NPG

There's nothing more self-indulgent than spending the whole evening sewing - and what could be better than spendng that evening with a group of likeminded friends.

So every month I make the 70 mile round journey to Nottingham to go to the gathering of Nottingham Patchwork Group. We meet in the Mechanics Institute and much hilarity is had by all.

And it's customary to take along some work to be getting along with - so I took some needle-turn appliqué, following a workshop with Connie Cole in Burton Joyce.

Well, people keep telling me how soothing and relaxing it is - and it probably is - when you get the hang of it. I'm trying to do a wallhanging of a geranium, and all I can say is that it looks nothing like a geranium - unless it's a very rare breed with pointy leaves. It's getting more and more worn and tattered, the longer I hold it in my hand.

I'm determined to finish it though, so will persevere.....

Crich

It looked as though it was going to be a lovely day, and I suppose that it was, in that the rain stayed off, but it just never really got going.

We (Jim - dour Scottish husband) and I met up with friends to ride about on trams all day. I love going to Crich Tramway Museum - it always seems such a cheerful place to be. Okay, so it's not terribly slick or efficient, but you really do get the impression that the staff there enjoy their work (except for the lady in the sweet shop).

It's quite expensive to get in - but then again you can re-use the ticket for 12 months, so at present the master plan is that we meet up there regularly over the next few months, to ensure that we get value for money.

And really, is there anything more relaxing and de-stressing than spending time with friends, just pottering about, without the pressure to be seen doing/wearing/participating in the latest fad? I think not - though I do have to take a lot of abuse for my hobbies - seen as rather antiquated and out dated by most of my acquaintances....

Saturday BOM

I spent the day at Patchwork Direct, in Darley Dale, taking part in the BOM (Block of the month) class that I joined nearly two years ago.

The idea is that you go along every month, and make another block for your sampler quilt, and at the end of a set period of time (depending on how big you want your quilt to be) you have a lovely quilt to show for all your tireless efforts.

Needless to say, I did as directed for about 5 months, and then decided to do my own thing instead....

Frustratingly, if only I'd done as I was supposed to, my sampler quilt would be complete now....

Today I did manage to complete a block for (oh how ironic) a different sampler quilt which I'm making - it's 'Wagon Wheel' from "Underground Railroad" by Eleanor Burns.
I'm using traditional, quite muted colours - and can honestly say that it doesn't fit into any room in this house in terms of colour schemes.

I do intend to post some photos here - but the digital camera is still refusing to give up its bounty, and I may have to resort to more violent measures.

Tomorrow's plans (such as they were - go to John Lewis to look at garden furniture, and spend some time tidying up the house) have been sidelined by an invitation to join friends at Crich Tramway Museum, which is about 45 minutes away - weather permitting, of course.

Patchwork go-slow

I spent the day at Patchwork Direct, in Darley Dale, at a regular workshop - I go every month, and the idea is that you complete a sampler quilt, block by block, month by month - but needless to say, I veered off track about 8 months ago, having completed 4 blocks, and have been doing my own thing ever since.

So today I (ironically) completed another block for a different quilt (not the one I'm supposed to be doing). In fact, I completed two - hooray - as I've doing a full size quilt and an identical miniature one. only 7 blocks left to go.

The block in question is 'Wagon Wheel' and it's from the Underground Railroad quilt book, by Eleanor Burns.

I'm using quite traditional muted colours, but find more and more that although I like them, I just can't imagine a home for them anywhere in my house.

Still haven't managed to sort out the camera though, and tomorrow's plans for a shopping trip have been scuppered by an invitation to go to Crich tram museum. Hmm - shopping or seeing friends - not a difficult decision.

As I really want to be able to see what (if any) progress I've made each week, I do need to make this a priority for half term.

Woo-hoo

Wow.

It all appeared to work.

Hooray.

Day (or should that be evening?) One

So I finally did it. After days and days of faffing about, and dithering, I got round to setting this up.

And now I've started, my mind has gone blank.

All I know is that I wanted some way of making myself complete things that I've started - I have shelves, nay, cupboards full of halfstarted projects - and every time I look at them I feel guilty - until I start something else....

A couple of years ago I bought a lovely hardback book, full of smooth and shiny blank pages - and my plan was to keep a diary of what I'd done and made - but other events got in the way and I never wrote once in it, never mind sticking pictures in.

So we shall see. Perchance this wil go the same way - I hope not.

But what I DO need to do is to work out how the digital camera works - that would be a start, I guess.......