Some work fell through this week so I've found myself with a couple of quiet days. It's lovely! I've just done a bit of spring cleaning, changed the winter blankets for crochet ones, and installed my new H&M green block print cushion covers (see background above). I picked flowers from the garden (and still have some left!).
Over the last few weeks, I've also been working on a new patchwork quilt. This time, the colour palette is pink and green. I started with triangles but they proved a bit tricky, so I've gone back to my comfort zone and it'll be another squares quilt with a triangle trim. This quilt will be used for the sofa above, so it's not going to be as huge as the last one I made.
I'm really enjoying sewing again. It's so calming. Although my quilts are random, I like sorting out the colours, placing the different squares together, moving them around. It's like therapy. With the triangles, it was great to be able to use up some tiny scraps of favourite fabric, some of which I've had for years.
GCSEs are underway for my son, and the house is quiet, so it's the ideal way to spend a few hours in the evening. I've concluded that GCSEs are much more stressful than they used to be, yes, even despite the fact that students do some coursework alongside exam papers. When I took my exams, I did so safe in the knowledge that I could stay on in the sixth form at my own school. I didn't have to get an A or A* in order to carry on studying a particular subject, I could choose exactly the ones I wanted to do and chase my 16 year olds dreams. In fact, I remember that I didn't get a high grade in my art GCSE, but I went on to take an A level which was one of the most enjoyable and valuable things I have ever done. Every day I am thankful that I did that art A level, and learnt the rudiments of printing, sketching, painting and drawing. Now it seems you have to 'qualify' to stay in your own sixth form, even if it is a non selective comprehensive school. The pressure this adds to a stressful time is immense. I won't rant any more, because this isn't the place, but I'd like to. League tables are to blame, I think. That's enough of that. Breathe...and quilt.
Seeing the quilts at Green Knowe was definitely an inspiration (see last post).
Birthday cards from my boys. It was the first year that eldest has sent me a card by post. A milestone!
This weekend, as part of my birthday treat, I'm going to Manchester with a friend, we're seeing a play at The Royal Exchange, doing some shopping, some cafe-hopping and I'll see Jack as well. Very much looking forward to all of that. I think most of the country is predicted to have some warm, sunny weather over the next few days. I hope you enjoy it.
My parents kindly offered to buy me a new wardrobe for my birthday this year. The only proviso was: it must not be an old one. Mum had tangled with my previous wardrobe a year or so ago when I was in hospital and she came to collect some clothes for me. She was assaulted by an avalanche of jumpers, shirts and pyjamas which were straining behind the door (a wonky door that had a latch which needed a special twist to get it to shut). The only wardrobe I'd ever owned before that had collapsed due to a severe case of woodworm, so I had to agree that it might be nice to own something silky and new. It took me a long time to find a contender: the high street tends towards flat pack MDF or something with a huge price tag, neither of which would have worked.
I heard of the website www.made.com via a friend who had bought some great chairs. I liked the modern take on classic design, and when I spotted this solid ash wardrobe, very plain except for a little French-style curve along the bottom edge, I really liked it. I held on for about six months, thinking it over, before deciding to go ahead.
It only took a week for the wardrobe to arrive in two ENORMOUS boxes which the helpful delivery men insisted on carrying upstairs for us. Over a weekend, my husband, son and I assembled the wardrobe. I won't say it was easy: it wasn't. But luckily Perry is much better at this kind of thing than I am and he persevered. Apart from two screws which sheared off during the assembly, and a few holes which were not drilled out properly, things came together pretty smoothly.
The bliss of re-homing my clothes and being able to see what I've got! I had a huge clear our, took one lot to a car boot sale, put some on ebay and others went to the charity shop. It gave me chance to sort out the rest of the bedroom too. This is my little chair, which was a present from Perry for my birthday. We found it at a boot sale for £10 (he spotted it), and I had the seat rewoven.
I love the heart shaped back and the delicate legs.
This last weekend, my cupboard and pine chest got a coat of Autentico chalk paint in Gris.
I've de-cluttered a lot but I have kept my little mannequin and shabby roses mirror...and I've been very busy with my patchwork quilt too. In fact, I have become a bit obsessed with it. Here is how it is looking:
That piece is all sewn together. I can't use the machine so it's taking forever to stitch it by hand. I've been carrying it with me everywhere. I've even contemplated whipping up a sneaky square while sitting at my desk waiting for phone calls for work. I've stabbed my thumb and finger more times than I can count, and I seem incapable of using a thimble to protect myself. But I do love it :) Even if it is a bit uneven in places.
What do you reckon? I think I've done about a third of it now. I'm sure you'll be seeing it again...
If you've been reading my blog since last year, you may recall that I began making a patchwork quilt. The project fell by the wayside over the summer, but I've decided to try to finish what I started now that the nights are drawing in. During the car boot season I've been keeping my eye out for fabrics, the only criteria is that they had to contain some reds. I've found them in all sorts of places: charity shops, old sample books, a Primark teatowel or two and my existing stash of material.
The quilt is growing nicely (don't worry about the squares that are sticking up, they haven't been tacked or ironed yet!). It's very exciting. I don't have much clue about wadding or backing, but I have a little book that should help me through that process when the time comes.
In the meantime, there are small piles like this appearing all over the place. I'm on a mission now (and thanks to www.hettiebrown.blogspot.co.uk for inspiring me to continue. Her beautiful patchwork blanket was the catalyst).
In other news...an enormous parcel arrived at 7am yesterday morning, my birthday present from my parents:
All will be revealed soon (I hope it won't turn into a flat pack nightmare).
