frayed at the edge

Not so much rained off ........

.........as drizzled off!  When we left home yesterday morning, there was just the slightest hint of rain in the air, but by the time we drove down the hill to Hawick, there was a steady drizzle.  So we abandoned our plan for a walk, and instead headed to Milestone Garden Centre.  We had a cuppa and a delicious savoury scone - goat's cheese and spring onion

 

back home, I decided to rearrange the layout of my worktables, as when I was using the cutting mat, my back was to the television - this is a much better arrangement

 

in contrast to yesterday's dreary weather, today was dry and bright, so I headed out into the garden to capture some of the signs of spring

ornamental quince

 

flowering currant

 

now this is where I need the help of Jessica to remind me of plant names

 

I do know that this is forsythia

 

all the clematis have new growth

 

the hellebore is still flowering

 

these tiny buds, tinged with pink ........

 

........ turn white when they flower

 

in the front garden, the hawthorn hedge is turning green

 

and there are lots of clumps of tiny daffs

 

now that I have finished quilting the raffle quilt ........ I have been knitting!  I bought this kit from Kate some time ago, but just hadn't had time to do it, so I enjoyed making a start at the weekend.  But I have to confess that I should have started wih a Turkish cast on, or a magic cast on.  But I would have had to swat up on them, as it is so long since I used those methods, so I just did a standard cast on, and will have to stitch the bottom closed

 

this is the first time for weeks and weeks that I have been able to take photos of a project in the garden as it has been too wet or too windy

 

to finish - you will be delighted to know that the tiny lamb in the field across the road is thriving! 

 

 

Almost organised

I have been sorting out my samples for the classes at the college, and today pinned the stage-by-stage for the needlecase to a display board

 

I had a bit more sewing to do on the hexagon pincushion samples, before I could make up that board - the last pincushion is in different fabrics, because I ran out of the other ones

 

I divided up the three little packets of tiny buttons, to add to the kits for the pincushions

 

 

I then turned my attention to the scissor keeper.  This shows the two fabrics and wadding sewn together, with a gap left to turn it through to the right side

 

having turned it through and pressed it well, I topstitched round the edge (I used a contrasting thread so that the students can see what I did - I would normally use a matching thread)

 

the first fold

 

again I used a contrasting thread to show the stitching

 

the first pocket finished

 

the second pocket pinned in place, and the flap also pinned in place to show off the little scissor charm

 

having washed the sashiko piece at the weekend, I used rulers to work out where to cut it to size

 

I had to take the previous photo from the side, as the sun shining in the velux was reflecting off the rulers!

 

I cut four 1"strips and folded them in half

 

pleased with the look, I stitched them in place and trimmed them

 

but what to use for an outer border?  I have some lovely fabric which I have had for years.  Way back when I was a Quilters' Guild rep, I was introduced to a man who worked for a (now defunct) patchwork fabric firm.  On learning that a) I made quilts for Linus, and b) we lived near each other, he called at the house and gave me a big box of fabric samples to use for Linus quilts.  Some of the fabrics weren't suitable for children's quilts because they had a rough texture, so I swapped them for some of my own fabric.  First I auditioned this one

 

and included a little butterfly from another of the fabrics

 

then I considered this one

 

but they were really the wrong shades of blue.  So it was back to the stash

choice #1

 

choice #2

 

choice #3 (top) and #4 (bottom)

 

do leave a comment and say which one you prefer.  By the end of the afternoon, the studio was looking just a little bit untidy!!

 

Maureen had reminded me on Friday about the time she had a heron in her garden, something which is very unlikely to happen here ....... then today she sent me this photo - I don't think I am likely to find one of these either in our little garden!!

 

I did some work on Mrs Billings on Saturday, but I'll show you that tomorrow.  I am going down to Stitchin' Heaven tomorrow, to spend the day with Anne and her lovely Wednesday Ladies and Mrs B will be going with me - hopefully I will get a reasonable amount of sewing done, in between blethering and drinking copious cups of tea!!

 

Was there a pot of gold ......

........ at the end of this rainbow on Saturday morning?

 

no ........ just some sheepies!!

 

so what did I buy on Friday?

three bargain metre lengths, to use for Linus quilts

 

ricrac for the kits for the patchwork class

 

I love a bargain!!

 

a small hoop for machine quilting, to use with my smaller sewing machine

 

sashiko thread

 

lots of luscious beads

 

I'm blaming Maureen for this last purchase .......... she dragged me to the stall and twisted my arm up my back until I bought it....... she pointed out this delightful kit, knowing that I am an owl fan

 

when I got home, there were two little parcels for me.  The first contained these sewing-related charms.  I had been looking for scissor charms when I found this pack of mixed charms

 

but as I needed eight scissor charms, I searched further, and found these ones

 

when I was busy sewing on Saturday, this film was on tv

 

the film starts with Charlton Heston getting in a pod, to sleep for a year.  He is clean-shaven when he gets in, but as you can see, he has a full beard when he wakes up.  I don't want to nit-picky ......... but why does he have short fingernails - surely they would have grown as much as his beard?

 

the nuthatch paid a brief visit to the peanut feeder this morning

 

when I was out in the garden this afternoon, a little flash of yellow caught my eye.  These are miniature narcissi, just six inches high

 

I'll be back tomorrow with a sewing update, although I can't show you one of the the things I am working on at the moment ........ I am hand quilting the Abbey Quilters' raffle quilt.  I am spending two hours every evening stitching away, crosshatching twenty five Baltimore blocks.  I have done the lines in one direction on all the blocks, and am on the tenth block working the lines going the other way.  Once I have finished, I'll pass the quilt on for quilting to be done on the applique centres of the blocks, then someone else will put the binding on.  I hope to be able to show you the quilt soon.

 

 

Yesterday's post today!

After all the excitement of lambs and donkeys yesterday, it's back on track today.  On Sunday morning, we headed up to Newtown St Boswells to go for a walk.  We haven't been on some of our favourite woodland walks this winter as it has been so wet, instead we have been sticking to walks on pavements and roads.  When we got out of the car, this goose had a loud honk at us!

 

although it was chilly, the sun was shining, and the newy ploughed fields added rich colours to the scenery

 

the last time we walked this route was in the autumn, when the leaves were still on the trees.  The views were somewhat different, seen through the bare trees

 

I do love a good old higgledy piggledy gate (or two)

 

of course  there has to be an arty seedhead photo

 

we were going to walk as far as the tree ........

 

........ but the stone path ended, and we didn't fancy squelching through the mud

 

the sky ahead was blue

 

but when we turned to head back to the car, there was an ominous dark cloud

 

we hadn't gone far when it started to rain, and by  the time we got back to the car we were wet and cold!  However we headed to the Old Melrose Tearooms, where we had a very welcome cuppa, and shared a delicious toasted teacake

 

we got up this morning to find that it was snowing

 

of course I didn't go out into the cold to take the photos - oh the joy of a large window!

I'll be back tomorrow with a sewing update, and hopefully some photos from Abbey Quilters' meeting.

 

ps - did you spot little JD the tractor sitting on the books on the left of the coffee table, gazing out at the snow?!

Running out of gas

As today is a fast day, I decided to make this delicious soup

 

I chopped up enough vegetables to make double the quantity in the recipe, so that I could freeze some for future meals

 

I used my cute little cup to measure out the bouillon powder

 

I started sweating the vegetables, but as I washed up the chopping board and knives, I realised that the vegetables weren't cooking.  Oh dear, the bottled gas had run out!  Of course we have a spare bottle, so I went out and had a look, as Malcolm did show me how to switch from one bottle to the other.  However that was quite some time ago, and I wasn't sure what to do.  As I didn't want to blow up the house, I took the sensible option, and transferred the soup to the slow cooker!

 

I spent the afternoon at the hairdressers, and I was so hungry when I got home, that I forgot to take a photo of the soup before I ate it.  So here is some, ready for the freezer (180 is the amount of calories in a portion)

 

it took me several attempts to snap this coal tit - every time I got it in focus, it flew off!

 

it took three attempts to capture this blackbird, pecking at the crumbs from the fatballs.  First he moved, then he turned his back, then finally he stood still long enough

 

but the robin posed nicely on top of the stone owl

 

two silly things to finish with,  First, everytime I receive a communication from this shop in Edinburgh, I want to add an apostrophe ........ but should it be the Nomad's Tent, or the Nomads' Tent?

 

and second, these silly signs in this shop window made us laugh when we passed it this morning

 

A warm welcome!

As soon as you arrive at my studio, you know you are welcome ......

 

the frogs welcome you

 

the cow welcomes you

 

and of course I welcome you too

 

OK, I won't tease you any more, and will tell you my VERY exciting news .........I've got a job!!  Well, I've sort of got a job, with the grand title of community classes lecturer.  Do you remember some weeks ago I was working on a Top Secret Project?  It all started with a conversation with my friend Maureen.  She had been going to classes at the Borders College in Jedburgh, and had got to know Tracey, who runs the campus.  When Tracey found out that Maureen quilted, she asked her if she would like to teach patchwork and quilting.  Maureen said no, but said that she would ask me if I would be interested.  I went along and had a chat with Tracey, and after a bit of thought came up with "Get Set for Patchwork" - four classes where the students would make a needle case, pincushion, scissor holder and bag to put everything in.   Along the way they would learn the basic skills of patchwork and quilting.  I then had an interview (that was a shock, having a proper, formal job interview) and yesterday I had to fill in reams of paperwork.  There is just one last hurdle - the class has been advertised, and five people have signed up ....... but the minimum number for the class to go ahead is six!  However if that last person doesn't sign up before March 6th, when the classes are scheduled to start, all is not lost, as the college are keen for the classes to go ahead, and will re-advertise them for a future date.  But before you get too impressed with the thought of my teaching at the college, perhaps I should show you this photo

 

the Jedburgh campus is actually just a very small building, with, I think, two classrooms!  I went to the new Hawick campus for my interview - it is a fabulous building, where proper full-time students go, and tomorrow I will be popping in to the main Galashiels campus to hand in the reams of paperwork to HR.  Hopefully, if the classes are successful, I will get to teach more. 

I have made a start to the Blue Peter stage by stage and "here's one I made earlier" samples.  I'll just show you a selection

 

after all the soggy, grey days, it was wonderful to see this beautiful blue sky, when I came out of the studio at 4pm after a busy day quilting another little quilt for Linus!  (I'll show it to you tomorrow)

 

A puzzling photo

Why is this mug sitting on the chair in the hall?

 

was it fed up living in a cupboard?  Did it feel tired and needed to sit down for a minute?  Perhaps it liked the cushion and wanted to sit next to it?  OK, I'll stop being silly!  You might recognise it as the mug I had my cuppa in on Tuesday evening at Abbey Quilters.  When I went to get the mugs out of the cupboard for our cuppa this morning, I found that Malcolm had put it away when he had emptied the dishwasher, but I like to put it back in my bag ready for the next meeting.  So I put it on the chair, which is where I put things which have to be taken out to the studio. 

 

There are more signs of growth out in the garden.  This lupin shoot was full of rainwater

 

the winter jasmine has finally flowered

 

these tiny buds on the ornamental quince are just the size of pinheads

 

for our Friday cake we had chocolate cupcakes - yum!

 

as you know, I don't like white chocolate, so I gave my little bits off the top of the cupcake to Maureen!

 

the forecast for Sunday isn't too good, so we may not get out for our walk - although I am sure we will still have our sconnage!!  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

Before the sewing update ........

........ we have had a frequent visitor to the garden, an occasional visitor, and some little birds that I have only seen in the garden once before in the seven years we have been here!  So first, the frequent visitor, the robin

 

next the occasional visitor, the nuthatch

 

then, this afternoon, some long-tailed tits swooped into the garden.  I just had time to take two photos before they flew off again.  The only other time I have seen them in the garden, several years ago, they swooped in, attacked the fat balls and flew off again.  Fingers crossed I don't have to wait so long to see them again

 

now for the sewing!  Yesterday I made Stuart's camera bag.  Fortunately he has the same camera as me, so there was no problem with getting the measurements

 

to start, I got out my project book, and tape measure

 

I measured the circumference

 

then used my 6" ruler to measure the height

 

I cut the fabric to size and stitched the short seam, finishing it with a zigzag stitch

 

I centred the seam and stitched across the bottom seam, again finishing it with zigzag stitching

 

next, I folded over the top edge a quarter of an inch and pressed it, then folded it over another half an inch and pressed it.  I opened out and flattened the seam at the top, and stitched round the opening for the cord

 

I flattened the corners, and marked a line to stitch

 

after stitching, I cut off the corners

 

the finished bag

 

I have written the details down in my project book, so that I can make a bag for my camera

 

next was a little bit of repair work.  This is a little Cath Kidston bag, which was a free gift some time ago with a magazine.  I keep it in my handbag, and we had used it to put driftwood in when we had our walk on the beach at Berwick recently.  However, the amount of driftwood we crammed in was obviously too much for the little bag and the seams gave way

 

so after washing the bag, a quick session restitching the seams, and the little bag was ready to go back in my handbag

 

a quick change of thread in the sewing machine, and I got on with the little Linus quilt.  I stitched the outer blocks together, and stitched the side strips on

 

when I added the top and bottom strips, as you can see, they didn't quite fit

 

but a quick trim with the rotary cutter, and the top was finished

 

I still have a pile of leftovers .........

 

I got out this little top, which was the prototype for my Country Cottages pattern.  I added this colourful boder, and once it is quilted, it will be another quilt for Linus

 

before Christmas, I offerred to make a quilt top for Lucie , which she will then longarm quilt.  Then she will give the quilt to a very worthwhile cause, Quilts for Comfort.  Some years ago I made a quilt using black and red fabrics for Malcolm's Dad, which was very striking (it was so well loved and used, that by the time he died it had worn away into holes in places!), so I looked out these fabrics.  I think I will use the same design, which was half square triangles

 

last night so many of us turned up for Abbey Quilters' monthly meeting that more tables and chairs had to be brought into the room!  We were embroidering name badges for the exhibition in the summer

 

we always stop for a cuppa (and possibly a biscuit might have been consumed!)

 

I think Sheila should be promoted from beginner to fully fledged quilter after making this lovely bag!

 

ps - how did I take photos of my camera?  I unearthed my little Fuji from the depths of my camera bag!

Ruling the roost

Our little parliament of owls grew significantly at Christmas .........

 

........ the beautiful card on the left was given to us by Maureen - she had bought it at the German market in Edinburgh specially for us.  The painted owl at the front, and the wooden owl behind it were from Meredithe - the wooden owl has little holes in it for cross stitching, but I think I will work it with long and short stitch to look like feathers.  Malcolm gave me the tin - it had sweets in it, which were soon eaten, and now contains pins.  And keeping all the little ones in order is a large fabric owl, which matches a little one on the yucca.  I had seen the big one in Sainsbury's before Christmas, but couldn't really justify buying it - but then after Christmas it was reduced to £2, so, of course it came home with me.

Malcolm gave me this tiny kit - I have put my 6" ruler behind it to show how small it is

 

it really does contain everything you need to knit the bootees - a tiny pattern book, yarn, stitch markers, pink and blue ribbon, darning needle ...... and the tiniest circular needle that I have ever seen!

 

Malcolm also added to my button and bead stash, and the lovely brooch on the card will look good on my new cardigan

 

when we were at Stitchin' Heaven before Christmas, I couldn't show you one of the things I came home with, as it was my big Christmas present from Malcolm.  It is the pattern for the amazing Mrs Billings quilt.  I first saw the quilt on Meredithe's blog (and when I spent the day at her house in October 2012, I was actually allowed to touch her award winning Mrs Billings), and when Anne decided to order the pattern for the shop, I immediately put my name down for one

 

this detail shows the centre of the quilt

 

the pattern comes with a set of templates and ten packets of tiny hexagons (I've just shown one here) - a total of 1,000 hexagons!  I am keeping them in this fabulous tin, which was full of my favourite toiletries (half-price in the post-Christmas sales!)

 

there are twenty five pages of instructions, as well as several pages of detailed photos of the sections of the quilt, so I invested in a folder and poly pockets to keep them in order.  I will now have to decide on a colour scheme, and start collecting fabrics

 

in the back garden, I noticed some dwarf narcissi

 

buds on the hellebore (which flowers at random times throughout the year)

 

new growth on the climbing rose on the pergola

 

and on one of the clematis

 

in the front garden, daffodils are through in a sheltered corner

 

the honeysuckle is flowering

 

and there are a few buds on the climbing rose!

 

I started with owls, and I am going to finish with a sparrowhawk!  I was sitting in the lounge reading, when I glanced out of the window.  There, on the grass, was a sparrowhawk tucking into a sparrow.  Fortunately the camera was on the table beside me.  The first photos have the bird feeders in the top corner, as I didn't want to risk moving

 

I then moved very slowly across the room to get a better angle

 

Malcolm was out in the back garden, so I wennt out to tell him about the sparrowhawk, and we tip-toed round to the front garden ........ but it had gone.  Fortunately it had taken the remains of the sparrow with it!

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In search of a title

Some days, I struggle to think of a title for my post - and this is one of those days.  So lets just dive straight in to the photos.  This morning the garden was full of birds - which promptly flew off as soon as I switched the camera on.  Eventually they returned

    

 

there is also a new bird in the house.  Maureen gave me this very cute owl as a thank you for giving her a lift to Abbey Quilters' meetings

 

and Maureen also provided me with another photo this afternoon, when she brought her finished Christmas wallhanging for us to see at patch'n'chat

 

Cathy has just finished this stocking for her newest granddaughter (there is a clue in the stocking to Cathy's nationality!)

 

then of course there was the Friday cake.  This week it was the delicious apple and sultana cake.  Although we flirted recently with the Norwegian apple cake,  we have reverted to our original opinion that this is our favourite cake

 

we are just about organised for tomorrow's Christmas Fair, fingers crossed that lots of Malcolm's creations sells!  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

 

ps - I was a bit scared when I saw this root creeping round the label on one of my orchids - maybe I have watched too many horror films!