I am interested to see how this year differs from previous years, mainly because Charley is off at Uni and so lots of the build up will be different, purely because I'll be doing a lot of it on my own.......I'm hoping to at least make it through to Christmas Eve, hopefully further, so we shall see.......I might even try my hand at some digi scrapping to see if that makes it any quicker and easier to complete this project. 

This Friday I am off to Al's crop so if the digi scrapping doesn't work out I will at least have a day on Friday to complete my paper pages........watch this space!!!

A lot of people put in huge efforts in baking some of the most delicious cakes, scones, eclairs and cupcakes I've ever seen.......and they were absolute stars in serving coffee and cake (and doing all the washing up and clearing up - thanks girls).  We ended up raising a grand total of almost £600........I was astounded and very, very happy to have been able to help raise so much for such a good cause.......and there is a bit more to come in the coming weeks with the orders I have taken........so now I will leave you with a few photos of some of the things we had for sale.......

So tomorrow morning, me and Helen are travelling over 5000 miles to one of my most favourite places.  We are so looking forward to it, Helen has never been before and I'm going to really enjoy chilling out with Helen, showing her around, shopping and enjoying the heat.  It's currently around the high 20's.......nice enough to chill out by the pool and not too hot to go exploring.

This time round we are staying at the Palazzo in a Bella suite..........we have no shows booked, we are going to see how the 8 days unfold, no pessure is the theme for this trip.........chilling out, relaxing and enjoying the weather.........and that also means no internet - eek - but I'm going to try and leave everything behind me to really unwind.  So I'll see you all in about 10 days.

Have fun......I know I will.

We were all very brave and there were no tears..........I did shed a few in the car on the way home, when I read the card Charley had written to us, but it was only because of what she had said, not because she has gone to uni.  I am so so proud of her and all she has achieved, she is a lovely young woman who is not only following her heart but also God's will for her life.  Her faith and passion for God are stronger than ever and it is one her most beautiful qualities - her love for God.  I will miss her, but I know she is in safe hands and it is wonderful to watch her blossom into her full self..........giving your kids their wings so they can fly is the best feeling in the world.

Here she is hanging out of the window of her room as we said goodbye..........doesn't she look awesome???

The fabric is Moda's range Posh by Chez Moi and I added a plain cream background and some green binding.  I also added a label - I keep getting told off for net labelling my quilts, and as this was such an important quilt I added a little message.......I think it summed up all I wanted to say to Charley, as well as being like a little pep talk if the need arises.

Hopefully by this time next week we will have unpacked everything a be ready to take Chaz out for a good lunch before we leave her in Brighton........I think our home is going to feel very empty next Saturday.

So I guess this week I'd better finish the cushion I was making for her and then I think we're just about done - eeek!!!

This is the whole quilt...

And here's a close up of the gorgeous fabrics....

 This is the label on the back....

To say I am ecstatic is an understatement.........I felt like I'd lost  part of myself, all the huge things that have impacted me over the last 5 years were amongst those posts along with all the mundane things that I'm sure no-one is really interested in reading......but who cares, it's all back in it's rightful place and all is well within (my) world........

I have finished Charleys Uni Quilt, she loves it.......and I love her.  Only 7 more days until we take her to Brighton I still have her Amy Butler cushion to finish, but that is a mere 30 minute job.......will post photos of the quilt tomorrow when I've had a chance to take some decent photos......we're off to a leaving party tonight for Ollie, my friends son, Charley's friend and really like a member of our own family.  Ollie is off to Sheffield Uni tomorrow.........I think there will be tears shed, by all of us...........when did all these kids grow up????

I tried to update my blog this morning, it's been so long since I added any links to the sidebar (ooh don't I sound technical) that I forgot how to do it.......so while I was bumbling around, behind the scenes, I have managed to delete all of my blog entries to date - 5 years worth........I have no idea if I can get them back, I will try but if not, maybe it was time for a new start.

So to help you keep updated, here's a little run down on life for me as of right now:

• Festival of Quilts...had a fabulous 2 days here, the quilts were amazing but have really inspired me to try a lot harder with my free motion quilting
• Results Day...Chaz got all the marks she needed to meet the conditions of her offer from Brighton Uni, but UCAS forgot to send out Chaz's results so that meant many days of stress for Charley and lots of days spent on the phone sorting it all out so that Chaz DID get her rightful place
• New York...me and Ross spent a week in NY, Ross's first time, and we walked our legs off.  Did the usual sightseeing, rode the subway, enjoyed the sunshine and ate at some fab restaurants.
• Finishing Chaz's uni quilt...I should be putting the finishing touches to this today or tomorrow, will post some photos when it's done
• Shopping & Packing...been helping Chaz prepare for her move to Uni.  She leaves on Saturday 26th Sept...I'm dreading it and just know I will cry when I leave her there.

I have a whole list of things to do once Charley has gone, the most important is getting ready for our quilt group having a coffee morning sale in November......we are making some small handmade things to sell to help raise money for Macmillan so I'm hoping lots of people come and everyone likes what we have made.......off to add the binding to Chaz's quilt, see you soon x

Everything was just perfect, from being able to check into the hotel at 10am when we arrived on Thursday, to the shopping, the demos, meeting friends for a quick coffee and catch up, Amy Butler's class and to a clever bit of traffic avoidance when we left at 5pm on Friday.

The quilts on display were amazing, there were so many and I couldn't include all of them in this one post, but I'll give you a selection......this one is called Bizzy Bee....

I absolutely love this quilt.  I've had a hankering to make a hexangonal quilt and I just love the colour placement on this quilt.  One of the best hexagonal quilts I have seen - in my humble opinion.

This one is called (I think) Abu Ali and the Gilded Chair, I just adore the detailing on the quilting that really brings the quilt to life...

This one is the winner of the Art Quilts, again the detailing is awesome.....it's called Mother Earth

There are plenty more but I'll them to another post in the next couple of days.

I have learnt the easiest amazing way to do quick celtic knots, which I am very pleased about.  I love celtic knots but all the double folding, pinning and hand stitching was the main things putting me off making a celtic knot quilt.......but know I know how to do them with no folding, some fusing and whizzing it through the machine.......I might actually achieve one now.

I have also bought a circular ruler........another quilt I was wanting to make, but thought I'd make a complete mess of sewing curves on my machine, but I was given a fantastic demo by Virginia Walton and after some practise I think I'll even achieve a curved quilt too.

The Amy Butler class was just perfect.  After a full day and a half of shopping and exploring we, Marilyn and I, were ready for a bit of a sit down and unwinding with some sewing.  Amy was a very lovely teacher and I learned something I hadn't done before - I now know how to put in an invisible zip!!!!!!  We were also given lots of freebies - Amy Butler software form Electric Quilt, with 22 patterns on it, a new bag pattern and a pattern to make some funky kids cushions........

I have come home so inspired, that my head is buzzing with new things to make.........back to the lists I mentioned in an earlier post.......before I get lost in my sewing room, I think I had better make a list and STICK TO IT.

More quilts from the show in a day or two........

1. Packing list for Festival of Quilts

2. List of things to get ready for Chaz for Uni.

3. Packing list for New York.

4. Sewing list for things to make for our Macmillan coffee morning sale.

5. Organising trip to Las Vegas - show tickets, car hire etc.

I'm worn out already and now our 3 new rycycling bins from the council have just arrived, so I need to organise those...........or am I just putting off the list making..........mind you I think I'll need a list for the bins, it all sounds very confusing right now, but I'm sure in a couple of months time I will have mastered what goes in what bin and what week each bin gets collected...........for now though, I think I need a large coffee!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a busy week ahead........I'm off to Hanson's in Sturminster Newton on Tuesday with a couple of friends and then on Thursday and Friday I will be at the Festival of Quilts at the NEC in Birmingham with another friend.  We shall have the whole of Thursday for shopping and browsing the awesome quilts that are there, and Friday morning I'm hoping to meet up with some other friends who are going and then have an Amy Butler class in the afternoon before we come home.  Then on Saturday Chaz is going to serve at Carroty Wood, so it will be a quick, "hello, missed you, have fun, see you soon" type of convo between us in the morning.

I see this week being a bit of a whirlwind, but a very enjoyable one.  I'm hoping to get the wadding and binding for Chaz's uni quilt at the NEC, so once she goes off next Saturday I can get cracking with that and try to get it finished before I go to New York in September........I'll be back as soon as I can.