This week.....

I've started working on my applique for the next block of the Stitch-a-long where we are making Michelle Ridgways Holly Cottage.  This month there is the star, a heart and an applique picture so a bit of work to do!

This week I finished my first ever crochet blanket and I am enormously proud of myself... I feel I can now say I am a crocheter!

I got this kit sent to me when I arrived in the UK at the beginning of June and worked on it there - on trains, in the car, etc.  It kept my hands comfortably busy and then in the cool evenings here.

It is an Attic24 pattern and she gives a wonderful tutorial on her blog HERE  

There is a fair bit of yarn left over so I think I will make another but in small size... will be cute and perfect for when there is a boy baby that needs a gift...

On Tuesday there was a birthday to celebrate - so I baked - went for the healthy fruit and dairy choice!

.. and the beginning of the month heralds a new colour for our Scrappy Challenge - this month was light neutrals which I have to say I found rather unstimulating and wasn't very enthusiastic... however I got my quota of 30 done and I don't mind the look after all.  They will be mixed in with other colours.

I love my own house in light neutrals so I don't know why I wasn't keen....

Oh... and just because I can here is another picture of my wonderful ripple blanket with some of the very little colour we have in the garden at the moment....

Righto, Gotto Go..... quilting today...

Home again, home again Jiggety Jig....

This little piggy has had a lovely holiday - it was such a wonderful time spending with my family - and of course a little bit of being a tourist too!!

I came back with about 600 photo's - anybody for a viewing????? haha... do you remember the slide shows of holiday pictures - and hours of explanations???  I promise not to do that to you...

Before I left I finished the applique of this block - which is for the quilt we are doing in the Stitch-a-long... I still have to add blocks on the edges so it's not a block finish yet.... but it is very sweet...

I didn't sew on holiday - but I did ask my daughter to order me a kit... and I started this...

A ripple blanket!!!

I've only ever crochet little plain squares and never read a pattern so I am pretty proud of myself!!

It's just over half way on the ripples - then there is a border.... I love it already and ordered another kit to bring home in a different pattern....... ooooooooppsss - I really don't need another addiction!

My son picked us up from the airport and took us back to the farm he manages where we stayed for the first few days...

Lovely in the country...

 

Farmer son calls these weeds!  but they are pretty on the side of the roads...

We watched Maddie at her horse riding lesson (she looks so little and it was quite a smallish pony!)

Astrid liked her 'rainbrella' ......

Bacchus the dog leaping in the wheat made us laugh .....

A trip to Peterborough - I do love the majestic buildings....

- of course quilt inspiration everywhere!!! Hubz thinks I'm quite mad taking pictures of floors!

I always want to know the stories behind these old mosaics - the family who walked on them... the people who made them etc....

Righto, Gotto Go...... thank goodness for Sundays.....

Christmas Quilt Stitch-A-Long....

Michelle produced this lovely Christmas quilt and pattern book.  I snatched up a copy as soon as I could but good intentions have been kept at bay....

Now is the time to sew a new Christmas quilt....

Isn't it just too pretty?????

This is Michelle's book - as well as the quilt there are a number of other projects in it too.....

... and Guess What?  Raewyn and I are going to host a Stitch-A-Long and we would love you to join us.

Chookyblue has kindly offered the use of the Stitch-A-Long blog so we can post our progress and keep encouraging one another to keep going....  Thanks Chooky -

Wanting to start in May - depending if people need a bit more time to gather supplies ....

Please let me know if you'd like to join.....

Holly Cottage Christmas can be purchased directly from Michelle.... details are in the sidebar of her blog....

Although Michelle did her quilt using Needleturn Applique, it lends itself well for blanket stitch (hand or machine) and there is some stitchery too as well as the piecing of the blocks, which are not complicated at all.....

I have a fat 1/8th pack of Anni Downs fabrics - and bought a bit of extra's for borders and background.... this is what I'll be using....

Taking names now... more details later .....

any questions? 

Righto, Gotto Go... planning to do!!!