Monday 26 March 2012

Wasn't the weather fabulous at the weekend and again today. What a difference a bit of sun makes! It is so nice to get some summer gear out and go strolling in the sunshine as though it was a summer day. I  must have known that the weather was going to be summery because earlier in the week I had finished making this dress which will be  perfect for summer.
I have not made a dress since I was a teenager and did wonder whether it would look any good. I was pleasantly surprised! The bodice is lined, which I had never tackled before but it was fairly simple but I couldn't quite get to grips with the bit about understitching the neckline because I couldn't get all of the fabric under the needle to stitch round in one go, eventually I had to resort to the internet where I was assured it was ok to stitch what you can, which is exactly what I did! Just what would I do without the internet! The zip was a bit tricky but managed it in the end, not perfect but it will pass muster, hopefully will be better next time!

Wednesday 14 March 2012

some sowing and sewing...

It's been a lovely warm sunny day today and what a difference that makes! I got my wellies on and got outside and did some jolly old digging and sowing! Managed to sow lettuce, carrots and spring onions and am already impatient to see them growing. It was a very satisfying day yesterday too, as the weather was so dull I decided to spend most of it in the warm, indoors. I finished making a cushion cover for Sophie.
Isn't the fabric gorgeous? Sophie chose it from on line shop Fabric Rehab which has a fab selection of  retro fabrics, this one is called Critter Community, Trees and Owls. This is the reverse of what is a huge cushion and from 1.5 metres of the material, I  managed to get this cover measuring 65cm square and a smaller one of 36cm.

I also finally got round to cutting out the rest of the patches for Rosie's quilt
a total of 56 squares, 6 squares wide by 9 squares long.
Now I can get on with piecing them together and then I will machine stitch them together but will quilt it by hand as my machine isn't suitable for large quilts.
 I have loads of odd and ends of fabric used for previous projects so I am cutting them into strips of 5cm wide and varying lengths, stitching them together and eventually I will cut them into equal lengths to make a patchwork quilt.
Watch this space for progress!


Friday 9 March 2012

Love is in the air!

If spring is not here yet it is blooming well on it's way! From my window I watch the frisky bunnies with their little white tails bobbing up and down as they chase each other round and round, they look so sweet! And on the other side of the field is Mr ' I am a very handsome' pheasant, equally frisky, busily trying to persuade two pretty little pea hens that he is the one for them! I guess they aren't having any of it because they keep running away! Such is love!
Talking of love, I am not very popular with Louis, Spike and Tiff the three Melmore feline cuties. Yesterday was the day for the flea spot treatment ( all cat lovers will know what this entails and is a moment to to be dreaded).Tiff was easy to do as she is now quite elderly and a bit on the pudgy side so she can't be bothered to make a fuss, but the other two, what a nightmare, you would think I was trying to kill them! Special tactics have to be employed. A towel is surreptitiously picked up, I walk towards them looking the other way and then I pounce. Gotchya! Legs everywhere, quick tuck them in, oh no I have been scratched, never mind on with the task. Holding him with one hand (while he is doing his hardest to get out) and with the other doing the dirty deed on the back of the neck! Now for the other one, who not being stupid has shot away in the opposite direction, ah well do him later when he leasts expects it!

I am steaming ahead, (well not quite steaming) with knitting the aran cable sweater. The cable and bobbles are really easy to do and I can cope with knitting this and watching the telly!
I love browsing around the charity shops and the other day I managed to pick up this lovely Wade vase.
 You never know what might catch  your eye and I was really pleased to spot this, it has a little green framework in which to insert the flower stems. It will look so pretty with dainty little flowers like sweet peas arranged in it.