Thats what friends are for!!

Got on with the stippling all the way around the edge of the Mario quilt but it turned into a disaster - The blue cotton was way too strong and despite being a new machine my Elna is not happy stippling and the tension was way out either too tight or very loose and coming apart - still not sure if it is my technique or not. I really shouldn't blame my machine of two months but if it is it's very disappointed as I bought the machine especially to do stippling and it seems to be the one thing it doesn't do!!. Any way last night at Sew and Sews Theresa quite rightly convinced me that with such a special quilt it was a waste to have sloppy loose stippling that would be in danger of coming undone - so we unpicked - she gave up three hours of her precious sewing time to help me undo my very ordinary work - half done and I think with a few good hours tonight I really will be back on track - I plan to quilt in the ditch for this one leaving the lovely bright fabric to shine through.

Back On Track

Remember when Theresa at Sew and Sews mucked up her red nine patch quilt and had to unpick it and re sew - at the time I swore that no matter what happened I would always be forgiving and let my mistakes be part of the final work - until I tried to piece together my Mario quilt at 11.30pm on a Monday night - rule - do not try and piece after 11.00!!! messed it up completely. Sighed and went to bed - so last night with a small bit of quick unpicking ( or is that seam ripping!!) put it back to together in a slightly less unwonky way and pinned it up ready for quilting - so tonight I stipple!!!

Win some lose some

No quilting at all this weekend - two hours in the shed - made a small dent in the mess and a ton of cooking - over the weekend I produced a roast chicken, pear and ginger muffins, steak and chips, tomato passata, green chicken curry paste, lamb curry, tomato and meatball sauce and an apple and berry crumble!!!

Midwinter weekend

Thanks to Theresa at Sew and Sews I have been reminded that this is the weekend of the winter solstices . Rain and fourteen forecast so a chance to finish my Mario quilt. All the four patches put together and I reckon I can finish piecing - pick up some batting and get it done - here is my challenge anyway

My other challenge is to work on tiding up the shed - it is a toss up between being in the shed with Dr Mark Kermode on my ipod or at my machine with my ipod and the good doctor. It will remain to be seen which activity wins out - I know the one that I want!!!

Next Quilt

Now that G's red quilt is finished I can start on the new Mario quilt for H. I have had the lovely Mario fabric since March and had lots of fun choosing the bright colours to match it. Despite few options I have decided that the pattern will be the Prints Charming quilt from Material Obsession - referred to by the Sew and Sews as Olive's quilt because it was the one we all made for Carly's babe Olive last year. Six big panels and lots of colour - I am really looking forward to this one. ( and I know H is too!!)

Finished

Front, back and in situ on G's bed. Very happy with finished result.

Nice Long Weekend

Four days off - kids busy - time to quilt G's red quilt

which I plan to finish by Monday - here's hoping.

Weekend WIPs

Not as much sewing as i would have like this weekend- too much cooking and washing!!! - one new quilt cut for another disappearing nine patch - and my auction quilt nearly finished - just the boring hand sewing bit - tried machine sewing the binding for H's purple one but had to admit that the hand sewing looks best - but am now so tempted to also join the old red barn quilt along - everyone else seems to be doing it!!