Win, Win, Work!

Goodness, it's taken me ages to get back here and post - it was much easier when I could put a quick something together in my lunchtime at work.

 I'd love to show you some photos from our performances of Anything Goes but I'm afraid cameras weren't allowed at the show, and I couldn't bring any costumes home to photograph because they were all hired! However, I can say that the run went really well, I enjoyed doing it (although, for some strange reason, not quite as much as last year), and we had a really good review in the local paper. We have one more performance of the title number, tonight at the Mayor's Show, and then we move on to the next project.

Above is my stall at the craft fair I mentioned last time.  Within the first 5 minutes of the doors opening I sold my first item!  It was a small pink baby quilt and more than covered my costs for the day.  Which was good because I didn't sell anything else after that!  Advice for selling at craft fairs often mentions having a 'story' behind a product to make it more interesting and meaningful - I found the opposite (where the customer has a story for buying the item) is also rewarding.  The granddaughter of the lady who bought the quilt was having a baby girl soon and the baby was going to be the first girl born into their family in nearly 50 years.  I felt quite honoured that they chose to buy my quilt for a child that was obviously very special for them.

I've had a couple of lucky wins lately!! First is this sweet little book that was reviewed and given away by Ali of the wonderful Very Berry Handmade.  I'm dying to have a go at one of these tiny little characters but I don't know where to start - there are so many to choose from.

Ali also sells bundles of lovely Liberty fabrics and I was thrilled to find a little package of pretty scraps in with the book.

My other lucky win was a packet of multi-coloured buttons from Craftseller magazine, that will be a very handy alternative to my stash of mainly browns and whites.

I'm having a stall at another craft fair this weekend and have managed to finish a quilt for a baby boy, this time.  You never know ......!

And I mustn't forget the lovely Marivel of Cristali Designs who very kindly awarded me a Liebster Award.  I think I'm supposed to say something about myself so, here goes:

My favourite colour is orange
I love to read, sew, sing, knit, crochet etc.
My middle name is Mary (so is my daughter's, it's also the first name of 2 aunties and was both my grandmothers')
I also like to watch The Mentalist, Marivel!
Oh, and I've got a new job - probably (more details to come).

Bye for now
Teresa x

Biting the Bullet!

It feels good to finally finish a project and lay it out - but not if you're unhappy with the result and know that changes have to be made.  I joined all the crocheted hexagons together, crocheted an edging all around and gave it a light press. This was the result!  It's intended to be a baby blanket but, with the hexagons being quite big, the result is a bit floppy, and I don't like the uneven sides.

There was no easy way out so I just had to 'bite the bullet' and start unravelling. It's better if I do it immediately so it doesn't end up on a pile of unfinished items that taunt me every time I catch sight of them.  So, straight away, I undid the edging and sat down to work out how to make half hexagons that matched.  Once I'd worked it out, I luckily had enough yarn left to make six of them to fill in the gaps on the sides.  I had to find another similar yarn to make the edging but I think it works well and I'm now much happier with  it.

 

I've had the crocheting bug recently and have almost finished another baby blanket.  I did have it finished once, but - you've guessed it - I was unhappy with the result and am in the middle of a re-do.

The colours are a bit muted for some reason in this photo (my rubbish editing skills probably!).  It's my attempt at dressmaking for the first time in over 20 years.  I made it up in size 18, but 16 would have possibly been enough; I didn't want it too tight, though.  This was the only suitable fabric that I had enough of and although it's not my favourite I didn't want to waste some new, expensive fabric with my experimenting. All I need now is some sun!

I don't know if I'll have much time for crafting or blogging over the next week or two.  I'm doing a craft fair on Saturday and then the mad week of rehearsing and performing starts for Anything Goes.  Why I booked  a fair in the middle of all this, I don't know - it seemed like a good idea at the time.

After it's all over, I think I need to do a bit of reorganising at A Time for Stitching.  My profile is out of date, I could do with a new banner photo and, with the imminent demise of Google Reader, I need to get something sorted.

Bye for now
Teresa x

Oh Blow!

I'd like to show you pictures of my costumes for Anything Goes, like I did last year for Me and My Girl but, although the show is in a few weeks, I don't know what I'm wearing yet.  I got a few items together when told what I needed, but apparently they weren't "sexy enough", whatever that means.  One dress that the Society lent me to try on was a bit too revealing and I had to decline the offer. After all, I didn't want to suffer a serious costume malfunction in the middle of Blow, Gabriel, Blow!!  Finally, I was told last week that they've hired all my costumes, so goodness knows what I'll end up with!!

 In the absence of show costumes I've got more crafting photos.  After booking tables at a couple of craft fairs I need to produce a bit more stock, so I got myself into gear and made a few zipped purses.You can just see, at the back, a glimpse of black, patterned fabric, which I intended to be another purse. Sadly, things went irretrievably wrong and it was not to be.

 I tried something different here.  The design is a combination of the purses above, the zip closure of the laptop bag (that I made before Christmas) and tote bag handles.  It also needed a little extra something, so I tried out my machine's blanket stitch to attach the 3 hearts.

 Hexie crocheting was my holiday project.  I managed about 6 when I was away and the rest since we got back.  The pile on the left has been blocked so looks a bit neater.  They're made from an un-run charity shop jumper but I don't know what I will make from them all yet.  Probably a baby blanket.  I'm nearly at the end of the yarn and it won't make anything much bigger than that.

The last time I used a paper dressmaking pattern was probably about 20 years ago, when I made a few things for my children.  Guided by the measurements on this pattern, I'm cutting it out as a size 18!!!  I think I'm erring on the side of caution but it should be possible to make it smaller if necessary.  It seems that dressmaking patterns are made in 'real' sizes. It's an old, second-hand pattern I've had for a while but can't remember where from.

Progress since last time:

4 Zipped Purses
Lots of crochet hexagons
Mini zipped heart bag
Top cut out and marked
Cut out lots more diamonds for tumbling blocks

Bye for now
Teresa x

The Trial is Over!

Two local ladies held a handmade crafters fair in the local scout hall recently.  When the notice came through the door to publicise it I was pleased that crafters from my village were getting together to organise something like this.  At the same time, I was a bit envious not to be part of it.

I went along on the day to support them and bought a couple of bits.  The Christmas themed chocs above are from Holly Pop Cakes who, as the name suggests, specialises in Pop Cakes but also makes characterful dolls under the name Lula Dolls.

These lovely earrings are from Elsie Rag Bag who mainly concentrates on making household furnishings and accessories with jewellery as a side-line.

I had a nice chat with the ladies and tentatively asked if they would mind me having a stall if they held another event. They agreed straightaway and told me their next event would be towards the end of October.  I didn't expect it to be so soon and began to panic a little that I wouldn't be able to get enough items together.  I'll see how I get on but at least the opportunity is there, if I get my act together.

At home I gathered together all that I've made so far and made a note of other things I could make, if I have time.  To start with, I made a few small, quick items (the pin cushions above).  They still need to have centre buttons added before they're finished.  I hope to get a few zipped pouches made next if I can find enough suitable zips in my stash.

My music theatre group's run of Trial by Jury is now over with our fourth and last performance being last night.  All the audiences seemed to enjoy it as much as we enjoyed performing it.  It was challenging putting it on in my church because the 'stage' area so was small and we were a bit crowded together.  Son K took a few photos for me but as I was near the back, I don't feature in them much.  However, one group member's husband recorded the final performance (I haven't got around to watching the recording of Me and My Girl that we put on in April yet - I always seem to have something better to do for some reason!!). In the photo above you can just see the top of my head over the shoulder of the barrister with a book under his arm. :-)

Progress since last time:

Pin cushions above - now finished with buttons added.
Trying my hand at a knitted lampshade after my auntie gave me a few frames. 
Have picked out fabrics and zips for pouches.

Bye for now
Teresa x

Preparations!

I haven't any finished items to show but there's been plenty of preparation going on. While waiting for the interfacing to be delivered for the Engagement Party Banner, I got on with a few other WIPs.   

  I dug out myTag Square Bee Quilt blocks and laid them out to decide how to go about putting them together.  I've said before that I wish I'd been more specific than asking for Autumn colours but I don't think I'd have received very different blocks if I'd asked for an orange/brown/green combination either. A couple of the blocks were a little on the small side (were supposed to be 12.5").

 It would have been fiddly to increase the smaller blocks so I trimmed them all down to 12".  Next job will be to cut all the sashing pieces and start putting it together.  It'll be the first time I've tackled a 'proper', traditionally sashed quilt and, from what I understand, I have to cut the pieces to the correct size and make the blocks fit the sashing otherwise it won't be 'square'.  But this has been put aside now the interfacing has arrived for the banner, which needs to be finished by the 25th.

I also managed to get a pile of hexagons ready to add to the long-term project hexie quilt while waiting. 

Banner preparations have begun.  Thirty 6" letters printed and cut out.  The banner fabric has been hemmed and the letters have been traced onto the interfacing.  Luckily I remembered after only the first letter that I should be tracing them upsidedown, so they will be correct on the finished banner.  Now, all that's left to do is iron the letters onto the fabric, cut them out and iron onto the banner.  I say 'all' but I think it's going to be quite time-consuming arranging the letters to get them lined up. 

Talking of preparations, rehearsals are continuing with my musical theatre group for Trial by Jury.  We've got 3 more songs to learn for the first-half prequel, written by one of our members (the prequel not the songs!).  The songs, chosen from other Glbert & Sullivan works to fit the story, are VERY high-pitched but I'm beginning to get the hang of them.  We'll be taking the show to 4 local villages/towns in October to promote our group and raise money for the main show next April.

The date of the local, annual raft race is fast approaching and OH met up with the OHs of the rest of our friends to sort out what they're doing.  I believe they're still calling themselves The Raglan Wrinklies but are going to have an Olympic Games themed raft.   

Bye for now
Teresa x

Music Mayhem!

I was surprised last weekend when I heard that this is the 12th year for our village music festival.  I would have guessed at maybe 7 or 8 at the most!  We've enjoyed fantastic weather for nearly all of those years so I suppose a complete wash-out was on the cards sooner or later. 

Most of the smaller events went ahead indoors but the big concerts (already downgraded from the Castle venue and minus the headline acts due to poor ticket sales) were a big disappointment.  The photo above was taken on the Sunday afternoon and, although there were more people than you can see here, it was disappointing.  Saturday had been worse.....much worse!!!  The rain was torrential and the area you can see cordoned off had become a pond.
 

First bag choice for work colleague

 But, as per our camping trip, we and our friends had a laugh anyway. Personally, I saw performances by The Saturday Singers (that I used to belong to) the local hand bell ringers, a soul singer, a tenor horn player and various cover bands and open mic performers.

I don't know what will happen next year (if it depends on this year's takings) or even if there'll be a festival next year.  I hope they bring back what used to be a highlight for me - the Male Voice Choir performance at the Castle. 

Progress since last time:

Second bag for chap at work to give his wife - started
2 cat mouse-toys - finished (above photo, sitting on the second bag, which I just realised looks like it might be the same design as the first - but is not!)

By for now
Teresa x

I wasn't looking forward to this month's quilting club meeting last Saturday.  Two members were giving demonstrations but I often find the projects are not to my taste and prefer to get on with my own work. It was possible to do our own work but I had nothing suitable prepared and doing preparation at the meeting would have been too distracting for others.

I scrabbled around in my shed for something (anything) to do.  I ended up grabbing my crochet hooks and a ball of yarn.  However, as it turned out I was quite impressed with the demonstration project (above).  It's a method called twist and turn. I didn't think much of it at first from the designs in the book we were shown but I absolutely love the version that our member is making.  The colours are right up my street and the chicken centres are so cute. I made a mental note to have a go at this sometime.

As I watched, I began crocheting, trying out another idea I had mentally filed away.  I managed to finish most of the main part of this purse during the day.  I completed it later by adding ribbon, buttons, zip and lining.  I sewed the whole thing by hand and am pleased with how it turned out and how quickly it came together. All the supplies are repurposed. The ribbon is from the lengths you get inside new clothes to help hang them up! I knew they'd come in useful one day.

The old yew tree in the churchyard

On Sunday after Church, OH and I headed off to Cardiff Bay with 4 other couples for a 40th birthday meal. The cupcakes and sparkling wine we had when we got there were a lovely touch organised by the birthday girl's OH. The plan had been to have them on the mini-bus but we ended up on 2 buses (men on one, women on the other) but that's another story.  After a wander and a drink in a bar we headed for an Italian restaurant where we had a lovely meal.  I'm afraid I didn't enjoy the rest of the outing.  Behaviour began to deteriorate (partly due to drink) and incidents occurred (not all due to drink surprisingly), and when we came back to our village hotel (on one mini-bus due to the fact that one couple had already left and made their own way home - separately!!) OH and I went home as soon as was polite.

Monday afternoon, I was off to another church service.  This time to sing in the choir for a Mother's Union Deanery Service.  They said there'd be tea after and I was ready for a cuppa.  I didn't realise they meant full afternoon tea with sandwiches, cakes and scones!!   I didn't bother with dinner when I got home!

Progress since last time:

• Crocheted purse - which I may enter in the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway if I get my act together.  They're doing it a different way since I last entered and I'm not sure how it works.
• QAYG quilt block - one more quilted (2 or 3 left out of 25ish but I've run out of wadding).
• Mousey cat toys - 2 cut out
• Bag for friend - cut out.

Bye for now
Teresa x

The End of the Show!

Me and My Girl is now over!  It's a strange feeling knowing I won't have to sing any of those songs again.  I really had a fantastic time doing it.  Surprisingly, I wasn't at all nervous which I put down to a few things; I knew what I was doing; I couldn't see the audience; I was too busy concentrating on singing, moving and acting at the same time to worry.

 The final performance was an amazing experience with the biggest attendance the society has ever had.  The audience became more and more responsive and enthusiastic as the 'run' went on.  At the very end they were clapping and cheering, whistling and singing along.  Those of my friends and family who came to see it told me they loved it (even the bits that weren't meant to be funny, but were - if you know what I mean!).   OH bought me these pretty tulips on the last day to wish me luck. 

At the after-show party we were informed that we'd had a royal visitor in the audience on the Thursday night.  It seems she's a friend/acquaintance of one of the performers. 

OH asked me if we were actually saying anything to each other in the scenes where the chorus were standing behind the main action pretending to be at a party.  The answer is yes and no!  We would sometimes quietly say things in character like, "How lovely to see you!", "What a lovely dress!" or "Isn't this a wonderful party!"; other times it would be things like, "I can't think of anything else to say!" or "We shouldn't have come on so soon!"  while nodding and smiling.  Then there were those who would move their mouths but make no noise, I'm convinced, from my attempt at lip-reading, that one woman was saying 58, 59, 60, 61....etc.

I'm still progressing slowly with the crafting and have at least a million ideas lined up in my head for future projects.  My subscription to Popular Patchwork runs out this month and I'm not planning on renewing it but was pleased to see that my final issue is a Bag Special.  There are some great patterns in it and I plan to use one for the bag I've been intending to make for the friend who gave me lots of materials.  The book Make and Mend also arrived in the post the same day.  I didn't buy it so it must be a competition win or giveaway.  There was no clue in the package!

Progress since last time:

Knitted cowl finished - (see above) actually, I ran out of yarn or I would have made it a bit longer.  I used the left-over yarn from the Boring Beige Cardigan.

7 Zipped pouches - the last 2 are almost finished.  (I had to take apart the doggy one because the zip was faulty!)

Bye for now

Teresa x

It's Showtime (almost)!

(Jess - if you don't want to see my costumes before the show stop reading now!!)

I'd like to introduce you to Zipped Purse number 4.  I don't have much fabric suitable for children.  I'm hoping the purses will be suitable but will give my friend the chance to reject any she thinks aren't.  The little dogs were on a small scrap of fabric and are surrounded by a border that matches the checked fabric so I cut them out and appliqued them on.  And I used a red similar to the dogs' background for lining and to end the zip.

I'm trying to add a different embellishment to each purse.  I found a tiny button that sort of echoes the ladybirds in this fabric and attached a ribbon bow with it.  Number 6 is cut out so I won't be too much longer on these.

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 Rehearsals are stepping up a notch for 'Me and My Girl'.  Last night we held our first rehearsal in the actual venue.  Seeing the stage and all the seating brought home to me what I'm actually doing!!!!

I roped OH in to take photos of me in the garden in my costumes on the weekend.

 Above left is my costume for the opening scene.  All these items I've borrowed from what was available from the items lent to our society.  I added a piece of elastic to the inside of the skirt waistband just to add a little extra security!  The skirt did stay up but was a bit loose and I didn't have complete confidence in it's ability to stay where it should.  I think a hat would complete this outfit but it will have to do.

On the right is my servants outfit for my next 2 scenes including The Lambeth Walk.  The blouse is from the same place as the other outfit, as is the head-piece, which is actually half of a choirboy's neck ruffle (I'm sure it must have a proper name)!  The skirt is my mother's and the apron came from my great-aunt's so is probably a genuine item from the actual era of the show!

 Here, on the left, is my outfit for The Sun Has Got His Hat On.  I don't think it looks very 1930's so I'm hoping someone can help me out when I take it in tonight.  The skirt was borrowed from the same stash as above and the top is one that I machine-knitted for my mother many years ago.

 Last is the outfit for The Hunt Ball and Finale.  The dress is my own, the gloves and the headpiece (a band with black and red feathers) are more borrowed items.  The little top I got from a charity shop the other week.  It's a lovely red cashmere cropped cardigan.  The shame is, I have to cut the arms short to accommodate the gloves.  I tried pulling them up but it's too bulky. 

So there you have it.  I haven't seen any of the other costumes so have no idea how they compare.  I suspect we'll look a right mish-mash between us!   One thing I must remember during the show is to SMILE when appropriate.  It'll have to be a really conscious effort though, because I thought I WAS smiling in these photos and they're dreadful!  Why do you think I kept them small?  I even had to resort to cutting my head off in one case!!

Progress since last time:

2 more of 7 zipped purses finished - 2 to go.
Knitted cowl - on the home stretch.

Since we've got rehearsals tonight and Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, then start performing on Wednesday until Saturday, I don't expect to get much done during the next week.  I wonder how much time I'll have between scenes, maybe I could take some knitting (so long as I don't miss my cue).

Bye for now
Teresa x

Three Peaks and a Dog!

Last Thursday was my birthday (half-century minus one, if you're interested).  At work, my boss gathered everyone together to say Happy Birthday (no singing - they were mostly men standing around awkwardly like spare parts, a couple of whom I'd never met before and were just visiting), give me a round of applause? and present me with a card and cake.  It was a lovely chocolate cake which I had to distribute (as per the office custom) to the waiting gannets colleagues.

When I returned home the family were all waiting for me with flowers and cards and 2 more cakes?  And I was happy when they agreed to join OH and me for a meal at an Italian restaurant. 

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As I was driving home from a 'Me and My Girl' rehearsal in the dark last week I noticed that the horizon looked different and seemed to be glowing.  I realised when I got nearer home that what I could see was the mountain on fire!! 

Photo taken Oct last year

The fire was on the ridge of the mountain (The Blorenge) in the far left of the above picture and was spread quite a way across. There've been lots of fires in the area over the last few weeks as a result of all the dry, warm weather we've had.  There's no hint of warm weather today - I've just been out for lunch and it's about 2 degrees and blowing an arctic gale!!!  March was more like June and April has started off like November - What's going on?!!!

The picture above was taken near the top of The Skirrid Mountain on Sunday (when it was still warm and sunny).  The Skirrid is the one on the far right of the October picture. In the distance on the right above is The Blorenge that was on fire.

I couldn't remember if I'd ever climbed The Skirrid before, until I got to this point.  Then I remembered sheltering from howling wind and rain behind these rocks to eat a picnic years ago. I think I must have been in my early teens because I remember certain friends of my mother being with us with their dog.

Talking of dogs - this little cutie is how we came to be here that day.  Friends are looking after her for the week and we went with them to take her for a walk.  I tried to get a cute picture like DD does, with the dog looking up at the camera, but she wouldn't keep still for a second!  She's only still here because she's watching the next group of people approaching.

OH put her on the summit marker for a photo shoot. There was no way she could avoid the photo on there. Under her body the summit of The Sugar Loaf is visible which is the middle mountain in the October photo. 

So, by now you should have quite a clear picture of the whole of this area :-)

It was good to get out in the fresh air and get some exercise.  I'm afraid getting any kind of exercise has completely gone by the wayside in the last few weeks, but a walk in the countryside is much better than any gym session as far as I'm concerned!

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DD was laughing at me the other day when I asked her if she'd seen my latest blog post.  She said this blog was supposed to be about sewing but there was never any on here.  She didn't mind because she likes reading the other stuff and finds the sewing posts boring!  Despite that, she's right!  Hopefully, the balance will shift one day and the crafting posts will out-number the rest.  I don't know what keeps the rest of you reading but I hope I don't lose any followers if/when that day comes.  You're all very good to keep popping in to read my random ramblings.

Crafting progress since last time (which is quite a long time but it doesn't show!)

• Knitted cowl - a few more rows knitted
• 7 Zipped Purses - 2 more cut out 
• Quilt-as-you-go-quilt - 1 more block quilted (4 left to do out of 25ish)
• Bag for work friend - looked through my books but couldn't find one to make that I liked.  Also, the friend has left work unexpectedly and lives about 2 hours drive away!  Will still make the bag but will post it or visit and take it.

The "To Do" list is pretty much the same as last time, which is to finish the above, but with the Easter Bank Holidays coming up I should be able to make a little progress. 

The week after that I will officially call "Mad Rehearsal and Performance Week" in honour of "Me and My Girl".  Oh! My! Goodness! We open 2 weeks today!!!! Costumes - check. Words - check. Moves - check-ish!   Confidence...........?

Bye for now

Teresa x

Before and After!

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I've joined a musical theatre group so I thought you might be interested in a little update. Despite a few doubts, I've continued to go to rehearsals for Me and My Girl.  I'm not quite sure who I'm supposed to be in it (I don't have a speaking part) but think I'm probably a servant.  Not having seen the show, and rehearsing songs without knowing the story or how the songs fit into it makes things a bit confusing.  I'm sure things will become clearer as we progress.  I've made a few friends now, which was difficult at first when all we did was sit and sing then go home.  We were informed at the last rehearsal on Wednesday that it is 10 weeks until the first performance!! Gulp!!  I'm not sure how many times we're doing it or exactly where, but I will keep going and put my confidence in the experience and knowledge of the longer term members to pull it all together. 

I had a lovely day off work on Monday!  I booked it off recently after remembering that I had a day left to take before 1st February.  The plan was to sew all day, seeing as it was a day I wouldn't normally have been at home.  

before

Unfortunately, there was a large pile of ironing calling me from the basket in the bathroom.  My sister, (who normally does my ironing these days) had just gone on holiday for 2 weeks so it was not a good idea to ignore the pile and keep adding to it for the next fortnight!  And besides, I know me, and I wouldn't have been able to settle down to sewing knowing that it was there lurking and taunting me. 

after

So - it took me all morning (it doesn't look that much does it?) but it was done.  I felt a great sense of satisfaction when it was finished, particularly as it was the first time the ironing basket had been completely empty for quite a few years (yes that's right - years)!!  Then, it was onto the fun stuff!!

before

I'd been over to my shed in the garden on the weekend and, with a few projects in mind, pulled out some supplies. Some of it is pictured above.  I wanted to make a couple more zipped pouches trying a different method for putting in the zips.  This time I covered the end of the zips before making up the pouches.  The result was neat-ish but still a bit bulky.  For good measure, I also ran up a mini pin-cushion with the same fabrics.

after

Last but not least was this little pouch with an appliqued key.  This one I made for a friend in work who was celebrating her birthday.  She'd mentioned a few weeks ago how she always had to go hunting in the bottom of her bag for various keys and that she should get a purse to put them all in, so when I heard that it was her birthday, I had no trouble coming up with something to give her.  She was delighted with it and filled it up with her keys straight away. 

Later on my friend asked me if I'd sewn the key on, thinking it was a bought pouch.  When I told her I'd made the whole thing she was very impressed and said I should make and sell more things like this.  Another friend, who was present, said to me knowingly "See!!" because that was something she has said to be many times before.  If I'm lacking in anything to motivate me to sell what I make, it's certainly not friendly praise and encouragement.

Now, with the danger of repeating myself like I did last week, here's my progress:

Zipped pouches - 2 complete
Pin cushion - 1 complete.

Knitted cowl - roughly 20 rows completed (not convinced the stitch pattern is working yet)

I also have some fabric standing by to make a couple of tote bags so let's wait and see what comes of that!!

Bye for now
Teresa x

That Festive Feeling!

That festive feeling is beginning to build for me now.  I don't know about you, but I've not been feeling it much yet and have found it difficult to get enthusiastic about the planning. However, a few Christmassy events have helped to get me going.

First was the December meeting of my quilting club, Ladybugs, where we enjoyed a bit of sewing (I managed to quilt another block), a Show and Tell, Christmas card exchange and a Hope Lunch (where everyone brings something, nothing is planned but, somehow, no dish is duplicated!). One member's clever daughter made this lovely ladybird cake which was cut up and shared during afternoon tea.  Sorry about the messy table; I didn't get the picture until after the table was raided - and the ladybird had lost it's antennae!

A church in Usk converted into an art gallery

I wasn't planning on going out on Sunday but J (daughter) rang and we decided to meet in the afternoon at Usk Winter Festival.  (Bathroom cleaning had to wait until another day) It was a clear, fine day and not too cold so we had a leisurely browse of the stalls, drank mulled wine and listened to carol singers. 



Usk clock tower in the middle of the square where the event was held.

The clear sky meant that as soon as the light faded it got quite cold.  As J couldn't feel her toes anymore we decided not to wait to see Father Christmas pulled through the main street by reindeer and left just as the crowds gathered and it started to rain, but just before the road was closed.

K (son) mentioned he might pop to the Festival after work.  We didn't see him there (nor my parents who were apparently also there) even though it wasn't that big, but I assume he went, and picked up this little chap.  I found him on the kitchen window-sil when I pulled the curtains the next day. In case you're wondering.... there's a teensy weensy cactus under the disguise!

I'm ready for IT now (not in the preparation but in the mental sense)!  Choir practice continues tonight with Christmas anthems for the carol services and we've got a shopping day planned for Saturday when I'm sure all the shops will be decked out and filled with festive music. Onwards and upwards!!
I hope all your preparations are progressing well!!!

Stitchy progress since last time:

Quilt as you go Quilt - one more block quilted
Crocheted Mitts - Knitted second incarnation (then undid it), knitted half of another one.
Ummm........uummmm...........no, that's it, can't think of any more.

Bye for now
Teresa x