Bit of a catch up

Here you see pictures of a table runner I recently completed. I don't usually sew with such bright fabrics, but when I Saw this at the AQC - Australian Quilt Convention in Melbourne, it just said "make me". It is bright and cheery.... I have more material in the range to make a smaller type runner for a dresser that sits near the table.



This Ottoman (pictured below), I finished today. I got the kit for this at a craft show. It was so easy to make and fun to fill. The lady on the stall that I bought it from told me she filled hers with the plastic bags you get from the supermarket. I filled mine with bean bag balls, a messy job!




Found a nice quote when I was looking for a link to add here, the quote first
"A woman has to live her life, or live to repent not having lived it.”
— D.H. Lawrence



I was just browsing a site that I use all the time, the site is www.goodreads.com
If you like to read it is an easy way to keep track of books you have read and books you would like to read.
"Goodreads is the largest social book discovery and recommendation site for readers in the world. We have more than 5,600,000 members who have added more than 180,000,000 books to their shelves. A home for casual readers and bona-fide bookworms alike, Goodreads users recommend books, compare what they are reading, keep track of what they've read and would like to read, find their next favorite book, form book clubs and much more. "

A Friday Flaunt actually on Friday!

I set myself a goal. I am on 2 weeks holiday and I decided I would have to start finishing projects, so I am busily working away on my basket quilt. I have joined the main body of it, and have two border fabrics siting waiting to be attached, hopefully later today.

When I am finished this quilt I will get it professionally quilted and while that is happening I will attempt to get an applique wall hanging finished. It is a BOM block of the month called, "Postcards from Paris" I only have four more blocks to go. If you go to www.rosepatchwork.com you will probably be able to see a picture of it. Or maybe not I have had it for quite some time, well over a year!


TOTALLY UNQUILTY OR ANYTHING ELSE
Every week I go ten pin bowling in a small league. It is good fun, more a social thing than a win thing. Anyway I just had to say I managed to bowl a 203 game a few weeks ago. I was pretty happy with that! A pity I couldn't be a bit more consistent, the following week I bowled a 90 game......just as well we can have a laugh at it!

Finally a flaunt, but not on Friday!

FLAUNT FIRST

Well I have finally something to flaunt. What a silly word, flaunt, flaunt, flaunt.
What is a flaunt? I have just looked it up, it is to show off, well I guess I am showing off but doesn't that make it sound a bit arrogant? Oh well, I suppose sometimes you shouldn’t over analyse things...

Anyway I have been going to the class and after wanting to quit as I just couldn't get it to work I have overcome some hurdles , mainly me, and actually put together some blocks. I am really pleased with the results. Can't wait to finsih it now.




I have now joined together all nine of my big basket blocks (15 1/2 inches) and have made four smaller blocks (6 1/2 inches) these are to go in sashing between the rows of big baskets. I will make a total of twelve smaller blocks. It is quite good fun. It actually takes longer to cut out the blocks than to do the sewing!

MOVIES
In my last post I mentioned that I was looking forward to seeing "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". Well I have got to say what a dissappointment! Nobody told me it was a subtitled film. I am just not into reading movies! I want to watch a film, and enjoy the big picture. I was lucky in that I had read the book so I could stop reading sometimes and not miss much however Brian, my husband hadn't read the book so he was solidly reading. When we left the cinema I checked the posters and there was nothing to say it was foreign language. Not happy!

WEIGHT

Well let's just say the dietitian is not going to be too impresses this month! Well there was Easter to contend with as well as school holidays. I will be better next month.

Procrastination....................

If there was an award for procrastination I would surely win it.
In my last patchwork class, I had a series of disasters and as a result I have so much sewing to do to catch up. Not really a problem as I have two weeks, or I should say had two weeks but it is amazing how many other things I am finding to fill my time. I don't even know why, I love to sew, I love what I am sewing so what is the problem???? I have no idea, but after writing this I think I am all out of excuses.
Here is a photo of some pieces ready to sew



On a different note I went to see an interesting movie today, Precious. Very sad, but at the same time uplifting. There really are some awful people in the world with questionable standards. Luckily there are also some wonderful people, I suppose they all balance one and other.
During the previews I noted The girl with the Dragon tattoo is coming, I can't wait, the book was such a great read.

If you want to have a look at some of my work, try looking at http://www.flickr.com/photos/booksareus/

Anyway enough procrastination....

Long time no post.....................

MY LATEST QUILTING PROJECT

After doing lots of applique I was feeling a little wonky trying to attempt some piecing work. So when I saw that our local patchwork store, The Stitching Post - (great name as the store is attached to a Post Office), was offering a class making a beautiful quilt that is pieced I immediately enrolled. I have only sewn a couple of pieces together so no photos yet, lets just say watch this space.

A REALLY GOOD BLOG

I have been pointed to the a blog which is really great, have a look if you have some spare time, actually allow quite a bit of time!

Links to lots of lovely online tutorials and patterns, all sorted into categories - but be warned serious quilt making cravings likely if you spend too much time here.

http://quiltinglibrary.blogspot.com/

WEIGHT ISSUES

As you can see this blog is called, Quilts, Weight and Life - I haven't written much about weight recently probably doing the old ostrich trick of burying my head in the sand. But something snapped, enough is enough, I made an appointment with a dietitian and she suggested I try eating more food, yes that's right I wasn't eating enough - hard to believe. Along with more I should try and incorporate low G I foods. Well a week and a bit later and I have already lost 4 kilos. I know some of that is the initial rush of loss but I am confident with this new eating plan and will let you know of my progress.

A terrific web site for info on low GI eating is

http://www.glycemicindex.com/

So that is about all today, I will keep you posted on my class and my weight, keep smiling.... I feel I need to leave some sort of picture here so I have included a photo taken on a recent holiday.

Advent Calender ( Friday flaunt on Monday)

Christmas is almost here! A tradition my family has, and I am sure many others do is counting down the days to Christmas using an advent calander. Probably 20 plus years ago I made a calander using glue and fabric pens and for the last three or four years I have meant to sew a new one. I am pleased to say I have just completed a beautiful new advent calander for the family to enjoy (even thought they are not really children any more!)
It took me a while to find a pattern that I was happy with I eventually found this pattern in a Patchwork and Stitching magazine.
This is my calander.....

Mosaics

In our local library I picked up a short course brochure and in it was a mosaics course. Mosaics is something I have wanted to try for a few years so I enrolled.
Have you ever had an idea of how something will be, then when you actually do it, it is completely different? After the first week I was thinking this just wasn't for me, however I thought stick it out (actually that was a financial decision more - I paid for it I was doing it!) Anyway last night was good, I think I can actually see that I might enjoy this mosaics stuff after all. Just goes to show, don't give up.