Snuggle Quilt

This is the quilt which I have been making for Merry.

Many of the fabrics are remnants from dresses which I have made for her.

I hope the quilt will keep her warm and snuggly and also

remind her of some of her pretty frocks.

She is also mad about purple, pink, and rabbits

so I made sure that I included plenty of those colours and appliqued some rabbits

while I was at it.

Much of it was hand sewn simply because that was how I wanted to do it.

(I think I have got that particular thing out of my system for a while!)

I enjoyed making the quilt but now I'm looking forward to being able to make progress

with my own.

I'm making it from vintage fabrics in very bright, jewel-like colours

to go on our own bed.

I suddenly realised that not one of all the quilts I have ever made

has been for Max and me.

Time to rectify that!

Snippets

Last year I was lucky enough to be given a pile of vintage Japanese kimono fabrics.    I spent yesterday evening cutting and snipping, cutting squares to make a quilt top.   These are some of the patterned fabrics but there are plenty of plain ones as well.

Most of them are between twenty and fifty years old, a few are much older.   They are amazing, both in colour and condition.     Some are printed, others woven, a few have been painted by hand.

It feels so good to be getting creative again, so much of this summer has been spent doing practical work

on Cowslip Cottage, helping to turn this lovely old place into a home again.    My role has been stripping wall and ceiling paper (hard work!), tidying up after the workers, gardening, making the tea...

The trouble is that I keep getting distracted by these wonderful creatures...  They graze the park land to the rear of the cottage and I could spend hours watching them.

aren't they beautiful?

Don't worry, I'm not coming any closer.

Slaking their thirst at the trough - then the little ones gamboled off for some more fun.

Fun is what has been lacking for me, the quilt should help fix that.
fliss&max

Poppy and Miles in Shanghai

Happiness!  Miles is back in Shanghai, home with Poppy

after spending a month here, working on Cowslip Cottage.

It is still a work in progress,

but will become their home in the future.

I know that Miles enjoyed my food while he was home, 

but I also know that

 he is extremely happy to be eating food cooked by Poppy!

She is a marvellous cook.

Take your eyes off that beef, Boy!

*  *  *

Now that Miles is back in China

the nest is empty again.

I don't have any problem with that,

although 

I know many parents suffer dreadfully

from 'empty nest syndrome'.

All I have ever wanted for my children

is that they should be happy and healthy

so

now they are all happily married

and living their own lives,

I couldn't be happier.

I can indulge myself in all my hobbies and interests.

I have time to read, to sew, dabble with a variety of crafts,

visit the old churches and buildings, which I love so much

and,

I don't have to cook so many meals!

Yippeeeeeeeeeee!

This is what Max and I ate yesterday evening.

I made a large jug of custard, thick and unctuous

and we indulged in

wild plum and windfall apple crumble.

No starter, no main course,

just crumble and custard.

We were happy little piglets!

My worktable has become own again,

it is covered with fabrics

as I play around with making a patchwork quilt for young Merry.

fliss&max