tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72287665166319482732024-03-19T01:00:53.344-07:00 Wonky PatchworkA blog about fun, colourful patchwork, sewing, thrifting, children and crafts generallyWonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.comBlogger482125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-5974559912414077132016-08-19T15:43:00.002-07:002016-08-19T15:43:50.054-07:00A new quilt - striippy half square trianglesNow don't fall off your chairs or anything but there is actually a new quilt well under way round here, only a baby quilt but still. And it's not going to be too long before I finish it either - as long as I decide on a layout some time soon.<br />
<br />
I've been powering through making lots of strippy half square triangle blocks.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3ponBdqn8pEdciebu67iVKBYu91y56ve_9uZy8LZcnumvpnqIYkcGywyAltYdAT9F7kucoX77NiREA-Fwei1QP0ZC1ET6Bfvu_8704iZ4CQCM3PEGDa5rBdqraPO0VVwujuBsp_BC5I/s1600/Picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3ponBdqn8pEdciebu67iVKBYu91y56ve_9uZy8LZcnumvpnqIYkcGywyAltYdAT9F7kucoX77NiREA-Fwei1QP0ZC1ET6Bfvu_8704iZ4CQCM3PEGDa5rBdqraPO0VVwujuBsp_BC5I/s640/Picture.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
They're very straightforward to make. I've been starting with a square of very thin muslin.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFX5vobgEvVl28Wm4r7Ig71z2SN2CQoWsh_FEEo7jcxrxZ1Mf8QAgptOzNQWAGcOCLjXSNbnxpid3yslCMaSvOYSvgnliHPETfKxt-3sl7rSxmwtbF4rSn7Hvnts8J4Ff5y53Vo3zV12Q/s1600/Picture+3280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFX5vobgEvVl28Wm4r7Ig71z2SN2CQoWsh_FEEo7jcxrxZ1Mf8QAgptOzNQWAGcOCLjXSNbnxpid3yslCMaSvOYSvgnliHPETfKxt-3sl7rSxmwtbF4rSn7Hvnts8J4Ff5y53Vo3zV12Q/s320/Picture+3280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Laying a reasonably thick strip of fabric diagonally across it - this one needs to be pretty thick because later it will be cut in half and have a seam allowance taken off it too.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWvgtzpUAgNIM-GNljdyHvmKSKtdYGiLPIuA6bdvKrR-ZxZJY_9YijABWRRWOaNxHEpp3OZh6V527VyghlC-V2OUM_bbHgx-IzTN27oTJzyJJAkS1sTcr_2LSEmmmUmN9pMut1OvBBX4/s1600/Picture+3281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWvgtzpUAgNIM-GNljdyHvmKSKtdYGiLPIuA6bdvKrR-ZxZJY_9YijABWRRWOaNxHEpp3OZh6V527VyghlC-V2OUM_bbHgx-IzTN27oTJzyJJAkS1sTcr_2LSEmmmUmN9pMut1OvBBX4/s400/Picture+3281.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
And then another strip sewn down, right sides together...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi404qejly7r6KPd7meVhH11UUtAm5O6YMvsa6d6QW3hYr6yVFy3jCas0UGUKI7iQzHUTO6EgC65-CeL-hLm0jVkh33cSd6505opTqqFXm9eGOLFYXcsjlU31Mrmc09e0t54Nki8I2FsAQ/s1600/Picture+3282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi404qejly7r6KPd7meVhH11UUtAm5O6YMvsa6d6QW3hYr6yVFy3jCas0UGUKI7iQzHUTO6EgC65-CeL-hLm0jVkh33cSd6505opTqqFXm9eGOLFYXcsjlU31Mrmc09e0t54Nki8I2FsAQ/s400/Picture+3282.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
And then ironed over.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAUPby7OgZ8MMwVOi-_u7xUgpfMSfb7z5NAlS6KZNwOeDSKbKL_2id_yGKVcQFKT_QJhe-GjnJ59bEe8xKdurAkvFj-3l-CDPVHNwvWqXB3tPj0wFWwiXNJRn9b2iP1NL78PBokLxIuU/s1600/Picture+3283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAUPby7OgZ8MMwVOi-_u7xUgpfMSfb7z5NAlS6KZNwOeDSKbKL_2id_yGKVcQFKT_QJhe-GjnJ59bEe8xKdurAkvFj-3l-CDPVHNwvWqXB3tPj0wFWwiXNJRn9b2iP1NL78PBokLxIuU/s400/Picture+3283.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
And carry on until the square is covered.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_QbinOVkd6LK2cHZpZug1Hi0w40icxfDEokfsTx1AsJsWTxcoFXYHJqZNfa4PVJv0yPYjtczLCZBMgo7a3tT6Hv2V_XyA_R-luFhAwuh3jKYF4gJhI-zku5VxdodqQi8SvJSgkEcUT4/s1600/Picture+3284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_QbinOVkd6LK2cHZpZug1Hi0w40icxfDEokfsTx1AsJsWTxcoFXYHJqZNfa4PVJv0yPYjtczLCZBMgo7a3tT6Hv2V_XyA_R-luFhAwuh3jKYF4gJhI-zku5VxdodqQi8SvJSgkEcUT4/s400/Picture+3284.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNNX1B7mLGc9i-8suDFnDm3ipd_5xK4d4QS6i0jaGKjGhuHHl82ET-Acs5SQZ3Dcii4Yk8-t8JZdBH4jeS0D-aGkwDDb-kSFaeNscbnBg0q1VCoiN2U8O8Eh6ZbaiQhgYmLRKjss3TPI/s1600/Picture+3285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNNX1B7mLGc9i-8suDFnDm3ipd_5xK4d4QS6i0jaGKjGhuHHl82ET-Acs5SQZ3Dcii4Yk8-t8JZdBH4jeS0D-aGkwDDb-kSFaeNscbnBg0q1VCoiN2U8O8Eh6ZbaiQhgYmLRKjss3TPI/s400/Picture+3285.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Trim it up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxwKWGsnmDOJpq99Ge-JBxZuDNdTxcHnuLzOLQr9hdvvgnZllvYSNJax-poprQld_zGlIH0o7BEzCEEraKWfB4lQM7l5XagTgRzKCaFUyojFcnxepjWCaQpW8swTmQmsn0pA5lK239XM/s1600/Picture+3286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxwKWGsnmDOJpq99Ge-JBxZuDNdTxcHnuLzOLQr9hdvvgnZllvYSNJax-poprQld_zGlIH0o7BEzCEEraKWfB4lQM7l5XagTgRzKCaFUyojFcnxepjWCaQpW8swTmQmsn0pA5lK239XM/s640/Picture+3286.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Then a square of my grey fabric pinned to it, right sides together. Draw a line down that central diagonal strip, and sew 2 seams a quarter inch either side of that marked line.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIF73MEJm4p-1G-jIdXSNpkx0JJECYGrTXQJ4cwfzyPgdxGsqsuhJTk7loWIZ03-1fEh7U6oHkYA2CIM2JfjYpQs-UadDcT8War-BN_-mGsNUCTx3TsHSeRgy817SKsJ0qvdvCm10vvK8/s1600/Picture+3374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIF73MEJm4p-1G-jIdXSNpkx0JJECYGrTXQJ4cwfzyPgdxGsqsuhJTk7loWIZ03-1fEh7U6oHkYA2CIM2JfjYpQs-UadDcT8War-BN_-mGsNUCTx3TsHSeRgy817SKsJ0qvdvCm10vvK8/s640/Picture+3374.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Then just cut through on your marked line to create 2 blocks...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3ponBdqn8pEdciebu67iVKBYu91y56ve_9uZy8LZcnumvpnqIYkcGywyAltYdAT9F7kucoX77NiREA-Fwei1QP0ZC1ET6Bfvu_8704iZ4CQCM3PEGDa5rBdqraPO0VVwujuBsp_BC5I/s1600/Picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3ponBdqn8pEdciebu67iVKBYu91y56ve_9uZy8LZcnumvpnqIYkcGywyAltYdAT9F7kucoX77NiREA-Fwei1QP0ZC1ET6Bfvu_8704iZ4CQCM3PEGDa5rBdqraPO0VVwujuBsp_BC5I/s640/Picture.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
When I started I did intend to lay them out in a pin wheel effect,like this...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dy8pLM97co4aRYJZJYZaR-PuhISrHyWvJZZ1ofk4EYVjxffO2M-3zMrdpnshsRoNf4dzK1jTENr0iu_HUNyzgAtc5KgdMomaHSnilTIrZTNO7S-cFbUiQ_ug62RpOvcGh9oDoixgFcc/s1600/Picture+3545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1dy8pLM97co4aRYJZJYZaR-PuhISrHyWvJZZ1ofk4EYVjxffO2M-3zMrdpnshsRoNf4dzK1jTENr0iu_HUNyzgAtc5KgdMomaHSnilTIrZTNO7S-cFbUiQ_ug62RpOvcGh9oDoixgFcc/s640/Picture+3545.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
But once you have a bunch of half square triangles it's impossible not to play around with them a bit, and they tempted the girls in to getting involved too!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXursb2rMzkRMkVGMKrwh7j6Bd2a4PKYxhBoqPiDuPWopUZ06N3cliiut-h5N7yYNc0mDzSx1MK8mpOcQ3Er7EQD22ZQuDhqDYgBlh9WfejsTMzHjVMGVjCZk6G8aNGUziQQ2LqJXClRM/s1600/Picture+3499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXursb2rMzkRMkVGMKrwh7j6Bd2a4PKYxhBoqPiDuPWopUZ06N3cliiut-h5N7yYNc0mDzSx1MK8mpOcQ3Er7EQD22ZQuDhqDYgBlh9WfejsTMzHjVMGVjCZk6G8aNGUziQQ2LqJXClRM/s640/Picture+3499.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Maria liked this design best.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lN_js8AHPZdliSZ_Mv7_s9wWhfkDvLTzvARTXWolnoeaOdAD3xStCtQhym4zP4oEo1Rhbr5oNutMGTnhx_yi735MR8i7aQvlQpZ4oa-gSPYskIU4A7gmpZdA7wN1fs_YbVIznCMyS-E/s1600/Picture+3502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7lN_js8AHPZdliSZ_Mv7_s9wWhfkDvLTzvARTXWolnoeaOdAD3xStCtQhym4zP4oEo1Rhbr5oNutMGTnhx_yi735MR8i7aQvlQpZ4oa-gSPYskIU4A7gmpZdA7wN1fs_YbVIznCMyS-E/s640/Picture+3502.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And Venetia tried a few out for me, my favourites were these 2 variations...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZaz5hlMw7-r2i3ipnEvQ4wUZ9DTpqdye9OCGUa_yd-HYSX9vZIweTvOABHAO7H0lcq5iBHn9Eqlg-tU4tLS_QGGBhTfybsH7_k0goL_ITwtLmAlUC4-vT3K351L6MB-b3E4td12f8ec/s1600/Picture+3504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZaz5hlMw7-r2i3ipnEvQ4wUZ9DTpqdye9OCGUa_yd-HYSX9vZIweTvOABHAO7H0lcq5iBHn9Eqlg-tU4tLS_QGGBhTfybsH7_k0goL_ITwtLmAlUC4-vT3K351L6MB-b3E4td12f8ec/s640/Picture+3504.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaa5AOhM-qE0O-S9YbrAKCLzz1N2mxl6k7k_QoCdXHzEgPQEMeogHkRcnvoNlA4My_44lJDzX3ngYZ4TRlSo9c42m7Tx3vcwPAaRyKOt7V7Zk_vM2R8Incv_gqgxn6LpbQnXMeJ8n_Z7c/s1600/Picture+3505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaa5AOhM-qE0O-S9YbrAKCLzz1N2mxl6k7k_QoCdXHzEgPQEMeogHkRcnvoNlA4My_44lJDzX3ngYZ4TRlSo9c42m7Tx3vcwPAaRyKOt7V7Zk_vM2R8Incv_gqgxn6LpbQnXMeJ8n_Z7c/s640/Picture+3505.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZvQcBPvu5mCtnoBzL9A3ZPhIA9XoQBMJ01ZUCT1tqPJc8rIQrfKMWBPMfZqwJNKdxtNtNx5I4GaDeC707fTKVaYr2aWgDMA73Wfm4V3TTQUpdcVcqhxdnTTsy2Bz3zw9gpLqgzYdxsg/s1600/Picture+3544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZvQcBPvu5mCtnoBzL9A3ZPhIA9XoQBMJ01ZUCT1tqPJc8rIQrfKMWBPMfZqwJNKdxtNtNx5I4GaDeC707fTKVaYr2aWgDMA73Wfm4V3TTQUpdcVcqhxdnTTsy2Bz3zw9gpLqgzYdxsg/s640/Picture+3544.jpg" width="604" /></a></div>
<br />
And now I'm really not sure whether to stick with the pinwheel or not! What do you reckon?<br />
<br />
Sally.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-72855505158856925402016-08-17T17:48:00.001-07:002016-08-17T17:48:09.615-07:00'Ho, ho, ho and on we sew' - Faux Cathedral Windows Christmas Table Runner<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZTlu37SlOrKU_aRqscLojfr33KlAuYqSjD2Jip1RaVKMlZ7yDtN0LGhJu7Dy2ltfWia4XlW2V2o2HPdrQpWs6qBpymvLpljn4LPkM3Yzgmnlusim5qqH8PmkmNDgGkPnHtzL_zkTN-g/s1600/Picture+3470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZTlu37SlOrKU_aRqscLojfr33KlAuYqSjD2Jip1RaVKMlZ7yDtN0LGhJu7Dy2ltfWia4XlW2V2o2HPdrQpWs6qBpymvLpljn4LPkM3Yzgmnlusim5qqH8PmkmNDgGkPnHtzL_zkTN-g/s640/Picture+3470.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This month it's my turn to host the '<i><b>Ho,ho,ho and on we sew</b></i>' link up. Fiona, over at <a href="http://celticthistlestitches.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Celtic Thistle Stitches</a>, kindly runs this monthly LinkUp to help us all to get organised for Christmas in good time.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Celtic Thistle Stitches" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOsuWU9wsiy0TAu8ezIje8qY6wmFPmnxcguk3UkEuPILlL1UlRBWpmv45M0FhJt8RdCrYxyIX_9m3s_xQRLQiBGA44W47RlH6ANMucqX6Z2Ge-yr3YC85gCl0ccvum68TaL2pqVq1Ug0/s128-Ic42/HHHonWS%252520blog%252520button%25252016.png" /></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">And I hate to tell you all, but once we get past August it's just downhill all the way till December! If you need any more incentive to get going with a bit of Christmas crafting this month then there's also a giveaway prize up for grabs. This month the prize </span>has been generously donated by Katie at </span><a href="http://www.japancrafts.co.uk/" target="_blank">Japan Crafts</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">, and it's a kit for this lovely Hana Bag.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" />
<img class="CToWUd" height="93" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=78dae9dc24&view=fimg&th=1566a4950b508b8a&attid=0.2&disp=emb&realattid=ii_irm23alf1_1566a46a385a3766&attbid=ANGjdJ_Ibwx80XsqSDelSCORlXQ10yXtqSZZWFobyyhBesmgUWygPmf9ElpS_Li1vnVkt1nK9tFEm8LHNScsSEK5lKRFWAWsSKt_FhsI1dVKolbxHmr19RYr_S7Fd8E&sz=w750-h186&ats=1471470727319&rm=1566a4950b508b8a&zw&atsh=1" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" width="375" /><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"></span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Everything to make this beautiful bag, whose name means 'flower' in Japanese, is included in the kit. Close the drawstring and the top of the bag looks like petals - these conceal a kimono-style pocket on either side of the bag. This fully lined bag is very easy to make and can be sewn by hand or whizzed up on the machine. RRP £10, available from </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en-GB&q=http://www.japancrafts.co.uk&source=gmail&ust=1471557127325000&usg=AFQjCNE-ubZiaWFj9FHXACzNBW-HMy-J7A" href="http://www.japancrafts.co.uk/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" target="_blank">www.japancrafts.co.uk</a><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" />
<img alt="Inline image 1" class="CToWUd a6T" height="490" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=78dae9dc24&view=fimg&th=1566a4950b508b8a&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_1566a425859fa24b&attbid=ANGjdJ_z7o_fmobQlw6-LGBTAy7q-yYh9ZtsXGUkMfMfUeTL0qywDnRonF8d9O1nBBB1F_wsQ6DmkZcq_WTCrK4kHG_7sD6w_lbLDfnO77YmdJRxxuU3lZkc0AqgOA0&sz=w1038-h980&ats=1471470727319&rm=1566a4950b508b8a&zw&atsh=1" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; outline: 0px;" tabindex="0" width="519" /><br />
<br />
You have till the end of the month to link up your makes and be in with a chance of winning this lovely kit, you'll find the Link Up at the end of this post.<br />
<br />
But first, back to my Christmas make for this month. I decided way back in January that one of my Christmas sewing priorities for this year would be around trying to make the Christmas dinner table a little bit more special and 'Christmassy'. Since then I haven't really moved forward much with this, so this month seemed like the perfect opportunity and I decided to make a Christmas table runner.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNVD7k23uTqZDPJWsBvKR0dLo15o26exCwYSeYK1w4b1sXSOiR7i1mXBTLOd1qfxJZ2H8FKaqQXVJRbfI2fSZLJRVY4_o4Tcxa_XsHh5PQcDZYBu8P5N_kmD311845Efw1o2G0U0x9FM/s1600/Picture+3460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNVD7k23uTqZDPJWsBvKR0dLo15o26exCwYSeYK1w4b1sXSOiR7i1mXBTLOd1qfxJZ2H8FKaqQXVJRbfI2fSZLJRVY4_o4Tcxa_XsHh5PQcDZYBu8P5N_kmD311845Efw1o2G0U0x9FM/s640/Picture+3460.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm afraid the inspiration for this might date me somewhat! I found this ancient pair of white jeans tucked away in the back of my wardrobe!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vkTA0Tzs_OM7ZdCFLTVbPyqo5UAW9Vs4PsuFCfBfp2hASOh027rkIMVfVhoPJr8JIm7eTxU2GF5VQfXW6m49TS47fs4gaFjJMI0T-48HMujMnyMvrYBHLB_ngYyrT9xtjivDDA-1sfU/s1600/Picture+3129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vkTA0Tzs_OM7ZdCFLTVbPyqo5UAW9Vs4PsuFCfBfp2hASOh027rkIMVfVhoPJr8JIm7eTxU2GF5VQfXW6m49TS47fs4gaFjJMI0T-48HMujMnyMvrYBHLB_ngYyrT9xtjivDDA-1sfU/s400/Picture+3129.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
What can I say, I was a teenager in the 80's! Back then they were a Summer essential! But they haven't been worn for at least 2 decades, and it was about time they were chopped up for sewing purposes. Perfect since, after happily dabbling a little with genuine <a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/cathedral-windows-tote-bag.html" target="_blank">Cathedral Window Patchwork earlier in the year</a>, I was keen to try a 'cheating' version with denim and compare the 2 methods.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I've seen lots of this style of patchwork peppered across Pinterest, more usually with blue denims in throws or cushions. But the construction is quite simple and it lends itself perfectly to a table runner. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
You will need a stack of denim circles (or could be some other reasonably sturdy fabric, but the edges for these will be raw so bear that in mind when choosing),and the same number of squares of a contrasting fabric. For a table runner I decided I would also add some wadding to give it some extra weight, so the same number of squares again in whatever batting you have to hand, or I've just cut them from a scruffy, wool blanket. If you wanted to use this technique to make something a little lighter - perhaps a bag - then you could just leave out the wadding squares.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQLTxTX70sNg2ettZ87va3e5mfQo98zWPJpA9HAEuzAe9M70VNR7cxcJVrR38bmznHn3SlR47Rss-bD0j9oRwinGUbPLrp22K2SS_CMgG3BdK6i0xhlJsMfQGvrL3Xwkd4jIloohEUpI/s1600/Picture+3472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQLTxTX70sNg2ettZ87va3e5mfQo98zWPJpA9HAEuzAe9M70VNR7cxcJVrR38bmznHn3SlR47Rss-bD0j9oRwinGUbPLrp22K2SS_CMgG3BdK6i0xhlJsMfQGvrL3Xwkd4jIloohEUpI/s400/Picture+3472.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm afraid I seem to have completely lost my making photos in the white/red, but I wanted to make another to gift in greys so at least it made me get started on that as well to take some more photos!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My circles are 5 inches in diameter. I'd like to say this was carefully thought out, but it just so happened that I had a largeish yogurt pot to hand when I started this project and it looked about the right size for what I wanted! If you want to go with this sizing too then you could either scout around your kitchen for an appropriately sized lid/pot/bowl/plate or use a compass to draw a circle template. But you can basically create something to the dimensions you personally want. The squares need to fit within your circles, just reaching the edges.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtfUBwM9tFQWe9twIz78-A73H7b5dUv84g810dw9HPcqTKpGVjAigdgcog6Lk7OmBI0tGx49PWnQhZyImeLPLlsXihod1o4eNbVjKWGKiuRCXj2CaUBfCNuui_-6vHg0wXJz1ba7xL2U/s1600/Picture+3475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtfUBwM9tFQWe9twIz78-A73H7b5dUv84g810dw9HPcqTKpGVjAigdgcog6Lk7OmBI0tGx49PWnQhZyImeLPLlsXihod1o4eNbVjKWGKiuRCXj2CaUBfCNuui_-6vHg0wXJz1ba7xL2U/s400/Picture+3475.jpg" width="397" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My squares were just a fraction under 3.5 inches, but I found this technique quite forgiving when it comes to being amazingly accurate with cutting and positioning - always a positive for me! Your finished 'blocks' within your patchwork will be the size of your squares, so have a think about what you want your total finished size to be and some simple maths will tell you what measurements to use for the squares, and then it's fairly straightforward to draw a circle, with a compass, around this.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I wanted my table runner to be 3 circle/squares across, so I worked in 3's, starting out by pinning a square of the wadding and then a square of my fabric on to my denim circles, centering them as best I could. The fabric squares need to be <b>right side up</b>, but you pin it on to the <b>wrong side of your denim</b>. This felt quite unnatural to me and several times I had to repin as I realised I'd gone wrong. </div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhh1FLtHT8HsoOlObZVD2du1NfXM0VNcxlVH0tRSmkc5gYjMmDZUpbwl9iUn2ZhSnCzYb2dj-MNTDfQMdZGjIyr3hrQodn6NRd1Z4_7hKxP5qKd2a7-CziW7z7LTYScJJBwBr4DNjuxc/s1600/Picture+3476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhh1FLtHT8HsoOlObZVD2du1NfXM0VNcxlVH0tRSmkc5gYjMmDZUpbwl9iUn2ZhSnCzYb2dj-MNTDfQMdZGjIyr3hrQodn6NRd1Z4_7hKxP5qKd2a7-CziW7z7LTYScJJBwBr4DNjuxc/s400/Picture+3476.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">So the 'right' side of my denim is a much paler grey. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
With 3 ready I started to sew them together. Place 2 of the circles with their right sides together, so your contrasting fabric squares are visible and facing out. Match up the corners of your squares as best you can and then sew a straight line across the top of your square, from one side of the circle to the other. Then add a third circle/square in exactly the same way to one end to create a 'chain' of 3.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihuLWnhMKLRKam_J6V5b09jw8cWOF3mZlUwHEKx9hmGiOWF_mmqi4iLLkwfjIRUDbRstvFXoid5r3YXFc-2_4tx7bmZqdj2RD1gM-nrjsCSskUmtEqJb2pG8zNPc7-UUCmLr2TY0yjpMo/s1600/Picture+3477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihuLWnhMKLRKam_J6V5b09jw8cWOF3mZlUwHEKx9hmGiOWF_mmqi4iLLkwfjIRUDbRstvFXoid5r3YXFc-2_4tx7bmZqdj2RD1gM-nrjsCSskUmtEqJb2pG8zNPc7-UUCmLr2TY0yjpMo/s640/Picture+3477.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
You can see you're sewing off a side of your circle, which is coming upwards into your patchwork in a 'flap' effect.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQ-G2fZFIGfqMrYh0knOV47Uvot6VoAi6M_WebQx4K8ygKAXny3vQ6Q_VHcgjE0nD3pCPSC-gG-jxHapvz2gmNg58YdQ0bhX3Z23zO2zVIUtBvU5P_6WEdrDUta39bL9xJh8UYx4Rtxg/s1600/Picture+3481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQ-G2fZFIGfqMrYh0knOV47Uvot6VoAi6M_WebQx4K8ygKAXny3vQ6Q_VHcgjE0nD3pCPSC-gG-jxHapvz2gmNg58YdQ0bhX3Z23zO2zVIUtBvU5P_6WEdrDUta39bL9xJh8UYx4Rtxg/s640/Picture+3481.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Once I had 2 rows of 3 I could sew these together in much the same way. I found it did help with accuracy to iron out my flaps before sewing the rows together, and some wonder clips were very handy too.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGm9eesYyLPwG1dzyAKi4QwnRZzOuDr5qUL6MfT_1AhF3gQDJf1d_p4xhYe0Hz4KTslcgrzSFYbrRv5BAjJc7MgFblap_ieSvdR00ynrCKa8xnbRHIyjxYLbFC2nEFEciXkEzikkTkz_A/s1600/Picture+3484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGm9eesYyLPwG1dzyAKi4QwnRZzOuDr5qUL6MfT_1AhF3gQDJf1d_p4xhYe0Hz4KTslcgrzSFYbrRv5BAjJc7MgFblap_ieSvdR00ynrCKa8xnbRHIyjxYLbFC2nEFEciXkEzikkTkz_A/s640/Picture+3484.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here you can see the paler, right side of the denim coming through in the flaps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
So again, right sides of the denim circles together, fabric squares on the outside, match up your squares and then sew straight across - but this time you're sewing across 3 all lined up.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzbgMyqaniv1IstQzDaYIPCA-vImjv5nyn321O-h3pZZwme5_tN0_4Ekc1Teayeav3rKxNkX1D1H63iMpyy5OT43W0R3vC0pcy_lFDn2sxyBfSQxMKYLUe1z6sL7uNVMjDngfermhl7I/s1600/Picture+3486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzbgMyqaniv1IstQzDaYIPCA-vImjv5nyn321O-h3pZZwme5_tN0_4Ekc1Teayeav3rKxNkX1D1H63iMpyy5OT43W0R3vC0pcy_lFDn2sxyBfSQxMKYLUe1z6sL7uNVMjDngfermhl7I/s640/Picture+3486.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the end of the seam.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And then when you iron out all the flaps you've now created, this is what it looks like...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQLduuiTzqWZg36Ecy2_9bi-52p4TXlbWmkvDDuJ4MWFFybLl99ZSG1CCCjZCxIGX29KddYPdt-nYh0Va-Ib0efDB05ODQBYS3EWkGUw66tsPG9d9fDU6EVL4tsH87mOt6n7EQ0Cy3uA/s1600/Picture+3487.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQLduuiTzqWZg36Ecy2_9bi-52p4TXlbWmkvDDuJ4MWFFybLl99ZSG1CCCjZCxIGX29KddYPdt-nYh0Va-Ib0efDB05ODQBYS3EWkGUw66tsPG9d9fDU6EVL4tsH87mOt6n7EQ0Cy3uA/s640/Picture+3487.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It's starting to take shape. I would recommend that you create a few more lines of 3 and add these in the same way before sewing down the flaps, just because it's quicker to do it that way rather than continually switching from one task to another. But for your first couple of rows you may not be able to resist sewing those flaps down straight away just to get a better idea of what it will ultimately look like! Just be sure to leave one side of 3 'open' to attach your next row, here I've just left all my edges open at this stage.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjBLzXyHvRhBsCqdLyXpNc5j6ryxfzJiktqgzUqO0u7O0H_KfTds28DjYl3p1aorzri1-0rzREw9aTaHIlR2VtmGkasah9O7mkGV9Htu1wByyEafABl8p8UXgh5iqngZD6EAX5W3vK3E/s1600/Picture+3488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjBLzXyHvRhBsCqdLyXpNc5j6ryxfzJiktqgzUqO0u7O0H_KfTds28DjYl3p1aorzri1-0rzREw9aTaHIlR2VtmGkasah9O7mkGV9Htu1wByyEafABl8p8UXgh5iqngZD6EAX5W3vK3E/s640/Picture+3488.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Just those outer edge flaps, which I haven't yet ironed over and sewn down, showing the darker grey, wrong side of my denim. Once they are sewn down none of that darker, wrong side will be visible on the top.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span id="goog_2027187334"></span><span id="goog_2027187335"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
So keep on adding your rows until you have your desired length. To avoid too much bulk when sewing down those petal like flaps you can create your piece in several sections, and then when the flaps in each section are sewn down, join them together - just make sure you leave your edge flaps open for the joining. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here's my finished red/white runner, they're really not the easiest, most inspiring things to photograph! But hopefully it will look lovely for Christmas dinner.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCcNevN-Yh87zfR9Fh_LXovXxN3vCSoVkk3MmqBsFVnKZh1beL3xdn-QFc1ZjBHwbcTo2E1E1thTd8Zb-NB5MN37JVIw56SagW54AqXHhamtJe0l6drSDvWNdRxL3yeYyYZMwmZqfLRk/s1600/Picture+3459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCcNevN-Yh87zfR9Fh_LXovXxN3vCSoVkk3MmqBsFVnKZh1beL3xdn-QFc1ZjBHwbcTo2E1E1thTd8Zb-NB5MN37JVIw56SagW54AqXHhamtJe0l6drSDvWNdRxL3yeYyYZMwmZqfLRk/s640/Picture+3459.jpg" width="446" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As you sew down all those flaps you are creating all the quilting and binding required in one step, so you end up with a completely finished piece.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
And perfect with the <a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/ho-ho-ho-sewing-mini-stocking-cutlery.html" target="_blank">mini stocking cutlery holders</a> I made back in January.</div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ovXjA-5KVNxMLd0BodSy-u0F-UIpFWzq_hB4N07Ftd7lxXoOViS7z_lzMns5UqnV87OvaqBXDmBV67tzRvGZt3HzPGqrxIAmIHbY7yL8IvnDrKvQg4xKIqSHa6U2a5Tjbca4614k4ug/s1600/Picture+3456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ovXjA-5KVNxMLd0BodSy-u0F-UIpFWzq_hB4N07Ftd7lxXoOViS7z_lzMns5UqnV87OvaqBXDmBV67tzRvGZt3HzPGqrxIAmIHbY7yL8IvnDrKvQg4xKIqSHa6U2a5Tjbca4614k4ug/s640/Picture+3456.jpg" width="520" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
As to how it compares with genuine Cathedral Windows? The genuine version is definitely much more time consuming, it eats much more fabric and it's maybe less adaptable to a variety of projects. But I would say it does create a more special, polished end result. Both ways were enjoyable to make and I can see myself doing more of both in the future.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Don't forget to link up your Christmas makes before the month end to have a chance to win the lovely bag kit from <a href="http://www.japancrafts.co.uk/" target="_blank">Japan Crafts</a>. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sally</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<!-- start InLinkz script -->
<br />
<div class="InLinkzContainer" id="654534">
<a href="http://www.inlinkz.com/new/view.php?id=654534" rel="nofollow" title="click to view in an external page.">An InLinkz Link-up</a></div>
<script src="https://static.inlinkz.com/cs2.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<!-- end InLinkz script -->
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And thanks again to all the generous sponsors of 'Ho, ho, ho' for providing such a wonderful variety of giveaways each month.</div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/nicoledebruin" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/nicoledebruin" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJVj2mrfwlR1NO_pldyZeK4eYuTfukZYY_I0HJe6ZyxiuhRAmTBoojr3fMXcMdCq0JDB9JjXpmh7zWfiwfm_raI4mNO17udCn_h-ErbmPQpEX0NxQVOZwtPrSs802qv8djvwKHLw7Y2M/s320/Nicole+de+Bruin+logo.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.needcraft.co.uk/"><img alt="http://www.needcraft.co.uk/" border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-nNXDHWZ4x4TnE8UVDV19ivFaSFVGNmqHhFVXD1C9NWEiKzsRkEsdJE0cbpkzm1YwhzVkdE1Bkxqg8LXCTBZnE9yO_LAZf0LiuxEGO6m3aJbLPDpr7F63GhVw6Ux2bVYodV4NtCNRHE/s320/needcraft2014logo.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.elephantinmyhandbag.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="http://www.elephantinmyhandbag.com/" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmQVGVtwiDeMrVc8b0xOZ1NU0bt5-9lXyyM8XYQn-TEnPts_kgeDfihtGSKr5IT9_JMLbzg73Pmn6j4mCOiAqcLf9W6Qas7xX2xMPs_gzHV7uX6TVEQqUhqRhMps9vLRe256TS3hB6HE/s1600/Elephant+in+my+Handbag+logo.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.tikkilondon.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="http://www.tikkilondon.com/" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXl332d_1UTFuVv9PuvObhTjwIIQUPQV5F3PsMxv-Xg_fZ8hnprQQiKIBrvd5lmPZtYv6GJMgSA75F9cmWE3aU68ljQjmxAC1WOAEMFuJGETEaBBrpDctOolDdUjg7pOZzieLZ5rDaYy4/s200/Tikki+Patchwork+logo.png" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.japancrafts.co.uk/"><img alt="http://www.japancrafts.co.uk/" border="0" height="79" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhzZt8jcRhERgQaetwUIvrQNQWoC9WTtojccBKpmXc6mef2IdNLnEYW74AxqrR2yAO8kJbfGzakdzg5lDE-4Nw2fiFCZieTBHXUdy02QbitZBfkh_6VEP0g8e9pcE8PkQnPGC8W5kT8c/s320/Japan+Crafts+Logo.png" width="320" /></a><a href="http://www.rylandpeters.com/"><img alt="http://www.rylandpeters.com/" border="0" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOZNWoJFe0KhpLMH8TngPJaqX0XsSgrN9StAPAPfda2gSNd_NAGZ5DrRP7aNhaoqRgBz1O7TIYKrykISRGmh6nwDwRp03ld0Oi9muNFYvpiQaCFyBAYHpNEwVdtc41WRH4-Y7Okh883k/s320/CICO+books+logo.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/summersville"><img alt="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/summersville" border="0" height="52" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCp0UBP5HAaYeJLVBNTUlJN71bb2s9bUp4SUfo1P5971Ajh3HiL7frBarFVQ-nw25cAHV97NjdhVaxGz9h1L2RkbV_AEErPIMRQvtqIqfYNq2QQZZXqfKqDxwX7SI0NRmAnsr8GeoLojQ/s400/Large+Summersville+logo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AngieAttwoodTextiles"><img alt="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AngieAttwoodTextiles" border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyBefpmIg8sCAvpF5JJG-cgWcszwWN6ro0s2y296PGUsu3cHe8rqTbvWxjVBq0uLhbjZ-Cg_G-iAinqKV8TQm4GLHzccB9529uOWAmlNJ2vqGUbrQ9i9aoTuB_H-iAz-xGPN8BvBafec/s320/angieattwoodtextiles+logo.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://simplysolids.co.uk/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="http://simplysolids.co.uk/" border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBnZ5B3rlJtvXkqmrt68kTHIViRDDXVPyYEmQ01uWqOVXVM-stsF8hzOQ5Mq1W9ZqJjwkqh1PWE7QbZ8J902p-h3nguMJM_ILD8yvUkHI8SLUHJ_q5fUybwq0evlizG8sgNgeuTL2MH0/s320/SS_logo_RGB_high.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://sewsweetness.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="http://sewsweetness.com/" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Yaf447v_sTMT_mknhXl-CHyEHXIXmV5e3QB9fFF5SpiBvjPlmUjB5vfaFkYOQWYu5wm6hmyMB0y_Mi2-4XbFRzMN388jADnZkGOdVM8HM9ar1SC4RbbJFIGjIlfBBhPECmBAG-v215A/s1600/Sew+Sweetness+logo.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.tina-francis-tapestry.co.uk/"><img alt="http://www.tina-francis-tapestry.co.uk/" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0flqJXXd62x6ugk6z9Lv5d0GeA8newH57UykBW36TOgwbDIc5MqaLfKcwaeG6MzHj_vLp_ro59Vpk33RfXuXuwImXPG3hGvUAVTvINavNvtWXXhZLWdlT3_Sm-IhdayLp64fOYHuJvo/s1600/Tina+Francis+logo.jpg" /></a></div>
Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-14319827965731373212016-08-06T16:08:00.001-07:002016-08-06T16:08:52.945-07:00Child Friendly Glue Batik on FabricFor the past 6 months or so, during term time, I've been running a weekly after school craft club at the girls' local primary school. There have been a few things we've done that I've meant to post about here but have just never got round to it. Here at last is at least one post, about our most recent and by far my favourite activity - glue batik.<br />
<br />
We spent a few weeks working on pictures with a 'sea' theme (obviously a topic dear to my heart!), and built up to the batik gradually. First of all we created sea themed pictures incorporating doodling patterns, just with coloured pencils.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcjZSVwWVYyStkJhcSteTtTkMcg_6XG7Wu9w4zJUb8TgTPfKLtbP8usfMv22KAeq_ODTLkI_uwdHpX4-VHKd4AHy8ci4tPSJKvHTN6y4GmfMOz0h7zrajPOfb3bslIpPAjXqKryyS3mvm/s1600/Picture+2894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcjZSVwWVYyStkJhcSteTtTkMcg_6XG7Wu9w4zJUb8TgTPfKLtbP8usfMv22KAeq_ODTLkI_uwdHpX4-VHKd4AHy8ci4tPSJKvHTN6y4GmfMOz0h7zrajPOfb3bslIpPAjXqKryyS3mvm/s640/Picture+2894.jpg" width="454" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFP70pj-KTKGl_YdoFVtac5DzX1mu15YftS7NU8tWJiOeEkjiaACkAWWOws11gtePK_FFYoWUxYqpFjk0RR6tGZZkB8lsl-bQXdxzhtLOFUUwN-0CYT3cfn3K_wP0nRb64TlH51G9pXk8l/s1600/Picture+2896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFP70pj-KTKGl_YdoFVtac5DzX1mu15YftS7NU8tWJiOeEkjiaACkAWWOws11gtePK_FFYoWUxYqpFjk0RR6tGZZkB8lsl-bQXdxzhtLOFUUwN-0CYT3cfn3K_wP0nRb64TlH51G9pXk8l/s640/Picture+2896.jpg" width="534" /></a></div>
<br />
Then we used these as some inspiration for wax resist paintings, using wax crayons and water colours.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioaVSUrW2Uf5IEDFW-_SBJx9sAaEZ2ZREyZ5zMVYJU7bNYwV2f3DqwZY1xgmzGghFTJ1G2T4XGBC2gsWrun5ffD7X9ddjvf2iWW6wecT5ajQlFn4mVVztno6VyitmYDGf536CnWDFMCD8d/s1600/Picture+2893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioaVSUrW2Uf5IEDFW-_SBJx9sAaEZ2ZREyZ5zMVYJU7bNYwV2f3DqwZY1xgmzGghFTJ1G2T4XGBC2gsWrun5ffD7X9ddjvf2iWW6wecT5ajQlFn4mVVztno6VyitmYDGf536CnWDFMCD8d/s640/Picture+2893.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjcjaDzBmFTQl53ceWVRD-Ioaq913h9PLbw-3F58mwlBupNiiiA1qWbav67-W3vQLP3AtwGFvIvFIYobkhY6K2swT3Ovoup-lWOs_9eE6Y2r4y5oJviqzyXmLDuj5TBs3QRJUy2vgLLjy/s1600/Picture+2906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjcjaDzBmFTQl53ceWVRD-Ioaq913h9PLbw-3F58mwlBupNiiiA1qWbav67-W3vQLP3AtwGFvIvFIYobkhY6K2swT3Ovoup-lWOs_9eE6Y2r4y5oJviqzyXmLDuj5TBs3QRJUy2vgLLjy/s640/Picture+2906.jpg" width="460" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
And then finally I took in some pieces of plain white/cream cotton to create the batik fabric pictures. We used Elmers Blue Glue (I found mine <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00004YTKR/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">on Amazon here</a>), and it was perfect for this activity. There's a very helpful post to talk you through the process<span style="text-align: center;"> here on </span><a href="http://www.thatartistwoman.org/2008/07/kid-friendly-batik.html" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">That Artist Woman</a>. The children started by drawing their pictures very lightly in pencil, then they went over these lines with the glue. We left these to dry, and then added paint in our next session. We used watered down acrylic paints for this stage. Watering down the paint helps to stop the fabric becoming too stiff with the acrylics. After they had dried thoroughly I took them home for a hot soak and a scrub to remove the glue/pencil outlines. Once they were dry again and ironed, I folded over and sewed a flap into the top of each picture and inserted a piece of driftwood to each to hang them.</div>
</div>
<br />
I think they all turned out beautifully, here are a few...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25vCf9n5KMinTNX4IBWsiGvIwxEti9l4eLx85PaMchJCnbTzXw2YA3am0CW9j3aPN7X9NKX70SNFCVw8SU1dQNjVr-iNu5JEyi5vT3_5TWkKDtlC3KMYdxidypty47lVLDDKd8vzzNKAX/s1600/Picture+2900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25vCf9n5KMinTNX4IBWsiGvIwxEti9l4eLx85PaMchJCnbTzXw2YA3am0CW9j3aPN7X9NKX70SNFCVw8SU1dQNjVr-iNu5JEyi5vT3_5TWkKDtlC3KMYdxidypty47lVLDDKd8vzzNKAX/s640/Picture+2900.jpg" width="422" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCFjaiQl0SH9opywzxSH-x8bm__oy6XdA0IHaodUQdYmd_h32bp0pDoD_EeheYWDbLEla0FG4D3T90cZygrRgriQhntnMiE7ELEoDj9kkkvdT61EFzfJRDE6VyayzBoTkTIftFwndfNV6/s1600/Picture+2903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCFjaiQl0SH9opywzxSH-x8bm__oy6XdA0IHaodUQdYmd_h32bp0pDoD_EeheYWDbLEla0FG4D3T90cZygrRgriQhntnMiE7ELEoDj9kkkvdT61EFzfJRDE6VyayzBoTkTIftFwndfNV6/s640/Picture+2903.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVbKRQBCJFE5ULgdnB7OYvYykTvkItKp4FuRlptC8Tc4hbTEV0QuAJ2zcGOL3M3HUF3bEccHXDlPR-NJ_xdR-86Y6N-rnUTck5jmm_-tcbJZRURYrIz29v1TxYOXj2uYrFZUn3HmqG-vS/s1600/Picture+2904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVbKRQBCJFE5ULgdnB7OYvYykTvkItKp4FuRlptC8Tc4hbTEV0QuAJ2zcGOL3M3HUF3bEccHXDlPR-NJ_xdR-86Y6N-rnUTck5jmm_-tcbJZRURYrIz29v1TxYOXj2uYrFZUn3HmqG-vS/s640/Picture+2904.jpg" width="418" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMkYlI2TkA3eMBriTfQeAfg31rF7npq_LcpXkTOAvHsUpfxRlPPzVWEswy3CSgFWy_nF_kDPO8spww7gpJ8VHFJq2MY4eeaeiAKaRuFAPfztZ39myqKBiqFNcBsDHHTxO43kH2b_B1-5D/s1600/Picture+2905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMkYlI2TkA3eMBriTfQeAfg31rF7npq_LcpXkTOAvHsUpfxRlPPzVWEswy3CSgFWy_nF_kDPO8spww7gpJ8VHFJq2MY4eeaeiAKaRuFAPfztZ39myqKBiqFNcBsDHHTxO43kH2b_B1-5D/s640/Picture+2905.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC60gGb4XC1ZbgAMAVGQ3Rv-Qw5VeAF3ikUr0x-gX3NcvwFlUco7eiryHyl6080Nw_K4gmZex1b02Vqxi9E7dcn7Qa1KnBcJK3psgjbcmj00MMBMgnvKANwijUhvNt6M1tB0FI9Us-Cvuh/s1600/Picture+2907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC60gGb4XC1ZbgAMAVGQ3Rv-Qw5VeAF3ikUr0x-gX3NcvwFlUco7eiryHyl6080Nw_K4gmZex1b02Vqxi9E7dcn7Qa1KnBcJK3psgjbcmj00MMBMgnvKANwijUhvNt6M1tB0FI9Us-Cvuh/s640/Picture+2907.jpg" width="392" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRig0mqcIYQCgPYfaOYWccNxrem6Ndo7SNQgjKJ0B6p6drpwirdArrX6QhU2XV5ZG8Ps0RbFWQCd3VZtrm6R7c-NsW9Re6-1Bj7TzciIZB8hO0566l_ErE3oW8KHhjqMpimdijg21ucaA/s1600/Picture+2897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRig0mqcIYQCgPYfaOYWccNxrem6Ndo7SNQgjKJ0B6p6drpwirdArrX6QhU2XV5ZG8Ps0RbFWQCd3VZtrm6R7c-NsW9Re6-1Bj7TzciIZB8hO0566l_ErE3oW8KHhjqMpimdijg21ucaA/s640/Picture+2897.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We put on an Art Show at the end of term, so these pictures are all from the displays there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelPn2nyAY2uyKLDYRFzovvu0pXiMFXP0thToOamdQEsotPgtNXeuTURFT1F1A6Ojox_ZdaFWXQUIFOqChLfK5oUjhPglk4jDn4sWrluQiV29SpepRoCWsKFEDcYGPNwI3nArYlU62q594/s1600/Picture+2899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhelPn2nyAY2uyKLDYRFzovvu0pXiMFXP0thToOamdQEsotPgtNXeuTURFT1F1A6Ojox_ZdaFWXQUIFOqChLfK5oUjhPglk4jDn4sWrluQiV29SpepRoCWsKFEDcYGPNwI3nArYlU62q594/s640/Picture+2899.jpg" width="528" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
And whilst we're on the sea theme, it seems a good excuse to share some photos from one of our favourite beaches today - Speke's Mill, for anyone local. It's a bit too long and tricky a walk for Maria in particular, but both the girls were busy today with friends, so it was the perfect opportunity to head out with the boys.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDczhH9AhD_lO0zd33pDYpSzF-u2U3bNiPI4aLkf6PeaC7_jKduyR1J8JsnUS-ORyn2ir1AGQ56kY7ZjKJ_XrsKThRLZAgdn49F2ZZaK-GgcGeIna8aOt7s4k-BUBBwkU5AGCzpG7OVGqf/s1600/Picture+3184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDczhH9AhD_lO0zd33pDYpSzF-u2U3bNiPI4aLkf6PeaC7_jKduyR1J8JsnUS-ORyn2ir1AGQ56kY7ZjKJ_XrsKThRLZAgdn49F2ZZaK-GgcGeIna8aOt7s4k-BUBBwkU5AGCzpG7OVGqf/s640/Picture+3184.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MJVqn7vvEVyOljVstZMv3PnTSes7ZkNv1BTRful6x20doivDrQa4w4g88nE-ZMvqnR40m8tBUOuta1I3r0CPvB9uK0-X6tRUPDxgXQxRIApER0gjtQNH5dBwR3EAVH3wxwGEx58ylQth/s1600/Picture+3196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0MJVqn7vvEVyOljVstZMv3PnTSes7ZkNv1BTRful6x20doivDrQa4w4g88nE-ZMvqnR40m8tBUOuta1I3r0CPvB9uK0-X6tRUPDxgXQxRIApER0gjtQNH5dBwR3EAVH3wxwGEx58ylQth/s640/Picture+3196.jpg" width="438" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many amazing pools there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0a49RWzdnXIWxuSPNk-VIB-VlqZxMwB7191rq4tyDuLgC2MO2wFaLBD4cUqVtam6IvYH8MfgdGjXou-Wnm8-VNQk1GJVLaTLRJGwM-ccuiGoChJAmBbFOP5R4f7b2AK4arKDVykimc24k/s1600/Picture+3211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0a49RWzdnXIWxuSPNk-VIB-VlqZxMwB7191rq4tyDuLgC2MO2wFaLBD4cUqVtam6IvYH8MfgdGjXou-Wnm8-VNQk1GJVLaTLRJGwM-ccuiGoChJAmBbFOP5R4f7b2AK4arKDVykimc24k/s640/Picture+3211.jpg" width="458" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a gorgeous waterfall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_gbvbrc6TmRWgUDO1TTo7rjTtmhpjNfaWgFtLZzKFmbQo9YyjAJ9Qy2LflQONpUedguy95PNEEcSFFlKsQswg0iq388I5XXJj_NmToxA9T9c_9yzcVBFt7Qsmznfzlbi29W0o2bPoXLY/s1600/Picture+3214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_gbvbrc6TmRWgUDO1TTo7rjTtmhpjNfaWgFtLZzKFmbQo9YyjAJ9Qy2LflQONpUedguy95PNEEcSFFlKsQswg0iq388I5XXJj_NmToxA9T9c_9yzcVBFt7Qsmznfzlbi29W0o2bPoXLY/s640/Picture+3214.jpg" width="416" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrPrWutZP27ndgeBYqJrhyphenhyphenDMZO6VRK6Aoz3_-ju_ygQrtzg9Xy36WsPvMzMu1tFCm0Jdp7aYXzNfJDVygaqH_j77GCv7UAu8b6We79Mb0bhCZAVw31cAO64rdHEl2OfwXHHIbdYST3TtO/s1600/Picture+3233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrPrWutZP27ndgeBYqJrhyphenhyphenDMZO6VRK6Aoz3_-ju_ygQrtzg9Xy36WsPvMzMu1tFCm0Jdp7aYXzNfJDVygaqH_j77GCv7UAu8b6We79Mb0bhCZAVw31cAO64rdHEl2OfwXHHIbdYST3TtO/s640/Picture+3233.jpg" width="404" /></a></div>
<br />
Hope you're having a good weekend where you are too.<br />
<br />
Sally.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-10555889188363167172016-08-01T15:49:00.001-07:002016-08-01T16:07:11.490-07:00Liberty strips patchwork headbandsI so nearly managed to get this posted yesterday to sneak in before the month end and get back on my Christmassy 'Ho ho ho and on we sew' wagon, but it wasn't quite to be. I'd forgotten just how long it takes to edit and load up photos. I missed the end of the month deadline as midnight ticked over, my brain felt like it was turning into a pumpkin and, without the motivation of my deadline, I took myself off to bed instead. But never mind falling off the monthly 'Ho ho, ho' blogging wagon, I seem to have fallen completely off the whole blogging wagon.recently, so posting a day late still feels like an achievement and a step in the right direction!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XHA1yqsHuBXsPLXGhM6GV5NRLwsrk2uxUElfqkrZK-CxcqmkXI4H_2xDg295qiRm_m05R9lualsqIrIozCxGbsyl3oPIfWXEAk3DvOVgj3_JgghmQwPtsq-PSTZ4_L1xTAnjIhFweUkI/s1600/Picture+3051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XHA1yqsHuBXsPLXGhM6GV5NRLwsrk2uxUElfqkrZK-CxcqmkXI4H_2xDg295qiRm_m05R9lualsqIrIozCxGbsyl3oPIfWXEAk3DvOVgj3_JgghmQwPtsq-PSTZ4_L1xTAnjIhFweUkI/s640/Picture+3051.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
But I'm afraid my Christmas making this month hasn't been anything very original. Sewing time and thinking time has been a little limited so I've been continuing with previous themes - <a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/fabric-origami-butterfly-hair.html" target="_blank">hair accessories</a>. I've had in mind for a while that I wanted to make some patchwork headbands. Because of the long, thin nature of head bands, you're quite restricted with the patchwork you can easily create. Simple narrow strips seemed the obvious choice and I was tempted into buying these <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/400603875/sale-half-price-liberty-fabric-strips?ga_search_query=strips&ref=shop_items_search_1" target="_blank">Liberty scrap strips on Etsy</a> to make them that little bit extra special.<br />
<br />
I started off with a long rectangle of plain fabric, I made mine 8" by 17/18" for 2 head bands, but it just depends how wide you want your finished bands to be, and how much fabric, as opposed to elastic, you want lengthways.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi683SLFuwcOzqzqqbp5DTSP5ap7eM-YZxO3ALzwFNqGLmVy6lKcRpWreS2Dc4FIq4TuaFV3DVWzwuKvYoFCI9RsVa9vlRPNv4gBqpDghRH3oFHe0Ko4a9iYqr6qZObjmWNzJOyj4pxzHJk/s1600/Picture+2950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi683SLFuwcOzqzqqbp5DTSP5ap7eM-YZxO3ALzwFNqGLmVy6lKcRpWreS2Dc4FIq4TuaFV3DVWzwuKvYoFCI9RsVa9vlRPNv4gBqpDghRH3oFHe0Ko4a9iYqr6qZObjmWNzJOyj4pxzHJk/s400/Picture+2950.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
Then I just sewed on my strips.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJs12wMN6w2DcIxUasOnn7b-CB9Qn6ISIIYoqy4EsCtZyJOX_eqgErZ8EfQAOu6_6yjj9MU_Rg1MxPbJXfWFtELhOtjZatRQzA3s51auW5VSBX7GM-Q0glS88qhhkegE0NPKR166gkJ7t/s1600/Picture+2951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJs12wMN6w2DcIxUasOnn7b-CB9Qn6ISIIYoqy4EsCtZyJOX_eqgErZ8EfQAOu6_6yjj9MU_Rg1MxPbJXfWFtELhOtjZatRQzA3s51auW5VSBX7GM-Q0glS88qhhkegE0NPKR166gkJ7t/s400/Picture+2951.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
My strips were pretty narrow, so they had to be just slightly overlapped, raw edges out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzcuj5RpTV8Tcc4zkTTmf5BNAaD9-pQt64t76CEG3nQkkqS3m3RWWGE9Ce0Navc6Fw4YmhL_61f_pv6VAh4ujHF9JWe1NuQZYL5ceHIL1gJkYkBM7E4fjjOjPhcl16VNsdOLhPkPOv4Rh/s1600/Picture+2952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzcuj5RpTV8Tcc4zkTTmf5BNAaD9-pQt64t76CEG3nQkkqS3m3RWWGE9Ce0Navc6Fw4YmhL_61f_pv6VAh4ujHF9JWe1NuQZYL5ceHIL1gJkYkBM7E4fjjOjPhcl16VNsdOLhPkPOv4Rh/s400/Picture+2952.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
If I used a really thin strip then I sewed the 2 pieces to either side first, leaving a narrow gap to then add my thin strip.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgE1m3q499ZOYFeGH8qGKA3w8BjBC6QAwS8UhgXnO33MEYe87potSpA-PVyae_zjv5CocRdHmnO7Q5dtRTU5BhQLOw1bhsa6kFnGRvqsWmkFTQ9Q0graxqsNjKPxvsfU1ZSDDLF7-s-XbM/s1600/Picture+2953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgE1m3q499ZOYFeGH8qGKA3w8BjBC6QAwS8UhgXnO33MEYe87potSpA-PVyae_zjv5CocRdHmnO7Q5dtRTU5BhQLOw1bhsa6kFnGRvqsWmkFTQ9Q0graxqsNjKPxvsfU1ZSDDLF7-s-XbM/s400/Picture+2953.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Narrow gap above</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
That way I wasn't overlapping those extra thin strips and so losing some of the little width they had.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHDAra_Ye4Ep02dtacLDuipgRJ-dNfho0K7uZJl1__mdryWWMxuc9U3-vENci9ereOJ7TRhBNMw6jomfylqwvBP5B70ipxzqqj9lPZ6vvlh5N3AY4LPsMuel7JdZtG887sfY3D2xgjN8R/s1600/Picture+2956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHDAra_Ye4Ep02dtacLDuipgRJ-dNfho0K7uZJl1__mdryWWMxuc9U3-vENci9ereOJ7TRhBNMw6jomfylqwvBP5B70ipxzqqj9lPZ6vvlh5N3AY4LPsMuel7JdZtG887sfY3D2xgjN8R/s400/Picture+2956.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And in goes the extra narrow strip</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When I'd covered the whole rectangle I sliced it down the middle long ways, to make 2 rectangles 4" by 18" for 2 bands, and ironed/sewed in a narrow hem at the short ends.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4y1tDB0rNMWBkInbeDPOofeUxcw0vOiQpnR2xDxvwaZMc_KFWjw0VrPLkSUU7PINbMGLGbIT0cFBKRvt9sNWPqfBcQnG6nJDSRFeRipTnB2g7hgd5lgAV9ZOOAB2CtLvzbMskNhXf5YUG/s1600/Picture+3028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4y1tDB0rNMWBkInbeDPOofeUxcw0vOiQpnR2xDxvwaZMc_KFWjw0VrPLkSUU7PINbMGLGbIT0cFBKRvt9sNWPqfBcQnG6nJDSRFeRipTnB2g7hgd5lgAV9ZOOAB2CtLvzbMskNhXf5YUG/s400/Picture+3028.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Then ironed over a hem along one long side on each band...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCGyCc9h1hYHALRFczTuHdqGZopLkLYAYD_djmhI-WtLn58kDsg-2-L8snxDV4t4pctTxN_uEyFTKQCVAZ3VparvDKJoQJnJkoZcIwO3MZheLWZd-u-gg-bXTmPwRc4UalOtovQJvUV_x/s1600/Picture+3029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCGyCc9h1hYHALRFczTuHdqGZopLkLYAYD_djmhI-WtLn58kDsg-2-L8snxDV4t4pctTxN_uEyFTKQCVAZ3VparvDKJoQJnJkoZcIwO3MZheLWZd-u-gg-bXTmPwRc4UalOtovQJvUV_x/s400/Picture+3029.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Ironed up the other long edge to just below this narrow hem.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPI599Z5oU73DpNtnsom6pREnemHVEoibLJ3i73F1AYv9ajRi5Pn66ar1sO7wu-_aziFfxZ-fC6BH6LKqEa3hoWnho3mLaYP1PQ_gWrfU8_efdg_zb0gDIOTHGuioEpLcvMNEEqawj1Ejc/s1600/Picture+3030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPI599Z5oU73DpNtnsom6pREnemHVEoibLJ3i73F1AYv9ajRi5Pn66ar1sO7wu-_aziFfxZ-fC6BH6LKqEa3hoWnho3mLaYP1PQ_gWrfU8_efdg_zb0gDIOTHGuioEpLcvMNEEqawj1Ejc/s400/Picture+3030.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
And finally ironed that narrow hem over again on top of the lower fabric, to create the finished bandwidth with no unsightly edges.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_nE-HIpq_s8W9i6CR7Hu-exQpNgeam6qbBL9WpSJ8S9yUTERB4tXgvZVVw3oIEYex5rdIoHt_d8xErM7mK1rq5xy4JuBy3QAS7Pl5FeeFmTKQRIUJ5HpMwF9UcjpI1wKEWxOT46j2v3k/s1600/Picture+3031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_nE-HIpq_s8W9i6CR7Hu-exQpNgeam6qbBL9WpSJ8S9yUTERB4tXgvZVVw3oIEYex5rdIoHt_d8xErM7mK1rq5xy4JuBy3QAS7Pl5FeeFmTKQRIUJ5HpMwF9UcjpI1wKEWxOT46j2v3k/s400/Picture+3031.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Sewed this down neatly.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8ZFCHKZH_cPvii2Owmk8LflJdJmBmHYJQEgxdc2npawXDA8swqIQudUzKaqqVWsadtTSYkLKmbM01FWQXfICkwiRK_w-2HqT3_t9zOM73jm__yQemYZPxflhZ__wjY3WRqz7Xys84hma/s1600/Picture+3032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8ZFCHKZH_cPvii2Owmk8LflJdJmBmHYJQEgxdc2npawXDA8swqIQudUzKaqqVWsadtTSYkLKmbM01FWQXfICkwiRK_w-2HqT3_t9zOM73jm__yQemYZPxflhZ__wjY3WRqz7Xys84hma/s400/Picture+3032.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
And then sewed a line of top stitching on the other side to match.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTGR6q4nCyWO1ebN0LRPFYJtDBR7R9XT8Qtka3nFGbCIX3sHgVUQzHzW9UOttnqQ_DhHYn-QkH2M7IAZWC26f-qQNZl6LoIpYl-yH5AOMeGu2e8TCk4IKTszGvDWASUyBJxscyuTjDELS4/s1600/Picture+3025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTGR6q4nCyWO1ebN0LRPFYJtDBR7R9XT8Qtka3nFGbCIX3sHgVUQzHzW9UOttnqQ_DhHYn-QkH2M7IAZWC26f-qQNZl6LoIpYl-yH5AOMeGu2e8TCk4IKTszGvDWASUyBJxscyuTjDELS4/s640/Picture+3025.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
<br />
It just needed some elastic now - check how much you need according to the head size you're aiming for, if you've gone with 18" initially then chances are you'll need very little elastic. Insert it into the short ends, I like to push it a good inch or so in and sew it down with a couple of lines of stitching to be confident that it's really secure.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAughBBSMscBqGT0iCLfl0QlYMxCbOggFplPQaqZxCO0-XCS1h6-AfleRj1Ec25e8dUR4qRbJF28HqQA99-l7LaVm-Gtf5V4QODgDzQ73wQH6l7mfEOPepbEsiVLBsCFp45l6cnh1cRmR/s1600/Picture+3026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAughBBSMscBqGT0iCLfl0QlYMxCbOggFplPQaqZxCO0-XCS1h6-AfleRj1Ec25e8dUR4qRbJF28HqQA99-l7LaVm-Gtf5V4QODgDzQ73wQH6l7mfEOPepbEsiVLBsCFp45l6cnh1cRmR/s640/Picture+3026.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And there's your finished headband.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAiu87Rl2JN0VTmVO0uFexVLrZnnM8NoNiLvm3QTxXy_swkSVevf1o1fdQ9k5ZaxWUaW1wvrjBdy9Zj50h8fcCx9L51Y_dPI4cw_lRJeN-c-ZYVXUFQxw5dwDbF88rrRxizcQM-M2Hryav/s1600/Picture+3053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAiu87Rl2JN0VTmVO0uFexVLrZnnM8NoNiLvm3QTxXy_swkSVevf1o1fdQ9k5ZaxWUaW1wvrjBdy9Zj50h8fcCx9L51Y_dPI4cw_lRJeN-c-ZYVXUFQxw5dwDbF88rrRxizcQM-M2Hryav/s640/Picture+3053.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
They were quick and easy and fun, so, as you can see from the first photo I made quite a few!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_EsGrKXEj7oVb3OzT8F7_L5iQMZ9Vn2UUAKb8mlnBV04MKiCX6rAXSSKBuw9ZoUWcUtBTMxQ7rE2etJR6_82XL1GGkxm7T3Sl14U1GcyvmVFdZSXbd-Ka0CGZwT9OwTDP8b7J70YWVl-/s1600/Picture+3056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_EsGrKXEj7oVb3OzT8F7_L5iQMZ9Vn2UUAKb8mlnBV04MKiCX6rAXSSKBuw9ZoUWcUtBTMxQ7rE2etJR6_82XL1GGkxm7T3Sl14U1GcyvmVFdZSXbd-Ka0CGZwT9OwTDP8b7J70YWVl-/s640/Picture+3056.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
With this next one I used some blue linen fabric for my 'base' rectangle (an old, holey pair of trousers!), and I left regular spacing to show the blue, rather than overlapping strips all the way along.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dl-ISdb7LB_tuM9YWoF-o_ZMlUQb1HZobxT6Ah9T_wu6Fct1SqdGYPHxQ63rSlH4JXQ5Rh1kNQ62jLVn4etuRC6QRaMk1kEyNOUB2nH0FTJJzkM44HW5i1g0ODER-ADLTshhZfp1eONV/s1600/Picture+3059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dl-ISdb7LB_tuM9YWoF-o_ZMlUQb1HZobxT6Ah9T_wu6Fct1SqdGYPHxQ63rSlH4JXQ5Rh1kNQ62jLVn4etuRC6QRaMk1kEyNOUB2nH0FTJJzkM44HW5i1g0ODER-ADLTshhZfp1eONV/s640/Picture+3059.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And this one is just an old, embroidered napkin turned into a band in the same way.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitM7E0ekGHariT_nh4YLIRZUrq1D3GHi70atTzyvkcce9musRoWFRYgtAC9kuyIWVnWBUOILaZjAYxxdIPtF7rlfi4wKZFNv0HkycjddUrKeEcjC8vzEmkB_IME3JpZ0kni_bcwlmD2WQ5/s1600/Picture+3058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitM7E0ekGHariT_nh4YLIRZUrq1D3GHi70atTzyvkcce9musRoWFRYgtAC9kuyIWVnWBUOILaZjAYxxdIPtF7rlfi4wKZFNv0HkycjddUrKeEcjC8vzEmkB_IME3JpZ0kni_bcwlmD2WQ5/s640/Picture+3058.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Then we had such a lovely, sunny weekend that I decided I definitely needed a sunshine themed band too, so fished out some appropriately coloured vintage sheets.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLyQeaCKntbTij77D-sPSiwIVjueibeJ2hfULtIrMhMDsL99mWOlhwfyAhGI-y74YI7-fsCbSexyOuvV1iu1czxVB09jg2T_YGM26QuTDzJLsIwgI8o6fTG492_sEB4ginAKsTR3tUdrS/s1600/Picture+3097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLyQeaCKntbTij77D-sPSiwIVjueibeJ2hfULtIrMhMDsL99mWOlhwfyAhGI-y74YI7-fsCbSexyOuvV1iu1czxVB09jg2T_YGM26QuTDzJLsIwgI8o6fTG492_sEB4ginAKsTR3tUdrS/s640/Picture+3097.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
These I could cut a little wider so I 'pieced' these on to some backing fabric to avoid any raw edges, rather than just sewing strips on top of it. But I need some elastic which works better with the yellow to finish it up.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And I had a few tiny Liberty scraps which were perfect, combined with some wool scraps, for little hair clip birdies. </div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivp7LbUtsx_NNi67ebE2NjcXitcuB4z-fN1euuYzEaRq4u4we4Htud7ZSbGyIZergf7ZkPscXQ84HnEmPEpewanhIlQoY-X4OcNEbKOEq9eOuvKySabE7WJC9gos8w4rN-kLPt7tAkyMZH/s1600/Picture+3064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivp7LbUtsx_NNi67ebE2NjcXitcuB4z-fN1euuYzEaRq4u4we4Htud7ZSbGyIZergf7ZkPscXQ84HnEmPEpewanhIlQoY-X4OcNEbKOEq9eOuvKySabE7WJC9gos8w4rN-kLPt7tAkyMZH/s640/Picture+3064.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mainly Liberty wings on wool, one complete Liberty strip birdie, and the top right is a scrap of a vintage, embroidered napkin again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Headbands would look much better in photos if modeled on a head, but I've decided Maria needs some of these too so she was no longer an option for secret photos, and although I did try and persuade Sam to model them for me he declined politely!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sally.</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-59049575809935740812016-07-07T16:12:00.001-07:002016-07-07T16:12:10.380-07:00Say Something ATCIt's been ATC swap time again at <a href="https://veryberryhandmade.co.uk/2016/07/06/when-creativity-goes-missing-the-spirit-of-swapping/" target="_blank">Very Berry Handmade</a>, and the theme this time was 'Say Something'. Kind of ironic at the moment since I haven't exactly been saying a lot round here recently.<br />
<br />
I was making for Ali herself from Very Berry, which felt like extra pressure! To try and come up with inspiration for what exactly to 'say', I started a little stalking session on Pinterest by trying to search for quotes on her boards. Somehow Pinterest auto corrected this to quotes from Muhammad Ali, and since I always love a good quote I had a bit of a browse before heading back to the Ali I'd intended. I didn't find anything which struck me as perfect.<br />
<br />
The very next day Muhammad Ali died. I'm not someone who believes in 'fate', I believe we make our own choices and shape our own futures, so I don't think there was any deeper connection with my Pinterest search, Muhammad Ali's death and the ATC swap. But it did seem like the right time to use a Muhammad Ali quote on my ATC card - especially as he was pretty amazing with words and will be remembered maybe as much for 'saying something' as for his boxing triumphs.<br />
<br />
So here's the one I chose...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNheg-4DIa4A5NE7_1XawLWM1BF4VOXrgdmvgfEaj-ObOaDItQAVtZm1KnxdoWmO7h3PkcPJsgz28DpvKDogGGT7ybwM4exxcJttjmr81Z5vZTNkxqc8FQzY02MHlwrWV1DMItBz80Qa6/s1600/Picture+2554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNheg-4DIa4A5NE7_1XawLWM1BF4VOXrgdmvgfEaj-ObOaDItQAVtZm1KnxdoWmO7h3PkcPJsgz28DpvKDogGGT7ybwM4exxcJttjmr81Z5vZTNkxqc8FQzY02MHlwrWV1DMItBz80Qa6/s640/Picture+2554.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrROx53rSCXjj0FcCLiE7uwhdNOtlV3pLiu0OVJdphQdR1Hoc3_F_r5mtFtl-yzs79XSn5pwvTPfmt2q2Brujma38WHOuV4Iz8m9WWc-pVf6A_AvKXY-03vt_YQYimDAUkxTQgy6X5ykW/s1600/Picture+2548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrROx53rSCXjj0FcCLiE7uwhdNOtlV3pLiu0OVJdphQdR1Hoc3_F_r5mtFtl-yzs79XSn5pwvTPfmt2q2Brujma38WHOuV4Iz8m9WWc-pVf6A_AvKXY-03vt_YQYimDAUkxTQgy6X5ykW/s640/Picture+2548.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I often find this sentiment very appropriate for children - 'How many days until my birthday?', 'How long before...?', 'I can't wait until...' All these are fairly commonly heard questions/statements around here! And I think perhaps my children are not the only ones. But maybe we're not immune, as adults, to falling into this same trap sometimes too.<br />
<br />
And for my own card, I was lucky enough to receive this gorgeous card from <a href="http://www.imgrum.net/user/modernmanson/15946847" target="_blank">Susan @modernmanson</a>:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOmboa21jsMpvhgJCEQf2NnblwJLaIsiew6SQd9vCq9jFytYX3M3AYgrk9ibBNgEGmJt6-T_Sh4xfdAdFORlGSDqcsb5KKTXdkL2QxCDygu_snEfOl3_NI5qIVCQbiNPeAIT15pY8OnSW/s1600/Picture+2808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOmboa21jsMpvhgJCEQf2NnblwJLaIsiew6SQd9vCq9jFytYX3M3AYgrk9ibBNgEGmJt6-T_Sh4xfdAdFORlGSDqcsb5KKTXdkL2QxCDygu_snEfOl3_NI5qIVCQbiNPeAIT15pY8OnSW/s640/Picture+2808.jpg" width="462" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
When you keep in mind that this card is only 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches, the size of a standard business card, it's pretty incredible how much colour and detail she's managed to get into it, and it's even more beautiful actually in the flesh.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What words would you have put on an ATC?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sally.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="goog_1591819873"></span><span id="goog_1591819874"></span><br /></div>
Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-53219707205959729042016-06-16T17:46:00.003-07:002016-06-16T17:46:45.171-07:00In the gardenFor purely selfish reasons I've decided to try and do a post, probably every couple of weeks rather than every week, about the garden. Purely selfish because it will be a good record, in so many ways, for me to look back on - of what has or hasn't worked, of how well certain things are developing, even just where I've grown particular vegetables from season to season. I've found myself this year wishing that I could look back on photos from last year to see how, for example, my sweetcorn compare at this precise time or whether my cucumbers were already flowering last year by now. So I do apologise if you're not interested in seeing my garden, and there are lots of prettier, more interesting gardens to look at on the internet so I can completely understand why you wouldn't be interested! Please just skip over these posts if that's the case, they're really for me more than anyone else!<br />
<br />
So last year I started making slight inroads with our veggie patch. Around this time I'd just built one raised bed, and then later in the year I got a further 2 beds built. I found these quite manageable throughout the growing season, and come Autumn they were still in a good state and even got properly put to sleep for the Winter, weed free with a layer of leaves all over them. So we hit Spring this year in a pretty good place. But I was also keen to reclaim more areas of the veggie patch and build further raised beds. And that plan has been going well - I've got another 5 more raised beds built in fact.<br />
<br />
It's still not looking pretty out there, and there's still loads to do but it is getting quite productive. And we've been harvesting a few different crops already - which is hugely satisfying. But maybe enough on the written history, and I'll just skip to a photographic tour.<br />
<br />
I think I might have posted photos of this first little patch earlier this year. An ancient wheelbarrow turned into salad planter, and a now unneeded wooden gas cylinder shelter turned upside down which has become a strawberry patch.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTYFFfrgshMSEjX6YP4IWiLZmh9Fe_hCZV-loAWLv9WwDm0IP_Z_45UcEDHAdVDoP_egDxaVIPp_7eHtgP5SOty0qCbcJ519mY527pfTAm4RlR_L80XqOqjmHMJs0drOe-3udytDxZPpS/s1600/Picture+2205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTYFFfrgshMSEjX6YP4IWiLZmh9Fe_hCZV-loAWLv9WwDm0IP_Z_45UcEDHAdVDoP_egDxaVIPp_7eHtgP5SOty0qCbcJ519mY527pfTAm4RlR_L80XqOqjmHMJs0drOe-3udytDxZPpS/s640/Picture+2205.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We've been thinning out the lettuces into our salads and the strawberries are coming in dribs and drabs now, I've netted them but I've been meaning to get some straw around them all week and that hasn't happened yet.<br />
<br />
They're right next to the fairly battered greenhouse, in which we have tomatoes, cucumbers and an intriguing 'cucamelon' plant - I'll let you know if we get anything from that.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHl5_jbgKYHNKdaB1_g2ZA17xhD2kMzHFKflIXBqlSnDNmqGSLdUhs0rv6eBLqVlO_KInmje_39ktWFGrjrkXcPu1iQ8rh2GH6cF7fiLW6NhQtlL2UqUpKXY4OGSkqPY-Ty00YO19TRW6/s1600/Picture+2474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHl5_jbgKYHNKdaB1_g2ZA17xhD2kMzHFKflIXBqlSnDNmqGSLdUhs0rv6eBLqVlO_KInmje_39ktWFGrjrkXcPu1iQ8rh2GH6cF7fiLW6NhQtlL2UqUpKXY4OGSkqPY-Ty00YO19TRW6/s640/Picture+2474.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's the first new patch I dug and built this year, and this is the one which took the most time.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yGa6clgsHh50CC2Bcc2lXkxqoSrYXNLL6BJk367PMlFQOk9OKnGlR_gduncjoQSdW0MNaaj-nMrOjIcDDCl6j0KGI23vs_6HArN88Neh0VEQFhAoOMDGQcEP_tTj76vRkf0px_8Z3xLZ/s1600/Picture+2445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yGa6clgsHh50CC2Bcc2lXkxqoSrYXNLL6BJk367PMlFQOk9OKnGlR_gduncjoQSdW0MNaaj-nMrOjIcDDCl6j0KGI23vs_6HArN88Neh0VEQFhAoOMDGQcEP_tTj76vRkf0px_8Z3xLZ/s640/Picture+2445.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was lucky enough to have a lot of waste wood - old joists etc - from the barn end of our house which we converted for my parents a couple of years ago. These have been great for building all my beds - they're not aesthetically perfect but they seem to fit the purpose well enough.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I really should have taken some 'before' photos to compare here. It's now choc full of earthed up new potatoes, but back in March it was an enormous mound of nettles, brambles and bindweed. The soil in this area, though riddled with weed roots, was amazing - incredibly rich and loamy and loaded with worms. I think it was probably the site of an old compost heap, and because it was a large mound, there was enough of the soil to fill another bed as well. So clearing it was time well spent - although if I'd realised how long it would take me I might not have tackled it!<br />
<br />
Here's one of the beds from last year, with broad beans, onions and garlic all doing well.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcBAoIjd0bk5PxyT7MEl6179aEU27e6-0sCr_cFXfmpTtFtGkIvB3AwRYjENVlJC2TNK-uB0SiWJWqCVzlGzQm2YKWoE4QnjOKm1qwJIzw_aVD6czR4Y76-vm61qIOt5bCQxUBlQTroYH/s1600/Picture+2447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcBAoIjd0bk5PxyT7MEl6179aEU27e6-0sCr_cFXfmpTtFtGkIvB3AwRYjENVlJC2TNK-uB0SiWJWqCVzlGzQm2YKWoE4QnjOKm1qwJIzw_aVD6czR4Y76-vm61qIOt5bCQxUBlQTroYH/s640/Picture+2447.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This bed has blackcurrants to the right, which are just starting to ripen and need a good weed, and gooseberries to the left - ditto to the ripening and even more so to the weeding, the poor gooseberries are almost submerged. There are raspberries further down too which are also fairly much submerged, these areas of the garden are mainly 'inherited' and are the ones I find hardest to stay on top of.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDYIeVBUE5ubdFLUXcZmk70TT3uVhlScRxu_S_bTbyNToGU_Ulp7y3jWg6kz9lsRLJEkiKgC-8lFaM9fcVCmrw0zflp6zqr4mU_R8e6lbEsHwkeln4c_8NqjgQlVmXqriDK7K0agngYLl/s1600/Picture+2215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDYIeVBUE5ubdFLUXcZmk70TT3uVhlScRxu_S_bTbyNToGU_Ulp7y3jWg6kz9lsRLJEkiKgC-8lFaM9fcVCmrw0zflp6zqr4mU_R8e6lbEsHwkeln4c_8NqjgQlVmXqriDK7K0agngYLl/s640/Picture+2215.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We've had several meals from the broad beans, and still lots more to come. So much better than shop bought.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here's another of last year's beds. This one has peas, parsnips, a row of carrots which are just starting to emerge and then spinach, which I'm already picking regularly.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQ3yPO7HE9TKDdKXxC2OC3Bw4N6-jIPKNoEHkWX2a1NEBKEw0-Li_mgwnCO9AcARMkSsvq-D5mqZMWYgKAm5lq_XUtbztYZpDAjPyMy9B9bNn-2mErM8AnjhvWXCXG1ryHnfywC2c7hyphenhyphenA/s1600/Picture+2451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQ3yPO7HE9TKDdKXxC2OC3Bw4N6-jIPKNoEHkWX2a1NEBKEw0-Li_mgwnCO9AcARMkSsvq-D5mqZMWYgKAm5lq_XUtbztYZpDAjPyMy9B9bNn-2mErM8AnjhvWXCXG1ryHnfywC2c7hyphenhyphenA/s640/Picture+2451.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see quite a few patches of brown, dead looking vegetation around some of the beds - we've not been experiencing drought like conditions (ha!), everything generally is incredibly green and flourishing,but there are a few areas in between beds where I've been very bad and put weed killer down, I'm planning on putting a weed suppressing liner down in these 'paths' and then hopefully covering it, most likely with bark chippings from the sawmills down the road. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And the last of the existing beds. A row of parsnip thinnings - I'm terrible at thinning out anything, I hate to throw away perfectly good plants, so they all got replanted in various places. I wasn't sure they'd cope with being transplanted but they are mostly holding their own. Then quite a few tomato plants, which I think have grown enormously just in the couple of days since this photo was taken, and which need staking. And there's now a row of carrot thinnings at the far side - see comments re parsnip thinnngs! I'm not so sure the carrots are going to handle their transplantation so well though, they're looking a little wilted at the moment, despite how much rain the garden has been enjoying this week.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6fc3qzwf8jmNlFtUObCADMURLwZGY7DpbwX0yTUU95o6lI6FGSTksUaESnwzYwR2VK2ugdGccq8zAdIWHO6Pi2m9EbNbiA1e90h20jI1vF2u4y1XWU5Y30Mypmr995ItGeIOJT_P4bB1/s1600/Picture+2453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6fc3qzwf8jmNlFtUObCADMURLwZGY7DpbwX0yTUU95o6lI6FGSTksUaESnwzYwR2VK2ugdGccq8zAdIWHO6Pi2m9EbNbiA1e90h20jI1vF2u4y1XWU5Y30Mypmr995ItGeIOJT_P4bB1/s640/Picture+2453.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The second of the new beds...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyC2S_X3dxgmn_zPD8o7Qs759S1dUxxrU753CLMvxSTbUEszDsCcvTXJHXh4-RRN0z_KYdAyjmnWHanlHcc9ALInjWFbLwFk7Kom_x7_1Y3XsIu01WQ0OR3V5YPI86Rrrujw9neORDUra/s1600/Picture+2461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyC2S_X3dxgmn_zPD8o7Qs759S1dUxxrU753CLMvxSTbUEszDsCcvTXJHXh4-RRN0z_KYdAyjmnWHanlHcc9ALInjWFbLwFk7Kom_x7_1Y3XsIu01WQ0OR3V5YPI86Rrrujw9neORDUra/s640/Picture+2461.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RZPcF-eDqp3m0eHvYzu0_cD03TMw9VQ5MrAe-CmiIlnimMtj8ytZIj2VMxC9QFYz9XZ8u4x5odJksm4sTivgw_dTF2iyyTzK7Vyqti65a1Lv-MeB4wfHP7ciDk2IsOvpx53UeGh3WqSo/s1600/Picture+2495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RZPcF-eDqp3m0eHvYzu0_cD03TMw9VQ5MrAe-CmiIlnimMtj8ytZIj2VMxC9QFYz9XZ8u4x5odJksm4sTivgw_dTF2iyyTzK7Vyqti65a1Lv-MeB4wfHP7ciDk2IsOvpx53UeGh3WqSo/s640/Picture+2495.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here it is from the opposite,onion/pea side.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXc7NgUAJ0uRTSGET8Bd2EQSd9CGZO8v9GBcoAyxURJWPfLjjD4fsD9wKLv0nmSFOsHPgymVo1v19_xUTbZTTf0driBbkWMvPwrK305tpiuHrVZzToue-dMU_53PeOfHSzIf-q7i8A40mP/s1600/Picture+2497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXc7NgUAJ0uRTSGET8Bd2EQSd9CGZO8v9GBcoAyxURJWPfLjjD4fsD9wKLv0nmSFOsHPgymVo1v19_xUTbZTTf0driBbkWMvPwrK305tpiuHrVZzToue-dMU_53PeOfHSzIf-q7i8A40mP/s640/Picture+2497.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Onions, my earlier sown peas (just starting to produce some pods which are delicious eaten whole, although these peas were grown for the actual peas inside), another, slightly later, sown, row of broad beans, a few purple spouting broccoli plants, more parsnip thinnings (!), a couple of courgettes - one massive one dwarfing the other, I'd forgotten just how much room these need, although I spotted a baby courgette on it today so it's hard to be annoyed with it, I think I may have to find a new home for the smaller relation though - and a few cucumber plants.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
New bed number 3...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwiBMTnX3BVjpEt61RjFHVRpyLnCbG2BeFa1lDAY3SOTmAUwkdk27UdZloh1pexnrs0HDumvszAAw64oikcRwt2QEbqiAkE1KeDqp4If1Dvm3kDRE1durI7oYCdr4AmyX-sVIlYIi2UvHO/s1600/Picture+2455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwiBMTnX3BVjpEt61RjFHVRpyLnCbG2BeFa1lDAY3SOTmAUwkdk27UdZloh1pexnrs0HDumvszAAw64oikcRwt2QEbqiAkE1KeDqp4If1Dvm3kDRE1durI7oYCdr4AmyX-sVIlYIi2UvHO/s640/Picture+2455.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This one is dug out, lined and built, but the soil was not great here and I'd run out of my good supplies from elsewhere in the garden and really couldn't afford to buy in enough soil to fill this. So I've done the same as last year and planted in bags of compost - this was an idea I read about on 'Faith, family, food and fabric' <a href="https://familyfaithfoodfabric.wordpress.com/2015/05/26/around-our-home/" target="_blank">here</a>. It worked really well last year, especially with a combination of sweetcorn and pumpkins so I've done that again (with some cheeky carrot thinnings in a few spaces!).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvKwsjXMkhye_1-Ccf9HMWRHg6JReENIJMhjGtPGzDT1hoX3S_gpbO5fuYsEa1os2TfgTzyNWxnUHiU-UTvXAUCtVM7aYYbchmgXgy_un3Yk1MrNRja-thgPG1i-f8_2cPC-B8WjeKzqh/s1600/Picture+2492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvKwsjXMkhye_1-Ccf9HMWRHg6JReENIJMhjGtPGzDT1hoX3S_gpbO5fuYsEa1os2TfgTzyNWxnUHiU-UTvXAUCtVM7aYYbchmgXgy_un3Yk1MrNRja-thgPG1i-f8_2cPC-B8WjeKzqh/s640/Picture+2492.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pumpkin flowers already</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'll hopefully build up the soil in this one gradually with things like local manure, the almost mature contents of our wormery, leaf mould compost etc, but quite possibly I'll be growing in bags again next year as this happens.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
New bed number 4...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LNekgOfEcZAjX0K3SLEP0epjir3lGdqDCkEaWyh2bN0Hibao3SXb_E0ZTAGt_ijtQ_HPW0Y7bcYUppmzbLwiLpXb-reF2gOUDYmMQRFbocnPHp9Q21wL27ztTyeaktlyGRrAL_izDHg_/s1600/Picture+2465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LNekgOfEcZAjX0K3SLEP0epjir3lGdqDCkEaWyh2bN0Hibao3SXb_E0ZTAGt_ijtQ_HPW0Y7bcYUppmzbLwiLpXb-reF2gOUDYmMQRFbocnPHp9Q21wL27ztTyeaktlyGRrAL_izDHg_/s640/Picture+2465.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This one was an unplanned addition. My Dad has always liked gardening, and does potter around with various bits and pieces still, but I think his biggest pleasure now is buying plants! He came home one day with about 20 more strawberry plants which he'd seen and felt were too much of a bargain not to buy. I found another ancient wheelbarrow at our nearby recycling centre to repurpose, and that's up near his end of the house with some of them in it, so quite manageable for him to look after. But the rest needed a home so another bed had to be built. There's room in this one for the strawberries to spread quite a bit, and it's amazing how many runners they're already starting to throw out, but for this year there are also some extra tomatoes in here and another little row of parsnip thinnings! The strawberries themselves are ripening nicely, and getting picked daily.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMEGBEqwT4U0AVaM9MhyphenhyphenaRSnrst2-pxCpTvYJnMmpV2Q9CgRVBbow-f6_POimDwG8nF8apCU4AYYVOdZYuwLLTkOV8bYjdLnpRfN-h6k0wO9r6uSzO-ZdCSW5DGMzuPPovwdfQDgNafzJ/s1600/Picture+2467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMEGBEqwT4U0AVaM9MhyphenhyphenaRSnrst2-pxCpTvYJnMmpV2Q9CgRVBbow-f6_POimDwG8nF8apCU4AYYVOdZYuwLLTkOV8bYjdLnpRfN-h6k0wO9r6uSzO-ZdCSW5DGMzuPPovwdfQDgNafzJ/s640/Picture+2467.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again I've been meaning to get some straw around these.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_WhqXckSJqmHVoyAquRPDEEi3uqmOs0a1KB88MzpbupqlVg2RMRhLk3G8ETAJi1WZndKG0XZW5-nMdGXKMAhTKUzK2jAlYSwKOkY0SzO2lPGJYJo1foDpOB6YxADAfQ4ynK0dck1adcD/s1600/Picture+2505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_WhqXckSJqmHVoyAquRPDEEi3uqmOs0a1KB88MzpbupqlVg2RMRhLk3G8ETAJi1WZndKG0XZW5-nMdGXKMAhTKUzK2jAlYSwKOkY0SzO2lPGJYJo1foDpOB6YxADAfQ4ynK0dck1adcD/s640/Picture+2505.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm keeping reasonably on top of pinching out the side shoots on my tomatoes this year, and we already have quite a few flowers, I think the tomatoes. perhaps more than anything else, are loving the wet weather we've been having this week.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I seem to have completely missed taking any photos of new bed number 5, possibly because it's a strange, long thin bed just for asparagus and it's not very easy to photograph. So that will have to wait till next time, especially as this is already so long! There are a few tyres scattered throughout too, some large tractor tyres...</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zzZTAKtMo1AfDIzdcGNqf3hY_qNT0vJSqKKrQxoiuW_Xt4jC2v46mgOib4XvFN8j0gW5d7kVcwsw4g9D4XEBl9ks3X9KcsdSnvloXNGVrSBkLH-n-ytXpSyKWx-xbfNU3XZs1VUqb1hA/s1600/Picture+2449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zzZTAKtMo1AfDIzdcGNqf3hY_qNT0vJSqKKrQxoiuW_Xt4jC2v46mgOib4XvFN8j0gW5d7kVcwsw4g9D4XEBl9ks3X9KcsdSnvloXNGVrSBkLH-n-ytXpSyKWx-xbfNU3XZs1VUqb1hA/s640/Picture+2449.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More purple sprouting broccoli - one of these plants has been producing snacks for children for a few weeks now, not quite enough to cook really not that I get the chance!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Some runner beans, also enjoying the rain and just starting to make the dash for the tops of their poles...</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6VsvjKtiDaeFWmj-WjpgFWrY7Z5OzCMrh8zlQJ2g1hg9MJqWKIObMesn_ouqVE1kXHy5_zX_sQ_0w5syql_47Ts873Nrz7d365AhyRCWls10cCvboyUe5HGe4eFMMtA36GfsA9a919G1/s1600/Picture+2469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6VsvjKtiDaeFWmj-WjpgFWrY7Z5OzCMrh8zlQJ2g1hg9MJqWKIObMesn_ouqVE1kXHy5_zX_sQ_0w5syql_47Ts873Nrz7d365AhyRCWls10cCvboyUe5HGe4eFMMtA36GfsA9a919G1/s640/Picture+2469.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blueberries in smaller tyres in the background here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There's another large tyre with carrots and a few extra peas, which also didn't get photographed, and then quite a few smaller tyres. These mainly have cucumbers, with just one odd squash. There were 2 originally, but I think I was a bit quick to plant them out and one sadly died.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5i0k8-Oxlu_D-KAbrCpa0CQB1YBepqeA9fNZtCSxazz62FHmfESCsAAcFkA8QFqtFh7Jg43ATvKINy5wir9crrFhAIQhORaPnjotZoLtLFp2v3tgVsNfpCnskG8fff2ad8tSgYlp1vxNs/s1600/Picture+2457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5i0k8-Oxlu_D-KAbrCpa0CQB1YBepqeA9fNZtCSxazz62FHmfESCsAAcFkA8QFqtFh7Jg43ATvKINy5wir9crrFhAIQhORaPnjotZoLtLFp2v3tgVsNfpCnskG8fff2ad8tSgYlp1vxNs/s640/Picture+2457.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These tyres have a thick layer of old cardboard beneath them to try and help keep them weed free.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A couple more missing tyres with gooseberries and quite a few other bits and pieces I could mention - lots more blueberries all doing well, loganberries and tayberries almost ready, sweet peas squeezed in mainly in pots here and there, a couple of honeyberries which look amazingly healthy but have no berries - perhaps they need to be a little older before they bear fruit? - there is just so much going on out there and so much to do! And I haven't even mentioned the tree chopping, coppicing and pruning which has been taking up huge amounts of garden time, but in the process providing us with excellent stocks for the wood burner next year.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'd like to think that future garden posts will not be anything like so long! In fact I guarantee they won't be! But before I finish I must add a couple of last photos, of something we've never had any success with previously - sunflowers!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunHIXTKqN1fFp662GMWHa4waRT7NCYUO4uvx7l9gmOf4c0szRlZ6buXUUfQ7_6PvI-IOWJn1_OxUgHMqALtXusEH21wNv9HCifkXJR8umdeqgEbZDobMe7czqCu5Rar3_shh7XoekR30i/s1600/Picture+2480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunHIXTKqN1fFp662GMWHa4waRT7NCYUO4uvx7l9gmOf4c0szRlZ6buXUUfQ7_6PvI-IOWJn1_OxUgHMqALtXusEH21wNv9HCifkXJR8umdeqgEbZDobMe7czqCu5Rar3_shh7XoekR30i/s640/Picture+2480.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Happily our sunflower seeds (like pretty much every seed we planted this year in fact) did really well, and we have around 15 sunflowers standing reasonably tall already. Including several with very exciting buds...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOMMiM2MomCouI6ejBgZnPx-p-8VZPLlqWOj68XZVVSr3jCVR-lW81jqHi4ZRL3e31Qu4ooNY-xNu6-F6z2yd5RDved51H2-aq4Y8xCMdTdacUuy98HuhnO4b1GBfyFdz0vf706YDUHvI/s1600/Picture+2484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOMMiM2MomCouI6ejBgZnPx-p-8VZPLlqWOj68XZVVSr3jCVR-lW81jqHi4ZRL3e31Qu4ooNY-xNu6-F6z2yd5RDved51H2-aq4Y8xCMdTdacUuy98HuhnO4b1GBfyFdz0vf706YDUHvI/s640/Picture+2484.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
They won't be long now!<br />
<br />
Sally.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-74616411582056108802016-06-15T14:06:00.002-07:002016-06-15T14:06:36.844-07:00Sea Glass Tic Tac ToeBirthday making for Maria is hotting up, a few bits and pieces underway this week, but just a flying post to catch up on a small birthday finish from last week.<br />
<br />
I've seen quite a few fabric tic tac toe bags dotted around Pinterest recently, and have been wanting to get round to making one. The happy combination of a birthday coming up and a need to find ways to make use of a much too large collection of sea glass made it happen (and yes, I know, too large is impossible really when it comes to a sea glass collection!).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK80jVg_xvgpikxq8aD4ijGo5aBZ9CMNBQPb4oymGW9AyafvPiwMah-tV4aO98IxZTSxIkdbZSTGTCs3AJGu5Rjcm1PxFylkFsYbd61pe5kvq2zH0vjatlcdZ4n5bH-_w6TnIVJDjY2mYP/s1600/Picture+2525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK80jVg_xvgpikxq8aD4ijGo5aBZ9CMNBQPb4oymGW9AyafvPiwMah-tV4aO98IxZTSxIkdbZSTGTCs3AJGu5Rjcm1PxFylkFsYbd61pe5kvq2zH0vjatlcdZ4n5bH-_w6TnIVJDjY2mYP/s640/Picture+2525.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just some ribbon/trim sewn onto a simple, lined drawstring bag</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The ones I've seen have generally had buttons or pieces of fabric as the 'counters', but I think the sea glass works perfectly.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOvM4NSJYipzAPRwzv7YfUVkn1vBcztb8AbhXcXZmNFuPzsg6cEkYFI2mxJC_wzWN9qNpSvIMipmbzhMND0r-f1MSL8dq9XbXurCfzTYl3x5nrQhvi2NGOq7ZrT4zzAYjkvV7jfGB4VUs/s1600/Picture+2524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOvM4NSJYipzAPRwzv7YfUVkn1vBcztb8AbhXcXZmNFuPzsg6cEkYFI2mxJC_wzWN9qNpSvIMipmbzhMND0r-f1MSL8dq9XbXurCfzTYl3x5nrQhvi2NGOq7ZrT4zzAYjkvV7jfGB4VUs/s640/Picture+2524.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And then it just stores away easily.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8JmN_9GLGNQ__pmePkEA8tReetbKDV59D0sx0vdf5W4_reWk-6QOmlfvWb_oEgW9qjFuh5SzOLJ_o-LNY5UUC5Y9-3ps0VdO1earO6zsVN5BeGj2h75_b4g-3yZrJlWm9WYeiKfNntmK7/s1600/Picture+2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8JmN_9GLGNQ__pmePkEA8tReetbKDV59D0sx0vdf5W4_reWk-6QOmlfvWb_oEgW9qjFuh5SzOLJ_o-LNY5UUC5Y9-3ps0VdO1earO6zsVN5BeGj2h75_b4g-3yZrJlWm9WYeiKfNntmK7/s640/Picture+2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I think Maria will appreciate this one. And thinking ahead, Venetia loves checkers - that would use even more of the sea glass!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sally.</div>
Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-73135477464210276222016-06-03T15:56:00.001-07:002016-06-03T15:56:17.081-07:00Ninja Cushion with a Shakespeare Quote!Maria's birthday is just around the corner and I've been feeling slightly short of inspiration on what to make for her. So far I've fallen back on my predictable and not very imaginative fail safe of a cushion!<br />
<br />
But this cushion is at least very individual to her and I think she'll like it.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzKrNEFNk0OOwD4IVZyGJofkjS8GZZ_6pvmEhLJEblDsRfURUjK7dsXTxM755fpIR0HajvWzVURrmBlQhTRNSvs-2wNYYIV7YEvC-jzSKmkdA3vP6JEin33dmVith9YTZifO5HiGZZTd7/s1600/Picture+2289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzKrNEFNk0OOwD4IVZyGJofkjS8GZZ_6pvmEhLJEblDsRfURUjK7dsXTxM755fpIR0HajvWzVURrmBlQhTRNSvs-2wNYYIV7YEvC-jzSKmkdA3vP6JEin33dmVith9YTZifO5HiGZZTd7/s640/Picture+2289.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Ask Maria what she wants to be when she grows up and she is very clear. She wants to be a Ninja. It will be interesting to see at what age, if any, she decides that this might not be the most worthwhile pursuit. But at nearly 7, that's her ambition. And I do prefer it to something along the lines of: 'I want to be a Princess', even though I'm really not sure where her Ninja genes come from, perhaps it's just something to do with being the youngest of 4 children, and also being quite petite for her age.<br />
<br />
So anyway, the cushion has a Ninja bandana - made from scraps left over from her quilt last year. Maybe Maria can be the first 'Patchwork Ninja', I think that has a good ring to it!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwPP5uNJE_mWmxpHpovVlpByJC_OnkhjaqVL6XpoBX85fSOf4yalc5B_oxRga7YwRGnLZy-UVa39iDgTPbjibpc1KY_SLPzxzXB1Dkla5Nz9giQlGgaBs9u5xvMz2PmBpIUdOjrycBz6y/s1600/Picture+2292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwPP5uNJE_mWmxpHpovVlpByJC_OnkhjaqVL6XpoBX85fSOf4yalc5B_oxRga7YwRGnLZy-UVa39iDgTPbjibpc1KY_SLPzxzXB1Dkla5Nz9giQlGgaBs9u5xvMz2PmBpIUdOjrycBz6y/s640/Picture+2292.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The eyes were cut out from the bandana - so basically reverse applique style.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dPKNWO5oOrqygVN3Nu263Uk-uvqN6JidbAvwo9XlQpKbvnF5LYaOztRxYjjTv93SWmh4HmFxE94KcmT0VfSi7PWxW-LoZ64YCcmFlzC46wxoBfo6LZz5dT-W4-pf1_WVQSgVMOfuXxQX/s1600/Picture+2294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dPKNWO5oOrqygVN3Nu263Uk-uvqN6JidbAvwo9XlQpKbvnF5LYaOztRxYjjTv93SWmh4HmFxE94KcmT0VfSi7PWxW-LoZ64YCcmFlzC46wxoBfo6LZz5dT-W4-pf1_WVQSgVMOfuXxQX/s640/Picture+2294.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And the bandana continues round to the back where it ties.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sDSuOGv0X3Z4KXyX_uZUhcS9HvS-awnDTCjDrTQNY7AndJ0b8FhAKCZ4dzT63LQuaNCbmwCJ8Xe1T0FpfxG9lE19D7t6myRpKmFMR0itpxSUKCk84PBEoqe0ZB6J1NIPlFFaPr66LmCa/s1600/Picture+2296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sDSuOGv0X3Z4KXyX_uZUhcS9HvS-awnDTCjDrTQNY7AndJ0b8FhAKCZ4dzT63LQuaNCbmwCJ8Xe1T0FpfxG9lE19D7t6myRpKmFMR0itpxSUKCk84PBEoqe0ZB6J1NIPlFFaPr66LmCa/s640/Picture+2296.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnATstS7czNvrs_CuNcCdoMcyw7R-L8q0PhfoZT5MKRx3Qhmjwi_ByAW63W6TWtus5qeBY2Iqx0tusYNEnZc-oHLuxVRlupeEhyBX0S2c6fLPg2m2cEi6wzDFTdj0Lw8wQbrm6ZgdaY6Jq/s1600/Picture+2299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnATstS7czNvrs_CuNcCdoMcyw7R-L8q0PhfoZT5MKRx3Qhmjwi_ByAW63W6TWtus5qeBY2Iqx0tusYNEnZc-oHLuxVRlupeEhyBX0S2c6fLPg2m2cEi6wzDFTdj0Lw8wQbrm6ZgdaY6Jq/s640/Picture+2299.jpg" width="440" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rLpP4roScgtuupn4QBxYsrxg7D1FpnMNu4Pkt1y-mG7psgpk9GW5f9R5ezwdI1vpx8K_XCVSs4AEWkn1WL_cv3x-rT2kEGUHEy-lOXVxzOYfCmyMQJ9-0f-ayMdBkARx9L6Rzq06jKui/s1600/Picture+2300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rLpP4roScgtuupn4QBxYsrxg7D1FpnMNu4Pkt1y-mG7psgpk9GW5f9R5ezwdI1vpx8K_XCVSs4AEWkn1WL_cv3x-rT2kEGUHEy-lOXVxzOYfCmyMQJ9-0f-ayMdBkARx9L6Rzq06jKui/s640/Picture+2300.jpg" width="518" /></a></div>
<br />
If you're a regular reader you might know by now that I have a bit of a soft spot for quotes. And this quote (from A Midsummer Night's Dream) was a very obvious one - to fit well with the Ninja theme but also to fit well with my little Maria. It's one which springs very readily to mind, to all our minds, when thinking of Maria. She is thoughtful, affectionate, kind, generous, incredibly friendly, funny and cute, but right up there with all of those and more...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXvpqH7ro6KiH97gEPIqwxI5Y4-SbIa8oF-XTBAzAJ9MjqZxVB-MUwoSgM-5SQO3ZQDwmExEccx93tPkoLcCkmsxx-HbqHF-KTFA5pLKwGcz9SlTAdEl16iHv__GNcivMNaUsvVAL31qe/s1600/Picture+2304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXvpqH7ro6KiH97gEPIqwxI5Y4-SbIa8oF-XTBAzAJ9MjqZxVB-MUwoSgM-5SQO3ZQDwmExEccx93tPkoLcCkmsxx-HbqHF-KTFA5pLKwGcz9SlTAdEl16iHv__GNcivMNaUsvVAL31qe/s640/Picture+2304.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Linking up with <a href="http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/sunnys-quilt.html" target="_blank">Crazy Mom Quilts</a> again and hope you all have a wonderful weekend.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sally</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
P.S. Talking of Shakespeare, I've heard lots of interesting bits and pieces on the radio recently, all to do with his 400 year centenary. I especially love hearing things about his use of language, about all the quotes and words he created which are now part of our everyday speech. But another little treat from the 400 year celebrations was this short video clip...<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kEs8rK5Cqt8" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-33090829788792538592016-06-02T16:23:00.001-07:002016-06-02T16:24:02.504-07:00Take 5Take 5s always tend to be my way of catching up, covering the smaller things going on or the things that don't necessarily fall into a strict craft/sewing/quilting remit; but I haven't done one for ages, and to be honest it feels like I could do a 'Take 20' now! Sadly though my computer is far too slow to try and load up photos for 20 different things so it's going to have to just be a slightly random Take 5.<br />
<br />
1) We're enjoying a beautiful, sunny half term holiday at the moment but this first catch up goes all the way back to our last school holiday around Easter. I took the girls off to a lovely, local pottery place, <a href="http://www.tarkapottery.co.uk/" target="_blank">Tarka Pottery</a>, as a very late birthday treat for Venetia. She was really keen to try her hand on a potter's wheel and they do a wonderful <a href="http://www.tarkapottery.co.uk/index.php/potter-s-wheel-experience" target="_blank">Potter's Wheel Experience</a> there to create your own bowl. The girls both absolutely loved it, and if anyone local is looking for an idea for a present or birthday treat I'd definitely recommend it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJ1gMSRn6KWOofrwavULVYZsKUeklN2FvCZ06pecDawHPIAfGJ3PyF52oXnBRnwn14NeC4KPgCnaz-fBbeUdJSmqJ5xwoqdc44RilFrfe8x-YsSCLKjkIYEfniGD8MlZPTV0ItgfN3rHi/s1600/Picture+294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJ1gMSRn6KWOofrwavULVYZsKUeklN2FvCZ06pecDawHPIAfGJ3PyF52oXnBRnwn14NeC4KPgCnaz-fBbeUdJSmqJ5xwoqdc44RilFrfe8x-YsSCLKjkIYEfniGD8MlZPTV0ItgfN3rHi/s640/Picture+294.jpg" width="326" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FKv1Dom8gwUsIBQhOFyz8swoiSUrKEDxBe7ZIJTE328ZOBuDOTsKh0BqeZCs9RmKQf3SXoO42QaST0JO3vYSpCDVndFInN4zhmLFBXmQrzTBSulpeSd9uTaCB9excA1i9d5iXjoF0qAz/s1600/Picture+299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FKv1Dom8gwUsIBQhOFyz8swoiSUrKEDxBe7ZIJTE328ZOBuDOTsKh0BqeZCs9RmKQf3SXoO42QaST0JO3vYSpCDVndFInN4zhmLFBXmQrzTBSulpeSd9uTaCB9excA1i9d5iXjoF0qAz/s640/Picture+299.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGIAfbzb9hoAMZW5Nwc3zq0Z7RNu3FAb-STfekX_KoFtPAzJvjavyqpj4qcYKmPxcyI4IGz82I76EQh7OG4gGeviKBpMpNobNAPNbDloV9gAeWIDlNcbiI6PHgA4qpfxUkN4gF3VkaSY_/s1600/Picture+300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGIAfbzb9hoAMZW5Nwc3zq0Z7RNu3FAb-STfekX_KoFtPAzJvjavyqpj4qcYKmPxcyI4IGz82I76EQh7OG4gGeviKBpMpNobNAPNbDloV9gAeWIDlNcbiI6PHgA4qpfxUkN4gF3VkaSY_/s640/Picture+300.jpg" width="330" /></a></div>
<br />
They got to decorate and paint their bowls too...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKq6Uqiv3jYHU5HCxZMfBYoYzXMX9lcJHcK3puqYYM3QU9jQjjCqtadPffF5YyHs_ACkkh-MHwhVMqnMeLUayorQbCwBsM8vNE5q0aXIiN91xGpcSZaDRStMVPMdxocmUwttSJbTF6J42/s1600/Picture+313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZKq6Uqiv3jYHU5HCxZMfBYoYzXMX9lcJHcK3puqYYM3QU9jQjjCqtadPffF5YyHs_ACkkh-MHwhVMqnMeLUayorQbCwBsM8vNE5q0aXIiN91xGpcSZaDRStMVPMdxocmUwttSJbTF6J42/s640/Picture+313.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCAx0q_vEaFxR8kOwmAh5dDFk2dga5QYS952vWTpW9py-C45mfz3PwitY3ab_wcOkLktdavxbYvPdj3Ed0wKVM8wfcSvUnGBBm-f449t0XTFgH7Rei4guc3t9xObNLUs7qQ5ce4auzy0r/s1600/Picture+317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCAx0q_vEaFxR8kOwmAh5dDFk2dga5QYS952vWTpW9py-C45mfz3PwitY3ab_wcOkLktdavxbYvPdj3Ed0wKVM8wfcSvUnGBBm-f449t0XTFgH7Rei4guc3t9xObNLUs7qQ5ce4auzy0r/s640/Picture+317.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
<br />
And then a couple of weeks ago, after lots of nagging, I finally got round to collecting the finished and now fired bowls...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2pEbWw9QLX83PbyK9GYv-TSP1qX1uwCs6DlclYLLNjhZDz436x4ejJxR0rvlqsfTWkb1SauV8s9fkFYPMKDCnpfOcHvcKbi1H2gaYVjbsNpSutwPd9ns47BNOsFuDWxdKbZvchKemm6s/s1600/Picture+2235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2pEbWw9QLX83PbyK9GYv-TSP1qX1uwCs6DlclYLLNjhZDz436x4ejJxR0rvlqsfTWkb1SauV8s9fkFYPMKDCnpfOcHvcKbi1H2gaYVjbsNpSutwPd9ns47BNOsFuDWxdKbZvchKemm6s/s640/Picture+2235.jpg" width="362" /></a></div>
<br />
They were very happy with them!<br />
<br />
2) My incredibly organised advance Christmas present sewing has stalled a little over this past month, but <a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/fabric-origami-butterfly-hair.html" target="_blank">the idea for a gift of hair accessories</a> turned into a useful birthday present idea for a young friend.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoWCAimWhpdN67nBX4orKEmVBe9rdD6HAI_y5HdkhyphenhyphenZ1fkAFE_971qqgWVgfyxM3ErEnWu0ZebyFHBgQJ7K2HZtOLKdQ7zH4uGZiKdOqw6_BvQZq4SvUmgZp2XWh6NkQ7egNKoYCkmBo9/s1600/Picture+1332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoWCAimWhpdN67nBX4orKEmVBe9rdD6HAI_y5HdkhyphenhyphenZ1fkAFE_971qqgWVgfyxM3ErEnWu0ZebyFHBgQJ7K2HZtOLKdQ7zH4uGZiKdOqw6_BvQZq4SvUmgZp2XWh6NkQ7egNKoYCkmBo9/s640/Picture+1332.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
A mixture of hair bands and clips, with a pretty draw string bag in which to keep them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7wln_ASBgrjmXFsp1yKMoO0mILeu0OkA-TcUAUPjmRqSmZmBLAN7KdePzeHJHP_4TMKdRv0h6DhYjBtIgiGYSe_0LOB_88E6zQPwYwvxfT69ubjDnmIZEIQUtei3_KdE1edjQg7ra9wR/s1600/Picture+1334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7wln_ASBgrjmXFsp1yKMoO0mILeu0OkA-TcUAUPjmRqSmZmBLAN7KdePzeHJHP_4TMKdRv0h6DhYjBtIgiGYSe_0LOB_88E6zQPwYwvxfT69ubjDnmIZEIQUtei3_KdE1edjQg7ra9wR/s640/Picture+1334.jpg" width="534" /></a></div>
<br />
I think the addition of a storage bag really makes a gift that extra bit special.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
3) You saw Venetia's <a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/ballet-teacher-gifts.html" target="_blank">first finished crocheted blanket</a> the other day, but she has lots of other crochet projects on the go...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WMplLhmws6KnDO7f1DK9uy4kerTIU_nRwFHkEYlA2921SDbtVCmmqtfoJTcLatFzJjtV2tRe5W8mmTlNSI61cFH39VmjJ3xSUEM2NvrWnR-war19Ho-Vpo-Hvi7svk5l0vJAtf0ZJlmL/s1600/Picture+2263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WMplLhmws6KnDO7f1DK9uy4kerTIU_nRwFHkEYlA2921SDbtVCmmqtfoJTcLatFzJjtV2tRe5W8mmTlNSI61cFH39VmjJ3xSUEM2NvrWnR-war19Ho-Vpo-Hvi7svk5l0vJAtf0ZJlmL/s640/Picture+2263.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
And you might remember that I was trying, <a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/crochet-lessons-in-perserverance.html" target="_blank">a while back</a>, and have tried several times in the past, to learn to crochet myself. Something which wasn't coming naturally to me, which I was finding very frustrating, something which I'd given up on several times in the past and something which I was only persevering with because the tables were turned on me and I had Venetia encouraging me and reminding me that it took practice and patience. It was kind of impossible to stop trying without losing far too much credibility in my more normal role of being the wise, patient, experienced grown up (!) - even though I quite wanted to snap my hook in two, hurl it across the room and shriek 'I just can't do it' at times! So, I have practised and tried, and have kept on trying again and again, with Venetia smiling kindly at me after each attempt and sometimes managing to come up with some tiny sign of progress with which to encourage me.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Despite all my practice, up until this week, I didn't have a lot to show for it. In fact here's the sum total of hours of work!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIplGmrub-CK_BmvN-iAjCWhVrwkk3ZIJjiwGzEWLbc9o-OrwAcifkvMrPD362OhXMbFVa6ZyMhxKH74MvpIOX1vfwP7IIuIeHu6pdoSsLnKGWSZfL8SJlu8AP3XN_xHjdQGeuIg_XWTi/s1600/Picture+2267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIplGmrub-CK_BmvN-iAjCWhVrwkk3ZIJjiwGzEWLbc9o-OrwAcifkvMrPD362OhXMbFVa6ZyMhxKH74MvpIOX1vfwP7IIuIeHu6pdoSsLnKGWSZfL8SJlu8AP3XN_xHjdQGeuIg_XWTi/s640/Picture+2267.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Not quite as pathetic as it looks. I did start countless 'chains' for several weeks and then just undo them and start again and again and again before feeling like I was getting anywhere with it. When I got to this version it was starting to feel slightly more natural, reasonably even and extremely boring! But I was still painfully slow with it and not very good at creating the same number of stitches in each of my rows, so this teeny strip has a bit of a 'frill' feel to it rather than lying smooth and flat. Basically I was still feeling like a complete failure at crochet, but Venetia decided that I was ready to progress on to something else. And yesterday she taught me how to crochet a granny square - which is in fact the thing I've always wanted to be able to crochet. And just look at what I managed to do, all by myself!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHx9jKDUPKXw2ZngQrRFzxMjxkk9FU37mH_P7K9ujkSOIHd_haecPinTNuy8on1iEzHFPQA9UbhgbotH7Eb_H8BVWMlhrXmY9RecWFyVAhAbyLs-Ne9FcI3yPIeltpYBsn-433t45GnKS/s1600/Picture+2287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHx9jKDUPKXw2ZngQrRFzxMjxkk9FU37mH_P7K9ujkSOIHd_haecPinTNuy8on1iEzHFPQA9UbhgbotH7Eb_H8BVWMlhrXmY9RecWFyVAhAbyLs-Ne9FcI3yPIeltpYBsn-433t45GnKS/s640/Picture+2287.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
My very first crocheted granny square! It's not perfect, but it does properly look like one and I actually felt like this was a huge crocheting break through for me. I think lots of credit is due to the patient and clear instruction from Venetia! But now I'm really excited to make more and actually be able to create something practical, and hopefully pretty, with this completely new skill. And after finishing this one, Venetia gave me a big hug and said: 'I'm very proud of you Mummy'! Our role reversal is complete!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
4) So many photos I could include to catch up on happy times over the past couple of months, mostly involving the sea or rivers, we're well into wild swimming season for both round here. But after struggling to decide which photos of which children to include I decided that was impossible and have gone with photos of seals instead.</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-ds1CTxqDFn0cCjqkP2KWQ61C8sA96IEU9P6HKb6jZYasGiqqhkG61_GzqWZtA7zpsMz1ThNVAvhKKWadS2ktCAHvqEm7gu1xzU01UKmlecp4VR79jbXjDot2jUk9goxsETkXAfOpFvD/s1600/Picture+1964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-ds1CTxqDFn0cCjqkP2KWQ61C8sA96IEU9P6HKb6jZYasGiqqhkG61_GzqWZtA7zpsMz1ThNVAvhKKWadS2ktCAHvqEm7gu1xzU01UKmlecp4VR79jbXjDot2jUk9goxsETkXAfOpFvD/s640/Picture+1964.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We were lucky enough to get to see two rescued seals being released back into the sea last week.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0siHuomkyDtJlNWCz_PO-awllje8ecKGA8HRY8NC7C3hEtPHvezoPqL2SrNTsD5Ub8q46-csNZ9i8QTHdsHsuoaNTEUr7P7TsO0nrqyOdKtqYBbbo_xON7Ry38h1BBaoQcDlx5cHnDX1p/s1600/Picture+1966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0siHuomkyDtJlNWCz_PO-awllje8ecKGA8HRY8NC7C3hEtPHvezoPqL2SrNTsD5Ub8q46-csNZ9i8QTHdsHsuoaNTEUr7P7TsO0nrqyOdKtqYBbbo_xON7Ry38h1BBaoQcDlx5cHnDX1p/s640/Picture+1966.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
There is something incredibly special about seeing a wild creature heading back out into the wild.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxZJZdMCzMFU0AQ4eg4xNO6EfQDNY3uH9SAyIkOqFB7FqpoREcO7078vTDk_tzFFHRkFYSOUOrOyt56kX_8OFi8Gn-gnRznZpifNfR8u2UmcWnbn_F2Tf34PPDLklfQhh_NovhRDE-8Qp/s1600/Picture+1989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxZJZdMCzMFU0AQ4eg4xNO6EfQDNY3uH9SAyIkOqFB7FqpoREcO7078vTDk_tzFFHRkFYSOUOrOyt56kX_8OFi8Gn-gnRznZpifNfR8u2UmcWnbn_F2Tf34PPDLklfQhh_NovhRDE-8Qp/s640/Picture+1989.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And it felt amazing to be there to see it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJt-ULzMZ74U_k3Io12ro0nVYD927ly68NfD7Cux_AxyzahxgIFbQ47CxlyU9u4x5rJlNEk2ykEg0LiL5XQ7a3j_6mYeApykQoual4jhMqYO9W1hxUnbcoMwxUPuCug4GdKFt5yWE5ep4e/s1600/Picture+1990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJt-ULzMZ74U_k3Io12ro0nVYD927ly68NfD7Cux_AxyzahxgIFbQ47CxlyU9u4x5rJlNEk2ykEg0LiL5XQ7a3j_6mYeApykQoual4jhMqYO9W1hxUnbcoMwxUPuCug4GdKFt5yWE5ep4e/s640/Picture+1990.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
5) As well as getting behind with blogging in this space, I've been getting behind with reading other blogs these past few weeks. So I've been trying to have a big catch up on that too and it's felt like catching up with lots of friends. One particular post has really stuck in my head for the past couple of days, over at <a href="https://handmadebyamalia.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">'Handmade by Amalia'</a>. Amalia creates beautiful embroidered and crocheted pieces, but she also writes sweet, funny and very clever little poems to accompany her makes or her photos. And I just loved the poem in <a href="https://handmadebyamalia.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/a-time-for-every-season.html?showComment=1464683439508#c862383995490561803" target="_blank">this post</a>, it's about a very wise bird trying to decide on her favourite season. It's quite short so it won't take too long to read, and I think it's hard to read it without smiling and feeling happier by the end of it!<br />
<br />
Sally.Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-89376720996683342342016-05-29T13:41:00.001-07:002016-05-29T13:41:08.052-07:00Sun HatsOne of the lovely things about being able to sew is the way you can cobble together, often at very short notice, solutions to problems - like accessories for dress up days at school, last minute gifts, or ..... sun hats when the sunshine miraculously returns and all last year's hats seem to have mysteriously disappeared.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsZIdXEh9VKKpvahtbGT8jwdiyQlkWhrrorFUmOgGlNfQcpMpQNjnnczpJ-I-kg3wIqlf1sX_gaf-xZKSDrS2ZOIXpxBU2rHg5S7-DEFGS8mMsFkiichufVqHRi0Lf8zz4Mspol_Wy4hQ/s1600/Picture+1951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsZIdXEh9VKKpvahtbGT8jwdiyQlkWhrrorFUmOgGlNfQcpMpQNjnnczpJ-I-kg3wIqlf1sX_gaf-xZKSDrS2ZOIXpxBU2rHg5S7-DEFGS8mMsFkiichufVqHRi0Lf8zz4Mspol_Wy4hQ/s640/Picture+1951.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
There are lots of patterns/tutorials available out there for sun hats, from the ones I saw I think they all tend to be free patterns and they don't need a large amount of fabric, so they're basically a very cheap make. I used this <a href="http://oliverands.com/free-patterns/reversible-bucket-hat/" target="_blank">reversible bucket hat pattern</a> and it was straight forward and fairly quick to make.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxzpzftcVpYo64hcBUg6qJlSvdWc6KFOB6q5oRqLqi7Luii4JTS2SuGaA1S2jGlncPLd9ed9tqHAjZonEsXzTpDp39hNlJgS-gqZLN12-elWgEbWggldmjFKQyQ35m3hN0Baf7myXNm19/s1600/Picture+1947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxzpzftcVpYo64hcBUg6qJlSvdWc6KFOB6q5oRqLqi7Luii4JTS2SuGaA1S2jGlncPLd9ed9tqHAjZonEsXzTpDp39hNlJgS-gqZLN12-elWgEbWggldmjFKQyQ35m3hN0Baf7myXNm19/s640/Picture+1947.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
After making one for each of the girls I decided that I really needed one too. I had to enlarge the pattern for mine so if you're making a grown up one you might be better finding a different source for your pattern.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyLKK_HdHRmO4Y_ryt4Wxl642RWacKbBzcSS_pb9JNHUiXAxC73gJZUvCc2AFEff1SKegSyENnZK-a3yIQPQgALE5ahyjyx0Tq7y6IRBY5dnqkKTrtmPSA-yTaf3lJ8JcsLYLkC7hG4HK/s1600/Picture+1924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyLKK_HdHRmO4Y_ryt4Wxl642RWacKbBzcSS_pb9JNHUiXAxC73gJZUvCc2AFEff1SKegSyENnZK-a3yIQPQgALE5ahyjyx0Tq7y6IRBY5dnqkKTrtmPSA-yTaf3lJ8JcsLYLkC7hG4HK/s640/Picture+1924.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Maria's hat was made from part of a thrifted shirt and an old sheet, mine from a slightly strange, reversible, thrifted scarf, and Venetia chose some 'new' fabric which I've had sitting around for several years, with her contrasting fabric coming from an old napkin which just happened to be the perfect shade.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlQBmkL58mLUVMoVwHMlTUhZQ6XJB8yRjBMnRLO8gepsQgGWff3-FBf8f3aVQkVIp0oT1_aaocOUwovERpSywUO8VEreEvUAx9eBv0VMhtFGJeAYDJMnmSbsLI1yGn6IPz1ndJQzltQrW/s1600/Picture+1936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlQBmkL58mLUVMoVwHMlTUhZQ6XJB8yRjBMnRLO8gepsQgGWff3-FBf8f3aVQkVIp0oT1_aaocOUwovERpSywUO8VEreEvUAx9eBv0VMhtFGJeAYDJMnmSbsLI1yGn6IPz1ndJQzltQrW/s640/Picture+1936.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Maria and I both prefer our hats one particular way, but Venetia likes changing hers up with the reversible nature of it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5VeIjl2TsSIdNKwWuVqZSuEEJjYKpBwalDFB7jo1EVC5IEI8TJyJDI1Y2DnKLT9KuHVtuX8lUmbzUnRtfH5hWEVoNZu2o3J1VTy_tv-Ao7lQhYhHeBXuURRfgOn2xE6ZLxxDkTCEGBpJ/s1600/Picture+1941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5VeIjl2TsSIdNKwWuVqZSuEEJjYKpBwalDFB7jo1EVC5IEI8TJyJDI1Y2DnKLT9KuHVtuX8lUmbzUnRtfH5hWEVoNZu2o3J1VTy_tv-Ao7lQhYhHeBXuURRfgOn2xE6ZLxxDkTCEGBpJ/s640/Picture+1941.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I can see myself making a few more of these before Summer hits properly, Venetia in particular will want to be able to colour coordinate with her outfit, and we all have a tendency to mislay such things, so basically there's no such thing as too many sun hats around here!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJWvAVx754cgoIXBDuUtov_DDm6Z7zwq41W94EbnH3srV7WyzfSv_Afd2V4TDVdVc_Mwr33eUafIU2d8Mp3phMelaLQ8qh_3dtUTDAebG9p1554gxxe8eWtS6vY-tpDvKJa2_NvfvHBmb/s1600/Picture+1962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJWvAVx754cgoIXBDuUtov_DDm6Z7zwq41W94EbnH3srV7WyzfSv_Afd2V4TDVdVc_Mwr33eUafIU2d8Mp3phMelaLQ8qh_3dtUTDAebG9p1554gxxe8eWtS6vY-tpDvKJa2_NvfvHBmb/s640/Picture+1962.jpg" width="578" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Especially if you wear three at once!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sally.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-11281719925376981822016-05-23T17:14:00.001-07:002016-05-23T17:14:03.749-07:00Ballet Teacher GiftsI'm under pressure from one of my friends - who apparently has nothing good to read on the toilet anymore -to get back to writing here! So this is for you, I'm staying up late to try and make it happen!<br />
<br />
For the past 6 years we've been going to a wonderful, local ballet class. First with Venetia and then Maria too (sadly I could never persuade the boys to give it a go!). The 2 teachers there were lovely; relaxed, warm and very inclusive. They were all about the children enjoying their dance and being creative, but they still made lots of progress. Both my girls were involved in several amazing shows, these were experiences I'm sure they'll always remember and it did lots for their confidence. But sadly this weekend saw the final performance from our ballet school. One teacher is retiring and moving away to be closer to her family, and the other is soon to have a baby .<br />
<br />
Of course we had to make presents. Venetia has been crocheting away for the past couple of months now here and there, and the big day looming gave her the final push to finish a baby blanket.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUVRO4S74vQQ7t1AXVR4CiUdHY79EsrxW0xZMjLknC1vZcsLV0EAnHITq2WsUwAgUc_zn9tIK9GUQvxX7dH7EVKDnWvAOM_TrSXefemTBvZVh0q2a-lapzXVGzDmsN2wxaUripsd1s7AM/s1600/Picture+1867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUVRO4S74vQQ7t1AXVR4CiUdHY79EsrxW0xZMjLknC1vZcsLV0EAnHITq2WsUwAgUc_zn9tIK9GUQvxX7dH7EVKDnWvAOM_TrSXefemTBvZVh0q2a-lapzXVGzDmsN2wxaUripsd1s7AM/s640/Picture+1867.jpg" width="568" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98HckXZ2b-_e-DaDISrDe7oLruWJdQG8uWUXZdLIqi0RB7hkD-FHQEH0mtM-obGSVHIVP32bS03PvjZX2SMFsrx0A_iCRZvidS6klQ9cAlh62wWIwelTu_PyYXVJx7KcuhFtnQtx0WPBp/s1600/Picture+1886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98HckXZ2b-_e-DaDISrDe7oLruWJdQG8uWUXZdLIqi0RB7hkD-FHQEH0mtM-obGSVHIVP32bS03PvjZX2SMFsrx0A_iCRZvidS6klQ9cAlh62wWIwelTu_PyYXVJx7KcuhFtnQtx0WPBp/s640/Picture+1886.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
<br />
It did look amazing to me, still struggling to make any progress at all with crocheting, and Venetia was very proud of it.<br />
<br />
For our other wonderful teacher, I made a cushion with a dancer machine embroidered/appliqued on to it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbK1PIzfWAYPa0c7avR5OA5Y3U26qJouxbG9F61zbltN6L81WeLvIbna3LtB8XCT1D0Aw6UEZHcUd1xwMMMqCHbeCur4m9nbv83MydGllTzYZ71K-gWhyphenhyphen6fV_rCmJrvj2sicGYCxmhVBLG/s1600/Picture+1874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbK1PIzfWAYPa0c7avR5OA5Y3U26qJouxbG9F61zbltN6L81WeLvIbna3LtB8XCT1D0Aw6UEZHcUd1xwMMMqCHbeCur4m9nbv83MydGllTzYZ71K-gWhyphenhyphen6fV_rCmJrvj2sicGYCxmhVBLG/s640/Picture+1874.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
<br />
Her skirt was made from tiny Liberty scraps patchworked together.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGQ_BNtGkYuxBCFJydkEpcn65yKhXueVSI-IHo_IXqA0fXKysZApbU3KeyBPCsdT_kTgO-cLOF-sq6UFUx4t0MInnnoPEMcMYjBK9lnKlW-psWJrEnTC5MJQbnW_EdwGPKQ1Obp8jjpKl/s1600/Picture+1871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGQ_BNtGkYuxBCFJydkEpcn65yKhXueVSI-IHo_IXqA0fXKysZApbU3KeyBPCsdT_kTgO-cLOF-sq6UFUx4t0MInnnoPEMcMYjBK9lnKlW-psWJrEnTC5MJQbnW_EdwGPKQ1Obp8jjpKl/s640/Picture+1871.jpg" width="540" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
The final show was very special, but also emotional. After only 6 years I felt we were part of the family, but there were girls who have been dancing there for 15 years, Mums who started ballet there years ago and now have little ones of their own dancing there. We are very grateful that we had 6 years, and that they gave both Venetia and Maria a love of dance, but we're sad it's over. I think I will remember this last performance, more than any other, not just because of the occasion, but also because I really loved the performance in isolation. Particularly the last section in which they danced to excerpts of quite a contemporary ballet - 'Still Life at the Penguin Cafe'. It's not one I'd ever heard of before, but I've come to love the music after listening to it during weeks of rehearsals! And the inspiration behind the ballet was to highlight the plight of endangered species on our planet, and in particular our lack of action as humans to prevent extinctions. Sadly a theme just as relevant to our world now as 25 or so years ago when it was first created. Seeing it performed by our children felt very powerful. If you're interested you can see a clip from the ballet (not our version from the weekend!) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbPYWc6PmRQ" target="_blank">here</a> on You Tube.<br />
<br />
And I have got a few more bits and pieces to catch up on here, so I will try to get back to a more regular pattern round here, or at least a brief flurry of posts!<br />
<br />
Sally.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-31243443693802700822016-04-30T13:44:00.001-07:002016-04-30T13:44:03.335-07:00Bags, bags, bags!I'm still in catch up mode round here, it's really not sewing and blogging season, it's gardening season! But just time to squeeze a quick post in....<br />
<br />
After finishing my <a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/cathedral-windows-tote-bag.html" target="_blank">Cathedral Windows Tote Bag</a>, I was in the mood for more bags, and decided they'd also make good Christmas presents - yes, it's <a href="http://celticthistlestitches.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/tapestry-brooch-tutorial-ho-ho-ho-and.html" target="_blank">Ho, ho, ho</a> time of the month again, the perfect way to get yourself organised for Christmas well in advance!<br />
<br />
So here are another three:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOshbGWZxDWDwRGHTvk5_PtjqspPnV85LQDIUNMFcZAUrQnTd3NcRoF_GhLwcHtbLbTqeyNmVrgEZF8loc565JcsRRVsAuKwRB1N_0mahf-fTMLFZyH9WLJTFW7o2OqwCYH3EdPVJVOq8/s1600/Picture+1405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOshbGWZxDWDwRGHTvk5_PtjqspPnV85LQDIUNMFcZAUrQnTd3NcRoF_GhLwcHtbLbTqeyNmVrgEZF8loc565JcsRRVsAuKwRB1N_0mahf-fTMLFZyH9WLJTFW7o2OqwCYH3EdPVJVOq8/s640/Picture+1405.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
First up, this one was a thrifted embroidered cushion cover originally. But it was one of those covers which is just slip stitched closed on one side, so if you want to wash it you have to unpick it then sew it up again when it's clean. Those kind of cushions are never a good idea in my house, they basically would never get washed! But it was very easy to convert it into a quick, lined tote bag - in just the same kid of way as my <a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/cathedral-windows-tote-bag.html" target="_blank">Cathedral Windows tote.</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbkC-2vbx3zYSw0hyncAbkp0h8bH2d8XWTBwX9m3hrF65wj51ttPjQx_m6LlUjR9KFfTAsH2Hd9z2cQLNnnQ1DnrtGXVDiOxe1gRInB2X-g-FLDl3gHMgnIuNBulvYMhmlUzMmgpjQVhq/s1600/Picture+1392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbkC-2vbx3zYSw0hyncAbkp0h8bH2d8XWTBwX9m3hrF65wj51ttPjQx_m6LlUjR9KFfTAsH2Hd9z2cQLNnnQ1DnrtGXVDiOxe1gRInB2X-g-FLDl3gHMgnIuNBulvYMhmlUzMmgpjQVhq/s640/Picture+1392.jpg" width="502" /></a></div>
<br />
Then a <a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/rainbow-snail-cushion.html" target="_blank">patchwork snail</a> bag in just the same way, it had been way too long since I'd made any snails...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUE2ibBH9Cnf7EnHAsTY_1eWNOERW41gGCcsGFW5HcHKO_BRQKQMDZAPX15uGm0JtluuktznGj3iA7AUrFwDm_sZJB-VHy6tNt6ELOCAFqt6hrNZsMnXjFNZ-Ccf7g5of_73al8XKz3nPa/s1600/Picture+1395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUE2ibBH9Cnf7EnHAsTY_1eWNOERW41gGCcsGFW5HcHKO_BRQKQMDZAPX15uGm0JtluuktznGj3iA7AUrFwDm_sZJB-VHy6tNt6ELOCAFqt6hrNZsMnXjFNZ-Ccf7g5of_73al8XKz3nPa/s640/Picture+1395.jpg" width="492" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More earthy colours this time rather than my regular rainbow snails</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ztvf4IZGzBbzD9gGQ2LYQEh98Y9iIYQ1aQ5tYKdMU4fsOxpJ2tFXt4eOpZKTm9w3lKmN7wc7jfaaOqmUkG4IezuM_49ATILO2ZIgfI6gGrB9oNEDsl-0kSgJXBjzz9a_Koh2OsE6_9Ru/s1600/Picture+1398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ztvf4IZGzBbzD9gGQ2LYQEh98Y9iIYQ1aQ5tYKdMU4fsOxpJ2tFXt4eOpZKTm9w3lKmN7wc7jfaaOqmUkG4IezuM_49ATILO2ZIgfI6gGrB9oNEDsl-0kSgJXBjzz9a_Koh2OsE6_9Ru/s640/Picture+1398.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And lastly this bright, cheery one.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnZmYwe2pKLGKY9zHOJHHL0g48-kTHymX0Dd5JpqDJR6XyegNXCTMwDk4ygkIboTmSnLHgYXjboMvT68iy1iU1evSWsrNqB46T91gIlIO1bhgT1hCXBK-e9umk9U8wgLlYhfvMqFdUgKX/s1600/Picture+1403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnZmYwe2pKLGKY9zHOJHHL0g48-kTHymX0Dd5JpqDJR6XyegNXCTMwDk4ygkIboTmSnLHgYXjboMvT68iy1iU1evSWsrNqB46T91gIlIO1bhgT1hCXBK-e9umk9U8wgLlYhfvMqFdUgKX/s640/Picture+1403.jpg" width="430" /></a></div>
<br />
This one is looking slightly creased because it's actually a fold away one and it's spent the past few weeks folded up into a small bundle. I loosely followed instructions <a href="http://www.stitchfancy.com/2012/09/25/teacher-christmas-giftsa-fold-up-tote-tutorial/" target="_blank">here</a>, but the main part of my bag came from a table cloth which already had beautifully neat seams so my version was a little simpler, and I decided to box the corners on the bottom of mine too.<br />
<br />
Here it is all folded up, perfect to tuck away in a handbag.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-c-Bv4MlhWxN5bmYqvLSKvLcF5rqFKkvOLnprA4u3qrhx4R2-2GIImK_aGmHFW01I5bCAn5maP2u6UJULp4ISTZHFX-ZM1sUJW5jASSo8wGybsLzIJvzxXcd6Clg8THXmx5HcMsSovzP/s1600/Picture+1400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-c-Bv4MlhWxN5bmYqvLSKvLcF5rqFKkvOLnprA4u3qrhx4R2-2GIImK_aGmHFW01I5bCAn5maP2u6UJULp4ISTZHFX-ZM1sUJW5jASSo8wGybsLzIJvzxXcd6Clg8THXmx5HcMsSovzP/s640/Picture+1400.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Linking up with <a href="http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/pretty-patchwork-projects.html" target="_blank">Crazy Mom Quilts</a> and <a href="http://celticthistlestitches.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/tapestry-brooch-tutorial-ho-ho-ho-and.html" target="_blank">Celtic Thistle Stitches - for Ho, Ho, Ho</a>. Happy Weekend to you all, extra happy in the UK since it's a longer, Bank Holiday Weekend, hurray!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sally.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-31972869845967184032016-04-22T13:06:00.001-07:002016-04-22T13:06:56.881-07:00Spring Flower Patchwork CushionThis is actually last week's finish, but I've just had too much going on - good and bad! - to get round to posting!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECuBy6p_TcBQGzt6eefRQFGVfgoULILFwU9MDdJu6MeqT4shDMf4NZ_L-7MvJaOK15ASm6yzCK2lox5UQK6FcQCyXHULF4HpMb_3BM5kWvWUTslK-wE2NqjUcw37fjGNaWfLsAcxv4NVS/s1600/Picture+1363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECuBy6p_TcBQGzt6eefRQFGVfgoULILFwU9MDdJu6MeqT4shDMf4NZ_L-7MvJaOK15ASm6yzCK2lox5UQK6FcQCyXHULF4HpMb_3BM5kWvWUTslK-wE2NqjUcw37fjGNaWfLsAcxv4NVS/s640/Picture+1363.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
You last saw this project as a scattering of hand sewn wool squares in progress early in the New Year <a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/take-5.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Yk0_XMTA3iHIiath5mKvPfcohHkbXnr44RzVyc0F-0Oy4hxEvfwUhNrq0fgd4ItZyhJ5-aXaBslUIKv199evSm16E3SDre3Yb7Bnyr1-G6Ti1Umqh37Y2WCRBeoCiICk2zRFvjJtC6HU/s1600/Picture+053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Yk0_XMTA3iHIiath5mKvPfcohHkbXnr44RzVyc0F-0Oy4hxEvfwUhNrq0fgd4ItZyhJ5-aXaBslUIKv199evSm16E3SDre3Yb7Bnyr1-G6Ti1Umqh37Y2WCRBeoCiICk2zRFvjJtC6HU/s640/Picture+053.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They look so much more vibrant now in bright Spring sunshine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But these squares really grew from a comment by Yvonne - <a href="http://quiltingjetgirl.com/" target="_blank">Quilting Jetgirl</a> - way back in the Autumn <a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/wool-patchwork-cushions.html" target="_blank">here</a>. My post had been a short one about inspiration for colour schemes for cushions. And Yvonne's suggestion for her colour scheme had been:<br />
<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; line-height: 16.8px; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">'Lots of shades of green with tiny pops of bright orange, yellow, and purple for a field of spring flowers. :)'</span></i></span><br />
I really liked that idea and this is my take on it - thanks Yvonne, and hope it says 'field of Spring flowers' to you!<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And as a finish it's perfect timing since we are happily into Spring round here and have a good smattering of flowers about and definitely loads of green everywhere.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkGNQ1oYl9l1Bu3rVfWcTzVyWelVwweo2O4f9l1vuMqeb2QC1_nALh8X4kOPEFpS9vmkPqvsXqsXag-dIBu7EaYI4b_AutxAecGOHJMQlNFT5O2QqGBjhyphenhyphenx_FGjsIQL0AC4t5OA5kFixV/s1600/Picture+1372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkGNQ1oYl9l1Bu3rVfWcTzVyWelVwweo2O4f9l1vuMqeb2QC1_nALh8X4kOPEFpS9vmkPqvsXqsXag-dIBu7EaYI4b_AutxAecGOHJMQlNFT5O2QqGBjhyphenhyphenx_FGjsIQL0AC4t5OA5kFixV/s640/Picture+1372.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
As with the <a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/wool-squares-patchwork-scarf.html" target="_blank">scarf</a> I made along these lines, I simply machine sewed the squares directly on to a background fabric. I found an amazing remnant of corduroy in just the perfect shade of green in a charity shop a couple of weeks ago, which pushed me into finishing up this project.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWH7S6b1pPKH0LoJMptoiV-cQzer0eK_GhSINEEoPMXKFlONEk7x5GGP2feGF7NL3OqUPgyDlwX-3gK_iDo4DyJgvxaXF6s218KHjfdXHjJPOrZJABQqL0Rr9-ugjI6bTjHLadc-E1byfR/s1600/Picture+1378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWH7S6b1pPKH0LoJMptoiV-cQzer0eK_GhSINEEoPMXKFlONEk7x5GGP2feGF7NL3OqUPgyDlwX-3gK_iDo4DyJgvxaXF6s218KHjfdXHjJPOrZJABQqL0Rr9-ugjI6bTjHLadc-E1byfR/s640/Picture+1378.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And finishing it has now made me wonder about what three more cushions might look like - inspired by the other three seasons. So what would your four seasons cushions look like?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Linking up with <a href="http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/a-pretty-pile-of-pillows.html" target="_blank">Crazy Mom Quilts</a> again and hoping you all have a special weekend.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sally.</div>
</div>
Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-19327788264608978482016-04-10T14:52:00.000-07:002016-04-10T14:52:03.631-07:00Patchwork Feathers and the start of a new quiltThis week I have a teeny, tiny finish, and a teeny, tiny start.<br />
<br />
The start is the beginnings of a new quilt. This is a quilt that has been queued up to be made for well over a year now, and I've been struggling to come up with a plan which felt good. I think a lot of the problem is that the only thing I have to go on with this quilt is that it has to go with a particular wall of wallpaper, and unfortunately, don't tell anyone, but I really don't like the wallpaper. That's felt like quite a tricky hurdle to get over for me. I finally came up with something that 'interested' me a couple of weeks ago, and to be honest, I'm really not sure it's going to be a success, but I decided this week I just need to make a start and see how it goes.<br />
<br />
So 2 blocks done, and I'm still really not sure it's going to be a success! But I'll persevere a little longer.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwqz36EitfsalrTLTKIlPQ7oCckW0AxsKIl1689qsu2T3qDflnrDz746aahiyV6B97VnoIrcsTeoYjw00P3TSgbVR8_uF-18ILgYnaqLMdpL3n0HKOMn2t3P_6sH47Gn0QAmJm2ER6OQ-/s1600/Picture+1352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwqz36EitfsalrTLTKIlPQ7oCckW0AxsKIl1689qsu2T3qDflnrDz746aahiyV6B97VnoIrcsTeoYjw00P3TSgbVR8_uF-18ILgYnaqLMdpL3n0HKOMn2t3P_6sH47Gn0QAmJm2ER6OQ-/s640/Picture+1352.jpg" width="412" /></a></div>
<br />
Perhaps I might need to try and engineer a change of wallpaper instead though!<br />
<br />
Anyway, for a bit of cheering up, light relief, I made some patchwork feathers for my tiny finish. I have long fancied making some patchwork feathers, but I've never come up with a 'reason' to make them. Well, this week, just wanting to make some felt a good enough reason.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirY28bicSjxpNrM8ZceQnMJ244KjjLkVgMTF5FGKCLgJt0Ab2qhGbDuqTZ24zW5-c_9rpGhSadiFvnyCIKTzktvZqjodE1LRQNGJtKsDFr-I6BBc1OizXI5YnQvUPXqAOh1hKSITF51CP5/s1600/Picture+1342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirY28bicSjxpNrM8ZceQnMJ244KjjLkVgMTF5FGKCLgJt0Ab2qhGbDuqTZ24zW5-c_9rpGhSadiFvnyCIKTzktvZqjodE1LRQNGJtKsDFr-I6BBc1OizXI5YnQvUPXqAOh1hKSITF51CP5/s640/Picture+1342.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
And here is one which has already now found a purpose, predictably on a hair band!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKZS1aNYqo9Qn7Iy_8_04zn9_cc1Hyp72rCX0kc5Rga0lD59s2hnpj0WztyePhpQCDw-UT6pn1imK4rZ8QX1il7PXdXsg6Yg59JtvoC9YCNruFtjCgf3qIRzHwMOiDQ1YFWk8OmHIVd3F/s1600/Picture+1348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKZS1aNYqo9Qn7Iy_8_04zn9_cc1Hyp72rCX0kc5Rga0lD59s2hnpj0WztyePhpQCDw-UT6pn1imK4rZ8QX1il7PXdXsg6Yg59JtvoC9YCNruFtjCgf3qIRzHwMOiDQ1YFWk8OmHIVd3F/s640/Picture+1348.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The others may end up on hair bobbles or clips too, I haven't decided yet. But they were all fun to make.<br />
<br />
Sally<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-9447931679768270502016-04-01T17:51:00.001-07:002016-04-01T17:51:19.798-07:00Cathedral Windows Tote BagAfter my last experiment with <a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/cathedral-windows-cushion.html" target="_blank">Cathedral Windows patchwork</a>, which was a bit of a disaster from a colour perspective, I really wanted to give it another go with a more muted colour palette. And I sewed up a block in a very neutral off white with some blue and yellow prints pretty much straight away. I liked it, but didn't love it. And my centres were pretty good but not completely perfect. I really wanted to add buttons to it, but I had started it thinking it would become a cushion, and I'm not mad keen on buttons on cushions. So it's just been sitting there for the last couple of months while I dithered.<br />
<br />
This week I bit the bullet and added buttons. And happily, all of a sudden, I did love it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSibEMWUOpHDPM4p2SlSBDCxTMnOMSVgctdc_723nCKTZNUoeEg-HeRYhiR9PRWXoEXahtD91YK5CfawUz6j0JfotBcUzamadZFIlHAtinSs1BoRJkdNjXAlWTHG4ShrJ0rZtEpGrpGhG/s1600/Picture+1206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSibEMWUOpHDPM4p2SlSBDCxTMnOMSVgctdc_723nCKTZNUoeEg-HeRYhiR9PRWXoEXahtD91YK5CfawUz6j0JfotBcUzamadZFIlHAtinSs1BoRJkdNjXAlWTHG4ShrJ0rZtEpGrpGhG/s640/Picture+1206.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really should have taken some before buttons photos too, you'll just have to take my word for it that it looks much better with them!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
But then it was a matter of what to do with it now it was no longer going to be a cushion. After some thought I decided on a simple bag. A couple of oblongs of fabric folded over for the outer bag and the lining, and some extra fabric for handles.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt44uKxsnOTdDbcv92l6AzsnitCyo3oX9zg2Nx6oLaW5e358goTyu4OKSsYxKN1OsMj9KKJQv945jR2NOrj2V3Tik26ktz3DehBwulfWhFn_BA_x18LDeyKZ1nHVHLLkBRnbsNnR65EJBV/s1600/Picture+1208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt44uKxsnOTdDbcv92l6AzsnitCyo3oX9zg2Nx6oLaW5e358goTyu4OKSsYxKN1OsMj9KKJQv945jR2NOrj2V3Tik26ktz3DehBwulfWhFn_BA_x18LDeyKZ1nHVHLLkBRnbsNnR65EJBV/s640/Picture+1208.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The construction is very much along the same principles as the <a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/small-hanging-patchwork-fabric-basket.html" target="_blank">baskets</a> I've recently made. And I'm sure there are lots of tutorials out there already for bags of this kind (one <a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/how-to-make-a-simple-reversible-totebag/" target="_blank">here</a> that's very similar for instance), so I won't go through every step.<br />
<br />
But obviously the first step was to sew the patchwork block on to the front of my outer fabric. A cathedral window block is kind of all neat and complete in itself, the process creates a ready quilted piece with no raw edges. It seemed to me that this was crying out to be used as a large front pocket, rather than purely as a decorative panel. So I just sewed 3 sides down, leaving it open at the top.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn68hou8NlEcln4SNQ7_Y4wNdt9_Mjdu5I4oi2YG9MD-QNiz9a7zp-rGTI-Kmdo2f6AfsEL3bfb6DRxVDlibMX5xIab8RnKMiGOvrrIddkVuptxSIMpg11iAvFATg33e6fc5V2aJ2K8B9X/s1600/Picture+1209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn68hou8NlEcln4SNQ7_Y4wNdt9_Mjdu5I4oi2YG9MD-QNiz9a7zp-rGTI-Kmdo2f6AfsEL3bfb6DRxVDlibMX5xIab8RnKMiGOvrrIddkVuptxSIMpg11iAvFATg33e6fc5V2aJ2K8B9X/s640/Picture+1209.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Then I carried on with the normal bag construction. The patchwork pocket was a little heavier than the rest of the fabric so the pocket gaped open, but that was easily fixed with a popper.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eQlkK0UcIykkJBkaJqMdWPsyoga37S5kTHNO3VGNXUuEHTqIWQE70iGeyoo6cO5sKFn_hv5etw1Vn4_LzzELhfLGhcb1bbzteRMDwD6OSv2sqaOzTxveimMo61iA_WAekLL1CVyZ35nU/s1600/Picture+1286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eQlkK0UcIykkJBkaJqMdWPsyoga37S5kTHNO3VGNXUuEHTqIWQE70iGeyoo6cO5sKFn_hv5etw1Vn4_LzzELhfLGhcb1bbzteRMDwD6OSv2sqaOzTxveimMo61iA_WAekLL1CVyZ35nU/s640/Picture+1286.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And in a very short space of time I had me a bag.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqW64b2HT_panHXhGJHa661wCm4YrIfPxcSUJLWBD3bd0dhelz0PcoL774QNEw0cb4r7NzWPlcB-1Y_5oUwf1y4MxXvLwVCZ908f1LiQ_yFsJhH-H5EIWBxlaA2fhKuRuJEy8GEaPcxj1/s1600/Picture+1295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqW64b2HT_panHXhGJHa661wCm4YrIfPxcSUJLWBD3bd0dhelz0PcoL774QNEw0cb4r7NzWPlcB-1Y_5oUwf1y4MxXvLwVCZ908f1LiQ_yFsJhH-H5EIWBxlaA2fhKuRuJEy8GEaPcxj1/s640/Picture+1295.jpg" width="484" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It felt a tiny bit wrong to be using quite a time consuming piece of patchwork in a very basic bag, which most likely will be used for grocery shopping. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9bYTwaelAid8zGhaZChqJA6Nh_ZZHms1DyYcJ9DErBOZFpIWSvT5dl0e7HB7lk0aqQYyRYxVwUrU82ScJ7WGOPLvanVvJxpXSeR51TzM2vQdXfIF8rp9jMhs6eCDB7cC47s1r1yvtYEY/s1600/Picture+1297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9bYTwaelAid8zGhaZChqJA6Nh_ZZHms1DyYcJ9DErBOZFpIWSvT5dl0e7HB7lk0aqQYyRYxVwUrU82ScJ7WGOPLvanVvJxpXSeR51TzM2vQdXfIF8rp9jMhs6eCDB7cC47s1r1yvtYEY/s640/Picture+1297.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But then I reasoned why not have a more special bag to brighten up the chore of shopping? And I think this one will become a present, and spending time on homemade presents never feels wrong, so I'm not worrying about it any more!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXGrxLBd6qQ1-T36PVDWP-6QW5o1BvmrlM6a5Vx1z_FaoCFtLdW1jurzA8TIXjpbsO7bNUY6J7shpO4Zc_oG_QKt-7l7kVJj2awa0rSp7wHwUTN9pHJTXZwUEpug6gW2tDN46CqRx9afE/s1600/Picture+1304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXGrxLBd6qQ1-T36PVDWP-6QW5o1BvmrlM6a5Vx1z_FaoCFtLdW1jurzA8TIXjpbsO7bNUY6J7shpO4Zc_oG_QKt-7l7kVJj2awa0rSp7wHwUTN9pHJTXZwUEpug6gW2tDN46CqRx9afE/s640/Picture+1304.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Linking up with <a href="http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/scrapalicious-quilt-top.html" target="_blank">Finish it up Friday</a> again, and wishing you all a happy weekend,<br />
<br />
Sally.Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-87752226387896143762016-03-30T14:46:00.001-07:002016-03-30T14:46:37.374-07:00Crochet Lessons in PerserveranceI'm being taught a lesson in perserverance by Venetia at the moment. For a long time I've liked the idea of being able to crochet, I love brightly coloured crocheted blankets and accessories, I've even tried a couple of times to learn how to crochet, but I've never quite got to grips with it.<br />
<br />
A couple of weeks ago Venetia decided that she would like to learn how to crochet. She found a few tutorials on YouTube and sat in front of them working out how to do it with her hook and wool. After a couple of hours practising she came to me frustrated with her progress, her stitches still coming slowly and unevenly. I praised what she'd managed so far and told her that with almost any new skill lots of practice is required before the skill is even close to being mastered. And I gave her lots of positive encouragement to carry on practising, telling her I was sure she'd start seeing big improvements if she did keep trying. Off she went again and she kept at it, here and there over the next few days. And gradually she did find a rhythm with it, her stitches started to look really good and she became much more confident and speedy with it. Once she'd got the hang of her basic chain stitch, she branched out a bit. With every new variation she tried she struggled for a while initially, but she's kept going and is doing brilliantly with it.<br />
<br />
Here are her first completed attempts at Granny Squares:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFpeaLvRV4QUDgZyYX2sDysKk670WSp7WHh_ccWfQYptDy39iCN-Xa6lCcYyr-wVfcXvDAYKiF8G26QPcKH4PkUkFzQqJ11ZI2Ot95affaUfJ-vib6hZLBZDyjjmH5wLT6KRQ4pW47CPf/s1600/Picture+1235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFpeaLvRV4QUDgZyYX2sDysKk670WSp7WHh_ccWfQYptDy39iCN-Xa6lCcYyr-wVfcXvDAYKiF8G26QPcKH4PkUkFzQqJ11ZI2Ot95affaUfJ-vib6hZLBZDyjjmH5wLT6KRQ4pW47CPf/s640/Picture+1235.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And then she worked out how to change colour:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOG0jo3_x95s3H0sVYg-S8cvFkiu2blTZhdk-4rfcCdp6A-88ZZsJJyE1cZ7LWA-QTSPo9zicQUyv-ciJqWuuItx4Iy1GF15xE9JC38DW7giRqiwS89MlSLSXWITty9COAsqdee6ePoNu3/s1600/Picture+1237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOG0jo3_x95s3H0sVYg-S8cvFkiu2blTZhdk-4rfcCdp6A-88ZZsJJyE1cZ7LWA-QTSPo9zicQUyv-ciJqWuuItx4Iy1GF15xE9JC38DW7giRqiwS89MlSLSXWITty9COAsqdee6ePoNu3/s640/Picture+1237.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In one of her squares she used quite fluffy, thick wool (very technical term!) and ended up with a larger square which didn't match, so she's decided to keep going round on this particular one:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqE6OLGIXqEw4uAgdEc_6ISW3CRBl0Lrd-sklYh7Pkh8hFWpXK6dpU2WFw3dGT6KGebYmeeiMlE5fDjz-CWKZ3xXBpJ2i3RW2jGwt2pdabvhVNR9Zahwxi-ko7Rie4xE-SJuDEJ131jALP/s1600/Picture+1230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqE6OLGIXqEw4uAgdEc_6ISW3CRBl0Lrd-sklYh7Pkh8hFWpXK6dpU2WFw3dGT6KGebYmeeiMlE5fDjz-CWKZ3xXBpJ2i3RW2jGwt2pdabvhVNR9Zahwxi-ko7Rie4xE-SJuDEJ131jALP/s640/Picture+1230.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
She's really excited because two of her teachers (one at school and one at ballet) are pregnant, and she's thinking a crocheted baby blanket for each would be very doable. So her plan is to make one with lots of the small squares, and to keep building up her larger square for the other one until it's baby blanket size.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Her enthusiasm and success encouraged me to give it another try too. I've spent a good few hours over this last week hooking together a chain, then pulling it apart and trying again and again. I'm not even beyond getting passably even stitches in a single line, never mind building it up further. And my hands and fingers feel awkward and clumsy still in my efforts. It feels exactly like my previous attempts when I gave it up in frustration, deciding crochet obviously just wasn't my craft. And right now I would love to give it up again. But there's one difference this time around. This time around I have Venetia smiling kindly at me (as her hook flashes away seemingly effortlessly!), and telling me that it just takes a bit more practice, and that if I keep going I'll definitely get the hang of it! Grrrrrrrrr!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sally</div>
Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-86008936445836245512016-03-28T14:13:00.001-07:002016-03-28T14:13:05.574-07:00Vintage Yoyo Hair BandI recently bought a bag of silk and chiffon scraps in a Charity Shop. They were crying out to be used to create another hair band to add to the planned <a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/fabric-origami-butterfly-hair.html" target="_blank">Christmas present hamper of hair accessories</a>. I'm not sure whether the scraps are old or not, but they have that kind of look and feel to them, and to complement this I thought 'yoyos' with some vintage buttons would work well.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_VOquh5zSCEi_QQgTAVY8GoMK6kbRL7ginrVL-DxNxIbAyz6fYQxG3fdtYHh9N0SRVkw1q5G0JRxbQ3pO_tboPKznUkzyobegc5Xj9XUrSL3WqusjWpBbYr6sbLaT896yFfKGJayceiP/s1600/Picture+1163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_VOquh5zSCEi_QQgTAVY8GoMK6kbRL7ginrVL-DxNxIbAyz6fYQxG3fdtYHh9N0SRVkw1q5G0JRxbQ3pO_tboPKznUkzyobegc5Xj9XUrSL3WqusjWpBbYr6sbLaT896yFfKGJayceiP/s640/Picture+1163.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I did persuade Maria to model it for me, but she wasn't overly enthusiastic at being photographed so not the happiest face ever! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMf9tgSQelhDF2WaXtkZ-Dfw-S7TBJ-z9jrHUbyOGYbDGx0Wro8lG0G_uQdVnyX7FTLCrRhm5FHMZultx8qGLaxKuEuthnwuNSQAvOJ0qS_T-xS1sgx1QYJtUSaDohzdZFmHrW5zsTif6/s1600/Picture+1148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMf9tgSQelhDF2WaXtkZ-Dfw-S7TBJ-z9jrHUbyOGYbDGx0Wro8lG0G_uQdVnyX7FTLCrRhm5FHMZultx8qGLaxKuEuthnwuNSQAvOJ0qS_T-xS1sgx1QYJtUSaDohzdZFmHrW5zsTif6/s640/Picture+1148.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCEPbmWrvElG_3bf9_-ley6btfkm5MOG3HfblI_iT-_E40qZQdXpy2X47UcD7bxuSBSMmnvPVGgxphU_npgM7pZ5C3nFwwMfy4uQJnVj3sti0Xtq5ZQtaSSlf4dkedYJVy49wvSXiGu5D/s1600/Picture+1150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCEPbmWrvElG_3bf9_-ley6btfkm5MOG3HfblI_iT-_E40qZQdXpy2X47UcD7bxuSBSMmnvPVGgxphU_npgM7pZ5C3nFwwMfy4uQJnVj3sti0Xtq5ZQtaSSlf4dkedYJVy49wvSXiGu5D/s640/Picture+1150.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lXR00Vo9Zhe43xwLJdJAiMLK6dn_UhqmXrGPzgjFtF9-X4HO1ZSVEzaDRGaS9UZY260u4Zmi__RqfurJAKzBnZ_6su_0t9dDH7iEpzvSxjv9Bne2ojZnv9irymDJ767gYW7OU_KyAh4v/s1600/Picture+1143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lXR00Vo9Zhe43xwLJdJAiMLK6dn_UhqmXrGPzgjFtF9-X4HO1ZSVEzaDRGaS9UZY260u4Zmi__RqfurJAKzBnZ_6su_0t9dDH7iEpzvSxjv9Bne2ojZnv9irymDJ767gYW7OU_KyAh4v/s640/Picture+1143.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
And I got a second hanging fabric basket finished for the storage side of the present. (<a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/small-hanging-patchwork-fabric-basket.html" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Find the first one, with links to tutorials, back here</a>.)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvk9y_yjnz1FsxfStbw2cIrnGUBcS77VNq-th4VwYa4XfJEQ72qAp__0ppcJh_MYFb2LyCm1ps_-QAdpIWQzelGwOoGOE_5qBoivkme2XzwWGeAIaaBVC49SFzc7NDt7Ncb9Dz-dJXt4s/s1600/Picture+1138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvk9y_yjnz1FsxfStbw2cIrnGUBcS77VNq-th4VwYa4XfJEQ72qAp__0ppcJh_MYFb2LyCm1ps_-QAdpIWQzelGwOoGOE_5qBoivkme2XzwWGeAIaaBVC49SFzc7NDt7Ncb9Dz-dJXt4s/s640/Picture+1138.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you look closely, you'll see where I had a slight accident on it with my rotary cutter! Maybe I need to make another butterfly to hide it a bit better!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I added an extra layer of wadding to this one and it keeps its structure just well enough, even when hanging, to avoid the front pleat I had to add to the first one.<br />
<br />
I know it's Easter, but it's also '<a href="http://celticthistlestitches.blogspot.co.uk/p/ho-ho-ho-and-on-we-sew-link-party.html" target="_blank">Ho, ho, ho and on we sew</a>' time of the month, so I'm linking up again, over at <a href="http://peskylife.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/baby-blanket-ho-ho-ho-and-on-we-sew.html" target="_blank">Pesky Life</a> this month. The year is whizzing by so fast, you'll soon be wishing you'd got your Christmas crafting already started!<br />
<br />
Hope you've had a wonderful Easter weekend too though,<br />
<br />
Sally.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-51890202313640593802016-03-19T02:35:00.002-07:002016-03-19T02:37:41.851-07:00Small, hanging, patchwork fabric basket.<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqTOiBjskx6m32a3Epa_iHoolJl-Zz5MetuR8m9ETm71vhxiW4G-_4zv9gti2_aAsUBj7phkeFs9MLXE6WCrKAuwE9UeVkSt9eF_DnRhy3tb8S6Alx_CDk_yu691Il7CzojWLqwTymFrv/s1600/Picture+1006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqTOiBjskx6m32a3Epa_iHoolJl-Zz5MetuR8m9ETm71vhxiW4G-_4zv9gti2_aAsUBj7phkeFs9MLXE6WCrKAuwE9UeVkSt9eF_DnRhy3tb8S6Alx_CDk_yu691Il7CzojWLqwTymFrv/s640/Picture+1006.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
After some thought about the storage side of my <a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/fabric-origami-butterfly-hair.html" target="_blank">mini hamper of hair accessories gift</a>, I decided that what Venetia really needed was some sort of hanging storage for all her bits and pieces, and that this needed to be in the small space in her room between her mirror and the door - since this is where she stands and does her hair. Something hanging so conveniently right there is hopefully going to help her keep it all tidy, and avoid hair clips and bands being scattered all over the house! Once this decision was made, I didn't have a whole lot of scope for what to make, since it really is quite a narrow space.<br />
<br />
I decided on a hanging, fabric basket. I had a look at this <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/home-decor/1-hour-basket-tutorial/136408?_ctp=136408&_ct=iuqhsx-kdyluhiqb-huikbj-fqjjuhd&NAVIGATION_PAGE_CONTEXT_ATTR=PATTERN" target="_blank">1 Hour Fabric Basket</a> tutoial on Craftsy. It's basically very similar to the one featured on<a href="http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/pixie-basket.html" target="_blank"> Crazy Mom Quilts</a> a couple of weeks ago, just with different sizing. So I used this method, but with my own sizing requirements, and instead of adding side handles I put in 3 small tabs at the back for the hanging element.<br />
<br />
It was all looking perfect and holding its shape pretty well, but then I realised that holding its shape whilst sitting neatly on the table next to me would be quite different to holding its shape when hanging on a wall from those back tabs. It was obvious that as soon as I put it into a hanging position it would gape forward badly.<br />
<br />
I added some extra, emergency 'quilting lines' to try and strengthen the structure, and tried a bit (quite a lot in fact!) of spray starch, but clearly it was still going to gape. So I sewed in a very basic pleat at the front, and that did the trick well enough.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwun6q4x5GmuerchGQVDOZusyHqB9_ctZvDXHAxFLJ9ptPCxaTgPgJ1XHcFFFCyZaLlUBfaYEsqAyAoC1h8zp6t1HHZpZpn4y1q5p-gsezqA0e5I8qpg-xCZgj7UHcrkwDPh1FTZO07rZF/s1600/Picture+1003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwun6q4x5GmuerchGQVDOZusyHqB9_ctZvDXHAxFLJ9ptPCxaTgPgJ1XHcFFFCyZaLlUBfaYEsqAyAoC1h8zp6t1HHZpZpn4y1q5p-gsezqA0e5I8qpg-xCZgj7UHcrkwDPh1FTZO07rZF/s640/Picture+1003.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
It was then crying out for a <a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/fabric-origami-butterfly-hair.html" target="_blank">fabric origami butterfly</a> to be sewn over the pleat.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFOX4XiDUX_OhBhNLIQP2js8-8GrFCkKatKab-DcAYeNFz8nYPDEgO0fjDl6Vu1_jbTYiEEla_RhGOy34SZCSR3ab1Oe2N0EiNPU3yIweQfofaRSL_p0iqJ0671JV0aM7wz16GPICG-_o/s1600/Picture+1018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFOX4XiDUX_OhBhNLIQP2js8-8GrFCkKatKab-DcAYeNFz8nYPDEgO0fjDl6Vu1_jbTYiEEla_RhGOy34SZCSR3ab1Oe2N0EiNPU3yIweQfofaRSL_p0iqJ0671JV0aM7wz16GPICG-_o/s640/Picture+1018.jpg" width="506" /></a></div>
<br />
And my plan is to insert a nice stick, or piece of driftwood, in the tabs at the back, screw a couple of largeish hooks into the wall and hang the stick on the hooks. So it will look like this, imagine the hooks...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLu4fR3l0e2HSysl1J0KSy4r2JUoI2H44CtzWHh33yYD__LGXX5blTfLzGiGN7tAj7aJIeyxn5u0lrI-NCLlj4XQ58S6CFlsqb2L7R6a1U0wLJhhfXKuXDW0qO7FfoDUdvJc3ouryNhfBJ/s1600/Picture+1015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLu4fR3l0e2HSysl1J0KSy4r2JUoI2H44CtzWHh33yYD__LGXX5blTfLzGiGN7tAj7aJIeyxn5u0lrI-NCLlj4XQ58S6CFlsqb2L7R6a1U0wLJhhfXKuXDW0qO7FfoDUdvJc3ouryNhfBJ/s640/Picture+1015.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And here it is in the space it will eventually hang, happily it does fit nicely!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSUL1eYEvNO6MMNxKQQnhCh8UjKGEMrqUpeyfpOE0bphzCXf3R7UvoEUrgdlbjWKSBk3vLYHvK4G609IAvcDY1HAZsw0cnq856CBHMVJo0TasTV25-lTIhRIFh28RzO1urArHbvlWpcej/s1600/Picture+1012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSUL1eYEvNO6MMNxKQQnhCh8UjKGEMrqUpeyfpOE0bphzCXf3R7UvoEUrgdlbjWKSBk3vLYHvK4G609IAvcDY1HAZsw0cnq856CBHMVJo0TasTV25-lTIhRIFh28RzO1urArHbvlWpcej/s640/Picture+1012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
But I think she could do with another one underneath, so there's room in each for a quick rummage without anything spilling out, and so she can fit in her life saving 'tangle tease' and maybe some detangling spray! I can go for the same again, adding the pleat to avoid the gaping forward, but has anyone got a better idea for a design?<br />
<br />
Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts again this week. Have a great weekend.<br />
<br />
Sally.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-41631059362097045122016-03-17T16:35:00.003-07:002016-03-17T16:35:40.445-07:00Take 51) We've been really lucky with the weather for the past week. The end of last week and the weekend were particularly lovely, with even a reasonable warmth in the sunshine - though don't get me wrong, it's not balmy yet! But it did mean that swimming season has officially begun! Spurred on by the fact that Venetia was off on a residential trip with school at the end of last week and, as part of that, spent an hour or so body boarding in the sea, the boys were keen to also get back in the salt water.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVV4UVeuFYoxIT3MQUrhstpsGiW6FgAU8j7t5ILNhPZ8zOB0jqhQW5qinJQHbOt6PTAzDWHvljlPZaCUVDDL_lMJE7j2dGA5zuHBvdrcBkFroCgDjC4jUO7lPFRhG2CObPkBZJrclUOxN4/s1600/Picture+819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVV4UVeuFYoxIT3MQUrhstpsGiW6FgAU8j7t5ILNhPZ8zOB0jqhQW5qinJQHbOt6PTAzDWHvljlPZaCUVDDL_lMJE7j2dGA5zuHBvdrcBkFroCgDjC4jUO7lPFRhG2CObPkBZJrclUOxN4/s640/Picture+819.jpg" width="418" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwfhBI2ebdgIjI8Y6g6bbAM0d3lOHvzkFV6q7aeZGxWqtKOwpLmdWCy9mfkAWkggwRJxbEFPg1wxi3V5_7dUdaxkm5zzvPhbEybMfz3nqpKOQRjiHRf467cw43aSxGgMxFihwVL-yg_NC/s1600/Picture+839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwfhBI2ebdgIjI8Y6g6bbAM0d3lOHvzkFV6q7aeZGxWqtKOwpLmdWCy9mfkAWkggwRJxbEFPg1wxi3V5_7dUdaxkm5zzvPhbEybMfz3nqpKOQRjiHRf467cw43aSxGgMxFihwVL-yg_NC/s640/Picture+839.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8f6phX3RSdgtKneHT8WPog3p6wJR2yoVoq_T_YAItsrRHNIp344Lwl1jaWxVUGjVLG2EHIlQoyChDYfEmAs_HEIWHkRj8YdOKiWb9aG53IWoVdKJRpv1dQNUn2YEwVTmJZe8pQkysIoB/s1600/Picture+834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8f6phX3RSdgtKneHT8WPog3p6wJR2yoVoq_T_YAItsrRHNIp344Lwl1jaWxVUGjVLG2EHIlQoyChDYfEmAs_HEIWHkRj8YdOKiWb9aG53IWoVdKJRpv1dQNUn2YEwVTmJZe8pQkysIoB/s640/Picture+834.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6zYy3NBFqf0uEGifwARVoHwJtp_ZGD0E7PokJ3zl5Cs-sqbDPOQqzgVh2xGPqTO1wScDj0d-OdPra51fieVyAISQhRYO-a7we_qey5AN6jOFK02Weq-wVZrPwibfQLu-nL6AVL4oTjOr/s1600/Picture+874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6zYy3NBFqf0uEGifwARVoHwJtp_ZGD0E7PokJ3zl5Cs-sqbDPOQqzgVh2xGPqTO1wScDj0d-OdPra51fieVyAISQhRYO-a7we_qey5AN6jOFK02Weq-wVZrPwibfQLu-nL6AVL4oTjOr/s640/Picture+874.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtW1vsI0uUOOC5zLUYijkZshlWBNSJILby4qJ1vZ8U6wzygsGfOJrBR2chw9_Bmjmmf_QmRox8PZCHrTq6OVqRIUgH8411_wH-ifr3lOZQL0eXNouiCmBFKj1q49Ia2_mWlM2GV1u8ixp/s1600/Picture+881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtW1vsI0uUOOC5zLUYijkZshlWBNSJILby4qJ1vZ8U6wzygsGfOJrBR2chw9_Bmjmmf_QmRox8PZCHrTq6OVqRIUgH8411_wH-ifr3lOZQL0eXNouiCmBFKj1q49Ia2_mWlM2GV1u8ixp/s640/Picture+881.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Although Maria most definitely did not want to swim, she did manage to get completely soaked!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQb8GQnHD2J4ncFbMQmB5fFSkI1jDFS3HvgliNRxiyFVga8e5_8Dr-mWrtY9uj13H9JapHzWDK3kVC3J2AkmQN-NmbQvyv0ZMvD0B3kIsoxOoF3KeThp3e4fMGolKPOSROkhWo_RsWbnnn/s1600/Picture+897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQb8GQnHD2J4ncFbMQmB5fFSkI1jDFS3HvgliNRxiyFVga8e5_8Dr-mWrtY9uj13H9JapHzWDK3kVC3J2AkmQN-NmbQvyv0ZMvD0B3kIsoxOoF3KeThp3e4fMGolKPOSROkhWo_RsWbnnn/s640/Picture+897.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wyYFdEMAXRBfduUN86U0XFRQQOpH392zc3rS0Na5uMyt5puu_87UqB4Oj62XPuDheauU5-7s40YyXqB5ZbQSaiekR4AeITGmRkkKFx9SrvM8s6e4pK4-CcNQEt7CYghhbcjS2YKvh-PS/s1600/Picture+934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wyYFdEMAXRBfduUN86U0XFRQQOpH392zc3rS0Na5uMyt5puu_87UqB4Oj62XPuDheauU5-7s40YyXqB5ZbQSaiekR4AeITGmRkkKFx9SrvM8s6e4pK4-CcNQEt7CYghhbcjS2YKvh-PS/s640/Picture+934.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard to see but there's a little head bobbing around in the sea on the left hand side that belongs to Theo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81pkAmN2lBp5Z7kXs71z6tbMdjnlIlMy1rsLMAIdM-RzHYqtj42yxwncDFOukP-Rvyu1v8ZK58fiFOjArRA7xFks_yCIS90tS1O_fT6gV227YmUbXpGF4WsT6GTFa5XlqWUD8hjVShdZZ/s1600/Picture+966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81pkAmN2lBp5Z7kXs71z6tbMdjnlIlMy1rsLMAIdM-RzHYqtj42yxwncDFOukP-Rvyu1v8ZK58fiFOjArRA7xFks_yCIS90tS1O_fT6gV227YmUbXpGF4WsT6GTFa5XlqWUD8hjVShdZZ/s640/Picture+966.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rock pools weren't really any warmer than the sea!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTi7JqYoNKl4ttleE9SQqmcgf1_lE9wcHUpIWjqpbR_STxTQe7kfx872D4qRGrr4v9Ly51le2rRfYRQ1y3FGEW0_f8UzPs6zut84GV3zAcHBRZI-CaZE1HFLlv-d72TZ6dLBnPQ5mpoU1Z/s1600/Picture+972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTi7JqYoNKl4ttleE9SQqmcgf1_lE9wcHUpIWjqpbR_STxTQe7kfx872D4qRGrr4v9Ly51le2rRfYRQ1y3FGEW0_f8UzPs6zut84GV3zAcHBRZI-CaZE1HFLlv-d72TZ6dLBnPQ5mpoU1Z/s640/Picture+972.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Although there's no photographic evidence (happily!), I swam as well, <b>and</b> without a wet suit, so I get all the plaudits for bravery/craziness please! It might be the earliest in the year that I've ever been in the water, and it was really cold, but it was also gorgeous, and it felt amazing to be back in the sea. (And twelve crabs found in the rock pools, so the girls were very happy too!)<br />
<br />
2) As well as swimming season, we're now definitely back into gardening season. I was extremely excited to see 'Gardeners' World' returning to our screens on Friday evenings - which the rest of my family found quite sad! And I've been out there making plans and getting grubby fingernails lots already.<br />
<br />
There's not too much looking 'pretty' out there yet (other than masses of snowdrops, primroses, and daffodils of course - I could have taken lots of very pretty photos of them if I'd thought to!), but here are a few of the patches I've been working on. This first one is going to be a strawberry bed soon...<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBD2Z1n4kmnXDf6ZIa3H3uQl4LcbK1R7ON6d5uVIbrQyfBkKXVYkahvL4j17TL2dyMfq25T-iDFJhX0f4jWhMk489zaE635z8oTeG0_2QyQ397LaNr1ofpy7PjnypUIbPEP9VAeTKNwz2N/s1600/Picture+699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBD2Z1n4kmnXDf6ZIa3H3uQl4LcbK1R7ON6d5uVIbrQyfBkKXVYkahvL4j17TL2dyMfq25T-iDFJhX0f4jWhMk489zaE635z8oTeG0_2QyQ397LaNr1ofpy7PjnypUIbPEP9VAeTKNwz2N/s640/Picture+699.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It's an old wooden 'shelter' which was once in use to store very large calor gas cylinders. We haven't used calor gas in the house for years so this shelter was lying around redundant. Once I'd cleared an area for it, it didn't take a lot of adapting to turn it into a planting bed. I'm hoping the strawberries will be very happy there!<br />
<br />
I was incredibly extravagant the other day and treated myself to a new, posh wheelbarrow.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupet_TshqqAO9H-8NnSK4bW24mqoTqa6O6ThYcWfCpT2VV5rbGVmPv_eUcyjJWHD9upFFA6nteYJj_p_xCVF6W7Yt1OHKDcgxD4eJCmkPaY71b3MvmRf-FeHNi8S5e1CUaPqAspcEkE1K/s1600/Picture+718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupet_TshqqAO9H-8NnSK4bW24mqoTqa6O6ThYcWfCpT2VV5rbGVmPv_eUcyjJWHD9upFFA6nteYJj_p_xCVF6W7Yt1OHKDcgxD4eJCmkPaY71b3MvmRf-FeHNi8S5e1CUaPqAspcEkE1K/s640/Picture+718.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
See that big orange ball that's there in place of a wheel? It makes it unbelievably manoeuvrable and is apparently impossible to puncture! (I haven't told either of the boys this fact, that could be fatal!). Of course it could be that this wheelbarrow just feels amazing in comparison to my old one...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMOf2-JVKeCTMqhpmkx9MF_T5iRZaH3nOvdm6EjLxpF4nFJZoLf_K_aXAlwdPl9LgaJ2gnyBT2oddjBMXlcXTC_KQEfSyVrVUZ7b2YeKCGfRO_FdTrjBrgEzLArl5Y-N7JEbQacRAA0tZ/s1600/Picture+700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMOf2-JVKeCTMqhpmkx9MF_T5iRZaH3nOvdm6EjLxpF4nFJZoLf_K_aXAlwdPl9LgaJ2gnyBT2oddjBMXlcXTC_KQEfSyVrVUZ7b2YeKCGfRO_FdTrjBrgEzLArl5Y-N7JEbQacRAA0tZ/s640/Picture+700.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's a close up of the wheel - it wasn't overly manoeuvrable!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEeI7JBMJMQmBGuao8dhXdKWAsbpek6FyUVItb3K3jxGU-u6HIuIsWCdSTQ5L-CkFVTNqzw79Fny7jkppm72kTcy-9PNCUjRL7GvHvw2CeRazxMhi5lurl1652aDUr-xn6ANfi2SO6FMa/s1600/Picture+702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEeI7JBMJMQmBGuao8dhXdKWAsbpek6FyUVItb3K3jxGU-u6HIuIsWCdSTQ5L-CkFVTNqzw79Fny7jkppm72kTcy-9PNCUjRL7GvHvw2CeRazxMhi5lurl1652aDUr-xn6ANfi2SO6FMa/s640/Picture+702.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
But, once I've drilled a few drainage holes, it will become a wonderful planter - I haven't decided whether I'll put herbs in it, or maybe a small selection of lettuces to be right next to the back door - so I don't have to go off on an expedition if I decide to make a last minute salad to go with the tea.<br />
<br />
A few other 'bargain' plants have found homes recently too, there was a fig tree hiding up behind the new wheelbarrow in a huge tyre, and here are a couple of <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=728" target="_blank">honeyberries</a> newly planted.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPq-JTgiCkfBzdZv704Vs3P-Li0Ho2-R00U-_5usJSEhRM54efkXj0Oa4cjBZSKIg-bONZaBuKDee1xo8IFnO7iQB316aYZR27oiL3r95Y2UyHTnHOYhlq0kgvsxsL_W4jeQVVM2-8ibY/s1600/Picture+703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPq-JTgiCkfBzdZv704Vs3P-Li0Ho2-R00U-_5usJSEhRM54efkXj0Oa4cjBZSKIg-bONZaBuKDee1xo8IFnO7iQB316aYZR27oiL3r95Y2UyHTnHOYhlq0kgvsxsL_W4jeQVVM2-8ibY/s640/Picture+703.jpg" width="522" /></a></div>
<br />
I'd not heard of these before so it will be really interesting to see what they're like.<br />
<br />
My broad beans and white onions are doing pretty well.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCFzgFnfdMAivfUv1aPTiot71r5RK3kMRUDaKOpsM1XZPomlU7H3QMNQhhL9qm8YJeykvifV1oGVgcYulnQRjDvAjz0Zw_QJa_Pc91b5OBUG7W5l6Lny4i9x3rhyIONdaO5EwUvgaOVAZ/s1600/Picture+705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCFzgFnfdMAivfUv1aPTiot71r5RK3kMRUDaKOpsM1XZPomlU7H3QMNQhhL9qm8YJeykvifV1oGVgcYulnQRjDvAjz0Zw_QJa_Pc91b5OBUG7W5l6Lny4i9x3rhyIONdaO5EwUvgaOVAZ/s640/Picture+705.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
But my red onions completely disappeared, they must have been much tastier than the white. And I've also had problems with pests eating my purple sprouting broccoli and the garlic I planted. We have had some smallish black flies lurking around the soil in various area, and lots of jumping grubs on and just below the surface of the soil. I think they may be <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/advice/pests_and_diseases/identifier.shtml?black_fungus_gnats" target="_blank">Fungus gnats</a>, and I have a bad feeling that they may be my pests. Does anyone have any experience of these and, if so, is there a super effective way to deal with them?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
3) A recipe for you. This is one of our favourite cookie recipes, and the one Venetia requested I make for her to take off on her trip last week.<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Chocolate Chip Orange Cookies</u><br />175g butter (softened)<br />75g icing sugar (sieved)<br />225g self raising flour<br />The grated zest of 1 orange<br />60g plain chocolate chips<br /><br />Beat, or blend, together the butter, icing sugar and orange zest, add the flour and combine thoroughly. Mix in the chocolate chips (make sure you do this by hand). Form the dough into a ball, cover and refrigerate for an hour. Roll out the dough to a thickness of about half a cm, and cut into shapes with a cookie cutter. Arrange on a lightly greased tray and bake at 180C/350F for approx 10 mins. You want to get these out when just golden, don't let them brown at all, and they will harden up as they cool. They are melt in the mouth moreish!</span></b></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
4) There has been some sewing going on too. Another <a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/repurposed-wool-slippers.html" target="_blank">pair of slippers</a> for a friend...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47ugUJDS1B4Vvr7jjWCPyMXAZhP72-7tu6Kopf4BJjkJY-hszy2IlE-Ji3K4GMX608V1SK9XTLLa6BMFbYscqB_qpvmC4dTI6rbSAPC3FYXY05PcAxLgq8pZWWzaD1hNQNdrj6LpJn4JR/s1600/Picture+709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47ugUJDS1B4Vvr7jjWCPyMXAZhP72-7tu6Kopf4BJjkJY-hszy2IlE-Ji3K4GMX608V1SK9XTLLa6BMFbYscqB_qpvmC4dTI6rbSAPC3FYXY05PcAxLgq8pZWWzaD1hNQNdrj6LpJn4JR/s640/Picture+709.jpg" width="432" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Find the pattern at <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/239183098/bundle-tie-back-boots-all-sizes-pdf?ref=shop_home_active_2" target="_blank">BigLittle on Etsy</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I experimented a bit with the flowers to go on there. The finished violets have hand embroidered centres, but I had first tried a machine embroidered version. It wasn't quite the look I wanted to work with the slippers, and, even more to the point, the dense machine embroidery made the flower quite rigid in the centre and I think it would have been uncomfortable to kneel down in slippers with it on. So the reject violet became a decoration for a hair bobble for Venetia's planned<a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/fabric-origami-butterfly-hair.html" target="_blank"> hair accessories Christmas hamper.</a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8LTWZ-5tBuvfxcbesbyF-xnnEJWeHQV6t2u_QA1rlYAuzu1GDgSPTGlv4rBDkyANGr6G8TUfe_QVZbObnkg4m-XKdvdBYqc3mWA2O3nUUmqYlI3F1XEs3UGQGYkzihlyQqO5aIFaLXs-/s1600/Picture+716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8LTWZ-5tBuvfxcbesbyF-xnnEJWeHQV6t2u_QA1rlYAuzu1GDgSPTGlv4rBDkyANGr6G8TUfe_QVZbObnkg4m-XKdvdBYqc3mWA2O3nUUmqYlI3F1XEs3UGQGYkzihlyQqO5aIFaLXs-/s640/Picture+716.jpg" width="540" /></a></div>
<br />
5) Speaking of which, a couple more flowers have been made to decorate clips/bobbles.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUnxNyK5gNoVEla2hFBZNGIvcfMrKcMviIMj_0SI4LPFFASKaCS17fOTeLb2sPehpSgzZ2besCxcjJEYpGlNrX7cvmfEu4x74PCfpzkvzYtum2Dtt5DOxI2nCUdGtx_R-pCoojytw8vml/s1600/Picture+712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUnxNyK5gNoVEla2hFBZNGIvcfMrKcMviIMj_0SI4LPFFASKaCS17fOTeLb2sPehpSgzZ2besCxcjJEYpGlNrX7cvmfEu4x74PCfpzkvzYtum2Dtt5DOxI2nCUdGtx_R-pCoojytw8vml/s640/Picture+712.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
These 2 are very straightforward. A long, thin strip of fabric, folded over to double it up on the shallow width, wrong sides together - iron it down and then sew along the fold to secure it. Then cut out even 'bumps' like so...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjd-eV9uLvKSWaQRiBV7Cem8w1hyOxsxdu-jCOQsVwXwlBKsLjchXQNN00knadVoMA6AT6V9va_SM_gFqOlyFGDEfWutZMvfhAHZOtT1U5VWHPJfcH9A-8zH25LVQElOTsXcPOFdqewef/s1600/Picture+568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjd-eV9uLvKSWaQRiBV7Cem8w1hyOxsxdu-jCOQsVwXwlBKsLjchXQNN00knadVoMA6AT6V9va_SM_gFqOlyFGDEfWutZMvfhAHZOtT1U5VWHPJfcH9A-8zH25LVQElOTsXcPOFdqewef/s640/Picture+568.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Tapering one end to be narrower for the centre of the flower and leaving the other end a smooth petal shape.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYbXoTu7eUaqhXJXolaETxp_rPWCNvA_STmiFu4ZuUjMDebvG1VAedUa3f-K9V9hEsgpDfVv6V0d0NPFPbIW2be2AG8NQg0PIAIO23mRfGokGUO14EyaL9JMK4MOuTzg_0b1Ch4gkeden/s1600/Picture+569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYbXoTu7eUaqhXJXolaETxp_rPWCNvA_STmiFu4ZuUjMDebvG1VAedUa3f-K9V9hEsgpDfVv6V0d0NPFPbIW2be2AG8NQg0PIAIO23mRfGokGUO14EyaL9JMK4MOuTzg_0b1Ch4gkeden/s640/Picture+569.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
Machine sew along this new wavy edge to secure it (leaving it raw edged). Then just roll up your flower carefully from the narrow end, securing it with some regular hand stitching as you go. I think it works well to coil it quite tightly in the centre initially, and then to leave it a little looser and maybe add a few pinched gathers as you get nearer the other end for the outer petals. Keep putting in a hand stitch or two to hold it all in place. And then I finished it off by hand stitching a 'circle' of green wool on to the base.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZXfFWs8NinM9kSNe7cQVZyvcjptpqr0JPkVhwqYByqYb2a7tvnBoOG9GZzhKFLTRXXD2BbbYjcJP3LX3tK-MnZDkm0U-28s-zU8moGKx2quSTNJ6o1vY4mS_PKf9qmgFHrvUUljNNvDF/s1600/Picture+571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZXfFWs8NinM9kSNe7cQVZyvcjptpqr0JPkVhwqYByqYb2a7tvnBoOG9GZzhKFLTRXXD2BbbYjcJP3LX3tK-MnZDkm0U-28s-zU8moGKx2quSTNJ6o1vY4mS_PKf9qmgFHrvUUljNNvDF/s320/Picture+571.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
All done. The pink one is now on a hair band and the smaller yellow one on a clip.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierlf8pFkd8HE4yuKzK38thSeCNW7xoLm0p1gYmEAfBlJBpkeehxyFRNi16kwBEy45JZxSNspb6JbWOaNWxtohVGRvaiW5AttqFIixmV7EhzZC2H3uYkcEa3POjAdGqJa8NYhYvOCXCVXb/s1600/Picture+572.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierlf8pFkd8HE4yuKzK38thSeCNW7xoLm0p1gYmEAfBlJBpkeehxyFRNi16kwBEy45JZxSNspb6JbWOaNWxtohVGRvaiW5AttqFIixmV7EhzZC2H3uYkcEa3POjAdGqJa8NYhYvOCXCVXb/s320/Picture+572.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I've been working on a 'basket' for the storage side of this present too, but it's not quite finished yet. Have you got any favourite fabric flower making methods or other hair accessories you've made which have worked well?<br />
<br />
Sally.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-81742009450940644632016-03-12T13:48:00.001-08:002016-03-12T13:48:13.967-08:00Sunshine PojagiWe've been enjoying some lovely, sunny weather recently. Cold, frosty mornings with beautiful blue skies, and sunshine which has a surprising warmth to it for this time of year. And this has given us some beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Theo has caught a few for me on camera (he got a new, fancy camera fairly recently with Christmas/birthday money and long-hoarded savings).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fOKvPvDMRyr834e8KEbEumpaPesHNo4SyrEuuk9mV1faN-57KTDFV_v0X7TBTq1lKk6gMUjSfolUDdZxH0fqMVzozr_UPcZ-mG99qqEzbhGOjuoUQyPGLUOUnrZ4iboRx-GpFz_dFYAL/s1600/Picture+658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fOKvPvDMRyr834e8KEbEumpaPesHNo4SyrEuuk9mV1faN-57KTDFV_v0X7TBTq1lKk6gMUjSfolUDdZxH0fqMVzozr_UPcZ-mG99qqEzbhGOjuoUQyPGLUOUnrZ4iboRx-GpFz_dFYAL/s640/Picture+658.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGDbpCvnnvfd9tJt45lF5QPPShxQ1NhEdIuB5nEdRJT5_wmmrJw2-3AzLKsrNexnuISSaoWi0wsxlaN4oO-2SJ3C5PDx-kdrsjHyRx7KZjl8NkO5DCx3kI_tTLiTjKU8sAOSz-Tz4d5Wa/s1600/Picture+673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGDbpCvnnvfd9tJt45lF5QPPShxQ1NhEdIuB5nEdRJT5_wmmrJw2-3AzLKsrNexnuISSaoWi0wsxlaN4oO-2SJ3C5PDx-kdrsjHyRx7KZjl8NkO5DCx3kI_tTLiTjKU8sAOSz-Tz4d5Wa/s640/Picture+673.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PYlkrY61mUf-un7u-zPlMI7OAoMQg-SHFY0MqMpadoLADTQwvr6rzKWx8_LZBkhWLkwPcGvnneUvr5QuYaw31BNS79xqwChFLb7SNhFAB2dFknK93JcK9RBWfOwKbiEk7g5-gN0aL9Fj/s1600/Picture+686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PYlkrY61mUf-un7u-zPlMI7OAoMQg-SHFY0MqMpadoLADTQwvr6rzKWx8_LZBkhWLkwPcGvnneUvr5QuYaw31BNS79xqwChFLb7SNhFAB2dFknK93JcK9RBWfOwKbiEk7g5-gN0aL9Fj/s640/Picture+686.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
All this sunshine has prompted me to have a play with our painted fabric from the other week. I've been experimenting a bit with 'pojagi' recently - a Korean style of patchwork (read a bit more about it on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bojagi" target="_blank">Wikipedia here</a> or try <a href="http://www.quiltstudy.org/exhibitions/online_exhibitions/pojagi/korean_quilts0.html" target="_blank">here</a> with an option to then view lots of gorgeous examples from an exhibition!). Pojagi is traditionally hand stitched with extremely neat seams (sort of French seams) which mean that it can be displayed either way and is very effective with light shining through it. So it seemed perfect for the painted, muslin fabric with a sunshine theme. And I found <a href="http://thesillyboodilly.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/pojagi-machine-stitch-seam-tutorial.html" target="_blank">this tutorial</a> by <a href="http://thesillyboodilly.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Silly BooDilly</a> very helpful - especially as it's for machine sewing!<br />
<br />
My original Pojagi expeimenting was fairly precise, with nice, simple shapes and I got on pretty well with it. This time though, I was much more relaxed with my cutting and didn't really have any particular plan in mind when I started - and this approach definitely made it much harder to get my seams good and neat!<br />
<br />
This was my first attempt.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXQTaJ7548u465NRJ0tUsMUH7x2dH81-j5UOo1c7S-oL5jN6U1Z8468QX4YjTsjx8VqfBBrK8o-kGiDtnPezuOxiLyeNmV_vM1CSqJvlk3AbPKFFpQY35ekwl0ylYXP3C59SgWFErRTok/s1600/Picture+761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXQTaJ7548u465NRJ0tUsMUH7x2dH81-j5UOo1c7S-oL5jN6U1Z8468QX4YjTsjx8VqfBBrK8o-kGiDtnPezuOxiLyeNmV_vM1CSqJvlk3AbPKFFpQY35ekwl0ylYXP3C59SgWFErRTok/s640/Picture+761.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I wasn't mad keen on the end result and tried again.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzev5NyPJwY6WNNZDD7_Xsd1DKB11J8KrxLIHNK8ebuznqf5jEBRWD9eGIMY2_rgL7l1g5fZE8Y2r4fZCYZMyLMxKLU-v-aVwe8mBaWUmyTenxwn1VfpVAW_Md414Qgq_Jx4Yxckt_AOic/s1600/Picture+771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzev5NyPJwY6WNNZDD7_Xsd1DKB11J8KrxLIHNK8ebuznqf5jEBRWD9eGIMY2_rgL7l1g5fZE8Y2r4fZCYZMyLMxKLU-v-aVwe8mBaWUmyTenxwn1VfpVAW_Md414Qgq_Jx4Yxckt_AOic/s640/Picture+771.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
After struggling with those seams, especially the slightly curved seams, I'd say both look deceptively simple! But I definitely prefer number 2, and it's currently hanging in my bathroom window looking lovely when the sun shines through it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbz8D9sQxKcNEVoaAFh2JLcQpxlFkwdNUj7QT_SJeH9eXGWo-SxRo8ACuN_hMjXFpfum4pnLqB-cZ62D21UwkV986Xqunj45c3EME8GsrnBxKRc-pXWJJTXPlE6P9-4_70JG_VvCcNPy5/s1600/Picture+780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbz8D9sQxKcNEVoaAFh2JLcQpxlFkwdNUj7QT_SJeH9eXGWo-SxRo8ACuN_hMjXFpfum4pnLqB-cZ62D21UwkV986Xqunj45c3EME8GsrnBxKRc-pXWJJTXPlE6P9-4_70JG_VvCcNPy5/s640/Picture+780.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Have you ever tried Pojagi yourself? And if so, have you any good tips to pass on?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Linking up with <a href="http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/big-and-little.html" target="_blank">Crazy Mom Quilts</a> again today, have a great weekend,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sally.</div>
Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-13435823647163313882016-03-05T16:50:00.003-08:002016-03-05T16:50:51.339-08:00Patchwork Glasses<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5YkPFtTPmmp-qGZmBoTSYkqQRTUs863f2YhG5Uyqxuorxy2sbb1L_I79EW0vVOR4OQJSr7FO4lkQP_M8aMxg-u0sFFQquRxkuhuYLXoekDd_Wsy4mwB6U9nio3tbWHc-GUr6h5GC7BDI9/s1600/Picture+604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5YkPFtTPmmp-qGZmBoTSYkqQRTUs863f2YhG5Uyqxuorxy2sbb1L_I79EW0vVOR4OQJSr7FO4lkQP_M8aMxg-u0sFFQquRxkuhuYLXoekDd_Wsy4mwB6U9nio3tbWHc-GUr6h5GC7BDI9/s640/Picture+604.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
<br />
So it was just under a year ago that I started wearing reading glasses. I found it quite a depressing experience and also a slight struggle to get used to the practical aspect of wearing them initially. Well, in just under a year I've gone from only slightly needing them, and sometimes skipping wearing them, to being almost incapable of reading small print without them. More depressing than ever! Nobody told me that as soon as you do start wearing glasses your eyes quickly become completely reliant on them and your unaided sight deteriorates so much more rapidly. Definitely lessons to be learned there with other body parts!<br />
<br />
I have another eye test booked for next week because I'm pretty sure it's now more than just being dependent on the reading glasses I have. Using a screen and hand sewing have become a definite strain on my eyes too. So in an effort to reconcile myself with this new sad state of affairs I finally finished up the mini quilt I started last year when first trying to adjust to said glasses.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hXe4htOUayeohvwIFJWPDebMbIkuNi_cPGx79wmrs75peH7_cwpUn50Kb-asdbiW9Jz7W3qYhqhcXYyigD8UVEkNCCu-EDy_3Ux93zyaby9kYjWsXTKIxmyhgI2lsDM4cL5vd4pFnkkT/s1600/Picture+616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hXe4htOUayeohvwIFJWPDebMbIkuNi_cPGx79wmrs75peH7_cwpUn50Kb-asdbiW9Jz7W3qYhqhcXYyigD8UVEkNCCu-EDy_3Ux93zyaby9kYjWsXTKIxmyhgI2lsDM4cL5vd4pFnkkT/s640/Picture+616.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
The text came from a poem, Desiderata, which you can find <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desiderata" target="_blank">here on Wikipedia</a>. I am trying hard to be completely convinced by my words from last year:<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">
<i><b>"These lines seemed very appropriate to me at the time. And although they don't completely dissolve my dislike of ageing, I do definitely feel that I'm wiser, more mature and confident in myself, a more balanced person than when I was a spring chicken, so perhaps the need for reading glasses (as well as numerous other physical signs!) is a reasonable trade off for my accumulated wisdom and experience!"</b></i></div>
<br />
I wrote more about how I go about <a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/take-5.html" target="_blank">printing on fabric back then too</a>. I did warn in that post that my printing does not lead to colour fast results, so is only useful when you won't be washing your item. Sadly I didn't heed my own warning sufficiently carefully, not quite enough accumulated wisdom and experience! I had used a water soluble pen to doodle a few lines on to the fabric to follow when starting the quilting. And just the tiniest amount of water to rinse off the pen also set my ink running.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYv7oKlBUEn_5bFgZCsyKEKNrms3VBpTyrUEmKSKY4kXGfq1xUHWdlA1PRG-hfVAkQdRvO7YZ5_BJ5NVhELrxw5iavOjpmKst2VfUla3vWx7pr4GvdGqsfGSRwYScABPmEfgTB5Pn-v4j/s1600/Picture+592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYv7oKlBUEn_5bFgZCsyKEKNrms3VBpTyrUEmKSKY4kXGfq1xUHWdlA1PRG-hfVAkQdRvO7YZ5_BJ5NVhELrxw5iavOjpmKst2VfUla3vWx7pr4GvdGqsfGSRwYScABPmEfgTB5Pn-v4j/s640/Picture+592.jpg" width="496" /></a></div>
<br />
I wasn't feeling the love with this project enough to start again from scratch, so I just reprinted my words, cut them out and sewed them over the smudged mess.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutjH7Oe6Pw9Vn8C4YJE0ujXjUow0BVtaTQn-nyCGJg4TJwRvxHpkOtRQgGJOzchrImVIAj-KaEOL-tL3ZEjtSqtyKGBgHUm7-kzeHpXiLW5UPxEJ4a2qLfm6_hyWx2JhIC6RQm__wTnvm/s1600/Picture+620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutjH7Oe6Pw9Vn8C4YJE0ujXjUow0BVtaTQn-nyCGJg4TJwRvxHpkOtRQgGJOzchrImVIAj-KaEOL-tL3ZEjtSqtyKGBgHUm7-kzeHpXiLW5UPxEJ4a2qLfm6_hyWx2JhIC6RQm__wTnvm/s640/Picture+620.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After all, give it another year or two and everything will look like a blurry mess anyway!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The glasses themselves are made from patchworked fabric, lots of very small scraps in shades of green. And I think there's definitely a gap in the market for real patchwork spectacle frames. That would make the whole situation much more bearable! Glasses cases come, or can be made, in all kinds of patterns/fabrics/designs but the glasses themselves are just not quite there yet.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9G3fy6QwHz6kzh9Arbxm_Qvxf4wvApkJEiOOpqcjcYDAixMmKfS2Cd5vtSphQfe6YZUBSbV4XGj8rWQuNBlCUc11wytRMJVlIh-qnA2WOMn7oB2tbs_9vKyttAJN6_raQgvhCtJ6wc_eB/s1600/Picture+633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9G3fy6QwHz6kzh9Arbxm_Qvxf4wvApkJEiOOpqcjcYDAixMmKfS2Cd5vtSphQfe6YZUBSbV4XGj8rWQuNBlCUc11wytRMJVlIh-qnA2WOMn7oB2tbs_9vKyttAJN6_raQgvhCtJ6wc_eB/s640/Picture+633.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So wish me luck for next week with round 2 at the Opticians!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sally.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-88518511716810776612016-02-26T15:05:00.002-08:002016-02-26T15:05:52.769-08:00Fabric Origami Butterfly Hair AccessoriesIt's <a href="http://celticthistlestitches.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/ho-ho-ho-and-on-we-sew-sight-for-sore.html?showComment=1456523570900#c9188643768759224294" target="_blank">'Ho, ho, ho and on we sew'</a> time of the month again - the perfect link up to get you organised for Christmas. Last month I started thinking about <a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/ho-ho-ho-sewing-mini-stocking-cutlery.html" target="_blank">making for a slightly more 'special' Christmassy table setting</a>, and I'm sure I'll come back to that throughout the year. But this month I've been thinking more about gift making and I came up with an idea for Venetia - a basket, kind of a mini hamper really, of home made hair accessories. She loves pretty hair accessories, and they're forever getting lost or scattered around the house or car, so I'm hoping this plan might work in multiple ways. Plus it's a great one to be organised with and start now - a couple of hair bands or clips or whatever, made every month is very doable, but will hopefully add up to a really special present. And spacing them out is, I think, more likely to mean I come up with a wide variety of ideas, colours and fabrics.<br />
<br />
So to actually get to the making point, quite some time ago I spotted a very sweet, fabric origami butterfly on Pinterest that I thought would be perfect for hair accessories. And that's what I've gone for to kick start this present. I followed the instructions <a href="http://keyka.typepad.com/my_weblog/2013/04/origami-butterfly.html" target="_blank">here on Michelle Patterns</a>, and found them to be quite straightforward. In not a lot of time I had a bright and pretty butterfly.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTa0F2TGxbfx-9LiF-frJYrAg0vwAbsojsuGQMMncFgfyz2SGKVROm22hSXhIGRmn0Kk5x515dBGzXHbWSryGhlWD0XKFKOmoi3SJpwLV5OeDFqEozTNQbgq1JZX3ncMMDKRiwmnf8FBJ-/s1600/Picture+561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTa0F2TGxbfx-9LiF-frJYrAg0vwAbsojsuGQMMncFgfyz2SGKVROm22hSXhIGRmn0Kk5x515dBGzXHbWSryGhlWD0XKFKOmoi3SJpwLV5OeDFqEozTNQbgq1JZX3ncMMDKRiwmnf8FBJ-/s640/Picture+561.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And they're slightly addictive!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcil8PFTQlCFn9M_25rpj5VBH1F87V58VEorj2GXceh0Id8FbGhIGIDb8KmdU7H5PV2tSQc6pjjyNkKPzmq9i8WDK2DUf-F3iGE4coCYs1iTkmSCuZPgiZm8H_bLXDOT41RHcFkbgmbcy1/s1600/Picture+564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcil8PFTQlCFn9M_25rpj5VBH1F87V58VEorj2GXceh0Id8FbGhIGIDb8KmdU7H5PV2tSQc6pjjyNkKPzmq9i8WDK2DUf-F3iGE4coCYs1iTkmSCuZPgiZm8H_bLXDOT41RHcFkbgmbcy1/s640/Picture+564.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The top two in the photo below are still just 'loose' at the moment, but bottom right is sewn on to a hair clip, and bottom left, as you can see, is sewn on to a hair bobble.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwUG5UX7KFiVbUBgo3bQ_wynxI6o2WjzEF49pIonK9iSwF5V3edMFfISbpNN32tvgPLKvl9rP-RzcDx2ksBC1tWECN4wXktq2iyq9uBBitt3vq967gbNm-GGaqYjqp4UHtnnwojRx1JBa/s1600/Picture+557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwUG5UX7KFiVbUBgo3bQ_wynxI6o2WjzEF49pIonK9iSwF5V3edMFfISbpNN32tvgPLKvl9rP-RzcDx2ksBC1tWECN4wXktq2iyq9uBBitt3vq967gbNm-GGaqYjqp4UHtnnwojRx1JBa/s640/Picture+557.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I haven't decided what I'll do with the top 2 yet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then I made a couple of hair bands, one just plain from scraps of the fabric I used for Venetia's <a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/take-5.html" target="_blank">leggings</a> last week, but one specially for another butterfly.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJPaDMCGaBuHwaVwpJdyluxruf0nNiO4zss6z6iTu7xNR-EFfgpOPMsYPtCDlNakrxouq1-SU_AmfwVcW1d2V5DjC5qihf-ihIQKdIzVs7IndpIegOIVtbNhK2RSbKLWasYmfSG1XFBjh/s1600/Picture+555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJPaDMCGaBuHwaVwpJdyluxruf0nNiO4zss6z6iTu7xNR-EFfgpOPMsYPtCDlNakrxouq1-SU_AmfwVcW1d2V5DjC5qihf-ihIQKdIzVs7IndpIegOIVtbNhK2RSbKLWasYmfSG1XFBjh/s640/Picture+555.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSXIqJmatpux60qPtqqyZbbRCod_vcvmKpo-K10PeGN2pxkiPcJJfTfz9jYHz23Y4dt09eHVac-y4M4jYvuCo5xntj9mv6oxpqIutpGYAJkFZ6H_tS_IW5rRXnIlYuBDntDVn3Gdy0TTx/s1600/Picture+558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSXIqJmatpux60qPtqqyZbbRCod_vcvmKpo-K10PeGN2pxkiPcJJfTfz9jYHz23Y4dt09eHVac-y4M4jYvuCo5xntj9mv6oxpqIutpGYAJkFZ6H_tS_IW5rRXnIlYuBDntDVn3Gdy0TTx/s640/Picture+558.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just hand sewn on to a simple hair band.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ho, ho, ho is over at <a href="http://benandcharlyscorner.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/ho-ho-ho-and-on-we-sew-giveaway-and.html" target="_blank">Charly & Ben's Crafty Corner</a> this month, with another giveaway to help persuade you to start thinking about Christmas good and early. As well as linking up there, I'll be linking up at <a href="http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/a-big-week.html" target="_blank">Crazy Mom Quilts</a> again for <i>Finish it up Friday</i>. And another finish here this week has been the incredibly cute <a href="http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/pixie-basket.html" target="_blank">'Pixie Basket'</a> that was featured over there last week. A really quick and cute make, it also seemed like the perfect place to sew another butterfly!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUiwnSCbFkcz2oFBfueS0nZMNRlymgXYwcCYFk72HPvR_uulxgzg1qWefnZ9BmVcRmzqHkDmJVf9ydbjIxCLGcReyuFYUb6hDTKQqv6bFQ_EL4FbAfnjXa-bH8YVRG2P6G8sIHNRZveaO/s1600/Picture+547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUiwnSCbFkcz2oFBfueS0nZMNRlymgXYwcCYFk72HPvR_uulxgzg1qWefnZ9BmVcRmzqHkDmJVf9ydbjIxCLGcReyuFYUb6hDTKQqv6bFQ_EL4FbAfnjXa-bH8YVRG2P6G8sIHNRZveaO/s640/Picture+547.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It's not really what I have in mind for the hair accessories, too teeny for starters, but the smaller ones are sitting there for the moment. And the basket itself has got definite gift potential.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhot0JrW38Mfo3NSvOnIAQi046UBGhqIKVGUDuV0GR9hOLWJXvgjl8ZKx-RJO3Zf4LZM9Gav7gHY83A5MJrTy-sF290OxkgiuR-JfZgFfjqvkXIc8xXIovDoiw7n6lLI14rLNxGRNxKTHsR/s1600/Picture+565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhot0JrW38Mfo3NSvOnIAQi046UBGhqIKVGUDuV0GR9hOLWJXvgjl8ZKx-RJO3Zf4LZM9Gav7gHY83A5MJrTy-sF290OxkgiuR-JfZgFfjqvkXIc8xXIovDoiw7n6lLI14rLNxGRNxKTHsR/s640/Picture+565.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In fact just the butterflies have lots more gift potential - I could imagine a little 'flight' of butterflies looking gorgeous on a cushion or a bag, or possibly on an item of clothing too. They could become my new obsession! What would you do with them?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Have a great weekend.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sally.</div>
Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-17611873585236661772016-02-24T15:01:00.000-08:002016-02-24T15:01:06.453-08:00Take 51) I did keep going with my 'finishing' plan last week, I just didn't get round to writing anything here. I made something very practical - leggings for the girls. This is something I've been meaning to do for ages - I've got a few non cotton, thrifted fabric remnants that I've collected over recent years and not done anything with yet. Generally quite funky, retro style patterns which I couldn't resist and with some stretch - so perfect for leggings. Plus both the girls seem to be wearing out/growing out of their leggings far too fast at the moment.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuHrpCaO1Z-Newf56rzzzF8SmC6-r6rD_-tBukeHJf0FvSjFR-RmHVnAm3if-YWbmJolz9pWkrRFgnxGpyOgjzzbRj09e_f53w_94d3dxBcdoPAEdbp6PhZ2tZFr8lHo3jPaPOT6SS35M/s1600/Picture+347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuHrpCaO1Z-Newf56rzzzF8SmC6-r6rD_-tBukeHJf0FvSjFR-RmHVnAm3if-YWbmJolz9pWkrRFgnxGpyOgjzzbRj09e_f53w_94d3dxBcdoPAEdbp6PhZ2tZFr8lHo3jPaPOT6SS35M/s640/Picture+347.jpg" width="304" /></a></div>
<br />
There are lots of tutorials out there for making your own leggings pattern (grown up as well as children's), and once you've made a pattern (which isn't too tricky), the actual sewing is incredibly quick and easy. If you're interested try here - <a href="http://so-sew-easy.com/leggings-pattern-tutorial/" target="_blank">So Sew Easy</a> for a tutorial using measurements, or here - <a href="http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2011/09/super-simple-leggings-only-2-fabric-pieces.html" target="_blank">Make it, Love it</a> for a tutorial using an existing pair of leggings.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpobfAL2wBBss_Vdm0p__V6lABM2Kjiwoafg3gUK1F46RHOP1oISA_-pKJMU-6Z0tcNEgH8Vs6eT6I6bfsbbnjhzqlUyQohgkPYTUksxg1jDR0neNv32sd_bEBAjcHRGCQtJoZPb1nzD_a/s1600/Picture+350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpobfAL2wBBss_Vdm0p__V6lABM2Kjiwoafg3gUK1F46RHOP1oISA_-pKJMU-6Z0tcNEgH8Vs6eT6I6bfsbbnjhzqlUyQohgkPYTUksxg1jDR0neNv32sd_bEBAjcHRGCQtJoZPb1nzD_a/s640/Picture+350.jpg" width="334" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgar5kgYsXkHpnJJBPUlbg8DSIa9wVGlhga8NEJpNXy9CltNrMUOcq58mn0b14Tt-W-Dc536DumczrkJhqQz5wXo1V5OFFhax0QcG_PbhHP6tKeoqfM7BUcnl631aoX6lmrPRtef2J-NlUs/s1600/Picture+379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgar5kgYsXkHpnJJBPUlbg8DSIa9wVGlhga8NEJpNXy9CltNrMUOcq58mn0b14Tt-W-Dc536DumczrkJhqQz5wXo1V5OFFhax0QcG_PbhHP6tKeoqfM7BUcnl631aoX6lmrPRtef2J-NlUs/s640/Picture+379.jpg" width="390" /></a></div>
<br />
I'll definitely be making a few more pairs now I know how easy they are.<br />
<br />
2) Venetia also had a finish, she made a cushion for a friend who had moved house and so was changing to a new school.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJ-VMsUviDWsYDdwdvupm8AqtYAw-fKaGNEkC3YRdLwQuyN5Srsz34Y1EUMW4_tzfBughdP-cYFHv7FwYdAaqwmufNJfE2FYrlvrw-ElFlGBj-TViRNdbwoQBjndISprEqPPdUmHowG52/s1600/Picture+184.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimJ-VMsUviDWsYDdwdvupm8AqtYAw-fKaGNEkC3YRdLwQuyN5Srsz34Y1EUMW4_tzfBughdP-cYFHv7FwYdAaqwmufNJfE2FYrlvrw-ElFlGBj-TViRNdbwoQBjndISprEqPPdUmHowG52/s640/Picture+184.jpg" width="474" /></a></div>
<br />
We used a texty fabric I've had sitting around for a while for the detail. I can't remember the name of the fabric but it has happy, positive words all over it, so we just picked out these 2 most appropriate bits of text for Venetia to cut out and then sew on to a simple heart applique.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrwWUU2ZtqdjdN9iE9ovVh6t0RdW7tPxonwNo9dJ9eru_YAUf2u9R_pzaK1yll7RBw46Upg0O5EeXRwg5zeZn4cyczlNOjXExeeR0HVpALfpZSv70C37rxdfU5016l1jyZY6-TU3m5u9B/s1600/Picture+185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrwWUU2ZtqdjdN9iE9ovVh6t0RdW7tPxonwNo9dJ9eru_YAUf2u9R_pzaK1yll7RBw46Upg0O5EeXRwg5zeZn4cyczlNOjXExeeR0HVpALfpZSv70C37rxdfU5016l1jyZY6-TU3m5u9B/s640/Picture+185.jpg" width="572" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGh3f61NE-5kPDpcQb65BGRSbGfECmSMbY_rk3y84QIrTSeFGHRcK-aE2gAVziMldIr2N535Lu4vat6sV8tzmx8HNMHZMHWV0396N_Ml5AUL1-28D_7ZOVZaSEkOtvLNUc6TdJ2cByt2bR/s1600/Picture+188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGh3f61NE-5kPDpcQb65BGRSbGfECmSMbY_rk3y84QIrTSeFGHRcK-aE2gAVziMldIr2N535Lu4vat6sV8tzmx8HNMHZMHWV0396N_Ml5AUL1-28D_7ZOVZaSEkOtvLNUc6TdJ2cByt2bR/s640/Picture+188.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
3) Time for a photo catch up, especially as we had a lovely, sunny trip to the beach last week!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGr7e4UzmCo6CFQAgPo4wUXEe8EpsS-iQeD0Wf2cw7tggeppnRMU-patOWuvQvAAjXB_rNVX_TW5MIFrcUVXqemLvThRhq28nScEIMoee_orc3vsjplptMaDX5vEt15FoimC5TFFVHCPb/s1600/Picture+196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYGr7e4UzmCo6CFQAgPo4wUXEe8EpsS-iQeD0Wf2cw7tggeppnRMU-patOWuvQvAAjXB_rNVX_TW5MIFrcUVXqemLvThRhq28nScEIMoee_orc3vsjplptMaDX5vEt15FoimC5TFFVHCPb/s640/Picture+196.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgX8ZXqd2Tzqi2ga2SbwZoZG2XfTNOIqun8BkGqegQo5mTj8SwOoQJAsfZdTN9Cd0Zf1mcCmJaYKCkbNqKuVoU-lvyRI-oMMkcAAFo-m92dURXUPBoP8fFOtdYVacFjiztAZ3Tc0mapDE/s1600/Picture+199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgX8ZXqd2Tzqi2ga2SbwZoZG2XfTNOIqun8BkGqegQo5mTj8SwOoQJAsfZdTN9Cd0Zf1mcCmJaYKCkbNqKuVoU-lvyRI-oMMkcAAFo-m92dURXUPBoP8fFOtdYVacFjiztAZ3Tc0mapDE/s640/Picture+199.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First shoes off trip of the year - it was cold still though!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64dmTtGqV99dpX4WIe4GzHc6AxxoXZ9HYlY2z-1-_6-NIyyvZcvegV8tkYD6sa_ICSfRtH9nMXfeet3AU2jB_zHpuQIk_S1uiXbzHx_0nZhH8UxkLeksFzXhK3L4Rd9GU9ScVRVwSuG-e/s1600/Picture+206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64dmTtGqV99dpX4WIe4GzHc6AxxoXZ9HYlY2z-1-_6-NIyyvZcvegV8tkYD6sa_ICSfRtH9nMXfeet3AU2jB_zHpuQIk_S1uiXbzHx_0nZhH8UxkLeksFzXhK3L4Rd9GU9ScVRVwSuG-e/s640/Picture+206.jpg" width="562" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXxOq4vWDvIchMvle0kNjyr7BnS3kffwJ4LmG_ikXfaLBhR8_3u4UaUheUf7ArOfI3Rx4W7CB_EX_WItDYVHUyjsC2Uxsuf9sb07PLAmYH7FtIBtDxA52zgSX2uQ8MKbdn7iNEnWvOIGY/s1600/Picture+212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXxOq4vWDvIchMvle0kNjyr7BnS3kffwJ4LmG_ikXfaLBhR8_3u4UaUheUf7ArOfI3Rx4W7CB_EX_WItDYVHUyjsC2Uxsuf9sb07PLAmYH7FtIBtDxA52zgSX2uQ8MKbdn7iNEnWvOIGY/s640/Picture+212.jpg" width="546" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviIaPvhQt78xyNsvyEXbLzKPzz3hM_TXhCAbjtiEg096R8KrOl5-tsShiZvqcxfk-4tCZ5yAzyIr8LkkC04ItUe7Rd5H4F2FhYfR845Mb9UwkseOoMfNrcOYyR32Ko5Eik5Z_WjWyXQ6e/s1600/Picture+215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviIaPvhQt78xyNsvyEXbLzKPzz3hM_TXhCAbjtiEg096R8KrOl5-tsShiZvqcxfk-4tCZ5yAzyIr8LkkC04ItUe7Rd5H4F2FhYfR845Mb9UwkseOoMfNrcOYyR32Ko5Eik5Z_WjWyXQ6e/s640/Picture+215.jpg" width="460" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTuOrtINlqIWAYX6ApJLcWS0-o0KkL0lihnWQg9-oePcuuQ9thd0OxJTt7cF0YIr9OP0DQ8QS5BpHdJZvuXJs_KjQ7ZJGjHQIxmRgwSOpjkQoXmey3vnbX2sh1hhsVjrdOBr55rm7I4NX4/s1600/Picture+218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTuOrtINlqIWAYX6ApJLcWS0-o0KkL0lihnWQg9-oePcuuQ9thd0OxJTt7cF0YIr9OP0DQ8QS5BpHdJZvuXJs_KjQ7ZJGjHQIxmRgwSOpjkQoXmey3vnbX2sh1hhsVjrdOBr55rm7I4NX4/s640/Picture+218.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8YUK60FFGaiaiL83wAqCpYjXFL3jn93LCHyUMkkB8hlrCJK2uZi9cQUrjtUAFCODkx2xsiTJRmPyRcWA7GvpN9scxCLamYKl29eeShP57skCvtYIJTMUD6rHY_qCb3zOFcK1fspkrDD7/s1600/Picture+236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8YUK60FFGaiaiL83wAqCpYjXFL3jn93LCHyUMkkB8hlrCJK2uZi9cQUrjtUAFCODkx2xsiTJRmPyRcWA7GvpN9scxCLamYKl29eeShP57skCvtYIJTMUD6rHY_qCb3zOFcK1fspkrDD7/s640/Picture+236.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7kSSI1hZTEC1Med55rWEsojqMl8sP-OhPvyFw1XbZem9ZUEawL9CHynf0gTbwa3mQgmNgAcqhY39LYS3r7tlBCX03mZbgvMJjQjkn_UIr1M4t13oAMIKsuFgMTirkHjx5udd76ja8JwJ/s1600/Picture+237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7kSSI1hZTEC1Med55rWEsojqMl8sP-OhPvyFw1XbZem9ZUEawL9CHynf0gTbwa3mQgmNgAcqhY39LYS3r7tlBCX03mZbgvMJjQjkn_UIr1M4t13oAMIKsuFgMTirkHjx5udd76ja8JwJ/s640/Picture+237.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JqNslrKc2GgeecL2GGmhMqVyeJ0WrAlSvk7DsZSEveDe9ZlSg3icTHgdusCCI_BQZznA2ZdaaF7MrgUTkMCaW8McD0ya5UnFQGETZVhfNOAEdBrKSlXCmxgTArWhzyLBHXoyXMIFVQnd/s1600/Picture+252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JqNslrKc2GgeecL2GGmhMqVyeJ0WrAlSvk7DsZSEveDe9ZlSg3icTHgdusCCI_BQZznA2ZdaaF7MrgUTkMCaW8McD0ya5UnFQGETZVhfNOAEdBrKSlXCmxgTArWhzyLBHXoyXMIFVQnd/s640/Picture+252.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is one of my favourites! Perfect example of the differences between boys and girls! Although the girls will happily battle as well, particularly Maria who wants to be a Ninja when she grows up!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbsfYNzJnM8tZtlXMAVI6MeI2sWfFN5U8LBHeVStu0EAiNmCSKQRMFeZQN8AGCFnEkpntJRzAXcFD-MtF0jxOq1ovh9TwBf_Mc3QJpXEQ6XoWM8kBbzeS_v5J_MSmD2CKGsyu9PYjFQyW/s1600/Picture+266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbsfYNzJnM8tZtlXMAVI6MeI2sWfFN5U8LBHeVStu0EAiNmCSKQRMFeZQN8AGCFnEkpntJRzAXcFD-MtF0jxOq1ovh9TwBf_Mc3QJpXEQ6XoWM8kBbzeS_v5J_MSmD2CKGsyu9PYjFQyW/s640/Picture+266.jpg" width="610" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCf72Gjjp9FoMONV4HxFjN5wnTHwi_oMHfqmP5JQ0ywhH1QipctD94Y4VWBgsNbfbmcVH6ZV4tEYmV50nwnlWkzBThlOnQkGn_GR4GKCJjLVrpNi20YrdPYOHj1CQkBStzr1bSpGYKrzA/s1600/Picture+274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCf72Gjjp9FoMONV4HxFjN5wnTHwi_oMHfqmP5JQ0ywhH1QipctD94Y4VWBgsNbfbmcVH6ZV4tEYmV50nwnlWkzBThlOnQkGn_GR4GKCJjLVrpNi20YrdPYOHj1CQkBStzr1bSpGYKrzA/s640/Picture+274.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7k4zylxWAB3cTAbUO5dG2bdu0uwEE9iU1kUIengc3dSiJ5v3bZ7TYli5Kb0Pgb5Dzn67LnbiuRJrftn32fJQM0LiabA9N3tRjoIv4Pxo0RMEN6BcmN3rv5VepDCYIQK0j86UGXAum5NJY/s1600/Picture+278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7k4zylxWAB3cTAbUO5dG2bdu0uwEE9iU1kUIengc3dSiJ5v3bZ7TYli5Kb0Pgb5Dzn67LnbiuRJrftn32fJQM0LiabA9N3tRjoIv4Pxo0RMEN6BcmN3rv5VepDCYIQK0j86UGXAum5NJY/s640/Picture+278.jpg" width="364" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDS2TjeNcN8iXySgx1FLpr61vOq2DWwG1h3OVNe6_XJEP8_4G7wUBKT46cmjBRb12vpt9hXyjipKh4F15Z0hkVJmh0mNoh63jLr6t7l5S2BSeB8xYhlLejQvnROKR_3gcvE9Hd5vtSM3p/s1600/Picture+281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDS2TjeNcN8iXySgx1FLpr61vOq2DWwG1h3OVNe6_XJEP8_4G7wUBKT46cmjBRb12vpt9hXyjipKh4F15Z0hkVJmh0mNoh63jLr6t7l5S2BSeB8xYhlLejQvnROKR_3gcvE9Hd5vtSM3p/s640/Picture+281.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
4) The sunshine had us out in the garden quite a bit too, and back at one of our favourite activities - painting fabric, and in some sunrise inspired colours. These are scraps of muslin, painted with watered down acrylics.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPtatcftndlRn4m5xRuU2RyFeECqjc5IBhYuUw_HWfE4w-nVWvNP9PmLUhrIK-p67vQvgjG3HU4JtcbBuzWln1dGGuFso3SnflxpuW9tpCtEEHwFIZeA_5DJkCL-baOzv7h5kuCBFx40X/s1600/Picture+531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPtatcftndlRn4m5xRuU2RyFeECqjc5IBhYuUw_HWfE4w-nVWvNP9PmLUhrIK-p67vQvgjG3HU4JtcbBuzWln1dGGuFso3SnflxpuW9tpCtEEHwFIZeA_5DJkCL-baOzv7h5kuCBFx40X/s640/Picture+531.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I think I might have a plan for what they'll now become, so watch this space...<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
5) I've not been too bad with thrifting recently, but I couldn't resist a little stash of miniature baskets earlier this week. They're so cute!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGEBMdxgK7ej4tn_0nF-wKdpDFvsK_hA0dHvFoZsiEVClK5yZTcZDNFu8Ept-UwXpTBGzz_qZBk2fqsrUqqQACzpIBxnyn9mfgg5tw_DDaP581rDtAMVp0wmE6LnbfS0_7V9Vx_R9xHJW/s1600/Picture+538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGEBMdxgK7ej4tn_0nF-wKdpDFvsK_hA0dHvFoZsiEVClK5yZTcZDNFu8Ept-UwXpTBGzz_qZBk2fqsrUqqQACzpIBxnyn9mfgg5tw_DDaP581rDtAMVp0wmE6LnbfS0_7V9Vx_R9xHJW/s640/Picture+538.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I've popped a couple of mice finger puppets in there as well so you have an idea of the scale. Can you see the mini doll's 'crib'? I think I'm going to have to make something to go in there as a birthday/Christmas present for Maria. And there are 2 teeny picnic hampers too - perfect for a <a href="http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/a-mouse-picnic-present.html" target="_blank">mouse picnic set</a>!<br />
<br />
Sally.Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-63630171672912245072016-02-12T12:38:00.002-08:002016-02-12T12:38:24.325-08:00Wool Patchwork Baby QuiltI'm starting to wonder whether this focus on 'finishing' things is good! I have finished something, and yes that feels good. But, starting random things on the spur of the moment and dipping in and out of makes is fun too! And I seem to be doing less of that recently! Is 'finishing' all it's cracked up to be? Even before I finished typing that question, the answer, for me at least, was already pretty obvious - it's got to be all about finding a happy balance. But possibly to redress my particular balance it is good to have a slightly stronger swing to the other extreme first.<br />
<br />
Anyway, enough of my musing. Here is my finish...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4YFS3HtjQMskGD4XngxcA3BPG4CVGjDaSnwSXPaGh4vcVRWS7sKMQWAUwFEwe57CD5ejH7goga1ky_hAkv9Mzxpww7eB4EmnLE5BDUFRnL4TTHBSAxoarIScfjxGnoqPqwzwdSJHzjuC/s1600/Picture+154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4YFS3HtjQMskGD4XngxcA3BPG4CVGjDaSnwSXPaGh4vcVRWS7sKMQWAUwFEwe57CD5ejH7goga1ky_hAkv9Mzxpww7eB4EmnLE5BDUFRnL4TTHBSAxoarIScfjxGnoqPqwzwdSJHzjuC/s640/Picture+154.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This one is made from repurposed wools - blankets, jumpers and a stripey scarf.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YpqToDm75ao7GbeEl1SIS83fKoEq8JxYm7unuwrdZ2QpBvXEFbM7bN60dysca9ugc4Zc0F5EmVRSdfi0bqV5CSsv0VZH9WlXevgoVcCpznmnD2axlWrqW_ngNcVXFbkifRsEEFheCoE0/s1600/Picture+158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YpqToDm75ao7GbeEl1SIS83fKoEq8JxYm7unuwrdZ2QpBvXEFbM7bN60dysca9ugc4Zc0F5EmVRSdfi0bqV5CSsv0VZH9WlXevgoVcCpznmnD2axlWrqW_ngNcVXFbkifRsEEFheCoE0/s640/Picture+158.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It is a smallish, and lovely, warm quilt, backed with a soft, coral coloured flannelette, and with navy, corduroy binding.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxl2zU-PEdmIwuEtNiBwB-Ng18WHFJXhUL-8dKhiPZyNPK_BnD1UAjjQQP4-7H8f5StyWNIrU1-QmanJ3zT67EYejgA5FfcT9iqD9f5L8Y2YPPlAYWVl7TQPOxq8WUh1zodkIKiBm-_LS/s1600/Picture+164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxl2zU-PEdmIwuEtNiBwB-Ng18WHFJXhUL-8dKhiPZyNPK_BnD1UAjjQQP4-7H8f5StyWNIrU1-QmanJ3zT67EYejgA5FfcT9iqD9f5L8Y2YPPlAYWVl7TQPOxq8WUh1zodkIKiBm-_LS/s640/Picture+164.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm pretty sure I finished cutting and then hand sewing all the wool pennies to their squares for this well over a year ago. They've been spilling out of a little box in a cupboard ever since, so definitely a good thing to finally finish them up!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNWDygwSThb8WUbjmuSPJoHg_YSekfk52Gkxs-om1R57u2UMhGSMr6ALY52iQiF129iSDvSvA3FM3Ba-ibgYR4DRFpJ87DokDP44i7rrgLYoFBszegsuvQcLOd_UI3VsGTGaph2TTKy16/s1600/Picture+175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNWDygwSThb8WUbjmuSPJoHg_YSekfk52Gkxs-om1R57u2UMhGSMr6ALY52iQiF129iSDvSvA3FM3Ba-ibgYR4DRFpJ87DokDP44i7rrgLYoFBszegsuvQcLOd_UI3VsGTGaph2TTKy16/s640/Picture+175.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And it means I'm linking up with<a href="http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/micro-geese-mini-quilt.html" target="_blank"> Crazy Mom Quilts</a> again. Happy Weekend to you all,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sally.</div>
Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7228766516631948273.post-44309090255255781802016-02-05T13:21:00.002-08:002016-02-05T13:21:12.920-08:00Cathedral Windows CushionI've been feeling strangely drawn to trying my hand at a bit of cathedral windows patchwork for some time. And making a friend for Maria's hexie cushion seemed to be the perfect opportunity. I followed <a href="http://www.modabakeshop.com/2011/04/charming-window-pillows.html" target="_blank">this tutorial </a>on Moda Bake Shop, which was very clear.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately it really didn't turn out as I had visualised! It's very, very red and yellow! Which might seem a stupid comment given that I picked the fabrics in the first place, but I just hadn't appreciated how little impact the other fabrics would have in the finished cushion. Have you ever made anything where the colours really didn't work as you had hoped?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqanMTT6-mPB2ejcxPmPB4VMreSW8axcWfDctPHO33F7CanprMfEdHTX3FfKGmJwbIeSE1-4F_BQoaqVDAHULKfzEi5Ry35mI7wWb2T5QAlt1IzzOWtv5CFMirLgKabezs2mXs7mw-cu3/s1600/Picture+141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqanMTT6-mPB2ejcxPmPB4VMreSW8axcWfDctPHO33F7CanprMfEdHTX3FfKGmJwbIeSE1-4F_BQoaqVDAHULKfzEi5Ry35mI7wWb2T5QAlt1IzzOWtv5CFMirLgKabezs2mXs7mw-cu3/s640/Picture+141.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Even apart from my serious disappointment with the colour scheme, it doesn't stand up to close, critical scrutiny. I stupidly cut my red, spotty squares too small and then even more stupidly thought I'd get away with it! But I did actually quite enjoy the making process, it was good to try something completely new and as a technique it wasn't as tricky as I had thought it might be.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW23G-6kfRCZ24OnCW8riIxy4LSIvGfpIvtxEEHg95isguvG3DUt0UFjJq53wzx2cuCKKzhKphkBdG7FPZGYnHDMcVulGOjX2KRhJbeUDbw2AwHd7Mq-Pr8wyBtWrc4YZy93CM6BRo_MQb/s1600/Picture+145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW23G-6kfRCZ24OnCW8riIxy4LSIvGfpIvtxEEHg95isguvG3DUt0UFjJq53wzx2cuCKKzhKphkBdG7FPZGYnHDMcVulGOjX2KRhJbeUDbw2AwHd7Mq-Pr8wyBtWrc4YZy93CM6BRo_MQb/s640/Picture+145.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I'm already planning another attempt with a very different colour palette!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Linking up with <a href="http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/practicality-and-pink-patchwork.html" target="_blank">Crazy Mom Quilts</a>, and wishing you all a happy weekend.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sally.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Wonky Patchworkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13877163026017340681noreply@blogger.com11