Oh what a view!

I had a fab day yesterday.  It was one of those glorious days when the sun shines and when England looks at its best.  I spent it in Portsmouth looking at the sea and enjoying a slight breeze and just chilling out.

I have never been up the Spinnaker Tower before and I went up and the view was superb.  Here's a few photos taken of what you can see on a clear day!

 Isn't it lovely?  I had a mometary thought about having one of the beautiful flats which over look the marina and then thought about a cold December day and thought perhaps that might not have quite the magic that a perfect day in August might have.

Oh yes.............and I walked on the glass floor!

Lunch was at the Loch Fyne restaurant.  I just loved the day.  I didn't buy much - just a couple of polo shirts but it goes down as one of the best days of the year.

Tomorrow I am off to the Festival of Quilts.  I am SO looking forward to it and it will be fun.  My mum is coming with me and I shall try to be well behaved and spend very little money.  (Yes, I know it is a pretty vain hope!)

I'll report back with photos at the weekend.

Busy, busy

Ok, so I haven't really got anything fascinating on the crafting front to say. I've pinned a few pieces of fabric together but haven't got the machine out..........Oh lazy me!

But the truth is that I have been socialising and enjoying myself.  A trip to Guildford yesterday to see my friend.  I don't know what it is with her but I always buy something nice in the way of clothes when I am with her even though we like different colours and different styles.  I've always fancied a LBD* and finally found one which is perfect.  It makes me look slim and elegant (yes, I know...........bit of a stretch of the imagination but there you go!)  So I was thrilled to bits when I found out that it cost me about half of what I had anticipated.  All I need now is a function to go to which requires a LBD!

* Littlel Black Dress (for the uninitiated!!)

Today was another day of socialising.  Well, that is after running Ben around because the clutch on his car has gone!  Lunch at the garden centre followed by a bit of plant buying for Nikky. So lovely to see her and she did me a good manicure before she left.  Of course we had a girlie trying-on session of new clothes before she left.  It is always so good to see her.

Tomorrow is shopping at Gun Wharf and a trip to the Spinnaker Tower.  Should be fun!

Catching up through the generations

I'm not old, just a little worn around the edges but there is plenty of life in the old dog yet!  I have several nieces and nephews, the youngest of which is 27 and the oldest is 36.  None, as yet, have had the indecency to make me a great aunt.  So I was a little chuffed, to say the least, when one of my nieces (second eldest) asked if I would join her group of friends for a skiing holiday.  In view of the fact that she was in the GB ski team when she was younger, I was even more flattered!!!

So today I went to a BBQ to meet the rest of the group.  It looks like being fun.  There will be about 18 to 22 of us and the age-range is from about 30 to 62!  My brother-in-law will be coming and we are hoping to persuade my other brother-in-law to join us.  The group boasts not only a wide age range, but also a huge range of skiing abilities - virgin skiers to international level - and 4 different nationalities so all in all it looks like being huge fun.  I can't wait.  We're hoping to go in January so I shall have to start saving in earnest and am seriously considering making a quilt to sell on Etsy to help fund it all.

This weekend needs to be home-focused and I need to get tidying up done as well as washing if I am to achieve everything I need during next week, before my holiday with my mum.  We are taking a cruise down the Rhine to Stasbourg and Heidelberg.  It looks very laid-back and it will be good to chill and relax in 5* luxury.

Before that I have a trip to Guildford for a day visit to a friend,  visit from dear Nikky and a day shopping at Gun Wharf.  On Friday we are off to the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham and will stay with friends for the night before popping in to visit other friends on Saturday and then coming home to a BBQ.  I have Sunday to sort everything out before we leave at sparrow's on Monday.  So a busy week!

I'm hoping to stay cool and calm and just enjoy it.  Let's hope I do!!

Phew - a tiring but great day

 It's been a great day. We had a huge number of people come through the doors of the exhibition and there were lots of very complimentary comments.  It is a very good exhibition for a small quilting group.  There are just 38 of us so to have such a great number of quilts is excellent.

Of course i couldn't resist a little purchase.  Quilters Dream and Dungarees and Daisies were there and I bought a fab sampler pattern from Dungarees and Daisies.  I would love to do another sampler quilt

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The quilt was on display at the stall and was a lovely combination of reds, greens and cream.  Simply stunning.

I also bought some charm squares to make a quilt as a Christmas Present.  No telling yet for whom!

     I bought some extra fabric for the border and some tuquoisey/duck egg blue for a key part of the design and also the inner border.

So tonight I have nothing more to add other than, sleep well!  I hope I do!

Just a quilt or three!

Wow what a busy morning!  I managed to cram everything into the car:  iron, ironing board, tool kit, sewing kit, 5 quilts, etc etc and arrived just after 10 am to start helping with setting up the exhibition.  There were lots of people there and slowly over the course of the day everything has come together.  It is looking stunning and I have taken some photos of quilts that are hung in the hope that you might  even want to come and view the event and enjoy seeing them in real life.  There is not a lot of photosreally. Selfishly I have photographed all my own quilts as it is an opportunity for them to be shown off in a way that cannot be shown at home.  I have also included some others that are significant:either because they are made by friends or because I really  like them.  So for your delight and delectation, here are a few to be going on with.............

                                                         sns

 Tom's quilt called London Road.  It has travelled the world with him.

 Ben's quilt which was the first one I ever made.  It is made of brushed cotton.   My Cinnamon Stars quilt.  It is my favourite at the moment.

 This is the Christmas tree skirt I made last year.

 This quilt was made by my sewing circle as a gift to the Macmillan Centre at Southampton Hospital. 

Now for some of my favourite quilts from the exhibition.

  My friend Marian made this quilt - it is called "Consider the Lilies of the Field" 

 I love this wall hanging - if only I had this sense of design and use of colour!

 This stunning sampler quilt was made by my friend Norma and is completely hand quilted.

 A dear little quilt for a grandson.  Isn't it lovely?

Finally a beautiful quilt made from fabrics from children's clothes, a going-away outfit and other precious items of clothing, again made by Marian.  Come and see the rest of them................they are fab!