Just to say...

I have decided for my own reasons to take indefinite leave from blogging... I will however stay in contact with my CQRR mates via their blog... For anyone else please email me if needed... AnneS and Miss Eagle I have changed my phone number. Please email G @ Patra's Place for it if you need to contact me... So for just awhile 'I'll be seeing you'...

Finally...

...J's block is finished and ready to be on its way again... Unfortunately the photo doesn't show the block at all well... Bur here it is J - dandelions and a butterfly... I have loosely tacked down the wings with a coloured cotton until the block reaches home... J will then be able to untack the 'restraints' and 'shush them' to make the wings stand up a bit...

Another addition/edition...

Firstly I would like to say thankyou to those of you who have left comments on my blog... Unfortunately between working full time, still being not 100% health wise and the general hurly wurly of everyday life I have had little time in which to either contribute to my blogging life or respond to your comments... To those who have asked me questions I will reply in due course - I believe you Calidore wanted some instructions for the Seahorse - I haven't forgotten you and will get there soon...

It seems 'resistance is futile' - to coin a well known saying... This latest find (above) was at the local art shop where it seems of late they are also stocking some needlework books... The designer uses crewel embroidery in less traditional ways and infact I am 'borrowing' one of her ideas to finally complete jam_mam's block... I am itching to have a go at some of the ideas she presents and it is looking good for the CQRR blocks which are 'gliding' through this address...

But funnier still - this book fetish which I seem to have - is was that last weekend I had a call from a friend whose sister had had a 'if I haven't used it in (use your own time frame here) out it goes'. As it turns out she as relieving her craft shelves of numerous books - her sister- my friend saved them all for her friend - me... When K told me she had some books for me she neglected to say she had a lot of books for me... I now have needlework books, soap making books, a clay jewellery book, a felt making book a couple of quilt/patcwork books, general craft books and numerous 'Anne's Glory Box' magazine type editions including a largish book which seems to a collection of her projects and last but not least a collection of various craft magazines... K said she knew that they would be going to a good home when she gave them to me... Please don't get me wrong I am more than pleased to have been given these books/magazines and the majority look like they have just come from a book shop and are in better than new condition - but oh the temptation I have now - all these books just waiting to be explored... P now just nods his head sagely when I announce I am not buying another book!!!! I haven't had a chance to have more than a brief look through them but what I have seen so far doesn't disappoint me... It is suggested that 'money goes to money' I think I might edit that to 'books go to books'... The way I am going I coulds start a second hand craft bookshop be well stocked!!!!! Now there is an idea... Just kidding...

I was more than pleased to find this ( below) amongst the pile it is one in a series I have been endeavouring to collect... Funnily enough it contained a chapter on whitework and its origins... LOL jam_mam the chapter suggests that whitework is to show one's prowess with a needle - I hope my attempt doesn't disappoint you!!!!!! It seems that whitework is more about the actually application of embroidery stitches rather than as I have done used other white bits to fashion the piece... Still I am doing Crazy Quilting and there are no rules in that... Well, that is my excuse anyway... Since having jam_mam's piece I have never had as many cuts etc... I am so careful as it is an all white block, and like with any of other people's work that passes through here, keep it well protected and handle it with the greatest of care... But with it all white I am extra careful to the point of obsessive!!!!! Speaking about jam_mam's piece reminds me its lift off date (well overdue as it is) - is Monday so I had better get to it and finish it!!!! Bye for now...

Jam_mam's block...

Not quite completed - but getting there... I used the dandelion as a symbol of both time and distance... I will give a fuller explanation at what I was trying to achive further on...