winter chicken

"Winter Chicken", number 4 and the last block of "Four Seasons Chicken Quilt", designed by "The Running Chicken" company,  is finished.

I have enjoyed stitching these blocks, they are fun to do.

Of course, this is not the end, there are inner and outer borders to measure, cut and stitch; not as much fun, but they will frame the centre blocks. I think that this is a job for my machine, after I have cut out all those little squares. So, this could take some time :-)

Thank you for stopping by,

I wish you a busy stitching week!

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2014

Dyrham Park

1. 
   
2. School half term and what a wash-out! Today was one of the better days, at least it stayed dry.
3. Visit with DD and the grandchildren to Dyrham Park, National trust property just few miles north of Bath.
4. Quote from NT Handbook: "There are more than 110 hectares (270 acres) of ancient parkland, where historic herd of 200 fallow deer roam freely and magnificent trees and breathtaking views abound."

The house dates to late 17th century, but we did not visit there today. 

We just enjoyed a walk in the grounds,

a picnic at the end,

and a visit to the lovely National Trust shop to buy some plants.

 Oh, and our lovely heron has a new friend, a birthday present from my children.

In case you are wondering, these metal sculptures came from a National Trust shop.

You can also buy them from their on-line shop.

Have a lovely weekend!

©pleasureinstitching.blogpost.co.uk 2014

mystery afghan knit-a-long/ weeks 2 & 3

We are having a bit of a blip in the weather, with some heavy showers in the last few days and drop in temperatures. So it is a case of being more in than out, and I managed to knit up two weeks, that is 12 squares.

               

                   Week 2 - Nordic Star

                           

Week 3 - Heirloom Lace

My camera is not picking up the correct colours, I am using the same colours as in the pictures.

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2014

garden progress

It has been glorious last few days, when not much blogging is being done, when the "outside" is much more important. We have been spending most of our time "getting on" with the garden, and as you can see, it is slowly being transformed:

from this

to this 

  and from this 

to this.

Everything has been newly planted and still very much at the ground level, but it will all push up during the summer and the back fence will be covered in two kinds of clematis. The flower bed is larger in reality, and yes, I have been planting LOTS of plants and shrubs there.

 All the trees have also been planted in the last few months and they are all doing well.

The summerhouse is our retreat, on the days when sitting outside is not on; for reading and stitching, of course.

The old Singer sewing machine stand belonged to DH's mum, a long time ago, and it is yet to be restored.

DH is still working on the area close to the house, where the main seating area will be.

I wish you a  happy stitching week!

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2014

mystery afghan knit-a-long - week 1 - garter stitch waves

The week 4 of this Knit-a -long will be published tomorrow, and I have just finished week 1, called  Garter Stitch Waves.

There are 6 squares in the same design to be knitted every week, in two different colours (three in each colour). 

By the time I get to the second square, I get the hang of it, by the fourth square I am little bored. But that is OK,  the following week there will be a new design and seems to me that as the weeks go, the pattern is getting little bit more complicated. I don't know if this is the way it will continue, it is after all, a mystery....