Bon Jour.. a breakaway in France

We have had a lovely few days in France for our 8th wedding anniversary. The B&B was this huge old farm house that smelt of wood and polish. We slept well in fresh scented cotton sheets, in the quiet countryside. Breakfasts were crispy french bread, croissants, yogurt, local honey and cheese and jams and never ending coffee... just so delicious. This is the huge fireplace that was one end of the dining room. The house  has quite a history and was occupied by the Germans in WW2..
It was just two miles outside the little village of Wissant, a seaside place..we drove around through the beautiful countryside.. the lovely floral displays were in Wimereau, a little town not far from Wissant.

 I had to have photographs of the street tubs of flowers with two of my favourite flowers, rudbeckia and Cleome. We have had a restful time and ate and drank well,  but not it seems too much as we are the weight as before we went!.. I feel as though I have had a break and feel happy and well!

xx

Giveaway from Heather AND my 6th Blogaversary

I won quite unexpectantly from Heather her charts she was giving away (www.heathersstitchingstory.blogspot.com)

I never seem to win things so this was a super surprise.

These are all really sweet and I think I will be busy stitching in the next week or two as it is my 6th Blogaversary!
I never thought I would still be blogging six years on. I started it on 27th July 2008 right after having my knee op. I was at home, in pain and wondering if I was ever going to be able to walk, or garden again. Of course I could still stitch but I was having trouble concentrating..
I have loved talking to you all over the years,  my regular followers and those that dip in here and read what I have been up to.
Not a lot I sometimes think and then I look back and marvel at what I have done, what I have  seen, where I have been  and how my life has happily unfolded. And I have made such a lot of things and now added to my stitching by learning to do patchwork and quilting.
There have been some sad times but lots of happy times..
This was one of the best when this little girl came into our lives.....

And here she is today..

Doing what she loves to do, sunning herself as she watches us.. we love her to bits and her unconditional love is always there.

Nell, now  4 1/2 years old and just as pretty today.

 Watch this space for what I will be offering in my giveaway, some thing made by me and ?????
Wait and see.....
Or if you like to take a chance sign up now before you even  know what to expect.
Thank you for all your comments and encouragement over the years.

xx

Put on your dancing shoes and dance with me.... tis finished!!!

At last I have this quilt finished.

I started it April 2013 and then stopped to make a quilt for my grand daughter; then I started it again and by October it was finished.

But I left layering it and quilting while I made a quilt for my step daughter's wedding present.

 

So now is the only time I have had.. I have had it professionally quilted and isn't it beautifully done.

The design is 'Twin Stars'  by Pam and Nicky Lintott ( a mother and daughter team) and can be found in their book 'Jelly Roll Quilts.'  The fabric I used is 'French General' design by Moda.

I am very pleased with the finish and I think this one is going to be for us!

I have a new quilt on the go, this time for my eldest GS and then one is planned for my DD who has a big birthday coming up in September.. I must say I do love quilting it is so satisfying and through it I have met some lovely friends.

xx

 

Wishes and dreams...

 

What would you do?? Buy a house that is suitable and new

or buy an older pretty one that needs a lot and probably always will?

That's where my cousin is at the moment..

I say follow your dreams, wishes can come true!

 

Some people see a weed, others see a wish!

xx

 

Beautiful bag....

This is the lovely bag I have made at a workshop.. took three sessions of 4 hours,  as it had a lot of elements.. cross hatching quilting probably took me longer than I have done before,  for some reason I was nervous!

But I am delighted with the results.

I just need some buttons on the tabs as a decoration, which I will add when I see what I like

 

This is the lining to show the zipped pocket, this was easy once we were shown how.

I intend to make some more as presents for family and friends.

 

It has been a delightful workshop and I thoroughly enjoyed it. She is doing a different bag in September so I have my name down for it and can't wait!

A happy, happy sewing day!
 

 

xx

 

A lovely afternoon trip out.

This afternoon we have been to Suffolk.. just a little way from Essex where we live.

And it has been a lovely sunshiny afternoon.

We were there to pick up my quilt from the professional long arm quilter and once again she has done a wonderful job. It was the second big quilt I made, finished quite a while ago, and really a bit too difficult for a beginner like me. But it is looking very good and when I have done the binding I will post a pic of it.

Then from there East Bergholt,  Dh said we are quite near to Denham lets go and have a look.

So we did and have had a wonderful afternoon.

Its such a pretty village (Constable country and where most of his painting were done.)

 

So you might wonder why this saying? Because when my first marriage was going wrong  I prayed and prayed that my then husband's heart would soften. I even had my church praying for me.

But it never happened and so I spent 17 years after my divorce alone and then.. I met Mike!

He is so good, my ex would never have suggested we went to Denham, or sat outside a café for coffee and cake. Nor would he have said... you go and look in the craft centre, I can wait and give the dog a little walk, take your time, there's no hurry. In fact he would never have come with me at all, while there was tennis to watch on TV.

It was so beautiful there, such a pretty little village with painted old cottages, pinks and yellows and the scent from the lime trees,  which border one side of the little high street was heavenly. I had such a good and lovely afternoon, I looked at my DH and could have sung with joy.

 He is my 

'Mr Wonderful!'

 

Ahhh happy days..

 

x