Curtains

First, thanks to Tazzie for some help getting my Q4P link back - we had a talk on the phone and figured it out by nicking someone else's code and changing the number. First time I've talked to Tazzie; I have met Heavens to Bettsy.

It is hot as hell and humid here today. You must get sick of me going on about it, but it really is almost unbearable some days. I was woken at 3.30am by a storm, and now there is another one coming, so had better post and get off the computer.

I have been hiding in the aircon all day fiddling around, and finally starting the curtains this afternoon. I have lived here for 18 months with no curtains or blinds downstairs, but I've finally given in. I'm not too keen on curtains, but I had to do something. These 2 doors that you see are each 3m wide. The one on the left is my "front door", and the one on the right leads out onto the deck at the front of the house. As you can see I have grey glass, which is great for the glare. During the day no-one can see in, but at night 'everyone' can see in. All they see is me cooking or sitting in front of the TV, so I haven't worried too much about it.

However, the neighbours told me recently that the rather 'unsavoury' fellow that was renting across the road had been looking into everyone's houses at night with binoculars. That sealed it. I was looking at a great sliding panel system at Ikea, but because of the bulkhead above the front door which is covering a steel beam, it wouldn't work. So I have been to the dreaded Spotlight to buy curtain fabric - what a disappointment. In the end I bought 14m of dark blue cotton denim from the dress material section, and have started today.

They are nice and dark, and I think they will be fine. I just want something that will sit quietly in the corner during the day, but will block out the neighbours at night, and the morning sun that comes in. I have just made them up as I go along with some curtain ring tape along the top which I might gather just a little to stop the rings dipping down and showing. I will wash them tomorrow and hang them by the rings to dry so I don't get peg marks on them. Then I will hem them after a few days. They are going to run, so the excess dye will dye the white tape blue, which will be good.

Probably not the way the Curtain Police would do it, but too bad! I'll try and get the other two finished tomorrow, then back to Daniel's Quilt. The sewing machine needs a service badly - it is doing something tricky down in the bobbin housing which looks ominous...

Sunflowers

First thing - my Q4P link isn't working. My fault. Kim sent me the new code, I deleted the old code then realised that I didn't know my Ring number. Woops. I have emailed her but it is probably the middle of the night where she lives, or she is having a Sunday sleep-in.

Next, for those of you on the wrong side of the world who are not seeing much sunlight, here is a photo of some sunflowers I picked up at a farm stall yesterday. Aren't they beautiful?

Then a photo of a painting I bought today. It looks better in real life - the light is shining on it in the photo. There has been an art show here this weekend (Australia Day) and I bought it there. It was quite inexpensive, but I like it. Now I have to decide where to put it.

The cricket is on - I can just hear that someone got out.

Better get back to it. Australia is going pretty well against New Zealand (3nd favourite enemy after England and South Africa). The game is in Perth today and the temperature on the cricket ground is 41 deg C. Imagine that?

Daniel's Quilt

As you can see Daniel's Quilt is suddenly well under way. This afternoon I shut myself in the sewing/computer room, put on the aircon, and got into it. The 1st photo shows the top still in 3 parts. I just have to sew them together, put on a border and then put it together. All the fabric so far is from the stash.

I had a bit of stash anxiety this afternoon, as I suddenly realised that I didn't have anything for the border. I like the idea of a thin red inner border, then a wider outer border in the plain blue, which is a bit darker than how it has photographed with the flash. I was hoping to get it finished this week, so tomorrow when I am on the mainland I will try and get the fabric.

I'm going over with 2 of the other nurses that live over here to a big book sale that is held by the Salvos I think. Hoping for some sewing books, otherwise a few novels maybe. As I have 3/4 cleaned out my bookshelves downstairs lately, and culled a lot of books, this is probably pretty silly. I suppose I am mainly going for social reasons, as we will have lunch too. The only thing is I will be in someone else's car, so hopefully they will be OK with me stopping quickly at the fabric shop.

I have been a bit worried about the outcome of this quilt, as I thought the black and white 4 patches have got 'lost' a bit due to the bright colours. As Bonnie wrote on her website this quilt is all about contrast, and I think the bright colours are too bright. But then when I looked at the photo it seems a bit better.

Simon has been helping - well actually he has been snoring in the cool of the aircon, waking briefly to have his photo taken. Swampy is in the dog bed.

Short Post

It is so hot and humid here that I can hardly do anything! The temp was only 31 deg C today, but it is 21 overnight. It's the humidity that kills you. I woke up sweating this morning, and couldn't make a decision what to do. The dentist's receptionist made the decision for me by asking if I could fill a cancellation today instead of my appt on Wed.

I had a filling in a tooth that has been troubling me on and off for a while, and 7 hours later the Local is just about gone. I tried to have a drink of water about 2 hours ago and half of it ran off my chin! I have come in the house at 21.45, opened all the windows then brought the dogs and the laptop up to my room and turned the aircon on. What a relief - hang the expense.

Bought the batting for Daniel's quilt today, and I am going to Craft Group tomorrow, so must get on with the top.

Mum's visit wasn't too bad - small doses are more manageable. Someone asked if she does any craft. She does lots of different things, embroidery, garment sewing, crochet, goldwork, a few quilts and Ikebana.

No photos sorry. I'm enjoying all the snow and ice photos.

I just looked at the weather link and it is 80 deg F with 82% humidity and it is 10.30 pm

Flylady, Where are You?

My Mother is coming over tomorrow - oh why haven't I been a better FlyBaby? And what am I doing sitting on the computer reading blogs? Paper everywhere!!

The really bad news? Mum has had her cataract fixed...

Adit: all the better to see the dirt with

Can't Get Moving

I'm in some kind-of Post Christmas Slump, or something like that. I can't seem to get my act together. One minute I think I'm coming down with something, the next I think that I just need to get out more. Or work more. Or 'something'! Feeling unsettled and restless, can't sleep at night (only all day), and can't even seem to get any sewing done, except for (you guessed it) the blasted hexagons.

Here is a shot of the border I've decided to do - doesn't show up too well on the dark floor but I can't be bothered to redo it. Sorry. Now I need to decide about the outside edge. Do I do as someone suggested and applique it on to something, or put another row of hexagons around and slice off the edge to make it straight?

Going back to bed. Happy New Year!