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It was one of those afternoons ....... Anne S brought Cadbury's creme eggs, Ruth brought tablet
Andrea brought Lindt chocolates
and Annette gave us cupcakes .......
....... toppped with mini eggs!
Mindful of "a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips", I was very restrained and had two pieces of tablet, one chocolate and one cupcake. I will have to have an extra long walk at the weekend! Whether you are out walking, or indulging in Easter eggs, have a good weekend, love Anne
Hooray - it hasn't snowed today, but it has still been very cold. So when I went out for a quick walk this morning, I had to wrap up well. The donkeys were sensible and staying in their stable, but the ponies weren't bothered by the cold
although it didn't snow today, there is still snow on the Mintos
there was a little bit of colour in the big flower pot in front of the church
my favourite view on the way home
back home, I had a potter round the garden. The flowering current is flourishing .....
...... but the ornamental quince still has tightly furlded buds. It was in full flower this time last year, when we had unseasonably warm weather, but the consequence of that was that there were no bees or flies about to pollinate the flowers, resulting in very few quince in the autumn
this clematis is in a very sheltered spot in the back garden, so is much further on than the other clematis
the hellebore has flowered all through the winter!
the honeysuckle is also in a sheltered spot
now that I only have the last block to finish of the Leanne's House wallhanginng, I thought I would make a start to putting the blocks together The first stage was to press them well, on the wrong side
then I trimmed them
the first three blocks stitched together
then the next three
then the two rows stitched together
I also did some work on the mystery project ...... shall I give you a sneak peak?
Until recently, I hadn't heard of Yvette Jelfs, then I found her wonderful new hat shop in Hawick. Shortly after that there was a big article about her in the paper, then she popped up again on Saturday (click on the photo to enlarge it)
I thought it would be fun to give you my answers to the questions!
q: what's the last piece of clothing you bought
a: these two summer dresses which I bought on Monday - not from a fancy designer shop, but from Sainsbury's! I am perhaps being somewhat optimistic that we will have a good summer!
q: best ever bargain
a: I bought this jacket some years ago when we were on holiday in Hampshire. I can't remember what I paid for it, just that it had been very expensive, but I got it for about a quarter of the original price. It is a silk/linen blend, with beautiful embroidery and beading
q: who has great style
a: the Queen!
q: name your favourite High Street shop
a: does M&S count as a High Street shop?
q: what are you addicted to buying
a: cute little cardigans
q: any fashion disasters that you'd care to tell us about?
a: that would have to be the electric blue platform boots from the mid 70s. Sadly I don't have a photo of them .... I think they were abandoned to the back of the shoe cupboard as I couldn't walk properly in them!
q: what's your favourite item in your wardrobe?
a: I am embarrassed to admit that my favourite is my comfy everyday trousers from M&S. To make it worse, I remember my Mum wearing them years ago! I am probably wearing them in most of the photos you see of me - I have them in black, navy and brown.
It has been snowing again ...... this was the front garden this morning
the garden has been full of birds
blue tit
blackbird
sparrow
robin
I have been very busy working on several projects, but I can't yet show you one of them. The studio has descended into complete chaos
So, what have I been working on? I have done more prep on the Baltimore block
I have been preparing oversize samples for the textured applique wallhanging, so that it will be easier for everyone to see them. I made them with cheap calico, rather than more expensive patchwork fabric, but I quite like the look, and might have to do a wallhanging in calico!
I made these samples years ago, and they were looking a bit scruffy. But a good press spruced them up. Rather than make a sample for each season I did one for winter/spring
and one for summer/autumn
these samples later inspired this wallhanging "Bonnie Baskets"
if you are wondering why I took the photo at a strange angle ....
...... it's because the wallhanging is way up at the top of the wall! I put the Leanne's House blocks up on the design wall, as I am just about finished the last block
oh no! What is this? Two little blank squares
a quick look at the pattern showed that there should be flowers
Lucie had asked for suggestions for using up 1" strips. I got out a little pile of leftover binding
and cut a selection of strips, and a 6" square of bondaweb
I pinned the strips in place
covered them with baking parchment, and ironed them on to the bondaweb
I only melted one of the pins!
the final stage was to trim the block to size
that was all I had time for this afternoon, but the plan is to make three more blocks, then bond them on to cotton wadding. I will then use decorative machine stitches to cover the raw edges. The last job of the afternoon was to take photos of the applique wallhanging. I just have some French knots to work on the yoyo flowers, then it will be ready to quilt
I added a little spider web, just for fun!!
We had the Irn Bru and chilli sausages for breakfast yesterday
we couldn't taste the Irn Bru, but the sausages were delicious
we needed a hearty breakfast, as we were going out for a walk. It was bitterly cold, but we were just glad to get out and stretch our legs and enjoy some fresh air. We went to Melrose where, as ever, I spotted things that I hadn't noticed before
a commerative plaque on an old building
a sign over a shop doorway
a snowy hill with tiny trees
this is a colour photo, but it looks B&W!
of course I can't have a walk in Melrose without taking photos of the Abbey!
this little clump of crocus provided a bright spot of colour
the latest bottle cover in the deli window was a chef
of course after such a cold walk, we had to go for a cuppa! Instead of a scone, we shared a raspberry muffin
Malcolm was concerned when he saw that they were serving a different coffee, but the new brand turned out to be as good as the previous one
back home, there was a treat for me on tv while I was sewing ...... Bugsy Malone (yes, I was singing along!)
Jodie Foster stood out as a future star - doesn't she look gorgeous! I'm just looking out the window as I type this ...... the sun has come out, just in time to set!! I'll be back tomorrow with lots of sewing, but to finish ...... our once a year treat of Cadbury's Creme Eggs!
It was an afternoon of birds at patch'n'chat. First Margaret, having finished her dog quilt, had moved on to birds
then Maureen was working on her version of the Lovebirds
finishing it just before it was time to go home
Katy, just back from a wonderful cruise, was working on tiny log cabin blocks
and showing of this delightful bag, which she bought on her travels
the Friday cake was very, very delicious ..... I think conversation came to a halt as we all savoured the beautifully light sponge, cream and raspberry jam
the forecast this morning said that there would be a band of snow moving in from the west, and another from the east. For most of the day, we only had the odd flight, but it is snowing now. I am supposed to be going to Kelso tomorrow for a Linus Coffee Morning ..... I am starting to think there is a gremlin trying to stop me going to Kelso!! Whatever your weather, I hope you have a good weekend, and to cheer up those of you who are enduring the continuing winter weather ...... a quirky photo taken on a very sunny day in Sydney last year!
......... don't worry, we don't have an unwanted visitor, all will be revealed shortly! It didn't take long to make the bag, which was just as well, as it is called a quicky bag! I started by removing all the pins and giving the square a press. The next stage was to mark the quilting lines
and stitch them (the chalk pencil marks will rub off)
after folding the square in half on the diagonal, I folded the left hand point over to the right hand edge
I stitched along the fold on the left, then slip stitched the diagonal fold
that formed the first of the seven pockets
having folded over the right hand point and stitched the fold, I marked the next seam
having stitched the seam, I flattened out the resulting kite shape, and slip stitched the right hand seam
this formed more pockets
the last pockets were formed by slip stitching the left hand edges
once it was all stitched, I was pleased to find that I did indeed have seven pockets!
the last stage was the fastening. The pattern suggested two large buttons and an elastic hair band, but I didn't like the look
so I got out my basket of trims
and one of my many button boxes
so finally we get to the mouse's tail!
having chosen the dark one, I starting stitching a spiral
when I had one more round to stitch, I formed a loop long enough to go round the button
and stitched the end in under the last round
the finished fastening
all that was left to do was sew on the button, and the bag was finished
all I have to do now is decide what to put in it! To finish, a cute robin in the garden this morning
You may think that eating this for lunch ......
(while Malcolm ate this)
wouldn't be conducive to weight loss! But for the last six weeks, I have been following the Fast Diet. The basic idea is that for two days a week, you have very restricted calories, and the rest of the week you eat normally. I have lost about seven pounds, and have already fitted back into clothes that have been languishing in the back of the wardrobe. But the best thing is that my engagement ring fits me again ..... I hadn't worn it for quite some time as it was too tight
we had lunch in Jedburgh, and on the way home, I took a few scenic photos
I took these bird photos recently, but somehow didn't get round to including them in a post
when I was sewing yesterday, I didn't just have my stove to keep me warm ....... I also had some music!!
Tomorrow, I'll show you my multi-pocketed bag, but to finish, I'll give you this little sneak peek - what am I doing?
We got up this morning to even more snow than we had on Saturday. I am seriously thinking about emigrating!!
Never mind, on with the sewing!
the two Linus quilts, trimmed ready for the binding
the binding machine-stitched to the front, ready to be hand-stitched on the back
borders added to the crazy block quilt
I thought I ought to make a start to my Baltimore block for Abbey Quilters' raffle quilt for next year's exhibition.
using the light box to trace the pattern on to freezer paper
ready to cut out
choosing the fabrics
the fabric centred on the pattern, again on the light box
the first pieces pinned in place
so, what was in the goody bag!
a fat quarter of pretty butterfly fabric
a kit to make a fabric brooch
a pattern for a quilt, tied up with pretty ribbon
in case you are worried about our diet with the occasional mentionn of two-scone lunches, I hope what we had for dinner last night will reassure you that we do generally eat healthily ..... a vegetable stir fry
I wonder if Malcolm is trying to tell me something ...... not once, but twice today, when I tried to go in the back door, it was locked!! He said it was just habit ....... at least I had somewhere warm to go if he hadn't let me in!!
.......when an emergency trip to the dentist is involved. A bit had broken off a tooth, so I popped into the dental centre when I was in Hawick first thing this morning, to see if I could get an emergency appointment. There wasn't one available, but the receptionist said she would phone if there was a cancellation. She phoned at lunchtime to say that she could give me an appointment at 2.40. Because it was an emergency appointment, Ididn't see my usual dentist, but I was very pleased with the treatment that I received from Claudia. She discovered that a large part of the tooth had broken off, meaning that thhe filling was loose. When she removed the filling, she discovered a lot of decay underneath (yes, I know, decidedly tmi!!). By the time she finished drilling, I thought she was going to come out through the bottom of my jaw! She put in a dressing, a lining and a very large filling, so hopefully all will be well. I am still numb, and will have to wait quite a while before I can have my dinner!
The original title was going to be something about snow, as this was the scene that greeted me on Saturday morning when I got up
of course I was due to drive to Kelso, for Abbey Quilters' 25th birthday party, so I was a very unhappy bunny! As I've mentioned before, our road is very nasty to drive on in the snow, as it is steep, with several nasty bends. Malcolm kindly said that he would drive me down to the main road, then walk back up the hill (isn't he a sweety!!). I took these photos, which aren't very clear, as the camera focused on the wet windscreen
This photo is from a couple of years ago, but it gives you an idea of how steep the road is
as I drove to Kelso, the snow turned to rain, then the rain stopped, so I was glad that I had taken the photos to show the others why I was late. A reviving cup of tea, and I was ready to join in the fun
Sarah, on the left, had baked a cake, which she had iced beautifully. Lily, one of the founder members, helped her cut it
we had the most wonderful lunch
I demonstrated how to make the Lovebirds, Sandra showed us how to make a mug bag (we take our own mugs for our mid-meeting cuppas)
Lorraine showed us a selection of mug rugs
we played a silly game .......
which ended with us all receiving a goody bag
there has been a distinct lack of sconnage recently, so we put that right yesterday, when we had a two-scone lunch at the Waterwheel Cafe
cheese
fruit
I'll be back tomorrow with the sewing update ...... and I'll also show you what was in the goody bag.