A day at the Auction

I went to my first antique auction here in the UK yesterday. It was a lot of fun. The weak dollar made me a little timid and though I bid often I only unded up with one lot - 10 pieces of Winchcombe pottery. I was happy. The phto on the left has a few of the pieces - there are a few more mugs, a pitcher and a bowl. There were some chairs that I really wanted but they went for double what I had planned to spend. I was happy when I overheard one of the old dealers near me say the winning bidder was "%$##! mad" to bid that high for them. He saw me smile and told me those types of chairs come up fairly often. (I think he was being nice because I gave him a box with some packing materials...)

Now you folks who live or have lived in the country will find the following paragraph a bit odd but remember I'm a city/suburban woman. I had no idea pigs were so big. Across the street from the auction house is a organic farm and they have a field with pigs and piglets in it. As I was walking from the farm stand to my car I was startled by somthing the size of my DH's Mazda...it was a pig...a big pig. No, a big, big, huge, slightly scarey pig! Pre-historic may be a good adjective. Forge the MS - I was in my car in seconds! So much for my image of cute little piglets!

Traffic is a bit crazy today. An actress, Liz Hurley, is getting married in the town/village a couple of miles from here. There were helicopters overhead as I walked the dog. They have even blocked off most of the parking around the town. What a pain! Of course today would be sunny (ok, at least only partly cloudy) and a perfect day to finish a walk around the town there that we were rained out of a couple of weeks ago....maybe i will get some more sewing done instead.

Blenheim Palace

I took some time out this week to be a tourist. I visited Blenheim Palace with a British American Group. The palace was built inthe early 1700's and is a World Heritage Site. It is the home of the 11th Duke of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Both the castle and the gardens are beautiful. Unfortunately it was raining (you see how grey the photos turned out!) so I only got to see a fraction of the gardens...I plan to go back in the summer.

There was an exhibit of Winston Churchill's letters that was very interesting. There were also several of his paintings. I had no idea he was such an artist. I really liked them.

The inside of the palace is impressive. There are several large tapestries that are gorgeous. Just above the front door is a large heraldry flag that gave me some ideas for an ATC. I have to say my favorite room was the library...two story tall walls of books! There was also a large organ at the end of the long room.

Needless to say I was wiped out by the time I got home so got little quilting done and DH had to settle for some Indian takeout for dinner. (Which we hardly ever do anymore but we were also celebrating a 50 point drop in his cholesterol level..that is my story and I'm sticking to it!)

Oscar morning

I've been up since 0530 this morning so DH and I could watch the Oscars (taped) before he went to work or listened to the news (thus spoiling the surprise...and there were some.) We both love movies and find that is one of the things we miss here. Though we have a huge collection of DVD's and sky has lots of movies available, DH bemoaned the fact we had only seen a few of the movies up for the awards. Guess we will need to do better next year.

We got a few walks in this weekend. The photo on the right is of one of my favorite pathways. I'm getting a bit more confident about finding my way from "post to post." Next week we may get a bit more adventurous and try the hill walk.

I saw the quilt posted on Bonnie's Blog last Monday and almost immediately started pulling and cutting fabric. Now I have a pile of half square triangles and squares covering the kitchen table. We'll see how long it takes before my Dh goes "postal!" He hates piles! It is fun rummaging through my reproductions fabrics. The hardest pieces of fabric for me to cut into are those last 8-10 square inches. Like the little pile of Smithsonian repros, Cobb Quilt Collection, that was out in the mid-90's. I've used bits and pieces in at least 5 quilts and am down to the last little bits. I've been down to those last little bits for 5 years at least. I just have a hard time thinking I will never be able to replace that fabric. (forget that there are hundreds of other fabrics I like....) Anyway, I used the last bit of two baskets of the less-than-fatquarters and am feeling better for it!

Bottons!

I got a great package in the post yesterday. I bought the buttons in the photo at the Quilt show in Lowell last summer. My sister did the embroidery and framed them for me! They look great. The frame even opens up so you can get close to see the buttons.
I drove up to Fairford for the quilting group. We worked on a chrun dash block and learned to do half-square triangles. One of the folks finshed her block in class and two others came very close. As on woman noted it took three weeks for the first block and now they can do a block in class and get a block to work on between classes...they just may finish a quilt top. Last night I worked on writing up the next two blocks - Hidden Star and Virginia Star. We will be learning the square in a square technique. I'm growing quite a stack of 12-inch blocks with this whole excercise.

The days are finally getting longer. There is plenty of light when I drive up to Fairford in the morning now and I don't worry that it will get dark while I am still on the backroads coming home in the afternoon. The photo on the right is the view on the Quarry Road which I take to get to Fairford. It has beautiful views of the countryside. It is the halfway point so I often stop and finish my coffee by the side of the road here. It is very relaxing.

Today I lots of life-maintanence issues...perscriptions to pick-up, car MOT to have done, and then come back and wait for the plumber. Hopefully I can sneak in some sewing somewhere!

Who's got the map

Well my DH surprisd me Saturday with a flyer on a quilt show in Bristol and offered to drive me there! Mapquest said it was only 46 miles away so we packed the directions into his little Miata and went off. Two hours later we finally pulled into St. Peter's curchyard! We got to see a lot of Bristol...

The little black cloud continued to hover over us...my camera's battery was dead. Oh well. It was a small show but had some nice quilts in it. There was one with lots of yellows, creams and apricot colors that really grabbed my eye. Unual colors for me to be attracted to but it was my favorite.

Sunday we drove to Birmingham to go to a Mexican restaurant...repeat the problems of Saturday. We ended up with a Kebab! Yesterday I made chili to make up for it.

The spring flowers are starting to come up. It makes the morning walks more fun. I'm trying to get in shape again...not easy. Dh and I are doing some streatching, pushups and situps every morning and I am gradually increasing my morning walks with MacBeth. We never found the scale when we unpacked so I have no idea if it is making any difference...I'm just hoping to fit into a "little black dress" that has hung in my closet for the past 5 years!

The photo is of my large hexegon project. The hex's are getting a bit too repeditive for me so I'm auditioning some other blocks to finish the quilt. I have a stack of mixed blocks to work with...they may all end up in this semi-orphan block project.

a forgotten package

I thought I may have placed an order back in December for some fabric but had forgotten where. This week it showed up. I'm not sure what I was thinking when I ordered it! I have enough repro fabric to make a dozen quilts and am never really happy when I get the entire collection in fat quarters ( I find I only like half of them in the end.) With this set I do like the shirting fabrics and I alway use those up. From the other collection I pulled my favorites and immediately cut the others into blocks (6-1/2 inches) and strips (2 and 2-1/2 inches) and tossed in the baskets. That way I am more likely to use them. The patterns are nice though I wonder why I get them since I hardly ever use them? I think I did some homesick shopping....

Today I went to a craft sale at the racecourse. It was selling craft making supplies including quilting "stuff." I got some rotary blades and a new mat - my mat was rolled up during shipment and has never flattened again! The other one I cut right through.... Anyways, it was an interesting show. Lots of scrapbooking stuff and wool for knitting. Unfortunately it is times like that I get really homesick. All the tables in the coffee/snack show were filled with women and their buddies talking about the show...miss my running buddies in the states.

To make myself feel better I did splurge on a new tool...it is called imagepac and it allows yo to make your own stamps. You can use just about any noncopyrighted image - including photos. It is a very cool process. I'm going to try and make a Macbeth stamp tonight....I'll let you know how it comes out.

At the left are two more of the blocks for my beginners group. I feel the need to do some applique or something tiny...

Hometown tour

I've stayed away from most of the MEMES but I saw one on http://quilttilyouwilt.blogspot.com that looked like a lot of fun. The only problem is I'm not sure if I should do it for where I live now, where I consider my home, or where my house in the U.S. currently is...

The premis of the memes is to imagine you've made a connection with anohter blogger who lives in a completely different part of the world. This blogger is about to take a trip and she is going to sotp by your house. Unfortunately she can onlys tay for 24 hours. She would like to see some sights but yo have to keep in mind that time is quite limited. Look around you with the eyes of someone who has never seen your area and tell us some things you'd share.

Since I am going to have folks visiting I decided to go with where I am currently living in England.

1. Your visitor wants to see something historical where would yo take her and why?

This is a tough one since everything in England looks historical to Americans! I think I would start witht he Cathedral in Tewksbury. (the photo on the left is from the inside) It is only about ten minutes down the road and has lots of black and white Tudor style houses in the town center. There are also several good antique shops.I fit is a nice day would could take a river boat up the Severn to one othe pubs for lunch if not we could stop at Hobnails In which was established in 1473 and is only 2 miles from my house. They have incredible mushroom turnovers with goatcheese and for dessert - sticky pudding! (I hope this person likes to eat!) I would also include a stop at my friend Emily's house which is a thatched cottage from the 1500's (The Baker House.) Lots of little stairs, uneven florrs, and a beautiful garden. Then a quick trip through a couple of villages around here on the way to Winchcombe. If time permits we could go to Sudeley Castle or cruise done into Cheltenham to see some Regency style homes and get a pint....with my driving she'll need it!

2. She wants to see somthing hysterical...well mildly amusing anyway. She'd even go for cute, quirky, off, or unique. Where would ou take her?

First I would stop off at the next village, Alterton, and take her to see the cottage with the patchwork windows (not really but that is what they look like!) The entire cottage looks like somthing Tonya would hav put together - very wonky! Then we would htake the back roads to the Cotswold Farm Park where they maintain lots of the old species of farm animals...some of the cutest sheep and pigs I've ever seen! The views along that road are beautiful too. From there we would go to Bourton-on-the-water to miniature World where they made an exact replica of the town (including the miniature world!) in 1:9 scale.

3. She want to take some beautiful and/or interesting phtoto to fill her albums when she gets home?

See one or two above...there isn't a corner of the Cotswold that you can't get a great photo. Maybe a trip up to Stratford-on-Avon....

4. She would like to buy a souvenir that would rmind her of your area every time she sees it. What would you suggest and where would you go to get it?

If she likes pottery we could stop at the Winchcombe Potters and pick up a mustard pot and get some Tewksbury mustard to go with it! (very hot with lots of horseradish in it - my DH goes through a jar a month!)

5. It's been a long day and you're both ready for a snack, or maybe even a meal. Where would you take her to really get a flavor of the area?

I guess I jumped the gun talking food in the first question - tells you a lot about me! If not the Hobnail then there are several good tearooms round - one in Broadway that serves a great turkey, garlic and goatcheese sandwich,, or the one in Cheltenham that is also an Antique Textile Shop. If it is late I woudl to to the Royal Oak in Prestbuty. It has some of the best foold I've had in England and it is on one of the most haunted streets in one of the most haunted villages - makes you want to "tuck in" for another dessert before going back out into the dark!!!

Progress on the blocks

It is still snowing but the ground has warmed up enough that it is just turning to sleet. Not as pretty as yesterday. I stayed in and worked on blocks for the beginners group. I've toned down some of the blocks from my quilt to keep them from being frustrated but there is one quilter there who has lots of experience and I'm afraid she is getter bored. I know staying with a limited number of fabrics (to make it easier to match up to the instructions) and working with a 12-inch block is making me a bit crazy! I just cut the fabrics for an alternating 4-patch and it was killing me not to add more fabrics...wouldn't it be better if all fo the 4 patches were different? What if...no, no, no...keep it simple I had to keep repeating to myself. (The rows in the block above haven't been sewn togther yet...it isn't that my points are that bad!)

This is the village church in yesterday's snowfall. It St Nicholas is a small church but very pretty. It was built around the 13th century.

Snow!!!

This morning we got the first snow of the season. It is beautiful! When we got up this morning there was already about 2 inches and it is continuing to come down. A great day to stay in and quilt...at least I think so. Macbeth on the other hand just wants to get out there and run through the neighborhood! You would think he had never seen snow before. He is so short legged that after a few minutes of playing in the snow it all bunches up around his paws and he ends up looking like he has a poodle cut because of the snowballs around his paws! Needless to say the cats have not ventured beyond the windowsills and are spending most of their time curled up in front of the radiators.

I'm going to make a batch of chili and a cornbread and call it a day as far as cooking is concerned. (mayabe I'll get to making a batch of brownies...) I want to finish at least 3 more blocks for the quilting group. We met yesterday and I felt I was only one step ahead! I'd prefer to get the top finished by the time we meet again...ok at least 12 blocks done!

Getting back to business

Unpacking is such messy business. I'd much rather curl up read or hide in my quilting room! I finished "Pompeii" by Robert Harris. A good read.

I played with some old files on my laptop and found the block pattern in the photo. It was from an antique quilt from North Carolina that was in the Augusta History Museum Show last year. I'd wanted to replicate the quilt for a long time and had drafted the block but then stopped there. I made it a 9-inch block though the original was about 7-inches and the blocks are set in a zig-zag pattern with a black on black shirting stripe for the setting triangles.

While in Greece I was really taken with all of the orange and lemon trees. In an otherwise drab landscape they really jump out at you. The photo is of some trees at a winery outside of Rio where we were staying. Citrus colors and blues play a big part in the quilt I am designing to remember the trip.

The photo on the left is of sunset off the coast of Patra. The colors were beautiful in person...not sure my little camera was up to it!

Home from Greece

Well we got back safe and sound from our week holiday in Greece. I of course packed all the wrong clothes but had plenty of books to make up for it. We stayed in small town called Rio which is outside Patra. It was a very quiet vacation with lots of walks and eating...DH and I love Greek food and we were not disappointed! We did trek up to Olympia - the site of the first Olympics - and wondered through the archeological site. It is really impressive. I'm glad we were there off-season. It was warm but not hot so I was able to get around better. The sun is so strong there even with the sunscreen (SPF 30) I came home with a sunburned face!

The second photo is from up by a town called the Ksilo castro (wooden castle) that was a few miles up the coast from us. The water changed color every day but was always beautiful. I made a lot of sketches in my journal. In a way it was good to be away from all my "stuff" for awhile. It made me concentrate on design over just how to use something that I had at hand. A very different process.

I didn't bring brain-food books this time. I finished "The Shadow of the Wind," by Carlos Ruiz Zafron. The writing is beautiful though it took me a couple of chapters to get into the story. I would strongly reccomend it. On the other hand I also finished "Atlantis," by David Gibbins. I usually really like novels like this but unfortunately I couldn't wait to finish this one and move on to something else. I even considered not finishing it - somthing I never do with a novel.

I also re-read "Screenplay" by Syd Field and outlined a concept that I had been playing with writing as a novel. I think my background as a news producer makes it much easier for me to do in screenplay format (ie. I think in pictures) So I am going to make a schedule and for the next 8 weeks try and get myself to finish this in the new format. Between 10 and 1200 each morning (except for Wednesday when I meet with the quilters!) I will be chained to my computer and write at least 5 pages.

This and that

I am going a bit crazy trying to get packed to go out of town for a few days. It seems as if I am trying to put everything into two small bags. Half of what I am hauling I am sure I will never touch until I am home unpacking again.

One of the projectrs coming along is the large hexagon top. I'm trying to decide on what to do to finish this one off...believe it or not I am getting tired of hex's!

The sampler class is going well. We did the first block this week. In the end I will have two sampler quilts - one cowgirl and one roses. The cowgirl one is going to my niece in New Mexico. Not sure what will happen with the roses. They are cutting into the stash though which should make the move back to the states in a couple of years a bit easier! (back to packing again...I think my brain is finally focused on something....)


It has been really cold the last few days but the sun has finally started to stay around a bit longer. Brownie found the brightest spot in the house and claimed it for her own. Sun and some soft quilt blocks and she is one happy cat!

Focus, Focus...hey look at that

I have so many projects started it is even starting to bother me! Last week I pulled out some tops I had finished and started piecing backings. I finished the backing on the right for my nephew's quilt and have three others in various stages. The problem with this project is I end up spending way too much time in the quilt room rummaging through piles of fabric and coming up with ideas of new projects. Say, string piecing perhaps? I pulled a large basketful of fabrics that I no longer thought I would use and cut them into strips and have now made twelve 10-1/2 inch blocks. That was while I was supposed to be piecing backs!

Focus, Focus....Before I was supposed to be doing the backs I was working on a sampler quilt for a class. The cowboy Desden Plate in the photo is the newest addition to the group. I have twelve blocks finished, but now do not like 2 of them (too dull)....do I redo or just make more strip blocks or backings. Oh ya....I also got into making a small quilt to using the block from the first class (this Wednesday.) I was making great progress until Brownie (see post 2 below) decided to "help" so I rolled the whole thing up. and hid it under the sewing table.


Focus, Focus...I started to lay out the string blocks this weekend so I would get them done and then I could get back to the backings but my leg started bothering me again so I snuggled up on the couch and played in the hexagon bag instead...before you know it there is half a quilt there. This will need a back soon....maybe I should go play in the fabric stacks for awhile. There is the great lighthouse fabric that would make a great border for an Around-the-world that I've always wanted to try....and what do yo know I found the 3/4 finished blue log cabin that only needs the a few hours work to pull it together.

Focus, Focus...what was I planning on working on? Why is it I never finish anything?

Day after the storm

Just a few moments after I posted yesterday we lost power due to the wind storm. We didn't get it back until almost 24 hours later! Yikes. Not too much damage at our house...a broken lamp and some scratches on the front door when a broken branch blew up against the house and part of the roof blew loose on the garden shed. There are several trees down in the village. The ground was so wet they just blew over.

It is amazing how different today is...bright, sort of warm, and just a slight breeze. The two days couldn't be more different. I did check on the flowers emerging in the garden and they all came through the storm OK.

I spent most of yesterday cutting up strips of fabric in the kitchen. (It has the best natural light and the island counter is so comfortable.) I filled two baskets - one with brights (in the photo above) and the other with traditional fabric. This morning (when the power came on!) I strip pieced some of the traditional. It moves along very fast. I think I prefer using paper as the foundation rather than fabric. I have piles of packing paper in the garage that I may cut up...another blackout is needed for that project!

Backwards Day

Just after I posted yesterday I grabbed the puzzle block to put in with the other cowgirl blocks and stopped dead in my tracks...yes Calico Cat there is a block turned in the wrong direction! I haven't decided if I'm going to pull it out and restitch yet.

I'm blaming it all on my cat Brownie. She has turned into an evil quilting cat this week. After spending an hour setting up all my thread on a new shelf I went to get my camera to take a photo of it (if I do say so myself it looked great!) No, decided Brownie, there can't be anything as cute as me in the house. I walked into my sewing room just in time to see her batting the last spool onto the floor. I'm still waiting for the glue to dry on the wooden spool rack that broke in the fall. Maybe it is just the camera she is jealous of...when I tried to get a photo of some Amish blocks you see what happened. She like to run across the room and dive into the blocks so she can use them as a sled and slide across the carpet. It is my own fault for not using my design wall but the wall is full at the moment and this was just supposed to be a quick project (are there quick projects with cats?)

The wind is so strong today it blew my baseball cap 20 feet up and is now caught in a tree branch along the walking path! It reminds me of when I worked at a TV station and the weatherman would try and think of silly ways to demonstate how strong the wind was by dropping different objects and measuring how far they blew, how heavy the rain is by putting pails out on the roof, how hot is was by either "frying" an egg on the pavement or leaving a Vidio on a case inside a car and showing how it "melts." Those were some slow news days!!

I did go out and cover the flowers that are coming up with some leaves to help protect them. Most of what is coming up are small and under other vegetation so already are protected. We have a lot of these little white flowers in the photo on the left. I think they are snowdrops but not sure. I love their shape and white sort of glows in the morning. )Yike, I just looked outside and it has started to pour...Anne is right, it is going sideways!)

I was going into town today but with the weather it seems like a good day to stay in and sew. Like I need an excuse!

I have one last blackberry and apple pie in the freezer and a container of Tikka Marsala sauce that I made en-mass over Christmas so if I can just get the chicken to defrost dinner is basiclly covered. I'm just going to "hunker down" and sew out the storm!

First signs of spring

This morning I found a flower blooming in our garden...it was so nice to see some color after all the rain. Looks like there is a chance we may even glimpse the sun today!

Yesterday I was really worn out so I did some mindless organizing in the sewing room. There's nothing like folding fabric and lining up spools of thread when you barely have the energy to pick up your cup of coffee. (for me that is saying alot!)

My big achievement however was to pull fabric to piece backings for three of my quilt tops! I knew I had some in there that would work and with just a little persistance and a few seams I am both one step closer to finishing these quilts and did some significant stashbusting! I estimate I used about 9 yards of fabric to but them together. I need to put in an order for some batting now and resist the temptation to buy more fabric while I do it! I may get really ambitious and cut some binding too.

I finished another of the cowgirl blocks. This one is called bachelor's puzzle. I've decided to alternate dark and light blocks and not do a sashing. At least that is the plan for now.

I've also started a small quilt using the blocks we are doing in the first class. I'm using Amish fabrics which have been in my stash for at least 10 years! Some even longer. I was looking at the first Amish Style Quilt that I made and was amazed when I read the label - 1987! Twenty years! Amazing. Some of the fabric I'm using now may even have been scraps from that quilt. The good thing about solids is they never really go out of style!

Long weekend

Boy was I surprised to see Quilt Mavericks mentioned in a recent article in British Patchwork Quilting January Issue! One of the women in my quilt group loaned me the magazine last week and I just got around to reading it last night. There is a very good article by Helen Conway on Quilter's Blogs and in a sidebar she lists five quilting blog rings including Artful Quiltiers, Quilters who embellish, Quilters Lounge, Stash quilts, and Quilt Mavericks!

I think I really overdid it this weekend....too much fun and I am paying for it! Saturday my DH went out golfing so I took over the Kitchen counter to cut fabric for the sampler block demos. I cut fabric for 15 blocks! I had printed out the directions on Friday so now I have a binder ready to go for weeks. I have 9 of the blocks made up in cowgirl fabrics too. I also made Kung Pao Chicken so he wouldn't complain about the kitchen becoming a quilting room too!

Sunday we drove up to Broadway again...or should I say he drove my car to Broadway. Very scarey! He brought his car over from the US and so has not made the transition to having the steering wheel on the right side of the car. He wanted to take another shot at it and we thought a Sunday morning may be the safest for all concerned...everyone but me. By the time we got to the village I was a white-knuckled wreck! The worst part was how the car would bump when he went off the road (I'll leave off how many times that happened!) It was torture on my leg! On the way home we got caught in a Cotswold traffic jam - a road full of sheep! At that point he gave up and let me drive the rest of the way home.

On Monday I went on a coach/bus trip with the Anglo American Women's group to Stoke-on-Trent. The town has dozens of Pottery/China outlets. It was incrediably organized and exhausting! It was about a two hour drive to our first stop - Burleigh. I never would have found this on my own - tiny sidestreets and almost invisiable signs - but this ended up being my favorite shop. (lucky for my bank account I didn't know that then!) The pink mug, pitcher and blue cow creamer all came from that stop. I got a few more of the pink mugs in diffent patterns for one of my sisters. I may have bought more but we only had 20 minute at this stop...and they were serious about keeping on schedule - the train system could learn from these women! The coach drove about 10 minutes then stopped at the Dudson Outlet. I was better there and only came away with a postcard and 30 pence plate (the brown one in the photo!) Again this was a 20 minute stop and we were quickly off to the Royal Doulton factory shop for yes, another 20 minute stop! I was starting to need caffine...that may have influenced my picking up the white teapot.

They said there was enough time to eat your bag lunch before the next stop but they must eat faster in this country because I only got half a sanwich and two sips of juice in before we pulled into the next outlet. I bearly remember that one - I went straight to the coffee shop with the bus driver...fading fast! The next stop was in the town. There is a huge Spode outlet with several other outlets and a museum. We had one hour and 15 minutes there. Still caffine deprived and without enough energy to finish my sandwich I had lost the ability to make a decision. I love spode but wandered around aimlessly and left without anything in my hand! We walked up the street to the Portmeirion shop. I was starting to panic...the boot of the bus was starting to fill up with boxes and bags...my stuff fit into the overhead compartment! Obviously I wasn't trained for this! I grabbed the jar with lilacs on it for my Mom. Panic shopping.

There was one more stop at a place that had 3 shops...vague memories. They opened up a few bottles of wine, some cheese and chocolate and passed them around as we drove back home. I'm glad I went even though I can barely walk this morning. I think I'd like to do it a bit less frantic pace (maybe just do the Burleigh and the Spode then "tuck-in' for a good lunch somewhere!

So today I will spend clearing my fabric out of the kitchen again and maybe making a few more cowgirl blocks...

More cowgirl blocks

I finished a few more blocks for the cowgirl sampler quilt. It feels funny doing such large blocks - 12 inches! The group is mainly beginners so I am trying to keep it easy. I did realize after doing the color confidence class with them that I should try and limit the number of fabrics I was using...that is tough for me! So after being careful with the these four and getting a bit frustrated I have decided the cowgirl quilt could have lots of fabric (yahoo!) and instead the blocks I do as demo's in class will be limited to only 7-9 fabrics. I hope it doesn't confuse the group too much.

The log cabin on point block has some of the fabrics I will use for the demo quilt. They have been maturing in my stash for quite a while...always thought I would get around to doing an antique rose quilt. Some of these fabrics are in that middle ground - too much of it to just use as a scrap or filler and not quite enough to use as part of a backing. I wasn't able to sew much today...sitting is just too painful...so instead I cut fabric and put together packs for the first 8 blocks. Unbelievable for me - one of the original last minute quilters!

The leg pain is still pretty bad. I went online to find out if there was anything else I could do and the advice on the MD Website was to stop wearing tight clothing, lighten the toolbelt, and lose weight. So I guess no more spandex and big leather carpenter belt around the house anymore! Seriously though - my DH describes my clothing style as "Amish" I'm not sure how much looser it could get and stay on! I don't wear belts or backpacks. Unfortunately that leaves lose weight. I think in the second year of medical school the baby-docs are told if you can't cure them then just tell them to lose weight. So as I have been re-examining my New Year's resolutions (ya, I know it is almost halfway through January...) I've put weight loss back onto the list. So I guess I am on a fabric and food diet for the next few months. The question is how to make this fun?!

Cowgirl sampler

Sorry I have been bad about posting. I've had a bad case of Meralgia paresthetica...which is quilt literally a pain in the butt! I can't sit in one position for more than a few minutes before the burning in my lef and "hip" muscles becomes unbearable which makes doing anything on the computer tough! The option is to take lots of pain-killers (which I hate to do!) or tough it out (stiff upper lip and all that!) I'm finding a happy medium between the two.

I have been working on a new sampler quilt as teaching aide for the new quilt group. The phto on the left has four of the blocks. Our first block is going to be the London Stairs (lower right) and the the variation (the one with the cowgirl in the center.) I've tried to find blocks that have something to do with England. A bit of a challenge. The project will keep me on a schedule though and hopefully I will finish it! There will be a total of 25 blocks which at this moment feels like a lot.

Winds and flooding around our area the past couple of days have been bad. The cats are being very needy and are battling for the warm spot in the hallway in front of the radiator. I'm hoping it clears out by the weekend so we can get out and do some sightseeing again.

Happy New Year!

I thought about writing out a list of New Year's resolutions but then I realized that my list was the same for the past five years...lose weight, exercise, get financials in order, take a class, finish more projects...almost verbatium! So I'm, going to take a bit more time and make sure that none of them are repeats!

The big ball hanging from the tree in the photo is mistletoe! Since the leaves have fallen you can see big balls of it high in the trees around our house. It finally dawned on me where the "kissing balls" came from that I used to make back home. (If you look closely you can see the sheep too!) We are going to walk up the village hill today. We are so relieved to see sunshine we have to get out of the house. This morning I saw the two peacocks in our neighborhood. Their feathers have all grown in and they look beautiful! They make a horrible sound though.

I've started to work on the sampler quilt for my quilt group. I looked for quilt blocks that has something to do with England. Our first is Roman Pavement. I'll have photos in my next post. My camera is acting up again...I think the battery isn't sitting correctly.

Tourism Day

I finally got my DH to drive down to Cirencester to visit a local museum there - Corinium. It was really interesting and a very neat little town. We are both reading the Libertus Mystery series (set in Roman Britain) and the first book happens very close to Cirencester. The artifacts and exhibits there also helped visualize some of the book passages as well. The photo on the left is of one of the Roman tile floors that was excavated in the area. I'm adding them to the list of things I need to include in my Cotswold quilt.

Because it gets dark so early I can't drive too far from home right now. Driving in the dark is a bit iffy for me...even with DH driving the headlights blind me a bit and make it very uncomfortable - OK I was holding the door handle so tightly I lost feeling in my arm! DH is not a great driver and it is even worse when I can't see how badly he is doing! Does that make sense?!

I've started pulling together fabric for a color confidence workshop for the new quilting folks. At the same time I am trying to pull together my quilting room. It definatly needs a few more days with long hours! My goal is New Years Day...we'll see...

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone.

We finally have the house decorated and a few dozen cookies to wash down with eggnog. We went out this afternoon with friends but are spending tonight watching Christmas movies...Patrick Stewart in A Christmas Carole, the Grinch, Charlie Brown, to name a few. They have caroles at midnight at the village church if we can stay awake that long!

Fog, Fog, and more Fog

Well I'm back from the states and in the land of Fog! Yesterday I couldn't even see Mac at the end of his leash! It took a few days to get used to being on this time zone but I think I'm just using that as an excuse for being so far behind in getting the house ready for Christmas. Yesterday I did a marathon decorating session...the tree is up, dozens of santas are spread around the house, and all my cookie making supplies are spread across the kitchen counters! This is as Christmas as I'll get this year...there are still 4 boxes marked xmas in the garage but I've run out of energy and space!


I brought the quilt I am making for my great-nephew (yikes!!!) home to see if he would like it. What a fun kid! He first wrapped himself up in it, then spread it on the floor and laid down on it, then draped it on a chair to sit on it, he then covered the coffee table with it and then finally put it over his head and walked around the room....yes, my camera was going the entire time and may have contributed to his fun.

With all the fog and darkness right now (all making it very difficult for me to drive) I should be able to finish quilting it over the holidays. When someone shows that much appreciation for a quilt it is easier to finish it and to think of making them another!

We went into to town today to do some last minute shopping. It was crazy! Typical Christmas crowds. I was amazed the candy store we usually go to was almost stripped bare! I did find some chocolate covered raisins so I can make my DH's favorite Oatmeal cookies. It is hard being away from home for Christmas.

Computer problems

Sorry about the down time on posting...computer has been acting up. Seems in the move one of the connections in the back got loose so when one of the cats would jump on the CPU it would disconnect me!

I've been really busy trying to get ready to go back to the states next week and to get ready for Christmas. Our choral group sings on Sunday and I've been sewing capes like a crazy person! Hopefully I'll have some photos on Sunday. They came out nice...makes us look more like a group.

Also I took a roadtrip up to another base to see a new doctor...what a waste of time! The man was soooo rude and dismissive. I thought my DH was going to come out of the chair and hit...which only made me more nervous then I normally am when at a doctor! I don't know what the phobia is when you start shaking when you enter the doctor's office, sweat through your shirt, mind goes blank...my DH once brought me to the emergency room because of a Kidney stone and when the doctor came in the room and asked how I was doing I said "fine" then threw up and passed out! The problem with doctors is they always find something wrong with you that you didn't go in for in the first place....


Anyways the photo is of the horse Macbeth and I pass each morning on our walk. He is feasting on the small apples the wind has blown down from the tree next to him.

Some things always fit

I was reading Lois R.'s blog - Thoughts of Home Quilting about how she is repainting here new house to make it her new home and it made me think of this quilt. I bought this little quilt at an auction during the American Quilt Study Seminar around 1997. (The label says it was made by Janet Aronsen, Florida...no date.) I've moved 4 times since I've bought this little wallhanging and it is always one of the first things I hang. Isn't it odd that one of the quilts I've made doesn't hit the wall first? I've hung 5 small quilts and none of them are ones I've made! My own are sitting in a pile on top of the dresser in the guest bedroom waiting until I find a spot for them! I think if it hadn't been so cold the last couple of weeks I wouldn't have any of my own work out - fortunately the quilts on the bed are my own work or I wouldn't look like I did anything but buy fabric! (something my DH has long suspected!)

Today I am off to a small Christmas market in town and to pick up my medical records so I can go to another doctor next week. Sometimes MS feels like a full time job!

I've mentioned the red berries a couple of times in my blogs. I'm not sure what kind of bush/tree they are but now that the foliage is dropping the berries light up the hedgerows. They are beautiful! My neighbors are amused at how I carry my camera with me all the time and take pictures of odd things like hedgerows, phonebooths, sheep, horses, and, someday, a pheasant (so far they have been too quick for meand all I have is more hedgerow shots of where a pheasant used to be!)

One more picture of London...I liked the flowers and how Mary Poppins looking the rows of houses were on this street. Our hotel is the building on the left.

It just really hit me today...this week it will be December and there is less tahn a month before Christmas! It sort of slipped in there on me....I put out one little Santa that Brownie immediately attached. I now have one little broken Santa! Guess I need to go out to the garage and dig out the Christmas boxes!

I packed the gifts I had already picked up today. I'm going back to the states for one week in December so I get to deliver them in person! I still need to find something for my policeman brother - he isn't easy to buy for.

The quilting group is coming along well with their tablerunners. It looks like they will get at far as getting them quilted before I leave for the states. They should have them for the holidays. In January we are starting a sampler quilt. I showed them the Christmas one I made a few years ago (and that Bonnie quilted for me!) They really liked it. I will have to change a few of the blocks (no need for a Santa unless they want a Christmas one too!) Gettting it all organized is a bit of a challenge for me but I will make myself sit down and just do it!

Today we drove to the medium-size U.S. base so I could see a Doctor about getting my U.S. medicine again. Formularies (spelling) are different for some of my meds here and DH and I decided we'd rather not mess with what seems to be working pretty well. Besides it is a beutiful ride through some gorgeous Cotswold villages like Chipping Norton and Stow on wold. The little roads and driving on the other side of the road don't freak me out as much anymore so I can enjoy the sheep, stone walls, and bright red berries. Stopped for luch in Deddington...DH was in hurry so I didn't get to investigate the really interesting looking antique shops (this is a reoccurring theme - my not getting into the fun antique places...I've got to work on that!)

I was told of a fun woolen mill that still operates near here...DH is soooo not coming with me on that trip!

back from London

London remains one of my favorite cities. Museums, shows, window shopping, and people watching were our main activities this past week.

We took the bus up which took just over two hours. It dropped us at Victoria Station and we took the underground/subway to Paddington Station (yes, like the bear!) Maybe it is because I grew up outside Boston and taking the subway was associated with going into the city for special occasions like looking at Christmas lights, school shopping trips, or seeing the tall ships enter the harbor, but I love trains, trolleys, or subways!

We usually stay in Kennsington but this time we decided to try a different part of the city. In the end I like them equally well. Kennsington is a bit prettier and closer to the museums but Paddington had more breakfast places and seemed to be closer to the theatre district.



Anyway, the first night we just walked around the area and went to a Lebonese restaurant. The food was excellant! We got up early on Thursday, had the big British breakfast - eggs, toast, bacon, beans, hashbrowns, fried tomatoes, coffee, and juice! We got an all day pass for the tube and our first stop was Knightbridge to wander through Harrods. The windows were a mixture of James Bond and Christmas! A bit different! (I wouldn't mind finding him under the misletoe though!) I picked up some things in their food area to bring home to Mom - tea, turkish delights, fruitcake and christmas coffee. Then we headed to Leicester Square to get some theatre tickets. This is where DH can drive me crazy - we wandered around for at least 45 minutes while he checked out dozens of discount ticket places. In the end we got tickets to see Guys and Dolls with Patrick Swayze (He was really good!) We grabbed a pint at the Sherlock Holmes Pub (that is me in the photo!) Then we window shopped...a lot! We went down Regent Street and I visited Liberty of London...a great building and the stationary department on the first floor is gorgeous! I ended up buying some christmas ornaments and some pens as presents. Even the deep purple bag is beautiful! We took the tube to Bond Street and wandered through there as well. It is a great place to people watch!

That night we ate curry at a restraurant near the Piccadilly Theatre. To think a few years ago I thought I didn't like Indian food - now I eat it all the time! The show was excellant. Swayze can still move and surpisingly can sing well...just never thought of him as a singer! He still smiles like a little boy and even from the balconey you think he is looking right at you. He is as good or better on stage as he is on screen.

On Friday we ventured out of the hotel for breakfast then headed up to the discount places for tickets again. This time the lines were really long at most of the booths. I was happy though since we got good tickets for my first choice - A Voyage Round My Father, starring Derek Jacobi (I Claudius, Cadfael.) I had not heard of the play before but it had great reviews and of course it had Derek Jacobi one of my favorite actors! It was a bit cold and threatening to rain so we headed over to The Sherlock Holmes Museum. OK, so it is very touristy and a bit wierd how much I love Sherlock Holmes but we all have some wierd spot somewhere! The photo on the right is me sitting in Sherlock's chair with the tour guide dressed as Dr. Watson. It is actually a cute little museum though it did only take about 20 minutes to get through.

We then headed over to the National Museum, which can neither be called cute nor little! What an amazing place. In two hours we only got through a couple of exhibits - the Egyptian and the Greek. Both are amazing. There are dozens of Mummies with all that goes with them on display. I'm a big fan of the Amelia Peabody mystery series and going through this reminded me of her books!

The exhibits of mosaic tiles were fascinating....this one reminded me so much of a quilt! Flying geese can be found everywhere! At this point I was starting to wear out...big time. I crawled back to the hotel and got a nap before dinner and the show. My eyes were starting to act up - I couldn't see very well in the dark and the actors on stage all had funny halos around them - but even with the eye problem the show was wonderful! ( Funny that it was about a man who had lost his sight!) I love Derek Jacobi's voice and to be fair the other actors held their own. The story reminded me a bit of my own family. The main character was blind but no one ever talked about it! He loved his son and daughter-in-law but never talked about it. In the end the son became very much like his father.

Saturday I was pretty much worn out. I wanted to go to one of the antique markets but thought better of it and will do it on the next trip!

Happy Thanksgiving

We are off to London for the holiday. This is our first real trip since moving over here and I am really looking forward to it! The other night DH and I were going through the travel guide and planning what we would do each day. He mentioned Harrod's and I said, " we need to do that when we get there on Wednesday so we don't get caught up in the Thanksgiving crowd on Friday..." There was a long silence. I started talking about the shows at the West End hoping he would not notice what a silly statement I had made...they don't have Thanksgiving so there is no "out of the gate" shopping day for Christmas like in the states! No such luck..."we could just go to Harrod's on Thursday and beat the rush all-together," he said smuggly. Uhgggg.

The photo is of the shelf in my kitchen. The little quilt was made by Angie (my Georgia guild.) The pottery is Irish.

I tried to think of what I was happy for this year...
1. My stepsons are all settled and doing well.
2. My mom is 88 years old and still living at home. She has been much healthier this year.
3. We are in an interesting country and have the next couple of years to explore!
4. DH has a slightly less demanding job - no more calls in the middle of the night and he can actually stay home a day if I get sick.
5. Pets have made the transition really well - Brownie is growing back all her hair and Macbeth spends hours in the back yard.

So Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.