Fourth Project Finally Finished

Kirsten and I began this collaboration at Lammas and we have managed to finish during Lent in the run up to Easter. Each month we each made two patches [hence 'two by two'] and kept one, swapped one, until we had twelve each. These were 7.5cm square. What a diversity of pieces

1. A printed Noah's Ark scrap, cut in half [she got the ark, I got the rainbow] over stitched with running, back, and chain stitches, plus French knots
2. An autumnal piece on rich brown fabric, with tumbling leaves
3. A darned patch done on evenweave fabric using the speedweve darner
4. A sparkly snowflake with silver threads, beads and sequins on midnight blue satin
5. A nine-patch created from different fabrics used in previous collaborations
6. A red and black poppy for remembrance
7. A representation of the ironwork on the great door of Norwich Castle Keep
8. A landscape of sea and sky in shades of blue 
9. A crochet Granny Square 
10. A Manchester bee, on a honeycomb of Manchester spun cotton
11. A sampler on the fabric from the Shed aprons, with a coded message
12. A Christmas fabric overstitched with running, back and satin stich to give texture

What to do with them? K suggested making a pouch. I had some soft grey woollen cloth, and some cheerful red viscose in my stash so sent her some. I opted for a largish rectangular pouch with 8 patches on the back, 4 on the front. I mounted them on the grey wool, and put a layer of curtain interlining next to give some strength. Then the red viscose, having first pleated a pocket to go inside. I cut a very long strip of spare viscose and made binding to hold all three layers together and added magnetic catches.

We each stitched a rubric on cotton tape, with our names and dates. It is so important to do this, so that in the future we can work our when we did it! And now my pouch is finished and already being used to keep my next little project tidy [no more bits and pieces scattered all over the coffee table!]

A huge Thank You to all of you who have encouraged us with this one [special shout to Annie, for suggesting that there should be some clear division between the patches. I added a row of dense blue chain, which made all the difference!]

So that's it for now, Kirsten will post pictures of her piece too. A very different interpretation! 
We have decided on a hiatus for a while, we both want to pursue some different sewing techniques. We are still very good friends and I am sure that before long we will come up with another idea we can collaborate on. I would really recommend working together like this it has so many benefits!

IncyWincy Removals Limited

I have often heard people mention September Spider Season, as that is apparently the peak month for arachnids in the UK.

🕷 But recently there have been an awful lot of them at Cornerstones. I lie in bed at night and say "Bob. look at that huge spider over by the wardrobe" and he [unbespectacled therefore unable to see anything much] says "I can't see it, darling"  But, give him his due, he will get out, put on his glasses, hunt around for a beaker and a postcard, and carefully entrap the eight legged creature, and dispose of it outside the front door. Usually muttering "It's not that big, Ang" I would do this myself, you understand, but they usually linger in high places I cannot reach. I am convinced they are about to scuttle to the spot on the ceiling over my head, and drop on my face in the night. There have been a lot lately, but mostly in the bathroom. Bob has decided to be prepared. I went to clean my teeth the other night, and spotted this at the side of the bath, tucked behind Sir Duckingham Place and his friends.

He has found a bit of packaging and a plastic trifle dish. And to stop me recycling them in the new black bin, he has labelled them properly [even down to his copyright symbol].
Spider Re-homing Kit ©
It will amuse the children on their next visit!

Noël Ou Pâques?

I found a mini kit to make a French Hen in the CS. Is it for Christmas or Easter? Corine Lapierre is a Frenchwoman living in Yorkshire, who produces fabulous felt kits [Liz gave me her Advent Picture which I completed for Christmas 2024] The label said "Has Been Started, 80p" I gave the guy £1 and came home and opened my little box. And checked the website [discovered the kit retails at £12.95]

The felt bits were all there [the stuffing is inside the box], and someone had made a start. Perhaps they realised that there was quite a lot of stitching involved and maybe they were not up to it. They'd marked out the pieces with black pen, and forgotten to turn the inked side to the inside. The paper patterns from the rhs of the instruction sheet were absent.

I carefully unpicked the stitching and sorted the pieces out [ink side underneath] The website  suggests buying felt and using the paper templates to make more hens. My plan is to use these pieces to recreate the templates before I sew up this hen, then maybe make some more in other colours. Aiming for Christmas, but maybe I'll get it done by Easter 

Fortunately I can zoom in on the website picture to get a clearer idea of the stitching. The body has detached brown chain stitches each filled with 2 blue straight stitches. 

Ooh La La! Watch this space...
I am wondering what other colourways would work for this Petite Poule
Maybe grey, black, red with vivid green stitching...

A Little Shy In The Park...

On Saturday, Liz, Jon and the girls collected me and we went to Holt Country Park. I think our last visit was back before lockdown! It was a beautiful day - we began with Ro and Jess enjoying the playground [swings, slide, zipwire etc] Then we set off to walk through the trees. Rosie in the lead, I was behind her, [she is nearly as tall as I asm now!]then Jess and Jon, with Liz taking pictures ...

It was sunny, and a little cool, but the ground was mostly dry and firm underfoot. Suddenly Rosie stopped - she had come to a place where there were fewer branches overhead - with a clear few up the bank covered in gorse, to a clear blue sky. She called out to me 
Catch the beauty, Grandma!

What a lovely comment! She went on to explain to me that we all see nature in our own different ways, but she thought this was just beautiful. And she thought it sad that others did not appreciate it, or take care of it. Such enthusiasm for creation gives me hope! 

We walked on together. To the south of the park is Holt Lowes, where there are Dartmoor Ponies. The rest of the family caught up with us. We admired these beasts but did not attempt to stroke them or touch them in any way. [Please note Ro's amazing K-Pop hairdo!!]

Then I said 

No, that looks like two water tanks. No, it is a sculpture...

It is called The Carved Men, and Rosie sat and had a chat with them!

We walked on to Tin Can Alley - a brilliant arrangements of cans tied on a beam with pine cone missiles to make a form of Coconut Shy. Simple yet clever. The cans do not get lost, and the cones are easily replaced [and when the cans are all hanging, you can 'play' them with sticks like a percussion instrument] Liz and I both felt the Men's Shed could use this idea!

Then on into Holt for a delicious lunch in Holt Fish Bar - helpful staff, very family friendly, lovely chips! 
Sunday lunchtime they all came over to Cornerstones for a Roast Chicken Lunch. The house is full of flowers and cards. I feel extremely loved. Grateful for them all...Catch the beauty, feel the love

Monday Merriment

Three things which made me smile over the weekend
First, in a toyshop in Holt, Steven Seagull/Seagal. Seems quite appropriate really, one appears in films, and acts violently, grabbing people's possessions. The other appears on Cromer promenade, acts violently, dives in and grabs people's crisps and chips!

Second, Saturday afternoon, Jess decided she wanted to do crafting with Grandma. I insisted we went through the arts and crafts book and made a list of which activities she thought she might like to do in future [to save time later] Then she opted for making a dino "Keep Out!" sign for her bedroom door "for when I want to be private, Grandma" ... enter at your own risk!

Third, I have a lovely teardrop shaped soap dispenser in the bathroom. The grapefruit scented liquid was used up long ago. Steph sent me the picture below. She knows me too well!
It's always a good idea to start the week with a smile, if you can!😃

A Pause In Lent #4

Today is Mothering Sunday. Thank God for those who have 'mothered' you - and pray for those whom you have 'mothered'. And pray especially for whom today will be difficult, for whatever reason.

Invisible Threads

Tomorrow is Mothering Sunday. No, I will not call it Mothers' Day. I'm grateful for all those who 'mother' others- whether actual family members [mums, grandmas, aunts...] or older. close friends, who care and support the younger generations. I'm truly grateful 

• for my Mum, an amazing woman who achieved so much despite so many difficulties along the way, not least very poor health. My greatest role model 
• for my grandmother who taught me so much - about faith, and good family values [and sewing] 
• for all those 'aunties' around me as I grew up, close family friends who cared for me, encouraged me, supported me
• for teachers, youth leaders, and older work colleagues who gave invaluable advice and showed infinite patience

And now I am the grandma, with daughters, and grandchildren looking to me for love and support and care. During half-term week, I was so conscious of the strong bonds that hold our family together, the love between siblings, parents, children, grands... [women and men]
A couple of weeks ago, my blogfriend "Fat Dormouse" shared a beautiful song "Invisible Thread" by Neil Hannon [Divine Comedy] which is all about parenting. About loving your children with all your heart, desperately wanting to protect them from the bad stuff - but having the faith to let them fly. [Neil had me at the brilliant first line!]

"Invisible Thread"

I'm sewn into your collar, you're stitched into my heart

And though I know you've got to go, it's tearing me apart

You're stitched into my heart

Now go, spread your little wings and fly

Smile, you don't need a reason why

Leave if you've got to leave, just know

There will always be an invisible thread

Between you and me

I used to think that no one could keep you safe but me

That only I could guide you through life's crazy tapestry

But now you're guiding me

So go, spread your little wings and fly,

laugh, you don't need a reason why

Leave if you've got to leave, just know

There will always be an invisible thread between you and me 

Everything's connected, the fibres intertwine

The birds and bees, the flowers and trees

And even you and I

And when the time is right we go

Spread our little wings and fly

Sing, we don't need a reason why

Cry if you want to cry, but this is not goodbye

There will always be an invisible thread

Between you and me     [Neil Hannon/Divine Comedy]