frayed at the edge

Oh I do like to be ......

...... beside Newbiggin-by-the sea!  As it was a clear bright (and somewhat chilly) morning yesterday, we headed over to Newbiggin for a walk along the seafront.  I wasn't worried by this notice, as there was no way I was going anywhere near the freezing cold sea!

 

we missed seeing the lifeboat being launched from the trailer behind the tractor

 

but we saw it out at sea bouncing over the waves

 

then later we saw it reversing on to the trailer

 

and being towed back up the beach

 

finishing with a tricky manoeuvre to reverse ........

 

up to the lifeboat station

 

this groyne shouldn't end up buried under the sand, as it is part of the landscaping, and isn't on the beach

 

this may look like a bare wall

 

but a closer look .......

 

...... shows plant growing between the bricks

 

a quick pause for an arty photo

 

from the far end of the seafront, we had a good view of the church on the point

 

then I took this photo as we walked back to the car

 

I suggested this boat would be a good "fixer-upper" project for Malcolm, but he declined to buy it! 

 

so I suggested that he could offer to repair these doors, as they are definitely in need of some tlc

 

we were going to go to this café for a cuppa, as it brings back memories for Malcolm of childhood visits and ice cream treats.  But as it was closed ......

 

...... we headed instead to the Maritime Centre

 

where we had some excellent sconnage for lunch

 

what an excellent idea, encouraging people to help keep the beach clean (I think people who drop litter on the beach should be thrown into the freezing sea as punishment - that would make them think twice before doing it again!)

Back in the old routine!

 Yesterday I took down and packed away all the Christmas decorations, and now all that is left is the Christmas cactus

 

and the poinsettia - amazingly I have managed not to kill this one, and so far it has only lost one leaf!

 

while I was packing away the decorations, Malcolm was busy putting up this curtain over the front door.  Oh dear, I can hear you say, but how will the door open with the curtain in the way?

 

a little bit of magic - the curtain rail is attached to a bracket at one end, and can you just see the arm that pushes the rail forward as the door is opened?  I had vaguely remembered seeing such curtain rails, and eventually tracked one down online

 

I got very excited when I was out in the garden this morning - this tiny shoot is a snowdrop, the first of the bulbs we planted in the autumn!

 

this blackbird is slightly hazy, as I took the photo through the kitchen window

 

when we were watching University Challenge last night, three of the questions involved naming Russian cities marked on a map.  To help, the cities' names were shown in the Cyrillic alphabet.  Malcolm was exceedingly surprised (and impressed) when I told him the answers.  He had forgotten that I studied Russian at school

 

after a search this afternoon, I found my Russian dictionary, which was a school prize

 

I used to be able to read and write Cyrillic script!

 

some very good advice after the Christmas overindulgence! 

 

I may have stepped away from the chocolate, but this week we have indulged in two delicious cheese scones

 

but of course as usual we had half each, so not too naughty!

 

the forecast for the weekend isn't too bad, so hopefully we will get out for a walk, after being somewhat lazy for the last two weeks.  And of course I hope to spend some time in my Attic, playing with fabric!  Have a good weekend, love Anne

 

I'm dreaming of a white ......

........ Friday after Christmas!

 

it started to snow after breakfast

 

and just went on and on!

 

as it started to get dark, large amounts of crows started to appear on the tall trees in the distance

 

while several dozen starlings appeared on the hedge outside the kitchen window

 

even starlings turn their backs on me!

 

later, the moon appeared (I should say that all these photos were taken from indoors - there was no way I was going out in the snow!)

 

on Sunday we went up to Berwick - it was very windy, and the sea was rough

 

the moon as seen from the flat!

 

of course, Sunday was Hogmanay, so we had some bubbles at midnight

 

cheers, and belated wishes for a Happy New Year!!

 

we had a good view from the flat of the fireworks (it was much too cold to go out)

 

on Monday the wind had dropped, and as it wasn't so cold we went for a long walk on the beach.  Not just a tyre this time, but a complete wheel

 

after more storms, the beach has changed again, and this is all that can be seen of this groyne

 

this photo of the same groyne (the one in the middle) was taken in July 2016 ....... its amazing how the level of the sand has risen!

 

what a wonderful find on the beach

 

Malcolm wants a Landrover, so he can drive on to the beach to pick up the big pieces of driftwood (maybe Santa will bring him one with my alpacas in the back!)

 

who told the crow to turn his back on me?

 

this very cute little dog decided that Malcolm was her new best friend, bringing him her ball to throw

 

there were some big waves crashing on to the beach

 

on Monday night there were storm clouds ......

 

...... creating some dramatic views of the moon

 

this may look like an oasis in the desert, but it is a little rock pool!

 

a bit of fun to finish - we had a very naughty houseguest, who ate our sweet treats

 

drank cider

 

and tried to steal some of our Christmas presents!!

 

6 & 6 in 2018 : the new challenge

After the success of last year's challenge, Meredithe and I had a flurry of emails whizzing between the UK and Australia, before we came up with this year's challenge.  We thought we would make it more fun by adding in new projects, as well as working on UFOs.  Should you decide to join in, remember there is no pressure to finish things, just make significant progress ........ and most of all, enjoy yourself!  You can decide on your new projects as the year goes on, but choose your UFOs now - here is the technical stuff, which Meredithe kindly takes care of (I pinched it from her blog, and have amended it where necessary) - you can also click on the link above to go to Meredithe's blog to see who else has signed up

Now it’s your turn.  Either link up by clicking the icon below (on Meredithe's post), or if you don’t have a blog, list your nominations in a comment, or photograph the list and put it on Instagram with the hashtag #6and6in2018

If you are linking up

:: Please link directly to your post on your 6and6in2018 not to your home page
:: Please link back to this post somewhere in your post (ie Meredithe's post)
:: Visit other linkers to see what they’re going to be working on for 2018 (who knows you might see something there to inspire you!)
:: The link will be open for a week
:: If you haven’t already, pick up the 6and6in2018 blog button from Meredithe's side bar

here is my list 

 

as I work on the UFOs over the coming months, I will give you the history of each one, but for now, here is how they look

#1

 

#1

 

#2

 

#2

 

#3

 

 

#3

 

 

#4

 

 

#5

 

 

#6

 

this month we get to work on a new project, and I have chosen one based on this sample I made last year

 

using the Liberty fabrics that Malcolm bought for me some weeks ago

 

I'll be back tomorrow with lots of photos of what I have been up to since Christmas!

17 UFOs in 2017 : the final report

 Where did the year go?  It only seems five minutes since Meredithe and I came up with the idea for this year's challenge ........ and suddenly it is time to do the end of year report!  So, here is my list ....... the ones with red ticks are finished (woohoo) the ones with turquoise ticks have had significant progress made on them, and the ones with pencil ticks - well sadly they are the ones that have languished in the pile for a year, with no progress at all!

 

so. let's go through them in order.  As you know, I struggled with Mrs Billings, and finally decided to give up! However she will be quilted, and the leftover bits used for something else

 

the Aunts' Quilt - the applique is all finished and she will go to Lucie to be longarm quilted in the New Year

 

Best Friends Forever ....... finished!

 

....... a detail of one of the stitcheries, with a message for all of you!

 

I had embroidered the stitcheries for The Night Before Cristmas some time ago.  I made the quilt for someone several years ago, and couldn't face piecing all the setting star blocks again, so I decided to divide the blocks up to give me two quilts.  I might add some applique

 

a detail of the left-hand quilt

 

and one from the right-hand one

 

the Felted Tree - oh dear, this is one of the neglected ones!  The plan is to add a border that the tree will extend into

 

the Sheepie Wallhanging.  This was made from a kit for a draught excluder - but it is much to nice to put on the floor!

 

Circles - this has been layered .......

 

.......and quilted in the ditch, as you can see on the back.  The next step will be fmq on the blocks

 

the Black, White and Red quilt (it was hard to think of that title!)  Sadly another of the neglected ones

 

a detail of the fun fabric I used for the centre cross

 

the Batik bed runner.  This has been finished for some time, and is on our bed

 

a detail of the applique

 

the Goodbye Quilt - woohoo - another finish

 

a detail from the back of the quilt, showing the quilting

 

the William Morris wallhanging - all that remains to do is quilt it (!)

 

the Amish wallhanging - now being used as a runner.  I was glad to finish this as I started it in the late 90s!

 

rather than a woohoo, can we have a hoot for another finish!  The owl wallhanging, given to me by the lovely Miss Helen, is now hanging above the bed in the guest bedroom (and of course Jemima and Pooh had to be in the photo!)

 

now for a little oops - I have been working on the fourth panel of the chicken wallhangings at the flat, and forgot to take a photo.  When it is finished, it will join the others in the "fitness room"   .........

 

........ watching me as I endure the implements of torture

 

this cushion, made from a panel started at a Sheena Norquay workshop, came in as a substitute for a counted cross-stitch map, which I decided that I couldn't face finishing (it went to a charity shop)

 

a detail of one of the squares

 

when I got out this counted cross-stitch project, I was thoroughly embarrassed to read a note on it that I started it on 1/1/96!!  It is very hard to see, the stitches are so small - so I have now ordered one of those magnifying/light thingies to hang round my neck

 

these two rows in grey are all I managed to add to it last week, before deciding to wait for the magnifier, so not quite significant progress

 

the Red and Black Sampler - alas, another neglected one!

 

a detail of one of the blocks

 

so that concludes my end of year report.  Overall, I am fairly happy with what I achieved, given that I did work on lots of other thing (and of course we moved house!).  To catch up with what everyone else has achieved, as always, pop over to Meredithe's blog, and once you have read her report, scroll on down to the linky thing for the other reports.

Meredithe and I are delighted that so many of you took up our challenge, and have been inspired to tackle your pile of UFOs.  The challenge for next year is 6&6 in 2018 ...... month about we will work on a new project and a UFO.  We will only list our UFOs at the start - if you want, carry over the unfinished ones from this year, or look out 6 more (not a problem in this house!).  We won't list the new projects at the start, as who knows what temptation we might succumb to as the year progresses.  So get your list of 6 UFOs written ready for our Grand Launch on the 2nd of January!

 

So all that remains for this year is to wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year, and leave you with some wise words written by a very wise woman (ok, it was me who wrote them on the kitchen blackboard!) love Anne

 

 

 

 

A fun snowman!

 I had bought a bottle of pomegranate juice to use in cooking a lamb dish, and when the bottle was empty, I thought it would make a good snowman.  So I raided the store cupboard for some salt to fill the bottle

 

definitely looking like a snowman

 

I used a large polystyrene ball for his head,  glued on buttons and pompoms, then found an oddment of wire-edged ribbon for his scarf.  The bottle top made a good hat

 

when Malcolm saw him he went off and cut two twigs for his arms - a quick, easy and fun make!

 

we came up to Berwick yesterday, and after lunch we walked over to town, pausing to watch this little redshank poking about at the river's edge

 

and this swan which had found something tasty at the base of a wall

 

we were surprised to see ice floating down the river

 

this lump was just about big enough to support a polar bear!

 

this little wagtail wasn't bothered by all the pedestrians walking past, although he wouldn't turn round and face the camera

 

then just when I got him in focus again, he hopped off!

 

we walked over to town in the early evening for some pub grub, and on the way back I took some photos of the Christmas lights

 

as I had the big camera with me, the results are a bit better than my previous efforts

 

the golden blur on top of the bridge is a train - the long exposure has created a strange effect

 

for this one I balanced the camera on the bridge parapet,  so that there isn't so much camera shake

 

this morning we popped along to the local garden centre for a cuppa, and were delighted to find that the donkeys were visiting again

 

the dark one at the back wouldn't look up from tucking into a tasty meal of hay

 

you may remember that my Christmas cactus recently had to go to the compost heap, so I was pleased to find this glittery replacement, in a decorative metal pot

 

I have two wonderful scones to share with you today - we had this one yesterday when we stopped for a cuppa on our way up to Berwick

 

and we had this one in the garden centre this morning.  They were both delicious, both made with a good, strong, sharp cheese

 

I am going to take a short break, but I will be back on Friday the 29th, with my last report of the 17 UFOs challenge.  So, to finish .......Malcolm took all the magnetic  Scrabble letters off the cooker splashback this afternoon when he was doing a bit of "Christmas cleaning", so when I helped put them back .........

 

I assembled a message for you!

 

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, and that Santa is good to you (I have to report there isn't yet an alpaca shaped parcel under the tree!!).

 

A new challenge!

After the success of our 17UFOs in 2017 challenge, Meredithe and I decided we would issue another challenge for next year.  But what would the new challenge be?  After a flurry of emails between here and Down Under, we formulated the new challenge.

 

I shall let Meredithe explain it to you .........

 

6 & 6 in 2018

What on earth??  we hear you asking.  Well, it’s simple.  We know many of you, as well as Anne and I, like to do new things as well as try to finish or at least get Substantial Progress happening on older projects.  Too often the bright, new, shining thing distracts us so to combat that in 2018 it will be a challenge of 6 old and 6 new.

::  The 6 old can be carried over from 2017 or if you’ve been a smarty pants if your list is cleared, you’re welcome to nominate 6 more projects.

:: The 6 new, well, you probably don’t know about them as yet, they’ll most likely be things that grab your attention during the year, so no nominations needed.

To play along, we will post about a new project on odd numbered months (i.e. January, March, May etc) and your nominated UFO’s on the even numbered months (i.e. February, April, June etc).

What do you think?  Would you like to play along?  You have until 1 January to sort out your 6 UFO projects.  Anne and I do hope you’ll join us again.

Who knows what 2018 will bring, project wise??

 

Back to me - I do hope lots of you will join in with us - you don't have to have a blog to play along, you can send photos of your projects to Meredithe or me and we will post them for you.  I haven't yet sorted out my UFOs, but I do already have two new projects lined up ..... it is going to be a busy year in the Attic!

 

 

 

A little bit chilly!

 Although we didn't have any snow over the weekend, it was decidedly chilly ........ just the weather to stay indoors and be busy.  I finished the baby quilt - it was a reasonably quick and easy make, as it is simply a printed panel

 

quilted with my favourite big lazy loopy meander

 

and backed with a soft and cuddly pink fleece, with unicorns

 

yesterday morning we headed over to Amble for a (chilly) walk.  If you need evidence of how cold it was, this is ice in the harbour!

 

this eider duck was swimming at a great rate of knots ........

 

...... to catch up with its friends

 

there was a great swarm of gulls round this boat, but as they were in constant motion they are just a blur in the photo

 

whereas this one posed beautifully for a photo!

 

this fishing boat looked all shiny and new at the front

 

but somewhat more rough and ready at the working end

 

Malcolm occasionally talks about buying a boat .....

 

....... his budget might just about run to one of these two!

 

of course we went for a cuppa (we needed to thaw out!)

 

it's a while since we had one of our famous two-scone lunches .... so we indulged in a delicious fruit scone with jam and cream

 

and a tasty cheese scone, which had been heated on the grill - and as we have half each, we don't feel too naughty!

 

back home, I retired to my Attic to get on with some Christmas projects.  You can't see the sewing yet, as it one of my 17 UFOs, but I can show you my little plaster cherubs, which were looking a bit sad

 

I popped them into a cardboard box to spray them - they look a funny colour here, but they did dry to a deep gold (OK, I admit I forgot to take a photo of them when they had dried)

 

next up was a polystyrene wreath and some soft brushed cotton fabrics from my stash

 

I ripped the fabric into strips, to give a rustic look

 

and tied them round the wreath

 

I found these cinnamon sticks in my stash of decorating bits and bobs

 

and put pins through the raffia binding, and then pushed them into the polystyrene

 

so far, so good ........

 

........ but even better with some little lights added

 

I saw this idea on Pinterest, but I didn't pin it, and I can't find it again to credit the original creator.  It was simple to create - the original on Pinterest was on a mirrored plate, but as I don't have one of those I used a wooden platter.  Take three different-sized wine glasses and fill them with little baubles.  Turn them upside down and place on your base, and stand a candle on top of each glass

 

and to finish, the big reveal of the Christmas tree!  I took this photo this afternoon ......

 

....... and this one this morning before it was quite light

 

 

Amost there!

Malcolm went off to the flat yesterday, leaving me in peace to decorate the house.  Of course, this is our first Christmas here, so I had to decide where all the decorations would go.  I took down the quilts that hang round the top of the stairs ........

 

........ and replaced them with some of the Christmas wallhangings which I have made over the years

 

it's over twenty years since I made the Christmas tree

 

of course I have to have an owl or two - this one is hanging in the kitchen

 

I replaced the chickens which usually sit on top of the kitchen radiator - I took this photo this morning

 

and this one at teatime

 

angels to watch over us

 

the windowsill in the lounge

 

after the delicious smells in the kitchen when I baked the cake, I was tempted to bake something every day ....... but then I would eat all the goodies and have to spend even more time on the implements of torture to work off the calories!  So instead I bought this wonderful candle, which fills the kitchen with delicious smells.  If you pop in for a visit, please don't try to eat the biscuits ...... they are actually decorations!

 

I'll be back on Monday with the final reveal of our decorations.  I hope to spend some time in the Attic over the weekend, finishing a baby quilt - another one of Stuart's friends has become a Dad!  The forecast is decidedly horrid, although hopefully we won't get any snow.  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

 

It's beginning to .......

........ smell a lot like Christmas!  On Monday I baked the Christmas cake.  I don't do much baking, but I do always bake our cake.  First, I assembled all the ingredients - the fruit had been soaking in brandy for two days, and smelled wonderful.  When I got the packet of soft brown sugar out of the cupboard, I discovered that it had formed a rather solid lump, but fortunately I remembered a tip that someone gave me many years ago - put it into a container and cover it with damp kitchen paper, and it will soon soften and run freely again.  I think I have had my little cake book since the 80s!

 

after all those years of cutting up greaseproof paper to line the cake tin and slathering both it and the tin with butter - now I just use one of these paper liners

 

as I always make the same size of cake, I have highlighted the column of ingredients

 

I love my scales - I sat the bowl and the sieve on them, turned them on, and they were set at zero, ready for me to tip the flour into the sieve to weigh out the correct amount

 

I do have proper measuring spoons, but for the cake I always use this demitasse spoon, which may have fallen into my pocket many years ago on a Singapore Airlines' flight!

 

did I say I love my scales? They give me another easy way to weigh something - put the tub on the scales and remove the required amount

 

the cake ready to go in the oven - and here is another tip I was given many years ago - make a hole in the middle, and you will have a level top on the cake (and you get to lick the delicious cake mixture off your finger after you have made the hole!)

 

and while the cake was in the oven I had the less enjoyable job of washing up!

 

and here is the cake, ready to be wrapped up for the next two weeks, during which time I will feed it with brandy, before icing and decorating it

 

I also said I would tell you what I was up to in the Attic ...... I was quilting the night time snowman which I made when I taught the class at The Quilt Shop

 

the thread selected and the quilting gloves at the ready

 

all quilted and trimmed

 

the cushion cover assembled, just needing the binding hand stitched on the back, sitting on top of the cushion pad - amazingly I had one the right size

 

the new cushion on the couch with the original one - you may notice that the new snowman doesn't yet have any eyes ....... I can't find the small black buttons that I used on the first cushion - but I am sure I will find them soon!!

 

I'll be back on Friday with some more Christmas decorations, which are slowly appearing around the house!