UFO sss

When cutting out the stars, Jim mentioned that he would like UFO s to go on
the quilts next to the stars.  So, over the last few days I've been searching round
for images of rockets and UFOs thankfully the Internet has given me a lot of ideas.
I bought some grey material from a charity shop to cut up for applique and
bought some glittery fabric paint to have a play around with.  Outside its a gorgeous
gorgeous sunny day but I'm feeling really tired and drugged up thanks to my ms.
I now have two garden chairs outside so that I can sit outside and stitch, paint...all fun fun fun.
Hope you all manage to have some fun too and get creative for the weekend,.

Of Stars and Stars

Finally Ive got to using the Pfaff sewing machine again after being so busy with other projects.
I must admit this is a huge challenge for me as Ive always done any sewing by hand.
A few years ago we got this quilt top from Ebay and I decided to have a go at
applique-ing stars using the machine blanket stitch.  When I showed Jim the quilt top
Jim said he'd like some UFOs  on here with Jim being mad on them an absolute UFO freak.

So while Ive been busy on the sewing machine, Jim and our fabulous drummer has been working on the tracks being recorded in the background, so creativity all round.  I hope creativity is around all you too.  Happy Stitchings xxx

Finally The Spring Is Here

Last Sunday I went along to a small quilt exhibition held in a  Victorian looking house to raise money for the Loros Cancer charity. I took some pictures of a few items that really caught my eye and gave me some ideas. The needlework which really spoke to me and just my style were some things that Id love to have a go at and do something similar.  I bought a tiny heart with a pink ribbon stuffed with lavender and a beautiful tiny hexagon needle case that really pulled my heart strings, they always do.
A week has already flown and I said to my Jim I really must down load some photos for my blog.
On the Tuesday mornings I still go to my one to one knitting classes and on a Wednesday, Ive been making an effort to take my Pfaff sewing machine to my friend Jean's house so that I could get used to using it again after a long non sewing spell.
I'm pleased to note that last Thursday while the weather was throwing it down with rain, I managed to sew up two fleece shawls for Jean and her friend.  My mum made me a fleece shawl cut from a large square with the tips folded back that made pockets.  When the nights have been chilly this has been my best friend so I thought it would be a good idea to practise using the sewing machine again.
Jean was really please with her shawl and I'm sure the lady who Jean will be seeing next Monday will be pleased too. Hope you all manage to have a creative weekend will try and write again soonx

Life

Its time I started to make more effort in the Blog Emporium World after quite a long break, but just didn't
realise how long I had been away.  (sorry folks).  For the last couple of weeks I had been busy learning how to knit again and challenging the art of sock knitting.   Each Tuesday depending how my MS is behaving, Ive been going down to a wool shop for one to one lessons how to do socks.  I managed to knit with two needles but to knit with four or five needles is still taking some getting used to.
Jim my partner had been begging me for weeks and weeks would I make Jim a new wallet and mobile phone holder?.  With the help of my wonderful friend Jean, Jean helped me make a pattern from the old
tattered case.
With Jim kindly being the taxi to lift my new heavy Pfaff sewing machine onto Jean's work table, some how we conjured up the magic of the new wallet with the chosen bits of spare material from the fabric stash.

  I had to learn all over again how to switch the sewing machine on, to sew.  As the wallet had a loop design at the back, I needed to learn how to do a button hole stitch on
that new sewing machine.  My goodness, I was really impressed.

I'm never going to be far away from my sewing machine for great lengths of time ever again.... so, with that buzzing in my little head, off I went to the Leicester Fabric Guild.
Whilst at the Fabric Guild I bumped into another lady who I had not seen for ages and was very saddened to hear about the passing of one of my group sewing teachers called Daphne. I was pleased to learn that the Thursday's craft group is still carrying on but making items for the Church Bazaar which Daphne tried so hard to get everyone to do, so watch this space everyone.

Knitty New Socks

Ive not written on this blog for absolutely AGES....... as Ive been so addicted to learning how to knit socks.  Knitting has been a nice change from everything else in the arts and crafts world and I'm sure all of you know just sometimes you need to have a change of crafts or hobby so that you can recharge your batteries.
This week Ive got the horrible chesty cold, so didn't go to my knitting class that I usually go to on a Tuesday. Ive been going to a crafts shop in a village to have one to one knitting lessons with a fabulous lady who has been teaching me me how to knit socks.
For years I have been wanting to learn, but just could not find anyone to teach me.
I was so so thrilled when one lady was willing to take me on.
Each pair of socks that I have knitted on a pair of needles, are improving while I get the hang of knitting again.   A couple of weeks before Christmas I promised my Jim that I would knit him a couple of socks. Ive been learning to knit on two needles and now learning to knit on four.

I'm really enjoying this.  I have posted some more photos.

Horay

Finally the big computer is working again thanks to Jim mending it, so now I can work on my blog again.
Ive been doing something completely new and different over the last couple of weeks.
On a Tuesday Ive been going to one to one knitting lessons in how to knit socks.
I have always wanted to learn how to knit socks, so one lady very kindly offered to teach me one to one how to knit socks using two needles. I managed to complete one odd sock.   I found that this sock fitted
Jim's foot better than mine as I have really narrow feet.   So for Jim's Christmas box, he said he wouldn't mind a couple of pairs of knitted socks.   So over the last couple of days Ive been collecting balls of wool when ever I get the chance to buy some.
I was really pleased when the Quilter's Guild sold balls of wool as well as quilting material so that saved me having a look round town which you can imagine is really really busy at the moment all to do with the Christmas magic and mayhem.  I had to smile when I read on one blog that one likes to hibernate over the Christmas mayhem.  Ive been hibernating in my little white room sat next to the window and the radiator to keep warm.  Yesterday Bongo thought it would be such fun to chew my knitting needles.  One bamboo needle I couldn't save but the other pair or 2.75 needles,,,, Bongo had chewed the wooden nozzles off the end.  This morning I had a brainwave to glue some beads at the end of this pair and it worked.  Its a good thing I bought oddments of beads and jewellery to cut up from the car boot sales last summer.  So even though my Jim moaned and groaned about some rubbish I bring home, some of it, does come in handy.

Ive been asking Father Christmas and the fairies for some hand dyed 4ply wool.  Are they listening? oh I hope so,..... well Ive got to get ready to take the hounds out now for their mad run on the field but I'm looking forward to catching up with all of you in Blogland.

Happy Stitching, Knittingx

Still Around

It has been a very busy few days, I have not forgotten about you all.  The main big computer
that I use for posting photos and sorting them out is just not working at the moment.
Elder man here, says that we must wait for a new disk as a back up after Windows 8 was
down loaded and made the original computer all go wobbly.  So I've been having to manage with
the weenie minnie laptop I call it which I don't like but there you go, beggars can't be choosers as the saying goes.
I just can't wait to download you the pictures of the envelope finished off to show you.
Leigh who I was doing the card and envelope for, received the finished items and was delighted
with them which is great,  Leigh said they bought tears to her eyes.  I'm so glad that all my hard work
on the card and the envelope did the job.
I'm now working on a Christmas stocking, Ive drawn out the design, made my bank card cough and
splutter stocking up on Steff Francis threads and paints.  Hope you're all managing to keep creative and keep
warm.