Happy News and Sad News

Last week, Valentines Day to be exact and romantic, Anthony and Nicki got engaged. They plan to get married in 2015, they are both very happy and so are we. This is the icing on the cake for them they are enjoying being parents to Ellie, and are making a very good job of it; she is such a happy contented baby.

The sad news is that on Monday evening we had to have Sparky put to rest. It was such an awful decision to make but he had a flare up of the hepatitis that he went down with at Christmas but unfortunately this time he just couldn't recover. He is greatly missed. Steph is devasted, to try and cheer her up we took her to Easton Walled Gardens to see the snowdrops. They were beautiful in their hundreds.

 

Life has been very hectic the past few weeks and last weekend was no exception. Dawn, Neil and I took the shop to Cottenham  for Textiles In Focus. It was very busy and we had a great time, we caught up with lots of people and the exhibitions were inspiring. Tomorrow Neil and I are off to London for the launch of a new Patchwork and Quilting magazine. Hopefully next week I will have some time to do some sewing.

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.

Paper Play

This is why I spent an evening colouring in paper. I have been wanting to make a quilt in purple and lime for some time now but who wants a quilt in those colours? Log Cabin is my favourite block so I'm going to combine the two and make a Liberated or Wonky log cabin hanging.

This has been a very useful exercise to do. It has given me a clear indication of how the colours work together and I've already decided I don't like the pale green inner border the brighter green is much better and the block has come out far too square. So it's back to paper play today.

This is the book that I'm following/using for guidance. It's a lovely book and Janice is a very nice lady who produces beautiful work.

On Wednesday Steph had her hospital appointment. She has been diagnosed with chronic migraine and prescribed some tablets that so far seem to be making things worse. It's odd really, she says her head hurts more and she looks very pale and is being sick. She has to take one tablet every evening for two weeks and then increase to two tablets every evening so she has got to stick with them for a while before any conclusion can be drawn.

We are going to Wales on Monday for a few days so she is coming to stay with Anthony-not sure who will be looking after who but at least they will have each other and I won't worry quite so much.

Enjoy your weekend.

Quilt Festival

I didn't get much time to sew last week. I had hoped to have the necklace finished by now but best laid plans and all that mean it isn't. I'm going to try and get all the flowers done today.

They do look very pretty on the blue background.

On Sunday I went to Chilford for the quilt festival. I went with Pam and Steph, we had a great day, a lovely lunch and spent lots of money. I came away with five books - not sure how that happened but it's Pams fault!. Steph bought quite a lot of fabric, she obviously thinks she hasn't got enough but I know different and so will Nick when he gets home. 

 I will leave you with some photos of some of the quilts. The quilts were lovely it was a great exhibiton.

Something Soft And New

I've started quilting the border on my quilt, so far it's looking good. I hope you can see the quilting on the pictures. This is the back.

And the front.

This is the something soft and new. It is hand dyed wool from Blue Faced Leicester sheep and it comes from Wales. It has taken a year to get this in the shop but it was definitely worth the wait. It is sooooo tactile we can't help but scrunch it up.



Steph is still not well she really is suffering with those headaches. She is back at the doctors on Thursday as they now want to do a specific blood test to check on a blood vessel that runs down the side of the skull and she has got to have an E.C.G.

And as is if that wasn't enough yesterday she went to the dentist for a check up and ended up having a wisdom tooth out. She was so brave I really don't know how she got through it. I'm keeping as close an eye on her as I can but I wish she would come and stay with us I don't like the idea of her being on her own. I'm so looking forward to Nick coming home.

Pretty Things

Now I'm sure by now you all know that I don't like to cook so you may be wondering why I've taken a photo of two mixing bowls. They were yesterdays purchase from Tescos, no they weren't on my shopping list they just looked pretty so I bought them. I'm sure I'll use them some time if only to make some Rice Krispie chocolate cakes.

Here's something else that wasn't on my shopping list. I bought it for Steph, it's a Tea Caddy.

Steph has come to stay for the week because Nick has gone away on a course. It couldn't have worked out better for me because we are moving house on Friday and she has been a great help with the packing, which isn't finished.

Okay I know I said I wouldn't but I have. I've started another quilt, it's Attic Window and is a christmas present. The fabrics are very pretty, not ones I'd use in a quilt for myself but perfect for Neil's mum. She is a very keen gardener.

This is another two bags in the making which I am hoping to finish today.

Tomorrow I have got a meeting of my City and Guild's course. Iv'e had an email from teacher requesting a tutorial ohhh!

I haven't got time to move house.

It's Good To Be Back

Thank you to every one for the kind birthday wishes. We had a great time in Wales, we didn't do anything. It was lovely sitting in the hot tub watching the snow fall, we really did chill out, neither of us wanted to come back. However it is nice to be back at work I did miss everybody and I have got lots of homework to do.

I am still working on my hanging. Some progress has been made, I have finished the embellishing and cut it into three pieces.

This will be the top.


This is the middle section.

And this will be the bottom.

Now I have to make some grass!

I have still got to make Stephs wrap for her wedding which is fast approaching. Today we are going for a hair rehearsal. Last night we were trying out nail varnish, only half a dozen or so and then, she decides that she actually wants a french manicure. I didn't know I could be so patient.

Check out Pams blog she has got something new to show you.

A Week Of Craftiness

Pam was back at work on Tuesday after her week in Scotland, check out her blog for a beautiful sunset photo. It was very quiet without Pam but she was missed and it's nice to have her back.
You know the saying while the cats away the mice will play, well this mouse couldn't wait to play. This is Barbara sitting in Pams chair and she loved every minute of it.



It has been a real week of craftiness here this week.

This is a chicken I have made using commercial ribbons. It's just one bit of homework I need to do for my course.


Next is some experimental work using wire, I have knitted three dresses they aren't finished yet but if teacher is looking then she will know I am doing some homework :-)

Here they are in close up.

This is a baby quilt made by Fiona a regular customer. She thought we would like to see it because she bought the fabric from us and she was right. It's lovely and bright just what every baby needs.

Then there was Steph and she has been very busy.

First some Raspberry and White Chocolate Chip Cookies that she made. They were very tasty.

Then of course there were more chickens. She has made these into doorstops.

She has also made a Holdall but has taken it away with her this weekend before I had a chance to take a photo.

I managed to finish my Courthouse Steps quilt including a wavy border. I have got to take a photo of it but I will show you.

Tomorrow Pam is teaching a quilt class. It will be her first time at teaching and I am confident that she will be an excellent teacher - she has put a lot of time into the preparation for the class and made lots of samples and comprehensive notes. If the shop isn't too busy I am hoping to take part in the class as well.

I can't believe it will soon be my 50th post and time for a giveaway. Doesn't time fly by.

Catching Up

It's been a long time since I last posted, we have been poorly sick. Both Neil and I have had nasty chest infections - we somehow managed to get through last week but spent all day Sunday and Monday on the sofa sleeping. I even slept through the F1 Grand Prix. So the Bank Holiday just passed us by. I hope you all had a good one and managed to make the most of the glorious weather.



The chicken family is expanding. Steph has made this one as a gift, I think it is the nicest one so far.



Because I was feeling sorry for myself I couldn't resist buying these, aren't they gorgeous. I love peonies.



Steph has also been busy baking. These are Date and Oatmeal Cookies.

These are Apricot and Oatmeal. Very nice, the recipe is one of Gina's.

I did make a couple of bags last week but I clearly wasn't at my best because the sewing is not the best so I won't be sharing those with you.

I was so poorly I didn't even read any of my favourite blogs. I am so far behind, I'm going to do it now.