Weekend visitor

I seem to have been having a bit of a quiet time as far as my sewing etc.  but we have been busy with visitors and visiting friends so I suppose you can't do it all.

This weekend my son (N) is visiting from Canada.  He is on a business trip, so we don't get to see the rest of the family, but having him for the weekend was a bonus that we were not expecting until two weeks ago.  One of the places he loves to visit is the big sports shops where he always finds lots of footballs to take back with him (he coaches a team back in Canada so loves lots of ball for them to kick about)  and this year our grandson has taken up Rugby, so rugby balls were added to the list.  Mr N has been a fan of Chelsea Football team since he was knee high to a grasshopper and although he has all the shirts, shorts, jackets etc. there is always room in his suitcase for a few extra bits and buying them here is cheaper than buying in Canada ....that's his excuse and he is sticking to it.

Mmmmm think I have one of those already!

Mum's got the rest of the balls

We also were able to send him home with some of these.........scary or what.

Very Very Scary

Do you remember way back we had a trip to a wonderful shop on  Vancouver Island and I bought a few goodies which included a 'Christmas sampler'.  The 'Sampler' was always going to be an ongoing project for me - to sew when I really had nothing else I wanted to play with - so its been one of those pieces that I add a few stitches, then it gets packed away for a few months (almost a year)  before resurfacing.   As I have been having a break from crochet etc, I decided to get the sampler out again, and I must say I have been enjoying having quiet time stitching the different rows, but my poor eyes are taking the strain so I really think I must finish this soon before my eyes give up with such fine linen. This is what I have done so far...

Over half way now

We will be visiting my daughter in South Africa in January (yes, our kids are all over the world) and my grand daughter has asked for some skirts........Pinterest was a first stop for some patterns then a bit of fabric buying.  I decided to to try a circular skirt, so 'Googled' how to calculate the circle for the waist (what would we do without Mr Google to answer all of our questions)  and then found some 'cuff knit fabric' (on that wonderful world wide web) and used it as the waist band.  I am very happy with the results and I think
 'Miss I' will be pleased that she has something soft against her skin.

'Miss I' wanted a long skirt, Mum wanted a short skirt....so Nana did a bit of both

I have also made a block to send to an 'online'  group who make quilts for group members that are going through a rough patch..... this particular lady likes chickens and traditional blocks so it was decided that 8.5" blocks would be good.  Someone will now sew the blocks together, someone else will sandwich and quilt it, and then it will be sent to Australia where its hoped it will give a bit of comfort and a smile.

My two blocks

 The weekend  with Mr N went so quickly, but we got in a nice walk through East Carlton Park before lunch and then the airport........

East Carlton Park

Lucky with the weather

Farewell till next time x