Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Civil War Quilt

Well, I have found a project to get me going again. I just haven't felt like sewing anything except ATCs - and then not very many!!

Barbara Brackman has a Civil War Quilt challenge - a block a week for the year. The blocks aren't all that difficult - except she has designed them all as 8 inch blocks, and that is proving a challenge - sizes like 3 3/16ths etc. Still I am enjoying it. Has a number of plus points for it:

1. It is using up many of my old repro fabrics - oh goodie, an excuse to buy new ones! Some of mine date back 15 years and there are so many lovely new collections around that I couldn't justify buying while I had boxes of the earlier ones!!

2. I love repro scrap quilts and I can indulge to my heart's content.

3. I also love the old traditional blocks, though I like using modern methods of making them.

4. I have a week to finish a block - that I can manage.

5. I am enjoying the online group - Barbara's blog and the Flickr group with comments and photos. Amazing how computers and quilting can bring people of like interests together across miles of land and ocean!

Here are some of my blocks - not always to my satisfaction, but hey - I have a year to play with them if I don't like them.

Catch me if you can















North Star






Richmond













Kansas Troubles

More to come.

Liz

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

My Kindle

Great excitement. My Kindle, a Christmas present, has arrived. I love it!! Just one problem that I cannot solve. I bought the model with Wi-Fi and 3G capabilities, only to find that I am unable to connect at home. I can drive 6 kms to the nearest town where I teach and connect straight away but not at home.

I really have no idea how all this technology works. I wish I had my Year 7 boys from last year: they were able to help me out with all my computer problems. Where are they when you want them?

I think the problem is that there is no 3G coverage where I live, although my mobile phone works here. I am probably going to have to get a wireless thingo so I can connect that way. I wonder whether that will work?

Meantime I can get around it by ordering books online from home and they download as soon as I get to school next day. Very frustrating though!

BUT, I love my Kindle and am having fun finding books for it.

Liz

Hydrangeas etc

That very wet Spring has done wonders for my hydrangeas, though they did burn a bit in that short hot spell. I love the range of shades on the same and adjacent bushes.
















A very pretty little Fuchsia


And a colourful rose - 'Shady Lady'.



Luckily the weeds are not showing - and there are plenty of them.

Liz