Surprise Package

Early last week a surprise package arrived all the way from Sweden from my lovely blogging friend Stina. We are going to meet up in August at The Festival of Quilts and we are two excited little bunnies.

The contents of the box brought tears to my eyes.  A beautiful stitched and framed picture, a box of Swedish chocolates immediately hidden away and scoffed by me. I might have shared a few. I am that generous. The pink mug is beautiful and came with a pack of Stina's favourite tea for me to try out and, AND, it came with the most beautiful mini quilt cum mug mat.

I adore the little quilt and have plans to use it somewhere at my daughter Sarah's wedding later this year. It is far too beautiful to use as a mug mat and I want to put it where I can see it. Love the quilting too and for a non machine quilter like me it has me itching to try it out. I feel very lucky and privileged to receive such beautiful and thoughtful gifts and to be called a friend. It means a lot. Thank you Stina. 

You can see more at Stina's blog.

The 10 stitch blanket is finished. Three balls of yarn used and it measures roughly 27 inches or 68 cms. The wrong side has the ribbed join and the side I prefer. I finished it off with a crochet picot edge. I really enjoyed knitting this and think I may have to knit a bigger one. It is big enough to wrap around the shoulders or for covering a little person and I am sure it will in the future cover dollies and teddies and even Humphrey the tapestry cat.

 

 I dug out another knitting project half done to occupy my fingers in the evenings. I started this little sweater for Maisie last year knowing that we were having a granddaughter but at the time my shoulder was so painful and any knitting was done a row a day and far too slow a progress. Abandoned as a hopeless cause. Anyway, on digging it out I had done more than I realised and just needed to knit a sleeve and the little collar. All I need to do now is sew it up. Lucky I started the second size as it will fit her now. She is not a big baby so it may fit her for a while.

Are you wondering how I did with the list for January? I managed a respectable  61.5% and if taking the rest of the projects out of their hiding places and looking at them counts then I consider myself to be doing very well. Having a list does help me to concentrate and gives me a bit of a deadline but it is meant to be a bit of fun. I have compiled February's list and it is under way.

Quality Control checking that I have stitched those hexagons properly.

Sewing at Kate's has been cancelled today because we are still being battered by strong wind and heavy rain and some roads are under water including Kate's driveway. Better to stay home safe and dry. The ground is so sodden and our rivers full to capacity and according to the weathermen it is going to continue. Crazy weather.

Stay safe wherever you are and keep on stitching.

Love Shirley.