frayed at the edge

This and that

Yesterday morning saw me heading off down the road to Southdean Village Hall in Chesters, for one of Lindsay's regular Woolgatherings.  I got there a little bit later than intended ...... it was such a beautiful morning I had to stop on the way to take some photos

 

I took along some bits and pieces to get on with ....... hooray, I finally finished the teacosies (although I still have to soak and block them)

 

I made a start to stitching in the many ends on my ripple rug, then I got on with my clamshells

 

I had just placed the first two rows at random, but I thought I should perhaps have a bit of planning, or I would get to the last row and find all the remaining clamshells were the same!  So, this afternoon I laid them all out

 

I clipped the rows together and labelled them

 

on Saturday, I finished the top of the bug quilt, and popped it on the design wall

 

this is my new, improved design wall ........ it was a grand name for a brushed cotton sheet pinned to the wall, but Malcolm used two redundant curtain poles to make a much better version

 

it was frosty again this morning, so I put on my snazzy new boots ...... and what else would you wear with green boots but purple socks.  I love the aready distressed look of the boots, and they are very warm and comfortable.  But I have to say it is difficult to take a photo of your own foot, and every shot made my ankle look fat!

 

you know that I have a strange fetish affection liking for large bits of machinery, so I got quite excited this afternoon when a large lorry appeared outside the studio

 

it was delivering big bags of sand to our new neighbours (the ones who own the shoe shop, not the newest neighbours with the donkeys).  Malcolm was already leaning on the garden gate watching the proceedings when I went out with the camera.  You can see that the arm of the crane had a bit of an argument with the beech tree on the way in

 

it was fascinating watching how the arm was lowered over the bag, gripped it, then lifted it off the lorry and lowered it to the ground

 

ah well, simple things please simple minds!!

Shadow Shot Sunday

Hi, fellow shadow shotters!  Have you missed me?  First we were away on a long holiday, then for the whole of October I was involved in Blogtoberfest ....... but I'm back now and raring to go!!  As soon as I have posted my shadows, I shall of course be heading over here to see what marvellous shadows the other shadow addicts have posted.

These shadows are from our wonderful holiday - they were both taken in the Botanic Gardens, Sydney

 

Our favourite cake!

With all that happened last weekend, I forgot to show you the progress I made with the clamshells at patch'n'chat last Friday.  I used the card template that I had made to mark the clamshells on strips of fabric, then cut them out

 

the next stage was to use temporary fabric glue to stick the top edge of the fabric to the paper clamshells

 

the first one done ...... only another 76 to go!

 

having been busy all weekend with the Sheena Norquay workshop, then away from home on Tuesday and Wednesday, I didn't do any more work on the clamshells until this afternoon's patch'n'chat.  I finished prepping the last batch, and chose the first six to form the top row (I took the next two photos when I got home)

 

the fold in the fabric is there as a guide to stitch the shells in a straight line.  Once they are stitched down, I will remove the papers, then add the second row

 

after we had lunch in the garden centre on Tuesday, we had a little potter round all the lovely things in the shop.  I saw ribbon which looked a measuring tape, so of course I decided to buy a reel.  I went to the checkout, where two members of staff were discussing some stock sheets.  I put the ribbon on the counter and got out my purse ...... and stood there while they went on with their conversation.  They  both then walked off!!  You can guess what happened next .... yes, the ribbon was left on the counter.  On Wednesday night I had a quick google search and promptly found this company - I love their postal address!

 

 ordered on Wednesday night, it arrived this morning ........ much better service than the garden centre.  It's a pity that the staff don't have the manners of the lady owner - she said hello and held the door open for us when we passed her on the way back into the main part  of the building after lunch (no airs and graces, although she is a very well known star of a gardening programme on BBC Scotland!)

 

and that little extra something which makes all the difference ......

 

a length of ribbon with quite a few repeats of these little messages

 

the Friday cake was our favourite apple and sultana cake - there was silence as we all tucked in!

 

we weren't the only ones tucking in - these sparrows were feasting on the fat balls!

 

 

I don't know where this week has gone!  I'll be busy over the weekend sorting the cards into packs and labelling them, ready to take to the gallery on Tuesday (it's closed on Mondays), and of course getting on with lots of sewing!  I hope you all have a good weekend, love Anne

A misty morning

Yet again I was to be found on the front doorstep taking photos ...... but not quite so early today.  It was just after eight when I snapped the moon, just as a plane flew past (the tiny mark just below and slightly to the right of the moon!)

 

the mist was lingering, giving a dreamy look  to the Mintos

 

looking across the valley towards the A7, the mist was starting to clear

 

and then looking in the opposite direction to the hills, the sun was shining

 

this afternoon, I made a start to tidying the studio (yet again) using the storage boxes I bought yesterday.  Although they are made of fabric, they have a rigid frame, and as they are rectangular, I was able to sit the second one, turned the other way, on top of the bottom one (I think the other two will be filled with the overflow of magazines from the bookshelves!)

 

I have had some cards made, using some of my photos.  (I got them here).  Some of them are for The Reiver's Moon Gallery, and the rest are for the Southdean Christmas Fair on the 1st of December ..... it would be too grand to say I have a stall, rather, I have a table!  The first ones are orchids, using photos which I took in the Botanic Gardens in Singapore

 

then there is this card with a view you might recognise!

 

this  square card, another local view, is a slight oops ...... I thought I had ordered folded cards like the others, but this is a single card

 

this one is for ........

 

and this last one is just for me to use ....... you might even get one from me if I have something to send you in the post!

 

and to finish ....... another photo of the robin in the bath.  He must be the cleanest bird in the garden!