2021 Week 47

 Hmmm, no post for a month 😱

My excuse has been that I've been busy, busy and ill, ill, too ill to care about being busy and now busy again, with a hint of being ill!  At least I haven't had Covid - *just* a horrible cough and cold and then (without being guilty of TMI) a burning sensation that is being sorted by antibiotics!!!

So a review of the last month (broken down into two parts)

The Gingers have decided to start a countdown to Christmas!  I made a few of these to sell at a village Christmas Fayre, and a few others which will go to the half dozen or so lovely Ginger fans in the villages!  I'm just finishing them off so they can be delivered by Tuesday

A young friend in the village is an amazing cheerleader and trampolinist.  One of the groups she trains with have these sparkly backpacks with their names on in gold - she was gifted one but it had someone else's name on - so a gold patch was created and hand stitched onto the bag over the previous name

My girly trips (see under LSA labels) to Europe have all had a badge made for them.  It started with a backpack for the ones that went to Norway in 2007, with a norwegain flag on it, but they suggested that all the trips should have a design, so they got created and added to the bag.    Since then I have been making them as a patch - I've managed to lose my bag so have re-done them on a fleece shawl: it looks as if the other bags are getting rather full!!!

  

I have made and posted the November Hexie flowers for the FB swap

And taught a class on Sashiko embroidery.  I bought pre-printed panels but as we stitched in white it doesn't show very well 

A bit of grand-kitty spam, sorry, but aren't they cute!!!  Penny is sat in the pouch Jackie and I made Niki for her work stuff

And Thor is sat in a cat cave that (based on the receipt date) he and his sister have totally ignored for 367 days, but NOW its a cozy place to sleep!!!

At the start of the horrid cold I had a few days away with girls that I worked with about 30 years ago: so lovely to be together

And finally for this post - I had fun sorting out all the keys for the village hall - now I only need the few keys to get in and then can access all the other stuff from this key cabinet - I love that it's colour co-ordinated and all labeled - is it very sad that this makes me so happy???

2021 Week 42

We actually managed to get away for a family holiday!  6 of us went to Center Parcs.  We did loads of activities (tennis, badminton, squash, kayaking, walking, cycling) and a load of eating, but the only photo I have is 4 of us in the hot tub LOL

We then came home to a weekend of cuddles with the grandkitty - hello Penny!

With all the activities I didn't get much hand sewing or crocheting done but I did manage to tack and press a whole load of 8" clams.  I was at Knitting and Stitching show ten days or so ago and had some sludge green fabrics that I wanted to add to so they'd be usable.  A friend I was with said she really liked the fabrics so I not only found some dark blue to break up the sludge - but I've also found a home for the quilt when it's finished!

She also likes random, so I think I can manage that!

I've done 40 so far and my rough reckoning suggests I need another 54 then I can start the speed dating and the assembling - her birthday is end of December so I might have a chance!

And confession time - my haul from K&S show: I was fairly restrained and actually have plans for everything!

2020 Week 38

Going away for a short break means packing hand sewing stuff!!! 

I tacked a whole load of EPP triangles and managed to join some together

I've started a cross stitch (a bit boring so far but it will grow)

We did a family jigsaw - none of us really enjoyed it!!

And admired Lisa's Persian tiles crochet as she added the cream border

Whe we got home again Lisa and Jim had finally exchanged contracts!  So in a few weeks the kitties will be goinmg to live with them - I made them each a little quilt to take with them!

They seem to have been approved!

Also receiving a feline seal of approval is the Plus Quilt which I though was there waiting for the biding to be stitched down in front of the TV - but clearly it was there for a different reason!!!

There has been some embracing of one's inner Hippy!

Hair might have been dyed

And clothes might have been tie dyed (not so much of the tying though)  Double Dye isn't too much is it????

And finally for today - *another* friend has become a granny!  So another quilt has gone int the post!  This one is from Jackie and me to a lovely friend of ours

2019 Wk 43 - with cake

Last week was Sharon's last session with the crafty church ladies: the lovely Tara made chocolate  cake, with buttons - is there anything more perfect???

We had 19 visitors (they must have heard about the cake!)  Crochet corner was busy, but three ladies came to learn how to use their sewing machines, there was patchworking, Christmas card stamping, lavender bags being stitched and a whole load of other things, plus of course the chatting the drinking, and did I mention cake????

Hayley and I finally managed to meet up and continue our silk screen printing (blogged about here) and finished the flowers

  -
rather chuffed with these - now we need to plan the next stage!

We also had a go at some fabric 'business cards' but these need work, so we added stamping as there was still paint left!!

My other crafting this week was to make a few of these for a guest at the Windsor Homeless Project who is deaf.  Could he please have a patch to sew onto his hat so people would know!

Yes of course!!!

In Norse mythology, Thor is the hammer-wielding god of thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, hallowing, fertility, the protection of mankind and of the fortress of Asgard. He is the son of Odin All-Father and he is physically the strongest of the Norse Gods.  In my house he has an additional responsibility - he is the guardian of the clean quilts!!!!

And finally not my crafting at all but the lovely Amo sent me this - perfect for under a coat as it starts to get cold!  Thank you lovely lady xxx

2019 Wk 38 - cats and quilts

We had Crafty Church today, and a new lady joined us - the very talented Sian: she brought this awesome liberty quilt to show us:  Several of us threatened to run away with it, it really is stunning!

Sharon and I took it up to the mezzanine floor so Sian could get a pic of the whole quilt.  Absolutely no pattern  - just added bits to other bits, and scrappy binding

I didn't get much work done for myself: but I did get a piece of white cotton basted to some while fleece (too boring to photograph!)

But worthy of a photograph - my new house guests: Thor, and underneath him is his sister Luna - gorgeous kitties!!!

Anmd my sewing room . . . I should probably do some tidying up!

2018 Wk 9 - A Catch Up

My work bench seems to be permanently cover with Parish Council papers and Pumpkins uniforms to be embroidered, but that’s all far too boring to even photograph let alone blog about, so here is some other stuff:

I’ve printed and laminated all the templates for the Farmers’ Wife blocks (I’m calling mine a Handyman’s Wife quilt!)


And they’ve all been cut ready for each block as I get to it (I’m currently making the blocks in order)


Number 4 is finished, and number 5 nearly finished


The girls’ kitties are suitably appreciative of quilts, especially if rolled up to make a nest for them! (Yes there are two kitties, even though Luna looks as if she’s Thor’s shadow, and half his size!)


These patches were done for a customer - I’m trying not to get too twitchy about his intention to glue (!) them onto their eventual home


And we had Stitch yesterday: welcoming 8 new members (including one very brave but lovely lad) and have a lovely pile of bag and liners ready, and next month we will concentrate on the shields.


We had two smashing teenage girls too - who now know how a sewing machine works and used one to make some liners, and also had a go on an overlocker (here on the right) . Next month they are going to make themselves a bag each!

2017 Wk 49 - Christmas making

I've been busy using up the black and white scraps from the Black and White and bits of Bright quilt , and have make zippy pouches for colleagues

 Then I pieced the rest to make a bit enough block that I could make a few Pythagoras pouches 

So finally I've got my Christmassy packages ready to post - although maybe they will be New Year packages!!

I've finished a few customer orders (although there are plenty left to do)

And I've actually done something for me!  As we are getting to the season of Christmas jumpers I decided to go with a nativity rather than Rudolph or Santa

And in final random news . . .  its snowing

And the kitties are happy with their quilts