10.17 am today

I finished trimming the blocks (so far) of the spiderweb quilt. I still have a few left to make. I lost count, I think it's only four more.

Ordinarily I loathe trimming blocks, it's not fun having to square things up and trim off the scruffy bits and dog ears, but this time I was like a crazy woman possessed - LOVED it. Maybe it's because the spiderweb is mine all mine. I think, however, it might have something to do with my new 11.5 inch ruler from creative grids. Non-slip, and actually non-slip, not that faux non-slip I seem to have experienced in the past where you get things all straight, go in for the cut, ruler goes whooooosh and you trim off too much on one side (or is that just me?). I'm addicted to buying these rulers now, I think I need one in every size. (Father Christmas, are you hearing me?)

Thanks for all your thread advice. I'm glad it wasn't just me that has problems with gutermann. The little Swiss lady loves it. Although she also loves king tut best. She's not a fussy thing, she will use anything without fussing too much. Bless her. The German is bossy, though. If she were human she'd be a big boned lady, probably quite tall....she reminds me of that East German shot putter from the 1980's. The one that turned from a woman into a man. I think I'll name the pfaff after her, Krieger it is.
Lorraine has very kindly said she'll pick me up some rasant thread for me in Oz and bring it over when she comes to visit her kiddywinks for Christmas, because I'm having trouble finding it here in Blighty. Online at least. I could just go to a shop and ask, but that would involve me leaving the house. *shudder*

Oh, and thank you Dorothee for the German to English translation - maybe if I buy the thread I can sew 'rasant' too, right? Worth a try!

My quilting frame turned up yesterday afternoon, it's in 2 boxes, I have watched the instructional DVD and hope I'll be able to cobble it together this weekend....and load up a quilt and start playing pro-quilter. I'll let you know how I get on. The frame itself was quite reasonably priced. Very reasonable if you compare it a long arm frame - I got a 7 1/2 feet frame (which will take a quilt up to about 7 feet in width) for £600. After trying out a couple at the festival of quilts, both me and my friend Brioni were rather taken with this one. Hers is already in place in her swish sewing room, mine is going in the garage, the only place I have room (other than the kids' bedrooms....which did cross my mind). Their website is basic, to say the least, but take a look. I have a feeling they make them in a shed/workshop, they're definitely not mass produced. It's nice to support a small business, especially in times like these.