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

2022 December

 Hi all - hope you had a good Christmas and wish you and yours all all the very best for 2023

I know some of my visitors have had a bit of a rubbish 2022: please know  I'm thinking of you, and hope that things improve or get manageable 💗

My December in pictures:

A few Christmas gifts were created

 

A class of Christmas napkins was taught

some Dachshunds were embroidered

Lots of Gingers were embroidered

The La Passacaglia rounds were taken apart and added to tote bags instead

 

Some uniforms were embroidered

A quilt was made for a customer (I know the name is at a strange angle, but it's so it reads right when it is used as a wrap ... and isn't being photographed in a mirror!)

A baby quilt was made for a friend's first grandson

A knitted Queen was received (isn't she great!), thank you Debs

And a conical peg bag (love this), thank you Jane

A Christmas tree was put up and decorated

And Christmas Lunch was enjoyed by all

Slippers were received (in a fab hexie box)

Hair was styled by little miss 8, thank you Nina

Hat and gloves were received, thank you Deb

Mr Nutcracker was received and created, thank you Jackie

But sadly at the end of Christmas we lost this lovely lady: as she would say, she was my first husband's mother!

She was 95, her lower limbs were more metal than bone, she hated having to rely on carers, and she's been asking us to bring her a gun for the last 5 years . . .  I think it's safe to say she was ready to go.

Rest in peace Mrs Hickley xxx

2022 September

 And here we are again!

I spent some time in the sun with some Richmond & Kew Quilter friends: a raised patio made it easy and comfortable to work on the denim jacket.  It is now close to being finished (or what will count as finished) but I cant show you until it is unveiled at the R&KQ meeting next Monday.

Emily at Chertsey Museum brought in her wedding veil to show us: wonderful hand stitched designs

   

I went to Creative Craft exhibition at Farnborough . . .  and may have bought a bit of Christmassy Fabric 😄

I also bought some Shutelane.com fabric: I had seen the cushion sized panels and the 6" squares, but I hadn't realised they did smaller repeat designs, and they even sell scraps - sort of small hexie sized scraps!!!!

I'm not sure where these are going, but I'm loving all the Puffins!

There were just enough scraps to make this,

and a bigger puffin does fit inside - is that the best use of the hexies?

And if that wasn't enough puffin love . . .  here is a finished needle felted puffin . . .

And a few bits that make a paper foundation pieced puffin

    

I've practically run out of grass fabric so this one has stalled a bit until I get re-enthused!

September was the month of blackberries and apples so Kay and I made crumble

And the Richmond & Kew session saw us making lavender hearts, thank you Sue

Lisa picked up a sold-as-seen jumper from work for £1 but it needed darning - I had the prefect colour and quite enjoyed darning it!

I'm teaching an evening session at Chertsey (applique Christmas cushion covers) at the end October and have done some samples

And have done some embroidered labels for customers' quilts.

Richmond and Kew had a blue & yellow (Ukraine) block challenge and these were the blocks we received.  The plan was that I would piece, someone else would quilt then another would bind . . . various changes of plan meant that Muggins ended up piecing . . .

quilting and binding!.  At least it can go into show and tell next week and then be gifted!  

I just need to decide whether I prefer the yellow label (Ukraine colours) or the red (R&KQ colour)

Talking of gifts . . .  I got a felted picture kit, chocolates, wooden necklace, FQ books, thread themed mug, tape measure bracelet, needle keeper, glass puffin and needle punch embroidery kit for my birthday - very spoiled!!  Thank you everyone xx

And a final gift has gone in the post to Brian's closest cousin who recently became a grandad.  Obviously this isn't for granddad, its for baby Rose (Alex and Brian's granny Mullins was Rose too!)