HAPPY CHRISTMAS 

Have a lovely time everyone

Nearly there

This weekend has seen us wrapping presents, delivering cards and clearing the house ready for Christmas.  David also went to Swanage Railway, where he is a volunteer porter, for the day today so I had a day to myself to get bits and pieces done.

During the week we went to visit a road in Branksome, well known to local people for their display of Christmas lights.  There is a collection to raise money for local charities. 

A fantastic display as ever. I enjoy seeing the light displays.

Yesterday we visited St Aldhelms Church, also in Branksome for the annual Christmas Tree Festival with trees decorated by church groups, local community groups and families and is a really lovely sight and a real change from the hustle of people shopping for last minute things.

That was just a few of the thirty or so trees in the church.

This afternoon I made 10 blocks from Part Four of Bonnie Hunter's Grand Illusions Mystery Quilt. More Broken Dishes blocks but different colour arrangements.  Here's a photo of what I've done.

Notice the Christmassy fabric I've used to display them on? A cute fat quarter from Cowslip Workshops which I bought back in October.

These are individual blocks from each week so far.

Even more impressive is that I managed to tidy my room ready for Christmas. Just in case the sofa bed is put into use,  just don't open the wardrobe door!

For a change I've also been doing some knitting. I couldn't resist this Sirdar pattern for snowmen and robin and ordered the pattern and yarn from Black Sheep Wools, who delivered really quickly. So here's a snowman in progress.

That's been my pre Christmas weekend. Just two and a half days of work to go before the break.

Another Episode of Grand Illusions

This morning was spent sewing the third part of the Grand Illusions mystery quilt and more blocks from  part two.  This third part required 2" squares of green and neutral blocks with a black square to make a rectangle of eight squares. See the photo below. Along with block one I've made 10 blocks.

Below is another arrangement of these blocks

As I only made 5 blocks of part 2 last week I've made another 5 to go with the original group.

And here are all the blocks so far, although I've found after I took the photo that I left a couple behind, never mind.

Later today David and I went to Kingston Lacy, late afternoon as it was getting dark to see the illuminated walk.

Trees take on a bit of a creepy look when lit, but a lot of people were around to see the gardens lit up and to bring children to visit Father Christmas in the Shepherd's Hut.

If only christmas was more about lovely lights I'd enjoy it more. This was really beautiful and the photos don't do justice.

A Bit of Sunday Morning Sewing

Following the Grand Illusions Mystery Quilt I made these 5 blocks, should have been 10, so I might spend tomorrow evening making 5 more.  So here is part 2

Another little arrangement

More photos will be on my Pinterest page here

What about this afternoon?  Well I went to Quarterjack Quilters Christmas lunch, where the group's committee provided a lovely hot lunch, followed by a guest speaker, Sara Price, with her collection of antique quilts and quilt tops.  From pioneering times through to the 1930's depression era, she is very knowledgeable and it was a ber interesting talk. Nice to catch up with quilting friends.

Talking of friends, on Thursday I received this gorgeous flower arrangement from my friend Val, isn't it lovely?

Sewing When I Can...

Yesterday, thanks to David watching an American Football game, recorded from the weekend, I did some sewing.  I read the instructions for the first part of the Quiltville mystery called, Grand Illusion.

I've started small, making 10 blocks, I can always make more later as required.  Here's the result of last night's sewing.  Forgive the state of the photos here, hastily arranged on some "Groovy" fabric.

After seeing some of the linked up blogs I found there was a pattern to be made from some of these blocks.

How about that?

Here's the link to the post on Bonnie Hunter's site with the instructions for the first block.  I will link up next Monday with where I've got to so far.