PHEW!!...

...what a rota it has been! I'M WACKED!

IF ever anyone tells you that a full moon and Halloween don't make a difference to peoples behaviour....DO NOT BELIEVE THEM!!... and send them to work with us!

Just glad its over.... now I can have a good sleep and then get back to my "REAL" life... do some sewing, catch up on reading blogs, see the daylight... and generally be ME!!

To start the week off right I received these ...

 

YES 2 blocks from Kellie in Washington. They are wonderful x

Off to get another cuppa xx

Keep smiling

Diane xx

IN THE UK...

...the clocks went back an hour last night... and lots of people had Halloween parties! THAT is NOT a good combination when you have to work on the admissions unit, AND the extra hour!! WHAT a night!

MOST defiantly did not need my cradle rocking this morning!!

One of the sounds of my childhood was my mother, and grandmothers, knitting needles x As we all left home the knitting reduced... then after the grandchildren got past the baby stage it stopped.... my mum turned to counted cross stitch, and I have so beautiful examples of her work xx

Recently the cataract development has slowed... then stopped the fine work she was doing xx

SO, mum decided ... I CANNOT JUST SIT!!! The knitting needles have been reclaimed (from ME!), the wool bought ... and this beautiful blanket made....

she has not lost her touch xx OF COURSE ... it is me who was given the job of attaching the fleece to the back xx

She is VERY happy, and NOW has another blanket... and a cardigan.. on the go! THIS sounds familiar!!

Keep smiling

Diane xx

TODAY IT IS ...

...Julie's turn to be the gardener...

These lovely blooms flew in today... see how my garden is growing...

SUCH talent in this group, it is wonderful xx

Keep smiling

Diane xx

MY GARDEN......

... is continuing to grow.... IF ONLY I had known how easy this was!! lol x

Carolyn made this stunning block...

It fits into my garden beautifully x

Keep smiling

Diane xx

WE GET TO SAY....

....HELLO to Kathy today xx She is our newest friend here x Welcome to my musings xx

To-day the postman helped 2 more blooms to grow in my garden xx This beauty arrived from Jackie in Oregon...

SUCH a fun block xx AND Nancy sent this wonderful bloom... and friends ... from Texas xx...

She also sent me this fabric..

NOW the challenge is to make something with them to remind me of Nancy.

Keep smiling

Diane xx

LOOKING BACK...

...to times gone by is something I have been doing the last few days x

18th October marked 12 months since Sally (daughter) and Blair (her partner) went to Australia...

thanks to the wonders of skype and msn I have been able to keep in touch.. verbally and sightwise!!... I dont know if that is a word! What ever it has all hepled xx

This last year has flown away! They have jobs and a home and despite some downs they seem to be UP at the moment xx

AND .....22nd October...TODAY.. marks the very first time I posted on my blog... OH YES!! That time has defiantly flown!

The first person to comment and become a follower was the lovely Wendy  who still comments today... my latest (and 83rd follower... HOW did that happen?) is Rachelle ....I have to say a BIG thank you to every one of you who comes by and reads my blog... and of course leaves a comment.... long may it continue xx

over the last year I have joined in with swaps and and Round-Robins I have made quilts and wall hangings and lots and lots of blocks that have flown off all over the world. I joined a community that has helped me and kept me company xx I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY... AND EVERYONE IN IT!!

ok I am off now to wipe my eyes and drink some tea xx

Keep smiling

Diane xx

Quilts From My Crayon Box: Halloween See Saw Swap-The Reveals!

Quilts From My Crayon Box: Halloween See Saw Swap-The Reveals!

here are all the other See-Saw projects for you to check out xx

Diane xx

HALLOWEEN-SEE-SAW BIG REVEAL.....

......YES this is where I stop being mean and SHARE my Halloween wall hanging with you xx

HERE it is...

OK! I will stop now and show you the front ..

I hand quilted because I wanted a sort of "country" feel to it..

I could NOT quilt over her face now could I!!

I had just enough of this trim to use at the top and bottom ..

every witch needs a familiar... so when I saw this little owl I knew he had to be with her..

and that's my wall hanging x It is going to show-and-tell tomorrow ... then I have to deliver it to Caroline (sons partner x) ONLY because I know she will put it up straight a  way and love it can I part with this one xx

Valentine themed one starts next... my centre is going in the post today. Here it is ...

wonder how this one will work out xx .. EXCITING... OH! and I am waiting for my 2 other Round-Robins to fly home .... SOON xx

BIG thanks go to Michelle for organising this xx

Keep smiling

Diane xx 

IN THIS COUNTRY.....

..... if you wait for the nice weather you would hardly go out of the front door!

When I took the dogs out for their walk this morning it was cold, damp and foggy.... so, after breakfast I put them in the car, went and collected mum and dad .. and off we went x

We headed to North Wales and, as we dropped down onto the coast road the fog went and the glorious sun came out xx

We HAD to call in at Abakhan... it would have been rude not too! I managed to buy a few bits xx...

this fabric is such fun.. it is covered in FEET!..

I also bought this fleece..

Love it xx

We then went to Prestatyn for dinner..

We have had a wonderful day.... NOW .. the boys look like this...

Keep smiling

Diane xx

TODAY.....

... we get to welcome Maxine who is our newest friend here at the Cheshire quilter xx

I took mum back to the hospital today... she reluctantly parted with some blood, had the heart  monitor taken off, blood pressure recorded and we ... eventually .. got to see the specialist!

RESULT... all medications being reviewed, referal to warfarin clinic, AND we get to return in January for the next review xx.. how else would I want to spend my time off? lol x

I got to buy some new bedroom curtains on the way home ...OH YES!! SO... the postman had been when I got home.

TODAY I had an exotic bloom from Florida....

unfortunately the colour looks pale ... it is a glorious pink!! BIG thanks to Tara for this one x

AND.... I have a second home grown bloom..

this one is from Rachel in Norwich xx

OH! I am a lucky girl xx

keep smiling

Diane xx

HOW DID LAUREN KNOW....

..... that while I am not a lover of chocolate (I know ... shocking isn't it!!)... when I DO have chocolate  it is the DARK sort?

Well... she sent me  these..

YUMMY xx

She did not just send chocolate... she sent me this block..

it is SOOOO much fun. It made me laugh when I opened the envelope xx

I am so glad I chose flower blocks for the Stash Bee 

Keep smiling

Diane xx

THE FUN CONTINUES...

...today this beautiful flower flew in from Texas..

LOVE the rich colours in this one. Kat did a wonderful job xx However ... don't tell but I seem to have a few "visitors" tagging along xx

 

ALSO these 2 blocks flew in from Australia..

 

Don't you just LOVE those cheeky kangaroos xx

I am ready to stalk the postman for more flower blocks xx

Keep smiling

Diane xx

YOU MAY REMEMBER...

... that I am the Queen for the October stash bee. I asked for a flower, and these beautiful flowers flew in today from Canada..

Adriane did a wonderful job x Waiting for more now xx

Keep smiling

Diane xx

BRRRRRRRRRRR!!

...when we came out of work this morning it was COLD!

Mind you by the time I had scraped the windscreens of the car I was TOASTY and warm xx

LOL X

Keep smiling (and warm)

Diane xx

I HAVE A COUPLE OF ...

... nights holiday, so, where did I go today?.....YOU GOT IT!!... I was at the hospital! NOT so bad, I took mum up to outpatients... well I can park on the staff car park and save some money!!

We started with an ECG ... well mum did anyway! THEN an echo-cardio-gram...... THEN the fitting of a box to record her heart beat... her AF is getting worse. THEN next week ...yes, on my nights off ... we get to go back, for, the box to come off and see the cardiologist xx

When we got home dad said... lets go out for dinner....OH YES!! you know I LOVE for someone else to cook my dinner x YUMMY.

THEN , just to keep my " UP " going .... I found this...

on the door mat x

One of the ladies in the Christmas-block-swap had wanted to make a Christmas log cabin quilt.. so put out a request for blocks, she offered a star block in return, and this is mine xx (mine is on the way, not got there ...USA ...yet though )

She also sent me a pattern...

mmm will have to have a look in my stash and see if maybe I have an fabric (!) that I can use to make this with... watch this space xx

I then took the dogs for a long walk.... helped walk of the rather LARGE dinner ... well it was paid for by my dad! SO now my company look like this...

Its a hard life xx

Keep smiling

Diane xx

A HAPPY SEWER...

... is the description that could be used for me xx I have been working away every spare min on my Halloween quilt.... oooh! I DO so love this little wall hanging xx

I have big stitch quilted... and embellished.. and had soooooooooo much fun xx IF ONLY I had not promised Caroline she could have it ...... OH WELL! I will just have to look at it on their wall... AFTER.. show and tell (can hang onto it a BIT longer that way xx)

Want to see?.... LOOK...

(do you know how hard it is to hang a quit up back to front?!! It KEPT falling down!! lol x)

He-He xx The BIG revel will be 22 nd October... you will be able to see the front then xx

Last night was quilt group in Congleton... it was our version of speed (date) quilting!! There were 4 tables .. you sat at a table and had a demonstration... then after 15 mins the bell was rung and you moved to the next table!! GOOD FUN xx  

The theme for the night was .... Christmas!! Coming up FAST!!

My favourite was a little set of birds..

may just try and find time to have a go xx

ALSO there was a talk about our next exhibition... next July... ALL members are to make 4 (YES! 4) cards ... and an artistic piece .. that is to be FRAMED!! Then sold for fundraising !!WISH ME LUCK!!

Keep smiling

Diane xx

SOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED...

...I received my Halloween top in the post today...

................................BIG..............................

thank you to Celine... I soooooooooooo love this one xx

I cannot show you yet... Michelle...aka she who must be obeyed!! ... is to have a link-up in a couple of weeks when ALL will be revealed xx

SO, I am going to start the quilting process... I WILL show you the back..

WHAT .......! I KNOW you love it xx

Keep smiling

Diane xx

I HAD MY FAVORITE...

...type of meal today.... one cooked by someone else xx BLISS xx It was Adam and the boys who cooked today, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding xx yum-yum xx I FULLY recommend them xx He-He ... not a lot left for the packing up this week x

He also put up the 2 new buttons for me ... one for the Secret Santa .. which is full, and one for the valentine Round-Robin... that you can still join in with (whoops ..does not seem to be working... go to post for 03/10/12 to see the details until I can get him to fix it xx) xx

I have made my Stash #4 blocks for Jennie..

They will be going in the post tomorrow x

Keep smiling

Diane xx

I FINISHED....

....my Block-Of-The-Month quilt xx

I started to take pictures inside..because it was wet and windy outside...

THEN... the sun came out.....

so out I went..

the sun did its best to shine INTO the camera!..

but hopefully you can see what I did...

Keep smiling

Diane xx