The Heat is on.

I am revelling this glorious heat, I aim to be out in the garden before 9 and make the most of a couple of hours before it heats up. Then back out again later in the afternoon, yesterday I had to pot up some tomatoes into their final pots but it was too hot till around 7.00. This morning I have lined up my fuchsias for the same treatment and some hardy ones to go into the garden. 
Ben has gone to the groomers for a short back and sides and will be much more comfortable for it.
Since my return I have been sewing and cutting. Working through my box of charms I have picked out quite a number in colours and shades that do not fit my project. I do have a stack of fat quarters and "less than half a yard pieces" so I have been slicing and dicing my way through these.
Fear not, I am not creating another scrap bag with the offcuts.

I am building a nice collection of 5" strips of varying widths.

Along with a tidy pile of end strips. These will be cut down into 5" lengths and my fingers are crossed that I will have enough to make a piano key border. If not they will become cushions to go with the quilt. Any pieces shorter than 5" will be used up as part of a cushion so there will be no waste other than the tiny strips from creating a straight edge.
The eagle eyed amongst you will have spotted some Kate Spain Serenade in there, I was fortunate enough to win the collection in fat quarters a few years ago. I have been hoarding it since then, it has come out a few times to be stroked and then tucked away again. The time has come to put it to good use, I wish that I had yardage of some of the prints though, I have fallen in love with them.
I have added a few deeper and darker squares for a little balance and to kick myself slightly out of my light and bright comfort zone. It was painful to begin with but now I am enjoying the process. There will not be much brown though, I made a brown quilt for James a couple of years ago and totally sickened myself with it.

I hope to cut my way through all the smaller pieces as charms are my favourite precut and I am planning another Tumbling Charms quilt. The Kona Snow has been ordered, and that is a whole other tale.
I sat down for 5 minutes (HA) yesterday to order 2 yards, an quick and simple job.   Not So.
Site after site was entered only to find out of stock. After half an hour I took a chance and logged on to Button up and Stitch, the shop that I used in Wisbech. Success not only was it in stock but cheaper than any of the other sites. I may have had a little look through the sale page and some things may have jumped into my basket. 
It is an hours journey to my nearest fabric shops and if I am after something specific it is easier and cheaper to order online. Postage is either free or a nominal £2.50, much less than the cost of diesel.
And I still have the 2 hours travel time plus the 2 hours in the shop in my pocket, along with the cash that I would have spent on all the things that I spotted. Win Win.

Now I have to go get Ben back.


                     TTFN                                                        Pam