Wednesday, 30 January 2013

I HOPE YOU HAVE ...

... had as good a  day as I have xx My day started with an answer-phone message from Sally (in Australia) ..to say that .. although there has been severe flooding they are all safe xx

Phew xx

NEXT ... while doing the BORING food shopping ...I found these super post-it notes  ...


they were just TOO much fun to leave behind.. AND 3 packets for £1  !! COME ON !! lol x

THEN I was FORCED into Hobby-Craft ... by my mother! AND as we all know it is COMPULSORY to spend before being allowed out of the shop xx Mum spent too x .. we are keeping them going don't you know xx


WHEN I got home the post-man brought me a box ... inside were these WONDERFUL fabrics xx..


They are from Michelle who organises the Round-Robins that I am addicted to xx I was able to do her a favour ... and she sent me the fabrics xx She should NOT have done it ... but I am glad she did ...AND THEY are NOT going back xx

I received the detail of my FEBRUARY partner for the Australian-Christmas-Block-Swap, this log cabin block will be in the post to Perth tomorrow... hope Jenita likes it ...


THEN to finish a great day off ...Adam and Caroline are FORCING me to go and see the film of Les Mis ...AGAIN!! OHH its a hard life xx He-He xx

Keep smiling

Diane xx

Tuesday, 29 January 2013

BECAUSE i CANNOT...

... resist a challenge, when Michelle, at the Quilting Bloggers Gallery ( www.quiltinggallery.com ) announced she was having a mug swap ... you just KNOW I had to join in!! The patterns to be used have been sent out... and printed off...


As you all know, I like to make a sample .. just to get the kinks out you know!! As Sally (daughter) likes all things to do with owls, I KNEW she would be happy to have a cushion!! ..she can hardly send it back He-He xx So I changed it around a bit and now I have a cushion...


To-morrow I may have a go at the bird house xx

 I will be taking this one, and the Christmas tree cushion, to show-and-tell at Congleton Quilt group to-night. We are  to lay out the maple leaf blocks we made ready for making a raffle quilt ... think I may just volunteer to help out with the tea!! There is bound to be MANY opinions voiced as to what is the best way to do it ! lol xx

Keep smiling

Diane xx

Monday, 28 January 2013

IT TAKES...

....about 20 minutes to walk to mum and dads, so on nice days the dogs and I do just that x

To-day has been crisp and a bit windy... but dry. SO, off we went. We had a lovely walk up... then a chat and a cuppa. On the way home ... aprox 5 mins after we left ... it started to rain!! By the time we got home it was a downpour!!

OH well! I now have 2 tired , dry and SNORING dogs.....

 
While waiting for my tea to cook I finished this..

 
I FULLY recommend it x She made me smile, and frown ... and LAUGH OUT LOUD xx

Hope you get to enjoy (most) of your day xx

Keep smiling

Diane xx

Sunday, 27 January 2013

IN NOVEMBER...

...Anna sent me this block as part of the Australian Christmas Block Swap xx I absolutely LOVED it xx and wanted to make it into something on its own and not save it for a runner or quilt block....


AND so, to-day I made it into a cushion...


I will put it away now so that come Christmas it can come out and be "SPECIAL"..... NO-ONE had better sit on it!! lol xx

Keep smiling

Diane xx

Friday, 25 January 2013

TO-DAY THE SEWING....

....went MUCH better xx I ,at last , sewed my Stash #4 blocks..

 
I have been delayed because I was trying to hunt down Kona coal this side of the Atlantic!! Being a dedicated (ie stubborn!!) quilter I DID find some ... and so the blocks got made... plus 2 angel blocks that I agreed to do as one of the ladies was not able to join in this month ...


I DID enjoy making these .They have gone in the post .. along with yesterdays efforts x

Pam and I went to see Les Mis last night , as you know I was not all together ecstatic to be going ....HOWEVER... I was suitably ... and pleasantly.. surprised They made a good job of it . I would give them 8 out of 10. The singing was weak from some of them... but they went for named actors to bring in the money ... and lets face it who is going to compete against MY dream team of Alfie Boe, Phillip Quast and Micheal Ball? EXACTLY!!!!

mm I wonder if the sewing this am was influenced by my listening to the 25th Anniversary concert ..again!!? He-He xx

Keep smiling

Diane xx

Thursday, 24 January 2013

I HAVE BEEN SEWING TODAY...

...the Valentine Round-Robin is coming to an end this month... and so I have ..OF COURSE.. joined in for the 2013 Modern-Mini-Round-Robin!! To-day I made the centre block...


When it goes in the post to-morrow it will be a MYSTERY as to how it changes xx

I also began work on the Simply Solids Bee. I made some practise blocks first...

THEN I began work on the blocks in solid fabrics as requested by Sue. It has taken MUCH unpicking and fraying of fabric and nerves to achieve 2 ... sort of.. passable blocks!! I just could NOT get the grey points to match!! These are going in the post...


 
with apologies .. I do not want to see them again!

I also received this months Simply-Solid fabrics..

Lovely x

Keep smiling

Diane xx

Monday, 21 January 2013

ONLY 2...

... more nights to go , and then... I get to play with fabric... OH YES!

NOW ,as many of you know my very FAVORITE show is Les Mis .... I am unsure about the film, but, my friend Pam, REALY wants to go... SO, I will be going on Thursday evening .. mm will let you know what I think xx

I have finished reading...

 
GOOD fun x So, now I just might have a look inside this one..

 
it came today. I am NOT a pink person ... by any means lol x However I am sure OTHER colours are available to make some of the project with!! Maybe!

Keep smiling

Diane x

Saturday, 19 January 2013

NExT WEEK ..

... when I finish my nights I can look forwards to playing with some new fabric xx

I have received the fabric for the SIMPLY SOLID BEE ... and the fabric to let me make my Stash #4 blocks xx


So nice to have new fabric xx







I was right to predict the car-park would be the worst part of the journey to work ... seems the gritter was out at 1PM!! Most probably there is a policy somewhere that says that is the best time to do it !! One thing about the NHS ... they can follow a mad policy at any time x lol xx

Keep smiling through the snow and ice

Diane xx

Friday, 18 January 2013

THIS IS FOR ...

...Sally and Blair as they bask in the heat in Gerrengong (Australia) !! Blair always liked the IDEA of the snow ... not quite so keen on the reality!!!

This was the picture when I came home from work this morning..













THIS is the picture when I got up this afternoon!...


I KNOW for those of you who have snow all the time ... this is nothing!! BUT for those of us who only see it every couple of years ... it is VILE!! I HATE the stuff!!

Going to work to-night should not be to bad because it is mainly main roads... THE CAR PARK?? It is the NHS you know!!!!

Keep safe.. and smiling

Diane x

Thursday, 17 January 2013

OOOH! LOOK....

... I had been given a belated Christmas present xx  I am a luck girl xx
 
First off are these beautiful threads ..
 
I KNOW I can find a use for them xx
 
 





AND this wonderful pin cushion ...
 
Its a bit hard to show you all the details ...
 
 
it is a wonderful little house xx..





















 
Keep smiling
 
Diane x

Tuesday, 15 January 2013

BACK AT QUILT GROUP TO-NIGHT....

... it is back to Congleton tonight xx First meeting since 2nd week in December ... SO there is bound to be a LOT of hot air in the room tonight!! Should keep us warm any way! He-He xx

We get to catch up and pay the fees for the year, and return the challenges we were issued x I can show you ONE of the challenges ( couple for later in the year xx)

We were asked to ... make a bear that shows how you see your self ! The reason for a BEAR is that Congleton has the name of BEARTOWN xx

This is my bear...
 
 
I am a SMILING ENGLISH bear, who..

 
likes FLOWERS and FABRIC...

 
and a CUP OF TEA, and ..


DANGLY EAR-RINGS..


When Sally and Blair saw her this morning they LAUGHED!!!! What do you think?

Keep smiling

Diane xx

Monday, 14 January 2013

READY ....

... for next Christmas.... I have made the Advent calendar for Sally and Blair......


 
NOW I have 10 months to send it to them...... I have done my bit SOOO... THEY can fill the small pockets...

 
and the bit bigger pockets..

 
themselves xx lol xx

keep smiling

Diane xx

Sunday, 13 January 2013

NO SEWING....

... has been done today...... oh no! WHY!?

Well .. today we have been eating CAKE..


 
It is my dads birthday, he is 83 today..


Looks like he has had a bit too much cake !

 
Need a bit of a snooze myself xx lol xx

keep smiling

Diane x

Saturday, 12 January 2013

BACK AGAIN AND ...

.....trying once more to bring you pictures of my recent post bag ( because I KNOW you are desperate to share !! lol x)

This block has come from Traci in North Carolina ...

 
and these other goodies xx..

 
I also had a parcel from Sally and Blair in Australia..

 
 
 
(pictures got a bit mixed up... but I'm not complaining!!)
 

I LOVE getting parcels xx

Keep smiling

Diane xx

THE LOVELY POSTMAN HAS...

....been bringing me parcels again.....I received this lovely block from Jessica in Texas ...

 
OK google only seems to let me put up one picture!! Adam's idea for posting pictures seems to have gone wrong!! ....scream!! Will try again in a while xx
 
Keep smiling

Diane xx

Friday, 11 January 2013

TRYING #2..

.... WELL IT SEEMED TO WORK! SO...... while I am on a role ... and before I forget how to do it !! I am going to try and post a picture of the 2nd block I made for the Stash-Bee..



 
JUST keep every thing crossed! Good job I have a son who understands all this computer business!

Keep smiling (and in my case shouting at making it work!)

Diane xx

AN EXPERIMENT










I am hoping this is a picture of the block I made for STASH Bee #3 !!

Just an experiment xx This technically-challenged mother is just TRYING to follow directions (SNORT!!!!)

Keep smiling

Diane x

Thursday, 10 January 2013

DONT YOU JUST LOVE IT...

.... when you have done all your jobs, paid all the bills ... and your time and money are all your-own?

To-morrow I can ... sew...and...sew ... or not ... just to suit myself xx

BLISS x

Of course I also have to figure out how to get pictures on here (!!) but its a start xx

Keep smiling

Diane xx

Wednesday, 9 January 2013

WANT TO JOIN IN ....

.....If you fancy joining in with a Round-Robin why not go and have a read of the "rules" ... and join in xx ?

You don't have to have a blog... just an e-mail address that Michelle can contact you with xx

Quilts From My Crayon Box: Have you?

keep smiling

Diane xx

Sunday, 6 January 2013

STILL NOT ABLE .....

... to post any pictures ... however I HAVE sewn a couple of blocks xx

I have made my Stash #3 wonky log cabin blocks for Julie in Michigan x

If you are on Flickr you can see them ...either on my photo stream (Diane-crewe) or in the Stash Bee group x

Fingers crossed the problem will be sorted out soon xx

Keep smiling

Diane xx

Friday, 4 January 2013

IT DOESNT TAKE MUCH TO.....

.... make me happy x To-day I woke up to SUNSHINE ... oh yes xx... AND this was on the mat ready to be read ...

OK ! Google wont let me put the picture here!... NO idea why not!! It SHOULD be a picture of the latest Popular Patchwork magazine ... will try again later xx


Hope you find something to make you smile to-day xx

Keep smiling

Diane xx

Thursday, 3 January 2013

MY LOVELY DAUGHTER...

... who lives in Australia has decided (!) that she wants a "proper" Advent calendar for next Christmas x SO the first fabric of the New Year to come through my door is this pack...


I recon I have 9 months to get it made and sent in the post... giving time for it to arrive on time to put up on the first x NOW all I have to do is NOT put it in a SAFE place!! OH! and make it of course He-He

Keep smiling

Diane xx

Wednesday, 2 January 2013

THE SEWING ....

.... continued today xx This New Year is certainly off to a good start xx Mind you it is back to work tonight, and then it will slow up again .. Hey-Ho xx

I made my block for the Australian Christmas Block Swap....


this block is going to North Carolina in the USA !! I know ... its an Australian run site, AND a Brit is sending a block to America! Hey! If its not broken don't try to mend (or understand ) it xx

Keep smiling

Diane xx

Tuesday, 1 January 2013

HOW DID YOU ...

........start this New Year?

I was sewing....OH YES! Gus..


may love his ball.....


but he hates the fireworks! Even with enough doggy calms to fell an elephant!!! So I sat up with him (and Sam of course! although his snoring drowned out some of the bangs !!) , I am not good at just sitting ... so, I started work on some quilting...


I ... as you know... don't tend to PLAN ... dirty 4 letter word!... so trying out new designs is done on the quilt!..


fortunately I STILL like the way it came out when I saw it this morning xx He-He xx

For the first time in WEEKS the sun is shining this morning ... and NO rain xx Looks as if the NEW Year is starting off well xx

Hope your New Year got off to a good start x

Keep smiling

Diane xx