What is it about thread?????

I have been sorting through my threads and fabrics and trying to whittle down the stash a little.
I have sorted these out to find new homes as I will never live long enough to use them all. They are all better used in bobbinwork or couching I think rather than machine embroidery or quilting.
After making the decision to put them onto Ebay why do I find myself trying to make excuses/reasons to keep them????

Does he really think I can't see him?

This wild rabbit is about 7 feet from where I am sitting at the computer and seems completely oblivious. I think the double glazed window must be difficult for him to see through? 

Durham Quilt.

This is a piece of Durham quilting.

I rescued it from a removal company when we moved from the NE to the Lakes. It was being used in the back of the van to protect delicate furniture. Unfortunately it must have been too big for them and was divided into 2 or 3 strips. I unfortunately only found the one piece. It is wonderfully soft and drapeable. The pattern shows quite well on the peach coloured side. 

Winter cushion.

This one was made for a competition and was just a pleasant excuse to play around with sparkles and glittery fabrics.

It didn't "do" anything in the competition but I enjoyed making it :o) 

Crazy Cushions!

These are two cushions I did at the same time. One is heavily embellished and the other is just playing around with embroidery stitch combinations using a much more pastel palette of colours. 

Sorting stuff out!

I was turning out the linen cupboard and came across a whole pile of cushion covers that I had made and put to one side until I get a couch to pile with cushions!

I had completely forgotten how much hand embroidery I used to do!

Bank voles

The study window looks out onto a bank in the garden.At this time of year the wild flowers and grasses attract a lot of wild life. As seedheads appear the bank voles start performing some amazing acrobatic climbs to reach them. The pictures are a little blurred because I have taken them through the window whilst sitting at the computer.
 

Relief!

Great relief this morning to receive official quilt receipts for my entries for Hoffman and Sandown. I had posted them by Special Delivery last Thursday and they should have been there by 1pm on Friday. That was the final day------------and I am always running close to the line!
According to the Royal Mail website one arrived on time but the other took till Monday to reach the delivery address.
Now I have the hassle of putting a compensation claim in but at least can relax knowing that one hasn't completely disappeared! Fingers crossed time now.

Carnival Time.

Traffic was stopped and everyone got into a comfortable position to watch the carnival queens go past on their floats. One of the infant schools paraded as the countries participating in the World Cup football competition.

Carnival Day.

Every June there is a childrens' carnival in town. The traffic is all stopped or diverted and everyone gets dressed up. This year there were large groups from all the infant and junior schools in town. This picture shows our lovely wide tree
lined Main Street. Thousands turned out to watch the parade go past.

Today I boxed up two quilts to send off ready for the National Quilting Championships at Sandown at the end of the month. One is an entry to the new crazy quilt competition and the other is an entry into the Hoffman Challenge 2006 . I have also at last got the labels attached to my entries to Festival of Quilts so they too are ready to go once the forms arrive from the promoters.
This means that my sewing room surfaces get cleaned and tidied and machines cleaned and oiled ready for the next project! While I am working on something the room is a tip, but I need it tidy prior to starting something new!

Computer bug?

This incredibly brilliant metallic green beetle was on the keyboard today!

After checking through Google images I think it is a Green Dock beetle?

A Hobby Horse.

 

Another quilt

 

A little drawing with the sewing machine.

 

A quilt

 

Fairy dresses

These are fairy dresses and wings made for youngest grand daughters to wear at children's carnival. 

A cloth doll.

This is a cloth doll made of cotton stockinette. She is fully jointed and has a handpainted face and clothes designed just for her.. 

Miniature bears

Thought I had better put a pictures up of stuff I enjoy doing so here are some little bears that I have made. 

Phone fixed.

After a lot of minor trouble on phoneline we now have completely new wiring. The old wires were getting worn by the trees so we got two new poles as well. It took quite a few vehicles and men but it was all done on a very hot day. The team were really pleasant and considerate even when they had to move all the vehicles to let a neighbour out.
We are at the end of a long narrow lane . It is singletrack and there is nowhere to turn so bigger vehicles have to reverse it. 

WISTERIA

This is a wisteria that I have grown as a standard tree. It is only about 6 feet high and 4 years old so the flowering is pretty impressive isn't it? 

Flowers nearly as tall as her!

Hope she remembers days like this when she grows up! 

The grass needs cutting!

A shame to cut down the Birdseyes and Milkmaids though isn't it? 

The wild bit of the garden.

Each year we let this bit of the garden grow until sometime between mid June and mid July.After that we cut it down and then keep it cut on a medium setting with the mower.This lets the flower seeds spread. Every year we see more flowers here.This year the pink campion and buttercups are making a carpet.