Ghost, Meatballs and a Puppy

On Wednesday, my good friend Mandy and I went to see the musical Ghost at the Bristol Hippodrome. It's based on the film with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. 

We started off with a lovely lunch and catch up in a nice restaurant and then off to see the matinee of the show. I really enjoyed the dancing and some of the effects were brilliant.

I didn't want to drive home in the rush hour afterwards, so I stopped off at Ikea.......it was just something I had to do ;)

I had Swedish meatballs for tea (my favourite) and then it was time for a spot of retail therapy.

I try to be restrained when I go to Ikea as I know from past experience how easy it is to pop this and that in those big yellow bags and then have a bit of a shock to say the least at the checkout.

Of course I had to browse the fabrics....I only bought a few.......a few metres here and there of the 'Rosali' fabrics.....I read that they were designed by Cath Kidston in her earlier days before she was a household name.....so pretty......

The vintage roses on blue is my favourite.....

Apart from a few other small bits and bobs, I also found a shelf for my workshop/office. I've been looking for somewhere to put my patchwork scrap boxes (see here and here). I persuaded Chris to put it up for me and it's perfect!

We're having a Sunday indoors today as the weather is miserable outside....

Chris is sorting his military buttons.....with Spencer's help of course...

I've got my eye on that little old suitcase!

And I'm putting together some Christmassy fabric bundles to sell at the Malvern Flea Market next sunday....fingers crossed the weather improves by then!

I'll leave you with this little bundle of cuteness! My sister, Ros, and her family's new puppy, Murphy.......

Cute cute cute cute cute....

Thanks for popping by and have a lovely week.

Maggie xx

Reminiscing upon March last year

To compare the weather, I've just been taking a look at my posts from March last year and it certainly looks a lot warmer than this year.

 

At the end of March 2012, I remember now from looking at this post, the weather was sunny and Chris was on Exmouth beach in his shirt sleeves!



Exmouth Beach March 2012

Aww .... Spencer was so tiny then......his first visit to the beach...

Exmouth Beach March 2012

We ventured onto Dartmoor the same weekend and Chris is again is in shirt sleeves....and look at the gorgeous blue skies!

Dartmoor March 2012

I also found some photos from another post, dated 22nd March 2012 showing my aubretia in bloom......

Blooming Aubretia March 2012

and my washing blowing in the breeze with lovely blue skies.....

Washing with blue skies March 2012

From my post dated 10th March 2012 called The Sun is Shining ! Look at these lovely Spring flowers......

....and Max is happy to be outside sunbathing!

But never mind, we will light the woodburner and stay cosy and warm.....

 

I need to catch up with a spot of housework this weekend...but I'm hoping to plant a few seeds (indoors) and quilt quilt quilt..... I am working on three quilts at the moment......a baby clothes quilt for a customer, my summery strawberries and roses quilt (from this post) and a quilt for Spencer from scraps.....I'll post some photos over the weekend :)

 

Of course, we'll be wrapping up to take Spencer for lots of nice walks..

 

Have a lovely Easter weekend, keep warm and eat lots of chocolate!

 

Maggie xx

Friendship Star Quilt

Tonight I want to tell you about and show you a quilt that I made a while ago.

I found the pattern in the fabulous quilting book 'Scrap Quilt Sensation' by Katharine Guerrier.

Katharine calls the pattern 'Galaxy of Stars and Scraps' and it consists of Friendship Star blocks.........

 and Eight-Pointed Star Blocks.......

One of the reasons I am drawn to this pattern is that I love the secondary diamond pattern that forms when the blocks are sewn together.........

I also loved choosing all the different fabrics and sorting them into lights, brights and darks :)

My quilt is made from 16 blocks altogether ....much smaller than Katharine's.......but it's a handy lap quilt size.....

When I made this quilt I didn't have any particular plans for it.

I wasn't sure if it was a keeper or if I would sell it. It wasn't a quick quilt to make taking many (very enjoyable) hours over several weeks.

I chose four colourful Batik fabrics for the backing......

 

When the quilt was completed, I made the decision to sell it.

I received lots of lovely compliments and some offers for my quilt but the right nice new home just didn't materialise :(

 

Well, until now that is...:)

 

It's funny and it's almost as if it was meant to be...... I had always pictured it laid across our little sofa by the woodburner. I knew it would look good here as I had tried it there before and loved it!

This morning I thought I would try it again....and again I loved it!

So now it's there to stay :)

Spencer seems to approve although he kind of looks like he's thinking...'Oh no, Mum's rearranging things again'.......

A bit later on, I decided to give some of my (rather flat) cushions a new lease of life with some nice new cushion pads...

It wasn't long before Max had rearranged the cushions to his own design and had obviously decided that this was a very comfortable and cosy place to sleep....

He's slept there all afternoon....

And is still there now.......he looks like a little prince on that cushion!

See you next time!

 

Maggie xx

Our Summer Garden and Spencer's Sunday........

Well it's actually turned out to be a lovely day here today - dry, still and balmy but not too hot - a really nice change from all the rain we're been having :)

I thought I'd take the chance to take some photos and share our 'summer' garden with you....

I popped some clematis plants in a couple of years ago. They've taken a while to get going but they look stunning this year.....

My hanging baskets are beginning to look pretty especially this one with it's gorgeous fuschia...

This beautiful pink rose is the best it's ever been...

Lovely pink hydrangea.......

 

Black eyed Susan.....

Busy Lizzies...

Some veggies are flourishing too...

Tomato plants in the greenhouse...

.....parsnips...

....leeks.....

...and courgettes....

The bees are very busy buzzing around the lavender....

 

It's such a lovely day, my washing is hanging on the line and hasn't been rained on yet!.....

A pretty view from our back door.....

Of course, Sunday wouldn't be the same without Spencer...

But today, he's not wearing a hat...

But a rosette...

A lilac rosette, no less, .....awarded to him, together with certificate, for completing his puppy classes...aww...our little pupster is growing up......

We're all very proud ;)........

But then.............. just off to make some mischief?.......

No, of course not,.....just helping Dad fixing the path ;)...........

Well, it's forecast rain at 6pm, so I'd better go and fetch my washing in....

Have a lovely week :)

Maggie xx