Here I Go Again

Things have been very quiet in my world these last 2 weeks, as unfortunately I have lapsed back into the flu. I'm feeling awful and this time around it's much worse as I discovered yesterday that I have a cracked rib!

I've never had a broken bone before, so this has come as a big shock. I've been in a lot of pain, but was really suprised to hear that I'd cracked a rib. I don't know how or when it happened - which seems impossible, but I really haven't injured or hurt myself. My Dr. thinks it happened when I coughed too severely during my new bout of flu...which I can't believe is possible....but must be!

So it's rugged up, drinking tea and more rest for me. I am so sick and tired of resting. It really hasn't been my month! Hopefully I'll be on the mend...again...soon.

WOW: Much Ado About Nothing

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

Last night we awoke to a thunderous bang! What was that? We all shouted as we ran about the house trying to work out what was going on. Well, it was my fabric mountain. My shelf collapsed under the weight of all my fabric (and a few other tools stashed there) and toppled over. Hmm. I was meaning to fix that slight lean. Everything is in a heaped up mess.  

So that's that. I've been putting it off. But now it's just gone too far. It looks like I'll be spending the next week or so going through everything, sorting it out and ...well....having a much needed clear out.

I will post some photos as soon as I find my camera (which I keep and charge in my sewing studio) and which I know is nestled beneath a box I need my DH to move for me.

WOW: Quilting Daisy WIP

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

It's about time I finished something. I've been feeling a bit tired, uninspired and generally unwell since getting over the flu, so I need something a little lighthearted to get back into my WIP mountain.

Predictably, all my outstanding WIPs have a fair bit to be done on them before I reach the final stage. So I've started a new WIP. I know I really shouldn't start anything new, but  I need the motivation. This is a beautiful table runner I picked up in Budapest. I didn't have much time at the market there (which was lucky or who knows how much I'd have brought home with me!), but I did find this daisy linen piece which I think is sooo lovely.

The edges are beautiful uniform crochet and the embroidery is charming.

Just the thing for my table. Not too strenuous and lots of payoff for an afternoon's work...

I'm thinking of easing myself back into my WIPs with a bit of pleasurable quilting.

Quilting the free space. Should be quick and easy...ish.

Watch this space....

 

How's your WIP ?

A little bird told me...

During our mid week post flu break, I stopped by a giftstore and found these tea towels. Of course, I wasn't looking for tea towels, I was actually after some special wool fat lip balm I usually pick up in Ballarat (and can't find anymore). But when I saw these little characters, well, I couldn't resist:

Luckily I also found these oven mitts. As soon as I saw these, they were mine! I instantly fell in love with the polka dot ruffle and floral print. Now, these oven mitts are really an economy - because although I said I wouldn't buy anything when I went into the shop to look, the fact is, we needed oven mitts.

Our old ones are looking rather desperate and shabby. And most importantly, they don't protect our hands anymore as the thermal lining has disintegrated.

Well, I added Make Oven Mitts to my WIP list and even planned on going shopping to buy the thermal lining...and now I don't have to, and the gloves were cheaper than I could  have purchased the material for. Talk about excellent shopping!

these birds really caught my heart, they are so dear

I have a soft spot for birds and all of my quilts end up having one in the design somewhere

these charming characters are drawn / designed by "Madeleine Floyd"

isn't she super talented? I'd love to invite her to my house and give her an entire wall to work on

 and the tea towel brand is Ulster Weavers Linen Tea Towels

this is their website

www.ulsterweavers.com

I know that if I had seen these on any of my daily blog lists, I'd have rushed out to buy it

it almost makes wiping down surfaces enjoyable

so I also purchased the matching apron...because who has enough aprons??

and the only thing that disappointed me was that there was no matching cups

 I'd  love some tea cups with these sweet drawings

but I should be careful what I wish for because I just took a moment to look at the website

and oh no, I think I'd like to overhaul my Tea Towel Cabinet

all of them

and start all over again, exclusively with Ulster Linen Tea Towels

because I've had a long planned make fabulous quilt fabric tea towels WIP

on my mind...and now I think, hmmm, Ulster Weavers would be nicer...

but more importantly

what did the little birdy tell me?

Go home and tidy your kitchen!

Hello Quilt of the Day !

There I was, just browsing through my usual blogs...and look what I found:

Thanks to The Quilt Show for listing my quilt.

If you're interested in viewing my other quilts,

you can view them through my gallery by clicking here

WOW: Home Again

WOW = WIPs On Wednesdays

Well I've had enough of this exhausting flu!

My DH and I got in the car and decided to get away for some serious fresh air and relaxation. We went to Ballarat and it really was a restful break from the last few weeks.

Of course, I'm completely disorganised at the moment (even more than usual) so when I packed the camera, it hadn't been charged since I got back from Europe! At least I got in one snap - of this luxurious spa - where I spent a lot of time soaking away all those aches and pains.

On the way back home we stopped at a giftshop where I found some really charming teatowels and an oven mitt and pan mitt too. It was a good reminder of all the housework waiting for me at home...

Today I've got lots of emails to catch up on, a house to sort out and a few lists to make. I'm really looking forward to creating some time to get some WIPs done. If feels like months since I last enjoyed some productive WIP time!

How's your wednesday?

FMN: Block 7: Details

Magnolia: I was really undecided about which background to set the Magnolia block on. I'm making 2x of the same quilt: one light and one dark background, so each month I have to select the right block for the right quilt.

The Crown of Thorns was an obvious choice because the colour really stood out against a dark background, but I had to consider the flowers that came before, and to achieve balance of the quilt overall. It's an unusual choice for such a flower, but it works on my quilt.

I edge turned all the pieces and then went back in with coloured pencils to create depth and shading in the petals. As with all my blocks, I will be embellishing the block further when I reach the quilting stage.

Crown of Thorns: Again, all the pieces have been edge turned and I've used coloured pencils again for shading.  Only the thorns are raw edge as I will be stitching over them for effect.

These are blocks from Part 7

of my free 2012 Mystery BOM Forget Me Not

You can download this month's block via my website or my Yahoo Bom Group