Keeping Busy

 I have been keeping myself out of mischief since I last blogged, which I know was absolutely ages ago - I blame facebook as I use that so much and all our Art and Stitch news goes on our Art and Stitch facebook page - but I do know that some of you still look at our blogs, so thank you for persevering with me.

The above photo is for my gorgeous grandson Leo he adores Postman Pat so now has a jumper with Pat and Jesse on.  Actually I made this jumper using the exact same pattern for my eldest son many moons ago - well Paul is 32 so just a few yeas back!  Anyway I got another copy off good old Ebay and here is the finished pattern.  hopefully he will love wearing it.

 Poppy and I did some sewing at the weekend for a lass that works with Rob and I had made her a quilt and she wanted some cushions to go on the bed so here are the finished items,  poppy was her normal helpful self  but I have learnt to just carry on she doesn't go away!!

 The finished cushions looked lovely and Carly was really pleased with them.

Well Monday's I normally spend with Caroline & Leo - last week we had a full family day with Rob & Nic as well in Hunstanton which was absolutely superb with a trip to Sealife and oh did Leo adore the fish, they were all just at his height and so much to see.

This week I took him leaf kicking, he looked at me as though I was loopy to start with then decided it could be fun and off we went, ooh we were very muddy when we got home and had had such fun

 So after wearing each other out we flopped on their new settee to watch Postman Pat of course and have a cuddle up - it was lovely.

 Then we played in their conservatory and there on the back of the settee is one of my favourite quilts.  I made this - ooh it must be eight years ago and Caroline being Caroline snaffled it to her flat at the time onto her settee - I didn't get a look in!  Well it has been washed, used snuggled under and is still going strong - now on the settee in their conservatory and I have to say it still looks good and I still think it is one of my favourites.

Well I shall endeavour not to leave blogging so long in between - hope all that read this are keeping fit and well.

 We took ourselves off for a few days to The Houses of Hampshire with a National Trust Tour  and we were soo lucky with the weather it was superb - the Houses were great - this little sewing machine was in Basildon Park just outside of Reading - it is a superb house beautifully maintained and kept.  For some reason known only to Blogger the next photo is upside down!  it is not on my picture file but it arrives her as upside down.  These patterns were also in Basildon Park - The house was owned in the 1950's by a rather wealthy family and alot of the house is all kitted out in the 1950's.  I thought these patterns were lovely.
The kitchen was also all 1950's and we felt our age when we were explaining to a group of youngsters how to use the various tools and gadgets that we had grown up with and they had never seen!!!

I cannot remember which house these delightful mushrooms were growing at - I think it might well have been at The Vyne near Basingstoke.  They just took my eye. 

These tiles are in a summer house now at The Vyne and date back to Roman  times, I think that is what they said.

The photo below are in the most beautiful chapel at The Vyne and these were definitely Tudor and were rescued in Victorian times by the then owner who put them in the Chapel. 

We had a lovely few days and it has set us up for the winter - now need to do some gardening and lots and lots of sewing and knitting.

October

 I had a move round with some of my quilts and decided that my Twisted Turning Twenty that I made last year and did actually put in the NEC in 2012 - and got some lovely comments about it - which was nice.  Well Rob and I felt it was a waste to be folded up so it is now on the back bed and cried out for some cushions to go with it.  So using the Crazy Quilt template I bought sometime ago I have made a cushion using the scraps that were left..  I made two and am really pleased with them

 On the bed together they look lovely - now I feel a wall hanging to match is required!!  Oh we have to buy new curtains as they do not match the quilt - whoops!!

 Poppy was in extremely helpful mood whilst I was quilting them and here she is being more of a hindrance than a help!

 Rob and I took young Leo to Ferry Meadows and he had a lovely time, we took his new ball and he laughed and laughed whilst we paid with him.   There are some lovely wood carvings in Ferry Meadows and this family of ducks really appealled to Leo he was absolutely fascinated.

I am busy knitting Rob an Aran jumper and have finished the main knitting so have to join shoulder seams and knit the collar - will post a photo when it is finished.

Well am going to do some quilting now - have a quilt wadded and ready to go so must get started.

Enjoying my time at home

 Enjoying my time at now I am semi-retired.   As you probabylk all know I have reduced my hours and have four wonderful days at home now so that i can get on and do more and spend time with my family.
It is proving really enjoyable.   At the beginning of the month we went to The Forest of Dean with my Sister and had a fabulous five day break - in an area that I do not recall really visiting previously  - we were so lucky with the weather and had glorious weather - just before this chilly spell started.

Well now we are back home and the weather is chilly, we have had a new boiler fitted and that is lovely, a combi boiler with lots of instant water and should be much more energy efficient than the 28 year old boiler it has replaced.   We decided that it would be best to change before the old one broke down and we were left in the middle of winter with no hot water or heating.

Having time at home has given me the space to make a few bits and pieces, we have Christmas Club once at month at Art and Stitch so I made this star for this month's group to make and it does look very pretty.  Shall put in my Dining Room at Christmas.

Now with no longer working Saturday's I booked myself on a course  - yeh - it was the most wonderful course - I have never done felting - to be honest it has not appealed to me very much but the scenes our tutor had done were so good I just had to have a go.

Here is my beach scene, I loved the whole course and really enjoyed making this scene - I shall most certainly do some more.  We have the tutor back at the beginning of October doing a Poppy Picture which looks lovely, but I am away on a National Trust trip to the Houses of Hampshire so shall miss that one.

 With the chilly days our cat Poppy has decided that she likes the indoors more than out now and the quilt over Rob's chair has become her favorite spot at the moment - she can be found curled up snoring and obviously dreaming

My Sister is going away in November and requested a new bag suitable to carry her kindle, passport etc. etc.  She wanted two sections so one could keep everything neatly tucked away in and one to use for purse etc. - so here is her bag made to the size she requested  with zips, it has a clip inside for her keys the handle is the right length to go over her shoulder - I love it but it is not mine!!!

I spent Tuesday morning at Tumble Tots oh what fun - Leo who is sixteen months tomorrow - absolutely loves it - it is helping his co-ordination amazingly and getting him used to being with other children. 

Well I hope that all that do read my blog will forgive me for my tardiness in updating but time seems to fly even though I am supposed to have more time on my hands!!  Fingers crossed we are going to get a nice sunny Autumn and a bit warmer.  Till next time.

Where has August gone to?

I really cannot credit that we are almost at the end of August - where oh where has this  month flown to.

I started the month by partially retiring and had such plans to get so much done - and I guess in truth I haven't done too badly at all.

It has been a lovely month weather wise, and Rob and I have been busy out in the garden endeavouring to keep the weeds at bay.

Anyway creativity, I have managed to finish a couple of quilts and I am rather chuffed with this lovely little bag I made for myself, it is just the right size and soo useful and with the central phone pocket, has made Rob's day as he could get to the phone when it rang the other day and I was driving without having to delve into the depths of the bag and then miss the call - so he was  well pleased.

When Rob and I went to the Spalding Quilt show we got some fat eights in these gorgeous Kath Fassette fabrics and I have with the help of fabric from Art and Stitch turned it into a disappearing NinePatch.  I quilted it with my wavy ruler and now it is finished.  This is Rob's quilt he fell for the colours and this will be on his armchair for him to snuggle up in on a chilly day.

So now we are looking forward to our first wedding anniversary next week - where oh where has that year gone to- then September I am going to endeavour to finish at least one more of my unfinished projects - yet hopefully look for something new to do.

Actually, I am on the felting course at Art and Stitch on Saurday for the Felted Beach scene - I have never done felting before - but now I am semi-retired I have the time to do the courses - oh how lovely  - I am looking forward to my day.  Barbara's Daughter Sam is doing the course with me so we shall have lots of fun and learn a new technique how great.

Hopefully something to blog about very soon!

A fabulous five days

Well it has been a fabulous five days, it started last Friday - with my Sister arriving to stay and then we went with Paul (eldest son) Mark (youngest son) Rob Maggie and I to Clarke's Restaurant in Peterborough.  it is the nearest Peterborough has to a Michellin Star rated restaurant.  It was absolutely fantastic - they have moved into bigger premises which are lovely.  We went to celebrate the night before Paul's Wedding and it great.

Well Saturday dawned sunny and Maggie, Caroline and I headed to the hairdressers, and Rob & Mark headed to Paul's to get dressed - have a brunch and then head to the venue in a vintage Camper Van - the van was fantastic.

Well here are a few snippets of the day, which was fantastic, it ran so smoothly, The Haycock Hotel at Wansford, did a fabulous job - they looked after us all so well and it just became totally magical.

The Bride (Ericha) was radient, the Groom (Paul) was so Handsome (not biased)

The cake was made by Ericha's very talented Mum - Anne - it tasted delicious as well and looked beautiful.

The flowers were all blue and out of this world, I bought some home and these are now sitting in my hearth in the living room.

A group photo of proud parents, Ushers and Brothers










Of course Leo was thoroughly enjoying himself - he was given a special jigsaw to play with and so had a great time.










We all stayed over at the Haycock on Saturday night - and then had a restful lovely day on Sunday.
Then Monday we headed to London, I had bought Rob tickets to go up The Shard and this was the view it was fabulous - a clear day and a total view all over London and surrounding countryside.  It was amazing

Then on Tuesday Rob and I took Leo to the playpark and he had a great time - well we most certainly did!!

So there you go an edited version of our fabulous five days.  I am so proud of my family and they all made the day so magical.

A Big Catch up

 Well it has been a little while since I last blogged - no real excuse just tardiness on my part!  Life as always has been lovely and busy and time just flies by.  I love reading other blogs and hearing what everyone is doing - making - and holidays it is great.

I have been busy but now that I am officially semi-retired yeh - I hope to have more time to get some of my projects done and to enjoy myself at home a little more.

This quilt is for Rob he chose the fabrics and is really looking forward to me getting it finished for him to snuggle under on chilly winter days.



Saturday was officially my first day as part time - I now work Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays - so my darling daughter Caroline felt we had to make the day special for my first day off and she booked for us all to go to the Burghley Film Festival for a picnic - it was great - the setting was beautiful - the weather was gorgeous - Leo thoroughly enjoyed herself - the Walt Disney film was fabulous - it was basically Rupunzal but sort of jazzed up it was lovely.

On Monday we went down to my Sister's in London we had a fabulous day the weather was lovely in the morning and in the afternoon we walked up to her allotment and there was a down pour - we ended up sheltering in her shed - which was abit of a squash.  The photo above is of some of Maggie's lace - it is a lovely tray that displays them nicely, it needed two pairs of hands to get them in straight and sorted. In fact three pairs at one time!!

Tuesday was Leo time we went to the playpark and this is him doing head shoulders knees and toes!!!!

 When we got home from the playpark, Caroline had laid out all her granny squares to see how many more she needs to make - well he was straight in - this is how they looked one minute now look!!

Oh thanks Mum these are new toys I am having a great time!  I got into trouble as I just stood and laughed!

 Well I have also been finishing a few UFO's and here they are - my New York Beauty - I have to say I am very pleased with this.

The Hunters Star - actually this photo is not doing it justice - I chose very pastel colours - not my normal choice and initially I was not at all pleased with it, but now quilted and finished it is much much better than I thought.

I do love foundation piecing and both these last two projects were foundation pieced.

Well now I am going to go and start sewing - I have a new project to start on which will become a workshop as soon as i get it all put together.