Under the Sea

Jenny finished Melly her fish from the Melly and Me, Under the Sea pattern.

Here she is seen meeting our goldfish Fred and Mr Fin. I have also finished my bag or Leanne's shopping bag from Rosalie Quinlan designs. I am really pleased with it, adding little embellishments with some narrow rickrack braid and since I took the photo, I have added a button to the flower centre. Now I just need to go shopping.


The neighbours must be wondering what I am doing lying in the garden on a cold Sunday morning with my slippers on taking photos of a shopping bag!!

Don't forget girls, Quilters Lunch Friday 12 noon at the Herb Patch!!

Happy Quilting xx

Sun,sea, scenery and the Da Vinci code

School holidays and we have had a few days break up in Scotland with my dad. When we sit in the sun at St Abbs harbour, we know we are well away from all the stresses and strains of work.


Tuesday we went to visit Rosslyn Chapel in Midlothian, just south of Edinburgh. I first read about it many years ago, a small collegiate church intricately carved in stone, said to be the resting place of the Holy Grail. Then along came Dan Brown and his book (and then the film) The Da Vinci code. Whether you believe the myth of the Holy Grail or not it is certainly worth a visit. Every inch of the building is covered in fine stone carving so detailed it looks like lace. Photography is not allowed in the church so here are a couple I took outside and at the nearby Rosslyn castle which was the final scene from the Da Vinci Code film.


Wednesday we had a great long walk on the cliff tops. The sun was out but it was very windy and cold. The sea and sky were blue and the scenery was spectacular. The only low point was when we stopped for coffee only to discover we had left the biscuits on the kitchen table.


Eventually we made it back to civilisation in time for lunch at my favourite tea shop (weather permitting!!) Springbank cottage.

Sunshine and showers at Wylam

With the sun shining Jenny and I set off for a walk at Wylam. This is one of our favourite walks along the riverside to George Stephenson's Cottage. Home of the inventor of the first railway engine, the disused railway line which runs right outside the cottage is a lovely walk.

Spring is in the air and everyone has photos of daffodils on their blogs and here is mine.

We stopped at the tea shop at Stephenson's cottage (well I can't walk past a tea shop) for a quick cuppa before setting off back along the riverside where I met an old friend walking her dog. That was when the showers started just as we were chatting and catching up on all the gossip.

With the big quilt finished I have started on a couple of smaller projects, Firstly Leanne's shopping bag from Rosalie Quinlan designs.

Then some knitting . Yesterday I popped into Woolaballoo who stock a range of designer yarns including Atresano, Debbie Bliss and Noro. I bought some Debbie Bliss Baby cashmerino and a pattern book. I have started a baby cardigan for a new arrival expected by a colleague at work. The expectant father said he wanted a Celtic jumper for the baby and this is as near as I could get while still having some taste in the design. The yarn is so soft and lovely to knit with.

Happy quilting xx

Pins and Needles Inspiration.

Saturday saw Jenny and me at the Pins and Needles show at the Newcastle Metro Radio Arena. We hadn't been to the show before but were pleased at the number of stands. All sorts of things to do with crafts and sewing. A lot of papercraft stands and a few patchwork and quilting stands too. A good book shop with shelves of quilting books. I bought just a few bits and pieces, my favourite being some lovely butterfly trim ( like rickrack braid but lots of butterflies in a line) from Ribbonbox. There were also lots of jewellery stands so we got a few pairs of earrings too. Jenny's favourite was a gentleman selling glitter, for use as an embellishment on cards but, as he demonstrated on Jenny, it can also be used as body art and nail art too.

Kim and the girls were busy on the Fat Quarters stand so I am sure it was a profitable weekend too. I didn't buy books though as I had just got this Little Quilts book from Barter books in Alnwick and also the Lynn Edwards book in a second hand shop in Berwick.

The best of all was the inspiration, I came home and sat straight down and completed Michael's Dancing stars quilt and here it is on the bed!!!
The free motion quilting on the machine was a bit of a trial but I persevered and it was worth it. I actually spent 4 evenings just sewing in ends from broken threads but its fab and he loves it.