frayed at the edge

Another day out

 
Yesterday, I headed down the road to Chesters, for a Woolgathering - where a bunch of us get together and indulge in all things crafty.  It was a beautiful morning, so I had a quick stop on the way to take some photos.  Ruberslaw stood out against the sky

 

 

Looking back down the road, I had a good view of the Mintos and the Eildons

 

 

Oh dear, we were so busy talking and working all day, I forgot to take any photos!  But I can show you the progress I made on my scarf

 

 

But on to more important things ........ lambs!  I went out for a walk after lunch, and as I did last time, I struggled through the hedge and over the fence to try to get closer photos.  I was somewhat embarrassed when a woman appeared in the field, accompanied by a little girl and a small dog.  I thought I had better explaing what I was doing, but she had realised that I was taking photos and ....... she asked if I wanted to come into the field to get closer!!

 

the lambs are getting big

 

 

this is the tup (he has broken one of this horns)

 

 

they are just so cute!

 

I was delighted to get so close to the lambs ........ and I have permission to go into the field again to get more photos as they get bigger!  There were some ewes in one of the other fields - I wonder if the one on the right knows that she is different from the others

 

 

As I was walking along looking for things to thake photos of, a bit of colour caught my eye.  A closer look showed it to be a rotten apple!

 

 

Then later, when I was squeezing through the hedge, I noticed another little bit of colour - a ladybird!

 

 

It's Monday, so that means an update on the knitting project.  The little floral corsage didn't take long to do

 

 

This week's item won't take long either - a washcloth!

 

 

I still seem to have quite a collection of photos to show you - I will have to do a catch-up tomorrow!

 

Shadow Shot Sunday

Today's collection of shadow shots come from South Queensferry - scroll down to Thursday's post to see photos of the Forth Bridge and the Forth Road Bridge.

 

the door to the Episcopal Church

 

 

boats on the quay

 

 

chimneys reflected in a puddle

 

 

buildings reflected in another puddle!

 

And to finish, a photo I took today in the garden ...... at last it looks as if spring is here!

 

As always, for more shadow fun, head over to Hey Harriet

 

Quilts galore!

There were quilts as far as the eye could see, traders with all sorts of wondeful things to buy ...... but first - breakfast!!  (yes, the bacon roll was as tasty as it looks) (and yes, I got some funny looks taking the photo!)

 

 

Suitably fortified, it was time to look at the quilts.  Since I started the blog, I have only shown general shots of quilts at shows, because of copyright issues.  But I have seen lots of quilts on other blogs - and by the time the quilts have been seen by the thousands of visitors to the shows, I really don't think there will be too much harm done if I show you some.  However, I have permission to show you these first two quilts, as they were made by one of my friends, and I saw her at the show.  They were part of a challenge to make 'journal quilts' - they are all the size of A4 paper

 

 

 

The next two quilts were made by another friend - I'm sure she won't mind my sharing them with you

 

 

 

There were several quilts with beautiful applique (the colours aren't true, as the lighting was rather dim)

 

 

 

The secondary pattern formed by the darker colours is much clearer in the photo than it was looking at the quilt!

 

 

I wish the colours were true in this next photo - I came round the end of the row and stopped in my tracks ........ the quilt is VERY bright

 

 

So did I buy anything?  Well, I didn't buy any fabric (although I was tempted!).  I got these two magazines, as they aren't available in shops here.

 

 

Then I was intrigued by this set of continuous line quilting patterns.  As I definitely need to practice my machine quilting, I thought this would be a good investment

 

 

This is part of one of the patterns

 

 

I also stocked up on my favourite thread for using in the bobbin

 

 

After all the bother of doing the post last night, I was glad to pick up my knitting and do a few relaxing rows.  But then I saw so many people wearing these scarves today, I have gone off it a bit!  I shall have to do something to customise mine.  I know I should have popped out to the studio and draped it round my mannequin to show you the progress, but by the time I got home, I just laid it on the rug in the lounge .......

 

 

Of course after seeing all those wonderful quilts, I should be spending the weekend chained to the sewing machine ...... but I'm off out for the day again on Sunday!  I'll tell you about that on Monday, when I'll also show you more of the photos from yesterday - and I'll also be using some of them tomorrow for Shadow Shot Sunday.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, love Anne

A tale of two bridges

 The forecast promised much better weather for today, so I was a bit disappointed on the first part of my journey when it was very cloudy, and at times misty.  However, as I approached Edinburgh, the sky started to clear, and the odd gleam of sunshine appeared.  I decided to have an early lunch, in the hope that by the time I reached my destination, it would be even brighter.  So I had a quick stop in a garden centre (of course) for a most enjoyable roll with cheese and coleslaw

 

 

After lunch I headed for South Queensferry, stopping briefly on the way to take a quick photo - I am sure you will recognise these structures ..... the Forth Road and Rail Bridges

 

 

Of course for years, the rail bridge was known simply as the Forth Bridge, until the Road Bridge opened in 1964.  There were lots of trains crossing the bridge - this gives you and idea of the scale

 

 

I grew up hearing jobs described as 'it's like painting the Forth Bridge' - because as soon as they get to the end of painting the bridge, they have to go back and start again.  As you can see, they are still working on it

 

 

The bridge is so big, it was hard to get all of it into one shot

 

 

Once I had walked through the town, I was able to take photos of the road bridge.  I remember once being in the car with my Dad crossing the bridge.  I said to him to look down to the left, as I knew someone who lived down there ...... I forgot that, like me, he doesn't like heights - his eyes were fixed on the road ahead!  There is a footpath should you wish to walk across the bridge (why would you do that?)

 

 

I had intended you show you lots more photos, but Typepad has had one of its periodic hissy fits, and I've had to do this through Internet Explorer, which is somewhat clunky!!  Never mind, I'll save them for another day!  Stuart and I are slumped in front of the tv, full of lasagne and garlic bread (and a glass or two of wine!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

It all started ........

........ when Rachel sent me a link to this beautiful blog.  One of the things that caught my eye was a super knitted cushion cover with cables.  Now, this is when a problem arose.  If I knitted something similar, was I stealing someone else's design, or was I just inspired to do my own version.  I decided that as I was only knitting one for myself, and not writing a pattern to give to others, it was ok.  Next problem - can I show you my version?  Well, here is a peek at what I've done so far

 

 

Still on the knitting front, on Friday at patch'n'chat someone was knitting an unusual scarf.  Then yesterday, when my friends arrived for Kist (my housegroup), one of them, Anne D, was knitting one of these intriguing scarves too.  Well, it wasn't just me, we were all making plans to go and buy a ball of the yarn.  I bought mine this morning when we were in Hawick (more later as to why we were there today instead of tomorrow)

 

 

If you hadn't seen how this yarn knits up, you would think it looks nothing special

 

 

But the yarn has a secret - you need to pull it open, to reveal a mesh

 

 

That's when I encountered a slight problem - although Anne had shown us yesterday how to knit with the yarn, by this afternoon I had forgotten.  Not that I'm the only person to forget things - I'm in good company

 

 

and obvioulsy I learned something new today, which pushed the knitting method out of my brain

 

 

However, thanks to a quick google, I found a tutorial, and I was soon underway.  You don't cast on in the normal way, you simply put the needle through the edge, leaving a gap of about an inch and a half each time

 

 

It's hard to show you the next stage - instead of wrapping the yarn round as normal, you leave a gap and put the needle through the edge, then use that to make the stitch

 

 

This is how it looks after two rows

 

 

On the sewing front, I got the fleece for the back of the tractor quilt - the same one that I used for the quilt that I made Stuart for Christmas

 

 

So, why were we in Hawick today instead of tomorrow ...... I am abandoning Malcolm again - this time for two days!  Tomorrow morning I am heading for Falkirk to visit Stuart.  Of course, you are thinking, why isn't Malcolm going with me?  It's because on Friday, I am going to the spring quilt show at Ingliston.  However, I don't think Malcolm minds too much, as he has made his famous lasagne (Stuart loves it) for me to take for dinner tomorrow (there was even talk of a bottle of Chianti to go with it).  All I have to do tomorrow is pop it in the oven!

 

 

But don't worry that Malcolm might be going hungry - of course he made some for himself!

 

 

On my way to Falkirk, I will be making a detour to take some very special photos to share with you tomorrow ....... and I may just have to have lunch at a garden centre!

A special quilt

For some years now, I have made quilts for Project Linus.  It is a wonderful charity, which gives quilts and blankets to sick and traumatised children.  One of our Friday afternoon group, Sandra, has recently taken over as our local 'Linus Lady', so on Sunday, I started a quilt to give her.  Lots of quilters make lovely, pretty, girly quilts (yes, me too!), so I thought this time I would make a real little boy's quilt.

From my stash, I unearthed this tractor panel, and a pile of green fat quarters

 

 

I ironed the fat quarters,arranged them in two piles and cut strips (I know in the photo that it looks as if the left hand strips are wider, but they are overlapped!)

 

 

I joined the strips in pairs, then joined the pairs together (and had one extra strip to add, as I used nine fabrics)

 

 

I then cut the long strips into shorter sections.  I put the tractor panel on the design wall and put the strips round it, to get an idea of how it will look

 

Once I sew the strips in place, I will use some cosy fleece for the back.  I will make the binding with some of the leftover fat quarters.  It is lovely to snuggle under a quilt when you are poorly, so I hope the little boy who receives this one will enjoy using it.

I'll cross that bridge .......

Although it wasn't very nice yesterday - cold and damp- we still went for a walk.  We parked at the Leaderfoot Viaduct and walked up the hill until we had a view of the three bridges

 

 

On the way, we passed these ewes, patiently waiting for their lambs to be born

 

 

As you can see, most of the sheep were lying down, but this one was obviously keeping an eye out for trouble - she gave us a very stern look!

 

 

Back home, I spent the afternoon in the studio.  I added the eyes to the chickens

 

 

 

So that's the first of the four wallhangings finished ...... and work is progressing on the other three

 

 

I can no longer watch all the Star Trek re-runs when I am in the studio at the weekend - for some reason the channel is no longer available that they were shown on.  I couldn't find anything I wanted to watch on Saturday afternoon, so I watched a DVD of Cliff in Summer Holiday (I got it free some time ago from a newspaper)  Just have a look at his quiff!!

 

 

Yesterday, I was delighted to find an episode of Diagnosis Murder.  For the last five years of his life, I visited my Dad twice a week.  We used to enjoy a steady diet of Diagnosis Murder and Murder She Wrote - I think over the years we must have seen all the episodes.  We much preferred the earlier Murder She Wrote, set in Cabot Cove.  In one episode of Diagnosis Murder, they were on the pier at Santa Monica - I was jumping up and down, saying to my Dad 'I've been there'!!

 

 

Later, I was watching one of the music channels.  Malcolm showed perfect timing when he brought me a cuppa, just as Beyonce was telling him he should have put a ring on it!

 

 

It's Monday, so that means a progress report on the knitting project.  The flowerpot covers were very quick to knit.  They might have looked a bit more interesting if I had used different colours, but I didn't want to use small amounts out of full balls, and I didn't have any suitable leftovers from other projects. 

 

 

This week's project won't take very long, it is a little floral corsage

 

I will probably finish it tonight!

 

Shadow Shot Sunday

I did take some shadow shots earlier in the week, but then yesterday, when I had the lights on in the kitchen ....... lots of lovely shadows as I moved the orchids from the windowsill to water them

 

 

 

 

 

Not to be outdone by the orchids, the pot of mint threw a pretty shadow

 

 

Malcolm made this driftwood picture frame - it has cast a soft shadow on the wall

 

 

But all too soon it was time to stop taking photos!

 

For more shadow fun, pop over to Hey Harriet, where Tracy as always has assembled the best of last week's shadows for us to enjoy.

Show and tell

If there is one thing we quilters enjoy, it is seeing what other people are working on.  So I thought I would bring you a little show and tell from this afternoon at Borderland Fabrics.  (I was working on the chickens, which you have already seen this week!)  Pam brought in a cushion which she has just finished - I don't need to describe it, as the cushion says it for me

 

 

Hiding behind this quilt top is Katy.  If she had known that I was going to take her photo, she would have worn her pink shoes to match the wonderful, vibrant colours

 

 

Tricia is working on a sampler quilt - every block is worked in a different technique/pattern.  This beautiful block is called Carolina Lily

 

 

Anne has been embroidering small stitcheries, which will eventually be made into a quilt - here are the first four

 

 

Her stitching is exquisite!

 

 

Last Friday, I didn't include a photo of the cake, as there had already been quite a lot of cake featured.  This upset Ruth ...... she doesn't get to join us very often on a Friday, so relies on the blog to keep her informed of our weekly treat.  So although she was there today, here, just for Ruth, is today's delight ...... a beautiful chocolate sponge

 

 

As always, I plan to do lots of sewing and knitting over the weekend - although somehow I never do quite as much as I mean to!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, love Anne

Abandoning Malcolm

As usual for a Thursday morning, we went to Hawick for a cuppa and scone (maple syrup and pecan).  Then we went for the weekly food shopping, as I hadn't done it on Monday.  When we were almost home ....... major excitement, ewes and lambs in the field!!  As we pulled in to the drive, I said to Malcolm perhaps I should just  run back down the road and take photos, in case they had moved to the back of the field when I went out for my walk after lunch.  So I abandoned poor Malcolm and left him to cart all the shopping into the house.  I knew I would have to approach the field quietly, so as not to scare off the ewes and lambs, but I was wearing these shoes ......

 

 

....... which have a small heel and are noisy when I walk.  Although I was trying to tiptoe, I could see that one of the ewes was already aware of me, so I quickly took this photo, in case they ran off

 

 

However they stood their ground and I was able to take some closer shots

 

The lamb on the left wasn't quite as bold as its sibling, preferring to stay as close to mum as possible

 

 

this ewe has much darker wool

 

 

The ewe decided I was no threat and went back to eating the grass, and the lambs decided it was time they were fed too!

 

After lunch, I headed out for my walk, heading down the hill and out to the main road.  When I saw this approaching, I made sure I was standing as far back from the road as possible!

 

 

I have shown you this sign before, but I thought you might enjoy seeing it again

 

 

Further on, there are lots of bends in the road

 

 

 

 

There were lots of signs of spring, with snowdrops ......

 

 

......... winter aconites

 

 

....... and daffodils

 

 

On the way back, I could here something very large coming up behind me - I was able to take a photo as it went on round the bend

 

 

Fortunately, I remembered to change my shoes before I went out .... this was the state of my boots when I got back home!!