Time wasters

It seems like an age since I was here.  These little fur balls seem to take up huge chunks of my time!

They are still definitely moving out in 2 weeks - just as well as they are so active now and really starting to get my asthma :-(

We have had GSCE results this week

Beccy did really well. We decided to have a day in London to chill and celebrate on today

The weather was amazing. We did go to the V&A to see the 80's fashion exhibition they had on: we were both very disappointed, not at all what we were expecting, but it didn't detract from our day.

I have managed to get my September (yes, September) stingy bee blocks done for Karen - hope they are OK! 

And I may have started a new quilt too

This one is for Jenny for when she moves out in 2 weeks, so I need to get a move on!

Two new additions

Beccy and I have just returned from some R&R up at my dads and stepmums.  They live in a fabulous location:

Whilst there both my dad and step mum had a separate button clear out for me (I have come home with a zillion buttons)
These buttons and the tin were my granny's and there are buttons in here that belonged to her mum.

My dad also has an amazing train set. He and my step mum spend a LOT of time with this in the winter.

Some-one also had their first driving lesson and is now desperate for the real thing

I have come home nice and rested. Just as well, as we have some (temporary) new members of the household.

These little kittens are only 3 weeks old and have to be syringe feed. Someone didn't want them and threw them in a bin. Jenny is now working as an apprentice veterinary nurse at our local vets and has taken them on. She moves out soon and the kittens will be going with her. These two are major time wasters, we have spent a lot of time playing and just watching! I guarantee there will be more pictures!

A decision at last

After a lot of umm'ing and aagh'ing I have decided to try an Etsy shop.
I don't want to dominate the Etsy world (ha ha, as if), but I need a purpose for random blocks that I make, because I like the pattern or just wanted to sew

I finally have more time to sew, to turn blocks into cushions or table runners. I have so many of these that I find it hard to justify making more, just because I can, so this can be a great excuse for more sewing!
 I now have a few weeks off work-I will make up some more random blocks and in turn, turn them in to something. When I have a few, I will 'officially' open and see where I go from there.

Summer

In the three weeks since the FQR I seem to have done a minimal amount of sewing-I think this has been due to the heat and a certain amount of gallivanting!
Last week though, I managed to turn a block from Lynne's precision piecing class in to this cushion:

And, because it's now August, I have started on a bit of Christmas sewing!!

 I am very aware of all that I listed in my Q3 FAL list - and that I haven't started any of it yet!!
But we I have been doing plenty of this with my brother and his family this weekend (Beccy does have some shorts on under her jumper!)

 

Swap Goodies

One of the great things about the FQR last weekend was the sample swap. I made 3 cushions for the anonymous ladies in my group. And in return I received these amazing goodies -
from Jan

A gorgeous fabric flower and pouch - check out the soldiers
From Reene

This fantastic hoop, with such a great label - and in all my favourite colours.
Finally from Francine

This brilliant mini - such vibrant colours 
I am really lucky with the swaps that I received and want to thank the ladies for making them.
Centre Parcs was amazing this weekend, we laughed so much I have aching ribs. Perfect!

FQR13

My apologies for those of you who have read a lot of FQR posts already .... but here is my recap.
It really was everything that everyone has already said.  I spent a lot of time with these lovely people and dinner out with about 35 others on Friday night - thanks to the fabulous organisational skills of Susan

1. Di, Sarah & Jude 2. Di, Sarah & Nicky 3. Night out Friday

There was a lot of sitting around and catching up and chatting, whilst doing some show and tell with Bee and Siblings quilts

 Bee Blessed Siblings quilt and Annabella's quilt top, finished off by Bee Blessed

 
 Nicky's Oakshot quilt - the pebble quilting on this on is amazing

 
 Siblings quilt with blocks donated by Bee a Brit Stingy bees and made up and quilted by Nicky

 Jans Bee a Brit Stingy quilt and Sarahs Hipbee quilt

There were the fabulous goodies

1. Sunglasses case from Sarah (there may have been fudge too!) 2. Goodies from the very generous Emily 3. Retreat goody bag, with so many lovely goodies

1. Swap goodies from Francine,Jan and Reene 2. Srip swap booty 3. very restrained quilt market shopping

 

I finally learned how to make portholes - that was a lightbulb moment and I started Pj bottoms with Kerry, which I finished off at home, along with my precision piecing block that we did with Lynne

But the weekend really was about the people.  Those that I have met before and got to catch up with again and those that I met for the first time.  It was all a lot less stressful than last year in that respect - and I can't wait for next year.

 

I feel rather guilty to tell you that I am off again on Friday - a long weekend at Centre Parks with some work buddies - and that will be another story....!

Counting the sleeps

Well, it's only 3 more sleeps till FQR London.  I am ridiculously excited, but very under prepared: thankfully I have tomorrow afternoon off work, so will get myself organised then.

 

I blame my un-organisation on many factors: Beccy had her prom on Friday - I was a very proud mum.  Beccy is in the middle, with her two besties either side. They are so grown up.

 

 

They arrived at prom in this yellow camper van - can you see the bunting, it went all around the van. Beccy cut out the shapes and I whizzed it through the sewing machine-suddenly a mum who sews is quite handy to have....!

 



I picked Bex up about 1am on Friday night, we sat up talking til about 2.30am: all about the prom and all sorts of other things, it was lovely to have that time together.

My dad and stepmum came down for prom and for the weekend, so there was also a lot of this distraction

 

And a bit of hand sewing in the garden thrown in too.  This is the Hipbee block for July.  Tanya asked us to make a tree and gave us free rein on the pattern/design.  I really enjoyed this one

 

And finally, I received this happy mail today, perfect after a very long day!