Finished, Nearly Finished and Started

I have finished the table runner, and I'm very pleased with it.

It fits nicely on my table but I don't imagine I will use it as it's not really my colours. I like brighter colours and I only made it to use on Create and Craft if ever necessary.

I've not only managed to sew in all the ends on my blanket but I've also gone all the way round working the border. I'm not sure how many rows I will do at the moment I'm thinking 5 might be good.

On another good note I have started on my homework for Spectrum. I'm going to work in 3D this time, I think I might like it more if I work that way rather than in a sketchbook. I've never been happy working in sketchbooks, maybe it's my dislike of drawing.

After my previous post I've had a couple of emails about the wool I'm using for my shawl. Which goes to prove that people do read my blog but just don't leave messages. If you are one of those said people please do leave me a message. Anyway back to the wool. It came from Boo's Attic and is called Ethereal Serenity, is a lace weight (2-ply) and the colour is Jewel. The fibre content is 70% Baby Alpaca, 30% Silk and it really is a dream to knit with.

I thought I'd show you these flowers because they are so pretty. They are left from a bunch that I was given last week. Unfortunately the other roses have hung their heads in shame and are now in the composting bin.

Now I know it's some considerable time until Christmas but I have made a start on my pressie shopping. There is no way I'm going to leave it until the last minute again it was a nightmare last year, never again. So when I saw this sketchbook in Paperchase I knew Steph would love it. The only thing I have to do now is put it somewhere safe that I'll remember. It's safe for me to put it on here as she doesn't read my blog.

Wool

This weekend Neil, Dawn and me have taken the shop to Cottenham for Textiles In Focus . We are now two thirds of the way through and all three of us are tired. It has been very busy and good fun. We've had time to catch up with  friends and of course Dawn and I have made a few purchases.

 The stall next to us is Boo's Attic, run by Clare who hand dyes the wool she sells. The wool is gorgeous and a delight to knit with, I know this because it was one of my purchases. Clare has got some beautiful shawls hanging up and I obviously need a new shawl. If you fancy making one for yourself the pattern can be found here and is called Radiance Shawl by Helen Stewart. It's very easy to make, no complicated stitch patterns.

 I've nearly sewn all the ends in on my blanket, it hasn't taken as long as I thought it would. Hopefully I'll get it finished this week.

If you're planning a visit to Textiles In Focus tomorrow then do pop by our stall and say hello.

Where Did the Time Go?

I know I've been busy but I hadn't realised that it's nearly two weeks since I last updated my blog. I did have good intentions of doing it on Monday evening but there was a bottle of wine in the fridge with my name on it so that put paid to that idea and last night I was working so here we are today.

Last Wednesday was the Spectrum meeting and guess what, I was in trouble. No surprise there but it was my own fault, I didn't do my homework. I didn't do it because I don't like my project. I know it was my choice and I liked it at the time but I've changed my mind. Any how teacher put her foot down (understandably) and has convinced me to give it another go, so I will.

Although I haven't posted I have been busy.

I made some bunny bunting for another 'how to make' for a local magazine.   

My crochet blanket blanket is one step further to being finished. All the squares and rows are now joined and  I'm really pleased with it. The only thing is I've got hundreds of ends to sew in and then the border to do.

I've nearly finished the dresden plate table runner. I'm really pleased with the quilting.

The back looks just as good.

Last night I went home and made raspberry and white chocolate muffins for today's ladies.

On Sunday we went to see Sam, Amy and Eva. It was Amy's birthday and she was having a little family celebration. It was lovely to see them all, but especially Eva. We don't see enough of her and she is changing so fast. She is a beautiful happy little girl.

What Happened To November?

Time has yet again flown by ( I didn't do a single post in November) but it only seems like 5 minutes since my last post. Life has been very busy we have been enjoying getting to know Freddie who is definately a grandad's boy. He settles much better with Neil than with me. He doesn't sleep anywhere near as much as Ellie did so that has been a bit of a shock for Nicki and Anthony. I have to say though that Nicki is coping extremly well with having two babies and she is managing to breast feed, she really is a star.

Neil and I have had a week in Wales but I can't show you any pictures because I've lost my camera. I'm quite upset about it, I had a brilliant photo of a rainbow over the sea and it's reflection in the sea and now it would appear it's gone forever.

I've also done a few more shows on Create and Craft TV, which takes up a lot of time and preparation.

I have almost got enough squares for my blanket, I'm just making a few more for a bit more colour variation.

Monday evening I made a Victoria Sponge for the Tuesday Strippers. I think they enjoyed it.

A few photo's of the little man. He is almost half of Ellie's body weight now and there is 13 months between them. Hopefully now the health visitor will see sense and stop giving Nicki a hard time about Ellie's weight. Although I'm quite sure that Ellie isn't in the health visitors good books. When Nicki took them to be weighed last week, she had Ellie weighed first and that was fine. But whilst she was getting Freddie undressed and weighed Ellie sneaked off into a corner with the health visitor's handbag and emptied the contents all over the floor. The first Nicki knew of it was when she looked up to see Ellie waving the health visitor's sanitary towels in the air and chuckling like mad. The chuckling soon changed to screaming when the health visitor tried to retrieve them. Poor Nicki she said she had never been so embarresed before and wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. I think she may have a lot more of that to come.

 

 

 

I have at last finished Freddies quilt. It really doesn't photograph very well it looks so much better in the flesh, so to speak.

 

Ellie's first painting, it has pride of place on the wall at work.