Goodbye March, Hello April

 

Spring is finally here 💓 and yet again I am very late with my post. In my defense I have had a weekend away and my two little munchkins came to stay for Easter. 

I had a fabulous time away at  my sewing retreat.  It was a weekend spent with like minded people and a whole three days of machine embroidery and work shops. 

As part of the weekend Sweetpea Designs were running a workshop and I am a great fan of the designs that Alison and Annette come up with.  They come with clear instructions that even my addled brain can comprehend. 

This particular bag comes in three sizes.  I used the smallest to make as a bits & bobs bag which now fits nicely into the larger bag and of course I added a few embellishments as I just couldn't resist.  I was a little nervous when we were all asked to show off completed projects that the girls from Sweetpea might not be so keen on my embellishments but I needn't have worried as they thought the colour combination and the addition of buttons and ribbons really showed off their design. 

As part of the fun of the retreat we each take part in a gift exchange.  I made the scissor pouch out of some left over vinyl.  Vinyl is not a material I have used very often and certainly not tried adding a zip in the hoop.  I was very pleased with result.  You rarely get to find out who received your gift but whoever they are I hope they will make good use of it. 

I also made one from the leftover denim I had from my bag and it now resides inside my bag ready for when I go on my next adventure. 

 

When the munchkins come to stay Freddie likes to spend time in the kitchen with grandma baking.  Last time he came we had to tie a tea towel around him to stop him getting covered in flour.  This time I was more prepared and embroidered them an apron each whilst at the retreat.  Theo will need to grow into his but Freddie's fitted perfectly with a little growing room leftover.   

I can tell you they had a great time in the kitchen and even helped with making the pasta for the lasagna for dinner.  

Of course being Easter meant Easter eggs.  Now like most grandchildren within a fare sized family they got far too many eggs from family ad friends so grandma chose to make them these little gnomes which hides a small chocolate egg underneath.  The design is from Adele Burrows of In the hoop designs. 

💖

Now over to my books for March. A friend of the bearded one has been trying out their writing skills in recent years and is in the process of writing a quartet of novels which will form the Misty Blue Quartet by Misty Gardner.  The first novel  sets the story of Micky Culshaw, his life and loves together with a few heartaches a long the way. 

Micky Culshaw is a musician. No longer at the peak of his career he has yet to find love. After a troubled childhood he has moved to London where he leads a shadowy existence between touring and recording with his band, Misty Blue. He finds love with a mysterious older man, Alex, but his world is turned upside down when the lead guitarist of the band is brutally murdered and he finds himself accused of the killing. The remaining band members rally to his support and Micky finds that, in the midst of his living nightmare, his wildest dreams come true, but more anguish is to follow before he finds the true love that he craves. After the trauma of the trial and its aftermath Micky has space to 'grow', but along the way real life intrudes, bringing back long-buried memories which in turn bring developments that will ultimately bring high points and low points, joys and sorrows into his life and those of his friends and family.The story opens in the early 1980s with flashbacks to 1960s Manchester before moving on taking the characters up to the dawn of the new millennium. It recreates the atmosphere that prevailed in the period immediately following the 1967 Sexual Offences Act and through the Aids crisis and attitudes in society before the advent of Civil Partnerships and 'gay marriage' The story deals with sensitive topics and explores the characters' emotions and reactions progressively against the background of its setting

Rhapsody in Blue is Alex's story and the second of the quartet 

Alex is successful, articulate, handsome... wealthy beyond the dreams of avarice. Alex is lonely... Growing up in the grey days after WW2, outside the warmth of normal family life and in a country which is not his own. he carves out a successful career as a barrister before becoming an MP, but Alex has a secret - one which, in those days, could end his career - possibly even bring the Government down... Rhapsody in Blue follow's Alex's search for love as it leads him to form a number of different relationships, showing love in an assortment of different guises. 

Making me Blue is Davey's story and the third of the quartet. 

How many of us truly know who we are?  Especially when we are still in our teens? Davey certainly didn't/  YUes, there were a few certainties in his life. Home and Mam, his four brothers and four sisters, his best mate Micky... But just as he started to see a way out of the mundane, poverty-stricken life of 1970's Manchester the pressures started. Girlfriend Tina was expecting his child but he was still a child himself... All he wanted was a quiet life, to play drums with the band, to hang out with Micky... 

I have read all three books and although probably not my usual go to read I was presently surprised at how well written they are and how much I enjoyed all three.  You would have to read Micky's story first in order to set the scene but after that you could read the others out of sequence.  Misty Gardner is in the process of completing the fourth and final part of the quartet and I am eagerly awaiting for it to arrive so I can complete the four.  

📚

As it's craft night at the local church this evening I better get my skates on. I'm taking my latest pair of socks to work on tonight, which will hopefully be ready to show you next time.  

Until then take care one & all

Mx