Tuesday 22 November 2011

Pillow Fight

Well in my mind it's a cushion but over on ye old Flickr it's the Brit Quilt Swap Pillow fight.  My offering to my partner is away in the trusty hands of Royal Mail so hopefully they delivery it tomorrow (or maybe Thursday at the latest) and fingers crossed my partner likes it!!!!  I've, hopefully, followed my partners likes pretty closely - green, hexies, little patchwork, trees, birds, something festive, echino, linen.  I'm hoping it ticks a lot of boxes.







The snowflake quilting is all freehand and in metallic thread. (this photo is a bit dark for some reason, the fabric is cream!).

I've learned a lot doing this cushion - firstly that I can make a cushion cover (what with this being my first ever attempt), hexies aren't really hard but they do take a lot of time!!!!, if using metallic thread you must, must, MUST use the proper needle in your machine (I've spent too much wasted time cursing the wrong needle and the shredded thread!), that people that work in haberdashery shops don't always give the appropriate advice, that I'm always at the coo's tail no matter what the timescale/deadline is and that I am my own worst critic.

But overall I enjoyed making it and I really, really hope my partner likes it.  Now I get excited waiting for my cushion to arrive!!!!!

Tuesday 15 November 2011

It's been a while!

Jings, crivven, help ma boab!!! Has it really been 3 weeks since I last updated my blog!!  I swear it feels like someone is stealing my time these days.  To be fair life has been busy. 

Work is crazy busy, just now.  I'm in the process of doing my first ever attempt at putting a contract out to tender so it involves writing a specification for the service to be provided, getting it checked by our legal people, then making changes, getting in checked again, then making changes ... see a pattern developing.  It's not been as difficult as I expected but it has been quite intensive at times.  Fingers crossed the document will be completed tomorrow and then it's out to the public!!!

The last week has been birthday week in our house - mine last Tuesday (a whole week ago!) I am now the grand old age of 37 (!), yes I know it's not really that old but I feel like I should be a grown up by now!?!  I had a very good day, even though I had to work late.  I got lots of lovely gifts, which I haven't taken a picture of yet (bad me) but people were very generous including my lovely hubby who bought me these fantastic boots.  I so nearly bought the purple version but my sensible side took over and I got the black.  It's been a decade since I owned a pair of doc marten boots and I forgot how comfortable they are!  I love them.

It's was also my hubby's 40th at the weekend so I am now a PS3 widow but he's a very happy boy.  Although I did use it as an excuse to play with some paper and make my first cards in about 2 years!!!

I've also been very busy making the cushion for my swap partner in the BQS.  I definitely chose a time consuming design - mini hexagons which I then hand stitched onto the base cushion fabric.  I need to get some snowflakes quilted later on tonight hopefully but I'm really happy with how it's looking so far.  Just hope my partner likes it too.