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Tuesday 20 January 2015

The mountain shrinks and Exciting News.

I have been keeping busy, and warm, in my sewing room watching the scrap mountain shrink while my "new fabric" grows. There has been some bright sun but it is still icy.

I have some pretty flowers to brighten up the windowsill, and now that I look at the photo, I realise that I need to get sanding and painting before too long.

 
They have opened quite a bit since this was taken and the roses are lovely, no scent though, I look forward to seeing the tulip stems bend all over the show.
 


 
There are 2 sections here and once joined they will measure 5' x 6', there are some smaller slabs in progress which will join them tomorrow.
 
I can not decide whether to cut 12 1/2" squares and sash them or 6 1/2" and alternate them with solid squares, mind you at the growth rate I may be able to do both.
 
Now for the News, I am on tenterhooks, weather permitting my quilting frame will be here on Sunday. Boy oh boy am I excited. I have 5 quilts waiting to be layered and quilted, the "mile a minute" that I am working on now and 3 more it the planning stage ( the fabric is ready for 1 and almost ready for the other 2).
 
All my family and friends have asked for quilts for Christmas this year so my back will not be subjected to crawling around layering and pinning. Oh Yes, happy thoughts.
 
I have  had a few emails, from unknown people, admiring the blog posts and commending me on my "research and planning" and expressing interest in being a part of my little diary. One even dropped in that there would be "Something for Me" in it.
 
Well there is already a big something for me in it, the virtual friendship and support that the wonderful peeps in the blogging community have in bucket loads.
 
If I write in praise of goods or services, it is because I am impressed. Not because I am getting (or in hope of getting) a hand out.
 
If anyone would like to give me sewing goodies, raised beds for the garden or new ingredients to try cooking with I would be tempted. But no matter what I could never recommend anything that was not impressive.
 
For instance, I buy some of the Lidl weekend half price offers. Most of them are very good, the lamb shanks for one, but some such as the Piri Piri Chicken may have been a bargain but did not impress. After the first one I washed the sauce off and used the meat for other dishes, there was enough on each half chicken for 3 good servings and the bones went in the stock pot.
 
So the essence of this is, if you want to promote your business on here don't bother to try. If you want me to promote you, you better come up with something really good to impress me. As for reward, my favourite charities are always looking for funds.
 
I am off now, Ben has a visit to the vet in Neath
 
 
Well, that was a rush. Just as I typed the last words I looked at the time and realised that I needed to leave   NOW.
Back now and a clean bill of health for Ben.
 
Now it is walk time once I have boiled my tonsils with a much needed cuppa.
 
        TTFN                                                     Pam
 


28 comments:

  1. Good for you. Personally I won't read blogs that are covered in advertising and are constantly trying to sell and impress. I prefer your type of blog. A day to day story of a crafty folk and her doings. :)

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    1. I am what I am, I do not read blogs that are constantly selling things. I have stopped following several that I liked because of that. If I want to read adverts I look at a newspaper.

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  2. Wow you do fly through your quilt making. By the looks of your photo another great quilt almost done. I have promised myself I will make a quilt this year and find your posts inspiring. Thank you X

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    1. I sew so much because it stops me eating! no not really although it does help. I have time in the winter, it does not take me long to keep the house in order and I would rather craft than watch TV. Come the good weather and there will be more garden posts.

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  4. How exciting your frame arriving, I am looking forward to hearing all about it you are flying through those quilts I think we will have to call you flying fingers, I am pleased you are not going down the advertising route they put me off blogs too. :-)

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    1. I dislike adverts intensely, if I want to watch something on commercial TV I record to the Sky box then fast forward through the ads.

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  5. Your patchwork is stunning, and I love your ethics as well, I can not stand to see loads of ads. I do not follow sites where the aim is just to sell their products, like you I enjoy the friendship and enjoy reading each post. Hope your frame is every thing you want.

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    1. Thank you Marlene, I have "done my research" he he and know that this frame is perfect for my needs. To practice I will be making 2 quilts for the great outdoors. I don't spend all my time in the garden working, there is a time to throw yourself down and just relax.

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  6. Every time i see your quilts pam it makes me want to have a go making one they are BEAUTIFUL, I have been on the look out for a quality starter kit but they are working out on average £46.00 , thats why i keep putting it off , Might ask for one for my birthday of my daughter xxx

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    1. If you do ask for the biggest cutting mat there is, and get the 23" x 6" ruler, and a soft grip rotary cutter, it will make the whole thing so much better. All the other rulers and bits and bobs can come piecemeal. Once you get the kit let me know and I will send you some fabric from the stash to get you up and running.

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  7. You really are a fast crafter, I'm so slow but that suits me. I'm looking forward to seeing your quilting frame. x

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    1. I am only fast because I am driven, once I start something I can barely wait to see it finished. You are not looking forward as much as I am. I feel like a small child on Christmas Eve.

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  8. I am with everyone else on the advertising on a blog. There's always one on mine, but it chances often and I don't know where it comes from. I just ignore it as I hope my readers do. I make no money from them and am offended that they are there. I don't watch TV anymore because of the five minute ads. Pure emotional torture. My favorite flower is the tulip. Yours are beautiful. Don't you just love when they start to create their own movements? The stems fall where ever life takes them.

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    1. I love Tulips because they are so individual, you take these carbon copies indoors, pop them in a vase of water and they instantly start to find their own personality. Living sculpture really.

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  9. I love the bright, cheery quilt. It, along with your flowers, make me think of the less muddy seasons to come. Thank you for such a cheery post.

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    1. I am almost at the cutting point, I have selected the sashing/solid block fabric and the backing.

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  10. I can't wait to see your quilting frame, Pam, as I don't really know how to use one! Beautiful quilt and flowers, by the way x

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    1. I have never used one either but there are some good videos available, I will be studying a few.

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  11. So excited about your new frame! I hand quilt smaller items in a hoop on a stand - less weight on the legs and it swivels for easy reaching. The frame I machine quilt on is huge - takes up half a room - but does get the job done quickly. I would much rather hand quilt, but don't have near enough time for all the tops I have -- a quilting fool, that's me!:-)

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    1. I have a small hoop for hand quilting. I am so looking forward to getting the frame set up, I can quilt on my Janome and the Toyota but it is the layering and pinning that gets me. Plus as you say it will be much quicker, what sewing machine do you use on the frame?

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    2. I have used everything from a 40 year old Sears Kenmore to a couple of Bailey's. Last year when I came into an inheritance my husband kept saying 'get you a good one and quit fighting it!' So I went to a huge quilt show where they many different ones, and the one I liked best (and could afford) was a Juki. It came on a Grace frame and all my other frames have been Grace, I really think they are well made, and it does quilt lovely stitches! I've had it just a year and have had no problems at all. Now if I could just retire and !quilt!

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  12. Gorgeous pretty quilt. Good on you for saying no too. I bought my mum a gorgeous bunch of yellow tulips last week and they really brighten up the room they are in.

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    1. Tulips come in a brilliant range of colours, if only they were scented.

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  13. Tulips are happy flowers, my favourite are the Parrot variety with the frilly edges and bold colours.

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  14. I too, love popping by and reading about all your lovely doings. I admit, I read your quilts stuff like it's written in Outer Mongolian as I've no idea what all the terminology means - but I do adore looking at the pretty pictures!! As for this frame thingy - I cannot wait to see it in action!!! I'm imaging like a giant motorised mangle six foot wide!!!
    I know a lot of bloggers make their living through advertised posts etc but mostly I do t read them. Unless it's something I've thought about.
    Keep up the good work x

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    1. You are not far out on the mangle idea, If a blogger wants to have adverts and sponsors that is fine, it is the unsolicited emails that annoy me. I now have a damp squib putting blog posts on my reading list, they are about movies and quite informative.

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  15. Yes, I too have an endless list of movie posts by SuzzEluzabeth and I'm pretty positive I did not follow a movie blog. I've tried to see how to u add it, to no avail x

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