Scrap Quilt

So,Josh had a lovely quilt made by my mum; I had my rather shrunken Amy Butler blanket and we were off camping to Cornwall. Dave clearly needed something apart from me to keep him warm so I thought it was time to try quilting. I was inspired by a scrap quilt I saw in Mollie Makes 11 from A Passion for Quilting by Nicki Trench. Just a few links for you to follow! And this was the result -

Dave has a bit of a Heinz 57 Varieties heritage (Dutch, American, Scottish) and I tried to include that in the quilt.  Backed with fleece it kept him nice and warm in windy Cornwall!



For Misha and Alex,
the Shetland Sheepdogs

For Bonny Scotland



For the Nederlands



A California Swimming Pool



Growing up in Sixties America



Loving the lovely ladies!

       

Spilt Milk

Well, what a busy summer! I was finally separated from my gallbladder; I finished knitting my beautiful Amy Butler picnic blanket;washed my beautiful Amy Butler picnic blanket; enjoyed my newly felted Amy Butler picnic blanket (actually I cried...even though there is no point in crying over spilt milk). On a brighter note I finished my scrap quilt for my husband - how I love quilting! I've also had a little success selling at a local fete and have a Christmas craft fair to look forward to. I have also restarted knitting my beautiful Amy Butler picnic blanket.......and the old one makes a remarkably good camping blanket after a day's body boarding in Cornwall! Perhaps the milk wasn't as spilt as I first thought!

A few more things I've been making...

 

Little decorative rolls for make up brushes, crochet hooks, scissors, pencils and pens - in fact anything you choose!

 
And some crochet corsage brooches in Jubilee or pastel colourways, for decorating bags, hats or your coat lapel.

Stormy weather....

I've recently become rather too well acquainted with my gall bladder, so making and baking have ground to a halt a bit. Still, I had a few thing on the go that I wanted to share with you. So, join me, make a cup of tea with skimmed milk, forget about the biscuit because I can't have one, sit back and enjoy!

I have finally finished my knitted purses. They are stiffened with vilene and have very wacky linings - all designed to hold that "stuff" that rattles around the bottom of your handbag  (pen, nailfile, tampons, painkillers

tissues, you know how it is!) Or for that moment when you're going out, don't need the full handbag but still want somewhere for the phone and lippy - (and his keys and phone!)

I had also painted some little heart keyrings, but are still a work in progress!

Retro cushions

I've been having a bit of a cushion making moment inspired by Ellen Brett. Let me know what you think. The patterned fabric is very evocative of 1950's America and is called Pleasantdale. I'm working on a slightly wackier fabric as well at the moment by a designer called Alexander Henry. Lots of South American horsewomen and cactuses! Will show you how they turn out and give instructions on how to make the cushions as well

Pink Hearts Cushion

Pleasantdale Cushion

A Craft Cafe moment.......

Spent a wonderful day with my friends at Craft Cafe and made a little cushion under the watchful eye of Ellen Brett.I felt really happy - there's nothing quite like spending time with your sisters!

Time spent with friends is time well spent...

I had a really lovely afternoon with Grace of oldpolicehouse blogspot fame, and the lovely Mrs Martin. I took along some Bakewell Tart in a tin given to me by Number One Son. I couldn’t resist taking a photo of the tart on a much loved plate bought in an antiques shop in Waltham Chase many years ago. Mary brought cupcakes and Grace made the strongest best coffee and had the Plain Chocolate Digestives ready. These are clearly not of this world as they are far too nice! We chatted and knitted and sewed, but I made far too many mistakes with my little knitted purse as I was completely wired with all that caffeine and sugar...

 And this is what i should have been doing....

Welcome to my ironing pile - it can always wait!

A little purse, a little pincushion...

This beautiful little pincushion came attached to a huge kilner jar of pistachios, a Christmas gift from the lovely Mrs Mary Martin. I think it was a Molly Makes design, but as usual, Mary made it impeccably. And the nuts are My Husband's favourites! Today I had a chance to use the pincushion as I came to make up a little purse I had knitted. It was from the Rown Winter Warmers book, but is basically 18 x 28cm of moss st (K1P1) with two rows of knit at the end to make a nice edge to the flap. You add some pretty fabric to line it, slip stitching into place and add a ribbon loop and button. It knitted up quite quickly and I plan to makemight make some more in finer wool (this one is in Rowan Big Wool) and in candy colours.

Afternoon Off

It was lovely seeing My Mother at the weekend, who bought me a bunch of my favourite tulips. With her back home, I had a bit of a baking session this afternoon. Got ahead of the game by making lasagne and a chicken pie for the freezer, as well as bread and butter pudding for tea tonight. However may have pushed things a little too far by making flapjacks as well. Go to my Bakery page for tips on how not to make crunchy (as opposed to chewy) flapjacks. And check out my blanket knitting progress on my Makery page. I found a much reduced Amy Butler pattern for a fab picnic blanket that is keeping me busy. Just need to work out how to afford the wool now....

Fancy Moon

http://www.fancymoon.co.uk/?gclid=CI2MgNOKza0CFVGKfAodNA8UjQ
Go there! The fabrics amazing and the service is really good too. Loads of kitsch and vintage designs. I bought some wonderful fabric to make into cushions.