Busy busy busy

I am absolutely whacked! I bet I will sleep well tonight. Why? I was up at 6 am this morning and went for my second jog in a row. I know shock, horror, I've managed to exceed my record so far! Next up was the mammoth clean out of the guinea pigs, then the garage to make sure there is wide enough space to get a wheelbarrow through as they are starting to lay the base for my sewing shed tomorrow morning. I then moved on to the side conservatory/utility room. Again things need to be moved to allow wide access. I cleaned out a unit that I will be using in my sewing cabin for materials etc... I haven't stopped all day until now as my body just can't move any more! No I haven't done any heavy lifting shifting, just the cleaning up of 'stuff and nonsense'!

Yesterday I had a pleasurable day sewing. I used the lovely purple wool tweed material I bought a few weeks ago at the Travelling Fabric Show. Now the pattern for the style of skirt I wanted to make unlined, yet I wanted to make a lined skirt. So getting some of my other skirts out of the wardrobe I worked out how to sew the lining in. I did cheat a little. Normally I would use my overlocker for making any clothing to finish the edges nicely, but I could be fiddlefaddled to get it out so I just neatly zigzagged the edges.

Not yet hemmed but shows the true colour better.

Finished! I wore it out last night to my stitching group. Very nice it was to wear as well.

Now last night was also very successful in that I was able to use the large tables to spread my quilt out on and the ladies there showed me the best way to lay it out with the backing, wadding and quilt top without getting any crinkles. It is now all pinned ready for the actual sewing/quilting process. The walking foot for my machine arrived today so when I've got some free time I will practice before I start on my actual quilt.

I took my 'mug bag and mug rug' last night as well. Very useful, I had a lovely cup of green tea and a yummy biscuit. A few more hexagons were sewn and a few rows of my sock were knitted. Lovely evening indeed!

Now while I was talking to one of the ladies they mentioned yoga and as I have been trying to find a good yoga class I asked them about it and said it had been suggested that I do some yoga to help my aches and pains by my physiotherapist. Funny thing was that the lady had been recommended to go to this yoga class by the same physio! So I start Monday!

What are your plans for the weekend? Mine are to continue with my exercise programme...although I suspect I will only be going for a walk tomorrow morning as I will be too stiff to run. Also hoping to go for a walk with a friend on Sunday morning. Hope to be able to get in a touch of sewing during the weekend as well. DS2 wants to make some jam tarts and I have been promising him all week that we will do this, so I'd better make sure that is achieved at least!

Have a lovely weekend!

If you have a Mug Bag you must need a...?

Now how many plastic bobbins of embroidery thread do you think I sorted through and counted last night?

Well the first bag came to just over 100!! I haven't even started on the second bag yet. I should have plenty of embroidery thread to keep me going for a very long time.

Now over at Contented Rachel has posted a tutorial on how to make a mug rug. I'd never heard of one of these before until I started reading about them on her blog. The idea is that you have space for your mug and a biscuit (or 2). Now having just made my mug bag, I thought this would be a perfect companion to make as we always have a cuppa and a biscuit at the stitching groups I go to. Now Rachel only posted the first stage of the tutorial...I was too impatient to wait for stage two so cheated with some wide gingham bias binding and just machine sewed it on.

All set for Thursday evening now.

Who's this sneaky boy on the settee? Enjoying a snooze, he is feeling so much better.

Now I have yet another project to undertake at some stage...

A tatty sewing box...

Well it just HAD to have a blue lining didn't it?!

Lining in the drawers as well.

Very cute, just calling out for some TLC.

Now my 14 year old son has ventured into London this afternoon to meet up with a couple of girls from school to go to the pictures. I'm hoping he doesn't get on the wrong train coming home. He has got instructions...but it doesn't stop me worrying though does it. Having an ASD makes him that much more vulnerable, however we need to give him a bit of freedom and trust.

The intrepid explorer has arrived safely home having enjoyed the cinema. :-)

The Embroidery Bug!

The embroidery bug has really caught me. I find it very relaxing and easy to pick up and put down at a moments notice.

So although not a lot was achieved today...have to confess to rather a long sleep in due to the horrible weather, I did get time to finish this embroidery and bag I was making.

Pocket inside for teabags and of course that all important mug...which will need to be bigger than the one I used as a trial!¬

Now I can take along my mug and tea bags to any sewing groups I attend.

DS2 appears to be lice/nit free! Big hip hip hoorays! AND he got his hair cut today and has admitted it is so much better shorter! Shame we didn't record the subsequent conversation about him going to keep his hair short from now on.

I had a little bit of banking to do, post some parcels and of course nip into the local CS while I was waiting.

A huge bag full of embroidery/cross stitch patterns and loads of thread...should keep me busy for a long time! Guess what I'm going to be doing this evening? Yes you guessed it sorting all the threads out.

Thank you all for the lovely comments you have been leaving, they mean a lot to me.

Some nice and some yuk!

I made a start last night on the first of my knitted socks. Never knitted with four needles before...rather tricky for the first few rows, but does get easier. What has happened to my red jumper? Well I am not really enjoying knitting with the wool as it keeps splitting so needed something else to work on as well so I can alternate. That is my excuse anyway and I am sticking to it!

A little sneak peak at my stitching friends block. I have joined Marina, Fiona and Carol (all in Australia) as a group for a Stitching around the block organised by Helen Stubbings (see left side bar). This is the first time I have taken part in anything like this and only the second time I have tried my hand at embroidery. I have done plenty of cross stitch in the past, but nothing like this.

I have been enjoying a little bit of sewing today and have whipped up three cosmetic/bits and pieces purses and four tissue holders.

I loosely attached the backing fabric and wadding to my quilt. Just need to tack it together now, ready for quilting.

My morning was spent on an awful task.

What do you get when your 14 year old autistic son refuses to get his hair cut and seems to be unable to wash it properly?

...

Last night hubby saw DS2 in the bathroom looking at his head in the mirror. 'What are you doing?', asks hubby to his younger son. 'I've got insects in my head', was the reply!

WHAT??

Yes you guessed it Head Lice! I suppose we were lucky to get away without any such infestations ever before...

So explaining it all rather fully to dear son this morning and the various stages of delousing process I proceeded to spray, comb, comb, comb, rinse comb, comb, rinse comb, comb, spray, comb, wash with shampoo, comb, wash with conditioner, comb (well you get the picture), an hour later we were done. I have told him that I will be repeating the process tomorrow morning! I have to say he was very good...obviously there was a huge motivation to let me do it!

Oh and guess what? He has now agreed to get his hair cut!

A lovely day out!

I have had the most wonderfully relaxing and enjoyable day out today with Debbie aka Lala of Dreaming of the Simple Life. I caught the train and we met in Hitchin. Debbie picked me up from the train station and our first stop was the flea market. Of course we nattered the whole way round. I got a load of 'tat' as my hubby would say, but I was pleased with it as I don't think I spent much more than £5, certainly less than £10. Debbie got a real bargain, certainly for novelty value if nothing else...quite envious I was..., but I will let her share her treasures with you.

We then ventured to a craft shop called the Bothy, which was near this lovely manor house (can't remember the name now). Isn't that just grand?

After admiring the house and the grounds we made our way to another lovely craft shop - a real Aladdin's cave it was, with a good mix of antique, vintage, handmade and crafty things.

Our last stop was the Watermill - oh I really want to go here again to really explore the shops. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on which way you view things, we only made it to the tea shop. We talked and partook of a 'cream tea' and talked some more and ran out of time!

Oh so lovely...

Good company, scones, jam, cream and a pot of tea, what more could you want on a Friday afternoon?

Thank you so much for taking me round Lala, I had such a wonderful time and feel really relaxed.

Do you want to see what I spent my pennies on then?

In no particular order...

A couple of 'Blue' plates, £1 each

Two Ladybird books 50p for the pair.

This was bought for the real novelty value...I think it cost me about 20 - 30p, can't remember now. Why did I buy it? Well the year of course!

Full of lots of handwritten recipes...Hmmm, Marrow and Ginger Jam, this might be worth trying, I have a big marrow to use!

A thimble and a needle holder. These will be useful for my hexagon making.

A double pack of patience cards and a book of patience games.

Aren't they sweet?

I also bought a 'Whizzer' which I forgot to photograph. Anyone remember playing with these?

Oh another view of the manor house.

Finally a bird in our garden.

Have a lovely weekend!

Show and tell Tuesday

So many lovely things to show you today, from the flowers still blossoming in our garden to various thrifty goodies and crafting I have been up to.

Thank you all for your lovely kind get well wishes for our lovely sheltie. He is so much better today it is unbelievable. I really thought he was a gonna yesterday morning, so it is very much a relief to see him up to his usual business. We still have to wait for the blood test results, but hopefully everything will be okay.

Yesterday I had a wander around the garden on one of my 'tidying up tea breaks'. So much still going on in my little garden.

The dahlia's are still in bloom, with lots of new buds starting to open.

The foxglove is still flowering...

Our maple leaves are starting to turn, but oh so slowly compared to the oak tree.

There is an abundance of crisp (although now soggy due to the rain that just poured down!) leaves under this tree.

My husband has been oh so busy in the garden, preparing a space for my glass house and then building it.

All ready for next spring!

He has done such a great job as he also had to raise and extend the wall to make it level.

Now he is busy pruning the apple tree and preparing the ground space for my sewing cabin!

The poor guinea pigs have had to give up their summer grazing residence in favour of a space for the new building to go. Not long now...

A little bit of thrifting we will go...

Well it is blue, cost a mere £2, so of course I had to have it!

Lovely, clean and tidy inside. Will be perfect for storing material goodies.

Little blue flower jug...

Yes a theme going on here.

Some sewing threads and bias binding. Always useful.

A little bit of sewing has been done today...

I finished the stitchery yesterday, just have to sew the buttons (flowers) on, but they will be done last. This was then sewn onto the edging patterns which I did on Saturday at the quilting group.

Edged with blue butterfly material.

Still not quite sure what it is going to be when finally finished. Possibly a large bag to take to quilting club, or a wall hanging to go in the kitchen, or perhaps part of a larger project.

Of course I mentioned tidying yesterday, which led to the discovery of our dining room table, and this meant that I could place the patchwork centre piece I made the other week.

Would look better on a larger table probably, but with a lovely vase in the middle it looks okay for this humble abode.

It was a lovely morning with the sun shining and a beautiful clear blue sky. This has changed dramatically through the day leading to heavy down pours half an hour ago. Poor DS2 arrived home looking like a drenched and bedraggled waif and stray. Nothing that a good dry off with a towel and then sitting on the settee with a blanket round him won't cure!

Once it stops raining the birds delight in coming out and feasting on the bird feeder. So lovely to watch while sitting on the computer, or doing a spot of stitching.