Monday 7 October 2013

Projects

I'm not sure that I've really got time to go to work at the moment, there's far too many interesting things going on.  I'm absolutely loving my quilting and so excited to be taking part in the Friendship Quilt organized by Fiona.  She sent us the information for the first month and I was fortunate enough to have the day off work on the 2nd of the month.  Abi had chosen the colours of 'neutral with a pop of colour' and I loved the excuse to go browsing for some new fabrics.  I know that Abi is currently at university in Durham where there is a beautiful cathedral and I also know that the church is a big part of Abi's life - so it was perfect for me to do a cathedral window pattern.  I made two squares, one with pink on taupe and one with taupe on pink then drove the family mad by asking which one they thought was best!  This was the one they chose:

So of course, I get to keep the alternative one ;-)
We've now got the colour schemes for everyone else so I know that my next one will be peach.  Which gave me the perfect excuse to go out shopping for more fabric, which was also the perfect excuse to go out in my new car!  I thought I loved my first mini but I really love my new one.

So, I'm jumping ahead of myself - Saturday was the EK crop and the class was taught by Ann Freeman who had designed two lovely layouts for us.  In the morning I 'did my own thing' (drank mugs of tea, ate cake and did a lot of chatting with Jane) and even managed to get a couple of scenic photos of Ibiza onto a layout. 

For the first of Ann's layouts I used a couple of pictures that we took when we went out for a meal after J's graduation.  Photos of him and his sister are rare now so it was lovely to get one of them together as well as one of him and his girlfriend.

Karen had cooked up a storm and provided us with scrummy cupcakes.
Clearly a scrapper needs to keep her sugar levels up to keep the creative energy flowing. 
butterfly

karen's cakes 2

And so onto the next of Ann's layouts which I used as an opportunity to display a self timer picture of me and Paul.  We always do a self timer picture on hotel balconies when we are on holiday and it always involves about 20 pictures before we get one that we both like! 

I had my performance appraisal at work on Friday and my line manager said that no matter what was going on, and however busy we were, I was always cheerful and everyone always comments on what a positive attitude I have all the time. I think she was a little taken aback when I said that the reason for that was that I didn't work full time and that because I have Wednesdays off, I am never more than two days away from a day out of the office doing something I enjoy (ie not being at work!). I suggested that it might be nice if everyone only worked 2 days then 1 day off then 2 days and then a weekend, but she didn't seem to think the board of governors would agree to it!  Shall we take a vote?  Hands up who thinks that everyone should have an extra day off mid week.  Motion carried, see you all on Wednesday!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

12 comments:

Sandra said...

Lol ... What a fun post. Well done on the positive appraisal.

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

Oh, your block for Abi is beautiful as well as clever. I'm sure she'll be delighted when that arrives with her.

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Oooh - so much goodness in one little post! A new car, a great performance evaluation, lovely scrapbook pages, our adorable friend Karen with her delicious looking cupcakes, and that awesome quilt square you made for Abi. I love it! I have my square ready to mail tomorrow and will show it once I know it's in Abi's hands.

scrappyjacky said...

You are sooooo creatively busy!!!

Sian said...

Deb, your wonderful creative buzz is infectious! I had been planning a fabric buying trip and after reading this I think I'll move it forward and go tomorrow :) Your block is beautiful, absolutely beautiful

Alison said...

I love the block, Deb...am going to meet with a lady-who-quilts tomorrow, hoping she can point me in the right direction!
Alison xx

Abi said...

I LOVED the block you sent me Deb. The colours were perfect and thank you for putting so much thought into it. The pretty tag is currently on the door to my bedroom!

Ruth said...

Lovely car, lovely LOs and I wouldn't mind you for a boss!

Ruth said...

And I should have added lovely quilt square and excellent appraisal and on and on ...

Anonymous said...

Beautiful take on Ann's layouts. I am in awe at your quilting skills and I totally agree about everyone having Wednesdays off - I could then do a little spreadsheet work for myself ;0)

Beverly said...

I love the square and the cathedral thinking behind it :) Everyone needs someone like you in their work environment.

alexa said...

Waving for Wednesdays! Delighted to hear of your successful appraisal and I do love the page of J in particular.