Taking The Hint

We've had a terrific weekend with good friends, lots of laughter, food, some wine, and more laughter. No complaints here. 

But I may be a little tired and not concentrating. This would be the first clue.

Time to step away from the epp and just relax. Doh! 

Susan 

Guests Coming

And that means I've been doing housework. And cooking. And baking. The house looks vaguely respectable. And there are good things to eat. So I deserved a little sewing time. I earned it. 

I made a little zippy pouch, just big enough to hold a 6" hoop. This was not a birthday present request. It was a me just playing about doing what I wanted to do rather than what I should be doing sewing session. 

Lots of tiny HR one inch finished squares. A lovely selvege for the back. A little bit of stem stitching. Snails on the zipper tab. And flowers inside. 

This pouch is my happy place in material form. It makes me smile just to look at it. That's what I might do too, prop it up somewhere in my line of sight and let it keep the grumps at bay. I think (for me) HR has magical properties. 

Susan 

And Again

The list of friends with birthdays continues. As I had a sick child home today - seems to be going around the school/county/country - it seemed a good time to quietly get another gift made at a rather relaxed pace.

It's for a purple loving girl this time. I'm selfishly loathe to use the few good purples I have, but found that there was a half yard of this particular one so I didn't sulk like a three year old when I cut into it. 

The lining is a piece of Tilda fabric I've had for just about ever. I liked the contrast of the traditional versus modern between the interior and exterior. A bit of hand stitching, and one happy daughter. Not a bad way to spend the day at all. 

Besides, we made Rice Krispy treats. Haven't made these in ages. So easy and so good. 

Susan 

If I Don't At First Succeed...

... Rip it out and try again. 

Those blue diamonds I was adding to the outer ring at the top just were not working for me. Quick stitch removal and I went for a much softer approach.

That just works better for me. It allows the warm jewel tones to pop out in the other fabrics. I think I can be happy with this. 

Susan 

I Went AWOL Because...

... I was grumpy, quite frankly. While I do not ever wish to give the impression of a perfect life here, nor do I wish to inflict myself upon you when I am a wee bit disagreeable. No big reason for my grump, just a little bit of this and a little bit of that. When I wasn't grumpy I was busy.

A certain someone turned 14 last Friday. 

I drove down to Southampton on Friday to get the Isle of Wight bestie for the weekend. Friday night we all went and enjoyed the third and last school performance of Hairspray, which both girls were in. Saturday I took them into town. Sunday I took them for an amazing Thai buffet lunch, then we headed south again to return said bestie to her family. I have spent more time in the car than anywhere else it seems. But it was worth it to see one incredibly happy birthday girl. 

Very little sewing has occurred. But some fabulous post was received today. 

From my online friend Maggie I got this Heather Ross parcel of wonderfulness. The pyjamas are for deconstructing and adding to my HR stash, but in all honesty I am wearing the penguin pyjama top right now. Freaking comfie and prefect it is too. I think I may have the best of both worlds here - pyjama bottoms for the stash and the top for me. Woohoo! (The bottoms are about a foot too long for me so this makes sense. Please do not suggest I hem them and wear them as well. We all know hemming is a dirty word around here, like ironing that is not quilt related.)

Needless to day the package from Maggie was more than enough to shake the grump out of me, what with the quilt patterns, fun mini tapes, and extra bits of HR from her stash too. I admit to a girlie girl squeal when I opened the package. And to grinning stupidly to myself with only a gerbil as witness. 

But...  Yes, there is a but...   I also got another package today. 

Some Alison Glass fabric. Let the quilt making commence! 

Yes, I'm a happy person again. Yes, I will try to stay that way. No, I will not take an unauthorised leave of absence again. 

Oh, and no my computer is not fixed. Which may have been one of the things contributing to my grump.

Susan