Sunday 30 March 2014

A Lady What Likes To Wear Tea-Dresses......

......and partake of a cream tea. Or two. I'm absolutely CONVINCED I was born a few decades too late. Surely, The Master Plan....which has obviously been mislaid......clearly states, that my needs are simple and genteel. A pretty dress, with an Empire line to camouflage the After Scones Bulge, a pot of Earl Grey, some warm scones, clotted cream and a spot of strawberry jam, coupled with good company.....and I couldn't be more content. I'm sure that the Stressy Work Filled Bitten Off More Than I Can Fit Into 24-Hours path that I helter-skelter along, was destined for someone else!! Well, let me tell you, lady.....I'm onto you....
Fortunately for me, The Darling Offspring understand this about their incoherent, lightly crazed mother, and all was in hand. It started with Daughter No.2 surprising me, by coming home from uni for the weekend. Soooo HAPPY! Then this morning I was greeted with these......


......my favourites, and an all-time Must Have gift for Mothering Sunday. A lazy day, including some time for needlework, lead up to the highlight of the day.....Cream Tea in a delightful, local, cottage-y Tea Room. I MAY have indulged in one or two of these......


.......I couldn't possibly tell, such was the mountain of cream and jam piled on top!!
In my favour, we DID go on quite a long, brisk (well...ish) dog walk afterwards in an effort to do Battle with The Bulge.
The day was rounded off by my cooking a meal for my own mother. There was even enough to send back with Daughter No.2, as an Eat Properly Care Pack......


Those of you who know me well, will recognise my signature dish (posh way of saying "the only dish I can make, from scratch, without risk of poisoning"!) which just so happens to be her favourite.
And just so you don't think I've given up entirely, when it comes to all things quilted, I've finally finished the vintage tablecloth quilt.....






I was rather pleased with the backing fabric; I thought a gazillion strawberries was apt for a picnic blanket!
I'll leave you now, as I have to go and hone my negotiating skills with The Son, who is arguing against being sent to bed at what WOULD have been 8pm yesterday, when it states clearly in The Contract, that bedtime isn't until 8.30pm....Hmmmmm. xx

Sunday 23 March 2014

He Was Snoring, Your Honour.....

....This is going to be my defence when I'm hauled into court, for manslaughter. The Husband, over the years, has developed the singular talent of being able to snore IN ANY POSITION. There was a time, when I'd be able to roll him (oh so gently, and lovingly, of course. Hmmmm.) onto his side, the snoring would stop and I'd be able to sleep again. I used to be so proud of my own particular talent, of being able to sleep the sleep of the dead.....but not any more. Oh how the mighty have fallen......All week, last week, the week before and probably next week too, I've been woken up SEVERAL times during the course of the night, by a sound that can only be described as a walrus garrotting session. I imagine. The sound is phenomenal. Our bedroom windows rattle. The neighbour's windows, three doors down, rattle. I need to sleep. So, if I finally crack, and smother The Snoring One with his own pillow, I shall plead manslaughter in self defence (of my sanity). In which case, you'll all have to delete this post....or they might say it was pre-meditated!!
Before you hit the delete button though, here are a few catch-up photos of what I've been working on recently. I bought a Moda Scrap Bag in a sale, and there was more that half a Jelly Roll in it. Yay. So a bit of cutting gave me this.....



A little trimming of the leftovers gave me this.....

Which, in turn, followed through to this.....


Those HST's measure less than an inch square, and I'm so proud that all the seams fell into place perfectly, and that I didn't lose a single point. Double yay! The Husband (on reprieve, for the moment, from being smothered) cannot fathom why anyone would spend so long, on anything destined to be no more than a glorified coaster. What would he know?? The colours are completely foreign to me (though I do love blues) and I only used them together because they came as a package, so I thought "why not?"....but I truly love them.
So much so, that I now have this......


Never has a quilt top come together so quickly and easily for me. No seams to match....just strip sewing. It now speaks to me (The Husband now has serious concerns over my mental stability. He has not taken into account SEVERE sleep deprivation.) of farmer's fields....I think it's the sky blues and earthy tones....so I'm now working on a sort of corn wreath design, appliqued onto it. Time will tell.....
Well, I have to love you and leave you now, as today is A Big And Important Day. The Son is playing in the Under 10's Final of The Dorset League Cup. I believe medals are involved. We must prepare..... xx