Small Patchwork

It has been quite a while since I did some patchwork and recently I found myself needing to cut up some fabric and sew it back together again.  I love rummaging through the shelves, choosing colours and patterns that look pleasing together and creating something new.  Sometimes it's just the size or shape of a particular piece of fabric which makes me decide on a design.  This time there were a few long narrow strips that had been saved because they were too beautiful to throw away and so a log cabin patchwork was the obvious way to go.

As usual I needed to complete it within the day and so the obvious finished article was a cot sized quilt.  I didn't have any wadding but a piece of fleece fabric sandwiched between with some other random piece of patchwork I had made a couple of years ago for a cushion cover did the job, with a few lines of 'stitch in the ditch' on the machine.

My little grandson Heath seems to like it.

Whilst sorting through my cotton fabrics I put aside some pinks and blues for another little project.  There are no small girls in the family (at the moment, but who knows) but I couldn't resist making another pretty little quilt a few days later, I'm sure it will come in useful for someone.

Bright Red

This week I decided to try out a new colour of waxed canvas for my bags in the Etsy shop, so I chose a beautiful red.

I made up the usual designs of Shoulder bag, Pencil Case and Wallet.  I was pleased with the result but the photos seem to have come out a bit pink and that makes my other items, of which are mainly green and brown, look a bit sombre.  Anyway I'll see what response I get, there are many other colours to sample.

A Bit of Crotchet

I have so many good friends who just give me yarn, fabric, haberdashery etc.  As I was tidying my sewing room recently I came across a stash of wool, just odds and ends from someone else's stash.

The obvious choice for me was a spot of Crotchet,  so I started with a few granny squares.

I kept doing a few each evening and before long I had used up all the yarn. After arranging them to create a pleasing effect I chain stitched them together and hey presto!  A little blanket that is cot sized and cosy for my little man.

Wooly Knits

My friend recently gave me a cardigan that she had knit for herself but didn't like the shape.  It had turned out a huge size so when I pulled it back there was plenty of yarn for me to go at, plus she had used two strands together of chunky yarn - a charcoal boucle and a rust.  There were also extra balls as well!

I used the two together and knit a boxy shaped jacket in a 2 x 2 moss stitch and reused the 2 large buttons from the original one.  It was knit on very large needles and I just sort of made it up as I went along, it came together in just over a week. (Sorry, not a very close up photo but you get the idea).

There was enough of the rusty colour to do another garment.  This time I found a nice free pattern on Ravelry - the Duchess Raglan Pullover.

This was knit on a circular needle and 4 double pointed needles so only the little bits under the armholes to sew together.  Unfortunately for me it was a size too small but it fits Lorna perfectly.  I think when Autumn arrives I'll knit this same pattern again with the charcoal yarn but in the next size up - watch this space!

Another Wedding

So, after all the excitement of a grandson and an engagement, our other daughter Lorna and her boyfriend Sam told us that they would also like to get married this year. More great news.
They decided on June for the date so we quickly organised the village hall,  a ceilidh band and the buffet. We then made the invitations, the cake, the wedding dress, Sam's linen suit... We practiced hair styles and makeup, Emily made a beautiful bouquet and we picked armfuls of wild flowers the evening before to decorate the hall along with yards and yards of bunting courtesy of Sam's mum.

  

We had lovely weather and a fantastic time.  The men's speeches were rather amusing and Imogen said a very moving 'twin sister' speech. We even had time for egg and spoon races and three legged races in the field whilst we were waiting for the band to set up. What fun that was!

All in all a brilliant day.  It won't be long before we need to start planning for the next happy day.

 These are all my girls with all their boys, I'm so happy for them, they make a great team.

2nd Exciting Event

The next exciting event for us was when our daughter Imogen was taken down to the South coast of Cornwall by her boyfriend for a surprise weekend staying in a cottage in Cadgwith.

Just look at those lovely thatched roofs and that wild coastline.

Darren proposed to her with this beautiful handmade sea glass ring.  Of course she said "yes" and they've settled the date for next April.  We were all very excited.

Posting Again

Hi, it's been 18 months since my last blog post but I've been so busy with various things that time has just slipped by.  Anyway, I've recently reopened my Etsy shop with lots of new styles so do take a peek.  Also, I've just started using Instagram so there should be some new pics appearing on there as well.
Since my last post three major happy events have happened in our family.
Today I'll introduce you to my new grandson Heath.  He was born 15th November 2014.

Here he is at New Year with Emily. 

These next two were taken in our garden last week.

And here he is modeling a liberty print dribble bib from Emily's Etsy shop.  Do please take a look even if you don't need a bib, the photos are fantastic, they always make me happy.

Tomorrow I'll show you one of the other great things that happened last year.

Happy New Year

After the past few weeks of wedding preparations and Christmas, we decided to have a few days away visiting James' brother in the Scottish Highlands.  It's good to get away because it means we can totally relax with no opportunity for house building or related work!

This was our New Year's Day walk and the weather was amazing - snow had fallen higher up and it was a little bit chilly but it was bright and dry and there was spectacular lighting; the smell of fir trees was wonderful.  Whilst walking back home I noticed this old croft with a water wheel at the side, I don't think it was still working any more but it conjured up images of a self sufficiency which was the crofter's way of life in days gone by; remote lives and an extremely hard existence but somehow romantic and appealing when we look back - most people have it too easy nowadays, I think it's good to take some time to appreciate what we have and not to take everything for granted, and for me being creative and thrifty is part of that.

Wooly Christmas Gifts

My old Fair Isle cardigan was becoming very worn at the elbows and last week holes appeared; I was quite distressed, I love that cardi!  However, not to be defeated, I cut some patches from a scrap of closely woven woollen tweed and stitched them into place, I was happy again!
Then, much to my surprise a new Fair Isle cardigan came my way (it was Christmas after all), so now my dilemma is which one to wear

 

And, in keeping with the wooly theme, I also became the proud owner of a pair of Haflinger clogs.  They are a deep charcoal woollen felt with a cork base and a really sturdy rubber sole - perfectly comfortable for wearing around the house as slippers but also ideal for nipping outside to the garden or to bring in more logs without having to change.
I'd now just like to wish you all a very Happy New Year and I'll be back in 2014.

Wedding Fabric and Winter Flowers

I couldn't resist showing you a close up of Emily's wedding dress fabric - it's so beautiful.  From the offcuts Emily made some thank you cards so that we all have a little bit of her day to remember.

Initially we were a little concerned about which flowers would be available for her bouquet in the middle of winter, but as you can see, there was no need to worry.

All our buttonholes were slightly different from each other and as it was Christmas I was able to make use of them after the wedding day and create a simple table decoration that we could enjoy all week, along with our place setting names.

The Secret Wedding

It's such a while since I last posted on my blog and for that I do apologise, however, I can now reveal why I have been so preoccupied. Our eldest daughter Emily was married to Harry at the weekend in a 'secret wedding'.  We knew, of course, but they wanted it to be small with no fuss and just immediate family.  So I can now reveal THE DRESS that I've been working on.

The Proud Father preparing to give Emily away.

The Beautiful Happy couple.

Emily had her dream dress so Harry chose his dream vehicle.  The only slight problem was that she couldn't get into it - Harry had to lift her in, which caused huge amusement!

I had to show you the back of the dress and even though I say it myself, she did look amazing.

Emily with her sisters and their boyfriends - you wouldn't believe the number of times that they were asked when they would all tie the knot!

The rain and wind that day had been particularly heavy but we managed to dodge it for some photos in their garden.  What an amazing and wonderful day.
I'd now like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas with lots of naughty food and drink - have a lovely time x