Home again and sewing again....

I have been busy sewing the Scarlet Letter "Log Cabin Sampler" for Nicola's SL challenge - and I am loving it.  Whilst away visiting my Mother for her birthday I managed to complete the border vine - a huge sigh of relief when it all met up as it was supposed to do!:  now I just need to complete the border flowers and the sun and moon either side of the cabin:

I had a good few days up in Nottingham with my dear old Mum, however she is frail and everything seems just a bit too much for her these days.  Here I am with my sister Helena and Mum on her 93rd birthday:

and my youngest daughter Dot drove up from London for the afternoon which was a great surprise:

I think this is a lovely "memory" photo!
Before Nottingham I had a few days in Surrey staying with my dearest friend Lise and I managed to catch up with lots of friends from "the old days" which was great fun: they have all been so supportive and thoughtful and kind especially over the last 18 months or so which has been such a very difficult time for us. I also hit the charity shops in Cobham and did so so well - very exciting to pick up an unworn Jaeger navy pin-stripe trouser suit for.... £25!  Fits like a glove - I am happy happy!!

Apart from sewing for Nicola's Scarlet Letter Year, I have also just finished cross-stitching a wedding sampler for my God-daughter Annie who is getting married next month - photo will follow when I have collected from the framer.  I am also patchworking of course - and heavily into baby quilts:  when those are finished I will start Annie's wedding quilt!  My God-daughters are very lucky!!  They each get a wedding sampler AND a quilt!

Whilst Rodney is watching the Rugby this afternoon I shall go and place the squares for another baby quilt and watch a DVD - The Shell Seekers I think, one of my favourites.

Thank you for your comments and welcome to my new followers!

A quilt finish and sampler progress

I am so thrilled with how this beautiful quilt has turned out:  it was quick to sew and went together very nicely which is always an added bonus with half square triangles:  the fabric is gorgeous, fun and bright.

This is going to be a sixtieth birthday gift for someone close to me:  I just need to get this long arm quilted so it will be off to Butterfly Quilters within a couple of weeks.
I also have several baby quilts to make:  this is the first one almost finished:  the criteria was lots of orange fabrics, plenty of animals, especially dogs and I am delighted with how this is looking:

So one almost done and just another four to go - so far this year!  I love making baby quilts - there are such fun bright fabrics out there - one day they will end up King Size cos I just won't want to stop!!
I am also having great fun on the Scarlet letter Challenge:  and here is my progress on Log Cabin:

I am off up to Cobham in Surrey tomorrow and will be catching up with lots of friends which will be Big Fun!  Then I drive from there to Nottingham as my dear old Mum will be 93 on Sunday.  She is becoming more frail and her deafness is quite a problem (mainly because she will not admit there is a problem - apparently we all mumble and don't speak loud enough!) - but there will be plenty of time for some cross-stitching and I hope to have the border on this sampler almost finished by the time I return to Devon.
I shall be taking some of my marmalade with me as presents for friends - I don't think we are likely to run out soon, but I do have some Seville oranges in the freezer should the larder shelves begin to look empty!

Thank you as always for your lovely comments and encouragement - so much appreciated.  Have a good week!