I have no memory.........

I am so sorry, I got my weeks mixed up, last week I showed you this weeks Gypsy block and next weeks Gypsy block, but I forgot to show you last weeks, Oooops!  So I'm starting this post with what I forgot, reputed to be the most difficult block in the Gypsy Wife quilt'

Perishing.  It was a bit of a tricky one, but the centre is just a multiple square in a square, the awkward bit is the three triangles on the bottom with the bias edges, I had a bit of trouble with them, I just couldn't get them to sew together properly, until I realised I had cut the centre ones from a square a quarter inch too big.  Once I recut and started again it was much easier, then there was just the corner triangles and it was finished.  Mine isn't perfect, the orange corners don't quite meet the purple corner triangles, but it's close enough for me.  AND it's the right size too, one of the main issue is it often ends up too small, but the secret is extra scant seams.

I'm sure you will be glad to know Indi has been behaving herself this week and the curtain is back in place, in fact there were only two broken curtain hooks, the rest were still on the rings, how she managed to pull down the curtain leaving the hooks still in the rings I haven't a clue and it will go down as one of those unsolved mysteries I think.

Did I tell you I had a problem with my scissors?  I have several pair, the big shears I rarely use, the pinking shears I used once, and the smaller pairs I use all the time, only they keep disappearing, all the time I loose them, sometimes for months, do you ever find that?

These are my favourites.  The larger ones are Dovo as are the next ones up, I bought these about fourteen years ago, they were expensive but are still a pleasure to use, although the little ones could do with tightening and maybe sharpening now, only I don't know where to take them.  The next ones up are Appliquick and they have serrated edges, I've only had them couple of years and the serrated edges are lovely when cutting appliqué pieces.  Lastly my stork scissors, I bought those specially for embroidery, about 22 years ago.

Anyway, I lost the three small pair, I couldn't find them anywhere, I was convinced I had lost one pair at my sewing group, I searched and searched and couldn't find them anywhere, I was sad, not so much about the Appliquik ones, they are quite new, but the others I am attached to after all this time.  Then suddenly one day they all turned up in various places, the stork ones in a box of embroidery stuff, the small Dovo ones under my sewing table behind a basket, the appiquick ones in the bottom of my sewing box, the one I had searched several times hunting for missing scissors and other stuff.  All places I swear I had searched before, more than once too and how did they all turn up on the same day?  You know I live next to the woods and I'm sure there are mischievous elves living there who come in at night and hide my things, and good fairies who put them all back for me to find again.  Do you ever lose stuff?  Don't even get me started on thimbles and stitch rippers.

I'll tell you another thing I forgot to show you too, my embroidery.  I showed you where I was up to before I went to Higham Hall last time and forgot to show you my progress.

This was my small piece before I went, it didn't have much left to do.....

and this is it finished.  I added two attached leaves to the butterfly, they are made on calico using a wire frame so they stand out, the leaf on the right was added the same way.  Now all it needs is to be framed.

This is my ongoing big project.  I wasn't happy with the stitching on the top right, it was the first bit I did and my stitching has improved a lot since so I took it out......

and now look at it, the part on the bottom left on this pic, I am so happy with it.

But that's not all, I started another small piece

and made great progress.  That's not a spider by the way, it was supposed to be a spider but I don't like them, so I'm adding a colour pop and having a ladybird.   Yes I know it still looks a bit like a fat black spider but I'm going to attach red wings.   The butterfly on the first one was supposed to be a bee but I don't like them either, but as they are my embroideries I can give it my own twist, with the help of my wonderful teacher Angie of course.

I was going to show you some more quilting but time has got the better of me, so I will show you that next week.  Sorry if it's a bit of a boring post this week, but such is life.

How about a poem?  No poems are not boring, they can be quite lovely and thought provoking, you are getting one anyway..............

Slow Dance

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round,
or listened to rain slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight,
or gazed at the sun fading into the night?

You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
time is short, the music won’t last.

Do you run through each day on the fly,
when you ask “How are you?, do you hear the reply?
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,
with the next hundred chores running through your head?

You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
time is short, the music won’t last.

Ever told your child, we’ll do it tomorrow,
and in your haste, not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, let a friendship die,
because you never had time to call and say hi?

You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
time is short, the music won’t last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere,
you miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through the day,
it’s like an unopened gift thrown away.

Life isn’t a race, so take it slower,
Hear the music before your song is over.

                     David L. Weatherford

Until next time,

with smiles from,

Kate x

Linking up with:
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Can I Get A Whoop Whoop?
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