Snow And Latest Project And Dyeing

I awoke to a thick covering of snow this morning (in mid April?) and got out there to video Suzie's first snow experience before it melted:



She had a jolly nice time eating all the snow and scampering about. :0) Talking of Suzie, look what I pulled out yesterday morning:



It was hanging on a thread and I nipped it out and she didn't even notice. She was more interested gnawing on my fingers! How impossibly teeny tiny is this?

I have started on a new project and was running it by mum (as is always necessary on these occasions) when she pointed out the need for some yellow. As I told mum I didn't have any in my stash. So I decided that I needed another dyeing day. Here are today's results, just for mummy:


My monitor is showing those brightest colours as bright orange, when in fact they're a vivid lipstick red. I also did some flesh tones (or tried to) as I'll be needing them for more portrait quilts in the future. Do click on the photo and then you can see that some of it is muslin and some cotton and some velvet. I can't show you my latest project as hubble has invaded the sewing room with computer jiggery pokery, so it'll have to wait till next time. :0)

Quilt Challenge Revealed And Bathroom

As some of you know I belong to a web group named The Fibre Pirates. Basically we are a group of rufty tufty pirates who swear and spit and sew. The latest piratey challenge that was thrown out was called Baggo 2008. Those who wished to participate had to collect together scraps of fabric, ribbon, thread and beads and put them in a zippy bag and mail them to the coordinator. 10 people took part so the coordinator (in the US) mailed them out to everyone so that we all had a mystery pack of scraps from a mystery donor. Then we had to make something from the scraps. Here's a sketch of my original idea:

I wanted to do something pirate themed and would you believe that the pack of scraps I received contained some skull and crossbones printed organza and some skull and crossbones beads? Perfick! Here's is the picture midway through fusing the collage pieces to the background:

Here is the finished article. I 'sketched' using free motion embroidery on my machine. I added organza layers, beads, couched threads and strings of pearls. I think it's suitably piratey, don't you? :0) This is Buxom Betty Bones:

The idea now is that whoever recognised these fabrics as their own can claim it and I will post it to them. In turn, I shall recognise my fabrics and claim mine back. I wonder what I'll get? The challenge has about six weeks to run yet and I was rather prompt at making this so I might have a long wait to claim mine!

Over a year ago we had a lot of building work done on the house which was supposed to include re plastering and beautifying of the upstairs bathroom. However, as is often the case in these situations, we ran out of money, but not before me and dad had pulled all the old tiles and most of the plaster off the walls first! So we have been living with a rather cool cave-look bathroom for over a year now. I have been so fed up with pieces of ceiling falling on my head while I luxuriate in a hot bath! This week, Steve the builder is here again to plaster the bathroom at last! Here's a pic of dad pulling the last of the tiles and hardboard off in readiness:

Hubble is a bit miffed as he was doing the hard work right up until this point when dad took over to give him a break. He says it looks like dad did it all!

At the moment we are widdling in an ancient portapotti that I was given by a Freecycler. I have bleached it all up (although it was spotless anyway) and that is now our upstairs loo. We had no choice because I am very unsteady at night with all the drugs I have to take. I would have killed myself having to go up and down the stairs about 3 or 4 times a night! Steve has plaster boarded the whole bathroom now so I guess he'll start plastering in the morning. I already bought the tiles and accessories last year so now all I have to do is choose the paint and get some new towels. Well, I say 'new' but I believe my matey Dawn has some that she is willing to donate. :0)

Lastly, here's a couple of photos of Suzie who is now 16 weeks old. I love her soooooo much and she's an absolute darling. She's certainly brightened my life up. It is now time to train her and I keep putting it off because I'm so lazy! Here's an action shot of her eating her favourite treat, a carrot:

And here's a shot of her after digging in the garden in the rain. I found her with her head in a muddy hole. This photo really does not do the mess justice!: