Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday to my lovely Grandson who is nine today!


Still no photos, what a shame. I must try to get that fixed.


A birthday treat for me today as well. 'Love Patchwork and Quilting' arrived direct to my door. A birthday present from my daughter, son, grandson and relative partners. What a lovely thoughtful gift. It's brought a smile to my face, and will do so every month I'm sure.


Now I'm off to try and 'fix' the photo issue. Or shall I read the new issue of 'Love Patchwork & Quilting, hmmmm?

A Sorting Pastime

This morning was very wet, and grey.

With all the rain we've been having lately, the river has flooded over it's banks.

In the next picture you can see the river, it's not usually visible from this point.



So it was a good day to stay inside, warm and dry.  A good day to sort through my fabrics. I've joined Clare's rose star block party. I needed to check whether I had some suitable fabric. I didn't want to have to buy any, and my main stash is still in Sweden.

I had more than I thought I had. I enjoyed sorting through my fabrics. Funnily enough when I took the photos of the fabric this afternoon, the sun was shining.
I've also signed up for Anne's swop. So I need to have a think about what to do for that. I did something similiar sometime ago making ATC's. Whilst checking the ATC's I found a post I did about postcards that I'd forgotten about. I never did frame them.



We've just taken the hounds out for their last walk. We couldn't get along the river because the river is too high. We noticed cars on the road on the opposite bank slowing down and one turning round. That must mean the river has flooded the road on the far side. I think the river will be even higher tomorrow. Mike thinks it will have gone down a bit. It's been very windy today as well.

Rippling Hexagons

Back in July,

19th to be precise,

I told you about how

some of my photos won some prizes

in an agricultural show.

Well I also entered

 two other classes.

One was for crochet,

in which I entered my ripple blanket.

I was very pleased
with this blanket,

for two reasons.

The first was that I had actually completed it.

I had been looking at them for quite some time in blogland.

But I never really thought that I would make one,

but I did.

Granted it's not a full bed size.

But it fits very neatly over this sofa back,

and is a good size to cover my knees

on the chilly nights to come.

The second reason was

because it was made entirely out of wool that I had.

Either my own from long, long ago projects,

or from wool I inherited from my mother.

Granted it's not the colour scheme I would have bought

if faced with a shop full of yarn.

But it is bright and cheery,

and I am very pleased to have made a blanket

and in doing so

not spent any money.

However I didn't win any prizes with it.

I must admit

I hadn't expected to.

I only entered it to push myself to finish it,

and for fun,

and because I had always

wanted to enter something I had made in a show.
I followed Lucy's pattern.

You can find her in my sidebar

at Attic24.

I really enjoyed making it as well,

very soothing and repetitive,

lovely.

I'd definitly make another.

That reminds me,

I'm sure my daughter requested I make her one when she saw it.

The other class I entered was for a patchwork item.

I entered this pincushion

made from elongated hexagons

to my own design.

I like hand stitching hexagons,

and for my efforts I won second prize,.

The first went to a quilt,

and rightly so.

A lot of work goes into making a quilt.
Maybe I should add

that there were only two items entered in this class.

I like to think that they didn't just

give me a prize for entering though.

I hope not!

Well I spent all weekend

working on the computer

and had my instructions from Mike

not to use the computer today or tomorrow,

to give my eyes a rest!

So I haven't managed

to get round and visit as many people as I would have liked to.

Hopefully I'll catch up in a day or two.
Well I'm off to rest my eyes now.