Good intentions...

The weekend started with good intentions. On Friday at the Fat Quarters we were all working well being looked after by the lovely Anne in Kim's absence. I have started on Beaut, the little Koala. Perhaps I ate too many muffins or Tunnock's tea cakes but by the time I got home I felt awful. I have been fighting off a bug all weekend, just lying about feeling grotty. No more sewing got done but lots of reading. I am enjoying the new book by Ian Rankin, Doors Open, it's just unfortunate he gave a hint as to the ending on the One Show tonight.



Then there was the new book from Jamie Oliver, Jamie's Ministry of Food. Well he's got a lot to answer for, making us working women feel guilty about feeding our families convenience food. Tonight I set off on the first recipe, Quick SalmonTikka with cucumber yogurt. It looked good and tasted lovely. Unfortunately the cucumber yogurt had a life of its own and wouldn't stay on the fork. Each of us in turn dropped the cucumber yogurt down our clothes so as well as cooking I have had a load of washing to do!! Jamie just wait til I get my hands on you! My recommendation, if you make it, is to make the portions twice as big and issue everyone with a pelican bib.


I had a nice parcel in the post, a pattern from Buttonberry, Apron Strings by Leanne Beasley. I have plans for Christmas pressies with this pattern so watch this space.


Because I haven't been far this weekend a photo from the archives to remind us what spring was like. A sharp clear day at StAbbs in May.

Happy quilting xx

Koalas and conkers

The fine weather has brought all sorts of wildlife to the garden. Meet Bonzer, found hiding in the apple tree. The first Koala from Melly and Me was finished at the weekend and I was quite pleased with him. Next is his girlfriend Beaut, then we will have to watch out for baby koalas in the garden. I have a couple of clumps of bamboo and have always been on the look out for pandas lurking but didn't expect to see koalas this far north.
The creative crafts started early this weekend with a special hooky and proggy workshop at The Herb Patch. Linda is running a variety of courses on crafts and complementary therapies in the cafe during the Autumn. As Hooky and proggy matting is something of a local craft here in the North of England, Julie, Hexham Helen, my DS and myself were all keen to learn more.
What we did learn was that it is not as easy as it looks and having gone with grand ideas ( Helen's stair carpet) we got going on more realistic projects for the evening.
These small samples were all we managed but I finished mine off at home and made it into a corsage /brooch sort of thing.

Jenny too has been busy this weekend and finished her second bag with the crazy patchwork panel . As Christmas presents for friends , she still has lots more to make.
More sunshine again this weekend prompted Jenny and I to get out for a walk. I love the Autumn colours and conkers are my favourites. We collected a few from this tree in Bywell while the sheep looked on.