frayed at the edge

Life in miniature

This afternoon we had two miniature creations to admire at patch'n'chat.  The first was Katy's miniature quilt.  The little pieces are one inch square, and this is half of the quilt (as usual, the lighting makes everything look a bit yellow)

 

Then Cathy showed us this miniature sewing machine, which she has just been given.  It is about four inches high, and as you can see needs  a bit of a clean.  First the front

 

then the back

 

a detail of the decoration

 

and the tiny original spool

 

I hadn't done any more work on my hexagons since last Friday, but I got quite a bit more stitched this afternoon

 

Then of course there was cake - or more accurately cakes, as Annette had made a batch of her delicious cupcakes .....

 

..... topped with chocolate sprinkles

 

The forecast for the weekend is for bright frosty weather, so we are looking forward to getting out for a long walk on Sunday morning.  I hope you all have a good weekend - I shall be working on my postcard!  Love Anne

It must be nearly Easter ........

....... as the shops are full of Easter goodies (I think we saw our first Easter egg on Boxing Day!)

 

We had a bit of discussion after breakfast this morning about where we would go for lunch today ..... we decided to go a bit further afield and went to Peebles.  When we parked in the main car park, we didn't take our usual route to the High Street, but instead headed in the other direction and crossed the river by this footbridge

 

Although this avenue of trees has a certain stark beauty, I want to see them in the spring to see if they have blossom, when they would look truly beautiful

 

We have never noticed this bead shop before, so were a bit surprised to be told it has been there for four years!

 

It was full of all sorts of beads and findings

 

We rarely see old-fashioned shops with their wares out on the pavement ...... perhaps the shops are worried that someone might trip over something and sue them!

 

Do you remember the last time we went to Peebles for lunch, when Malcolm had a delicious meal and I had the terrible chicken soup and dumplings?  I didn't show you the restaurant/deli last time, buut I'll show it to you this time ........

 

....... as we had the same meal that Malcolm had last time - toasted muffin with Ayrshire bacon, poached eggs and hollandaise sauce.  Delicious!!

 

After lunch we went for a good long walk along the river.  This was the second fishermen that we saw - it must have been a bit chilly standing in the water, waiting for a fish to bite!

 

Can you see at the right hand side of the footbridge, there is a dog walking across, followed by its owners?  It was funny when they got to the other side - the couple walked down the steps, but the dog, which was rather old, walked round the disabled-access ramp!

 

Walking back along the High Street, Malcolm spotted this sundial on a building across the road - it's just a pity the sun wasn't shining!

 

On the way home we stopped in Walkerburn at this new coffee shop ........

 

I was going to have my usual tea, but Malcolm suggested that I have hot chocolate ...... and he also got a chocolatey traybake .......you won't be surprised that we decided not to have the planned dinner this evening, and instead had a bowl of homemade soup!

I'll show you more photos tomorrow, when I will also tell you about the amazing bargain that we got.  But to finish,  this is what I bought in the bead shop

teeny tiny charms for me

 

a charm for shoe-mad Alison to add to the charm bracelet we gave her for Christmas

 

We laughed till we cried!!

We had a wonderful afternoon at patch'n'chat ...... I think we were all glad to get back into our normal routine after the Christmas and New Year break.  Katy and Cath as ever had a fund of jokes to tell, and we ended up with tears of laughter running down our cheeks ...... but sadly, I can't share the jokes as they were all a bit rude!!  However, I can share the fabrics I bought.  First, for the Hawaiian block, I chose two very bright fabrics for inner and outer borders

 

then for the other top I got a dark fabric for the inner border and a lovely patterned fabric for the outer border

I forgot to include this photo yesterday ..... when I was heading back down the hill from my walk, I heard a horse approaching.  I just had time to take this photo before stepping onto the verge well out of the way, as it went past at a fast trot

 

Then this morning I was distracted from doing the housework by this woman working her beautiful horse on a long rein, in the field across the road

 

It was quite chilly this morning, and the robin had his feathers fluffed up to keep warm

 

We didn't just have fun and laughter this afternoon - we also had cake!!  The first of the year was one of Annette's lighter than air chocolate sponges - delicious

 

I did manage to fit in a little bit of sewing - I have stitched the first fourteen hexagons together

 

Remember you have until the start of the week to sign up for the swap, and I'll be back tomorrow with Shadow Shot Sunday - I really missed it during my break!  have a good weekend, love Anne

I think the hexagons .......

....... have been breeding!  There seemed to be a never ending pile to prep - but eventually they were finished.  I wondered just how many there were - a quick calculation gave me the answer of 950 - no wonder it took so long to prep them!  The next stage was to lay them out ...... I could picture the pattern in my head, but I thought I should lay them out to make sure that it would work out ok.  I started by laying out one hexagon of each fabric .....

 

.......then added more rows, each time moving the fabrics one place to the right

 

I wasn't happy with the placement of the very dark red row, so after consulting with Malcolm, I moved it along two places to the right - much better!

 

The next stage was to number one of each of the different  hexagons

 

and pop them into numbered bags, held shut with  tiny pegs

 

All packed up, ready to take on Friday to the first patch'n'chat of the year

 

Thank you for your response to the swap - quite a few of you have signed up already!  Several of you have asked if there is a time limit for sending the postcards, as you are busy with all sorts of things.  I woud suggest that they should be posted by the end of the month, which will give you about three weeks to make then after you receive the details of your swap partner next week.  This afternoon I looked out this curtain sample from my stash, and a packet of Stix2Anything (yes, it does!)

 

I fussy cut a flower from the fabric, stuck it on the postcard and added a bit of ribbon round the edges

 

For the next postcard, I looked out the old road atlas that I had bought last year to make bunting with.  I still had the page with Hawick on it, so it was a simple job to cut it out and stick it on.  I then drew a circle round Hawick

 

I had given the third postcard to Malcolm to draw something on - he produced this, which rather puts my efforts in the shade!!

 

The full details of how to take part are at the end of yesterday's post, so if you missed it just scroll on down.

To finish - the wind may have dropped, but it was a raw, miserable day, so we were glad to have a warming bowl of lentil soup and a delicious piece of cheese bread when we were out

 

ps - do let your friends know about the swap!

 

Refreshed, revived.......

....... and raring to go!!  I amazed myself at managing to go without blogging for so many days - but now I am looking forward to another year of writing drivel entertaining and informative posts!  (perhaps I should make a New Year's resolution to use fewer exclamation marks!!)  As well as not blogging, I have also not done any knitting ...... over the next few days I will have a browse through all the patterns I have on my to-do list, and decide what to do next.  Perhaps it will be something from this wonderful book that Stuart and Alison gave me

 

Both Alison and I fancy these flip-top mitts

 

But sneaking to the front of the queue could be Cobweb, the Dark Fairy .......

 

....... from this wonderful book, which Malcolm gave me

 

While I am making up my mind, I can enjoy a cuppa in my pretty new mug, which was also one of Malcolm's presents

 

While having a break from my normal round of sewing and knitting, I haven't been completely idle!  I finished this cross-stitch set of needlecase, pin cushion and scissor fob, which I think I started this time last year, then lost interest in

 

I found some blocks that I had made quite a long time ago ...... the fabric that I had was enough to make 48 blocks, but I like square quilts (don't know why, I just do) so I put the blocks aside, intending to make an applique block to put in the centre.  However, having found them in the UFO pile, I decided to be sensible and just make them up into a rectangular quilt

 

Oh dear - did you spot the mistake ...... the blocks in the top left corner are wrong - not only are there two similar blocks together, but there are two blocks turned the wrong way.  A quick unpick and restitch, and all was well.  Now I just need to add an outer border and it will be ready to quilt

 

Next Sunday is my third blogging anniversary (and amazingly this is post number 888!!).  Instead of a giveaway, I have decided to organise a swap to celebrate.  I know that at this time of year we are all a bit skint and a bit weary of crafting after the last minute rush to finish Christmas gifts, so it is going to be a very inexpensive and simple swap, so I hope lots of you will sign up for it ..... come back tomorrow to find out more.

 

To finish, I have some bird photos that I took at the garden centre this morning - we had popped in for a cuppa to get warm after a very chilly, but nonetheless enjoyable, walk

 

 

 

 

A bit draughty!

I had my hair cut this afternoon, so it is feeling a little bit draughty - even if I did only have about half an inch cut off!  I have had a somewhat lazy day - my usual Wednesday morning soak in the bath with a mug of hot chocolate and my book, then lunch at the garden centre before the hairdressers (macaroni cheese, one of my favourite lunches when I am out)

 

The temperature has gone up quite a bit today, so I am sure these little points of daffodils in the front garden will be much happier, after the recent freezing temperatures

 

When I was in the kitchen last night, Malcolm shouted to me to come through to the hall with the camera.  Why?  Because there was a very, very big spider sitting there looking menacing (I took the photo with flash, so the colours are washed out - the carpet is actually green)

 

I have been a bit disorganised with the blog this week ....... I still have photos from the weekend to show you!  I have started another piece on the embellisher - this time just doing a random, abstract sort of design, using up the bits left from the landscape

 

Like the landscape, it makes quite a difference to put it in a mount

 

I usually watch tv in the studio, but for a change at the weekend I listened to some music

 

 

This is the fabric I bought last Thursday when Lorraine and I went to Anne's new shop - it shows how much I like it that I bought it despite there being cats on two of the pieces!

 

Anne popped my purchases into this super carrier bag .....

 

...... the Christmas tree is made with cute snowman fabric

 

Over the last few weeks, because of all the fmq that has been going on, I have neglected my Baltimore blocks, so on Sunday I made a start on the prep for the next block

 

Well, I think that's me all caught up on things!

Drink, drink, drink

You will remember that some weeks ago I started making sloe gin, then added Turkish Delight vodka and limoncello.  Yesterday afternoon I bottled them using the smart bottles that I got here.  First was the vodka - I poured it through a fine nylon sieve, to remove the few lumps of Turkish Delight which hadn't dissolved

 

Then it was the turn of the limoncello - I have kept the slivers of lemon peel, as they will be good added to other drinks

 

and lastly the sloe gin ....

 

Malcolm recently saw a suggestion for using the sloes after making the gin - adding them to port, so that is what I did!

 

We are sacrificing giving a bottle of each one to Stuart and Alison, so today I added some labels, pretty ribbon and gift tags

 

Also today, I got organised to ice the cake

 

The first stage was to heat some of the apricot jam to brush over the cake, which I would normally do in a small saucepan ...... but there was a slight problem as Malcolm was cleaning the cooker

 

so instead I zapped it in the microwave and soon the cake was glazed with the jam

 

Oh the joys of rready-rolled icing - open the packet, unroll it, and pop it on the cake

 

Then it only took another minute to add Lorraine's wonderful marzipan fruits and some ribbon (I don't like marzipan, so I don't cover the cake with it before icing it, and instead add the marzipan fruits for Malcolm!)

 

Over the last few weeks, Malcolm has been decorating the bathroom, just doing a little bit every afternoon (except for the final coat of emulsion, which I did, as I make a better job of it!).  I kept forgetting to take photos along the  way .... so here is the reveal

the cactus on the windowsill are actually candles!

 

I only noticed the plant when I put the photos on the computer - it should be on the side of the bath!

 

a smart new shower curtain

 

I forgot to get a piece of red ribbon for the wreath wall hanging, so I have used this gold one instead .... but I have attached it with a tiny gold safety pin so that I can change it

 

I forgot all about the knitting update yesterday.  The scarf is now finished - but I forgot to take a photo of it (I'm not doing very well, am I!!)  I am having a break from knitting until after the New Year - instead I am finishing prepping my hexagons.  I can't start stitching them until they are all prepped and I can lay out the pattern, so I want to get them done!

ps - the little bits of Turkish Delight from the vodka weren't wasted - we had them with some icecream for pudding last night ..... delicious!!

Drip, drip, drip

Hooray, the snow has almost gone, with the promise of much milder weather for the rest of the week.  All day there has been a constant drip, drip as the snow melts, with the occasional rumble as another lot slides off the roof.  But it did look pretty when we went out for a walk yesterday morning at Harestanes

 

 

 

We were about to leave the car park when a van arrived, a couple got out and unloaded four beautiful dogs - according to the writing on the van they are a sled dog team

 

 

We popped into the Old Melrose Tearoom for a cuppa ........

 

...... and to check out the newly opened farm shop.  It didn't look much from the ouside, with a pile of old doors sitting in front of the window

 

But what a delight when we went in!!  The shop is in the old dairy, and they have retained the old white tiles, giving the shop a lovely light, airy look

 

Considering that it has only been open for a week, the shop was well stocked with all sorts of goodies - a lot of it local.  They have plans to stock locally grown vegetables and meat from local farms.  Of course we bought something ........ a wedge of local cheese

 

....... and some fabulous rocky road marshmallows (which was made in Edinburgh, so hadn't travelled too far!)

 

I was able to capture some wonderful views on the way to the Tearoom

 

 

 

and more on the way home

 

 

 

On Saturday afternoon, when I opened the back doors of the studio, I could here noises from the neighbour's stable next door

 

The horse was having a good huff and puff and snort - I guess it didn't like being shut in

 

Another animal photo to finish with - this is one of the neighbour's cats, perched on a fencepost

 

The weather co-operated ......

....... so this morning I met Lorraine in Jedburgh.  I left my car there and she drove the rest of the way.  First of all we stopped in Coldstream for a cuppa.  The Calico House was the perfect choice, as it is filled with wonderful fabrics and gifts, as well as the very pleasant coffee shop (if you click on the link, we sat at the table in the corner by the window).  I had a pot of tea and a scrumptious piece of carrot cake

I would have shown you Lorraine's cheese scone, but I haven't quite got her trained yet about taking photos for the blog and she had taken a bite before I could take a photo!  Then it was on to our destination - the Northumberland village of Longframlington.  We were going to see our friend Anne D, whom we hadn't seen since we visited her in her new house in the summer.  But this time we weren't going to the house, but to her new shop!!!

 

Yes, her brand new fabulous quilting shop (the 697 refers to the road the shop is on, the A697).  Feast your eyes on these delights

 

 

 

 

 

 

After oohing and aahing (and perhaps buying things) we left with promises to return very soon.  The last stop of our trip was at the Maelmin Cafe for a late lunch.  I had the most wonderful hot beef roll with chips ......

 

and Lorraine had a panini with brie, apple and something else that I have forgotten (still not trained, she had started eating the first piece of panini before I took the photo!)

 

So what did I buy?  A very cute stitchery pattern ......

 

...... and the most wonderful bundle of fabric - I'll see if I can get a better photo tomorrow in daylight

 

I also bought two things from Lorraine - first, some of her wonderful marzipan fruits to decorate the Christmas cake with

 

and these amazing marzipan penguins, which are for Stuart's girlfriend Alison (she loves penguins and pandas!)

 

And to finish, today's wallhanging.  This is just a small one, about the size of an A4 sheet of paper

Scarlet ribbon

I was looking for a piece of red ribbon this afternoon, and found myself singing this song .....

Scarlet Ribbons

I peeked in to say good-night
And there I heard my child in prayer
"And for me, some scarlet ribbons
Scarlet ribbons for my hair"

All our town was closed and shuttered
All the streets were dark and bare
In our town, no scarlet ribbons
Scarlet ribbons for her hair

Through the night my heart was aching
Just before the dawn was breaking
In our town, no scarlet ribbons
Scarlet ribbons for her hair

I peeked in and on her bed
In gay profusion lying there
Lovely ribbons, scarlet ribbons
Scarlet ribbons for her hair

If I live to be a hundred
I will never know from where
Came those lovely scarlet ribbons
Scarlet ribbons for her hair

 

But I wasn't looking for ribbon for my hair, but for my Christmas wreath.  I finished the quilting  and added the binding (which I have still to stitch down on the back) ......

 

...... although there are one or two bits to fill in

 

As I couldn't find any red ribbon, I used a bit of gold, just to give you an idea of what it will look like when I add a big red bow

 

Before all the sewing, we went out for lunch to the Woodside garden centre.  They had some Christmas themed sandwiches ...... I had 'Mistletoe', which contained grated cheese, beetroot and ginger chutney and salad leaves

 

while Malcolm had 'Rudolph' - turkey, cranberry and rocket.  The sandwiches were delicious, and the coleslaw was excellent (and as always Malcolm ate my tomato)

 

I have been playing with my embellisher ......

 

Does it look better when I put a frame over it?

 

And here it is with a bit more work done on it - the next stage will be to do some machine embroidery, adding trees and other details to the landscape

 

When I was coming in from the studio, I noticed this little rose - I don't know why I didn't spot it when I was taking photos of the garden on Sunday.  It was several feet above me, and I couldn't quite get it in focus - the camera preferred to focus  on the ivy behind the rose

 

It was awkward taking a photo of today's wallhanging, as it is a narrow part of the hall, so I had to take it from a funny angle!

 

Lorraine and I have a special day out tomorrow (weather permitting!) ...... two of our most favourite things (shopping and food) will be involved, and we will also be visiting a friend we haven't seen for some time.  Come back tomorrow to read all about it!