Sunday, August 31, 2008

Annie kicked my butt!


10 am :
Vague idea (really very vague) that making a quilt for Mr Ric-Rac's Granny's impending 100th birthday might be a nice thing to do and I cannot think of another thing that a one-hundred year old woman might possible need or want- or that we haven't already given her.
That's a lot of birthdays and Christmases folks!

11am:
Ring Grandma for helpful suggestions and then decide if I have to make anything like she suggested I would rather give granny a gift certificate for colonic irrigation or skydiving. Trust me , it was wrong...................very wrong.

12
Send some emails. Email a quilty friend with technical questions, email Annie ! Confuse myself with lots of questions so ring Annie instead. Blither vaguely to
Mr Ric-Rac about other present ideas for Granny - a nice teapot?

1pm
Decide that maybe a gift voucher would be a good idea as I give myself a good talking to about my inability to finish anything, my lack of quilting knowledge , my growing disinterest in the project and complete lack of inspiration. I'll have to make something all boring and "nanna".

2pm
Annie says she'll visit and bring one of her quilts over to show me how easy it is. I tell her I only have till October to do it.


3pm
Annie arrives and we begin the fabric auditions. We choose from the stash and I am impressed - Time for a cuppa?
Annie says "get out that cutting board- we need 27 eight inch squares." "I'll iron , you cut"
Wow I think, chosen and cut. Maybe this is do-able.
"OK," says Annie "chuck 'em on the floor we need to make 3 blocks of nine squares each. "




4pm

"You sew " says Annie as she passes me each square until the rows are sewn together. Annie runs in and out of the sewing room , ironing the rows while I sew.
She is a hard taskmaster - pointing at the machine every time I stop for a chat.
Then we cut up the big blocks and I have the 12 blocks needed for the quilt.

5pm
We have a beer and a giggle- I give Annie her "blog finished" present. (That means I had meant to sew up the turning hole while she was here but she had me so busy on the quilt that she went home with a pin still in it !)
Annie knows that what we have done so far does not commit me to the project by any means so she has booked me in to go shopping for sashing and backing on Tuesday lunchtime during our craft-at-work time.

5:30

Bye Annie......

Stay tuned folks - this could get interesting..............or it might all end in tears.

44 comments:

  1. Wow! We all need a friend like Annie to get us going. I can't wait to see the finished product, but for now I am wondering how you cut the three large squares to make 12 smaller ones? Diagonally to make triangles, or smaller squares, or what? Beautiful fabric! Oh, and what did Granny suggest that sounded so unappealing?

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  2. Oh, you have been busy Jodie! I'll email you. It's been mad here but let me know if you need any more help. Good on Annie for getting you started

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  3. LOL....LOL.........can just hear Annie throwing directions at you.......stop talking and more sewing.........lol......oh and did she remind you to make the phone call......

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  4. Does Annie do house-stays? I sure could use that kind of kick in the proverbial to get a few projects under-way!

    The fabric you have selected for the quilt is beautiful.

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  5. Isn't it great to have a friend to help you. Many crafts are best learnt this way.

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  6. Gotta love big blocks for a fast quilt!

    The problem for me isn't the assembling -- it's the quilting! Good luck!

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  7. Hmm... do you think I could borrow your friend Annie? I think she could make a living out of her motivating skills!

    And I'm with Beth - my problem is piecing the quilt top, it's the actual quilting that has me spooked!

    ~Holly
    Two Cheese Please

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  8. Wow, I think Annie needs to come over to my house and kick my crafting butt to get some work done. I think Granny is going to be mightily impressed!

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  9. What gorgeous fabrics. Had you accumulated these beforehand, or did your super friend arrive with her own stash, so beautifully colour coordinated.
    In any case, the quilt is going to look fantastic. Lucky granny.

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  10. Amazing progress! The fabrics look perfect for a 100th birthday quilt!

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  11. I'm all for working in a team - you get so much more done! I can't wait to see the finished quilt.... Nice fabric too - I think Granny is going to love it!

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  12. Awesome! Great job! I think sometimes a "task master" would be excellent to have around here! Might keep me motivated and on track! Good on Annie! Good on you for making something so beautiful and lovely for Granny.

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  13. What a hoot!! Would have loved to see Annie bossing you around today...you sound about as complient as me!! NOT Very!! Keep it up though, its for a good cause and now you've started how bad will you feel if you dont finish it... See, Im good with guilt trips too!!! CAthyx

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  14. had a great time and it is going to be aresome - less talk more sewing I say! I've cut out some angels with the scraps

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  15. Sounds like a terrific day - how lovely to have a friend like Annie. And the quilt is looking good!

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  16. Oh! I hadn't realised Annie was an immigrant from the old GDR? Does this mean the Stasi have a file out for public consumption now, I'd love to read it ;-)

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  17. It's looking totally awesome so far!!

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  18. hmmm...i'm visualizing a business opportunity...annie's kick your butt quilting! i'd definitely hire her. seriously...this is going to be so sweet. good luck on the next step!

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  19. LOL! I'm with Jacquie! Annie kick your butt quilting! I'd hire her too.... The quilt is going to be fantastic, keep at it! Finish it! She'll love it so much!

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  20. beautiful start!!! how are you feeling???

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  21. It's beautiful and I can't wait to see it finished. I love the fabrics you chose.
    Cathie

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  22. LOL!!!You two are such a great team! GO ANNIE!!!Granny will be so impressed-the fabrics are gorgeous! It must be dangerous having your school so close to your fabric shop that you can nip out at lunch time!I had no trouble imagining that sewing/ironing frenzy you were both in!

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  23. Go girls!!! I love the fabrics and what progress!! Did you have any luck finding a pen???Kathryn.

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  24. I think I need Annie to come to my house... I think I drink too much tea when I am sewing!

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  25. i definitely need an Annie in my life! good luck with that quilt- with Annie on your side you will certainly finish it in time for the big 100, and it will be gorgeous.

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  26. Good on you! Oh and where would I get myself a 'Annie' I really need one!!! Is she in the Yellow Pages???

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  27. your choices of fabric Jodie are divine!! so very pretty :)

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  28. wow, well done you. Does Annie charge by the hour? would she come to the UK if I paid her enough? Sounds like you had a very productive afternoon and I can't wait to see the end result.
    X Clare

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  29. I agree with everyone else! I could definitley do with borrowing your Annie for a while.

    I've been putting off starting the 3 quilts I want to make, because I know I'm terrible for not finishing them. The last one sat waiting to be quilted for coming on 3 years!! (where's the embarrassed emoticon when you need it).

    I love those fabrics. I've been thinking of something similar in our bedroom. I'll be watching to check out the finished article.

    xMx

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  30. Annie kicked your butt real good - but look at the result !!!

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  31. I'm sure if enough of us over in the UK clubbed together we could pay for Aniie to have a working holiday over here? In return for board, and the occasional sightseeing tour of the local area, she could whip us into shape? Go on, Annie, you know you want to ;)

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  32. Go Annie! I could do with borrowing her sometime too! Lucy x

    P.S. - stop being so mean! show us what the quilt top looks like so far!

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  33. Great post ....I love this "She is a hard taskmaster - pointing at the machine every time I stop for a chat." I see Annie in a new light...what a good friend.

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  34. I also want an Annie - can you send her to the UK please.

    So nice to have a quilty friend to help out in times of need.

    Monda
    x

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  35. What good fun! Not a better gift that you could give or someone could receive! Lovely to sew together too! Looking forward to reading more...

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  36. Amazing work! What a magical gift.
    Well done on your efforts - can't wait to see the final results.

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  37. It sounds as if everyone needs a friend like Annie.

    I look forward to seeing further evidence of her butt kicking.

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  38. such pretty fabrics! I can't wait to see how the quilt shapes up.

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  39. Wow, Im so impressed! I have only ever made one quilt (my aunt and grandma are big time quilters) and that was because a friend said I couldn't do it. I very nearly couldn't do it, Im not always the most exact person.

    Yours looks awesome so far, I can't believe how much you got done. Can't wait to see it finished!

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  40. Whooaahhh!!!! Annie can come and kick my butt anytime! Looking forward to seeing the finished product :)

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  41. Annie is an impressive force, that is true, but I am impressed that you did what you were told to. My level of self distraction knows no match! Then again, desperate times calls for desperate measures. Go girl friend!

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  42. WOW! You did good! Love the colors. Is this a disappearing nine patch?? I so want to make one.
    What size is your quilt?

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Hellloooooo !!!!