frayed at the edge

A bunny flop!

On Saturday, I (almost) finished my bunny pincushion ..... bit it didn't all go quite to plan (in future I'll read the instructions properly!).  I had pinned the front and back together, with all the limbs and the head tucked inside .......

 

 

But I should have left a gap in one of the seams so that I could turn it right side out after stitching right round the edge!  When I did turn it through, I found that I hadn't made a very good job of positioning the various bits.  I've stuffed it so you can see how it looks, but I will have to unpick it and do it again (I have actually pinned the head, as I hadn't tucked it in far enough and it just flopped forward!)

 

 

While I was sewing, our neighbour 'Jim the farmer' popped in with some more fruit.  He used to own the farm steading which our house is part of - my studio was the milking parlour!  He was amazed at the transformation from when he used to mik the cows!  I made plum jam today with the first lot of plums that he gave me ........ I think I might run out of jars before I use all this!

 

 

I had to go to the dentist today to get my broken tooth repaired.  It feels great not to have a ragged edge anymore!  The dentist also finished the cleaning and scaling while my mouth was numb (he's very considerate of my fear of pain!!).  Then on my way home, I called in to collect this .......

 

 

It's the first pair of Kylie's paintings, which I have just had framed. 

 

 

Aren't they gorgeous!!  (I'm sorry about the quality of those two photos, but it has been such a miserable grey day, it was hard to find somewhere in the house with a decent amount of light to take them!)   The pictures are the same size - it's just the way I propped them on the couch to take the photo that makes them look different!

 

And now ..... roll of drums, fanfare etc.  The big moment, the winners of the giveaway.  I know lots of bloggers use online number selectors, but I use the low-tech method, as in ' Malcolm, give me a number between one and whatever!'

The first winner is ...... WandaFish

The second one is ..... Leenie

Can you both please email me with your addresses ..... I have two little pile of goodies ready to send to you!

A nice surprise!

I arrived home from patch'n'chat to find this in the kitchen

 

 

I knew what was in it ....... but I wasn't expecting it until next month!  

 

 

It's the carrying case for my new sewing machine.  It was part of the special offer I got when I bought the machine, but they didn't have any in stock and said I wouldn't get it until October.  It has a thick padded inner to protect the machine in travel (but I will have to practise more before I take it with me to workshops!)

 

 

I was working on my row quilt this afternoon (I have to admit that I hadn't done any work on it since last Friday!)  I am now working on a row of flowers, and have completed two

 

 

 

Of course Friday afternoon wouldn't be complete without cake - today's was one of Annette's light as air sponges, sandwiched with delicious raspberry jam.

 

 

Well, that's it, my 499th post - I find it hard to believe I've done so many!!  Tomorrow, of course, is Shadow Shot Sunday, so I won't tell you who has won the giveaways until Monday ..... by which time I should also have found something to give away!!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend - I will be catching up on my neglected sewing!  Love, Anne

  

 

 

Watch the birdie!

On our way home this morning, we decided to have a stop in Linlithgow.  We had a walk down to the loch, where this swan went all shy just as I snapped!

 

 

We are used to seeing swans and ducks at the loch, but today we also had the treat of seeing geese

 

 

These cygnets haven't yet got their adult plumage

 

 

But one day they will look like this!  

 

 

But it was all too much for this one - a short nap was called for!

 

 

Our next stop on the way home was at a garden centre for a bowl of soup for lunch (chicken and haggis, delicious!).  When we had a look round after lunch .... more birds!

 

 

And who could resist this mum and her babies

 

 

But the day wasn't all about birds!  This funny little van caught our eye in Linlithgow

 

 

We also did a little bit of shopping ..... I have almost finished my cable cuff socks, so I got Malcolm to pick some sock yarn (I don't think he will want cables on his!)

 

 

We also saw this kit to make a fabulous wallhanging ........ it's my birthday soon, so Malcolm bought it for me as an early present

 

 

This is my 498th post, so remember to leave a comment if you would like to be included in the draw for the 500th post.  There will be two draws, one for home and one for 'away', because of the cost of postage ...... but I have a little confession to make - right now I have no idea what the prizes will be!!  I will have to delve into the depths of my stash (I may be gone for some time!!) to find some suitable things!!

   

   

Ah - so that's what it's for!

We're sitting relaxing after dinner at Stuart's.  It was a special dinner, to celebrate Malcolm's and Alison's birthdays (hers is this Friday).  But first, what was the felt coaster for?

 

 

It was to sit on the cracket under his candlestick

 

 

Now that I have seen what it is for, I will make another one, slightly wider, with the pattern round the edge.

 

I also had his new curtains to hang - after making them several weeks ago, this was the first chance I had to put them up

 

 

For dinner, Malcolm had made lasagne (it's his signature dish!)

 

 

and pudding came from Marks and Spencers

 

 

would you like a better look (of course you would!!)

 

 

Must go, I'm missing out on the conversation (and perhaps a glass of wine!!)

  

 

Now it's official ......

........ it's my room!  This parcel arrived in the post this morning - a present from Sue

 

 

We had decided to do a little swap (oops, I forgot to take a photo of the things I sent to Sue) ....... I was thrilled to open my parcel and find this super cross stitch - so there is no arguing, the studio is mine!

 

 

 

I found the perfect spot for it this afternoon

 

 

 

I had gone out to the studio to use the embellisher, as Stuart had asked me to make something for him, and as we are going to visit him tomorrow, I thought perhaps I should get on with it!  He had asked for a coaster, six inches in diameter, with a two inch hole in the centre.  He wouldn't say what is it for, so like me, you will have to wait until tomorrow to find out!  The only other requirement is that it matches the colour scheme of his hall.  I pulled this unpromising lump out of the storage box ......

 

 

 

I carded some of the off-white stuff, and soon had made a start to the needlefelting

 

 

 

A quick look in the kitchen produced a plate and an egg cup to use as templates for the circles

 

 

 

so that I would know where to add my design

 

 

 

and then ..... oops - I got so engrossed in what I was doing (as I was working the design freehand) I forgot to take more photos - so we go straight to the finished article!!

 

 

 

Yesterday I mentioned jam - I've made more plum and bramble jam (although as this batch has fewer brambles it is paler)

 

 

 

I also started a batch of apple and rosehip jelly

 

 

 

Which I left overnight in the jellybag to drip through

 

 

 

Then boiled up with the sugar this morning, to give two big jars, which will be delicious with our porridge over the winter

 

 

 

And of course you have still to see the rosemary jelly.  It turned out really well, producing a full jar and some left over which we had with roast lamb for Sunday dinner - it was very good!

 

 

 

ps - there may be more jam/jelly/chutney posts to come ..... while I was writing this, our neighbour 'Jim the Farmer' came to the door with a big bag of plums, with offers of more plums AND cooking apples!!
 
  

   
  

 

 

 

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!! 

  

Birthday Boy!

I didn't go out for a walk this morning, as I had something far more important to do ... I had to bring Malcolm a cup of tea in bed while he opened his presents - yes, it's his birthday today!!  (I didn't want to shock you by taking a photo of him in bed, so I took this later!!)

 

 

Here is the birthday boy checking his emails

 

 

He may have graduated in 1974, but his university haven't forgotten him!!

 

 

On your birthday, you are allowed to forget about healthy eating, and have this for breakfast!

 

 

And of course you have to celebrate in style

 

 

The sun shone on the birthday boy, and we were able to dine al fresco ..... steak cooked on the BBQ, my coleslaw and loaded potato skins!

 

 

Don't forget to leave a comment if you want to be included in the draw for my giveaway to celebrate my 500th post!  I'm off tomorrow on yet another adventure - I'll be having lots of fun and I hope you have a fun weekend too!!  Love, Anne

I was nearly Hitchcock!

These mornings when I go out for my walk, I am greeted by lots of swallows ..... they are gathering before they set off south for the winter.  They are very noisy, and constantly swooping through the air, so this morning I thought I would try to film them.  I've never inserted a video clip into the blog before ....... and I won't be doing it this time, as it was taking forever to upload (next time I'll make the film much shorter!)  However, I can show you them sitting on the wire

 

 

There was a beautiful clear blue sky this morning, full of contrails .... this one made me smile - did the pilot change his mind about where he was going?

 

 

When I saw this tractor and trailer coming towards me, I made sure I stepped as far back on to the verge as possible!

 

 

This afternoon, I headed out to the studio to start making something on the new sewing machine.  It didn't take me long to decide to use this pattern ...... I saw it recently on Thimbleanna's blog and just had to have it!  I was delighted last week when the pattern arrived

 

 

I like to keep my patterns intact, so I photocopied the pattern sheet, stuck it to a piece of card and cut out the bits

 

 

Then of course, I had to choose some fabric ....... I decided to use the beautiful fabric that I bought at the NEC ....... a bit extravagant perhaps?

 

 

I drew the head, ears, paws and feet onto a folded piece of calico

 

 

I set the machine up ready to sew - after picking the stitch, the screen showed me the settings to use

 

 

Sewing round curves is not one of my strongpoints - I am better with straight seams, but eventually all the pieces were sewn and cut out with a small seam allowance

 

 

Now, I have a confession to make ......... I should have then turned all those pieces right side out and stuffed them, ready to use when I stitched together the body.  BUT ....... I sat down in the summerhouse to have a cuppa with Malcolm, and picked up the book I have been reading.  I was almost at the end ..... and couldn't put it down until I finished it!  So you can blame Stephen King and his latest book 'Under the Dome' for not seeing any more sewing!!

 

While I was having fun in the studio, Malcolm was hard at work in the garden.  The pergola has become completely overgrown by a clematis, honeysuckle and climbing rose, so he had decided to cut everything back.  Having made a start yesterday, he finished the job this afternoon

 

 

I'm off to the dentist tomorrow afternoon to have my troublesome tooth out ....... I will have to practise my deep breathing exercises to stay calm!!

   

 

   

 

 

Now read the instructions!

Having had a play with my new machine, I though perhaps it would be a good idea to read the instructions ....... and not just read them, but also watch the instructional DVD that came with the machine.  So first I sat and watched the DVD (I even made notes!) and then read (most of) the manual.   I looked out a folder and cut some calico to fit the pockets, then I made a start on trying out the 'utility' stitches, making notes on the fabric as I went .....

 

 

The first six were straightforward .......

 

........ but you may notice that stitch 8 is missing.  That's because to do it, I have to put on a very scary looking foot and alter the thread tension and the presser foot setting ....... so I thought I would leave that to another day!

 

We had a browse in our favourite charity shop on Saturday, and as soon as I saw this book, I grabbed it and ran to pay for it before anyone else realised what a treasure it is!

 

 

There are clear instructions

 

 

Lots of wonderful stitches

 

 

and beautiful patterns, like this Christening dress

 

 

I have finished my first sock (apart from the Kitchener stitch)

 

 

and have knitted the cuff and picked up the stitches for the main part on the second one (I need to finish off the first one, so that I can transfer the stitches to the double pointed needles!)

 

 

I have also been working on Maia.  I had been knitting it on the circular needle that came with the kit, but no matter how oftern I use a circular needle, I just can't knit very quickly, so yesterday I transferred the stitches to straight needles, and things are going a bit faster!  I pinned this bit out, so you can see the pattern

 

 

If you look at the top of the left-hand sidebar, you will see that I have added an e-mail link ....... and if you look at the right-hand one, you might see another additon - yes, I've been given an award!! It was given to me by the lovely Lee of Just Like Martha - it's hard to believe that it is almost a year since I met Lee in Sydney when we were on holiday!  I now have to nominate ten people I would like to pass the award on to and then tell you ten things about myself.  So first the nominees - I have passed on an award before, so this time I thought I would choose blogs that I maybe only recently started reading ....

http://chasingpurpledreams.blogspot.com/

http://www.ourgrandmotherskitchens.com/

http://sweetmarynz.blogspot.com/

http://cathyholtomdustylane.blogspot.com/

http://thimbleanna.com/

http://bumblebearies.blogspot.com/

http://www.rattlingon.typepad.com/

http://www.attica-slowlife.blogspot.com/

http://kristenmakes.wordpress.com/

http://www.thegreengal.co.uk/

If you would like to accept the award - just pass it on to ten other blogs that you love and list ten things about yourself.  I haven't been able to put the award into the body of the post, so if you can't take it from the sidebar, email me and I will send it to you.

 

Now, the hard part, ten things about me

1. I learned to knit and sew when I was seven

2. I'm allergic to prawns

3. I once (over the course of a month) travelled round the world

4. I have had a scar on my left knee since I was five

5. I fractured a knuckle on my ring finger when I hit myself with a badminton racquet

6. I passed my driving test first time

7. I'm scared of heights

8. I suffer from seasickness

9. I prefer a starter to dessert

10. I always wanted to be tall

 

Anything ewe can do .......

....... I can do too!  The other morning, I paused to watch these sheep in the field next to the church

 

There was a line of them walking across the bottom of the field from right to left - there were even some coming through the gate from the next field to join the end of the line.  Then this morning, there was a line of them walking the other way across the field, with a group in the next field heading down to the gate to join in - maybe they just wanted to keep me company?

 

 

On the other side of the church, the old manse has the remains of an apple orchard in the gardens.  This morning, there were two horses kicking up their heels and generally having fun - but when one of them spotted me, it ran and stood between two trees - did it think I couldn't see it, if it couldn't see me?

 

 

It is now much cooler in the mornings and autumn is definitely drawing closer.  It is just about time to pick some rosehips - they are like jewels in the hedgerow

 

 

Of course it's Friday, and that means cake!  Annette treated us to another of her strawberry and cream sponges - but these are probably the last of this season's strawberries!

 

 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend - I think you can guess what I will be doing!!  Love, Anne