frayed at the edge

Mixed messages!

Sometimes it seems as if spring has finally arrived, but sometimes it seems as if winter hasn't  quite left us.  In the front garden, the quince certainly thinks spring is here ....

 

...... with lots of buds, and one flower

 

....... but in the back garden, we still have a little bit of snow!!

 

I was going to share the recipe for lemon drizzle cake with you - but when I went to make it after lunch, I realised that I had forgotten to get eggs this morning when I did my weekly food shop!  Don't worry, I will do it another day, but in the meantime, I thought you might like to see what I did with this beautiful beef that I bought this morning

 

I decided to make a rich stew, adding onions, mushrooms, garlic, chilli,and a red pepper

 

along with tomatoes, tomato puree, seasoning and a bottle of Malcolm's best Brazilian beer!

 

While the veggies were gently cooking in the pot on the right, I browned the meat in batches in the frying pan

 

I decided that it needed an extra flavour, so after a bit of thought I decided to add some smoked paprika.  This is quite a strong flavour, so I used my special measuring spoon to make sure that I didn't put too much in .....

 

While the stew was cooking, I tackled the ironing .... I thought I had better,  as the wardrobe was looking somewhat empty.  I wish I could let you taste the stew -  a delicious rich dish, just the thing for a day when spring perhaps hasn't quite arrived!

  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 

Shadow Shot Sunday

 

It has been a very good week for shadows, with lots of sunshine.  On Monday we went to Kelso, so that I could take some photos of the Abbey.  I decided to take them in black and white, and I'm delighted with the results

perhaps the ghost of a monk will appear from the shadows

 

what stories these old stones could tell us

 

I think it would be spooky here at night

 

On Tuesday, I had another opportunity to take black and white photos when we went to Berwick

old graveyards lend themselves to black and white photos

 

part of the defences to keep the Scots out!

 

And a bit of fun to end, for those who missed Mr February two weeks ago, here is Mr March

 

More fun to be had shadow-chasing at Hey Harriet  
 
 
 
 
 
 

Normal service resumed

Yes, it was back into the routine this morning, and the house is now clean and tidy again!  Then it was off to Borderland Fabrics for an afternoon of patch'n'chat .... and of course cake!!  A choice of two again this week - lemon drizzle and gingerbread (yes, I had a piece of both)

 

 

But between chatting and cake-eating, I did manage to do some sewing ..... I have been working on my Angel Stitcheries, and have now completed three of them

 

 

 

 

I have also been working on another wallhanging, but I can only show you a little bit .... you will have to wait until next Tuesday's tutorial to see the whole thing!

 

I hope you all have a great weekend, love Anne

 
 

  

Out to lunch (again)!

We continued our discombobulation today, when we went to Morpeth to see Jennifer.  Of course, this meant going out for lunch ........  fortunately one our favourite places has just reopened after their winter hibernation  - Meldon Park .... you can read more about it here.  We were made very welcome in the beatiful coffee shop, and it was hard to choose what we wanted for lunch, as we were so busy admiring our surroundings

 

 

and the lovely goodies for sale

 

 

After much deliberation, Jennifer decided to have quiche, Malcolm a steak and onion sandwich and I chose the corned beef pie.  It was all absolutely delicious .... and we were so busy chatting I forgot to take a photo of the food (which of course means we will have to go back and do it all again!).

After lunch we had a walk in the gardens.  On the left of this photo is the coffee shop, and on the right the greenhouse ......

 

 

...... where this lovely tulip was one of the colourful spring plants for sale

 

 

Do you think this wonderful assortment were planning to have a picnic?

 

 

I had a lovely surprise in the post this week - a cd from the amazing Helen McCookerybook

 

As Helen often talks on her blog of her early days as a punk, I think I was expecting something raunchy and raucous ....... but I would describe the music as a mix of folk and country.  I am listening to the cd in the car and really enjoying it.  Thank you very much Helen, for your lovely gift.

I was also delighted with the card that accompanied the cd

it's an illustration by Dan Andreasan, called 'Felicity relaxing with her favourite books'.  Do visit Helen - her blog is an eclectic mix of subjects and she also has a link to her fabulous illustrations.  

It will have to be back to our routine tomorrow, as the house has been sadly neglected and is in need of some tlc- but of course being back in that routine also means that in the afternoon I will be at patch'n'chat .... which could mean a photo of cake tomorrow!
 
 

 

 

 

  

Thoroughly discombobulated!

You know that I like order and routine in my life (fortunately Malcolm does too), but this week has been somewhat topsy turvy!  On Monday, I did the food shopping as usual in the morning, but as it was such a lovely day, I suggested to Malcolm that we went to Kelso after lunch, as I wanted to take photos of the Abbey.  I decided to try taking some black and white shots of the ruins, and I was delighted with the results

 

 

It must have been an awe-inspiring building!  However, not all of it is in ruins

 

This carving looked new

 

I changed back to colour to take a photo of this wonderful window

 

Yesterday was another beautiful, bright, sunny day, so we decided to have a day out (normally I would have spent the day in the studio).  We headed east to visit Berwick, which in times past has been fought over by the Scots and the English (it is now in England!).  We had a very enjoyable (if slightly cold) walk round the walls, which were built to protect the town

 

This looks like a small church, but it is the magazine, where the gunpowder was stored!

 

 

The cold weather didn't stop these golfers from playing a round

 

Of course, a day out means lunch, which we had in a delightful cafe/gift shop called Doolally.  We had delicious squash, fennel and ginger soup, served with a wonderful cheese scone

 

After lunch we continued our walk, pausing to admire the magnificent Victorian railway bridge

 

To try to give you an idea of the massive engineering feat the Victorians achieved, I put Malcolm in this photo to show you the scale of the stone blocks

 

I took a lot of photos over the two days, quite a few of which will be appearing in future Shadow Shot Sundays, but I'll finish today with another shot of Kelso Abbey - a photo
which could grace the cover of a Gothic thriller!!

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday Tutorial 8

Applique part 1

 

Today I am going to show you a simple way to applique a flower.  First, here is what I used (freezer paper is available from quilting shops)

 

 

I decided to use a tulip, so I chose a shape in my pattern book, and traced it on to a piece of freezer paper

 

 

Then I cut out the freezer paper and ironed it (shiny side down) on to the wrong side of a piece of fabric I chose from the bundle of scrap pieces.

 

I cut out the tulip, leaving about a quarter of an inch seam allowance.  I turned the seam allowance to the wrong side and tacked it in place - starting with the knot on the right side (this is important, you'll find out why later!).   I snipped the fabric where it comes down to the 'v' - you can see where the arrow is

 

 

Now, it's time to applique the tulip to the background fabric.  If you are planning to do a lot of applique, I would recommend buying proper applique pins, they are much smaller and less likely to catch the thread (or stick in your fingers!)  .  I have stitched mine with a contrasting thread so you can see my stitches, of course normally I would use a matching thread

 

I began stitching to the left of the bottom of the tulip.  Bring the thread through the folded seam allowance, then use small stitches to work your way almost to the first corner.  As you can see, your stitches should look like little dots

 

 

Next, I used a highly specialised tool to tuck the 'ear' in out of the way .... a cocktail stick!

 

 

I continued stitching round the tulip, using the cocktail stick to turn in the seam allowance at the 'v', and the other 'ear'.  I stopped stitching when I got to the bottom right hand side, leaving a gap

 

 

I took out the tacking stitches .... this is where you find out the importance of having your knot on the right side - if you have put it on the wrong side you will have a bit of bother taking the thread out!  I used my  cocktail stick to loosen the freezer paper .......

 

 

..... then I pulled it out

 

 

I pinned the seam allowance in place, ready to start the next step ..... adding a stem - come back next week and I'll show you how to do it

 

These are a few of my favourite things!

I've been tagged by Shannon of Free Spirit Knits to tell you ten simple things that make me happy .........

1. Of course I have to start with Malcolm and Stuart .... my family always comes first.  This is us on our wedding day in 1986.

 

2. My home .... I get to see this every morning when I open the curtains!

3. Books - I love to read and need to have a book within easy reach at all times!

4. Orchids - I have a collection on the kitchen windowsill - this one has just started flowering

5.  Friends - this are a wonderful group of friends I had in Indonesia .... as you can see, I had been teaching them patchwork!  I have to admit that's me with the grey hair - now, thanks to my marvellous hairdresser, I am a stunning blond .....

6. My studio - I took this photo yesterday ........ it was snowing and miserable out, but I was happy working on my latest projects

7. Travel - I enjoy holidays so much it's hard to pick a photo ...... this is Pollensa in Majorca

8. Food - I am definitely a 'live to eat' person, and while looking for a holiday photo, I also found a wonderful food picture, also taken in Pollensa

9. Of course any list of things that make me happy has to include wine ... I don't have any great knowledge about it, so if all else fails, I pick a bottle with an interesting label!

10. To end, the most simple pleasure known to woman ..... chocolate!!

 

Now I'm supposed to tag ten wonderful women .... but I find it so hard to choose (I can't help it, I'm a Libran!) ....... so, what I've decided is ........ if I regularly comment on your blog, and you would like to tell us of your ten things, then consider yourself tagged!!