From the sublime to the ridiculous?

I am still having problems with blogger turning my photos ninety degrees, this one was taken as a landscape not a portrait and look what happened when I uploaded it.  I know that I am not the only person who is suffering from this problem coz Sally http://quiltfeather.blogspot.com/ reported it too.  Anyway, I don't have time tonight to mess about and delete it.  So I hope you like it anyway as it was shown to me by a friend at our EG meeting on Thursday and is a supreme example of crazy quilting. So thank you Marilyn. I have a sneaking feeling that she is going to make some more blocks like this one and if she does will try and show them to you. As you know I bought a book on the subject recently but have not had time yet to make much progress on anything to do with crazy quilting, although I can say that it has been a crazy week so far.......

This next shot is the inside of a carpet bag I am trying to complete. I know it looks really bright but I thought hey why not? Again I took this shot as a landscape and its come out as turned around by blogger  grrrrrrr.

But you can see the little black tape with the clasp? on the end for my keys and also the large black pockets edged with bright pink velvet  yumm. On the other side is another deep pocket edged in silvery black for my purse.  The base of the inside is pink velvet and the sides are this really lovely flower print. I have not finished the bag yet and when I do I will post it up. I hope I can fit it in this week as Wednesday is Cumbria Patchworkers and we are making a Christmas Stocking .... seems every year I get to make one. Actually, my lovely DD in California has received 2 so far so I can think of a home for this one too........

Next up is the Viking... yes I know it's another terrible photo but what can I do? He was standing straight when I took him and when I UPLOADED  it went down hill from there.... I won't show him so large as he might frighten you!  Actually his appearance was not frightening at all it was supposed to be but no I felt quite at home, must have been the grey beard and beer belly.

He did give a very good talk about the Vikings to the ladies at Keswick Embroiderers Guild on Thursday and if you want to see some photos I took of some of the textiles he brought along I sent them onto Lesley to post on the blog which is http://keswickembroiderers.blogspot.com/ or you can find a link to it in my favourite blogs. He was a nice chap ex Royal Marines and he seemed to enjoy showing off in the gear...If you want him to come and visit you then go check him out http://www.vikingasaga.co.uk/

Lastly, I was up Helvellyn on Saturday in very wintry conditions with Bella and so no photos, anyway, you would not want to see us both sitting there on the top trying to keep warm whilst waiting for the others coming up Striding Edge. We waited and waited... with figures lurking out of the mist but no DH and his mates until at last they came. Bella and I had eaten our lunch by then and were nearly about to set off back down the way we came to Swirls carpark. As usual the top was swarming with people who all came up in odd assorted groups, some even in jeans the idiots.....they would not have been able to wait on the top for over an hour like Bella and I. So it is quite a relief to be sat here at my laptop with Bella asleep by the door because the wood burning stove is too warm for her......Pile more on I say as it has gone quite chilly in Cumbria.

The summit of Hellvelyn with our victorious charity walkers

I have been busy this last week and it was not sewing which is taking a back seat at the moment because of that four letter word - work.

I don't mind when the clients are really good sorts and also buy a meal afterwards. In this case it was an Indian in Ambleside as that is the way they always celebrate when they have raised more money for charity. Yes I was out guiding a group of people up Striding Edge and the Fairfield Horseshoe who were all excited at the prospect of completing the climbs so they could raise lots of money for their charity challenge. I was so impressed with them that I donated too. Bella came as well and we spent one night in a wild camp at Patterdale with a special marquee set up for a BBQ. Now Bella loves anything to do with grilled fish or burgers so this was right up her street....

It was also very well presented and cooked by Dan and Dan who work with the owner (Peter Sidwell) of the 'Good Taste' Cafe/Deli in Keswick. On a personal note I can highly recommend the Wild Boar Burgers! and the salad with the mango in it was delicious. Well done lads..........

The weather was kind to us last Wed and Thurs too so it all went off smoothly. This next shot shows Striding Edge in all it's magnificent glory just after we had ascended the difficult section. Once over this we had quite a long way still to go; 22k eventually was our final total that day and all from an early rise at our wild camp!

Just incase you thought they would have to camp wild a second night, let me reassure you. After we finished the challenge they were all safely installed here. Now I can honestly say that it does not get much better than the Low Wood Hotel and the rooms are lovely. If you wonder how I know, well ask Bella what it is like :-)