The right tool for the job

It’s much easier to achieve a good result that way.

I got the walking foot out for my sewing machine, to start quilting my little “leftover”.  I wanted to stitch simple, straight lines, nothing fancy.

Hmm.  I remembered there’s a little gizmo in the accessory box for keeping lines parallel.  That’s what I needed.  Out it came.

I’ll admit, I had to google to find out where/how it fitted, it’s so long since I used it.  But of course, once I saw the picture and referred back to my machine, there was only one place it could go.

There was the added bonus of discovering exactly what this little bit of kit does too: fastens the gizmo to the back of the walking foot and screws it into place.

In no time, we were away and the small leftover was quilted.

Now to finish off loose ends and to sew the binding, assuming I have enough fabric left. 

Because it would be silly to buy more fabric to finish off this leftover quilt, wouldn’t it?  What would I do with the leftover fabric?

Into every life…

..a little rain must fall.

Or so said my Mum when things didn’t go, ahem, according to plan.

I post this to balance the good life.  To counter all those thoughts of “oh, it’s all right for her, swanning off here and there” and to ensure that my blog doesn’t become one of those stories of a perfect life seen only through rose coloured spectacles.

The pictures might tell a story of everything running smoothly.  Of things under control and ticking over nicely.

Except that as far as our fridge-freezer was concerned, this was not the case.  Today’s unlooked for bonus was to clean out an unexpectedly defrosted fridge-freezer and dispose of the contents.

Yuk.

Whilst my hero has gone off to take the smelly contents to our “Civic Amenity Site”, I’ve hopefully managed to get rid of the horrible aftermath: the smell.

What a lovely way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon.  Not.

Update on Sunday, August 29, 2010 at 10:33AM by Gill Thomas

A call to British Gas, wtih whom we have a service contract for our white goods, resulted in a visit from one of their engineers on Thursday.  Unsure about the cause of the fault and undecided whether to request a manufacturers visit (costly) or  order several spare parts (also costly) we agreed that since we had already lost the contents of the freezer and hadn't replaced anything yet, we were in no hurry to sort it out.  He switched it back on, observed that the temperature was going down as he left and promised ot be back in touch after the weekend.

The fridge and freezer have been working perfectly since he left.

Rainy Saturday

Whilst at the Festival of Quilts, I also succumbed to some of the gorgeous Japanese fabric from the Eternal Maker, thinking I’d make a small bag or two.  As I stood dithering and trying to decide which print to choose, I spotted the girls there had their rotary cutters and basic kit in a little sack, exactly as I’d had in mind.  Sold!

I’d seen a pattern in this book a while ago, for a small square “box” made from linen fabric and had it in my mind to use this method.  But I couldn’t quite remember how it was done and since I don’t own the book myself, I asked a friend nicely if she’d remind me.  Except that before she had chance, I’d worked it out for myself…

In no time at all, a good sized bag was complete – all machined, so quick as anything.  But I felt the proportions were wrong, since it was hard to work out what size piece of fabric to start with (no, of course I didn’t try it out in scrap fabric first)  The largest bag has a square base with a side measuring 6 inches and is a good twelve inches deep.  Though I wanted it deep enough to turn over the top a couple of times, I felt the fabric wasn’t stiff enough to stand without some kind of stabilising layer.  So, the next two bags were made with a three inch base and are about ten inches tall.  Much better.

Perfect for putting a few bits and pieces in.  However, I spotted something about my choice of fabric – those little Matryoska dolls are all standing the same way up – and I had to decide whether to have the print up the right way on the turnover or on the lining.  Next time, I must choose a fabric with a two-way pattern.  Anyway, in less than half an hour, I had two small bags complete.

I didn’t stop there.  I’d also bought a couple of metres of heavier weight fabric from Fabrics Galore and soon whipped up a couple more, slightly larger bags with a six inch square base.  This stiffer fabric was a delight to sew and I was tempted to keep going except that it was now four o’clock and I was in need of tea.

But just before I turned off the sewing machine, I remembered I could add a small finishing touch.

Joining

Spending time with friends at the Festival of Quilts at the NEC yesterday, I remarked that the most creative thing I seem to do these days is to join pieces of Moda fabric together.

Looking for something to sew the other afternoon, I joined the leftovers from my last quilt together to create a small top for a present.

Then, this afternoon, I put my new tag gun to use and tried it out on the seasonal quilt I put together using the Tokyo fabric I got last year.  (I can’t quite bring myself to mention the C word yet, though my hairdressing appointment is already made!)

Anyway, here’s hoping that these purchases will be turned into something useful before long.  Looks like I’m in a colour time-warp, doesn’t it?

Company

So, Summer Puddings were made and enjoyed though by making them in individual, small cups rather than one pudding basin, the bread to fruit ratio was a little unbalanced I felt.  But on this occasion, let’s say we went for style over substance?

We spent such a fun afternoon in the company of friends and the hours slipped by as they tend to do in a relaxed atmosphere when the conversation is flowing.  Yesterday, we enjoyed the other fun part of entertaining – the leftovers! 

We sat with a cup of tea around 5pm and idly switched on the TV, remembering that usually around this time, the Barefoot Contessa is shown on the Food Network.  Sure enough, there was Ina, cooking a blue cheese souffle for her friends.

What did I have there in the kitchen, but the remains of a hunk of Dolcelatte cheese, left over from Sunday.  Bingo! There was our supper sorted.

The mysteries of the souffle were explained to me years ago by Odette, a teacher’s wife and my gracious hostess for a week.  At the time, I was teaching at Shepshed High School in Leicestershire, who exchanged with a school in Noisy-le-Grand, a suburb of Paris each year.  Though I didn’t teach French, on this occasion an extra lady staff member was needed and during a busy but fun-packed  May half term, off I went.  The children were staying with families who entertained them when they were not in school which meant that we staff members were surplus to requirements unless there was a crisis.  Thankfully, there wasn’t, so I spent a lovely few days with Albert and Odette, visiting galleries (there was a fantastic Manet exhibition on at the time) and enjoying their company as they showed me around their favourite parts of Paris. In the evenings, when we weren’t involved in a group activity, I was delighted to spend time in the kitchen with Odette, whose souffles were legendary!  Thanks to her, I became confident about making them and they became one of our staple supper dishes.

I haven’t made one for years, however, so got out my copy of Rose Prince’s “The New English Kitchen” and brushed up on my ingredients.  Less than an hour later, supper was on the table.

Yes, it tasted as good as it looked!

Sitting here at my computer this morning and looking through the glass “frame” of my video screen, I see that I have further company this morning.

Eeuuuuw……is it a moth?  I’m off out later and I think I’ll leave it to my hero to deal with!