Happy New Year!

Grr!  I have just lost a whole two hours of typing and getting photos in just the right place.  I keep getting messages saying Blogger isn't compatible with my browser - I'm using Explorer 11.... that it hasn't saved properly and so on...  I could see part of it on the list page but when clicked on it 'wasn't there'! So this is version no 2... shorter and not nearly as interesting... I have a cold and my head is pounding so..... Read on.  Hope it makes sense!

 Well, Christmas is over and a New Year begun. Resolutions made to get some of those UFO's completed (in theory I'll be organised and everything will fall into place... but I know me. Fingers x). Hope all our readers have had a great start to the year.

Sadly, it was a rainy start to the day (and rather too cool to go into The Conservatory), but not nearly as bad as poor Alison was experiencing. I received a call from her to say that she had begun her journey and then gone back as the rain was lashing down, with thunder and lightning occurring also. One of my mottos is safety first... so I am glad she was safe at home.

 

The first to arrive was Chris, followed by Janet then Amanda.  Soon the kettle was boiled and tea and cakes were on the table.  I had made a Betty Crocker Sunshine Lemon cake and some gluten free chocolate muffins.. quite yummy. Several mugs later ....











... I was presented with lots of presents as it was my birthday the next day. I am blessed with friends who know me well and make amazing choices giving me some wonderful gifts.  Thank you ladies. Great Choices! I shall really enjoy using them and will look forward to lunch with Amanda.




Chris and Amanda had brought hexagons to work on (sorry - no photo of Chris's as I didn't remember to take them until she was gone). Their pieces are growing gradually but look amazing.

 I spent my time looking at some of the quilting books Janet and I had received for Christmas.



Sadly, Chris was going to leave early as the Tuesday Puppy was going to class, so we had an early lunch.  Herb crusted chicken, cooked in orange juice, with garlic bread and salad, followed by caramel cheesecake or chocolate brownie desert. We waved Chris goodbye, then another mug of tea and got back to our stitching.. well Janet and Amanda did. I had bought my daughter's friendship braid quilt to work on but... I spent my time looking through my pressies - I can't wait to try the recipes or chose something from the modern quilt designs.

Janet was working on some hand piecing... stunning colours and so beautifully neat! I can imagine how it will look in a short while... the blocks look fantastic even in 4's (see below).  She had an enormous pile of both incomplete and finished blocks.. so

 

 

All too soon, it was time for home.  We talked about going to Farnham Maltings on Sunday then said our good-byes.  Another day was done!  Hopefully we will all be able to get together next month.
Until then.. take care!

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From a very wet Hampshire

Tuesday this week was the first of our monthly get togethers. I had hoped to get there but with the unseasonal amounts of rain we have had, our roads had a tremendous amount of water standing and as it was still lashing with rain with the odd streak of lightning and clap of thunder, I judged it not to be very sensible to drive up to Surrey today. Sorry no photo of the rain coursing down - it would be too depressing!

As I had 'booked' the day for sewing, I decided that I would still sew, I just didn't have the chance to catch up with everyone news. I also thought that I would put in a mini blog entry to let you know what I was up to.

After coffee, some traditions have to be maintained! I started off with some simple piecing on some foundation pieced pineapple blocks. These have been lurking as a UFO for a very long time and are on the list of things to be completed this year. The fabrics are a real mix of very old scraps, it was lovely to see them and remember what project they had been from.

After lunch I moved onto a little appliqué, Petunia Block from the Evening Bloom quilt by Blackbird Designs. it was all prepped ready so easy to get to get sewing. This was another project that has to be on the finish list for this year at least up to flimsy stage.

 Well it was soon time for a cup of tea and what better thing to do but sit down with a bit of hand quilting in front of the fire with a cup of tea and piece of cake.

Overall a very pleasant day but it was definitely quieter than the gathering in Surrey would be I am sure. I look forward to reading the main entry to find out what everyone else was up to.

Hope everybody is managing to stay dry.