Busy Week!

Hi Everyone,

Well! what a week, Monday there was a 'secret meeting' to work on a group quilt, that turned out to be a very productive day, we got most of the preparation for the quilting done, can't say too much as we don't want the recipient to find out and she may pop by here.

Tuesday saw both myself and DH having our haircut alongside a visit from DD who is positively blooming with only 2 weeks to go till 'D' day :-D. For the last 3 weeks she has been having a bit of trouble with her blood pressure and the midwife has insisted she went to the hospital for checks but having had another scan, a glucose test and multiple BP tests all seems fine and after her clinic visit this week I got a text to say she had 'passed the BP challenge'. 

Wednesday a.m. was the U3A Family History meeting for this month, a group research session and very interesting, I actually found out a lot of info regarding the cemetery in Italy where DH's father is buried, he was Killed in action in January 1944 age 30 leaving a wife and 2 small children. Here is a picture of him in his uniform, he was a Bandsman with the Wiltshire Regt. and a photo of Minterno War Graves Cemetery Italy where he is buried. From this picture I can see a strong likeness in DH, Arthur was home on leave from the front on the night his son was born but returned to the front a couple of days later and never saw him again. DH was 4years old and his sister was 6yrs when thier father died

Arthur Henry Shergold.

Wednesday evening saw me off to Shire Stitcher's quilt group in Bristol to give a talk, I took Sheila with me as my 'roadie', they made us very welcome and we had a good time enjoying their Show & Tell session. I have been there twice before to teach a Crazy Victorian patchwork evening workshop and a Saturday workshop on Japanese folded patchwork and it was nice to go back.

Thursday morning was shopping with my Mum then I grabbed an apple for lunch as I had to attend another meeting, for SVQ, we are making a Group Banner to display at events and Exhibitions, we have decided on a design and worked out how to involve the members in the making of it, starting at the group meeting next Weds, I'll try to post some pictures of it as soon as there is something to show.

Finally today was our weekly shop so that took care of most of the morning leaving just time for lunch & a sit down before coming up here to the workroom, I've done some tidying up as things have been left in here on my return from the week's events, I have managed some sewing and put together all the things I need to take to Clock Tower Quilter's meeting tomorrow just my lunch to sort out then 'it's time for bed' as they say on the 'Magic Roundabout' How many of you out there in blog-land remember that? I loved that show when it was on TV and was so glad to have a small child so I could watch it without feeling guilty.

We are hoping to get away for a few days in the caravan weather permitting from the 23rd, I know it's a bit close to D day and I may have to dash back up the motorway if she goes into hospital but we may not get away at all after the event, we choose not to go in the school holidays as its so busy everywhere. So if you don't hear from me for a while its because we've made a dash off to the seaside BUT as soon as there is any news I'll do my very best to make sure you hear it here first.

Take care

Lorraine

Charity Shop Finds

Hello,

I had such fun! Yesterday I spent the day with DD helping her to sort out the nursery ready for the baby ('D' date in four weeks - Yipee can't wait - and can't believe how fast the time has gone either!!!) We got the room cleaned and hung the curtains and light-shade, some of the nursery furniture went in as well - a wide natural pine shelf unit which will double up as the nappy changing station by having a changing mat on top, with storage for all the nappies, cotton wool, creams etc underneath. DD wanted to go on putting things in there but I said that she should let her partner have some say in the matter, I don't want him to think Mother in law has completely taken over! They invited me to stay for dinner but I think they should have all the time together they can in the next few weeks. Anyway I brought home all the BABY clothes for a wash through, and today my clothes line is full of BABY blankets and towels, and as I sit here it's all blowing gently in the wind. Quite takes me back.

Today I had took  Mum to Thornbury for her shopping trip, usual routine - drop her off safely in the supermarket and walk into town (that's my fitness regime for the day :-)))) ) Did the bank and Post office things etc, then dropped into the P.D.S.A. shop on the High Street - What did I find? -  a basket full of off-cut curtaining fabric at only £1.99 each, some were simply awful but others were just callin' out to me to make some nice 'green' shopping bags which I can sell at Severn Valley's Exhibition in October!!! I also found a single size Duvet cover so that came home as well, tho I have another use for that, and all for under a 'tenner' (£10).

This is the fabric I found in the Charity shop, there were 2 large pieces of the blue and one of the orange, I have made several bags already using some fabric passed on by a friend who makes curtains and soft furnishings, if they don't sell, at least I will have had the pleasure of making them, and guess what will be in all the family's stockings at Christmas :-))LOL

The 'colour wash' project went well on Saturday although I didn't finish it as I hoped, my Thanks must go to Radka (My Stitching Journey) for her comment on my last post, very helpful thank you.

I did not need as many pieces as I thought but think hope I got it about right, now I will add another black border before quilting and binding it. The instructions say to bring the backing over to the front as a binding but I may add a separate one, anyways here it is with all the little colour swatches added. The little white areas you can see on the blocks are where the bonded shapes do not quite meet but this should be covered by the quilting which will be done on all the joins. Lynne recommended using a zig- zag or fancy stitch with coloured thread to match the squares which will hopefully fill the gaps, so it should look pretty on the back as well! So watch this space as they say after all today is WIPW. though the light is a bit grey today and sewing with black???? (I know! I know! excuses excuses - just get on with it woman!!)

So I will sign off and do just that.

Bye for now

Lorraine