2024 August

 Hello again from my corner of the blogiverse

The ladies at Chertsey museum took the idea of mini dwellings as pin cushions and really went for it - aren't these great!

This month we did some crayoned pictures: trace a picture, then crayon to your heart's content, on the back of the picture onto kitchen paper, until the kitchen paper doesn't show any colour, then stitch 

 

 

 

Jackie, Lisa and I went to Festival of quilts for the day: we saw Plums gorgeous Megan's forest mini quilt

And may have done some shopping!

We had a family day out to "scatter mum's ashes".  She had a lovely day!  For anyone who doesn't know, she wants her ashes scattered at sea when she goes, and we thought it would be a shame she wouldn't be there, so we have a picnic and a trial run!

Huge thanks to Rhona and Martin (and their boat) who made it a fabulous day

Blackberries from the village and apples from the garden

So I started this blanket is Texas.  I love the colours but I don't love the shape.  I was quite convinced I needed a chain between each shell, but apparently (and clearly) not.  I fell out of love with the shells too

So with Deb's help at coffee morning it all got frogged and I've started again

This time I managed a chainless foundation (yay, go me)

and I'm much happier with how it's going

I'm trying to get more into the habit or regular haircuts - so this

minus this

became this

I did a few patches for my friends at Windsor Baptist's church's community bakery

I cut a whole load of houses for a QYG village

and then we went on holiday: not too shabby eh?

We met up with family

 

saw beautiful scenery

and wildlife

and wool shops!

(six of these ladies in the public lounge were knitting!)

and we saw the northern lights!

and one off the bucket list: we travelled the Atlantic road

And finally an update: the quilt I made Niki and George for the wedding: totally appreciated by the youngest member of their family!!!!

(if you want more photos from our holiday there are here: https://hickleysonholiday.blogspot.com/2024/09/2024-hurtigruten-norway.html)

2023 May

 Pinch Punch first day of the month!

Here are a whole load of photos about my May!

We celebrated the Coronation with a lovely afternoon tea in the village hall . . .

and two gingers from Sue's Memories in thread collection

I finished an order of 100 dogs for a customer

and a dozen of the blue and gold patches to go with the previous name patches for a group of friends off to Le Mons 24 hour race

And two completed borough banners for the new Mayor or Ruinnymede

A busy Stitch morning

Jackie's son Paul captained a winning county team in the hurling championships

so a Ginger was necessary!

And Lisa's lovely Boris (a Berber Skink) passed away, (he's under the shell, his favourite shell!)

so another Ginger . . .

Our bed is quite high as there otherwise wouldn't be room for the chests of drawers in the bedroom.  We needed a new mattress and ordered one without having measured the old one.😱  The new one is 10cm/4" *higher*!!  There is no chance I can get in 😂

So off to Ikea to get new, lower, drawer units: guess what we'll be doing at the weekend!

Do you remember Basil?  A friend's very loved 40+ year old teddy.  I mended him during lockdown and make him a onesie to protect him.  He's come back to me while she goes on holiday for week - this time his earls are falling apart!

Lisa got me this kit for Christmas and I finally found what I was looking for as a stab board (not the right word, LOL)

So I have started creating the sea and the sky and a few rocks.  The kits is stuffed with different colours of wool - a really generous quantity!  Lots of fun stabbing!!

And talking of generous . . . I "met" Kathy many years ago when blogging was a place to appreciate other crafters creations.  She blogged at www.runningwithrocket.blogspot.com.  She now runs an Etsy shop with pre-loved sewing stuff (Running with Needles) and posts some of her finds on facebook and instagram.  I have made a few "Retreat" pouches using these fab frames, but the daughters seem to have appropriated the pouches, and I cant get the frames in the UK . . .just look what arrived in the post today!  Thank you Kathy, I cant wait to get started!!!