A mixed bag

It's been a challenging week so I'm wandering in here for a little whinge and whine. Please feel free to wander out again until half way through the post. 

Our automatic sprinkler system decided to stop functioning so we've had to replace hoses and sprinkler heads. The heads that we were told would fit didn't, and we ended up having to buy ones that were twice as expensive. $150.00 for three sprinkler heads is a bit rude in my opinion. 

Mr. P's car needed new tyres which are obviously essential and wasn't unexpected but spending the cash for a full new set still bites. To add insult to injury the very day we got them fitted the water pump went on the car so we're in the process of having that replaced. And then , just to really piss me off , we discovered the alternator is stuffed too.  

Last night we had a temporary internet outage just as I went to write this post.  Now our wireless internet wont work. I'm typing this from our actual computer. I'm hoping Mr. P can just re-set the modem or something ( I don't understand these things at all ) because if we have to buy a new modem I think I'm going  to have a complete meltdown. At the moment my I pad is virtually useless and I'm starting to suffer Jewel Mania withdrawal. 

This space is where I was hoping to show you pictures of the basted Superheroes quilt. That was on my list of things to do last night when I got home from work. At 7.30 I went to find my clips and clamps so I could get started and I couldn't find them anywhere ....a frenzied search ensued with no success (during which I threw a minor tantrum and used the word "ludicrous" a lot to describe their disappearance ) Eventually I gave up. The last time I saw them it was Christmas and I am starting to suspect they got inadvertently thrown out with the wrapping paper or something. Either that or one of my family members has kleptomania.  Not being able to find them put a huge crimp in my plans so I'm going to dash out today in my lunch break to buy some new ones. Wanna bet I'll trip over the missing ones as soon as I get home tonight? 

In happier news, I've  actually made significant progress this week on that MASSIVE list of things I want to get done before the end of February.

I completed the Superheroes quilt back. Let's hope I can get it to lay flat when I start basting. One spot looks a little dodgy. 

I reached my goal of 15 more hexie blocks for the recycled shirt quilt. I am so over these blocks at the moment. Hopefully I'll regain my love for them in March which is when I plan to finish the last 10. 

The blue blocks for Little P’s quilt top got finished this week. 

The last hexie flower got done. I expect cheers and clapping from you all for this incredible achievement. 

And I've started picking the paper out of the hexies. Worst. Job. Ever.

Goals for this week:

• Slap on my happy face 
• Baste Superheroes quilt and start the quilting 
• Finish 10 more blocks for Little P's Superheroes quilt top 
• Pick the paper out of  10 more hexie flowers 
• Buy fabric for the chair re-do ( I think I have my final choice nailed, I just have to get over the shock of the massive increase in US postage costs before I commit to hitting the buy button) 

I have a plan ...

The down side of putting my sewing/crafty/quilting goals out there every month is that I feel like an abject failure when I don't cross everything off. Such was the case for January because I failed to finish a couple of things on my list. That one lone hexie that needed to be completed remained undone (!!!) and I didn't finish the Superheroes quilt either. I finished the other 4 things on that list but somehow that seems less important than that which remained undone. Obviously I'm a glass half empty kind of gal. 

I've finished the actual quilt top for the Superheroes quilt but I suck at making backs if they aren't two pieces of fabric sewn together and so that's where I got stuck. I really admire those of you who do fancy schmancy backs because often I just can't be bothered. And when you have to cobble a back out of leftovers it seems to take so much longer to put together than the front. What's up with that? 

So here is my ambitious list for February which includes the things I didn't finish in January(insert eye rolling here) 

• Finish Superheros quilt (pictured here laying on my sewing room floor with the dogs thinking that's an open invitation to sleep on it)

• Make Superheros quilt top for Little P (who saw the original Superheroes quilt top and asked excitedly if it was for him and since it isn't, I feel compelled to make him one too- nothing like doing two almost identical quilts back to back )  

• Finish that last damn hexie! 

• 15 more blocks for the recycled shirt quilt (shirts pictured here living on the computer room floor ) 

• Baste and quilt Briar Rose quilt 

• Finish re-upholstering Miss P's outdoor chairs. I get to break out the staple gun so that should be motivation enough to get those done (pictured here stuffed into a wardrobe because I couldn't stand looking at them anymore ) 

• Buy fabric for lounge chair re-do. Its only been sitting there waiting to be done since January 2012. I know what I want - its just a matter of getting on line and finding it. Larri , if you're reading maybe we could do this as a March challenge together since I happen to know you have a chair re- do that has to be done too. We can share the misery. 

• Pick the paper out of half the paper pieced hexie flowers ...ugh..so not looking forward to that.Does anyone wanna come over and do it for me/with me? I can provide a comfy bed and large amounts of hard liquor as compensation if that will swing the deal....