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Thursday, December 20, 2012

Jelly Roll Race

post signatureOne of my online quilting buddies came across this link not long ago and threw out the challenge for us to race each other.

I had a jelly roll of Sew Stichy by Aneela Hooey that I had been eyeing up for a while but not sure what to make with it :)  I also have a niece who is due a quilt.  I missed her 5th birthday so she will be getting it for her 6th birthday in July 2013.

Anyway I signed up.  The idea was to make another 24 hour quilt over Monday 17th & Tuesday 18th December.  However I had far too much to do in this last week to complete a whole quilt in 24 hours.  So I raced but have completed my challenge with the flimsy.  Timing begins after the initial joining of the strips.  I actually did straight joins as I really don't like those pointy bits in my quilt.

It took me over an hour in fact 1 hour 28 mins and I was definitely the slowest of the group BUT in my defence CT gave me very little sleep the night before and I was a little worried about sewing through my fingers.  Yes my level of concentration was that low.

Anyway at the end of that hour and a half I have this gorgeous top to show for it.


I do have to admit that it is my second race I have done although last time I raced myself.  I used the same technique to whip up a quilt for one of Jots childcare workers who has been looking after her since January.  The first time in 4 years that she has had one carer for the whole year.  I quilted it on my machine and came to the decision I HATE machine quilting.  Give me hand quilting any day.  I also added the binding by machine usually something I also loathe doing but yesterday it all worked perfectly.  I think it might have had something to do with the fact I cut the binding wider that usual so there was plenty of edge under the sewing foot.

Here is the finished quilt (complete with photo bomber). 



I love the batiks and have decided to so a similar quilt for Jot for her 5th birthday in September.  She said that it looked like the sea.  I already have a Bali Pop that we have chosen which has much more pink in it for a girly quilt for her I do need to find a good backing for it :)

Right I have 30 childcare lolly bags to complete and some binding to do and a class to listen to :) so I will see you later.



Wednesday, December 12, 2012

13 in 13 Challenge

I don't usually sign up for annual challenges as my track record is pretty dismal, but I am not going to rake up  those I haven't managed to complete in the past.

This one though is one I am looking forward to.

Little White Dove

Rachel over at Little White Dove is throwing out the challenge to read 13 books in 2013.  The only specification is that they are "of the no-pictures-not-for-small-people variety".  Given the way I read to my kids if they were included I could knock over 13 in about 2 weeks.

I do already have a bit of a list and it is split into two categories Fiction and Educational.  There is a lot of reading involved in my Life Coaching Study and what I have managed to read so far is pretty inspiring.  So here is my list as at 12 Dec 2012.

Fiction
A Trail of Fire - Diana Gabaldon
Dodger - Terry Pratchett
THE FIRST CONFESSOR: The Legend of Magda Searus - Terry Goodkind (ebook exclusive)


Educational
The 4 Hour work week - Timothy Ferriss
Awaken the Giant Within - Anthony Robbins
Coaching for Performance - John Whitmore
I'm Okay, you're a brat- Susan Jeffers

Go on over and join the fun at http://thedovenest.wordpress.com/2012/12/12/13-in-13-reading-challenge/ 

Keep an eye out for some book reviews over the year.