Where did that year go?

Hope you all had a wonderful relaxing Christmas. We had our very own prescribed day........bucks fizz and bacon sarnies with the present opening. Roast beef dinner and all the trimmings..salted caramel torte for pud...dress optional. 

Rowdy competitive game round the table (with eldests boyfriend with us this year, Herb didn't feel so outnumbered  and didn't it show when it was girls versus boys.)

Family film......men in black 3, completely daft ..........and that was it. 

Done and dusted for another year. 

Picture above is us today......residue of gifts still under the tree and Herb will trip over something and then it will be taken away....happens every year!

I had a bumper crop of gifts this year....everything I like.

Now that eldest is in employment she bought very extravagant gifts and the liberty bag held a wonderful selection of that gorgeous fabric. She said she spent ages picking it (so agreed said boyfriend). 

I chose the quilting books and wasn't disappointed. the Brigitte Giblin book has been on my list for ages and its gorgeous and very inspiring.

Failing to find cards in the shops here, very last minute I made these for Herb and the girls. Badly embroidered on the back but well received.

so here we are....new years eve.....once again just the two of us....girls have just taken the train to London to celebrate in covent garden. 

we are having cold meats and pickles with some saved special wine and the latest mad men box set (from Santa)  happy new year all! 

I finished my first quilt...

and here it is......modeled by youngest who not only survived her 3 months away but had the time of her life and is very sad to be back.(especially when she is stacking those shelves at waitrose). I really really enjoyed making this and am chomping at the bit to start another one.

 as to other stuff.....I have spent these past two days clearing out my mothers home with my sister. Not a nice thing to have to do but obviously it is down to us. The personal stuff is tough and most we cannot tackle and have boxed up for another day.
This is the gorgeous David Austin rose Herb and I bought for the garden  for my mum. It has the most wonderful old fashioned scent and a delicate but dense petal.....its the Mortimer Sackler climbing rose.
It was so hard to choose at the garden centre as these DA roses are all fabulous. Not cheap but well worth it. I will treat myself to another .

 and of course we are all home again together.
There are no clean towels, no mugs or glasses in the kitchen, there are fake tan hand prints on doors and walls, makeup covers the bathroom and the dirty washing bin overflows. BUT I LOVE HAVING THEM HOME....

I have a new love for 2011

Inspired by certain blogging pals in the UK and down under, I have taken up patchwork with gusto. Unfortunately my stash of fabric does not match my enthusiasm nor indeed does the bank balance, but its coming on a pace and I have invested a little online....will show you when they arrive. 

Meanwhile on a little trip to Cambridge to return H's Christmas jumper from us three girls(he hated it!), I spotted this absolute bargain in John Lewis. Orla Kiely bedding. 

Maybe not the most exiting bargain to some but I love her designs and it was an absolute must have for the price. Luckily H liked this purchase but cannot believe that I would post a picture of it on the bed nor that anyone would be interested!.......ha ha he just doesn't understand 

 This is  a new cushion that may be on its way to the Netherlands, it just needs a bit of blocking and making up(and the ends sewing in of course!). I have used merino wool so it is lovely and soft

Finally we have just put eldest on the train back to uni with all her bags......will miss her dreadfully......am just off to clear the mess she has left in her room .......

Its been a while.........

...and I have done some lovely things....the knitting and stitching show at ally pally was wonderful, I would urge you to go next year if you can. Not only lots of lovely things to buy, but wonderful textile art and demonstrations. However I forgot my camera so have nothing to show except a couple of purchases. Wonderful Amy Butler prints for a bit of patchwork and gorgeous yarn for a bit of crochet.

but generally.....I have been in a major slump!

I'm not prone to moods except a little pmt and even that's on the wane.......nor generally to prolonged miserable periods, but this has been awful. I feel mithered, on edge, as if all my nerve endings are on the surface. Every thing is a major effort and nothing brings joy (except youngest child of course.) Herb and I have not got on, which is fairly unusual, I even cancelled good friends who were due to come for dinner last night only because I couldn't make the effort to cook. I have had a week off and hopefully with the return to work tomorrow, life will return to normal.

A good day was had on Thursday however, visiting the Tate Britain and Portrait Gallery, for the purpose of inspiring youngest for her ucas personal statement. Will write next time of what we saw, but would highly recommend the restaurant in Covent Garden we went to..... Wahaca....a fab Mexican, recently awarded best cheap eat by the guardian. It was really good.

despite 'slump' have been quite busy on the craft front, some more copying I'm afraid

a little try at some redwork embroidery

more bargello copying

and the crochet scarf all finished. Doesn't it look fab, hopefully it will be well received at Christmas.

Oh this was something else to add to my low period......a little accident in the rain........no one hurt thank goodness.

another week another university

So its another week and therefore another university open day. Last week Leeds, not our part of the country but an acceptable few hours driving.....this week Lancaster! How much does this child want to get away from us! A very unacceptable 4 hours in the car each way. But did we complain....not much! but not within hearing of youngest child.

This one she liked. For those who have never visited this university(and why would you have) it is very near the wonderful lake district but in terms of its architecture

it is anything but wonderful. More of a dogs breakfast, a seventies new town look. BUT she liked it. The guy doing the talk for fine art was very interesting and the course seemed far more suited to her. Unlike Leeds which only really seemed interested in extremely modern conceptual art,

Lancaster lets the student follow the art direction that they prefer and fine tune it. Just what she wants.

Youngest was not allowing me to take many photos but i managed a few and it is in a glorious part of the world.

Despite the mishmash of architectural styles some of the accommodation was really tip top , very Scandinavian in design and well thought out. She liked that a lot and it wasn't even the most expensive....a mere £84 per week! A really worthwhile day for youngest...we shall see. Norwich next.

Friday I had a really fun day. Went to a friend who is a wonderful quilter(is that what they call themselves) and she gave another friend and me a tutorial on patchwork and more importantly for me, the correct way to use a sewing machine.I loved it and look what I produced.

Actually I know this is fairly unimpressive but who knows where it may lead on the crafting front. I really enjoyed all the quilting paraphernalia, the measuring and cutting and Jo said I made a pretty good job of my joins. So am all inspired now.

Have a great week folks