testing new theories

So, I'm washing the next batch of quilting material in the washing machine right now. We'll see how it goes, because...well...I've never done this before, but the Birthday Blocks challenge I've joined requires you to wash the fabric before you make the blocks.

(Although in the case of the first two blocks, I'd already made them, so I'm going to try washing them.)

This is a bit of an experiment, but I suspect that fabric is more likely to shrink when you "wash it" in the manner of the USians, who put everything in the dryer.

We tend to hang-dry our washing (at least, in our house, we do - my mum puts most of her stuff in the dryer) so I don't think it gets as hot, and so it shouldn't shrink as much. That's the theory, anyway. Whether it works in practise...I don't know.

I also don't know how the quilts I've already made have stood up in the wash. Well, at least, I'm not 100% certain. saramund says that hers seems fine - a few seams came undone, but nothing that they didn't already know was going to be a problem in the first place.

I really need to do the edging on my own quilt...

SGA fic: "A Gambit Of Queens" - NC-17 [John/Teyla]

TITLE: A Gambit Of Queens
SUMMARY: After the events of Enemy At The Gates, corpses are being found drained of life and the team must go hunting Wraith all over the planet. But is this just the work of Wraith opportunists, or is it part of a bigger, long-term plan the Wraith have for Earth?
RATING: NC-17 in parts, but mostly PG-13
PAIRING: John/Teyla
CATEGORY: action-adventure, drama, established relationship
WORDCOUNT: 31167
DISCLAIMER: Not mine, making no money, etc.
NOTES: This was written for shetiger in the sga_santa 2010 challenge. I think she liked it, although I'm pretty sure it's not a patch on any of the other post-EATG fics that have been written in the last couple of years. Teyla-and-John-centric with team (as in, "Rodney and Ronon do things useful to the plot" kind of team). This got way longer than I originally intended. But then, the story unfolded somewhat differently to how I originally planned it, too.

Teyla could pity the shaken and shocked Earth personnel standing around her in the briefing room of the Daedalus. Earth had never known death such as this before.

Sanctuary 2.09 (I think) - Penance

In which Kate has the Magical Healing Powerz Of DisContinuity, Helen bluffs twice, and Will is whumped...again.

( oh, and some guy played by Michael Shanks turns up... )

Anyway, too much telling, not enough showing.

My big beef this month is people telling me what happens rather than showing me what happens. I'm tired of it. DO NOT WANT.