Coo-eee

Long time no speak. Thank you all for your get well wishes! I'm slowly starting to recover following my surgery and 2 post-op infections. I'm not back to sewing on the machine yet but I have managed to do a bit of tapestry and hexie stitching so it's not all bad. My sick bed is rather welcoming so it's not a chore to spend time on it. Hubby hung my Marcelle Medallion for me last weekend :)

It's my turn to be Queen bee in the HipBees. I foolishly thought it would be less stressful to have the other bees sewing for me this month, knowing that I wouldn't be able to sew and not wanting to let anyone else down, what I didn't consider was the amount of work involved in putting the fabrics together for 11 people...anyway, 3 weeks after starting to put packages together they are finally ready for posting and will be on their way to the other HipBees tomorrow :)

I've asked the HipBees to make 8 small string blocks each for me so that I can finally finish a project that I started last year. Each package contains a lovely selection of Denyse Schmidt fabrics; Flea Market Fancy, Hope Valley, Florence and Shelburne Falls, some grey kona strips, a grey rectangle for writing their siggies and 8 -  5" squares of paper for use as foundation templates.

Half the bees will have predominantly red/pink/orange/brown fabrics with half as many blue/green/grey fabrics and the other half will have the opposite. Each bee member will make 4 straightforward string blocks like so...

...and 4 diagonal string blocks like so...

When the blocks come back to me I'll be constructing the larger finished blocks like so...

The centre of each block will house the siggie of the Bee member :) I'm really looking forward to this one being finished! I just know it's going to be another family favourite. 

I hope you all have a lovely weekend. Catch you soon x

Wedding Anniversaries and Quilts

Hello all! :)

It's Jess here, I thought I'd pop in to tell you about the goings on in the Nellie's Niceties world (I even have my own colour, fancy that!).

Yesterday was Reene and Simon's 15th wedding anniversary, which they kept repeating throughout the day because they couldn't believe it. Hehe. :D Here they are on their special day:

Please ignore the reflection, I haven't quite sussed out how to not have reflections in pictures! Yes that is a grumpy little me in the middle there. I really didn't like mum on the day of the wedding, as she didn't look like her!

Yvonne made a lovely scrapbook page for them. Isn't it pretty?!

I made them a card at last minute. Oops. Please don't judge my drawing ability, I inherited the non-drawing trait (that's a thing now, okay?) from mum!

Don't ask where their other arms are, I had enough trouble drawing the two! I think it looks like them a lot! They loved it so it was worth the effort. :)

Here's a sneaky hint of something to come from Yvonne:

Can you guess what it'll be? :)

On another note, Yvonne finished Reene's get well soon quilt. Just in time for autumn!

 

 

I tried being artsy, did it work? It goes perfectly with our décor downstairs, so mum is looking forward to snuggling up to it downstairs. :)

Sorry there isn't much wording in this post, I'm sure Yvonne would have had some elaborate story to go with it but I couldn't think of one, as I was only a young babby when they were married! I've had right trouble with blogger using the pictures, I'm not used to how this works!

Update on mum is that her nausea and dizziness has come back a bit worse, due to antibiotics she's taking. She's currently having a doze but hopefully she'll feel a bit better soon.

See you in the next post! x

 

I do like.....

...... to make and give presents.

I've been thinking of making 'thank you' gifts for two of our neighbours before we move on from our rental home.  They have gone out of their way to be welcoming and friendly and I wanted to show my appreciation to them.  

The first lady is in her late seventies and has traditional tastes so I delved into a box of vintage fabrics and put together an assortment of creamy florals.  I can't remember where most of them are from, just bits and pieces from here and there that I couldn't bear to part with because..... Well, because... they might be useful .... one day??   It was an interesting trip down fabric memory lane, not because the fabrics reminded me of something I'd made or worn years ago, but because they made me realise how my fabric tastes have changed over time. 

As they weren't fabrics from my 'precious stash' ..... hmm I think maybe I should be ashamed that I just said that?  So, moving on quickly and hoping nobody noticed what I said.... I decided that I'd try not to be fussing and faffing about placement and just wing it and see how the mini quilt evolved. Now, if you knew me well you'd be gasping at that statement!  Honestly, you would. If we wrote a family dictionary, the definition of fussing and faffing would be - Yvonne!!
 Why even my sewing machine is a Pfaff.  :-) Snap decisions and winging it just do not come easily to me. Actually, that's really quite an understatement. But I did it and I really enjoyed it and I like what I made, because I know she will like it too and that's what counts after all.

Disappearing nine patch blocks randomly placed

and framed by three different sized borders.

 

Excuse the light in the photo, as usual not sure how it happened!! 

 

Lavender bag to match.

 

Now that's a better photo isn't it? Sometimes I do get it right.  Although I probably have no more idea how I do than when I get it wrong!

 

She gave me some lavender to dry from her garden so that I could make lavender bags so it was only fair to make one for her too, wasn't it?  Actually, there was only enough for one bag but I didn't have the heart to say. :-)

 

The second gift was for a much younger lady and the fabric and cushion shows perfectly where my tastes and style are at right now. 

 

The front

 

You see, totally different.  I tell you, I had such a hard time handing this one over!  I think I remember she had to prise my fingers from around it.  Although, my brain has blanked the awful experience out of my mind! Self preservation I think. :-) 

The back

 

I love the back as much as the front. I even fussy cut the fabric for the buttons to match the centre hexie on the front.

 

Fabulous Pam Kitty fabrics, I think it's the Love selection by Lakehouse fabrics.  I still love florals and whimsy but the palette I choose is very much more diverse than previously. And thankfully, I still have fabric left to make myself another cushion!

 

I wonder have you noticed how your tastes have changed as you move through your quilting life? I'd love to know. :-)

 

Thank you so much for vising.

Take good care of yourselves and happy sewing. Xxx

  

I'm really trying...............

.......very ...... hard .... to .... keep ... up!!
 
No - don't say it.  Really.  Don't.  Okay.  I'll say it then.  Before you do.  If you haven't already said it! 
 I am very trying.

I know I try hard not be, but somehow it just happens.

Anyway, I digress... again....  What I was saying was I just can't keep up, everything goes so fast. I feel like everyone else is on 'fast forward' and I'm just about avoiding the rewind button!  An example? On the rare occasions Ralph and I are working in the kitchen together (now that's a whole other story!!!) I just seem to stand there doing ... whatever... and Ralph is rushing around me doing his version of ... whatever... like a spinning top.  It makes me dizzy!!

Here's an analogy for you. A treadmill test.  Nothing to it? Yeah ok! A white knuckle ride if ever I had one. Hanging on to the bar, gritting your teeth, gasping for breath, jelly legs.  You get the picture? I thought I was in a marathon. (Me) Can .. you .. slow .. it .. down?  (Nurse) Errm  it wont go any slower. (Me) How .. long .. was .. it .. for?  (Nurse) Errm 28 seconds.  (Me) What the ...........??!!!

See what I mean? I can't keep up! 

So what started this ... rant?  Birthdays.  Of course.


First it was Ralph's, a year before a significant one.  So to remind him that next year we'd be going out for picnics and such like on a weekday, not just for weekends. I made him a patchwork picnic blanket. You know, to go in the car we've decided he's getting as a retirement present. :-)

Lovely Butterscotch and Rose by Fig Tree Quilts backed with an old picnic rug

and hand tied instead of quilting.

 

I've had the fabric a while and knew how I was going to make it up. I was just waiting for the right occasion. I used a pattern from Camille's book Simplify.  It took a charm pack and a honeybun and made up really quickly. I decided to add an extra border using up the off cuts from the honey bun.

 

Now, here's my question.  How did it happen?  How did we go from

 

this

 

1982

 

to this ?

 

2013

 

In what feels like the blink of an eye?

 

I kid you not, this is taken at the top of the drive of the house we are renting!!  I tell you if it turns up at the next house I shall be convinced the kids did it !!

 

And speaking of kids, that was the next birthday.  Oliver's 30th.  Now look, something is just plain wrong here.  I can remember distinctly what it felt like when I first snuggled him into my neck at a few minutes old!!  I don't need to tell you it was bliss do I? 

 

It seems like only yesterday that he was like this

 

1983

 

and now he's like this

 

2013

 

with his own precious little one,

Mackinlay.

 

Don't get me wrong I have loved walking alongside Ralph all these years and hope to do so for many more.  And I'm so proud of my kids and their partners and children, so very proud.  But, in my head I don't feel like I've lived all those thirty odd years.  I go to tremendous lengths to avoid looking in the mirror but once in a while.  Out of the corner of my eye.  I see.  Someone looking at me.  Who is that  woman staring back at me???   I've got that dress!!  Well, who'd have thought it?  It must be me!!!!   

 

Like I said.  It takes me a while to catch up! :-)

 

So, before I go, a quick update on Correne. She's doing ok, it's a slow process for her, healing.  She's still mostly on her bed, rather sore still and vertigo rears it's ugly head on too many occasions. But she's going in the right direction. Thankfully.

 

It was so kind of you to drop by and chat or should I say listen to my ramblings. I'd be pretty lonely here talking to myself if not for you.

 

Take good care of yourselves and happy sewing. Xxx

 

    

 

 

 

     

    

Home and Resting

Hello again folks.  Thank you so much to all of you for your comments, encouragements and concerns for Correne regarding her surgery.  We have passed them all on to her and she asked us to thank you for her, until she is able to do so herself.  I am pleased to tell you that she is now back home.  The journey was pretty awful for her, painful and her vertigo conspired with the travelling to make her be very sick.  Now she is safely tucked up in her own bed and hopefully that will settle down for her.  We are all delighted to have her home and hopefully her recovery will be problem free from now on.

Jess and I have spent the last two days together, keeping each other's spirits up, sewing and chatting. For me, it was the best part of the week as she is delightful company. :-)  And, because the blog post yesterday seemed odd without pictures, here's what I was working on to while away the hours.

Hand quilting Correne's Quilt

 

Hopefully it will be finished by the time she feels ready to venture downstairs!

 

And when I started to melt and come over all 'unnecessary' under the above quilt, because it was so hot, I picked up my Antique Flower Pastel Quilt.

 

Joining the hexagon diamonds and flowers together with the background fabric.

 

It took me months to decide what background to use for this one.  I think it will be ok.  Especially when I've done a bit more and given it a bit of a press.  At the moment it looks like it's been in the rag bag and I'm too tired to iron it after unpacking it when I got back from Correne's!!

 

And when I was bored of cutting and sewing the gingham hexies I played with these.

 

Tiny, tiny hexies from Helen 

 

Helen and I arranged a little swap and I've had fun deciding how I wanted to use these hexies.  They are really tiny, about the size of a sixpence, but perfectly formed and there are masses of them!! Thank you Helen they are keeping me nicely occupied. And I love the Aviary fabrics from 3 Sisters that you made them out of.  I think I'm going to be totally traditional and join the diamonds together with a white Kona solid unless anyone can suggest something else? :-)

 

So that's what's been going on over here in South Derbyshire.  I have to say, we are all very relieved to be at the end of the week and in a happier frame of mind than at the beginning.  I'll be back again soon and promise to make an effort to be more entertaining then. 

 

Oh, actually I did just remember one funny thing to tell you.  When Correne was coming round from the anaesthetic she kept asking the nurses 'Have you booked my taxi?'  'I need my bags to take home' 'Is it time to go home yet?' over and over again!  Now, it's a standing joke between us that whenever she's had to go into hospital she usually says something like:

 

'I'm not staying' - to the nurse who was admitting her, 

 

 'They won't keep me in, they'll give me a pill and I'll be fine' - when she phoned up work to let them know .....'I'll be a bit late' 

 

And to me when I was driving her into the hopital, many years ago  'You can leave my bag in the boot I won't be stopping'!!!! 

 

Clearly, she doesn't have to be conscious to voice those ideas. :-))

 

So, on that note. Take care of yourselves and happy sewing. 

 

 

 

 

Update on Reene

Hello all :) Jess and Yvonne here!

We thought you'd like an update on Reene. She had the op yesterday and it all went okay, she was the first one to go in, thankfully! She's tired and rather sore but she's doing okay! Even managing a little bit of Twitter, the rebel! She may be coming home tomorrow if the doctor is still happy with the way she's recovering, which is good. We'll let you know when she's out.

Speak soon and happy sewing! xxx

Chock a block

In preparation for my stay at Costa del NHS, and the following period of inactivity, I've been churning out blocks, Chock-a-block style. In the process of uploading photos I found one I hadn't shown you in July. This first one was for Tanya's July HipBee block. We were asked for trees...on reflection I'm not really sure how tree-like this is but Tanya was kind enough to humour me ;)

 Fiona sent some rather lovely Amy Butler for her August HipBee block and left us to get on with it.

Sarah kicked off the second round of HipBees by asking for 2 concentric box blocks.

  I think this is going to be a really striking quilt.

 Then I've been working on blocks for my Amish with a twist BOM quilt. There were many, many half square triangles!

I've still got 36 log cabins to make for August's BOM but they'll have to wait until I'm up and doing again because I was utterly determined to finish a hand-sewing project that I started last year in June! I'm ecstatic to be able to show you my completed Love Spring Carnival cushion :)

I'm ridiculously pleased with this cushion! Love by Amy Butler is my all time favourite fabric range. It was the first designer fabric line that I purchased in its entirety when I started patchworking seriously in 2010. Crazily the majority of my stash was used in projects that were gifted to other people so to finally have a substantial project in my possession is very exciting! I used an Amy Butler Rowan thread  in a green to quilt it.

I can't decide where it will live permanently so for now it's been auditioned in the family room...

 and the living room. It's fair to say that this cushion will be my friend whilst recovering from surgery. It's a mammoth 24" square, so perfect for propping me up in bed :)

Confession time: I've recently tracked down the majority of the Love range and bought myself a new stash :) I'd like to say I'm sorry for doing it but I'm not in the slightest!

So there you have it, I've got one more full day at home to finish binding a wedding quilt and cook a zillion meals for the freezer for post-op mealtimes. I go to the Costa del NHS on Wednesday and am expecting to be there for at least 3 days, possibly longer. Yvonne will no doubt keep you updated on progress at some point as I'm not expecting to be up to blogging or anything much else for a good few weeks. Positive thoughts, prayers and other good wishes will be very welcome for the op and recovery. See you on the other side x