Welcome Back

Thought I might start this old blog thing again, This is a try out to see if I can work out how to do it all again!

? Difficult to buy for.........

I think I am easy to buy for, to people who know me, but I agree that some may think I have peculiar taste. I also dont make things easy by saying ,when asked, "Oh I don't want/need anything".
This year, with no help, the children excelled themselves.
I love & collect Emma Bridgewater pottery which I use every day.Verity bought me the Matthew Rice calender which has hung in my sittingroom every year for as long as I can remember.This year, a mug has been made to go along with the calender and the illustrations are gorgeous.




She also gave me an exquisite key fob made locally in Northumberland.






For the past 4 or 5 months, I have been drooling over a Shelley wall plaque, in a local Antique centre.I normally don't hesitate but this gorgeous green/mauve plaque was quite expensive.
On Christmas day the boys gave me a large, round prezzie and I couldn't believe my eyes when the longed-for wall-plaque was inside.
Alex remarked that Verity had mentioned the plaque and when they went to investigate they knew straight away cos it was green!!!



The plaque looks just perfect hanging in the hall.

monday post

We enjoyed a lovely family Christmas here in snowy Hexham, just the 4 of us, the kids divided their time between home & friends, so there was plenty of coming & going.Plenty of food & drink consumed and now A,C & V have flown down to London to continue the fun & games, and a belated birthday celebration, with their Dad.
I have a couple of days to myself, dogs to care for but other than that I can suit myself..............bliss.

I have gone a bit overboardthis year with bulbs, forced in different containers. The paperwhite narcissi are long finished but the hyacinths and amaryilis are about to bloom.



Crafting wise things are a bit slow.I made a pair of curtains for the sitting room just before the snow arrived and my trusty bernina sewing machine was not performing at 100%, so she'll have to go in for a much needed MOT in the new year.I think the feeddogs have dropped a bit so the fabric is not going through evenly'

I have 2 knitting projects on the go ; a pair of wool/silk socks and a reversible jersy in a tweedy mix .Both the wool and the pattern must be over 20yrs old, my sister in law Rosie photocopied the Yarnstore pattern for me.




The spare/sewing bedroom is occupied with boy's stuff till after the new year so anything I do happens on the sofa in front of TV.

~What a Coincidence~

Went to Tea & Tipple in Corbridge for a coffee with Penny. During our chat Penny brought out some knitting needles that she had just bought at Scope. These needles caught the eye of 2 women at the end of our table, within a couple of mins we were in animated conversation.
These girls were off to organise a course in screen printing at an artists studio near Horsley. We chatted about painting , knitting ,patchwork and it turns out Denise is also a nurse at the RVI. Check out her blog at primrose patch
A quick look around RE and then home.

Oxfam Goodies

I tend to visit my local charity shops about twice a week.

Most weeks I find a gem or two but Oxfam was a tresure trove this morning.
Some pieces of old rolled-up fabric revealed a beautiful rainbow of tapestry threads, kept and sorted by someone who loved their crafts.





A handmade blanket made from a piece of soft green wool, bound with ribbon and finished with a gorgeous embroidered cherub.





Recently, I have been working on some cross stitch in the evenings, samplers mostly so finding this Jo Verso kit, brand new , in a charity shop was a real find. I may not have chosen it if I could have afforded to buy it new but I'm sure I'll enjoy picking it up in the evenings over the next few months.






Verity sat her UKCAT exam in Newcastle yesterday, this took 2 hours so I filled in the time with some browsing in John Lewis.What a great shop this is.

Rowan and Debbie Bliss wool and books to read ond touch.

Amy Butler's fabrics to dream over and also her range of fluffy towels to contemplate.

A brill kitchen/china department and a decision made about the roller blind for my revamped kitchen.

Fenwicks is also a great store and I ordered some stacking guest beds which were a good price in their Home Event.

Met up again with Verity, who did really well, lunch in the American diner and then home.

~ Back to Blogging ~

Why did I stop..........

Don't know but got out of the habit, but still enjoy reading my favourite blogs.

Have a new laptop which takes a bit of getting used to & the super dooper anti virus says my camera has a virus so wont let me upload any pictures so until I can sort that out or send photos from the computer upstairs this will be a veryboring blog.

Bought a great, vintage piece of kit today which I'll share when technology allow


Right, this is starting to get complicated upstairs now trying to add pictures via my old computer.

So looks a bit shabby/ tatty but....



is going to be so useful.



now WHAT to put in it ? wool....or fabric.....or patterns or.....a combination.
that,s a decision for tomorrow !!!

Oh forgot to mention......cost £15 !!!!

~*~ Hurrah for Amy Butler ~*~

Great afternoon for c. 75 sewing & quilting fans at The FQ's, near Blackhall Mill near Newcastle, when Amy Butler dropped by.
Amy is a fabric & pattern designer from Ohio, via graphic design , and her work and colour combinations are a breathe of fresh air.
A buffet lunch was followed by a slide show chronicling her recent trip to Bali & India and the designs the trip inspired.
The colours ,art, people and spiritualism of these countries have inspired some fantastic fabric which will be revealed next year.
Amy is also delving into the world of bedding, towels, rugs, stationary, wrapping & cards.








She seemed a lovely, genuine, enthusiastic person and took plenty of time to answer questions & sign books etc.





Pauline, wearing an AB creation, at the show




This photo has a "Locket" in the background and Amy was photographed with a Pigeon which I amsure has some great meaning.Do tell!!

~*~ Hens etc ~*~

A couple of new members have been recently ,and very gently, introduced to my small flock.
A very pretty white Leghorn, these lay beautiful, white eggs.

I originally bought 2 at the sale but they are quite wilful & highly strung so I gave one to Mary's Dad.The remaining hen is continually trying to escape & despite my best efforts & the garden looking like a set from "Chicken Run", she keeps appearing on the communal green area to the side of the house.

The quails are enclosed in a nice run & are starting to lay nicely










This is what they give us on a good day ........










Always the optimist, I ordered the most recent, recent Elm Creek book, a follow-up to the Runaway Quilt & thorougly enjoyed it.....
















Last Autumn, I planted some tulip bulbs in a vintage bucket and they have been glorious for the last 2 weeks.

~*~ Easter in Northumberland ~*~

What a fabulous, sunny , Easter weekend we have had here in the North-East.
I have spent , almost, the whole time pottering in the greenhouse or the garden. The potatoes & onions are in ,perennials divided and replanted, bucketfuls of weeds removed & seeds sown.






In the evenings, tired, stiff but happy, a lot of easter chocs have been consumed.
Did you spot "Willie's Cocao" in the pic am I a Tv ad man's dream or what?

I sent off to our beloved Am.... for the latest Elm Creek book, a bit of a swiz, mostly recipes, probably lovely but in US measures, eveything kosher but not much story. Could I sell a book about cleaning out my kitchen cupboards ? this is the trouble about buying sight unseen , ay well looks pretty on the shelf.





What else ?

Started stripping the wallpaper off the hall !!!

Patchwork & Quilting..........................Nought doing !!

Knitting.............started a cotton thing using dk cotton I had ,looks a bit bright, may be visible from the moon if it gets finished.
managed to get out of the gloves loop, 5 pairs well 4 really 5th is odd ???




Now the weather is improving I might have a crack at this Amy Butler dress.....

~*~ Happy Mother's Day ~*~

~*~ New month means new........ MAGS!! ~*~

A great new blog by Funky Monkey tipped me the wink about this article about one of my other passions Bridgewater pottery.
I have to be really strict with myself about glossy home & interiors mags and the beginning of each month presents shelves of tempting treats.





Past, present, & future.......gloves !

can't do them quick enough but they are fun and reasonably easy, I am itching to start on something bigger if only my newly ordered & paid for Debbie Bliss magazine would arrive on the mat.The waiting is awful tho sometimes the anticipation is the best part !!

Next week , its off to the Country Living Fair in London & the Rowan dept in Liberty's.

~*~ Chillin !! ~*~

The last few months have been very ,very busy and stressful and last week I started to feel the strain , physically and emotionally. So I have taken some time out to relax and get things back in perspective.
I have therefore been pottering around at home catching up with little jobs that have needed doing,catching up with sleep, walking the dogs , with friends , reading and my sewing and knitting.
The headaches, twitchy eyes, insomnia, overdoing the wine, and temper etc,etc have all improved.
Jill , a good friend, rang me recently cos she wanted to take up knitting again, she had seen some fingerless gloves I had knitted my boys and wanted to do some for her brood.The last few days ,I have been supervising her first glove. I have started a pair that I promised Calum before Christmas and am keeping up with Jill,s progress.
There have been a couple of "urgent" calls to "knit direct" as stitches have gone awol or patterns illegible.We even sat and knitted in the bar of the local cinema before going to see the "Reader" with Kate Twinset.
The knitting bug has really taken hold again and I am also knitting a tea cosy (why??)





Sewingwise, I attended 2 workshops with Sandie Lush which were marvellous and have started finishing a Bronwyn Hayes UFO

Off for a cuppa, chocolate biscuit, some knitting and the last few pages of "39 Steps" by John Buchan.

~*~ Melly & Me ~*~

I signed up for the exclusive Melly and Rosie BOM club at the Fat Quarters, my local quilt shop.

Here are the first 2 installments:

Month 1 - a gorgeous "Rosie" style angel called Alice in pinks and greens














Month 2 - a stylish "Melly" style bag. Mmmmm, I am not a patchwork bag sort of girl , so I dont expect this will get made.















Need a great read for your hols,I have just finished this :








A thought-provoking, informative but also very funny book.

~*~ About Time I Caught Up ~*~

This may be a bit of a long boring post as I try and make up for all the time I've missed.

Saturday & Sunday 12th & 13th of July, Blackhall Mill, Jennie Rayment talk and allday workshop. "Twiddling & Fiddling " with calico, excellent fun with a superb teacher.

I discovered one morning in early July,that my black silkie hen had become broody. As I no longer keep a cockeral, I acquired 6 mixed ,fertile eggs from Dave a local hen-breeder & enthusiast.
28th July I now have 4 gorgeous day old chicks. A leghorn, a legbar, a campine and an araucana.

Saturday 9th August, Slaley Show

Verity entered some under 16 cookery classes and got a brilliant First with her Choc Chip Cookies !!.




I won prizes for my quilts,a cushion and a pincushion but unfortunately did not retain the Handicraft trophy, This was won by a fabulous box.





17th August. Verity & Calum fly off to Cuba with their Dad for a 2+ weeks holiday.They will meet up at Havana airport with Alex !!!!!

The house is very quiet since the children left but P & W the dogs are valiently trying to fill the void. V, C & A have kept in touch almost daily via Juliette's mobile phone !!
21 August, The latest Elm Creek novel arrived on the mat from Amazon on Tuesday. ( ordered it on the 22nd June tho) and finished it today......a good,easy read

~*~ 100,49 & 1 ~*~

No these are not my lottery numbers but

100th post,

49 yrs old today &

1 yr as a blogger all celebrated today, the 5th of July 2008 !!!!

100th post means a giveaway, doesn't it? but what? NO IDEA but it will be something GREEEEEEAT !!!!!! Leave a comment and you may be lucky.

49yrs old today and don't look a day over 60 !!
Fabulous prezzies from Calum and Verity, spot the fab little chest of drawers and the vintage,funky, thread "doll"....
a gorgeous Boden summer wrap from Julie
a handmade,embroidered, garden journal from Pauline and
a bag full of green goodies from Dawn& a Bridgewater dolly teaset from Fiona.
A big,BIG,BIG Thankyou to everyone.






C,V &I had brunch in the "Chare", bacon and mushroom mini baguettes,huge hot chocs and cake and then I sewed with Julie with the women's tennis final on in the background.

and 1yr ago today I started this blog, in the beginning, I was almost fanatical but things have slackened off a bit too much recently but overall the average isn't too bad and I still enjoy doing it and also reading loads of other people's blogs on a regular basis.


to change the subject slightly, Pippy had the "snip" yesterday and should be sore and sleepy but, guess what, he's not. Watch your stitches pal !!!

~*~ Lifted Spirits ~*~

I received a tonic in the post this morning and didn't mind paying one little bit.
I have been looking for the new Leanne Beasley "Hens" pattern and was about to order it from Australia,when I remembered Buttonberry
I ordered 3 patterns on Sunday afternoon and they arrived today,Tuesday.
As you can see the patterns were beautifully wrapped and there was a hand-written card too.









I have finished 2 tiny projects-


and embarked on a huge one-

~*~ All Work and No Play.... ~*~

I am becoming a very dull girl indeed!!
I am getting no sewing done at all, I have been buying lots of supplies but have not completed anything.











If the weather is suitable, I am in the garden and if it is rainy, I am working in the house.

I have planted out my courgettes and pumpkins.








I am in a LIME GREEN mood at present,
Firstly there were plants,
Then...Clothes
Then....crockery.....
and then..........I have had my new bathroom painted in LIME GREEN and it is brilliant...bright,clean and fresh and goes beautifully with my new chocolate brown towels !!!!

Pip,or Pippin, or Pippy yes "what's his name" is 5mths old now and HUGE and very bouncy and naughty

~*~ K.L. calling...................~*~

Last Sunday, I was up the step-ladder , fitting a ceiling light on the landing when the 'phone rang. I nearly didn't answer it but I am so glad I did cos it was Alex , phoning all the way from Kuala Lumpur.
We chatted ,on skype, for over an hour. He is well and having the time of his life.I asked all the usual Mum things, like, Are you eating enough?,etc etc etc .......

The picture is the new ceiling light, bought in the Laura Ashley sale with 60% off, apparently it looks really spooky from outside!



Eventually, I got into the garden today,it was warm and sunny and the ground was workable.I forked over and weeded half of the area that I am going to plant up with "cut and comeagain flowers " for the house.
In the greenhouse, the seeds are starting to germinate and tiny seedlings are emerging.
Verity came home this afternoon,she has been doing her work experience at a boy's private school in Windsor and really enjoyed the whole week.

Pippin is nearly 4mths old and if he keeps still long enough I will take some photos.

~*~ Lemon and Lime ~*~

A few of the goodies I brought back from Newby Hall including a signed book and a huge , lime green platter.

The haul also included a dahlia tuber " Rip City" a huge spiky purple/black flower but this is already tucked up in compost, hopefully ,sprouting.
The platter looks really fantastic filled with lemons and limes