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.