This a spring coloured quilt I have made for Joss with all the things she loves about her garden. Her frog kite flies over the apple tree, her teddies picnic in the garden and a little owl perches on a branch.
Thursday 25 April 2013
Blessings
Blessings in our garden are
things which happen by themselves. Every year I attempt to grow
vegetables, last year I had courgettes by the ton, six runner beans,
all eaten with great appreciation.... Also three strawberries, gone in a
minute, but the sweetpeas and nasturtiums were a riot, pretty but not
very edible. But every year starts with great hope. At the moment, the
vegetable plot has been dressed with manure, compost and awaits the
plants in the greenhouse. In the other parts of the garden, daffodils
and fritilaries are so gorgeous and this year is marvelous for
cowslips. So I was delighted to find two blessings.... well three to
four really, three with wings, as peacock butterflies arrived from Italy
on Saturday and one little primrose, self seeded on the steps.... all
by themselves, with no help from me!
This a spring coloured quilt I have made for Joss with all the things she loves about her garden. Her frog kite flies over the apple tree, her teddies picnic in the garden and a little owl perches on a branch.
This a spring coloured quilt I have made for Joss with all the things she loves about her garden. Her frog kite flies over the apple tree, her teddies picnic in the garden and a little owl perches on a branch.
Tuesday 2 April 2013
Travels
Sunday 17 February 2013
A present for Jo
Last year I went on a course
with Janet Bolton, an internationally famous picture maker and textile
artist. She makes the most wonderful textile pictures in a folk art
style. Her subjects are everyday scenes from life, but she brings a
special insight to her pictures which makes them come alive. She is also
a kind and generous teacher. So I have wanted to make little pictures
for a while. William the Pidgeon (see below) was the third attempt and
now I have made Jo a birthday present. Every morning, she sits at the
bottom of her garden with a cup of tea. She wears her mum's old coat and
is always joined by Brough the dog and Willow the cat. It is the start
of her day. So here is her birthday present, which now hangs framed and
in her kitchen. Thank you Janet for your wonderful teaching.
Wednesday 6 February 2013
A guilty secret
I give talks to local WI
groups occasionally. These ladies are well known for their wonderful
cake making. Recently we were chatting after a talk and the topic of
cakes came into the conversation...quilt makers are well known for their
cake eating.... The lady asked if I knew about the Infamous Cake In a
Mug recipe..... made
famous by London West End Women's Institute? you can read about them here. Well, I looked it up as
soon as I got home and yes, there it is, complete comfort in a mug for
those of us love cake and it only takes 3 minutes to cook! So here is the recipe, you know you want it.....
5 minute Chocolate Mug Cake
4 tablespoons self raising flour
4tbsp sugar
4 tbsp cocoa
1 egg
3 tbsp milk
3 tbsp oil
3 tbsp choc chips
splash of vanilla
Method: Add all dry ingredients to the mug and mix well. Add egg and beat well. Pour in milk and oil and mix well. Add choc chips and vanilla and mix. put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 mins at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, don't worry. Cool slightly, then eat from the mug with cream, ice cream or squirty stuff.... feel the comfort rising!
5 minute Chocolate Mug Cake
4 tablespoons self raising flour
4tbsp sugar
4 tbsp cocoa
1 egg
3 tbsp milk
3 tbsp oil
3 tbsp choc chips
splash of vanilla
Method: Add all dry ingredients to the mug and mix well. Add egg and beat well. Pour in milk and oil and mix well. Add choc chips and vanilla and mix. put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 mins at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, don't worry. Cool slightly, then eat from the mug with cream, ice cream or squirty stuff.... feel the comfort rising!
Monday 21 January 2013
Warm beds
On these chilly, snowy mornings, the
temptation to stay in bed is great. Staying under the warm bedclothes,
snuggled up with a quilt seems an excellent idea. Hibernation until the
spring could be an option which needs thinking about carefully... some
of us even wear a hat in bed, so important to keep the ears cosy too.
But many parents find the children have climbed in to cuddle up together
with them in the mornings and Louise, who has three little girls,
kindly sent me this. There is just room for five in this bed under a big
quilt and at the bottom is written Green Star Quilts! Thank you Louise,
such a kind present....
This the quilt I have made for Louise's daughter Charlotte
This the quilt I have made for Louise's daughter Charlotte
Thursday 3 January 2013
Happy New Year
Happy New Year to all of you
who read my ramblings and my New Year resolution is to pay more
attention to the blog. Things Have Slipped..... but before Christmas I
made 150 star blocks for 3 quilts and that's my excuse.... Now we have a
new start and on Monday we went for a walk along the riverside route to
Bardney. It was the best sort of Lincolnshire day, huge blue skies and
pale winter sun. Just enough to warm us whilst walking and give the
promise of spring to come. This photo is of one of the sculptures on the
route. It seemed to me that we stood in the old year, could walk
through the arch and the new one would stretch ahead with lots of
possibilities. For some 2012 has been a bumpy journey so lets hope 2013
will be a gentle stroll.
Saturday 22 December 2012
Happy Christmas everyone
Having just finished ironing on the yak to Peggy Rose's alphabet quilt, I
am closing the door of the sewing room until the New Year.
This year very special stockings have been hung up, but the owner won't be here until the end of January. In fact they are little sheepskin boots and they belong to my gorgeous baby grandaughter.
And the best Christmas present for me is that our Singaporean family are moving back to the UK. And even better, they are going to live with us until they are settled.... excited, me?? So I just wanted to wish you all a Very Happy Christmas. Thank you for all your custom, encouragement, enthusiasm for my quilts and the lovely comments on the blog and in the guest book throughout the year,
detail of Peggy Rose's quilt |
This year very special stockings have been hung up, but the owner won't be here until the end of January. In fact they are little sheepskin boots and they belong to my gorgeous baby grandaughter.
And the best Christmas present for me is that our Singaporean family are moving back to the UK. And even better, they are going to live with us until they are settled.... excited, me?? So I just wanted to wish you all a Very Happy Christmas. Thank you for all your custom, encouragement, enthusiasm for my quilts and the lovely comments on the blog and in the guest book throughout the year,
Happy New Year everyone
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