Blurbing or Blobing

My Mum and Dad have just left - and here is a bit of the flavour of what they left behind, not the dinner, we ate that, but these. This is John helping himself. he came back on Friday to our great surprise and delight.

These amazing fairy lights are nearly as old as my brother and he's older than me so thats a big number - sorry Alan, but these facts have to be faced.

what do you know, when we plugged them in ..... they didn't work! But Mum had faith and tweaked all the ancient little bulbs and ....

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! I remember these on all the Christmas trees as I was growing up. I know we won't be able to get replacement bulbs for this, so I wonder if I dare use them?

Geoff and Dad went off to the workshop to talk about wood. We really enforced our gender stereotyping here as Mum enjoyed a guided tour of the shed and a look at all the things I have been making lately. But she was scandalised by the state of my machine, so gave it a good old clean and oil and an MOT

Sorry Mum, I'll try and keep it running sweet in future. Mum changes her machine needle after every quilt. Does anyone else do that? it makes sense.

Then she gave me all this shirting!

Mum belongs to a wonderful network of quilters in Lancashire and they are very generous with their swaps and little sales. She bought some of these at a recent sale for next to nothing. Someone remembered that she was interested in them for me, so she was offered a whole lot more for nothing! So now I have no excuse but to get on with the Kaffe Fassett inspired piecing.

Except for lack of time! I have so many projects on the go at the moment. My Knitting Day Course is coming up soon for the Garden Station. If you want to scroll down to November 10th there I am. Not too happy with my title - 'Wacky' is not a word I would have chosen for myself, but there you are! I am getting myself prepared for it largely by encouraging Margrethe who has offered to help me and who seems to be doing all the work!

The local paper  did a piece about the Knitting Group for National Knitting Week. The link is to the text only, but there was a great picture too. Here I am 'the crafty brains behind the knit wits of Hexham'. Really!

We have had a lovely day. Now I am waiting for the 'two rings' on the phone that will tell me they got home safely - even after going 'over the top'. I hope they aren't too tired - it's a long way to do there and back in one day, but my Dad maintains that the Mercedes needs a nice long run out from time to time.

Comments

[Zoe]

Love the article in the paper and it's great that you are running a knitting day. How exciting but how annoying about the "wacky" thing. Can we have the photos later please? Your Mum looks in her element servicing your machine. Oh and those Christmas lights are so nice. They don't make thngs to last like they used to!!!

[carolyn]

Thanks for visiting my site, I've just had a quick look around yours and love it. Will be back to visit again.

[weirdbunny]

Are they eccles cakes? I love eccles cakes, especially warmed in the microwave!

I just noticed one of your favourite books is the time travellers wife. I'm 2/3rds of the way through it and are finding it incredebaly slow. If there isn't some fanstasit ending I'll be really cross.

Well as you know christmas is around the corner so the blog had to go...ahh

I'd be careful about those christmas lights, but then I'm always concerned about the saftey of christmas lights just in case they catch fire. Make sure you only use those when your in the house.

Speak soon- love Julia x

[Mandy]

I say use those lights until they're spent! They are just so beautiful and cheery.

[john]

hello mum.
them is photos of to day. that was a jolly fine eccles cake. mine wernt warm but i had some of mothers that was. i cant decide which one i like more. hot or cold. they both have there pros and cons. the other photos are very nice too.
sleep well mull

jonno

[Dad.]

Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward,Homeward, 100. I think! Not easy to count.

[Sheila]

great visit by the looks of it, I am so jealous of the shirting, I have the same Kaffe Fassett book and love that quilt. And well done Owen and John, the jelly looks tasty. And I agree with Mandy, the lights cry out to be used, we have some of Your Mums old glass decorations, we put them out every year.And what a nice surprise John turning up, say hello from us.

[tania]

oh I have missed so much fun around here!
nat. knitting week? sigh only in england- how CIVILISED!
:)
I love your shed, geoffs shed and your mum is the best- cleaning your machine-
hee hee, i love hearing about all the "mad" people you know and the fun you have. makes me want to move to england!
cant wait to get my copies of the crafters companion- ooh so exiting!
so glad you like it!

[martha]

hello lovely family, and nana and grandad- looks like you had a most lovely day.
So John came home? I was waiting for you to come and get your rucksack out of my corridor, seems you'll just have to live without most of your clothes until dad comes in november.
We have been eating pies and playing boggle. I got 11 points for skeleton, you will not understand how exciting this was unless you have played the beautiful game- we found it in a charity shop for 1.50.
i am going to knitting club tomorrow, see if it's as good as caf nero tuesdays. will inform you later.
love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Hanna]

Katie, thanks for your visit in my blog!

Oh, the fabric, what a nice mom and beautiful colours. Can't wait to see that Kaffe quilt of yours. I want to make quilts to, but the time? ;-)

take care

[Julie]

Yum, eccles cakes - haven't had those in a while - they look really good. Love all that shirting, looks great all lined up and ready to go - hope you can find time soon to start on that Kaffe Fasset project - looks wonderful. Those christmas tree lights are great, and isn't it nice that they hold so many happy memories. We started a tradition with Amy 3 years ago of letting her choose a new decoration for the tree each year. I'm keeping them in a special box with a note of which one she chose at which age and I'll give them to her when she leaves home and has her own family - hopefully they'll raise some happy memories for her too.

[Simmy]

So nice to discover your blog. I love the things you're making and can I borrow your Mum and Dad please. I need a Mum to look after my sewing machine and a Dad to make that fantastic sewing thread holder.

[Selena]

Your blog is so delightful. I love how you weave a story and your photos are great. Your shed is amazing. Dh always joked about having a shed for him but maybe I'll build one for myself now.

[Veronica TM]

What a wonderful visit! The lights work, the machine is clean and you have beautiful new fabric!
Thank you so much for your sweet comment on my blog, I have been looking around yours and I love it! Looking forward to visiting often.

[wendy]

Wonderful post. I love those shirt fabrics they look so soft. How good is your Mum? servicing your machine you lucky girl. Fantstic lights.