Folded Hexagons

Of course, I should be finishing something else,

but having had a spurt of doctor's/midwives... appointments lately,

I thought I'd prepare some 'small' handwork for keeping in my bag...

But, ssshhh, it's a secret...

Borders On, Papers Out

All the cream borders have now been handsewn on to my rose hexagon quilt

so it's at top stage, awaiting a pieced backing and then quilting...

I have started taking the papers out, this is quite time-consuming,

but strangely fun. If I can get the back pieced soon,

I can get this quilt off to the Longarmers and hopefully on our bed

in the not too distant future.

I can't see my husband liking the rose quilt too much,

 but I can always just put it on my side of the bed ;o)

Now, it might be time to think about my Carolina Lily

that needs borders..........

Sweet Stash

"stash - verb (used with object)
1. to put by or away as for safekeeping or future use, usually in a secret place (usually followed by away ): The squirrel stashes away nuts for winter. "
or
The wife stashes the secret Marzipan and Mozart Kugeln away from the rest of her family!

My dear friend J travels to Germany on business and very kindly sent me my absolute favourite chocolates: Mozart Kugeln, which are simply too good to be shared with those who are not discerning  in their chocolate taste ;o)

Thanks J. I shall savour them slowly and scroogily!

Mere Quilters (in Every Nook & Cranny)

I was very fortunate to be invited along by my dear friend Vicky C.

to the Mere Quilters Quilt Exhibition in Windemere today.

Set in a beautiful home overlooking glorious Lake Windemere

and bursting with charm and character and....

QUILTS!!!

I overheard a lady coming down the stairs saying:

'There are quilts in every nook and cranny!'

And there were! Quilts in the bedrooms,

the hallway, the shower room, the workroom...!

What an amazingly prolific group of quilters.

An absolute feast for the eyes and so many beautiful quilts to see and enjoy.

I certainly didn't manage to take everything in!

But I did spot a Lone Star which was lovely

 and reminded me of my Mother's long-term Lone Star

that we are hoping to finish together one day!!

Lots of Christmassy quilts

(less than a 100 days to go now I believe!!)

Quilts on beds...

And quilts needing close-ups like this hexagon quilt...

So many beautiful quilts...

and fun wallhangings...

And this one with sheep! Love it!

With all the beds and chairs etc. adorned with quilts

there was nowhere to sit and admire them, 

however, the dining room offered some excellent home-made refreshments!

I was delighted to have met a lovely lady called Janet

who made this super hexagon bag! (among many other wonderful things!)

And I also met a lady called Susan who made this Log Cabin

(also among many many other wonderful things!)

What a great day out, thank you Mere Quilters!

Lucky, Lucky!!!

Firstly, I am lucky to have been able to go off on a 'jolly'

as my husband calls it, to go and stay with great friends

and meet wonderful quilters/bloggers in London at the V&A,

(and to sit in the open air quaffing coffee and chatting about blogs and quilt stuff
- as well as posing in front of beautiful bottoms!!)

Now, however, I am firmly back in Yorkshire and reality

and have the furniture polish and rain to prove it!

Secondly, I am very lucky to have been given some wonderful gifts

from those bloggy/quilty friends...

(not to mention all the 'Mummy' treats found on the guest bed 

from my wonderful hosts! Thanks E & P!)

**********

Kate, very kindly made 'baby-kalico' a little quilt.

I love it! The colours are not baby like at all,

and it's just such a fun quilt. The design, border fabric,

backing fabric etc are just super-cool.

 (Look at those fingers ;oD )

 (And the evil eyes LOL)

(DH loves sushi so the backing fabric is an excellent choice!)

Thanks Kate!

Vicki, also very kindly brought me some of her gorgeous handmade soaps (Ok, I asked directly for those!, but how could I not, they are wonderful!) and some of her amazing dyed fabrics.

 Vicki has an Etsy shop with many more delectables for sale.

But these ones are MINE!! Thanks Vicki!
Hope to see you girls again soon!!!

This is me...

I found this poem... I wrote it almost 2 years ago now... November 2009!

But I thought I'd crazily share it anyway...

According to T, I am 'Mr Mummy', but actually...

I am the one that wipes food off tables and floors

And handprints of the walls and doors,

I am me

I am the wife,

that makes cups of tea,

shouts for dinner and screams 'nobody listens to me'

I'm that sister that misses your teasing and funny ways

The daughter that calls, but forgets what she says

I am me

I am whatever you need me to be:

potty cleaner

bed maker and short order cook,

I am the one who reads your bedtime book

I am me

I listen to the moans and the stamping foot on the floor

Then I get up every morning and listen to some more...

I am me

I am the one who checks you're asleep and tucked up tight

I am the one who wants to get this mummy thing just right...

I am me

I am the woman who sneaks off for a quick sew

But I'm there if you need, you know?

I am me

I am a stitcher, a fabric hoarder this is true,

But I am the one who wants you to be you....

I am me

Many names for a mother a friend and wife

Many people I've met in this life

Many blessings, sadness too

All part of me being part of you

It's my birthday I heard them say

I weigh a lot more than I did that first day!

In fact, I'm so big, I'm a great big lump

I feel like I've been blown up with a bicycle pump!

What happened to the 'little girl' that started this life

She ate all the pies and became Spratt's wife!

Never mind, when I pass from this earth

At least all will know, I got my fill's worth!

Borders on Hexagons....

...are easier to pin and stitch on

if you don't have 'certain distractions'

who are seeking warmth on a chilly night...

... 'certain distractions' also seem to like chasing the needle

going in and out! So sitching is almost impossible!

And to think a few days ago I was muttering that,

besides the odd animal sacrifice (or gift as she probably calls it!),

she's not very friendly to me,

the sucker who feeds her, changes her water etc etc...!!

Perhaps as the seasons change and she wants to be indoors

more often she'll get into this pachwork hobby of mine

and just accept that the needle and thread moves up and down

without need of 'assistance'! ;o)

A Good Day at the V&A

Wednesday I met two lovely bloggy friends at the V&A Museum in London.

We had arranged to meet in the main foyer, but the main entrance was closed as they were putting up an amazing entrance display. Silly me, I sat and waited in the wrong foyer, but soon sorted it out (once I'd caught my breath LOL)

While we waited for the '3rd Musketeer' who needed to arrive later. Vicki and I wandered around the Arts & Crafts display and stumbled upon these poor squashed, yet exquisite brass instuments...

This William Morris Textile design was a highlight for me in the Arts & Crafts section:

Once we were 3, and had explored the very interesting 'Art of Making' exhibition, we spent a long time in the courtyard drinking coffee and chatting.

Then we wandered around the bookshop:

What a great selection,... some people couldn't resist tempation ;o)

Another pitstop needed to be made at the gift shop!

For a hat girl like me, I loved this display....

All in all a great day out. Thanks Vicki and Kate!

London Calling!

I have just returned from a mini-break in London
where I stayed with good friends who spoilt me rotten: 

I was collected from the station

and then taken to a sewing shop on the way to their home!

Fantastic! My friend had spotted Raystitch

on the Essex Road and thought I might like to pop in...

Of course I wanted to pop in!!!

They have a wonderful selection of books and sewing patterns.

It's a very beautiful shop with Japanese cottons

(at £19 a metre though!)

and other lovely fabrics and sewing notions.

They also have a cafe so you could stay a while

and then be tempted to shop a lot!

We resisted temptation and had coffee

'for the girls' at a deli across the road

only because we needed space for the baby buggy,
a crutch and a bump LOL.

Although if the weather had been better 

we would have 'dined' there as they have outside tables.

Mmm... babychino!

Crochet One, Knit Two & Quilt Five

My unborn baby is already being spoilt!

Katie Z. from Zana's Nini sent baby a beautiful crochet hat

with a choice of 3 colour flowers...

So cute! Thanks Katie Z!

Check out her Etsy shop!

As the season has turned, I have knitted

the boys new hats for school

(I can't crochet at all!)

2 obvious things happened with the hats...

1) I couldn't get the boys to let me take any sensible photos..

And 2) The little guy has already lost his hat at school!!

Kate N. very kindly sent me some quilt tops

to hand over to Vicky for Project Linus...

Kate is amazingly productive

and I am so looking forward to catching up

with her again... soon!

We will be meeting another blogger

who I have admired for some time too...

soon!

I'm sure you'll get to read all about it on our blogs...

soon!

Another bad photo of the top below

(the borders are straight in reality!!)

And this red, white and blue top is my favourite from Kate,

but it's not a great photo either :(

Thanks Kate for five fabulous tops for a great cause!

(and see you... soon! ;oD )