Quilting Group

 I've just got back from the quilting group meeting -  I haven't been doing this for very long. I've started a sampler quilt and I the idea was to have finished a block before the meeting comes around, but this month it didn't quite work out and I seem to be falling behind...
I love fabrics and I chose American Civil War designs which are a bit dark but remind me of cosy winter days in front of the fire.  Will be ready for winter 2014 if I don't get a move on.....
Here are some of the blocks I've finished.  Not sure what colour to use for sashing or borders, any ideas?

On the left is  Star Choice, on the right is Rolling Pinwheel - can you spot the mistake? I'll be unpicking it in a minute

This one is Tulip and at this moment it's my favourite, but Rolling Stone on the right - I haven't got enough contrast in the colours and it doesn't show up very well 

and these are the first two  I did, Streak of Lightning - easy squares and Rocky Road - first attempt at triangles....
Experienced quilters - any advice welcome.......

Little visitors

A lovely week has just gone by - no blogging because a selection of grandchildren came to stay.  They've gone back home now - so a bit quiet, but I do need a bit of sleep!

We did all sorts of  non electronic things

Like taking them round to bang on a friend's piano...

Exploring on Birkrigg Common - lots of lovely little paths in the bracken to disappear down

and running through the long grass, not to mention baking and painting and digging up potatoes

It's been a test of patience, for them, not me.....

They've had to cope with all grandma's films for kids being on video!  Waiting for rewind is sooo tedious

And only being able to get terrestrial TV!

Cooking from scratch so a long gap between I'm hungry (at 3 o'clock)  and tea

All toys are from 1980's (if not earlier) 

Only plain crisps available

We have to wait for the water to heat up for a bath

And considering all that they've still asked to come back!!

Morecambe Heritage Day

Well we're booked in for a stall at the Platform on the 15th September for Morecambe Heritage Day selling the vintage kids clothes. We've done fairs before and the ones run by the Vintage Village Hall are the best ones, lots of atmosphere, great vintage tea room and live music!
Quite relaxed about it at the moment but come the week before and I'll panic about everything left to do.  Am going with the youngest daughter and the eldest who has 3 small children will come along later to provide a crowd scene. The main difficulty is that it opens for stall holders at 8 am and starts at 10. Two hours seems like a long time to get sorted out  - but it certainly isn't when you're in the throes of it. ........
This one below is us setting up at the Dock Museum our last fair earlier this year- we had a great day and sold a lot - the one in the short skirt is my daughter!  I am cleverly hidden behind her - not keen on my photo being taken......

 The red thing at the back is part of the dock museum exhibit - a waterproof suit thing we weren't selling that!  We were under strict instructions not to touch the exhibit - unfortunately Rachel fell into it ....oops! 

Old shrub roses

Just done 10 rounds with the roses  in my garden
In July they looked like this

But some of them get so big they have to be cut right back every summer.
 I love them to pieces and the perfume is amazing - but they only flower once and then they look a bit sad.  The big white one at the top is Kiftsgate and the pruning needs to be done with a machete! Don't get one - I can only keep it under control because I can get to it from both sides...
P.S. photos carefully cropped to remove the weeds, wouldn't want you to get the wrong impression

York

Just been to York for a few days on a last minute dot com type of booking. Hotel was a bit Fawlty Towers but then again it was cheap, cheap, cheap!
This isn't a picture of the hotel, this is a much more impressive establishment!










Tried very hard to take photos in the city but it was so full of people I ended up taking shots above their heads - these are the only ones that worked out!

  

Went to the Quilting museum but couldn't take pictures inside because the lighting has to be low to keep the quilts in good condition, and couldn't take pictures outside of St Anthony's Hall because the gas company had dug up the pavement!

However I did get these lovely fat quarters with a sewing theme to make a huge bag to put my quilting things in

Magpie Instinct

As I mentioned before I've been buying again..... Firstly in Kirkcudbright on Friday - just can't resist things for sewing - lets see if they get as far as a product!

A lovely little jug with a candle inside found in the parish hall
If the candle gets used I can use the jug for flowers

This is a beautiful bowl, turned in spelted silver birch.  The apples I already had but I think they go well with the paler wood of the bowl







And lastly on Saturday morning in Kendal I added to my collection of tablecloths, I can't seem to own enough crinoline ladies.  They are all waiting for me to open that dream vintage tearoom...

Kirkcudbright

Yesterday had a little trip out to Kirkcudbright for the art and crafts trail. 

Just as interesting as the venues were the little alleys and ginnels to get to peoples garden sheds and studios.

The harbour was picture perfect. 
Magpie instinct came to the fore - but I'll get onto that later

Years since I've seen buckets and spades outside a shop and how much do I want a beach hut?

On the way to someones shed!

There's a bow fronted shop window at the bottom of this ginnel, if you look closely you can just see it.

I have added Kirkcudbright to the long list of places I want to live!

First past the post

Well... I set this blog page up ages ago and it's taken me months to get this far!
The first of the month seems like a good starting point - although at this rate by the time I get this finished it will be 2nd August . ..

Despite the description at the top of the page,  we've been enjoying some pretty fantastic weather - until the local agricultural show yesterday!  Luckily we arrived early and we'd 'done' all the stalls before the downpour at about 2.30 pm. We hung on a bit to watch the heavy horses ... but no let up for the rest of the day- such a shame for the rest of the events in the ring.  

I love looking at the crafts and the animals - took loads of pictures and then realised I didn't have any of the cakes!


Photos are before the deluge!!

This would have been a good photo for the intro to the blog....

Every year I think I'll enter something in the craft section - maybe 2014...