So how long does a UFO wait?

There are projects. And then, there are PROJECTS.
You get so far and somehow do not make further progress. They stall somewhere between a partial finish and a complete one. So, the first one is a quilt along. From the lovely Crazymomquilts.  Now I know she was doing it in 2008, but I am not certain when DD2 and I decided to have a go. And I have no idea how I came across it.
 So here, I proudly present.... Drum roll..... Trumpets....  our Star quilt!

Here laid out on the sewing room floor. It has many many faults. Points that are nowhere near pointy, seam allowances that wander to and fro, squares that fail in the first requirement- to be square-ish... But, when I look at it all laid out, I feel good!

 and laid on DD2's bed

 All rolled up- that is obligatory isn't it?

And, in the scene of crime!

I shall see if my DD2 can recall when we got it going, but I reckon it is at least 5 years ago.

And then...

This piece of work resurfaced when I was doing a clear out of the sewing room. This is almost a piece of history. It will have been worked in the days before I had children. That places it over 30 years ago. I worked it, and put it away so that I could do something with it - eventually. I am pleased to say, eventually has appeared! I had just finished the quilt, and this sat waiting my pleasure. Now, when I was doing my clearance, I also found a number of oddments of velvet. I thought one of them might just come in for this treasure.. I auditioned a couple of colours, and settled for this one..

I have mitred corners, while ensuring the nap runs correctly, and inserted a zip at the bottom, other than that, keep it simple.
I suspect I shall rehome it with a friend because of the colourway, but it may just quietly sit in the hall here, and grow good.

Two finishes in one day, and just before the next costume marathon begins! Roll on costumes!

100!

It is not every day one turns a hundred. However I have just returned from just such a celebration.

So, what does a 100 year old get for a present?
Well, all the usual options are there- flowers, plants,. sweets, biscuits, and so on. but she has a house full of stuff, eats far less than once she did, and, let's face it, the world and his wife will give flowers and sweets...
A little thought is needed.

so this is what has been achieved, for an Irish Aunt, who is a fit and healthy 100 years old!

Celtic lettering for the initials, to ensure it is very personal and then the Celtic style interweaving for a border, in colours I thought she liked. Do not look too hard, there are some errors there, but by the time I realised, I was not unpicking all the way back to that first corner!

a more subtle Celtic design on the reverse

 and the relevant dates on the reverse, too. They were hand chain stitched, and if you know hwo much I love hand sewing you will understand the dedication...

 Applique letters first, that light turquoise is a favourite colour..

and bias tape made from linen for the interweaving.

Happy birthday Haunt! Love you.

Elephants work!

So, I said I would show some of the goodies I received... this gorgeous item came from my lovely DD3-ish bod! She is most talented, and clearly understands me far too well!


Sharp eyed souls may notice that there is a tiny scrap of moomin related fabric up there at the top...

A lovely mix of strips with all sorts of variations- Liberty, moomin, William Morris... 

 and then, she goes and plonks an ellie on it for me!  I do love an ellie! and that gorgeous hot sun, in a porthole! oh goodie! I have something to help keep me toasty warm at night when I need it


Thank you miss Oh sew Cultured!

Back in the summer I was bemoaning the fact that jam labels were stupid. they are too big- except when they are too small.. they have detail on which I do not require, or they are distressingly boring... Well. Someone was listening. He took photos in our garden, and in a few other places too, and produced custom labels. I now have two sheets of labels, and some more label sheets to print as desired. A lovely thoughtful gift, thank you babe! My lovely DS!


At some point someone was commenting that a lunch bag would be desirable. Big enough to contain various bits and bobs, secure, washable.

So I put on a thinking cap and found a suitable design from Sewmamasew, and here it is
















Tweetie birds, and a difficult handle- Probably more difficult because some idiot decided to use wipe clean fabric to do the outer.

For those who wish to know, the lining is in PUL, ( from plush addict), and the outer is from a huge range at our local Dunelm Mill.  It also has a thermolam lining between the PUL and the wipe clean fabrics.


I hope it does it's job.

made for the season

some eats... some other stuff!

DD2 and I somehow have fallen into making the traditional eats together.
So, she came home one weekend back in October, and we made the Christmas cake, and the pudding together.  More about the pudding later...
Then she arrived late on the Thursday before Christmas so we could case it in almond paste, and then it was iced, with roll out icing, on Christmas Eve.

Icing was coloured with love by my lovely nearly DD3, , who kneaded it and added more colour, and kneaded again... we wanted a blue, which looked blue, without being 'dirty', but was not too oppressive.  and then we added some green to that blue for the trees,  and added some white to the blue and left it marbled for the stars.
I think we did OK?

 'Mary's mince pies' from a recipe from the 1970s, Family Circle magazine. I think it must be Mary Berry as the Mary!

Earlier in December, DD2 was home again, so that we could  have a weekend, and whilst here, she organised a workshop, to make a Christmas wreath. 

We were part of a group of about ten, including the lass who was running it, and there were refreshments, tea, coffee, mulled wine, mince pies- you get the picture,  and then we got to make table decorations as well. She plans to do garlands next year.... maybe we shall do that too? 

Beth's table centre

and mine

As for the pudding? 

While DD2 and I were at church, the pudding fairy got to work, and put the pudding on to steam, and heat through.  We arrived home to a smell of burning. Burning string, burning paper. Cracked pudding bowl, very black pudding!. So this year, there was no flame it with brandy and process it into the dining room- there was a spoon it out from the middle, and hope it was not too smoky!

But we all got a helping, who wanted it. 

And now, I think I should say, Happy New Year, and may this coming year bring health, and happiness to everyone.