What a beautiful day!

It has been glorious in my neck of the woods the last couple of days.  Definitely a welcome change from the rainy, cold days we had about a week ago.

This week has been a bit more chaotic than usual, Pedro has been on holiday, so our normal routine has been out of the window.  Which is good but it also means that I'm behind on tons of stuff.  Housework has been way down the list of things to do this week and getting up to date with my sewing has been high.  So a day later than I planned to post it, my mini quilt for the Brit Quilt Swap was posted off this morning.  I'm not saying who to yet, as it's a secret swap and they won't get it until Monday but this is what the finished article looks like 

The last one includes the extras I've sent away.  My first ever attempt at a pin cushion, it's really sweet.  Now I need to make one for myself and I loved it so much.

Now yesterday a parcel arrived for me but, because I hadn't posted my quilt away I wouldn't let myself open it!!  I know, the will power I have at times it's outstanding.  So it sat in my kitchen all yesterday and all last night unopened - willing me to open it but I wouldn't.  So as we planned a day at the seaside today, I took my parcel with me to open in the car, after I'd been to the post office.  And WOW!!  I'm so glad I did.  My partner Suzan or (Quiltitis as she is known on Flickr) as made me a gorgeous, amazing quilt.  It's called the Sunshine Tree, which is very apt for the weather.  I absolutely love it.  Love it, love it, love it.  It's already hanging in my kitchen.  

And being a wonderful person, Suzan included an amazing fat quarter (not sure who/what it is yet!) and a fantastic Mr Men book for my little boy.  There he is "reading" it in the car on our way to the beach.  Thank you Suzan I truly adore it :)

We then spent a good part of the day at Burntisland beach building sandcastles.  It's definitely been a beautiful day!

Weekend Blogger

is what I'm feeling like at the moment!  I should blog more often but then again I should do more of lots of things, including sewing.  I have managed to get my quilt top finished for the Brit Quilt Swap, need to decide on a backing, quilt and bind it - before Friday *eeekk*.  I'll get it done, no matter how well I try to prepare I'm always at the coo's tail.  So this is how it is looking just now - I'm really pleased with it. 

Earlier this week I was off to see Bon Jovi at Murrayfield.  I've seen them a couple of times before (well ok, this was my 13th time) and they were superb as always.  Slightly subdued but then Jon had damaged ligaments in his knee the week before so was wearing a knee brace and couldn't boogie about as he normally does but it didn't matter too much

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I had to laugh at my friend Sue who was there for the first time and kept saying 'oh my god they're so good, how haven't I been to see them live before?'  Now Sue and me have been friends since we were 13 and I think I was 15 the first time I saw BJ so there's been plenty of opportunity over the last *cough* 21 years - it was hilarious!

I've been spending time tonight sorting out my photos and I'm disappointed in myself.  The first year of Euan's life I've got really well documented but his 2nd year not so much.  Some months I've got tons of photos, other months barely a handful.  I've been trying to make sure I get photos on the 26th of every month (his birth date) to track how much he changes over time but due to a small diy hiccup, I forgot for most of today and only remembered just before bedtime.  So today's best photo is this one, my 25 month old son trying to walk in mummy's wellies!!

Keeping up!

Well trying to anyway!!  I've been busy trying to finish off things and start new things.  The dude's quilt top is finished.  I think - I like the way it looks but part of thinks it needs a border.  Yes/No?  Maybe I'll make a border just to see how it looks.  I'm planning to back it with a brushed cotton to make it lovely and snuggy.

My hearts quilt is now finished and sitting on our couch being leaned against every day.  I'm really, really happy with it and in this lovely warm June that we're having (!) it's been used already.

I'm getting behind on mystery quilt but a big part of that (other than, you know, life getting in the way of other fun stuff) is that I've been seriously procrastinating on the block which is to be paper pieced.  But thanks to Sheila who sent me some really helpful and very clear instructions on how to do a block I'm over the mental block I had.  So following the instructions I made this funky little tree (I added the border to finish it off)

I've made a little bit more progress with my mystery quilt since this but not much!

I've also being doing a little bit more of my brit quilt swap mini-quilt.  It's coming together nicely.  I haven't decided how to finish it off but I'll have a little bit of play and see what I can come up with.

I haven't been my usual organised self the last few weeks so I haven't had as much time as I've wanted to do much else but after the end of this week I should have more time as I step down from being as involved in our Toddler's Group (1 year of being the treasurer is enough for me).  But for now, seeing as it's Father's Day, I need to spend some time with this little man and his daddy.  Steak for dinner me thinks!

Flying visit

Life is getting in the way of other things I want to be doing just now.  Although today we're taking at slower pace and hoping to get caught up with various things.

I have done some playing about with the design for my Brit Quilt Swap mini-quilt.  I'm not overly happy with all of the triangles, they need jiggled about a little to make it flow better, but over all I'm pleased with the design and how it's looking.  Just need to get it made up!

I'm getting behind on my mystery quilt too so hopefully this weekend will free up some serious free time. 

Me and the dude were mucking about in the kitchen last week and out of all the pictures I look, this is my favourite.  Much silliness!!!

My Boy

.......is 2!  We've had a busy week.  I've been on holiday and spent the first half of the week preparing for the Toddlers AGM last Wednesday.  Being the group treasurer does involve a fair bit of work making sure that everything is up to date and logged properly so I wanted to make sure that I had everything correct.  Which meant that I checked, double checked and triple checked the accounts before the meeting.

Then Thursday was the Dude's birthday, this is him in one part of his birthday present.  We didn't get a chance to build it up until the morning of his birthday which was interesting to say the least.  It's looks fairly simple doesn't it?  We didn't think it would take very long - it's only a few pieces of plastic after all!  Over 2 hours later we had a different view of it!  But he loves it so that's all that mattered.  The other part of his present, which is bigger, went together so much easier and quicker - sod's law eh! (that's my nephew checking out the doorbell)

I attempted to go one better than last year's cake and I'm pleased with the result.  I'm going to spend some time this year improving my icing technique before the next birthday but it tasted really good and my butter icing was just amazing :)  (that'll be why my jeans are tight!)

And to finish off my week off work we spent the weekend at Grannie's Heilan' Hame holiday park.  It's at Embo, which I'd never heard of before, but it's about 3 miles from Dornoch (the place where Madonna and Guy Ritchie got married) and it's lovely.  Check out this beach ....... (and blue sky)

I'll be back tomorrow with more about the weekend.  Just now I'm off to have a decent cuppa (I'm contemplating taking my own mug on holiday the next time to try and get a proper cup of tea) and watch a programme about space archaeology!??!