frayed at the edge

Take my photo ........

........ I'm the handsome one!  After our cuppa on Sunday morning, we continued our walk.  Malcolm and Alison looked on bemused as Stuart and I crept up to take photos of two seagulls on a wall

 

we laughed when the one on the right walked in front of the other one, as if to say "never mind him, I'm the handsome chap you want in your photos"

 

we walked back over the new bridge, so that Stuart could take some shots of the old bridge ........ but of course I had to take more photos too!  This is looking down on the area that is to be refurbished, where Malcolm went for his walk last Saturday

 

hopefully the old wooden jetty is going to be restored

 

I liked the reflection of the bridge in the slightly muddy water

 

but I doubt this statue likes what the seagulls do on her head!!

 

you may have to click on the photo to enlarge it, to see the seal swimming beside the pilot boat

 

whn we got back home, there was time for me to do some sewing before dinner.  I started by choosing these six fat quarters

 

and cut as many two and a half inch strips as I could from them

 

there was a slight pause as I had to eat a donut (Stuart and Alison had brought us a box, so we had to eat them!)

 

on a sugar high, I stitched all the strips together

 

trimmed off the corners

 

pressed open the seams

 

and folded and pressed the binding

 

ending up with eighteen yards for the space quilts

 

this morning the first job of the day in the studio was to take a photo of my special tea in another of my special mugs

 

I have been doing well NOT buying books, but this one somehow was bought and arrived in the post this morning!

I made a start to using all that binding

 

but you will have to wait until tomorrow to see the finished quilts.  While I was busy sewing this afternoon, Malcolm was busy in the garage, making a rather large garden door for our lovely neighbours, the shoe shop owners

 

I thought I made a lot of mess .........

I'll be back tomorrow with some knitting.

The Aunts' Quilt and Mother's Day

A very short Auntlets' report this month, as I am on schedule with my blocks.  No photo though, of all the blocks on the design wall, as there isn't room for them now!

1st pieced block

 

2nd pieced block

 

applique block

 

for next month, there are the last two pieced blocks and the last applique block.  After that there are the setting triangles which are appliqued.  The outer border has appliqued scallops, but I think I might not do them - I shall decide when I have assembled the main body of the quilt.

So now on to Mother's Day.  Stuart and Alison arrived at the flat on Saturday afternoon, and Malcolm made us a very nice dinner.  Then, after breakfast on Sunday (also cooked by Malcolm, while I sat with my feet up!), we went out for a walk.  We had frequent stops, as Stuart was trying out his new camera.  As always, there was plenty to see

I know there's an engine somewhere in here!

 

having fun with a floating plastic container

 

you're dribbling dear!

 

the allotmenteers are getting ready for planting

 

a splash of colour on an old brick wall

 

an interesting plaque on an old building

 

a good address!

 

I've still got lots of photos from our walk which I will save for tomorrow, because I have the main event to share with you ........ sconnage!  We popped into Lowry's Coffee Bar

 

Stuart and Alison shared a fruit scone

 

while Malcolm and I shared a cheese one

 

and here I am, a very proud Mum with her handsome son!

Randomitis!!

Oh my, a large dose of randomitis has hit today's post!  The first photos are from last night's final of the Sewing Bee - stand by to swoon, it's the delectable Patrick!

when we got home yesterday, there were two interesting packages in the post.  The first one contained this panel to make fun seaside bunting, which I bought here

 

I recognised the writing in the second package as being that of either of Malcolm's sisters, as their writing is similar.  It turned out to be from his younger sister Judith.  First, there was a picture from her last years's calendar

 

then a postcard of a David Hockney painting

 

the package was wrapped in what appeared to be plain brown wrapping paper - but look what was on the other side - OWLS!!  This will be upcycled on to cards and gift tags!

 

the butterfly is still in the bathroom.  I put some flowers in a little vase on the windowsill for it, but it preferred the cacti - which is a bit stupid of it as they are candles.  When I went to take a photo this morning, it was sitting on the wall, in the bottom right hand corner of the photo (I was going to write about calling it Shanks, and if another one appeared it would be called McEwan, but I couldn't find a suitable link to put in, that Shanks and McEwan used to make sanitary ware ........ leading to the word shunkie, meaning toilet!!)

 

when I was getting ready to go to patch'n'chat, I saw a tiny long tailed tit in the garden, but despite my best efforts all I managed to capture were sparrows!

 

but don't worry, the attack of randomitis hasn't affected the Friday cake photo.  Annette is on holiday, so her right-hand-woman Cathy baked a cake for us - chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream topping - what more could a girl need on a Friday afternoon!!

 

hopefully the randomitis will have been cured by Monday, when I will have my next report on the Aunts' Quilt.  Stuart and Alison are coming down to spend the weekend at Berwick with us, as it is Mothers' Day on Sunday.  No doubt we will eat too much and perhaps indulge in a glass or two of wine!  Whatever you are doing, I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne xx

Continuing our walk

Our next stop was at the old Bell Tower

 

which doesn't look as grand now as in the illustration

 

we walked on to an area called The Greenses, which we hadn't visited before.  In a corner of a raised flower bed is a memorial ..........

 

...... to a committed member of the community

 

if you follow the link above, one of the things it mentions is the provision on a new post box - and here it is!  It might be very smart, but I much prefer old ones, such as the beauties made over the years by Machan Engineering

 

this mosaic set in the pavement caught my eye - inspiration for an applique perhaps?

 

as we walked back to the flat, I remembered to look up and was rewarded with these three photos

 

this morning we popped into Cafe Crema for a cuppa, and were delighted that one of today's scones was the exceedingly tasty cheese and pickle, still warm from the oven

 

to finish ....... I had just started writing today's post when a movement in the garden caught my eye. We had a surprise visitor (sorry for the blurry photo) - a tiny field mouse tucking into spilled birdseed!

 

 

Another excellent walk

When we set  out for our walk this morning, the tide was way out, so I took the big lens just in case.........

 

......... the seal was lounging about in front of the old bridge, as we hadn't seen him/her there all winter.  And there he/she was!

 

I kept stopping every few yards to take another photo

 

there was a rather chilly wind blowing, so we decided to fortify ourselves with an early lunch!  We headed to one of our favourite eating establishments

 

I don't know why I bothered to look at the menu, as I always have the same ....... the exceedingly delicious tuna, cheese and gherkin ciabatta

 

Malcolm had an almost as tasty parma ham, mozarello and pesto ciabatta

 

I thought I had better visit the facilities before heading back out into the chilly wind, and I took the camera, as I remembered that the decor was quirky (I know, we bloggers are very sad, even taking cameras with us to the loo!!)

 

on the way back to the table, I paused to take a photo of the fire, thinking perhaps I could stay warm beside it and send Malcolm out to take more photos for me!

 

this year Berwick is celebrating 900 years of history, with a lot of the town being smartened up, including this small area beside one of the main carparks

 

there is also work  being done on this church spire

 

would you like to climb up this ladder to the very top?!

 

we walked on to the graveyard of another church, where the blossom was coming out

 

it is fascinating reading old headstones - I always think there should be some sort of programme to preserve these little bits of history

 

the big black crow outside the graveyard gate made me think of Edgar Allan Poe!

 

 

this old carving over the church door was partially obscured by the metal strut for a lamp

 

I shall save the rest of our walk for tomorrow, and show you the batik quilt, which I finished off this afternoon

 

I brought this jug over to put on the wine box chest of drawers .......

 

........ as it is for wine - you put ice cubes in the middle section to keep your wine chilled

 

today there are two entries for the "to finish" section!  First, don't put your finger in front of the lens!

 

and secondly, you may laugh when I say I have accidently purchased something, but Amazon know these things happen!!

 

 

and suddenly there is a third contender, as the lifeboat has just come into the dock!

 

 

A little visitor!

I was relaxing in the bath this morning when there was movement and noise behind me!  I was somewhat relieved to see that it was a butterfly.  I have no idea how it got into the bathroom - perhaps it had been hibernating in a corner?  By the time I got out of the bath, got dressed and fetched the camera, it has settled on the blind

 

then it settled on the edge of the window

 

this afternoon I put the binding on the blue and white quilt.  I started by cutting strips from leftover backing fabric

 

which I joined together, then folded in half and pressed

 

I decided to use the back-to-front method of putting on the binding, as that meant I wouldn't have to do any handstitching.  I started by sewing the binding to the back of the quilt

 

then folded it over to the front and held it in place with clips

 

it didn't take long to stitch the binding to the front

 

all I have to do is stitch in the ends and sew the corners and it can go on the guest bed in the flat when we go over tomorrow.  So, I mentioned woolly bits yesterday.  Ever since I saw the wonderful woolly bits that Meredithe has stitched, I have been collecting suitable fabrics.  Then I watched Sue Spargo's Craftsy class, and eventually, on Sunday, I was ready to stitch a sample piece.  As Sue stitches her samples on circles appliqued to a background fabric, I thought I would do that too

 

I started with a simple line of running stitches

 

then got a little bit more creative

 

this is fun!

 

this was my first ever attempt at bullion knots!

 

but in no time at all I had done this variation

 

I played with some buttons

 

I'm delighted with my sample, and I'm looking forward to starting a proper project

 

I have finished another stitchery

 

that's eight done now, which is a quarter of them - suddenly I feel I am making progress!

A walk on the wild side

When we arrived at the flat on Saturday morning, Malcolm suggested going out for a walk before lunch to look at the dock area that is going to be smartened up.  But the weather wasn't very good, so I declined!  Thanks to the big lens, I could follow his progress.  Here he is all by himself crossing the bridge

 

then walking along the dock

 

I kept shouting at him to stay away from the edge!

 

eventually he disappeared round the end of the dock

 

while he was out I took photos of the wine box chest of drawers, which looks fabulous in the hall

 

late in the afternoon, a large ship appeared offshore

 

then there was a flurry of activity and the pilot boat headed out of the dock

 

and started to guide the much larger ship in

 

it didn't take them long to sail round the channel and into the dock

 

 

back home, a little blue tit has been spending a lot of time sitting on the ornamental quince outside our bedroom window.  Usually he flies off as soon as I go into the bedroom, but this morning I managed to sneak in and take some photos of him

 

I'll be back tomorrow with lots of sewing, including my first sample of woolly bits!

The next chapter!

Well that's it , I am no longer middle-aged, I am now officially old!  As of today the government has decreed that I am a pensioner ...... although how I can be one when I am only twenty nine I do not know!  Never mind, Malcolm has cheered me up with a bottle of fizz and a box of posh chocolates!

When I was watering the orchids this morning, I realised that there were two which have flowered since the last report.  The first one is quite small

 

while the second one is quite a bit bigger

 

it has very striking markings

 

this is the one which I bought recently, which is still flowering

 

this one has been flowering for months

 

and it too has striking markings

 

I had neglected my knitting recently, but have now made some more progress on my sock.  I have turned the heel and am now knitting the foot

 

so what was the project I started quilting yesterday?  It's my Baltimore bed runner

 

I quilted most of the first block ........

 

........ with my favourite tiny meander

 

at patch'n'chat today, Kay brought in the beautiful batik quilt which I won in Margaret's auction.  Kay has quilted it beautifully on her longarm machine

 

then of course there was the Friday cake ....... bliss, it was our favourite apple and sultana

 

we haven't made any plans for the weekend , but no doubt scones will appear at some point!  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

Bottoms up!

As we were eating breakfast this morning, more and more swans swam into the dock.  There must have been something tasty to eat, as they kept sticking their heads under the water and their bottoms in the air

 

but suddenly there was a commotion, and an adult swan, with its head hooked over the back of a cygnet,  pushed it away from the group, with another cygnet swimming ahead of them as fast as possible to get out of the way

 

there must also have been something tasty on the ground (perhaps from a ship being loaded/unloaded) because the pigeons were having a good peck

 

when I looked out of the window later, I saw some activity on the far side of the dock

 

and in a shabby little boat which had been moored overnight against the pilot boat

 

there appeared to be trouble starting the engine, with much pointing and shaking of heads

 

the man with the new depth gauge soldiered on trying to lower it.  Every time he got out of his machine he had to walk round behind the lobster pots, which must have been somewhat annoying

 

at that point I had to go for my shower, and I was surprised that they were still trying to get the gauge in place when I came back through

 

I had the unkind thought that he might fall off the boat and provide me with some good photos ......

later we went for a cuppa and an exceedingly delicious cheese scone

 

we popped into Serendipity and I couldn't resist this lovely card, by local artist Anne Johnston Gill

then in a charity shop I picked up this rather grubby bag of threads

 

there is a little label inside each reel.  Coton a repriser is darning thread ....... I would have put in a link, but I could only find ones in French!

 

it is lovely thread, and I think it will be good for fine embroidery

 

Malcolm had been doing more work on his wine box chest of drawers, finishing the top and sanding it.  The last stage will be to wax it

 

we got back home at lunchtime and I spent the afternoon in the studio.  I finished the quilting on the space quilt, then I spent the rest of the afternoon working on this ......... but you will have to come back tomorrow to find out what it is!

 

to finish ....... the sun appeared this afternoon, much to the delight of this robin in the front garden

March forth!!

I accept no responsibilty for the punning title of today's post - it was supplied by the other person in the room!  So, today, the fourth of march, we popped over to Berwick.  After a potter round the shops we went for lunch.  This coffee shop used to be on the other side of the road, and was only half the size of its new premises

 

I rather like the painted tables - another project for Malcolm?

 

I ordered the French platter and Malcom ordered the grilled ham, cheese and spring onion baguette ...... then, of course, we had half each!

 

we went for a walk after lunch, which started with having to climb these old steps - I was not a happy bunny!!

but the sky was blue, the sun was shining, and there were old chimneys to take photos of!

 

we had a walk on the beach, and while Malcolm was looking for driftwood, I was looking for odd things to take photos of!

 

of course I was a responsible person and removed the fishing line after I took the photo!  I also picked up another length later on, and popped them both in the bin after our walk

 

we rather liked the way that the wall has been built round the tree

 

Malclm spotted this bird, which was hopping about on one leg!!

 

I had just snapped this swan ......

 

........ when it got out of the water

 

when we walk back home over the old bridge, we always walk on the left side ........ but as we got to the end I crossed over to have a look over the other side, and was rewarded with these photos!!

 

Malcom pointed out the shot of the railway bridge seen through the new bridge

 

and to finish, of course we have to have a photo of the lighthouse - with Bamburgh Castle just visible on the horizon!