Winding Up

This is the last week of the school year here. So it will be a busy one. Today is the swimming gala. We also have the sports day this week and the leavers assembly. Because Helen will be leaving primary school and starting secondary school in September. So much change! There is also the disco that the Y6 parents are hosting in the village hall for them to celebrate this momentous occasion. Oh, and her dance exam happens one evening too.

It will most certainly be busy round here. That's okay though, because it will be followed by weeks of being out of routine, travelling north, Olympic sports watching and general relaxing. Can you tell I am looking forward to that?

Meanwhile I have been contemplating fabric. Yesterday I bought three FQs from Judith (shown bottom of the mosaic), and I also received some fabric from Fluffy Sheep Quilting last week.  I got some more seeds fabric because I love is to much. They are the sort of fabrics that I love to have in my stash because seeing them makes me happy. I got these lovely fabrics, and some solids, from Cindy's shop because I won a prize from the ever funny and talented Katy over at The Littlest Thistle.

A few weeks ago she asked for suggestions of what to do with all the pin cushions and pouches she got at the Retreat. I suggested that she best have a voodoo pin cushion to deal with her less amenable colleagues at work. And I won! Yay!! I really didn't expect to really win anything because it was all good fun so imagine my surprise when she sent me a gift token for Fluffy Sheep Quilting. Huge thank you to Katy. I had a great time spending it. Katy, if you want another pin cushion I can make one with the seeds fabric as a memento.

Yesterday there was also discussion about the differences between Kona Snow and Kona White, as well as Coal and Charcoal. As I have all in my stash - Fluffy Sheep again - I thought I would show you the difference.

I have been using the Charcoal in my Framed Purse Swap purse make with the hexies but needed the Coal for a bee that I am in so I was curious about the difference myself. The coal looks lighter in the top photo than it is in actuality I think. Both are fabulous colours to have in your stash and their ability to show off bright colours is incredible. 

The Kona White versus the Kona Snow is very much a matter of preference. I needed the White for the bee I am in, the same situation as the Coal. But personally I tend to use the Kona Snow all the time and always try to have a good supply in  my stash as it is rather essential to the sewing I do. Yesterday some of the others thought that the Snow looked rather creamy, or yellowish. It might do when viewed on its own, or up against the stark white, but used in quilts it offers up a lovely mellow finish that looks white without being a hard white. You can tell I love it just by looking at some of my biggest projects. I used Snow each time.

The only step towards sewing I did today was having a dig through the stash and the zips I have in stock and thought about making some pouches for Helen's teachers as a leaving gift. I don't tend to do teachers gifts every year, but I do think a thank you at the end of her time at the school would be good. So far I have come up with these combinations, but the sewing will have to wait until tomorrow. I have to go cheer the girls on in the swimming pool now.

Susan