Autumn is here

Since I last updated my Blog I have been up to Nottingham to visit my 91 year old Mother.  Nina, one of her God-daughters who also just happens to be one of very dearest friends came with me - we had such a lovely time and had fun looking through old photos and generally talking about the past.  It is amazing what Mum can still remember from 70 plus years ago.

This photo shows Nina and Mum delving into the Second World War years.

I also caught up with my sister over a delicious curry, and took Mum out and about which she loved.

Here we are about to go to the garden center, and then off to the pub for lunch!  My Mum is just amazing!

Drove home through wind and rain Friday night, and have settled back into normal Devon life again.  I have a couple of finishes to show you:  the first is a Christmas sampler (done in good time this year - I am usually rushing into the picture framers 3 days before Christmas asking for a miracle!) -

and an Autumn table runner which is for my youngest daughter Dot.  Special request (I think she is bored with the Easter chickens on her table!) - so Dot, hope you like!  It is double-sided - a bonus when you spill the wine!

I also ordered two new books on Sunday, and they both arrived Tuesday.  Such great service and lovely books - I recommend!

The first is the new Blackbird Designs book " A Schoolgirl's Work" which I ordered  from "The Patchwork Rabbit" - (http://www.patchworkrabbit.com/) - it is full of antique samplers and projects related to them.  Absolutely gorgeous, great photos.

The second book is the new Whimsicals "Buttons and Blooms" which I got from "Threadbear" (http://www.thread-bear.co.uk/) - another lovely book and I am now deciding which fabric to order, and how much!

I want to make everything in this book - not enough hours in the day!

Meanwhile we are still picking raspberries so I will be making more jam at the weekend - and when I take Ben - our Goldie - for an early morning walk each day before breakfast I am eating one of my "five a day" - the hedgerows are full of delicious blackberries - can't be bad!

I think I now need to start on my Christmas patchwork so will be pulling out the basket full of Christmas fabrics and deciding what to make and for whom!  Only those who have said "thank you" in the past will receive!!  It never ceases to amaze me how casual some people (luckily only a VERY few) can be about home made gifts.  They seem to have no comprehension as to how many hours go into planning and making what hopefully will end up as a "family heirloom"!  There is nothing more precious than giving one's personal time up into making a gift, and a "thank you" is always so appreciated.

I have finished my "Debbie Mumm" quilt - from the gorgeous fabric I found at the FOQ - large squares with a nine-patch set on point - and that is now being long-arm quilted.  Photos will follow when I have collected and done the binding.  Cannot wait to see it finished - patience is a virtue!

Now back to the Christmas Design Board.