Timing

It's just after that time in the morning when you get toothache (2.30am) - never mind; it's the school holidays now, and true to form, I have a cold. I'm sat up in the living room, with the Snug Rug around me, hot blackcurrant next to me, contemplating whether or not to pick up the Harlequin quilt to continue quilting it, whilst listening to Radio 2. What else do you do when you can't sleep at night, when it feels like you are too tired to sleep? What have I been up to recently? Well, here is a picture:

This is the stocking that I made for my tutor group - the first CMH tutor group, who are now in their final year. There are several musicians in the class - hence the treble clef, quaver, and guitar; the flower - some of the class (including me) are interested in gardening - and there are two girls with names of flowers; the horse is for those of an equestrian slant; the key is made with Beatles fabric - which says 'All you need is love' - which is the key to success; the star and the Christmas tree are evident - they are Christmas symbols. So - what did I put in the stocking? Each pupil had a present, consisting of: two pens, two pencils, a pencil sharpener, a rubber, a notebook, a mini packet of sweets, and a party toy (e.g. a spring, a pinball game, stickers, a puzzle keyring...). The stocking was also filled with lollipops and chocolate coins. Why did I do this? Well, a treat for my tutees, and also it made sure they had what they need for the mock exams that start in January! I now have a couple of days in which to get a stocking made for Keith, and then I can work on one for the house. The idea of doing one for the house, is so that we have Secret Santa in the house next year! And I shall use the tutor stocking again next year, with my new class - if it is year 7 I intend to do Secret Santa with them.

I was pleasantly surprised with the response from my tutor group; I used the party favours section at Sainsbury's to get the party toys, and I did the stereotyping - boys gifts for boys, girls gifts for girls; and there was one boy saying 'I wanted a spring'. Some of the girls got really excited about getting stickers! There were a couple of interpretations of the horse - one boy (the one wanting the spring) asked why there was a dog on it, and some girls said that I'd forgotten the antlers for the reindeer. There is a ribbon attached to the side (in addition to the ribbon to hang it up), which has the names of all the tutor group on it; I wrote the names on the ribbon with biro - I auditioned fabric pens, but they bled through to the back of the ribbon, and I wanted to use both sides of the ribbon for the names. I shall add another ribbon next year for the new tutor group.

Where did my inspiration come from? Well, it is all down to my mum, and something that she did for my sister and I back in 1978 - 31 years ago. Here it is - the one she made for me:

Later today I shall be back in my sewing room, preparing for Friday, and trying not to get too frustrated when things go wrong, when I can't find things, and when I find that I can't do what I want to do easily. Such is life when you have a cold - it makes me really grouchy, especially when I don't get enough sleep. Anyway, time to publish this post now.