Last days of summer

Cotton candy bali pops- my latest quilt top is coming together at long last. There have been at least 4 mistakes in this pattern by Suzanne McNeill from her book I Love Batiks. I would like to be using my blog to make recommendations - but this is a warning - look out for these patterns- they don't work! If I had been a beginner I would have been completely stuck with this pattern and all of this lovely fabric would have been confined to the UFO box.Between the showers the garden has been full of butterflies - and the distressed paintwork of my garden seat has been a great place for them to dry their wings - there were 6 on the seat that I managed to capture in this photo.
Himalayan balsam is in the local news as it is taking over the riverbanks on the Tyne. Not a native of the North of England, it is taking over the habitat of the native plants ...
..But isn't it pretty... and I remember seeing it in Monet's garden in France.
There are lots of sheep about at the moment - these 5 are on a lovely new baby quilt Margaret is making in the Friday afternoon class at the Fat Quarters.Taken from a Lynn Edwards Pattern, they are very cute and isn't her stitching lovely and neat on that applique.
And finally no weekend is complete without tea and a scone. This is probably the best scone with jam and cream ( Jersey cream and butter!) that I have ever had! and I have tried a few! This is definitely a recommendation for cream teas at Wheelbirks ice cream parlour if you are passing.

Happy Quilting xx

Marble Arch, Prudhoe

Prudhoe's version of Marble Arch. For ages I have wanted a small archway to put over the garden path leading to the back door and the dust bins, when I saw one is a box at the local garden centre for just £9.99 I snapped it up. I got a lot for my money when it turned out to be about twice the size I imagined and twice the width of the path. It is now firmly planted in front of the decking where it might protect us from the footballs of the neighbouring children.At one side I have planted a climbing rose (Hamlet) and a honeysuckle...At the other side a pretty pink climbing patio rose. They have been well watered by the weather this week so I hope they grow up quite quickly.
Jenny has a part time job for the summer holidays at the ceramic experience in Blaydon and asked me to give them a mention as a great place to entertain kids in wet weather during the school holidays. Ceramic painting, jewellery making, scalextric and soft play. And a cafe too, so pop in and see her . Check out their website, here, for opening times and directions.

This was my brush with celebrity last week when I saw Ben Shepherd(ex GMTV) on his fund raising C2C run. Ben is the one in the superman outfit - not a very good photo but I was trying to overtake them and take a photo and not run them down. If you want to sponsor them too go to the website Seb4chuf and help raise funds for the childrens heart unit at the Freeman hospital.

Not a lot of sewing this week, I am in a bit of a dilemma with my latest quilt - the last set of blocks are too small - shall I unpick them all or just try and make it fit...? Watch this space.

Happy quilting xx