JANUARY 1st
2016
I know I haven,t been live for a very long time but life has thrown curved balls in my path all last year. We arrived home from Madeira the day after me Mother in law died so things were a little subdued. The funeral took place on 23rd December, my eldest sons birthday. This went down like a lead balloon but he put a brave face on, bless him.
By nature of recent events Christmas was a very quiet affair at home and with Steve and family. The children enjoyed themselves anyway with mountains of presents.
Still, memories are there and this Christmas proved much the same. We have reached NewYear's Day, still in one piece and sane. It must be this growing older thing.
I have spent the day cooking dinner for my granddaughter and her boyfriend. Well repleat we had a civilised chat before they went back for well earned sleep. Well they would party until 3am. I watched a Midsumer Murder I hadn't seen before whilst Peter slept his dinner off. I went to my sewing room and worked on a small quilt for the prem baby unit at Derby hospital. We have made a large quilt for the show this year and there was sooo much fabric left that other small quilts have been made. Then there were the scraps. Our chairperson Leilia presented me with the bag when my mouth said, of its own accord, " I'll have a go". Oh well until tomorrow. Sleep well and remember
Growing old is inevitable, growing up is not
Needle Maid
Saturday, 2 January 2016
Wednesday, 6 August 2014
The Next Week
Monday 28th July dawned bright and sunny - again. This is like Madeiran weather, you can't fault it. I went to my patchwork class as normal in the morning. I was on tea duty so was provider of biscuits and milk. You don't pay subscriptions when you do this, but it does cost you considerably more than £2 for everything you buy! We have a lovely bunch of ladies. A mixed selection of ages from a young 50+ to a middle aged 87 year old who does the most exquisite embroidery on her patchwork. We have a wonderful morning admiring each others work, oooiiinngg and aaahhhiiinnnggg at other people's finished projects and sometimes putting a stitch or two into our own work. All in all we have a wonderful time and just wait for next week.
On Tuesday and Wednesday Peter (My DH) goes to work so this week I have set too with the aim of doing a goodly load more to the shawls only stopping for necessities. The only thing I will say is that it makes the muscles you don't use very often shout out loud that they are not amused. Apart from doing the washing in between times, that was it for two days.
On Thursday a 'phone call from our eldest son put the blue light to the touchpaper. He announced that he and his family were going to see the two new arrivals in Scotland travelling up on Monday and coming home on Wednesday. Well, you can imagine can't you. No postage to pay and a guarantee that they will arrive.
"Oh I will have them finished by Sunday, thanks" - did I really say that? The knitting needles started to spark as I raced down the last 10 rows of pattern and then onto the 25 rows of single moss stitch on the border. The muscles screamed, but I didn't listen (wish I had). Any way, at 10.38pm I cast off the last stitches and
YES the knitted shawl was finished.
The Finished Shawl. It measures 35" x 36" and was very warm on my knees whilst I was knitting. Just what you want with the outdoor temperatures in the low 90's F, 25degC
A little closer look at the border and the pattern.
A simple pattern of 2 rows, one of which is all purl, but you would cringe at the number of times I got it wrong. The second row works in blocks of six stitches and then every ten rows you change the open blocks over with the garter stitch ones. After 20 rows you knit one complete row and start again. The original pattern has a nice lacy border but you end up doing 4 1/2 M of border pattern so I altered it to include the single moss stitch border.
Another view showing the pattern a little more clearly.
After the success of Friday and finishing the knitted shawl, following our mandatory visit to Peter's mother on Saturday morning, I sat down with my crochet hook at the ready and began. I had finished sewing all the squares together on the Wednesday so just the borders to add.
I had already made the 25 squares for the main body of the shawl. Each square measures 6" x 6" and they are sewn together. The squares just in white looked so bland I found some multicoloured yarn to edge them with - an improvement I thought.
The last stage was to go round and round the border until it looked OK and finish. In the end the number of rounds was determined by the fact that the yarn ran out at the end of a row so I called that done. It was 6.49pm on Saturday!!!!!!!
I packed them into their boxes and made the gift cards on Sunday morning and DS and family collected them Sunday lunch time. They will be winging their way to Glasgow on Monday morning.
And so my friends after a very busy weekend rushing about I am going to do very little for a few days until I start with the finishing of the bed runner.
night-night, God Bless and sleep tight
Needle Maid.
On Tuesday and Wednesday Peter (My DH) goes to work so this week I have set too with the aim of doing a goodly load more to the shawls only stopping for necessities. The only thing I will say is that it makes the muscles you don't use very often shout out loud that they are not amused. Apart from doing the washing in between times, that was it for two days.
On Thursday a 'phone call from our eldest son put the blue light to the touchpaper. He announced that he and his family were going to see the two new arrivals in Scotland travelling up on Monday and coming home on Wednesday. Well, you can imagine can't you. No postage to pay and a guarantee that they will arrive.
"Oh I will have them finished by Sunday, thanks" - did I really say that? The knitting needles started to spark as I raced down the last 10 rows of pattern and then onto the 25 rows of single moss stitch on the border. The muscles screamed, but I didn't listen (wish I had). Any way, at 10.38pm I cast off the last stitches and
YES the knitted shawl was finished.
 |
A simple pattern of 2 rows, one of which is all purl, but you would cringe at the number of times I got it wrong. The second row works in blocks of six stitches and then every ten rows you change the open blocks over with the garter stitch ones. After 20 rows you knit one complete row and start again. The original pattern has a nice lacy border but you end up doing 4 1/2 M of border pattern so I altered it to include the single moss stitch border.
The last stage was to go round and round the border until it looked OK and finish. In the end the number of rounds was determined by the fact that the yarn ran out at the end of a row so I called that done. It was 6.49pm on Saturday!!!!!!!
I packed them into their boxes and made the gift cards on Sunday morning and DS and family collected them Sunday lunch time. They will be winging their way to Glasgow on Monday morning.
And so my friends after a very busy weekend rushing about I am going to do very little for a few days until I start with the finishing of the bed runner.
night-night, God Bless and sleep tight
Needle Maid.
Sunday, 27 July 2014
Sunday 27th July 2014
My Dear Friends
Well, I am sorry to have missed out last week. Unexpected visitors throw spanners in the works! It was lovely to see my friends, but .........................
Anyway the news for last week :
Monday 14th July :- Our first great nephew arrived to the proud parents Vicky and Neil. He is to be called Gabriel.
Tuesday 15th July :- Our first great niece arrived to the proud parents Catherine and Jay. She is to be christened Constance but will be known a Connie.
The shawls have been worked on constantly during this week and I think I can see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully by the end of the month they will be on there way to Glasgow.
The next serious problem was my dying fridge. It fought to the last moment but sadly was beyong repair and I now have a nice new fridge purring away in the kitchen. Magic!
The last bit of news for this week is that my new Gardenis taking shape. My dear husband and youngest
son have worked so hard and made miracles happen. I am going to make a separate posting complete with pictures from start to finish. Watch this space!
The weekend was a bit of a non starter. Parts failed to arrive in time for one piece of the projects and I just sat knitting and crocheting.
Monday 21st July. Went to Pentrich (my local patchwork group) and had good conversations with the other patchers there; admired the finished quilts of those there and discussed our Bi-Annual Show this coming October. Once again, any work done has been on yes - the shawls.
Tuesday followed the usual pattern of Peter going to work and I carried on were I had left off the night before.
Wednesday - a repeat of Tuesday except for the name
Thursday - Today I ordered my Summer House - my new hand crafting and reading retreat. This will be the crowning glory of the new Garden - I am Sooooo looking forward to it being finished.
Friday - a normal day, nothing exciting happened.
Saturday - once again, hubby and son were working on the garden until son took his children off to the carvival for the afternoon. We went to see Peter's mother this morning. At 96 she is really amazing. However she is starting to lose the plot and we started with cold coffee because she tried to boil the kettle on the worktop instead of on it's base. I think this may be start of another saga.
And finally to today. As with the last two weeks, the sun is shining down and keeping everyone really warm. The garden has advanced quite a bit today and I have only four squares left to sew into the crochet
shawl. Hope by tonight that will be in one piece so I can sort the border.
Well, it is time for a cup of tea and then start again. Soon I will be able to report on the new project I am waiting to start. At the moment I am just collecting the fabrics ready to start. Yeah something different!
So Goodnight my friends,
until next Sunday
Bye
Needlemaid.
Well, I am sorry to have missed out last week. Unexpected visitors throw spanners in the works! It was lovely to see my friends, but .........................
Anyway the news for last week :
Monday 14th July :- Our first great nephew arrived to the proud parents Vicky and Neil. He is to be called Gabriel.
Tuesday 15th July :- Our first great niece arrived to the proud parents Catherine and Jay. She is to be christened Constance but will be known a Connie.
The shawls have been worked on constantly during this week and I think I can see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully by the end of the month they will be on there way to Glasgow.
The next serious problem was my dying fridge. It fought to the last moment but sadly was beyong repair and I now have a nice new fridge purring away in the kitchen. Magic!
The last bit of news for this week is that my new Gardenis taking shape. My dear husband and youngest
son have worked so hard and made miracles happen. I am going to make a separate posting complete with pictures from start to finish. Watch this space!
The weekend was a bit of a non starter. Parts failed to arrive in time for one piece of the projects and I just sat knitting and crocheting.
Monday 21st July. Went to Pentrich (my local patchwork group) and had good conversations with the other patchers there; admired the finished quilts of those there and discussed our Bi-Annual Show this coming October. Once again, any work done has been on yes - the shawls.
Tuesday followed the usual pattern of Peter going to work and I carried on were I had left off the night before.
Wednesday - a repeat of Tuesday except for the name
Thursday - Today I ordered my Summer House - my new hand crafting and reading retreat. This will be the crowning glory of the new Garden - I am Sooooo looking forward to it being finished.
Friday - a normal day, nothing exciting happened.
Saturday - once again, hubby and son were working on the garden until son took his children off to the carvival for the afternoon. We went to see Peter's mother this morning. At 96 she is really amazing. However she is starting to lose the plot and we started with cold coffee because she tried to boil the kettle on the worktop instead of on it's base. I think this may be start of another saga.
And finally to today. As with the last two weeks, the sun is shining down and keeping everyone really warm. The garden has advanced quite a bit today and I have only four squares left to sew into the crochet
shawl. Hope by tonight that will be in one piece so I can sort the border.
Well, it is time for a cup of tea and then start again. Soon I will be able to report on the new project I am waiting to start. At the moment I am just collecting the fabrics ready to start. Yeah something different!
So Goodnight my friends,
until next Sunday
Bye
Needlemaid.
Sunday, 13 July 2014
SUNDAY 13TH JULY 2014
Good morning my friends
Well, looking back on my list of "to do's" I can only say it has been a total failure with regard to the baby shawls. I am working just as fast as my fingers will let me but it jst isn't as fast as it used to be. I am continuing a pace fitting a bit of both in most days. They have to come to an end soon!
My one accomplishment has been to finish my quilt swap. In the end I made a replica of one of my favourite little quilts to send. I have even made a label for it! Hopefully when I get used to my new sewing machine I will be able to set a label template on there. I made the original for a small quilt monthly challenge in 2012 and I love it. It is one of my favourites. I only hope my swap partner likes it. I have so little knowledge of her likes and dislikes as she has not communicated with me. Anyway it will be on its way to the States next week.
Regarding my niece's bed runner, that is on hold until the shawls are finished. It is her first wedding anniversary today. OOOPPPPSSSSS. Sorry Cat!
The trouble spot of the week has been my fridge. It is dying....noisily....in fact it is screaming! The milk is going off but more to the point, it is not keeping my chocolate cold!!!!! I have been promised that tomorrow afternoon we will go and shop for a new one - at last. Still it hasn't done bad for 13 years of service.
Well my friends as you can see, I didn't make Friday publishing so have decided that a Sunday will be a better day as I have more time.
I will wish you all a happy week.
My work list will be to finish the two shawls. I think that will be enough.
Bye for Now
Needlemaid.
Well, looking back on my list of "to do's" I can only say it has been a total failure with regard to the baby shawls. I am working just as fast as my fingers will let me but it jst isn't as fast as it used to be. I am continuing a pace fitting a bit of both in most days. They have to come to an end soon!
Regarding my niece's bed runner, that is on hold until the shawls are finished. It is her first wedding anniversary today. OOOPPPPSSSSS. Sorry Cat!
The trouble spot of the week has been my fridge. It is dying....noisily....in fact it is screaming! The milk is going off but more to the point, it is not keeping my chocolate cold!!!!! I have been promised that tomorrow afternoon we will go and shop for a new one - at last. Still it hasn't done bad for 13 years of service.
Well my friends as you can see, I didn't make Friday publishing so have decided that a Sunday will be a better day as I have more time.
I will wish you all a happy week.
My work list will be to finish the two shawls. I think that will be enough.
Bye for Now
Needlemaid.
Friday, 4 July 2014
THE FOURTH OF JULY.
First of all I would like to wish all my friends in the US a wonderful Holiday. Enjoy yourselves and perhaps a little quilting on the side?
This week has been reasonable and I have managed to complete
another of my UFO's from 2013 little quilt challenges. The on
line group I belong to, Small Quilt Talk, has a monthly challenge.
I have only managed to do the June small quilt and finished that on
time. I also managed to finish my Chinese Coins from 2013.
This was the quilt made for the June 2014 monthly challange. I enjoyed doing this as it was quite small and went together easily.
All the fabric was used from my stash. I refer to it as my "Guilty
Secret" quilt because the four patches are pre-printed fabric and
there was no fiddling. Well, just once in a while perhaps?
Both these quilts are from Kathy Tracy books. They are wonderful.
I had hoped to be further on with both my baby shawls and with my swap partners quilt. I am making this rather blind as she has given me no indication as to her favourite things. Still, I like it so hopefuly she will too.
Well, that's it for this week.
Next weeks challenges are:
Finish crocheted shawl
Move on with knitted shawl
Do lots more to swap Quilt
Do something to Bedrunner.
Tall order but we will try.
Wishing you a goodnight, sleep tight
Happy Quilting Dreams
Needlemaid.
 |
Chinese Coins |
another of my UFO's from 2013 little quilt challenges. The on
line group I belong to, Small Quilt Talk, has a monthly challenge.
I have only managed to do the June small quilt and finished that on
time. I also managed to finish my Chinese Coins from 2013.
This was the quilt made for the June 2014 monthly challange. I enjoyed doing this as it was quite small and went together easily.
All the fabric was used from my stash. I refer to it as my "Guilty
Secret" quilt because the four patches are pre-printed fabric and
there was no fiddling. Well, just once in a while perhaps?
Both these quilts are from Kathy Tracy books. They are wonderful.
I had hoped to be further on with both my baby shawls and with my swap partners quilt. I am making this rather blind as she has given me no indication as to her favourite things. Still, I like it so hopefuly she will too.
Well, that's it for this week.
Next weeks challenges are:
Finish crocheted shawl
Move on with knitted shawl
Do lots more to swap Quilt
Do something to Bedrunner.
Tall order but we will try.
Wishing you a goodnight, sleep tight
Happy Quilting Dreams
Needlemaid.
Thursday, 3 July 2014
1ST JULY 2014
Dear friends
I cannot believe where the time has gone since May of this year.
I will do a quick run through of things that have happened in the months in between then and now and start again with July.
MARCH 2014
This year saw our 40th Wedding Anniversary and we decided to
spend our time on the Isle of Wight. DH has visited there before
but I have never been. We found a child free hotel for the older
generation and had a wonderful week. We were unable to see the
historic sights because of the previous bad weather having caused
road slips and bad flooding However, I did meet up with an old
friend of both DH and I. We had been through Grammar School
together and then on to Road Rallying and Motor Sport where I
met my DH. It was as thoughe had time had stood still and we
picked up where we left off on my wedding day. A lovely week.
APRIL 2014
This month brought us Easter and my youngest sons 36th birthday, I can't believe it!
My eldest son and his family spent time in Wales on holiday and the weather continued to be wet and wet and still wetter. My two nieces came down from Scotland to see their Grandmother and stayed for a few days. When I saw them they mentioned they would like something for their babies, both being not only sisters but both pregnant at the sme time. I am going to do them a baby shawl each. No pictures yet until they have been sent.
MAY 2014
May 2nd was my MIL's birthday and a family party on Saturday 3rd. Sadly I missed this as I flew to Madeira on the 1st May with Maria to see the flower Festivaql in Funchal and meet up with some of Maria's family. It was a sight to behold and the scent blew your brains out. I met up with friends from our trips out at Christmas and look forward to seeing them in November/December.
May also saw the Small Quilt Talk group I belong to doing a Small Quilt Swap. Being a gluten for punishment I signed up to take part. Pictures will follow but I have to send it to my swap partner by August 1st so nothing until after she has received it.
This month also saw my beloved Bernina become too much for my hands to cope with. I had to get Peter to change the bobbin for me because my hands wouldn't turn enough. I also had problems with the attaching the feet. In place I now have a Husqavana Topaz 50 with a super embroidery Unit. Will show photos later.
JUNE 2014
The first few days brought the name of my swap partner for the small swap quilt. I have designed a quilt for her on the medallion basis. I am waiting for some new feet to arrive for my Topaz 50 and then I will be sewing for England to meet the deadline of 1st August.
Well my friends this has been a very shortened version of the months since my last post but now I am back into the swing of things I will try my best to post of Fridays each week and make things a little more interesting.
For now Goodnight
Sleep Well
Needlemaid.
Dear friends
I cannot believe where the time has gone since May of this year.
I will do a quick run through of things that have happened in the months in between then and now and start again with July.
MARCH 2014
 |
| My friend Angela and me. |
spend our time on the Isle of Wight. DH has visited there before
but I have never been. We found a child free hotel for the older
generation and had a wonderful week. We were unable to see the
historic sights because of the previous bad weather having caused
road slips and bad flooding However, I did meet up with an old
friend of both DH and I. We had been through Grammar School
together and then on to Road Rallying and Motor Sport where I
met my DH. It was as thoughe had time had stood still and we
picked up where we left off on my wedding day. A lovely week.
APRIL 2014
This month brought us Easter and my youngest sons 36th birthday, I can't believe it!
My eldest son and his family spent time in Wales on holiday and the weather continued to be wet and wet and still wetter. My two nieces came down from Scotland to see their Grandmother and stayed for a few days. When I saw them they mentioned they would like something for their babies, both being not only sisters but both pregnant at the sme time. I am going to do them a baby shawl each. No pictures yet until they have been sent.
MAY 2014
May 2nd was my MIL's birthday and a family party on Saturday 3rd. Sadly I missed this as I flew to Madeira on the 1st May with Maria to see the flower Festivaql in Funchal and meet up with some of Maria's family. It was a sight to behold and the scent blew your brains out. I met up with friends from our trips out at Christmas and look forward to seeing them in November/December.
May also saw the Small Quilt Talk group I belong to doing a Small Quilt Swap. Being a gluten for punishment I signed up to take part. Pictures will follow but I have to send it to my swap partner by August 1st so nothing until after she has received it.
This month also saw my beloved Bernina become too much for my hands to cope with. I had to get Peter to change the bobbin for me because my hands wouldn't turn enough. I also had problems with the attaching the feet. In place I now have a Husqavana Topaz 50 with a super embroidery Unit. Will show photos later.
JUNE 2014
The first few days brought the name of my swap partner for the small swap quilt. I have designed a quilt for her on the medallion basis. I am waiting for some new feet to arrive for my Topaz 50 and then I will be sewing for England to meet the deadline of 1st August.
Well my friends this has been a very shortened version of the months since my last post but now I am back into the swing of things I will try my best to post of Fridays each week and make things a little more interesting.
For now Goodnight
Sleep Well
Needlemaid.
Thursday, 15 May 2014
January 2014.
January came in cold but snow free. I belong to an online quilt group by the name of Small Quilt Talk. The ladies of this group are a wonderful inspiration to anyone who loves quilting, be it small or large. As you might tell, they make Small Quilts. This month it was decided to hold a Pincushion Swap. Approximately 100 ladies signed up and we were all paired off and given a date by which our swaps were to be posted.
Some beautiful and unusual designs appeared on the photograph album and I have posted a photograph of the pincushion I sent to my partner, and the one I received, which is presently in use in my sewing room.
Some beautiful and unusual designs appeared on the photograph album and I have posted a photograph of the pincushion I sent to my partner, and the one I received, which is presently in use in my sewing room.
 |
| This is the one I sent. |
This is the one I received
I was also working on my nieces bed runner wedding present (photo later)
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