Bags and Swaps

These two fabric postcards arrived on my doorstep this morning and very welcome they were too. The multi-coloured card is from Aynsley McKay and she created it for the integrated inchies swap on Surface Design. The monochrome card is from Tracy Border and made as her response to the Flower Foot swap. I must admit I've been very remiss and haven't even started my Flower Foot cards yet. I think I'll have to start them next.

Not done as many swaps over the last few weeks as I really want to make an art quilt. I have a few journal pages in the pipeline but no quilt.

I made this carrier bag from the pattern on the BQL group. This year there is to be a Bag Challenge and this is January's. I made it from some glitzy denim and lined it with plain cotton. The bag folds up into its own pocket - a bit like a quillow. Unfortunately although the bag does go into the pocket the denim is really a bit too heavy for it to go in easily. Also the glitzy bits fall off. I was making it to give to my friend who is off to New Zealand for a month. Thought a bag that folds could come in useful to bring my present back. Only kidding Judy really don't want one.


I'll have to make another one to give to her. We're off to Durham tomorrow to see an exhibition. Can't for the life of me remember where, think it's the Oriental Museum, nor can I remember what we're going to see. I'm sure we'll enjoy the day out whatever it is.

My Mum is entralled in her "Betty's" book its bringing a lot of memories back. I'll have to take her to Betty's in Northallerton, which is only a 40 minute drive away from us but will keep that in mind for when she is having a 'down' day.


Bag when folded up into the pocket.

TIF Challenge Piece

It took me some time to decided how I would tackle the Take it Further challenge. Who I admired and was inspired by wasn't a challenge it was my Gran (mother's mother). She died many years ago when I was in my early twenties but she is often in my thoughts. Gran was a skilled needlewoman, like many of her generation. She had a large family and her work almost always had a utilitarian purpose. I doubt she would have had the inclination to 'play' as we do but feel sure she would approve of my 'work' today. She taught me to always do the best I could, no slapdash work for her. If it wasn't perfect but the best you could do then that was fine. Her favourite colours were the pink/green/maroonblues range. She loved flowers and cherished her family. Her crochet lacework was just wonderful. I hope I can live up to her standards.


Close-up of some of the stitches used which were mainly stem and chain stitch, some of the first she taught me.


The January challenge piece has a background of painted pelmet vilene. I had been given some sheer fabric of unknown fibre and I gave it the heat treatment with my heat gun. It didn't go into holes but crinkled up lovely.

This was bonded onto the vilene and I fme scribbled with gold thread to give it greater texture and further bond it to the vilene. I created a collage in Paintshop Pro using a photoframe, tag and my Gran's photo. This one was taken shortly before her death so is precious to me and shows her lovely smile. I attached this to the background using gold thread. I used a brad to attach the tag and then added hand embroidery, beads and paper lace.

The back is a PSP collage



















Been to see my mum this morning and took her the "Betty's" book. She used to work in Betty's in Harrogate before she met my father and is always talking about it. She loved her time there but the war came and she was sent to work on the railways as a signalwoman. The book gives the history of Betty's tea shops and confirms much of the tales she used to tell. It's full of pictures both early ones of the 'family' and the latest ventures. I'm sure she'll love it, at least I hope so.

Mil is poorly again, this time she's got the lurgy, the dreaded sickness and diarrhoea. We aren't allowed to visit at the moment as they have used their 'closed door' policy to try and contain the spread. It must be rife in the UK as the radio and tv are constantly telling us that if we get it not to go to our gp but to stay at home, keep warm and drink plenty of fluids. Guess that's what they are doing with Jan. Well here's to keeping the bugs at bay.

Guild Challenge

First meeting of the year for our local Embroiderers Guild today and the speaker, Ed Norton, failed to turn up!!! Not sure what the problem was but we were all sat there waiting, the business side of the meeting lengthened to fill in time. In the end to distract us all, our stalwart leader gave us a challenge. Someone had given the guild several cones of 1 ply cotton yarn in shades of pink and green. Our task was to get together in groups and create something from the yarn. We were given 15 minutes to complete this task.

There were 3 in my group and the photo shows our efforts. We were concerned as to what might have happened to Ed. We thought perhaps he found it just too cold up here in the North East and had gone off to sunnier climes. So here you see Ed sitting under a palm tree pretending to be a rasta.

The other groups made spiders web and landscapes. The one shown is a garden in winter. Pink flowers amid green leaves and the white is their paper depiction of snow.

Ed was to talk about the best way to exhibit your work and to this end the members had brought along something to display. We thought we have a go so displayed our work as we thought best. Then a general discussion took place with lots of moving around of articles and much laughter.

The white cushion belongs to my friend Judy Hargroves. She started the whitework cushion at the Summer School we both attended back in August of last year. Unlike me she actually finished the piece she started - no ufo here. Judy's very good at finishing her projects.
















Judy's whitework cushion and close up of the work.

Despite not having a speaker we managed to entertain ourselves and we actually talked to each other. A thoroughly enjoyable meeting and a format that could well be repeated in the future.

Finished the quilt cover at last. The fabric was quite difficult to work with, very slippy but pretty. It came as a suit bundle from BombayStores one length of patterned (photo) and one length of matching plain.

I used one length of patterned as a panel on the front with borders of plain. I also used the plain as a back. Doubt it'll stay on the bed but is what they wanted.


Selection of Christmas goodies, Ipod docking station so I can listen to my audiobooks while I work and when I've finished I have something to read.

My main present this year was my camera I got a Panasonic Lumix DMC FX33. Playing with it at the moment, trying out the different light settings and the macro. Blue flowers are a close up of a small cushion I have. Took the flower pots in the garden tonight with the security lighting on but although the camera has a picture stabiliser as automatic it took quite a time for the shutter to shut, hencwe the blurriness.



Tried the macro on the stitching of my shoe and it came out better than I expected, not quite got the lighting setting right. Guess I have a steep learning curve with this camera but I'll get there.

Got the utility sewing out of the way so time to play again. Been thinking about the two challenges, TakeitFurther challenge is to do something with the theme of someone who inspired me and my first thought was my grandmother. She's been dead now for quite some time but is still in myh heart and mind. She was the person who taught me needle skills partly due to the Quaker mentality of "the devil finds work for idle hands" but I enjoyed it. The second challenge on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/choosedaychallenge/ is 'Mask' now all I have to do is decide whether I want to go along the noun or verb route. I'll give them both some thought.

Happy New Year

Not sure what happens in your house but here in the North East or at least its tradition in our family, that you never take a dust bunny, washing, ironing or diry windows into the New Year. You home must shine like a new star but this year I rebelled and Keith and I went to Hardwick Park in Sedgefield for a walk. Hardwick Park was once the landscaped gardens belonging to Hardwick Hall that was built in the 17th Century. The park fell into disrepair but is now undergoing a face lift thanks to lottery money. There are a number of ponds, lakes and woodland walks. We set off yesterday morning for a walk round the lake. The first thing you see in the Park is the ruined Gatehouse, I believe it was built as a romantic ruin (folly) the archway though gives a great view of the park beyond.

The woods in winter I thought looked like a line of giant feathers and think they will feature in future works so watch this space.

Down in the deep dark woods walked

Red Riding Hood.

Can you see the wolf watching for her?

We called in to see Jan on the way home. She seems to have settled very well into her new home, in fact I doubt she realises she's not in the same place. She's clean, appears happy enough and is thank goodness pain free. However she had a fall this morning and I'm not surprised. Her new slippers have been lost so we had to go out and buy her another pair. She was wearing some blue knitted flip flops in a size 7. She takes a size 3 so I'm not at all surprised she fell and told the attendants what I thought. Also her drawers and cupboards were empty of clothes? Apparently everything she owns in "in the wash". I must keep an eye on this, as I said we went straight out and bought her new slippers and a few extra clothes. Going back tomorrow to see whether they are still there and what she has on her feet. I understand the problem of clothing amongst inmates (feels like a prison) especially when labels come off or are unclear. Jan's are school labels so can't see the problem. Will give up now as this is becoming a bit of a hobbyhorse.

Got home and felt guilty as my house was less than sparkling. Started to clean up the dust bunnies and finished all the washing then company decended. It was good to see them but by the time they left I was too tired and it was too late to do more than collect up the coffee cups and make dinner. So we entered the New Year with unironed clothes and unwashed windows. Lets see if it makes any difference.

Happy New Year

New Year Challenges

I'm taking the easy way out this year and resolving to do things I enjoy doing, rather than something I need to do. I'm taking SharonB's "Take it further" challenge and "ChoosedayChallenge" groups and I am really looking forward to doing this. I hope to put some of the 'thinking and skills' I learned when I did my city & guilds work into these challenges. One other thing I wanted to do for a while is make a monthly journal page then create a book of these pages at the end of the year.

For the past few years I've made fabric postcards and other mixed media articles but have wanted to take art quilting just a bit further along with mixed media art. I really feel these challenges are jsut what I need to stimulate the old creative brain cells, at least I hope so.

The other resolution for 2008 is one I really have to make (and keep) that's to really control my blood sugar. Being diabetic on insulin with all it's complications is beginning to hit home, especially as I something I could do with my eyes closed (walk several miles without any problems) is now a real issue for me. For the past few years I've walked with a group of friends on Tuesday up to 10miles. Now I can do a couple of miles, slowly, by which time claudication sets in. I can no longer keep up with my friends, some of whom are in their 80's!! My consultant says it's a common problem with diabetics so I will control my BM better and continue to walk to make sure it doesn't get any worse.

Dh and I intended going out today but torrential rain set in and we both fell asleep in front of the telly. Good job it's not yet 2008!! Completely lost track of the days at the moment we seem to have had two weeks this week.

Journal Pages

We decided to go out for a walk this morning, first one for a long time. We went to Pinchinthorpe near Guisborough and walked along the dismantled railway line. It was warm 12deg C but damp. There were a lot of cyclists, walkers and joggers out and we all wished each other a Happy Christmas etc. I took this photo of the Winter Trees with the North York Moors behind them. Just out of shot is Roseberry Topping a peak of approx 1000 ft just off to the left.

I've had more time to play than I anticipated and have done two 6" journal pages this week. One is pinks, purples and blue based on the painting "The Pink Room" by Emma Williams. The JP is for a swap on Surface Design and is based on the colours of your favourite artist. To be honest I don't actually have a favourite artist I like lots of them but this painting speaks to me. I seem to be coming up with more pink things these days, usually its autumnal colours. Not sure whether it means anything!!
The second journal page is violet and gold although the photo looks more dark blue. It's for an "Opposites" challenge and I chose a colour wheel opposite. The colour scheme is a bit outside my comfort zone which is why I did it.

Christmas Joy

Christmas is over and all the hussle and bussle that goes with it. Now I can show photos of what I've been doing. They were all presents and didn't put them up beforehand otherwise some would have peeped and known what they were going to get.

The photos aren't too good and have a colourcast to them that I've found difficult to get rid of. The little shopping bag was for Julie my younger son's girlfriend. It's actually pink and purple being her favourite colours and I thought it would be cute to put her lunch in to take to work.
This dolly bag one with handembroidery is for my mil who is now happily settled in her new nursing home. We left her old handbag at her last home as it was dirty and greasy. She seems to have forgotten about it so I'm hoping she likes this one. If she continues as she has done she'll fill it with birthday, Christmas cards, photos and odds and sods she picks up. This bag though will be able to go through the wash just hope she likes it.
Mum's bag has a lime green lining so she can see the contents easier than the usual black lining. I've made the handle longer so she can wear it across the chest thus leaving her hands free to hold onto her walking sticks. It's one of Susa Glenn's patterns.
Finally I've finished the lap quilt I made for the coffee table. It has a blue overcast the colours are black/white prints with cream on cream prints. My dh bought me a beautiful black/white Christmas table decoration that looks really good on it.

At the moment my machine is stored away in it's Horn cabinet awaiting the removal of the Christmas tree. It came back from being serviced a few days before Christmas and I must say it sews much better than when I first bought it. They found a few problems with it and it's had the Bernina firmware update so I'm hoping to love it at last.

Yesterday (Christmas Day) 14 of our family had dinner at our local tavern. It was lovely to see everyone again and we had a great meal and even greater time together. Today I'm wacked, going to see mil this afternoon and take her presents then come home and put my feet up and slob out in front of the tv with my knitting.

Still running in circles

Well yesterday I thought I'd got everything organised. Mil is ready to be kicked out of hospital but now requires EMI nursing care rather than just EMI residential care. There are only two homes that have nursing qualification for the elderly mentally ill (Alzheimers) and we took a thorough look at both. The first one was the fatherest away from our home but was lovely, clean, plenty of room, the patients looked happy and well cared for and we heard laughter from both staff and patients. True the floor needed hoovering but that was carried out when we were there. They were also able to take care of mil's nursing needs.

The second smelled of cabbage, the decor was grubby but the Manager explained he'd only been in post 6 weeks and had plans to redecorate in a more tactile manner (themed areas, kitchen, garden, sports etc with articles stuck on the wall that they could touch as they walked up and down the corridor). I liked the idea and continued on the inspection. There was only two bathrooms for 41 patients and a shower room. In one bathroom boxes with what looked like old clothes were stored there and in the second one more boxes and two wheelchairs. The shower room floor was muddy, looked like someone had had a shower with their boots on!!

Both homes had two places and we choose the first one even though the cost was astronomical!Today we heard from the hospital mil is in that they are unable to take her now due to reshuffling. So now we have no choice but to put mil into a home I really don't want her in. I've contacted social services to see if anything else is available somewhere much further away and am awaiting their response.

Good news though my padfolio arrived safe and sound and with some beautiful threads from Myfanwy - thank you Myfanwy. I've been busy making free standing lace bells for friends and relatives - these will be my Christmas cards this year. Haven't a photo of them yet as the need sewing together but will do that later tomorrow.

Going out for Christmas lunch tomorrow, really need the company at present. Monday we're off to Valkenburg for a few days also really looking forward to the break.

Running round in circles

I've sadly neglected my blog over the last few days and thought I'd better put something down or I was in danger for letting it lie dormant. Been one of those weeks where I seem to have done nothing but run backwards and forwards to the hospital, cook meals, wash and iron and generally be at everyone's beck and call. Mil is still in hospital but recovering from her stroke but it will be a slow process. Her other problems are beginning to take dominance healthwise, in particular the prolapse. She's in quite a lot of pain and for the last year I seem to have been doing battle with the medics over getting her some treatment. Trouble is it's not 'down' all the time and therefore surgery is not an option, wouldn't be an option anyway with her mental health and other problems. Now she's in hospital though the medics are beginning to take notice of the pain she experiences so I'm hopeful something can be done for her. Being senile is not a reason for non-treatment and I feel very strongly about that so I shout for her.

One bright spot last week was the Knitting and Stitching show - ho how I love to spend money at that show..... came back empty pocketed (is that a word?) but happy. I bought quite a lot of art materials with the intension of making an art quilt and several books including the last two Jan and Jean books in the Double Trouble series. Still haven't read any of them yet but I'm hopeful. I bought a Susa Glenn bag pattern that I'm making for my Mum - and that's another story. I also bought a Monkey Pockets bag pattern to make for my son's girlfriend. I'll post pictures later as I don't want her peeking at this blog and seeing what she's getting.

Mum's bag is a simple over the shoulder bag with a zipper pocket on the back. For the last couple of days I've not been too well so I thought I'd make a start on it last night to take my mind off things. Got the back and front cut out - no got two fronts. Not a problem I just cut the back out of the spare front. Got the zipper put in and the secret pocket put in - no I put it on the front piece not the back and to make matters worse I sewed upside down!!!!! Gave up and watched telly.

Also had a bad day with equipment, been breaking all sorts of things the final straw though was the spring loaded holder for lancets so I can take blood to check my blood levels for my diabetes broke. The little knob on the top you push to release the lancet into your finger came off. Actually it came off a few days back but I just kept putting it back on again. Yesterday however I lost it somewhere in the dust on the floor and I think I vaccumed it up. Ah well I thought I'll have to buy another but wondered whether my diabetic nurse could give me another - no harm in asking. She wasn't in and they said she'd ring me back, well she didn't so today I bought a new one. Guess what - I now have a message on the answer machine saying she's left one for me to pick up at the surgery so now I have two.

Off to see Beowulf tonight not sure whether it's the 3D version or not as my son is taking us all as a treat.

Dash to get jobs finished

I've been trying to catch up and overtake my swap commitments this week and it's a good job I did as last night my mil had a stroke so my time for the next few days will be all taken up. She's stable but we don't yet know the extent of any brain damage. It's keep our fingers crossed and pray it's not too bad and she'll get her speech back and be able to use her hands again.

I've done a few Journal Pages and am now caught up, just one left to do but that's not due until January. The two below I've called 'Not quite crazy JP's' and are based on contrasting colours but I got this bronze one wrong. Well not wrong really I just liked the colours and was compelled to do something with them.

The purple and green was is the one to go to Elizabeth as part of the Surface Design group swap. I had made the flowers ages ago and tonight when I was putting the embellishment on they fell out and landed on the page so I took it as an omen they needed to be there. I hope Elizabeth thinks the same.
I also received two Journal Pages this week, the green one is from Emmy in the Netherlands and represents monocolour. The landscape is from Ann in France and depicts peace, tranquility and the qualities of Mother Earth. I feel it does give you a sense of peacefulness.

I also received two wonderful needlefelt book covers as part of the four seasons swap on the UKEmbellisher group. Lynne's beautifully felted Autumn cover has leaves cut from the felt fabric and sewn onto the cover. Ann's book cover was a first attempt and I think the snowdrop is really well done. I shall really enjoy using these books.

I sent out four swaps today and I can't believe I didn't photograph or scan any of them!!! but I didn't. I made christmas trees out of inchies for the Integrated Inchie swap and made some more for a christmas swap but in different colours. They looked really good when I had finished and I think I might make some more for family and this time remember to record them. I also finished the 'Something beginning with L' by making white lace leaves and sewing them onto red velvet. I had to put a lace edging on the velvet as it kept popping through the thread when I tried using a satin stitch on it. The last swap I posted today was "Coffee, Tea what will it be" for the Fun Friendly Fabricpostcard group. This is my first swap with this group so I hope they like it.

Having said all that I won't be making any more cards this year as I really need to get some sewing done for Christmas. I bought a bag pattern that I want to make for my mum, a table runner for the coffee table and this year I really would like to make a small wall hanging for the door. I say that every year but never get it done.

My 730 keeps telling me it's time for a service and to contact my dealer so I've done that and it will go up to David Drummond's in Edinburgh for its annual (first one) service. I'm sending up the embroidery unit too as I get an error message whenever I use it. But it does mean that in three weeks time I will be sewing machineless, oh how am I going to cope..... Then on the 10th December I'm off to Valkenburg for a short break.

Finally good news on the padfolio front I've heard from Myfanwy and with a bit of luck she'll return it to me shortly. I've a good home in mind for it as a Christmas present - so keeping my fingers crossed I'll see it again soon.

Will let you know when (if) I get

Felting Fest

It's surprising how much you can get done when you have a few hours undisturbed by male company. Actually got round to lifting out my embellisher and had a felting fest. I finished off most of my UKEmbellisher swaps in one go. Admit to having given them some thought before I started doing any work and had made backgrounds already for one or two pieces. My usual working practise is to plunge right in and see what developes. This is the notebook cover I made for Liz. I got the idea of using a colouring book as a design source then decided to try embroidering out a redwork design using my embroidery machine and colouring it in with the embellisher. I'm quite pleased with the result and will definitely try out this technique again. Should have said that only two flowers were on the actual design and when I'd finished it was too large for the front of the notebook and too small for the whole jacket. So I traced the larger flower onto paper and used it as a template. I sewed the outline of the third flower onto the background and coloured it in with the embellisher. This works just as well, if not better than using the embroidery unit.
This is the book front, I decided to add some ribbon tails to act as page guides. The cover is loose so it can be reused.

Next came the Four Season's swap using background fabric's I made earlier (sounds like Blue Peter) using wool tops and yarns. I tried to indicate the seasons by the colour combination but somehow they just looked wrong. I also wasn't sure what to do with them once I'd finished. I thought of atc but Amanda had already done that, then thought book cover but I'd already done that and so had Ati. Needle cases came to mind. I embellished the backgrounds onto felt and sewed in the needle/pin pages but they looked unfinished. I decided to embellish them further with beads. I was enjoying this so much that I was in great danger of overdoing it, sometimes I find it difficult to know when to stop.


The photos are actually in the wrong order but I doubt it matters, below then is Winter, Autumn, Spring and Summer needle cases.
By then I was in full swing and finished the 3 brooches for the Brooch Swap. Like the needle cases I'd made the background fabric some time before but had no clear idea of what I was going to do with them. After rummaging through some of my stock of bits and pieces for inspiration I found a face I'd printed onto fabric and a lace butterfly I'd made sometime last year. These odds and ends really do come in handy. Behold Butterfly Goddess was born. The others two just developed as I went along. Not sure who is going to get which pin as I will just close my eyes and pop them into the envelope. Hope you will like them ladies.
Keith's MRI scan has been brought forward to Monday, not his appointment to see the consultant but at least he'll get the test out of the way and perhaps he'll feel a bit better about things. He started back to work this week full-time but is finding it difficult. I just hope they can do something for him once they have the results of the scan available.

There is a big bonefire party in the local park tonight put on by the council. It's usually very good and well organised but I think this is one year we won't be attending as it's too far for Keith to walk. Guess we'll watch from the bedroom window. Hope everyone has a good, safe Guy Fawkes night.

Photos (or lack of them!!!)

I've been having difficulty uploading photos onto my blog but managed to get these two okay.

The little purse is from Lynne on the UKembellisher group and it's beautiful. I'm really pleased with it. As a bonus she also sent me some goodies to play with. The larger photo is a Journal Page I've just completed for Ann in France as part of the Surface Design groups "colour" trades. It represents blue, the emotions attached to it and in particular the song Blue Moon that always leaves me feeling a bit lonely. Many years ago in my mid twenties I travelled overland to Khathamdhu and en-route we went through two deserts in Iran, the Great Sand and the Great Salt deserts. Not sure which one we were in but one night I was laid in my sleeping bag watching shooting stars. The sky was immense and a really rich velvety navy blue when somewhere in the dark one of our party started playing Blue Moon on his clarinet. It was really haunting and full of emotion. It was the first and only time I felt homesick for my family and friends back home and I wasn't the only one in our group to feel that way. Since then Blue Moon always conjures up memories of that night in the desert.

I have a confession to make, this is the 'lack of photos' bit, not sure what I did but I went to upload my photos from my camera onto my pc. I was looking at them on the pc whilst the photos were still on my sim card. But I hit the wrong button and instead of copying the whole lot into a file on the pc I lost the lot!!!!!! Tried all ways to get them back, my son look at hidden files etc but as I hadn't actually transferred the photos I had managed to cut the out of the sim card on the camera and moved them into the ether.

Good bit of news though is my elder son is now an BEng he's worked really hard for this degree and as he's severely dyslexic we're very proud of all his hard work. Well done Marc and if there is anyone else out there who is dyslexic, don't give up you CAN succeed and don't let anyone say you can't. It's his birthday next month so think he deserves something special.

Another quiet day

Not done much today as I had a bad night not slept much because my neck was uncomfortable and I developed a headache. The old arthritic neck syndrome I'm afraid. I think I've probably sat too long in front of the machine. Got my veggie card into the post at last.

Got Betsy's Notan swap in the post this morning the background is tremendous and she must be very good at cutting out look at all those little circles. But again it's made from paper, guess I went wrong somewhere it never occurred to me to do it in anything but fabric, ah well must read instructions more carefully.

Headache was still bad at lunchtime so dh decided I needed some fresh air and took me to Richmond (N Yorks) for a bacon butty and cuppa down by the River Swale. The autumn colours are beginning to merge into dull green and brown. There are still a few bright leaves but they are mostly on the ground. I think the trees are turning brown quicker this year but I could be wrong. I'll post a few photos of Richmond tomorrow, I'm not sure where I put my card reader and this old pc doesn't have a card slot.

Been thinking about the Journal Page for Ann in France, part of the Surface Design trades. This one is attaching meaning to colour(s) my mind is going round in circles. I have several colours I would like to depict each relating to a different colour but haven't decided on final one just yet. I enjoy making journal pages more than cards these days. Think I like the slightly larger format. I decided this year I would make a Journal Page a month and so far I've made two for myself. I really need the motivation of making them for 'something', perhaps next year I'll make them for myself.

Quiet Day In

These are the two Notan technique swaps I was talking about last time. The blue and black one is from Candy Grisham (I think I called her Cindy sorry Candy) its blue paper on a black paper background and shows the technique very well. Mine is the other one made from fabric and machine quilted.



Had a very lazy day today managed to finish my Monochromatic Journal Page for Surface Design group. This one is going to Emmy Schoonbeek in the Netherlands. It's great when you can swap with lots of different countries. Pity this type of small artwork isn't that popular amongst my friends. They like the pieces I make but wouldn't want to do one themselves. I should be able to get this in the post on Monday.

Keith had his flu jab the other day and is feeling a couple of degrees under par today. My son is house-sitting and the elderly parents quite comfortable at home with no inclination to go out. The day has been very quiet but I've really enjoyed the peace and quiet and been able to get down to some sewing without the usual hullabaloo for food and drink. In fact we had frozen pizza for lunch and a pan of home made soup with large chunks of fresh bread for dinner. Wouldn't have been able to get away with that if we'd all been in for meals.

Managed to make the paper cast 'veggies' for another swap today. Had real fun with these as I used to make them years ago but when it came down to it I'd forgotten the process and had to go and read up about them. Thank you Maggie Grey your books came to my rescue again. I dried them out on the radiators and painted them. I am absolutely useless at painting but the dies cast now no going back. I think they'll be okay when I finish them, hopefully tomorrow.

Off to watch telly, it's been so quiet here I keep thinking it's Sunday!

Notan Technique

I was going to post a photo of my Notan technique quiltlet but apparently theres a problem with blogspot and I can't upload them so I'll do it late.

I've had a really hard time with this Surface Design swap wondering how I was going to do it in fabric then I had a thought. Spraystarch. The Notan technique is an exercise in positive and negative design using paper mostly. It's a bit like cutting out those doilies you made at Xmas as a child. You know, fold a circle of paper and cut on the folds but leave some to hold the pattern together. With Notan you cut the design from a square and by folding out part of the design you leave a negative image behind. Anyway it gave me a headache until I thought of spraystarching the fabric so it would fold like paper and I could then cut the design out. I cut out a template from card and scanned it into the PC and manipulated it to create an all over design showing positive and negative patterning. I then printed it out onto cotton using different coloured backgrouns. I was quite pleased with the effort and finally raw edge appliqued the original sized design on top and quilted the whole thing.

I received a Notan swap from Cindy which shows the negative and positive design in paper very well indeed. I'll post that later too.

Finally caught up with my mountain of ironing today thank goodness. Ironing and washing windows are my pet hate but unlike the windows where I can just put the lights on earlier if they get too grubby, there is a limit to the amount of unironed clothing I can bear lying around.

Feeling really tired today, think it's a result of all that driving around we did at the weekend. I really am not used to moving too far. Talk of travelling we booked a few days in Valkenburg but got to know this morning that it's been cancelled due to lack of interest. Darn I was really looking forward to seeing the Christmas Caves. There's another one we can book going just before Xmas and if Keith can get the time off work (holiday) we'll go then. Might even be a better time to go.

From West to East

We decided to take off for a few days and were really sure where we wanted to go so we ended up at one of my favourite places - Oswaldthwistle Mills. I bought some new polyester threads, stalizer and fusible wadding. We called in at Embsay Mills on the way to Ossie Mills and I managed to get hold of some silk cocoons and other bits and bobs to play with on my embellisher. Left Ossie Mills and headed for Blackpool to see the lights but got caught in the rain on the M6 and missed the turn off. Ended up at Heysham where we thought we might catch a ferry to the Isle of Man - everything was shut. Next stop Morcambe and somewhere to stay for the night. Found a lovely B&B and headed out for food and a lively night on the town - No chance. Couldn't find food anywhere, everything had closed for the night and this was 5:30pm!! thought at least something would be open. At last we managed to find something to eat in a restaurant above one of those slot machine places. They were very polite and waited patiently to close up while we ate. No wonder I had indigestion later on. We wandered into a very noisy pub alive with children and rubgy fans, we decided to go back to our B&B and change and go out for a quiet drink. We found one other pub open and it was a bit too quiet for us, one other man sitting morosely in a corner, we went back to the first pub to find the children all disappeared and the France/England match in the final half hour. We ended up shouting with all the rest and and a really good time. However the next day the weather was drizzly and we decided to go back to the east coast.

Burton Agnes Hall was on our route to the East coast and we decided to have a look. It's a wonderful Elizabethan manor house with absolutely beautiful gardens. Keith was fascinated by the wood carvings in the hall. Its a house well worth a visit I think we'll definitely come back to see the gardens when they are in full bloom, October isn't the best time to view them. I liked the pattern the brickwork and doorways of the old Norman house made.
View throught the walled garden gate into the more formal gardens of the hall. The big 'daisies' below also caught my eye.
Stopped overnight at Bagdale Hall in Whitby another Tudor House but we were bedded down in the Georgian extension. Great four-poster bed big enough for a family!!!!

Came back over the North York Moors and stopped at the top of Clay Bank with a great view out towards Teesside.
Enjoyed the few days away but glad to be back. I managed to get a couple of swaps finished before I went away but haven't posted them yet better get that done tomorrow.

Sunshine and Showers

My little mermaid that I made to sit inside the seahorse bowl took first prize in my EG 'RoseBowl' challenge. I was very surprised but delighted and I know just where the £10 book voucher will be spent on.

Great day all round on Saturday not only did I get a first (first time I've won anything) but my sister called unexpected to see me. We sat in the garden in the sun chatting, it was lovely to see her.


Today we took mum to the lake district as she loves to go there in the autumn to see the beautiful colours on the trees. We set out in the sunshine and stopped in Keswick by the lake and had lunch. After lunch we went up Whinlatter Pass for the views over Bassenthwaite. We noticed the clouds seemed to be dropping and decided we'd go back and drive round the lake.
The heavens opened and we could hardly see a thing. Such a change from yesterday. We thought we'd go back towards Penrith and come back over Alston Moor and through Teesdale. I'm sure the views at Hartside are wonderous but we couldn't see them had a hard time seeing the road as we drove through a cloud. When we finalled dropped down low enough to go underneath the cloud it was raining hard. Still mum enjoyed the trip out.


On the way to Keswick we stopped to watch the farmer and his dogs bringing the sheep down from the fells. He had a quadbike on the other side of the road behind me taking the photo. He said he had thousands of acres of moorland with sheep all over and the dogs feet got sore with all the miles they have to travel so he makes room for them on his quadbike. I didn't get a photo of them (I forgot to take my camera!!!) but he managed to get all four dogs on it.

More Seahorses

Well it worked, you can embellish on soluble stabiliser if it's underneath. If you put it on top it won't felt down but that has the advantage of stopping all the little bits getting into the holes of your presser foot and allowing you to add to the Surface Design group challenge. I thought I'd put the finishing embroidery and beading on and just get it into the folder on time but I reckoned without the heating being off. I put it on the radiator to dry slowly overnight but it was such a cold night the bowl was still wet when I got up. My son's girlfriend had the idea of putting it on the lid of the slow cooker (I was doing some braising steak for dinner) and it worked, it dried in no time at all.

I got the embroidery and beading done but not in time for the challenge. Never mind it will be in time to enter in the local EG competition themed 'The elements', it can go as water. Doubt it'll come anywhere as the majority of our members are elderly and prefer the traditional.

I'm tired today as I didn't sleep too well last night, dh started his nightshift at 11:00pm and as he's still only working four hours a day returned home just after 3:00am. Naturally once I was woken and bless him he did try not to wake me, I stayed awake. So I'm having a lazy day today trying to get on with a jacket I started knitting last year. I found the UFO sitting in a box under my son's bed (used to be my sewing room) and thought it about time it got finished. Trouble is I've put weight on since I started it and am sure it will be too small. Ah well, where's the chocs....