Tidying Up

We have got a two day workshop this weekend so at 3.30 yesterday afternoon we decided that it might be a good idea to clear up and make the place look respectable. This first picture is a good example of why we needed to do it. I am pleased to say that this is Pam's mess (I don't make a mess :-) ).

And this is how it looks now, perfect isn't it. All that space just makes me want to get the fabric out and start playing around with colours, and of course making a mess again.

Have a good weekend.

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.

The Worst Week Ever

I can't ever remember having such a disastrous week. It got off to a bad start when my patchwork wouldn't go right. I was making Delectable Mountains. I'd like to know why they are called that (a) they don't look anything like mountains (b) they are not delectable to make.

Now you might say to yourself that's not so bad and I would agree, but on Wednesday Stephanie came into the shop do some sewing with us. So far not so bad until she stitched through her finger (I have to say there wasn't much blood). Anyway Pam called for an ambulance and whilst she was still on the phone a paramedic turned up and 10 minutes later an ambulance arrived.
After a little gas and air, a bit of fiddling with the machine and Steph clinging to me for comfort they managed to get her disconnected from the machine with the needle still in her finger. So then it was off to hospital and four hours later the needle was out. The dressing and bandage are now off, and I have to say there isn't much to see.

Then on Thursday morning my Dad witnessed an attempted murder. Definately a case of wrong place wrong time.

On a lighter note I did manage to do some sewing and on Saturday I made this bag.



Then on Sunday morning I went to check on my Quail only to discover that over night one of them had died :-(

So far this week has been okay. I haven't got as much homework done for my C and G course as I would have liked, but we meet tomorrow so that will be a day spent with nice people doing nice things.

Bank Holiday

I hope you all had a good Bank Holiday.

Neil and I went to London to see a show.



We had a lovely day which started with a trip to my favourite place the V and A. I spent a few hours in the Textiles Room had a quick wander through Paintings and Jewellery then started to make my way to the exit when I came across the bookshop. Well, you can't just walk past a bookshop and not have a little peek inside can you!

When I came out I had a bag in my hand, not sure how that happened. When I looked in the bag there were two books, exactly what I would of chosen :-)

After the V and A we went for a pretheatre supper at the Indigo Restaurant, One Aldwych. The food was lovely. Then it was off to the theatre to see Oliver with Rowan Atkinson playing the part of Fagin. It was fantastic.

Ever Felt Like Chocolates

Ever Felt Like Chocolates was the title of a class that we had in the shop on Wednesday. The teacher was a lovely lady called Linda Beer, you can read more about her on her sister's blog
Vintage rockchick. You can also read more about the day by clicking on this link Fan My Flame .



As you can see they all made scrummy looking chocolates. There was just one very unusual thing about the day, they were all so very, very quiet. It was the quietest class we have ever had. They said it was because they were working hard to get a full box before the end of the day.

Take a look at these pictures. They are worked by hand in China. A very kind gentleman bought them in for me yesterday. Aren't they lovely, now I just need to get them framed.

Things finished

Let me introduce you to George (on the left) and Mildred. These are Pam's Log Cabin Chickens, aren't they cute. We will soon have enough for a chicken farm. Some days we actually do some work.

Some time last year I did a workshop at Art Van Go with Gina Ferrari but in true crafter style I didn't finish it until last week. For a long time I felt something was missing but wasn't sure what and then one day last week inspiration struck. Whilst I was in Jersey I went for a stroll along one of the beaches and collected some shells. The shells are in a jar on my desk in the shop and my eyes just happened to fall on the jar and there it was the perfect shell for the job. It's only a little thing but it makes all the difference to my picture and I am really pleased with it.

Now for another one of Pam's quilts. Pam is being super efficient, the quilt is a christmas present for a niece (lucky little lady) it really is fabulous.

Meet Mary

Just a quick post because I am meant to be on my way out the door to Kings Lynn for a Speedway meeting. But I wanted to introduce you to Mary. She is Fred's daughter.

Now all I need is a mummy chicken, so watch this space!

Little Blocks

We had a Patchwork class in the shop today, they were making Little Blocks and their teacher was Carole Porter.
There was only three ladies in today's class so they had plenty of room to spread themselves out. They all got on very well with each other and because it was a small class it gave me the chance to sit in with them now and again between customers and ordering and work things . So I enjoyed it very much and I learnt a little about the art of patchwork.
They very kindly let me take pictures of their work in progress. So in no particular order I will share them with you.

The first one is Gill's. It's very cheerful and every thing that spring is about.







This one is the handi work of Fiona, very dramatic and different from the other two.




Finally Barbara's. Barbara has been very sensible and is using her scraps of fabric to make the blocks. All the different colours work very well together.

When they are finished all three quilts are going to look lovely and if I get the chance I will take pictures of them and let you know how good they are.

Happy Easter

Say hello to Fred.

Fred was made from the Log Cabin blocks. Don't you just love his legs! They took me a whole evening to make, so even though they obviously wouldn't support him if he tried to stand he's keeping them. Cute isn't he.

There are some people who like to blog about all the goodies they make in the kitchen so I thought I would let you see my efforts.

Brilliant aren't they. It was hard work!

In the garden we have three Quails. Funny little things that give us lots of ammusement and they make the best pets. They don't take much to look after but they do eat a lot. Their favourite snack is fresh sweetcorn.

It's not a good photo they don't stay still for a second.

Yesterday they produced two eggs.

The next picture is of one of the borders out the front. The colours are so pretty just right for this time of year.

In the back garden we have a Magnolia Tree which is looking rather splendid.

I wish you all a Happy Easter.

Surprise

This is my first proper patchwork block - Log Cabin, and it is going to be a chicken- honestly!

These shoes do not belong to me, they were a surprise find this morning. They are my daughters. She has decided to tidy her bedroom (it's going to take her all year) and when I went in there this morning these shoes were there on the floor. I've never seen them before not even on her feet. I haven't seen her floor since I don't know when.

I was so surprised by this discovery that I thought I would share it with you.

The other thing that surprised me about this find, is that it's so out of character with Steph. Normally she can only ever be seen in jeans and trainers. I didn't know she owned anything like this.

It just goes to show that even at the tender age of 21 children can still surprise you.

There is a new blog out there in Cyber World, and I recommend you go and have a look - the work this lady produces speaks for itself http://www.sarahlpayne.blogspot.com/

14 days till tomorrow!

It's been a long time since I last blogged, life just seems to have got in the way.
This post is all about the other workshops I did in Jersey, which seems like a life-time ago.

This is a beaded cuff which I made with Gina. It was a lovely workshop and I did as I was told (unlike the sock monsters workshop) which meant I finished the cuff. I would like to make more strips like this then sew them together to make a small bag.

This was a workshop with Cas Holmes. She is a very enthusiastic lady and is generous with her knowledge. She has got a book coming out next year (late summer I think) and it's on my wish list!

Last but not least an afternoon spent with Ruth Issett. A fun afternoon playing around with fabric paint, finishing with Ruth showing us some of her work, very interesting.

I enjoyed my week in Jersey very much. If you get the chance to go I would definitely recommend it.

Say Hello To Spot

Yesterday I attended my first workshop here in Jersey - Little Bonded Books with Gina Ferrari. I have done this workshop before but I wasn't entirely happy with my efforts so I decided to give it another go. I'm glad I did because I like this one much more than my first attempt.




Today I had two workshops booked.

The first one was with Christine Witham. When assembled all the pieces in the picture below will make a corsage. This was a thoroughly enjoyable workshop and I learnt a new technique that can be used for many decorative purposes.


This afternoon however was a different story all together. Again it was spent in the company of Gina. The result (below) was Spot. Not quite what I had imagined but that was my fault.
We were all enjoying ourselves so much that I stitched the arms where the ears should be and the ears where the arms should be.

The workshop was held in the Parish Hall. There was four workshops going on at the same time and ours was the noisiest. We all had a great time and couldn't stop laughing.

This evening we are going to a lecture by Gina - more of that tomorrow.

This Week

This is Pam at her sewing machine looking rather pleased with herself.

For a few weeks now she has been making a bag from hexagons. These hexagons haven't been playing ball though and she has on occassions got a little cross with them.

Perseverance has won the day though. Pam has managed to work out a way of sewing them on the machine.

I love the fabrics she is using they are so cheerful.

Last weekend Pam had a much better time. She went on a quilting weekend with some friends, and this is what she came back with.

Isn't it gorgeous!

This week I have made Neil a new waistcoat. We have a Gala Dinner to go to this week and he is presenting some awards. He asked if I would make him a new, bright waistcoat. I think I have but you will have to wait for a picture. It is some where in a suitcase. At the moment we are in the Radisson SAS Hotel at Manchester Airport overnight waiting to fly to Jersey tomorrow.

I have also been knitting this week, I have brought it with me. I am making the hat first and it is nearly finished. The wool is 50% Alpaca so it is very soft.

Goings On In The Kitchen

Here are the chocolates I mentioned earlier in the week. Don't they look good enough to eat? We have a workshop at Art and Stitch next month to learn how to make them.




On Thursday evening Steph and I made some Lemon & Lime Curd. Today I made tarts and no I didn't make the pastry. That came from Tesco or Sainsbury's- one of them. They don't look too bad do they? But now to some more unusual goings-on in the kitchen.


I needed some algae for my texture board. I've got some green felt which would be perfect for representing algae. At the last meeting of my C&G course I was discussing how I was going to recreate the effect of algae with my tutor and I said I was going to use a cheese grater. But some how during the conversation we started talking about kitchen appliances.

Well! what else do you use a food processor for?


And that is how you end up with a soft pile of fuzz.