Being Committed

When I wrote Being Committed for the blog title I knew that half my friends would instantly see me in a straight jacket (if they didn't already), and they might be close to the truth but point of fact - today I mean being committed to my sewing. I am signing up for the first quarter of the FAL and this time I am going to try and only put things on the list that I truly think will be finished in the next three months. (Stop laughing!)

So, here goes -

1. Back, baste, quilt and bind Briar Rose - and then give it away.

I like this photo better than the quilt top one.

2. Finish the Christmas quilt. One and a half embroideries to do, and then back, baste, quilt and bind.

3. Finish piecing my hexies and turn into a quilt. Must be done. I've given myself a deadline. Seriously!

4. Turn this pile of cut fabric into a quilt. I've started the cutting and it will be an easy and simple make. It will be backed with the spare Ikea fleece blanket and it is destined to go to Alison for her quest for quilts for street children in Mexico. You can read more about it here. All the fabric was languishing in my stash, including the fleece blanket. Much better that it be put to good use.

5. I can't show you more than this fabric stack at the moment, but it will be a quilt in the not too distant future. Another one that I wish to get done by a set date.

And I am stopping there. Realistically I could put all my WIPs on here, but we know by now I will not get them done, so why bother. I have listed the items I must continue to work on. They're for charity. They are gifts. I need to do them and not distract myself.  (Okay, the Christmas quilt doesn't have to get done but I would really like to not put it off until next December.)

The past few days have been a flurry of fabric pulling, quilt designing, and a huge pile of fabric cutting for three different quilts. I have ended each day exhausted, because obviously real life is happening too, but with a great feeling of satisfaction for actually accomplishing stuff. I like feeling like that.

Now, if you will kindly excuse me, it looks like I might have some sewing to do. Linking up with Katy, because that's what this is all about.

Susan

I Would Like To Tell You A Story

This is a story about how I have the best bestest friend ever. Sorry, if you wish to argue with me over that feel free, but please read this first before you do.

My best friend has been that for almost 30 years now; most of my adult life. We have worked together, shared flats, travelled to all sorts of wonderful places together, played killer cribbage tournaments, laughed loads, and read a million and one books together.

I was away a lot, working and travelling, but the friendship was always there. Then I got married and had babies and moved them to a different continent than her. This was not what we planned! She is their auntie. Seriously, how can we live so far apart?! But never has the friendship faltered. Yeah, I know, you have a best friend just like that too. I think every last one of us should all have a friend like this.

Anyway, last year, before that big '0' birthday of mine, we were chatting on the phone and she asked me what I wanted for said birthday. I laughed and joked, and replied, 'A quilt.' I was just being silly and she knew it. Because I am the quilter and she is the baker. Seriously, she makes stuff like this -

All photos shamelessly stolen from her IG account.

When she comes to visit she always makes incredible tiered cakes with the girls and they have a riot. Dragonflies, and bumble bees vie with a huge array of flowers for space. The end result is always amazing.

Then, in the post yesterday, arrived our Christmas parcel. (Thank you, Parcelforce for keeping it on your shelves for three weeks because we know you had it due to parcel tracking.) In the Christmas parcel was my birthday present too.

She sent me a quilt. I couldn't believe it. But it is better than that. She didn't just have a quilt made for me. No, no, no - she went out and took quilting lessons. Made a quilt for herself to learn on. Then made this for me. This is only the second quilt she has ever made, and she learned to do it just for me.

See, I told you I have the best bestest friend ever!

She used a jelly roll, and yardage of that nice soft dotty blue. I love the colours. They make it look like a quilt that has already been loved for years. Which it will be eventually.

She pieced the back, and did straight line quilting. Only after she took an fmq class though, and tried that but decided against it. Seriously?! It took me years to learn this stuff. She did it on a sewing machine she bought second hand about ten years ago.

She did all this just for me. Now you know one of the reasons I love her so much. She's my best friend and always will be.

The End

Susan

PS: She has started another quilt and her partner gave her fabric vouchers for Christmas. She has officially crossed over to the other side. Bwahahaha!

The Voice In My Head

I made a quilt top. With my Briar Rose. Good thing I still have a fair amount leftover because I am really not sure about what I have done in my first attempt. It is just waaaaaaay too busy for me. Not my cup of tea at all. My inner voice was screaming at me to stop but I carried on regardless, and the result is this (photos limited by the wet ground outside and very strong winds).

The top measures 40" x 50" so just a cot sized. Can you imagine how upset i would be if I had made it big?! Oh well, living and learning here. I should listen to myself more. I'm always telling the girls to listen to me. You think I could take my own advise!

And yes, frogs were hurt in the making of this quilt.

Oh the guilt!

Susan

Being Happy

I debated what to title today's blog post. The other choice was 'Being Married To A Perfectionist'. I have a few thoughts on both matters.

Being happy is, as I think you would all agree, a good thing. And I am happy. December was a difficult month for me, though I prefer not to go into why. I do not ever wish to purport to have a perfect life here, far from here it, and I like to blog my warts and all approach to sewing, cooking and parenting. But some things I keep private. Suffice to say that I am well, and s**t happens. My point to all this is that despite having to physically drag my arse through the month and struggling at times, my memories of December are good ones. It was filled with family and friends, love and laughter.

And let's not forget my new computer. That came in December as well. Happy, happy me. Himself gave me a brilliant one as my Christmas present. The same himself who gave me a new sewing desk for my birthday in July.

Which brings us to the Being Married To A Perfectionist bit. My desk, my beautiful, beautiful desk is still not quite finished. What I failed to take into account when I requested it was (a) he would need to purchase every wood working tool, implement and table known to mankind to make said desk, and (b) if he was going to do this he was going to do it to the very best of his ability and make it perfect. Perfection, it seems, takes time.

Meanwhile, as it approaches completion, I am using it. Well, most of it, and I clear everything off when he wants to do some work on it. I was sat here this morning, thinking about being happy and being content in my life, and I was loving how even the parts of the desk I am using just worked so well for me.

Do you like the bock of wood I use so my short little legs
don't have to stretch so far for the foot pedal?

The desk is big, and in addition has two winged flaps that I can pull up and make it even bigger. Only one is in use right now as the desk is not properly in position yet and the radiator is in the way of the other wing. But just look at the convenience in the above photo. I have been sat sewing, then swivelling in my swivel chair to the left to press my seams (picture, if you will, my ironing board to the left - burnt cover and all), and then swivelling to the right to my cutting board to trim. Bliss! Swivel to the front again and sew some more.

Then, just past the ironing board I have this.

The dining room table - obviously buried under fabric already - and my new computer. Soon I will be able to move my stash into this room and then I may never leave it, except to eat and sleep, though I suppose I could have food delivered to me directly and put some quilts on the floor. It's worth thinking about.

I am left with one dilemma. I love this desk that is almost finished. Seriously love it. It is big, and solid and made with love just for me. What's not to like? Only, in my original remit I asked for a recessed sewing machine. Himself is all set to do this for me but I've changed my mind. I've changed it because it is big, and solid, and beautiful, and I can't stand the thought of him cutting a hole right in the middle. What if I ever change my machine and the hole is no longer the right size?!

The ash is over an inch thick. The grain is beautiful. The design works for me. My chair can rise up higher to give me a more optimal working angle. Then himself could build me a bigger box to put my foot pedal on and ergonomically I would be great. Wouldn't I? Am I being stupid? Would you cut a hole in this desk?

Or would you, like me, just be really happy that you have it, and the space to put it in. And that you are blessed with a very lovely family and life. Is an inset machine such a big deal? I don't know because I have never worked at one.

Right now I am just kind of happy being happy. Surely that is a good thing?

Susan

Bringing 2013 To A Close

You may - or may not - recall that my third quarter in the FAL was a total washout. Being the eternal optimist, I stuck a whole load of things on the list for the fourth quarter on the premise that the more that was there, the more chance I would have of finishing something on said list.

And it worked! Woohoo!!!

I had eight items on the list. I'm not going to go over them all here. If you want to check then here is the post. My success rate is still not all that high, but I am thrilled that there are three items that I managed to finish. 

Number one - the Yak hoop I made for Sarah's nursery.

Number two - my long awaited and much cherished HR Fan Club quilt. If I only finished this in the previous three months I would still be happy.

Number three - my LV quilt, Good Morning Star Shine. Another quilt I am happy with that dwelled in my imagination for a long time before I made it.

And that makes three. I'm happy to be in with a chance to win something this quarter, and more happy with what I have made. Mind you, I still have five things unfinished from that list, and we won't discuss that items that I have not placed upon a list and therefore can pretend don't need doing. Or the fact that I have started two new quilts over the holidays. Nah, we won't think about that at all. Sewing is good, no matter what we are sewing.

Susan