Stitched Little bird to say Merry Christmas.

This is my Christmas card for this year. Little bird says Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. Thank you for following or looking in at this blog from time to time. Hope you enjoy the holiday and have a relaxed, peaceful time with family and friends.

Falling leaves.

 I have been struggling on with this piece of falling leaves. Back and front shown here. whew too much stitching for one small piece and I should not have put so much on the background so now I am taking some out. It is a reminder to work all over a piece rather than finish one section at a time. Richard Box said on a workshop years ago - you wouldn't finish the eye on a whole body portrait and then go on to the head body, arms etc. work it all up together. So looking at this small piece I can see so much wrong with it. Better leave it for a bit I think and come back after Christmas with fresh eyes.

Dark,wet days here- to cheer myself up I have been working on my meditation circle and back to winter colours and border circles. These are lovely to do because the cloth changes under my fingers as the small circle is worked. The colours are restrained but that is lovely too. And I am getting into the corners of the large circle back to the winter colours. I have taken out stitching on this piece too- some of the heavier wool - it is better in silk and cottons. Hope to get the bottom border done and start thinking about Spring.
I hope your Christmas preparations are going well, it all gets a little crazy and I am waiting for that big hush when it all settles down and there is time and space to relax. Shortest day soon and then we turn the corner.

The Avening Little Book of Baking on Radio Gloucester.

 On Sat 14th Dec at 10.10am I am going, with other contributers, to be on our local Radio Glos talking to Faye Hatcher about the Little Book of Baking. Sales are going well.

Westonbirt Enchanted Christmas.

 Last night we saw the trees all lit up at Westonbirt Aboretum for their 'Enchanted Christmas' walk. My pictures did not come out very well but it was wonderful to see the tree shapes in a different way.

The Little Book of Baking - Avening Community Cafe.

 Yesterday was our book launch of The Little Book of Baking. Recipes supplied by people in the village who make terrific cakes for the community cafe. Each recipe has its own story.

We displayed the original artworks for people to see. 

 An early customer -Lil Adams, in front, who was leading a pom-pom workshop. Clare, standing behind her, did the most marvellous job of designing and editing the book. A very exciting morning and we sold about 60 copies which was brilliant for a fairly quiet cafe. All proceeds after printing costs go to the cafe. A marvellous success at bringing people together in a small rural village with no shops and limited bus services. We are lucky to have a Primary School but for older people the cafe is a hub to the village and somewhere to have a chat and meet up with new and old friends. You can recycle stuff and choose a book from the book swap table. There are workshops most weeks and of course coffee and delicious cake.

Perpetual journal pages- Nov.

 Here are my November pages in my perpetual journal. Some more full than others, depending on how busy the week was. That pesky date stamp has crept back in too - you turn your back for one minute......