New Year Update

Happy New Year to you all. I'm not sure where the past 10 days have gone really. At least everything has slowly begun to get back to normal after the Christmas holidays. DS got some jump stilts for Christmas but it has been too snowy and icy for him to use them. In the end he had a little try at home inside. It was tricky as he couldn't really stand up straight due to the low ceiling.  Since this photo was taken we have managed to get outside with them. He was born at 29 weeks and is now taller then I am, on these silts I come up to about his waist!!!

Smocking started back last week and we moved onto using smocking dots rather than checked fabric.

This was a sample that someone did at home over the holidays to try out different stitches.

I have some exciting news. Last Saturday I went to visit an incredibly talented group of textile artists known as Textile Lincs. They are a small group who regularly stage exhibitions of their work. After showing and talking about my work I was later invited to join the group. I was so excited as I haven't really exhibited any of my work before. 

Whilst out and about this weekend I also saw an exhibition by Peter Moss called "Past, present and Future" at "The Hub" in Sleaford. This is only on until 16th January but is well worth a journey if you are near.

Didn't mean to upload these parsnips. DH "found" them in the veggie plot so we had to eat them for Sunday lunch. The theme for the Sketchbook challenge 2011 is "highly prized" and I have done some pages in my sketchbook, I just haven't taken any photos! I did wonder whether or not these parsnips could be considered highly prized as they had been sown last March (ish). They have been in the ground through all the snow and ice yet still were intact when dug up and were very tasty when roasted.

Happy New Year!

I'm sitting here not quite believing it is already New Years Eve. I hope you all had a good Christmas and a peaceful time whatever you did and wherever you are. I have travelled a bit over the past week to visit relatives and much to both DS delight we found snow again driving west. I had intended trying to knit a scarf whilst DH did the driving but packed wool, pattern and no needles. I was lucky enough to get some books I have been looking at and a basketful of Clarins wonderfulness (my one guilty pleasure). DS got some jumping stilts, thankfully the weather has been too bad for him to start practising with them. I'm not too worried as he has used them at Scouts. One thing has been bothering me, I think I have good hand-eye co-ordination, I can sew, knit, embroider so why do I find it so hard to do Mario Karts on the Nintendo Wii? DS has been giving me lessons and I'm practising.

I have made lots of Christmas presents this year, the cushions above were some that I made for my nieces and nephews. An advantage of a big stash is that I was able to use fabric that was appropriate for all, Sean loved his trains and sister Aimee liked her rabbits. I've also made several book covers, small make up bags and some larger bags.

For those of you who are really observant  I have added a link to the Sketchbook Challenge for 2011. The idea is that you follow along and share your pages. There will be a different theme set each month and it sounds like there is going to be lots of ideas and inspiration shared. I just love their definition of a sketchbook which is, "a book filled with dreams and inspiration". I've got an A4 sketchbook and I have stated to make a cover by stitching small samples. I had the idea from Sweetypie who got the original idea from the blog Teesha's Circus. I have been carrying them around with me so it will all be done by hand. I'm using up some odd bits of hand dyed fabric and edging them in black. I have really enjoyed doing this freehand and stitching whatever comes into my head.

I would like to wish everyone who has visited me a happy and creative New Year and 2011. I really do appreciate all your visits, even if you just lurk. I've enjoyed sharing all your blogs and learnt lots from you all. The last thing to say is that I'm nearly at my 100th blog post and will be having a giveaway very soon, a good excuse to keep popping back.

Light at the end of the tunnel

Thank you for all your messages of support over this difficult few weeks. A very sensible man did a risk assessment on DS2 and the current journey he has to take to school. As a result of this DS2 now has his own taxi and escort again (after a year of fighting on our part), happy boy, happy mummy, happy everyone. Behaviour is settling down at school and at the end of our dark tunnel we have light!! 

More good news is that I have finished my C&G bag and pieced my half square triangles. I'll share photos in my next post.

Its beginning to feel a bit like Autumn

Here in my little part of the UK, right on the east coast it is cold and rainy today. All the water butts are overflowing and the goats are sulking in their shed. I have just had a serious hunt for logs for the wood burner. It led me to think about the good times/weather I have had this Summer (?) holiday.

Before FoQ I spent a relaxing time in Shaldon, Devon waking up to this every day. Living in the flat Fens the perspective was very different for me and the different roof tops intrigued me. DS2 finds change very hard to cope with so we are very lucky to be able to stay in a cottage owned by my parents-in-law. We managed to have a typical beach holiday and dodge the rain showers. I was excited though because in the village and 2 minutes from the cottage was a new yarn shop

There was a lovely lady inside and I bought some lace wight baby alpaca for a simple shawl I saw in the Yarn Forward magazine I had for the car journey. It will be my treat after my C&G is completed.

On the first Saturday in August Shaldon has a water carnival and one element is a decorated boat parade round the harbour. I was amazed that all kinds of boats (please excuse my ignorance) took part.

We managed to do a short part of the coastal walk (4 miles) with both DS's which gave fantastic views as we climbed upwards. Above is Teignmouth, below The Ness beach, this has red sand due to the clay cliffs (I think)

Each year since we have been going down there Teignmouth has had a sculpture walk along the seafront with various artists making things out of found or reclaimed materials. This year I noticed that some local schools had got involved and people were very creative with white plastic milk bottles.

                                         

After Devon we drove back to Cheltenham to visit relatives and managed a day out in Gloucester before trekking home. We wandered down by the docks and this massive basket of flowers was outside the craft centre. I should have stood DS by it to give an idea of scale, I am 5ft 4" and the top (of the basket not flowers) was above my head. I took a quick photo of the cathedral from the docks and told DS that some of the earlier Harry Potter films were shoot there.

Despite my travels I have managed to get some stitching done so I will be back with a show and tell. City & Guilds work is also progressing well but I think I will have to get a short extension.

Sun, sea, sand and quilt patterns

On Saturday evening (yes I'm a bit behind) it was so hot so we made a sudden decision to go to the beach (we only live 20 minute drive away from Skegness) but City and Guilds work had to come too so -

I took my sketchbook and drew whilst DS's built a channel to the sea. The tide was being very obliging and coming in so it did fill with water quite quickly.

When I got bored I made quilt patterns in the sand which allowed me to try out ideas for my quilt. DH said like it looked like I was doing a children's television programme.

  

If you have ever been to Skegness recently you will know that just off the beach are these wind turbines,

You can see just how close they are in this picture of DS's digging.One day (after C&G) I will include them in a quilt as I have been doodling ideas for sometime.

After getting home and showering everyone I managed to get lots of samples completed and worked in my sketchbook but I haven't photographed them yet. I even managed to sew on a hanging sleeve for a small quilt that is going to the Quilters Guild exhibition at Rufford Craft Centre in Nottinghamshire. I am also teaching there in July and August so I need to finish off my workshop packs. Life's always busy but interesting!!

Twelve years ago today.......

It can't believe it was twelve years ago that DS made an unexpected entrance into the world 12 weeks early. We both needed lots of medical care for a few weeks and this photo above was the first time I saw him. I didn't see him in person until he was nearly a week old. He is now nearly as tall as me and heading towards his teenage years. How does twelve years pass by so quickly? He had great joy in telling me that in just five years time he can learn to drive.

After having a water fight with him I remembered this quote by Walt Disney,

"To many people grow up. That's the real trouble with the world, too many people grow up. they forget. They don't remember what it is like to be 12 years old".

So remember you are only a old as you feel so I challenge you to, laugh, create, have a water fight, tell jokes, smile and give those you love hugs and kisses.

Happiness is parcels in the post

When I was sitting at home feeling sorry for myself lots of goodies arrives in the post. Can you guess what this is?

In a huge box from ASding came 30 yards of 80/20 wadding. I had got to the point of having none in the house and will be needing quite a lot for my C&G quilt. I got this with a couple of friends and I couldn't believe how much cheaper it was for us. If you have got friends to share costs with contact ASding. They were just so helpful, it came the day after I phoned them and no postage costs. You also get the bonus of lots of giggles when you open it out of the bag and it expands and the challenge of keeping count when you measure it out. Good job Sweetypie had a big room to do it in.

Another company equally worthy of a mention is Kemtex. They give out so much information over the phone and again the package arrived really swiftly. These jars contain Kemtex easidye acid dyes for wool. Lovely eye candy..

Andrea from Indigo Blue sent me an ATC in preparation for the ATC swap I have joined. She used gorgeous sheers, sequins and beads. I have this hanging in my sewing room.
Finally I had to order more of this -

So I could finish this.

It's not a great photo as DS was holding it up and trying not to giggle. I'll try and get a better one. I have built up a tradition of making my nephews and nieces a quilt for their first birthday so this is Sean's first quilt. We are all off to see him soon, I am sure he will have changed so much as as I haven't seen him since Christmas. This was originally a spilt nine patch design but then I realised that if I wanted to get all the stripes going the same way it was easier just to piece it. It did come together quickly though and for once I will not need to stay up all night finishing something. Even the label is done.

This and that

I haven't done much blogging over the past two weeks but lots of creative sewing for my C&G diploma has been done. I am now working with designs taken from sprout stalks growing in the fields around my house. Life has not been very good this week, culminating in my mobile phone stopping working. Of course this had to happen when DS2 was late home from school, and DH had a piano lesson! Anyway after a long phone call to T-mobile an upgrade was agreed with lots of extra goodies including unlimited Internet access for the same price. I must say that T-mobile were really helpful, I know they probably need the business but they answered the phone straight away, no waiting and were very polite and helpful. The new phone will be delivery on Tuesday and then I can play. I hope though that the diary entries are saved onto my sim card as I know I have two workshops booked for 2011 that I had not transferred to my diary.

Yesterday I taught a Shibori class to an enthusiastic, wonderful group of ladies. I did take my camera along but often forget to take photos. There is a lot of hand stitching in this class and they all rose to the challenge. One lady had already done this class with me and she came with a wholecloth design on some cotton fabric. She spent the day sewing this but wasn't quite ready to start pulling up.

I always get a sense of concern at the end of this class as the fabric goes home in dye and the final result is out of my hands. I have asked for photos to be sent to me so I will post when I get some.

When life gets you down..

Drink coffee (decaffeinated, skinny latte) and read inspirational magazines.
Take photos of sprouts growing in a field.

And make chocolate cheesecake.
P.S Happy Valentines Day

I'd rather be stitching

Its been a busy 24 hours. Last night I went for a Chinese with an old friend. Fantastic company but not great food. The local Chinese we went to has changed so much, instead of table cloths, linen napkins and Chinese crockery we had blank tables, paper napkins and a buffet that only had two veggie things I could eat (except for rice and seaweed). There was not a chop stick in sight with only knives and forks in baskets. Today was very different with fantastic food and company due to the Expedition Quilt Art girls. Tonight, well I felt very old! My teaching assistant whom I worked with had a 30th birthday party. It was good to catch up with old friends but I found it hard to shout at everyone which you had to do above the noise (sorry music). I did feel old beyond my forty years as I would rather have been home doing this, and this,
and this,
I was home by 10pm which surprised DH. This mini quilt is for the Expedition Quilt Art challenge, lots of other wonderful people have completed their challenge - not me. Well it is finished and is sitting in the dye bath, just got to wash and dry before revealing photos hopefully tomorrow on their blog.

Happy Christmas

I would just like to wish everyone who has visited my blog this year a peaceful Christmas time.

Me, well I still have to finish my nephews quilt but I'm nearly there now, the dilema is do I finish cleaning the house before the boys come back or sit and finish the quilt?

Snow rose - and not much sewing

Like many of you on the eastern side of England I woke up to snow this morning. One son went to school, one had school cancelled. After doing all the jobs of feeding chickens, geese and goats we had a walk round the garden and a snowball fight as well as making snow angels. I was amazed to discover that we still had roses in the garden - in December. It is in a very sheltered part of the garden but even so is this a record?

I am making my nephew a quilt for Christmas - it needs to be ready by Boxing day and it is still a pile of squares on top of 2 metres of fleece! I am waiting for a new 24" ruler to arrive in the post so fingers crossed again for tomorrow though the chances of the postman getting down the lane look slim. I must admit to getting a bit worried now about completing it. I am too old for the sewing through the night and sewing binding on in the car whilst DH drives!!

Seals, fabric cuffs and fireworks

Yesterday we all managed to get up and out early so that we could go and see these amazing seals. We are lucky enough to live quite near a nature reserve, Donner Nook in North Lincolnshire which grey seals go to each year to breed. It is really well "policed" with volunteers from the Wildlife trust making sure that the public don't disrupt the seals, we are also contained behind a strong fence. In the past week there were 134 babies born (according to the statistics in the information shed).
Having never been before I was surprised at just how close to the fence some of the seals where. You can see the shadows of people behind the fence on this baby and mum -

I couldn't resist a close up of mums face, nor the baby below.

Once home I received these in the post -
I now belong to Fibre Arts Trading Group and this was the first trade I took part in. Thank you so much to Trees and Laura if you read this post, I can't wait to wear them. I am a bit worried though as I sent off my cuffs over a week ago and my trade partners haven't received them yet. These were the cuffs I made, I have fingers and toes crossed that they arrive safely.

The day finished with us going to a fireworks display, I discovered that my digital camera has a firework setting so I wanted to play with that
I'm going to use some of the images and print them onto fabric for my November journal quilt.