Sunny Sewing Sunday

Today it has not rained:  but despite the sun shining I have been sewing away in my studio.  I am so enjoying my latest project:  I am on the last lap and I think it will look just lovely!:

The cross-stitch panel in the middle gives it a lovely soft country feel and I am loving the soft pinks and blues..
I am also getting on well with my latest cross-stitch (Needle & Thread - Sampler of the Season:  Spring) - I started this in Nottingham last week whilst visiting my Mum: so I am pleased with the progress, it is going to be about 15 ins square:

To the right of the house there is a washing line of patchwork quilts, cannot wait to sew those!
Mum was fine, no worse (or better) than on my last visit, which is fine - she struggles to walk but uses her zimmer frame.  At 92 years old "every day is a blessing - every meal a feast" - especially when I am there to cook for her!  We had a lovely few days together.
I have finished another baby quilt for one of Fran's friends - she liked the previous one so much - which is great - that she asked me to do one for a little girl born last November:  hence I chose Flower Fairies!:

Fingers crossed that this one hits the mark too.
After days of cold wet windy weather, today has been dry and this evening the sun made an appearance.  There was even the tourist boat on the River - it goes from Plymouth to Calstock where it stops by the pub:  we can often hear everyone singing on their way back home, all very jolly:

The roses are beginning to flower, and look lovely - they are all ones with an old fashioned smell:

I picked a few, and added some herbs and put them in a vase in our living room:  every time I walk through there is the most delicious smell!

I am off up to Cobham in Surrey on Thursday for a few days staying with my very special friend Lise, she has just come out of hospital having had her hip replacement fixed - for the 3rd time.  I am the designated Nurse:  which mainly involves organising visitors for Happy Hour!  Hopefully youngest daughter Dot will come and visit us, and maybe my son Robbie too - Fran will be in Paris and then goes onto New York, so sadly won't see her this time but I am hoping to catch up with a few friends too, so all in all a fun few days ahead.
I have seen some wonderful photos that my blogging friends have put up recently of the wild life in their gardens:  we love feeding the birds here, there are so many wonderful species that visit us - but at dusk, and sometimes really early in the morning the bird-feeder has an unexpected visitor:

A little field mouse enjoying his supper!  He must think he's the luckiest mouse in Devon!
I will blog again when I return from Surrey - I hope you all have a good week.

Keeping Calm - just!

I will start this Blog with one of the best cards ever:

I just absolutely love it - what more can one say, it totally sums up my life!  Thank you Elsie!
I have wanted to update my Blog for a while but somehow life has just got in the way, but this morning is all peaceful and quiet so I am able to show you what I have been doing.
First of all here are some cross-stitch finishes - we are fast running out of wall space!

I love the long shape of this one and it fits perfectly under the window.

I also just love samplers with houses, and this one was just gorgeous to sew and the end result is very pleasing.  I also love alphabets, and of course Noah's Ark!:  here is a little one I have just finished which will be added to my collection after framing:

I have been busy with my patchwork too:  two baby quilts and a fun small lap quilt:

This one is double sided:  Fran asked me to make this for one of her friends whose baby is due soon - I just love making baby quilts, they are extra special:

And this one is for Freddie who was born in February - running late again, but Mother and Son just love it which is all that matters!

It was my birthday last month and some friends who live in Surrey sent me a box of wonderful different delicious cheeses - such a thoughtful treat:  so I have just finished making this little quilt for them - I saw this fantastic fabric at Cowslip, it has cows and milk churns and CHEESE on it:  what could be better!  Their kindness deserves a kindness:  thanks Tim and Helen - hope you will like!

On my birthday my dear friend Lyn took me to Buckland Abbey, a NT property only about 5 miles from us here:  it was a glorious hot and sunny day:

They have a wonderful old Cider Press in the huge barn: 

And we have had some visitors too which is always fun: friends from Sussex were down in Cornwall fishing, and came over for a day with us:  here is Tori with a lap quilt I made especially for her:

 Michelle Tino and Siena have been over from Australia and they spent the Jubilee Weekend with us:  here they are with one of my quilts which is now winging its way to a new home with them! 

Three weeks ago the weather was glorious - the clematis, which grows over an old school bell which hangs in an archway, and the wisteria were just magnificent:

Now sadly the weather is not good, but the monkey puzzle tree is growing faster than ever, it must like the rain:

Work in progress in an applique Noah's Ark quilt (surprise surprise) so I am now off to the studio to continue with some more animals - it is Big Fun!

Will keep you updated as to my progress!