Sun, Snow and Savings
The sun is shinning and the skies are clear.
Yay for summer 
I’ve just read and looked at photos of snow in New Zealand
Looks lovely but cold!
Should I be returning?
The good news is that the bunting is progressing … slowly
But there is progress.
The bad news is that I’ve bought more fabric.
I need to stop buying things.
Not only should I be saving money
But how will I get what I buy back to NZ!
Boxed In
Just about have the boxes packed.
Will have 14 items to go when they are collected on Tuesday (2 August)
But need to get them to the ground floor!
Or as many as possible anyway.
Hopefully they are all under 30kg or I’m really in trouble!
I’ve booked my flight “home” and leave the UK on 7th September.
Currently also organising a few days in France with a cousin before I go.
Busy times.
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Yeah I know this blog is supposed to be about quilting and patchwork.
But it’s my blog and my focus at the moment is moving back to NZ
Hopefully I’ll get back to sewing (with photos) when I get these boxes out of my flat.
Happy Feet
Happy Feet completed
Still not sure what it is – mug rug? small picture? rubbish?
I still like the free motion sewing but need (lots and lots) more practice.
Not sure of the white eyes on the bigger penguins.
I may have to blind them and re-sew!
Happy Feet Completed
While writing this I realised that I’m moving again
Should I call it Itchy Feet rather than Happy Feet?
Mugged
Have you been wondering about the Mug Rugs I kept saying I was making?
Well wonder no further because here they are.
Mug Rugs By the Dozen
They range in size from a small 7x14cm (2.75×5.5in) – the orange one with the black cross.
To the large 31.5x17cm (12.5×6.25in) – the maroon and cream one on the right
Or the 20x21cm (7.75×8.25in) red, yellow and purple one in the middle..
I’ve used/practised different techniques – some worked some didn’t!
My favourite mug rug … the beach hut.
My favourite technique … I’m not sure.
A friend wanted some for gifts so she gets first pick
The rest get put in that Christmas present pile.
May be I will be organised this Christmas!!!
Penguin Power
Mug rugs are the order of the day.
I’ve completed six so far
And have several more in the process of being completed.
I’ll take photos when the sun comes out!
While doing these I’ve started using free motion sewing.
I like it but need a lot more practice!!!
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Happy Feet
Here’s my take on Janet Clare‘s penguins.
(The pattern can be found on the Fat Quarterly website.)
Not sure what it’ll be – a mug rug or a framed picture.
It also needs ironing!
Oh, and quilting.
I named it after a real penguin.
Happy Feet washed up on the shores of New Zealand
That’s a swim of about 4000km (or 2,500 miles)!!!
Now that’s some serious swimming.
Busy Times
Bright Box is being put aside.
I really like it but to be honest I’ve had enough of it for awhile.
I need to get some Mug Rugs made and quilt Bali Squared.
Then I’m way behind with my Birdie stitching so I need to catch up with them.
Oh yes and I said I’d making some bunting.
Not forgetting a hand pieced quilt that I have layered and ready for hand quilting!
There is also the Grand Prix to watch tomorrow,Sunday (Go Mark)
And a job interview on Monday
Well that should keep me busy for a few days.
Live and Learn
Bright Box - Top
Things I learnt making this quilt top:
I like bright colours
I need to know more about my camera to get the colours right in a photo.
I get seams to match better when I eyeball them and don’t pin them.
Not to be too fussy about getting the seams to match.
I really like this pattern but …
I really do hate ironing!
I need to finish what I’m doing before starting something new.
(This has taken longer than I thought and I have other things I need to do!!!)
I can waste a whole day looking at a quilt.
I do more sewing when the weather is cooler or wet.
I cannot vacuum the lounge floor with a quilt laying on it!!
I really, really want a place where I can have a design wall, a cutting table, shelves for fabric, etc …
I Want A Sewing Room !!!!!
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Good luck to Mark Webber in the British Grand Prix.
No One’s Perfect
The Bright Box quilt top is progressing slowly.
I have still to sew half of the columns together.
Mind you I’ve sewn the first half about three times.
The seams are just not matching up!
After sewing and unpicking three times I give up.
It’s better to finish than be perfect 
P.S. The quilt colours are more like the previous photos but thought this photo shows the progress even if it isn’t perfect
Half of Bright Box
Bright Idea
Bright Box
Photo Flipped
It’s bright …
It’s fun …
It’s what I’m working on.
Yeah I know I’m suppose to be making some Mug Rugs for a friend.
I have the Mug Rugs cut out and ready to go but I’ve been hijacked.
I saw these colours all together when I moved my stash recently.
As the weather has been bright and sunny recently the fabrics called out to me
I had to make them into something!
Okay so it was also given me a reason to procrastinate about other things I need to do.
I really like this design and plan to use it again.
I’ve used the method described by Maxine Rosenthal and Joy Pelzmann in their book
What Will Today Bring
It seems to have been a week of doing a lot and achieving little.
Attended a 10 minute interview on Monday that took 45 minutes.
Hopefully that has been sorted out!
Have tried to get my haircut, twice, but salon has been closed.
Will try again today!
Layered quilt but need more safety pins before taking it off the wall.
Went to get some but shop needs to reorder them!
Applied for more jobs
At least I have done that but it has taken hours!
On the positive side.
Went to Wimbledon, for the first time, on Tuesday afternoon and had a great time.
Thanks to all those concerned.
Including the stranger who gave us two tickets for Court 1.
Great seats which some of us took turns using.
Wimbledon Courts
Court 1 From Free Seat
Photos on Flickr
More Photos
My Etsy Shop
Birdie Block of the Month
The Pledge
