Calico

This week we have a local group called Calico exhibiting at the shop. The ladies are members of the Peterborough Embroiderers Guild, it is only a small exhibition but the work is wonderful. They are clearly experienced ladies who take great pleasure in what they do. The  four following photos are of  some of their work on show there is more to see all of a high standard. If you're passing and get the chance to pop in and have a look they would be pleased to see you.

I am making progress on my picture. I've finished all the eyelets and it's all hand stitching from now on. I don't do a lot of hand stitching but I'm enjoying this. It seems to be something I'm enjoying more often these days although I'm sure I won't be a convert. I'm embroidering colonial knots, lots of them in lovely silk thread from Mulberry Silks. I'm going to use five different colours of thread for the knots, the idea is that they will blend in with the  eyelets but add texture and then there will be some beads for shine and richness. That's the hope anyway so I had better go and do some more.

Take Two

Take two pumpkins, cut open and scrape.

Then chop.

Turn to pulp, allow to cool and freeze ready to make muffins for the all nighter that we are having at the shop. It will be a long night but lots of fun and then off for a cooked breakfast in the morning.

Last Saturday Gina came to teach Diva Dolls. Lots of heads were made and lots of rolling around with laughter. The ladies had a great time and discusions were going on about boob sizes, clothes, shoes and colours. Gina is back this Saturday for the second part of the workshop to finish the dolls. Unfortunately I will be in Germany so I won't get to see them finished. I'm relying on Pam for lots of pictures.

Yesterday I made this. A table runner for Steph, I thought it might cheer her up. It did, she likes it very much.

I should really have been working on this. It's going to be a hanging/picture to be shown in the Spectrum exhibition next year. I'm sure teacher   will understand, I know she has been distracted from degree work.

I have enjoyed working on this piece - making the eyelets can be quite therapeutic to work although sometimes it can be monotonous. I'm going to do some hand stitching and beading as well.

Steph is finding things a little difficult without painkillers, she spent all day yesterday in bed but she does look a little bit better. A lot of very kind people have sent get well wishes for Steph and she is grateful to you all. Sometimes I think that no one reads my blog as I don't get many comments but over the last few weeks it has become very clear that actually there are a lot of people that do read it so I will carry on blogging. I would like to thank you all for the the kind wishes for Steph and all the congratulations on becoming grandparents. Ellie is doing very well putting on weight and sleeping a lot. I think she's got flat batteries. We baby sat on Saturday evening the first time she had been left with any one we felt very honoured she was as good as gold and we enjoyed every minute. Except for some reason Neil felt it necessary to complain that he didn't get many cuddles-I really don't understand how that could have happened.

Not Getting Any Where Fast

I've had a hectic week since I last blogged. I feel as though I haven't achieved very much at all but I know

I haven't stopped all week. Now blogger is playing up - when I started there were three pictures on here but I haven't got a clue where the third one has gone.

I have managed to finish a couple of cushion covers.

The white and green one was started in one of Pam's classes. I'm very pleased with it, not my usual colours but very pretty. The embroidered pieces were cut from a tablecloth that really had seen better days and I had been given the lace a few months ago so a bit of recycling going on there. I think I may be doing some more of this.  

This one is made up from the practice star block I did before I made the star quilt for Nicki and Anthony and rather than waste the block I wanted to do something useful with it, I think it turned out very well. I've given this one to Pam for the tombola next month.

On Sunday we had a lovely family lunch for those who had not yet met the newest member of the family. Yes I did cook, I made two lasagnes and a chicken and pasta dish for Sam's girlfriend and a scrumptious desert but didn't think about taking a picture until we had eaten it.

Unfortunately Steph and Nick couldn't be with us they already had arrangements to go to Yorkshire for a birthday celebration, which they had to leave early because Steph was ill. She has not had a good week at all. She has been very poorly and the GP referred her to the hospital last week. We spent a whole day in Peterborough Hospital and I mean a whole day. We arrived in time for a 10.00am appointment and walked out at 4.40pm. Apart from making sure that there wasn't a serious problem with her eyes nothing else was achieved. Peterborough Hospital really is awful, it's filthy, the staff (and by staff I mean nurses and doctors) are rude and there certainly isn't any element of care, we were there all day without a drink or any lunch and every time we asked how much longer they said 'you're next' so of course I didn't dare nip off to buy some lunch. When Steph mentioned this to the doctor at the end of the day his reply was "it's not my fault". We have been told by the GP to make a complaint as this wasn't the only thing that went wrong during our visit. I've spoken to her this morning and she really isn't very well but she has an appointment this evening at the Queen's Hospital in Nottingham so fingers crossed  that this visit goes much better. I don't think it could be much worse really, I will let you know.

Baby Baby Baby

I apologise now for all the baby pictures but she is a cutie. All these pictures were taken when she was about 16 hrs old. She is such a good baby, she only cries to be fed every four hours (how civilised is that) or if her nappy is dirty, the rest of the time she just sleeps.

 Here's proud grandad.

Blogger has turned this photo round.

The proud parents.

Stephanie with her niece.

Me with the little bundle of joy.

I have managed to do some sewing, I think I did it in my sleep.

My little felted hanging with some more hand stitching. I keep picking it up ready to do some more stitching but I have to stop myself because really it's got enough on it already but I enjoyed making it so much.

I have made another cushion cover for Pam's tombola but I forgot to take a picture, will do that next week.

These lovely flowers are from Neil to celebrate the 15 years that we have been together, aren't they lovely.