Last week was Sharon's last session with the crafty church ladies: the lovely Tara made chocolate cake, with buttons - is there anything more perfect???
We had 19 visitors (they must have heard about the cake!) Crochet corner was busy, but three ladies came to learn how to use their sewing machines, there was patchworking, Christmas card stamping, lavender bags being stitched and a whole load of other things, plus of course the chatting the drinking, and did I mention cake????
Hayley and I finally managed to meet up and continue our silk screen printing (blogged about here) and finished the flowers
-
rather chuffed with these - now we need to plan the next stage!
We also had a go at some fabric 'business cards' but these need work, so we added stamping as there was still paint left!!
My other crafting this week was to make a few of these for a guest at the Windsor Homeless Project who is deaf. Could he please have a patch to sew onto his hat so people would know!
Yes of course!!!
In Norse mythology, Thor is the hammer-wielding god of thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, hallowing, fertility, the protection of mankind and of the fortress of Asgard. He is the son of Odin All-Father and he is physically the strongest of the Norse Gods. In my house he has an additional responsibility - he is the guardian of the clean quilts!!!!
And finally not my crafting at all but the lovely Amo sent me this - perfect for under a coat as it starts to get cold! Thank you lovely lady xxx
I started this blog for me - it expanded to show BFF Jackie what I was doing - and a few others have invited themselves too - everybody welcome! Mostly about patchwork, with random comments about embroidery, family and life in general, come on in, put your feet up, and I'll put the [virtual] kettle on.
Showing posts with label buttons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label buttons. Show all posts
Friday, 25 October 2019
Wednesday, 16 January 2019
2019 Wk 3 - New York New York
I apologise for my earlier rant - blame lack of sleep - oh, and frustration and annoyance with Sizzix for the appalling design of their long pentagon!
I'm having a go with a stanley knife to see if I can 'correct' the pentagons without too much effort - be seriously, what were Sizzix thinking the die would be used for?
So I was short on sleep due to jet lag - having had a long weekend in New York!!! I didn't take many pics as it was too cold to take my hand out of my pockets for long (Me on Brooklyn Bridge)
The girls walking ahead of me
I went with the daughters - we had a lovely time. I did look for Patchwork shops - I thought there would be loads, but although there must have been 15+ fabric shops on 38th and 39th they were mostly fabric on rolls - synthetic fabrics, not our sort of fabric. I found a shirt-making Aladdin's cave, but there was way too much choice and they were charging $30 a yard!! The one patchwork shop I found was lovely but nothing that looked amazing and it was all $12.95 a yard which is practically the same as at home.
The best I can offer for crafty stuff was this fab statue
We went to the 9-11 museum. I have mixed feelings about it. Very moving and lots of information and well presented if you look at each section on it's own.
But it starts with an enormous space with a few big items, including this art installation. We took this slow as we thought this was the general design of the museum. As you can see, very few people
And there was information about all the people who died. A good friend of mine lost a distant relative: I never met him, but it was nice (?) to have someone to focus on and we found his photo and the information the family had submitted, and where he had been remembered by other firefighters

And there was a quilt to look at
So all calm, and peaceful and soothing in a way, and then we went through a revolving door to a special exhibition . . . where there people: crowds of people, films taking on the day being played, we heard noises recorded on the day, answerphone messages from loved ones who never made it home, we saw posters looking for those who were lost, papers found after the towers came down, clothing and shoes that were found in the clean up, parts of the building, of the plane, the background of the terrorists, stories of bravery . . . it was too much for me especially after the tranquility of the main rooms.
I really would have liked to have been given a route to take: that would take me to everything, and that would tell me I should allow half an hour for the huge room and maybe 2 hours for the special exhibition (and not bother with the Rebirth Film - far too arty and full of itself).
Anyway I went and I'm glad I did but I bought a couple of books so I can explore the bits I want in my own time.
A few more pics:
Our very opulent (and quirky) hotel
A funky building that husband and I had watched a documentary on with a glass floored sticky out deck
And the city at sunset from the Empire State Building (why does it have 4 doors that you can't use but without signage to show where the right one is???)
Too many rants - maybe I'm still jet lagged!!!!
I'm having a go with a stanley knife to see if I can 'correct' the pentagons without too much effort - be seriously, what were Sizzix thinking the die would be used for?
So I was short on sleep due to jet lag - having had a long weekend in New York!!! I didn't take many pics as it was too cold to take my hand out of my pockets for long (Me on Brooklyn Bridge)
The girls walking ahead of me
I went with the daughters - we had a lovely time. I did look for Patchwork shops - I thought there would be loads, but although there must have been 15+ fabric shops on 38th and 39th they were mostly fabric on rolls - synthetic fabrics, not our sort of fabric. I found a shirt-making Aladdin's cave, but there was way too much choice and they were charging $30 a yard!! The one patchwork shop I found was lovely but nothing that looked amazing and it was all $12.95 a yard which is practically the same as at home.
The best I can offer for crafty stuff was this fab statue
And this lovely man sitting on the subway station making crocheted hats! Lisa bought the black & multi one in his left hand!
We went to the 9-11 museum. I have mixed feelings about it. Very moving and lots of information and well presented if you look at each section on it's own.
But it starts with an enormous space with a few big items, including this art installation. We took this slow as we thought this was the general design of the museum. As you can see, very few people
And there was information about all the people who died. A good friend of mine lost a distant relative: I never met him, but it was nice (?) to have someone to focus on and we found his photo and the information the family had submitted, and where he had been remembered by other firefighters
So all calm, and peaceful and soothing in a way, and then we went through a revolving door to a special exhibition . . . where there people: crowds of people, films taking on the day being played, we heard noises recorded on the day, answerphone messages from loved ones who never made it home, we saw posters looking for those who were lost, papers found after the towers came down, clothing and shoes that were found in the clean up, parts of the building, of the plane, the background of the terrorists, stories of bravery . . . it was too much for me especially after the tranquility of the main rooms.
I really would have liked to have been given a route to take: that would take me to everything, and that would tell me I should allow half an hour for the huge room and maybe 2 hours for the special exhibition (and not bother with the Rebirth Film - far too arty and full of itself).
Anyway I went and I'm glad I did but I bought a couple of books so I can explore the bits I want in my own time.
A few more pics:
Our very opulent (and quirky) hotel
Lady Liberty from the Staten Island ferry (why is the ferry free????)
A funky building that husband and I had watched a documentary on with a glass floored sticky out deck
And the city at sunset from the Empire State Building (why does it have 4 doors that you can't use but without signage to show where the right one is???)
Too many rants - maybe I'm still jet lagged!!!!
Saturday, 30 June 2018
2018 Wk 26 - a bit of a catch up
I've been having problems getting photos from my phone to the computer, so I haven't blogged for a few weeks, but today it worked - so here is a quick catch up
Niki's colleague's colleagues all attacked her chemo quilt with fabric pens- and my concern that it was too white has been blown away - doesn't it look great!
I went to Ireland for a few days this last week. Officially it was to see Jackie, but (shhhhh) there was another person I was eager to meet - this little beauty, Leah, my honorary granddaughter! We spent lots of time with her big brothers too - D in the pic and A who was at school - my gosh . . . boys are exhausting!
We made a few bits for Leah (or possibly her mum!): this changing clutch
and changing mat (it did get finished before being handed over)
And her I-spy quilt was finished and handed over too (pic to follow). Jackie had been on a course and made this fab elephant pic for Leah's room
We made ourselves some great project trays too, by coincidence we had instructions for two: different sizes, different designers and different methods but very similar result. They have Peltex 72F (I think) in them which makes them really firm, and the closure action from tray to storage is really satisfying

And Jackie and I bought some pickling jars. For pickling you ask? No - of course not - for beautiful buttons!!!!
Niki's colleague's colleagues all attacked her chemo quilt with fabric pens- and my concern that it was too white has been blown away - doesn't it look great!
We made a few bits for Leah (or possibly her mum!): this changing clutch
and changing mat (it did get finished before being handed over)
And her I-spy quilt was finished and handed over too (pic to follow). Jackie had been on a course and made this fab elephant pic for Leah's room
We made ourselves some great project trays too, by coincidence we had instructions for two: different sizes, different designers and different methods but very similar result. They have Peltex 72F (I think) in them which makes them really firm, and the closure action from tray to storage is really satisfying
A friend decided to join in the Untangled Threads art installation to commemorate WW1 - I am totally in love with her heart - she needle felted these poppies in a field and it's beyond awesome!

And Jackie and I bought some pickling jars. For pickling you ask? No - of course not - for beautiful buttons!!!!
Saturday, 25 February 2017
2017 Wk 8 - Mostly buttons
On Thursday I taught a WI (Women's Institute) class at Chertsey Museum. As a finish I can only show you my sample as the ladies have some more work to do on theirs
At the end of the session theirs looked like this:
And me? I stitched some buttons too and finished my fleece poncho: and took a rubbish photo of it!
Back to work tomorrow!
At the end of the session theirs looked like this:
A "J" and a tree: a heart and an abstract pattern
A butterfly and a flowers (stalks so far); and a roof of a house
And me? I stitched some buttons too and finished my fleece poncho: and took a rubbish photo of it!
Back to work tomorrow!
Sunday, 19 February 2017
2017 Wk 7 - mostly Crafty Church
We decided to offer a jewellery special Crafty Church on Saturday.
Stephanie and Julie having a go at Infinity Button necklaces
I only got a blurred pic of their creations, but here are some from a previous session:
Janet had made a completed Crafty Church Crocheted Hug which has today been delivered - and I got an email from the lady who delivered it "I told her the blanket was from the church and was our way of wrapping her in love and prayers. She was really greatly touched and overwhelmed. . . . I know when tears well up we have touched a heart. Crafty church is showing our caring hearts too. "
And we have 16 squares towards our 3rd Crafty Church Hug!!!!
I got a chance to play and to spray baste a bonus quilt! This used the excess from the Lotus Selvedge quilt, and the two packs of charm squares from Amo: It really grew quickly!
Since then I have (shock horror) actually quilted it!
Free Motion Quilting at that!!!!
Not fab, but it's OK!!!
And I have another cunning plan!
Tara wore this fabulously simple poncho which she'd bought from a craft fair. I borrowed it and got her to take a pic:
I also took a few how-it's-made and what-it-measures pics - and hopefully soon see you'll see a here-is-my-version pic too!


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