frayed at the edge

Two parties in one day!

It was our Christmas lunch at Borderland Fabrics yesterday.  We all took food to share - I managed to take a photo before it was all scoffed!

 

we had crackers to pull ...... and of course there were groans as the awful jokes were read out

 

Margaret T had made beautiful table decorations with holly and candles

 

Anne S had baked a non-traditional Christmas cake using a family recipe and Cathy had made a white chocolate cheesecake ...... you can just see a slice of it in the background.  The cake was much lighter than the traditional heavy fruit Christmas cake, so I had room for a slice after all the savoury delights - but I didn't have the cheesecake as I really don't like white chocolate!

 

I took this photo of Katy showing off the quilt she has made for her gorgeous grandson Aaron's Christmas  ...... it was only when I looked at the photo on the laptop that I realised that she was still wearing her silly hat (if you can't see what it is ..... well, it's a turkey!)

 

Maureen had finished stitching her Christmas wallhanging, but doesn't think she'll manage to quilt it before Tuesday (slightly confusing view, as Cathy pinned it to another quilt to show it off)

 

all too soon it was time to head home, but I had only been in the house about ten minutes when Stuart and Alison arrived for an early Christmas celebration (they are spending Christmas day with Alison's family).  I had laid the table in the morning ........

 

....... then we were so busy having dinner, opening presents and having fun that I didn't take any more photos!!

 

So that's it for this year - all that remains is to thank you for visiting and commenting, and to wish you

a very happy Christmas

and

a wonderful New Year

The sweet smell of Christmas

It has become a tradition that I replace the dusty old pot pourri at Christmas, so I now have a lovely smell of lavender in my bathroom

 

Malcolm has the scent of roses in his study.  We have had this little bowl for many, many years and amazingly it has survived several house moves.

 

we also have the scent of roses in our bedroom

 

in my bathroom I also put some pretty little soaps on my new soapdish

 

and arranged some shells round my little beach huts

 

I took this photo standing in the kitchen doorway, looking along the hall.  All the rooms in the house, except for the back lounge, open off the hall. 

 

why did I take this photo?  If I zoom in to the room at the top of the hall, you can see the "birdie border" quilt on the bed.  I enjoy catching glimpses of it every time I go in to the hall!  (I should have walked up the hall to take the photo, rather than use the digital zoom, then the photo would have been sharper - sorry, I was just being lazy!!)

 

we have lots of fridge magnets, and this one always makes me laugh

 

these are the last bird photos of this year!!

a rather scruffy sparrow

 

the nuthatch (the strange light is a reflection on the window of the lamp which was on in the lounge)

 

Mr Blackbird enjoying a bath

 

I won't be here tomorrow, as Stuart and Alison will be here for an early Christmas dinner, so I'll be back on Saturday with the last post for this year.

Getting it right!

Last night we watched a Christmas cookery programme with the amazing Mary Berry and the luscious Paul Hollywood (although I would prefer him without the beard!).  The best bit was when Mary said that you should bake your Christmas cake three weeks before Christmas ....... and that's exactly when I did mine.  After all the "what, you haven't baked your cake yet" remarks, it was good to know that I had got it right!

On our way out for a spot of lunch, we stopped in Jedburgh to buy the newspapers.  I forgot to tell you that Malcolm had sold one of his driftwood trees to the owner of a small art/craft gallery in Jedburgh.  She wanted the tree to display jewellery in the shop window, so we had a little peak to see if it was there - Malcolm was delighted to see that it was.  Not the best of photos, as it was hard to get an angle that didn't have reflections

 

we then headed to Woodside Garden Centre, where I had a delicious bowl of celeriac and pear soup .....

 

........ and Malcolm had parsnip and ginger - equally delicious!

 

I was intriqued by this compost ....... but not enough to put my hand in an open bag and feel it

 

we were rather taken with this planter ........

 

....... even more so when we then saw this one planted up, but at £125, it would be a major investment for the garden (although it does come with a ten-year guarantee)

 

and now for the sewing update.  The Needle Nookie is finished (except for a little button on the back)  The strips aren't squinty, it's just the angle of the photo!

 

I got buttons for the clamshell sewing keep.  They are bigger than those on the pattern, but I just liked them so much I had to have them

 

the pattern says to stitch two felt hearts on the inside of the flap, but I am reluctant to do that, as the stitching would spoil the appearance of the quilting on the right side.  I could perhaps just anchor them at the top and bottom - I shall have to discuss it with Anne.  I did notice that the one shown on the pattern doesn't have hearts on it!

 

what is it about robins that makes them so appealing?

 

I think this sparrow is practising to become a model - just look at the way he is looking over his shoulder!

 

whereas this blue tit is obviously channeling Greta Garbo "I just want to be left alone"

Winding down .......

........ and gearing up!  First, I am winding down towards the end of the week, when I will take a break from blogging until the start of January, and of course I am now gearing up for the Christmas festivities.  When I start blogging again (perhaps on the 2nd or 3rd), I hope to have thought of a new and exciting way to celebrate my 4th blogiversary (on the 8th of January) ...... I've done giveaways, I've done swaps, I want to do something different this time (I have a vague idea of some sort of awards).

Now for the promised birds.  The nuthatch has been appearing more often, but it tends to zoom in, grab a seed and zoom off again, so it's hard to get a sharp photo of it

 

however, the robin poses very prettily

 

there was a pair of collared doves

 

this great tit is striking

 

and this blue tit is tiny

 

hooray, a better shot of the nuthatch

 

but one bird that isn't faring so well is the big wooden owl, which we brought back from Indonesia.  Unfortunately, he has developed a hole in his head

 

I popped out this morning to do the last of my Christmas shopping.  I had yet to buy something DIY related for Malcolm, so I headed for Homebase, which is on the other side of the valley from us.  It was a misty, murky morning, as you can see from this shot of Ruberslaw

 

but there was a glimmer of sunshine in the distance

 

I like this clump of trees

 

I can't show you my latest knitting, as it is a present, but I'll be back tomorrow with a sewing update.

I like this shed!!

No, not a garden shed, but a rather nice bottle of wine!!

 

the weather was better yesterday morning, so we were able to go for a walk.  We decided to go to Selkirk and try out a path which we hadn't walked along before.  I immediately started taking some of my favourite arty photos of seed heads

 

the low winter sun through the trees made it look a bit spooky

 

the ground was littered with pine cones

 

you know I have a strange liking for rusty, higgledy piggledy things

 

we don't need this sign to know that walking is good for us!

 

there were wonderful views across the river

 

there are some wonderful old mill buildings - this one still has a large water tank on the roof .....

 

........ which was made here in Hawick

 

as always, all that walking meant that we needed some sustenance, so we decided to go to the Waterwheel Cafe

 

where we had a delicious two course scone lunch ...... cheese for the main course

 

and fruit for dessert

 

but when we came out after lunch and went to see the owls ........ shock, horror, they were no longer there!  We will have to find out next time we are there what has happened to them.  On the way home, the clouds started to gather

 

back home, I added lights and some fancy ribbon to my driftwood tree - I love it!

 

I have lots of bird photos to show you tomorrow, but to finish today, another of my strange fancies ........ electrical gubbins!!

Backlog!

It has beeen such a busy week that I have several photos that haven't yet made it into the blog, so I shall share with you now.  But first (fingers crossed!) the troublesome photo from yesterday ....... and I remembered another little snippet about the wallhanging.  I had asked the members to bring their wallhangings in and I would award a prize to the best one.  One of the members, who was by far the most experienced quilter in the group, informed me that she had changed my pattern, to make it better.  She was most miffed that she didn't win ...... but she didn't make the wallhanging as set out in the pattern, so as far as I was concerned that disqualified her (never mind her tactless remark that her version was better!)

 

earlier in the week, I looked out the kitchen window and saw that there were lots of sheep in the field across the road.  Several of them were lying round a feeder, which looked as if it had a bale of haylage in it.  I fetched the camera, went to take a photo ....... and discovered that two horses were spoiling the shot!

 

however I was able to take a photo of the sheep the following day .......

 

........ as well as photos of the frosty, foggy scenery

 

this horse is a toughie - all the others have blankets on

 

and of course this sheep has a warm woolly coat!

 

I was delighted recently to read on Kate's blog that she has published a book of Shetland knitting patterns.  For those of you who don't know of Kate, a brief history ....... Kate was a highly successful academic when she was struck down in her mid 30s by a devastating stroke.  She has battled through the aftermath of the stroke to regain her health, but sadly had to give up her beloved academic career.  However, she is also an incredibly talented knitwear designer (she also designed the fabulous teacosies that I knitted recently), and is now forging a successful second career. 

 

even if you don't knit, you could buy the book just to drink in Kate's photos of the stunning scenery ....... and you will definitely love the chapter about puffins!

 

when I bought the first issue of Homemaker magazine, I loved it so much I promtly took out a subscription, and was delighted when issue two arrived earlier in the week

 

there are lots of yummy things

 

a free gift .....

 

...... with patterns, recipes, and delicious papers

 

it's Friday, so of course that means cake.  Today we had Annette's wonderful fruit cake

 

and to finish .....I saw this robin this morning and rushed to get the camera ....... amazingly, he was still there when I ran back to the window to snap him!

 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend - it looks as if we will be having a soggy one!!  Love, Anne

Defeated by the weather!

Oh dear, yesterday's weather was rather bad ...... freezing cold first thing, then snow, then freezing again!  Only the lovely Katy and her friend Ailsa were brave enough to venture out during the day, to come and do some shopping....

 

 and have mulled wine (sorry forgot to take a photo of that) and delicious nibbles for lunch

 

at least the evening visitors didn't have far to come ....... all the way from next door!  Jackie (owner of the gorgeous shoe shop in Hawick) and her Mum joined me in sipping yet more mulled wine, then Malcolm and Jackie's husband David joined us for a glass of white wine and nibbles (I don't think I'll get on the scales for a few days!!)  Both Jackie and her Mum bought one of Malcolm's driftwood trees - he had made another four, and I had promptly spirited one away, to make sure that I got one!!  There was a great deal of debate about which one Jackie's Mum would have ....... she told Jackie in no uncertain terms that she was having first pick, then Jackie could choose between the remaining two!!

 

this year I remembered to take photos of the Christmas wallhangings in the studio, before I blu-tacked them to the hall doors ...... it was difficult last year to take decent photos of them once they were on the doors!

 

there is a little story attached to this last little wallhanging ....... I designed it many years ago, when I was Chairman of Stirling Castle Quilters.  It was a "mystery" wallhanging, the members being given the instructions over several meetings.  There was an amusing moment, when one of the members asked to see my completed one, so she knew what it looked like ....... no, the whole point of a mystery quilt is that you don't know what the finished one looks like.  Another of the members was a prison officer at Scotland's only female prison.  She taught the inmates to sew (they made bedding for the prison) and decided that the mystery wallhhanging would be a good teaching aid.  One of the inmates disagreed with this, but by the time I deleted all the expletives from her objection, what was left of the sentence isn't worth sharing!!  Then some years ago a friend borrowed the little wallhanging to put it in an exhibition.  It came back minus the beads and reindeer bells which hung from the prairie points at the bottom, and I have never got round to replacing them

 

oh bother ....... after several attempts, I still can't get the photo to upload, so I'll try again tomorrow!!

The end of the year rush!

Yes, I have been afflicted, the same as quilters everywhere ....... I am trying to finish as many UFOs as possible before the end of the year!  The Needle Nookie is ready to assemble.  I have finished the embroidery, made the strip which will form the loop for the button and made the binding

 

I keep forgetting the proper name for the little clamshell bag

 

I don't have any suitable buttons in my stash, so I have just pinned this one on, to show you how the sides will look

 

there will also be a button on the front ......

 

........ but it is just for show, as there is a magnetic bag closure

 

I want to finish my "Notes of Love" wallhanging.  I had assembled most of the top, but still had a row to add, as I hadn't finished the last stitchery,  However, yesterday I decided to finish sewing the rows together, then I can finish the stitchery later

 

I added the side borders

 

then had a think about what to do next.  When I made the sample version for Anne, I didn't like the way the next border and then the flying geese borders were added.  I have put the dark red border on differently, and will have to juggle the flying geese a bit to get them to fit (sorry, I should have explained yesterday that the points in the centre of the flying geese should have been pointing in the same direction)

 

Sorry that it's another short post, but I have already had friends here for lunch and a little bit of Christmas shopping, and the next lot are scheduled to arrive soon after dinner ...... although some have cancelled as it has been snowing again, and the roads are icy.  Here's a little clue as to what is in tomorrow's post!!

A change of direction

A very quick post, as I will shortly be heading out to Kelso for Abbey Quilters Christmas Party!!

 

Usually we walk through the park in Hawick, then walk back along the road that runs high above the park.  However on Sunday we did it the other way, so I had a different view of the scenery!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time to go ...... I'll be back tomorrow with a sewing update.  Here's a little oops I had this afternoon - don't the geese know that they are supposed to be flying in the same direction!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I love Christmas!  True, I don't like seeing the shops full of Christmas stuff from September ....... but once we get into December, then I am a happy Christmas girl.  One of the best bits is putting up the tree and decorations, so on Saturday Malcolm was sent into the freezing cold loft (good, all the extra insulation we added last winter is doing its job) to find the Christmas boxes

 

I started in the dining room.  The first job didn't take long, turning the table from everyday mode .......

 

....... to Christmas mode

 

I love this display on the windowsill, but Malcolm gets annoyed when bits of the confetti end up on the floor!

 

remember my tiny bottles .... I saw this idea for putting honesty in them in a magazine, so promptly snipped some bits of honesty from a display in a large vase in the dining room

 

in the front lounge, the ivy is still trying to swallow up the candlestick behind it

 

I added the sparkly little tree that I had bought for my Dad when he no longer wanted to have a proper Christmas tree

 

I love my garland of tiny mittens which I knitted last year (don't worry, it's not a real fire!)

 

these candles are only about an inch high.  We got them free many, many years ago, with Baby Bel cheese!

 

these rather stern looking figures were bought in Indonesia

 

then it was through to thhe back lounge for the serious stuff.  As usual, the gnome brothers and sisters squabbled over which cushions and stocking they would have on the chairs.  I had to remind them that Santa only brings presents to good little gnomes!

 

checking that the lights are working

 

putting the lights in place ......

 

...... then adding rather a lot of baubles.  Never mind less is more - for me, the more the better!

 

I have still to bring in the little patchwork hangings from the studio, to decorate the hall - I hope to get that done tomorrow.  In between all the decorating, I found time to nip through to the back bedroom to take more photos of my wonderful quilt (when I was talking to Stuart on the phone this evening, I said it had been quilted by "Kay, the longarm quilter"  he started laughing, saying that made her sound like a mutant!!)

 

the quilting is all fmq - Kay is just so talented!  And the quilt looks just as good on the back

 

We went for a walk yesterday morning.  I'll save the scenic photos for tomorrow, but I'll share the scones we had for lunch with you.  As always we had half each, of the bacon and brie (main course) and fruit (dessert) ....... don't worry, I didn't put jam on the savoury one!!

 

and to finish ...... this young man was just ahead of me leaving Sainsbury's this morning.  I just had time to get the camera out and snap him before he got in his car.  I know it was slightly warmer today (5 degrees C), but not really warm enough for shorts and t-shirt!!