Piecing it together

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On these gloomy spring days I'm snatching the odd moment to piece together the hand pieced stars of my quiet quilt so that I can see it grow.

It spurs me on to see it like this, gradually evolving, and if I havent found time during the day I am doing a little bit each evening in front of the TV.

I chose a pale coffee white spotted fabric for the joining diamonds, and the overall effect is still quiet but with a little bit of a kick now, and it is this darker toned diamond which is starting to give the 3D tumbling blocks effect.

I find spotted fabrics add a bit of a lighthearted and cheerful feel to a project, like checks and stripes do.

Blog browsing last week I read Selfsewn's latest post on english paper piecing (EPP) and about Clare's quilt shown in this lovely book, Quilting on the Go by Jessica Alexandrakis.

 It sent me rushing to Amazon to order it as it is very timely for this latest quilt of  mine.

Clare makes the most lovely hand pieced quilts, and it was one of hers that inspired me to add a paper pieced quilt to my list of  "quilts I want to make", and which is the one I'm  now working on above - my list also includes a Low Volume quilt, so I've killed two birds with one stone so to speak.

The book arrived today, and I can't wait to look at it properly.

We've walked a long walk most days this week, and yesterday were lucky enough to be able to walk it in the sun without wearing waterproofs for the first time this week.

 

our lane


 me and Logan 

 

we resorted to taking gardening gloves and secateurs one day this week as this long and narrow path above was so overgrown with brambles and nettles it was hard to get through.

 

Quick update on the Google Thing - looks like the changes might not be affecting the Google Friends Connect just yet as many were saying - have a look at one of the last comments by Annie on my previous post for a bit more info.

So maybe I could've just carried on with my head in the sand..........but having said that I DO like Bloglovin and am glad I signed up!

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

Update on Google Changes that affect Blogger

Have just added some info at the end of my earlier post today that may be of interest to those not sure about the changes taking place on July 1st.

I don't claim to fully understand it all, but have both linked to a few blogs where they talk about it, and have tried to summarise it myself in my own wordy way!

The sun has gone again.....

 

Last week we had sunshine, this week back to the rain again - just so fed up with this weather!

So we are making the most of the sun when it's around, and had a good walk last week whilst it was still sunny and warm.


 

The bluebells are all but finished in the woods near us, their long leaves bent over, yellowing and drooping, starting to die back.

But in their place the broom is now in full bloom - vibrant yellow swollen flower buds, with a soft scent, and beloved by the bees.

 

At times we have to stoop low, avoiding the heavily laden branches bent earthwards by the weight of the blooms, and at other times where the bushes meet and overlap across the path, we have to brush by quickly whilst trying not to disturb the busy bees.

 

The ferns are growing tall and fast, on a roll now from all the rain that has fallen this spring, followed by some sun, but they are looking very leggy and skinny - like a gangly school child having a growth spurt

 

almost as tall as Bella

 

and way taller than little Logan

 

thistles too have grown tall and thin this year (see right of picture), again as tall as Bella

 

so we have had sunshine and blue skies, and enjoyed it, and are now back once more to the rain.

 

Confined indoors again, what's a girl to do (to avoid housework) but paint!

This pretty shaped side table, picked up for a song at an estate sale a couple of years ago, was looking perfectly shabby chic with it's old cream paint, but it had lots of scratches on the top (which you can't see here) and needed just a bit of a spruce up - and I wanted to paint it in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, using my favourite Paris Grey.

 

Before, above

and after, below.
Yes, I know it probably doesnt look a great deal different to you, but it is, honest!

 

Two coats of Paris Grey, lightly sanded in between coats, and again before waxing

 

 

Then a coat of clear wax, then sanded back to the cream underneath in places, and in others back to the bare wood

 

 

 

 

Can you spot the pooch?

 

 

look at that spoilt dog on the cosy blanket!

 

in his favourite place snuggled on the sofa.

Best place to be.....put the heating on for an hour this afternoon, my hands, feet and nose were cold!
In June!

Thanks for all your comments on my last post, and Welcome to my new Followers!

Seems like I am not alone in not knowing much about the changes to Google that will impact on the Followers thing in Blogger, and also that most people are already signed up to either Google + or Bloglovin, either of which will keep us all in contact in the world of blogging, so it doesn't really matter anyway!

Bring it on! I can do change!

Have also braved the world of Windows 8 at last! (You see? I CAN do change!)
Thankfully, like some of you, I too have a clever, techy sort of hubby, and although I am pretty good with using most IT "stuff" (having once worked in the Real World for many years as an Accountant using spreadsheets and accountancy software ) and am the resident expert (oh yes) here on the wireless network and most of the software (oh yes indeed!), I am not so good at the technical setting up from scratch sort of stuff. In fact I wouldn't have a clue.


So what have you been up to this week?


Edited to add:
OK, finally found some info on forthcoming changes here and here, as per Bloglovin.

As far as I can work out,
It is Google Friend Connect and Google Reader RSS Feed that are going on July 1st. 

Google Friend Connect is where you click to "Follow" in the "old-fashioned" way (which is what I have in my side bar from when I first set up my Blog) and which is going on July 1st.

Google Reader gives you a summary of the latest posts for those Blogs that you subscribe to the RSS Feed (which I never did, preferring instead to see the latest posts from Blogger.)

Therefore it looks like you need to do one of the following to keep in contact with Blogs that you follow and who follow you

EITHER upgrade to Google + (just click on the Google + option (in the left hand sidebar when signed into Blogger) to sign up) so you have the new Friends and Circles thing

OR join Bloglovin (which is what I have done) and get a daily email telling which blogs that you follow have posted (but you need to sign up for Bloglovin, claim your Blog, and follow each blog either direct from a Blog clicking on the "Follow with Bloglovin" button if they have signed up to it, or via Bloglovin going down the list of blogs and clicking on Follow where you want to.)

OR sign up to each favourite Blog on their Blog page to be notified by email when they post, if they have facilitated that (ie be notified by email  for each individual blog when they post - but lots of emails!)

NB: Warning!
As I'm not fully aware of all the changes, please don't take what I have said here as being totally correct and definitive as I may well have misunderstood. DO check the links above to confirm this for yourselves!

And please feel free to share anything more that you know,or to correct me if I'm wrong!

Trying out something...........

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Don't  mind me, just experimenting..........

Trying to keep up with the times...........

Have just added the "follow my blog with Bloglovin" icon in my sidebar.

As much as I have been burying my head in the sand and ignoring references on other blogs regarding the upcoming changes on Google re: Followers, I don't want to lose you all my lovely blogging friends, and I understand changes will happen on the 1st July whether I like it or not.

And I don't like it. But I realise I have to do something. So I have, I've added the Bloglovin thingy.

So, if you wouldn't mind, please click on the link in the sidebar and follow me now on Bloglovin so we don't lose track of each other!

No, I don't like it all.

I've resisted Google + so far in my typical dinosaur way, anything to do with CHANGE and COMPUTERS,  I don't like ......and I don't understand the impact on my Picasa photos and I just don't want to know at this moment in time!!!!!

Make it all go away........leave it like it is...........please?

We have a new PC with Windows 8 and I haven't been near it yet....just hangin on to the old style Windows that I'm familiar with on the laptop.......oh dear, gettin old, can't cope with change.....

How are you with all of this? 

Do you have any tips or more information on the impact of these changes?

If you do, please feel free to share!

The last few days of May......

 

As we leave May behind us I must just share a few photos with you that I meant to post before now and havent had a chance to, what with us being in the middle of exams here plus the main PC being out of action, and with that, my ability to upload photos and post.

But first and most important, I must thank you all for your lovely comments on my last post where I showed you Bella's quilt - I was overwhelmed!

The quilt now lies on the end of Bella's bed.
(Note the un-ironed duvet cover - I don't do ironing I'm afraid, except the important stuff like hubby's shirts - life's too short and all that........)

At the time of finishing the quilt the weather turned foul again and so I started a new one - hand pieced this time, being in the mood as my good friend Jane (hi Jane if you're reading this!) and I have had a couple of tranquil mornings recently showing Jane how to do paper pieced hand sewn patchwork.

I'm sewing together diamonds, making stars from recycled and vintage fabrics and bedding, and other odd scraps of fabric - the beauty is that they don't take a lot of fabric and it doesn't matter if there's only one of each fabric, so it's great for using up odds and ends.

(New book too - Vintage Chic by Christina Strutt of Cabbages and Roses - is a real feast for the eyes if you love pale shabby chic interiors)

I'm using pale and pastel colours, so it'll be a "low volume" (LV) or "quiet" quilt compared to my last one.

And it won't be made as quickly! One to chip away at when in the mood.

Jane has chosen some gorgeous floral fabrics in pinks and greens, including some Tilda ones, and is sewing hexies into a cushion cover which she may well have finished by now, and if she had her blog up and running I would now be linking to her......did you get the not-so-subtle hint Jane?!!!

I've also painted a chest of drawers bought  a few weeks ago. It's an old Stag chest, so nicely made with dovetailed joints and a good shape.


 

Using two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Antoinette, a lovely pale pink, I lightly distressed it after waxing with clear wax, and changed the knobs, although I used what I had in the house and will need to seek out more of the clear ones.

 

 

 

Am really pleased with how it came out, although there is too much light in these photos to see it as it it really is.

I know the bluebells are nearly over, and you have probably seen loads in blogland already, but I must just share with you the bluebells in the woods behind us...the scent was lovely on this sunny day in May.....

 

 

 

can you see the badgers sett in the centre and the path of trampled bluebells?

 

the broom was just coming out too

 

surrounded by bluebells

 

wherever you looked

 

a sea of bluebells

 

their fragrance filled the air as we walked along the narrow path

 

can you see the Brimstone butterfly in the centre - we've seen it every time we walk here the last month, and in real life it's a really bright, almost dayglo yellow, like a highlighter pen colour!

 

and we just had to make some cupcakes in bluebell coloured cases

 

And now here in June the garden is full of colour with the azaleas and rhodendrons in full flower.
I've been busy potting on seedlings and planting out the runner beans and climbing french beans - so much to do now so I'd better get off the laptop and on with the gardening!

Hope you have a great week!