Monday 30 July 2012

An Amazing day.

I spent all day on Saturday sitting in the middle of a round about in Surrey
having a fantastic time with some of my family watching the Olympic Road race.
The atmosphere was amazing with everyone chatting together and discussing the race.
I have tried to upload a video but Blogger won't let me so 
have a look at some of my photo's.



The Mad Hatter.


















Hope your enjoying the Olympics as much as me,
I am so pleased to see how enthusiastic 
the crowds have been.

Gillx

Thursday 26 July 2012

Alone again.

Well eldest daughter has gone home again so it's back to just me and Mr T
although not for long as I will have all three children in Norfolk in 3 weeks.

We have had a great time together but I have got out of the habit of taking my camera everywhere with me so not many photos I'm afraid
 ( or thank goodness  depending on how you feel about my photography).

Now the sun has arrived we have been able to use our new 
garden furniture and have lunch outside.
Do you like my mini bunting?
I made it last year to use for decorating presents
and in the usual way put it somewhere safe until Christmas.

I found it a couple of weeks ago while looking for something else,
which of course I still haven't found.
Please tell me I'm not the only one his happens too.




Yesterday we went fruit picking so I now have a freezer full of Raspberries 
and a fridge full of Strawberries- with cream, ice-cream
or just sugar. 
Which is your favourite?
Coming from good 
West Country stock it has to be cream for me.



Also this week I have had a couple of Swaps on the go.
It was my turn for the 
Travelling Craft Box, organised by the wonderful

I didn't take any photo's of it so It doesn't spoil the surprise for the next person
but it was great fun. It arrived at 7am (thank you Mr postman) so I made a coffee
and took it back to bed to savour opening it.

If you are on the list but haven't received it yet you are in for a treat.

The box came to me from Gill at the Vintage Gardener and 
this lovely lady put a few surprises in the box especially for me
which I had to open first.
she makes these fabulous labels from lovely vintage garden ephemera
and I was lucky enough to get a pack of these,



along with  the pretty blue fabrics in the background and
a  notebook covered with flowers and this pretty
charm as the page maker.
Thank you Gill they are lovely.



The box has been sent on to the Wendy at the crafters Apprentice
and I hope she enjoys it as much as I did.


The other swap that arrived this week was the jar swap 
this one organised by Katie at 



I was paired with first time swapper
Eileen at  In My Playroom who appears to have got the hang of it very quickly
as my jar was packed with all sorts of wonderful things.
Lots of buttons and threads, pins and feathers


but my favourite is these Dorset buttons in 
a pretty baby blue.

Thank you Eileen.


Well the olympics starts tomorrow and I'm one of the lucky people 
to have got tickets so I'll let you know how it all goes.

Must remember my camera.

Gillx


Tuesday 17 July 2012

A few makes

After my last post I have been going a bit mad with the crazy patchwork.
I found a video on you tube which showed me an easy way to make 
crazy patchwork blocks and I love them.
I would add the link but I can't find the blooming video again now.




 Anyway I have have made a few pincushions
 and a cushion with another one 
on it's way in pink this time.





I have also made a few little needle case from  vintage 
linen, lace and buttons to put with them which
 I might put  in my Folksy shop.







The blue cushion is going in the summer house for when we get our summer, 
which will probably be when I'm on holiday in Italy knowing my luck.

Onto other patchwork makes and I have t last finished my hexie cushion.
A while back I bought a hexie kit from the fabulous 
and although I had sewn enough hexie together for a cushion
 I had never got around to finishing it.







That has now been remedied  and my cushion is complete with it's little "made by me" label

This one is going in my work room on the sofa which I'm going to recover soon(ish).
All these have been put onto the monthly makes group on Flickr 
and I got some lovely comments which made my day.
I don't know about you but it always a makes me smile
 when someone appreciates something you have made, for me it's a real
Yes 
moment.
 


Now of course if you make all these things you use up some of your fabric don't you
which means of course it needs replacing.
So thats what I've done.

A few fq's


And then some of the beautiful hand printed fabrics from



And one of her scrap packs with a selection of her patterns.



So I'm all set to start on something new.

I have Eldest daughter and her other half here this week

so probably won't be doing much sewing.
Anyway  I'll see you again soon.


Gillx



Tuesday 10 July 2012

Walk in the woods

Remember I told you that I had joined a W.I. group 
 about 5 miles away in my friends village. 

Every other Tuesday is WI. walking group day
and today we went to the woods were I walk my dogs. 
Some of the ladies didn't know the woods and
 the others hadn't been here for many years so I was leading the way.

 Fortune favours the brave as the rain held off until we finished
 and got back to the car.
  

 Half way along we stopped at the 
the old canal,


They have been clearing the water which had become
so overgrown with reeds that I had no idea
this large turning pool was even there.


The old mill over looks it all. It would be lovely
to have an apartment here- if they ever
do anything with it.


Time to stand and stare



The woods are described as ancient and
 the size of the large Oak in the centre proves it.
I would love to know how old it is.



At the end  of the walk it was back to mine for coffee and cake
but I forgot to take photos of the cakes before we ate them.

One up side of all the rain is that I'm doing alot of sewing 
and finishing off some half completed projects.
I had loads of fabrics squares cut out with the intention of making 
a patchwork at some time.
Well that time was today, i stitched them all together and 
gave a very spoilt Labrador a new bed.



Within 30 seconds she was trying it out for size.


I hope you are all having a good week.

There are a couple of good giveaways
going at the moment ,the link buttons are on the
sidebar. 
Why not pop over and have a look.

See you soon.

Gillx

Friday 6 July 2012

Testing Downloads.


I'm trying something out. I found a tutorial on Pinterest that shows you how to 
add files to download to your blog so I thought I would give it a go.

A while ago I  was going through my  Mums box of old photos
and in amongst them I found the cards she was sent when I was born,
So I thought I would put one on here for you to see how lovely it is
 and for you to  download if you want.

Now if I've done this right you should be able to click here and 
the link will go to the file ready for you to download.





It worked when I tried it but please let me know if you try it.


And finally,
The Torch has been through Norfolk.
This is the first young runner in Aylsham, which is where we saw it,
and I found the whole experience,in Mr T's words,
very uplifting and very enjoyable.
Can't wait to go to the Olympics now.



Have a great weekend and don't get to wet.


Gillxx


P.S  I Don't want to take anyones thunder here so here is the link to the 
Tutorial I used to do this.
Gillxx

Tuesday 3 July 2012

June's Scavenger Hunt


I suddenly realised that I hadn't done my 
Scavenger Hunt post for this month
and to make it even worse I've only taken 11 photos.
Never mind, isn't there a saying about it being quality not quantity,
not sure my quality is that good either.
Still for good or bad,and minus Night,
here they are.




The bunting in the hall for the jubilee


The gardens at Blickling Hall


A Crown


A Diamond (well a fake one)


Before--the ingredients


After--the bread


 Majesty--in a hand made doily


 Kites Out of Reach. 

Sleeping piglets


At the edge of the Norfolk Show car park

Close  or at least they were 2 seconds earlier.

Now off to see if this month list is ready.

The torch reaches here tomorrow so will hopefully 
be posting about that in the next couple of days.

So speak soon.


Gillxx

Sunday 1 July 2012

Coffee, Cake and Roses

I went to Peter Beales Roses In Attleborough
this morning for Coffee, Cake and calmness
after a bit of a wobble today.
So grab a cuppa and enjoy a quick trip around their Rose garden.

































Gillxx