Leicester Socks

Born in Leicester many years ago! I decided to knit myself a pair of Leicester City socks.
I actually bought the wool in Spain a year ago and was really pleased I managed to make them match

A sewing day in Bedford

Just home from a sewing day in Bedford where eight of us either did our own thing or worked on a large robin. As I am trying to get things prepared for a Christmas Fayre I decided to work on a few Santa's. The company was great and I enjoyed seeing everyone and exchanging ideas.
Plus yet again there was cake... my diet this week has gone out of the window!

On the way to the Sewing Day I called at BSK and bought some Christmas fabric. This is the first fabric I have bought in a long time, but badly needed for projects coming up in the next couple of weeks.
On the way home I called at Tudor Rose, quilt shop, for gold threads also badly needed .
The Santas are gradually coming together.

Stuart Hillard

On Tuesday Stuart Hillard one of the first contestants on the British Sewing Bee came to the Hamtune group to teach a workshop. I was lucky enough to have a place bought for my by my friend Penny. Thank you Penny it was a great birthday gift, and a great day.
Thirteen of us enjoyed making a Messenger bag and eating delicious cake made by Ann.
Home for a quick bite to eat and then back for a fun filled evening talk by Stuart.

Setting up and getting started

Stuart explaining something to Pauline

A strap lesson

My completed bag

The start of the evening talk and entertainment

Cousins annual Christmas

A few days ago twelve of us got together for our annual cousins Christmas dinner. Living fairly central to everyone we went to a local pub/restaurant, The Whitehills. The chatting never stopped and it was great meeting up with everyone again.
John came from Derby, Mike, Norma, Kim, Ian and Jackie from Leicester area, Helen and Chris from Bristol, Debbie from the Cotswolds. Colin, Chris and myself from Northampton.

Food was good and we all enjoyed our annual meet.

20/11/44

Happy Birthday to me.
Celebrated at the family's home, where Richard had made me a white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake... yummy.

Blowing out the candles.

Turkey & Tinsel

I am so far behind with my blog posts, but hey ho...
November 10th we went on a Turkey and Tinsel break to Weymouth with Daish Travel. They offered us a last minute 5 day break for £89 each, much too good to refuse.
The itinerary was Friday when you arrive is Christmas eve, the Saturday is Christmas day and the evening meal has all the Christmas trimmings including a visit from Father Christmas. The next day is Boxing Day and the final evening New Years Eve.
Remembrance Sunday was an extra treat as the hotel we stayed in was opposite the war memorial and all the dignitaries met in our hotel.. what a wonderful sight seeing young and old Army, Airforce and mainly Navy parading.

On route, well not actually but Chris was kind enough to drive 50 miles out of the route, for me to make a visit to the Temple, it is such a special place and the peace was just what I needed.

London Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Temple

Surely this cannot be our room... a 6ft bed and two single beds [one in the annex] !
Room to hold a party.

Saturday we visited a Christmas Fayre in Bournemouth

Loved this stall

An evening stroll along the coastal path. The Anzak memorial opposite our hotel

So moving with the hats.

Remembrance Service

Salvation Army band just outside our hotel

The younger generation remembering

Behind the crowds a canon was fired at 11am and the lifeboat and a tall ship sailed into view.

The proud Service men and women

A Salvation man played the last post

Back in the hotel after the service

We will remember

Monday was Sunny so we took a walk to look at the poppies

The tall ship was still in view

The American memorial

A chilly selfie at the end of a wonderful 5 days.

My first knitted shawl

Pattern by Justyna Lorkowska, free on Ravelry. Wool by King Cole, Zig Zag 4ply sock wool. Worked on a 4mm circular needle.

A friend had knitted this shawl a number of times and told me where to find the pattern, so I thought I would have a go..  My first time of using a circular needle.

Once I worked out where to put my hands it was easy and the pattern was also easy with good directions. I like it so much I may make another.

Pined out for blocking

ps, I now have started a blue one and bought more wool !

November IAM craft day

November IAM craft day was such fun, there seemed to be lots to laugh about and the day went far too quickly.
Show and tell was great...

Jenny had made another Linus quilt from fleece
A child is going to be so happy to get this snugly blanket.

Penny had completed another UFO, this time a Lego quilt for her grandson
Unfortunately he is now too old for it, so it will be saved for a Great grandchild!

Clare produced a very pretty cushion, we all like d the fancy stitching in gold

Star item... Clare had knitted a jumper with braces and bow tie on it

Maureen's bag with the hexagon frame was much admired

Shirley had yet another crochet blanket in the most beautiful colours

Ann had completed her white baby crochet shawl

Ann also had made a knitted cactus, much to our amusement

I had three Christmas scarves and a quilt completed [ quilt picture for another day]
Dorn was busy working on Santa groups and had quite a few completed by the end of the day.

How often do I say....

How often do I say "where has the week gone" ?

I have been working on Christmas, and already have a lot of my presents and they are even wrapped and labelled !  I don't think I have ever been this organised.
Deciding on what to make for Christmas cards is always the harder than the actual making. Eventually I made a decision and now have about two dozen started, just need the final touches.
Most of the things I have been making and doing I do not want to put on the blog as someone might see them!

A friend joined me for a sewing day on Tuesday and it is amazing how much you can get done when you have no distractions.

Chris went for his annual check up yesterday and very pleased to say even after 12 years he is still Leukaemia free.

Between 6pm and 8pm I lit my pumpkin and had a constant stream of Trick or Treaters, I thought I was going to run out of treats. I love seeing the little children with their parents making an effort to do something together. One very small child asked where my dog was, when I replied we didn't have a dog, he kept asking 'why not' until his Mum dragged him away !

During the week I also found time to make myself a set of Santa's.

Like this photo

This photo looks like Chris's bronze Mountain Man is about to shoot them!
Maybe the one at the front is falling from a shot!