One project is never enough!

I just committed a fatal mistake - going to a patchwork shop with the realisation that I have very few UFOs (unfinished objects), and am therefore able to buy yet more fabric without any great feelings of guilt. The visit to the patchwork shop was a valid one - putting two of the finished quilt tops in to be quilted. Perhaps the purchase of more fabric wasn't valid, but the colours will suit my house very well, and it is quite some time since I made a quilt just for me (that's my reasoning anyway!).

I am also half-way through hand-quilting the 'wine' quilt (it has only taken a week), so another reason for the fabric purchase is that when the new quilt top is finished, I can hand-quilt this one, which will therefore give me something to do on craft nights. I have also promised a friend that if she buys whatever fabric she likes, I will make her a quilt, so that will also give me something to do and will give me the satisfaction of making a quilt, but without the cost.

The 'artistic friend', who is back from Queensland, is very involved in various stamping projects at the moment, and although I think the results are fabulous, I don't seem to have any interest and am happy just to concentrate on cutting up fabulous pieces of fabric and put them back together in a different way (which was my mother's view of patchwork).

I went back to the beach yesterday with a second lot of Krispy Kreme doughnuts, which went down very well with all the kids (teenagers), but not very well with their mother. The niece and I knew that if we had told my sister that I was bringing more doughnuts she wouldn't have let me, so we just didn't tell her! Anyway, the first dozen disappeared within the hour, and the second dozen would have gone by now - so there is really nothing for her to worry about.

The fourth day of the Australia-Pakistan 3rd cricket test has been abandoned due to rain, so my excuse for just sitting in the lounge room and watching the TV has gone. Therefore, I will now go and rescue washing from the dryer, do a small grocery shop (as I don't have anything for dinner), and possibly do some ironing. Overall, not a great way to end the day, but necessary.

Chat soon.

Accomplishments and things still to do

I love this time of year - on leave from work and able to just potter around at home and get things finished that have been on my 'to do' list for quite some time. Not just patchwork items, but gardening (was up at 8.00 a.m. this morning pruning the roses in the front yard), getting some home maintenance items attended to and visiting Spotlight on average once a day every day.

While the 'artistic friend' is sunning herself in Queensland and in addition to the items above, I have been working my fingers to the bone (!) and now have 3 quilts ready for machine quilting and 1 ready for hand quilting (which I started today). I have a great sense of accomplishment over these quilts, but as I don't want to rest on my laurels, I have started collecting ideas for another black, white and red quilt for my oldest nephew's 21st (2012). I would also like to plan a baby quilt, but as I don't know who this is for at the moment, that may have to wait.

Although I did want to start my 'birds eye view' quilt over this Christmas period, that hasn't happened, but it will give me something to work on during the year.

Oops, I almost forgot the memory quilt I am doing for a girlfriend's 50th early this year. I have pieced together all the rectangles of fabric that have been returned so far, but am still waiting for the pieces from her husband and sons, and my sister and her children. I haven't thought of what I am going to do either, but I can always just depend on the label on the back of the quilt.

I go back to work on Monday, and although I have thoroughly enjoyed my time off, I feel ready to return to the grindstone. There is still lots of stuff to do at home, but I find that I am getting bored now and need other things to distract me - and if last year was any indication, work will fit this bill very well.

I am off to the beach tomorrow to visit my sister and her children - not sure how many children will be there as the 'cricket mad' nephew with the hotted up and very loud car may still be in Melbourne playing cricket. It won't be a direct drive to the beach, as I need to stop by the airport and collect 2 dozen Krispy Kreme donuts. The niece has said that 1 dozen is never enough as one of her brothers (the cricket mad one), just inhales them!!

For all my readers, may you have a very productive year full of lots of laughs and finished projects.