Get Happy!

I rang my little sis (Patchwork Linda) this morning who told me off for my miserable post on Friday night and said I hadn't mentioned all the nice things I'd done.  And it's true, I had intended to, I just needed to get my theatre trip off my chest, and then I ran out of time.  Anyway, it's now time to redress the balance.

A couple of weeks ago, I had a relaxing few days in Norfolk at my parents - with proper dinners (thanks Mum!) some lovely  walks in the sunshine

and with the added bonus of a surprise present from my sister (I can't think WHY she thought of me when she saw this)

Then the following weekend I met up with Linda again, and her Norfolk based patchwork group The Flying Geese for their annual "Go It Alone" weekend at Belstead House near Ipswich.

Yeah, I know, I'm not a patchworker, I'm not a member of her group, and I don't even live in Norfolk, which just proves that it's not WHAT you know. Belstead House is one of the rapidly diminishing number of Adult Training Centres, and it runs a wide variety of courses throughout the year, including lots of arty-textile-y weekends.  If you fancy going, you'd better get in quick because it's due to close in 2012  which will be a real shame.  It's a lovely venue, with excellent tutors and the food is great.  So great that you feel compelled to go for a walk before breakfast just to burn off a few of the previous day's calories. That's the house in the background.

As I don't really do patchwork, I took the opportunity to finish off some projects that have been hanging around for a while - I sewed up a jacket knitted in denim yarn, I tacked together a dress that I found in the depths of my fabric cupboard, that I'd obviously cut out years ago and forgotten about.  I'm not big on tacking but I thought I'd better check it was going to fit - which it does, so I will now finish it, oh  and I made a bag.  Linda, who is a prolific patchworker, cut out and put together a quilt of her own design 

and, not only that, finished loads more of the Liberty fabric hearts that she's making into a double bed quilt.

It's going to look beautiful.

And finally, on Saturday I went to Berkshire to visit my friend Lynn for the weekend, and to start her off with some machine embroidery tuition.  We had a lovely time stitching and chatting - we had a lot to catch up on, as we've not seen one another for a couple of years.  Lynn was showing me her new bedroom, and when she opened her new wardrobe doors, I just had to get my camera and take a picture.  I thought you only saw wardrobes like this in style magazines

So much colour!  Although I have to say, mine is colour coordinated too - everything's black.  

So, that's more or less it, apart from the odd stint at Leyton Orient, a few days at work, and a brilliant gig at KoKo in Camden - Jim Jones Revue   No, I didn't know much about them either.   They describe themselves as Punk Rock Blues, and I'd say it's a bit 'Jerry-Lee-Lewis-on-speed'.  A really good night, and my ears are nearly better now.

Get Happy - Rufus Wainwright (as Judy Garland)