Singing praises and sneezing

So I finally got to have a go on my new sewing machine this week. It arrived last week just before we left for VT. It was my sewing machine to myself after hubby bought himself a birthday guitar amp that's the size of a suitcase! It's a computerised Singer that was really cheap (compared to when my mum bought a sewing machine years ago) and it is AWESOME. It has an auto tension dial, so it sews beautifully first go. It's hassle free. I have started making a basic patchwork quilt. I had initially thought I'd make a single, but I had cut out so many squares that I decided it would be a double. It's made almost entirely from fabric I bought at the local thrift shop. I'm waiting for the batting and quilting hoop to arrive now before I can move on with it; it's all a learning experience as I'm kind of reinventing the wheel as I have no books or patterns.

While I am waiting for the batting to arrive I have begun to crochet another blanket. Inspired by Jane (the super star of blogging) I have begun a wavy blanket although it's chunkier wool and on a much bigger needle and looks VERY different. It's been a good thing to do as I am sick AGAIN, with a cold AGAIN, and I'm feeling very miserable and annoyed as we have done very little for this week's break from school. As soon as all my aches and pains subsided from skiing (and I could walk up and down stairs without having to grip the bannister with white knuckles) my nose started to drip...and I'm not the only one...3 out of 4 kids are sneezing and dripping along with me. So I am enjoying the fairly mindless riding of the waves up and down. It's very wide, so one row just goes on and on. This is the second time I have tried this kind of crocheting and I love it. I also made a scarf for my sister in law for Xmas with a looser pattern from the same wonderful book.

I will post photos of both these projects tomorrow, but I keep forgetting to take photos during the day when the light is best.