2023 November

 Hi all

I started November with some of Mum's crafty stuff.  She likes doing long stitch embroidery, using wool, but isn't that bothered about putting the finished pieces on the wall so I changed these into zippy pouches - they came out well!

Then I finally finished this quilt for a friend's S-i-L from her husband's shirts.

I didn't have quite enough of the binding fabric so I thought I'd add 45 degree sections from left over squares

It didn't occur to me until I'd finished that by adding 5 inches I also lost 5 inches so I gained nothing!  I added some more at 90 degrees and it was fine but what a waste of time!

We had started these at Richmond and Kew Quilters: the lovely Plum had made the tiny trees so we could decorate them

I went to Windsor Baptist church to do some weaving with a children's club they run - I took various types of looms 

and a regular volunteer there had made me some loom frames from picture frames and nails

I finished this one at home (tshirt yarn, next time I'm going to try recycled tshirts)

And luckily the quality inspector approved

Stitch, Crafty Church and Coffee Morning ladies made these trees for the Wraysbury Christmas Tree Festival

A friend invited me to a wreath making session - just bring your own circle!  Her parents also live in the village and have a permanent marquee which was used - she had collected loads of pine cones, holly, ivy and other winter greenery

and served mulled wine while we created!  I used the willow obelisk I made in the autumn 

Not much else for November: now I'm panicking about the Christmas making I'd like to do, and where the time is going: I'll be back the other side of the seasonal chaos and in the meantime wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas

2023 October

 So we now wave goodbye to October: I cant believe how quickly this year is going!

At the beginning of the month the Chertsey Museum group did some needle felting, but I only got a few photos

Jackie came over for a quick visit: we went to the Knitting & Stitching show, and managed to get a bit of sewing done: vinyl pouches,

and little zipped bags.

I got some puffin fabric at K&S S, and had a play with some self-cover buttons

Towards the end of the month Mum, Niki and I had 24 hours in Norway, sadly for my uncle's funeral.  It was a lovely service, and we re-connected with family we haven't seen for ages - we also saw snow!

I managed a few finishes sewing in front of the TV: this EPP hug finally got a binding

These tapestries (done by mum) got changed into zippy pouches

and this shirt quilt got finished and delivered to a customer

2023 September

It's been a lovely month!  It started with me *attending* the Chertsey Museum class, not teaching it!  One of the regulars is a spinner, so she brought in a sleeping beauty spinning wheel, and had made us all drop spindles so we could do our own spinning.  I really enjoyed the session, thanks Kate

The painted beads from last month were made into necklaces and paired with two dresses:

I started adding 'grass' to my EPP flowers - they will tesselate when they lay flat

I finished one of many quilts on my to-do pile!  In fact I finished two - both for baby girls called Freya!

One of the Freyas with her cousin Amelia

I made by "blue whale" cousin a new zippy pouch: the old one had finally worn out!

Like me she's a bag lady 😂 

I had been trying to ignore that fact that time was galloping towards my 60th, but the lovely ladies at Coffee Morning were not going to let me !  I felt very spoiled!

 

It was also Plum's birthday, so there was a mixture of EPP, gingers, needle felting and zippy pouch that went in the post to her . . .

and in the post FROM her was a lot of awesome Puffin themed stuff plus a lovely necklace and a pouch with a miniature house: she's so good at the tiny blocks!

To be honest, I was spoiled by a lot of people!  Jackie sent the most amazing set of sashiko inspirational instructions (watch this space).

Hayley sent me a painted card of stacked stones, and also made a necklace of stacked pebbles - she and her husband actually drilled through these pebbles!!!

There were also a lot of garden themed gifts!  These and more from the girls and their boys

The Acer tree in the blue pot

These lovely gardening tools,

And over the weekend Niki, George and Brian make huge inroads into uncovering the back half of the garden which had been covered with blackberries and weeds for the last 25 years: my new garden area will be a lovely place to sit and relax!

Lisa made me two crocheted baskets which are perfect for the stuff that can be hidden in the bathroom

We had a lovely family weekend in the Cotswolds for my birthday

I really wanted to stay near a stony stream ... I got it!

Then I had another fab weekend away with girlfriends: a really chilled time at Center Parcs, and our favourite new activity is willow weaving!

 

We also did some needle felting onto calico bags,  and Santa making!