Visiting and sewing for visits

Not so much sewing been going on, but I have been busy visiting with family.  My niece and her hubby (from Australia) had a few more days of their holiday left for visiting London spots, and one of the places on the list was Kew Gardens.  Its been a few years since we had been to the gardens so it was a good excuse to go down to London to see them before they left and get to see the gardens in the Autumn.  The weather wasn't the best, but we didn't get too wet.

These Autumn Crocus were popping there beautiful heads out everywhere.

The palm house from the Tree Walk

Is that someone taking a photo of me taking a photo of him?

I am sure I had these in my garden in South Africa... memories..

I couldn't find the label for these, but they remind me so much of a flower called Narina, that grew in the garden in S.A.

These stunning white star flowers grew from the centre stem of the branch...unbelievably beautiful

And who could go to Kew without a visit to the Water Lilly House....... I would have taken many more photos of these wonderful flowers, but would you believe the battery of my camera ran out.

We also spent a weekend closer to home when we visited with my sister-in-law and her hubby.  They live near Birmingham and suggested we visit Ironbridge.  I don't think any of us realised just how much there was to see.  We did a couple of the museums and then thought we would visit the Victorian Village, but once we mentioned this to one of the ladies at the museum, she said we would be better to return and spend a whole day walking around the Village as there was so much to see and you needed at least 4 hours.  So we chose to take a rain check on the Village, but will return.

What a beautiful day to visit

Don't you think it clever not to get any sightseers in the photo

There has of course been a little sewing.  Most folk would have used this fabric back in June for the Jubilee, but I had no idea of what to use it for.....then I had a brilliant idea of making cushions for my grandchildren in South Africa.  Now back in 2011 they came to visit, and some of the things my granddaughter (who was 4 years old)  wanted to see was Buckingham Place, The Wheel, and Big Ben (her baby brothers name is Ben) all of which are on the fabric Yeah! 

These are my chosen fabrics

With these fabrics they will be able to pick out places they visited and ways they travelled.

I wanted the children to be able to see a big chunk of fabric 

With cushion inners,  very smart.

 So these cushions will get packed away until we go visiting next year in February, and now I suppose I should start thinking of some small gifts to make for Christmas... well, that might have to wait as we are off visiting again.

Tah Dah!!

Yes, I think a Tah Dah! moment coming on.

In January I joined a splinter group from 'Old Red Barn Co. Quilt Along' called 'Around the Bend and Across the Pond', you can find the latter group here  These are a couple of the flickr groups I look into on occasions, about once a day to be honest, anyway back to the story on hand.  In my group, we had to make a centre for a quilt, then it was passed along and across the pond for others to add borders.

This was how my one started, just a 16" square made up from my scrap bag.

And this is the signature block that was to accompany my centre so that all that added a border could sign, date and add the area they live.

I said farewell in January and watched each month as my centre grew and grew.
At the end of August my 'now quilt top' was returned to me from my mate Dee.  Just in case you don't know Dee lives in America and we met up in June when she came to visit her daughter who lives in Oxford, you can catch up on her visit here.  The quilt returned and I loved it.

and this is the signature block.. all filled in

All I had to do now was to redecorate a room for the quilt to feel at home in.  So, this ........

has changed to this........

The colour looks a bit blue in this photo

 

Looks good doesn't it?

So I really think this is well worth a Tah Dah!! and a Thank you to all the ladies that took part in this 'Round Robin'.

Just popped in to say!

Just popped in to say I have joined a 'small blog meet', its run by Lynn from here.

There is a button on my side bar, so hopefully that will take you places.

 I hope to see some new blogs, and will come back to let you know if I find anything exciting.