Thursday 31 December 2009

2010 Goals

Thursday 31 December 2009
For obvious reasons I'm not going have any serious goals in 2010 other than to arrive at the other end of they year with my sanity intact but I do have some stash goals:

1. Buy nothing other than my current obligations (Baby Jane BOM, Tail Feathers BOM, SamSarah Alphabet Baubles, Just Nan Humbugs and PTP FOTM) or any supplies vital to the completion of a project

2. End the year with less WIPs than I started.

3. Work on making good progress on at least one of my BAPs.

And I obviously have my 'To Do' list of desired completions before the baby arrives (which, I have to say, is looking more and more unlikely!)

Tuesday 15 December 2009

Bag Number 1

Tuesday 15 December 2009
So back in the summer, before I got pregnant and lost several months to excess sleeping, I picked up a bag pattern that both my Mum and MIL liked and they both picked the same fabrics for it. I promised my Mum hers for her birthday back in August which never happened (oops!) and I inteneded my MIL to have hers as a Christmas gift.

So here's the first bag which will be going to Greece for Christmas. My Mum is cool with the fact that she's still waiting but I do hope to get hers done too as I know if I leave it till after the baby comes she'll be lucky to get it before next August!

Monday 14 December 2009

Tis the Season to be Jolly...

Monday 14 December 2009
How much do I love Christmas?

I'm now on a serious countdown to fun stuff. This week is Lia's last week of school, or rather last four days at school as she finishes Thursday. Wednesday is the school Christingle Service so I'm going to that and then Thurdsay she finishes early so so do I. Then this Friday DH and I are off into London to see the musical Wicked and then on Saturday we're all going to the local Panto (Cinderella). Sunday if the weather is nice we're off to London again for a trip to Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland.

And that's just this week!

Next week I'm only working Wednesday so Monday and Tuesday Lia and I will be doing Christmassy things and I have my next scan so she can come and see the baby too. I remembered this morning that I didn't share the fact that it's a boy this time. I'm sure you're all as excited as we are by that news LOL. Seriously though, Lia is over the moon as she was sure all along that's what it was and she was very righteous about it when we found out. There is absolutely no question it's a boy - he was lying there with his legs wide open showing himself off to the world!

One other exciting thing (for me anyway) I bought myself a brand new laptop at the weekend. The one I had been using was works and they kind of wanted it back because I no longer work from home once a week. I splashed out on a Dell Inspiron purely because I'm a girl and I wanted a red one! It's fantastic and I was busy playing whenever I could over the weekend.

In crafty news I finally got my finger out and did some this weekend. I finished Grandma's Thread Minder and the Jingle In the Tin biscornu. I also spent most of yesterday making my MIL a bag for her Christmas present so I'm feeling very virtuous! Pics will follow...

Monday 7 December 2009

Is it a record?

Monday 7 December 2009
On Saturday there was an attempt at the world record for 'the most trees planted by hand by any number of people in an hour' and DH and Lia took part.

We're still waiting to hear if it was actually a record as they are still collecting results but whatever happens the pair of them had fun and got EXTREMELY muddy LOL.


Tuesday 1 December 2009

December Goals

Tuesday 1 December 2009
So, here's the updated 'to do before the baby comes' list. Anything in italics has been worked on during November. Anything finished is crossed off. But I guess you could work that out yourselves...

For the Baby

  1. Silly Safari Quilt - blocks and border all made, it just needs to be put together and quilted
  2. Alphabuddies quilt - quilt top made
  3. Slash and sew baby quilt - quilt top made
  4. Raggedy pram quilt - not started
  5. Stitched Noah's Ark baby quilt - lots of progress made
Christmas Gifts
  1. Bag - started
  2. New Baby Sampler - for my Great Niece, promised by Christmas
  3. Baby Quilt - for my Great Niece as a Christmas gift
  4. Winnie the Pooh quilted book - Christmas gift for my nephew, cut out
  5. Sue Hawkins book marker for teacher gift
  6. Sue Hawkins book marker for teacher gift
  7. Sue Hawkins book marker for my god daughter - started
To be done for Christmas
  1. Christmas Stocking - binding done on top
  2. Christmas Stocking - binding done on top
  3. Advent panel - not started
  4. Advent panel - not started
  5. Blue christmas quilt - started
  6. Red christmas quilt - started
  7. Christmas panel 1 - started last year, needs finishing off
  8. Christmas panel 2 - started last year, needs finishing off
For Stash Reduction
  1. Scream House - all the stitching done
  2. Plaid quilt - two blocks made
  3. Bag - a birthday present for my Mum last August
  4. Grandma's thread minder - stitching all done
  5. Jingle In the Tin - stitching all done
  6. Boo In the Tin - stitching all done
  7. Hop In the Tin - stitching all done
  8. Sue Hawkins pin cushion - stitching all done
  9. Flannel quilt for Lia - top made, layering and quilting to do
  10. Table topper - it's done other than finishing the quilting and sewing some binding

Monday 30 November 2009

November Roundup

Monday 30 November 2009
So from my 'do before the baby comes' list I have:
  1. Alphabuddies quilt - made the top
  2. Slash and sew baby quilt - made the top
  3. Stitched Noah's Ark baby quilt - stitched up a storm!
  4. Bag - a christmas gift for my MIL - started
  5. Sue Hawkins book marker for teacher gift - finished
  6. Sue Hawkins book marker for teacher gift - finished
  7. Sue Hawkins book marker for my god daughter - started
  8. Blue christmas quilt - started
  9. Red christmas quilt - started
So not a bad start. I also had a sneaky new start on a Michael Powell mini christmas design but I've put that aside for now and am going to start the Tatty Teddy birth sampler I need to do by Christmas. I really hate the TT designs because of the back stitching but my niece picked one for her first DD so wants a matching one for the second...

Friday 27 November 2009

Everything is going okay

Friday 27 November 2009
So I had my latest scan yesterday and, as far as they can tell, all is okay which is a relief. We also found out the sex but we're going to wait a while before we share that news with everyone, we're enjoying it as a family at the moment.

I have the another scan in three and a half weeks which is to check the heart in more detail but the sonographer said that as far as she can see all is okay so I'm a bit less stressed about that now. It's all much more real now we're over half way and we know that things are okay in there - we're starting to plan the bedroom now and come the new year it'll be all systems go to get organised.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers (yes I know it's a day late but yesterday was Thanksgiving for my little family too) and have a great weekend all of you

Tuesday 24 November 2009

More time wasting...

Tuesday 24 November 2009
Super Mario is still alive and well in our household and keeping me busy LOL.

I am trying to get more done around the house too and have started cutting up fabric for this years christmas quilt. To be honest all I am really focussed on is the baby scan this thursday - I can't really get my head around doing anything until I know that all is okay, still, it's only two more days to wait and then I'm hoping for a real energy burst so I can get lots done between now and Christmas.

To be fair though I might have to sell the Wii if I can't control my obsession.

All is well with me - I'm now over half way so that's a great milestone and baby is giving me a serious kicking as I type so all would appear to be well inside too. Sleep is still a luxury but I can deal with that.

Lia is loving school still and there's lots to do in the run up to Christmas - it won't be too long before she's too excited to sleep I'm sure. I've been holding her off the whole 'it's Christmas soon' thing by telling her it doesn't count till there are decorations up in the house but that's only a week away now! Why is it that days drag along but weeks fly by?

Wednesday 18 November 2009

Oh dear...

Wednesday 18 November 2009
I've re-discovered the joys of the Wii. I lost two hours last night playing Mario and am totally addicted! I'm wondering if it's too early to take my maternity leave LOL.

I don't play many games - I'm not a shoot-em-up kind of girl for a start - but I love Zelda games and Mario too. The first game I ever played was SuperMario Land on the SNES all those years ago and I've just discovered that it has the same level of addiction for me now as it did then.

Looks like stitching time may be curtailed by yet another 'hobby'! I have been doing a bit - mainly working on the Noah's Ark quilt but with one thing and another I've just not really had time to get my sewing machine out. I'm hoping that next weeks evenings will be spent motoring through some of my projects - if I don't I have no hope of finishing up the things I want to gift at Christmas...

Sunday 15 November 2009

Christmas is coming...

Sunday 15 November 2009
... and Joy is getting fat LOL.

Baby bump well and truly starting to make it's presence felt.

It feels a lot like Christmas around here today, or at least it smells a lot like Christmas, as I have three Christmas puddings steaming on the hob and a Christmas cake cooking in the oven. I've been the family chief pudding maker since I was 15 and some years I have made up to 8 but I cut back this year just because of time and energy. Still, it's one for our family Christmas, one for my Brother and SIL and one taster pudding for DH.

I am now flu jabbed up. Swine flu in one arm and seasonal flu in the other. Apart from general soreness in the sf arm I haven't had any nasty symptoms. It's much better today as well - just sore to touch or if I stretch it out.

We are having a nice sunday - the weather here is lovely and we're getting some jobs done then this afternoon we have friends coming over who are staying for dinner and DH is doing the cooking so I'll be able to chill out.

Thursday 12 November 2009

Jab update

Thursday 12 November 2009
Well my consultant said that there is absolutely no reason to wait till 20 weeks to have the swine flu jab so I'm booked in for it at 5.20pm tomorrow evening.

I was surprised that there was an appointment so quickly but at least it gives me less time to fret.

In other health news everything is hunky dory with the pregnancy - I'm just over 18 weeks now and can feel the baby wriggling all the time. My 'anomaly' scan is in just under two weeks and we're hoping to find out what flavour we're having then if the baby isn't sitting with it's legs crossed.

I can't believe I'm almost half way there now!

Wednesday 11 November 2009

I'm done!

Wednesday 11 November 2009
As of 5.30pm this evening my Christmas shopping is completed!

Tuesday 10 November 2009

2010 Stash

Tuesday 10 November 2009
So it's that time of year when I get all wound up about the stash I've purchased this year compared with my actual output LOL.

I worked hard to reduce my WIP list and did manage to get it down to 23 from 30 which I consider an achievement plus I also had another three finishes. But this still makes my total stitching finishes for 2009 a quite pathetic 10!

Okay, I'll console myself with the fact that since August I've done very little due to a circumstance not exactly in my control but that's still quite a small number for me. And I have certainly increased my stash by more than 10 projects during this year so, yet again, I have mild(ish) guilt.

So, 2010, the year of baby number 2 has to be different. I imagine I will be lucky to achieve anywhere near 10 finishes next year so I am fully determined to keep my stash purchases to a complete minimum. Yes I can hear you laughing at the back but I will just keep reminding myself:

'I have over 100 projects that I am totally in love with and want to complete, I don't need any more!'

I do have three commitments that will continue into 2010 - my Baby Jane BOM that isn't due to finish until April 2011 (eek!), my Tail Feathers BOM which finishes in April 2010 and my SamSarah autoship on the Alphabet Baubles (we're half way through so I imagine they will finish late next year). All other Autoships I signed up for this year finish by mid December.

So, I cannot even think I will manage no new stash in 2010 other than the above mentioned but my intention is to try. Of course having a drop in my earnings whilst on maternity leave will help focus my willpower too LOL.

I have big plans for a total spring clean before the baby comes - not just stash, the whole house - so hopefully I might even ebay some stash and get some funds to pay for the two quilting BOMs. I have pretty much whittled down my charts and kits to things I am determined to stitch at some point but I have an awful lot of hand-dyed fabric that I know I just won't use so that can go.

Monday 9 November 2009

Swine Flu

Monday 9 November 2009
So I'm in the top two risk categories for complications from Swine Flu. Yay me.

However the policy in the UK is that the vaccination is not given to pregnant women until they are 20 weeks or over which give me another two weeks before I can have the vaccination (I have had a letter inviting me to have it done so I can go as soon as I hit the magic number).

I don't tend to worry too much about this kind of thing but given how much the risk of complications rises just because you are pregnant (you are approximately 10 times more likely to end up in intensive care) I'm a little nervous.

Even more so when this morning Lia's teacher confirmed there is a suspected case of swine flu in her class...

Sunday 8 November 2009

Christmas Shopping

Sunday 8 November 2009
Well I've officially started! My Mum, Sister, Niece and I all pay into a 'Christmas Club' bank account over the year - so 12 monthly payments - and we then get a nice lump sum to pay for Christmas.

I got my payment this weekend so I just put in a very large Amazon order that will cover DH's birthday (Boxing Day) and my Great Niece, Nephew and Godson's Christmas plus some things for me and Lia (just because!)

We don't buy presents for adults in my family as it's so expensive and a bit daft to just be swapping stuff we don't really need. There's enough kids now that it's just easier to buy for them. We do buy for each other and my Mum still and she for us but that's all. We do also buy for the Greeks as they get a bit more offended if we don't get them anything but I leave that to DH to organise.

Lia is getting a bicycle this Christmas and it's already paid for as DH's Grandmother gave some money for Lia a while back. We have a few small bits and pieces for her but I don't see us getting her a big present too, she was spoiled enough last year!

DH wants a telescope but is still looking to decide which actual one he would like. He's lucky because his family all give him money for Christmas and his birthday so he should have a nice sum to put towards whatever he chooses, I'll also give him some money too but have got him a book and DVD so he does at least have something extra to open on the day.

Now I just have to turn out my 'toy store' cupboard to see what's there that I can give out as gifts - I buy things over the year in the sales so I can usually cover at least half of the kids gifts I need from that.

Saturday 7 November 2009

Ssshhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Saturday 7 November 2009
Don't tell anyone but I got one of the new Michael Powell kits in the post today (I ordered it when I went to Ally Pally) and instead of focusing on my to do list I just had to start it...

Friday 6 November 2009

Noah's Ark Baby Quilt

Friday 6 November 2009
So here's my progress on the Noah's Ark stitched quilt. I've been working on this pretty much any time I have free and it actually stitches up pretty quickly. I wouldn't say it was a fun stitch though, the pre-quilting means it can be a bit of a bugger in places as I chose not to have threads showing on the back so I'm stitching only through the top two layers. In some places the pre-quilting is so tight that this can be a real struggle!

I also don't like how it looks stitched with the blue still showing but that's just be being daft and once it's all done the blue markings will disappear with a wash. Sorry it's a bit of a naff photo but I'm just going to have to face the fact that I'm crap at getting good pics!


Thursday 5 November 2009

My Framed Happy Haunting

Thursday 5 November 2009
I've had this for about a month now and only just got round to taking the pics. Badly. I apologise for the flash mark but at least you can see the mounts and framing which are absolutely superb!



And just as a reminder here's the completed stitching


Wednesday 4 November 2009

Christmas Stocking

Wednesday 4 November 2009
Last Saturday I went to a quilting course and we made a quilted Christmas Stocking. I totally over-achieved during the class and was the only one who finished and here it is:



It was a fun day and certainly motivated me to be getting on with projects at home - I miss my sewing machine!

Tuesday 3 November 2009

School disco and Halloween

Tuesday 3 November 2009
Lia had her first school disco just before half term - it only lasted 45 mins for the little kids but they loved it. Here she is posing with one of her new school friends:



And here's her enjoying some Halloween fun with Daddy - the local John Lewis branch had a whole day of free activities so there was cookie making, pin the wart on the witch, a treasure hunt and more sweeties than you can imagine!






Monday 2 November 2009

Getting Started

Monday 2 November 2009
Well I had a very productive day yesterday despite having a three hour 'power nap' in the afternoon. My plan to get the sewing machine out was unsuccessful but I did:
  1. Cut out three quilt tops
  2. Sort out some fabric for the binding of the two Christmas stockings I have to make
  3. Choose the colours for the three Sue Hawkins bookmarkers and cut the thread to the right length
  4. Locate the Winnie the Pooh book panels
  5. Stitch on the Noah's Ark Quilt
I'm definitely feeling fired up - posting the list yesterday has certainly focussed my mind. Today I have to find and order some backing fabric for the Advent panels and I'll probably need to order some wadding this month too as there's no way I have enough for all the projects I want to do. I will wait a bit though so I can better estimate the amount to order.

So, does that help or hinder your guess as to how many I'll finish before the end of March?

Sunday 1 November 2009

November Goals

Sunday 1 November 2009
So, in line with my post on 25th October I am slightly changing my goals list as I have a long list of things I want to complete before the baby arrives.

The list splits roughly into four categories - things I want to do for the baby, things I want to gift, things I'd like to do for christmas and things that I really could do with finishing because they are lying around making the place look messy! Having done this before I am fully aware of how little crafting I am going to get done after the baby arrives so clearing out this little lot will be a big bonus.

Anyway, here's the list and I will keep it updated over the next five months - anyone care to bet on how well I do? I'm sure I can come up with some sort of prize if anyone gets the right answer - pick a number between 1 and 30 and leave a comment on this post before I post my first update on 30th November and we will see who is closest. If people guess the same correct number I'll get Lia to draw a name from a hat.

For the Baby
  1. Silly Safari Quilt - blocks and border all made, it just needs to be put together and quilted
  2. Alphabuddies quilt - not started
  3. Slash and sew baby quilt - not started
  4. Raggedy pram quilt - not started
  5. Stitched Noah's Ark baby quilt - working on
Christmas Gifts
  1. Bag - a christmas gift for my MIL
  2. New Baby Sampler - for my Great Niece, promised by Christmas
  3. Baby Quilt - for my Great Niece as a Christmas gift
  4. Winnie the Pooh quilted book - Christmas gift for my nephew, cut out
  5. Sue Hawkins book marker for teacher gift - not started
  6. Sue Hawkins book marker for teacher gift - not started
  7. Sue Hawkins book marker for my god daughter - not started
To be done for Christmas
  1. Christmas Stocking - pre quilted and have been cut out so just need to be put together
  2. Christmas Stocking - pre quilted and have been cut out so just need to be put together
  3. Advent panel - not started
  4. Advent panel - not started
  5. Blue christmas quilt - fabric sorted
  6. Red christmas quilt - fabric sorted
  7. Christmas panel 1 - started last year, needs finishing off
  8. Christmas panel 2 - started last year, needs finishing off
For Stash Reduction
  1. Scream House - all the stitching done
  2. Plaid quilt - two blocks made
  3. Bag - a birthday present for my Mum last August
  4. Grandma's thread minder - stitching all done
  5. Jingle In the Tin - stitching all done
  6. Boo In the Tin - stitching all done
  7. Hop In the Tin - stitching all done
  8. Sue Hawkins pin cushion - stitching all done
  9. Flannel quilt for Lia - top made, quilting to do
  10. Table topper - it's done other than finishing the quilting and sewing some binding

Saturday 31 October 2009

October Roundup

Saturday 31 October 2009
I'm not sure it's even worth me posting this roundup because I failed miserably to reach any of my goals for October.

I mainly stitched on the Noah's Ark baby quilt (and made decent progress) but everything else was ignored and I didn't fire up the sewing machine once!

I did read a couple of books though:

The Waitress - Melissa N
athan
The Other Hand - Chris Cleave

Anyway, I have changed my goals for next month in line with my post of the 25th and hopefully I can achieve some of those in November.

Thursday 29 October 2009

Restless Leg Syndrome

Thursday 29 October 2009
When I was pregnant with Lia I suffered from twitching legs from about 4 months onwards and it got worse and worse towards the end of the pregnancy, even causing an issue in one of my arms too right at the end.

This pregnancy I've had the symptoms from almost straight away and they've been a lot worse already. I'm fine standing up and sitting down but pretty much as soon as I lie down I get an ache in my right leg and arm and I need to move them or they start twitching. The ache can be anything from vaguely annoying to downright agonising and I've been spending my nights moving from our bed to the spare bed to the sofa and back again in an attempt to get relief.

So I did some research and it appears almost 100% certain that I've got Restless Leg Syndrome. Yes that really does exist. And apparently pregnancy is a common trigger for it to start although most women don't get symptoms till the third trimester.

So at least I now know there is a name for what is keeping me awake at nights!

Apparently 5 - 10% of the population suffer from this at some point in their lives (I'm actually amazed at the number of people who have told me they or someone they know suffer from it) and there isn't really a cure as such. It can be treated with medication in the worst cases but obviously they're unlikely to start giving me anything whilst I'm pregnant.

Other treatments suggested are cutting out caffeine and alcohol, having a regular sleeping pattern, massage, accupuncture, exercise, avoiding eating just before bedtime and a hot bath before bed time. Well I don't drink alcohol even when not pregnant but I do drink diet pepsi so I have had two days caffeine free and I thought it had helped as the first night the symptoms were a lot milder but last night it was quite bad again and I definitely hadn't had any caffeine for 48 hrs.

I think though that the caffeine does make it worse though - we went out for dinner at the beginning of the week and I had two glasses of coke in the evening and that night I was in agony - so I will continue to keep my caffeine intake as low as possible - probably just one glass a day at lunchtimes.

I did eat later last night which could be the cause of last nights discomfort but my problem is that I am diabetic and I am on a seriously strict regime whilst pregnant, part of which is that I need to have a snack before bed or my blood sugar dips too low during the night and I have a hypo.

DH has been attempting to give my leg a massage in the evenings but because it involves him sitting with my leg on his lap and I have involuntary twitches he's a bit worried I might accidentally kick something I shouldn't LOL.

And as for a regular sleeping pattern, that's kind of impossible when you're being kept awake for several hours a night!

At the moment I'm coping just about but if I really can't continue like this I might consider accupuncture if it's possible (all those tiny needles, eek!) Oh and yes, I have mentioned it to my midwife and consultant but I haven't pressed the point as yet.

However, other than that issue I am fine and baby is fine. I'm currently 16 weeks and so reach the half way point at the end of November. In the grand scheme of things this really isn't as horrid as some of the things I could be suffering from during pregnancy but it would be fantastic to be able to sleep comfortably for a whole night in my own bed...

Sunday 25 October 2009

So do you want a laugh?

Sunday 25 October 2009
I've just been sorting out my stash (it was starting to take over one end of the lounge!) and I have identified all the things that I want to complete before the baby arrives in April. The list (with their current status) is:
  1. Silly Safari Quilt - blocks and border all made, it just needs to be put together and quilted
  2. Scream House - all the stitching done
  3. Plaid quilt - two blocks made
  4. 2 x bags - one was a birthday present for my Mum in August and the other is supposed to be a christmas gift for my MIL
  5. 2 x Christmas stockings - pre quilted and have been cut out so just need to be put together
  6. Two advent panels - not started
  7. Alphabuddies quilt - for the baby, not started
  8. Slash and sew baby quilt - not started
  9. Raggedy pram quilt - not started
  10. Blue christmas quilt - fabric sorted
  11. Red christmas quilt - fabric sorted
  12. New Baby Sampler - for my Great Niece, promised by Christmas
  13. Baby Quilt - for my Great Niece as a Christmas gift
  14. Winnie the Pooh quilted book - Christmas gift for my nephew, cut out
  15. Grandma's thread minder - stitching all done
  16. Three in the tins from last year - stitching all done
  17. Sue Hawkins pin cushion - stitching all done
  18. Two Sue Hawkins book markers for teachers gifts - not started
  19. Noah's Ark baby quilt - working on
  20. Flannel quilt for Lia - top made, quilting to do
  21. Two Christmas panels - started last year, need finishing off
  22. Table topper - it's done other than finishing the quilting and sewing some binding
And if I run out of stitching to do I want to get on with Merry Christmas by the Letter!

So what do you think, realistic goals? Or are you sat there laughing as hard as I am right now? It's what, under nine weeks till christmas and I want to get a lot of that done in time to gift. And then there's the slowing down of being able to do anything during my last trimester (Jan - Mar).

Still, it's written down now so I shall keep you posted. I intend to alter the style of my monthly goals posts to have this list instead and we'll see how I do. At least I held off adding that I'd like to get some Baby Jane and Tail Feathers blocks done to catch up a little bit - I may be mad but I'm not totally insane LOL.

Friday 16 October 2009

The Lurgy

Friday 16 October 2009
Ugh, just as my energy levels started increasing and my mojo returned I was struck down with the dreaded lurgy! Typical.

I left work on Monday and am only just back in the office now but I am feeling much better which is the main thing. I spent a lot of the last three days lying on the sofa watching Create and Craft on the TV (but was so unwell I didn't order ANYTHING! LOL)

DH was home for a couple of days too as he had the same thing - thankfully Lia was fine and at school so we could drop her off and have some time being pathetic without having to entertain a four year old.

Other than that, everything is okay - I'm 14 and a half weeks now and all seems to be okay (I hate this stage when you can't feel the baby yet and just have to trust that it's growning and all okay). I did think I could feel some flutterings last night but I'm not sure if that's wishful thinking or not as it's still early yet, even for a second pregnancy.

I did go to Ally Pally and I did get lots of lovely new stash but haven't taken any pictures as yet due to the lurgy. This weekend we're off to Kent for a flying visit around the family - we'll be meeting my new Great Niece (who will be two whole weeks old!) and seeing my Nephew who is going to be 1 in less than a month (gosh how time flies). Sunday we have a plan to meet friends at Legoland as long as the weather is nice (I've done it once in the rain and don't fancy it again with three under fives).

In other news Lia got a good report from school - she's in the top group in the class for phonics and the teacher says she has settled in really well and has made lots of friends. Drawing and painting are her two favourite things (they always have been) and this top group are doing writing as well as reading which is cool. Oh and she's really good with her numbers. So all in all a great start - I'm not under any illusions that she'll be joining mensa any time soon but I'm happy to know that she is coping and thriving at school - it certainly makes parenting easier.

Thursday 8 October 2009

My mojo was obviously just hiding

Thursday 8 October 2009
Last night for the first time in about eight weeks I picked up a needle and did some stitching! It's not on a current WIP, it's a new start for the baby - a pre-quilted, stamped baby quilt from Dimensions. I bought it about three years ago for a different baby entirely and never got round to doing it (I think said baby got a quilted quilt instead). To be honest I'd actually forgotten all about it until my recent stash inventory but it's lovely and it 's quite an easy-on-the-brain stitch too.

Here's a pic of the finished quilt - all I did last night was the face of the male lion but it was a start. I have no idea if I'll get it done in time for the baby's arrival but I have six months so finger's crossed.



I also had the urge to do some quilting last night too! The problem was though that I'd packed things away in the kitchen to make room for all the after school visitors today and I couldn't face getting them out and putting them away again. I can't see it being long before I do get stuck in again though. I have about three projects I want to make for the new baby, a quilt and a birth sampler to make for my new Great-Niece and of course the two bags for my Mum and MIL.

All in all it's just as well the mojo has returned!

Wednesday 7 October 2009

A Social Life? Where did that come from?

Wednesday 7 October 2009
I was chatting to a mate yesterday about meeting up and we were trying to find a mutually convenient date between now and Christmas with no luck - it seems that apart from about three odd weekend days I am totally booked up between now and 2010!

I'm not quite sure how it's happened but I suddenly seem to have a million and one social engagements. It's not like I'm usually Mrs Grumpy who doesn't see anyone, we are generally busy two or three weekends a month, but now it seems that there's been a scramble to fit in seeing everybody we know! I guess it's that time of year when you start to feel you should catch up with people and also having added another five couples to our social circle now school is part of the equation hasn't helped. Oh and school functions themselves have added several notes onto the calendar.

In a way I'm really pleased life is so busy because it means the weeks will fly by between now and Christmas which is, in my head at least, a significant date for my pregnancy - I'll be over half way and all the testing things will have been done. Christmas will be spent with my family and then we can start really getting things ready for the new arrival in the New Year. There isn't a lot to do, a coat of paint or two in the baby's room, sorting out all our old baby stuff and working out what we need so there'll be plenty of time.

So tomorrow I'm hosting a play date for five other parents and eight more kids (eek!) and then Friday we're off to dinner at one of the other parents places. Saturday is the stitching show at Ally Pally (I'm so hoping new stash will really kick start my mojo!) and then Sunday it's off to Hertfordshire for lunch with friends.

In other news, I'm a Great Aunt again as my niece had her second little girl on Saturday evening - only a 1hr 40 min labour (the cow!) and all are doing just fine. This means that our baby is almost certainly the last member of the next generation of the family. My bro and his wife are stopping at one, my elder niece is now stopping at two, I certainly won't have any more and my younger niece is adamant she won't have any (she does have two step kids). It's kind of funny that my two will be the oldest and the youngest of that little bunch, certainly not what I imagined. Still, they are all aged within five years so they should all get on - the family are all hoping I have a boy though as we have a 3 to 1 ratio of girls to boys at the moment so it'd be nice to even it up.

Monday 5 October 2009

Personal Space

Monday 5 October 2009
Okay, I am now going to rant please feel free to not bother reading but I need to get this out of my system LOL.

It has started already, people assuming that me being pregnant gives them rights to invade my personal space. I have a faux bump - no idea why but my weight has shifted around (I'm 7lb lighter now than I was when I found out I was pregnant) and I have a noticable bump between my waist and my boobs. But it means that much earlier than last time I'm having to deal with idiots who think they have the right to touch me.

My body, and in particular, my stomach, is mine, nobody elses. The list of people who have permission to touch it is a short one - DH, Lia and, if necessary, doctors. Now that I happen to be pregnant that list has expanded to include midwives. Nobody else.

Me having a baby does not mean that anybody who wishes to can come up and pat my stomach and yes I do include family and friends in that. I have no idea why anyone would assume that it is acceptable just to wander up and touch me. It's still me, it's not the baby, and I am not a touchy feely kind of girl at the best of times so now when I'm uncomfortable, a bit stressed and generally tired it certainly isn't a good idea for you to try it. If you're lucky I'll just move away, get me on a really bad day and it's likely to be a verbal warning or I may just lash out.

Obviously the majority of people don't feel the need to pat my stomach and also I am fully aware that there are some women who absolutely don't mind if you do wander up and touch them, but it really, really bothers me. A woman who works in the same building as me does this pretty much every time she sees me and she did so when I was pregnant with Lia too so now I find myself turning on my heel every time I see her heading towards me.

There, I've got that off my chest now and feel a little bit better for it - at least until the next time someone heads towards me with their hand out...

Sunday 4 October 2009

Thanks

Sunday 4 October 2009
Thanks for all your congratulations, they are much appreciated.

Sharon, in answer to your comment re will we find out the flavour of the baby, yes we will. We found out when we were having Lia and I will have around five or six scans after the time they are able to tell you so we should be pretty sure. With Lia we had five different sonographers tell us it was a girl so we figured we were okay to go with pink stuff.

The main reason for finding out for me is that DH and I have to have a huge name discussion should this be a boy. If it's a girl we've pretty much got the name chosen and have had for about three years but a boy will be much more of an issue.

As you probably know DH is Greek and the tradition there is to name after the Grandfather. I have a problem with this because I don't like 'juniors', I think that a child should have it's own name and it's own identity and in my family we have always given a middle name as a 'family' name and first names are whatever name we like. In fact, judging by my mates this is pretty much the tradition in the UK.

So for that reason I don't want a child named after my father-in-law. Any more than I wanted Lia named after my mother-in-law - she has my MIL's name as a middle name and there are certain members of the family who still insist on calling her 'Little Zoe' rather than Lia or her full first name. Believe me that was a tough battle on my part - I see the fact that 1) I am prepared to choose a Greek name and 2) I am prepared to not insist on naming the child from my side enough of a compromise that DH has to accept the middle name option as his compromise.

However, there is also another reason why I don't want my child named after my father-in-law and that is because his name is Achilles. Now I guess some of you out there are going 'and? What's wrong with that?' and to you I say, go ahead, feel free to name your child after my father-in-law, just don't expect me to.

I just don't like the name.

I also don't think it'd be very fair to give a kid that name and send it to school. It's not like I grew up thinking 'one day I'll have a son and I'll call him Achilles'... If I remember correctly it was going to be Michael, Peter and Connor.

I think DH has agreed that Achilles will be the middle name but the bigger battle now is getting him to agree on any other name as a first name. Everything I've tried has had a negative response so we've put all discussions on hold till we know that we need to have them. And trust me, I'd much rather have that discussion part way through the pregnancy than in the delivery room LOL.

Friday 2 October 2009

My 104th post of 2009

Friday 2 October 2009
If there is anyone out there still reading after my weeks of not posting very much and moaning about being tired and having no real inclination to craft, well done.

There is a reason for the fug that I've been under and, if you haven't guessed, it's the fact that I'm pregnant!

Yep, 12 weeks (or 10 weeks if you go by the American method of counting). It wasn't a surprise as we had been trying, but we'd been trying for a long time - so long in fact I was just starting to think that maybe it wasn't going to happen. I never imagined I'd have an almost five year gap between kids but that's just the way these things work out sometimes and of course there are lots of advantages to Lia being so much older as she'll be able to help out and understand when Mummy is very tired and can't play as much as she'd like to.

Due to other health problems I'm a high risk pregnancy so it's all a bit stressful (lots of extra scans and tests and consultant visits) but we're doing okay for now. I won't be able to relax fully till Christmas when all the health scans will be completed and hopefully okay. After that it's just the stress of the birth plan as the baby has to come out at least a week early which means induction (which was totally awful last time due to me having a bad reaction to the drugs used) or an elective caesarian. Of course there is a teeny tiny chance junior would decide to come early and start the show themselves but given last time was an emergency caesarian at midnight after 30 hours of , not to put too finer point on it, hell, I think I need to just accept the elective and try not to think about it for the next 26 weeks.

I've been really lucky as apart from being shattered for the last two and a half months I've had no icky symptoms at all other than vague stomach aches which equate to TOTM pains. I wasn't sick with Lia either so I've definitely gotten off lightly.

There also seems to be a bit of a baby boom around me now (isn't it always the way?) DH's sister is also pregnant with her second as our other friends of ours who are about two weeks ahead of us. Not only that two of the other Mums that I have got friendly with are also pregnant with their second (and third as one is having twins!) so I've got lots of company.

I'm hoping that now I'm into the second trimester the tiredness will ease a bit - I think some of it is stress though as all the extra tests I have to have are a worry. Still, time flies along and it certainly won't be long before Christmas is here - Lia has so much going on at school between now and then that I have plenty to take my mind off it all.

We've only just explained things to Lia - I didn't want to tell her in the early stages in case there were any issues - and she's really pleased. She's been asking for a baby brother for about six months now so it's nice to be finally able to tell her there's a chance she's getting one, apart from the small issue that she's determined she wants a baby brother and a baby sister will not do. I'm not sure how we can get around that one but given a while ago she told me she'd rather have a cat than a baby brother I think she should be easily convinced to be happy about either. LOL.

See, if only I'd have planned this a bit better this would have been a great 100th post of the year...

Thursday 1 October 2009

October Goals

Thursday 1 October 2009
Stitching Goals
1. Continue WIP busting
2. Work on Christmas by the Letter
3. Work on Coeur de Brodeuse
4. Work on Birds of a Feather
5. Work on Snowman Trio

Quilting Goals
1. Make two advent panels
2. Quilt something!
3. Make the two bags I should have made in August!

Current Stitching WIP List
1. Bent Creek - Snapperbets
2. Tournicoton - Coeur de Brodeuse
3. The Cat's Whiskers - Birds of a Feather Dilly Bag

4. Dimensions - Sleigh Ride
5. Bothy Threads - Row of Christmas Fairies
6. Margaret Sherry - Santa's Journey Afghan
7. Stitchy Kitty - Snowman Trio

8. Lizzie*Kate - ABC Lessons
9. Lizzie*Kate - Christmas by the Letter
10. Glendon Place - Murky Manor

11. Just Nan - Four Wishes
12. Michael Powell - Cottage Garden 2
13. Bent Creek - Snapperville Series
14. Ink Circles - Cirque de Cercles
15. Michael Powell - Handmade Houses 4

16. Stoney Creek - Noah's Sub
17. DMC - Wild Ones Alphabet
18. Teresa Wentzler - Tradewinds
19. Dracolair - Dawn Awakening

20. Midsummer Night Designs - Heaven Above
21. Shepherd's Bush - Be Attitudes Afghan
22. Dragon Dreams - Dragon Virtues Afghan
23. Bothy Threads - Cut Thru Fairy Hill

Wednesday 30 September 2009

September Roundup

Wednesday 30 September 2009
Stitching Goals
1. Finish Happy Haunting - yes and it's safely with the framer
2. Work on Tempest - yep and it's all finished!
3. Work on Birds of a Feather Dilly Bag - nope
4. Work on Coeur de Brodeuse - nope

Stitching Finishes
1. Happy Haunting
2. Tempest

Quilting Goals
1. Make three bags - one made
2. Finish last jungle quilt top - nope
3. Work on Baby Jane - nope
4. Work on Tail Feathers - nope

Other Goals
Stash Reduction - a teeny tiny bit
Take pictures of my recent WIPs and finishes to share! - I did manage a few pics but not everything was included

Books Read
The Beach House - Jane Green
Dear Teacher - Jack Sheffield
Just a Family Affair - Veronica Henry
Smart Women - Judy Blume
Making Money - Terry Pratchett

New Stash Arrivals
Baby Jane month 6
Tail Feathers month 3
Picture This Plus FOTM
Just Nan - Spooky Tin
Just Nan - Counting Bats
SamSarah Baubles - J&K
Lizzie*Kate - Christmas by the Letter - RIST & MAS
JCS - Halloween Edition
Various bits and pieces of fabric

For someone who is supposedly on the wagon that's quite a lot of stash this month but most of them are auto ship commitments - my only real indulgence was Counting Bats.

Friday 25 September 2009

Time certainly flies!

Friday 25 September 2009
So here we are at the end of the second week of my new working hours and all I can say is it's fab! Lia and I have a great routine worked out for the mornings that means we're ready on time with no rushing and DH just gets himself ready and out of the house - his alarm goes off an hour before mine so he's usually gone before I get up.

All in all things slotting nicely into place. Lia seems to be making friends and is definitely happy at school. She was extremely chuffed on Wednesday because she was allowed to ring the school bell in the morning. She just went up to the Head Teacher and asked if she could do it and the head said yes.

I'm getting better acquainted with my new 'Mum Group' too which is nice. Three of the other four walk past our house on the school run so we walk home with them (I drive Lia to school as I have to get to work straight from there). Tonight we're going to the park after school and we've already started chatting about play dates. The all have girls too and they do all seem to get along (for now, I'm sure it won't be long before there's mini dramas between them LOL).

I'm also pretty sure I have most of the kids names now it's just putting them to faces. And then of course also learning Mums and Dads too - I'm thinking of starting a list.

Work is okay but busy - I've been out and about at lots of meetings recently which has added nearly 400 miles on my travel in the last two weeks so most evenings I'm completely knackered and just curl up on the sofa in front of whatever is on the TV. I have done a little stitching and am itching to get back to quilting so I'm hoping my energy levels start to pick up next month.

We have a busy weekend coming up - Lia's ballet tomorrow morning and then off to see friends then a School Church Service on Sunday morning after which friends are coming to ours. The school has a family service at our local church every third Sunday of the month which is very useful because the Greek Church / School runs every Sunday except the third Sunday of the month because they hold a Ukranian service on those days.

It seems that despite my position as a non-believer (or at least a non-believer in organised religion) I will be attending Church for quite some time to come! Still, I think it's important for Lia to have religion as part of her upbringing, especially the Greek part as she is so removed from that part of her heritage.

I've started looking around for swimming lessons for her - I am vaguely embarassed she's not learned to swim yet and it's all down to me not being that keen to be seen in public in a swimming costume which is dumb. So I intend to change my mental attitude and get her in the pool pronto. Whilst looking around for swimming classes I've discovered several gymnastic classes too so I'm wondering if she'd like to do something like that as well. Now we have a couple of hours free every afternoon it's a good opportunity to get her doing more things and several of the other girls do them as well.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Wednesday 16 September 2009

My 100th Post of 2009

Wednesday 16 September 2009
It's a shame I don't really have anything momentous to post about LOL.

Still, one of my 2009 goals was to have more than 100 posts this year so unless I suddenly disappear I have managed just that. I'm not likely to be twice as talkative as last year though - I think another 86 posts before Christmas is unlikely!

One thing I would like to bring your attention to though is a new Designers blog called Among the Gum Trees. It's a group of nine designers who have put together a blog to advertise their designs but also to provide lots of lovely freebies for us all. It only launched this week but there is already a massive give away from them all and from 5th October there will be weekly Christmassy freebies for us to enjoy.

Other than that life is just ticking along nicely. We're now half way through our first week of school and part time work and all is still okay. Lia was much more confident in the playground this morning and chattier with the other children. I'm not sure quite why but there's a very uneven mix of boys and girls in her class - only 5 boys and 22 girls! Shame they're four, I'm sure the boys would appreciate it more in around 10 years LOL.

Also today is the birthday of one of the other girls in the class meaning she's the first to turn 5. It's strange thinking that it's another nine months till Lia will reach that milestone (and 11 and a half months till the youngest little girl in the class makes it). It's not until now that I've really considered how that age cut off for school can potentially be a negative for some children - little Billy Jo (the baby of the class) is so tiny compared to the rest of her class and her Nan was telling me how she's completely whacked out after just half days school.

Thankfully it seems Lia will be okay despite being one of the younger ones - she is so used to long days at nursery that a shorter school day is a treat! Not that she doesn't get tired mind you - it was a really long day for her yesterday and she was pretty bushed by the time we got home. In fact she asked for a cuddle half way home because she was tired - almost unheard of from her.

Tuesday 15 September 2009

Our new routine

Tuesday 15 September 2009
Well it's day two of our new family routine and we're doing okay. I can get Lia to school and arrive at work with around 2 mins to spare and have enough time to park at home and walk round to collect her from school in the afternoon.

It's about a 10 minute walk to school from our house - 15 if Lia is involved - so it's nice for me to be able to walk and pick her up. It'll also be nice as there's a girl in her class who lives near us so we can walk home together.

I've settled down to part time hours very quickly although it was strange being home at 3.30pm - yesterday I was wandering around counting down the time till I needed to start dinner - I'm used to it being such a rush LOL. Today Lia is attending and after school club (skipping club) so I don't need to pick her up until an hour later than normal time which means I'll have an extra hour at home to amuse myself. Which probably means I will do nothing but procrastinate about how best to spend my time...

I've started networking with the other Mums. It's weird, we've lived in our town for 11 years now but neither of us has ever actually worked there so we've not built up a network of local friends. School is now an opportunity for us to do just that - Lia makes friends and we make friends. It also means I've got other Mums who can help out by picking up / dropping off if there is an emergency which is fantastic.

Lia's social calendar has already trebled in size with all the stuff for school plus ballet lessons and Greek school and I imagine once play dates and parties start happening she'll be busier than the pair of us put together.

So it's all ticking over nicely at the moment. I'm getting plenty of stitching in, although not a lot of quilting, so my WIP killing is coming along nicely. I have stopped stitching at work though as even though I have a 30 min lunch break it seems like I'm skiving if I sit and stitch given my day is so short.

Wednesday 9 September 2009

Stash and Happy Dancing

Wednesday 9 September 2009
Okay, so I finally got round to taking a few pictures.

Here are a couple of recent happy dances - a bag I made for a friend who is going to teach me to ice cakes in return:



Lia's school bag (and Lia on her first day of school!



Happy Haunting from Shepherd's Bush:



And now for my recent stash purchases (clickable of bigger pictures.

SamSarah Monthly Baubles J and K, JCS Halloween Edition, Lizzie*Kate Christmas by the Letter RIST & MAS, Heart in Hand last four Christmas Markings, LHN Winter Thread Pal:



Various bits and pieces of fabric I've picked up over the last week or so plus my Tail Feathers BOM:



Just Nan Spooky Tin, Pumpkin Jack Garden Pin, Counting Bats full kit:


Tuesday 1 September 2009

September Goals

Tuesday 1 September 2009
Stitching Goals
1. Finish Happy Haunting (it has to be sent to the framer by 28th September)
2. Work on Tempest
3. Work on Birds of a Feather Dilly Bag
4. Work on Coeur de Brodeuse

Quilting Goals
1. Make three bags
2. Finish last jungle quilt top
3. Work on Baby Jane
4. Work on Tail Feathers

Other Goals
Stash Reduction
Take pictures of my recent WIPs and finishes to share!

Current Stitching WIP List
1. Teresa Wentzler - Tempest
2. Bent Creek - Snapperbets

3. Dimensions - Sleigh Ride
4. Bothy Threads - Row of Christmas Fairies
5. Margaret Sherry - Santa's Journey Afghan
6. Stitchy Kitty - Snowman Trio

7. Shepherd's Bush - Happy Haunting
8. Glendon Place - Murky Manor
9. Tournicoton - Coeur de Brodeuse
10. The Cat's Whiskers - Birds of a Feather Dilly Bag

11. Just Nan - Four Wishes
12. Michael Powell - Cottage Garden 2
13. Bent Creek - Snapperville Series
14. Ink Circles - Cirque de Cercles
15. Michael Powell - Handmade Houses 4

16. Stoney Creek - Noah's Sub
17. DMC - Wild Ones Alphabet
18. Teresa Wentzler - Tradewinds
19. Dracolair - Dawn Awakening

20. Midsummer Night Designs - Heaven Above
21. Shepherd's Bush - Be Attitudes Afghan
22. Dragon Dreams - Dragon Virtues Afghan
23. Bothy Threads - Cut Thru Fairy Hill

24. Lizzie*Kate - ABC Lessons
25. Lizzie*Kate - Christmas by the Letter

Monday 31 August 2009

August Roundup

Monday 31 August 2009
Stitching Goals
1. Work on Happy Haunting - yes
2. Work on Christmas by the Letter - no
5. Work on ABC Lessons - no
6. Work on Tempest - yes

Quilting Goals
1. Get caught up with the Baby Jane blocks - no
2. Work on the flannel quilt blocks - quilt top finished!
3. Make four bags - one made and the others cut out
4. Work on Tail Feathers - nope

Other Goals
1. Stash reduction - I have identified some things to get rid of but just need to actually list them for sale
2. Stash organisation - yes, made really good progress

Books Read
Wifey - Judy Blume
Inkheart - Cornelia Funke

New Stash Arrivals
Baby Jane month 5
Tail Feathers month 2
Picture This Plus FOTM

Tuesday 25 August 2009

MIA

Tuesday 25 August 2009
Apologies as I have been missing in action somewhat for the last couple of weeks.

I've been busy re-organising our life somewhat as we had to cancel our trip to Greece for personal reasons (nothing serious, just a tad inconvenient!) That in turn had a knock on effect on other things like when Lia finished nursery, holiday from work, etc so it's been a bit mad around our place for a while.

However, it's all sorted now, I'm in the office this week instead of being in Greece and Lia is enjoying an extra week at nursery. I pushed my holiday back by a week so I'm now working this week and then on leave for two weeks. This means that I am now taking one weeks leave in full time hours and one in part time (instead of two weeks in full time hours) so I've actually saved myself a weeks holiday for use later on.

It also means I can take Lia to school for her first week when she's doing only two hours a day which makes me really happy.

I'm grateful we're not in Athens now. We were due to fly out on Saturday, right into the horror of the fires around Athens and we would have had a terrible time if we had gone. Our plans were to drive out of Athens and up to our house in north Greece but we wouldn't have been able to get out because of the fires and the whole atmosphere in Athens with the smoke, ash, etc would have meant we'd be stuck indoors.

Thankfully all our friends and family live away from where the fires are right now but one of DH's closest friends is a fireman so we're constantly worried about him being okay.

We are still having a long weekend together this coming weekend - Monday is a Bank Holiday here in the UK and DH is taking Tues and Wed as leave so we have plans to see friends and go to various events happening locally. I'll then have a couple of days to get any last minute bits for Lia (like school shoes!)

Other than that lot I am still stitching and quilting, maybe not as productively as usual, but I'm getting there. I have been digging out lots of old half finished projects with the idea that I should get them finished and out of the way. I cut a flannel quilt for Lia about 18 months ago and have finally put the top together. It's on of the few projects I have the backing fabric for so I may even get it quilted in time for her to use this winter.

I didn't get all the bags made I needed to this month but I'm hoping that I will be motivated to get lots done when I'm at home for the next couple of weeks. I've have picked up a couple of old stitching WIPs that haven't seen the light of day for a while though and am motivated to get them finished. I think that my de-stashing and organisation has motivated me to work harder at reducing my WIP list - there's so many lovely things I want to start but I don't want loads of projects lying around so I am being stern with myself about getting some finishes first.

Monday 10 August 2009

On a Go Slow...

Monday 10 August 2009
For some reason August seems to have sapped my energy - we're off on holiday the weekend after next and I'm feeling kind of in limbo as the holiday marks the 'big change' in our lives to the new improved routine.

I am stitching - Happy Haunting is getting so close to a finish and Tempest is coming on nicely. I am also doing a bit of sewing but I just can't settle, I want to slob around a bit but I also find myself pacing and looking at things I think should be done but don't actually get around to doing.

Anyway, I just had a lovely weekend with friends and am expecting my niece and her little girl this weekend so Lia and I should have lots of fun.

I will, at some point, really get round to posting some pictures...

Monday 3 August 2009

Avast me Car Keys...

Monday 3 August 2009
Lia has a pirate party at nursery tomorrow and we've been trying to teach her some pirate-y like phrases. However, due to much merriment at her mistake it seems that it will forever be 'Avast me Car Keys' in our family...

Saturday 1 August 2009

August Goals

Saturday 1 August 2009
Stitching Goals
1. Work on Happy Haunting
2. Work on Christmas by the Letter
5. Work on ABC Lessons
6. Work on Tempest

Quilting Goals
1. Get caught up with the Baby Jane blocks
2. Work on the flannel quilt blocks
3. Make four bags
4. Work on Tail Feathers

Other Goals
1. Stash reduction
2. Stash organisation

Current Stitching WIP List
1. Teresa Wentzler - Tempest
2. Bent Creek - Snapperbets

3. Dimensions - Sleigh Ride
4. Bothy Threads - Row of Christmas Fairies
5. Margaret Sherry - Santa's Journey Afghan
6. Stitchy Kitty - Snowman Trio

7. Shepherd's Bush - Happy Haunting
8. Glendon Place - Murky Manor
9. Tournicoton - Coeur de Brodeuse
10. The Cat's Whiskers - Birds of a Feather Dilly Bag

11. Just Nan - Four Wishes
12. Michael Powell - Cottage Garden 2
13. Bent Creek - Snapperville Series
14. Ink Circles - Cirque de Cercles
15. Michael Powell - Handmade Houses 4

16. Stoney Creek - Noah's Sub
17. DMC - Wild Ones Alphabet
18. Teresa Wentzler - Tradewinds
19. Dracolair - Dawn Awakening

20. Midsummer Night Designs - Heaven Above
21. Shepherd's Bush - Be Attitudes Afghan
22. Dragon Dreams - Dragon Virtues Afghan
23. Bothy Threads - Cut Thru Fairy Hill

24. Lizzie*Kate - ABC Lessons
25. Lizzie*Kate - Christmas by the Letter

Friday 31 July 2009

July Roundup

Friday 31 July 2009
Stitching Goals
1. Work on Happy Haunting - frogged a large section that I'd been putting off doing, re-stitched and got lots more done
2. Work on Snapperbets - nope
5. Work on Lizzie*Kate ABC Lessons - started and then re-started on a nicer fabric.
6. Work on Wild Ones Alphabet - nope

Stitching New Starts:
Lizzie*Kate ABC Lessons
Lizzie*Kate - Merry Christmas by the Letter

Books Read
Names My Sisters Call Me - Megan Crane
The Monsters of Templeton - Lauren Groff

Quilting Goals
1. Get caught up with the Baby Jane blocks - nope but I did get several more done
2. Work on the flannel quilt blocks - nope
3. Make a bag - yep - two!
4. Organise my sewing projects - kinda (I'm doing a big stash reorganisation)

Other Sewing
Baby quilt

New Stash Arrivals
Lizzie*Kate - Merry Christmas By the Letter - MERRYCH
SamSarah - I is for Icecream
Picture This Plus FOTM
Baby Jane BOM month 4

Tuesday 28 July 2009

A Sunny Day

Tuesday 28 July 2009
The weather heard my moaning and has, at the time of writing this, cheered up again. Although according to the forecasters it's not going to last.

Still, I got lots of sleep last night and am refreshed and back to having a sunny outlook on life. I got stuck into some serious quilting last night as I decided on the drive home to make a small quilt for Lia's Key Worker at nursery who is having a baby. Only thing is that she finishes on Friday. And Lia doesn't go to nursery on a Friday so the quilt has to be ready by Thursday. Yes I do mean this week!

She doesn't know what flavour she's having so it had to be a pretty neutral one and I remembered I had a lot of left over Winnie the Pooh fabric from when I made my nephew a quilt - cue half an hour of digging through my stash and comparing fabrics to make sure I had enough for what I wanted to do and then an evening of measuring, cutting and sewing. Quilt top is completed so tonight I will layer and quilt - only round the block quilting - and hopefully get the first two sides of binding on.

So I'm happy because I should get it done in plenty of time (well with a day to spare but given I only had three days to do it that's good time management) and also because I used up a lot of fabric from my stash that I had no idea what I would use it for.

DH put together an extension for our wardrobe at the weekend. Only another corner unit to end it off but he moved all of his clothes there and freed up some space in the rest of it so I now have more stash space. *grin*. This is not a reason to buy more stash, this is a reason to store my fabric in a better way and also to be ruthless about culling what I know I'm not going to use. I've already identified around 30 pieces of hand dyed cross stitch fabric that I will never stitch on and two kits I know I won't ever get round to doing and that was only clearing two small boxes out!

I'm trying to organise my fabric better - Christmas, Halloween and batiks all sorted into piles and then the rest by colour so I'm not constantly digging around for stuff or missing bits. I have very little fabric I don't like but the few pieces I do have I'm going to put to one side to practice machine quilting on. I did a course on free motion quilting a while back but haven't really done anything since (it took me quite a while to get the table for my machine for a start). I also want to try some patterns - I'm bored with just in the ditch quilting around blocks!

So, my stash de-clutter has started and I'm going to start listing things on eBay soon - if nothing else anything I sell will pay for a couple of Baby Jane BOM installments.

I'm also still working on the Big House Clean Up. My idea is to get it all done before we go away in three weeks and then when I am working less I can devote an hour each day to cleaning, one room a day so the house will be much tidier and we don't have to spend time doing it at the weekends.

Monday 27 July 2009

Monday Morning Blues...

Monday 27 July 2009
It's raining and cold yet again here. It's July for god's sake, surely it's not too much to ask that we have some consistently decent sunny weather for a few weeks a year?

DH has been sick for a week now - a hacking cough and catarrh - and Lia has been coughing and snuffling for weeks on and off. I spent most of yesterday with a dodgy stomach and still don't feel 100% today (although that could be due to the lack of sleep as Lia woke us at 5am as she had a nosebleed).

We're seriously discussing moving to Greece! We're off out there in three and a half weeks and we're going to look at jobs, property, etc, etc. I'm not saying we're going to be heading out there but when the weather is like this and we're all in desperate need of some vitamin D then a move gets more and more enticing.

However, once I've spent a few days in 45 degree heat I'll probably swear I'm never moving there ever as I'll expire in the heat LOL.

I seem to have spent the last four months constantly on the phone shouting at people about terrible customer service. The battle of Lia's bed has been a tough one and was only resolved when I wrote to the Managing Director - a four page tirade at their appalling customer service - although I have to say I'm not sure if it was the letter that cracked it as I have never had one response from the company in all the months since I ordered the bed (April 13th to be precise). I tried polite, angry, ranting, crying, threatening, begging their customer services for over 25 calls and several emails before the letter to the MD and not once did they contact me when they said they would, acknowledge any emails or the letter.

My advice to any of you reading this is do not buy anything, let alone a £500 bed, from the Great Little Trading Company as their customer service is non-existent. Throughout my whole crap experience dealing with them I have felt nothing but that they think if they just do nothing I'll give up and go away. They didn't know me that well...

Anyway, the correct colour of bed is being delivered this thursday and then I can completely ignore their existence other than to continue to warn everyone about shopping with them.

We also had to have our French Doors re-fitted due to the inital fitters doing a really bad job. That was DH's battle and has only just been sorted (the doors were originally fitted at the beginning of May).

Then there's the saga of my Mum's house sale which I'll admit, hasn't really involved any effort from us, but it was the longest, most hideous house sale agreement in the history of property and, after just over a year, it fell through at the beginning of June. However, we now have a new agent, a new buyer and a confident attitude so all fingers are crossed here that it is resolved in the next month.

So, it's moan, moan, moan here right now.

However, I'm sure that Tuesday will bring a more positive attitude from me so I can live up to my name and not scare away all of my readers...

I will, if nothing else, try and get some piccies posted as I got five Baby Jane blocks done at the weekend.

Wednesday 22 July 2009

Getting Organised

Wednesday 22 July 2009
As you've no doubt gathered our lives are going to change quite a bit in seven weeks time when Lia starts school. My working hours will drop from 7.5 hrs a day to 4.5 hrs a day and the whole family routine will change. For a start the alarm clock will go off a whole hour later LOL.

Anyway, the big change involves an overhaul of the routine we've lived with for four years - Lia will need to get used to five days at school rather than four at nursery, I'll have to get used to finishing work mid afternoon (although that's not going to be a difficult one!) and there'll be more activities at the weekends - ballet as a permanent fixture and Greek School three sundays a month.

We'll also be a teeny bit worse off - most of the drop in my wages is not as bad as it could be as we'll be losing the nursery bill every month but it will mean we need to manage our finances a bit better - household management will need to be included in the weekly routine just because we're pretty bad at keeping track of outgoings.

I'm also in a tidying up and organising mood as is DH which is good. I have started by tidying up this blog a bit - updating it with Lia's pic and removing all the blogs I read that haven't been updated for more than two months (I still have them all bookmarked though and check regularly to see if their authors are back blogging). I'm also going to include info on the books I'm reading and projects I'm working on in the side bars to keep me on track.

I should at this point confess that my rotation has been abandoned - you may have noticed that it has gone from my sidebar. I really enjoyed the rotation and at the beginning it really worked for me - I was motoring through things but then I signed up for the Baby Jane BOM, got more into quilting and ran out of time to do everything I wanted. I'm not quitting altogether, I will stil try and work on one WIP a month and also swap between one christmas and one halloween project a month but until I know how life is going to work out after September the strict rotation is no more.

I've also just signed up to Library Thing, or rather rediscovered the membership I set up months and months ago. I am going to catalogue all the books I have to read so I actually have a list to shame myself with LOL.

We're also compiling a list of jobs that need doing round the house that we have the materials for but just haven't gotten round to - painting the garage, boarding the loft, etc - and I'm hoping that we will be a bit more pro-active at getting stuff done rather than vegging out all the time!

Tuesday 21 July 2009

Time Flies...

Tuesday 21 July 2009
Seems like only yesterday this:







Was this:


















Monday 20 July 2009

I'm back

Monday 20 July 2009
A good time was had by all - the weather could have been a little kinder but we still had lots of fun and, more importantly, there were no fallings out!

My in-laws are now safely back in Greece - they really enjoyed the cooler weather (it was 42 degrees when they left and 39 when they went back so rain was a relief) and loved seeing Lia. They will get to see her again when we go out there in five weeks time and we've also booked them as childcare for the February half term next year (I'm already working on holiday cover!)

I don't have any holiday snaps to show you as yet - I didn't have a camera so am at the mercy of those who did uploading their pictures. But I do have pictures of my holiday stash purchases from the quilting shop at the farm.

As well as the money I had saved up a lovely friend contacted Jo (shop owner) to organise a belated birthday gift of vouchers to spend so I got to go a bit mad!

So here's my birthday present purchases:



The blue fabrics are for the book bag I'm going to make for Lia, the christmas ones are for my (future) christmas Baby Jane and the rest are just because I liked them!

I also got a bit more pink fabric - there's another baby girl addition to the family due in October and I'd hate to run out! (please note the sarcasm)




I also got some girlie blue fabrics as Lia's school colour is royal blue and, whilst there aren't any rules about colour of bags, I thought I'd try and keep a little bit in their colour scheme:




I'm making a flannel quilt for Lia (you probably know that I keep adding it to my monthly goals to get it finished LOL) and I needed backing so I got four metres of this:




My Mum has been making comments about getting me to make her a bag so I told her to pick some fabrics. She'd originally said she liked one of the patterns I'd already made but she saw a bag in the shop that she preferred so I ended up having to buy the pattern for that one too. As MIL was with us I offered her a bag as well and not only did she choose the same pattern she chose the same fabrics as Mum. Spooky how similar their tastes are! Anyway, here are their fabric choices:




And here are the patterns for the two bags - the one for the Mums on the left and Lia's book bag on the right (sorry they're so dark!)




MIL also really loved a panel so I bought it for her to do as a gift (there'll be a lot of hand quilting so it won't be gifted this year). Here's the top half of the panel (it's very large, I couldn't get it all in one shot!)




And finally I got a gypsy gripper which is the pink thing in this picture - it suctions on to the ruler so you get a good grip, your fingers are out of the way of the rotary cutter and you get a nice even pressure. I love it, it makes cutting so much easier.




So quite a haul!

I now have five bags to make in the next month - the two for the Mums, Lia's book bag and PE bag and a bag for a friend at work who is leaving. The work friend wanted to pay for the bag but I bartered instead - she is fantastic at icing cakes so is going to give me a lesson. I've always wanted to learn how to ice cakes properly - every time I've tried it looks like I've buried several mice underneath the icing - so I'm happy for the swap.

Friday 10 July 2009

Off on our Hols!

Friday 10 July 2009
We're off for a weeks holiday tomorrow with most of my family - my Mother, Mother-in-Law, Father-in-Law, Sister, Brother-in-Law, Niece, Nephew-in-Law (if that's the right label LOL) and Great Niece!

We're taking over three farm cottages at Villavin Farm in Devon. DH, Lia and I had a lovely week there last year so we're going back (and no, my enjoyment was in no way enhanced by the fact there is a quilting shop on the farm too, of course it isn't...)

Hopefully the weather will be kind to us as there are lovely beaches nearby but just spending time together will be fun, it's the first family holiday we've had since I was a kid and Lia is so excited about having her little cousin there to play with as they get on like a house on fire.

Thursday 9 July 2009

School (yet again)

Thursday 9 July 2009
So yesterday was our 'trial' school day. A two hour session in the morning with lots of the other kids who will be starting in September and then a parents session in the late afternoon to meet the Head and Deputy Head, buy uniform, etc.

Lia absolutely loved it. She did jigsaws, counting, painting, plasticine, sticking, jumping, climbing, hopscotch and much much more. She also got friendly with lots of the other children which is good, including several that live nice and close to us and I made friends with their Mums which is also good.

All in all it was a very positive start - I had to drag Lia out of there when it was time to leave, she didn't want to go. The teachers were fantastic and there were a couple of parents there who have kids in the school telling us how well they settled in. All very friendly and welcoming. The Head Teacher is very open and friendly with a great sense of humour which pleases me as I still remember my first Head with real affection and I'd love for Lia to have that. My Mum still sees Mr Davies and he always askes after my brother and I although that could mean we were unforgettable in a bad way as much as a good way LOL.

So we're now all looking forward to September. Lia only has five weeks left at nursery as we're on holiday next week and then we're off to Greece for ten days at the end of August. She's so excited about starting school - long may it last!

Saturday 4 July 2009

Some sewing finishes

Saturday 4 July 2009
I made this little guy on Wednesday - he's very simple to make and I intend to make some bigger ones for door stops. DH has bagsied this one for a paper weight at the office



I've been wanting to make another bag for a while and I picked this pattern because again it doesn't have a zip or anything too complicated. I'm really pleased with it as it was a really quick project - I started it last night and finished it this afternoon, about four hours work in all. Oh and it's not wonky - the flap is held down with velcro and I didn't realise it was attached slightly to one side.


Thursday 2 July 2009

A Name is a Name...

Thursday 2 July 2009
Again I'm guilty of assuming people know what I'm talking about LOL.

A Naming Ceremony is a non-religious baptism so the equivalent of a Civil Wedding or, as it was known in our family a Pagan Christening. My Bro and his wife aren't religious but wanted to do something to celebrate Finn's arrival - plus my brother said it was about time we had a family gathering that wasn't for a funeral...

Wednesday 1 July 2009

July Goals

Wednesday 1 July 2009
Stitching Goals
1. Work on Happy Haunting - a big push to finish this (I've ordered the Jill Rensel mat for framing)
2. Work on Snapperbets
5. Work on Lizzie*Kate ABC Lessons
6. Work on Wild Ones Alphabet

Quilting Goals
1. Get caught up with the Baby Jane blocks
2. Work on the flannel quilt blocks
3. Make a bag
4. Organise my sewing projects

Current Stitching WIP List
1. Teresa Wentzler - Tempest
2. Bent Creek - Snapperbets

3. Dimensions - Sleigh Ride
4. Bothy Threads - Row of Christmas Fairies
5. Margaret Sherry - Santa's Journey Afghan
6. Stitchy Kitty - Snowman Trio

7. Shepherd's Bush - Happy Haunting
8. Glendon Place - Murky Manor
9. Tournicoton - Coeur de Brodeuse
10. The Cat's Whiskers - Birds of a Feather Dilly Bag

11. Just Nan - Four Wishes
12. Michael Powell - Cottage Garden 2
13. Bent Creek - Snapperville Series
14. Ink Circles - Cirque de Cercles
15. Michael Powell - Handmade Houses 4

16. Stoney Creek - Noah's Sub
17. DMC - Wild Ones Alphabet
18. Teresa Wentzler - Tradewinds
19. Dracolair - Dawn Awakening

20. Midsummer Night Designs - Heaven Above
21. Shepherd's Bush - Be Attitudes Afghan
22. Dragon Dreams - Dragon Virtues Afghan
23. Bothy Threads - Cut Thru Fairy Hill

Tuesday 30 June 2009

June Roundup

Tuesday 30 June 2009
Stitching Goals
1. Work on Sleigh Ride - nope
2. Work on Tempest - a good start made
3. Complete Alphabet Baubles E - nope
4. Complete Boo Club - yes
5. Work on Snapperbets - a teeny tiny bit
6. Work on Cirque des Cercles - nope

Stitching New Starts:
Teresa Wentzler - Tempest

Stitching Finishes:
Lizzie*Kate Boo Club

Books Read
Stephanie Meyer - New Moon
Stephanie Meyer - Eclipse
Stephanie Meyer - Breaking Dawn
Enid Blyton - The Circus of Adventure
Enid Blyton - The Ship of Adventure
Enid Blyton - The River of Adventure
Enid Blyton - The Mountain of Adventure
Enid Blyton - The Sea of Adventure
Freya North - Secrets

Quilting Goals
1. Complete lots and lots of Baby Jane blocks (I'll have 30 blocks arrived by the middle of the month and only 2 done!) - 8 done
2. Finish up the outstanding flannel quilt top - nope
3. Finish up the outstanding jungle quilt top - nope
4. Sort out all 'current' projects and get a plan in place to get them finished - I made a start

New Stash Arrivals
Heart in Hand Christmas Markings
Picture This Plus - FOTM
Baby Jane BOM

I didn't manage so well with my stitching goals but I did re-organise my rotation in recognition of the fact that I just can't stitch as much and get on with quilting and having a life!

Monday 29 June 2009

What's in a name?

Monday 29 June 2009
We had a lovely weekend - we were back in the bosom of my family as it was my nephew's Naming Ceremony yesterday.

Here he is in all his smiley glory - not from yesterday I should say, he didn't get named in a 'Menace' shirt and a silly hat, this is from a couple of weeks ago. DH didn't remember his camera yesterday so we didn't get any pics of him in his finery.



He was an absolute angel, very good all day and the party was a real success. My Bro and SIL organised a clown/magician who was great - there were loads of kids under 10 there and she kept them entertained for a good hour. Lia is now obsessed with doing magic and announced last night that she wants to be a magician when she grows up!

Wednesday this week we've got Lia's new teacher visiting for the first meeting, paperwork, etc, etc so I've taken the whole day off so I can enjoy the men's quarter finals at Wimbledon in the afternoon. We're off next Wednesday too as Lia will be going to school for a couple of hours in the morning and we'll be going again in the afternoon to meet more of the teachers, buy uniform, etc. It's all getting very close now - just nine weeks till she starts! Thankfully she's very excited about it now and telling everyone that will listen that she's going to school in September.

Wednesday 24 June 2009

Boo!

Wednesday 24 June 2009
I've been pushing on with this one to get it finished this month and here it is, Lizzie*Kate's Boo Club stitched on 32ct Lugana 'Monet' from Picture This Plus using the charted Weeks and GAST:


Monday 22 June 2009

Monday Monday...

Monday 22 June 2009
We went to see the 30th Anniversary Show of War of the Worlds on Saturday night and it was spectacular! DH is a huge fan but I'd never heard the whole thing, I just knew the most famous bits, so I'd got the tickets for him really but I loved it! Not only was Jeff Wayne there conducting the whole thing, Justin Hayward and Chris Thompson reprised their original roles. I was totally blown away by Justin Hayward - I've always liked The Moody Blues but boy that man can sing and what a beautiful voice! I've told DH that if the Moody Blues tour the UK again we're going.

The downside of attending the show was the trip home on public transport which took 3 1/2 hours! It was 1.45am when we finally staggered into bed and I was up again with Lia at 7am. Consequently I didn't achieve much yesterday... If we ever go back to the O2 we'll drive for sure.

Today is a new week though and apart from coming down with the cold that Lia had last week I'm not feeling too bad, I caught up with some sleep yesterday. Plus it's Wimbledon and that always cheers me up - my only sorrow is that I'm stuck at work and not able to watch every minute of the TV coverage but I will see as much as I can - Lia's well trained and knows that when the tennis is on, CBeebies doesn't exist.

In other good news I emailed the lovely lady running my Baby Jane BOM yesterday to ask if there's any way to track my parcel and she said no but she would immediately make me up another kit and send it. How fantastic is that! I cannot recommend this BOM highly enough - it's posted on time, the kits are extremely generous (I could make at least two quilts from the fabric I've received so far) and the instructions are really clear. So if you're at all thinking about doing the Baby Jane and you like the rainbow version sign up at Twiddletails for the next session that starts in October.

Of course now she's sending a replacement, my first package is bound to turn up!

Friday 19 June 2009

Jelly Rolls

Friday 19 June 2009
For Erin, and possibly some confused English people!

A jelly roll is a collection of strips of fabric cut the width of the fabric (so about 44" long) and 2.5" wide. They come rolled together and tied up in a bundle so they resemble a Jelly Roll, or what we'd call a Swiss Roll in the UK.

I don't normally like jelly rolls, too much fabric not to my taste in them, and obviously they can be quite restrictive given you don't have any fabric more than 2.5" wide but this roll jumped off the shelf and into my arms screaming 'buy me Joy, I was made for you' LOL. There are tons and tons of books out there with jelly roll designs in and you never know, I may end up doing another one at some point, it'll take an equally lovely roll to entice me again though...

Here's a link so you can see some

Thursday 18 June 2009

More quilty things

Thursday 18 June 2009
So I have been doing some other projects as well as the Baby Jane quilt. Here's a Bento Box quilt I did with my first ever jelly roll:



I made this cushion cover from a kit:



This cute halloween lap quilt was also a kit:



And this is my last quilting class project finished as a 'roll' that I can keep my stitching wips in:



I'm still motoring on with the Baby Jane quilt - three more blocks completed and lots of the applique pinned and ready to hand sew. I've now got just seven blocks I haven't started - five of them the dreaded triangles!

I'm impatiently waiting for my next package to arrive too - it was posted last monday and they usually take a week but we're now on ten days and I'm starting to sulk!
 

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