Things are progressing

Things are definitely progressing this week, well at least the log pile is. We have now had three loads delivered and stacked, are we feeling fitter moving them all ? the answer is no.

I can't write what my husband said he was feeling on this blog!

one of the two log piles.

 Also Maggie finished hand quilting her lovely quilt at the bee the colours are just beautiful, it is to be a present for her daughter.

Maggie and Ann showing Maggie's Quilt

 Then it comes to me, I have pieced the top of my Christmas quilt and it is ready to be sandwiched with wadding/batting and the backing,and then quilted. this one is going to be hand quilted. this is just a sneaky peek of one bit of it, will show the rest when it is quilted.

One corner of the Christmas quilt

Other good things are the Seaside Sampler that I designed for Quilters Haven is now on sale at QH. Karin the owner of QH has written the pattern (I hate writing patterns) and published it.

Pattern available at Quilter Haven

Well that is four good things that have happened this week, the log pile, seeing Maggie's lovely quilt, finishing the stitchery and piecing  my quilt top, and having my second design published. so all in all a good week..

Keep safe and keep stitching. Doti.

Still on Cloud nine

Yes I am still on cloud nine after my weekend away, and I can't seem to settle back into work mode, not really work,  how can stitching be called work when I just love doing it.

I am still working on my little Christmas Quilt, though it's a bit like Topsy and seems to keep growing as  I keep getting new ideas for the elves. We will have to wait and see where it takes me.

Wednesday club was fun this week, some were working on their friendship quilts,some finishing their ugly fat 1/4 pot holders

Sue quilting one of her pot holders

Jenny with part of her friendship quilt

The Lovely Annie with her Quilt

Annie will kill me for putting this photo up, but her quilt is so beautiful, each block is exquisitely hand quilted with the tiniest of stitches that put mine to shame, and edged with lace. Its just lovely I wish I had taken a close up of it.

Back to my stitchery.

keep safe and keep stitching. Doti.

Golden Wedding Weekend

Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons 

some of the beautiful sculptures in the garden

this was outside our room

Cranes in the Japanese Garden

  I have been away with my husband celebrating our Golden Wedding,"yes fifty years" we stayed at Raymond Blanc's  le Manoir aux quat'saisons for the weekend, one of the high lights was actually meeting Raymond himself as we arrived. OMG what a place the gardens were just beautiful but you did need the map which was provided, every where was so peaceful and tranquil especially the Japanese garden complete with it's tiny tea house.

 The food well it was just perfect, nine courses on the first evening with wine to go with each course and six courses on the second evening, we had a courtyard room so no stairs to navigate thank goodness.

I took some stitchery with me, but did not get any done though I did do some more drawings for my Christmas quilt. We both feel so rested and throughly pampered. 

Having collected Bilbo and Galadriel from the dog kennels, life is now getting back to normal after a long to be remembered weekend!!

And the only housework I am doing today is to sweep the room with a glance.

Keep safe and do lots of sewing.

Tour of Britain

Nothing much happens in our sleepy little village, but today the Tour of Britain came through, just at the bottom of our road, I was not sure if I had taken any photos of any use till I got home they went by in such a blur, it was so good to be part of it.

No sewing getting done today we had our first load of logs delivered yesterday for the winter, and we have to barrow them down the garden and make a nice neat log pile, but as always first empty the wheelbarrow, which is full of compost why is nothing ever easy.

Stay safe and keep sewing.

Christmas fabric ideas

These are some  of my ideas for the stitching on my Christmas fabric 

definitely not there yet, probably as I can't decide wether  (oops that ram again) whether to do appliqué blocks or stitchery. 

I shall keep stroking my lovely fabric till some thing comes to me.

No wednesday club this week we all went to Maggie's for afternoon tea, lots of laughter and lots and lots of cakes, had to work twice as hard at the gym as I ate too much.

keep safe and keep stitching .

Subtle Christmas Fabric

All my quilting friends will tell you I am not a lover of Christmas fabric, I could put it a little stronger but enough to say Yuk!!!

However yesterday I had to make a trip to Sew and So's Of Bungay a lovely quilting shop that sells  the Cosmos embroidery thread that I like, and lo and behold I found, dare I say it some Christmas fabric that I liked it is oh! so subtle, grey, white and silver just scrummy. Sorry not a good photo. 

What you might ask am I going to do with it, well that is the question. at the moment I just keep looking at it I am sure inspiration will come to me soon.

Keep safe and keep stitching.

A Whole day to Sew.

My husband was going to be away all day to visit his Mother who is very poorly, she is 92 and lives some 3 hours away. so it was just me and my dogs for company  a whole day of sewing was to be had.

Having down loaded a lovely pattern of a tote bag from the very talented designer Kristyne Czepuryk of 

Pretty by Hand aptly named Honey Bee Bag, it was a must, as our hand sewing bee is held at the Bee Hive in Wickham Market, so would be perfect for carrying work in progress to the Bee.

I have not made hexagons for years !

adding the honey bee

Machine quilting before making up the bag

My finished bag I am well pleased with it, though I did find it hard following a pattern, I am so used to making my own designs. It was good learning curve for me so thank you to Kristyne. 

and what a lovely day I have had..

Keep safe and keep sewing.