Show and Tell on Thursday

Time for "show and tell".  I have been doing lots of sewing.  Mainly trying to finish off things as I did not want to start anything new when there were unfinished things lying around.

I finished the bunting for my downstairs hall. Those are little cross stitch embroideries you see in the first photo.  7 of them, one for each of our zodiac signs. Click photo to enlarge.

I did do one new thing though. Remember my scrappy quilt that I am making with denim squares?  I had lots of  odd shaped left over bits.  I didn't want to throw them out so I have joined them all up in crazy patch work fashion. I added some wadding and backed it with some brushed fleece stuff and hey presto a new doggie blanket.  It is small but will be useful at night when it can get chilly down in the utility room where the dogs sleep in their beds.  In winter it isn't a problem as we have the heating on 24 hours a day anyway.  At the moment it is still set to go off over night.

Top photo shows it pieced and the bottom one shows it finished.

Here are the dogs trying out the denim scrap quilt.  Not in their beds but on the settee!  Actually Alfie is on our bed in the first photo.  Because Loulou was comfy with the new denim quilty Simon tucked my little heart quilt around Alfie.  It is normally on the end of the sofa.  Are my doggies spoilt or what!

Something that I had to get finished was the jewelery roll that was a project we had done with Denise.  All 3 of us made one.  It was supposedly a quick and easy project to remind us how to do zips.  I had SO much trouble with that zip!  Had to take it out and start over.  I am actually really pleased with how it has turned out now.  It has the zipped pocket and an open top pocket and a thingy for rings.

I used stippling to quilt it and I am pleased with how it went.  Close up of stippling.

I have completed 4 pages for the scrapbook that I am doing of my Mums life. I shall give it to Dad when we are all together later in the year. Hopefully my girls and my sister will do some pages too.

Remember the block of the month quilt that I am doing?  It is from my patchwork magazine.  Actually it is a row of the month!  It will take a year as there are 12 rows. I have just done row 4 which is composed of 8 inch blocks, each one different.  It is about learning new techniques and patterns.  I like the diamond in the round and the pin wheel.

This is all 4 rows so far.  They have not been squared off.  That will be done once I have all 12 and can put it together.

I told you last time about our latest project with Denise.  We are each making a teddy bear.  I had to get him all pinned together first then over sew and then finally machine stitch his various parts. It was our home work! We have a sewing session on Tuesday so we all need to be at the same place.  The only thing I haven't done is to machine stitch his foot pads as I couldn't work out how to do that without catching it up.

I have another new bit of kit.  Something that I have been coveting for ages.  It is a Slice Fabrique machine.  It is very small but cuts shapes with a tiny blade.  It can cut up to 4 inches but only 1 layer at a time. It is digital and uses little SD cards.  It cuts fabric and paper.  Some of  you are probably remembering that I only just had my Sizzix machine a few months ago and that cuts shapes too.  They are different and do different things.

I haven't done much yet with the slice.  I did cut out this flower shape and made it into a brooch. I got my Slice on eBay so it isn't brand new.  It came with 6 extra pattern cards and 2 of them were still sealed up so never used.  I am looking forward to trying out some of the designs. Will get round to it soon.

OK, I am now going to bore you rigid with more of my brooches.  These are selling quite well on eBay.  Last week I sold 12.  Every single one is different.  You can sign out now if you have seen enough of these already!!

The other day some one asked  where I do all my sewing so I am off now to take some photos of my sewing room.  Hopefully I might get around to posting them soon.

Actually as this is long I have decided to post photos of my brooches along with the photos of my sewing room.  You can breath a sigh of relief!

Wednesday 3rd of October.

Another week gone.  Seems like weekly blogging is as good as it gets at the moment. I just seem to be constantly busy.  Not getting out much but that isn't a problem as I have lots to work on here.  Not to mention that the weather is dreadful.  Cold, very windy and rainy.  I hate the cold.  We have the heating on and even lit the fire at the weekend. Did I mention that I hate the cold?

The garage has not really made any further progress because of the weather.  It is flooded inside again as Simon has now removed the roof from the original part so it is totally open to the elements.  It has been too windy for him to do any more of the roof.  It wouldn't be safe. Plus it is now dark by about 7.15pm so he has less time during the week.  By the time he gets in from work at 6pm and has his dinner there is only about half an hour left.

In my last blog I mentioned that I was doing a few hours with a collecting tin in aid of the Three Counties dog rescue.  I did 11am - 1pm last Wednesday and Thursday outside Tesco.  I was with another lady, Judy.  She had a rescue dog with her that she fosters while he is awaiting his furever home.  He is a Staffordshire bull terrier and absolutely gorgeous.  I would have adopted him on the spot if I didn't have my 2.  Don't think they would be too happy!!!

He is called Billy and he was so good.  Sat quite happily for 2 hours.  He enjoyed all the attention and petting and he gets a few biscuits every 20 minutes  for being good.  Some one gave him a dog chew too.

The whole thing was a real eye opener for me.  I have never done it before so didn't know what to expect.  It is amazing the lengths some people will go to avoid catching your eye! Horrid standing there with your empty tin and wondering if any one will ever put anything in it.  I don't think I shall ever be able to walk past anyone with a collecting tin again!

I had a phone call today from Margery who organises it.  Over the 2 days the total collected was £525.69.  I personally had £81.02 in my tin.  I was thrilled with that.  I bet Judy got more as everyone was going to her because she had the dog.  Doesn't matter of course as it is all going to the dog rescue.

Just realised that was the last time I actually left the house!  That is a week ago!  Told you I was busy here.  Oh no, just remembered I did pop out on Saturday afternoon. I went to Peterborough to a sewing shop with Coralie. We went to get a sewing machine for my Dad. He has been impressed with the stuff Coralie and I have been making especially the quilting.  He wants to give it a go.  He says he needs something to do on the long, dark winter afternoons when he can't get out.  Years ago he used to do a lot of sewing.  He made a lot of our clothes.  He even made the bridesmaids dresses for my wedding.  I think he will probably be quite good at quilting. Coralie is taking the machine up to him tomorrow.

So, what have I been so busy with?  All the normal stuff.  House work of course.  There is always house work.  We are at that time of year where it is a constant struggle to keep the floors clean from 8 wet and muddy paws. I wash and dry them every time they come in but they still make a mess so mopping the floor is quite often a twice daily chore. Plus the bedding needs  more frequent washing and then there are all their towels.  It is never ending.  My washing machine has been complaining this week too.  It keeps giving the error code for blocked filter and wont spin.  When I check the filter it isn't blocked at all.  After checking it will then spin.  Hope it isn't going up the creek.

Apart from housework I have been sewing, and doing family history stuff. Then some more sewing and then yet more sewing! Oh and I have another new shape cutting machine.  Must show you that.  Actually, time to do a show and tell I think.  Maybe I will find the time for that tomorrow.  Time to go now I think.

Garage progress

Well I said I would do an update on the garage progress so here it is.  The last time I posted a blog about it we had some of the concrete wall panels up but not all.

Now they are all in place.  The roof joists, if that is what they are called, are up on the new part and the roofing panels are in place on them.

The plan is to finish the roof on the new part so that it is water tight.  Once that is done the stuff in the garage will be placed at the far end of the new bit which will then be boardede up.  After that the flat roof on the existing garage will be removed and the new roof completed.  The structure will then be complete although there will still be much to get done.

Outside jobs include further trim around the windows, fascia boards under the roof, cladding on the end panels and guttering which will go in to a water barrel.  All this after the roof is complete.

Inside there is all the electrical work to do and Simon is currently getting quotes for this.  When the electrics are in he is going to insulate the whole thing.  Hopefully that will make it warmer in winter and cooler in summer and help stop any noise too.

After all that it will be complete and he can shift all his stuff over from the barn.  Hopefully then he will start work on some of my projects!  I can't wait for it to be done so we can begin preparing the ground at the far end of the garden. I have missed growing veggies this year.  We have finally given up our allotment which we knew we would have to as it is simply too far away  from our new house.  I was a bit sad about that as we worked hard and had good times there.  I have lots of photos though and the stuff we learnt will stand us in good stead for when we are finally able to start growing here.

With luck (and good weather) my next garage progress report will show a completed roof.

Tuesday 25th September

Well there is another week gone.  I have such good intentions to get back to daily blogging but it just isn't happening.  I seem to be busy, busy  busy!  Happily busy.  My time is taken up with all the normal housework stuff and a gazillion and one hobbies.  Sewing is all consuming right now.  It is as well that I have lots of indoor hobbies as the weather is just horrid right now.  Autumn is well and truly here.  We have had rain and wind and more rain and.......  let me think...   oh yeah, more rain!  It is cold.  I so hate the cold.

One day last week it was so windy that the washing on the line was blowing horizontal.  This is dog bedding.

Do you remember some months back when we had an outdoor mud bath / paddling pool?  Well we now have an undercover pool!  The garage extension is progressing well but as it only has half a roof we can't stop the rain getting in.  Yesterday it had about an inch of water inside and it was flowing like a river into the existing garage.  Simon had to move a lot of stuff to protect it. Hopefully he will be able to get the roof finished soon so it will be water tight. I shall do a progress blog soon.

So what have I been up to this last week?  Well I went to see my Dad last Wednesday. I took Flynn with me and we had a lovely day he was so good.  It is so nice to see my Dad playing with him.

On Friday I went to help out on the Three Counties charity stall at Peterborough market. They have a secondhand stall there once a month.  It is run by a volunteer called Marion and 2 other ladies, Nita and Mary.  They were very friendly and made me welcome.  I didn't know what to expect really as I have never done anything like it before.  I loved it!  It was really fun.  My feet were killing me by the time I finished but it was worth it as we made £416 for the doggies.   I was so pleased.  I shall do it every month now.

I was also really thrilled to get 5 pairs of jeans for £2!  You may recall I have been trying to get some old jeans for ages so I can progress with my scrappy denim quilt.  These jeans were old fashioned and very large.  The other ladies said they wouldn't sell so put them aside for a man who buys unwanted clothing from them for 50p a kilo.  I said I would buy them and they let me have them for what he would have paid.  Bargain!

Since Sunday I have been busy cutting them all up into 6 inch squares and I have made fantastic progress with  my quilt.  Well it isn't a quilt yet but I have now doubled the amount of squares that I have ready.  I had 40 and as of tonight I have 96!  I did 30 on Sunday and Monday and another 26 today.  I think I have about another 40 to go to make it the size I want.  It isn't for a bed;  I think I shall use it as a picnic rug.  I have got enough denim now to make all the squares I will need.

On Saturday I went to help at the dog rescue kennels again.  They had 2 Labradors brought in and one of them was in such a bad state.  Really emaciated and some nasty skin condition too.  They looked so sad.  It really upset me.  It was the first time that I had been right there when people signed them over. They didn't seem to care.  They weren't upset and didn't say goodbye.  I cried buckets and felt stupid but the others all understood.  I keep telling myself that at least they hadn't just dumped them.  At least they had taken them to the rescue where they will be cared for. I hope I  can continue with this and that I don't get too upset.

I did enjoy playing with some of the dogs.  A Staffie cross called Harrison was lovely.  He really enjoyed playing ball. That is what I really want to do, get them out and play with them and give them some love and affection.

Yesterday I was at Coralie's house for sewing with Denise.  We are each making a teddy bear.  Denise thought it would be a fun way for us to try working with a different kind of fabric.  I have chosen grey fur and pink suede for his pads.  I got him cut out which is quite tricky and time consuming as you have to just cut through the backing and then tease the fur apart.  Denise has shown us how to get them pinned together and we have to sew the seams on the body, head and limbs ready for our next get together.  You have to take your time with the pinning as you have to brush the fur inwards so it doesnt get caught in the seam.  I think I will work on him tomorrow.

I have quite a busy day tomorrow as I am going to do 2 hours from 11am - 1pm outside Tesco in Bourne with a collection tin for the dog rescue.  They have an information stall there on Wednesday and Thursday  and there will also be a dog.  They collect more money when they have a dog there as people are more inclined to stop.  I am doing 2 hours on Thursday too. There is another volunteer lady called Judy who lives in my village so she is going to give me a lift.  They do these collection days several times a year.

If I get my housework done before I go out then I will be able to do lots of sewing once I get home.  I will have a long day as Simon won't be in until 8.30pm because he has a parents evening.  I hate that as it means dinner is really late and I hate cooking late.

Talking of late...it is quite late now so I suppose this is a good place to stop my rambling. I shall try to get back soon.  I still haven't posted photos from the summer holidays.

Monday 17th September

Time is flying!  We have been in this house for 9 months.  It is strange because in some ways it seems like just yesterday and yet on the other hand it seems like we have been here for ever.  I have not once missed the old house. I have all my memories of it and that is all I need.  I also have 9 months of new memories for this house.  Happy times.

We had a busy weekend.  I went to the dog rescue kennels again on Saturday morning.  I am still finding my feet but it is good.  There was a lovely couple who came in to sign up their paper work to adopt a little terrier called Teddy.  The way it works, once a dog is selected a home check is carried out and then if all is well the dog goes for a trial period of around 2 weeks. If they decide to keep it then they pay a donation and the dog is signed over.  It has a forever home. Teddy was gorgeous and so happy and it was wonderful for me to see a success story.

In the afternoon I made a large batch of rich tomato sauce.  (Recipe in the spotty kitchen - click on tab at top of home page).  I  freeze it in 2 portion sizes.  Then I got down to peeling garlic ready for pickling.  I made 6 jars of Torshi Seer or 7 year garlic.  (Recipe in spotty kitchen).  They smell wonderful. After that it was sewing time.

Guess what?  Saturday evening TV just got better.  Strictly Come Dancing has started!  You know how I don't really watch TV?  Well every year I get hooked on Strictly.  I love it.  Shame that they still have Bruce Forsyth presenting it.  He is just so not funny.  Wish he would retire.  At least they have got rid of Alesha Dixon as a judge and got a proper one in.  Darcey Bussell, now she knows a thing or two about dance!!  For me the start of Strictly tells me that Christmas is not far off. 15  weeks to be precise!

Sunday was a quiet day as Simon went off to a car show. I spent the day sewing. I finished a play mat for  my coming grandchild.

I also finished my purple wall hanging which is going to go in the hall. I am really pleased with it. With those 2 projects completed I set about making more of my felt brooches.  I made 20 in total.  Mostly heart shaped as they are selling faster.   This weekend I sold 12 on EBay plus a little owl.  It is small things like this that I want to build up a stock of so that I can have a craft stall at the dog show next year.  I will post photos soon.

Oh, that reminds me, I had a phone call last night from a lady called Marion who runs a stall on Peterborough market once a month to raise funds for the dog rescue. They sell whatever they have had donated to them.  I had offered to help so she was phoning to see if I still wanted to.  I think it will be fun.  It is certainly different to anything I have done before.  It is a good way of making some new friends as well as raising money.  I  will be helping from 10am until about 3.30pm.

OK, guess that is it for now.