Rocks, rocks, a few more rocks ... and an invitation.

Oooh Jane you cryptic old tinker you.

First the rocks.

Since Big and Little Sis were wee we've been bringing them to the Roaches. On a spectacularly scenic road between Leek and Buxton they provide great scrambling opportunities for both young and old goats alike and reward with far reaching views. (I wrote about Leek here - a perfect place for a spot of charity shopping and some pre walk sustenance.) So yesterday Big Sis and I had some lovely mother and daughter time together and decided to take off! Of course Big Sis being Big Sis her suitcase hadn't allowed any packing of what you and I might call 'necessities'. The resulting outfit of a faux fur coat and her sister's slightly too small trainers was one that isn't often seen in the hiking community - but it did the trick! The section that we usually walk is right next to a narrow road and in the time it took to lock the car door Big Sis  was already up and off.

Spot the Yeti!

The rocky path is by no means straightforward but is worth stopping along the way just to watch the light change. Within seconds it can turn from this

to this

The other thing that struck me was the absolute silence. There was a fair old breeze and the occasional word or two from a passing walker but apart from that you only heard the bees on the heather and the strange 'sweeee' sound of an unknown bird (any guesses?)

Carrying on up

Past some fantastic rock formations

We thought this one looked like a tortoise!

Noticing the old heather

and the new

Nearly there

Until we got to the top

Queen of all she surveys

I must admit I didn't quite make it to the top of the rock a la Big Sis - my knees were starting to wobble by now and the fact that these rocks have been there forever didn't allay this one bit - today might just have been the day they all decided to give way!

A wonderful day though. My cobwebs were properly blown away and I felt no guilt at all at indulging in the rather large chocolate flapjack I'd stashed in my bag for the summit!

Now for the invitation bit. I was wondering...if maybe...oh I don't know...just a thought...perhaps it would be nice if us bloggy folk could have a little get together? Hmmmm? I was thinking maybe sometime in the last week of May. Not sure where but I thought perhaps a National Trust type of place where we could have a picnic and lovely walk if the weather was nice, or go in the tea rooms and visit a lovely big house if it's not. What do you think? Shugborough? Tatton Park? Calke Abbey? I'm completely open to suggestions so if you think you've got any good ones do let me know - it would be so nice to actually meet some of you!

Meanwhile here's a by no means flattering picture of windswept me atop a rock!

Jane

xxx

Half Baked Bunnies.

Thank you so much for all of your birthday and get well wishes. Today is the first time I haven't actually had to take any painkillers or wander around attached to a box of tissues so they obviously worked. April has been here for a while now too so I thought I'd better update my calendar photo.

I love the colours in this one - very Scandi/Grimms fairy tale - Grandi?Scrimms?

It's been a strange old time making wise. One of those 'lots of ideas and busy minds but not quite enough energy to put into practice' phases that I hit now and then. Not the least bit helped by the Great British Sewing Bee. Oh how I've loved snuggling down at 8pm each Tuesday to watch others do all the hard work! (Surprised at the winner though but that last dress was a real show stopper!)

Big Sis is back from university for a couple of weeks as well and, despite my requests for her to sleep in the garden shed, has insisted on sleeping in her own bed - in my craft room - the injustice! Still, I've managed the odd spurt. My little basket is filling itself with bunnies.

 Sadly none of them are yet complete - they are in fact 'half baked'. Each time I think about getting on and adding the details I get sidetracked. Glove mouse is very excited by their arrival and is anticipating all the nice chats he'll be able to have once they actually have faces! I did, however, finish a couple of little crochet pincushions and had great fun making up the patterns and adding the beads.

But the highlight of my week was getting my McCalls pattern through the post. For those of you who haven't caught up yet Lazy Daisy Jones is hosting a sewalong for a fab little a-line skirt (hit the button on the sidebar to take a peek!)

I must admit I would have completely overlooked this pattern if I had been browsing through the catalogue. However having seen the results of Daisy and Jacquie's sewing I knew I had to have a go. The best thing about it so far is the fact that it has only involved cutting out four pattern pieces ( I really dislike cutting out) - a breeze! 

So here they all are, ready for the next steps. 

All it requires now is for me to get up off my overused derrière (ooh madam) and get on with it.

 Poor old glove mouse is going to have to wait a little longer for his friendly chats.

Hope you are all having a warm and wonderful weekend - and if not I've saved up some of your well wishes and am sending them your way.

Jane

xxx

A Shameless Bit of Self Gratuity .....

I've been a.w.o.l. for some time owing to some rotten virus type thing that just won't seem to budge, but just wanted to pop on to say IT'S MY BIRTHDAY in a completely self gratuitous manner! Being nice and spoilt and taking it eeeeaaaaasy. 

Hope you're all virus free and will enjoy a slice of virtual cake with me (courtesy of Nigel Slater)

Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.

Bye for now my lovely bloggy buddies,

Jane 

xxx

Ding Dong Sewalong!

For those of you who might be wondering what on earth I'm on about (and not for the first time) I am, of course, referring to the very talented Miss Daisy Jones who is hosting a tip top sewalong for a 'simple' skirt. Now let me just clarify - 'tis not I who have coined the phrase 'simple' here.No in my case it's more of a tip top skirt for a simple person. Hmm. 

(I've just been distracted by a duck sitting on the roof right outside the window - maybe he too would like to join in - no?)

Anyhow, if you're still there, I thought you might like to see the fabric I've selected. Please bear in mind that in true 'me' fashion I have waited until the time in the evening where it is impossible to get a good picture - the colours aren't quite as lurid as they might seem.

Contender number one

Yes you are correct in thinking that this is an old curtain. I love the colours and the loose weave but I'm currently using it for bag making.

Contender number two

Another curtain. This time with more of a glazed finish but I think more suited to a dress I've got in mind. (Hahahahahahahahahahaha - oh yes it's amazing the dreams we can dream!)

So the final contender, and to be honest the one I've plumped for, is this one.

A very fine needlecord which is far prettier in real life than this picture shows. It was a roll end from a charity shop and cost the grand total of £2.49. I've been waiting for the right thing to do with it so hopefully fate has called and I will soon be parading around proudly in it.

So that's my choice. 

Do I have a zip? No.

Do I have the pattern yet? Errr - no! (but hopefully popping onto the doormat any day now)

But do I have the enthusiasm? Heck yes!!

This is going to be good fun. If you haven't joined up yet pop over to see Daisy or use the button in my sidebar.

Simple - that's my kind of sewing!

Off to watch 'The Great British Sewing Bee' now for my weekly fix.

Jane

xxx

A Query

Just wondering if anyone else has this problem. Every now and then one of the blogs I am following will disappear off my radar. The blog is still live but I receive no notifications of new posts and find that I have disappeared from the followers list. Is it just me?

And by way of a pretty picture -

here's a not very good one taken from my bathroom window during quite a heavy rainstorm this afternoon. It's amazing what a bit of warmth has done for the new growth. I love Spring!

Jane

xxx

A Winner!

Well now there are two things here. Number one is I am amazed at how few odd socks there are out there - am I the only one who has at least fifty in a bag under the bed (oh dear - maybe I've said too much)? And number two is that there has been one very excited raccoon around these parts over the last few days. Ronnie has been carefully reading each and every comment and imagining life in all far flung corners of the globe. He was beside himself when the clock struck six this evening. We had to have a few words and calm him down with his beloved pineapple.

Sadly his lack of digits made it impossible to select a piece of paper himself, so he enlisted the help of Little Sis.

And the winner is ......

Well done Jacqui! If you could email me with contact details I'll get Ronnie packed and off on his travels before the week is out!

Thanks to all of you who left a comment - it seems like Ronnie has built up quite a fan base out there - he'll be on the cover of Vogue before you know it (keep hold of those odd socks - they could soon be 'de rigueur'!)

Bye for now,

Jane

xxx

Boxes, brooches, buttons and bunnies

A short while ago Jo from Three Stories High (go over and pay her a visit - this lady does some serious making!) organised a brooch swap. Now I have never entered anything like this before and, knowing the wealth of talent out there, felt a little hesitant about joining in. But with a sudden gust of confidence (and probably a glass of something cold and white) I sent my details. In no time I had been matched up with Sandra from over at Jessie's Needle. Of course I immediately hopped on over there and started to panic. This lady makes all sorts of gorgeous things - just take a look at her folksy shop! But with a little bit of time and some middle of the night ideas I came up with a plan. Remember the Anchor pearl from my previous post? I took a teeny tiny crochet hook to it and with the help of my reading glasses, a magnifying doodah that you put around your neck, and a lot of squinting, had soon crocheted enough flowers to put together like this. I was quite pleased with how it turned out and just hoped that Sandra wasn't a pastel loving gal.

It was really exciting sending it off on it's way - but then even more exciting to return from work yesterday and find my own little parcel. Inside was a lovely card

some gorgeous pink lace and buttons 

and a box!

I stared at the box for a little while, shook it, and then rather tentatively opened it. 

Look what it was. 

Isn't it the most beautiful brooch?

 A beautifully delicate flower on a felt backing - all topped off with a pink opalescent bead. What's more it sits perfectly on my new (to me) cord coat - perfect for brightening up my day. Thank you so much to Sandra, and to Jo for organising this swap. If, like me, you feel a little nervous about joining in something like this, don't be - it's great fun and lovely to know how generous people can be with their thoughts, their talent and their time.

As for those bunnies - I caught Miss Mildred snaffling those buttons in her little bag. What a commotion that caused. Naughty rabbit!

P.S . There's still time to enter my giveaway  - will draw on Monday at 6pm UK time.

Have a lovely weekend!

Jane 

x