Instagram in May

Good grief, May was a very quick month! As is my wee tradition, I'm gathering my Instagram pics that haven't made it on here yet. There's not very many of them, pretty much all I have done the last four weeks is paint and muck out a certain pony's stable. Although that might be all about to change, too. But in the meantime there's been plenty photos taken, too.

And as always there's been some cat shenanigans (Jones trying out all the high spots in the house) and Chookie winning bronze in the County Championships high jump!

My fresh sewing day will be incredibly small tomorrow but I'll join in anyway. You can't do everything,  right? At least not until I get my 28 hour day I'm always asking Santa for...

actually some sewing!

I am stressed out my box just now with end of term stuff, pending medical procedures (nothing serious just inconvenient, I'm having a huge mole removed and another photographed), the gearing up to the jump to secondary school for Chook and that time-sucking pony! Thank god the last little bits of kitchen stuff got done at the weekend. But amongst it all I've refound my sewing machine. *cheers* And while I should be doing finish-along stuff or making a cushion for a colleague's wean, what I'm actually farting about with is the Black Friday bundle I got way back in November.

I started with a lovely stack in an unusual (for me at least) colourway from M is for Make. I loved those birds and the navy.

I've spent a few months quietly adding a fat quarter here and there. Lots more critters! And then I got stumped with a pattern. I didn't want something that needed a background (so a Swoon was out, for example) but have had trouble getting the most out of my fabrics. I tried an Economy block at the start of the year but to get 2 blocks out of 1 cut meant a fairly small finished size and I wanted them as big as possible. And then last week I remembered how I'd always wanted to make a churn dash quilt. *lightbulb*

I had to do some quilt maths (I know, right?!) but comfortably get 2 10 inch blocks from one fat quarter. Which actually means I'm cutting 3 at a time and getting 6 blocks out of 3. I admit, I wasn't totally sold on them. Actually, I'm still not. They're not my usual colours but how many pink and aqua quilts do you need? And none of them match my home! This at least has a chance of being used on a bed!

I'm at the halfway point. The other half are cut but not pieced, I'm going to mix up the matches a little so I get new combinations. And because I couldn't squeeze out 11 inch blocks I will need to add a border. Maybe two. Or sash it. Which I'm not sold on. But I spotted this the other day on preorder at the Village Haberdashery and thought it might be a cute border.  

Yes? No? It's a beautiful line that Mustang, innit? I think Cotton & Steel might be onto a winner with the whole range!

little bits and bobs

I've got a bit of a backlog of things to show so I'm just gonna shove them all in the one post all willy-nilly like and be done with it! Else they'll never get viewed!

First off me and Chook got an awesome parcel of glass jewellery-making beads from the very lovely Helen. Aren't they amazing?! There has been sneaky squirreling away of favourites by that Chookie - the wee monkey! Thanks so much, missus, you are such a sweet lady! 

I bought some fabric! Shocking, I know. On the left was destined for a particular project but a rethink has them heading into  my stash which I'm quite happy with! And on the right? Well the top and bottom fabrics I had already, earmarked for festive placemats for a finish-along project, but I got me some olive Essex yarn-dyed for the main body of them. It's a great match! Now, I just need to buy me some time at the machine.

I also acquired a steampunk mouse!! I have several mice by Podthiki Goblins already and this chap had to come and live with us, didn't he? He's quite at home on top of the bookcase with the other steampunky goodies!

And Skye the pony has been getting kitted out a little, too. We can never find a decent head collar and lead rope at the yard so one was purchased by me. Turquoise, natch! The kid does love a bit of blue! I think it suits the dark bay rather prettily. 

And my Mum treated her to her own grooming kit (you can choose what "her" I mean - Chook or Skye! *g*) 

There's nothing like a guid hoof clean! And when everything is blue? it's fairly obvious what belongs to Chook - although she has sharpied her name on everything! Bless her, she is made up with the whole "my own pony!" thing. 

the blogger's quilt festival - Scrapper's Delight

Yup, as a bunch of you will know it's time for the biannual Blogger's Quilt Festival, held as always by the redoubtable Amy. So what else could I submit but my newest quilt and favouritest make ever. The Scrapper's Delight!

 This quilt was made as a challenge for the Modern Quilt Guild of Ireland "medallion-along." Despite me not being a member, living in or being Irish!! I made the ubiquitous Marcelle Medallion last summer but gave it away and have always wanted one of my very own to keep and love and cuddle forever. It was very much a make-your-own-rounds quiltalong and I was determined to use up a lot of my hoarded tiny scraps.

So I started with a New York Beauty - one of my favourite paper pieced blocks and one which I always seem to be giving away to other people. Since this quilt was intended for me then it was going to be full of my favourite things. I wanted a different pattern in each quadrant because I love how they look when they're scrappy.

And then we were on to one of my favourite pieced blocks - flying geese!

An uneven length (okay, my rubbish quilt maths!) meant I needed a clever solution to make them fit. So I went with a little diamond in the middle. I actually really love how I could use some last bits of favourite fabrics to fill in these bits.

My next un-pieced border used a leftover half metre from backing another quilt. I make specs for my living so this was a special length of fabric to me! And the best way to use up wee scraps is obviously a checkerboard pattern. These guys finish at an inch and a half square.

Then on to some hoarded Denyse Schmidt (Hope Valley and Flea Market Fancy) and I got a bit stuck with what to do on the next border. I attend a local quilt guild (shout out to the Muckhart Quilters!! *g*) and one week we were making friendship stars. Perfect!! I make the backgrounds scrappy, too. Using up all those low volume bits from earlier rounds!

There are some real favourite tiny bits of fabric in here. When I say tiny I'm not meaning mental 1 inch pieces (I don't keep anything smaller than 2 inches square) but last little scraps of other quilts got used up here.

A last round of pink skulls! Meant for a handbag but, oh well, my quilt needed it more! Heh heh. And the last set of four brown (yes, I know. Sue me - I like brown) cornerstones. Only it's really only three since a meager tiny  scrap of Heather Ross ponies may have snuck in. They insisted.

It is quilted in a mint green spiral, backed in an Ikea print that has been lurking in my stash for some time and bound in a lovely voile that was leftover from the Marcelle Medallion. A proper stash and scrap buster quilt! And for the story of the incredible shifting quilt (which caused a small disaster) you can read my original post here.

My scraps and little stash determined the colours - I have a definite love of pink and aqua and pretty!! She finishes at 58 inches square and is my mostest favourire quilt I have made. And every time I sit under her I spy a little bit of precious fabric from some other make that was gifted to someone else that makes me smile.

Living in Scotland always causes problems for quilt photo taking - these were grabbed in a dry but not sunny half hour up at the stable yard! It's actually not a bad location for pics - if you crop out the horse shit! And, being Scotland, it was super sunny all day (hence waiting for it to become a bit overcast) and I just had to make a lunge for the washing on the line as it is chucking it down with the rain. The joys!

 There are hundreds of beautiful quilts over at Amy's all week. You should definitely go and check them out - and remember and vote later on!

a kitchen tah-dah

It's fair to say that our whole house is physically and mentally exhausted after the long haul that has been our kitchen renovation. But we're thrilled to bits with the results. I'm pretty much gonna let the photos speak for themselves - old is on the left, new on the right.

looking up from the living room

to the right (blue fridge/freezer, aaw yeah.)

to the left (to the left, everything you own in a box to...*ahem*)

my favourite view! back up towards the living room - I looked everywhere for a vintage industrial glass pendant light. It might be my favourite thing.

Into the living room (note the cool space saving radiator)

and out towards the garden from the living room.

This is my wee nook for cat watching, reading, sewing, contemplating my navel. You know, every girl should have one! I also share it with the cat loo but a clever little table skirt (from Catnap, natch) to prettify that perfectly sized Ikea table is afoot to hide the plastic litter ugliness slightly. And the boxes are a temporary solution to let the cats get up to the top of the dresser. Driftwood is being scavenged for a more permanent solution. And there is now a lovely mugrug under the vase. But I'll show you more once that skirt is in place. Ooh, my curtain is fabric from Terry's and is the most delighful aqua and perfectly vintage. I'm pleased we were brave and forewent the grey stripes!

We've not replaced our kitchen table since everything we were looking at was the same! But it might be getting some paint and a wood stain so I'll let you know what we go for. We might find just the perfect wee table unexpectedly but we're in no hurry which is nice.

So we're catching our breaths and shovelling pony crap and trying to remember what we did before massive DIY projects and equine dependents. I think I had a sewing machine...

A bird on the wing

Yeah. So as briefly mentioned last time we have started loaning a pony from our local yard where Chook rides out of. Yikes. This is her auld pal Skye who she learned to ride on four years ago. D'aaaw.

It's a lot like renting instead of buying a house. You're responsible for the day-to-day upkeep but if something happens (the boiler packs in, the pony gets a case of laminitis) the owners pay to have it fixed. And sometimes your power is included in your weekly rent so we're not paying for food, either. Bonus! She gets her lesson included, too, and she can ride her whenever she wants.

Actually, we have a slightly different arrangement to your normal loaning since Skye still works in the riding school at the weekends. Chook obviously can't ride her if she's working but if we can't make it up one day then the stable hands will muck her out. So what might be a slight inconvenience for Chook if she turns up and Skye is already in the arena works out in our favour if she's had a hard day at school or is sick. And during our summer holiday!

 

We're not sure how it's going to shake down or how long (or if) Chook will stick it. But we're hopeful that it will broaden her social sphere and boost her confidence and that schoolwork and other burgeoning teen things won't get in the way of her great love of all things equine. And if after a month it's all become a bit of a chore and I'm having to nag (heh) then we'll just stop it and go back to lessons only. No harm, no foul. But we felt we had to give it a shot rather than looking back when she's twenty and regretting not trying it.

 

I'll leave you with a snippet of video. This is her first turn around the arena on her pony. Big smiles, totally comfortable and that salute! My happy kid.

P.S. It should also be noted that my own equine care skills are taking a steep upwards climb! Because Chook worked in a yard at Blairhill (her last stables with the Dartmoor ponies) she is a demon at grooming, mucking out and tacking up. I'm on a steep learning curve to catch up! And I suppose I don't have to, but it's nice being with her since I've been staying with her just until she gets comfortable and gets in with the other weekday girls up there - weekends are a different story, they're so busy and full of girls she knows! I figure if I can muck out and groom then I'm useful. And I enjoy learning new skills - but moulting ponies are hairy!!!

P.P.S. The title? Reference to the Skye Boat Song but also apropos for my growing lassie!

Fresh Sewing Day - eventually!

Oops. I'm very, very late this month so won't link up with Lynne. I haven't much to show, anyway for April makes.

My wonderful medallion quilt which I think I will moniker "Scrappers Delight." Thank you, Ange! *g* There's a link here for those of you not getting the classic hip hop reference.

The only other thing I sewed was this for my lovely friend Sue's lovely wife Avril. The pattern is from Subversive Crossstitch and would have been moderately funny as a mis-spelling for anyone. But because Av is married to Sue? Priceless!

The kitchen is about done! My fridge came and is every bit as awesome as we knew it would be.

Just a wall to paint and *ahem* a radiator to move. Yikes. Oh, and Chook is officially responsible for a pony. We have started loaning one - I'll give you the proper lowdown another day. Busy busy round here!