Wow - that was a pea souper!

As I drove over to scamblesby today, this was the view for the majority of the journey (don't worry I was parked up when I took this photo) - really thick fog.  Thank goodness I had discovered where my front and back fog light controls were!











As ever there was a multitude of projects going on - Ev was making a teddy for her grandson,

Pat was making a lovely table runner,















Terry was continuing with her splendid sampler blocks,












whilst Heather and Jenny were, amongst other projects, completing Lyn's block for this month.




Lyn had brought in her mystery club from the Bramble Patch - how much handsewing has gone into his project?







Me?  Well I did the blue version of Lyn's block before sewing my surrounds to blocks from A Quilter Lives Here (guess what's my favourite colour?). 

Mind you - we did spend a lot of time talking about our upcoming sewing retreat in March and having a good laugh about our expectations.  Let's hope that it lives up to it!

Well - that was a big mistake!

What did I do?  Well - I had had the heating on all day over the last couple of days and it was getting too warm.  So - I turned it back to the timer.  By mid day I gave in - wow - its cold up here.  Walking the dogs at the beach my hands were raw red - time to get those gloves and scarves out!

So  what exciting things did I get up to today?  Erm some tidying up - yes things are close to being back to normal - and then preparation for my sewing day at Scamblesby tomorrow.  First up was the fabric needed for Lyn's block.  You may recall but this year we are setting ourselves the challenge to design our own quilt - every month someone brings in a pattern and a sample for us to look at.  Lyn kicked us off with this folded log cabin pattern so I spent some time cutting everything to size and ironing the strips to form the lob cabin.







Then I was on to a secret project of my own - well, ish.  I have asked 4 designers to create a block for us and Christine kindly sent one through for me - so I have printed the instructions off and will distribute them tomorrow.  Pictures to follow next month Christine - but thank you.









Next up was the preparation of another secret project - this time a Christmas present for next Christmas - I know, I know!!







Finally I collected together the blocks for A Quilter Lives Here and the fabric squares to go around each of them.  The reason I love Scamblesby, apart from the excellent company of course ( we joke about how the group of us would make ideal companions in a retirement home!), is that you can get an awful lot done in that 6 hours (quite apart from the talking and eating of course!)


 



Last job for the day was mopping the floor - hardly the most newsworthy story I know - but look at how dirty the hall floor gets when you've walked the dogs - the beach car park is in a dreadful state.  Mind you - you should see the car!!

Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall ......

After a long and leisurely lie in, I surfaced to face a day of bits n bobs - one of those days with nothing much planned but lots of tasks to complete.  First up was the slow cooker - making a large pot of ham broth with lentils, veg etc.  I had soaked some pulse overnight and now the slow cooker could work its magic throughout the day.  Still - it was an excuse to use one of my new "Red" soup bowls!




Next up was a trip to Tesco's followed by a pop in to see Jean who has been poorly - it was good to see that she was on the mend.  Whilst I was out, however, Humpty Dumpty (or should I be more explicit and say a box of eggs) fell on the floor in the kitchen (no doubt Millie had a helping hand in that action!)  Annoying - yes, but it can be cleaned up.  What I didn't reckon on was Millie's sudden "kiss curl" in the long hair of her ears - cue a lengthy grooming session!


This afternoon, other than a  visit to the nurse to dress my leg (we are nearly there - hooray) was a "getting ready for the WI meeting".  Birthday gifts to wrap and raffle prizes to sort out - it's all good (as they say).




So -no craft today but I did make a start on the quilting shop that forms the last block on the "A Quilter Lives Here" hanging.  Its all blanket stitched by hand and its tough going through several layers - a real labour of love!

A shared moment of laughter

Today was one of my regular visits to Meadowhall in order to meet up with Trish and Julia.  Arriving half an hour before them, I put my time to good use by planning the sewing that needs to be done in January - I am planning to finish one UFO each month this year and am starting with one of the largest - the "A Quilter Lives Here" quilt started January 1st 2015!.  I think that there is just one panel to go (have started it, not happy with it so will start again) plus the centre one to finish, borders to each panel to be added, a boarder on the whole quilt, layering with backing and wadding, then quilting before binding.  Not much to do in the next 27 days then!

After enjoying a lengthy catch up we meandered up to a department store to check out the sales and decided to have lunch there.  I was really impressed with the décor of the café - I don't know whether this picture has come out well enough but the walls had quotes from famous Yorkshire people - from Charlotte Bronte to Michael Palin!  I had fish for lunch but, sadly, had one bite to find it either undercooked or mushy.  At that moment in time, the waitress asked if everything was all right and I told her my concern.  She, very professionally, took it away, returned from the chef to say that a probe had been used to check the temp but could they offer and new meal or something else from the menu.  When I declined they promptly refunded the cost of the meal.  (I then had a smoked salmon sandwich from M & S on the way home so didn't starve!)

After another lengthy chat - are you seeing a pattern here yet? - we then meandered back (me towards the car park and the others to check out the sales for baby clothes).  As we said goodbye, Trish reminded me that we would see each other in a couple of weeks time when we go to see Strictly - the live tour.  At that point we both broke into the theme tune, turned around to see a lady laughing with us (nope I definitely don't think that she was laughing at us - honest!) and it struck me that it was a lovely shared moment.

Tonight, I can therefore reveal, is back on track with some preparation needed for some sewing projects.  Normal service is being resumed!

Day of the glass storage jar

This morning started early - so early I even had to defrost the car!  Imagine!  Anyway it was off to the surgery to get the leg dressed - and my dressings for the last 3 weeks examined to see how effective they had been.  As I thought, the wounds are getting much better - in fact one of them could just be left to the open air now and the second one isn't far behind.  Maybe I should retrain as a nurse?

Then it was onto Tesco's.  Having checked my online order off last night, there was 10 items missing!  The costs were refunded but I needed the ingredients so nipped up, as well as filling up with petrol. Whilst I was there I bought these small glass storage jars to extend my store cupboard re-organisation.  (I am sparing you some really gory pictures - I hope that you appreciate the effort.  The worst one was a plastic tub of sunflower seeds!)

Continuing with the decluttering I also loaded the dishwasher with some glass storage jars to refresh them and refill.  I discovered two empty containers of self raising flour - so why have I got an open bag in the cupboard?  Go figure!

The other task was that of taking down Christmas and packing it away.  Why does it take longer to do that than putting it out?  Other than walking the dogs up at the beach - now that we dog walkers can reclaim it from the many visitors looking at the seals - the rest of the afternoon was spent on the couch.  Lazy I know - but all the more enjoyable for it!

Craftwise you may have noticed that I haven't mentioned anything.  Well - that's because I haven't quite got my head in gear yet.  I must admit. though, it is feeling very strange not hand sewing in the evening.  Note to self - must do better!

Spring cleaning comes early

Having come down with a  cold in Devon, I woke up with a streaming nose and aching limbs. Grr I had so much planned for today - not least trying to find homes for everything that I had brought home with me!

First job on the list was to declutter the kitchen store cupboard.  It has become so disorganised that food will go out of date - I just can't see what is in there!  My mantra was "out of date, throw it, in date but don't want to keep, give it away to the food bank".  The result was a couple of very satisfying empty shelves! 

It's a good job that it's bin collection day tomorrow - look how old this cornflour was!

In-between my shelf efforts I started to unpack the many bags that were brought home.  I'm not sure where everything is going to go - but, as a start, anything for next Christmas was put on the stairs ready to take up - and, I haven't finished yet - gulp!

After two loads of washing, plus a dishwashing load emptied and then refilled, it was time for lunch.  Mum had kindly packed me up with a freezer bag full of goodies and, under her advice, Dad's soup had been gently heating up in the slow cooker all morning.  I don't know how it is with you but it is quite brrrrr here.  I lit the fire (very decadent of me I know) and settled down with some steaming soup and tv catch up.

40 winks later ( well 80 more like it but I am poorly - honest!), more unpacking and sorting out, plus an online grocery delivery and things are beginning to get a little more sorted this end.  I love Christmas, but I also love getting back into some sort of routine.

Only 51 weeks to go - until Christmas Day!

Well - it just had to be said now didn't it!

May I start with an apology.  We had what some people may call extremely dodgy internet from Thursday onwards which made it impossible to blog.  However I am now home and am revelling in the 24 / 7 access!

However - apart from saying that my 7 hour journey home went extremely well (leaving at 8am on New Years Day is always a good move - most people are still having a lie in!) - today is somewhat short on content.  Therefore I thought that I would reveal some of the craft projects that I have been talking about throughout the year but couldn't mention due to them being Christmas presents.




The first one was the result of a workshop at Bramble Patch.  Since my brothers and family all support Leicester City and they, of course, won the premiership this season, I made them all a cushion with a patchwork fox and an embroidered label at the side marking their achievements.  It had a good reception!  Mind you - a friend then made me one so that we could all have a fox cushion - bless her xx



Then there was this present for my cousin - and it was the one that my sewing teacher said was the nicest present she had seen.  There were 12 fabric "postcards" with an embroidered verse from the scriptures - courtesy of Allie-oops designs and Jenny of Elefantz.  I then made up a small quilt hanging garden scene with a washing line to peg the postcards out onto.  Again it was well received.







 
 


Finally there was the "blue project" that I kept talking about.  It was from an out of print book and was the first ever bargello quilt that I had attempted.  Since my brother loves Dr Who I used blues and found an embroidered Tardis patch to put in the centre.  He was blown away with it and I even got a round of applause!  I have no idea how to top that one!





So - that's Christmas, and 2016, over and done with.  Who knows what 2017 holds for us all but let me finish by wishing everyone a safe and healthy one xx