Thursday 27th May

 The sun is coming out at last and it feels a little bit warmer, lets hope it stays.  Went out last night for a meal in a restaurant, first time since last September, it was really enjoyable and the three of us never stopped talking. You don't realise how much you miss other peoples company until you get back together again.

Ann and Christina have been busy sewing.

This is Ann's quilt she has been doing.  It is all hand appliqued using 11 skeins of stranded cotton! She is also intending to hand quilt it but maybe not until the weather gets cooler again and it is nice to have a quilt over your knees.

Christina has made this lovely little landscape for her granddaughters birthday card.  She has used the technique we learned with Kate Slaughter.

I have been sewing and have nearly finished my leaf piece but I keep adding to it which is why it is taking so long.  Next week I am hoping to go to an exhibition in Danby so will let you know what it is like.

Thursday 20th May

 Is it just me or is this year going by faster than ever?  I think the fact that the weather has felt more like March than May makes you think it is March.  I have been back swimming this last two weeks, that's the first time since last March and did my legs and arms remind me, second visit was better than the first but it did make me realize how much I had missed it. No photos from members this week but I have been using my African fabrics to start this cushion cover.

It is just a small decorative cushion, no one will be allowed to sit on it so I have decided to add some stitch and beads to it.  Will have to order some threads first but hopefully I can make a start on it next week.

Keep stitching!

Friday 14th May

 Lovely to see the sun out at last, have been sitting in my garden instead of working in it.  I found a new walk this week starting from West Ayton up Cockrah Road and out into the countryside.  There is a small wood to one side that was full of bluebells, they are a stunning shade of blue in the wild. My calendar is begining to look busy again and I have to remember to look at it and check what is going on.  I went swimming yesterday for the first time since last March, first my legs screamed then my arms joined in.  Can't believe how much I used to do, I certainly need to get back in practice.

Had an email from Diane this week.  She did a Quilters Guild virtual conference in April and has done some work from the workshops she attended.

First was this patchwork piece on Colour and Contrast with Caroline Gibbs.

This next one is Simple Sewing/Bolo with Rosemary Muntus.  Really nice hand stitching, something I am enjoying at the moment.

I haven't done much since last week but I have got a cushion pad and some African fabrics to get started on so if the weather isn't too good next week I may get it under way.

Friday 7th May

 I was a bit late back yesterday to sit down and do the blog and it was a good job I hadn't already done it as I have a couple of photographs to show you.  What weather we are having, I can't remember it ever snowing in May before. I haven't done anything exciting this week, it's been too cold.  I have started stitching on one of the pieces of eco dyeing that we did a couple of years ago.

I'm afraid the colours are a bit dark, both the background and the stitiching. Not sure what I am going to do with it yet.

My friend makes her own pillowcases!  Plain cotton fabric from Boyes and these are the borders along the open edge.  They looked stunning.

She also received these two pieces of fabric from Africa where a friend currently lives.  Lots of inspiration there. I think the top one is cut back applique but the bottom one was on a courser fabric, maybe raffia cloth.

That's all for this week.