Resurrected!!!!

Don't faint Jan but I've decided to start blogging again!

Life has had it's ups and downs and I still don't seem to have much time to do the things I really want to do but I am an eternal optimist and believe it will happen one day! There have been big changes in our lives and the most life changing is that both myself and DH have retired!!! Howver, we seem to be busier than ever but hey ho life is never boring.

I will keep this post short as we are off on our travels again and will be wending our way up to Ripon today (via Grimsby to see my Dad in hospital).

I look forward to blogging regularly as soon as we get back home.

R.I.P.

Please pray for the families and friends of the 2 young soldiers from 21 Engineer Regiment who were killed in Afghanistan today. My thoughts and prayers are with them and also all the other members of 21 who are in Afghanistan. A sad,sad day for us all.

Cutting Into pieces and reconstructing!!

I think I've got muddled up with the different parts of this challenge but I've done one and two (painting hand dyed fabric and part 2 stitching it) so now, yes it is Part 3. Found this quite disconcerting - something I quite liked and now have had to chop up into six pieces. Still do it I did!





The next instruction in this challenge was to reconstruct the six pieces into a non rectangular shape! Yikes I'm getting in deep here. Anyway I cut them last night and had a play with them but couldn't seem to make sense of them so I just left them sitting on the table. got up this morning, took one look and decided how I was going to reconstruct (I like that word now) then into something non rectangular. What do you think?



The next step is to embellish this little treasure. I am going to leave this until the weekend when I have more time to sit down and embellish away!

Next Step

In my last post I showed you some hand dyed fabric to which I had added paint with Markal Paintsticks. Wasn't too sure about it but I persevered.

Originally this was used as a 5 Day Challenge with the participants not knowing what was coming next!!! But having the magazine in front of us made it slightly easier (although we are trying to take each step as it came rather than fit it in to what it will eventually become). Follow my drift? Anyway the weekend got in the way of the next two days and it wasn't until last night I started the next stage and that was to attach it to felt or some sort of backing and stitch it. Looking at what I had done reminded me of fronds of sea weed so to keep that feel I stitched the fronds using rayon thread. Surprisingly it turned out quite well. Well I think so anyway. See what you think ands feel free to comment. The next step is to cut it up and then put it together again!! (remember I said the original participants didn't know what was coming next).

What Now???

I happily settled down to catching up with some of my stuff needed for Jan's group at the weekend when I received a text from my friend in New Zealand. All it said was "Look at Quilting Arts Feb/March pg 66. I'm having a go do you fancy doing it with me??? Well I was intrigued so off I trotted to find said magazine. It turns out to be a 5 day challenge. When I asked her, when shall we start, she said I'm starting now are you???? How could I refuse?
First day - take a piece of altered fabric 9" x 7" and proceed to stamp, paint or whatever takes your fancy. I found a piece of fabric I had sun dyed a couple of years ago and rather than just let it dry I had rolled it up which produced rather a nice pattern. Photograph 1.



Started painting, not happy with it so decided to dig Markal Paintsticks out of a dusty drawer (think they've been there for a few years). Photograph 2. That was the first day instructions.






Tomorrow the fun begins again.

Missing Him Already

He hasn't left the country yet but have spoken to him for the last time before he leaves. We all love him very much and pray that he stays safe. I love you my son.

Gifts

I haven't been feeling well since last Thursday and am off work feeling very sorry for myself. I have got such a sore throat that I can hardly speak (DH loves it). I rang friend Jan yesterday and had to give up as my voice was getting sqeakier and sqeakier. Very painful today. Anyway instead of just sitting around reading (which I did yesterday I thought I would do something useful. Firstly I need to get some photos loaded and then this afternoon I am going to start a journal. Here is where I got my inspiration from Myfanwy. Go over to her blog at itsjustajournal.wordpress.com. For some reason Blogger won't let me put in a link to Myfanwy's Journal blog.

The pictures are gifts I have received from friends.

The first is a pair of fairy slippers from my wonderful friend Evie in New Zealand. They are tiny and absolutely exquisite


The next is a notebook from friend Jan. She posted these on her blog and I remarked how lovely they were and she gave me one! How lucky am I?



Lastly, and by no means least a great folder from Jan's daughter Annette. Extremely useful. Thank you Annette



Pictures aren't that great and for some reason I wasn't able to crop them today. Don't know why and I really can't be bothered playing around with Photoshop today

New Header

What do you think of the new header picture? I was fed up with all the gloomy weather we have been experiencing and found this picture quite by accident. It was taken lat year in a place called Little Haven in Pembrokeshire. We had an early week away and it was beautiful weather most of the time. I took loads of pictures of all the early spring flowers coming through. These are primroses and celandines. Anyway I thought it would cheer everyone up when they visit my blog!!!

I've Done It Jan

It has been a long, long time since I last posted here. Various reasons which I will not bore you with.Several people have been telling me to get blogging again so I have. Quite an appropriate day as today is my birthday. New year for me, new start on my blog.

I have done several things in the last few months but as they are all in the past I'm not going to bother putting them on here now but just make a new start.

I had a wonderful day a couple of weeks ago. I went to a class at Bramble Patch using the embellishing machine. The tutors were Linda and Laura Kemshall and was entitled 'Felt It, Stitch It'. What a day, it was fantastic and had plenty of 'playing' time but also came away with the beginnings of a Book Wrap. We did the'Felt It' bit but I am now doing the 'Stitch It' part. Linda was using some super threads, Madeira Lana. They can be used either for hand stitching or machine. Of course I had to have some so as soon as I got home I ordered some (well 9 reels actually). Beautiful colours as you can see.



The piece I ended up with doesn't look much but it's now beginning to take shape as I stitch into it.


I also belong to an on-line forum run by the UK patchwork magazine Popular Patchwork. I belong to a Birthday Club. Each member makes the birthday girl a handmade card and encloses a piece of fabric (which is decided by the organizer) Mine was 10" green squares (I love green). Also you have to wait until your birthday to open any of the squishies. That's not easy believe me. Look at what I received.






I am quite busy at the moment but I hope to start making a jpurnal sometime soon. I've got the bits and pieces. I now need time to sit and make the first few pages. Hopefully that will be soon.

Off to do some more stitching on my Book Wrap but will endeavour to come back soon

A Fantastic Giveaway

Go over to Marie-Madeline Studio They have a fantastic giveaway - an absolutely gorgeous quilt. You've only got until 8th August!!

Busy, Busy

I seem to have been very busy of late but with not a lot to show. However, I have managed to finish a lap quilt for a cause that is very dear to my heart. It is making quilts for soldiers. I have a personal interest in this but I'm not going to go into all that. What I would like to say is that after letting people know that quilts were needed for this cause, the response has been astounding and for me, very humbling.


People have been so very generous with their time, skills and their fabric stashes. Last weekend my son took 8 quilts to the shop which is collecting these quilts. I still have many blocks to make into quilts and today, at my friend Jan's group, 3 quilts were given to me and the number of blocks which were donated was astounding. It literally brought tears to my eyes (and Jan's). Perhaps she will put a picture of all the blocks and quilts received on her blog Anyway myself and Annette (Jan's daughter), who is doing an incredible job making blocks into quilts, split them between us and we've brought them home to make into quilts. The photographs are of 3 of the quilts which have been delivered. The first was made from blocks donated by Ros
Fabulous blocks Ros, thank you. The other two were donated anonymously. People just wanting to donate to the cause.





Please excuse DHs knobbly knees and toes at the bottom of the photographs.

As I said earlier in this post I went to Jan's group today and a very good time was had by all. She also had a new trader today, SunflowerCornerQuilting c Look out for the name because the fabric is fabulous and prices very reasonable. Needless to say I had to buy sonme (quite a lot actually).

Off now to finish a hanging for my son's in-laws and to find a chopstick to use as a hanging rod! Don't ask, I'll put a picture here when it is finished.

Armed Forces Day

Please spare a thought for our forces personel serving in far flung and dangerous places, Particularly today as it is Armed Forces Day.

A Little Fun

Found this on Jan's
blog and thought it would be fun to do.

Here are the rules: Bold the things you’ve done and post on your blog!


1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped - no way!
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person (awesome!)
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (my family originally came from Ireland)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (as long as there's enough for a few fat quarters then I'm happy)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia (but going to as my DIL is Russian)
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check/cheque
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle,
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88.Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (Duchess of Kent and Princess Alexandra)
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby (twice but actually had three??)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Lovely Weekend

Sorry Jan, still not a stitching post but I will do one this week!

We travelled up North on Friday to visit my son, DIL and GS. Terrible weather on the way up but managed to get there in one piece.

Son was taking part in a 300 kilometre cycle run from Workington in Cumbria to Ripon in north Yorkshire. They finished the ride on Saturday and we were in Ripon to welcome them all back. They did this to raise money for Forces charities. Here they all are just finished.




Grandson was very proud of his Dad. Well done Dad!



None of them had much time to recover as they had a parade on the following day. I don't know what it is but when I see a parade it makes me very emotional and proud of our soldiers particularly if it is my youngest son taking part. We are proud of you son.

Where's the Stitching?

Iive been flicking through my blog and I suddenly realised I hadn't put anything stitching related for a long time. As I am doing this post at work I haven't got access to my photos. I will try and find time tonight to put some of the ATCs I've received as part of a Birthday ATC Swap I am taking part in. They are all wonderful and all so different.

Pictures

Just a couple of pictures tonight. These are ones Jeff took. I haven't downloaded mine yet.

Heligan has different areas (all of which are huge). The Lost Valley, The Jungle etc. Check the link. We were lucky as the rhodedendrons were out, earlier in Devon than the rest of the country. Mine haven't flowered yet. There were some stupendous ones, all mixed in with ferns (and there were hundeds of them), in the Jungle area. It was fantastic.

Here is one of a single rhodedendron flower, stunning colour.




Another one of the fern just starting to unfurl. It looks like something out of a
prehistoric film. Mind you, ferns have been around for thousands of years.



There were many ponds in the Lost Valley and the Jungle. All fed from streams at the top of the valley. The reflections in this one are wonderful. Very jungle like.



Another 'jungly' one.

Weekend Away

We hardly seem to have a free weekend these days. Either DH is at the rugby or we are visiting one part of the family or other. This last weekend we went to Exeter to visit eldest son and daughter in law. We left early on Saturday morning and had a very good journey down to Devon arriving about lunchtime.

After that we didn't stop, We went to visit a reclamation yard and ohh some of the furniture was beautiful but very pricey. DS and wife live in a little Victorian terraced house and are looking for some pieces for said house. A set of draws took their eye so I shouldn't be surprised if they end up in their house. After that we went for a walk along the Quay but managed to walk in total about three miles!!! My poor old knee was in bits by the time we finished.

On Sunday we visited Heligan Gardens , an absolutely stunning place. If you ever get the chance to visit do go. It is very large and part of it being in a valley, very steep walks. Still I managed it. By this time my knee was crying but I was determined it wasn't going to stop me seeing everything I could. the sun shone although it was quite chilly and we spent the whole day there. I took loads of pictures which I'll post here later.

On the Monday we took a walk into Exeter and did a little bit of shopping, particularly Lakeland which I love.

Coton Manor - Bluebell Wood

We went to Coton Manor yesterday as planned. The weather was beautiful, sunny and warm. When this is the case there is nothing to beat an English spring day. Just a few photographs but I just wish we had 'smelly vision' as the scent of the bluebells took me right back to my childhood. In those days you could pick as many as you liked but these days it is rare to find them in woodlands on the scale there used to be.






I also took a lot of other pictures but this silver birch caught my eye. Beautiful colour and texture but can you see the face?

New Header

Decided to alter the look of my page slightly. Nothing major just a change of picture in my header. This was taken in Kowloon Park in Hong Kong. It was a pavilion with different shaped window spaces. I took several of these and hopefully I can make a couple of journals of these at a later date.

This park was an oasis of calm in the middle of the frenetic Hong Kong street life. We came upon it quite by accident and after that tried visit as often as we could. It was only about 10 minutes walk from the hotel we were staying in. There was a fitness trail and was used by young and old alike. There were various pavilions and were used for various activities such as Tai Chi, dancing, singing. I didn't see it but Jeff was walking through one day and they were doing Tai Chi with swords. I've tried Tai Chi (not with swords!!!) and it is extremely calming but my knee made it quite difficult. There were also beautiful trees, flower beds, fish ponds (with Koi Carp). We didn't get to see half of it but will visit it again when we return to Hong Kong. One area I particularly liked was the sculpture area. I took quite a few photographs which I will try and put on here at a later date.

We are off to Coton Manor later. They have a stunning bluebell wood which is in full bloom at the moment. Their gardens are also stunning particularly in the summer as they have fabulous perennial borders. It is open everyday while the bluebells are blooming and well worth visiting. See link in sidebar.

Glad It's Spring

I feel as if I've just come through a long, long winter into hopefully a sunny bright spring. I'm definitely a spring/summer person because I hate the dark nights and mornings and with things that have beeen going on in my life my mood has matched the season. Hopefully, now that spring has arrived and being able to get out in the garden (albeit only an hour or so at a time), plant my plants, (tomatoes, peppers, beans, life will get brighter. DH has planted his potoatoes in their little sacks (we've only got a very small garden) and they are growing apace. I do hope my friends can understand that I've been in a bit of dark place for a while and not really myself but God willing, normal Di is resumed. The human mind is a strange thing and it throws up the most implausible thoughts and moods at times. I think the trick is not to fight it but work through it and come out the other end wiser and more understanding.

Stitching has suffered as well. Something I dearly love doing just wasn't working it's magic but am hopefully going to get my first soldier quilt,quilted and finished this week to take down to Exeter so my son can deliver it to the shop which is co-ordinating the delivery of quilts to Headley Court. I have received some beautiful blocks from the ladies on the Popular Patchwork forum and they are next on the list to put together and quilt. I've also cut out some strips to make another quilt but that will get done once the first one is quilted. I'm not setting myself any deadlines, just doing what I can, when I can. Stress free is how I want my life to be from now on and piling pressure on yourself isn't the way!


I've put several random pictures on here, nothing to do with the post at all but just ones I like. These two are definitely not spring. Taken on a trip to Yorkshire to see youngest son and his family. First one is at a place called Brimham Rocks and the second just down the road from the other is the lake at Studley Royal. Both places were very cold and stunningly beautiful. The lake at Studley was partially frozen.







This one below was taken on a trip to the Peak in Hong Kong. You can see the height we were at and I'm not brilliant with heights but learnt to deal with them while we were they otherwise I would have missed out on so much.