Happy New Year

Well, here we are again, another new year approaching and thank goodness we are here again.  It's been a busy old year and the new year looks pretty hectic potentially too.  Well, you wouldn't expect it to be any different, would you?

I can think of at least three exhibitions that I have to produce work for including work inspired by David Hockney.  We've already had a visit to Saltaire to garner inspiration at Saltsmill.

 
Still not sure what I will be doing but I'm excited by the challenge.  

Then there's the Festival of Quilts and a local quilt group exhibition to make for so I am going to hit the ground running after all the New Year festivities are over.  I'd better get my thinking cap on!

Thank you all for coming to read my ramblings here and for your comments. I hope that 2015 is a good year and at the very least a healthy one for you and yours.  Happy New Year!

Looking Back Part II

So, aside from all the travelling and visiting, did I actually make anything this year?  In no particular order..........

 A block for a friendship quilt for someone special.

 You've recently seen this quilt for a good friend.  It has received the seal of approval from her cats Millie and Marmite.

Gratuitous shot of Millie and Marmite.

 A runner for the table in our conservatory.

Small rockpool embroidery for a special friend.

I loved making these little baskets for the Festival of Quilts Heart tombola.

My memory type quilt and cushions made with Mum's pinnies and Grace's aprons, amongst other fabrics.

Experiments in print.

Rust workshop with Alice Fox.

 'Where did you get that hat, where did you get that tile?'  I made it!

 One of several infinity scarves I've made for myself and for presents.

 Sock for a friend's golf club.

 I've made 4 of these Janet Clare aprons in varying fabrics.

Many projects at Stitchcraft. 

A reminder of a fabulous workshop with Susan Denton.

Funky portraits of my stepson and his girlfriend.

My as yet unfinished work from the Angie Hughes workshop that I went to recently.  I've done some more work on it but there's still a little more to do.

When I look back I seem to have made lots of little projects this year.  I have done quite a lot of other littleprojects too but don't seem to have photos of everything.  Some of them, of course, never got finished off and languish as WIPs and UFOs.  It's been a great year for creativity and for friendship.  I wonder what 2015 will have in store?

Looking Back Part I

 Looking Back over the year that's gone.  We did quite a lot.....

We enjoyed our local stately home, Belton House, through the seasons.
 

Our first trip of the year to visit Stewart's aged aunt who lives in the beautiful county of Suffolk.
A trip to Canvey was called for to visit family and friends that mum was forced to leave behind.  In her local church a stained glass pane in the new window with her name on it.

A visit from my nephew and his lovely wife together with their beautiful boys who were very interested in our pond.

A trip out with friends to visit The Beetroot Tree gallery which closed this year.

Our beautiful local church swathed in scaffolding for most of the year for repairs. 

Our signatures will be part of the rebuilding of the spire and mum's words will be read in probably another 200 years time when it needs repairs again.

A few days in beautiful Cheshire to visit my best friend who moved to be near family a couple of years ago. 

A major overhaul of our conservatory so that it is now a usable room.

An interesting day trip to Highgrove, the home of Prince Charles.  Photographs were not allowed.

Visited Bath to see family and a colourful exhibition by Kaffe Fassett.

A flying visit to Festival of Quilts.

More exhibition visits and the terrible two!

Time for a pilgrimage to our second home and to meet up with family and friends.  

Are you bored yet? lol

Mad adventures with the terrible two again, in Yorkshire this time!  

A very moving visit to the Tower of London to see the vast swathe of poppies commemorating the 888246 British and Colonial military dead of the First World War.

A very sad end of an era in December when our home from home Stitchcraft announced that it was going into liquidation.  (This is an old photo, the shop had grown out of all recognition from this image).

The new home of our Wednesday sewing group and hopefully a new place for sharing laughter, mutual support and inspiration. 

I was going to look back at all the projects I have completed this year but this post is already too long so I'll come back with part II.