Monday 18 April 2011

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)

4 comments:

  1. Much better,and more like your old self!

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  2. Lovely post Gill ... just thought you might feel better to know my wardrobes all black too ... although I was thinking only this morning that with summer coming I really ought to get something that isn't black ... a token gesture!

    Love the mug and the patchworks

    Have a lovely Easter, much love to you x

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  3. oh I love that cup!! perfect for you too!!

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  4. Gill, Thanks for your comment! It's awful that Belstead is due to close, such a lovely place. My Mum had a Bishon Frise he was called Cash, i dont remember why I dont think it was after Johnny! Your right they are lovely dogs, I have thought about getting one, and they are brilliant for those of us that favour black in our clothes collection! Oh and I thought your post about your theatre trip was fine, I'm all for a rant on here, get it off your chest I say! x

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