Three burns and you're out!

I've been a busy busy little bee this weekend and what do I have to show for it? Not much I'm afraid.  The busy little bee was doing the sort of housework I try to avoid (on my hands and knees on the kitchen floor cleaning the bottoms of the cupboards and skirting boards and that sort of thing).  The advantage of being short sighted is that I can't see the cobwebs, grubby marks and dust.  I got new glasses this week and was wearing them round the house to get used to them -  OMG.

I knitted a bit yesterday evening and painted today.  The baby cardigan is coming on well although I have to say I'm never happy with the sewing together bit. There must be a neater way.

I haven't painted for ages and had a lovely time this afternoon sitting with the Spanish Grand Prix for company doing a little heart for a friend at work (well for her niece).

It starts with a piece of MDF

I undercoat with Light Buttermilk and choose the palette (Janet's niece is called Skye so she wanted blue.

 A gentle sand and a buff with some brown paper

The basecoat of colours (I always think it looks really rough at this point until I straighten up all the lines and decorate the edges.

Cue John, Ben and Steph,  so the paints were put out of the way of little fingers and we went to see the chickens and pick some dandelion leaves for Flossie.

The final piece, decorated with dots, lines and little daisies.  (Janet's words not mine!) All done after they went home and while I finished cooking our Sunday meal.  I turned the oven up for the Yorkshire Puddings and put the on the pan of potatoes to parboil.

BURN 1 - THE TEA TOWEL  (Oops left it too close to the gas)

BURN 2 - THE FINGER (Getting the hot pan out of the oven - I have a little Aloe Vera plant on the kitchen window sill - works a treat).

BURN 3 - THE BROCCOLI PAN - while I was decorating the heart I forgot the pan. That is not going to recover as quickly as my finger.

I think this is the time to sit back and watch the last bit of Inspector Montalbano which I recorded last night.  It finishes after my bed time and, since it is in Italian with subtitles I have to watch it.

Another weekend has passed in the blink of an eye. I'll have to draw out the pattern for Thursday's class tomorrow after work.  I missed doing my quilting this weekend but the house is sparkling. Well, relatively speaking, and I can always take my glasses off.

Until next week xxxx

Loving all the stitching

It's a cold, rainy bank holiday weekend.  Well it was ok yesterday but today (Sunday) it is pouring down.  I thought I'd blog today before the house awakens fully.  I love Sunday mornings because I still get up early but I have a couple of hours complete peace and quiet to stitch.  This morning I have been adding more rows to a jumper for Max.

It's a lovely shade of baby blue.  I'm doing this in the second size so he should be wearing it by Christmas. I love this knitting yarn - it has a lovely soft drape. Also on my needles are some bootees:

I think this is the third attempt to get them the right size.  They are made in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino but when I knitted the first bootee I missed out some of the rows (note to self - READ the pattern properly) The second attempt would have been big enough to fit an elephant. I consulted my friend and expert knitter Barbara, from Ring-a-Rosie and she suggested smaller needles (although I do knit quite tight anyway). This rendition is on 2.5mm because I didn't have any smaller. they look better so far.

We had the Baby Shower last Saturday in the conservatory of a local pub.

This is Steph (33 weeks) just about to cut the cake.  It was delicious but I have to say the design was quite weird.  It was half a baby lying on the cake. The only way to cut it was to either chop its legs off or to cut it through its little bot. In the end Steph dismembered it by removing the legs. Totally bizarre! Lucky it tasted so good.

Of course I have done the usual and given away a quilt without doing final photos.  So here is a quick look at the detail and I'll get Steph to photo it in situ.

When I'm quilting in the Durham Style I usually use multiple needles.  I find this keeps the back from getting annoying ripples.

I used the fabric as inspiration for the appliqué panel - there are four elephants - this is Daddy. The elephant fabric has a lovely soft sheen and is perfect for a baby quilt.  I have done a pattern for it which I will publish when Max is born. Squeak - a grandma for the second time.

On my hoop at the moment is the start of a nine block Durham Quilt for my Thursday night class.  Hilary showed me a nifty way to sew pre-quilted blocks together.  It's a technique I don't normally use but it works well this way.  The front is a soft grey green and the back is a lovely gentle floral.

This block will be a simple feathered circle with cross-hatching (or if Lilian Hedley is reading I'll wash my mouth out with soap and water - Durham Quilting calls it Square Diamonds).  Each block will measure 18" and the quilt will measure 54" finished.  I'll keep you up to date with the progress.

The Thursday night class is just about full now. I'm going to have to be super organised as one of my team at work is going to be off for an extended period and we are going to have to take on extra tasks to cover.  She does a a fantastic job on some very confidential matters and is one of those people who works quietly away without complaint.

Baking - well I have been baking away - I think a chocolate sandwich (family favourite) will be on the cards today.  Again I'm bad at taking pictures - partly because the kitchen looks like a disaster scene when I'm done on a Thursday night.  Here is a raspberry and white chocolate cupcake from a couple of weeks ago.

Yum. We had cheese scones this week - I'n not the greatest scone maker in the family.  John makes much lighter scones than I do. I thought it would be a change from sweet stuff and I was low on caster sugar anyway.

So for the rest of today I'm going to be doing some work I have brought home - fuelled by my little pot of sweeties and plenty of coffee.

I'm afraid the tumble dryer is going to be working overtime today.  I want to get everything cleared so that I can have a day of peace and stitching/gardening depending on the weather tomorrow.

Wishing you a good bank holiday!

Lazy Easter Monday

As promised some photos of the finished wallhanging - it was a mystery quilt for my Thursday Night Ladies at High Street Quilting.

There are more - not quite finished - Ann is on her second one!  I really love the different colour choices and the decorations and embroidery which make each quilt unique.  From beginners to experienced, each quilt has a special quality. I'll be gathering the the six sheets of pattern together into one over the next week.  I already have the next one in my head and partly on to paper. Designing ~ I love it!

I've been washing - here are some more quilts on the line and the first one is my all time favourite- Flying Geese:

 I love the bright sunlight filtering through the Lady of the Lake quilt.

The sunshine has been glorious again today - Scott (next door but one) has brought his self built car out for a run - seen here with Will. Scott is very sad as he will be selling the Westfield to pay for his wedding. Boys and their toys eh?

John is spending the day in bed with a virus. We need some good weather, solid rest time and some fresh fruit and vegetables I think. Although I have to say John is very good with his diet. He always prepares everything from fresh ingredients - he won't eat ready meals. I think his problem is the lack of sleep and the long working hours.  Balance - my father used to say. Perhaps we should pay more heed to his words.

I've been watching 'Kew on a Plate' with Raymond Blanc (his accent and passion make my knees go weak but that's another story). It's inspiring me to get out in the garden. Will dug over my veggie beds bless him. They have been getting a bit of chicken manure over the winter thanks to his moveable hen-pen. Steph and I will be going to the garden centre tomorrow (avoiding the main Easter rush) to stock up on plants and maybe have a little coffee. The hens are back to full laying after the winter lull. Loving the fresh bright golden egg yolks. 

Talking about weak knees I have just watched the latest episode of Poldark. How handsome is Aiden Turner? Makes an old woman very happy and of course I am a sucker for a love story. Sigh.

Please excuse me now as I am about to watch Raymond Blanc massage some tomatoes with olive oil. Oh my.

Easter at the Strawberry Patch

A peek at the week in pictures:

 Ben in his work gear - he won't have help to get his goggles on!

I decided to unpick the yellow hexagon - it looks ok here but the yarn is different and shines too much - it stands out like a sore thumb.

 Making Easter Egg Coasters for the class on Thursday

 Special request from Will - his favourite cake - plain old Victoria Sandwich.

 Did I really choose to make broth on the hottest day of the year so far?

Yay! I made macarons that worked (thank you Edd Kimber) Raspberry and White Chocolate - but they take ages to make.....

Putting the final touches to the wallhanging.

School broke up just over a week ago. Why is it that I often get ill at this time?  Does this happen to other people - it's as though your body says "okay this is pay-back". I started feeling poorly last Saturday, sore throat headache etc. By Monday I was feeling really low but still had three days at work.  Luckily hardly anyone was there so I could be get on quietly and not pass too many germs. Thank you whoever invented Paracetemol.  I just crawled into bed each day when I got back home. By Thursday I felt a bit brighter so I made some tiffin for the class at High Street Quilting and prepped some little gift packs of Easter Coasters for the ladies,

On Friday morning I woke up with not one, but two cold sores.  Time to slow right down, really really. I had enough shopping to last the weekend. So slow down I did. We had Easter Lunch at John's   (delicious - pulled pork, asparagus and dauphinois potatoes with a lovely pea-shoot salad) but  I'm ashamed to say I had an easter egg for my tea - no wonder I can't fight germs! I'm feeling much better now and ready to do a bit of Spring Cleaning. I'll start slowly today with some curtain washing and then get going properly tomorrow with cupboard clearing.

Today is Easter Monday- my pottering day.  I'll be marking up a quilt top which I did ages ago for Quilts for Comfort. Tonight I will have a few more pix of the finished wall hanging and some of the ones that the ladies have done.

Off my needles this week

I seem to have done a lot more with knitting and crochet over the winter months than normal and I'm asking myself why.  I love all the media I work with, patchworking, crocheting, painting, knitting (gardening too) but the yarn has won out spectacularly these past few months. My hexagon blanket is an absolute joy to work on - the colours make my heart sing:

 I finished the Christmas Scarf

 And the blanket for the new baby

I have patterns for the new baby too but none of the yarn I have matches the tension (boo hoo)

How cute??

Well the school has broken up for Easter. I'll be working the first three days of next week and then off until 13th April. I'm so looking forward to the break - it has been a mighty couple of months. I have been lolling about all weekend nursing a sore throat and stinky headache. Roll on the fresh air and light nights in the garden. I need some exercise badly.   Especially when I eat things like this for my lunch.

Excuse me while I lick my lips. Bad girl, but I needed the sugar after today's Grand Prix. Well I think I will check on our tea and then maybe squeak another couple of hexagons in. Oh yes I have realised why the yarn has won out recently. It's the getting out and putting away factor. I just pick up a ball of wool and a hook and go for it. No digging out stuff or cleaning up and putting away.  My kind of craft - I'm getting lazy in my old age.

Maybe the Easter Bunny will give me a kick up the whatever.

Whatever.

Just breathing

I'm just breathing - basking in the peace and quiet.  The weather is lovely, the chores are done and now I'm going to settle down to a bit of something yarny.  A few weeks ago I lent my camera to John and it came back with the wrong cable so I'm not able to upload any pictures.  My phone camera is ok but not that great so apologies for the quality. Hopefully the cable will turn up soon.

Ben made me some crispy cakes for Mother's Day.  He did, however, save me some calories by eating the chocolate eggs off the top of every cake. Such a considerate boy. He's had a really nasty cold this past week, with a racking cough,  and hasn't been his normal jolly little self. It breaks your heart when they are just floppy and wan. Even a cuddle from Flossie couldn't restore his spirits.

I made a little hexagon lavender bag this morning when I was having a cuppa. The fabric is some linen I bought at The National Quilt Championships a couple of years ago.  

I think I'll make some more - it only took a few minutes and it's lovely to secrete these little fragrant bags in amongst the yarn, or in my wardrobe.  I have an orange studded with cloves in with my Christmas decorations.  It's about 8 or 9 years old but still releases a lovely Christmassy scent when I open the box.

Well there is much more to tell but it would be boring without pictures - I have finished the Mystery Quilt and many of the ladies at the class are just about finished - there are some absolutely stunning interpretations of this simple little pattern.  I'll take some pictures to show you when they're done.

Steph has just past the six month stage now so I need to get going with a crib quilt.  I've seen a simple design but I have to let it call to me first!  We are having a baby shower in a month so let's hope the call comes soon.

A little quilting, some happy hooking and cooking a shoulder of lamb are the 'tasks' for the rest of the day but at the moment I am just sitting quietly just breathing. 

Til we meet again.

Grumpy Old Woman

Today in the supermarket I was approached by a young woman who said,

"Do you mind if I ask you, do you collect nectar points?"
"Yes, I  replied,
"What do you use them for? she continued,
"The yes was to your first question" I said.

She smiled in a slightly embarrassed way and just said "oh, ok".  Do I feel guilty about cutting her off? No I don't actually.  That's how I know it's official, I am a Grumpy Old Woman.  You know what - it feels good. I hate being accosted by market researchers, or people trying to sell me a new kitchen, or wondering if I wanted to sue anyone.

I've had a horrible week at work and I just want to be with my lovely family, bask in the gorgeous colours of my hexagon blanket and sleep!

I've had to make do with the hexagons though - John is on a course at a Harley Street Clinic for the next three weekends so I'm not going to see much of him. Will is very like me - just likes to have his own company and comes out every now and then for something to eat!

I'm going to make some fig rolls for the class this week - or attempt to make them, I've never done it before, but I'm looking forward to trying.

There's lots to do at work with the new budget in. I'm trying to get a quart out of a pint pot - does that make sense?

Next Friday is Red Nose day and we are having an all night football tournament- ooo I might take my Angel quilt to embroider. The kids don't usually get tired until about 4am. I was on quiet room duty last year (loose definition of quiet there).

The hens are laying more eggs as the days get longer and Will has finished another run for the (very spoiled) rabbit.  Flossie by name Godzilla by nature.

So I'll pour a stiff shandy and get my crochet hook out - 39 made and they barely cover the front of a cushion.

Have a good week everyone xxxx