Paper Peicing

 Not the best pictures, but these are my pieced hexagons that I have been working on bit by bit to make up a quilt that is my version of 'This Goes With That' quilt by Sue Daley and 'Candied Hexagons' by Kerry Dear.

I was looking at this the other day and decided that I would piece what I had into a table runner with a white background/border as I am sure it will take me quite a few more years to have even a lap size quilt at the pace I am going. 

 I couldn't resist sharing Jerry being caught out last week.

He sneaks into the pig shed when he can, he knows he's not allowed in there but he is VERY nosey.

I found his head in the molasses bucket, getting his fill! He uses his teeth to pry the lid off so he can help himself. Because this happened a couple of times in a week the molasses bucket has now been moved to a harder to get to place!

Max and Whiskers

 Love this range by Basic Grey.

I bought two charm packs last year to make a quilt for my youngest then decided as at the time he was 4 yrs old that the quilt would probably be on the small side for him.  So it got tucked away, quilted but not bound, for the 'gift cupboard' in case I needed a baby quilt for a gift at any time. 

Mr Busy became a great uncle last week for the 6th time so I bound the quilt on the weekend and sent it home with his nephew (uncle the new baby) to deliver in the next few weeks. Mr Busy really liked this quilt, nice to know he likes some things I make.

Love the backing fabric!

When Mr Busy's nephew was here, the screen sliding door came off and bumped the table, which smashed. It was good to have another set of hands to help with the clean up because these are not easy to clean up, especially when your verandah has gaps between the decking  for water/rain drainage. 

Our first glass topped table smashed only weeks after purchasing it, 11 years ago. That time a strong wind knocked the umbrella standing in it, which was enough to smash the table. We had the table replaced but it stayed boxed up until four years ago when we had somewhere to put it under cover; so it has lasted a bit longer than the first one! 

Glass top tables are not a favourite with us, that's for sure! We still have the frame from the other day and Mr Busy will make a top for it in the future.

Here is Lucy, she belongs to Miss Busy (8yrs old).

She asked about getting a pet guinea pig for a while but dad kept saying no, we've had them and they die.

However just before Christmas Miss Busy came with me to pick up a Wessex Saddleback sow that I had bought and the seller breeds guinea pigs to sell at hobby sales. Miss Busy very quietly asked if she could nurse one. She did. Then she asked if she could have one. I didn't agree with Mr Busy, as Miss Busy has had no pets of her own and I felt she needed to have something to call her own. So we brought Lucy home.

Miss Busy told dad that we bought TWO PIGS!

To date, she changes Lucy's water everyday, tops up her feed, moves her cage a bit and carries her around for a time. No reminding needed from mum or dad. Do you reckon she will take care of the calves that need marking without us too???? LOL.

Down in the Garden

The main stitchery from block 2 of "Down in the Garden" by Leanne Beasley.

This took me about two weeks to stitch and I wasn't working on it everyday.

 Most of the small stitcheries for block one.

 Small stitcheries for block two.

 All the stitcheries for blocks one and two, including two not started and the birdhouse that is nearly finished.

Stitcheries for other blocks, mostly blocks three and four I think.

I have started using the gorgeous bag Vicki made me for Christmas to keep the 'Down in the Garden' patterns, threads and stitcheries in. This makes it easily transportable from the coffee table to the dining table or outside. I have put each blocks pattern along with the traced or finished stitcheries into a plastic sleeve, this makes it easy to see where I am up and what needs working on. 

LOL, the working lately has been slow due to life taking over but I am still enjoying this quilt.

If you are waiting on an email from me, I am hoping to empty my inbox in the next few days (there are SO many emails there needing replies!). I have been using hte computer a lot less lately, only checking emails a couple of times a week and posting/scheduling my blog posts ahead of time (fantastic to be able to do this!). This is for better time efficiency and to help cut down on power usage, really the computer does not need to be running 24/7!