One down....five to go

Five UFOs left on my Finish Along list. Didn't put every unfinished project hidden in the house on the list or I would have been embarrassed!

 So, number one finished is the Liberty of London Hexi wreath. It's a table topper, a wall hanging AND...

...I can put a pillow form inside. Once our house is done that is exactly what I will do with it.  In the meantime it goes in the "Finished" Rubbermaid bucket!

(Some of my many future projects stacked on top of my bookself and a hidden surprise!)

Here are a few other things I finished before joining the FAL. I was inspired to make this because of a pillow Jo made last year.  Go look at Jo's...it's fabulous!

One of my problems is knowing where to quilt.  Now that I have finished this one I wish I had quilted in the yellow diamond and green triangles.  Hopefully I'll remember and learn from this experience.  Don't get me wrong, I love it, but I see what I should have done!:)

 A mini made from scraps of PB&J.  I made some blocks to hang at work...guess I should have taken a photo of them too!;) See...I think I should have quilted this one different too!

 A baby quilt for a friend in Hawaii.  Sort of an I Spy so big brother can play the game with new baby brother.  Simple but fun!

This month's theme at the Sketchbook Challenge 2014 is Sketching with Collage.  I used tickets and stubs and prints and postcards from last year's trip to the UK.  Man o'man we did a lot!!

I am now working on hand quilting the Sew Fun Bee quilt and I have sashed and joined all the Polaroid blocks but I don't have enough pins to baste it until the other one is done!

In the meantime I'm thinking about projects to use these colored elastics I found on sale. Hubby needs a Kindle cover....think he'll mind polka dots to hold it closed?:)

~d

Our Timing Was Great!

We haven't seen her since last October...way too long...so we went for another visit to the United Kingdom!  First couple of days were spent in London doing the girl's famous walking tour of the city's highlights.

We spent a lot of time at train, bus and tube stations but our timing was perfect!

 Great weather for walking through Hyde Park to the Palace...the girl said it's cause we were there!:)

(Foamy fountain!)

Not only did we have great weather...so did the Scots who invaded Trafalgar Square doing their version of tailgating before the big game with England.  How lucky were we to see thousands of men in kilts...or at least how lucky was I?!!:)   I will remain neutral on who won and lost!

(Tula is the one talking with her hands!:)

Timing was also on my side as dear hubby and the girl sweetly went along with me to

 The Village Haberdashery  .  You'll never guess who was there...Yes....that's 

Tula Pink chatting and sharing her time and quilts with us!  I just happened to see about her visit on their blog the day before we left for the UK.  Great timing right?:)

 Bright and early  the following morning we visited the British Library...look who greeted us, our own Uncle Sam!

 Next stop was the British Museum to view the Elgin Marbles.  Saw the back of the Rosetta Stone.  It was swarmed by tourist with their cameras and ipad recording everything they saw.  Once home looking at my photos I feel good knowing I experienced the trip more this time because there aren't as many photos to share!

 Borough Market was a feast for eyes and stomach....we shared a bratwurst, loaded salad, watermelon, cheesecake and the biggest brownie ever.  Thank goodness we shared!
After that we walked across Tower Bridge and the girl expressed a wish...she wanted to walk to the top of St. Peter's dome.....

 ...and so they did!  I say they because I made it up the first level to the Whispering Wall but didn't think I could take the cramped (claustrophobic) trek up the rest of the way so they continued without me....but my camera made the journey!

 She is having too much fun.  They said I should have come and would have been fine but I enjoyed my walk around exploring the cathedral on my own....lit a couple candles, gazed at some fantastic artwork and heard some mighty fine choral music too!


Once everyone was back on terra firma we walked across the Waterloo Bridge to experience Jubliee Park, the London Eye (from the ground) and other crazy doings.  Dr. Who is everywhere!!!

















As the sun set we strolled back across the Thames River via Westminster Bridge, enjoying the glory and history all around us, we made our plans for the next day. Such a very walkable city!! No problem sleeping after all those bridges!!!

Last day in London was for a little shopping along with the sightseeing....

....Liberty of London...I had no clue....no clue at all....I thought it was just fabric...silly me!!!!!

Then to the train station ....

....next up~ Oxford!!

~d