Plans for my garden

I found this the other day and thought what an awesome garden.  I have been growing hydrangeas in my garden for a few years and decided to take some cuttings last summer.  Five of them took from the six I made.  Two then decided to produce flower buds in October, so I brought them into the house in early December and both have flowered and are still doing so, how long for I don't know. This made me think that it might be a good idea to try and do this each year and plant out the results, then I found this photo and could not believe how lovely they looked massed into a border.

Here is the first cutting, still blooming away after several weeks.

 

It has frilly edges to the petals and I don't know if the colours are anything like the original plant because I forgot to label them as I half expected my 'experiment' not to work.

This is the other one. At least it would be if blogger was not playing up and won't load it. Ok I will post this anyway and maybe later do an edit and try again...

Yep, if at first you don't succeed.......

Threlkeld in stitches

Today was day one of a three day show of quilts, embroidery and knitting at Threlkeld, a small village which nestles under the mighty hill Blencathra. As I arrived this morning the rain was falling but the forecast was good so I quickly attached my banner to the wall and made a dash for the dry hall.

 

The place is a typical village hall and the exhibition was organised to raise funds to keep it from falling into disrepair.  Like so many public buildings in Cumbria the local people have to do a lot of work to raise money if they want to keep their facilities going.  Threlkeld village hall is no exception to this rule and a lot of hard work and enthusiasm from a few had gone into organising and staging the exhibits.  Whilst I am on the subject, that means that the ladies have to ask their husbands to hang the quilts and to help with the lifting and carrying and in this case even taking the money on the door.  So before I forget, well done chaps! We could not do it without you.

Once inside it was not long before I too was given a few jobs to do, but it was all for a worthy cause so I was happy to oblige. There was a good atmosphere even though in the early stages we had to wait for the customers to appear. But by lunchtime the place was buzzing. One of the events organised by the ladies was to help make a Linus quilt and in the photo below you can just see the quilt pieces on the left pinned up prior to assembly.  Members of the public were invited to sew a square (quick cathedral window) and this was where they were placed ready for making into the finished quilt.





I was stewarding all morning and I am back again on Monday, if you are in the area, why don't you call into the exhibition, it is well staged and the exhibits are lovely.  I will show you some of them in my next posting hopefully tomorrow.

Garden chimes

The head bobs too

I had a set of bamboo chimes in the garden which came from my DD when she sold her house and left for California. They have been in one of my apple trees for about 8 years, but sadly became so delapidated this year that they had to go…..
The good news is that a market stall on Saturday does lots of interesting ones and this is the replacement, I love it…..

The sun was shining today

Last years crop

I have been gardening today because it was sunny at last.  Sunday was a washout with cold wind and rain so today was wonderful. I came across these photos DH took with his new camera last June and I am hoping my gooseberries turn out as good this year.  At the moment the plant is not in flower.

Stunning flowers on my Pelargoniums

I did pot up and take some cuttings of these and others because I want to improve my stock and keep the garden full of colour. I have placed some in the front porch and they are already coming into flower quite early because of the boost they had in March when we had such summer like weather. I can't resist Pelargoniums when I see them at garden centres and always buy a few different ones to add new colours to my stock. I am so glad I heated the greenhouse now because it does mean I don't keep losing these wonderful plants to the frost.

I am looking at doing some sewing too this week if I get the chance, so if I can finish the jobs in the garden tomorrow I might switch the Bernina on.

White stuff purchase

I have been so busy in the garden during this exceptional fine weather.. phew its actually been hot and sunny now for a week and today looks like the last day, sigh.

Anyway, I bought a new top. Its lovely for sunny days and it was actually available in my local store; because sometimes I see something on the net and then go down there and they don't have it....

Well this is really only a quick posting as I don't want to waste a second of this sun seeing as the weather forcast for the weekend is less cheerful and then I think there might even be a night frost in the first half of next week, gloom....

Getting my act together

Thinking back to the last couple of weeks, I can't recommend getting the flu, ha ha....

Anyway, all is over and I am nearly A1 again, but need to get the brain cells working as well as the fitness thing so decided to splash out on some new kit.....hmmmm

A monitor so I can see what I am doing when I use my graphics capabilites would help I thought as I have for too long been subjected to a 15 inch laptop screen, not good when 3 years ago I had a really serious monitor for my DTP and stuff. So I have a 23 inch arriving tomorrow. Not an expensive one either but it does seem to be a good screen; at least I spent half of yesterday doing my research. When you live in the country aka Cumbria its difficult to see anything in the flesh except of course sheep....... So pouring over reviews is the only option I have: way back when I was head of computing at a local college it was what I used to do when I had loads of dosh to splash around, (¼ million once I seem to recall.) Anyway, I have only spent £138 so I don't expect it to be an all singing and dancing model but I do expect my screen to double in size and for that I am truly grateful. If the resolution improves enormously too so that I can see what I am doing in my graphics program that will be wonderful. So here is the beast, let me introduce you to......

AOC i2353Fh

This is the link if you want to read the review yourself.

But you would think that was enough.... no I am serious when I say I am getting my act together because what with my interests in quilting and sewing and computers and being a mountain leader, my desk is a tip but not my sewing table which I sorted about 4 years ago.  Now that was a decision which changed my sewing from haphazard to bliss, so I thought about that too. Result, a new desk was also researched and is on its way from Ayrshire in Scotland to me in Keswick, yesssss.

Its a proper desk not what I am using at the moment which is a Heath Robinson affair. So let me show you the beauty.

Its all inside those cupboards, believe me it opens out into a wonderful place for printer, paper, router, keyboard (in my case laptop) and all the rest. I am not sure when it will arrive yet but before it does I have some clearing up to do, can't let it down by introducing it into this room without a mass sort out.

Meanwhile, my other jobs are pressing, i.e. the button on KR guided walks which is supposed to launch some script and go to an online booking system is not working yet so I have work to do.

It's dry

Here's a close up of the really big flower which I had not shown before on its own.  I really need to make it up into something now and it looks like the cushion idea won.  I have some braid in a lovely pale sage green which I think will be perfect.  I do need to go and find something lovely for the backing though and of course a cushion inside too. Until then, I will leave it blocked out on the board with just a few pins to keep it still, it's the best place for it as I am teaching machine embroidery on Thursday at Keswick EG and I know I will make a hell of a mess tomorrow! I hope to have something to show you for it though as I am doing 'backgrounds' so need to make a few. I usually try and clear my mind and then 'go with the flo' so I surprise myself sometimes.

Blocked out



I have thoroughly wet the woollen embroidery threads and backing linen

This is it folks.  I have to wait about three days now for it to dry out and it must be kept flat like this.  It looks good at the moment but it was a bit scary at times when I removed it from the frame because some of the flowers were so heavily stitched that the linen puckered up around them, but it seems to have flattened out perfectly, phew! I am glad I am not making a full set of 17th century bed hangings though; imagine trying to block them out.......

Close detail of crewel flower

This is where I am tonight. I had hoped to finish this flower but tomorrow is another day and I only can work for so long in artificial light. It's photographed a little bit more orange than it is but I can't fiddle now and its getting late.  Anyhow, you can see how the soft shading is done, a double thread light pink on the outside with the needle going over the blue line and then the darker shade single thread is opposite, i.e. you push the needle through the stitches about half way down and then go down the flower with the thread.  But most of you probably know that better than I do! I might post tomorrow but I am not sure if I will finish it.

Crewel progress

Autumn Glory

Well I have been busy of late and no sewing has been done apart from the Crewel work and this is the latest flower to be finished.  I have most of it done in the right hand corner too so mainly 3 very large flowers to work on and then finito.....

I seem to have done nothing but attend meetings towards the end of last week which left me feeling a bit flat.  But the cold spell gave me the chance to get out on the hills this weekend and take my ice axe for a hike (once a year) and so that was good for me. We had very good conditions on the top with fresh snow so the axe was not needed. I did get my crampons out though and they are wonderful on crisp snow which was what we found on the windward side of the hill.

Well I must dash, I have a fair bit to do.

New year so far

The new year is going well apart from the really windy days we have suffered.  My neighbours chimney cowl blew down at 7.40 am last week when I was in the kitchen, lucky I was not outside as it came down right outside the kitchen door and hit my DH's workshop door with a large thud. Damaged it slightly too and it just missed their new conservatory.  Anyway, the workshop is really near the house so its handy for his projects and this was one of the most interesting I had seen in years of receiving wonderful parcels from him and the way he did it up was stunning.

The present was a lovely spice rack he had made for me and he even painted the chicken too.  Needless to say it now sits proudly on the kitchen wall near the hob. He bought me some new pretty storage jars too so I must look out for some more as they really are cute.

I took the tree down on Thursday and as I was doing so most of the needles fell off despite my efforts to stop it happening like lopping off an inch from the bottom and conditioning it in water and leaving it outside for a week.  Anyway, Bella was sitting by it and I noticed as the dry needles were falling near her she started sneezing and wheezing a bit, this was not good as the last time she went into kennels she had a reaction against the sawdust they use on the floor and had to be given an injection by the vet who runs the kennels. So it was with Bella's health and well being in mind that I decided I would have an artificial tree in future and I had a quick look on Hayes Garden Centre site and found a tree which in the sale was knocked down by £70, it was originally £209.99. Well nothing like keeping to my new resolution of having no unfinished business or jobs I thought, so I bought it and it came today. So no mess and hoovering up the needles anymore and a much happier dog too. Shame about the smell of pine which I love and remember from when I was very small but Bella is more important.

Bella on Christmas day with her new sheep and bunny

Table manners

My Christmas table

I made my DD a tablecloth as one of her Christmas presents and was so loath to send it to her, ha ha  because I liked it so much that I had to make another for myself. Hers should now be gracing a table in California if not it will be used for her marmalade furry to sit on (She has a huge ginger tom.)

Mine is not so subtle as I did not have a Moda charm pack called 'Portugal' for my selection of fabrics. No mine were what I had in the cupboard at the time which was bright and anti gravy proof.  Yes the whole idea was to plan for stains and make sure the fabric would hide any...... Both cloths are lined, infact mine has some pretty pink Walmart fabric I bought in Palm Springs in March on the back. So mine can be flipped if I need to change to subdued tones.  I made them simply with 5" squares and ten squares across and down. DH likes it so much he said I should make some more.

Desert colours?

Christmas wreath idea



I used a plastic ring and oasis well wired on and then filled it with greenery

I just love making one of these each year and have a particular tree which I raid. I only take a little because I don't like to spoil the tree. Its the pretty greyish fir which is always good for filling in the background.  Then I added Pieris and a few sprigs of Rosemary and finally the red berries on what I think is Cotoneaster? Not sure about that last one but it grows in abundance down towards the lake.  I should know it because I used to do a lot more flower arranging, but sadly don't have the time now.  Anyway, I saw a clip from a programme BBC Victorian Christmas which showed them making a wreath and they used raffia to wrap around the twigs so I thought why not make a bow from it this year.  So this is my effort and I hope you approve, its not showy at all but quite pretty I think.

Its gone colder!

A sort of teletubby gingerbread man?

This was just a photo through a shop window, but the effect is weird with the reflection above the smile.  I don't suppose I could have designed this shot if I had been trying.  I love gingerbread and its great with a cup of tea so with the weather getting colder I think of goodies to eat by the fireside.

I have started to feel a bit more like I want the festive season to happen now.  I must admit it takes me until the last week before to really start to get in the mood. Tomorrow I am going hunting in the countryside for greenery to put up in the house; a ritual I do every year.  I take a rucksack and some sharp scissors and off I go with Bella to see what looks like it would make a good decoration. I usually target holly, ivy and fir trees.  Sometimes there are berries on the holly but this year I think the birds have eaten them all.  I hope to put up the tree tomorrow too but I'm not sure if I will have time to decorate it as well, we'll see.

Homemade cards

Card design Sally Evans

I do love to receive home made presents and cards and I also enjoy making them myself.  This card for instance is charming and so easy to make although you do need to buy the commercial backing card.  The tree is very simple but effective and the stuck on sequins bring it to life, although I would have added a star at the top, I might do that actually!  And what about a couple of presents at the bottom?

I have still to decide on our home made card for this year but it will have to be soon as today is the 11th I see which means only two weeks to go.  But one can achieve a lot in two weeks.  Meanwhile, I am still making silk paper ornaments for the tree which is sitting comfortably in its bucket of water outside under the covered way, so its fine and I keep topping up its water so it gets a good drink and retains those needles.

Double the glow

Whenever I light candles I try to place them infront of a mirror that way I double the amount of light and the flickering effect. Sometimes I place them in unusual containers too like this rose bowl of potpourri but I never leave a lighted candle unattended.

I have some candles which I use only at Christmas and this is one of them as it is such a lovely deep red colour but when lit becomes rosy. Where do you like to place your candles? I always make a fresh floral arrangement for the table at Christmas and I usually add a candle or two and light it whilst we have our dinner.

Anyway, I have to decide yet which lights I will put on the tree, I need to go and find them and see what choice I have.  I seem to remember using blue ones for the last 3 to 4 years so maybe its time for a change and I have never tried white.

Tree topper

What do you put on top of your Christmas tree?  A fairy? or a star maybe? or something else?  Usually I find something amusing so I used to put an owl up there complete with feathers... but for the last few years its been a fairy made with an old toilet roll for the base to slip over the tree top. It was made at one of our Embroiderers' guild workshops and I think it was a Sally idea.  However, this year I am going to use this funky silver stuffed star, just because it looks silly and brings a smile to my face.

When I was a small girl I used to walk home from school along our road and look carefully at each tree lit up in the window and see how many had fairies and I used to judge which one was my favourite, and of course sometimes the curtains were drawn so you could only make out dim shapes of  coloured lights because in those days not many people could afford lined curtains and a good many of them were probably home made; I know ours were.  I also used to count how many Christmas trees I could find on the way home and was always pleased when another one appeared. Its a good game for children, I wonder if they still play it nowadays.

Sitting on a candle on the dresser at the moment.

Christmas cards - day four advent

A cheerful robin on a christmas card

Cards have started arriving at our house but not all of them are real, some are emails. So how do you feel about this?  I know times are hard and many people resent the costs involved in buying the cards and the postage but it is traditional.  I for one like to balance the cost by making my own cards, mainly because I enjoy it and because it has become a tradition in our house. This means the outlay is low but the fun element is great, afterall we don't have a television and have not had one for over 10 years so we like to make our own entertainment.  Anyway, whatever you decide I hope you enjoy the result. We have not designed our cards yet as its usually done nearer the time and sometimes in a huge rush, but done it is.......................

Advent continued

Preparations are under way for Christmas and the tree has been chosen from Whinlatter Forest visitor centre and sits in the covered way in its bucket of water so it gets a long drink.  It will then keep its needles until well after New Year. We tried a different tree last year but I do prefer Norwegian Spruce so we went back to this traditonal tree. I need to go and collect some greenery next to make my door wreath but I will probably wait a week before I do and then I will need to condition it so its good and wet before I put it on the front door.

If you decide you need some help making a Christmas wreath then you could try here for inspiration.

Meanwhile, I decided to make some new decorations for the tree.  I have all the usual baubles and lights but fancied something new, so I hunted around and found I had loads of silk paper I'd made so I experimented with cutting and folding it into rough star shapes and added a few beads.  I have used a handmade felt ball in the centre (left overs from an EG class with Marilyn where we made felt jewellery) and I wrapped it with some gold mesh.  The background is more silk paper I made ready for a silk purse workshop I ran a while ago. Its such a versatile material because it handles like paper but you can stitch on it and manipulate it into all sorts of shapes.

experimenting with silk paper

Sunday sewing

I don't always have a sleeping pet, she has not been like this today at all, infact I have been playing tug of war for half an hour....

I did manage to do a little research on the internet this morning as I was seeking inspiration for some projects and I found a few sites of interest. Try http://pinwheelponders.blogspot.com/2009/08/fabric-ornaments.html  for making Christmas ornaments. Or http://stitchtales.blogspot.com/ for Christmas ideas.

My little one has jumped onto my sofa and is sighing, a good sign that she is going to take a nap which is what I want really if I am going to fire up the Bernina and finish off some sewing.  I have a new idea too and I can't wait to try it out but I do need a respite from doggie games just for a bit.