Back From His Travels

I just had to write a post including this photo of my son in Brazil. He was staying with cousins of mine who live in Marau, nr Ilheus in Brazil. He spent about ten days with them and they flew down to Rio to visit other cousins of mine. This photo sums up Brazil;- fun, beautiful and special.

Bow Tie Scrap Quilt 2

Feeling very tired after a mad week at work I wasn't going to do any sewing today. However, once I made one I just has to make more. Thirty blocks done now of this summer scrap quilt. I love the way the blocks look so fresh and unfussy. I'm loving this. I still have fabric in my stash to make more as I'm trying not to repeat any of them in the quilt. I may have to beg borrow or steal to complete this though.

Farmers Wife Quilt Along 3

Trying very hard to catch up with this. I'm now up to week three, that is six blocks - two per week. Today I did number 1, Attic Windows, number 3, Basket, number 5, Bat Wing and number six, Big Dipper. Some of the templates are very small so I'm not looking forward to some of the blocks, still let's hope the final result will be fab.

Farmers Wife Quilt Along 2

Finally started on this quilt along. I've been trying to get going with it for ages but I have been thwarted by all sorts of things. Anyway here are the first two blocks. Number two, Autumn Tints and number 4, Basket Weave. I'm sticking to the ones with square elements as I haven't yet laminated all the templates so I've gone on measurements on these.

Noro V Neck Jumper

A decision has been made over the Noro Silk Garden Sock Yarn. I've cast on Farleigh from the Noro Unlimited Pattern book. I love the way it looks with the two rows of one ball alternating with two rows of the other. I was unsure of using the same colourway but I'm liking how it tones. Anyway here is the first part of the back. I went on a long train journey on Saturday and made a good start on it. However, it is put to one side now as I really need to finish the cable cardi.

My Sock Knitting Workshop!

I'm running a sock knitting workshop at Moonstone Yarnshttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif on Saturday 13th August. It's a day long course in which I will teach you how to use DPNs, turn a heel, shape the toe and finish the toe with kitchner stitch. All materials will be provided and a buffet lunch. Only room for six, so book your place! I'm really looking forward to it. At £55 for the day its a good deal, all that expert tuition and lunch, its a win, win!

Bow Tie Scrap Quilt

Jodie at Pleasant Home Blog had a great idea. Each year she makes a scrappy quilt with the scraps used that year. This year its going to be a Bow Tie Quilt. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifThought I'd do it too. Here is the start of my Bow Tie Scrap Quilt. I think that once its done it will remind me of the projects made in the year.

Farmers Wife Quilt Along

After much thought and deliberation, actually not much at all. Once I had seen these fabrics I knew I had to do it.

So these american cottons are the beginning of the quilt along I bought the book the other day to do at some time in the future. However, when I was in Berwick yesterday I found this shop and in the shop I found the fabrics in the picture which will be the beginning of the quilt. The book itself is a joy to read as it shows all the blocks which go into the making up of the quilt with a CD Rom with templates, with each of the blocks there is a letter from a farmers wife from the 1920's. The subjects of the letters are varied but about life and thoughts from the farm. Tomorrow I will have a sewing day and begin....

More Puffins!

We are a little addicted to the North East, the DH and I. We have just got back from another trip to the Farne Islands. Last time we went the birds were mostly sitting on eggs, it was incredibly windy, so much so it was hard to keep the cameras still http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif and the trip was shortened because of the weather. So we decided to go again. Also we wanted to go to Berwick Upon Tweed again to stay at Viv and Rocky's B&B Clovelly House. This is without a doubt one of the best B&B's we have stayed at.
This trip was much more comfortable, the boat ride was lovely and we were able to take some pictures of the birds nesting on the cliffs from the boat. I managed to get a couple of shots of puffins on the water which I was unable to do last time. I got some lovely puffin shots on the island itself and some of artic tern chicks - so cute.