a bit of sewing

 I have finally finished Sister-In-Law's tablecloth-cum-blanket, and can show it here since (a) her birthday was last week and (b) she's on holiday so no chance she'll see the blog!

I have been collecting wine themed fabrics for a while for this project, and love the way the fabrics have come together.

All the black squares have been embroidered with a wine bottle or a wine class,(black on black) and the middle two squares are also the label with her name, the year and our names, also in black

I have gone as far as I can with my pentagon ball too.  In the photo it may look ready to throw , but it is just full of air as I cant find the bag of stuffing that I thought I had, so another visit to the fabric shop, oh dear, what a shame!

I have also done some work on the Whirly Gig quilt, but seem to have spent longer typing the instructions  than actually sewing it.  It isn't worthy of a photo at the moment, but I am loving the way it's turning out :-)

A few days of work now will interfere with my sewing, but then a week off for half term, although with Niki able to start learning to drive on Tuesday, and her absolute determination to pass in less than 9 weeks means we'll be out in the car more often that I'll be behind the sewing machine.

(ooh, ooh, that reminds me, a friend at church is on a five year mission to clear out her mum's old house.  She wanted to know if I could find a good home for and old sewing machine.  I should have at least hesitated ... I do have 7 at the moment ... but when she said it was a Bernina from the 1960s i grabbed at the chance.  It needs a service but it exactly the same as my mum's friend, Anita, gave me years ago, that unfortunately went BANG in a puff of smoke about 4 years ago.  I loved that machine, such a work horse, so I hope I can get Brian to give it a service ... Thank you Carolyn :-)

Welcome Stash Manicurists

I am a bit very nervous, not sure I'll sleep tonight ... Any time now, Madame Samm over at Stash Manicure will be publishing a post from little old me.  It was meant to be in a few weeks time, but at short notice it was moved to 9th May so I ran out of time to find an excuse to wimp out!.

So welcome to Stash Manicurists, thank you so much for clicking the link!  The Charity Quilt giveaway moved down on the screen, but you can scroll down or [click here].  All comments will be looked at, whether on this post, that post or the garden post!

As an excuse for a photo on this post, have a look at these yummy fabrics I've been collecting for my Sis-In-Law's birthday pressie: red grapes, green grapes, corks and bottles of wine ... SO her!

Not telling what it is yet, just in case she visits the blog!