Pumpkin patch

From this

 To this (low calorie pumpkins)

and this,

  to this - rather higher calorie pumpkin cake.

A little bit of orange fabric to a squishy stuffed pumpkin for a friend and from a fresh pumpkin (which strangely photographed white when it was bright orange) to pumpkin whoopie pies filled with marscapone and maple syrup cream.  Yes it's Hallowe'en.

Sometimes we get one or two callers and other times (like last night) we got loads and I ran out of sweeties. One of the little groups of witches that knocked on the door had a cauldron full of sweets - maybe twenty or so packets.  I did ask her if she had a good dentist but she just gave me a black look.  I bet there were loads of children across the country bouncing off walls last night.

Karen finished her Making Merry Wallhanging this week - her stitching is beautiful:

And Archana continued with her Durham quilt - stitching the blocks together - here she is lining up the blocks - this is her first hand quilting and I am so impressed with the quality of her work - it is going to look beautiful.  She made 12 blocks and is going to do an 8" border as well.

So today - hot off the press is the appliqué version of the Making Merry Quilt
The same, but different this is in Scandi colours and matches in with some other Christmassy its that Steph and I have done.  It will look perfect in her sitting room. I have to say I prefer the appliqué version myself, although the colours that the ladies have done for their stitchery versions are lovely too.  Perhaps mine was a bit pale.

I love the little stockings panels

 

I started the Attic 24 crochet along challenge this afternoon - with a mistake. Poop. I will have to unpick this and start again but since it is in two shades of dark brown I will have to wait until I can do some daylight work (which effectively means next weekend).  I made 11 mid brown petals instead of 12 which only showed when there weren't enough gaps for the yellow petals.  I am doing a sunflower rather than the one that Lucy is doing because my colours are more autumny. I got a few balls from Raing-a-Rosie to make for a better mix,  but I still have loads left from last year's challenge. I've never done group of stitches with six loops on the hook before but once you get the rhythm it is quite easy. I'll just have to remember to count the stitches before I change colour.

So that's all my news for this week. Until you read me again - stay safe.

Peaceful pieceful weekend

After a quiet Friday at work I was looking forward to an even quieter weekend.  John and Steph are away in Tenerife and Will went out at 9.30 yesterday and didn't come back until sometime after midnight (I think).  I got a video call from John on Wednesday night and had a 'look' round their apartment. There were two naked boys lolling about after a day on the beach (Ben and Max) - John was fully clothed!  How different from the holiday communication when I went with them at that age.  We had to find a shop that sold phone cards (at vast cost)  and then ring to say we had arrived safely - that was about it.

Yesterday I tidied, washed, dusted and vacuumed, then settled down, with the fire on very low because it was cool and gloomy yesterday, to quilt until I could quilt no longer. I have to say it was nice not having one son saying "it's cold in here" and the other one saying "it's hot in here". Guess which one works outdoors!  Will spends most of his time at work outside (or on a tractor) and then most of his free time outside either working on his car or bike, or building something in the garden.

I had already sewn together a quantity of half square triangles at class on Thursday night.  Everyone was busy making things and only needed a light touch on the teacher front. I took some pear and almond frangipane squares and was very strong willed - not a crumb passed my lips.  Countdown to Christmas diet is still on track.

I used some half square triangles to make flying geese because we were talking about 'no waste' flying geese.

Then I laid out pieces for the top section of a second version of my 'Making Merry' quilt.

 I drew lines for the seam allowances on every piece

 And sewed them together,

 Section by

 Section, by section

 Until I had every part ready to assemble

 I tried to make sure that no two similar pieces touched, and still had to unpick some....

The last pic was taken later when I had to turn the lights on but I was determined to finish this part last night.

I didn't have to cook an evening meal so I just kept going until bed time.

Bit the same today. I had a half hour Skype conversation with John and Steph. Then I sewed the borders on to the appliqued quilt (by machine this time) and sandwiched it.  I got my quilting bits and pieces out ready.

But then I remembered I wanted to finish my Autumn Leaf block.  I decided to make a table topper for a little coffee table.

I managed to get a bit of appliqueing done before the light faded (an hour earlier of course)

I much prefer the appliqued version although I still find it hard to work with a limited palette.  This one is destined for Steph.  I'll reveal all when it's done.

So now I am sitting with my hand on an ice pack and waiting for the American F1to start, weather permitting. They had 8" of rain yesterday. There's a delicious smell of roasting pork wafting in from the kitchen. The house is quiet and tidy for a change, I love it. 

I'm taking two days off next week and have a huge list of things to do, which I know I will not get through but I don't want to waste any precious time.  When I say I have a huge list to do, I don't just mean things in the house and chores, I mean visiting my lovely friend in Whitley Bay and stitching and, hopefully, painting on the Hill.  I might take a stroll along the beach if the weather is kind. The fresh sea air is a wonderful tonic. We have our Christmas Fair at school at the end of November and I am busy making things for that too. This peaceful weekend has been just what I need.

Butterfly brain fully engaged

Firstly sorry about the quiet two weeks. So busy at work still but I'm hoping to take three days off during half term just to recharge the batteries. I've had full (baby-full) weekends and have had hardly any time to sew.  That and my poor sore hand have severely curtailed my handicrafts.

I had my hand strapped up for a few days to stop me over-extending it but I could still crochet. So I did. Using some of my new yarn I made a few more hexagons.

I am just so in love with this yarn - it is a joy to work with.

This is my blankie so far:

It will be at least 20 hexagons wide and about 25 or so long so there is still at lot of work but it is a labour of love.

I managed to get the quilting finished on the Christmas Wallhanging

The pattern is written - I just have to make the cover and it will be for sale in time to make it for Christmas.  I've just started an appliquéd version but had visitors this afternoon so it's still in pieces.  The light has been so poor that I haven't been able to get a good shot so you can't see all the little stitchery pieces very well.

During the week I wrote the instructions for a new block.  I made the maple leaf in class this week

Our cake break  was (part of) a prize winning cake made by one of our cleaners at school. She used to work in a bakery and quite frankly she should take this up full time.

It had a nutella core.Unfortunately I am on a countdown to Christmas diet and couldn't try it but it looked (and smelled) gorgeous.

I decided to make the maple leaf block (9") a bit larger.

So I cut some strips and added them, log cabin style to the block.

Now it's 18" square.  It could be a cushion front but I think I will turn it into a table topper. The fabric is from the Hallo Fall range by Sandy Gervais. There's lots of gorgeous oranges in it. 

So my butterfly brain has leapt from project to project this weekend.  I love it!

Just to finish with a smile  - a picture of Ben blowing out his birthday candles - ahh. He didn't seem too traumatised about Peppa Pig blazing away on the floor.  He also didn't notice that she didn't have any legs.  They were made like cake pops, using cake crumbs and buttercream and then moulded into shapes. William remarked that the 'truffle things' in the fridge were 'lush'. Yes, he had eaten her arms and legs. Luckily he had left the ears and I managed to make some arms with left over crumbs.

.....and Max who bounced himself to sleep in his little sling. Double ahh. He just smiles all the time, except of course when he's sleeping. I can't believe how big he is.  He was born on 3rd June - less than five months ago and he's in 9-12 months clothes.... which are a bit tight. Ben was such a skinny little thing when he was that age.

Maybe next week I will have some pictures to show you of the appliquéd Christmas Hanging. Or maybe my butterfly brain will have flitted to other things. However I need to knuckle down and get ready for work tomorrow - the endless merry-go-round keeps on going.

John and Steph are taking their little family off to Tenerife for a week for a well earned rest. It'll be quiet without them and I'll miss them but - whoop whoop the (F1) weekend is all mine!

Oh my hands - don't let me down!

What can I say about Yarndale?  Crowded oh so crowded and anyone that knows me, knows how much I hate crowds, (stomach churning, breath gasping, lean against the nearest wall, getting very shirty are all manifestations of this). However I managed to go round the stalls I knew I wanted to visit first before the crowds really took hold. And boy did they!

This was the only place I could stand back in the main bit - the Knit and Natter Lounge

 The mandalas from last year - I couldn't get near this year's flower display

I think this might be mine - the one with the green edges.  I'll have to check back though to be sure. The colours are the same as I had at that time but they are from the Stylecraft Cotton Collection which is very common.

Angora rabbits - you don't get the scale here but they looked huge!

Some endangered breed sheep which I forget to get the names of. Tiny little things they were - bigger than the rabbits though.

Now are these lamas, no I think they are alpacas and I'm embarrassed to say I don't know the difference.

The views over the hills were spectacular but it was so bright that I couldn't get good pics on my phone.

I bumped into my lovely friend Barbara from Ring-a-Rosie (the best wool shop in the country) and we both clung to the railings while we talked because she doesn't like crowds either. She was just off to the Lakes with her husband. And, yes, she did buy some wool!

The most moving moment was when I went to buy some yarn from Amanda Perkins. She closed her Natural Dye Studio last year to concentrate on her designing business. She had brought her last little bit of yarn with her because she said she couldn't justify keeping it.  I said I would give it a good loving home and she welled up - she said it was like watching her children leave. She made me promise to email her pictures of the things I've made.

The five skeins on the left are her babies. They have settled very well with my other yarns from the Natural Dye Studio. It is a crochet tragedy that she stopped dying her yarn - it is totally unique. The other skein is Manos del Uruguay Silk - at £6 an absolute snip.  I think this will become a couple of Neck Wraps in a Solomon's Knot. The yarn bowl has been on my wish list from the first Yarndale. The lady that makes them is also a knitter,  I got a pattern I don't need (as always) and two crochet hooks I didn't have.

You need so little to crochet - yarn, a hook, a pair of scissors and a needle. Like hand quilting you get totally lost in the stitches - better than meditation.

This morning Ben and I went shopping whilst his daddy and mammy went to see about getting a new car. (John's broke down again this week). It's a 12 year old Seat Arosa and has done a good job over the years,  but now he is the proud owner of a Guillieta.

Ben helped load the things on to the belt, then went for a drive in the little van next to the tills. He was sitting quite happily when he looked at me and said "oh no it's broken down".

He jumped out, pretended to lift the bonnet and then jumped back in again "it's ok" he said, "I've fixed it". Guess who's been watching his Daddy!

Then we went round to get him a Thomas the Tank Engine for his birthday on Thursday. He insisted on carrying it.

Oops I forgot - I got these little beauties (each 15grams) of linen.

I was up at the crack of dawn to watch the Grand Prix but the telly wouldn't play ball so I thought I would watch later at lunch time and then everyone landed and the recording I made was all crackly so I ended up watching the high-lights late this afternoon.

I haven't been able to quilt or crochet this weekend because I strained my hand and can't even grip the crochet hook.  So I've had to make do with squishing my precious purchases and my two little boys. Hopefully my hand will get better soon (an old injury). But the squishing was pretty enjoyable.
 
I'm just off now to gaze at the fantastic moon tonight - a partial eclipse and a full moon.

It's only the bright one now - the eclipse won't happen until about 3am. Sorry it's a bit shaky and blurred. The next one won't be until 2033 apparently.

Although if you believe some of the fringe religions we won't be here then. Hey ho.

Have a good week xxxxx

Making Merry or Merry and Bright?

Well it's not quite finished - I'm just quilting the inner border tonight (what ironing? - what washing up? - what dusting?).
This is the hanging layered up and ready to quilt:

And being quilted - it'll look a lot better when it is finished and steamed into shape!

And writing the pattern.  It takes a lot longer than you would think to write the pattern.

I usually start with sketches and hand written notes. With something like this I'll make a grid and mark out all the sizes of each piece to make sure it all fits together and only then do I start cutting. When it is sewn together I make any corrections of changes. Then I get the laptop out and start typing and arranging so that it follows a logical sequence. I can't decide what to call it though.

I used to use Adobe for making patterns but I refuse to pay a monthly fee (a very large monthly fee). I don't mind buying updates when they come but I feel like Adobe cornered the market and then set their own rules.  I now use something called Affinity Design to 'draw' and am waiting for their publishing suite to come out next year.  The publishing suite I use now is called Swift which is only very mediocre but it does the job. I like Serif Draw and Serif Page Plus but can't use them on my Mac. Affinity is Serif's Mac version - and I love what I have from Serif.

My Thursday night ladies are very patient guinea pigs for my patterns and to them I am eternally grateful - they put up with half finished instructions without complaint! 

This is Ann's hexagon bag - maybe I should have plumped it out - the picture doesn't do it justice. She used purchased handles and a fabulous classy fabric.  It looks great.

I made some mini treacle tarts for class last week - the corner tart was the taste test. (Poor excuse)

It's a recipe my mother used to make - just syrup,  breadcrumbs, lemon juice and an egg - all in short buttery pastry.

This week was so busy at work I had to throw myself on the mercy of our chef who came up with some cherry and raisin flapjack for this Thursday night. I hope it is going to be much quieter next week (no open night, late meetings planned).  

I spent Saturday morning at John's clinic being receptionist and Saturday afternoon getting shopping and taking the two bunnies to have their operation scars checked.  I am pleased to say they have healed nicely and they are getting on well.

Today has been mine, all mine.  F1 and quilting. And now it's Sunday night again. Oh how quickly the weeks go. 

There's lamb in the oven for Will and I'm having soup for supper. And I really, really haven't done any housework. Bad girl. 

Ben and Max are doing well - cutie pies. I can only pick Max up for a few minutes because is very heavy and he's almost as tall as me! Such a jolly little chap.

Next weekend I'll be heading down to Skipton for Yarndale and I'm really looking forward to that. In the meantime I need to find out why my phone is sending three messages every time I press the send button. And maybe put a load of washing on. Oh dear I hope I have got enough clean clothes for the week ahead......