Festive Stress Ramping Up

I don’t know why I am surprised every December by how quickly Christmas looms. I was feeling some dread that I had not done any Christmas shopping or making and could not see how I could fit it in. Additionally, it is Fergus’s birthday 2 weeks before Christmas and I just have not got the funds to send something amazing, especially as I won’t be there and he is doing his last big gig of the year at Oran Mor in Glasgow’s West End on his actual birthday! He had expressed an interest in a cross-body tote bag so I found some hideous cheap grey denim and made a lined bag with 2 inner zipped pockets, a denim patch pocket on the bag and the word, “Messages” which is Scots for groceries. It took me quite some time and I hope that the xxl straps are not too long or short! 

I had a customer quilt to do at work, as well as mucking in on the phones, warehouse, making cups of tea for classes, testing freezer paper, and a million other things. I went in on my day off to do work friend, Jo’s quilt. It would have taken far too long to do it custom so I suggested an all-over in sparkly thread which can have further quilting in the borders if she feels like it. I was pleased with the result but giving up a day off means I have less time at home to do chores and make gifts.

Tavistock had a very wet festive Dickensian evening which was really nice for a wander.  The church was full of trees decorated by various schools, clubs and businesses. It did put me in a more festive frame of mind but added to the panic of not having made all of my purchases. I am only going to send a handful of cards because the price of stamps is ridiculous. At least I went to Lidl and made a start by getting some shower gels and sweeties for my children. 

My sister suggested that I make her boys toilet bags which was actually a great idea and meant I could use more of the horrible grey denim. I don’t have many sewing supplies here but I had enough fabric for lining and zips. 

Nella requested a patchwork hot water bottle cover but has now changed her mind and wants a laptop sleeve. I bought a pack of squares and will see how far I can make them go. 

Sunday was taken up sewing, cooking, making fresh juice, washing up, going for a wet and windy walk on the moors, chores - no wonder I am worn out! I only have one weekend left in Devon before I drive to Scotland for Christmas so I need to get my act together!

Outings and The Last Straw

I had a lovely week with Nella staying and Nessie loved the company. I made lemon curd then thought about how I could attempt to make vegan lemon curd for Nella using custard powder. Nella had a couple of weeks off Uni, waiting for dissertation results so she went to stay with Freya then came here via her friend, Daisy’s house in Ilkley. She had a relaxing week doing crochet projects and despite worrying about her marks, was awarded a First which is fantastic. With the big essay out of the way, she has the rest of the year to tackle her major textiles project. This involves wool so we visited an organic, very ethical sheep farm where she bought a whole sheep fleece that she will have to wash and process.

We both rejoined the National Trust so we could go and see the amazing flower garland at Cotehele, made from 38 000 dried flowers. It seemed that a lot of people had the same idea so there was a lot of reversing up and down the lanes leading to the property. Apparently 4-wheel drivers can’t go backwards. 

In order to get our money’s worth we visited Buckland Abbey with my Hampshire cousins, home of Francis Drake. That was a lovely property, having been converted from a Cistercian abbey. The layout was quite odd, particularly the stairs. There was an Arthurian legends Christmas event on in the Great Barn. The weather forecast had been dire but we had a lovely, sunny day wandering around. 

Instead of having a gentle Sunday afternoon reset, I decided to have a go at making a giant wreath, initially wrapped in straw. The straw that I got from a friend seemed to have been chopped up into tiny pieces so it was a daft idea for me to think I could do this in my kitchen. My hoover got clogged up, I ran out of straw and got rather annoyed. Maybe next weekend I will try to cover it all up with greenery or just give up;)

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… 

Nella's 22nd Birthday in Norfolk

I have had a lovely week with Family, culminating in celebrating Nella’s 22nd birthday. We did not “do” much but went for walks, did some baking, and had lunch on Norwich market. Nella’s house-share this year is just off Pottergate, one of my favourite streets. It is right in the city so a perfect base for just popping out for a coffee or quick mooch around Jarrold’s Department Store.

The clocks go back this weekend so it will be dark early which will feel a bit sad after such a lovely sunny summer and autumn. I will have to make my cottage cosy and get into the habit of doing more crafting in the evenings rather than just doom-scrolling or watching telly;)