Thursday 17th December

 Just come back from the hairdressers, my head feels so much lighter now, it was nine weeks since I last went and it had grown so much.  This will be my last post until the New Year.  Lindsay finishes work today and is coming to me on Saturday until after Christmas so my days will be commandeered until then.

I have been doing some work on my African book and have nearly used one of my new skeins of thread that I bought.  Hope there will be enough to finish what I am doing.

I am working a Housa design across the two pages of the book.  Housa's are very heavily stitched so it should keep me occupied over the holidays.

Roma has been doing workshops with textileartists.org and this is some of the work she has been doing.

This design uses crumpled paper as a starting point for stitching.  I agree with Roma that this has a Saharan Desert feel to it.

I love this glove design and the fabric is gorgeous.

Meanwhile Cath has been working through some of her stash to produce this really nice piece. She says she was determined to start it and to finish it before starting something else.  I think she succeeded.

I know a few people now who have had their vaccines so it looks like things are moving on and hopefully this will get rid of this virus and we can all return to normal.  Have a lovely Christmas everyone and I am looking forward to seeing you all in the New Year.

Thursday 10th December

 The saying 'Dark days before Christmas' is certainly true at the moment.  However, the other morning I went for a walk into the countryside and there was a light hoar-frost on the dead flower heads and the winter barley in the field, in the background are conifers which were hidden by the mist so everything looked as though it was being seen through a net curtain.  When I got to the top of the hill the sun was out so by the time I got back to the hedgerow the frost had melted and the plants had drops of water hanging from them. Wished I'd taken my camera, either view would make a lovely piece of work.  

Stitching wise, I am working on my Africa piece, making a little book of stitch techniques but there isn't much to show yet, I am just getting ideas together and I need a printing day.

Some of you have been busy though.  Susan has been making a quilt inspired by autumn in Dolby Forest.

This is the front

This is the back.  It's lovely to see some of Barbara's stash in this design.  

Ann and her husband have also been busy.  Between them they have made this lovely box, Ann stitching the top and David making the box.  I have warned her that he might be getting some orders if he isn't careful.

Keep stitching everyone and send me your photo's, everyone says how good it is to keep up with each other.

Thursday 3rd December

 Had a quick look round the shops in Scarborough today.  It looks much brighter with all the lights from the windows of those who are surviving.  There were a few people about but it wasn't too busy and I managed to get around safely.  I have finished knitting some fingerless gloves for Lindsay for Christmas.  I did the right hand glove first and I will be surprised if it lasts long because each stage was done at least twice.  The little flap that pulls over to make them a glove I did about five times before I got the opening in the right place.  The left hand glove faired better.  I have managed to knit two more baby jumper sets from the spare ball of wool I bought ready to go to Africa.

The little button holding the flap down is from her grandmothers button box.

Roma has been busy doing her chain stitch exercises.

This lower picture has been stitched on a collagraph printed background.  I love seeing everyone's samples but I need to get on with my own!!

Friday 27th November

 I am a bit late this week as I was clearing the last of the garden rubbish because today is our last collection until next spring.  Just think, if this had been a normal year we would have been at the Knitting and Stitching Show yesterday.  I have ordered threads online but it isn't as good as buying at the show.  I am now just looking forward to next year.  I have written all my Christmas cards this week (gold star) just the one for abroad to do.  I haven't got so many this year as some of the ones I have sent in the past few years have been to friends in choir and I don't know where they all live.

Diane has been busy with her felt piece and done this lovely piece with it.

The colours on this piece were so vibrant and the background fabric blends well.

She has also been doing her chain stitch samples.

As well as doing Christmas decorations.  You put me to shame Diane.

I did a piece for the Africa project some months ago but I wasn't happy with it, one of the pieces didn't fit so I took it off and have been working on it.  

I have decided to use the other piece as a book cover and put into it samples of work using the techniques that are used by different cultures.  This piece I have converted to represent the cut pile Kuba cloths of Central Africa, usually done on rafia cloth.  I have used a sort of velvet stitch down the three centre diamonds.

Thursday 19th November

 What a beautiful day, have been out this morning for a walk into the countryside and it was glorious.  Would love to go and walk by the beach but we are being encouraged to stay away from the town because of all the cases of Covid that are about.  Did a quick supermarket shop quite early and that was ok, fairly quiet and everything I wanted.

Am begining to look at my Africa work again.  I love the stitching that they do in different parts of the continent, so I am attempting a small sample book to try out different techniques. Not really got started yet so will post something next time.  

I keep thinking I ought to use this time to get my christmas cards written (ha ha).  I have made a christmas cake and christmas pudding and some tomato chutney so that part is going well. Don't know who will eat it, I could be on my own this year if we go into tier 3 after lockdown lifts.

Lesley is doing an online textile course to keep herself motivated and it seems to be working as she has done this strip weaving sample with added chain and running stitch.

Nothing much else to tell you, going now to get the brandy out and feed the pudding!!

Wednesday 11th November

 I am posting this a day early because my computer is working today and I want to do as much as I can before the monitor decides it is tired and is 'going to sleep', for good it seems.  I think I shall have to bite the bullet and buy a new one when this lockdown finishes.

I think this lockdown is a bit harder than the previous one.  The fine weather in April and May made it easy to garden and I had lots of jobs to do to fill the time.  This time I haven't the urge to paint and play as I have stitching and knitting to do in the evening and don't want to add to that just yet.  I have made one christmas pudding this week, I will do a cake next week and another pudding the week after.  I also need some more of my spicy tomato chutney so will do that one day.

I have been working on my concertina book and as promised, here is a picture of the work so far.

The pages are pelmet vilene and I have made pockets on each page which I cut using a soldering iron.  I coloured the pages with transfer paints.

Roma has also been busy making these lovely christmas artist trading cards.

That's all this week, keep sending me you photos to post.

Thursday 5th November

 Guy Fawkes takes some burning, the fireworks have been out every evening this week, not too loud though.  I wonder what tonight will bring.  

My daughter has been following the US election as she teaches American politics and she has got me interested enough to put the TV on at breakfast time to see what was happening.  It's all a bit of a joke really, some people just can't bear not to win.

I haven't got any photo's to show you this week.  I am keeping on with my concertina book and hope to have it nearly finished by next week.  This new lock down means more time for sewing (I did all the cleaning last time)! I have been making some Christmas cards and have ordered lots of threads from Oliver Twists and Stef Francis some of which came today so I have had a lovely time sorting them out.

I am keeping up with my walk from the house out into the countryside, it's lovely to see the change of season and it is so peaceful, hardly any wind today you could almost touch the quietness. 

Keep stitching everyone, it is good for your health and wellbeing, or so they tell me - they haven't experienced a knot in the middle of a row of stitches.

Thursday 29th October

 What a miserable day, it hasn't stopped raining since nine o'clock this morning until four o'clock this afternoon and it is still going.  I still enjoyed it though because I spent the most of it stitching with four friends which was really enjoyable (as was the cake).  I have been working on a concertina book this week but it isn't ready for display yet so will maybe show you next week.  However, Christina has been busy working on the Africa project and has produced these lovely felt mask.

She had been looking at Songye masks and recognized the eyes and mouths.  I think they are great.

Roma has been working with the piece of felt I sent round which started out like this.

By using a piece of African fabric and some simple stitches it has now become this really good design.

Ann has put us all to shame.  She has been working all through lockdown, summer and into autumn on a quilt.  

It contains 1172 pieces cut from 33 different fabrics.  They were all individually pieced so that she could move them round and play with the colour.  I think this is absolutely stunning and must be a contender for a quilt show.

Keep the pictures coming, I am getting some nice messages from people to say how much they like keeping in touch through the blog and seeing what everyone is doing.

Thursday 22nd October

 Finally my bedroom is finished after nearly 4 weeks of sleeping upstairs I now have new furniture, carpet, blinds and wall colour, very pleased!

A few of you are obviously still working away as I have had two pictures to show your.

Lis has been busy working on her piece of felt that I sent round everyone.

She is not sure if she has finished it yet but I think it looks lovely.

Lesley has been working with a piece of scrunched up paper and then taking the patterns it forms to make a piece of stitching.

This is really good practice and something different to do.

I have been working on my piece of felt as well.  This is what it looked like before I started stitching.

Then I have stitched into it with running stitches and then attached it to a piece of wool fabric that was a sample from a pattern book.

I have used each of the six stitches that the group are working on as an exercise and members of the group may be able to spot the one that they haven't done yet.  I am attaching this to the cover of my sample book.

I am now trying to get my head round thinking of things I could do during the winter months when going out to meet up with other people may not be possible.  Keep safe everyone and keep stitching.

Saturday 17th October

 Got my computer back yesterday all up and running smoothly so far.  I was sure I was going to have to buy a new one but fortunately this one was repairable.

I will now show you the lovely pieces of work that people have done and I couldn't show last week.  These two pieces are from Lesley.

This piece has a dyed backing fabric and Lesley has used stencils on it which inspired the stitching

In this piece Lesley has used pieces from her scrap box.

Roma also sent two photos of the embellishing work she has been doing

Lovely pieces representing the coast near Whitby.

I have received another jumper from Jan to add to the 28 we have sent to Africa and I added a hat to it from some scaps of wool I had which made a complete set.

Susan has also been busy making these lovely wire birds for her garden.

I have made a start on my little piece of felt from Barbara's stash that members of TEG have received. For those not in the group, Barbara had made a pile of felted samples using different colours and techniques and there was enough to send to each member of the group for them to produce a piece of work using it in any way they wished.

Saturday 10th October

 Sorry this is late again but my computer has crashed and I am doing this on my phone, which has taken me a while to work out. I have started a new project, making a concertina book to hold my mother-in-law 21st birthday cards. There are 23 cards so it is quite a thick book but hopefully it will work out. Haven't much to show you yet, maybe next week.

The jumpers and hats have been passed on ready to go to Africa in the new year and a big thank you is forwarded to all those who did the knitting.

Lesley has been working on two lovely pieces and Susan has done two wire birds, not textiles but who cares. I would show you pictures of them but I don't know how to do it on my phone. I will post them when I have a machine to do it on.

Thursday 1st October

 Who would have thought when we went into lockdown on the 23rd March that we would still be here in semi lockdown in October. What a strange year.  Still, I have got the garden sorted, cleared out a number of cupboards, did a spring clean and then sat back on my laurels so now I think I need an autumn clean.  The decorator has just finished so now I have a clean bedroom and bathroom to look forward to when I have got it all sorted back together.  Having someone come in and do all the work in three days beats doing it yourself over ten days.

I have just handed over 28 sets of jumpers and hats for the babies in Africa.

Don't they look wonderful.  I have to pass on a big thank you to all the ladies who contributed, they will be much appreciated.

Sewing wise, I haven't done a lot this week. I have been catching up today with my stitch pieces using blanket/buttonhole stitch before I move on to chain stitch which is the new one we are now working on.

I now need to start thinking about doing a new piece, how exciting.  I think I might get the Africa books out again and I keep wanting to do a book to hold my mother-in-laws 21st birthday cards from 1946, so maybe I will start with that.

Friday 25th September

 I have just had a look at the stats for how many people look at our blog and this month there have been 286 and 13096 since I started it.  That is really encouraging to know that people do look and it is worthwhile doing it.  

So far with our little jumper and hat knitting challenge for Africa, we have made 25 jumper and hat sets and 2 extra hats.  That is really good and I hope to be able to pass them on next week .  I will photograph them and post it then. Well done to all the ladies who made them.

I have now finished my table runner and made a little square mat with the leftover pieces and it now resides on my dining room table.

The cloth underneath is a piece of hardanger I did many years ago using a thick 'country' style cotton and No. 5 perle.

I have also finished the India piece and just need to buy a frame for it.

You can't see very well but I have used tiny white beads scattered across the background as a way of catching down the chiffons.

Busy week next week.  I've got the decorator in doing my bedroom so I will be sleeping in the bedroom in the loft which is a cold room in the winter and the weather has just changed.  Never mind, it will be worth it when it is finished.

Friday 18th September

 Trying to get back into the swing of doing some normal things and then the new restrictions come in and we can't meet as a group so we missed our first get together yesterday.  I did however, join some friends for a stitching day (just 5 of us) and we had a lovely chat together.  It's the companionship that you miss most.  

Eileen has been doing a small piece of work for a while now, her 'stitching out' piece and she has finished it into this lovely little hanging.

One member of our group challenged us to make a concertina book.  I have to admit I haven't started mine yet but Eileen has done hers and even though she isn't a member of TEG she has produced this wonderful piece with an African theme.

Sorry, I think my finger got in the way of the end of the piece (David Bailey I am not).

Maybe some of our members will be inspired by this.

Cath in the meantime has been making project bags.  Not sure how many projects you are doing but it looks good.

Cath also sent these lovely pictures of lichen that she taken.

Thursday 10th September.

 Hadn't realised how long it was since I last did the blog.  I have had my daughter staying with me for a couple of weeks and then we have had a lovely week away in a holiday cottage in Northumberland.  We were right by the sea at a place called Howick.  We were on a working farm that kept Limousin cows and a bull that was in a pen quite close to the cottages.  He was quite gentle and loved having his head brushed (not that I did it). Apparently he had come to the farm presumably to do his duty but his passport said he was a female and he can't move on anywhere else until that is changed which as you can imagine, takes months.  We did lots of walking along the beaches and the coastal path which was at the bottom of our garden.  We also saw dolphins one morning in the bay nearby.  It was sunny all week except for Wednesday afternoon when it was a bit wet but didn't spoil our day.  The wind was a bit strong - didn't do much for my hair - but as it was warm, we were ok.

The view from our patio. The coastal path was just over the wall.

This little bay was at the bottom of the cliff in the previous photo.

                                                           

This lovely pattern in the sand caught my eye.  Some of the grains of sand were black and some sparkled, I presumed this might be coal dust as they mined out to sea on Tyneside.

Thursday 13th August

 Not much to tell you all this week.  I have been at my daughters helping to cut the hedge and tidy up the garden. We picked masses of lavender, put some in the airing cupboard to dry and some in pots around the house but lots went into the wheelie bin, which does now smell nice.

There is to be a sale of goods on the 27th September in the village hall at Wilson's Lane, East Ayton, YO13 9HY. Open from 10am to 2pm, there will be lots of patchwork and quilting fabrics, lots of wools for spinning and felting as well as silk fibres, some plain embroidery fabrics and all the usual haberdashery.  Proceeds will be to three charities, RNLI, St. Catherine's Hospice and Sue Ryder. Hope some of you can make it, there are some bargains to be had.

My only photo this time is my set of three baby jumpers and hats.  We should be sending quite a bundle of them when they are all collected in.

Saturday 8th August

 My apologise for getting later and later writing this blog but it has been a busy week.  Lindsay and I did a wonderful walk on Monday from Robin Hoods Bay along the cliff to Hawsker then back along the cinder track, glorious sunshine but with a cool breeze to make walking comfortable.  Since then I have been catching up with friends and going out to cafes for coffee which has been nice.

Liz and Roma have been knitting little baby sweaters as have I, so we should have quite a collection by September.  I have heard that the gentleman who is collecting these up to take to Africa is thrilled by everyone's generosity in doing this.

On Thursday I got together with my stitching friends and one of them had been working with her granddaughter on what was originally to be a cushion cover but ended up as a panel which was to be a present for her mother's birthday.  Nine assorted squares and rectangles were drawn on the fabric and grandma painted four and granddaughter painted five.  I think you will agree that granddaughter is going to be quite an artist when she grows up as she is only six at them moment.

I love the birds.  In the meantime, grandma has been knitting sweaters and and matching hats including pom poms!

Friday 31st July

Sorry I am a day late but I tried to do the blog at Lindsay's and had a disagreement with her laptop so I waited until I got home today to do it on my (trusty?) desktop.  We had a lovely walk on Wednesday round by Castle Howard and Coneysthorpe and had a picnic lunch on the green in the village.  I have managed to get started on my India piece and got the machine embroidery in.

It's a bit difficult to see on the photo but it is supposed to be the Taj Mahl in a pale grey thread.

Diane has been busy doing this lovely snakes and ladders quilt for a charity supported by the patchwork shop Alice Caroline.

She has also been catching up with her blanket stitch which I have to admit I have not finished yet.

I have knit three little hats for the babies in Africa so have bought some cheap wool to make two more jumpers to match them.
Sorry this is a bit short this week but it has been very busy not doing stitch work.