Jam and Stuff

Hello People, it seems like ages since I last posted, I have been busy making jam and stuff, I have made Damson Jam and Damson Vodka, Strawberry Jam, Apricot Brandy and Sloe Gin, we have also been busy in the garden trying to get it ready for winter.

Kathleen will be home on Sunday I am hoping she has had a wonderful time on her cruise and has worn all the lovely clothes she bought, I have been around to her house several times to check the fish.

I have finished a quilt for a widow who wanted one made from her husbands shirts, I managed to make her two quilts a full bed size and a Lap size, she was so tearful when she saw them but happy too. Kate has asked me to make some bunting for her babies bedroom, he is not due until January 3rd so I have time I also want to make him a quilt and I saw a lovely quilted sleeping bag in Mama's and Papa's today which looks so easy to make but was £50 so I am going to have a go at making one in my own choice of fabrics.

Tony and I went to Birmingham today, they had an antiques market in the streets around the Bull Ring shopping centre there were some lovely things. I am now going to make dinner we bought some lovely Hake in the fish market in Birmingham.

Newark Antiques Fair.

Last Friday Tony and I went to Newark, Nottingham to the antiques fair it is billed as the largest and my feet would say 'Yes it is' it was a lovely sunny day and we walked miles around the showground, there was so much to see some really beautiful stuff, we just love to browse, I did buy a precious pin cushion it was Victorian, pressed glass with a silver band around and a velvet cushion for the pins the cushion is very worn, I love that it means it was used and loved, I also bought a lovely brooch(Pin) it is pewter a long stalk and leaf with a pink Tulip head made from glass I love it. I found some nice vintage plain white cotton pillowcases they are lovely quality I will embroider these for presents, all in all we had a good day.

Dinner with Kate and Steve

Hello, what a busy week lots going on, lots of sewing and shopping and the garden needs attention but, yesterday we went to my daughter Kate's for dinner, we had a lovely night with lots of baby talk, they now know they are having a boy so we can start to think blue, Kate looks beautiful with her bump and Steve looks so proud, we talked and talked and we saw the 20 week scan, they are really amazing so clear, Kate was relieved to have this scan she now knows that things are normal and she and the baby are progressing well. As you can see I have completed a crochet blanket and have added a frill it is very pretty and it's the first one I have ever done I am very pleased with it. Kate and I are going shopping soon to Mama's and Papa's I can't wait.

I Don't Believe It.

I know this looks like a picture of a tree but, if you look closely you can see two birds in the centre and they are not just birds they are Parrots!! red and black Parrots!!! if you click on the picture you might get a little closer. This might not seem like much to some of you out there but we just don't have Parrots!!! flying around in Desford they are usually in cages at the Zoo or bird centres. We do have a bird centre in Desford so I thing these two are escapees, this tree is at the bottom of my garden.

Festival of Quilts - Birmingham

Cottonreel and I had a brilliant day yesterday at The Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, we started out really early

and managed to get there with time to spare, we had coffee and visited the bathroom and then joined the queue which was very long,we had to walk quite a long way to find the end, Cottonreel moaned all the way to the end but we had lots of fun, once the doors were opened it was like a stampede with all these ladies of a certain age rushing to get to the fabric. We looked at the quilts first and some of them were breathtaking, I think my favourite was the little church with the blossom tree in full bloom, each blossom has three tiny beads sewn in the middle it was exquisite! The Meerkats was a popular one and very funny, I loved the art deco hanging and the quilt with all the squares has a little window in each square and it reminded me of the Hitchcock film Rear Window.

We bought lots of stuff, we were'nt going to buy fabric or patterns, of course we bought both, it got very crowded and by 3pm we had had enough, we caught the shuttle bus back to the car giggling a little because everyone had sore feet and we were all walking a bit funny. I love quiltmaking and when I see some of the work that goes into the making of these art quilts I am truly amazed.

Buttons and Bows Swap

I received a lovely parcel from Elaine who was my swap parter in the Buttons and Bows swap arranged by Elizabeth athttp://afrenchcountrylife there were lots of ribbons and buttons and pretty bits which I can use in my Crazy Patchwork, so Thank you Elaine and thank you Elizabeth for arranging the swap, this was my first swap and I enjoyed it very much!

Clothes Shopping

Oh Boy!! did I tell you that Cottonreel is going on a cruise with her son well she is and we have been shopping for clothes, we have been in and out of so many changing rooms (all smelling of sweaty feet and other sweaty things) even the high end one's and looked in those mirrors'yes' those mirrors which you are convinced make you look twice your size and show every lump and bump, we have been at it for two days so far, and it has been very warm, we get home and collapse in a very un-dainty heap. Cottonreel has bought some nice new outfits and will do her son proud but, she has a habit of wanting to come home after a couple of days so her son has promised to throw her overboard if she even mentions coming home. We have a few weeks yet to get everything she needs and by the time she goes I will need to lie down in a darkened room for a few hours. I love her really!