Breaking News:
People...We have heat!
Doors are now closed.
Men are not thumping up and down stairs.
Loud growly machine noises, extreme dentistry noises and random pop music tunes have all stopped.

Ok, they have to finish flushing the radiators which need to sit overnight, but it is Done.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

I like Thankful Thursday

OK. This one is a bit different.
The boiler broke. It has been threatening. I am SO thankful it didn't break in the depths of cold last week.
So, the old boiler is being replaced because it can't be fixed. This, of course, involves wide open doors, because it seems the boiler guys are unable to even push them to.

What I do like? VERY, very Thankful for:
This in my studio

and one similar in the lounge where the Thoughtful Man is working from home and reassuring the dog from all the strange noises.

This in the dining room to keep the temp at least above 15°C.

I have brought my teapot through here because the cold in the kitchen/dining room hurts too much.

This in the hall...

Maybe to heat the outdoors? no I think to make some advance to heating upstairs when someone does push the door to.

And because we had to clear things away from the radiators...including reshuffling in my studio

I am thankful for the Thoughtful Man who can shift boxes and climb under desks and so on.

AANNDD...because of the shuffling, I found the net! It was nicely tidied into a plastic container on a shelf in the cupboard.

momentarily on the floor

Who would have thought!😇😏

So, I am glad we have water today, because we didn't yesterday. And I will be very glad tonight because we are promised heat.

To see what the others like today, go to LeeAnna's blog for the links.

Paper Fabric

Where is my netting? Have you seen it? Have I loaned you the bag? Given you the bag?
Or I would have at least kept the dress net.

Anyway. I can't find it. Which has been like a hurdle I couldn't get over. So, finally I settled on using this Mystery fabric which I think is really called paper fabric.

For hanging the small works - tan and blue here.
Instead of trying to get umpteen small pieces even and hanging on the wall for my exhibition, I was going to stitch them to net - preferably dress net. I wanted something that didn't read as a background, but blend into the wall a bit. So, now I am going to do it with this stuff instead. As you can see, you can barely see it in one layer. I hope it is strong enough without doubling up, but even then, it will still be better than sewn to plain fabric or calico.

It just needs a press. Which I know can be done because I have before. So that is today's agenda and seeing how it holds up and starting the stitching.
About time, too, as I need to do the hanging on Friday!

Bead on - 25 February - 3 March

week 9 - 2018

Beading on Fabric

Detail

The small bugle beads show the divide where the month changes. This week will also bring the turn to go back the other way.

Triple St Petersburg Chain

Looking like I hoped! (Should enlarge if you click on the photo.)

Something on Saturday

Cow-59

Key chains. 3 for 1
The flat ones stay in the locks of the dining room window because the Thoughtful Man likes to be sure of getting out in a fire. and because what else would I do with them?

The sill on that window is wide and alot of other cows live there, so it works.

The one with the tiny cow and sheep opens and closes. Why it is shaped like an egg is anyone's guess.

It used to work like a clockwork toy; the opening and closing worked to wind the clock work and the cow moved around in the little scene. It stopped working and the cover got discoloured. So it lives in a cupboard now. But when I was reminded about the other 2, I remembered this one.
It was given to me by a friend from Brazil.

Gathering and Gathering small things.

12-30 March. Imagination in Detail: Small Stories.

I have been gathering my small works together so I can figure out which small ones will be best to hang at Lady Sew and Sew next week.

Wow, I didn't realise I had so many.

Well, I knew about each set, but I haven't got them all out together before...en masse, as it were.

Dragons to suit the weather -

Tudors - or part of that family

Maps - though I think I will hold these as 'just in case'

My experiments to teach myself Free Motion embroidery

maybe, but I need to have something for samples for the classes I am teaching.

So, anyway, plenty of decisions to make.

I Like Thankful Thursday

I like being In...

when this is Out.

I like changing the calendar. I like that March is in like a lion because it means it will go out like a lamb.

I especially like the Maine calendar when it has a sunrise or sunset.

And I like that the second stem of the white amaryllis has finally opened. Just one flower left to open.

I like the challenge LeeAnna has about looking for the things you like, and then to post about them. Lately I haven't got much sewing done, so this is helpful to keep the blog from drying up! and also to make me think about something besides how much my feet/legs/knees/fill-in-the-blank hurts.
Thanks!
To see what the others like today, go to LeeAnna's blog for the links.

Bead on - 18-24 Feb

week 8 - 2018

Apologies for the delay on posting this! I didn't get time for the photos til today.

daily beading on squares

I didn't get started on the 3rd length of the Triple St Petersburg chain trim. But to give you something more to look at -

This is fabric I got at Lady Sew and Sew when I was there teaching on Tues. The dark brown is another colourway that goes with this fabric, which I used for buildings in a project that still has to remain secret.
If I want to do more buildings, then here it is already to help give more depth...or something.
I didn't have a lot of money with me (on purpose!) so I only got a long quarter piece.

The orange is meant for a possible idea for recording/commemorating another story about a people group. There was one or two versions of the fabric with squares that I am using for the daily bead. But they weren't really what I thought I wanted. So, I will see what I think about this, and if not, I might get some of the other when I am back there to hang my exhibition.

Something on Saturday

cow 58

When I started doing the cow photos, I thought it might not last the year. Then when I got to last week's photo, I thought it was the last one. (besides a few not worth mentioning).
But I have been noticing more here and there...
And I still haven't done the mugs!

I can't remember who gave this paint stirrer to me. It hangs off a notice board that is covered with so much stuff that I hardly look at it anymore. But it hangs down past the calendar, so that is why it got noticed.
I do like it though. Just the right amount of humour when it does catch your eye.

So, on we go...

Machine embroidery

Yesterday I mentioned I taught on Tuesday. Now and then I teach a Machine Embroidery class at Lady Sew and Sew in Henley.

Here are some photos showing how the students progressed. The first photos show the start of their journey and the second photos show the work at the end of the day.

Loraine
  
Jennifer

Fiona
  
Paulette


So far the courses have been for Beginners, but I am teaching Intermediate Machine Embroidery on the 21st of March. Then another Beginner Machine Embroidery course on 25th April.

AND I have an exhibition of my smaller pieces, like my dragons. Also at Lady Sew and Sew. 12-30 March. Imagination in Detail: Small Stories.

I like Thankful Thursday

I had a full day of teaching on Tuesday. I like seeing how people go from no clue about free motion work to being confident enough to embellish fabric. I will be showing some of the examples tomorrow. I also like that I am able to learn something, too.
Each time I teach this I have to get to figure out how to use machines I am unfamiliar with. It takes a while, but usually with the machine booklet, the student's experience with it and alot of 'what if', we manage.
success for this student and for me!

But this time, one of the ladies was having alot of problems getting her machine tensions right just so she could start working on the technique. I usually can get things sorted with just the top tensions. But this one wanted the bottom tension tweaked. This is much easier on a front loading bobbin, but this machine has a drop in bottom. I was saying to the students that I think I need a course on sewing machine mechanics! I don't really like to go too far with messing with someone else's machine. But eventually I got brave enough to dig around and learned how to adjust the tension on top loading machines! Or at least that one.

I like that teaching gives me a real buzz and I can keep going for doing much more than I usually can do. However, I also have to keep in mind recovery for a few days after. Yesterday was not good at all, so I watched Winter Olympics like a couch potato.
I like Winter Olympics! Particularly the Ice Skating and the Curling. But I also like some of the more extreme sports like snowboard and skiing jumps and things. I got interested when my son was younger and watched X Games.

This is a random photo of whatever was on telly at the time so I could put it in this post.

Today I am feeling alot better, but have a dull headache. So, here is another like - the chair table the Thoughtful Man gave me for Christmas.

It means I can still watch the Winter Olympics and use the laptop here in the lounge.

Forgot this bit:
To see what the others like today, go to Lee Anna's blog for the links.

Bead on - 11-17 Feb

week 7 - 2018

daily beading on squares

bead trim

While watching the Winter Olympics, I completed the second side of the Double Petersburg Chain.

detail

This week, after teaching in the first part of the week, I will start to do a 3rd side which is the same colour as the first -  lighter side.

Something On Saturday

week 57

I think this cow and calf were a gift from family. I do like it, because I like cow and calf combos. But the muzzle of the calf was dreadful. and some other parts of the cow were pretty sad, too. So sometime back I did a little touch up painting.
OK, it is still a bit strange. But not as strange as it started out.

Ramshackle Homes - Finished

Even though I am spending time watching the Winter Olympics, I am getting things done. Mostly handwork things. So, incentive to finish the hand-stitching on the binding of the Ramshackle piece I will be sending to the Benefit Auction. The call for it hasn't come out yet, but I wanted to get it done before next month, which will be a bit busy.

So, Ramshackle Homes

12x12in

I wanted to explore the golden colour at a slightly larger size. And I wanted to play with differently shaped plants. So, I think it is okay, but I prefer the darker lines. Still, it is bright and cheerful and someone will like it.

I like Thankful Thursday

One thing I like to do is this:

Set the table when I empty the dishwasher. OK, it isn't so far from the cutlery drawer to the table, and even less from the cupboard with the plates. But when you have limited energy, why put them away and then later in the day get them out again?
Besides, the two men that frequent my house don't fret so much about what time dinner is if they come home and see the table is already set! 😁😝

I also like to keep a tablecloth on the table. Not just for protection, but it just looks nice.
The placemats here were made by my Mom. The have teapots on them. Actually, my proper British type placements have teapots, too. The blueish coasters are from that set. But I decided to have a change for a while. I use the wood cutting boards for protection from hot dishes. I did have some hotpads, but one time a metal teapot still made a mark on the wooden table. So, I have used these for many years.
The guest placemat is where I have breakfast, so I use one of the pinkish coasters (with teapots) as extra protection on top of the placemat to put my porridge.

This week I am liking the Winter Olympics and doing handwork. Of course, it comes to evening and I realise I have no time left to blog.

I like the special things the Thoughtful Man does.

The Day Before Valentine's Day!

And then On Valentine's Day we don't join the crowd. Sometimes we go out for lunch - soup and a roll at a little place. Sometimes we wait and do a meal the next day when it is less crowded.
This year, we went to the matinee showing of Early Man, an Aardman film. (Who did Wallace and Gromit.) Very Funny! you do have to know a bit about British Football to get some of the puns, but even if you don't, it is good.
Being the afternoon viewing when schools are on half-term holiday, we thought it would be crowded with children. But the ones who were their were with grandparents or mums all quite well behaved and not too many of them. There was another couple a bit older than us doing the Valentine's Day date at the cinema.

For tea, instead of going out, The Thoughtful Man picked up a couple burgers at the burger van (cool! I just Googled him, thinking someone might have taken a photo, and found he has a facebook site!) down by the shops. Quite good and loads of chips. and I didn't have to cook!

And basically, I like the Thoughtful Man! Very much. 💖

To see what the others like today, go to Lee Anna's blog for the links.

Bead on - 4-10 Feb

week 6 - 2018

daily beading on squares

bead trim

Double Saint Petersburg chain  - half the length of the first side

Something on Saturday

cow 56

Slightly boring, but a creamer. I think I tried to use this one - it is a bit bigger - but still not worth the time hoping you can clean all the cream out of the crannies inside.

a little something

Sometime back I made a few of these.

I called them book cases at the time. But, they could be used for putting lingerie in a suitcase to keep your tights from getting a run - which is what some friends did with them.
Several of my friends are using them for a cover for their Bible. So, a new(ish) friend asked my other friend where she got it. And to make a long story short, I have finally got one finished for her.

She likes green.
In the meanwhile I had forgotten how I made the first ones! So, it is similar inside, but not matching.

inside first ones
Still, it will work the same.

I like Thankful Thursday

I like these button coasters made of silicone! A late present from family. I like them so much I haven't used them yet! Seems a pity to split them up around the house. Maybe brighten up the table? I have some others I usually use there.

Something specific will come around and they will be just right.

I like the lights in my dining room.

right

About the only 'modern' thing we have for decoration.

left

And I especially like them now that Mr. Thoughtful washed years of dust off them a couple weeks ago. Not that he wouldn't have earlier, but they do take a bit of delicate handling when you take them down.

So, you put off doing them. And you don't realise how bad they had become. It was about impossible to get them clean handwashing, so we chanced the dishwasher, which worked brilliantly. (Pun not intended!)

Yes, I suppose I could have tried to do it, but I really do not trust my legs anymore...and I still wouldn't have been tall enough with a step stool to reach and hand onto the little screws and things.

To see what the others like today, go to Lee Anna's blog for the links.