Bead Sampler

It's Monday morning, just and the bead sampler is still being worked at. I had an idea of working sections that formed a spiral and am now busy, since Thursday evening, filling in the sections with the various beads I have gathered. I like it but it may not be to everyone's taste and could well - as usual - be overworked. I do like to make an effort! Probably why I end up taking so long on each module. I am giving it to the end of the week and hopefully I will have something to show you and that will be the end of chapter 8

Coursework day

Thursdays are my coursework day, when all other trivial things are put aside and 100% coursework is completed. Last night I gathered together all the beads I have accumulated ready for attempting Chapter 8 - Beads. I need to make a sampler of beads and a sampler of different kinds of edgings that can be created with beads. Everything is to hand, time to take the children to school and then action stations...

Dorset Buttons

This evening I attached the Dorset Buttons I have made over the last couple of weeks to this framework made from three frames which have been wrapped with black strips of fabric.

I used nylon thread to attach the buttons to the frame so that they look as though they are floating in the spaces. All I have to do now is find a place to hang it!

Wednesday WiPs

The donated hexagons take shape!

I decided to follow Grandmother's Garden with the donated hexagons I mentioned last Wednesday, here are five blocks using the rosehips fabric which I have since found out is called "Harvest". There are a further five blocks being sewn together in another floral fabric and the green fabric in the photo will be the edging hexagons that hold all the blocks together. Taking shape nicely.

Although it's Wednesday, I shall be spending this evening on coursework as the hexagons have had enough of my time! I have the Dorset buttons to display - I have an idea so that I can display them on the wall, my DH keeps asking when I will be showing my work around the house! - and I have the bead chapter to break the back of, again plenty of ideas of how to display them, now I need to spend some time making the ideas real!

Off to work - hopefully will have something to show you later...

Vanity - a deadly sin

I'm not a vain person - I look in the mirror twice a day, usually when cleaning my teeth - so please excuse me from changing my profile photo. I don't have many photos of myself as I'm the one usually behind the camera so when I trawled through the photo bank to find a replacement I was amazed that of the few there are of me I'm in a boat! I am of the belief that water is for fish and ducks, so how did that happen?

On the Steamer crossing Ullswater On a boat viewing Portsmouth Docks

On a motor boat on Windermere On a Pedelo at Worthing

And sailing the Solent, dodging sandbanks and the Cruise Liners

Anyway I've decided to swap the old photo to one that my Daughter took of me for one of her art projects, it's more in keeping with the "less is more" way of thinking and as there's plenty of me to go round it's probably for the best!

Fisherman's tale

How long is that Super Tassel?

You may well ask and some of you did!

Super Tassel being measured with a Half Metre Rule

And Julie has won with the longest Super Tassel, as mine is a mere 44cm long and Julie's is 52cm

Ferret

No, not the animal kind, the quilting kind!

We had a visit from Ferret at the quilting group this evening. Please go to her web site and blog www.ferfab.co.uk , www.ferfab.blogspot.com. The gallery is amazing in the flesh so to speak - sadly all but one of the nudes are currently hanging in The Dissenter'Gallery, Kensal Green Cemertary in London 7th March - 7th April Sat, Sun & Mon 9am - 5pm. But the quilts she was able to bring along - and there were a fair few! - were amazing. The way she presents the quilts had us in "stitches" - ooh poor pun! Should you ever get the chance to meet and hear her I'm sure you'll leave smiling.

Wednesday WiP update

I have an addition to the WiPs. Last week I was given 245 hexagon patches in cream with floral motifs, some had been cut so there was just a butterfly was on the patch. There are two lots of fabric and the second one looks like a Marks and Spencer design - using Rosehips and Roses - My Mother-in-Law has a breakfast set with the same design. Anyway came back from a meeting this evening and cut out paper hexagons from Freezer Paper and next time the iron is on I shall fix them to the fabric and leave in the car with needle and thread for "Taxi Mom" to sew together when I am out and about. I may need to get a third fabric to brighten up the other fabrics, any excuse to visit a quilting shop!

Where did that week go?

I think the Super Tassel must have drained me of inspiration! Although a day didn't do by without a needle in my hand, I must confess coursework wasn't a priority. I made a stack of "Flying Geese" blocks to make the border to the Black and White Quilt, I created a poster for the local British Legion, (once a Graphic Designer, always a Graphic Designer on call for the small jobs Pronto Print et al charge the earth for), and I made 10 scarves for the local scout group.

I'm also doing something creative to a Cath Kidston tea towel I fell in love with during a trip to Kingston last Tuesday, I'm not showing it 'til it's complete - it may take some time! (as ever)

Today was spent sewing in the local Catholic Church. I was "an apropriate Adult" helping the Teacher care for 18 children while they rehersed for a concert by the local schools to be held tomorrow and Thursday evening. Son is in the group so I was asked to help. As I was only really needed during transportation and lunch time I had the rest of the time to sew whilst listening to the little angels sing. So I had the chance to do a little more work to an applique WiP. I have completed one of the four panels, but it seems to take such a long time. 3 and a half hours and only four pieces sewn down, I'd be surprised if it makes the Quilt Show in June 2010 at this rate!

Plenty of Buttons to create so to the workroom I go...

Completed Super Tassel

I've completed the Super Tassel!

Next Chapter...

A bit of Pomp and Circumstance

For My Foreign Bloggers,

I thought you would like some English Tradition

I was in Windsor this morning visiting the music shop for trumpet stand and replacing the "lost beyond the womb" - see previous posts on lost things - trumpet scales book. It was a beautiful blue sky morning as I arrived at the castle in time to see the band escorting the changing of the guard. So I thought I'd wait for them to leave the castle with the "changed" guard, so you can see how wonderfully traditional it is!

The Castle

A Friendly Gargoyle Above the Gate

The Band Leaving the Castle, Escorting the "Changed" Guards Back to Barracks

7 Weird and Randoms things

Here are my 7 Wierd and Random Facts:

1. I swam my first length of the local pool,(without my feet touching the bottom), the day before
I married. I was 21 years old and had been having lessons since the age of 4. I now swim like
a fish as much as I can.

2. I enjoy a good cup of coffee, but I can't stand to eat coffee flavoured food.

3. I have difficulty walking on dry, loose sand. I would crawl on my elbows and knees as a child,
but this is not a good look down the beach when you're 40. I now visit pebble beaches where
possible.

4. I love Marmite.

5. Sundays in September are my favourite smell. This could be a British Autumn thing.

6. It has taken me 25 years to find a pen I enjoy writing with.

7. I have a physical aversion to non-perfect feet. It goes back to childhood and a family friend
who had severe case of bunions and would love to go into gory detail, with visual displays,
of their condition. I would have had to seriously consider whether I could have married my
Husband if his feet had not passed my scrutiny. I have to keep my eyes averted if at the
swimmimg pool and Summer and sandals make me feel uneasy. I am unable to describe the
abnomalities I can't cope with as I feel physically sick just thinking about them. It's a silly
phobia I know and hypnosis would probably help!

So there you have it, I hope you don't think I'm too loopy

The Rules

Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog
Tag 7 people and link to them
Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

As this has been going around for some time and most of the Distant Stitchers have their blogs just for coursework I shan't tag anyone specific, but if you wish to have a go, be my guest and let me know. If this doesn't appeal to you, then no harm done!

I've been tagged!

Jennifer from Infinitly More Monkeys has tagged me. This my first tag and I am over the moon - how sad am I? - Well you blog into the ether and wait for contact and then wow a tag!

So I shall be back with all the details once I have thought of 7 wierd/random things about myself - I'll have a think over the ironing of the shirts - Be back soon, and thanks so much Jennifer, you made my day.