frayed at the edge

Orchids

This has been a very good summer for orchids.  This one flowered for a second time, and has probably been flowering now for a year!

 

this one with the unusual dark markings has been in flower for quite a few weeks

 

this beauty burst into flower last week

 

there are another three orchids with buds on them, including this one which is also putting out little side shoots

 

not long before my Dad died, I had given him a little ivy house plant.  After he died, I took it home, and when we moved here I sat it on the end of the bookshelves in Malcolm's study, where it flourished.  But recently it had started to look a little bit droopy, so Malcolm decided to repot it.  We had bought this big pot when we lived in  Indonesia - it had been turned into a lamp, but recently the lamp workings had broken, so Malcolm turned it back into a pot!

 

the ivy in the front lounge continues in its takeover of the candlestick

 

the two stems of the yucca in the back lounge had been growing ever further apart, so Malcolm decided to split them and put the into separate pots.  Fortunately they seem to have survived - and the owls are happy!

 

at patch'n'chat this afternoon, Margaret wanted to lay out her latest blocks on the floor, to decide on the placement, but as she had a sore leg she was having trouble bending.  So Maureen and I came to the rescue, trying several layouts

 

we kept getting distracted by ooohing and aaahing over the rabbits and hares

 

a customer (who was also aaaahing and ooohing) joined in, and we settled on this arrangement

 

after you have drooled over the apple and sultana cake, do admire the new table cover

 

I was working on my "Welcome" wallhanging.  I took the photos when I got home, as the lighting at patch'n'chat tends to make the fabrics look yellow

 

The weather forecast for Sunday is decidedly bad, but whatever the weather, have a good weekend, love Anne

Sandstorm!

While I was busy teaching to ladies how to make textured flowers, Malcolm went off for a spot of sightseeing.  His first stop was here

 

where he encountered these delightful creatures

 

then it was on to Bamburgh, which is dominated by the castle

 

next he braved the windy conditions for a walk on the beach into Seahouses

 

you can see the wind blowing the sand

 

lobster pots on the quayside at Seahouses

 

the Farne Islands on the horizon

 

a last view of the castle before he came to pick me up

 

whle Malcolm was off exploring, my ladies were producing flowers in lots of different colours

 

last night's stitching at Abbey Quilters was much simpler.  Rineke gave us a short talk on sashiko, and had brought along little kits for us to buy, so that we could have a go.  Looking at this photo of my stitching, I can see that I am pulling the thread too tight

 

when I picked Maureen up, I gave her a jar of my bramble and apple jelly, and she gave me a jar of her marrow and date chutney, as well as a bag of wonderful fresh veggies from her garden.  At quilters, I gavve Anne S. a jar of jelly ....... and she gave me two big bags of apples from her garden.  So this afternoon there was some major cooking.  The saucepan on the left contains apple and sultana chutney, and the one on the right has chicken soup.  The two smaller saucepans contain the veggies for tonight's dinner, which Malcolm had prepped - potatoes (for creamy mash) and green beans.  I ended up with six jars of chutney, and five lots of soup ...... we had a small bowl as a starter tonight, there is a portion for me to take for my lunch to patch'n'chat on Friday, and three lots to go in the freezer.

 

now that we are into autumn, porridge is back on the breakfast menu ........ with a generous spoonful of the bramble and apple jelly - delicious!

An early start

We left the house just before 8am, to head for the village hall in Lowick, in Northumberland.  I had been invited to teach the ladies of Lowick Quilters my textured applique workshop.  We got there early (as always), so I had plenty of time to get everything unpacked before the ladies arrived

 

you know by now that wherever there are quilters, there is also food.  I had a cup of tea and half a scone before we even started!

 

once all the ladies arrived, we got underway

 

we started with the ruched flower, and Karen was the first to finish one

 

after a reasonable amount of sewing had been done, we stopped for a cuppa.  It was Mary's birthday, and she had brought a cake to share - the most wonderfully moist and delicious carrot cake

 

during the teabreak, we had the chance to chat and to look at everyone's flowers

 

Kathryn likes a bit of bling

 

Carol rapidly produced pretty flowers

 

this is Rosemarie's frayed flower ......

 

....... and this is Karen's.  She made four flowers and layered them together (I told her I would be stealing that idea!!)

 

when I made the samples in calico earlier in the year when I taught the workshop at Abbey Quilters, I said that I would like to do a full wallhanging in one colour, so last week I looked out a box of cream-on-cream fabrics, and set about creating a quick version.  Instead of hand applique, I used fusible web to put the bowl and leaves on the background, stitched round the raw edges with a contrasting thread, and machine quilted the background

 

I also decided to make a couple of new flowers, from the book that I bought at Harrogate.  The first one was really simple.  You start with a 2" square, and fold it in half diagonally

 

then fold it again

 

stitch across the raw edges

 

add another four pieces

 

then pull the thread tight to form the flower

 

for the other flower I sewed two strips together, with one strip half an inch wider then the other

 

when folded over, this gives a decorative edge.  The strip is then folded like this

 

I stitched three together to make a large flower

 

the new version of the wallhanging (it will need a few more flowers)

 

as the fabric requirements for these new flowers weren't on the list that the ladies had been given some weeks ago, I gave each of them an envelope with the pieces to make one of each flower

 

I have several more photos, but I am running out of time, as I will be leaving shortly, to head to Jedburgh to pick up Maureen, then on to Kelso for the first evening of the new session of Abbey Quilters.  I also have some photos that Malcolm took when he was sightseeing this morning.  So I'll finish with lunch, which we had in this lovely tearoom in Etal

 

Malcolm ordered a tuna melt toastie

 

and I ordered corn beef and pickle

 

then, as we often do, we swapped a half.  I just have time left to show you the wonderful teapot and jug - I wish thhe cup had been stripey too!!

At last, some sewing!

With all the gallivanting, there hasn't been much sewing on the blog ....... but I have been sewing! I have been busy free motion quilting the first four blocks of Lucie's "A is for applique" challenge

 

I have also been working on Nice People, Nice Things for Anne

 

work continues on the August block for Lucie's challenge (yes, I know, I'm a bit late finishing it!)

 

we had Annette's delicious cupcakes this afternoon - given how much I have eaten over the last few days, I was very good and only had one!

 

there was a great commotion as Sandra came in this afternoon - or I should say was dragged in ...... she is looking after her daughter's puppy this weekend, and Crunchie was anxious to join in with patch'n'chat

 

it has been raining all day, and has been a bit on the cool side, which has come as a bit of a shock after the glorious summer weather that we have been enjoying.  Hopefully we will still be able to go for our Sunday morning walk - but if not it will just mean more sewing time!  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

 

A long day!

First, Malcolm says thank you for all your birthday wishes - I'll tell you tomorrow about our trip to Stuart and Alison's, and the delicious meal we had.

But now, to backtrack to Saturday.  I had to get up at 6am, leave the house at 6.30, pick up Maureen at 7.oo, then drive on to Kelso to join the other Abbey Quilters to be picked up at 7.30 ...... I was exhausted already!  We had a good journey to Harrogate - including a 15 minute comfort break, it took us three and a half hours.  Tempting as it was to head first for the traders, I went to look at the quilts

 

as always I can only show you general shots of the exhibition

 

these quilts are by Ferret

 

what do you see when you look at the quilt in the middle?

 

did you see a face or two prancing horses!  Would you like to see the winning quilt?

 

as it will appear in so many magazines, I don't think an appearance here will matter

 

it's hard work ooohing and aaaahing over the wonderful quilts, so what better way to have an energy boost, than tucking into a delicious icecream!!

 

while I was eating my icecream, there was a group of people just a few feet from me who were paying attention to a chap who was holding forth in a loud voice.  He looked, and sounded, familiar, but I couldn't place him.  Then later, when I was looking round the traders, I saw a photo of him on  a stall, and realised who he was.  He was a contestant in The Great British Sewing Bee, earlier in the year.  (the photo is from here)

 

after a very enjoyable day at the quilt show, we had a good journey back, and I got home about 8pm, to enjoy a late dinner and a glass (or two) of wine!  So what did I buy?

 

the little fairy lights at the top are for Malcolm.  He will be making more driftwood trees for Christmas, and I thought these would look good on them.  You can find them here.  I couldn't resist the book of flowers, and it made sense to stock up on some of my favourite threads - I usually have to buy them online, so buying them at the show has saved me postage.  I had to rearrange my thead box to fit them in (oh, ok, I have lots more thread!)

 

beads and buttons, cute sheepie ribbon, and some iron-on bias for the stash.  I have had this book for years, but hadn't got round to making any of the projects ....... but now I have some lovely woolly bits, I shall have to decide what to do

 

when I was taking the photos of my purchases, I also took photos of a couple of things that we bought last week.  I frequently say that I don't know how I have a son who is now in his thirties, as in my head I am still 29.  So when I saw this mug, it had to come home with me!!

 

Malcolm bought this little owl for me

 

I will put these metal tags on some bunting

 

a last word on the quilt show ...... I was delighted to bump into Val Ramsay, whom I knew some years ago, but after Val moved to County Durham we lost touch.  We had a very rapid catch-up on all that has happened in the intervening years, and parted with promises to try harder to keep in touch!

With all my gallivanting, I am lagging behind on reading and commenting on my favourite blogs, but I should catch up over the next few days.  I also haven't been able to keep up with replying to comments and answering questions, for which I apologise - if you have asked me something and I haven't replied, please ask me again!

To finish, I realise there has been a distinct lack of sconnage, so here is a wonderful cheese scone which we shared on Sunday

 

ps - on our way home today we popped in to a garden centre for a bowl of soup for lunch.  As we walked in the door I let out a loud groan, as the staff were setting up their C*****mas displays!!!!!

 

Fleas!

I promised you a tale of plague ....... and you will probably need a hanky to dry your eyes by the time you have read this account!  The plague came to Eyam in September 1665, carried by fleas on a bolt of cloth brought from London for the local tailor.  Seventy six families were affected, some of them being wiped out.  One woman, Elizabeth Hancock, buried her husband and six children over the space of eight days.  There are signs on a lot of the buildings in the village

 

and there are graves in odd places, as people were encouraged to bury their dead in their gardens to try to contain the plague

 

by the time the plague ended in October 1666, 260 peope had died.  However, there were happier things to see in the village!  I would have put Malcolm in the stocks, but they were padlocked shut!

 

there is a handsome church

 

Malcolm was rather taken with this house

 

then it was on to the main reason for visiting the village - Eyam Hall, an unspoilt example of a gritstone Jacobean manor house

 

the Hall is now run by the National Trust, but unlike other properties, the Hall hasn't been given to the Trust, but leased, so that it remains in the family's possession.  The Trust are delighted with this arrangement, as it gives them the chance to show off a smaller house, compared to the grand mansions they are usually gifted.  The family lived in the house until earlier this year, so there is a mix of rooms presented as they would have been in the past, and with the modern living arrangements

 

 

the stitching on this sampler is exquisite

 

but I don't think I would attempt to embroider a bedspread like this one

 

we enjoyed a stroll round the gardens, admiring the outside of the house

 

the outbuildings in the courtyard have been turned into small craft shops

 

did you notice the little dog snoozing in the box on the right of the last photo?  The village had one more delight to see.  Well dressing seems to be confined to Derbyshire.  A large tray is filled with clay then flower petals are pressed into the clay to make pictures.  There were three for us to admire

 

I won't be here tomorrow, as it is Malcolm's birthday.  We are going up to visit Stuart and Alison, as they both celebrate their birthdays this month (and mine is the 2nd of October), and we are going out for dinner to celebrate.  I'll be back on Wednesday to tell you about my day out on Saturday, but for tonight I'll finish with this strange vehicle which we saw in Eyam

Grand living!

I have so many photos to show you, that I have decided to start with our visit to Chatsworth, as it deserves a post of its own.  When you park the car, get out and look round, you might think that this is the grand entrance to the house (it was so  busy that it was difficult to take photos that didn't have people in them)

 

but this is the entrance to the stables!  However the only horse that you will see now is this one

 

as it was an hour until the house opened, we set off to explore the gardens, and view the outside of the house.  We admired the classical statues

 

but were slightly puzzled by this one ........

 

....... until we read this

 

the west end of the house is magnificent, with gold-painted windows

 

as we walked round to get a better view, we found more people taking photos

 

this is my favourite photo of this side of the house

 

we walked away from the house to admire more of the enormous sculptures

 

the giant shell was a beautiful shiny gold on the inside, and I like this fun photo, where it looks as if you could fit the house in the shell!

 

it's hard to believe that, not only is this giant rockery manmade, but all these giant stones were moved without machinery!

 

at this point we had walked a fair distance, so we stopped for a delicious icecream

 

we were now far enough away from the house to have a proper view of the sheer size of it

 

we spent so long in the gardens, it was now time for lunch.  We shared a "meal deal" - a rather posh sandwich, a piece of lemon drizzle cake (amazingly the only cake we had in all the time we were away!) and a drink

 

I had visited the Ladies before lunch, but had to go back afterwards to take photos of the amazing tiles

 

then it was time to go into the house.  I was surprised, but delighted, to learn that photography was allowed.  When Malcolm looked throught the photos last night, he said that they really didn't do justice to the magnificent rooms, but because of the low levels of light, it was hard to take sharp photos.  This is the entrance hall, and a detail of the ceiling

 

this is an inner courtyard, with more gold paint

 

there was a queue to take photos of this!

 

Malcolm's foot provides the scale for this sculpture

 

just some of the many paintings

 

where else would you have your bath but in the wardrobe?

 

the bed hangings are sumptuous

 

 

 

this violin hanging on a door is a trompe l'oiel (I had several attempts at taking photos, but this is the best I could do, as it was on the far side of the room, and I wasn't able to get any closer)

 

the magnificent dining room.  The table seats twenty

 

a somewhat unusual chandelier!

 

the last room of our tour was the sculpture gallery.  It was hard to take photos that didn't include detailed male appendages!

 

we had to leave through the gift shop - but we managed to escape without buying anything!

 

a random selection of the leftover photos!

 

this must be the best higgledy piggledy fence in the whole world!!

 

there was no patch'n'chat again this week, so no Friday cake!  I will be up at 6am tomorrow, to pick Maureen up at 7am in Jedburgh.  We'll then go to Kelso, to meet up with the rest of Abbey Quilters.  We are going to the Autumn Quilt Show at Harrogate.  It's a long way by bus - I think it's between 3 and 4 hours to get there!  Whether you are staying at home, or are out and about, I hope you have a good weekend.  I'll be back on Monday with the rest of our trip - including tales of the Black Death!  Love, Anne

Back home!

We've only been home about 90 minutes, so just a very quick post tonight.  On our travels, we saw the crooked spire of Chesterfield Parish Church

 

the splendour of Chatsworth

 

and the Jacobean Eyam Hall

 

I'll be back tomorrow with lots more photos (we took almost 300!!) and lots of history.  But now we are about to open a bottle of bubbly and celebrate our anniversary!

 

A new walk

I had recently picked up a leaflet showing walks starting from Newton St Boswells, so yesterday we parked in the village centre and set off for a quiet Sunday stroll

 

the scenery as always was stunninng, if a little hazy

 

there were lots of brambles, which was good to see after last year's poor crop

 

this was the first time that I have seen black rosehips

 

this tree was laden with apples, and it was very tempting to pick some as we walked past!

 

a little bit of higggledy piggledy fence

 

and a weathered fence post

 

I think this is an old tree root, set in to the side of a large barn

 

part of the road has been closed to traffic since the by-pass was built, so we were enjoying the peace and quite without any traffic roaring past

 

then ........ first a man went past

 

then two runners

 

then two ladies on horses

 

and a man on a bike

 

and ........ dozens of runners!!  I was puffing a bit walking up the hill, and they all ran up it at speed!

 

at least we knew when they had all passed us

 

this post box ........

 

is from the reign from of Edward VII, so it is over 100 years old

 

we popped in to the garden centre for a cuppa and a scone - but I had left the camera in the car!  Back home, there were still lots of butterflies about

 

and bees

 

but this morning Malcolm discovered some unwanted visitors under the roof, just above the buddleiia - wasps

 

Malcolm phoned the council, and a pest control officer will come out to deal with the nest (and give us a bill for £54!).  But the wasps buzzing about didn't stop me from taking yet more photos of the butterflies

 

I heard a tractor in the field behind the garden, and sprinted up to the gate just in time to see it cutting hay

 

we are going away for a few days, to celebrate our wedding anniversary, so I'll be back on Thursday to tell you what we've been doing!

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On the road again!

Just a quick post, as I am somewhat tired, having left home at 8.15 this morning, and only getting home at 5.30 this afternoon.  So where was I?  You have probably guessed that I went to Stitchin' Heaven.  But I didn't see Anne today, as she is really quite poorly at the moment, and isn't allowed to come to the shop.  I am sure you will join with me in sending her best wishes for a speedy recovery.  Her lovely husband Mick is holding the fort, and of course the local quilters have rallied round to help out.  Annie and Frances weren't there today, but Ros was ensconced in the corner as usual.  She was quilting one of her applique blocks

 

Margaret has started hand piecing a new project .......

 

......... having finished this beautiful double wedding ring quilt

 

Lucie was working on her hexagon quilt

 

and Susan was hand quilting her Lilly Pilly

 

I'll be back tomorrow with what I have been sewing ....... and a little bit of fabric may have sneaked into my bag and come home with me!