frayed at the edge

I was nearly Hitchcock!

These mornings when I go out for my walk, I am greeted by lots of swallows ..... they are gathering before they set off south for the winter.  They are very noisy, and constantly swooping through the air, so this morning I thought I would try to film them.  I've never inserted a video clip into the blog before ....... and I won't be doing it this time, as it was taking forever to upload (next time I'll make the film much shorter!)  However, I can show you them sitting on the wire

 

 

There was a beautiful clear blue sky this morning, full of contrails .... this one made me smile - did the pilot change his mind about where he was going?

 

 

When I saw this tractor and trailer coming towards me, I made sure I stepped as far back on to the verge as possible!

 

 

This afternoon, I headed out to the studio to start making something on the new sewing machine.  It didn't take me long to decide to use this pattern ...... I saw it recently on Thimbleanna's blog and just had to have it!  I was delighted last week when the pattern arrived

 

 

I like to keep my patterns intact, so I photocopied the pattern sheet, stuck it to a piece of card and cut out the bits

 

 

Then of course, I had to choose some fabric ....... I decided to use the beautiful fabric that I bought at the NEC ....... a bit extravagant perhaps?

 

 

I drew the head, ears, paws and feet onto a folded piece of calico

 

 

I set the machine up ready to sew - after picking the stitch, the screen showed me the settings to use

 

 

Sewing round curves is not one of my strongpoints - I am better with straight seams, but eventually all the pieces were sewn and cut out with a small seam allowance

 

 

Now, I have a confession to make ......... I should have then turned all those pieces right side out and stuffed them, ready to use when I stitched together the body.  BUT ....... I sat down in the summerhouse to have a cuppa with Malcolm, and picked up the book I have been reading.  I was almost at the end ..... and couldn't put it down until I finished it!  So you can blame Stephen King and his latest book 'Under the Dome' for not seeing any more sewing!!

 

While I was having fun in the studio, Malcolm was hard at work in the garden.  The pergola has become completely overgrown by a clematis, honeysuckle and climbing rose, so he had decided to cut everything back.  Having made a start yesterday, he finished the job this afternoon

 

 

I'm off to the dentist tomorrow afternoon to have my troublesome tooth out ....... I will have to practise my deep breathing exercises to stay calm!!

   

 

   

 

 

Now read the instructions!

Having had a play with my new machine, I though perhaps it would be a good idea to read the instructions ....... and not just read them, but also watch the instructional DVD that came with the machine.  So first I sat and watched the DVD (I even made notes!) and then read (most of) the manual.   I looked out a folder and cut some calico to fit the pockets, then I made a start on trying out the 'utility' stitches, making notes on the fabric as I went .....

 

 

The first six were straightforward .......

 

........ but you may notice that stitch 8 is missing.  That's because to do it, I have to put on a very scary looking foot and alter the thread tension and the presser foot setting ....... so I thought I would leave that to another day!

 

We had a browse in our favourite charity shop on Saturday, and as soon as I saw this book, I grabbed it and ran to pay for it before anyone else realised what a treasure it is!

 

 

There are clear instructions

 

 

Lots of wonderful stitches

 

 

and beautiful patterns, like this Christening dress

 

 

I have finished my first sock (apart from the Kitchener stitch)

 

 

and have knitted the cuff and picked up the stitches for the main part on the second one (I need to finish off the first one, so that I can transfer the stitches to the double pointed needles!)

 

 

I have also been working on Maia.  I had been knitting it on the circular needle that came with the kit, but no matter how oftern I use a circular needle, I just can't knit very quickly, so yesterday I transferred the stitches to straight needles, and things are going a bit faster!  I pinned this bit out, so you can see the pattern

 

 

If you look at the top of the left-hand sidebar, you will see that I have added an e-mail link ....... and if you look at the right-hand one, you might see another additon - yes, I've been given an award!! It was given to me by the lovely Lee of Just Like Martha - it's hard to believe that it is almost a year since I met Lee in Sydney when we were on holiday!  I now have to nominate ten people I would like to pass the award on to and then tell you ten things about myself.  So first the nominees - I have passed on an award before, so this time I thought I would choose blogs that I maybe only recently started reading ....

http://chasingpurpledreams.blogspot.com/

http://www.ourgrandmotherskitchens.com/

http://sweetmarynz.blogspot.com/

http://cathyholtomdustylane.blogspot.com/

http://thimbleanna.com/

http://bumblebearies.blogspot.com/

http://www.rattlingon.typepad.com/

http://www.attica-slowlife.blogspot.com/

http://kristenmakes.wordpress.com/

http://www.thegreengal.co.uk/

If you would like to accept the award - just pass it on to ten other blogs that you love and list ten things about yourself.  I haven't been able to put the award into the body of the post, so if you can't take it from the sidebar, email me and I will send it to you.

 

Now, the hard part, ten things about me

1. I learned to knit and sew when I was seven

2. I'm allergic to prawns

3. I once (over the course of a month) travelled round the world

4. I have had a scar on my left knee since I was five

5. I fractured a knuckle on my ring finger when I hit myself with a badminton racquet

6. I passed my driving test first time

7. I'm scared of heights

8. I suffer from seasickness

9. I prefer a starter to dessert

10. I always wanted to be tall

 

Shadow Shot Sunday

 

I don't know where the last week has gone .... but it's time to play with shadows again!  To see what my fellow addicts have captured this week, pop over to Hey Harriet, where Tracy has recovered from a very nasty bout of flu to get this week's fun under way.

I have several sets of shadows in the archives, but as lots of you asked to see the summerhouse when Malcolm finished painting it, I popped out into the garden at teatime yesterday to take some photos of the finished work

 

so much nicer than the original colour!

 

 

the soft shadow of the rowan tree

 

 

lacy leaf shadows

 

 

not one, but two radios for Malcolm to listen to the cricket commentary!

 

 

and to finish ..... me!

Anything ewe can do .......

....... I can do too!  The other morning, I paused to watch these sheep in the field next to the church

 

There was a line of them walking across the bottom of the field from right to left - there were even some coming through the gate from the next field to join the end of the line.  Then this morning, there was a line of them walking the other way across the field, with a group in the next field heading down to the gate to join in - maybe they just wanted to keep me company?

 

 

On the other side of the church, the old manse has the remains of an apple orchard in the gardens.  This morning, there were two horses kicking up their heels and generally having fun - but when one of them spotted me, it ran and stood between two trees - did it think I couldn't see it, if it couldn't see me?

 

 

It is now much cooler in the mornings and autumn is definitely drawing closer.  It is just about time to pick some rosehips - they are like jewels in the hedgerow

 

 

Of course it's Friday, and that means cake!  Annette treated us to another of her strawberry and cream sponges - but these are probably the last of this season's strawberries!

 

 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend - I think you can guess what I will be doing!!  Love, Anne

   

My lovely adventure!

Before I set off on my latest adventure, of course I crawled out of bed and went for my walk ...... and I am so glad I did, or the foal wouldn't have popped his head over the gate to say hello

 

 

and this Jacobs' ewe wouldn't have sat and looked pretty while I snapped her

 

 

After breakfast, we set of for Morpeth .... but not just to see Jennifer!  After picking Jennifer up, Malcolm dropped us off to meet up with one of my blogging friends .... Rachel.   I told Rachel she would recognise us, as thanks to our hairdressers, I am very blond and Jennifer is very dark!!  First we went for a cuppa (of course!), then we had a leisurely stroll along the river in the sunshine, before heading to a lovely Italian restaurant for lunch.  It was pizzas all round - I had a Messicana, with lovely spicy chilli

 

 

Jennifer got appointed portrait photographer, as Rachel and I posed prettily for her

 

 

I took a fabric gift bag with a china mug in it for Rachel ....... I forget to take a photo of it.  But that wasn't quite as bad as Rachel, who left her present for me at home in her fridge!!  But she has sent me a photo - delicious chocolate mocha cupcakes!!

 

We will just have to meet again so she can make some more!!  And to round off our fun day, we finished with a spot of shopping in Marks and Spencers' sale!!

 

ps - Malcolm had a lovely lunch in a garden centre, then he had a walk on the beach and picked up lots of bits of driftwood - I think he already has plans for using it!!

 

 

My new toy!

As promised, I have more photos of the rhinos in Chester - I just wish I could go back and see more of them!

 

 

 

 

Then, there was the visit to the Needle Museum.  It was very interesting, not just for me to learn more about sewing needles, but also for Malcolm as there was lots of information about the engineering methods involved in their manufacture.  And it wasn't just sewing needles - I I had to avert my eyes from this display

 

 

Needle making was a major provider of employment, as you can see from this census

 

 

If you think all needles are the same, look at this display

 

 

But if you were thinking of applying for a job, you might want to read the conditions of employment first

Perhaps you would rather just use some needles to produce wonderful work like this

 

I won't tease you any longer ..... yes, it arrived!!  A very big, very heavy box

 

After a great deal of unpacking and organising, I eventually took the machine out to the studio

 

Then I lifted the lid ......

 

..... an amazing array of stitches and fonts

 

Of course I had to have a little play - I've used black thread on yellow fabric so that you can see the stitches 

my first stitches - a bit plain, can we have something fancy? 

 

a row of umbrellas

 

one of the three fonts

 

I think it is going to take me quite some time to get to grips with all the functions and features - so if you can't find me, I'll be in the studio!

ps - except for tomorrow, when I'm off on another adventure!!  

   
 

 

 

   

Warning : major boasting ahead!

Last Saturday was the Southdean Show, which meant a chance to show off some of my craft work, and hopefully win some prizes!  When I had a look round after the judging, I was amazed to discover I had three firsts, two seconds, two thirds and two highly commended.

 

 

First prize for my 'Celtic Wedding Rings' wallhanging, felt flower and a photo of a stunning window (which I took last year on holiday in Sydney)

 

 

Second prize for my felt picture and swallowtail shawl

 

Third prize for a photo of our huge snowman  and one of Malcolm's shed in our last garden

 

Highly commended for the chicken wallhanging and the octopus scarf.

 

I wasn't the only prizewinner in the family ....... Malcolm got a third prize for his cracket!  The best bit, though, is that the entry fees came to more than twice the prize money!!

 

Tomorrow, I'll tell you about the Needle Museum and show you more of those wonderful rhinos (and there may even be something about my new sewing machine!!)
  

A little bit of shopping

On Thursday, once we had looked at lots of quilts, I produced the pocket money that I had saved up and we headed for the traders!  But in the end, I didn't buy a great deal ..... I think there was so much choice, I couldn't make up my mind!  But of course I did buy some fabric - a wonderful collection of eight fat-eigths (that's enough to make a small wallhanging)

 

 

There was a stand selling back issues of some of my favourite Australian magazines at very good prices, so I eventually decided on these four

 

 

On the practical side, I invested in this needle threader, which is very easy to use

 

 

I found this pattern in a 'reduced' basket - I do love a bargain!

 

 

OK, now I have to tell you what else I bought ........ I had been thinking for some time about buying a new sewing machine, as my main machine has a recurring fault, which will eventually need an expensive repair.  I knew that all the main sewing machine dealers would be at the show, ....... and of course, there would be big discounts to be had as they vied for business! 

Machines have come a long way since my first one (not that I am that old!!) .... it was given to me when I was sixteen by a friend of my Mum's - I took this photo at the Needle Museum on Friday - this is similar to the one I had

 

All it did was sew a straight stitch, no reverse, no zigzag, with only one extra foot - a zipper foot, but I made all sorts of things on it .... including a fetching peach satin bridesmaid's dress for my sister's wedding!!  I can't show you the new one yet, as it is being delivered on Wednesday, but it is an all-singing, all-dancing one   - I think it will take quite some time to get to grips with all the features.

And now, the moment you have all been waiting for - who has won the prize?  I didn't even use my random number generator (aka Malcolm) .... I did it the old fashioned way with names on bits of papers ....... and the lucky winner is .......  Rattling On .  But you will have to Wait a few days to see what the prize is, so it will be a surprise for Rattling (I was glad that I had picked her piece of paper, as she has cut her hand badly and was in need of cheering up!)

 

To finish - some very good news!  I finally got the results of my MRI scan ...... the letter had been delivered to our neighbours' house by mistake, and as they were away, it lay on their doormat for a week before I got it!  The scan showed that there is nothing untoward in my head, so now I just have to hope that when this troublesome tooth is extracted next week, the pain will go!  (and yes, we've had all the jokes as to whether they found my brain rattling around somewhere in there!!)

 

 

Shadow Shot Sunday

 

 

This week, I'm just posting one photo, as it is so wonderful I don't want to detract from it.  It was taken by my son, Stuart.  He e-mailed it to me, and as soon as I saw it, I wanted to use it for SSS - fortunately he agreed!  Remember, to see what shadow shotters around the world have come up with this weekend, pop over to Hey Harriet.

 

 

Festival of Quilts

Sorry not to have done a post yesterday, but the hotel we stayed in last night wanted £15 for internet use (it was free in the hotel in Chester!).  This is just a quick post, as we had a long journey home, including crawling along in a huge tailback on the motorway and coping with torrential rain!

So yes, we went to the Fetsival of Quilts (I will sort out all the correct guesses later and pick a winner for the little prize that I bought at the Festival).  It was very busy, as you can see from this photo, with a great atmosphere as people oohed and aahed at the quilts

 

 

Of course I would love to show you photos of the quilts, but as always I can't because of copyright issues ...... but there were lots of stunning quilts, including some of the smallest miniatures I have ever seen (even Malcolm was impressed with them)

 

Tomorrow's post will as ever be my Shadow Shot Sunday (yes, I know that it's Saturday, but it will be Sunday in Australia, from where Tracy organises things) so you will have to wait until Mondayfor the rest of our adventure (including something very special that I bought!!)  But I'll finish with a photo to tell you where we went this morning.  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, love, Anne