Spring has sprung

My MIL presented me with a bunch of Pussy Willow the size of a tree yesterday. After I had cut myself some nice twiggy branches, I also cut another huge bunch of the same and gave them to Little Neet's school for them to enjoy also. It seems like Nature has got her running shoes on now looking around my garden.

Piecing

English Paper Piecing
Sorry for the 'pale' pics but if you click on the image you might get a better look!




This is my quilt that I am enjoying making. The process of cutting, basting, stitching and piecing is very relaxing and enjoyable. I am using 1" hexagon templates and using material that is mostly thrifted with some specially purchased Cath Kidston prints to add to it. There are 14 different fabrics altogether just for the hexagon section then I will use more prints for the border and backing.
I don't know when it will be completed as it is a pure 'WIP' but it will get done and I will post more as it progresses.

Growing season has started

I would like to use my blog to record my garden/vegetable growing season this year. I have been growing my own veggies for 2 years now and I think I have finally got into the rhythym of sowing, planting and cropping with enough confidence to log it.


I started off with an allotment plot away from the house but - 1. It was too big for me to handle and 2. I found out what space I really needed to grow the plants I like and decided to make a bed dedicated to this at home, which I much prefer. I also use pots for growing salads in.


Today saw the onion sets going into the prepared bed. (I am trying to plant using the Moon Calendar with the aid of this site).


without the help of these!....................
they were happily scratching away in nextdoors field, blissfully unaware that I was gardening - thank goodness.


So the covers are on the onions, at least until the chickens have got a permanent enclosure to keep them off my garden for the summer.


The tomatoes are coming along in their improvised, insulated cold frame. (A plastic storage box lined with bubble wrap and a clear plastic lid).


Sweet peas, cabbages, hollyhocks, coriander and parsley are in another insulated box.



These are Dwarf French Bean seedlings popping up. There are 6 in there and hopefully I will be getting a little crop of beans in about 10 weeks. This idea was a suggestion by one of the regulars from this great gardening site.

I also have peas, peppers, rocket, parsnips, red and white salad onions started off along with chitted potatoes (earlies) and a selection of flowers that I want to grow for cutting in the Summer.

Let's hope we have just a little less rain than we did last year for this coming season. Fingers crossed!

Jumble sales?

>

2 x Kilner jars, sugar shaker, pretty tin, SILVER tablespoon, metal pastry cutters and loose bottomed cake tin


2 lace decorated, cotton handkerchiefs and a linen tray cloth decorated with cotton lace edging.


2 x 100% heavyweight Egyptian cotton, double size, striped sheets in perfect, new condition.

ALL the above for a grand total of 50p!!! (plus 20p admission)

Jumble sales = I love 'em!
(Even if I have got bruised elbows today).

My Pink Day

A piece of beautiful Laura Ashley chintz, bagged via Ebay, arrived in the post this morning. Do you know that feeling when a fabric makes you feel happy it's yours?


My pink day was made even sweeter when I brought home these dotty, pink tea plates from Sainsburys for £1 each.


The tulips match my pink mood and have found a home in my thrifted jug on the kitchen table.

Crumbs!!

That didn't hang about for long!
In the words of Mr Kipling "It was 'exceedingly good'. Mmmmmm.

Reasons

A newly thrifted glass cake stand is the perfect excuse to...........




.....bake a Victoria Sponge.



Victoria Sponge Recipe

175g Butter - softened
175g Caster sugar
3 eggs, beaten
Vanilla essence
175g Self-raising flour
3 tbsp Jam, preferably seedless Raspberry Jam
whipped cream, optional

Grease and line 2 20cm (8") round sandwich tins
Cream sugar and butter together until very light and fluffy
Gradually beat in the eggs along with a few drops of vanilla essence
Fold in the flour
Divide mixture between the 2 tins and smooth surface
Bake in preheated oven 190/380degrees gas Mark 5 for 20 mins
until golden, well risen and springy to the touch
Leave to cool for 10 mins and turn out onto wire rake
When completely cool, sandwich with jam (and optional whipped cream)
.......
place on newly acquired glass cake stand and gaze with admiration!

One persons rubbish.............

Is someone else's treasure!

My recent thrift discoveries


Another 50p apron - lawn fabric already earmarked for a project


A pretty little ceramic jug - perfect to stuff full of home-grown summer flowers.


Two wooden candlesticks that I am deliberating about whether to give them a shabby look with a coat of paint. But the wood is really nice too.


And lastly these two real treasures. Both were 30p each!! A good wash with some Fairy liquid, a tickle with a toothbrush on the metal trim and a gentle polish make them look fantastic. I am going to replace the damaged fabric within the lid of the dish with some pretty fabric or some handsewn embroidery.

Coming to a supermarket near you

Cath 'Kidspiration' seems to be catching on now away from her shops. The mugs are from Sainsburys (UK) and the t-towels are part of a set from Wilkinsons (UK). I do have to say - I am NOT a massive 'Cath' fan but her colours and pattern style match my mood since the New Year. I am enjoying pink, bright, floral and crisp. So little pieces like those above are perfect for lifting my spirit. Now let's see what I can do with the ugly stainless cannisters! Keep reading.

more stuff

These little patches are cut from my fabric stash and are going to be used for this project. I wanted it to look random and not be colour or pattern specific - but you can tell that by looking at it!


I thrifted this apron just after Christmas for a bargain 50p. I call it a bargain because the material is beautiful, in vintage, colour and ammount, I'm thinking 'cushion cover'.



I enjoy making hearts to decorate little corners and this is going to hang on my ironwork bedstead.