I can see clearly now - part 2

Firstly - let's start with last night.  As you may recall I was trying out this week's TAST stitch - French Knots and had, potentially, bitten off more than I could chew - but tada - here it is.  I have used a variety of threads and ribbons with added beadwork to add some sparkle.  I am rather pleased with it if I do say so myself.






So - onto today.  Wednesday is college day (although it is half term next week and we have been set homework!!)  This week's task was to try to replicate the mark making that we first made with pencils.  As you can see I have started with a cross hatching, layering up, pattern using an open fly stitch.  We all had a tutorial with the tutor and she has asked me to complete 6 squares in all using both familiar stitches in a unique way and "new to me" stitches.  It should be an interesting two weeks!



After dropping Jean off it was a quick turn around to the vicarage for a Safeguarding meeting before coming home to walk the dogs and continue tidying the bedroom - more of that later.  The plan is to have an early tea before heading back to Cleethorpes to the cinema (are you sure I don't live there?) to watch the next RSC live production - Henry V.  All I know about the play is that it involves the battle of Agincourt and that the actor who plays Henry V has also played Prince Henry in Henry IV parts one and two so he should be used to the character by now.




Bedroom watch - day 4

As you can see from this gruesome picture I can now straight through under my bed - so progress has clearly been made.  I have gutted the bottom part of the wardrobe, the drawers are all incredibly tidy (for now) and the dressing table is cleared - I have even washed out my make up bag!  There is now an additional rubbish bag and a third charity bag.  I am getting there!

I can see clearly now ...........

So - its Tuesday again and therefore it's....... yep Senior Screen time.  This time we chose to watch a Meryl Streep film - Rikki and the Flash - a heart warming ending but, in my humble opinion, a waste of two hours getting there.  Never mind - you have to see some corkers to appreciate the good ones!





On the way home we popped into Norburns garden centre in Tetney to enjoy their steak pie lunch - it's so good that my parents always want to go there whenever they come up to visit.

It has been a lovely day here so when I got home I was inspired to wash the two south facing front windows - I am not even going to admit how long it has been - think months / years rather than weeks!  They have scrubbed up well and, as usual, only took minutes to complete.  However I will go out again and use the spray product on them once everything has dried up and settled down - at least the grime has gone.



Then the postman arrived with some goodies for me - some paper templates for English Paper Piecing - I love to have some form of hand sewing on the go so EPP foots the bill.  However when you realise that this hexagon is next to a penny coin - mmmm - perhaps I picked the wrong size!  It would use up every possible scrap though - I guess!




After a nice walk with the dogs at the beach it was time to continue with decluttering the bedroom.  I have emptied the drawers, rationalised everything and put back most things.  This afternoon was spent ironing other items before being put back into the drawers.  I have been reading a book called The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying  by Marie Kondo which suggests ways of folding clothes so that they remain wrinkle free and yet visible for you to select them.  There are a number of Youtube videos to help you if you are interested.  Some of her ideas make sense - for example I roll pairs of socks together pulling one over the other.  Yet this can cause the elastic to stretch and render the socks useless.  So I spent some time sorting the socks into spares, undoing the balls of socks and folding them so that you can easily see colours etc.  I can see the logic.

Tonight's task is to work on the TAST stitch - today it is French knots - a stitch that I absolutely love so I want to try different thicknesses of threads and even some thin ribbon.  Hopefully this area will be completed tonight so that I can show you tomorrow.

Bedroom watch - day 3.  You will have seen the drawers above and the rubbish bag pile is growing.  The area under the dressing table area is now completely empty and has been given a good hovering with the Dyson handheld hoover (a fantastic piece of kit!).  The other bedside table has been moved and the area cleaned and dusted.  I am getting there - honest!  I am just dreading Friday when I move the bed and see what's underneath!!

Christmas blog hop

Often, at this time of year, I become aware of a blog hop - mostly from "down under".  The idea of the hop is that different designers offer a free pattern - either to make in isolation or in the case of this hop, to make separate units which will then come together in a final design.  This blog appeared on my facebook page through a Gail Pan post re week three but I have posted a link to the initial blog with all the participants listed for those who wish to partake.  I have been thinking of trying out some wool felt work and this hop uses this medium so its a chance to try something new (oh if only I had time!!)




So - today being Monday - I started with a clean and tidy up.  As I said last week this leaves me with a fresh feeling.  Wendy had also given me a lovely bunch of flowers last week and they brighten up the lounge further -fresh flowers always make you feel good don't they?





That then led onto preparation for the craft group.  This week we started a two week project to make a quilted table centre and it was the first real time that we had got the sewing machines out.  It was great to see everyone involved, look at their differing choice of fabrics and then see the satisfaction on their faces when they completed stage one.  Next week we have a break for half term so will complete the table centre at the beginning of November.

When I got home I had a present waiting for me - remember how generous Millie was?  Sadly I am out at a meeting tonight so can't play - yet!  (Sorry that the photo is upside down !)





Bedroomwatch (Day 2) - today's focus was the bedside tables - emptying, moving and cleaning behind.  Dust city!!  Then I found this mini muffin tin - gross.  Quite why a mini muffin tin would be behind a bedside table I have no idea but, trust me, it was quickly rinsed off and then put through the dishwasher!





As you can see the rubbish bags are mounting up.  Rubbish collection day is next Monday so this pile is growing in the conservatory.  I thought it would be interesting to assess how much rubbish there actually was!  There are also at least two charity bagful's of clothes to put out tomorrow - so far!

Off and running - getting started is often the most difficult step

Today was my Scamblesby day - the day that we meet once a month to sew  It started as a way of raising funds for a very dilapidated village hall but is now a thriving group of friends with a lovely atmosphere.  We talk, we eat, we talk, we sew, we talk - you get the picture?  It's also a day that I can set aside some projects to start, finish, continue with / complete. 










Today I was working on Mandy Shaw's "A Quilter Lives Here" quilt and was able to surround some more applique blocks with the patchwork - I can see how it is coming together now.










Sewingbuddy had been up to Scarborough yesterday to The Sewing Centre where decent fabric is ridiculously cheap - so she kindly got me some for next year's project.  Sewingbuddy really has a good eye for colour.

Today was also an opportunity to start sewing the mystery three Christmas presents.  Since the three are identical it made sense to me to do each step on each project so step one was completed today - tick.






Today was also the first official day of Bedroom Watch (sorry if that sounded a little naughty) - the gutting of the bedroom.  So far I've two carrier bags full of books ready for the church hall, a bag full of rubbish to throw out and have two fire loads of receipts from handbags etc - and I haven't even scratched the surface yet!

A potentially difficult day - full of contradictions

As you may recall the new mattress is arriving next Friday so today saw the start of the "Gut the bedroom" campaign.  If I really manage to gut the room then I might even earmark it to be decorated next!  I started with the pile of books next to the bed (this photo was taken after I had removed about half of the books!)  The church has a book sale at the back of the church hall so I can easily find a room for them - that saves my conscience.





The main event today was the sale of Tanya's craft goods by her patchwork tutor - her partner had asked Sandra to empty the craft room and sell what she could for Macmillan cancer.  I was in two minds about how I felt - I wanted to support the cause but did not want to feel as if I was picking over her worldy goods.  As it was there were several items that I had made her / bought for her when we went to a show without her / watched her starting to make.  However there were others with no personal or emotional connection to her whatsoever and, I have to admit, I was tempted (ahem - gut one room - add more stuff to another!)  Wendy and I also sold raffle tickets to raise funds for the ward that Tanya spent many a month in - I don't know how much it will raise but when we know we will ask the staff what they need - new mugs, teaspoons etc - what ever makes life easier for the nurses!

Turn out wasn't great and so we arrived home around lunchtime - so I took the opportunity to walk the dogs - it really is getting cold now - before making a slimming world friendly lemon drizzle cake.  All I can say is that it tastes better than it looks - kind of like a solid pancake!

Next on the "to do" list was to prepare for my sewing day at Scamblesby - its 30 minutes away so I like to take enough projects to complete.  To be honest - usually I take too much!!  I also took the opportunity to catch up on this week's episodes of The Archers whilst continuing to cut out the mystery three Christmas presents.

After a healthy tea, it will be time to set off for the Riverhead Theatre  Louth.  Today is this month's duty day to sell refreshments.  As I have said before I volunteered to do this every month around 3 years ago - and joke that its my community service.  I enjoy the different company and catching up on everything but it does take me away from Strictly!  Thank goodness for the ability to record programmes!

My Magical Mystery Tour

Firstly let me start with last night.  You may recall that I popped first to Slimming World - where I lost an amazing 4 1/2 pounds (now 25% towards target but don't know how that happened) - and then onto watch Benedict Cumberbatch in Hamlet- quite, quite excellent!  The descent into madness was both uncomfortable and enjoyable to watch!

So - onto today's escapades.  About 90 minutes away we have a retail outlet centre - Springfields in Spalding - and dad likes to get some trousers from there.  I had volunteered to go down and get some for him and had allocated today to be a free day when I could "nip" down there.  Nothing too remarkable and newsworthy about that - until Sewingbuddy came up with a new fabric shop - Bee Crafty near Huntingdon.  When we looked at the map it was only 50 minutes away from Spalding so would be a shame not to suss it out.  Not only that but their workshops & tutors reads like a "who's who" of patchwork.  Although the total journey was 100 miles each way, I figured that I do the same distance to Meadowhall when I meet up with friends to go to the pictures on a Friday night - the only difference is that the journey to Sheffield is 50% motorway so makes it a bit quicker.  Sadly Sewingbuddy couldn't make it so I set off as the lone vanguard to explore.

I am not exaggerating when I say that I have never been to such a friendly place.  The shop is on an industrial estate so parking is not a problem.  When I walked in there was workshop about to start (Free Form Wall Hanging led by Sarah Payne who is often on Create and Craft- I could have just sat down and listened to her advice all day) and lots of people were getting ready and chatting.  As I started to look at the merchandise I was approached by a shop assistant and offered a cup of coffee - just because (she did the same thing to another customer who came in later).  I then noticed the nice touches like the pair of armchairs near the bookshelf so that you can look through before buying or search for a particular pattern.  There was clearly no hurry - just take your time and peruse.  Don't get me wrong - its not the biggest shop that I have been into but they could not have been more helpful.  So much so that I have signed up to a workshop a week on Monday ( Lilliput Lane Wonkey Houses Wall Hanging) and would urge Sewingbuddy to take her pick ( I suggest the two Tilly Rose workshops!).

Upside down but you get the idea

So -what did I buy?  Well I thought that I was quite restrained and bought for projects.  I bought a single sheet to transfer an image onto fabric for my West Ashby blocks , some lovely hand dyed perle 8 thread for my embroidery, and some Lynette Anderson fabric for this Gail Pan pattern.  This pattern is for a row by row wall hanging and, on the way home, I thought that it might be fun to cut the pieces out for each row and then wrap them up as advent presents.  By December the sewing classes are finishing and the presents should be completed so I should have more time. (Lots of should there but if it doesn't work out then everything is still cut to size).  There is also a loyalty card - ouch!

On the way home I stopped off at Springfields, as planned, but didn't get the trousers for Dad - for a variety of reasons.  Instead I succumbed to these Christmas decorations - do we see a theme here?  I don't normally do too much for Christmas since I'm at work all day but this year ..............  I also came across these test tubes in the works.  I had seen, on pinterest, a group of three test tubes - one filled with drinking chocolate, one with mini marshallows and one with mini shortbread - all neatly tied together with a Christmas ribbon and label - kerching!  I have some colleagues to get presents for but not necessarily make for - ideal! 












Just a few miles away from Springfields, and on the way home, there is a farm shop which sells lots of bits and bobs (these cream buckets were £1 each and useful for all sorts of presents).  More importantly to me they sell all sorts of loose frozen items and their fruit salad is gorgeous - so much so that whenever I pass I just have to fill up a bag (well they did say that we could be in for a harsh winter!!)

So - its been a mad and very enjoyable day.  One with an unhealthy lunch but which has ended with a dog walk, exhaustion and some healthy soup in front of the fire - the perfect end to a quite perfect day!

my (ahem) very unhealthy lunch!

Hamlet with Benedict Cumberbatch

I woke up at 8:30am this morning - in my own bed.  Now read that again and, as long as you are a regular reader of this blog (if you are not then that sentence will sound strange!) you will know how wonderful that felt!!  Even the headaches are receding - phew!  But to cap a wonderful start to the morning I then received a phone call from the mattress company to tell me that the mattress is ready for delivery.  We agreed on next Friday since I have to wait in between 8am and 6pm, and am now itching to use the forthcoming week to gut the bedroom.

This morning I planned to go into Louth for some bits and bobs.  The town was empty and it was lovely to get all of those small tasks done at your leisure rather than rushing around on a  Saturday morning.  Of course I left my bags in the car and had to pay for a carrier bag! 


 




The weather here is not great so I chose to walk the dogs when I got home - and then made a start on next term's craft schedule.  It is clear that they prefer the making to the cooking so I have chosen a range of projects.  Two of them also want to make their first quilt so I am trying to find a pattern - something that involves both hand sewing and machine work.  With Easter as a loose theme I really like this gift bag since the basic bag can be made for any occasion.  There's no pattern but I can experiment!











Apart from general housework, writing this blog and going to slimming world later - the only other event today is the much awaited live screening of Hamlet with Benedict Cumberbatch.  Eighteen months ago, when they announced that he was going to play this part, we decided to buy tickets for the live screening - well tonight's the night!  I appreciate that many people don't like Shakespeare, and it can take me ten minutes or so to get into the swing of the language, but actors of his calibre makes it so much easier.  I saw an interview by Melvyn Bragg last night and listening to Bendedict speak was like listening to everyday speech - I cant wait!