Zaki Gets Goodie Again

No I`m not talking about his behaviour..but the second and sadly last Goodie Swap 2011 parcel I received today from lovely Janine at Rainbow Hare.

Yes. Zaki received another goodie in the mail.  See the very cute Scottie dog mug rug there at the back - that`s his and he absolutely loves it. Initially he did comment, `Oh mummy - nice goats!  No, no they`re dogs mummy!`

Janine used pretty pink and green fabrics to create a gorgeous reversible mug rug for me. On the back of mine are gorgeous little square blocks. There`s also the cutest pincushion - my first, and a diary cleverly starting now, covered in yummy pink and green paisley fabric.  Now Janine had no idea how much I love diaries - so this is very smart of her and just a great goodie for me. Despite the package having been rifled through by custums, it all arrived beautifully wrapped in tissue paper and tied with ric rac.  I am very very happy and thank you so much Janine - I love my goodies and so does Zaki.

Other exciting mail included lots of good quality cotton thread from my lovely helpful mummy (who arrives Saturday and I think should do a guest post as she is very creative and is thinking about starting her own blog) and the quilting feet for my new machine.  So now I can join in with Cindy`s Free Motion Quilting Practicealong, which kicks off tomorrow.  I have attached the requisite foot to my machine.  Now I have to look at some youtube tutorials to try and get something passable to post. Who on earth pushed Cindy into hosting something like this? 

Edited to add In my haste to hit the`post` button, while being chivvied by my mad for dinosaurs 3 year old to get off the lap top so that he could watch Walking with Dinosaurs on youtube, I completely overlooked thanking the most important person. A huge huge thank you to Cindy who organised this swap and made it possible.    Thank you Cindy! You kept us all in order and organized the whole thing with military precision.  It has been a pleasure to find a new blog pal in you.

The Good News or The Bad News?

Do you want the good news or the bad news first?

When asked this question, I always plump for the bad news.  Better to get it over and done with.

My Across the Sea quilt (ATSQ) is basted and I`ve started quilting it.  No, no - that`s not the bad news. I went for wavy lines as I thought straight lines might be a little harsh and I don`t have the FMQ foot here as the shop forgot to send it to me with the new machine.  Well this morning I thought the  ATSQ would be my favourite quilt.  I was so happy with it.  However, I`ve given up with it for today.  It`s lying in a dishevelled heap. My wavy lines make it look like some cheap quilt you would find at the local market.  The lines are about 3 inches apart.  Perhaps I need to go denser. 

And the good news?  Well the good news is that I received some goodies in the post. Yes, our postman is back!

First off is this lovely fabric I had ordered and forgotten about.

Loulouthi FQ bundle in the Eleni colourway by Anna Maria Horner.

Prince Charming FQ bundle by Tula Pink in the coral colourway.

But that`s not all. I received my first mug rug and goodies of The Goodie Swap 2011 from lovely Judith in Northern Ireland.

Judith had gone to so much trouble, taking into account favourite colours and incorporating Moroccan inspired shapes in the mug rug, which is so beautifully made.  There`s also a handmade silk brooch with silk from Cambodia and the most amazing camera pin, which Judith asked her daughter to make - knowing I love photography.  I love it - it`s so beautifully made and the detail is incredible!

Oh and what do you think Zaki has his eye on?  Yes, the Gummy Bugs..which Judith sent especially for him and which went down a treat.  Thank you so much Judith!

If a miracle happens, I`ll post a photo of my ATSQ tomorrow and if not I`ll cry.  

Don`t forget to check back tomorrow night for the winner of the Intrepid Thread sponsored giveaway!

Playing the Waiting Game

Patience may be a virtue but I am not a patient person. I wish I was...it would come in handy while waiting for my sewing machine. Looking at DHL`s tracking online, I can see that it left England on Thursday evening and whizzed through Belgium and France before arriving in Casablanca on Friday morning. Since Friday it has sat there and there has been no progress.  It is in the hands of the customs men and to get my hands on it I have to provide a paper saying that we will pay the couriers the duty when it arrives in Marrakech.  It`s a bit like signing a blank cheque as we have no idea what the customs will be until we`ve signed the paper. Hmmm.

In the meantime, the old lady is back from the menders and has been on best behavior.  Here`s what we have made together...

Fabric baskets for my swap partners in The Goodie Swap 2011.

To make these fabric baskets, I used this tutorial by the very talented Ayumi.   The tutorial was very straightforward except for when I sewed the handles into the lining!

These are not really my colours but I`m hoping my partner will like them.  The fabric is Parisville by Tula Pink.

I love this basket and would happily keep it. I used more Parisville and I think the blue and pink fabric is Amy Butler.










These are the two mug rugs that will be winging their way with the fabrics baskets to the swap partners later this week...

A wonky 9 patch using Liberty prints. I decided against the butterfly mug rug, which will stay home with me.

An unintentionally wonky bookshelf with leaner.












This afternoon I have not been drumming my fingers but belatedly cutting out the backing pieces for this quilt top. There are a gazillion pieces all in neatish piles and waiting to be sewn together.  That`ll be the old lady`s job tomorrow...hopefully her last before she heads off into the sunset to Sunnyside Retirement Home for Sewing Machines.

Linking up with Sew Modern Monday and Manic Monday.

So amazed and excited to see I have near on 100 followers...thank you to all my lovely followers and their fabulous comments that make my day!