The joy of special people

I feel very blessed to be surrounded by so many wonderful people and this week has been no exception. My late parent's airforce friends are now my own friends and every few months we get together. It is such a warm and joyous occasion and I feel so very close to my departed parents in their company and yesterday at lunch we were once again reminded of how special it is to stay in touch. There is now only one Bomber Command Pathfinder Force member left to join us, along with special widows and special memories of those gone. Dave always raises a toast to absent friends and we also celebrate recent birthdays ranging from an 87th to a 93rd........and we have another birthday lunch with one of them on Sunday.......

Another special person (Judy) had a house full this past week but she still made time to quilt Maisie's birthday quilt and then only tonight I sent her an email with a scan of a quilt I had drawn up roughly on graph paper. I am trying to put more piecing in my Morris inspired quilts so on Tuesday night Faye and I decided what might work. Well 30 minutes later Judy had it all drawn up in her quilt program on the computer.......

There will be a Tree of Life in the centre (not that one), so now we can see how it might look - thank you Jude x The fabrics we are using are mostly Morris prints (of course!) but these are from a previous range. I would love to get my hands on some of the new Moda range but they didn't take me up on that when I asked (which I have never done before!)....unlike Mr Tim from Curzon Fabrics who would have sent me a truck load!  Instead I indulged in the purchase of a jelly roll and others from lovely Penny at PennyLane Patchwork (and she was so very generous with some discount too)......

I had a lovely lunch with three special people on Tuesday and then again with others on Tuesday night. Faye is one of the Tuesday night girls and she jumped right in when I said I might need help with some of the new projects for the next William Morris book!  Faye loves piecing (unlike me!), but I've worked out there are 68 hourglass blocks, 216 flying geese and 148 other blocks....and all just 4 inches - now that is pretty special if she gets through all that!  So things are falling into place and I am even using up some of my stash........

 some appliqué will be on snowball blocks........

 and some more piecing........very simple as I like it!.......

So it has not just been at the design desk this week. I spent five hours out in the garden last Saturday so all the roses have been pruned and there were still some blooms.......

 We transplanted three roses to the front garden as it was starting to get very difficult climbing up this wall! The previous lady of the house was quite tiny so I am not sure what she was thinking planting them there! So now we have three ornamental pear trees in their place and we are looking forward to seeing them grow.....

 I must also share the exciting news of the quilt arriving in the UK and beautifully displayed here in the northern hemisphere sunshine in Helen's garden......

During the week I was hunting for something and came across some of my past including my pianoforte exam papers.........

 And these manuscripts that certainly show one's age!!.......

Then I discovered some of my senior high school art work....I had quite forgotten about these pieces and perhaps some of it was grounding for my adult creating.......

and yes I did Mick Jagger in 1973!

 I also discovered a Patchwork book of my late Mum's. She always named her books and there is even an inscription inside reminding her of where it came from.....wish I would remember to do that! Such fun to see these vintage creations alive and well today...well some of them (!!)........

 So it would seem another week has almost passed us by so thankyou once again for visiting the blog. I will leave you with this delightful image of Larry tonight. I heard him exclaim "Oh No" and when I went in all was revealed.....he had stitched his jumper to his tapestry!......

 And finally these two lovely and extra special people........