Merry Christmas - sorry its late

Merry Christmas - sorry its late -but we've been away .................shopping here.....

.............decorating here................................singing carols here...............................



....................making decorations.........................
..............and new table cloths...................
............opening presents...................

................and more pressies .......................
...............spending the day with family...........................................and now its all over.....................

Hope you had a happy time

Happy Quilting xx

Fine Cell Work

I am a bit behind with my posts but felt I must show you these photos from the Fine Cell Work Exhibition and Christmas shopping event at The Sage, Gateshead.

Fine Cell Work is a social enterprise that teaches needlework to prison inmates, so they can learn a useful skill, make beautiful objects, and re-enter society with the independence to stop re-offending.

60 volunteers go into prisons every 2 weeks to teach and mentor the stitchers. The work is sold either through exhibitions, on line shops or commissioned directly.

"Fine Cell Work gives these men dignity in work and through this, dignity in life. When a man gains self-respect he may start addressing his offensive behaviour". Officer, HMP Wandsworth

Prisoners can earn approximately 37% of the sale price of each piece, which can either be saved for their release, sent home to their family or spent on luxuries.

In May 2011, Qa Research published its in-depth, qualitative evaluation into Fine Cell Work at five prisons across England and Scotland.

The report found that the benefits of Fine Cell Work to prisoners include:

• Improved mental health and social skills.
• Promotion of a calm state of mind.
• The passing of time productively.
• A strong sense of achievement, pride and self-confidence.
• A more positive outlook on their future post-release.

Whether you beliefs are that offenders are in prison to be punished or to be rehabilitated - the standard of the work was truly impressive.
And made me appreciate my freedom and all the fresh air on the Quayside.
Decorating has kept me away from sewing these last 2 weeks but I am pleased with the total transformation in my hallway. A mix of contemporary - with the chrome fittings and curtains - and traditional - with a table made for my Grandparents wedding present back int the 1930s.

And finally I have managed a little bit of sewing and the Colonial knot cushion is nearly finished - just the bead work to complete.


Happy Quilting xx

Matt Baker's Rickshaw Challenge

Tonight we have been out and about to support Matt Baker on his rickshaw challenge for Children in Need.

Matt and Pudsey cycled into Hexham at 7pm almost 3 hours late after cycling from Hawick in the borders today.The journey of 484 miles started in Edinburgh yesterday and will finish on Friday in London for the live show of the 2011 Children in Need appeal.Matt said he was late because he kept stopping to chat to his many supporters along the way, and at Hexham's Wentworth stadium he spent ages chatting to everyone , young and old.If you want to support him too Text 'MATT' to 70705 - follow him on line here or just follow him down the road like we did and drop your donation into his bucket.


I have been sewing too, trying out some little stitcheries from Mandy Shaw's book Stitch with Love.
And learning to do Colonial knots for a cushion project from Sandie Lush Pattern.And the latest knitting project to be finished are these chunky mittens which are now packed up and posted to Manchester to Jenny.
And finally the scenic shot is a wildlife shot this week - This magnificent Eagle owl - I wouldn't like to get too close to that beak!!

Happy Quilting xx

Snoods and steps

This has been a busy week away from work ...doing lots of nice things...like finishing off my advent calendar
.......finishing off the snood I have been knitting for Jenny......
....then turning this scarf into a snood with a quick twist and a quick seam.......

....then a visit here to see Jenny......
...and more shopping here in the Trafford centre.......


....this giant knitting is a window display in Gap....
....and this was a magnificent staircase in the Trafford Centre too...
....a bit of a contrast to these steps on Hadrian's Wall yesterday.....

....when we went out for a walk in the fresh air ................... Sycamore Gap .... always makes for a great photo...

Happy Quilting xx

A Bumper Crop

Not a very rustic basket to put my crop of apples in - but there were so many a laundry basket had to be pressed into service . After last years poor crop - we have a bumper crop this year.
But what to make with them all ? Crumble of course.....and then there was parsnip and apple soup or parsnipple soup as it is known here!
A trip to Newcastle yesterday and I bought some wool to knit a snood for Jenny - and then this quilt book was only £1.99 in a sale! I can't resist a bargain.
This is my next quilting project - an advent calender made from a panel - shouldn't be too difficult I hope.
and at last I have finished the baby cardigan in the lovely soft Bamboo yarn from Sirdar. Isn't it cute.

Happy Quilting xx

Practical bags and lots of luggage

Off to Uni. Jenny has flown the nest and is off to Uni with the entire contents of her bedroom and a good half of the stock of the local shops too. We got there and went out and bought more, so we will have to hire a van to bring her home at the end of the year. Here's wishing her Good Luck in her studies!!
So to keep me busy, I went out and bought some fabric and a pattern to make something. A practical bag design by Tanya Whelan.
and very practical it is too - big enough for odd bits of shopping but quite smart too. The linen fabric by Lecien was lovely to work with and the greige colour is very up to date too.
I have also been out to a quilt show too - at The Quilters Cupboard near Durham. Lots of inspiration and good ideas.
like a block I'd never seen before on a sampler quilt....
and look how this stencil shape for the quilting completely changes the look of this block.

and new ideas --hitting flowers with a hammer?

add a little bit of machine embroidery and suddenly you have a work
of art. I would love to try this.
These sea horses by Maggie were great too - a three dimensional piece of textile art - a recent prize winner at the Harrogate quilt show.
This was my favourite quilt - but there was no name on it so I can't mention you by name but it is really lovely.

I really enjoyed my day out in Durham, Lovely to meet fellow quilters to get inspiration and new ideas, (and drink tea and eat lots of cake!!)

Happy Quilting xx