One For Sorrow, Two For Joy...

This is the logo of The Magpies, aka Dereham Town Football Club. Norfolk boasts a number of FCs with bird nicknames [Norwich Canaries, Kings Lynn Linnets, Reepham Robins...] Founded in 1884 as Dereham FC, merging in 1986 with a Sunday league team, to become Hobbies United - in 1991 named Dereham Town FC.

This year, 2026, marks 60 years since the first name change, and our local museum is making this a year of sport [we just had the Winter Olympics] So Katie asked how we could bring the Museum Mice up to speed on this.
I said that creating sports gear for the mice was a bit of a challenge - why not dress them as footie fans, and give them all hats and scarves? And I'd got black and white wool in my stash...
Oh no I hadn't! Lots of white dk, but somehow almost all my black wool got used up when I donated it to some poppy-knitters. I bought a cheap ball of black dk and set to, producing first scarves and then hats. And the hats needed pompoms. 
"Why is there a small fork on the coffee table?" asked Bob. "It's mine, I said defensively, "my first ever fork, it used to have a little spoon with is but that got lost decades ago"
"Buy why is it on the coffee table?"  "It is perfect for making Mini PomPoms"

That really is black wool, it just looks navy in the picture! Here's a diagram.   Choose a fork the width of your finished pompom.

 Thread the ends round between central tines a few times [use a darning needle] and tie tight. Cut and trim.

The project is going very speedily, I'm making hats with both white and black pompoms. The mice should look splendid! I decided to polish up my little fork, so got out the giant tin of Brasso. Don't forget, if you polish a piece of cutlery with Brasso or Duraglit, you should wash it in regular w/u liquid afterwards before using it for food.

Have you ever made mini pompoms?

Do you support a football team? [I don't] 

Do you still use metal polish? [The National Trust polish their copper and silverware just once a year before the start of the season]

⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽

Magpie began on ITV in 1958, it was intended as a rival to BBC's Blue Peter which began ten years earlier. Magpie ran for just 12 years. BP is still going, approaching its 70th birthday, it's the longest running children's TV show in the world!

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]

 

 

Invaluable Threads

When machine sewing, my thread of choice is Gütermann - a family owned company, founded in Vienna in 1864 who continue to produce excellent products for home stitchers., and industrial purposes. So I was really excited when we went over to our local "Scrapbox" Sale last Saturday morning. 

There was a pile of small pink stripy paper bags [12 x15cm - a bit bigger than a postcard]  beside a basket with a sign. I did not need telling twice. I rummaged through the basket and took out all the Gütermann threads, and ignored the old, half used, non-G cottons, many of which were snapping and beyond use. And packed eleven of them neatly into the bag.

~two as new 1000m reels of cream sew-all thread @£10 each ~unstarted 200m pink machine embroidery usually £2.50~200m red quilting cotton, £3.50~some multicoloured threads,~ various other sew-all spools. I estimate around £40 of threads. Well, everybody tells me that free motion embroidery 'eats up the threads' so this will be useful. And the basic black, white and cream, are invaluable in the workbox.

I was also looking for a 4mm 80cm long circular knitting needle. I got a bag containing three of these, plus a 5mm needle for 20p! Just one would normally be £3.  Bob found some tools and also materials for picture framing which he specifically wanted.  

Do you use Community Scrap Schemes?  
What bargains have you found?

More free motion practice.

I used some random thread and "scribbled" Also did some zigzag stitching.

It really does use a lot of thread !

What3Words?

Are you familiar with what3words? It is an alternative way of finding a location, using a unique combination of 3 words for every location on the planet. For instance, Foulsham Baptist Church

• street address is 50 Station Road, Foulsham, Dereham, Norfolk
• postcode is NR20 5RD
• latitude/longitude 52.688146/1.620782
• OS grid reference TG448162
• what3words ///harvest.encourage.collected

[actually, if you check the other side of the chapel it is ///knee.local.organist  - but that doesn't sound like a very good thing to do in church!!]

We were listening to the end of the local BBC news, and the announcer said "Coming next, The One Show, with Alex Jones interviewing Hero Fines Tiffin" I turned to Bob "What did she just say? It sounded like a what3words location."

I looked it up ///hero.fine.tiff is in Queensland Australia, and ///hero.fines.muffin  is near Marrakesh, Morocco.

I had misheard - Hero Fiennes Tiffin is actually a real person from the Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes family Ranulph is an explorer, Jake is a conservation director in Norfolk, and brothers Ralph and Joseph are actors. HFT is nephew of the acting brothers. [but no relation to HFW the cook from River Cottage!] 

Well once I had established he was a person, not a place, I watched the interview. He was in a Harry Potter film [which I have not seen] And his mum's a film director, and father is a cinematographer.  But according to the director, he was cast for his ability to 'find the darker space' and 'having a wonderful haunted quality' ...nothing at all to do with family connections, and Uncle Ralph playing Voldemort!

He was being interviewed by Alex because he is the star of the new series "Young Sherlock" on Prime. So we have watched some of it. It's a long way from Arthur Conan Doyle's sleuth - and seeks to portray the youthful antics of Mr Holmes. His father is played by his Uncle Joseph, and his brother Mycroft is Max Irons [son of Jeremy Irons and Sinead Cusack] One feels these acting dynasties are producing a lot of nepo-babies.
What did we think? Bob described it as 'a bit pretentious'. The plots are ridiculously contrived, and I cannot see how this tearaway is going to become the measured, thoughtful Sherlock [who is always Jeremy Brett in my head, in the same way that David Suchet is Poirot] there are nods to the future [the young copper Lestrade, and the senior copper who wears a deerstalker] and it is produced by Guy Richie. But it is a bit of slapstick fun with some very shaky plotlines.

If you like crime on TV, Sue in Suffolk did an excellent blogpost yesterday, with a great round up of what's on.  Marlow Murders #3 airs next Wednesday [18th]  They have finished filming Strike, and that's due later in the year. The lead actor, Tom Burke is son of actor David Burke [now aged 91] who played Watson opposite Jeremy Brett's Holmes, his co-star Holly Grainger is currently in Capture #3. Lots of plots to watch right now, and in the months ahead
///what3words ? How about ///who.dun.it ?

A Purrfect Gift For Someone?

Lyssa blogs here , and we have followed each other's blogs for many years now. She recently asked me if I would review her latest book [acknowledging that I am not really a 'cat' person!] and I said I would. 
The title intrigued me, as there aren't any domesticated cats mentioned in the Scriptures [although there are quite a few lions and also references to leopards] The Egyptians were very fond of cats, and these felines occur in their religious ceremonies. What was this about?
The book is in fact a collection of true anecdotes about the author's three cats, Smudge, Smoke and Shadow. Their behaviour, and their fascinating homelife serve to illustrate all sorts of important principles about life, laughter, love and long-suffering.
Each chapter is headed by a Bible verse which emphasises the point being made, the lesson to be learned. as the story unfolds.
The book is an easy read - either sit down and work right through it, or pick it up and just read one tale at a time. Even as a non cat-person, I found myself entertained, amused, and sometimes challenged by the moggies' antics, and wondered how I would have responded to some of them. Owning cats is certainly a character building experience.
I have a few reservations about some Bible verses being used out of context, but this isn't meant to be heavy theology, so I won't knock off too many stars! And it is not just for people of faith.
I think it would be a sweet little gift for a cat-lover of your acquaintance, and is available from Amazon. The book  also contains fewer calories than an Easter Egg which is another point in its favour.****
Purrhaps you know someone who would like a copy...Update-please read Lyssa's comment below 

They've Bin And Dunnit!

They've dealt with my wheelie bins, that is! When we got Cornerstones in 2009. we had two bins - regular, and recycling. The regular one was 20 years old [it said 1989 on the top] but in good working order.

The recycling was slightly newer, but had a couple of small cracks in the lid. We started paying for a garden bin. Four years ago, I stopped paying for that, as I was getting into composting properly, and felt it was £60 p.a. I didn't want to spend! I pushed that bin out of the way. Recently I realised those cracks were major splits, and my recycling bin was filling up with water in all the rainstorms. So my 'clean&dry' recycling was useless.
Last week [3rd March] I rang the helpful woman at Breckland Council. She made a note that I wanted the redundant garden bin collected, and a replacement for my damaged bin. "Don't worry if there is anything in them, they will deal with that, Should be dealt with inside 10 working days" And sure enough, early on 9th March, I got up to find the garden one gone, and a smart new recycling bin outside.

This was made in Telford [I remember Pauline telling me once that many of the UK bins are made there] and has 2026 imprinted on the lid. All I need to do now is stick my spare "4" numeral on the front, and spray-paint a recycling symbol on the lid. It can be quite confusing for visitors from other parts of the UK, when they helpfully offer to put stuff in the bin. 
One site lists "Common UK Recycling Bin Colours" thus...

blue Commonly used for "dry" mixed recycling, including paper, cardboard, and sometimes cans/plastic.
green Often used for garden waste, but in some areas, it is used for dry recyclables.
red/orange Often designated for plastic bottles, pots, and, in some cases, food waste.
brown: Typically used for garden waste or organic waste. 
But then it says "It is essential to check with your local council for the specific, definitive colour system in your area, as they can vary significantly."
Here in the Breckland region of central Norfolk, regular is green, recyclable is black, and garden is brown - totally  different from both Leicester and Dorset. I wonder what colour our food waste bins will be when they arrive?

What colour are your bins?

 

March Forward!

 This month's calendar picture

A good question for all of us I think. In these turbulent times, it helps to know what really matters to us. 

The wisest people build on rocks not sand ...

A Pause In Lent #3

 

This Is Not A Toddler Toilet Seat...

These are toddler toilet seats. What you see below  is a free motion guide grip.

Similar in shape, but actually for very different purposes. As we wandered round the show last Thursday I talked to Elisabeth about Free Motion Embroidery. When we both lived in Leicester we had a mutual friend [another Rev's wife] who was very good at it, and maintained it was easy.

I said to E that I had made a few attempts but couldn't get the hang of it. She said she went to a workshop last year and did some stuff on the day, but nothing since...She found manipulating the hoop quite difficult. At the very end of our day., almost the last stand in the far corner of the 1st floor, we met Steve from Sewing Machine World in Kings Lynn.
He was using one of these guides, and producing superb stuff. "That's what I need!" I said, and he stood up, and said "Sit down, have a go" And I sat and squiggled and spiralled and did straight lines
and tried to write my name Angel&
For the first time in my life I actually felt I had some semblance of control over the machine embroidery work. Elisabeth had a go too. I bought one of his grips on the spot [and had 1p left from my allotted budget for the day!] Then we went and had a cuppa, and E. decided she was going to buy one too. 

Saturday afternoon I sat down at the machine to practice
I began with words
Yes
Angela
hallelujah
AMEN
then I did three beach huts
under a sky with pointy clouds
and a squiggly sun
and wavy sea
with a fish.
Tuesday I tried again

A house with windows, and a smoking chimney [it may be on fire!] A king with a crown and a cheery smile. A five pointed star, and sew good
I felt very pleased with myself. I can see I have the bobbin tension wrong [too much pink thread coming through from underneath] but it is a start. 
I found it so much easier to steer the guide than grip a hoop.  This video was very helpful. 
No. I do not think I shall be doing an embroidered portrait of Bob, or even a landscape full of trees and flowers just yet. More practice needed. But I am Getting There and that's what matters.

Have you ever done free motion machine embroidery?
What are your best tips, please?
Can you recommend any good YouTube tutorials?

Jesus Says "I Will Give You Rest, Come!"

That is the theme of this year's World Day Of Prayer, planned by the women of Nigeria. WDP always happens on the first Friday in March. I checked the Find A Service Near You page, and was pleased to find there is an afternoon service just a few miles away in Dereham. I felt sad that to find that there was no service listed in Kirby Muxloe, and Ferndown was 24 miles from the nearest service. [surely somebody in one of the many Bournemouth churches is doing something?] You can find out more here