frayed at the edge

A (very) mixed bag!

I was going to call this post 'When will I see you again?' ..... but you might have got upset, thinking I was taking a break- it was because when I went out this morning, it was three degrees, which always starts me singing ......'When will  ....... ok, terrible joke!!  We woke up this morning to the first frost - it was so cold, I took this photo of my car from the bedroom window - I wasn't going outside until I had to!

 

But it wasn't that surprising that it was cold, as it was very clear last night - I did brave the cold then to take this photo of the moon

 

Tonight's heading reflects the fact that I have a collection of photos that haven't made it into other posts, so I thought I would use them tonight before I forget that I have them!  It was my bloggy friend Sarah's birthday yesterday (this is an 'oops' moment - because we went away just after my birthday, I didn't post photos of my lovely bloggy presents .... sorry).  Sarah loves beachcombing and driftwood .... and Malcolm just happpened to have some driftwood in the garage, so he made these two lovely things for her ( I remembered as I wrapped them that I hadn't taken a photo - do you like the animal print tissue paper!)

 

Don't worry - he didn't use my best cutlery ..... we found some in a charity shop to use.  The lettering and decoration on the shopping list is done with a poker pen.

 

When we came back from our holiday, this clump of tiny mushrooms had appeared in the grass at the front of the house

 

 

Recently we were back at the Water Wheel cafe, where the eagle owls are still thriving

 

 

 

Yesterday, when Malcolm was going out, he asked if there was anything I wanted (meaning milk, bread, veggies).  I replied that he could bring me a present (ignoring my Mum's voice in my head saying 'people who ask don't get'!)  Well, I did get ...... he brought me this quilting magazine - complete with cd, which has lots of patterns and templates that can be printed out

 

 

I have finally finished Maia - well, almost ..... I have still to block it

 

 

For some months now, I have had company in the bathroom ........ a very leggy spider.  Usually it is hanging from the ceiling - but of course when I went to take a photo, it was hiding in  a corner!

 

 

As this last photo shows, we may have had frost, but the climbing rose is determined to behave as if it is still summer!

 
 

Picking lilies?

Malcolm : What do you mean, you're going to pick lilies, we don't have any in the garden.

Me : No dear, I said I'm going to make some piccalilli. 

Some weeks ago, I promised Tinky that I would share my recipe for piccalilli with her ...... so I thought I might as well share it with all of you!

I started yesterday, when I chopped up about 500g of cauliflower.  I put it in a colander, over a bowl, and covered it generously with salt.  I left this overnight for the excess moisture to drain out of the cauliflower

 

 

The original recipe for the piccalilli uses cucumber and pickling onions, but I prefer to use ......

 

I cut 100g onions in half and sliced 200g gherkins.  I rinsed the salt off the cauliflower and left it to drain.  The other ingredients are

 

300ml vinegar, 50g sugar, 1 tsp turmeric, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 2 teaspoons dried mustard, 1 tbsp cornflour

 

The method is simple - put most of the vinegar, the sugar, turmeric, ginger and mustard in a large saucepan and bring to the boil.  Add the cauliflower and simmer until it is almost cooked.  Add the onions and gherkins and simmer for a few more minutes.  Use the remaining vinegar to slake the cornflour, then add a little at a time, until the mixture has thickened.  Spoon into hot jars, cover and label.
This made four small jars - now I just need some cheese on toast .....

 

Once the piccalilli was ready, I finished my Ishbel shawl - I had blocked it yesterday, and today I sewed in the ends.  I had also knitted fingerless mittens with the leftover yarn and I finished them as well.  Then it was out to the studio to take photos  ......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While I was cooking, the postman arrived with two boxes.  One contained a roll of cellophane wrapping and some cellophane bages.  I popped two washcloths and a bar of soap into a bag and tied it with a scrap of ribbon - of course it will look better with matching ribbon and a pretty tag

 

 

When I saw these cardboard boxes, I thought hmm - what can I use them for?  Perhaps for the new baby sets, with some pretty tissue paper (this is just an odd piece from my stash)

 

 

And to finish - could you have resisted this bakers' string and these super tags, which I can stamp or embellish 

 

Miserable!!

No, no ...... not me, but the weather!  We have had some heavy showers this afternoon, and the forecast for the next two days isn't very good (snow was even mentioned for the Highlands!).  On Saturday, I popped out for a quick walk before lunch (I'm missing my morning walks, now that it is too dark).  It was sunny when I set out, but by the time I had walked up the hill to the church, some threatening clouds had gathered

 

 

However, it had cleared again when I took this next photo

 

 

But what was this I encountered along the way - have the Martians finally landed?

 

 

Nothing so exciting - it's just an electricity supply pole

 

 

Just about this time last year, I mentioned to Malcolm that there were a lot of berries on the trees and in the hedgerows - and according to folklore, that is the sign of a hard winter to come.  He laughed at me .... and we all know what sort of winter we had!  Well, I don't want to worry you, but the holly tree in front of the church is laden with berries .....

 

 

In the afternoon, I was busy in the studio - I thought it was time to make a serious effort to get things ready for next month's Christmas Fair.  Do you remember quite some time ago I knitted a great pile of cotton washcloths, and new baby sets?  I eventually found them in a drawer, and pressed them, ready to sew the ends in

 

 

I have bought some lovely soap, to make up sets with perhaps two washcloths and one or two other pamperings things (I've ordered some lovely packaging!)

 

 

I also made a batch of handbag tissue holders.  I have been making these for years - I have made dozens and dozens!  Every time I say I'm not making any more .... but I always do!

 

 

I recently bought a new die for my Cuttlebug, which it makes teeny tiny tags.  I thought I would use them for price tags and maybe make up some small bags with other bits and pieces to use for cardmaking and scrapbooking.

 

 

Yesterday morning, as usual, we went for a walk (and as usual we went for a cuppa and scone afterwards).  Malcolm spotted this cow, sitting in the shadows.  There weren't any others in the field , just this one looking lonely!

 

 

I took this photo because of the funny-looking dead tree - but now I just want to sit and look at the wonderful blue sky ....

 

 

To finish, something I haven't taken a photo of for a while - a lovely length of higgledy piggledy fence!

 

 

I might not eat here .....

...... just in case the ingredients came from the shop next door!!

 

 

Oh dear, I just had to start with that one!!  We are back home, after having had a wonderful holiday!  The weather was a little bit mixed, but not bad for this time of year.  We have walked for miles (I think we did 10 miles on Tuesday!), eaten far too much, had the odd glass of wine ...... and taken lots and lots of photos!

When we have been on holiday, we always ask each other what was the best bit .... and this time I think just about the whole holiday qualified as a best bit!  I showed you my super kit that Malcolm bought for me at the Quaker Tapestry exhibition, but I forgot to show you the pencils I got for him at the Pencil Museum

 

water colour pencils

 

 

pastels (and a helpful booklet, which was a free gift!!)

 

Other little bits and bobs were also bought (some may involve chocolate!) - I will have to organise them into collages to show you next week.  On the way home, first we stopped here (with blue sky and sunshine) - I got a beautiful skein of angora yarn in the upstairs craft gallery

 

 

Then we stopped here for lunch, at the highest cafe in England.  As you can see, the weather had changed just a little bit!  We had a really good lunch - Malcolm ordered a roll with turkey and stuffing and a roll with roast beef and gravy for me - they were so good, we cut them in half and swapped bits.  I would have taken a photo, but the place was full of macho male cyclists in very tight lycra shorts .... if I had accidently included them in a photo they would have made the 'braw laddies' look like choir boys!!

 

 

Our last stop wasn't far from home - despite having lived here for four years, we still hadn't visited here

 

 

And I still haven't visited, as it was closed for the winter!  Malcolm may have climbed over the gate to take some photos (!), while I stayed on the road (on the other side of a stream) ....

 

 

Malcolm's tiny figure in the bottom right hand corner gives you an idea of the size of the castle.  He particularly liked this photo - attackers creeping up would get a surprise when they got to the top of the slope and found just how big the castle was!!

 

 

Malcolm also had to screech to a halt (as always, he did of course check for other cars) when we spotted these cuties

 

 

Do make sure to come back for Shadow Shot Sunday ...... you will see concrete as you have never seen it before!!

Have a good weekend - Jennifer is coming to stay, so we will be out and about .... fingers crossed we get the wonderful weather that has been forecast!!  Love Anne

How much is ......

....... that doggie in the window?

 

Sorry - couldn't resist starting with that one!  This morning we went to Kendal to see the Quaker Tapestry (sorry, no link, as it has been a long day and I forgot!!)  I couldn't take photos in the exhibition, but I bought a book, and have taken a couple of photos to let you see what a wonderful work it is - if you are ever in the Lake District from April to October, make sure you go to see it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The stitching is amazing (click on the photos and they should enlarge).  I just hope I can make a good job of this kit which Malcolm bought for me

 

 

On the way back, we stopped at Townend

 

 

 

 

 

 

This evening, we bought fish and chips, and went down to the lake to eat them ..... and watch the sun go down


 

 

I still have about 200 hundred photos that I have taken over that last four days - I will have to sort them all out over the weekend and share more of our adventures with you next week.  We'll be heading home tomorrow - no doubt with a stop or two on the way!!

 

Gloomy!

It has been one of those miserable days - grey and dreary, with drizzle in the air.  Some of our rooms have small windows and can be a bit gloomy, so I have been looking online at CSN Stores for lights  - you may remember that is where I got the tagine and the slow cooker from.  I was very impressed with the service, so will have fun later browsing through their extensive selection of lights.

However, I had no trouble with light on Saturday, when I was taking photos to show you the different weights of thread.  So - why is thread categorized by weight?  Thanks to Dawn Cameron-Dick, I can tell you!  When a new thread is created, it is fed through a machine which measures the yardage.  The thread ends up on a scale, and once the scale shows one pound, the yardage is checked.  A thick thread will have fewer yards to the pound, so if the length is something in excess of 40,000 yards, it is a 40 weight thread .... more than 50,000 yards, it is a 50 weight and so on.  This information is shown on the spool

 

50 weight - probably the most commonly used thread

 

 
 

35 weight - a much thicker thread 

 

I decided to be brave, and fit the scary foot to my new machine

 

the free motion foot, with three  options

 

 

calico layered up for some practice  

 

 

first attempt - could be better

 

 

oops , the stencil moved so the lines are slightly squint 

 

 

but not as squint as my sewing - it's terrible!!

 

 

slightly better, but I am so out of practice at machine quilting

 

 

it should look like this, with even stitches and smooth curves   

 

Never mind, at least while I was stitching I was nice and cosy, with the stove lit for the first time .......

 

 

...... which helped the lavender to dry out more quickly

 

 

On Saturday I also put food on the bird tables - I don't feed the birds over the summer, as there is plenty of food available in the fields and woods for them.  We knew that the sparrows had raised two broods this year, but I didn't expect to see quite so many .......

 

on the ground .......

 

 

on a large shrub .......

 

 

and silhouetted against the sky on the hawthorn tree!

Over for another year!

I'm sitting with my poor aching feet up on my footstool, after a wonderful day at the last quilt show of the season (which is probably just as well, as the piggy bank is decidedly empty)  But first, of course, I have to tell you about last night's dinner with the birthday boy.  We were talking so much, I forgot to take a photo of the starters - tempura veggies for me and salt and pepper chicken wings for Stuart.  Then we shared a platter of sushi ..... we couldn't quite manage to eat it all, so the leftovers went home with us in a doggy bag and Stuart took them to work today for his lunch.

 

 

As you know by now, I can't post detailed photos of quilts, but I did take some general views - some photos may make it look as if the show was quiet .... but I took them when a lot of people were at lunch!

 

 

 

 

 

However, I will show you this one, the winning miniature quilt, as it was stitched by my friend Mhairi and I'm sure she won't mind!

 

 

And to show you just how small it is, I put my (small) hand next to it (don't worry, I'm not actually touching it!!)

 

 

As always I met up with lots of friends and chatted to lots of other ladies - we quilters really are a friendly bunch.  At lunch I shared a table with some delightful ladies who were showing off their purchases - beautiful fabrics and all sorts of patterns and projects.  So did I buy anything - well maybe just one or two little things

lovely ric rac

 

a top up for my batik collection

 

a tiny beach hut to add to my seaside themed bathroom!

 

But please don't think that Malcolm has been left out of my shopping - when I was in Falkirk yesterday I bought him two books

a charity shop bargain!

 

this should keep him busy for a while!

 

Don't panic, I haven't forgotten about showing you what I was doing on Wednesday!  I was at Borderland Fabrics to do a workshop on Invisible Machine Applique with Dawn Cameron-Dick.  We learned various techniques and made four samples

a section of dresden plate

 

a corner of drunkard's path

 

a neatly stitched heart

 

a very cute bunny

 

To achieve the invisible stitching, we used ........ invisible thread!  In the past I've struggled to use nylon thread - it tends to have a mind of its own, but with Dawn's expert tuition, I had no problems at all.  I love hand applique, but I will certainly use this method again.  Some of us stayed on for the evening talk, so we had fish suppers for dinner - naughty but nice!  If I tell you that Dawn's talk was on needles and thread ...... yes I can see you yawning all ready!  But the talk was very interesting, and will be a big help in future when it comes to choosing the right  machine needle and the correct weight of thread for a project.  (we learned why thread is described by weight - but I'll tell you that another time).

 

I'm hoping to get a lot of sewing done this weekend - the chickens have been sadly neglected!!  I hope you all have a good weekend, love Anne

 

  
 

 

Stash building

Now, before you all start shouting at your computers that I am supposed to be using up my stash, not adding to it ........ it was Malcolm who was buying for his stash today (ok, I did get a little bit of fabric, more about that later!).  We set off this morning to travel west through Peebles and on into Lanarkshire (the county I was born and grew up in).  We were heading for Lanarkshire Hardwoods ...... Malcolm had seen an advert in the paper, and having had a look at their website, wanted to buy some offcuts to play with make wonderful things with.  This was the sight that greeted us

 

the labels show where each piece of wood comes from

 

 

even I was getting excited at all this wooden loveliness! 

 

So what did he buy?  Here it is back home in the garage, leaning against his workbench

 

lots of beautiful elm

 

 

I want something made from the piece!

 

 

it will be interesting to see how this knobbly bit is used

 

Also on the workbench is the latest cracket - this one is bigger than the last one, and just needs another coat of oil

 

 

The smaller one has come to live in the house until it is sold!

 

 

On the way back, we stopped at Dawick Botanic Garden (it's pronounced Doik).  First, of course, we had lunch!  Wonderful leek and potato soup - it had a lovely deep flavour, almost like French onion soup

 

 

This is the beautiful chair I sat on to eat my lunch - at £700 slightly dearer then Malcolm's crackets!!  (but having seen the price of the wood that Malcolm bought, I can now understand why handmade furniture costs so much!)

 

 

After lunch, we went for a walk round the gardens, but I'll save those photos for tomorrow.  Our last stop was in Peebles - we always enjoy a potter round the shops there, as they have some excellent craft/gift shops.  We went into a recently opened one -  Jelly and Icecream - only to discover it is owned by a lovely lady who had owned a shop of the same name in Hawick!  That's when I added to my stash ..... well, could you have resisted this fabric?

 

 

I forgot to tell you that I have already posted off Leenie's parcel and I have now heard from WandaFish, so her parcel will be posted off asap ...... once they receive them, I can show you the goodies I sent them!

I'm off now to sort throught the dozens of photos I took In the Botanic Garden and choose which ones to show you tomorrow - and there's a good programme on tv later all about baking .......

  

 

Little and large!

I'll start with the large .... I told you on Friday I was going to make a bigger version of Stuart's coaster.  I started in the same way, carding the wool, to comb all the lumps out

 

 

I had several attempts at taking a photo of needlefelting it on the embellisher - this is the clearest one .......

 

 

Once I had got a reasonable amount needled. I checked it for size with the template I had drawn of the base of the candle stick

 

 

I used a bowl to mark my outer circle

 

 

and an egg cup to mark the inner one (who needs expensive gadgets!!)

 

 

After cutting out the coaster .....

 

 

....... I used some aran wool round the edge

 

 

Then used a remnant of fancy yarn to add some colour

 

 

I pinned the template back on, then needled some spots round the edge by hand .....  

 

 

..... before using the embellisher to make sure they were firmly in place.  I hope Stuart likes this new version!

 

 

Yesterday, Linsday had organised one of her 'Woolgatherings'.  At the last one, she had shown us a book she had just bought .......

 

 

........ and suggested that we made some little pieces, with 'sea' as the theme.   I looked out this little bundle of goodies

 

 

It was great fun creating little pieces that are only one inch square - this is my first one

 

 

After stitching away all day (well, apart from drinking lots of tea, eating lunch ..... and a delicious cheesey, herby muffin!) I made the grand total of ........ three squares!!

 

 

I also mentioned on Friday that Malcolm was all organised to light the stove if it was cold enough --- yes it was!!  It is just so good to snuggle up on the big squashy sofa with the stove burning brightly in the corner!!

   

 

  

 

Up with the larks!

I was up early on Saturday morning, as I had to get to Kelso for 7.45, so I could join the ladies of Abbey Row Quilters on a trip to Harrogate for a quilt show!  We had a brief comfort stop along the way, then three and a half hours later ...... lots of quilts

 

 

....... and lots of shopping

 

 

Normally I don't show you the quilts because of copyright issues, but as this entry included a website to order the pattern, I think I can show you these fabulous angels (you know how much I like angels!)

 

 

I recently bought 'Stitch' magazine, and promptly fell in love with the pincushion on the cover .....

 

 

...... so I was delighted to find that Sue Hawkins, the designer of the pincushion, not only had a stand, but was selling kits

 

 

And ..... since the magazine was published, she has designed another  colourway, which is the one that I bought

 

 

I also bought ribbons for some things I am planning to make for the Christmas fair

 

 

These felt squares were very reasonably priced - they will be great for embellishing ..... then I can use them for cards or bookcovers

 

 

Now, you may think I was very sad to buy this little kit, but I wasn't the only one to get back on the bus clutching one!!

 

 

As I crossed the garden this afternoon, I paused to take these photos of Malcolm's grapes - they may be small, but given that the vines are just left to get on with it all summer, we are really quite pleased with them

 

 

Did you notice that my forefinger is a bit brown - it is stained from cutting up plums for jam ...... more about that tomorrow!

Don't forget to leave a comment this week, so that you can be included in the draw for my giveaway for my 500th post!!