This morning Tina dropped me off at Sandra's shop with the sewing machine. Sandra can use it today and it will be there for the quilting class tonight. Before that I had finished doing the acorn quilting on the table mats and thought I could finish them off on the hand machine. I called in to see Sandy and took a parcel to the post office for her as I was taking one myself. We went off to Oliver's Mount for lunch. I have been hinting about going there for some tine, and although the wind was rough up there it was well worth the wait!

Well above the castle and amazing views. A view through the trees as we walked around.

Here is a very wind blown Tina at the base of a magnificent tree.

And the tree in all it's glory!

Then of course I had to take a picture of the war memorial.

On the way back we called in at Dean's and I bought a tamarix tree in the reduced plant area. I had one in Peterborough but it never flowered well as it was upended by cats on more than one occasion and never really recovered! I also got a reduced pot for it so that it can come with me when we move. We also called in Dunelm's and Tina has ordered two folding chairs for me so that I can use my table without lifting the heavy oak chair around. I got the tree in the pot when we got home, wrote a letter and have managed to finish one of the table mats.

Off to the quilting class soon.

We had some rain last night and it got very windy again. This morning as I was going out there were tiny snowflakes in the air and the wind was bitter again! We have had blue skies and sunshine though so shouldn't complain really! The sky was a bit wintry yesterday evening.

Last night I got the piecing of the table mats done and tacked them all over in readiness for starting quilting.

Then this morning I cut out some acorn shapes to stitch round for the quilting. I have done one so far.

I bought dark brown bias binding when I was out to do the borders. I called in at the studio and my little animal heads were ready for collection.

Just three people at the button class and no new projects begun today, but it was a good afternoon. No craft group this evening as the repairs are still on going, but I am going up to spend a bit of time with Sandra to help her catch up with everyone else.

Yesterday evening I cleaned the table with furniture wipes and then set to with the beeswax. It is looking much better and I am so pleased I did bid for it. Had breakfast at the table this morning, very civilised! 

This morning I had some bits to get in town, including some wadding as I want to make patchwork table mats to use on the table. Tina told me this morning that her friend had said that you could draw on ceramics with Sharpie pens, so I took mine along to experiment at the studio. You can draw on them and it doesn't rub off, but it does wash off. Then I suggested to Sandy that we draw on a bisque shape and glaze and fire it and see what happens. Pencil burns off in the kiln, and maybe the pen will, but it is worth experimenting. Three of these are on already fired hearts and the darker flower is the one on bisque. It is going in the kiln tonight so we will soon know. Sandy was very excited about them and has ordered some to colour fridge magnets and key rings.

There wasn't a lot to go in the kiln tonight so I painted the four little animal heads that I had planned to do at some point, I think they will be quite cute!

The wind is up and bitterly cold today, but the sun has been shining which is a bonus. Going to try and get pieces cut for the table mats this evening.

This morning I stayed in to wait for the gas man as  the heating has stopped working. I wrote some letters and got some washing out on the line, so not a wasted morning. I put the plate that Donna made for my birthday on the small book rack, it is lovely!

Sandy also painted my present, a mug which I will use at the studio, it says Jan's mug on the other side.

Last night I finished marking my quilt blocks ready for the next stage.

I went off to my first Monday afternoon session at the community centre, just Linda and Sue today but it was fun and Linda and I enjoyed sorting through the new beads from Fandangles. Sue was making paper flowers to assemble into a heart.

Linda was doing a canvas of a letter G for a friends little girl.

On Saturday I placed a bit on a late Victorian, medium oak, gate leg table. It was very slim and would fit well into my room and give me a table to eat at and a large surface for crafting. I won the bid and I am absolutely delighted with it. This is before any cleaning or bees wax but you can see how stylish it is.

My birthday, and the sun was shining when I got up. Isobel and I were both up at 6.30 am and Isobel enjoyed opening my cards and gifts with me. The Darren came up and they watched some of Kungfu Panda together.

Anya and Louis joined us and we set off for Bempton Cliffs, the RSPB reserve. A beautiful day although the wind was on the cold side. We walked along to the cliff tops and saw gannets collecting nesting materials

This was the view looking back as we walked along.

And this the view ahead.

We were entranced by the gannets!

Loved seeing the birds nesting on the rock faces.

This gannet strutted his stuff quite near to us!

Anya and I really enjoyed the trip as did Louis, Isobel and Darren.

When we came home we went and had lunch with Tina who hadn't been able to join us on the trip, and then Anya and family headed off for their journey home. Later this afternoon Darren and Tina took me to Ox Pasture Hall for a plush afternoon tea.

It was a beautiful place, right out in the country, with lovely grounds.

A really lovely birthday. We had hoped to see puffins this morning, but once we were there it didn't matter at all, we saw several other seabirds and it was a wonderful trip. This evening I will watch Vera with Darren, and hopefully Tina to round the day off.

This morning Darren and I had breakfast and then did some shopping. Then he dropped me off at the studio as the girls had cards/presents for me. I had made some large paper flowers for their window display and it is really looking good.

The jug is glazed and fired, it is darker than I had imagined and the paint has not gone on smoothly, but is is quite striking.

Anya sent a text to say they were on their way but were stuck in traffic. I patched together some of the quilt pieces, I will post pictures later. When the family arrived we had a chat and cuppa here then Darren took us down to the Ask restaurant where we had a lovely meal. Me saying cheers with my raspberry lemonade.

And a family group.

We went on the machines for a bit and ten got a taxi back here. Darren joined us for a while which pleased Isobel!

Love;y sunset tonight.

Seems to have been a busy day. Went out before 10 am and had arranged to meet Tina at the studio as she had suggested I join her for a trip to Hull, as I need to get something to wear to the wedding ( nephew, not mine I hasten to add!) I went to the post office and then to a jewellery shop called Fandangles as the lady had promised to sort out some beads for my button class. She gave me a very generous amount of beads and pearls and some vintage buttons. I then walked on to the studio and Tina arrived at almost the same time. She talked to Sandy about some hedgehogs to paint for the church summer fete. No photos today, but the quilting class was really good last night. I took a picture of the finished quilt we are aiming to achieve, in our own colours of course.

I have started on my blocks, so not a lot to see yet, but I am getting the idea.

We had a good run into Hull and called at Hobbycraft before Tina headed off for her appointment. I walked into the town and did buy a dress but didn't like looking in the long mirror and don't think I would be happy in anything. I NEVER look at myself in long mirrors as a rule! We had lunch when we met up again and then had a pleasant drive home, very hot going, it had clouded up on the way back. Darren and I went up to the auction house this evening to see what there is to tempt up. Have placed a couple of commission bids, will post pictures if I get them!

I did some cutting out of pieces for the applique quilt last night and this morning. This is going to be a long job! I will post a picture when I am a bit further along. Went to town and then to the studio, as I was keeping Sandy company on a collection trip near Teeside. It was a longish drive but lovely weather and great views en route. After we had collected the items we had lunch at a pub in Stockton. A picture, not too interesting, of me outside!

Once we were back I look a picture of these little bikes. Blue and yellow bikes and bunting are popping up all over the place in readiness for the Tour de Yorkshire.

And, to my delight, pink forget me nots.

Off to the quilting class tonight and it will be in the pie shop as the false ceiling in the craft shop has fallen down!

Last night I did some prep for making bunting for the studio.

I pottered about this morning, did some ironing and wrapped a couple of parcels. Went to the post office and then called in at the ceramic studio on my way to the button class. I arrived early so sat and did a quick pastel picture of a daffodil Linda and Sue liked it so much that I found some hairspray to fix it with and then gave it to Linda as I gave Sue a drawing last week.

Last week I helped Sue cut out pieces from a magazine and today she was arranging them on a canvas which looked really attractive.

When I got home I set to and made the bunting so that I can give it to Donna and Sandy tomorrow.

Then I read the instructions for the bonding material I have for the aplique quilt, have stuck all the pieces onto the different coloured materials now and just have to cut them all out!

Another reasonably full day. Went to town for some things early, came back for a blood test at the doctors then set off out again. But the first picture is of sunset last night.

When I went out the second time I saw Sandy at the studio and she mentioned getting butting up for the Yorkshire bike tour, so said I would make it and buy the  material when I went back into town. I walked down one of the steep hills to the south bay, passed these great murals, some really good paintings there.

Went past more murals and the Grand Hotel is in the background.

A lovely afternoon and quite a few people around at the South bay, but not that many in this picture!

Then this fairly unusual sight.

Halfway back up towards the town I sat and looked at the bay, and there was a very vocal gull above my head, so had to snap him!

I did get the material for the bunting, will probably make a start tonight. Coloured bikes and bunting are popping up all over the place up here!

This afternoon I went outside with a hacksaw to attack the bird feeder. I am trying to fix it so that it is not inviting to the wood pigeons that frequent it regularly. The man next door ended up helping me and then re-sited the feeder for me and I think it is a little more stable now. I think the pigeons are confused as they don't have many landing spots now!