Beautiful things come together with every tiny stitch!

 

In the quilt of life, Friends are the stitches

 that hold it all together.

When I hear that familiar click of my gate and the postman walks towards my door my heart jumps a little,  the little hand stitched squares that I sent to my vintage friends have started to arrive.  They are beautiful too, each and everyone so far have the personality of each individual as I know them.  I have finished my square and is on the little pile in my F & M basket waiting patiently to be part of this special project to me. 

There is no particular time frame and I await them patiently.  This lap quilt will take a little while because until they are all here I can not plan or make up the quilt.  This is a friendship lap quilt that will be a treasure indeed.

In the meantime I am stitching other bits and clearing all unfinished projects.  This is when I wish I had several pairs of hands ...  the process of slow stitching is a beautiful thing and each and every time I take the last little stitch, there is a sense of achievement and a little sadness as I so enjoy each project that I stitch.  I have to confess though that if it involves hundreds of French knots there is a sense of thankfulness that it is completed!

The weather here has been dreadful and for a couple of days last week I had no power.  Lucky I have candles everywhere.  The thing is though you forget what it is like with out electricity! Firstly I have a combi boiler so not showers or bath... I washed my hair over the sink.  This was possible because I have a range cooker.  The top is gas and the ovens are electric fan.  

If I turn the knobs on the top I can light the gas with a lighter and bingo I can heat water in my hob kettle and of course cook pasta or some warming soup or make a stove top stew so all is good.  However I had some ideas when it was all off.  I know I will iron that little pile of fabric! Stupid thing that I am. My day lamp of course did not work.  I have a log burner so I was very toasty warm and cosy and I read books, I could not stitch so I did not feel guilty for snuggling up on the sofa by the fire and reading.  

There was no internet or phone and I just settled into a 17th Century life and it was really relaxing.  Today there is yet another storm warning that Storm Gladys is on her way so I thought I would get on here and now whilst I could. 

 Just in case I have had my shower and hair wash early and prepared a evening meal that now

does not need an oven.  I have chosen a book and laid the log burner ready to light... candles have been refreshed and so bring it on!  Possibly now the storm will go in another direction and miss Dorset completely.. As my late Dad said prepare for the worst and hope for the best.  I was totally unprepared last time, not this time I can tell you! tonight's delight is sausage cassoulet and all I have to do is heat it up and there is enough for two days,  along with a beef casserole in the fridge now to heat up on the gas top.  If the storms are not coming here, well there is no cooking for four days ... means more stitching time .. 

I have sorted my design journal as well so I can sketch and pop ideas down and of course a good book.  The book I have chosen is called The Sea Gate and I look forward to loosing myself in the pages. 

Walking around my garden I was securing things that might break or blow about should we have high winds again and in doing so I saw that the beautiful bulbs I planted under my dinning room window have broken through.  They are Alliums and they have multiplied so instead of eight there are 16 of them to my delight and still small enough not to be blown around to break

Spring does not seem to know that Winter is still firmly in place and that the cycle of life continues, It is a joy to see and the promise of better weather is just around the corner.  Walks

along the river bank and baby animals being born.  It will soon be time for the hedgehogs to wake from their winters sleep and they will grace my garden once more for their supper.

Well my stitching is calling me and its time to settle down in my cosy chair with a lovely warm drink and pick up my needle.

Several projects are on the go and today it involves some whimsical mushrooms, it is a series of three projects and this week coming,  should see the trilogy completed.  I am so pleased with this project as I am delighted to see it all come together.

Where ever you are in the world stay safe and I hope that these little storms will not disrupt too much and will see you all safe and well inside your homes.  Travelling is tricky in these times so if you do not have to go outside then stay inside.  I myself see it as a gift not to have to rush about and do things that make us feel happy.

Happy Stitching everyone.

Sarah XX