Play Day

I had great fun today at the wonderful studio's Hope & Elvis. We were taught how to make delightful free stitching pieces by the ever so talented (and patient) Janet Clare.

As well as a delightful play day, I got to have a meet up with some of my bloggy buddies. A day spent with the oh so chuchy Lyn from Everyday Life is always so perfect. She pinched my cheeks Michela!!
And conversations with Two Bones Deb are always a bit on the wrong side of bizarre, we are so on the same wave length!!! (gorgeous fringe by the way!). It looks like Louise is chasing you Deb!
I was so proud of my almost finished piece. I had never tried this kind of sewing before and am thrilled to find I can do this on my machine at home too. When I have finished it, I'm going to frame it.
I loved Lyn's piece - she is so creative and whipped this up in no time.
I also took another friend Lynn B along (for her birthday present) and she produced this great cushion cover. It features her son, his girlfriend and their huge dog. I think that they will love it.
Everyday Lyn also started this smaller piece - so pretty.
I took photographs of some of the other pieces produced by the other ladies who attended - I don't think any of us had done this before.
I loved this by Two Bones Deb who made this for her mum - featuring the house where they used to live.
And this piece was stunning. The fabric, texture and sewing all so beautiful.
I love Louise's studio. I love sitting and creating and being inspired by wonderful tutors and fellow creators alike. I love rummaging through the vintage fabrics to find the right pieces and coming home with something that well may become a family heirloom.
Many thanks Ladies for such a perfect day.

On Sunday, I had a special date in Sheffield with one of my longest standing school pals. We first met when we were 5 years old and her family had moved to my village. We went through primary and junior school together, but became very firm friends during the horrendous comprehensive school years. We lost touch a little as we both went our separate work ways, then reconnected when we had babies. Whilst we both have very different characters and personalities, when we meet up, we instantly become 15 year old Chicken Legs and Pixie again! Its wonderful!

It was such a beautiful morning, that I thought I would photograph the city - I showed you it lit up at night last week, so here it is by daylight.
I love the old Georgian houses (now shops and offices) on Norfolk Row. I plan to find out a bit more of the history of this lovely old row.
My first stop was at a lovely cafe here for breakfast with hubby and the young man (whom I had cruelly dragged out of bed). Although the tables were optimistically set outside, it was far too cold early on to sit here.
I love Sheffield early on a Sunday morning. The church bells ring from the Cathedrals and churches in the centre. This is the Catholic Cathedral on Norfolk row.
And the Methodist Chapel just around the corner.
I passed the Stage Door outside of the Crucible.
And I spied Mercury on top of the Lyceum Theatre,

and the Egyptian who presides over the lovely Graves Art Gallery.


I wandered through the Winter Gardens and noted some welcome colour.


Sheffield, like many English cities and towns at the moment has many shops that are empty. We also have many very talented graffiti artists, and they have been commissioned to brighten up these spaces.


We took ourselves up to the top of one of the city centre car parks to admire the view.
Many of the late 60's/early 70's buildings are earmarked for demolition once the recession is over. Building was just about to start on a massive city centre development when the credit crunch hit, so plans have been suspended for a while.
From up here we could see towards Norfolk Park and the Cholera Monument - which I have yet to explore.
Up until very recent times, the city centre was a very industrial working city centre, and plenty of the old units still exist. Many of these here are old cutlery works from when Sheffield was the centre of the world cutlery industry. Many of these buildings are derelict, some have been re purposed, but I don't think any are still used for cutlery production (although we do have the odd one or two still in existence elsewhere in the city).
I quite enjoyed the trip to the top of the car park!

Bloggy Gifts

I don't know why, but I think bloggy gifts are some of the best gifts ever. Perhaps its because we all have more than a little in common. When I met up with Two Bones and a Bagle on Saturday she presented me with the most beautiful gift.

I remember her making this earlier in the year at Hope and Elvis Studio,
from a table cloth featuring St Ives (blurry photo but you get the idea) - my spiritual home. I absolutely love it -its so special.
And all wrapped up in this beautiful vintage mat - now on my dressing table.
Many thanks Deb - you knew I would love it. xxxx

Debs and Di's Day Out

You know how I love a bloggy blind date! Well this was not really a blind date as I had met the lovely Debs once before on a Hope and Elvis day, but we decided to have another get together with Debs showing me some of her favourite local haunts. We only live about 20 minutes from each other, but her end of town has places I didn't even know about.

I hardly took any photos as we spent so much time talking! But I did remember to take my camera out a few time!

After our first stop at the table top sale in Dinnington, Debs had arranged for us to pop in and meet Mary Jane Baxter who was taking a class at Louises workshop. The atmosphere in the class was delightful and I could have easily stayed and "made" with all the lovely ladies who were clearly having a lovely time. We discussed Kirsty Allsop in depth - neither of us being fans of her "Homemade" programme.

We then moved on to visit Heaths in Ollerton where the wool and fabrics were gorgeous, and a Sue Ryder charity shop where I bagged a bargain - although I have to say you have to be quick to beat Debs to the bargains - she certainly has "an eye" and is like a hawk to its prey when she spots something!

We then moved on to the gorgeous little town of Southwell . Ive only ever been to Southwell once before, but I saw things on this visit that I hadn't seen before - Like the home of Lord Byron!

We had a lovely walk round, and visited loads of charity shops, and other gorgeous shops. We bought loads of things, but spent very little.

Debs had been worried that we might run out of things to talk about - but we actually ran out of "day" - I think we could have gassed for a week! We didn't run out of topics to discuss and discovered that we have led parallel lives! Its amazing when you meet a virtual stranger and get on so very well.
We had planned to visit the Minster, but by this stage we were parched and starving, so Debs took us to Reg Taylors Garden Centre for a very reasonable priced and delish afternoon tea.
Thanks very much for my day out Deb - it was great to meet your lovely family and I enjoyed every bit of my day. Here's to our next day ou. xxt

Friends

I had a visit this weekend from a friend. I first met P in 1971 on our first day at Comprehensive school. She sat in front of me and we started chatting - we've been chatting ever since!

We have managed to stay in touch when she went to Uni and I didn't. When she moved to live in Athens (and I didn't!!) and even though she lives in the south, and I am in the north.
We have always had a lot in common, and our interests are still very similar.
We had our children at the same time and have seen each other about once a year since we had our first babies.
Her visit this weekend was well timed and coincided with hubby's working weekend. Her partner was away working too.
We had breakfast out, wandered around pretty villages, stately homes and gardens. We nattered and chattered - for hours and hours. Drunk tea, coffee, wine and gin and caught up on movies neither of us had seen.
I realised that it was the first time we had spent time just on our own since for over 25 years.
It was fab.