Doillies and Tray Cloths

On Wednesday at Kate's Pat arrived with a bag full of tray cloths and doillies. All were beautifully embroidered and in good condition. Pat said that she had once stayed with a friend who had made a quilt with such beauties and the thought had stuck with her and she thought that she would do something similar.


This one was my favourite and Rosemary and I were doing our usual trick of trying to sneak it into our bags in the hope that Pat wouldn't notice.

 

 

One of the tray cloths had an unusual edging. Ric rac and crochet combined.

 

 

 

The larger table cloth was pinned onto the design wall and then the very pretty crocheted napkin was pinned  to the centre.

 

 

 

Pretty spring flowers, tulips and daffodils.

 

 

 

This was the first layout and then there was much imput from everyone moving them about and repositioning. It is such a lovely idea for a quilt and even if you don't have any such treasures then they can be found at car boot sales and charity shops for reasonable prices and is a great way of recycling and giving them new purpose. Lots of white space for some quilting.

 



 

 

 

Going around blogland at the moment are photo's of the blog owner aged 21. I am not sure how or why this started but I think it may have been a Dutch blog. Maybe someone will tell me. I had to do a bit of searching and thought that I must surely have a photo of myself somewhere and this is the only one I could come up with. It was taken the day before my 21st birthday and I went to Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire for a Viennese Evening with Mick and some of our friends. We took a picnic and sat on rugs and it was cool for July. This was 1980. The concert consisted of the Vienna Boys Choir singing on the steps of the House and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra playing Viennese Waltzes finishing with the Thunder and Lightening Polka. As the last notes sounded and the cymbals crashed the firework display started. It was a fantastic evening and the memory has stayed with me. I apologise for the very grainy shot but please take note of that dark hair.

 

 

 

Still not much to show in the way of stitching but I have done a little bit this week and some knitting but not enough progress to be of interest.

 

 

Winter has arrived in the UK, we have snow and temperatures are on the chilly side. Wherever you are stay warm, spare a thought for our fellow Aussies who  are baking and suffering in their heatwave. Stay safe.

 

Happy stitching.

 

Shirley.

From Stina

Just before Christmas Stina sent me a Christmas present and like a very good girl I waited till Christmas morning to open it. We had several emails back and forth as Stina was convinced that I would not like the gift that she was making me and that I would need sunglasses as it was bright and crazy and that I could opt out if I thought it would not be to my taste. I neither need shades nor do I think it is crazy. I think it is beautiful.It has pretty crochet circles and little messages that are personal to us both and I LOVE IT. You can read more about it on Stina's blog.

 

 



Also enclosed in the parcel was this beautiful scissor keeper and how clever of Stina to make me one that fits and compliments my best gingher scissors perfectly.  They are little felt strawberries and strawberries are my favourite fruit. I also had some delicious chocolates but sadly I opened those and Mick and I scoffed them pretty prompt and didn't take a photo.

 

 

Lizzie in Australia sent me a lovely surprise package of two patterns by one of my favourite designers - Trish Harper. I haven't forgotten that those Dancing Dollies (also by Trish) are waiting to be finished and this year they definitely will be. I love house quilts and this one is qoing to whet the apetite and noughts and crosses will use up some of that stash for sure. Trish's patterns can be ordered via Lizzie on Broderie blog.

Another Christmas gift was from Kate. A beautiful scented hyacinth planted in a mug. How clever of Kate though to make sure mine was this fabulous pink colour. Wish you could smell the scent.

At the weekend we travelled up to Leek in Staffordshire for the Christening of baby Daisy. Here we are having a bit of a cuddle and a feed.

Lovely mum and dad, Laura and Chris with Daisy cutting her fabulous cake which had little daisies all over and was most pretty. There looks to be some weaponry about but all was safe.

 

 

All events should have an amusing tale and this one made us all laugh.  The vicar took Daisy in his arms to baptise her and he very gently sprinkled her head with water from the font and at this point she had been fast asleep, out shot the dummy and landed with a splash in the font. Quick as a flash the vicar fished it out, baptised the dummy as well as Daisy and put it back in her mouth. The dummy is now known as The Holy One. Hopefully the water was clean ?!!!

 

Maybe before long I shall have some sewing progress to show to you. I will leave you with this comment from Emma in my Tuesday sewing group and I wished that I had thought of this. I was explaining to Emma that my word for the year was Try and that I was going to try and get more sewing done. She said that it was a good word and could be applied to all sorts of things and that if I started something and got bored with it and abandoned it then all I had to say was  "well, I was only TRYING it". That kind of logic will get me into a lot of trouble I am sure but it did make me laugh. I need to sit with Emma more often for her logical thoughts and words of wisdom.

 

Happy Stitching.

 

Shirley.

 

New Year Promises





This new year of 2013, I have vowed to get my act together and have made a few promises to myself.  My word for this year is TRY, so, I shall TRY and do better, TRY to finish a few things and TRY to be a better blogger. No doubt I shall start a few things too but I shall TRY to finish them so that they don't languish in a dark place. I have lots of plans.

 

 

In my quest to TRY, I managed to upload my photo's onto said blog via the new toy that Santa brought me but at the minute I am not loving it very much. Like all new things I guess  you just have to keep Trying till it become's second nature.  Right this minute it is back to the old laptop.

 

 



 

Thank you to everyone for your comments on Olly's Christmas sweater. He loved it and wore it with pride. He is a brave chap and no Josie I didn't need to bake a cake with a file in it!!

 

 

One of the things that I have been doing is following on Pinterest. It seems to cause some angst in some circles and to pin or not to pin was the question I kept asking myself. I desisted for quite some time but gave in. If you follow me and see anything that I have pinned that you are not happy with then please tell me and I will remove it.

 

 

There are some great ideas on Pinterest and one of them was a link to a youtube tutorial for a crochet stitch called crocodile stitch.  So, I set myself the task of teaching myself how to do it. After  several attempts and that word Try, Try  and Try again, the third attempt I had cracked it. With an odd ball of wool leftover from something or other I have made a headband. It is a fantastic, textural stitch and with a variegated yarn gives some lovely effects. In making a headband and in the round the stitches had to be adapted a little but worked out just the same. I think the photo is upside down but you get the idea. If you search youtube for crocodile stitch then you will find several tutorials.

 



 

 

Quilting has started on the smallest of the baby quilts. I am using a perle thread and a large stitch and in a beautiful shade of lavender. I made a daisy template and have drawn them at random. For the backing I used a brushed cotton sheet that was given to me by Joan from Dotty Dolly. I washed it several times to soften it and it is perfect. The wadding is a very fine and soft cotton which I think is called Rose Dream and the whole thing is soft and cuddly. I am calling this one a practice one in readiness for the larger quilt.

 

 

You will notice a strange looking object on top of the quilt. It is a bag frame for a rather special project that I found a few weeks back. It took some tracking down and a nice lady in China sent them to me super quick. All I have to do is decipher the instructions that are in French and I shall be away.

 

 

 

On New Year's Day Mick and myself had a little drive to Sidmouth for some fresh air. The weather forecast was for yet more rain but turned out better than expected and it brought out  quite a few people enjoying the sea air. There were even a few brave souls surfing.

 

 

 

Here is wishing you all the very best for the coming year and to many happy stitching hours.

 

 

Love Shirley.



Frosty The Snowman

Two weeks ago I had a request from Olly to knit him a Christmas jumper(sweater)!!!! At the rate I work it was never going to happen so I offered to embellish a bought one for him. Christmas sweaters are the latest rage and I shall be taking commissions in readiness for next year. Any takers? Yes that carrot is protruding and I think it is going to have to be re sewn a few times. I may also have to visit him in jail when he gets arrested for indecency.  It has caused such merriment. Practice crochet snowflakes came in handy too along with a tie from a boxful that I have been hoarding. Hexagons for eyes. Well, it just wouldn't be right to have a post with no hexagons would it?

 

Just leaves me to say wishing you all a Merry Christmas. Have fun.

 

Love Shirley.x

Strictly Come Dancing Elves

 

I have been tuning in and reading your blogs, even leaving the occasional comment.  As for sewing, not a lot has been happening. A little something that I made is winging it's way to Sweden but as it is a surprise and hasn't yet reached it's destination I cannot show you. I have made the odd hexagon and crocheted  a few snowflakes, not worthy of showing. I need much more practice in that department. I shall endeavour to TRY and do better next year.

 

 

I shall leave you with a little video clip made by my daughter Rachel (clever apps again), hope it raises a smile or two.

 

 

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas from the Sherratt Elves.

 

 

Shirley.x

Worn and Washed Out

Last week I broke out into a deep sweat as I persuaded myself to unwrap and use one of my precious packs of Worn and Washed Fabrics from Kim Porter. This delightful bundle of pinks was bought quite some time ago and it has been lovingly caressed but, its time had come to be used. The last time I saw Kim she said that I had to use them and not just collect them. I probably have another four stashed away. They are just so scrummy. If you have ever seen Kim's stands at the shows you will know why they are so scrummy.

 

 

In true "Kim" style this was going to be one of those projects that would be very simple. No maths and complicated piecing and no matching up of points and seams, just strips sewn together randomly. I am not good at doing random and still had to place all the strips out and swap them around but, simple sewing it was. This is bigger than a cot quilt but not a huge single bed quilt, with enough left over to make a crib size quilt/ dolly quilt/ pram quilt. It is also a trip down memory lane.  You may recognise some of the fabrics from Laura Ashley. I am pleased with the progress and today wadding has been bought and I have acquired a lovely brushed cotton bed sheet. This is  in the washing machine as we speak to soften it up a bit so that I can use it for the backing. It is like the stripy fabric in one of the patches below.

 

 

Baby gifts in abundance and I finished the baby blanket in time to go on a little journey with Rachel because we have a new generation in the family.

 

 

 

This is Niece Laura and gorgeous baby Daisy Olive, weighing in at a very respectable 7lb 13oz. Mum and baby both doing well.  We got lots of cuddles.

 



 

Many of you will have seen on the news of the horrible weather that is plaguing most of Britain which started here in the WestCountry at the start of last week. It has rained and rained and rained and rained. We keep thinking that it can't possibly last but it has. Today has been dry here and even a chink of blue in the sky but for a lot of people the mopping up process is beginning.

 

This is Kate's garden last Wednesday and as you can see it has narrowly missed coming into the house and Kate has been housebound as she has been unable to get out of her drive and along the lane. It also meant no sewing for us as we could not get there either. I cannot begin to imagine what it must be like to have your home flooded out and your possessions turned into a soggy mess. I am grateful and thankful for where I live and so sorry for those not so fortunate.

 

 



 

This week I have started a little bit of sewing. One fat quarter of shot cotton and lots of scraps which is going to be an ipad bag a la Brigitte Giblin. I don't possess an ipad but I am hopeful that Santa may be very kind to me this year. I so hope he is reading this blog.

 



Wherever you are, stay warm and dry and keep stitching.

Love Shirley.

Keeping Busy

 



For most of Lori's quiltalong I managed to keep up and even had something to show for the deadline. If you wish to see a few more then head over to Lori's blog and see how creative people have been with this fabulous project. I chose to add a pale cream border and have now quilted it and it is ready to be trimmed and the binding added. I have enjoyed every stitch of making this and can't wait to see what clever Lori comes up with next.

 

 

You may have forgotten this project. It has been on the back boiler for a while now and has been pinned to my makeshift design wall waiting for me to get my act together and make the corners for the blocks. So far the first 3 are done and a border is also going on as I go along. This is a huge quilt in the making and I may not do all of it. At least progress is being made and it is keeping me busy. In case you are wondering, my makeshift design wall is a fleecy blanket hooked over the wardrobe with skirt hangers. It is the best I can come up with but a bigger blanket would be helpful. I will let you into a secret - shhhh, there is another project pinned to the other side. Don't tell anyone.

Just so you don't think I have fallen out with hexagons these are steadily growing. I know what you are thinking. There is no pink in sight of any of them. They are a real departure from my usual pinkness. I need 39 diamond shapes and so far I have 17. A way to go yet.

Never fear though, that box is being filled and with as many plain hexies being made as the pretty ones. Believe you me it pays off to make them at the same time because when you think you have enough pretty ones then come all the plain ones and you need even more of them and it can be boring. There! I said it. Shock! They have to be done though. I love the gentle shades of these.  Great to make them whilst watching the tv. Downton has finished now, lots of tissues and ooh and ahhs and fabulous storylines.  I am gripped with Strictly Fever and cannot call yet who I think will win but my favourite so far is Lisa Riley. She is sensational. Also, Is anyone other than me glued to The Paradise on a Tuesday night watching the fabulous Sarah Lancashire as the haughty madam in charge of the shop girls of the Paradise Department Store.  It has a great cast. Hope you ladies get to see this drama sometime soon as it is so well acted and I know you will love it too.

Some knitting has also been on the go and I need to sew in some cross stitches around the hearts. Cannot show you the whole thing yet as it is a present. The pattern came from Australian Homespun, The Knitting Issue. I question why they had a knitting issue in a patchwork magazine but I loved the project so I suppose it worked.

 Atmospheric cloud formation over Stitcherydo HQ. Makes a change to be able to see the Quantock Hills, they are normally shrouded in mist.

My lovely Swindon cousin Karen was 40 on the 3rd of November and she had a party. Here you can see her cutting her fabulous cake which was a giant watch complete with diamante's. Karen has a watch fetish. It was so cold that night and during the night it actually snowed and then turned to a heavy downpour which has been the pattern for much of the year really. Not that we noticed it as we were tucked up and asleep. I did get an email from Nanci from Florida asking if we had survived the flooding as it had been on her news. Amazing what gets shown where. Apart from the river level being high we were ok.

 

I hope that wherever you are reading this that you are warm/cool and safe and able to stitch. It is the best therapy for anything and everything I find.

 

Happy Stitching.

 

Shirley.