Stitching in Splendour

Just to sow you that I DID accomplish some stitchery while we were at the caravan last week! The wool cushion cover is almost finished - well, bar the sewing up - just a little more outlining and I'm done I think.

I made a few more hexagons and cut out more templates. Not a lot to show, I'm afraid!

I did however, finish the pincushion! I LOVED working on this, just the right size and quite quick to make. I can see a few more being stitched over the next couple of months.

Oh, another textile thing that happened over there, was that when we visited Brecon, we popped into a flea market and there was a lovely book/textile stall combined. Two of my favourite pastimes in one place! I bought a 1927 Girl Guiding adventure book for £6 - it was a first edition (not that I collect 1st editions, by the way!) and on the other side there were some lovely hearts and small stuffed rabbits and owls made with vintage Welsh blanket.  I bought a heart and got chatting - as you do - to Sue, the proprietor of Clem's Daughter. Here is her website link: www.clemsdaughter.co.uk

We had a lovely chat about textiles, and when I mentioned that I wanted to visit Jen Jones' Welsh Quilt collection, she told me all about the museum at Lampeter so we will be making a trip there next time we go, you may be sure!

I think I must get into the habit of sitting making hexagons while the tv is on in the evenings, or that darned quilt is never going to get itself made!

We are still enjoying the last dregs I think, of summer here in West Norfolk, we have had pretty consistent sunshine and just a few showers the last three days, despite dire warnings from the Weather Man. Am I the only person who has to chuckle every time Fiona Bruce says "And over to you, Thomas Chaffaknacker" (BBC news watchers only.) I know, I know, it is base and very childish of me. I have no excuse. But I bet you have a snigger too. And on that happy note I shall leave you until next time!

Count Down

Hello Everyone, this post should have been all about my preparations for going to Towersey Folk Festival with the Ouse Washes Molly Dancers. At the last moment I discovered it was to last a day longer than I had thought, throwing out our plans to set off to Wales very early on Tuesday morning. Also one or two small but pressing problems with my mum's care arose. So I made the decision to pull out and use the weekend to get things sorted.

I'm really sorry to be missing what I know will be a fun-packed week-end, already the face-book photos and comments are being posted, but as I'm typing this I know I made the right decision; a few more things have now come to light which needed dealing with - not great problems, but they are things I might have overlooked had I been away by yesterday evening. It also means we can leave a day earlier. A huge weight has dropped off my shoulders, I hadn't realised how stressed I'd been getting trying to organise not just myself for Towersey, us for Wales, and my mum for the week. Thank goodness for a good friend, a good neighbour and a lovely son and his partner - all stepping in so we can get away. The header photo is our caravan site. Can't wait to get there!

So here are a few of the things I've been getting organised for our get-away.

The first involves a packet of "cooking bacon" from Sainsburys, some veg, and a pack of oven roasting bags. These bacon packs have become a bit of an on-going thread between a few of we Norfolk bloggers, notably Dc, and Pam, who gives a link to an excellent recipe for bacon casserole. Pam's idea of making up the uncooked mix, bagging it and freezing to take with her to their caravan - also in Wales, prompted me to do the same. One pack cost me £1 10p (they've gone up 10p since we all started buying them!) A couple each of carrot and parsnip, 8 small new potatoes, an onion, 2 sticks celery, some button mushrooms, some garlic and some herbs. Oh and some courgettes from the garden. Chop all ingredients to chunks. Season, pop into roasting foil bags, and into the freezer. I'll pack one in the cool-box just as we set off to Wales on Monday, so it will defrost slowly and be ready to stick in the oven when we want it for supper.


The second is something to keep me out of mischief while Jim is fishing, or in the evenings; some wool/felt stitching on the cushion cover, the panel, and a couple of pin-cushions. Also hexagon papers and fabric to make them up. I've done a few, you can see their size relative to the embroidery thread.

I'll also be taking these -  been itching to read them but have resisted!

Not sure I will find any wifi where we re, so unlikely to be blogging, face-booking or answering emails. However I will use my lap-top for watching DVDs and playing cds, checking my iPhoto stash and uploading the tons of photos I will be taking.

And of course this! (Don't worry, I shall find a remote corner of a field, not to inflict my music on fellow campers/caravaners!)

So whatever you are doing this coming week - and I know a lot of my friends are at various festivals over the week-end - I hope we all get a look-in with some great weather and fun. Catch up with you when we get back.