Reasons to be cheerful!

1. It's Bank Holiday Weekend and it's not raining!

2. My cucumbers are still growing!

3. I've just bought some new wool!

First go at quilting!

I was trying to tidy my (extremely) cluttered sewing room the other day and found many half started projects. Seems to be a theme with me, I get really excited about doing something, start a new project, then it either doesn't go to plan or I don't get it finished quickly and it's stuffed into a bag and gets lost in the sewing room! So as I was sifting through these various bags and I found a half started quilt. I had made some squares and started putting it together and (as usual) I had got distracted by something else. So I pulled it out, did a bit more to it and here it is; I have to say it is really my first attempt at quilting, so some of it is a bit wobbly! I still need to bind it, but I'm pleased with how it looks so far.

It's not very big, so I'm going to use it on little one's bed as a sort of throw. I have just backed it with cream fleece instead of the usual way of wadding and fabric backing. I know that's not how your supposed to do it, but I just wanted it to be really soft on one side so she can cuddle it! It's supposed to be little houses, cats, butterflies and dresses. All her favourite things! I still have to add the eyes to the cats and butterflies, but you can kind of see the idea, I hope!


Also started to sort out my fabric stash. Honestly, I am a nightmare when it comes to buying fabric! I cannot resist it. Especially florals. Found a lot of Cath Kidston squares that I had bought on Ebay, now I would love to make a big quilt or throw out of these, but that would be such a big project! I might do a few cushions first to practice on.

Hi folks, can't beleive it has been a week since I last wrote! I have been so busy with bunting orders, everyone has decided to buy all at once!
The sun is shining today and it's very hot so after a little trip to the park, we had our lunch out in the garden under the parasol.
This afternoon, I've been working on a new type of bunting; a crochet one. I just crocheted a triangle in White DK, made a shell edge with Pink Cotton DK yarn and then hand embroidered the flowers with a Daisy Stitch.
Quite like the idea of adding letters so it can be personalised. Just as long as the names aren't too long!

In the Pink!

The sun is shining and we're feeling in the pink today!


Decided to make a little skirt for my daughter. It was such an easy pattern, just three pieces of fabric, some elastic and hey presto a new skirt! The fabric was some I found at a local fabric shop, it was very unusual, shaded a bit like those dip dye jumpers you get.


I feel like making some more. so I've sorted out a few bits and pieces to make another one.


Beetroot. These are the only ones that grew this year! Not sure why They didn't do well, but I will persevere with them next year.



Osteospermum, which flowers for such a long time. This one is great because it is winter hardy. Lost three others last year from the snow. It's also very easy to propagate, you just pull off a piece with a root and stick it in a pot with some compost and it will take easily.




Another skirt, this time a fairy princess one! This is made from nylon mesh fabric in two colours. All I did was cut double petals, fold them over some elastic and sewed together for the waistband. The top layer has a gorgeous silver sparkle effect all over it. I want to make more of these possibly using tulle instead as the mesh is so heavy, I think tulle would give a more 'floaty' look.



Love this rose, I think it's like this one Definitely on my wish list, but just need to find room to put it!

Freebie Food

We went to a Wildlife Fun day for children this week at a local Country Park. Whilst walking around the activities, I spyed these little beauties growing in the hedgerow.
I only had a carrier bag with me to put them in so they were a little squashed when we got home! But they were delicious stewed with a Bramley apple and mixed with some yoghurt.

Back home, I harvested some of my Swiss Chard, before the snails devoured it. The leaves are a bit like Spinach so I made a sort of curry with it adding some Chick Peas. The stems are supposed to taste a little like Asparagus but i just chopped them separately and through them in aswell. It went down very well with home made pilau rice.
If you can beat the snails, it's actually quite a good vegetable to grow. Bright Lights is a beautiful variety; the stems are either red, yellow or white. An amazing vegetable for a potager garden. It can also be sown in September for Winter harvesting.

Camping

Just had a lovely weekend away camping in Swanage. Played on the beach with our two and a half year old, building sandcastles. Enjoyed a stroll around the town looking at lots of little interesting shops. Two, in particular, caught my eye. One was Chococo, which sold handmade chocolates. Delicious! The other, Petite Mouette was a really cute little childrenswear shop with some gorgeous little clothes and accessories, both well worth a visit.

This week there is a Carnival in the town, which was planned to coincide with Cowes week. On Saturday we could see the fireworks on the beach from outside our tent.