End of the year.

After a very pleasant Christmas I thought I would end the year with 2 cushion covers made by 10 and 6 year old granddaughters. Aren't they brilliant? The colours they chose reflect their personalities very well too!

The 10 year old "drives" an electric machine but the 6 year old is much happier and more confident with her hand cranked Singer machine , made in 1917!


Our first granddaughter has her own website here though I think her website is getting an overhaul at the moment.
Manga isn't my favourite sort of drawing but the competence and colouring of her artwork just leaves me gobsmacked!

Busy ,busy.

This is the last bag of the year in the BQL bag challenge. I am pleased that I managed to get 11 out of the 12 made, but annoyed with myself for missing a month! They have been a brilliant way of dipping my toes in different piecing techniques as well as the different construction methods. I have only quilted for the last 5 or 6 years (apart from the Thirty Year Quilt!!)and mainly do sort of applique ones so these have all been new things for me to do. I just might attempt a "proper quilt" next year. :o)
We are now waiting for Kandy on BQL to let us know what the challenge is for 2009.


Couldn't resist posting a picture of a stocking filler doll in her seasonal Christmas outfit.

Crochet is so quick in comparison to knitting. This outfit was made in one evening whereas I think it would have taken me 2 or 3 times as long to knit it.

Where is our snow?

After getting excited about sledging and snowmen the Lake District didn't get a lot of snow again. Maybe next time?

Today we went through to Penrith so I took some pictures as we passed Skiddaw and Bassenthwaite and then some more pictures on the return route.
(For non UK readers Penrith is a market town, Skiddaw is a mountain and Bassenthwaite is a lake in the Lake District.)


Everything is looking spectacular at the moment------- but boy is it cold!

Rosie was glad of her fleece jacket.

More frosty pictures.

The gardens were transformed.



The river is beginning to freeze at the edges.


The banks in the park had thawed in the sunshine.

Jack Frost has visited.

The park has been transformed into a sparkly winter wonderland! We are promised snow tonight too. :o)
I love snow!!!
I took more pictures but will have to do another blog entry I think to get them put in too.

The hills in the distance are the Lorton fells.