Up Downs and an Up

I'll start with an up, the city and guilds classes have finished until October (that's not the up) but one of the last lessons was dyeing, something I enjoy. A while ago I dyed some silk scarves and sold a few at the last Material Girls exhibition, but  was left with some that I wasn't happy with,  a good opportunity to have a play with a new idea, using a slinky as a resist. This isn't my own idea it's something I'd seen done by Jenny and asked her about, I think it was a success and I've sold one of the scarves already!

And for the down, if you have a weak stomach look away now.........

It was very hot day far to hot to take Betsy out for a walk before the  evening cooled,  even then only a short walk around  the block, I'd taken her earlier in the morning for a run over the fields before the day heated up. Dave was home that Monday, so we took Betsy out together, I slipped on my flip flops (not my usual foot wear when walking) and off we went for a  leisurely stroll. We met a friend with his two Schnauzers and stopped for a chat. 'What a lovely evening' I said as we passed a house and heard the children playing in their garden, it was just about then I tripped and landed on the pavement, my glasses skidded across the rough ground,  not before the frame had cut into my face. To be honest I don't really know what happened, several people coming to help.  Betsy who usually goes nuts barking when any strangers approach sat there like an angel. I just wanted to stay laying on the floor but Dave insisted  'Let this young man take your other arm'  They both helped me up, which wasn't easy as I was clutching a hanky to my head as apparently I had a bad cut (at this time I didn't realise how bad, I was just doing as I was told). A short walk we were home and sorting out someone to have Betsy, Dave insisted we needed to go to A&E (really that bad?) as most people know a visit to A&E involves a long wait, so Betsy was at a friends for the night. We arrived at 9.20 pm and after an hour or so I was seen by a nurse who said ' that'll need gluing, don't leave before your seen it could get infected'.  So we sat and waited until 1am. with others who moaned, then the group of youngsters who came in on mass with a friend who'd sprain a foot playing a sport and found the whole thing amusing. If your in a better mood and not bleeding and starting to feel the pain of it all, it's a place to people watch. The doctor I saw gave me good and bad news 'Good' not deep 'Bad' as it was along the line of my eyebrow I needed to see someone from the Maxillofacial department, it should be glued! 'Oh just glue it' I said, I just wanted it over. By this time I could really feel the pain in my left leg, and when I looked a bruise and swelling was developing nicely from my knee cap down towards my ankle....... I just wanted to get home to my bed and take some painkillers and cry! After some persuasion from Dave I agreed to return the next morning where a doctor cleaned the cut and put in five very neat stitches, here's the gory bit.

Anyway the stitches are out and its healed very well my sister in law tells me, she's the one that removed the stitches, handy having your own personal nurse. Unfortunately I can't say my leg is healing as well after two weeks the black eye has almost gone but the bruising on my leg is still there and my knee cap is painful to touch. Another week and I have an appointment with the GP, so if it's not better or improving by then I'll mention it. Tomorrow I have an appointment to with the optician, to pick up replacement glasses, at least I'll be able to see without looking through a haze of criss cross scratches. Mind you as a weird textile person the colours have been amazing, although  I wasn't keen on the textures!

OMG if this had happened two weeks earlier I would have been wearing a black eye to match my outfit at a wedding, and yes I was wearing navy blue. It was the fifth wedding in a year, that we've been guests at. Who says weddings aren't happening? And each wedding we've been to has been special and very lovely in their own way, some have been no expense spared and others have been more modest but as I said everyone has been beautiful with lovely people.

 That's it finished on an UP!

Wedding Wedding Mandala!

In the last month I've been to two weddings in different parts of the country and on consecutive weekends in West Sussex and Staffordshire. One a family wedding and the other my daughter Rachel's friend Claire, they met at Uni and have been best friends ever since, at one time they were house mates.  Claire asked Rachel to be her bridesmaid, this was Rachel's first time and as Claire's Mum lives in Liverpool Rachel was involved in all the wedding planning. Rachel's hair was amazing I couldn't resist sharing it with you!

We were delighted to be invited to the wedding, and had a great time. I t was a good opportunity to grab a few days away while we were staying near Petworth we visited Petworth House. I particular enjoyed visiting the house  although its a very grand property it's a house thats of the same period as Rainham Hall which is where 'The Material Girls' next exhibition is. It's a lovely part of the country and we found an amazing B and B, we'll be returning  at some point, soon I hope.

Petworth House

Petworth House

Gold work at Petworth House

As well as partying a lot of work has been going on, I've completed another City and Guilds Project. A wall hanging inspired on a series of paintings by Picasso, I'll show more when I've actually handed the work in.

My nephew and his girlfriend are expecting their first baby in the next couple of weeks so I've finished a quilt for the baby, I have also been busy knitting for the baby too.

In September I'm going to Yarndale, last week Lucy asked for Mandala Wheels how could I resist, I couldn't!

Quiet Times??????

In the last few weeks of October it seemed as though my feet didn't touch the ground, Michelle who works for my husband got married. She is also a friend of our daughter so she was invited too, it was the most amazing wedding. It was held in at the Buckingham Railway Centre, Quainton, they were married on the platform and there was a steam engine running along a track for the guests to ride on after the photographs were taken. I don't think I've ever been to a wedding were everyone laughed from the start to the end, everything was fun even the singing of 'I'm a believer'  after the signing of the register,  had us all jigging about. I'm sure if their wedding was anything to go by they will have a very happy marriage! Oh! I should say that the Railway theme was very apt as Dave and Michelle work for a Rail Engineering Consultancy.

Two weeks later and we were in Michelle and Nicks company again for the company dinner and dance, at a hotel in the Forest of Arden. I managed to wangle a trip to the Cotton Patch while in the area, well you have to take advantage while you can, don't you? I bought the fabric for a baby quilt, I'm going to be a 'Great Aunt', we also managed to fit in a quick visit to Kenilworth Castle.

I completed this crochet blanket a while ago, it was just a matter of sewing in the ends. It did take me over a year to finish. I enjoyed doing it but it did drag on, as I seem to have so many projects on the go.

Last week saw the opening of the third exhibition of Bridging Waters, after this exhibition finished we were expecting the work to be returned. But an exciting thing  happened, the work is going to be shown at another gallery.  The work will be staying in Canada for a few more months, watch this space…….

Last Saturday was the exhibition of the City and Guilds classes, I had two pieces of work to show, the table runner and a bag which I didn't finish until the night before.

This isn't a good photograph I will do a better set for the next post, I have to say I'm pleased with it, at last I've made something I know I'll use myself. The exhibition had lots of visitors, and the work exhibited by the students who have finished their Certificate and those that have finished their Diploma was amazing.

I'm looking forward to a quieter time……...

Feather in My Hat or Cap?

The weather is warm, it's been all BBQ's and going out for lunch with friends or catching up on City and Guilds work and continuing with my work for the Material Girls next exhibition,  I need to finish it as soon as possible. A lot of the time it's been trying to keep myself and Betsy cool, our daily walks have been cut short when it's to hot, she loves  ice cubes and ice lollies. The best bit is spending  days at home  with the windows and doors open, I love the summer.

This weekend was the wedding of my nephew David, it was a beautiful occasion with lots of laughter and a few tears. David was  close to my Mum, his brother Matt (the best man) told a few stories of things that included her in his speech. My brother, me and our families miss her,  she would have loved to have been there to celebrate with us,  although Matt's stories were funny they made us all shed a tear or two. The day was  long and very hot, I along with some of the other guests suffered the heat and wore a hat, oh! how I love a hat........

I made David and Hayley a quilt for their wedding gift, it was a pattern I've used before, and I enjoy making it, but this will be the last one of this pattern I'll make. I don't like doing the same thing over and over again. Thankfully they were both pleased with it, I always have difficulty when I label a quilt I never know what to write! If your a quilter how would you label a wedding quilt? I started making the quilt over a year ago but only put the last stitch in two days before the wedding, that was sewing on the label.

This week it's going to be all about play dates, Betsy is going for a play with Dizzy, I think probably wednesday afternoon. Tuesday I'm going to visit a cousin, her daughter and grand daughter, hopefully I'll get a cuddle. On saturday my god son George is celebrating his second birthday,  it will be jelly and ice cream, cant wait. Hope paper hats will be involved, watch this space.......