frayed at the edge

A bit of this and a bit of that

It was such a lovely sunny morning, we headed out early to go to Kelso ....... we had planned to go for lunch before I went to knit'n'natter, but decided to go for a walk in the sunshine as well.  We weren't the only ones enjoying the sunshine - this duck's plumage was shown of beautifully in the sun

 

We were delighted to see that this dog was much more concerned with keeping the river bank tidy, picking up plastic bottles, than the humans who had dropped the litter

 

We went somewhere different for lunch - I don't why we have never got round to eating here before!

 

Lunch got off to a good start when first my tea arrived ........

 

..... and then Malcolm's coffee, in very pretty china

 

Then the food arrived - we had both chosen the mushroom, caramelised onion and brie on a toasted bagel ....... yes, it was as delicious as it sounds!!  (and the presentation was wonderful too!)

 

I was busy in the studio at the weekend.  Having made a quarter of the templates for the Farmer's Wife blocks ....

 

....... I started sewing and have made the first two blocks

 

I was also doing some more machine quilting on my row quilt (which had been neglected for several weeks!)  I have a confession to make ....... when I did my sample, I had to alter the tension as the dark thread in the bobbin was coming up to the right side.  Having fiddled about with it until the dark thread didn't show, I then started quilting ......... but it wasn't until I had done quite a bit that I noticed that the cream top thread was showing on the back (it didn't on the sample).  I had done too much to contemplate unpicking it ...... so I have rather an unusual effect on the back!!

 

Yesterday I did more prep work on my hexagons, cutting out lots of papers - it was quite relaxing sitting there snipping away, listening to the radio and enjoying the warmth of the stove (the only discordant note was Christmas adverts on the radio!!)

 

I also did some more work on the Baltimore block - I seemed to have got bogged down stitching so many leaves - but now I just have another two to do!

 

I have also been getting organised to make a batch of cards with the orchid photos - although slightly different to the ones I made for the swap.  I am using single fold cards, and have to trim the photos as they are slightly the wrong size for the cards.  Then I use a little gadget that clips the corners - it's amazing the difference it makes to have rounded corners

 

I am making the cards as I have a table at the end of November at the Southdean Christmas Fair ..... I will have to knuckle down and get lots of things made.  Fortunately the lavender from the garden has dried, so I will be able to make more lavender bags and coasterswanted to send him the hare

To end, something special in the post again today ...... I had ordered two of Gretel's latest lino cut prints, and Gretel had emailed me to check that I did want two, and that it wasn't a glitch in the order.  I replied that I did indeed want two, as one is for Stuart's Christmas ...... he had admired my little hare when he visited on my birthday.  The wonderful Gretel promptly replied that although she know longer had any hares for sale, she would pop one of her own stash, meant for presents, in with my order, as a present for Stuart ........ I had mentioned in a previous email to Gretel that Stuart had recently taken up running, and as Gretel has too, she wanted to send a little something to a kindred spirit (oh dear, now Stuart knows what one of his Christmas presents is!)  Thank you very much, Gretel ..... and I love the plump little elephant too!

Only the best will do!

How is this for a posh carrier bag?

 

So what were we buying - a duke or a princess ..... or even the castle itself?  No, we were shopping in the deli at the coffee shop!  We got a wonderful chicken and leek pie (which was less than half price!)  We've had one of these pies before - it had lots of chicken and a lovely creamy sauce, so we are looking forward to enjoying this one

 

We also got a sourdough loaf - yes, I could bake one, but when we were standing in the queue we could smell the bread, so it just had to come home with us!

 

When we got home, there was a parcel sitting on the front doorstep.  It didn't quite have an exotic stamp on it ....... although it had come from that very exotic part of the UK..... Wales!

 

....... but it was full of wonderful things!  Three balls of delicious sock yarn, two free patterns, and a lovley little cotton bag to keep my knitting in

 

Yesterday I wound the laceweight yarn into a ball, using the swift and the new ball winder, which make the whole process so much quicker and easier

 

The pattern says to use a circular needle, but unless I need to because of the number of stitches, I would much rather knit on straight needles

 

I had a busy day yesterday - you can see some of what I was doing on the table ........ more hexagons prepped (in the centre)and templates made (in the bag on the right) - but I can't tell you what else I was doing until after I have sent off my envelope to my partner in Mousy Brown's swap.  (And why is there a piece of pipe lagging on the left of the table?)

 

Out in the garden, there are still little bits of colour.  We got this clematis earlier in the year

 

It had a few flowers on it when we got it, but then it sat there all summer sulking.  Now it has buds on it and one flower has opened!

 

Across the garden, the two clematis on the trellis are still flowering profusely, with lots of buds still to open

 

I keep meaning to look in my plant books to find out what this climber is

 

For some reason this little fuchsia doesn't flower in the summer when the others do - it waits until the others flowers in the border die back

 

This last rose is clinging on

 

The hellebore is confused, and has started to flower again!

 

The nuthatch was back on the peanut feeder this afternoon - and still determined to show me its bottom!!

 

When the robin wan't looking, these cheeky sparrows had a bath (you can see the water that has splashed over the edge!)

A little bit country

I usually watch tv at the weekend when I am in the studio, but on Saturday I was listening to music - my wonderful new Lady Antebellum cd (it's that buy with one click on Amazon .... it is just too easy to look at something, and before you know it, you have bought it!!)

 

 

I have done quite a bit more stitching on the Baltimore block - I have done all the leaves on the outer left hand side

 

 

I got out the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt book, which I bought at the quilt show in Harrogate, and the fabrics that were left over from the row quilt

 

 

Included with the book is a cd with all the templates needed to make the blocks

 

 

This meant fetching the laptop from the house and plugging in the printer (I need to tidy my desk!)

 

 

There was only one template on each page, which was a bit annoying as some of them are very small

 

 

What was that - you want ot see more of the ruler (I won't embarrass Malcolm by telling you that is is actually his ruler!)

 

 

The next stage was to get out some of my stash of cereal packets, and some clear sticky backed plastic

 

 

I cut out the first template, leaving a margin round it - don't worry about all the paper I will have to cut off, it will be used for shopping lists etc

 

 

The first template - only another 105 to go!!

 

 

Yesterday we had plain brown sparrows to finish - but today we have a colourful blue tit

 

 

 

Persuasion

Berwick Quilters held their exhibition at the weekend ....... and Malcolm didn't need too much persuasion to go, when I reminded him that there is always wonderful home baking at quilt shows!  I don't think he was disappointed by yesterday's selction (I should point out that we shared the cakes!)

 

 

There was a wonderful display of quilts ......

 

 

....... and Malcolm promptly spotted this owl

 

 

This is the quilt that my friend Katy made for her husband, featuring his wonderful Highland cattle

 

 

She also made this very cute teddy bear quilt

 

 

Another very, very cute quilt ...... I love the elephants!

 

 

I forgot to find out who made this amazing miniature quilt show - the detail is fantastic, given how small it is

 

 

Also on a very small scale is this bed - it is about six inches long

 

 

The quilt show was held in the village hall in Horncliffe, which we hadn't been to before, so we went for a walk before we headed for home.

The first thing to catch my eye was this tablet in memory of a former minister in the village

 

 

I was also able to add to my collection of post boxes - you can tell from this one that we were over the Border in England, as Scottish post boxes don't have ERII on them (she is the first Queen Elizabeth of Scotland)

 

 

Malcolm spotted this doorway - we thought perhaps the door hadn't been used for some time!!

 

 

The knitting update - I have finished my socks ........ but when trying them on - oh dear, they make me itch!  Hopefully they will be ok once they have been washed

 

 

I couldn't decide what to knit next, so had a potter round my stash and found a kit with this pattern, which can be knitted as a wrap or a triangular shawl (sorry, it wasn't the best of photos on the pattern)

 

 

I haven't decided yet whether to knit the wrap or the shawl, but as I have still to wind the yarn into a ball, I won't be starting it until Wednesday (I'm out at Abbey Quilters tomorrow evening)

 

 

To finish ...... I have great admiration for wildlife photographers who spend days, weeks, months, even years waiting for their subject to appear - I get bored after five minutes waiting for the birds  

 

 

Wine and cricket!

Although the domestic cricket season is over, there is still cricket being played abroad ....... so we are enjoying a glass of wine and watching cricket in India, thanks to the magic of Sky tv.  Yes - I watch cricket too - my Dad played when I was little, and we used to have 'test matches' in the back garden, until we got new neighbours who erected a greenhouse!

The wind has finally dropped, and it is merely breezy now.  The sky is clear, so hopefully we will get another lovely sunset.  I have a collection of 'sky' fabrics ..... maybe one day I will make a wallhanging of the view of the sunset from the front garden.

This afternoon at patch'n'chat, Tricia produced her sampler quilt, which she has just finished.  It is a truly stunning quilt and she is under strict instructions to put it into the Scottish Championships next year.  It is her birthday tomorrow - so many happy returns, Tricia, and have a wonderful day with your family!!

 

 

Andrea was working on a gorgeous wallhanging (even if it does have cats on it - you know that I don't like cats).  We all liked the combinations of blue and yellow, giving it a lovely fresh look.

 

 

Annette wasn't able to bake a cake for us this week, but we forgave her when she produced Selkirk bannock for us to enjoy with our afternoon cuppa.  This link will take you to the website of the firm who make 'the original' Selkirk bannock - and lots of other traditional Scottish goodies.

 

 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, love Anne

 

ps - I thought you might like another photo of the robin in the birdbath!

 
 

Emergency over!

Being a punctual person, I arrived at the dental centre 15 minutes early ...... and was taken after waiting for only five minutes.  Fifteen minutes later, my tooth was fixed, the bill was paid and I was heading for home.  Sadly Douglas, my dentist that I was so in love with, has now retired, so I was treated by my new dentist, Mr Prusek.  I think he is Eastern European ..... he sounds like a villain in a James Bond film 'you need a new fillink'.  He was very quick and efficient, and apart from the first prick of the needle, I didn't feel a thing - that's my kind of dentist!!

Back home, I made some apple and sultana chutney.  As so often happens, there was a little drop left over when I filled the jars ....... so what better way to try it than with a piece of crumbly extra mature cheddar and some slices of pear

 

 

We have had extremes of weather today - very bright sunny spells, mixed up with black skies and heavy rain.  So the birds were either sheltering .......

 

 

..... this little sparrow even had its head tucked under its wing

 

 

...... or tucking in before the next shower

 

 

For once the robin sat for long enough on the stone owl for me to take a photo

 

 

but he was determined to keep his back to me when he perched on the wooden owl

 

 

There haven't been any finches in the garden recently, so I was glad to see this one this morning

 

 

 

This afternoon I was out in the studio, continuing with my sporadic attempts to sort out my various stashes.  I have a lot of sample curtains, which I buy (very cheaply) from a shop in Hawick.  They take up a lot of room, so I have been gradually taking them apart, keeping the fabric, throwing out the little bits of header tape, and giving the lining fabric to Malcolm, who plans to use it as extra insulation in the loft.  So I reduced this pile ......

 

 

to this much smaller one

 

 

Now I have to resist the temptation to fill the empty spaces !!

 

 

To finish, some photos of last night's stunning sky

 

 

 

 

A small emergency

When I was brushing my teeth this morning, something didn't feel quite right.  A quick feel round with my tongue revealed that a filling had fallen out.  Unfortunately, this filling is in the back/down the edge of a front tooth (upper left two, to be precise) so it has left a gap.  Of course I immediately phoned the dentist ..... only to get a recorded message telling me that everyone was busy and to phone back later.  When this happened twice more, I said to Malcolm that I would just head down to the dental centre, in the hope of getting an emergency appointment.  When I got there, there was little sign of anyone being too busy to answer the phone!  I explained what had happened and asked if there was an appointment available for today.  The receptionist said no, and that I would have to phone tomorrow between 8am and 8.30, to ask for an emergency appointment.  I found this just a little bit puzzling - why couldn't I just make the appointment there and then?  Because you can only make an emergency appointment by phoning between etc.  So I will just have to hope that when I phone tomorrow morning, they aren't to busy to answer the phone!!

When I got home, things didn't get much better - there on the doormat was a cardboard envelope containing photos, clearly marked 'please do not bend' .......

 

 

Never mind, things then got better when I went out to the studio to do some sewing.  I finished the redwork block

 

 

Did some more work on the Baltimore block

 

 

Then I spent the afternoon watching an old film while I prepped more hexagons

 

 

When I transferred today's photos to the laptop before dinner, I realised that I had only taken the above four!  So after dinner, I settled down to take some photos of the sparrows on the bird feeders ....... but they preferred for some time to sit in the hawthorn tree

 

 

But eventually, this male decided to tuck in to the seed in the feeder

 

 

 

 

While this one had a look on the ground for food - you can see from his ruffled feathers that it is quite windy here!

 

My poor thumb

When I was picking the rosehips, I had an unfortunate tussle with a very sharp thorn, which the thorn won, leaving a nasty gouge out of my thumb

 

 

It is a real nuisance, as the ragged edge keeps catching on things, so I have had to resort to putting a plaster over it, in the hope that it will heal underneath

 

 

However, I have still been able to get on with some sewing ...... although the needle keeps catching in the plaster!  I have done a lot more prep on the hexagons, with seven strips tacked over the papers, and another one part done.  Then I have cut the hexagons from another sixteen strips, and have another twenty six strips to go

 

 

I also got a bit of sewing done on the Baltimore block, stitching the birds in place

 

 

The redwork block is progressing - every time I look at it I laugh at the little lamb!

 

 

After leaving the the apple/rosehip mixture dripping overnight, I transferred the liquid to a jug.  After I put it in the fridge, I realised that I hadn't taken a photo.  As you can see the jug is rather full, so rather than risk spilling it, I took this rather strange photo of it in the fridge

 

 

The apple/bramble mix is now dripping through.  I will make jelly with both lots of liquid in the morning ..... it will be delicious to have on my porridge!

 

 

There has just been a slight pause in writing tonight's post, as I had to snatch up the camera and capture the robin in the birdbath!

 

 

 

Do you think I should put out little towels for him!!?? 

Jumping up and down and squealing .......

....... when I saw my friend Alison's quilt this morning, and found not one, not two - but three rosettes on it ...... one of which declared that she is this year's champion!!  (and she got a 'judges choice' too!)

 

 

The lighting wasn't very good, so the photo doesn't do the quilt justice.  At first glance, it looks like a painting, and the more you look, the more detail you see.  If you click on the photo, it should enlarge).

 

Alison wasn't the only Borders quilter to do well this year.  Kay (you can read her blog here and see her brand new website here) won rosettes for two of her quilts

 

 

I had a rather funny moment this afternoon, when someone called my name and said hello ....... it was one of those awful moments because I just didn't recognise her.  But it was Kay - up until today, we only knew each other through our blogs and emails, but she recognised me from photos on my blog, whereas I hadn't seen a photo of her!  It was lovely to meet her, and maybe we'll get organised to meet for a cuppa soon.

 

Other winners from the Borders were

 

Ann

 

 

Catherine

 

 

Brenda

 

 

Barbara

 

 

Domenica

 

So ........ did I buy anything?  Well of course I did!!  My excuse for buying these wonderful Anni Downs fabrics is that I don't have many small prints in my stash - and I do have two of her excellent books!

 

 

I also bought these two packs of cheap fat quarters  from Crafts and Quilts to make bags with

 

 

 

 

As I do every year, I picked up an entry form for next year's show ........ maybe this time I'll make a quilt!!

 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend,  love Anne

Don't let the bedbugs bite ......

...... although I don't think this one will!  He is called Wegis, and I won the pattern to knit him in a giveaway from Knitting off the Grid.  I have realised that I don't have any yellow in my yarn stash - it's just not a colour that I would normally buy, but I will definitely have to buy a ball to knit Wegis.

 

 

When the post arrived this morning, I was delighted to see an envelope addressed to me (Malcolm gets far more post than me).  Although it didn't have an exotic stamp .......

 

 

....... I knew from this little stamp on the back that the envelope contained something very special

 

 

 Gretel had posted about a lino cut that she had printed, and popped in her Etsy shop ....... one look and I had to have one.  Well, could you resist this charming print of a hare

 

 

As well as the print, Gretel also sent me two of her cards.......

 

 

....... which she has not only signed, but has done delightful  tiny drawings on

 

 

and that's not all ..... there was also another of her lovely cards to accompany the hare and the cards

 

 

When I showed you the start of Malcolm's work to make the new steps for the front garden, I should have shown you this step that he made for the French doors in the back lounge.  The doors have a uPVC sill, which sit on an ugly concrete lintel , and it was awkward to step from the lounge out on to the deck.  I asked if he could make a better step ..... and this is what he came up with (yes, we actually had our afternoon cuppa sitting on the deck!)

 

 

He was working on the frameworks in the garage this afternoon ....... the two pieces of the frame are butted up, but when they are in place, the concrete steps will be in the middle.  One section has to be removable to allow access to a manhole cover for the drains, but Malcolm laid long deckboards on top, just to give you an idea how the steps will look

 

 

On Saturday, I had the stove in the studio lit for the first time this autumn

 

 

so I was cosy while I got on with my sewing.  I prepped more of my hexagons

 

 

and did some more stitching on the 'redwork' block (isn't the lamb exceedingly cute!!)

 

 

On Sunday I continued to work on the 'row' quilt, still stitching in the ditch

 

 

I quilted round the first of the house blocks, and realised that I now had rather a lot of ends to sew in .....

 

 

Fortunately I had recently bought these needles .......

 

 

........ there is a slot in the top that allows the thread to be pulled down into the eye.  This saves a lot of time when you are threading an awful lots of ends (and if these days you need an needle threader!!)

 

 

While Maloclm was sawing, hammering and nailing in the garage this afternoon, I was in the studio sewing.  Fortunately there is a lot of insulation in the wall between the garage and the studio, and combined with my loud music, I couldn't hear him!

 

 

I added the buds to finish this block

 

 

Then I did some more stitching on the fourth block, stitching round the body of the bird

 

 

We have workmen arriving in the morning - come back tomorrow and I'll tell you what they are doing!!