gRATitude

Have just taken lovely brave neighbour Chris a four pack of Guinness with ffffft-y widget bit inside so that the Guinness looks (and hopefully tastes) real.

Welcome wagon (again)

Trash Towers

On Top of the Hill

Edge of the West Country

Behind the Compost Bin

Trash Towers

On Top of the Hill

Edge of the West Country

Hi new neighbours,

it was really interesting to spot you just now, even if it was so very briefly. You have moved in so quickly and quietly we hardly even knew you were there. Thank goodness for the alertness of My Assistant, she was most insistent that new neighbours had arrived and regularly shouted out greetings to you. Being young she was a little hurt that you never replied.

As is our wont when new folk move into our lane we have left you a small parcel of delicacies on both your front and back doorsteps. We really hope you enjoy these and that your time on The Hill, however brief, is enjoyable.

Kind regards,

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OMG! OMG! OMG! While I was out in the kitchen typing the letter above I heard a squeaky/hissy sound and knew there was only one thing that would make that noise - THERE WAS A FUCKING RAT IN MY DINING ROOM!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Assistant was being fairly useless (too much a big city terrier) and just had it cornered and squeaking wildly so I rang CK who was very brave and offered to come home and deal with it (as if! a) I am not waiting the half an hour it would take him to get home and b) I don't think both of us standing outside the closed dining room door trying not to squeal like little girls is going to be anymore beneficial than just me doing it.)

So I called out those immortal words to my lovely neighbour Chris "Are you any good with rats?" Bless him he came bearing a cloth, some big gloves and a don't panic attitude. After 30 seconds I called through the door  'Shall I go outside and hide in my car while you do this? which he heard as 'Do you want any help?' Apparently an extra pair of eyes is beneficial when ratcatching. So I asked him to hand me out my wellies as there was NO way I was going stand wearing sandals in the same room  as a rat with a desperate escape plan. By the time the boots were on Chris had the offending article wrapped up in the cloth and bending in ways I am fairly certain are not proscribed by the Rat Osteopath Society. As headed out the door he asked if I would like him to deal with it. Yes Chris, yes I would.

Fat Quarterly Report - The Round Up Edition Part One

Theoretically, over the weekend I was going to write posts about the events, activities and happenings at Fat Quarterly London 2012. This did not happen. There was far too much chatting, laughing, learning and sharing to be done.

Saturday morning I had my first class, English paper piecing with Tacha. Given that I was sitting with 2/3 of the Crazy Gang (Mandy and Dee) not much got done. Other than being bossed into changing my fabric to something more 'suitable' that is.

Youngest participant and his chauffeur

I took part in the 'Iron Man Challenge' with Shevvy, Annie and whole load of other uber-competent souls. While our quilt top might have been the smallest it was definitely the bestest in my eyes.

Despite weeks of organising I managed to bugger up the Sample Swap a little bit by leaving the random draw until the very last minute but despite a few hiccups it seemed to go over all right and I have learned much to apply to next year's one. My Jedi Masters at SIT would approve I feel. This is the item I made - a London bus pincushion that has the destination 'FQ 2012' on the front and to keep it in, a little painted box. The design on the front is Aneela Hooey's embroidery pattern she taught on Saturday afternoon.

 The crazy thing was it took a MONTH to design and refine and make the four buses and I did all four boxes from taking off the plastic wrapper to varnishing in 24 hours. The joy of being in a comfort zone I guess.

This is Maisey. She is the work (joy) of the very clever and talented Katy at The Littlest Thistle. There were several examples of Katy's skill and cleverness came along and sadly they all went home with Katy again too. I feel sure Maisey would have liked a visit to the West Country

Having stared uncomprehendingly at the instructions and the fabric for my Union Jack pillowcase for several minutes my poor stupid self was rescued by the lovely Lu. I was banned from using the cutter and shown how to properly wield a long ruler. Once everything was all perfectly sized and beautifully cut I returned to class so Lynne could give me the idiotproof tutorial.

After much cursing swearing and being unsure I have decided that rather than being Marmite (something you either love or hate) foundation-piecing is in fact Vegemite. It is beloved by people from another culture and I remain to be convinced that it can replace what I am used however I will continue to try it. Although I don't think I will be putting templates on toast!

Fat Quarterly Report One. Subtitle: Just for the record.

Having checked in to my swanky hotel with the longest corridors and smallest rooms ever, I showed my new friend Mandy the sights (ahem *cough*cough*) Regent Street,  Liberty and Carnaby Street.

Contrary to popular opinion and expectation there has been no wild behaviour. Me chatting up with the rather gorgeous man on the tube while being serenaded by buskers doing a rather insipid version of 'The Irish Rover' was sheer serendipity.


I have stood on no tables. All other reports and stories should be taken with a really large grain of salt.

However as I am typing my roof has sprung a leak and it seems my shower is now right by the door.