Friday 28 February 2014

Lost

Well where to start? It's been a while.  I confess I've felt a little lost the last few months.


It all began with the small person who shall remain nameless dropping my lap top and breaking the screen so that blog reading and posting was impossible for a while.


But it wasn't his fault. The screen was easy to fix..but then there were computer glitches of the viral kind.


They got fixed too and after finding a spare moment to sew, I basted the scrappy trippy and started to quilt. Straight lines quelle surprise! Nothing fancy.


But a couple of lengths in to quilting, the needle fell down...and then again...and again...and again.  The quilt was thrown in a corner. By now, mojo was dissipating by the second. I was 1500 miles and several months away from getting the machine fixed or serviced. I felt completely lost. I couldn't read blogs. I stayed away from Instagram. I seriously thought about throwing it all in...  stopping blogging...trying something else.

But I missed the emails and contact with bloggy friends. After a couple of weeks, I left the pity party and tried to find a solution to the needle problem. I looked online and found a forum where someone had posted the same problem. Despite never having had to do so before, I tightened the screw using the metal key and it worked! I was surprised by how much further it turned than simply by hand. I quilted and bound the scappy trippy and have my first finish of 2014.


I love it! It's the biggest quilt I have made at 72" x 82" and I hope it'll fit in nicely on our soon to be re-modelled roof terrace. The front is pieced entirely from scraps and definitely a few fuglies! The backing and binding are Cameo by Amy Butler.

So that's it! Expect more from me...I'm not going anywhere for the time being and I'll be getting back to commenting on a regular basis...I promise.

Linking up for the first time this year with Lynne over at Lily's Quilts.

Lily's Quilts


47 comments:

Catherine said...

Oh, sorry to hear of your trials. I'm so glad you didn't jack it in - I've been missing your lovely blog! Your scrappy trippy quilt is beautiful and could only be yours:-)

Pat Merkle said...

I'm glad you're back! Love your quilt!

www.randomthoughtsdoordi.com said...

Just gorgeous and I'm so happy to have you back!

linda said...

Thinking it is amazing how fuglies look better in scrappy trip ,your quilt is gorgeous glad you are back on track again !!

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

Hello!!
Love your trips, don't love computer woes, and as for not normally tightening your needle with the doo-dah, one word 'buffoon!!

Rebecca Lynne said...

This should have been titled "Lost...and Found!" I missed you, and this is amazing, and I am glad you decided to come back to it even when feeling lost because it means you really do love your bloggy/quilty world and that is a precious treasure to have discovered in your short trip away from us all. xo B

Susan said...

Glad you got through the funk! Finishing the trip around the world was certainly worth all the angst! Welcome back!

Diane-crewe said...

nice to have you back and obviously fighting fit and ready to go xx

Carla said...

It's so beautiful! I'm glad you have fixed the problem and are still blogging. I love your work : )

Cindy said...

I am so happy to see you're back! I'd miss you terribly if you left us.

Your quilt is so yummy - I'd know it's yours anywhere from the fabrics/colors. You have such a great way with both.

xx

heart of charnwood said...

It's really hard to get back into it all once the sewjo goes, I totally understand that, but it's a funny kind of limbo away from everyone, glad you're back! x

Judith, Belfast said...

I was wondering where you got to!! So glad you decided to come back into blogland again. It wouldn't be the same without you. I LOVE your scrappy trips! Just beautiful! Jxo

Leanne said...

I love the quilt and I would so miss you if you totally dropped out of the internet community. I am glad you sorted the machine too.

Ella said...

Yay! So glad you're back! I missed you and your blog! The quilt is lovely, too.

Kirsten said...

Your quilt looks so beautiful - glad to see you back!

ipatchandquilt said...

Happy to have you back!
It is a stunning quilt. Glad you finished it!!!
Esther
esthersipatchandquilt at yahoo com
ipatchandquilt dot wordpress dot com

Sarah said...

There we were thinking you were just caught in the work life balance juggling act. So glad that you haven't abandoned sharing your quilt beauties with us. The scrappy trip is wonderful! Come back again soon, please!

CJ said...

The fuglies have become beautiful now! Such a lovely quilt, with fantastic photos as ever. So glad to see a post from you. Sorry it's all been so frustrating. I hope things go well for you now. It always amazes me what tips can be found online.

Fran said...

That is such a beautiful quilt! Really lovely.

Janine @ Rainbow Hare said...

Lovely to see you back and your quilt has turned out beautifully, despite the trials :)

dutchcomfort said...

Sorry to hear of all the computer and needle troubles. You’ve made a stunning quilt and I’m glad you’re back in blogland!

Camilla said...

Well done Annabella! Always lovely to read your posts and sounds as though you've surmounted lots of hurdles! As if it's not hard enough anyway..! Hang in there!

Mary said...

Nice to see you back! The quilt is beautiful.

Carol Q said...

what a stunner, I hope I'll be able to produce something like that one day.

Archie The Wonder Dog said...

Yippee, you're back - I'm so glad you didn't decide to leave us! Your quilt is stunning!

Sarah said...

Everyone's questioning blogging lately! I'm glad you decided to stay around. It's great to hear from you. Your quilt is gorgeous, hides the uglies well! I've joined Instagram this year and I'm already following you there. Your welcome to follow me back at sarahkrothe to see what I'm working on 😊

elsy said...

good to see you back.....i lost the blogging mojo but stil like to keep up with everyone....perhaps ill try again! fab quilt

Marly said...

Your scrappy trip is beautiful. Enjoy using it on the roof terrace.

Cindy Sharp said...

Glad you are back! Your quilt is lovely.

Val's Quilting Studio said...

I'm new to your blog and added myself as a GFC follower...so I'm glad you are sticking around,..I love your work. So glad you shared your frustrations...as things do get bumby sometimes. stop on by: myplvl.blogspot.com

Isisjem said...

Looks lovely and I did wonder where you'd gone. I've only been online in fits and starts so I know how it is.

cheeky monkey said...

It is so beautiful! I love straight lines. Great you got you mojo back and found a solution for your needle problem!

Nicky said...

Glad you are back now don't go astray again! I need you to inspire me to more mischief of the quilty kind!

Catherine said...

It looks amazing Annabella

Canadian Abroad said...

Love to have you back. I have blogged, chatted and generally been more invisible too (though not as much as you) and no one dropped my computer. But I do miss our chats.

Katy Cameron said...

The finish looks fab! My mind still boggles that you didn't use the thingy to tighten the needle, I've never *not* used that lol

BTW, your blocks should hopefully be with your mum now :o)

Tamie said...

Glad you are black. I was just checking on you the other day. Love your scrappy trip...

pennydog said...

Welcome back! My machine prefers screwdriver fitted needles too.

Anonymous said...

LOVE that scrappy trip!! Hopefully your sewjo is there to stay for the foreseeable future!

Anonymous said...

LOVE that scrappy trip!! Hopefully your sewjo is there to stay for the foreseeable future!

Martha said...

Hi Anabella it is nice to see you back blogging. Sorry about your technical difficulties sometimes it happens, but it is great you got all fixed and were able to finish your quilt and share it with us. Congratulations it is a beautiful finish. So happy and colorful.

Charlotte said...

it's beautiful! Well done for getting it finished :-)

Nat at Made in Home said...

So cool to have you back and with an amazing finish!

Rachaeldaisy said...

Your Scrappy Trip is so beautiful!! Such gorgeous colours! It's so frustrating when your sewing machine doesnt work properly, good on you for figuring out what was wrong and fixing it.

Dianne Neale said...

I must admit, I've always used the screwdriver thingy to tighten my needles! You're lucky the needle didn't slip down into the depths of the engine ( or whatever it's called!). Your scrappy trip along looks lovely, and I can't believe I will be seeing it in person soon!!!!

Unknown said...

LOVE your scrappy trip quilt. The colours are brilliant.

Josie said...

'Straight lines - nothing fancy' what are you saying it is absolutely gorgeous. Love,love, love it x