Suffering from severe depression and anxiety as I do, wonderful mum understandably thought I was going to fall apart and turn into a sobbing mess. To be honest, so did I. But I didn't. I calmly called the AA (breakdown service) and was told someone would be with us at 11.45 - the time of our workshop. I still didn't crumble. We went into the show and had a bit of a look round, then I went outside when the AA man arrived and called me.
My power steering fluid is leaking, but he couldn't see any on the ground or in my engine so we don't know where it's leaking to. There was some mention of crank shafts (possibly) but that's as much detail as I can give you! He said he would take the car home for me and would my mum be OK in the van. But I didn't want to leave! I'd only just arrived and it was 11.50, I could still make the workshop (I'd sent mum to the workshop when I came outside). I said we'd make our own way home and off I went. Calm stayed with me the entire day. I also had a bit of a sense of unreality and a slight numbness which I assume were my meds kicking in to keep my sane. Despite these feelings, we had a brilliant day! I didn't spend as much money as I'd budgeted for, knowing I have a car to repair.
Mum picked up some gorgeous half yard pieces to make table mats with (I might be bringing her over to the dark side!), I asked what line they were from and it was Block Party by Sandie Gervais. As I loved them so much, I bought a jelly roll, on offer for £25. I've never had a jelly roll before and have no idea what to do with it. Suggestions for jelly roll patterns (and not a jelly roll race) would be appreciated.
I bought these fat quarters of Colour Theory with the vague notion of making myself a bag. When I got home I checked and I have a charm pack of this line. It was fate.
Mum bought this piggy thread catcher pattern and a fat quarter of piggy fabric for me to make up for her. She hasn't arrived at the dark side yet.
As I'm enjoying my Rowandean embroidery so much, I bought another one. You have to turn your head to see it. Blogger, photos, need I say more?
I also picked up these two photo mounts for the embroideries and a pair of scissors as mine are becoming blunt. I suspect you can sharpen scissors. I'm too lazy for that.
The workshop we took was Embellish a Bag with Rag Rugging techniques. We learnt to do a circle of yarn loops using a kind of crochet hook with a thick shaft. Then we did a circle of fabric scraps using a prodding tool. Or maybe a prodging tool. Not quite sure, at that point in the instructions I was having a quick panic that the man I'd given my car to might not really be from the AA as I hadn't asked for ID...
And here's a terrible shot of the bag. It's nowhere near complete and I didn't buy the tools as they were quite expensive. I'll have a look online or try using my ordinary crochet hooks.
I did look at lots of lovely quilts, including our EMMQG entry. I forgot my camera so didn't manage to take any quilt photos at all. Hopefully plenty of other bloggers did and will publish posts for us. I did take a photo of our quilt on my phone, but can't figure out how to take it off Instagram. I'll work on it and show you later.
I haven't told you the most exciting thing. Wonderful mum (and wonderful dad) bought me my birthday/christmas-for-the-next-26-years-present. I don't have it yet, it will be delivered in a couple of weeks but I won't be given it until November.
It's this amazing sewing machine!!! It's got 8.5" of harp space, a knee lift control, extension table, tons of different stitches and different settings, auto thread cut, comes with loads of feet and a 5 year warranty. I think I also get a load of thread with it! How cool is that?? Bear in mine my current machine doesn't even have a needle-down setting...
I enjoyed playing with it! So excited!
