Happy Christmas

Everything that needs to be finished is finished and everything that needs to be posted is posted so  I'm giving myself a holiday from the sewing room and decorating the Christmas tree. It's time to make and eat the odd mince pie and sing carols at every opportunity and loudly too. So I just want to wish everyone who visits my website a very Happy Christmas and to say thank you to my friends and customers for your support this year. Jo gave me this little tea light holder last year. This year I 'm giving her a pair of silver elephant earrings and a festive jar of homemade bramble jelly.....

Glamour

Nettleham Old School craft fair has been a big success. I got lots of compliments about my stall and the things I make. My egg cosies were compared favourably to those of a famous designer! The fabric covered sketch book was bought by an artist from Newcastle and many cards were sold too. Lots of people stopped to chat. Did they want to ask about quilts or was it because of the glamourous blonde behind the stall? Daughter, home from the high seas and far away lands came to help... You can't see me because  I'm hiding behind the quilt stand!

Bullying in the workplace

I am being bullied at work. My tormentor has four large furry feet, soulful brown eyes and no conscience at all. If the entertainment is poor and the lack of a new bone evident, he empties my wastepaper bin. All over the floor. Fabric scraps and threads fall everywhere, paper is shredded and spat out. We have had words about his lack of consideration and general behaviour.... and then I give in...because he looks at me, head on one side, and I'm sure he smiles...and he's so loveable, so bad behaviour is rewarded yet again...a new bone appears...

Winter nights

Its freezing here and last night it was frosty too. I was tempted to wear my socks in bed. Husband bravely offered to warm up my side before I got in. No hottie bottle could be found. An extra quilt was needed by any of us who had chilly toes....and they can be made in all sizes...so there's no need for anyone to shiver in bed...You can see the design of this one on the 'gifts' page.

Hearts and Stars

I sometimes think I should try to make more contemporary art pieces. But then I go to a quilting shop and there I see a  little hanger. American folk art of the log cabin period has a powerful appeal. Is it years of watching Little House On The Prairie, snuggled up on the sofa with  my lovely girls which makes me  secretly love long skirts and frilly petticoats all worn with boots? Maybe, and I can't resist a heart shaped wire hanger either... so look on the smaller gifts page and see my log cabin folk art hangings....now where's my long denim skirt and suede boots!

Berries

The hawthorn bushes are hung with fantastic ruby jewels. Today the berries stood out against the bright blue sky, strung together like like beads on a string. The pheasant as returned from his summer seclusion and he has a new wife. Well actually he has several new ladies in tow, wives, girlfriends, casual relationships...who knows as they all wear the same dress... he is too shy to photograph, but Jane can feed him by hand. Barney finds his Springer instincts are too much for this and will chase him, even if it is very slowly these days!  What a beautiful day on the common after so much rain.

Visitors

We have a rat living in the garden, well very near the back door really. Often we see him in the afternoon, pottering around the bird feeder. We tempted him with jam  spread at the entrance to the humane trap, we would like him to move somewhere else....and in the morning we found we had had a visitor.... husband set  him free the first day, then a few days later he was back...Was it the same visitor, how can we tell? Shyness made him curl up, both wore exactly the same prickly jacket in the same size and colour...who knows how big the family is too!