BSK BOM #5

Another enjoyable day at BSK Bedford working on our BOM's.
The picture on the left will be cushion number 5.
The picture on the right is attempts to change the size of the BOM #6 which seemed too large in comparison with the rest of the blocks. After 4 attempts I think we have cracked it, and I will try and get it made up next week.

Hamtune Meeting

Last night Sally from Threads and Patches gave us a demonstration of Somerset Patchwork. It has been years since I did this, but it was fun and I now would like to do more. This is as far as I got in the hour.

Gardening - The big dig

Spring is just around the corner [ it must be it's nearly May!! ]

In an attempt to make the garden more OAP friendly the high bank and waterfall in the corner is being removed. 5 or 6 trips to the tip with the trailer loaded have helped, as has a morning's help from Richard, but there is still a long way to go.
When the level is down and bordered to match the rest of that side of the garden the back fence will be replaced. Then for the fun part.. planting it up.

Thursday and Friday

A picture show

counting money!

Thursday and Friday were spent around home mostly making pictures with sequins glue and ribbon.
A really nice meal at the Toby Inn turned into a bargain, as I had managed to get two "kids eat free" stickers and a a special 2 for £12.50 voucher, so the four of us had carvery and icecream to follow for £12.50 !
Friday evening the girls were collected and home went back to peace and quiet!

Wednesday 10th

A special trip to Woburn Safari Park with the girls.

About to enter the park

Emu

Grandad's favorite wolf

Posing for the camera

Lions on the prowl

Young giraffe



Taking a rest



Petting the goats

Feeding the birds

Abigail manages to get one to climb on her

Eleanor shows no fear



Monkey lands on our car



Grandma's favorite a Bongo





Tuesday 9th

Today we had a sewing day [ mini IAM] with Jenny and Olivia joining us.
Abigail and Eleanor managed to make a nightdress case on the sewing machines and then using my embroidery machine put their initial and a butterfly.
Jenny and Olivia made blocks for the top of a lap quilt [ that will be finished on another mini IAM day].
It was a busy day and everyone achieved a lot of sewing.

Cutting, machining and embroidering



Me giving a helping hand



Nightdress cases



The quilt tops going together











Monday 8th

Chris collected the granddaughters to spend the week with us, while I went off to Bedford to a sewing day with Sue Sewell's group.                  

We were treated to cake and sweets as Enid was celebrating her birthday.

Sunday 7th

This has been a busy busy week, so I hope to catch up with all the news.
Sunday was Margaret Rowley's 80 th Birthday and we had a lovely afternoon tea near Luton.

No idea why I have only one photo of the beautiful cake and none of Margaret!

Margaret is my Mum's cousin by marriage.

IAM group day

Shirley, Ann, Maureen Jenny & Penny



Dorn and Clare

 After a mad clear up in my Happy Room on Wednesday the IAM group arrived on Thursday for a day of laughter, knitting and sewing.
Due to road works most had great fun getting here. Ann decided to do an impromptu workshop turning polystyrene egg shapes in hanging Christmas ornaments.. we all enjoyed the little workshop after raiding my stash for small Christmas fabrics. A quick sandwich lunch with delicious dessert [ thanks Maureen] was followed by Show and Tell and then more sewing knitting etc..

Easter Egg Hunt

Somewhere cold



Where the clothes get clean



In the play house

Grandma reads the next clue



Looking for the next clue




Won the medals




Counting the eggs!

 Sunday was a wonderful day with the family. Richard and Jacq had prepared an Easter Egg hunt, and each grandaughter had 15 clues to solve, with each clue leading to some eggs.
Abigail declared she had 52 eggs at the end!
I got to help Eleanor with reading the clues and racing all over the house.
This was followed by a wonderful dinner Richard had prepared.

Eastbourne 5 day break



Hotel from the Pier



Our room



Theatre Visit



 We are just back from a very enjoyable 5 day trip to Eastbourne. We left Northampton in deep snow and as we drove further south gradually it all disappeared and although very windy an cold it was dry and no snow when we arrived.
This was our first visit to the Claremont Hotel, part of the Daish Holiday group.
The room was nice and clean and overlooking the sea and close to the Pier. As we celebrated our 41st Wedding anniversary we took flowers given us by Richard and our cards.  The food and choices were excellent.
While there we went to see Driving Miss Daisy at the Theatre, an excellent show in a packed house.

Postcard swap

Postcards received from the "Lets go naked" BQLPC yahoo group swap.  All the postcards had to come through the post without envelopes, and all mine arrived unscathed.

Top card from Jacquie
2nd row Miriam and Heather
Bottom row Alice and Irene

Post cards

for Jane

for Miriam

I am in a birthday Postcard swap with BQLPC yahoo group, so today have been making some for the April birthdays.

I use machine embroidery for the design, then stick this to the front of very sticky Rufflette pelmet vilene, add a plain piece of fabric to the back of the vilene, machine around the edge and then use a Sharpie pen to write the message and address on. A normal 2nd or 1st class stamp is usually enough postage for those going to this country.

Is this Spring ?

Pond view

Shed view

March 23rd and this is the greeting I had this morning, the garden is covered in snow AGAIN!

Guess this calls for another sewing day.

Snow / Rain / cold wind

BirdTweet

Yesterday the weather was so horrible I cleaned the house and then started on a Christmas gift I wanted to make.

I just love this pattern intend to either frame it or put it on a hanger as a gift.

BSK BOM

BOM 4

BOM 3

Another great day at BSK Bedford, working on my BOM blocks.
Slight hiccup was I forgot my threads and USB for the pattern!
Borrowed some threads thinking they were the same colours but they are nothing like the other blocks I have made, so may do them again!

Bracelets

Last night I taught a group of ladies at Church how to make a Temple bracelet.. the one in the picture with the clip.

15 ladies turned up and all completed a bracelet in the 90 minute session. It was a fun evening and nice for everyone to go home with a finished item.

Spring is just around the corner

After a lovely sunny day yesterday this morning I awoke to frog spawn in the pond and the frogs doing what frogs do in the Spring!

Yesterday I could not settle to anything so decided to make a friend a new apron, such a simple thing but I had to use my un-picker more than I should have !

Katie teaches a cookery group at Church so I hope she likes it.

Great day

Bag front



Bag back




Easter eggs bags

 Today I have been Sit-n-sewing at Poppy Patch, and managed to completely make my Japanese bag with the lady on the front and dragons on the back.

I also made two Easter Egg bags for my granddaughters, to be filled with eggs.

Plus I hand sewed [not my favourite job!] around the Linus quilt I made earlier.

The sun shone most of the day and the company was great.. a lovely day.