Sunday 10 July 2011

Cut, Pin, Sew, Unpick, Sew Again

Overhead there was the buzz of helicopters all morning, and now they are starting up again. They are directly linked to Silverstone and the British F1 Garnd Prix. Arriving earlier and departing now. Seems those with money do not worry about traffic jams. They look down on them, literally. I look up at them and think, 'Yeah, I would do that too if I could.' I got given the control of the joystick of a helicopter in Alaska once. To sum up the experience - it is a lot harder than it looks!! The pilot did not let me retain control for long. But it was fun while it lasted, at least for me, but not sure about the others in the helicopter at the time.

So to the tuneful sound of helicopters today I have been getting on with Project 51. I cut all my red/pink/blue/aqua 2.5" squares yesterday and today I pieced them. I only had one hiccup when I realised that my star block was far bigger than expected. Reminder to self, pay attention! This block did not need a band of white sashing around the star before all the little squares got attached. But I am a clever puppy. And I am very good at using my little unpicking doohickey.

So here are my Project 51 blocks -


I will have these posted off to their next destination in a day or two.

Yesterday, when my family all looked content, I managed to sneak out the door and go to the quilt shop with some of my birthday money. I only wanted one thing in particular. A small cutting mat. I have a huge one that lives on the floor for want of a surface that it could live on. When it is in the way I slide it under the rowing machine which gives me all the more reason not to use it. But when I am sewing and trimming as I go, like you do with HSTs, getting up and down to that cutting mat on the floor becomes a right pain in the a**e. So now I am the proud owner of a cute mini mat which will save all that to-ing and fro-ing.


It would be silly of me to claim I made it out the shop without a tiny, wee little purchase of fabric.


Onto a more exciting note - for me at least - one of our plans for the summer has changed. Instead of sleeping in a tent surrounded by midges with John, we spoke to the girls and asked them if they would rather join the sailing club instead and spend some quality time with their father (okay, me too) on the water. They voted for the sailing club. My back says thank you. I was so not looking forward to a week of sleeping on an air mattress.

Way better than that though - it means I will be able to go to the quilt show in Birmingham. Oh joy of joys! Who else is going? Tell me, tell me, please. Will I be able to actually meet anyone there and put faces and voices to brilliant personalities? Is there lots to buy there? Will I need one of those old lady shopping bags on wheels? Should I be feeding the girls on the cheap until then and squirrelling away the money saved to be spent on fabric? Please tell all. This inquiring mind needs to know.

Well, to bring me back down to earth, I have shirts to iron. Oh yippee! The girls are in the kitchen doing something with flour, water and food colouring. On the promise that they would clean up after themselves (how optimistic am I?) I am ignoring them and the shouts of laughter. It will all be okay. It will!

Hope you have had a terrific weekend. I know I have, and still a barbeque to look forward to for dinner.

Susan

15 comments:

  1. The NEC is a lovely day out. It's been a couple of years since I've gone, but I'm hoping to make the journey this year. Start saving now as there are lots of goodies to be had :o)

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  2. I went for the first time last year. I would recommend taking plenty of cash. Don't make same mistake I did and remember to take your camera. There are some amazing quilts and you wont be able to remember them all unless you take photos.

    I hope to go again this year.

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  3. Not sure yet if I am going to get there, but I will definately let you know if I am, would be fab to meet up with everyone!

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  4. I would love to go to the NEC and I would love especially to meet you but I`m sure we`ll do that one day somewhere. Sailing Club sounds fun! There`s nothing quite like ones own bed or am I just getting old? Well done on your restrained but lovely purchases. Enjoy your BBQ.

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  5. Your P51 blocks look amazing! So cute with pink in as well.

    I *might* be going to birmingham. See how the pennies go. Would love to go though. We could do "Brit Bee goes to Brum"? :-)

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  6. Oh I'd love to be at the NEC in August, but alas, not this year. Hope you get to go and take lots of pics. I know that Trudi is going. Btw your P51 blocks are beeeuuut! Jxo

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  7. Great P51s! What a bloody elaborate rouse just so that you can get to the NEC!!! Have fun - I am sooooooooooooooooo jealous x

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  8. Great P51s! What a bloody elaborate rouse just so that you can get to the NEC!!! Have fun - I am sooooooooooooooooo jealous x

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  9. I think I might be in the "might" category. I'd love to go but it's pretty far from Hastings...James' company has an office in Solihull though, so I've just asked him to "plan" a meeting in August...you never know :)

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  10. Gorgeous blocks for your P51.

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  11. Your project 51 blocks are awesome :-) Way to organise the family around NEC btw, well done! WISH i could go :-( I'm sure it'll be fantastic!

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  12. I am going and Trudi too. She is there for all 4 days. It would be great ot meet up.

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  13. Yayy!!!! Brum here we come! lol Beans on toast for now on! Start squirrelling, those pennies will be in demand! Love your P51 blocks :) See you in August!

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  14. Your blocks are fab! And enjoy the NEC :-)

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  15. Great great blocks!
    And I'd go, I'd go! Especially as one of my bestest school buddies lives not far from there. But I think we've just had that conversation as to why I can't... it might be a bit of a drastic distance to go to buy fabric even for me. Would be lovely to meet you though. Xx

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