Sunday 29 November 2009

Thanks Megs!

You are a star!




Two huge rolls of the stuff.  Brilliant!

I've never used freezer paper before so now is my chance to practice some appliqué!

Monday 23 November 2009

Small Beginnings

The production line had to be kick started again..

The Foreman took a week off, the sewing machines (yes you did read that right - machines) sulked and one sulked so much it had to be refurbished and given a new motor and foot pedal - I'd worn them out!

A bit sad really as the foot pedal was so comfy - a lovely old Singer Bakelite one has been replaced by a grotty plastic one (sigh).  The original motor was a lovely dusky pink (the same colour as the machine) and has been replaced by a yukky white one.  But the machine is happy and is Sing-ing (geddit!) again.

During the Foreman's enforced break, there was a bit of stashbuilding.



I couldn't believe my eyes!   At the fabric warehouse, which now gets my custom on a regular basis, there were some end of bolts at 5€ (yes 5!) a metre.  Now what girl could resist that!

Most of it wasn't really my sort of thing, but the one on the left and the one peeking out on the far right jumped out at me and had to come home.  The batik on the right is soooo scrummy - Mmmmmmmmmmmm!

The colours haven't come out very well - camera was getting used a lot last week and wasn't very happy either!  Anyway, those solids are yummy scrummy too.  Slurp!  The yellow is more greeny and looks fantastique with the blue.

Ok, so there was some stashbuilding last week and that kick started the production line again.

So small beginnings.

The first wonky 9 patch for Blueberry Fool






and a lot of cutting up!



Poor old rotary cutter - it's not at all happy with me.

On the family front, The Young One has got to be vaccinated against the H1N1 (oink oink) virus.  As per usual, the school issued the forms 24 hours before they had to be handed back.  It makes me So Cross when they do that! Especially when you've got to translate the damn thing and double check what you are signing, let alone sign everything in triplicate.  (OK so that is a bit of an exaggeration, but not far off seeing as this IS France, the country of the bureaucrat!).

Forms are filled in and ready to be given back to the school this afternoon when I pick The Young One up.  At least that gives me an excuse to pop in on a friend for a cuppa and a natter.

I'm heading back to the machines and the rotary cutter (note to self - buy new blades).

A bientôt :-)

Tuesday 10 November 2009

Production Line

Been busy busy busy.


First off the production line.





A Q4L top made up of blocks donated by Wanda at Exuberant Color.









Next off the line.


 


Another Q4L top made up from squares, again donated by Wanda.  I added fabric from FQ's that people have sent with their blocks and from my red stash..  Needs a border and then it can be stored with the one above.

This is supposed to be a Disappearing 9 Patch but I got over-zealous with the reds!






Look what is nearly finished ........



and these are interspersed with Blueberry Fool (Leaders and Enders).

When the whirring of the sewing machine stops (or in other words when she's finally decided she's had enough, the bobbin runs out and there is smoke coming out of the foot pedal (only joking!)), there is always Halloween Houses.



The giant cobweb is coming along nicely.  Not exactly bang in the middle of the quilt, but that doesn't matter.

I've stopped marking (you can see where I did mark the quilt - dratted chalk!) and it is so easy.  I'm amazing myself at how much I can get done in a couple of hours, sitting at the kitchen table (this is one heavy quilt) listening to Stephen Fry reading the Harry Potter books.  Now if that isn't inspiration for this quilt I don't know what is!


Mum arrives tonight - as I type this she is sitting at Lille station waiting for the TGV to Angouleme.  I haven't seen her for 2 years and although we speak on the phone nearly every day, I'm really looking forward to her visit.

A beef daube is simmering away in the crockpot filling the house with the scent of red wine and herbs, the weather is foggy and cold and it is definitely hunker down with a quilt weather.  Which reminds me.  Where did I put all those denim strips?.  Must get them out and start piecing if it is to be ready for next September.

Catch ya later!


Tuesday 3 November 2009

This is a Hard Hat Area



One quilt quilted and  two tops done yesterday.

I wonder what today will bring?

Well - it is raining so what is a gal supposed to do?  Housework (shudder)?

Photos will follow soon.