March...ing

Am I just in time for March...ing? Here in the UK it has been a wet start to spring so not so much to offer on the outdoor front but there has been lots of sewing and knitting until the nights draw out this weekend.

Continuing - with my table vase challenge. A vase of something from my garden or hedgerow for 12 months. I have one more month to do and then I have completed a whole year. My birthday in January did save me a little because people bought me lovely things as gifts so there was a little bit of cheating in the depths of winter.

Getting - Out and about last Sunday to Hawkstone Follies. It is a wonderful place for a long walk and an explore of caves, follies and vistas if you are ever in Shropshire. 

Eating - winter food still. I made a cheese and potato pie last week for Sunday dinner just to warm us all up!

Gardening - but indoors. I have potted on a lot of my house plants into bigger pots and given them a feed. Our house is hot in the summer and winter so I have to keep them watered and in good soil. I have lots of successful cuttings all potted up too for family and friends. My outdoor soil is nowhere near ready for potatoes (it is like chocolate mousse) so the seed potatoes are chitting inside. 

Watching - the front border wake up with daffs and a few early tulips. This 'hot' colour border fills out pretty quickly in May.

Crocheting - out of season with the addition of an angel for my nativity set. My next one will be a shepherd and a few sheep but no hurry obviously.

Tidying - my yarn basket. It is a nerdy thing I do every time I finish a project so that I can make way for the next without getting everything all tangled up. My next project is a summer throw over with some cotton yarn given to me by my neighbour. Guess what? I am winging it with coloured stripes as usual!

Taking - it easy this weekend with friends for dinner and some light crafting.

Having - the window open on my cabin today for the first time this year. I was sewing with my big girl and we both got really warm for a change.

Making - my first ever historical costume for a party. This is a regency coat and it is very much testing me!

Preparing - for some sunshine with a couple of new summer dresses. I am so over the floppy buffet style dresses now. I like this slightly fitted dress. I made the blue toile which turned out to be wearable and then I made another in my best Art Gallery poplin fabric. 

 

Leaving - you with a soft sunset as usual. Sending you love and best wishes for a restful weekend. Jo xxx

Lots of little random things

The weather has been mixed for the UK so I have been doing lots of sewing for work because I know when it starts to head into spring proper I will want to be in the greenhouse sowing this years flowers and vegetables. The weather has brought about some fantastic sunsets from my studio which are ALWAYS welcome.

I bought a candlestick from an antique shop for a tenner and because I had seen my mum clean one of these on a weekly basis when I was younger, I thought it would be in my genes to be able to put one back together. She was able to disassemble and put one back together like a blindfolded SAS soldier preparing an assault rifle but alas, it took me an hour to work it out and then had to get one of the girls to hold a bit steady to enable me to gain completion. 

My re-upholstered chair has had its much needed seat addition. I know it looks like a child's theatre booster seat but it is now super comfy and I am able to knit in my new chair with full clearance of the arms.

That said, I have finished knitting a baby sweater and some booties for a neighbour...

...along with a crochet blanket which was simply to use up some yarn from my basket.

My table vase is quite repetitive at the moment as I cut off the wind stricken daffodils from the garden.

I always get itchy fingers for gardening in February but I have learnt over time that you can't trick mother nature and it is best to hang in there until the soil warms up. To ease the craziness I have been potting on some of my house plants into larger pots and taking some cuttings. These ones are doing really well and also ready to move up a pot size.

I have been sewing for work but with the bonus of keeping some of the samples I have sewn. This is the Ilford Jacket It is a unisex pattern which I thought would be a bit meh but I have found that I love it made in boiled wool. The little felted left over pieces made for some fab applique fun. There will be more of these for other members of my family in other fabrics this year I think.

I have added three more characters to my Nativity set. The pattern was only for Mary and Joseph but with a little imagination and some off piste crochet shenanigans, I have made three kings. I'm just waiting for the right thingy to fall into my hands for two more gifts - you never have a broken necklace when you want one!

My neighbour who I taught to crochet 10 years ago asked if I wanted her yarn stash. She can't crochet anymore due to arthritis and it was sad to see such aspiration in one basket which could not be fulfilled but my teens and I enjoyed visiting her and we spilt the yarn between us. At the bottom of the basket was a half finished Elise Shawl. I remember teaching it to a load of people at a class so I finished it off and will give it to her for her birthday. She said I could keep it but it didn't feel right to do that.

 Have you ever seen anvil clouds? These ones were amazing last week. We couldn't stop looking at them.

If that feels like a random phone image dump its because it is but lots of lovely things to inspire you I hope. Thanks for calling in. See you for March...ing where I hope to get out and about in the garden.

Jo xxxx

February...ing

Hello friends! I have been a bit slack on blogging of late. Happy to read them but too busy to write one. Let's kick off with some seasonal fayre and a round up of what I have been making.

Filling - the gaps of my fading Autumn wreath with some roses I dried (a birthday gift from January) It gives it a little spring like edge but it is so delicate now that I have to keep it inside to stop the wind blowing it away from the front door.

Digging - the last of my parsnips while the ground is still soft but trying to stay off the soil. The veg patch needs a little while longer yet until I can give it a dig over.

Picking - a few choice hellebores for my table vase. You have to condition them well or they just wilt straight away. I cut an angled stem at the bottom and dipped them in boiling water before standing them in cold water up to the stems for about 3 hours. Then into the vase they went. 

Buying - a new hellebore called Camelot which has beautiful peachy tones. 

Promising - to be a glorious show in the front border. The bulbs are appearing and although it should look at its worst right now, in the depths of February, it looks OK 

Finishing - my toe up socks. I really liked the way these were constructed and the after thought heel was not a compromise on comfort. It felt the same as my other ones but was much easier to do. I am going to try a few more from the booklet.

Feeling - just OK with my new knit. I wanted it to be boxier and more of a swing over top so I sized up but because I made it in 4ply scraps instead of double knit it is a bit fitted for me. I have blocked it and that gave it some more space but I will see if I wear it and if not I will send it to a friend. The pattern is here and I would definitely do it again.

Using - up some of my yarn leftovers with some baby knitting and crochet. A little white sweater and a car seat blanket for my neighbours' daughter.

 

Diving - into my vintage sewing patterns. I haven't made one for a couple of years but have a massive collection. This brocade suit was for a video tutorial for Minerva (its not on there yet) I actually like wearing it as separates but it does make a beautiful suit. 

Having - my favourite chair reupholstered. I bought it 16 years ago for £70 in an antique shop and kept saying I would have it re-done. It was my new years resolution to get the seat repaired and recovered professionally. It is so comfortable to sit on/in but it has one drawback - I can't knit in it! There is some fabric left over so I am thinking about making a deep foam seat pad to lift me up. That way, I am hoping I can move my elbows at knitting height. 

Leaving - you as ever with my kitchen table view. The sunsets have been amazing this week. One every night which changes in minutes. 

Thanks for dropping by. Jo xxxx