accident that the fabric looks so good on our futon (I have now found where I will put it once it is finished). I am completely making it up as I go. EEEK!

It’s been a funny week.  This is what I have been up to…

Reading: 

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen.  I am really enjoying it - much more than Emma.  I do love Jane Austen.

Listening:

Ray LaMontagne’s album Til The Sun Turns Black

Watching:

Alias Season 5 on DVD.  Even though I know Vaughn isn’t dead, I still got misty watching the episode in which Syd plays her comms tapes to her baby bump. 

Buying:

Tickets to V2007.  We are so stoked to be going to a festival again.  I cannot believe it has been 5 years since our last festival.  I went to every V festival for 6 years from the very first 1996 to 2001.  The line-up looks superb - and my boy Dave will be playing.

Crafting:

After a fairly disappointing visit to Hobbycraft, I have started a patchwork quilt.  I have no idea what I am doing but I am enjoying myself.  Photos coming soon.

Planning:

A holiday somewhere.  I want to go to the States (Carolinas).  Rich doesn’t think we can afford it.  Rich is probably right.  I want to go anyway.  Any other ideas? 

Writing:

My damn essay.  Still not done.  Will be done by 4pm tomorrow or your money back.

Firing:

Our cleaner.  I feel bad about it but she was rubbish.  And £34 a week is a lot of money for a crap clean.  Plus she ruined Rich’s Mets t-shirt.  BAH!

Working:

As little as possible

Exercising:

Not at all