Calm returns!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful peaceful and fun filled Christmas holiday - the build up is just so tremendous, and then suddenly the day is over and calm returns!  Christmas was lovely, the house was warm and cosy:

and I managed NOT to over cook the turkey - I trusted Nigella's cooking times, basted regularly with maple syrup and butter and it was the best most delicious bird (apologies to vegetarians!):

We received one of the best Christmas gifts ever from the kids - a mattress topper - pure heaven!  It is just THE BEST! - I highly recommend, I just cannot wait to get into bed and sink into this amazing comfort zone!  If I cannot be found, I shall be in bed - with a book and my sewing!!

Today we are off to visit dear close friends who have rented a cottage in  Devon for the holiday period, and last night I sat by the fire sewing the binding on this quilt for my God-daughter's 4 year old son Toby:  he is now obviously in a "big bed" and needs something more appriopriate than the baby quilt I made when he was born, so I have made this quilt with farms/animals on - it is really lovely though I say it myself!

:

It has a gorgeous backing too:

I hope the fun family time continues for you all, and that the rain in England and the snow in the USA does not get any worse.
Tomorrow it will be "sort out new 2013 projects" day - I cannot wait!

Santa's on his way!

Two Blogs in one day!! 

We are so fortunate down here in Devon - Father Chrstmas just popped in for a mince pie!

Here he is with Robbie, and our dog Ben - he didn't stop long, he has thousands of miles to travel and many presents to distribute and Rudolph was getting impatient - but guess we must have been extra good to get such a special visit!

Merry Christmas everyone! xx 

CHRISTMAS EVE

What with the endless torrential rain and Christmas without doubt creeping up on me far too quickly, it is now Christmas Eve and I am just beginning to wind down.  Carols are playing on the radio and the turkey is soaking in the most delicious smelling brine - courtesy of Nigella - this is such a wonderful way with turkey, the smell of fruit and spices is utterly divine -  the bags are bouquet garni, not teabags in case you are wondering!!:

The last cross-stitched stocking was finished (I did actually sew eleven, I am so pleased with myself!)and was delivered to my sister whilst visiting my Mother in Nottingham:

and then home to decorate Ward Cottage for Christmas: 

Here is my favourite cross-stitched Santa, made for Christmas 1991:  on the back I have listed all our close friends who came and visited us - Robert, my first husband was so very ill and everyone was wonderful tryng to cheer us up and make it special for him:  it is a real memory picture: (sorry, it is not the best photo!):

Of course I have stitched many many Santa's and Christmas pictures since then:

Here is my Noah's Ark Santa:

and this one says it all:

I also finished off a baby quilt for Sebastian James born last Sunday :  I had this ready to go once I knew baby had arrived safely!:

We received the most amazing package of cheeses and salami's sent from friends in Surrey: 

I cannot begin to tell you how exciting this was to open!

It was my son's Robbie's birthday on Saturday - and here he is with his gorgeous girlfriend Nisha and friends Jenny and Nathan sat by the fire having a celebration drink:

Now his birthday is over Christmas can really begin:  my husband Rod will be putting on his Santa outfit later and doing "the rounds" to families with young children - always such a hit!   I will post a photo!
Neither of my girls are here this year - Fran is away with Angelo enjoying some sunshine and a well earned rest, and Dot is working either side of Christmas, but with the dreadful state of the trains down here she probably would never have made it anyway - but they are here in our hearts.

I would like to wish all my friends who follow this blog a peaceful and happy Christmas. xx


 

Not enough time!

I was sewing away thinking I had plenty of time, and now suddenly there is only just over 2 weeks to go - December is going too fast, I need another month!

However, I am cross-stiching the last of 11 stockings - I definitely need to find some new patterns for next year's youngsters.  And the reactions to those that have already been given is amazing - which is really lovely, it makes every stitch so worth while.  Plus the Christmas Tree runner which I showed you in my last blog also hit the mark. I have made two more runners:



 

Both of these runners are for young friends who are now living in Australia - and talking of Australia, one of youngest daughter Dot's friends, who has lived in London for 8 years, is returning to Australia at the end of January.  I had promised Abby a quilt about 3 years ago now, and have felt guilty that I had never got around to making one for her.  Well - she will be going home with this "Seeds of Time":

I even managed to find some fantastic "British London fabric" which I have put on the four corners which I hope will remind her of her friends over here and her time spent living in London!:

So you can see why I am running out of time this month - I have even amazed myself that I have managed to make this large (95 ins square) quilt as well as everything else!  I think I have been sewing in my sleep! This is now over at "Butterfly Quilters" and I will collect and sew on the binding in the new year.
I have also sewn another wedding sampler:

and have recently had the lovely news that two of my God-daughters are getting married next year:  so more quilts and samplers to sew! - and so far two baby quilts to make for friends of eldest daughter Fran - I am sure as the months go on there will be more babies - and maybe more weddings, but I always love making baby quilts, they can be so much fun.
I am off up to Nottingham to see my dear old Mum next week, and on route will be seeing friends and delivering the above sampler, plus this quilt - this is a birthday present for one of my long time known friends.  Carol will be celebrating a significant birthday in January when they will be away in their home in Barbados, so I have made this is bright colours which I am hoping will look good in their beautiful home:

The weather down here in Devon has been absolutely horrendous over the past 3 weeks:  but I did manage to capture on camera this beautiful rainbow on my way home from Tavistock earlier this week:

So - I am off now to finish the last stocking, and maybe even make another Christmas runner - certainly my sewing studio needs a major tidy up (again!) before I go to Nottingham.  I shall be writing Christmas cards this weekend and wrapping some more presents.  I seem to visit our local Post Office daily at the moment.
Surprise -we have just taken delivery of a case of wine - - that will certainly be drunk before the end of 2012 - cannot wait to find out who has sent us such a great gift! I love pleasant surprises!!
I will blog again when I return from Nottingham - and when I have decorated the tree and put up some decorations.  Then the festivities can really get going!