Grown up camera

So, after months of debate, and being about to buy a Canon, I decided to go with the Nikon D3200. It just felt better in my hand. Here are some of my first snaps with it. I have a book to work through to learn more about it.

 

Of course, there's been confusion on some fronts as to what this thing is...

 

Train Post

It's come to this. Blogging on the train because I am to darn sidetracked by other things (like sleep) when I am home.

Think of me as an occasional blogger hmm?

What's new then? Not a lot really.
Pips folks have been away for nearly 3 weeks and its been lovely. Makes me want to move out even more, but unless rents in the area drop suddenly, it's not going to happen yet. Grit teeth. Move on.

Work has picked up the pace and things are kicking off with making an open source site using Drupal. We've had some training days on it, and I am tempted to go build a site in Drupal gardens for fun. Yeah, I like my work. most days.

Running. We are working our way through couch to 5k again with some issues owing to crazy foot pain and a stiff knee. However, we did run week 5 day one (three 5 minute runs)! :)

- End of post as my train got to work! Full post to come soon!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Minifigure addiction

I think I might have a problem.



These little folks have just invaded my life and my 365 project.



I just can't seem to stop taking photos of them.



Send help.



Seriously though, I now have about 15 different minifigures. ;) They are great fun to take photos of. I see why people do whole projects with them now!

100 Days on 365

100 days down. 265 days to go. Some of my favourites from so far are below in no particular order.

Wrapping up the Quilt.

I started this quilt back on March 17th 2011. Over 2 years ago. It is now finished, and has been on the bed for the last week or so. It looks great, and it is a nice extra layer for this endless winter.
I wanted to post some photos from across the whole project, as it amazes me how much went into doing this project. I was inspired to start this while quilt thing after Julochka posted some of her lovely quilts on her blog. Seams to Me by Anna Maria Horner was recommended as a starting point for sewing. And the initial quilt was designed based on the 'Playing Along quilt' in there. I made some changes to it of course as it now looks nothing like the one in there, in part because of the fabric choices I made.

Project Initiation:







This was a huge project for me to start, especially due to low finances at the time. But it was one I was desperate to do, especially after I fell in love with this French General fabric.

First Steps:

These first cuts were terrifying. I spent so much money on the fabric that I could not bring myself to start cutting into it.





Once I started I had great fun doing it though. In fact, it may have been my favourite part of the process (asides from napping under the finished quilt!)





It was way bigger than I anticipated when I started laying it out. Thankfully though, the finished quilt covers my double bed almost perfectly.



Stitching Up:

I don't have any photos of single squares, but once I started this part I kept going. I had to exchange my sewing machine during this process due to a fault with the last one. Well worth it as the new one has been brilliant. I think I owe it a service at a shop though after doing this!





I actually had the quilt ready to finish in September of 2011 but life got crazy and I had no money and could not decide how to back it, how to finish it etc.  I also didn't really have the room to quilt it. Fear kind of paralysed me with the project until this year.

Laundry Day:



Thankfully it didn't run. I made a huge error in sewing this together without pre-washing the fabric. I know next time to do that first. So much fear in washing it!



Quilting:



Getting the space for this was a nightmare. If it had been summer I might have done it in the garden. As it was, I moved a whole bunch of furniture!




Saftey pins are painful to put in, the they stabbed me less than the quilting pins. I'm not sure what I would use next time.

Bias Binding:



I miscalculated the amount I would need. If anyone needs any cream bias, let me know. I have an insane amount left.





I hand stitched the bias down whilst watching something like 25 episodes of Drop Dead Diva. Painful, and I need a thimble that fits!

Finished!






After all that time I love that it is done. A part of me wants to do a more fun, free form quilt now, but I have nowhere to put it! Maybe a summer quilt with a fleece backing or something?

30 Lists

Who doesn't like making lists? I mean, for us organised types, and disorganised types, lists are like little life rafts in the day. The writing of one, and the crossing/ticking things off. Moments of wonder right?

So, I've been writing a list every day for the past 16 days. I will carry on until the end of the month. This is all part of 30 Days of Lists, a project that has grown in popularity in the corner of the internet that I live.

I've taken a little bit of an odd route for this challenge. I decided to sew each and every one of my lists. So far, so good. I've managed it, although I may have to go back over them at some point to add to them as time sometimes gets away from me leaving little sewing time in the evenings. Or I'm just too tired from work. I've been keeping a day ahead so far, and I'd like to keep it that way. Makes this endeavour a little more manageable.

I've posted days 1-7 here already, but here is 8-14.



Day 8: Comfort food. Consisting of tea, home-made pizza, chocolate, hot chocolate with baileys, and yoghurt with muffins.



Day 9: Today's Ought do list. I got maybe 3 of these done this day. The skirting took way longer than expected as I spent several hours having to pry up carpet grippers.



Day 10: I'm Craving. This was a bad mood Sunday afternoon where I needed hugs, tea, comfort and some space. Figure that out if you will.



Day 11: Things I do every morning. I do other stuff too obviously, but there is only so much I want to sew!



Day 12: Things I do every night: Shower, read, sleep and brutally and callously steal all of Pip's pillows before he comes to bed.



Day 13: My Causes. This one was hard, as to be honest, I don't really have that many causes. Certainly not charitable ones.



Day 14: My role models: Amanda Palmer, because she is awesome, my Mum, because she taught me everything, and Willow in Buffy for making being a girl nerd, if not cool, then pretty acceptable. :D

It's not too late to join in with 30 lists, just head over here to sign up.