All packed and a thank you to Lorna :)

So the packers were here yesterday. Note for next time: if you don't tell them beforehand not to pack ALL the cat food and ALL your tea towels ... guess what? Turn your back on them and they pack EVERYTHING !! Grrrrrrrrr :( That'll learn me! 

But then, I had a reason to smile. It wasn't my birthday, I hadn't won a giveaway ... dearest Lorna @ Sew Fresh Quilts had sent me this parcel of goodness all the way from Canada:

Just for being her friend :) thank you, Lorna - naughty but very nice! Sending you a virtual hug { x }

And, before my sewing room was packed away, I started making this cushion (pillow) for my friend's little boy to give to his teacher next week: 

I love finishing cushions this way, although am always amazed it works out:

Just pin the life out of it! 

When I get home from work tonight, DH and all our stuff will be gone, all packed up and on its way to Wales - leaving me and the cat rattling around an empty house until Saturday so I'm happy to have a little hand sewing to do :)

Linking up with the Lee and the lovely Lorna:

Happy retirement :)

What a wonderful retirement do we had yesterday for my friend. We first worked together for two years in 1996 then again for the last 4 years. This was my special gift to her:

There were tears:

And laughter at the pipe and slippers:

And funny speeches:

And she loved the quilt:

Happy retirement, you 'Lippy Plonk' ... you will be greatly missed :'/

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts and a Confessions of a Fabric Addict

A new WIP for my 'maman spirituelle'

I have started a new lap quilt! This one I am making for one of the sweetest ladies I have ever met. We shared a hospital room in France for 5 days in 2011 after I broke my ankle skiing ... ouch:

My 'roomie' was Lydia; a very elegant, petite, loving, spiritual lady who had slipped on an icy pavement and had broken her femur. She didn't speak any English and I only knew a little conversational French from school but during those 5 days, we became friends. We laughed, we cried, we told stories we prayed, we sang ... she made those 5 days a truly memorable experience. 

She had no children (like me) and told me that she felt I was the daughter she never had (gulp!) and called herself my 'maman spirituelle' which means spiritual mother. Since then, we have written lots - Lydia is much better than I at keeping in touch and I owe her a letter or two. So, I decided I'm going to send her a special gift with the next letter.

I chose this fabric from my stash as I thought the colours were 'elegant' enough for Lydia but I couldn't think of a pattern:

By chance on Saturday morning, I opened an email from Craftsy (offering up to 80% off my first course) and went to their website. Having looked around the different classes (you can have a sneak preview at both the tutors and their classes, which is really good), I liked the style and energy of Nancy Smith and joined her class:

Over the last few days, listening to Nancy on my iPad whilst sewing, it was almost like having a friend in the room. I must try and get an actual group of quilters together one day *sigh * for some quilting - anyway, here was my first block:

Happy with that, I cut all my strips (just about had enough by cutting 2" strips and using the smaller fat quarters of fabric first) then I kept checking against the first block to make sure I sewed in order:

I wasn't sure whether to add another row of the green so waited until I had finished all 4 blocks: 

And I'm still not sure! I can add the 2" strips now or add a wider border ... hmmmm, I'll decide on Saturday. Linking up: