Shap Shawl in hand spun yarn now complete

Here is a picture taken before the shawl was finished but whilst I was in 'agony' wondering whether I would have sufficient yarn to complete the border. Only a few metres to spare, and now it is ready to wash and block. All the yarn had been hand spun and dyed by a generous 'benefactor' and before it came into my hands it had been languishing for some months in a cupboard in some library in Wiltshire.

New sewing purchases

I'd taken my trolley with me this time, and sufficient funds.....so often I have seen people buying bags at the NEC to enable them to carry their purchases home!







I bought a box to put my sewing in, an embroidery frame which allows one to use both hands, and a little magnet to keep needles and scissors on the work. Here it is on my latest project. At the craft group we are using ribbon embroidery on silk, and it will be the top of a square box.

Sewing for Pleasure 2009 at the NEC

This year, I planned the visit getting tickets in advance, and went with my friend Jean from the WI. David looked after her dog for the day, which allowed Jean to have longer away from home. The train got us up to the NEC and just by the train we caught a very handy bus, missing out all the long walks. I very much enjoyed the catwalk fashion show, and the exhibits. Here are the jelly fish and sea anemones mass with corals etc. which caught my fancy.

There was so much work in this piece, and the shapes of the urchins reminded me of times snorkeling in Mauritius.

Trifle for Tea

A lovely pudding which yields many helpings, and which is so easily made and so much nicer than shop bought is Strawberry trifle. Here it is ready for the custard and cream layers, the colours were jewel like, and called out to be photographed. When we are going to have a busy weekend, I like to have something made up on the Friday ready to satisfy Mr S. His epitaph ought to be 'And what's for pudding?'

Small Euphorbia shooting up

This is a very small euphorbia, and I have yet to find the name. Its one of the plants which I bought with me and which has survived. The shoots are tinged with pink, and later the growth is feathery. As it grows I'll take further pictures.