Double Delight

Some of you may remember I started Bonnie's Double delight mystery quilt back in January. Well it's not a mystery any more and my time frame of a finished quilt by 2015 may have been ambitious. But here's the first finished block.

Weightloss and the Stash

I have been trying to loose weight seriously for several years and while I have lost 20 kilos my efforts have stalled of recent times. This week I was back in the gym and thought recording my progress publicly may help. I have decided I am not brave enough to put my actual weight out in public but will record the weeks losses or gains.



This week was start off week and the loss was 0.3 kilos. i will be rewarding myself for losses with Pandora beads. A small loss equates to a spacer bead so that is what was added this week.

Now to the stash with no apologies:-

Fabric used this week 0

Fabric Used this year 25 1/4 yards

Fabric purchased this week 6 1/4 yards

Fabric purchased this year 65 1/4 yards

Net reduction + 40 yards

Ally and the Stash

Meet the other member of the family. Ally, Ally Cat, Allyoop, Alikazam, Miss Ally or the devil. She has the face of an angel and I was asked how I could name such a sweet thing Ally. I must have known she had the devil in her. She is certainly our most affectionate family member but only on her terms. As a kitten she never wanted to come in at night. That changed the night she was run over. Fortunately only bruised but it certainly tamed her wild streak. She still gives us grief from time to time but we love her dearly.



Now after that distraction the stash report for this week.

Fabric used this week 1 yard

Fabric Used this year 25 1/4 yards

Fabric purchased this week 6 1/2 yards

Fabric purchased this year 59 yards

Net reduction + 33 3/4 yards

The Stash and Cleo

Went to a quilt class yesterday and did not use one scrap of fabric. Instead I chose to start hand quilting Aunt Bec. It's the first time I have used perle thread and big stitch quilting. Tried several different techniques but in the end found the traditional way was right for me. I'm told my stitches are still a bit small but I'm happy with their size. A photo when a little more is done.

Not using fabric seems to however bring out the worst in me. Look at what came home with me!



Finally a photo of Laurie and Cleo. Cleo is not a cuddly kind of girl. However every morning when Laurie comes to pick her up she lays quietly in his arms and would do so for hours if he let her.

Ripple Rug and stash

I have been dabbling in crochet for the last six months. I fell in love with all the ripple blankets I was seeing on blogs. After several failed attempts I think I know where I am heading. For some reason I need it to be bright -- not usually me - but it finally feels right.



Stash report for this week

Fabric used this week 0 yards

Fabric Used this year 24 1/4 yards

Fabric purchased this week 9 3/4 yards

Fabric purchased this year 52 1/2 yards

Net reduction + 28 1/4 yards

Imagine what it would be like if I wasn't trying!

Len and a New project

Laurie's fishing mate Len passed away last Thursday morning. This morning was the funeral. Len was a very modest man and he would have been so proud to have seen the church full. The service reflected his life - lots of music, friends and reminiscing.

Len's death was our sixth in less than six months. I do hope our luck is about to change.

This afternoon I have started cutting fabrics for a new quilt. This is going to be a labour of love and will take many years. I first saw a picture on a blog during quilt market but had no idea whose pattern it was. I saw it here last week and promptly ordered the book. You can only see a small portion of the quilt - there are 291 baskets in all.



Having failed with Dear Jane, Nearly Insane and a four inch sampler I wonder how I will go. I'm going to use my reproduction pinks and browns and just enjoy the process.

Restraint and Stashbusting

I was told on Thursday that my local quilt shop had a new range of pinks and chocolates. In the past I would have bought the entire range but you can see this stashbusting thing is working as I only bought two thirds LOL.





Report for this week:-

Fabric used this week 10 1/4 yards

Fabric Used this year 24 1/4 yards

Fabric purchased this week 14 1/2 yards

Fabric purchased this year 42 3/4 yards

Net reduction +19 3/4 yards

Oh dear!