Progress on my "to do list"

One of the items I wanted to work on this year is my Amish fabric jacket, so a few days ago I dug out the box with all the pieces in and found all I had completed was cutting the sweatshirt into pieces and sewing oblongs of Amish material together but nothing else. Goodness knows how long ago I got this far!

I decided I already have two jackets made by this method do I really need another? NO.

SO.. I joined all the fabric pieces together in a random design, threw away the cut up sweatshirt and using a fleece I had been given quilted the fabric to the fleece. I then trued everything up and it has made a quilt 40 x 60 inches. I will donate this quilt to the Linus project and hope some young man [ the cows, buggies etc would be good for a boy] gets pleasure from it.
I have the binding on just need to finish sewing the binding down.

I can now mark off two items on my 2015 list of jobs: Amish jacket and a Linus quilt.

The first snowdrops

It has been pretty miserable weather lately, but the first sign of Spring made an appearance this week.... Snowdrops. I love them.

As I will be off on my travels again at the weekend I decided I better find the adaptor for camera to iPad.

Hours later having worked out where I could go to buy another at the last minute! Plus emptying a cupboard to eventually find I had put it 'somewhere safe' I at last have it.

One good thing is emptying the cupboard made me toss out to the charity shop another bag full of things no longer needed, in fact why would anyone want about a dozen eye covers collected on different flights! I am really being strong with myself about clearing the clutter.

 

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My Baby is back

At last my baby [ Brother 4000D embroidery / sewing machine] is back from it's enforced stay at the BSK hospital.
When she stopped working before Christmas I was in the middle of a large stitched project. I kept the project in the frame hoping I could continue where I had come to a crashing stop!
YIPPEE I've managed it!
65979 stitches in the design, so I lot of thread and time would have been wasted if I could not sort it out.

Jason and the Land Rovers

Just before Christmas Jason Robertson the Rep for GLASS Oxfordshire was tragically killed in a road traffic accident. [Green Lane Association]
He was a huge supporter of Help for Heroes and arranged convoys of Land Rovers to raise funds.
Yesterday was his funeral so a Land Rover convoy was arranged to follow the Land Rover Hearse.
15 to 20 Land Rovers met at a Service Station near Banbury and followed the hearse. It was a very moving and fitting tribute to a much loved man.

Gathering at the M40 Services

Preparing for the 'off'

leaving the service station

Convoy on the M40 [ about 7 in front of us and 8 to 10 behind us ]

Car park full we parked in all the side roads

So many Land Rovers of every shape and size

Jason taking his final ride. 

Progress on the log cabins

I have managed to make a little progress on my Black and White with a dash of red quilt blocks.

I need to make 168 [yikes!] to complete the quilt and have ten from last year but managed to make 11 so far this week.  This weeks effort is a drop in the ocean but then every little counts.

Eleven made 147 more to make!

The Boiler man and my kitchen

The boiler man came and serviced our boiler on Monday afternoon which meant sorting out the kitchen for him to get at it.

When he had finished I thought it time to sort out my pantry, funny how one thing leads to another!

I try to be prepared for the unknown, and storing food is one of the things I try and do. I use an Excel sheet to keep a check on what I have but sometimes I need to do an inventory and the New Year is a good time for that. SO... I emptied the shelves in the pantry and sorted through anything that needs eating up and made a list of anything I need to stock up on when that item appears on sale. My kitchen looked like I was a kid playing grocers!  Chris was happy when he came home I cooked a tin of Chilli Con Carnie and rice that needed eating up for him.

Food everywhere

A nice tidy shelf

Room for more

2015 Aims for the year

2015 Aims for the year
I am a constant list writer, I write lists for everything.
 The days I do not write a list of jobs to do I do not seem to get anything done, but if it is on a list I do my best to get it completed. I always give myself a few "nice" jobs if I have a lot of "I really do not want to do" jobs. For example if I have to do washing, clean toilets... boring jobs I also add a sewing or crocheting job that I really want to work on.
Shopping lists mean I get everything I want, if its not on the list I never remember to buy the missing ingredient or magazine I really want!

So here is my list for 2015 in my Happy Room. Hopefully making a list will mean I get things completed.

Must complete, or at least work on, already started:
Amish jacket
Hexagon block saying quilt
USA paper pieced stars quilt
Black white and a dash of red quilt
2 coloured Trapunto cushions
Bird paper pieced blocks
6 Machine embroidered train cushions
Season's cross stitch
Crochet granny quilt

New challenges
Quilt for Abigail to match her new bedroom
4 Linus quilts
Machine embroider 6 hand towels
Curtains for the summer house

Making a start... I have "make 6 log cabin blocks " on my list for today!

Family Birthday party

Yesterday we celebrated Jacquline's [ daughter in law] birthday.
The family arrived during the afternoon and we had a nice meal with crackers and cake followed by a right left game, always a favorite, and then played Mexican Train with a 12 set of dominos.
Jacq was not very well with a recurring chesty cough, but I think she enjoyed herself.

First finish of the year

I have managed to finish the crochet project I started in the summer of last year. It has been a real learning curve as I had not crocheted for years and then only very simple things. I had to learn a lot of new stitches and some leave a lot to be desired!
The edges are a bit wavy but it is a nice snuggle blanket that I am happy to put over my knees.

There is a lot of wool left over so I will have a search for something I can do with it, maybe another lap blanket? if you have any ideas please leave me a comment.

2015 Happy New Year

Chris and I saw in the New Year together for the first time in a few years. Usually he cannot stay awake and goes to bed leaving me with the TV for company, so I felt it was a special start to our 43rd year together.

We watched the fireworks in London on TV, it would have been nice to be there in person but so much more comfortable to watch from our own settee!

Holiday plans are under way and it is funny how easy it is to forget what we did in 2014. retirement has seen us enjoying many holidays after recovering from my knee op in Dec 2013.
March a few days with Daish Travel in Weymouth
April Scotland with the family
May Eastnor Castle for the Land Rover Show
June Blankenberge Belgium
August Set off for a memorable time [ see blog!] in France
September in Spain
November to Lincolnshire to celebrate my 70th birthday

A Grand Day Out

Early this morning we set off for Skegness and the sea side. It is bitterly cold and everywhere is frozen but we dressed warmly and thought it would be fun. Half way there there was snow on the ground but it soon disappeared and the sun  was shining [ but still freezing cold].
A stroll along the prom and then into town for a quick look in a few shops before finding a place for fish and chips. I think there is a rule somewhere that says you have to have fish and chips at the seaside! There is probably another rule that says you have to have an ice cream but even I, who loves ice cream, could not face one.

On the way home we stopped at Springfields outlet shops near Spalding and bought a few things in the sales. Yes it was a Grand Day Out [to quote Wallace and Grommit].

De-Cluttering

I follow on facebook Donna Smallin Kuper , a professional organizer and author of How to Declutter and also receive her newsletters. I love some of the tips and ideas she has and is so willing to share.

Since Christmas I have put my plan into action and now have a table full of things to donate, plus some books and other things I have listed on www.ebay.co.uk   Item 151533195368 Fool's Puzzle by Benni Harper will take you to my items if you are interested.  At the moment there are a lot of fictional paper back books based on quilting.     flip-floplace   is my Ebay name.

Everything ON the table is for donation or listed on Ebay

Knowing where to start is always my problem and then getting sidetracked is my next problem!! However I sorted out a pile of empty boxes and labelled them with things like zips, bias binding, Velcro, sequins etc etc and as I came across anything that would go into one of the labelled boxes, in it went.  Eventually I will make nice neat labels and sort the boxes to match each other but for now its a start.

Mix match of boxes labelled to help me sort out.

A friend sent me a sign from facebook that reads

How true is this?

The Christmas jumpers

I'm happy to report the snow went away as quickly as it came, everywhere is now just white with frost and it is SO cold. I ventured out to feed the birds but I'm staying put now until this evening when we are visiting friends.

Husbands I find are so hard to buy Christmas gifts for and until a couple of days before the 25th I only had a car wash mitt for Chris. A friend was machine embroidering a picture onto a bought jumper that I thought looked really good, so I made a mad dash to buy two jumpers [ mostly in case I messed one up!] and I loaded them into my EM. Chris has two loves in his life, well maybe three with me! his old Land Rover and wolves.

I found a ME Land Rover design and stuck sticky to the frame [ I hate that stuff but at least it means there are no hoop marks on the jumper]. I turned the jumper inside out and "stuck" the place I wanted to embroider right side up, pegging the unwanted fabric to keep it from moving under the needle by mistake.
I floated two layers of 'stitch and tear' under the frame, lowered the tension to 3.2 [ default is 4].
Next was to find a blue colour thread as near as I could to his Land Rover, hope no one saw me holding blue threads up to the LR! then away I went watching it every moment to make sure nothing moved or got caught.  Brilliant no problems and I think it looks great.

Next I loaded the second jumper and went through the same procedure to sew out a wolf, except I did not go looking for a wolf to copy its colours [ha ha].

Chris seemed happy with his jumpers and as my embroidery machine broke down a day later I was so glad I managed to finish them.

Boxing Day

Just heard on the news that it is snowing in Northampton ! so opened the curtains and they are right everywhere is white and snow is falling!!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS 2014

PEACE HEALTH AND HAPPINESS AS WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD

Crib traditionally arranged by the granddaughters 

Beef in the oven, then the turkey followed by all the trimmings and roast veg. Christmas pudding made by Jacqueline steaming in the slow cooker making the house smell very Christmasy. The table it set, all we need is for the family to arrive later this morning.

Just taking a breather and my first selfie!

The family are here!

Christmas Eve 1 sleep to go....

Today feels like the calm before the storm!

All the presents are wrapped, the games prepared, even the Christmas tablecloth has had its annual ironing ready for the BIG day.

The food is in the fridge and I have a cooking plan, which seems to start at 7am tomorrow, but hey! I have been known to creep down around 3am to put a large turkey on to cook. Tomorrow as there are only six of us I have a turkey breast joint and large joint of beef.

The girls made a seating plan and angels with our names on so even that is taken care of.

All I need now is a light dusting of snow [ don't think there is any chance of that!]

I'd like to wish all my bloggers a very happy peaceful Christmas and New Year.

2 Sleeps to Christmas

The girls have had a fun day making Kumihimo tree decorations to take home.

Chocolate sleighs and angels to use as place markers for the Christmas table were next on the agenda.

I found the instructions for the paper angels on Martha Stewart www page.

We decided to have lunch out and visited the local Toby Inn for their carvery always popular with the Ladies that Lunch !

The excitement is growing so I think its time for a Christmas movie to calm things down and putting my feet up!

3 Sleeps to Christmas

Early start with the washing then off to pick up the girls who are staying with us for two days.

The morning was spent making Christmas wreaths, which turned out really well.

Wreaths made using metal hoops and attaching lots of coloured Christmas fabrics to then with a single knot.
Bells were added to the centre and a bow to the base.

After lunch the girls snuggled up under the Christmas quilt and watched a Christmas movie.

We have been having some wonderful sun sets, just wish I could stand on the roof for a better view!

4 Sleeps to Christmas

Oh dear something is missing!!!

Yes you guessed, my embroidery machine went "clunk" in the middle of sewing out a very large railway carriage. It is now in the "sewing machine hospital" in the hopes Mike at BSK has time to fix it on Monday. I plan to leave the sewing in the hoop in the hopes I can re-aline it when I get my machine back and complete the piece.

To add to our unexpected expenses the light fitting over the dining room table went bang and now has to be replaced, it matches the one in the lounge so that is two new light fittings required asap after Christmas.

Table set by Christmas tree and candle light

Friends came for dinner and to play cards last night, luckily we had enough light from the part of the ceiling light that was still working. It was a great evening playing three of our favourite card games.
I experimented with part of the meal and it was a complete failure, so a quick change of plans and I think it all went OK.

A simple fabric panel with the true meaning of Christmas hangs in my kitchen on the pantry door.

5 Sleeps to Christmas

These Yo Ho Ho table mats made using heat resistant wadding are a firm favorite this time of year.

6 Sleeps to Christmas

This candle mat was made using different green fabrics heat-n-bonded together, I then cur out the holly shapes and just sewed a few stitches down the middle to attach them to the cream background, really quick and easy but very effective and look great with a candle in the centre.

7 Sleeps to Christmas

Today was my visit to BSK Bedford for a Machine Embroidery day. I love going with Penny my friend, we have a good chat in the car and always enjoy the day. Today we made a train and one carriage, they can be joined together with more carriages to make a table runner, but I think I am going to make mine into a set of fun cushions!

My Christmas sewing at home is made from three circles interlinked and when pulled up make spaces for bread rolls [ hope this makes sense!]

8 Sleeps to Christmas

The Hamtune Quilters Party last night was great fun. The fun started with three quilt related quizzes, Penny and I won a prize for completing the most. The table was groaning with food so next came a food break, which was most enjoyable.
Everyone was then arranged into a circle and given three raffle tickets each, ten prizes were placed in the middle of the circle and the other half of the raffle tickets were placed in a bowl. As a number was called the person with that number collected a prize from the middle of the room until all the prizes were gone. The numbers were continued to be called and this meant stealing a prize from a person who already had it, this caused much laughter as everyone wanted the "cuddly toy" to start with. When all the numbers had gone if you still had a prize you kept it, needless to say I didn't win anything. [ all my prizes were stolen!]
Next we were all told to stand and play the right / left game with the little gifts we had brought along. How come people that make wonderful quilts and do amazing craft work do not know their right and left!!
Finally time to go home and it was pouring with rain and for some reason I missed the drive and landed up driving across part of the garden and lawn... what a mess! And NO I had not been drinking!

Place mats for the Christmas table

9 Sleeps to Christmas

What a chilly morning today, everywhere was white with frost when I ventured out to the garage in the dark at 6.30am to collect a loaf from my freezer... burrrr.

Fairly easy day planned today, I am trying to finish my crochet throw before Christmas, only another 32 rows to go! At least it keeps me warm while I work on it.

Tonight is the Christmas party at Hamtune Quilters.. more about this tomorrow.

I bought this little cross stitch kit, think it was Mill Hill beads? a long time ago. It comes out every Christmas, and I remember the fun I had making it.

10 Sleeps to Christmas

Yo Ho Ho with the reindeer

11 Sleeps to Christmas

A really nice service at Church today, with great speakers and inspiring words.

One of my favourite "sewn items" is this quilt that is now a few years old and only comes out at Christmas. My Daughter in law would like it and maybe one day I'll get around to making her one. Somehow when Christmas has passed I loose the interest in making Christmas items. The holly leaves and berries etc, were heat-n-bonded on and then machined with a zig-zag stitch.

This horrible cold weather we are having means its nice to snuggle up in, in the evenings.