September 21st and still here!

Found this in my archive as an unpublished post from April 2019
Hello Dear Readers,

Again it's been a while since I was last here, not a lot has happened in that time, and I have no excuse except to say that I have discovered yet more podcasts on You Tube and spend quite a lot of my time glued to the TV watching those while knitting or crocheting. I can highly recommend them and I have to say it does make me feel more connected to the craft related world. 

On the crafting front I am still knitting almost obsessively, with no less than 11 WIPS on the needles, far too many to show you them all.

The Vintage style sweater I began in March has been on the back-burner since June.

I joined a new Knitting group on Monday afternoons at a Local Pub. we are very small at the moment but new knitters pop up from time to time, the group is run by Stella (find her on Instagram as Stellaknits) a lovely lady who makes the most beautiful garments. shawls and socks - lots of socks.

JUNE: Knit in Public Day. I was involved with Stella in a charity event. We were very well supported by the owners of the pub and though we didn't make lots of money (£30) a good day was had as we sat in the sun outside the White Horse PH (see link above). The Charity we chose was Metachromatic-leukodystrophy a cause close to our knitting community's heart as the Grandaughter of Tina of Looby Lou Yarns has this life limiting disease. I am hoping to revive this blog (yet again) so hopefully it will not be sooo long til I'm back.

TTFN
Lx

Rolling along

March 26th

Hello Dear Readers. 

I seem to be on a crafty roll since the last time I spoke to you

Completed projects.
Just before my fur baby Barney came to his forever home, I made a Crochet Cat Cave using 4 strands of DK held together (all from my scrap bag) and a 6mm hook. Based on a tutorial from Bob Wilson 123 This is one of the You Tube channels I have been following and her tutorials are great, and easy to follow, especially if you are a beginner. However after a couple of tries Barney decided it was not for him so... I unpicked the top and left it open with high sides and guess what? He loves it.

Updates

Back in December I shared a picture of the Nativity characters made by the members of  the Knit 'n' Knatter group I attend twice monthly. Someone at the Church made a lovely Stable to house it all and it was displayed throughout the Holiday season AND they have asked if they can use it for their 2020 Christmas cards. We are all delighted and of course we have agreed that they may.

 

Doesn't it look great all lit with fairy lights?

Last time I shared the updating of 'Eddie', my polystrene hat model which was looking a bit grubby. I was in the process of using Decoupage to tidy her up. Below is the finished item. I've shown the back and front or a full effect.

Completed Projects

I have a neat power pack that carries enough charge to keep my mobile going if the battery runs low when I am out and about, I'm usually pretty careful to keep my phone fully charged but, emergencies do crop up (as happened when Mum was in Hospital) The little plastic bag it came with had seen better days and so I decided to crochet a new one using an oddment of sock yarn and a 3mm hook, I'm very happy with the result.

On The needles /Works in Progress
Way before Christmas I decided to knit  myself a sweater after seeing a 'vintage style' pattern in a women's magazine, I bought the yarn online from Deramore's and I have to say I found their service very efficient with my order arriving 3 days later. However the yarn got put away once it arrived, but last week I decide to make a start

The pattern called for Stylecraft Life DK and I chose shade number 2497 - Hyacinth, it's a premium acrylic yarn with 25% wool. I'm pleased with the yarn and the way it's knitting up and the stitch definition is very good. Iv'e decided not to work the 'V' shape rib pattern on the back but continue with just the 5 x 1 rib.

I'm currently knitting another of my Hats, which I loosely call my 'on the go knitting' and also a scarf from a free pattern I found on Ravelry, in an effort to using up a bit more of the stash. I'll try to update you on those next time.

Reading

During recent events, I have not been reading anything, there is a book on my night table which I was enjoying but it has sat there for weeks untouched, I do love reading and will read most things (not Sci Fi or Horror!) and I really should get back to it.

Prattle

Finally Iv'e been giving a lot of thought to this Blog, I've been wondering thqt after my very long absence last year if anyone actually bothers to read it? I know previously I had a few loyal followers but wonder if they are still looking for my posts. Do I 'prattle' too much about the trivia in my life? Should I try to section it off as I have experimented with today. So if you are reading this PLEASE have a look at previous posts for comparison and let me know what you think.

TTFN

Lx

March Already!!

Hello Readers, 
As I sit here in my armchair Storm Gareth continues to batter the UK with force along the coastline, it's very windy here but we are far enough from the coast to be protected from the worst. But all the Spring flowers are in bloom and we have frog spawn in the pond  so things must be getting brighter - aren't they?

Its now almost a month since I last posted and I am happy to report that my crafting Mojo has been re-discovered, it was finally found in the chaos that was my sewing room. I found the Project Linus quilt I had been in the process of binding, under a pile of 'stuff'.  So it came downstairs and during some lovely warm weather we had in February I was able to sit in the conservatory and do some hand sewing, which I found very calming. So finished, it looks like this. 

Pink Stars

Spurred on by this and the encouragement of crafty friends I vowed to make an effort to get back to normality. 

I went to Clock Towers Quilter at the beginning of the February, and although I stayed all day I did no sewing. I also returned to Severn Valley Quilters and due to finishing the quilt I actually had some 'show and tell'.

My knitting mojo also returned and in the last month I have made 3 Beanie Hats. 

Made from a basic pattern designed by the lovely Tina of Looby Lou Yarns and knitted in the round, I vary the stitch count to fit the patterns which makes them individual. I love the way the decreases on the crown forms a pattern. 

Having only a little of the Beige yarn left I added some bright green. The hat on the right above is a plain Navy, tho it looks black in the picture. I'm currently trying to make it look less 'boring' with some embroidery so I'll update you when its done.

I currently have 3 projects on the needles, I always have more than one to suit all situations... I've cast on the back of a vintage style sweater, this I work on in the early mornings when its just me and the cat and I can concentrate on the pattern, which isn't difficult but involves a bit of counting. For when I'm watching TV there is a scarf in garter stitch, with a decrease/increase system to vary the shape (more on that later too!) And of course there is the inevitable Beanie Hat, BUT! for this one I'm using the 'magic loop' method, which I am finding sooo much easier than using 4 needles and means I can knit on the bus while travelling to hospital appointments (the journey takes an hour each way!) or at the coffee shop and I don't have to worry about dropping a needle. My knitting goes everywhere with me, tucked at the bottom of my bag, and the beanie pattern is perfect for that, and for taking to Knit and Knatter groups where concentration is always at a premium. 
As you may have noticed the hats are modeled by 'Eddy' whom I mentioned in my post in December. She was looking a little grubby and in need of a re-vamp and so I decided to update her with some decoupage. I have lots of little fabric samples from way back and thought I would try using them. I picked out the clover pinks and made a start, glue-ing them in place with a thin coat of Modge Podge. Today at U3A Craft Club I continued and she is almost completed. I'm hoping to finish it off tomorrow and once dry I'll share the result with you all.

Well friends I guess that's it for tonight I hope you enjoyed my 'ramblings'. Do leave me a comment if your reading this I do love to hear from you, but for now I'll sign off.

Take care
Lx

Farewell

18.02.2019.

As you will have read last time I was planning to try and post more regularly on here but, my Dear Readers life as they say has other plans.

        After a wonderful Christmas Day with all the family in 'attendance' followed by a 2nd pleasant day on Friday 28th Dec.when my DH hit the big 80 (we enjoyed a small celebration here at home) things suddenly went downhill very fast.

       Early hours of Saturday 29th December my Dear Mum was taken to hospital by ambulance following severe 'breathing difficulties' around midnight. By 7.30.a.m. she and I were given the devastating news that she had suffered a major 'silent heart attack', and although she had survived things were very scary for her (and myself).

However the Dr's seemed hopeful that with the right medication she would be able to go home after a few days. I stayed the rest of the day and left her around 6.30 p.m. Planning to get some sleep and pack a small bag for her, returning on Sunday morning (30th) as early as I could. 

        At 9.15 a.m. the hospital rang to say she had taken a poorly turn and could I go straight back in ASAP. After a frantic dash I arrived to find she had passed quietly away around 9.30 a.m following another heart attack, I was able to spend some time with her before returning home to speak to the family.

      Her whole life had revolved around her family and she idolized her Darling Great Granddaughter, she was active in village life until around 5 years ago and was still a member of The Royal British Legion, and, as recently as June last year she had been delighted to take part in a film about her memories of the war years (she was 13 in 1939) for Gloucestershire Museum Archives. She was always full of laughter, and her health had been robust apart from Osteoporosis and Arthritis (she was working until she was 70!). 

And so however much I had thought about the end of her life, it was sudden and not what I expected, At 92 years old she was still able to live alone with minimal help, she was always chirpy bright and in very good health although getting a little frail.

I have to say that I believe this was the way she would have wanted it however devastating it was and still is for all of us. She had a D.N.A.R. in place after talking with her GP and 4 years ago she had planned her Funeral.

And so on the 21st of January we said our final goodbyes. I was heartened to find that the church was full of her friends both old and new to bid her farewell, the service was conducted by Tracey a lay preacher and friend of 30 years. She now lies with her beloved Husband Henry in a double grave at our local church, reunited with both him and their son John.

Henry & Iris 16th October 1947

Iris June 2019

Below is the reading I chose to add to her Funeral service and this is how I will try to  think of her. 

They Are Not Dead - Unknown

They are not dead,
Who leave us this great heritage of remembering joy.

They still live in our hearts,
In the happiness we knew, in the dreams we shared.

They still breathe,
In the lingering fragrance, windblown, from their favourite flowers.

They still smile in the moonlight's silver,
And laugh in the sunlight's sparking gold.

They still speak in the echoes of the words we've heard them say again and again.

They still move,
In the rhythm of waving grasses, in the dance of the tossing branches.

They are not dead;
Their memory is warm in our hearts, comfort in our sorrow.

They are not apart from us, but part of us,

For love is eternal,
And those we love shall be with us throughout all eternity.

And so my friends my creative Mojo is listed as 'missing' for the time being, hopefully it will return and I will be back just as soon as I can, 

Lorraine.

Still Alive!

8th December 2018

Well my Friends you all probably think I have dropped off the planet but I am alive and kicking and still here! It's probably been well over a year since I was here.

A LOT has happened in that time, YES I'm still quilting & knitting but really I have been spending too much time on U Tube (tho I've learned a lot!) this is now a lot easier via my new TV rather than the small screen on my phone. I also joined Facebook - another place I spend a lot (too much) time (this time via my phone!). I have always said I would not join FB but when my Good Friend Lisa jetted back to the States in June 2017 I decided it would be a good way to keep in touch. Via FB I have joined a group called Memory Zoo Creative Community run by the lovely Katie Jane Silverthorne who runs a business of the same name. I have made a few friends there and took part in some Pattern testing which was most enjoyable.

Pattern Test for Memory Zoo

In other news I still attend Severn Valley Quilters and we have had some really good speakers. Clock Tower Quilters also continues, though we have had a tough 12 months having to move venue due to building works. We are now in a local (to me) church hall which trebled our rent overnight tho I have to say its a much nicer room. We had lengthy discussions which resulted in an agreement to increase our annual fee (1st time in 11 years) we cut out the December meeting and as we had lost a few members, some had moved away and sadly we lost one of our founder members Carol to Cancer.

Carol Ann Hancock 8.10.45 - 26.9.18

It was agreed we would take on some new ladies, as some of you may know we are a 'closed' group so this is done by invitation only. However we now have 4 new ladies, we all get along just dandy and so we continue.

I joined a newly formed U3A mixed craft group which meets one Wednesday afternoon each month and is very enjoyable with a variety of crafts being worked on by the members. Earlier this year we all pooled our talents to make a Group Banner using our various talents.

A few of the panels

Below is a selection of pictures in no particular order to give you an idea of what I have been up to in my absence.

In October last year I went to the Autumn quilt show at Malvern where I took part in an indigo dying workshop, I had tremendous fun and produced 8 little pieces of indigo dyed fabrics (which were actually 2 men's hankies cut in four. below are some of my samples which I plan to use for a Boro Sampler later on.

       

3 lap size Crochet Granny Square blankets

       

I am still  making quilts for Project Linus these 2 are complete and handed over, the one on the left is a Double 9 Patch and the right hand one are some donated orphan blocks plus I have one 'under construction and one which I am in the process of binding

      

                                    

    

As I mentioned earlier I have been learning through You Tube. Though I have been able to crochet for many years I have only ever made Granny square projects in the form of blankets however my talents are now improved and I have been making lots of hats, scarves and scrappy blankets and I'm currently working on a shawl. In the background of the green hat is the Linus quilt I'm working on

                              

Earlier this year I was thrilled to be asked to be a Godmother to one of our close friends children, Oscar who is 2 years old. His baby Sister Louisa was to be Christened on the same day and so that she wouldn't feel left out I made her a knitted Blanket in a lacy pattern, then I was asked to also be her Godmother (doubly thrilled!) I bought them both Silver picture frames as Christening gifts but passed on the blanket anyway.

                                                         

 Also on the knitting front are these two made to try and use up the 'stash'. The wreath was my contribution to our Museum's tribute to WWI. (more pictures at the end.) The hat is from an old pattern and was fun to make using an odd 100gm ball of 'Rainbow' yarn. The child's scarf is made using 1 ball of variegated eyelash yarn and some some solid pink 4 ply yarn, I worked 2 rows of each yarn alternately. I love the way it has come out in zig zag stripes

                                            

Last but by no means least is this Knitted Nativity made by the ladies of my Knit n Knatter group who meet twice monthly in a local Baptist Church, to whom it has been donated and where it will go on display. This was great fun but frustrating at times as the patterns called for some very small components.

                                         

Severn Valley Quilters Charity Project for this year is to make 'Fiddle Mats' for New Sibland School who cater for children with all types of disability. As you can see I made several.
                               

At the beginning of the year I finally got my hands on a Janome Gem sewing machine, I have been trying to get one for ages but as they are now out of production its taken some time. But thanks to the wonderful Mark Pickles of the The Sewing Studio Bath my mission is complete.
The idea was to let my DGD use it as she is now 7 years old and very keen to use a 'proper' machine. I have an antique hand machine but despite a thorough overhaul I just cannot get the tension right so... hence the Gem. H is not long enough in her legs yet to reach a foot pedal and the Gem has a stop 'n' start button. So using 'Grandma's new machine' (it will be hers in due course!) she finished off the apron she had started and moved on to a knitting bag, here is the finished project with which she is delighted. Now all I have to do is teach her to knit!!!

After a marathon effort by the volunteers at Thornbury Museum the end result of all that knitting is the lovely WWI window display and 'swathe' of poppies now on display till the end of the year. A few white and purple poppies were included to commemorate peace and the animals who were used during the war - Horses, Mules, Dogs and Pigeons.

                                      

                                                         

AND FINALLY we have a new member in my Family meet Barney (formerly Ginge) who came to his forever home at the beginning of October. I rescued him through New Start Rescue Centre and he is a purrrfect gentleman, and is the apple of my eye. He had a very sad story as his previous owner died of cancer age 43 leaving 3 children, 3 cats and lots of rabbits/guinea pigs, the Grandparents are taking the children etc but were unable to have the cats due to Grandad's allergy's to cat fur. The 3 of them were brought in while I was there and Barney and I just clicked.

 Well that's about it for this time I will try to be a better Blogger in future but that's all for this time. TTFN
Lx

My Beautiful Tree!

I am confused!! not difficult I hear you say but the date on this post is way off kilter, there must have been a 'Blogger Glitch' somewhere along the line as I wrote this many years ago (probably more than 6/7 years to be honest) I've had a look at my past posts and can't figure out where it was supposed to be, so my apologies for old news popping up like this.
I am MAD! MAD! MAD! remember the beautiful Silver Birch Tree all covered in hoar frost I posted a picture of back in the winter? Well it has been decimated by a team of 'Tree cutter' (and I'm being polite here!) who arrived next door (it's his tree!) to 'tidy it up a bit' and this is the result :-(((

Decimated Tree

 They obviously didn't know what they was doing as its just coming into leaf (trees are not supposed to be cut this time of year!!)  The birds love it and I have been told that over 30 different insects live in Silver Birch Trees, which is why the birdies love it, plus he ripped out the nest of a pair of wood pigeons!  Well I had better get off my high horse as nothing can be done.

It's been a busy old week and the month is set to continue in the same vein. We have DD's dog staying with us for a little holiday so I have been out walking with him around 8am every day, its beautiful in the fields where we walk, we go around the perimeter as its a crop field, but there are woods and a Golf Course near by so the birdsong is fantastic:-)) Ted loves his walks, he comes home covered in mud and plant stuff or twigs/brambles, there is an abundance of a 'sticky plant' that spreads by itself by grabbing hold of anything passing and with his long coat Ted is a 'sticky plant magnet' here he is strolling round the garden. He's a Springer Spaniel with a bit of Corgi in there somewhere (don't ask!!) he is a bouncy, happy dog with all the Spaniel traits, nose to the ground followin' the scent, etc, unfortunately he can also be a bit grumpy which is why I go out early but it's a good start to the day.

Ted Strollin!

Last Saturday I took Harriet to a Young Quilters workshop at Chipping Sodbury, she had a great time making a 'Funky Chicken' then on Sunday morning she spent an hour in the workroom and made another larger one with a pebble inside to make a door stop/paper weight. My friend Helen came along as well and took her daughter Lia who made a pin cushion.This is Lia at the machine, she did very well as she had not used a machine before. H insisted she took a picture for me to put on this post so here it is.

H's Funky chickens

Lia at the machine.

On Wednesday I and a couple of others assembled a display of work by Severn Valley Quilters members as part of Thornbury Arts trail, this is the 3rd year we have been invited to exhibit alongside local painters, embroiderers, jewelery makers, wood turners and textile artists  whose work is on show in the Town Hall , then if you have time you can 'trail' around the town viewing work by many other artist and craftspeople exhibiting in their own homes. When I was a little girl oh! so many years ago, the building was the town Police station, complete with a courtroom and living accommodation for the policeman upstairs! The old courtroom is now the Council Chamber and is a beautiful room with a wooden ceiling. It was nice to sit and sew and have the chance to talk to visitors viewing the display which looks very good, we have a list of members who will do some stewarding, this morning it was my turn and I was pleased to hear some nice comments about the work. I took some pictures to share with you.

This quilt has 72 blocks!

A view of the table

I have made a block this week to send to Pippa from Welsh quilts blog, she is making a quilt which will be sent to New Zealand to mark the awful earthquake. Well that's about it for now I'm off to Clock Tower Quilters tomorrow so a nice sewing day