Shiny new camera anyone?

I've been struggling to take any decent pictures with my camera that has been on one too many drunken nights out.  So fingers crossed I can win this bad boy:

You can enter this giveaway at Alexis Miller's blog.

Pins and Needles 2010

I went to an exhibition last weekend which was a little bit of a let down.  It was called Pins and Needles and so I expected lots of sewing, knitting and other needle related crafts but there was, in fact, very little.  It was mostly card making and scrap-booking with far too many chiropractor's stalls thrown in.  I must admit my back does get a little sore when I'm bent over a sewing machine all day but that's the last thing I want to be reminded of when I go for a day out.

Still, there were a couple of stalls with fabric and a quilt competition to get some inspiration from.  Here are some of my favourites.  I'll give you a peak at my purchases when I find my camera ....

Sneaky Peak no. 1

After a marathon of cutting and sewing (and a little bit of swearing - the silk is NOT easy to piece) I now have 128 four-patch blocks and 128 triangle in square blocks.

I absolutely love the bright jewel colours of the silk and the crisp line you get when you press them but it is such a pain trying to cut with the pinking blade on the rotary cutter.  Trying to take a measurement from a wavy line is not ideal but it does leave you with adorable off-cuts:

It seems a shame to throw them away.

The amazing Atomium hat!

Just a quicky in case anybody was wondering if I managed to make myself into a big shiny ball building - Ta da!!!

Yes, that is a very random collection of fancy dress but that's what you get when you give the theme of "Belgium".  It's not the most inspirational theme ever.

What you can't see is the silver PVC fifties style skirt that I'm wearing underneath.  Very handy in a messy drink spillage situation

A tearful goodbye

I finished the quilt I've been making for a friend at work and I really don't want to say goodbye to it.  I absolutely love it but, since she's already paid me for it, it would be a little rude to run off with it.  Here's the completed quilt.  The pictures aren't the best but the good camera was elsewhere and I don't actually get to see daylight outside of work at the moment so they're the best I can get.

The fabric is all from the Rouenneries range by French General for Moda and I love the subtle colours and patterns.  I kept the quilting simple and echo quilted around the piecing to really bring out the pattern.  It's got a few puckers on the back but I think I'm getting a little better at layering so hopefully they'll be some of my last.

Think before you speak

Have you ever said something and then immediately wished you could stuff the words back into your mouth? 

It's one of my best friend's 21st birthdays this weekend and, since he's spent the last 6 months in Belgium, we all have to dress up as something from Belgian culture (not the easiest subject in the world).  I made an off-hand comment that I was thinking of coming as the Atomium and he got so excited that to now NOT come as the atomium would be like kicking a puppy.

Have you ever seen the Atomium????

How on earth am I supposed to dress up like that?!?  Unfortunately the quilting has had to be put to one side until I can turn myself into some giant silver balls.