the gate

I know I have blogged about the gate before and you will have seen some of these photo's before, but we have a new little guy added now. I really hope that one day soon I will be able to take a photo of ALL the little people on the gate at the same time!

"Open for me the gates of the righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter."

 Psalm 118:19-20

national portrait gallery

We made our family trip into the National Portrait Gallery in Trafalgar Square, to see our sons portrait of Laura Marling. I made him stand in front of the portrait so I could take his photo, quickly before anyone saw me (no cameras allowed)He was a bit embarrassed...but hey..I'm his Mum and very proud to have a son who's a contemporary photographer!

girls hat

I have just finished this little girls hat, it was nice and fast to make, plain garter stitch with two strands of yarn. I then cut a circular piece of vintage fabric in matching colours, gathered it slightly in the centre, attached the fabric then added a crocheted circle and button.

Cath Kidston baby quilt...finished

A couple of posts back I began my Cath Kidston baby quilt. I used a different method of binding, I machine quilted the top and wadding then added the backing which is made of white brushed cotton,right sides facing, then stitched around the edged leaving a gap at the bottom, big enough to turn the right side out.  

 

 I snipped the corners off making them less bulky when turning them 

I turned it right side out

 I pinned around the edges, tucking in the gap that I had left open

I then top stitched close to the edge and then stitched another row about 1" from the edge

I know I saw this method somewhere but cant find where...it may have been at www.redpepperquilts.com if not, this is still a great site to visit!

some of my grandchildren....

The children met up with friends at a local museum, they got to wear bee costumes and pull along bags with items in that they may need for their visit. Gilby wasn't keen on the costume but....

he did enjoy pulling the bag along

 Yesterday Daddy turned 36...we love you Andy!

So he built a fire, they toasted marshmallows and had a story out on the deck....I would have enjoyed that. Maybe when they are up to visit next week we could do this in our garden?

Dartmoor

For those of you who don't know Dartmoor, it is a beautiful, wild part of Devon. When our third child was just a few months old we moved from Cornwall to Devon. Both counties are beautiful and thankfully we have family living in both so we get to visit regularly. My mother moved from Devon to a little village on the edge of Dartmoor and so when our four children were growing up we spent many a time exploring this amazing countryside. Visits are great in all weathers, the Summer time brings opportunity to stop and picnic and paddle in shallow rivers, the Autumn brings diverse colours and wild weather that follows into the Winter when on the rare occasion we may experience snow. Then comes the Spring when the plants begin to bloom and visitors can stop and watch lambs prancing and Dartmoor ponies with their young. Walkers and cyclists are at home on Dartmoor, there are tors to climb and villages to visit for a cream tea.

I am glad that now my Grandchildren get to visit Dartmoor,  explore the land and be blessed

Cath Kidston baby quilt

I had a great time in Devon with the grandchildren. It was lovely to do some school things which I never got to do with the twins while I was working in school as I was only able to visit during  school holidays. But this time I got to visit the twins' new school...it is lovely with a new eco friendly built building, lots of great outdoor activities and a toddler group on Monday mornings which is linked with nursery and reception class so Gilby gets to share some time there with the girls...not that they are particularly interested as they are busy playing 'chase'!

I was also able to visit Gilby's music group with him which was really good fun and it seemed he enjoyed having Mummy and Grandma all to himself :)

I have just started on the Cath Kidston baby quilt. I am going to use a 'new to me' method of layering and binding on this quilt. I wish I could find the link where I found this idea. I have printed off the actual method but didn't write the blog where I found it. Sorry. I will photograph and post the method as I go along. So far I have just joined and ironed the squares and cut out wadding and backing which is lovely, soft, white brushed cotton or as some call it, flannel. 

Devon Bound

So after church tomorrow I am off on the train to Devon until Friday...to see these little guys :)

making willow crowns

 cooking on an open fire

in on the act

maybe I will get to make a den in the forest

more vogue

For those who are interested, here are a few more Vogue photo's taken by my son

 Russian Vogue

Russian Vogue

US Vogue

Vogue Japan

vogue

This is one of my son's photo's on the cover of a supplement inside British Vogue