Knights!

Today I visited the centre of Lincoln to discover that the Knights are being painted in the Waterside Centre. A couple of years ago Lincoln hosted a Barons' trail which attracted many visitors to the historic city. It was part of the celebrations for the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carter. It gave a lovely feel to the city and many people were sad to see them go, although they were auctioned for charity.
This year will see the Knigts' Trail  celebrating the 800th anniversary of the Battle of Lincoln. This year will see a trail of 35 Knights,  an increase of 10 sculptures. I can't wait!
These are the two that were being painted:

Easily pleased!

Sometimes all you need in life are wellies and a chapstick!

Football again!

Another day, another football match! Despite my many layers the keen wind was still getting through to my core!

It was all very much worth it though as the girls won the league! 

When we got back home we went straight to the fields and even Penny Pig was in her bed!

Many miles!

It was my 28th anniversary today and I spent it dropping No 4 off in Wolverhampton for her football training. 

Using my phone as a Satnav I punched in Shrewsbury and realised that the journey took me past a village that we lived in over twenty years ago. I took a slight detour and went to visit this old haunt. I pulled up outside our old house but it looks like it is currently empty.

 A cheeky snap, (whilst I hoped no one was watching and called the police) and I sent it to Mr Cymraeg. He was amused as neither of us knew I was going there this morning!   I quite enjoyed my visit. I wandered through the village taking photos and sending them to my DH! 

I wasn't there too long as I went on my way to visit my Mum who is in Shrewsbury hospital at the moment. We had a nice chat and it was time to return to Wolves, collect No 4 and then drive home again. It feels like it's been a really long day today and once more I am ready for my bed!

It will indeed!

Until tomorrow

It feels really cold tonight despite my car temperature gauge assuring me it was 1.5° on my way home.  I am shattered this evening and have the beginnings of  a sore throat , it always happens in the lead up to half term. I'm already in bed with a g&t, hot water bottle and a new book. Good night!

Alice in Wonderland

I am very blessed to work in a special needs school. It gladdens my heart to see my students everyday,  my staff aren't too bad either ; ). The theme for our class topic this term is Victorian Historians, we are currently working on Alice in Wonderland. 

We have done lots of sensory work around Alice in Wonderland which involves different materials that appeal to all the senses. It is often the process that holds the actual learning and I then turn it into something that visually appeals to the adults in my class. This keeps everyone happy! For instance my students have been touching a mixture of glitter, sequins and buttons, this was part of their learning activity. Prior to this an adult had supported them with squeezing a sauce bottle holding pva glue into making swirls/circles (onto black card) the amount and form of support depending on the student. This then became the platform on which to touch the sensory materials, which would stick to the glue and make a picture. 

My students don't particularly have any interest in the finished article but the staff that work with them do. This is the display of the student's work for our 'Down the rabbit hole' display board.

I also have a branch in the corner of my classroom to display other bits that have been made too.

Tomorrow we are ready to make Mad hatter hats!

I have a mixture of different textures to touch which will be over glue again. We will see how it all turns out tomorrow! Sometimes there is no salvaging for the adults! 

Sometimes when I get home I'm all done with creativity!

Far From Home

A quick question Jenny, when I back my hexie quilt will it have a straight edge or does it follow the hexie shapes? Does it matter? Could I use a wool blanket to pad it or would that be wrong? Turns out I can't count to one after all !

Changing the subject, I have just finished reading a book. A proper turn the pages kind of book! This is a very rare thing these days as I find the convenience of my kindle, well convenient! I'm as fickle with my reading as I am with my crafting, but no one knows of my bips like they do my wips as it's a secret between my kindle and I.  Anyway back to my book, Mr Cymraeg bought it for me for Christmas. It has been quite nice to read something that I may not have chosen for myself.

The story begins in Hull in the 1800s where the  main character, a young woman called Georgiana,  embarks upon an exciting and dangerous journey to New York by sea.  Tired of the inequalities and confines of being a young woman at that time, and with only her maid for company, she journeys across parts of America, whilst meeting many interesting people along her way. I found the book very difficult to put down once I had gotten into it and would recommend it! I shall be looking out for books from the author Val Wood again, which should not be too difficult to track down as she has had many books published, often with the storyline being based around the Hull area.

My hexie quilt

Yesterday I blogged about the beautiful  log cabin quilt top that I bought.  I also mentioned another quilt that I had. It's actually a quilt project as once again it needs a backing. So I've bought another project! This one dates I believe from the seventies. I bought it from a lovely lady called Diane Ashman, I have taken this picture from Diane's Facebook page and the colours are quite a good likeness:

I love to visit her shop for two reasons, one because of the amazing vintage and antique clothing and other bits of interest, and two because of Diane herself. She has such interesting stories to tell that I could listen to her forever.  I do wish that I had gone into the shop more often when I lived in Welshpool.

The pictures of the hexie top are not the best quality as it was late when I took them and the lighting was poor. I'm also no photographer, like you needed telling! The colours in the photo do not appear true, but you can get the idea of it. 

This topper was about £30 I think although I have had it a couple of years so I cannot quite remember. The question for this one is how should I finish it? 

I've also shown pictures of the back of the quilt, quietly telling tales of its history. Fascinating.

A reminder that I bought this in Wales!

A clue to the decade:

A touch of patchwork

One of the projects that I would like to complete this year is a patchwork quilt. I was so fortunate to buy this one as it was only 50p from the jumble sale. It has been washed and now awaits its backing. It's bigger than I remember it. I'm not totally sure what colour to have the backing to be honest. I just love it. I can't help but wonder it's history. It came with a stitched label celebrating a marriage. It must have come away in the wash because I couldn't find it this morning. I wondered if one person had custody of the backing and the other had the front! No matter I have it now and will become part of its history. Here are the pictures that I have taken this morning. Its much more vivid than the pictures show. I also have another one that I shall show tomorrow. Sadly this was not from the jumble sale but from a lovely little vintage shop in Welshpool, so it cost me a lot more than 50p.

Finished! Well almost!

Well I've completed another project this month. I won't mention that I started it this month too, that it wasn't one of my long discarded WIPs. I even won't say that I bought the yarn on my way home from work last week when I should really be using my stash. I will say that it's quite cute as cushions go and that the inner is indeed part of my stash. I bought it from Ikea, when in my head, I was heading towards the cushion making part of my life. It didn't happen and I ended up giving them to the jumble sale. This one along with one more somehow escaped the cull. That was lucky. Now to find some buttons.

No title tonight

It was a low sun on my drive home tonight, quite beautiful. 

On another note, No 4 is back doing her training again so Mum the taxi driver has to find ways to entertain herself during the wait! Tonight's entertainment was a few more rows of a cushion cover  that I'm making. I always feel the need to concentrate on housey things in January and this year I am trying to be more proactive. I hope it lasts long enough to make more than one cover!

Switch On!

Today has been an emotional day, not a day for tears (not that there is anything wrong with them) but a day of thankfulness  and relief. No 4 had her cochlear implant switch on today. We have waited a long time for this, not just the six weeks between operation and now.

Our youngest daughter has congenital, bilateral and progressive deafness. She has amazing language and speech and no deaf voice. This should be cause to celebrate, however despite having the level of deafness to qualify to have a cochlear implant she was declined this by a recommended hospital. She was told  how to cope as a deaf person in a hearing world by guessing at conversations with her peers! Really? How's that going to work out in a teenage world? She withdrew from social situations requiring conversations and focused on her football. She became depressed.

Fast forward twelve months and she felt ready to approach another hospital. With the continued  support of a wonderful consultant and our local hospital the journey began again.  We were sent to Addenbrooke and from the minute we arrived No 4's treatment was very different. Like a person. Like a person who had strengths and skills. They worked with these strengths and skills and she was offered the implants. Initially she refused to let her hopes up and couldn't believe it when she was offered a double implant.

I blogged about this at the beginning of December just after the operation. Every day since we are thankful for the team of experts believing in her and offering this life changing operation. Today the implants were tested and all electrodes are fully functioning. Relief. Four programs have been created in her processors, and each one is progressively louder. The idea is that initially these will 'waken' or stimulate the nerves between her ears and brain. She works through the programs herself so that she will be ready for the new ones in February.

She has listened to music this evening for the first time in a good while. Although not of the quality that you or I would hear, but it's an excellent start.

Lillibet

Another post later in the evening than I would have liked, but I had to upload my assessment data tonight - sadly some of it twice as I typed 2016 instead of 2017 which then looked like no progress had been made! What a wally! Thankfully completed for the time being.

Between my post yesterday and this one I have made a start on stitching and stuffing those scrappy bits of knitting! Unlike many royalty over the years Lillibet has not been ruthlessly beheaded, she merely awaits her body with the dignity and patience befitting of a mouse of her standing.

Guess what it is?

As I'm quietly (if you knew me you would know that I'm never quiet) sorting through my craft bits I came across a tangled mess of yarn. I knew, what it was instantly. Of  course it was yet another project started but not completed. I started this project to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee. I feel that ship sailed quite a while ago! I even chose a very patriotic red, white and blue to knit with. Anyway I have decided that this is the year that Lillibet (it had to be really) will be finished, after all she only needs to be stitched together. It's not my longest serving WIP but it's now on my list. I do like a list,  I clearly don't like finishing projects. You can't win 'em all!

Tired and Grumpy

Just a quick drop in this evening. It was a long day at work today and I already feel exhausted and grumpy. I should have gone to bed a bit earlier. January is a funny old month for me. I think it is for quite a few people to be honest. At work I try to plan activities for my class that keeps us all cheerful. Tomorrow we will be going out for lunch. We go to a lovely little cafe owned and run by a school.  It's always such a joy to visit. Wednesday we are hoping to go to a garden centre. Thursday is cochlear implant switch on for No 4. At home I'm still trying to declutter! Perhaps I will have more energy tomorrow! Perhaps I will feel less grumpy too. Unlikely! ;-)

A Wet and Windy Sunday

Sadly it wasn't the nicest of days to watch football, I don't think it would have been all that good to play in either but No 4 doesn't seem to mind! I've learnt how you can quickly become cold if your feet aren't toasty so thick socks are the order of the day. I do like  to wear my hand knitted socks but I think I left them in Wales when I visited. It was a good match and they were unfortunate to lose. I may never get her socks clean though!

I managed to complete the other slipper last night so my poor granddaughter will no longer need to hop!

A quiet day

Today has been mainly eating, keeping warm and knitting. It's been an intense week at work and I just need a recharge. Tomorrow it will mainly be being a football  Mum to No 4. She's back on the pitch after her operation, although I have insisted that she wears a scrum cap to protect her head. We have switch-on on Thursday and I will all need my emotional energy for then. I have done a little crafting of a project that I can't show you because it's for my swap. I  shall share my knitting instead!

Hygge

When I was little I loved the short days because we could close the curtains early and snuggle down  in front of the fire. I called it cosy. I always asked for cosy. I even loved the frequent power cuts because we lit candles. I think that's why I love my red chimney breast, log burner and candles. That's also why I love to come in from work, put my pjs and thick socks on, draw the curtains and shut out the world. I've always read or crafted as my favourite leisure activity and it feels special to be able to do this in my pyjamas in front of the fire. You see I was already living with hygge in my life, I just had my own word for it! I think everyone should try it.  And now I'm off to do my knitting.

Pop!

Yesterday my eldest daughter went off shopping to a large shopping centre and came back with these 'pearls' full of fruit juice flavoured bubble tea  that you add to a drink. I've not seen anything quite like them before but a teaspoon full goes a long way. You just put your beads in the bottom of your glass and add any drink that you fancy. I've tried them with a fizzy elderfower drink and they were amazing . You drink them through a straw and then pop them with your tongue! I believe that they come in different flavours and the jar that  No 1 bought was a mixture.

Too late or too early!

I've had a nice day at work today. We had a trip out on the school minibus to a local garden centre which had 50% off all Christmas stock! I bought a few Christmassy bits which I'm very excited about! I have visions of my tree looking beautiful and classy even with all that glitter. I can't wait to put it back up!

Brrrrr!

If the weather forecasters are to be believed we will be having a cold spell this weekend.
Sadly I only managed to make a cover for one hot water bottle so we made need to share it!

Free ebook

I have followed Jenny's blog for a long time and I have always admired her designing and stitching. She is now offering a free ebook of her designs here.
A very generous gift by Jenny. Thank you.

Snap!

Yesterday  I mentioned the playing cards that I bought at the jumble sale. Waddington's All British Playing Cards to be exact. I've got to be honest I was attracted to the chocolate box housing on the front of the packet. The perfect cottage garden flowers that take far more maintenance than these pictures lead you to believe. I'm sure you know the type. A quick look inside showed that the cards were still wrapped. I duly paid my 20p and carried on with my business. When I got home I showed my spoils (well the ones that I had not kept hidden in my boot) to Mr Cymraeg, as soon as he saw the cards he knew that they were much older than I first thought. A Google search indicates that the cards are probably from the 20s or 30s .  That little pack of cards has remained sealed with a duty wrapper for about eighty years, which is a little bit sad really.  I can't help but wonder why they have never been played with, and probably never will.

Jumble sale

I've had a lovely time at the first jumble sale of  the year. I was not the only one who had decluttered as there was a mountain of black bin bags. I was not going to buy anything at all today. Nothing. Not one thing. That didn't last long, although I was very selective over the items I did choose.
I had an immaculate Yardley ginger jar which will now live in my bathroom holding my bath bombs. A selection of vintage lace and ribbons. It's very rare that I don't come away with an embroidered cloth or two, and today I came away with just the one. There were others but the quality of the stitchwork wasn't so good. Owing to having quite a collection I have to be choosy! I had an old glasses case, which after doing a Hen's Teeth workshop I have plans for. I couldn't resist the old tin which really does look like it's had a really hard life. My daughter saves playing cards, which she also plays with, she currently has 24 packs. I do wonder where she gets her hoarding tendencies! A mystery! Anyway, I was brought up playing patience with cards and I in turn taught my own children. The devil makes work for idle hands so a packet of playing cards slipped into my handbag always meant that there was something for them to play with wherever we were, and they were kept out of mischief. ..on the whole! You can see the cards that I picked up for her in the photo. I will take better ones tomorrow as they are too nice not to share.  My favourite purchase are my vintage glass ornaments. I was so excited when I saw them, that I did a happy dance!

Oh well!

Tonight has been a crafting disaster. I spent all evening knitting and decided that I didn't really like it. Before I could change my mind it was frogged and neatly wound back onto the ball. I think maybe it's a sign of growing up!

Hop!

I've finished one slipper and my granddaughter loves it! She's nineteen months now and very much her own little person. She comes from quite a line of feisty women and she certainly continues the trend! She tried her slipper on and extended her leg to look at it. I love it when she does that! So cute! I think she was disappointed that there was only one slipper so I must crack on and finish her second one. I would like to be a good Grandma!

New Year, New Swap

It's been a while since I've done a swap, especially through my blog, so I was quite delighted to discover that Tracy is hosting her Send a Little Love Swap again. I suppose I was  really hoping that this one was still going ahead, just to confirm that not everything has changed in blogland during my semi-absence. She's done this for a number of years now and I've just checked back, it was 2014 when I last joined in this swap. Maybe a little overdue don't you think?

http://madaboutbagsuk.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/send-little-love-swap-2017.html

Thankful

I have just read some of the comments left for me on previous posts,  it is lovely to be back in touch with familiar friends. Thank you for still being there, I intend to hang around for a while too.

A new coat?

Well, I have survived my first day back! Often the thought of it is much worse than the reality I find. This one is a short term so will pass quickly. Don't get me wrong I love my job and my students are amazing, but I am looking forward to my next holiday as I plan to paint my house!  The living room to be exact. We have had the chimney breast of the living room a deep shade of red for a number of years, heading towards 16 if I remember correctly. It's been painted many times in those years, each time with the exact shade of red paint.  Sometimes I crave change and sometimes, I just don't.  So the question is, in my year of change, does it too deserve a new coat?

Two days, two posts!

Well my New Year is getting off to a fine start so far, although it could call change as it's back to work tomorrow! I've finished a wip that's needed doing for a while.  It seems that I get to 90% completion and then for some reason the project grinds to a holt. No point dwelling on this  particular one as it's done now!

I've also started my tidy up. I have three bin bags full of clothes that I no longer need awaiting the jumble sale on Saturday. It's going to be a long process to declutter my life but all journeys begin with a first step. I'd already decided that it was time, so I'm delighted that others around blog land are doing so too. I feel quite inspied by Steph's blog, click here to discover her #organizedsewingspace2017 I think I have enough plans to be going on with, it should keep me busy and hopefully in the end free up both time and space for my crafting. I shall leave you with a picture of my completed wip! Yay! Go me!

 I'm also leaving you with a photo of my bin bags, just to remind my future self that I can do this!

Happy New Year!

On this first day of our new year,  I wish for you all a safe, healthy and prosperous 2017 with family and friends, old and new.