The End of a Legend

I have been up to Yorkshire yet again this past week to the funeral of one of my uncles.  The picture below is the start of the family story ....

I believe this to be my great grandfather and he made these working models which are still in the family on my mother's side.  The uncle who died recently built these and several others ....

It was therefore a fantastic surprise to see yet another one of his engines (which is now owned by someone else) arrive at the church in front of the hearse for the funeral service.  It was then taken to the pub where family and friends gathered for refreshments.

Eggs & Feathers (2)

I have been rather naughty today.  I was feeling a bit fed up yesterday so phoned Mariette to see if her second workshop at the Trumpet Tea Rooms today was full and guess what?  She had had a cancellation so I was able to go.  Oh what fun I had ....

This was meant to be a curlew's egg, a guinea fowl feather and a pheasant feather.  Struggled a bit with the shape of the curlew's egg but pleased with the end result.  Lots of nice people there too, one of them was an occasional attendee from the bookbinding class that I go to.

Eggs & Feathers

Had a friend to stay this week for three nights. Apart from spending Friday at the Fashion, Embroidery & Stitch Show at the NEC we went on a 3 hour workshop with Mariette Voke at the Trumpet Tea Rooms on Thursday afternoon.  What a joy it was ....

Everyone who was there went home with a completed picture in a frame. Tea & Cake was served midway through the afternoon which was delicious.  Highly recommend a short workshop with Mariette, she is such a talented and lovely person.

Spuggies

I have been trying to fashion some sparrows this week and this is my first attempt.  Think 'Spuggies' is probably a Northern name for them?

This is my stitched version but first of all I had several attempts at drawing one ....

I think it was easier drawing with the sewing machine than with pencils and pen

A few days away

Had to go to Devon for a family funeral so added a couple of extra nights on so that we could have a little holiday. Shame it was thick fog most of the time we were there but we enjoyed ourselves.

We went to Lyme Regis for a few hours on Saturday and I thought these light standards were a delight.  Also loved these rusty 'plugs'.  DH thought they were railway carriage wheels, but who knows.

Joseph's Coat at last!!

This past week I have finally finished a small quilt I began almost a year ago.  I have struggled with the design and now realise that I am half a motif out on one side.  It has not put me off and I will probably make a much larger quilt in the future as I do like the curved edges.  I used clear acrylic templates to cut out all the pieces and found them extremely easy to work with.  The idea was that I would use up lots of scraps of fabric from my huge box of cotton fabrics.  Must say the pile has not gone down much!!

Sew, Sew Good

Had a lovely day last Friday stitching at a 'Sewcial' at The Yard Artspace in Cheltenham with Kathleen Murphy of Murgatroyd & Bean.  Lovely company, very relaxing and no huge list of requirements to take with me.  Better than a Spa Weekend I reckon!! The theme was 'Voids'.