The builders

We are now the proud owners of PV panels on the house roof so we have been entertaining electritians ans fitters for the last two days -- infact they were all very good and efficient but of course there was some disruption mainly to my sewing room where the converter is located. The big job today put everything back where it belongs ( that will be a novel experience as clearing up after a project can sometimes be minimal) , it will have to be done ASAP as I can't get to my machine!! Back soon when I have any progress to report.

Pictures of the great finish

As promised in the last post here are the pictures, I think you can just about make out the appliqued butterflies that cover the little hole and the others to keep it company!!

I think you can just make out the machine quilting on this one -- white on white is so difficult to photograph well

I'm really pleased it's now finished, by the way the binding is the fabric the butterflies have been cut from.

It is finished

Yes that's correct you are not reading a different blog the refurbished quilt is finished ( big sigh of relief all round) I was so tiered of it by the end that I just wanted it done and on it's way , I don't think I have done so much free motion quilting on one quilt before it was a great learning curve!! It is now in the washing machine so photos will have to wait till it's dry so watch this space!!

Grandma to the rescue!!!

Wednesday evening and just about to have our evening meal and the phone rings. It's a panicky phone call from eldest GD -- Mum is not answering her phone (she was at swimming with the other two and had no signal) and poor girl has had an accident at netball practice and dislocated her little finger and after an X-ray it was also showing a break, so grandma  (minus food) goes to get her and take her home to collect warm clothes for a trip to local A&E. At home we catch up with mum who has finally got the messages on the phone so she has to organise someone to pick up middle GD when she finishes swimming training and brings the youngest home for grandma to put to bed whilest she and the eldest go to A&E .FOUR HOURS later they return grandma having got the other two to bed and dealt with the middle ones blood tests and insulin -- still without tea!! Finally got home after 1pm so it's taken till today Friday for me to get back to normal !!! The poor girl has to go back to fracture clinic next week for another X-ray to check that the joint is stabilizing and will probably be on weekly visits for up to six weeks so no ball sports for at least that long. Good job this grandma had rugby playing boys and can take all this in her stride!!

Is it finished???

Well it almost is, by this I mean the quilt I'm refurbishing is almost finished. I had thought to try something clever (don't know why after all I don't know anything clever ) in the setting triangles but I think it's going to be a loose meander to match the border and then a quick gentle wash and yippee A FINISH!!! and of course the photo.

Too much excitement

I really must get out more!! I'm so excited by this but if you could see my old one I'm sure you would agree it's a cause for celebration when you buy a new ironing board!!!

This one is much bigger and I can iron yardage in one go instead of having to go in two halves.

On a different topic all together , last weekend while our DIL and 3 granddaughters were in London  ( the end of the school holidays) visiting her parents  the least  practical of my children --- their father managed to wreck the washing machine so I took the two youngest to school whilest Mum waited for the repair man and of course talk turned to the broken machine and the middle granddaughters comment was "We really shouldn't leave Daddy on his own he just can't cope". How true he would sit in the dark than change a light bulb good job he married an engineer!!!! Still he is an excellent cook!!

Same old!!

Looks like today could be a slow progress day -- a trip to the super-market is on the cards.
My shoulder, neck and back are playing up and I am still waiting for my sticky finger gloves to arrive so working with the old ones is just making things worse so I've decided that being a couple of days behind schedule will be better than a couple of weeks which is what will happen if I am not careful.
OMG I sound such an old crock!! but it does make me a bit of a misery -- never mind I have a good book and cuddling up with a good book, a cup of tea and a quilt and a greyhound or lurcher or two does sound very appealing if not essential.

Quilt up date

Just a couple of photos to show the quilting on the refurbished quilt. I'm afraid any wobbly bit will have to stay as the fabric is so soft it is almost impossible to unpick anything without making a hole!!
This pick is one of my practice pieces and gives a good idea of what I'm trying to do.

This picture is on of the motifs in situ.

I'm about half way through the squares but I can only quilt about 6 at anyone time before my back and shoulders are tired so it's going to take a week or so to finish and then the quilt can go back to it's home and I can get on with the next project on the list!! Or maybe start something totally new (oh dear better not too many UFOs to finish)

Slow work

Now trying to finish the refurbished quilt but it's a bit slow. I'm now quilting in the squares between the sashing and guess what my sticky-finger gloves are no longer sticky!!! and gosh is it hard going I immediately got on the computer and ordered another pair, I know I had 2 pairs and one pair was better than the other but I could only fine one pair and of course they had to be the rubbish ones so as soon as the new ones arrive the old ones are in the bin!! and then progress should speed up and another finish will be in the bag.
The raffle quilt for our group has now been layered and pin basted so it is now ready for quilting lots of straight line with the walking foot I think as it needs to be finished ASAP as the raffle is at the beginning of Dec and we haven't begun to sell tickets and I also have to start planning next years and making a lap quilt sample to show the members what we are aiming for but that isn't till Jan 2014!!

At Last

Yes at last no 4 is a finish
, the binding went on today

This is my friends Linus quilt but the fleece backing came from my cupboard and I thought it would appeal to a little boy and the above picture shows the machine  sewn binding with a blue variegated thread.

To complete my summer list all I have to do is finish the refurbished quilt and quilt the groups Christmas raffle quilt !!! not far to go.