Miscellany

for want of a better title!  This time last year I was bemoaning the fact that time was passing in a blur and here we are 366 days later and I'm saying just the same thing.  Not that life hasn't progressed a lot in that time but I still seem to be chasing my tail.

One thing I am happy to say is that I have finished my entry for the Festival of Quilts and I'm actually happy with it.  Phew!

It probably doesn't look much different from the in-progress view I showed before but it has had a lot of stitching added to it.  

My label says that it is about my fascination with the effects of time and the elements on buildings, walls and natural surfaces.  I have tried to echo some of the shapes in the lace and the printing with my machine stitching and also with a little hand stitching.  I have deliberately left many of the thread ends loose to add to the feeling of deterioration.  If you're going to the Festival of Quilts my number is 150 and it is in the Art Quilts category.  All I have to do now is package and post it.  I just hope it hangs straight after it's been rolled up for weeks!

Bearing in mind that this was a dusty project I cleaned my machine out twice while I was working ( I used my second best machine as I didn't want to use my best one).

I do try and remember to clean my machine regularly but the hardest part is stopping myself from 'blowing' the fluff away.  I have to admit to having done it in the past but I recently read that it blows more dust in than out so I'm trying to stop.  The temptation is excrutiating!

I think I told you recently that I had been reorganising my sewing room so while I had my camera in hand I thought I'd take some of my new space.

Above is a view from the door looking into the room with my lovley Janome that I bought from a friend and which has made quilting a pleasure.  The trolley looks scruffy but it helps to support the heavier projects.  I've finally got round to working on the Roman Stripes quilt today and am getting on with adding some quilt lines.

This is looking the other way back towards the door and you can see some of the gifts I have received from internet friends and also the new chests of drawers that house a lot of my fabrics (there's another chest of drawers in our bedroom and two drawers under the bed full of fabric not to mention 2 bxes full of batting, flannel sheets and blanket).

 

The final wall houses our bookshelves that have always been there but now they mostly house my textile books and threads, oh, and some more fabric in one of the cupboards and in the storage boxes on the floor.  Why do we collect so much fabric when we don't have a clue what we are going to do with it!  You can probably also see Norbert who keeps an eye on proceedings and a little oil painting that I did many years ago for Grace as she loved bluebell woods. (if you've been counting you'll notice I've only shown 3 walls.  The 4th is the patio doors to the conservatory).

One day last week when the sun actually came out my DH decided he ought to get on with a bit of gardening and also clean out the gunge from the pond.  This is the result!

It gave Mum a good laugh!

You're probably aware that we have been known to take the odd cruise and today P&O are celebrating their 175th anniversary with all 7 of their ships leaving Southampton this evening with a review in the solent by Princess Ann.  The departure is underway but the weather is appalling  but I'm sure everyone on board will be having a great time.

I have to go.......DH has given me a 2 minute warning for dinner!