A Celebrity Visitor

I had Celebrity Quilter, Matt Wilding, staying with me this week as he was teaching his tessellated heart bag at Quilt Direct. He was a model guest, bringing shortbread hearts for me and snacks for Nessie. He decided to do a little shopping of his own and picked out lots of Grunge fabrics for his next top secret entry to FoQ. We were both delighted to learn that each of us enjoy going to bed around 9pm so I have invited him to stay with me again for his next workshop in February. 

We actually had a wee flurry of snow this week. It came down in the town for about 3 minutes then melted. It was far worse on the moors and surprisingly cold for 48 hours but by the weekend it was mild and wet again. 

My DIY projects this week included putting up cast iron corbel shelves. They were carefully measured and levelled but because they are really naff quality, the shelves tilt upwards and candles slope oddly as if on a ship. Instead I will put dangly plants on them. I have a painted chest of drawers that I got on FB marketplace but I have never liked them grey so I slapped blue paint on the side that I can see and the drawers so now I think they look much nicer. 

I visited Mel in Looe and stayed overnight. We were meant to do lots of sewing and play with air drying clay. As usual, we mostly nattered but I did manage to give her a bit of a tutorial on her sewing machine covering free motion quilting, then how to use the buttonhole attachment and zip foot. In return I did not have to cook or wash up and Nessie told Mel’s husband that she never gets fed.

Diary of a Nobody

I went on a road trip around Devon this week with a box full of leaflets to promote my long-arm quilting service. I left all the photographing to Clair, the Quilt Direct marketing person. Ridiculously, the only photo that I took was of an enormous stuffed dinosaur that would make a hilarious cushion if Nessie would leave it alone. 

Most of the shop owners were enthusiastic about my leaflets and business cards, particularly a very nice shop in Totnes. However, one shop owner was downright rude. She said that they already had a long-arm quilter and had no need of me, and who was I anyway, before scornfully telling me that she had never heard of me. I guess I could have come back with a retort about some of my achievements but I decided it was not worth it.

I put up a couple of Ikea peg boards in my sewing area and now need to figure out what to put on them. I thought Fairy lights would make it a nice space so now I really have no excuse not to do some actual sewing. 

I went on an outing to Cowslip Workshop’s Christmas fair. I did not buy anything but there was a lovely festive atmosphere. I liked a Tilda pattern for an apple block cushion that I think Nella would love - I “just” need some suitable fabric. I regret that I did not buy a twiggy wreath from the wood turning stall or a willow star but as I am poor I will have to make my own;)

Nessie and I were pretty fed up with constant rain this week - every time we went out we got soaked. The river was very high and I could see it rushing past my garden but the neighbours said it has never flooded yet.

 

Slow and Cosy November Days

It has rained a lot this week, apart from a glorious sunny day on Saturday. People keep reminding me that this is normal in Devon and at least it is not freezing. I am trying to embrace the cosiness of the season, making soup and bread, even knuckling down to the tiniest amount of hand sewing. 

At work I had a lovely, traditional log cabin quilt and I was most impressed by the new copper metallic thread from the “Kingstar” range, that I quilted on a small table runner.

I caught up with Mel at the very posh Duchy cafe and nursery in Cornwall. It was in a class of its own, a bit like Liberty in the middle of nowhere. I was impressed that the cafe crockery was all Cornishware even though it was green and not my favourite blue.

I had help to put up shelves in the back bedroom which I hope will make it feel more like a sewing space. I could be tempted to run up a Christmas quilt but probably won’t have the time or budget. 

I reminded myself that it is not against the law if I don’t hoover at the weekend - I just have to sweep up the leaves and fluff at some point before I next get visitors!

In a Pickle

I had a nicely varied week at work with a couple of customer quilts and teaching sisters to sew on their half term holiday. I really enjoyed tutoring the young people but could have done without the one who put on a baby voice, who did not particularly like being instructed;)

I am really not a fan of getting home to long dark evenings and dog walks with a torch. I was not in the mood for doing anything much after work which annoyed me. It was far too wet and dark to cut the grass and rake up leaves. I need better lighting if I want to sew. I found a rechargeable tiny lamp that I can use if I finally get back to embellishing the long overdue coat pieces. I ordered a new head torch so I guess I could even try that.

I had a great view of the Tavistock fireworks from my back doorstep.

I got Nella's Hello Kitty sewing machine working but did not use it for long enough to see if it spookily switched itself on unsupervised. It is not really worth selling so I will probably display it on a shelf.

My children and I made a pact that Christmas gifts should be thrifted or made, preferably edible. I tried making mango chutney but despite extra sugar and extra boiling it remains runny so it will be more of a sauce! I should probably stick to failsafe recipes like marmalade. The thing is, I don’t suppose it will save me any money due to all of the electricity I will use…