....that it has been so long since I last posted, except I just discovered a draft and have published it but it is 'old'. So. it's really been two whole years and then some in reality. In that period of time I have been to Brazil twice (for a 50th birthday and a wedding) done no scrap booking at all despite a multitude of photos - both my old and new laptops have a plethora of photos to chose from, three wedding cakes, a small amount of cross stitch and definitely become a quilter... although my current project is .. shall we say sitting and waiting for the very necessary quilting. I have a number of unfinished tops and a virtually un-pieced friendship braid in black and red fabrics for my daughter. It's all cut but as she has returned home and taken back her bedroom which HAD become my craft room it will just have to wait. Sigh! Still, it is wonderful to have her here despite what she says to the contrary.
Holidays have been amazing... our trips to Brazil were experiences that will be long remembered. We have been very lucky to have access to a friend's flat in the Lake District and have been up several times over the last few years. Last year we went up in April, September and December. Each time we went the weather was stunning and I was able to take some reasonable photos for once. We achieved one of many things to do on my husbands top hundred list which was to a) sail on Lake Coniston and b) find the alleged Wild Cat Island and its Secret Cove from the Swallows and Amazons story.
It was also the year my MIL broke a vertebra in her spine, spending two weeks in hospital and we lost my FIL a few weeks after. This was in September, just after we had set out on the downward trek from one of the most beautiful spots I have ever seen, in Grasmere. As to it's name.. well those who are familiar with the area will know where I mean (I can't remember) if I say we climbed up beside the Sourmilk Falls to the Tarn above. It was just beautiful in the sunshine. Eight hours later we had packed up, cleaned and driven the 5 hours back home. Later, in December we had clear blue skies for most of the 5 days we were there and had snow across the hill tops. Stunning combinations. We have only been back two weeks from this years break there and already have withdrawal pangs. 
My most recent wedding cake was a huge success with my daughter and the friends it was a present for. It caused me a lot of aggravation as a) Granny made it but it wasn't a rich dark mix as she had only used granulated sugar and no molasses so I| ended up making another. Next it had to be football themed. I had found that a company made runouts of footballs and had bought enough to cover what I felt was needed. Then I was asked to make actual balls. I made 100+ but the black hexagons and lines I painted on bled and they looked grey. So another batch was made with only the hexagons painted on. Luckily those were the ones that worked. I was also passing through a large supermarket two days before the wedding and saw some runouts of football boots which just added to the overall design. Combine this with the figures which had scarves and boots added, I think it came off reasonably well. I had almost considered never making another wedding cake again but I have to say I love the creativity of it all and guess I will put off that decision for another day.
I have made a variety of quilts over the last few years. This hobby began as just a Christmas present for my daughter, then I made another and another and so on. I have finally completed a quilt for us whilst we were on holiday although I had had it professionally quilted as it was very large to go over our bed. I hate skimpy sizing! I also have been making a personal quilt for myself... could've done with it today as I was in need of a little warmth. It is in colours I would never have thought to have chosen in my more 'youthful' era! Oranges, turquoises and black. I always thought I preferred pastel colours and traditional designs, but here I am making quilts with modern designs and vibrant colours. My quilting tends to be of the straight line kind as I haven't as yet worked up the courage to use filigree style infill. So, I expect it will be practise, practise and more practise until I am confident to use it in my work.
Until then , I shall say goodnight as it is now quite late and I am teaching year 5 tomorrow, amongst others. Help!
