S'up Stitching

No pictures to show but I have been busy sewing.  I am taking part in Lisa's Colour Swap challenge (http://lydiastreasures.blogspot.com/) and on Tuesday I was allocated my partner.

I had a quick look at her blog and ARGH....she loves to quilt.  At first I panicked...OMG the things she makes are amazing.  And I have to make gifts for her????  Deep breath. No pressure.
It's ok.  Another deep breath.  Hang on..what was I saying in my previous post???  Ah, that is right.  I am going to learn to use my machine properly and not be scared of it any more.

Ok..time to man up and  rise to the challenge so me and my machine have been getting to know each other better.

Wow...thank you Lisa for organising this as it has meant I have had to get out of my comfort zone and I am actually really pleased with what I have managed to produce.

What am I saying?  I am well proud of the things I have made AND I still have ten fingers!!!!

I won't give my partner's details until the swap is sent and I am sure you will understand that I cannot add piccies of what I have made for her...and I don't like to mention her name without her permission though I am sure she wouldn't mind.

I have learned a few things from the past two days sewing extravoganza which I would like to share.

1.  I cannot quilt with triangle shapes, especially when I don't have a proper template for the triangle I have to cut out because my friend got carried away with the scissors after adding a plastic later around said template (sorry...very tired so language is limited again...curse radiotherapy side effects lol).  I had to give it a go though didn't I lol.

2.  You can have great fun with different fabric colours and textures and experimenting.  I played, oh did I play..and it was great.

3. Going to a quilting group is great fun...but it can be a bit intimidating when you are the only one there with all the equipment but no idea of what you are going to do with it!!!
 
Overall though it has been a good two days and I am not going to be scared of my machine anymore.  Well, maybe I will be a little bit if I see triangles in the patterns lol.

Thank you guys for your advice on putting my blog back to it's original format.  I can now find the dashboard and read all your blogs.  And yes it was Nancy from whom I bought the trim etc.

Now on a final note I have some amazing news.  Ellie (cards for Ellie) got to see Jedward today!!! I will ask her cousin and see if I can put the photo up on my blog but if not you will be able to see it on Ellie's blog in a few days hopefully.   Thank you Jedward...you made a little girl very, very happy!

Oh, another final note!  One of my hens is proud mummy to 5 wee chicks...there are two more trying to hatch out but sadly it seems to be taking them a long time and that is not a good thing.  It can be a sign that there is something wrong with them...still, five very cute, yellow, fluffy chicks is great.  AND I have started to eat my own home grown salad and have actually run out of room in my tunnel..I will take some piccies for my next post x  Have a good week everyone xx