My Baby is back!

Drove down to Reading on Monday to collect my Bernina from its' holiday.

I was so excited.. just like a kid ! Sad I know. This machine is very special to me, my grandmother bought it for me way back in the 1970's. It was very expensive then and I have always treasured it. Its a Bernina 830 it has worked very hard, clothed my family, earned me extra pennies altering wedding dresses for a local company and held my hand through City and Guilds embroidery. It has never let me down! The bobbin winder ring wore out last year, and so I thought it was time to have it serviced. Mark has done a wonderful job... I am so pleased. When I finally got home , I just had to stitch with it... and it purred! It is just like new. It has been PAT tested too. Think that is important these days.

We decided to go to The Vyne in Hampshire on the way back. If you click on the name, you will be able to find out more details. It was built originally for Henry VIII to visit, and has been updated a number of times. This is a summerhouse to covet... better than our garden shed! They certainly knew how to live in Tudor times.

No photography allowed in the house, but the garden is wonderful, and of course after all the rain we have had, its all very English green!

This is the outside of the chapel which is Tudor in design... check out the stained glass window by clicking on the photo to enlarge.

Inside the chapel are the most impressive Flemish medieval tiles, hand painted and the colours are so fresh.

I have not been able to leave my Bernina alone since getting back home and have created this bag for the BQL July bag challenge. I find the rotary cutting very challenging... think I need lessons...its the numbers that drive me crazy! Maybe I am numerically challenged!

Cats are hovering around and shouting at me.... so better go and feed them.