Bedouin Piecemakers Quilting Group

http://bedouinpiecemakers.blogspot.com/

At our last Beduoin Piecemakers quilting meeting I decided to go around and take some snap shots of the 'works in progress' on the Amish quilt that has been the last 2 months project. One of the members suggested that I might like start a blog for the group. Therefore, this is what I have been making a start on over the last couple of days along with my excercise regime and sewing the binding on my 2nd quilt. When the Amish quilts are all finished I will take some more photo's to include in the blog.

Its still very much in the early stages and have to decide on the format and content of the blog before I can go any further but that will be sorted fairly soon, I'm sure.

If anyone is in the Al Khobar area and wishes to join the group please email the group at: bedouinpiecemakers@yahoo.com

Please Ladies No Smoking

First things first...I had to return some exercise wear today as it was too big. Ladies are not allowed to try items on before buying so we have to go thru the routine of buying, trying on at home and then getting back for a refund or exchange, all to just go home and retry until we get the desired item. Well it was 2 days ago that I purchased the top and was told it had to be returned within 24 hours for a refund and therefore, I was not allowed to have a refund, I could have an exchange. I am fed up of this routine and just wanted my money back. Anyway, the salesman gave in after 10 minutes of me saying 'no, I want my money back and I don't want anything else from the store today thankyou'.

Its worth knowing that its pointless getting annoyed or angry as it gets you nowhere so you just have to be patient and sometimes it pays off as it did in this case.

I then went onto the Mall of Dharan to get some other items. Again the same routine, buy the items, (in this case) run to a toilet and try them on and run as fast back to the stall for an exchange or refund. This is fine but remember all women do this and by the time you get back to the stall the checkout is full of us all trying to do the same thing.

I HATE SHOPPING ! Well I love shopping anywhere else because I can try first.

Imagine how amazed I was at finding a changing room in one of the stores in the new part of the Mall ! I was thrilled trying on 7 items and only buying the one that fit and suited me. Got some new gym wear for my 'schwinn sessions'...horray, after about 4 months of working myself up to it.

Then I decided to go and have a Costa's and Tuna Melt Foccacia during prayer time. Everything is quiet, eating and drinking when I notice a Matawa with a policeman walking towards us in Costa. They went up to a woman whom I don't think could have been saudi as she was uncovered and with 2 men and another woman. The Matawa signed to the men to tell her to 'stop smoking'. He then went up to her and did the same thing. She waved him away which I thought would bring more trouble but he just walked on thru the Mall. The woman then made a face as he walked off. I wasn't sure what the reaction of the other people in the cafe would be as they were mostly saudi men and women, and to my surprise they were all smiling and finding it all rather amusing too.

Oh yes, the men were all smoking but this is not a problem. Only women are not allowed to smoke openly.

There you go, another interesting thing for saudi life to add to my blog.

Book Review - Anita Grossman Solomon Response

WOW ! A personal reply from the author Ms Solomon. Very impressive. I had no idea people were actually reading my blog, well apart from me and my 4 followers !

I have included the reply in this post as I think it merits a show rather than finding it thru the comments section as its a good response in answer to my limited experience of quilting reviews.

Thank you so much for your reply Anita it was much appreciated to get the personal touch.

Response:Hi,

Glad you are giving it a try. It's the same as 'regular' piecing except that you piece on one sheet of vellum. By not cutting up the subunits you won't have to pin them together. Perfect matching.

You can watch videos of it. Note the links at the bottom of my blog.

http://makeitsimpler.blogspot.com

Book Review

Make it Simpler Paper Piecing: Easy as 1, 2, 3 - a Pinless Fold & Sew Technique by Anita Grossman Solomon

Out here in 'The Kingdom' it is pretty difficult to come by many quilting books, therefore I have been relying on ordering via Amazon or the monthly quilting meeting where we can borrow books from the library. I came across this one on a recent visit to the local Jarir Bookstore. I initially thought it was a book on paper piecing and definitely wanted to give it a go. However, on careful looking once home, I realised it was a new method of paper piecing quilting, a totally different quilting procedure. Not sure if its cos I'm a newbie but I did wonder why would you bother to do all this extra work when you can just do it the usual way which to me appears easier and quicker. Maybe its a more exact method but I don't think I want to worry too much about it.

Anyway, I don't think I've wasted too much on it as it was 35SR (approx £6) and there are some stunning blocks to make up and the templates are also included which just need to be reversed to make a standard block.

I love looking at the glossy pics and thinking, I'll make that one, and that one, oh and that one ... soon !

If you have this one I'd love to hear your opinion.

Errata UpDate:

For the 1st printing only there are some amendments. Here's the link to copy and paste into your browser: http://www.ctpub.com/client/client_pages/errata/10333.cfm

Space Boy

Almost finished my random rail fence quilt with only one side of the binding to complete. Just a little bit longer and I can hand it in for the quilt show at the Kingdom ? Bedouin Quilters Group.


I just couldn't wait to get started on my next quilt which is for my son, William. I found some wonderful fabric in a souk in Damman a couple of weeks ago and just had to get it for him.

As I'm still learning the quilting processes and on my third one, I've decided that it might be a good idea to write down each step of the way to try to become a little more savvy a little more quickly rather than rely on totally on the 'quilting queens' at the club. However, I did run away with myself and messed up the effect of the newest quilt but I don't think it really matters because of the colours, pattern and for who its for. My son is not going to notice the mistake so I shall ignore it !

First I ironed and squared my fabrics and cut 2.5in strips from 4 of the colours and 8.5in blocks from the patterned one.

I then sewed strips together and measured them to make sure they measured 8.5in (which they didn't and I had to adjust them). I'm learning and learning by my mistakes but I am so much more confident than I was at the beginning and for the last quilt. I think the burden is being lifted from Fran and Karen's shoulders... at last !

I must pin, pin and pin again !

My next quilt is going to be PERFECT !

Here's the progress report on William's Space Boy Quilt:

Only another 4 rows to go for stage one.

Beautiful Quilting Blog

http://eltallerdegeorgina.blogspot.com/
El Blog De Georgina

I found this blog site last night and I think its probably right up there with one of my favs. Ok, I know its not in English but if you page down to Yahoo's 'Babel Fish' Icon and click on the translation you will get it in English and it is a very good version.

There are instructions, and photographs of her work in progress right thru to the finish.

Stunning photography and quilts, and other interesting snipets on her travels and experience in Qatar, honestly go have a look !

Pants !

Love Is In The Air ... Update

I can't really report on anything very exciting or untoward happening here in Al Khobar over the Valentine's period, but I did only go out during the daytime so maybe a little more happend in the evenings. I will wait until someone tells me any different locally.

On my morning shopping trip to the Mall of Dharan, I noticed a lot of red clothes, and red accessories so they weren't taken off the shelves but I didn't see any heart shaped gifts and to be honest I didn't go looking for a teddy bear, all said everything seemed to appear as usual.

I know there were a few things happening around from the various blogs around, which I have listed at the end along with a little bit about UnderWear !

Pants !

UnderWear, now there's another funny thing...Men are not allowed to look at a women, nor talk to her but they are allowed to discuss the intimate details of bra size, and panties sizes. This is because there are no women shop assistants here in The Kingdom. It is 'men' everywhere, you'll even find them advising on cosmetics !!!! Dah, that drives me mad, they will even try on the latest 'french manicure' on their finger for your benefit.

But back to underwear, I have never bought anything in the underwear departments out here as I find it intimidating and embarrasing to divulge my body details and colour preferences, all for the benefit of the sales 'man' to imagine what I might be wearing underneath my abaya. Also because, as a western woman, I am easily recognised as I do not wear a veil.

There is a public calling for a ban on shopping in these places for a couple of weeks, and I so hope it works to get the desired effect of getting the men out and women in. Until that day though I will continue to purchase my items via the internet and wait anywhere from 2-6 weeks for them to arrive.

Below are links to various other blogs/sites with information about the above. You'll have to copy and paste into your browser.

http://susiesbigadventure.blogspot.com/2010/02/valentines-day-massacre.html

http://susiesbigadventure.blogspot.com/2008/02/happy-valentines-day-or-not.html

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=132920&d=14&m=2&y=2010&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom

http://susieofarabia.wordpress.com/2009/12/21/peddling-panties/

http://saudiwoman.wordpress.com/2010/01/16/ban-men-from-selling-lingerie-in-ksa/

http://saudiwoman.wordpress.com/2010/01/16/ban-men-from-selling-lingerie-in-ksa/

February 14th ... Love is in the air ?

Image from Victorian Quilt Designs (http://www.victorianaquiltdesigns.com/)

The following is an entry I intended to post last year but for some reason missed it and found it in my drafts just now. With the day looming very close now I just wondered how it would be this year out and about shopping on Valentine's Day. I will post again soon with an update.

February 14th (2009)

Ok then... now here's a thing, Valentines Day is banned in Saudi... you cannot buy a card or anything to do with Valentines Day here and if you find something and the matowa catch you, you are in trouble.

A few days before the matawa were in full force in the Dharan Mall checking that there were no cards or goods or anything 'red' being sold in the stores and if there were they were confiscated and destroyed with possible arrest for the shop owner. If someone was unlucky enough to be caught with any fresh or fake flowers, albeit just for decoration, they were seized and stamped on to destroy them.

On one of the compounds even, one of the teachers had been given a birthday card and gift in a red bag. Some compounds even have matowa on them and they were in force to check that no gift relating to Valentine's Day were being given. The teacher was shouted at by a matowa and had her present and card taken off her and he shouted that she had been given them by a man.
You may laugh but unless you can prove that you are married to the man you are with you could be accused of adultery or you have to have written permission from your husband to be with this person. So an unmarried women is most certainly not allowed to be receiving gifts, and certainly not of this nature. The present and card were actually for her birthday and given by another woman.

Well that was one of the things that I wanted to get down before I forgot as it is almost a norm for me now that I almost don't even think it strange anymore and I forget that it will be interesting for you to read, and for me to read again in 3 years time when I return to the 'free world' ... well 'free' it may seem but any better I'm not too sure but at least I won't have a problem buying a Valentine Card !

Afterthought: I've not bought a valentine card for years, come to think of it I've even forgotten our anniversary on a couple of occasions... but I will buy one just for the fact that 'I can' .... in 3 years time that is.

Almost Forgot to Show & Tell ...

... My very first finished quilt ! The log cabin quilt which I finished just in time for Christmas to give to my mother-in law when we were in Cyprus for the holidays.

It was hard to let go of it seeing as it was my first quilt and I think I got it just right with the colours. Initially I didn't think it was going to happen as I spent 2 hours in the fabric/craft shop, Zamils here in Al Khobar. These were the colours I picked out first of all but then doubted my choice thinking they just wouldn't go together and put them back. I almost left the shop after 2 hours in tears thinking I can't work out how to put colours together. Went back and got the first choice thinking 'just go with it ... got nothing to lose'.

So glad and am thrilled with the finished quilt as was Margaret when she received it. And although, I'm sorry to let my first quilt go, I know its gone to an appreciative receiver.

Noodle's First Christmas...

...and maybe his last !
Well we knew we might be in for a troublesome time with the tree seeing as it was his first Christmas. I've 'never' had a cat that was as badly behaved as he was. Immediately trying to put the tree up he was climbing up it and knocking the decorations off as soon as they were put on. In the end we just gave up and left the tree looking pretty fed up. Hopefully next year he'll have grown out of his irritating ways !

Wrapping presents was a nightmare !

Uncle Scamp ran away from home for 6 weeks when we got Noodle but he came home in the end and is just tolerating him and doing his own thing. I think he decided life on the compound as a 'wild' cat was way behind him and not a life he wanted to return to.

Welcome home Scamp, we all love you.

Randomness

I am so pleased with myself again as I've nearly finished my 2nd quilt, a random rail fence made from scraps from the previous quilt. I really didn't like it too much at first but when the border went on it seemed to come together a bit more and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing it finished.
I can't say I'm fully confident at making up a quilt on my own yet but with the help of Fran, Karen and the rest of the girls in the quilting group, I'm sure I'll get there very soon. I just hope that it will be before Fran leaves to go back to the UK as she's just about the best teacher I imagine there could be.