Happy Easter

A much belated post, I am sorry, but I've been so taken up with mum and stuff I haven't felt like sitting down and faffing with blog posts. That sounds awful doesn't it? When I really enjoy blogging. And I haven't been busy-busy, just tired with lots of hospital visits and driving. I have managed lots of lovely musical treats and seeing friends, but the effort of taking photos and putting the post together has been a bit beyond me.

However, I would like to thanks everyone for the lovely comments you've left - I guess quite a few of us have been in a similar position, I have been really touched by the kind thoughts. And outside of blogland too, family and friends, and facebook friends from all over the Globe, just that contact, you know?

Mum is improving in her mobility after the hip replacement but her wound has been leaking a lot which has knocked her back, and she gets confused - but she knows she's confused - we have some great and hilarious conversations at times!

So I have done a bit of sewing, and here to prove it - I have actually finished and bound the Sunflower Farm Quilt! Hurrah! How long has that been hanging around??? All ready for Norfolk Open Studios next month. EEEeeeek! Already!

And finished the final One Bird cushion cover with help from Stitch and Bitch friends as I could not work out how to fold and cut the back to make the opening for the cushion, being somewhat spatially challenged! I made the buttons from stiff card and felted wool.

So I hope the Easter break is a happy one in your home, and you are enjoying the holiday. I meant to blog earlier and entreat you all to boycott Nestlé Easter eggs but I've left it too late - that is a post for another day perhaps.

Again, thanks for your lovely kind thoughts, and have a brilliant holiday, whatever you are doing!

Stitching down the Wind

Wow! What a storm! I do hope that you aren't among those poor unfortunates who have lost their homes, or have had to move out while repairs are effected. We escaped here in our corner of West Norfolk but up on the North Norfolk coast they took a real battering, and I know in other parts of the UK the wind, rain and high tides have wrought devastation and loss of life.

In expectation of a couple of days of bad weather Jim and I planned for staying home and 'pottering' - home chores, long coffee-and-crossword breaks, and blissful hours to tie flies and order from fishing catalogues (Jim) and sorting threads and stitching (me). Mind you, the wind was so strong on Thursday afternoon in the little conservatory that is my sewing room, that I thought the roof would be ripped off and judiciously repaired to the Big Table in the dining room!

I made more headway into the task of tidying up the thread straggles - you know, when you cut into a skein of thread you always end up with an impossible tangle eventually, so I have started to wind the threads onto bits of card. It's a deliciously mindless occupation, high on the list of anyone with OCD I'd imagine! If you do it before things get too bad it's not such a task.

I did a little more on the Farmhouse Quilt. Some of the fabrics are quite gorgeous to quilt through, and this pale flannel here is one of them - see how the stitches just melt back into the cloth?

All the applique pieces will be embroidered when the quilting is finished and I have bound it. Yummy!

I'm using one strand of a hand-dyed 21st Century Yarn 4-ply cotton to quilt with - so much softer than quilting thread against the flannel, and I love the way the variegated colour changes just add a little something to the stitches.

A little Christmassy felty something. Bet you can't guess .......

And some more wool felt bangles. On a roll with these now. The bowl in the top photo contains tiny felt squares ready for embellishing the bangles. I must get my bead boxes out and see which ones will work with the wool.

So that's how I've spent these last couple of stormy days, stitching down the wind and really quite enjoying being 'stuck in the house'. I hope they have been good days for you, and if not, my good wishes to you.

Now then before you whizz off to your next blog stop, do me a favour and pop over to Potter Jotter, as Cathy is doing a really fab give-away of some of her lovely ceramic buttons. Hop across and say hello!

Bye for now and thank you all for your lovely comments these last couple of weeks about my lengthy wait for a hospital appointment. Believe me I know I am not in dire straits and other bloggy friends have been having a much more drastic time of it, health-wise. But it has been so good to read your remarks, thank you.