Next Project - FINALLY, My William Morris Heritage Quilt

 

This has been in my stash since 2018, when darling daughters took me to Calico Kate's in Lampeter to get the fabrics for my birthday present.  Bless them.   Finally I have the chance to make a start on it, so that is my New Year project.

This photo (sorry about the glare from the  flash) gives you an idea of the overall design, with a close-up below.  The range of William Morris fabrics (Kelmscott) doesn't seem to be generally available to buy yet, so I chose William Morris fabrics I liked and will look for some more to add to (or instead of) patterns already chosen.  (NB: This was written originally in 2018).

Above and below - the fabrics my daughters bought me.  We had such fun choosing them, and laying them out on a table to see what was going with what.  There are a couple of prints I chose just because I liked them (my girls were saying, go on mum get that one or this one!) and will be used in other projects.  The red fabric in the photo above is one of those.

I still yearn to go to William Morris's Cotwolds house Kelmscott Manor.  It's 101 miles each way . . . if I got up early one summer's morning . . . it is possible.

This morning I checked my emails, and was annoyed that I kept getting reminders for car insurance.  NO, I kept saying to myself, they've got that wrong, it's the HOUSE insurance that is due (Christmas Eve).  But no, when I checked, it's due on 21st January.  The only slightly good thing is that the quotes are actually DOWN on last year. Ye Gods, are there no end to the bloomin' bills for this time of year?  The only one I managed to get mid-year was the car tax, by taxing it for 6 mths, and then the normal yearly renewal.  So that's some BIG bills (apart from 3 birthdays and Christmas) in December/January.  House insurance, car insurance an car MoT (potentially big).  Sigh.  I had better have a good Fair in February is all I can say!!

Windy out, grey - with moveable clouds and a bit of sunshine, instead of just drab wall to wall grey - and rain.  I need to pop out with Christmas gifts for a couple of friends, and need to make the cake for the farmers up the hill.  I will finish the embroidered bag for Tam today, and then there is the Mistletoe from Festive Felt book to sew together - all cut out and pinned. 

I thought I would watch a couple of films the other day, just for a change.    I chose one that Timothy Spall was in - The Last Bus.  Mistake.  Turns out he had to get down to Land's End with his wife's ASHES . . .  Cheered me up no end, NOT!  So then I watched Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Top Hat which was more cheerful.  

Yesterday we were watching Sanna Vaara back to back - so peaceful - and then ended up with Paddington Bear (movie).  L. Whale was on the sofa, and Rosie wanted to stroke him (e.g. yank his hair out in handfuls!)  I have been trying to show her what stroke meant, and put my hand in the way and said "gently" - which resulted in her taking my hand and moving it out of the way (!!!) and ignoring me :)  Tam rolled her eyes and said, "she's very determined".   I can't help thinking that those drops of Keith's Manx blood which were so strong in the Pankhursts, may have filtered through to young Rosie too!!

Right, this won't do.  Baking (must use up those last apples quickly).