A Christmas Giveaway....

I thought it would be a fun idea to have a Christmas giveaway... a little present for my bloggy friends. But more about that later...

For the past ten weeks I've been teaching a machine embroidery class in Letchworth on Tuesdays. A lovely group of thirteen ladies who get together each week to practise their machine embroidery, possibly learn one or two new techniques and hopefully have a bit of fun. This was the result of learning to stitch down lots of scraps to make new decorative fabrics which were then made into some lovely festive items.

And yesterday we made flowers and seed pods using tyvek (the material used to make the suits that "Scene of Crime Officers" wear.) I thought they did a fabulous job.

When I got home there were two parcels waiting for me. The first was a giveaway prize from Karen and although I already knew how beautiful her work is, nothing prepared me for what she had made for me.

Inside my parcel was this exquisite piece of embroidery, pieced from silk and covered with the most beautiful hand embroidery. Karen often bemoans the lack of light this time of year when trying to photograph her work and I fully appreciate what she means because my photograph comes nowhere near doing this work justice.

I tried to get lots of lovely close ups but this was the only one that came out.

Karen also sent these fun little embroidered "puffs", again silk with beautiful embroidery. Thank you so much Karen - I was quite overwhelmed. If you're not familiar with Karens work do go and take a look over at Contemporary Embroidery.

My second parcel was another consignment of wonderful wiggly bags - gorgeous colours and fun fabrics from Susan. Beautifully made by Susan and the fabrics and velcro supplied by Susan's Mum, so thank you both very much - these will definitely help to brighten up the lives of some sick children.

Was there something else...? Ah yes ... a giveaway. Last night at the Wishing Eel book launch I managed to get a signed copy of the book - signed by John Wiltshire and Gillian McClure, the artists involved with the project. But as I don't have any small children to buy presents for this year I thought maybe one of you bloggy readers might like a copy? If you would like to be entered for this draw just leave a comment with the name of the child who might like to receive this in their Christmas stocking (they don't have to be real names... "blog" names will be fine) before Sunday 7th December and the book will be sent to the winner in time for Christmas. A little present from me to you to say thank you for being such lovely bloggy friends all year.

I will also include a set of postcards of some of the illustrations from the book... and possibly some other bits and bobs too!

The countdown has begun

and the advent calendar is up. Despite having four quite grown up children (I use the term loosely), one of whom doesn't even live at home anymore, it seems they are never too old for this annual ritual... in fact even Stewart asked did he get a chocolate too!

The garland is also up on the front door, courtesy of my very clever Mum, who always makes one for me. I have to say I love all this preparation and countdown to Christmas... probably more than the actual day itself!

There has been a fair bit of sewing going on too but nothing I can share here yet as most of it has been for Christmas presents... all will be revealed in due course. But I have started some new knitting as Michaela's St Dunstan's blanket has arrived here... which is a bit daunting looking at the fabulous standard of the knitting so far. Nothing quite so fancy coming from these hands I fear!

Tonight we're off to a book launch in Cambridge... remember the wishing eel? Well here he is in the window of the Cambridge University Press bookshop in Trinity Street. Not the most inspiring window display but I was still excited to see my eel in the window! The book would make a fabulous little stocking filler for younger children (under about 8?) - lovely story and beautiful illustrations all for only £4.99.

Truffles and Trifle

Not much baking going on here this week as I still don't have a working oven (could be stir frying the turkey in four weeks time at this rate!) However I have managed to make a trifle to take out to friends for dinner this evening. A very festive caramelised orange trifle from Delia's Christmas book.

And while I was browsing through the pages of the cook book I decided I would make some truffles too! Very fiddly and messy but they taste good!

And a tree decoration which was inspired by several seen yesterday at the Burwash Manor Christmas shop... where I just happened to meet Silver Pebble and Dotty Cookie plus a little Pebble and Cookie, for lunch and a bit of seasonal shopping! Can you tell I'm starting to feel festive!

Totally Random

I have mixed feelings about Tags and Blog Awards. Helen Suzanne posted about this a couple of days ago and I share many of her feelings. Of course, part of me is delighted to receive awards and happy to think anyone enjoys reading my rambling enough to pass one on. Equally I enjoy reading Tags like weird and random facts - it's always fascinating to read these snippets of information and again I'm flattered that anyone would want to know more about me. But at the same time they leave me feeling slightly uncomfortable and I'm never very happy about passing them on - I worry I might leave someone out who I should have thought of, worry that the recipient might not want it and yet at the same time I worry that I'm "breaking the chain" if I don't pass it on. That off my chest... I have been tagged recently by Indigo Blue (I didn't mind... honestly) to give seven random facts about myself. As this is the third time I've received this recently - possibly from Jennyflower and Marmaladekiss too but I can't remember, I thought I would play along... partially

First of all the seven random facts:

1. I have a blue belt in Judo! This is me aged about 15 about two years before I gave it up.

2. I was born in the East End of London so I am a true Cockney.

3. I have run the London Marathon - twice. This is the first time in 1988 with Ben at the finish. It took me over five hours that time.

And the second time was in 1998 and I ran it over an hour faster! It rained a lot that time and my arm was in plaster with a broken wrist (I fell over roller skating five weeks before!)

4.I have not eaten meat for about fifteen years, although I do occasionally eat fish if it does't have its head and bones!

5. I am terribly untidy especially when I am working as this picture of my desk shows... but I have a tidy person inside me who would like to come out.

6. I've got a maths degree and used be a Maths teacher before I had children... but I've forgotten it all!

7. I still like numbers though and try to do the Killer SuDoko in The Times every day if I can. I can't do crosswords though and don't even begin to understand cryptic clues.

So that's my seven random facts... but I'm not going to play properly because I'm not going to pass it on... but if you want to play too... then please do!

Spot the Difference

It's Sunday afternoon...

It's getting dark...

Barley sleeping...

Joe sleeping....

(he didn't get home unil 8 am)

And while we're talking spot the difference... I know I'm not the first to spot this but it is uncanny... Jo Brand...

John Sergeant?

It's uncanny... they even sound similar!

I'm off to watch the dance off!

Busy, busy, busy!

First of all some thanks... To Julia for this wonderful parcel full of wiggly bags, thank you so much Julia! Lovely fabrics and beautifully made.


And I don't think I showed you my fabulous gifts from my bloggy meet up last week... Thank you to Lesley for this beautifully stitched festive mini quilt.

and to Lucy for this super little mini quilt, again beautifully stitched. (I think I'm going to have to start my own quilt wall.)

Lucy also gave me this fabulous zipped pouch ( PIF gift I think?) which I'm going to use for my drawing pens... do you think that is me walking Barley?... maybe not.

And Trashy painted this lovely ornament which will hang on my Christmas tree this year! Thank you all so much!

Back in the Fan my Flame household there has been a frenzy of activity for the past couple of days as I try to remedy the lack of stock... I've a Christmas Open Studio and sale tomorrow which it seeemed like a good idea when I arranged it in June... now I'm not so sure! Amongst many other things there has been brooch production ... just need to find where I've hidden the brooch pins!

And the mass production of Christmas cards!

But at least it has given Stewart the chance to practise his risotto skills... just as well it's cooked on the hob as my oven has completely packed up and seems to randomly decide what temperature it will cook at! No baking here this week!

I'm off to look for some brooch pins... have a good weekend!

City & Guilds

Today has been the our last City and Guilds class before Christmas and some of the students have been very good about doing their homework. The first design element we have looked at has been texture and Linda has made this fabulous resolved piece of work. There is no stitch in this but I'm hoping she'll develop it into a stitched hanging... No pressure Linda!

Angela too, has been hard at work and has finished an experimental sample showing manipulation featuring the following three gorgeous samples...

Which she has displayed together on this board.

Not only has Angela been hard at work at her sewing machine she has also been hard at work in the kitchen. Following my post with the coconut and cherry cake a couple of weeks ago Angela emailed me and asked for the recipe. And today she turned up in class with a coconut and cherry cake for us all to share... which I was really pleased about as I didn't get to taste my cake. I should add Angela hates cooking but is obviously very good at it because this was scrummy.

Beats bringing in an apple for the teacher any day!