Cabbages & Roses

So we`re still trying to get into some semblance of routine now we`re home.  It`s been raining the last couple of days.  Morocco desperately needs rain in the winter months and things had got so bad they were praying in the mosques for a healthy downpour.  It seems the prayers were answered, or as my husband joked, I brought it back with me from England. *wink*.

While we were back in England, I made sure that while Zaki got his fair share of visits to playgrounds, dinosaur museums and got the odd treat.  I also made sure that mummy got treats of the quilty kind.  While we were visiting my aunt and uncle in Warwick,  I bought this Cabbages & Roses layer cake from Moda.  It is a layer cake of muted pinks, greens and blues and puts me firmly outside my comfort zone. I usually go for much bolder and more colourful designs and so this will be a challenge for me but that`s one of my sewing resolutions this year (and yes, I plan to do the `Resolved to Sew` over at Very Berry Handmade) is to challenge myself creatively and try different things, so I`m looking forward to cutting this up.  I also bought a new and much larger cutting board, some gorgeous perle cottons which were two for one, and a 12.5 inch square ruler so things should be easier in the cutting and squaring up department!

As you can see, I have always loved quilting books (am I the only one who reads them in bed at night?) but the top 4 are all new.  Yes, lucky me!  Santa (aka my mum) gave me The Japanese Quilt Inspiration and Modern Blocks book, which are both hugely inspirational and real eye candy.  I bought Material Obsession after Sarah recommended it in her recent series for new sewists and it`s fabulous, as is her series.  The top book is an FMQ book, which was part of a prize I received from Rhonda as part of the Duo QAL.

Notice the huge spool of gorgeous variegated Egyptian cotton?! I have only dabbled in FMQ so I can`t wait to read this properly and try out the tips using that lovely thread.  Rhonda does amazing free motion quilting so the book is bound to be a great resource.  Thanks Santa, Rhonda and oh, me!

There is a great discussion thread here on flikr about books which are coming out soon (certainly in the States...the UK may have to wait) if you love quilting books as much as I do.

Am I the only one finding it to comment on some blogs?  I`m hoping it`s that silly Blogger misbehaving and not some nasty virus...of course if you have the same problem, you may not be able to comment!

So my question to you today is, how do you like to treat yourself?