frayed at the edge

Enjoying the weather!

Usually we go out for lunch on a Wednesday, but yesterday I had to stay at home.  I was expecting a parcel, which I was told that I would have to sign for ......... but when the parcel was delivered, I didn't need to sign, and it would have been left in the garage for me if I had gone out.  Most annoying!  So instead, we went out for lunch today.  It was a lovely day for a drive through our wonderful countryside

 

we went to Pirn House, which of course means that I had the French toast with bacon and maple syrup ...... and Malcolm decided to have it to

 

back home, I had a potter round the garden with the camera.  I don't know what has been wrong with the clematis this year.  Only one of them flowered when it normally does, and we now have two flowering which should have flowered weeks ago

 

and this one has yet to flower

 

we have had a lot of bees in the garden this summer ....... this was a big fat hairy one on the herb pot this afternoon

 

the exceptionally warm weather of the last few days has brought out great clouds of tiny flies.   We are going to have some very well-fed spiders if they eat all these little flies caught in webs all round the garden

 

the warm weather has also meant that the butterflies have been busy on the buddleiia

 

I have finished one of the two little Linus quilts - I just have a bit of the binding left to hand-stitch on the other one

 

this afternoon I made two sheepie cushion covers.  The first one was with the fun fabric I bought last week

 

the second one was with the much more sophisticated fabric which Maureen gave me

 

and I am sure that Anna will enjoy these photos of the real thing!

 

to finish ....... taking scenic photos through the windscreen doesn't always go to plan - especially when your driver whizzes round a bend, and you lose your balance and lean to the side, resulting in this!

 

 

So where was I ......

...... when I had to give up yesterday?  I had just shown you Kay's stunning quilt, and was going to show you more quilts - I used to hesitate about posting quilt photos, and there used to be signs up saying that photos were for personal use only, but I noticed there were no signs on Friday.  I guess with so many quilters showing their quilts on blogs/Twitter/Facebook/Instagram, a few photos here won't make a big difference

 

these two quilts have many of the same blocks - but look how different they are, simply because of the colour choices

 

as always, I had my naughty but nice lunch ........ macaroni cheese and chips!

 

after lunch, this little quilt caught my eye

 

how little is it?   My little finger provides the scale

 

of course, there weren't just quilts, there were traders!  I may have bought one or two little things .......

fun fabrics for some new cushions

 

this spotty fabric is for the outer border for the Aunts' Quilt (with a piece of the background fabric of the blocks)

 

I had looked at this earlier in the day, then went back to buy it in the afternoon, as I really liked it!

 

I stocked up on machine needles

 

and who could resist bargain threads!

 

so, on to Saturday, when I headed to Borderland Fabrics to do a workshop with Debbie Renton.  I knew we were going to make a panda wallhanging, so I was surprised that the requirements list only called for a piece of brightly coloured background fabric, and a piece of black fabric.  However, all was soon revealed

all set up ready to start

 

the white is a freezer paper template, with the black fabric fitted into it

 

the template removed

 

the wrong side, showing the black pieces stitched in place

 

it was time to stop for lunch, which was included in the price of the class.  There was a choice of sweet potato soup, or red pepper and tomato soup.  I chose the sweet potato

 

there was also a very tasty selection of sandwiches

 

after lunch, I started quilting my panda block

 

then we had another break, this time for a cuppa and cake!

 

by the end of the afternoon, my panda was finished

 

to finish ........ Debbie has given me permission to share this photo of her stunning quilt "Free Spirit".  She had been thinking of making the quilt, when sadly her horse died.  She went home and started work on it that night ........

 

 

 

 

A worthy champion!

On arriving at the quilt show on Friday, Maureen and I were delighted to find that our very own Kay was this year's champion!

 

 this is Kay's description of her quilt

this shows the reverse side

 

and this detail shows Kay's exquisite quilting

 

 

I am having terrible problems writing this post - I have even changed browsers, which usually works, but it has made no difference!  So I will tell you tomorrow all about the rest of the quilt show and what I did on Saturday.

The Ping Pong quilt .......

......... aka the four fat quarter quilt, came about way back in 2002, when the aunt and uncle of someone I knew announced that they were adopting a little girl from China.  There was much discussion as to what they would call their new daughter, and the brother-in-law of the aunt came up with the worst ever suggestion.  As Chinese people are very good at playing table tennis, he said, I think you should call her Ping Pong.  Of course his suggestion was vetoed, but somehow the name stuck to the quilt!

 

obeying my pattern, I cut the strips

 

then stitched them together

 

the strips were then cut into 81/2" squares, and I arranged the first blocks on the design wall

 

having read through the pattern, I realised that I should add in a bit to say that when you lay your fat quarters out for cutting, you should have the selvedges on your right.  If you have them at the top or bottom, you won't be able to cut your 8x21/2" strips (yes, I know because I made that mistake once!)  It's a very easy quilt to make, and if you want a bigger quilt, simply add a border.

 

the bird bath is in frequent use - Malcolm had just refilled it this afternoon when Mrs Blackbird appeared and had a good splash

 

the robin has been appearing every day just as it starts to get dark

 

Malcolm stuck his head in the studio door this afternoon to let me know that there were some butterflies on the buddleia

 

but this one preferred the wall

 

 

to finish, a sad tale!  Way back in 2009, I made this cushion for Malcolm

 

when Anna was here, we were looking at it, and I saw that it was looking a bit neglected, so yesterday I washed it.  But when I went to give it a gentle press - oh dear, it has frayed and holey bits!

 

so that's yet another project on the to-do list, a new cushion for Malcolm!

 

 

A busy day sewing

On Saturday morning, Malcolm headed off to Berwick, and I loaded up the car with my sewing stuff and headed for Kelso.  I had already made the two quilt tops, and had layered them ready for quilting (I'll tell you about making them tomorrow), so it didn't take long to get the machine set up, ready to quilt the first one

 

by lunchtime the first one was done - yes, I used my favourite big loopy meander!

 

then I quilted the second one in the afternoon

 

they both look like this on the back ..... cosy, cuddly deep pink fleece

 

I demanded insisted asked nicely ........ but Yvonne wouldn't give me her seaside themed quilt.  Wouldn't it just look wonderful in the flat!

 

Lorraine had another of her stunning hexagon quilts

 

Tricia was working on a fun quilt for Linus

 

you can see the blocks have owls on them ....... but did you see that the sashing has pussycats?

 

Sandra was adding borders to the quilt which will be raffled at next year's Exhibition ....... you are only allowed a sneak peek!

 

of course you know that we can't spent a day sewing without sustenance!  Having had a piece of Rineke's delicious Canadian apple cake

 

it would have been rude not to have a piece of Tricia's equally delicious cinnamon and pecan cake

 

to finish ..... when I was doing the food shopping his morning, I could see the supermarket's security guard casting a beady eye in my direction, as I rooted about in the bottom of my bag.  But I wan't trying to hide something I had acquired illegally, I was looking for my camera, so that I could share this with you.  Yes, it's still slightly more than three months to Christmas, but they had Christmas cakes, mince pies and puddings for sale ........ ridiculous!!

 

Orchid update

When I first bought an orchid, it was relatively expensive, and it was a long time before I bought another one.  However, these days you can buy one for the price of a magazine, and as I haven't been buying many magazines recently, I have treated myself to three new orchids (which together cost less than the first one I bought!)

 

I also recently acquired a new tin for my collection - it was marked down to half-price because the biscuits in it were approaching their sell-by date!

 

we are having a sewing day at Abbey Quilters tomorrow ........ I shall be doing something with these delicious fabrics

 

our Friday cake was delicious - a light apple sponge

 

the forecast is good for tomorrow, which is just typical as I shall be indoors all day!  However Malcolm is going over to the flat, so no doubt he will be on the beach.  I hope you have a good weekend, love Anne

 

A very special quilt

I recently read on Rachel's blog about a very special little boy called Rex.  He had been diagnosed with SMA, which you can read about here.  I followed the link from Rachel's blog over to Team Rexy, which is written by Rex's Mum Charlotte.  It is a very moving blog, detailing life with Rex ........ there are lows, but there are also highs, such as his recent first taste of chocolate!  Through Rachel, I got in touch with Charlotte, and offered to make a quilt for Rex.  After an exchange of emails, we decided on a tractor quilt.

This morning, I took the quilt through to the back lounge to take photos  ........ and that's when the fun began!!  The first photo wasn't a problem

 

but then there was a great commotion, as the Gnome Brothers charged across the room, and said that they wanted the quilt ....... the littlest brother is always lagging behind

 

the boys were returned to their own chair, and giving a stern talking to

 

but when I turned round to take another photo, the Gnome Sisters were tucked up under the quilt - well, they said, it is our chair!

 

the quilt was removed, and the girls were reminded that they have their own quilt on the back of the chair

 

suddenly there was a great roaring noise, and CheekySockMonkey came speeding through the door on JDtheTractor

 

they declared the front of the quilt to be totally unacceptable, as only green tractors should be allowed, so they demanded that the quilt be turned over

 

then they had to have a stern talking-to, as they wanted to play in the mud with the pigs!

 

there was a slight flaw to their plan to steal the quilt ....... the daft things couldn't see where they were going!

 

the silly pair were returned to their lookout post on the coffee table, where they keep watch for the neighbours' horrid cats trying to sneak into the front garden

 

with order restored, I put the quilt through on the bed in the guest bedroom.  But then, there was a lot of giggling and commotion ....... and there, under the quilt, were Miss Jemima Ragdoll, Winnie the Pooh, Katy Koala and her baby and Percy the Pink Pig!!

 

after the fun, a serious moment.  Should you wish to help families of children with SMA, you can make a donation here.

I have told you before about Harry, Margaret's grandson (you can read about Harry and his amazing achievements  here).  Harry is fund-raising again - you can visit his page here.

 

 

The star turn!

Last night was the first meeting of the 2015/2016 session of Abbey Quilters, so as usual I picked up Maureen and we headed over to Kelso.  After Sandra, our Chairman (you also know her as our lovely Linus Lady), welcomed us back and went through all the official stuff, it was my turn as the star turn of the evening!  I was showing the members how to make the thistle stitchery sewing kit, and had entrusted Maureen with the camera, with instructions to please take flattering photos!!

 

I seem to have accumulated a mixed bunch of photos that you haven't seen yet ...... these first ones of spider webs were taken yesterday morning when it was very damp and misty

 

then this afternoon in the garden I spotted a bud on the hellebore

 

and a tiny rose - it is not even the size of my thumbnail!

 

I bought these lily plants some weeks ago in the supermarket for a few pounds ....... what a bargain!

 

we know that summer is over when the robin reappears in the garden

 

but after "the locals" posing nicely for Anna, normal service was resumed when this sparrow would only show me his tail!

 

and a very special "to finish" ....... today the Queen became our longest reigning Monarch - and she was here in the Borders!  But I have to admit that we didn't go to see her, and I took these photos of the news report on the tv!!

It might not be a John Deere .......

....... but this tractor panel is going to make a wonderful quilt for a special little boy

 

before I tell you who is visiting us next week, I have to tell you who sadly won't be joining us.  My very special blogging buddy Meredithe was to visit us next week, along with her husband The Golfer, but sadly Meredithe's Darling Dad has recently passed away, so of course they have had to cancel their trip.  So when I get together next week with my other very special blogging friend Thimbleanna, I am sure we shall shed a tear and raise a glass to our wonderful absent friend.  We have a very packed schedule, so you will have to wait until next Friday to find out what we got up to ...... no doubt there will be sconnage along the way!

Have a great weekend, love Anne

 

Slightly delayed!

Thank you all so much for your good wishes while I have been a bit under the weather.  I suffer from a recurring pain in the right hand side of my face, which doctors and dentists have been unable to diagnose or cure, despite both MRI and CT scans.  So when I have a flare-up it is just a case of waiting for it to settle down again.

 

So, on to cheerier things!  A selection of photos from our walk on Saturday afternoon

 

Birds

 

 

Hedgerows

 

 

Beach

 

 

Old doors in garden walls

 

to finish ....... the baby quilt will be heading off to its new home tomorrow, ready for the arrival of the Lovely Grandchild