HO HO HO

Tis the season to update my blog, after a "gentle" reminder from my mother that I have been a bit lapse. Weather here is getting colder but no sign of any snow yet, ski slopes are crying out for it. 

TRAVELS

Nothing much recently, Had a nice long weekend with Kat early October and we drove all round the Shwangunks, including a trip to Woodstock to see the local lovies

There was a flea market there and it was fun to walk around and mingle with the locals.

We also went to see the lighthouse at Saugerties, the Hudson is still looking very brown from all the mud that was churned up with hurricane Irene.

We also got to do a fair bit of walking including a hike up at Mohonk Preserve. We included Rob and the dogs and took a picnic.

We decided to drive to Atlanta for our annual Thanksgiving bash with the family Pinto. We drove down over two days with an overnight stay in Raonoke VA. It was quite pleasant and we made good time. We arrived Tuesday late afternoon, just in time for dinner. Thursday was all hands to the pump to create the traditional Thanksgiving masterpiece even Rob had his role to play. He was in charge of sweet potato mash and his favorite job (not) preparing the artichokes.

Friday Robyn and I went shopping, she wanted to get herself a serger. We returned via Jo-annes just in time for their big discount coupon.

Saturday we all went to Stone Mountain, its a country park to the the south of the city. Nice bracing walk to the top, picnic lunch and then a trip to see the fake snow slopes and christmas village.

 

Sunday we decided to drive back in one leg, left Atlanta at 8.30 and got home about 1.30 the following morning. Not something I would like to do on a regular basis but not as bad as I thought it was going to be.

Exercise

I had a hare brained idea to enter the Edinburgh marathon, imagine my surprise when I got a response straight back saying I had been accepted. Oh well I better get training then. I have been out running a few times recently I am up to about to 4 and a half miles. Only 22 miles more to add.  The cold weather makes it a little hard, running when it is so far below freezing takes your breath away.

Quilting

I have been teaching at the local quilt shop recently, its been a lot of fun. I have also been busy sewing stuff for the holidays, I don't always remember to photo them but here is a quick catch up on some of the things I have done.

These are quilows - quilts that fold up into their own pillows. I made quite a few of them and this was also one to the classes I taught, it was so popular I had to repeat it twice more.

These are a pair of "hangers"  Robyn loves snowmen so I made these as a Thanksgiving gift. I think they are very cute.

This is my attempt at rug hooking - a little snowman pillow. It measures about 6 by 12 and binding it to the backing probably took as long as the hooking.

xmas cushion to brighten up the living room

Believe it or not I made this with my serger (overlocker). It is Dupion silk and took forever to mark the lines on it prior to creating the pintucks.

My sewing machine also makes great lace ornaments. they take quite a time to stitch out but I like the finished effect.

This is a small table hanger abut 12 inch square and I just stitched out some embroidery designs that I had.

 This is a larger wall hanger that I quilted on the longarm. It's a panel that I bought at quilters attic, Love the colors.

Some quick projects, glasses cases, small christmas ornament and a make up bag.

One of the Yahoo groups i belong to is called the 'small quilts group" and they are a great group of ladies that share all sorts of advice etc. We has a quilt swap a couple of weeks ago, everyone was allocated a partner and the idea was that you would make a quilt for your partner and they would make one for you. The lady i was paired with is called Dorothy, she is a really nice and lives over on the north west coast. We have emailed back and forth a few times and then last week the parcel arrived from her. It was fab, lovely blue and white quilt and a make up bag with tissue holder, she also sent some of the local coffee.

The work is really lovely, it gives me something to aspire to - Thank you very much!

I have also been quite active with the quilt guild and I volunteered to help with the quilt show that they are preparing for in October 2012. That should be quite an interesting experience. We have our meetings once a month and I always look forward to going and meeting with them all.

Well I think that brings me up to date -- am I off the hook now Mum ?