Seashells, seashells on the wall

The last two months did not leave a lot of time for sewing, but I did start and finish these three pictures for our bedroom:

Gx

Catching up

My cousin and her partner had a little boy the day before our wedding and she and baby still came!  His first social engagement at 1 day old.  It was lovely of her to come but she had the best reason not to.  I sewed him these shoes:

The pattern is from Anna Maria Horners book - Handmade Beginnings: 24 Sewing Projects to Welcome Baby.  They are my 1st attempt at sewing shoes and in comparison to quilting they are fiddily to make.

Something special

Before our wedding I went to my quilt group knowing we would be eating cake and have a couple of drinks to celebrate my impending marriage, and I was really looking forward to it. 

They gave me this

and sprinkled confetti all over me and my machine.

Each member of the group pieced a square, isn't it wonderful.  I was surprised, shocked, lost for words and loved their generosity.  I found out they had been having secret conversations and always without me knowing.

On my last day of work in came into the office to find this (taken with my phone)

 

Here's a close up

I'm still finding confetti and chocolates in my shoes, drawers, documents and who knows where else I'll find it. 

I love how much thought and creativity went into each of surprises, they will always be two of my favourite presents.

Thank you,

Gillian

Something borrowed

Our wedding photographer, Jeff Ascough has posted some of his favourite photographs of our wedding on his blog, < click on the link to see them.  We love the photos he has chosen to share.


As ever, I needed an image for this post and I have 'borrowed' a beautiful photograph of my niece in her bridesmaid dress.  This photograph was taken by my new sister-in-law, thanks Mel.

Gx

Something transformed

Once upon a time a visitor from the south of the land brought a box of sweets to bring Christmas cheer.

The hospitable hosts were very grateful for the sweets and viewed the box with interest and untold possibilities.  After Christmas it was placed on the top shelf of a very, very tall cupboard and forgotten about.

Time moved on.

One day she cleared the cupboard and with great delight pulled out the box.  They viewed it curiously and suddenly an idea popped into her head, "Do you think it's possible?" she asked.

"Yes, I think it is", replied he.

A flurry of painting ensued.

He traded some beans with a wizard who taught him to spin crowns and letters from gold and magically placed them onto the box.

They looked down with joy and no-longer saw a plain sweet box, it had been transformed into a post box, and it shall go to the party.

The End.

Something to do with a hen and a stag

Sorry about the title, I had to keep the 'Something ...' wedding post theme going somehow. 


Our hen and stag parties were full of activities.

I went to my very first ice skating lesson.  I have skated before but have never been on a lesson - something I wanted to do for years.   We learnt to skate backwards, in a circle, do small jumps and to skate on one foot.  It was brilliant, I recommend you try it.

On the train to the ice rink Helen passed me a package and said "Before you open this do you promise to do whatever is in it?" After some deliberation and making her promise it was not dares or a tacky veil with L plates or other 'things' on it (you can guess what), I said yes.

I had to wear a bright yellow tutu, bright pink fingerless gloves and bright yellow ankle warmers.  

Then they made me wear this outfit on the tram back to Manchester and as I walked through Manchester city centre, always walking a few steps behind me.  Strangely, hardly anyone batted an eye-lid, ha har.

We met the others at The Modern restaurant above the Urbis museum for a fantastic meal (I recommend the golden syrup pudding with vanilla custard) and more dressing up items.


In the evening we watched 'Charlies Aunt' at the Royal Exchange Theatre.  The play has been running since 1892, making it one of the most successful farces.

For the boys stag party his brother took him for a helicopter flying lesson as a surprise.  In the evening they met the others to watch comedian Al Pitcher and for a night in Liverpool.


We both had great days.

Lancashire living

A few weeks ago we went on a lovely summer walk near our home in Lancashire, past fields of cows,

by canals with ornate boats

and by embankments framed by reeds.

If you want to see more photographs of the north west of England then visit JellyBeanAngels blog, the lady should be paid by the English tourist board. Her photographs remind me the little part of the world I live in ain't half bad.