High Speed Hubby!!!

These are the pics taken of Andy at the racetrack yesterday......

These are photos taken by staff at the race track as the set up there wasn't really condusive to taking our own photos although we did get a little bit of video when he started off.

I'm getting a little worried as to what is going to happen to my blog come the end of May.
EE who have taken over the company who provides our e-mail service is closing down Orange and on their advice I have now moved my e-mail to gmail which is Google. My blog is signed into via Google but they will not let me use a gmail account as the primary account for gaining access to various things.
So I don't know if my blog will just disappear on May 31st or if the old e-mail address is just like a password type thing and will stay there to give me access.
I've never had to deal with anything like this so if anyone has any advice I'd be grateful.

Well Sunday lunch has been cooked and eaten. Just some pork chops....half a pack of eight picked up from T***o for £4 so a relatively cheap one this week and there are four more in the freezer for another meal.

I don't seem to have much energy today which I think is due to the fact that it is very, very warm here. No sun to speak of as it is hidden up beyond the greyish clouds.
I feel like a limp rag 😕
I might just take a lazy day then and just go and read the papers on the sofa....not really how I like to spend my time but it's no use forcing myself to do anything if I don't feel like it as things have a  tendency to go wrong when I am not at my best.

So here I go off to the sofa and I suppose it is too much to ask that there is a good film on.

Hope your day is fabulous.
Sheila-x-

WOW!!!

Well that was an exciting morning out for Andy. He absolutely loved his driving experience....especially the Aston Martin DB9 and I must admit I enjoyed seeing all the cars.
It was quite a long drive there and back but the Leicestershire weather was very nice.....sunny but with a chilly wind that wasn't so good for us spectators.
I have a couple of lovely photos of him so I will try and take photos of those and show them tomorrow.
Now begins the search for the next thing on his bucket list....a ride in a Spitfire which I think is either going to be hard to find or super expensive but we shall see.

Back home now and I have jobs waiting as usual so I'll get a few bits done....there is always tomorrow and Monday.......and Tuesday....and Wednesday...lol.
First I need a decent cuppa as the one from the catering van at the racetrack left a lot to be desired...I hate tea out of a paper cup.

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend.
Sheila-x-

Up And Out!!!

Up and out early this morning to take me Doodle to school. I do love to see her gorgeous little face early in the morning.
DD then took me for a surprise treat of breakfast at The Cherry Tree and then back into little town to get some food shopping done.
We now have a couple of hours at home before we go and pick Doodle up and take her home so I am spending that time (after blogging of course) trying to squeeze away the rest of the fabric purchases from Tuesday. It's not going awfully well as there seems to be more fabric than space to put it....lol.

Tomorrow we will be travelling into Leicestershire to take Andy for his experience day that we bought him for Christmas....driving an Aston Martin and taking a high speed ride in an Ariel Atom. He is really looking forward to it so I hope there are no severe weather issues to affect it like there was with the balloon ride we gave him for his 60th birthday which he eventually got just before his 61st birthday.

Well that is pretty much as exciting as it gets here today so I will love you and leave you for now.
Hope you all have a great Bank Holiday weekend whatever you are up to.
Sheila-x-

Swings And Roundabouts!!!

Good morning from Staffordshire where we have a very mixed bag of weather this morning.
We started off with a bit of sun but now it's very grey, windy and raining off and on. I must admit I am thankful for the rain as it will save me struggling to peg the laundry on the line.....my shoulders still hurt from carrying those heavy bags of fabric on Tuesday and I can barely lift my arms. I am definitely taking my granny trolley next time I go...lol.

Yesterday I was at the doctors for my annual review and there was good news....I had lost half a stone, not so good news....blood sugars were very slightly up, blood pressure was a little higher and now they think I may be vitamin D deficient so I have to have yet more blood tests for that. I have opted though to have that checked when I go for my next tests in three months.

We were late getting back from dropping Ruby home last night due to the distraction of that little cutie pie Marlowe being very entertaining so I didn't get the waistband finished on the maxi skirt. I'll get that done today once I have hobbled round and got a few jobs done.

For tea today I am making turkey burgers seasoned with fajita style herbs and spices. They will be served in a brioche bun with a side of sweet potato wedges and a lime and green chillie reduced fat mayo dip.....yummy.

Okey dokey....I shall be away to my chores then.....oh bl***y hell....the sun has come out again so now I am going to have to peg the laundry out....lol.

Have a fabulous day.
Sheila-x-

Fabric Overload!!!

Well....what a fabulous day we had in Birmingham at The Rag Markets and what a lot of bargains we got.
I don't know where to start so I will just dive in and show you what I got.........

100% cotton, 60" wide £5 per metre and no flaws. Destined to become two more 'Edna' dresses

The black with pink flowers is a remnant of slightly under three metres and 60" wide for £4 the piece. the green with pink flowers 45" wide at £2 per metre and the pink broderie anglaise 60" wide for £5 per metre. All destined to become dresses and tops for Ruby. The lace is cotton,4" wide £2.50 a metre and will be used to trim a crop top for Ruby.

A bit of an indulgence at £8 per metre and I bought two metres to make a bag for my sewing machine. I can get this type of fabric from Derby market but it is £10 a metre.

Polycottons for crafting projects. £2 per metre so no cheaper than I can get it on Derby market but they did have a fantastic range.

The navy polycotton £2 per metre will become pyjamas for Andy and the white on white floral will be summer tops for Ruby and maybe a little dress for Marlowe.

Dark and light olive striped jersey. £2 per metre. I don't know what I am going to do with this....maybe a loose t shirt for summer. I got three metres and at 60" wide I should get two out of it.

Three dress zips for £2 and the thread cops were £1 each.

I was over the moon to find these summer dress/tops for wearing over leggings. Two for £10 so I bought four as summer will probably be just about over by the time I go again. They fit beautifully.

 

 

I also got five metres of 60" wide black jersey for £10 which I am going to use to make a sleeveless cardigan and probably a skirt.

There were things I didn't find from my list.....embroidery threads.....I wanted to stock up on white and cream, bias binding....pretty shocking that not one of the haberdashery stalls had this and no flat waistband webbing for Andy's pj's so I will have to take a trip to Derby for those things.

Today my legs and shoulders ache like hell so I am just pottering around at home and trying to find places to put all this fabric until I can get to the projects I will be using it on.
Ruby is due for tea today so I can measure her up for the elastic for the waistband of her skirt and that can get finished. All the strips are sewn together for the Worn and Washed quilt....they just need trimming up before I make them into the quilt top and then I will get the pj's done for His Nibs which should only take an hour at the most although he won't be able to wear them until I get the webbing for the waistband.
Gosh I am going to be busy.....and I am so looking forward to it.

Hope you are all having a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

 

Going Out!!!

I shall be off to the train station shortly to catch a train to Birmingham.
The last of my birthday money is tucked away in my bag and I am hoping for some good finds....wish me luck😃

I may not get a chance to post again today but I will be back tomorrow to share my finds.

Have a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

A Trip Down Memory Lane!!!

Morning all....I hope you haven't woken up to the grey and wet day that we have today.

After much deliberation yesterday I decided to open one of these.....

Quilt kits from Kim Porter at Worn and Washed Fabrics

I resisted opening the packs when they were first purchased and rifling through them and I am so glad that I did.
I have opened the smaller pack on the left, stroked all the fabrics, ironed them and laid out how I want them to go together.
All of the fabrics are found and restored mainly from charity shops and in the pack I have opened I can see pieces from shirts and bedding. 
They have all been hot washed before being co-ordinated into colour themes and when I was ironing them I was transported by the smell to my Grandma's back room where I used to sit and watch her do the ironing. 
The pinned strips are laying over a chair in the dining room and I can still smell that gorgeous smell.
I can't wait to get this one sewn together and will make start on it this afternoon.

Other stuff to do first including some food shopping and a bit of charity shop browsing. I need a couple of new books and I am also looking for a flanelette sheet to back the quilt with...preferably an old one with a blue pattern. I do have a back up plan if I can't find one but I really would like that sheet.

DD is on annual leave this week and was hoping for more gardening time but if the weather carries on like this that won't be happening..........I'll find her something to do....lol.

Right I shall go and hoof her off the sofa so we can go and get this shopping done.
Have a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

It's Sunday And It's Sunny!!!

A good old sunny Sunday morning but it is still so cold.
Lunch is cooking away....another request fro Mr Bossy Boots so we are having roast beef and all the fixings to go with it.
I have discovered a new love of spring greens which I have hated all my life due to the way my mother used to cook them but they had them in A**a for 20p last week so I thought I would give them a try. Oh my life they are delicious when properly trimmed and gently steamed so they are featuring quite a bit in our eating at the moment.

I ended up having a sleep on the sofa yesterday afternoon and then had a good night's sleep last night which seems to have cured whatever was wrong with me thank goodness.

Once lunch is done today I want to sort out another sewing project but I'm not sure what I want to do. I have so many patterns and books with fabulous ideas in that I am totally befuddled.
I might get out one of the quilt kits that I bought at the NEC and see if I want to make a start on that.
DD is out in the garden at the moment but will be off out to buy a garden arch for over the back gate this afternoon and Andy is sofa hugging.....and will probably be snoring after lunch if I am not mistaken....lol.....so just me then to find something to occupy myself.

Have a wonderful Sunday.
Sheila-x-

Busy Doing Nothing!!!

Woke up feeling a bit bleurgh this morning so I have decide to just take the day as it comes.
There's nothing desperate needs doing on the home front apart from a quick go round with the hoover and maybe a flick with a duster so I don't feel too guilty.

Apart from putting the elastic into the waistband I have finished the maxi skirt for Ruby. I want to make a white lace trimmed crop top to go with it but I am waiting until I go to Birmingham on Tuesday  to see if I can get some broderie anglaise. The pattern I have is very simple so I think it will look really nice in that.
I have quite a list going of things to look for so I'll be happy if I manage to get it all.

No guinea pigs today.
Andy took Ruby down but they wouldn't let Andy bring any home because of the fact that we are going to be having some frosty weather and are keeping them outside. Ruby was fine with that...bless her.

Another tea requested by Andy today....he's getting awful bossy just lately...lol. He fancies corned beef with salad and new potatoes so that is what we will be having.

DD has been out to one garden centre this morning and has just gone back out to another on the hunt for a trough type planter for a collection of miniature sedums she bought the other day and she also wants to find a low growing white clematis which can be grown up an obelisk.
She really is into her gardening now after years of having no hobbies other than books and films.

Well Andy is back from town so I suppose I should find some energy to go and make a coffee for us both.

Hope you have some sunshine today....we have some but it is still very cold.
Sheila-x-

Fishy Things And Rugs!!!

The fish recipe I tried out yesterday was really very nice.......

Red onion, garlic and peppers sauteed until soft then I added some chopped sundried tomatoes, a carton of passata and a little veg stock with a pinch or two of basil and oregano and some Hawaiian red salt and fresh ground black pepper. Simmered together for a few minutes then added the pollock fillets and simmered for a little longer until the fish was cooked.
I will make it again when I can get some cod or haddock at a reasonable price as the pollock to me is a bit tasteless.
It was a hit with Andy and DD anyway.

The rug..........

......not an expensive one but I have a filthy dog and a husband who refuses to remove his outdoor shoes but it will do it's job and covers up quite a bit of the nearly worn out carpet which we can't replace until we have had the woodburner put in as I want to change the size of the hearth.
The coffee table is a bit battered but it was a £5 bargain from an antique shop and is a 'project in waiting'.

Well it's a nice breezy day so I think I'll go and hang some washing out. It's a load which includes the comedy dress so I will probably take a pic of that when it's dried and ironed and post it tomorrow.
I also have to make some cauliflower cheese today as Andy has requested it with some sausages for tea. It's not my most favourite meal so I might investigate the salad drawer and have a bowl of salad with some cold sausages.

Tomorrow will hopefully see us having two new additions to the household as Andy is picking Ruby up to take her to Pets At Home to see if they have a pair of guinea pigs that can be adopted.
I love that they rehome unwanted animals rather than selling from a breeder.

Rightio....I will go and crack on with a couple of jobs and then onto my next sewing project which is a maxi skirt for Ruby in the same fabric as the comedy dress.....I had lots left, Ruby loved it so that will use that up and save me storing it.

Have a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

A Fit Of The Giggles!!!

Hello on this not so springlike morning in Staffordshire.
It's cold, it's damp and it's very, very grey.
We were going to be making a start on painting the shed but as it keeps spitting with rain I think it will be put off until we get a dry day or two.

The reason for my fit of the giggles yesterday was the top/dress I am making for myself. The fabric is a pig to work with but I love the floral pattern and the sleeveless A-line design is just what I wanted for wearing around the house with a pair of leggings in summer to keep cool.
So there I am sewing away with visions of a being a cool and calm country wife in my cute floral smock thingy. Get to a stage where it can be tried on for fit and length and OMG.........tried it on to find that I am channelling Edna Turnblatt.......

Image from Pinterest

.......not quite the look I was going for.
Well I started laughing and I just couldn't stop. Poor old Andy thought I had finally flipped and was ready to call somebody to come and take me away.
I laughed so hard that I cricked a rib which hurt but still I couldn't stop laughing. 
It has tickled me so much that even now I am still giggling.
Needless to say I will not be wearing my Edna dress out in public....lol......nor will I be modelling it for a photo to post here.
It will be photographed on a hanger.

My little princess was a bit subdued when she came for tea last night. I think she was tired as Daddy dropped her off on the way home from a play centre where no doubt she had been throwing herself about on all the equipment. She was very hungry though and wolfed down her meatballs and veg.
She did enjoy a quiet few minutes out on the back planting up a hanging basket with her Aunty.

Andy and I have been debating about a new rug for the living room and yesterday we found that we could get it for 20% off with a code at Argos so he went off to get it. No more struggling to move the coffee table which kept catching on the smaller rug and rucking it up. This one covers the whole of the floor between the sofas and the hearth....smashing.

Today is a bit of a pottering day tying up loose ends of jobs and then I will finish the neck and armhole bindings on the comedy dress.
I am hoping it shrinks a bit in the wash.
I am trying a new thing for tea tonight which I saw on that new ITV food programme. They did salmon in a tomato and pepper sauce but I can't stand salmon so will try it with some pollock I have taken out of the freezer. I'll serve it with some roasted Charlottes and see what it's like.

Have a lovely day.
Sheila-x-



 

Blood(y) Wednesday!!!

Crikey....'tis a bit nippy out this morning despite the sun. I think I had best go and find a jumper as I am not putting the heating on just yet. Andy is outside again but keeps coming in and going out....leaving the door open. He is laying slabs for the rabbit hutch to stand on and making a little path for Ruby to be able to get to it without walking in mud.

We've already been out as I had to be at the doctors for half eight for my blood test. Luckily it was my favourite nurse so I didn't feel it and I have come out with barely a mark.....she knows my arm so well....lol.

So what will I be up to today I wonder.
A little bit of laundry to finish but it won't be going on the line as it is too near to where Andy is working and there is a danger that it will come in filthier than it was before it was washed.
The house is pretty tidy so just a dance round with the hoover.
Doodle will be coming for tea later. I think I'll do meatballs with mash and veg....she'll like that.
That leaves me a little bit of time for sewing my top which did actually get cut out and pinned yesterday. If I get it sewn together at the seams and shoulders I'll be happy and then it will get finished tomorrow.
Just waiting for Andy to get back from B&Q so that we can have a coffee together and then I shall go and get on.

Hope it's a bit warmer where you are.
Sheila-x- 

My Most Precious Gift!!!

I don't think that you are supposed to cry on your birthday and I tried very hard not to when I opened this.........

and read these........

I didn't succeed I'm afraid.......if you click on the picture to enlarge it you can read them and see why.

Everything back to normal today.
The kitchen floor is covered in piles of laundry waiting to be done and there will be a meal to cook later.
I also want to get a top for myself cut out and make a start on sewing it in between loading the washer and pegging out.
Andy is off for the week and he is out in the garden putting some blocks under the shed........which he has just come in and informed me he needs help with....dammit....I could have done without that....lol.
Oh well it's nice out so a bit of fresh air will do me good.

Hope you have some gorgeous sunshine today.
Sheila-x-

What A Weekend!!!

Well I knew we would be celebrating in a way but blimey....that was a weekend and a half.
I expected the birthday breakfast but not the fact that I would be eating mine with a great big 60th balloon floating over my head and a table full of gifts...lol.
Lots of cooking and food prep with my gorgeous girls.... DD and Ruby followed by a Chinese treat from Andy and then we all snuggled up to watch some films.
Then we went to up to bed....walked into the bedroom to find the bed covered in beautiful marbled balloons with lights inside...absolutely magical.

Sunday afternoon this was all set out........

and DDIL and Marlowe arrived with this......

My birthday cake.......Lemon meringue cake filled with white chocolate buttercream, lemon curd and little meringues and covered with chocolate ganache and Black Forest cupcakes filled with black cherry jam all made by my very talented DDIL.....thank you darling....love you muchly.

.....and then the fireworks.......

The time spent with family has meant more to me than anything.
So much fun and laughter....especially with Marlowe the daredevil trying to climb inside the washing machine (I now know how to work the lock) and all her other comical antics and Little Miss Ruby Giggle Britches. Honestly her laugh is so infectious.
Thank you all so much for an absolutely smashing birthday.

Today is very quiet and back to normal.
A roast has been cooked as Andy was desperate for one...lol.....and I have just been all over the house tracking down Ruby's weekend clothes to wash, dry and repack into her suitcase to be picked up by Mummy tonight when she comes to watch Broadchurch with us.
I was going to be doing some sewing but I ache from the top of my head to the tip of my toes after standing in the kitchen for nearly eight hours yesterday so I'm having a lazy Monday instead of Sunday.

Thank you so much for all the lovely birthday wishes.
Love Sheila-x-

A Sunny Saturday!!!

I am having a wonderful day today filled with love, giggles, balloons and flowers.
A fab breakfast meet up with DDIL and Marlowe at The Cherry Tree. DS couldn't make it as he is at work but he has phoned and I'll see him later on tomorrow when he calls in for party food. Which I am just in the middle of making.....sausage rolls, scotch eggs and all the usual party favourites. There is dough making in the machine ready for bitesized pizzas and custard setting on top of the trifle....we're short of nowt and owt we ain't got we'll goo withowt...lol.

Thank you for all of your lovely birthday wishes I've managed to reply to some but just haven't had time to be on here to reply to the rest....so Suzanne....the dinner rolls are just tiny two and half inch round white rolls with a soft glazed top....very, very popular in the Midlands from a bakery called Birds. I'll take a photo tomorrow to show you.

Anyhoo....I had best dash. Little Miss is wanting something to do so I had best go and set her up with a project of some kind.

Hope your weekend is fabulous
Sheila-x-

Awaiting The Royal Visit!!!

Princess Ruby will be arriving at 3pm and I can't wait. I have not seen her since last Thursday and I have missed her so much.

Grocery shopping for the party was done last night. I went over budget by just under a pound so I am not going to beat myself up about that.
DD was in town before 8am to be at the bakers for the dinner rolls which at holiday times can be harder to get hold of than hens teeth they are so popular.
Preparation will start tomorrow but there will be no actual cooking done until Sunday morning so that everything is as fresh as it can be.
Tomorrow morning we will be up and out early for my birthday breakfast at The Cherry Tree and then home to start on all the chopping and stuff before Ruby goes to her Little Fluffies session at Pets At Home. There may be new additions to the family when they get back in the shape of a pair of guinea pigs. If she decides she wants a rabbit too that will have to wait as the store will not sell rabbits over the Easter weekend.
Sunday will be party day....inside as apparently the weather is not looking good.

Hope you have a fun weekend.
Sheila-x-
 

Back To Grey!!!

It's very grey here this morning and really cold so I am glad that all of my jobs are inside today.
Yesterday was wet and cold so we put the heating on and the house got lovely and warm.....just as the sun came out just after tea and we had to throw the windows open as then it was too warm.

My wimpy old shoulders are complaining very loudly this morning so I have had to start the day off on painkillers to try and shut them up. They've been pretty quiet for a good while but all the stretching and lifting while I have been sorting the house out has set them off again....blummin things.

Not a lot more to do now to have the house party ready and I need to spend some time this afternoon making a shopping list so that I can pick up anything needed when I go shopping tonight. The only thing I won't be able to get is the tiny dinner rolls we always have....DD will have to be in the queue at the bakers early in the morning to get those and I will have to freeze them until Sunday.
It's not going to be a huge extravagant spread....just a simple afternoon tea and a birthday cake which DDIL is making for me......and of course a trifle for Ruby which she is going to help me to make.

I am so cold I think I am going to have to have a hot drink before I go and tackle the mess Andy has made in the kitchen. He finished work for a week this morning so had to have his cooked breakfast before he went to bed.....trouble is he doesn't clean up after himself so I have to do it before I can get on with anything else. Judging by the load of pots it looks like he fed an army too....lol.

Have a lovely day.
Sheila-x-



 

It's All Growing Nicely!!!

I thought that I would post a few pics of the garden today just to show how things are coming along less than a year after DD redoing all the borders adding pots and containers for a bit of interest in our very narrow borders.

Agathapanthus looks like she may put on a good show this year with lots of new shoots coming up (larger pot with the light in).
To the left of her is the Hydrangea I nearly killed when it was in a pot in the front garden. Hopefully it will flower to the colour I bought it.....pink and lime green.....and the soil won't change it.
Some of the spaces will be filled with white pansies later on.

This corner has never done very well but that is all changed now and it's filling up nicely.
The rest of the apricot tree will come out this year and be replaced with a large obelisk and a white climbing Hydrangea....the small obelisk is for elsewhere in the garden.
I am hoping for more than one flower head on the pink Peony this year. It's growing really well.

A triffid masquerading as a Hebe. This came out of a ready planted container last year and is growing like mad.
In the round pot is a low growing Sedum which we thought had died....obviously not...lol.

My favourite corner with a bright green Euonymous and a splash of red from the new Skimmia bought to replace the one that didn't like our soil. It is in a pot with special compost so hopefully it will do well.

The fence is new as we lost some panels in a storm. These panels are heavier and should cope better if we get any more high winds.
We are in debate about the colour we are going to use to preserve them....Andy wants brown and I want green so we will see.

Apart from adding the white pansies, feeding and watering these borders can be left to their own devices for a while as DD works on the front garden. It will be pretty much the same with pots and containers for more tender things with a few shrubs and the hope that we can find some way of adding a Clematis...maybe another obelisk.
I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

No Ruby today as she is coming to stay for the weekend so another day of sorting out and cleaning.
I made a good start on the dining room last night so I'll finish that and then go and give the kitchen cabinets and worktops a wash down.
It's cold and dreary here this morning and threatening to rain so the last bit of laundry can go in the dryer....just a couple of towels done on the highest spin so they won't take long.
Sausage and tomatoes has been requested for tea so that is what we are having.

Have a lovely day y'all.
Sheila-x-

Titivating On A Tuesday!!!

I had a really good day yesterday and got the lounge sorted out.
Windows washed, net curtain washed and all corners ferreted out with the hoover plus a bit of a furniture change round.
I was certainly ready for my tea come tea time and it was lovely to sit in a clean and tidy room to watch Broadchurch.....Andy hadn't had time to muck it up as he was off to work.

Today is the turn of the dresser end of the kitchen and the dining room which I will do while the laundry is washing...with short breaks to do some pegging out in the sunshine....and a longer break later when I feel I need me coffee.

Another simple tea of chicken and salad tonight with a mango mayonnaise dressing to posh it up a bit...lol.

.......and that will be me today....up to my knees in dust, cobwebs and piles of laundry and not even able to have my music on to help things along......it disturbs Andy who is now in bed after his night shift.

Hope you all have a lovely day.
Thanks for stopping by.
Sheila-x-

 

This Week Will Be.....Busy!!!

It's a bit chilly this morning although the sun is shining on and off.
A few grey clouds floating about but we still have some gorgeous blue sky.

This week is going to be all about getting ready for my birthday party on Sunday so lots of tidying, cleaning and doing as much food prep as I can to make things easier on the actual day.
Luckily I have my little helper Ruby coming to stay on Friday for the weekend so I am saving a few things that she particularly wants to help with......mostly the sweet stuff.....lol.

Tonight for tea we will be having gammon with roasted Charlotte potatoes and a red cabbage slaw with an apple and mustard dressing so that should be quite tasty.......and fairly quick to cook too.

I doubt I shall get much sewing done this week with everything else that needs doing and I will have to tidy a lot of stuff away anyway. I have my graph pad and coloured pencils so I might make a start on designing my next quilt after I have checked on what fabrics I can use.
Andy wants his own sofa quilt and I have two sets of fabrics that would be ideal for that. I still have to make a quilt for Marlowe after abandoning the Vintage Picnic quilt I started. It will get picked up again at some point in the future but it just wasn't working for me as I really don't like white and there was too much of it.
I have a few of the pattern weights to finish.....all hand sewing so the machines can go away for this week.

So....Mrs Marigolds and vinegar spray I shall be for the next few days then....lol.

Hope you all have a lovely week.
Sheila-x-

Pattern Weights For Jackie!!!

For the weights I have used 35mm washers which I got from Screwfix plus some thicker ones that Andy got for me so I have superglued one thick one and two thinner ones together. 
If you only have thinner ones I would probably glue five together.

The felt circles are cut at 58mm using a die and a BigShot machine.
I used quilting clips to stop the washers falling out while doing the blanket stitch around the edge....it made life much easier.

The flowers I have used to decorate are also cut out with a die by Sizzix called Fringed Flowers but you could sew a button on, add a fabric flower, sew a charm on or just leave them plain.

Four down....another fifteen to go.
Didn't quite have enough washers to make twenty.

Hope you like them Jackie.
Sheila-x-

Delicious Smells On Sunday!!!

Roasting beef, freshly mown grass and earth that is being dug over.
Sunday is smelling so delicious.
The sun is out and the sky is a beautiful smokey blue.
A perfect spring day.

I have everything cut out now for the pattern weights so in between checking on the beef and preparing other things I will be starting on sewing them up and I will be back with another post later especially for Jackie down at Winters End.
Before I start though I must go and do my hands with a hand scrub as they are very dry and acting like a fuzzy felt board when I am handling the pieces of felt.

OK....time to check on that beef.

What are you all up to on this gorgeous day?
Sheila-x-

Saturday Sunshine And Shopping!!!

Phew...it's very sunny out there and it's also very warm. I really didn't need my coat on this morning when I went to do the dreaded 'with husband' shopping.
DD is at work until 3pm and I didn't want to wait until that time so I just had to put my big girl knickers on and ask Andy to take me.
I now need a lie down in a dark room for a week at least to get over it....lol.

As we have Ruby for the weekend next weekend we thought it might be a good idea to make a start on the purchase of a rabbit and a guinea pig for her so with that in mind we popped into Pets At Home to buy some little books on the subject and to book her onto one of their Little Furries workshops which will give her a chance to handle the animals and learn about caring for them.

I got three of the Beatrice aprons cut out yesterday and actually got one of them sewn up and finished.
They were cut out in the large size and I am going to have to go back in with the scissors and reduce them down to a medium as the finished one is very big on me. It can stay as it is as it is just going to be an apron and I really do not fancy unpicking the metres and metres of binding to reduce the size of it.
It was great to make though and I learned a lot from it....I can now do an overlaid seam which I have never done before and I learned that next time I will use either a bought binding or I will make my own out of much lighter fabric. The one I made this time was a little difficult to work with being the same weight as the apron fabric. I did it and it looks nice but I'll make it a bit easier on myself next time.
So the other two will get recut and sewn but I will have to wait until I can pop to Derby for some binding or I may wait until DD is on holiday at the end of the month when we are going to visit The Rag Market in Birmingham....I may be able to get some from there.

Not much of anything going on this weekend just a lazy one for Andy and myself. DD is at work for a couple of hours today and tomorrow so she still has time to do a bit of lazying too.
They had a good offer on Pizza Express pizzas in T***o this morning so I have picked up a couple to have with a jacket potato and some coleslaw tonight. Tomorrow will be a full on roast beef dinner.

For now I am off to do some superglueing of metal discs which I am using to make into pattern weights. They will be sewn inside some lovely colourful felt circles and blanket stitched.
I have found using weights instead of pins on my patterns a complete revelation. No more pins for me when I am cutting out.

Well I hope you all have this lovely sunshine and that the weekend is great for you.
Sheila-x-

Sewing Up A Storm!!!

Latest from my sewing machine........

.......two more little dresses for Miss Marly Moo.
I could make a ton of these as they are so quick and easy to make but when I think that she may only be in them for this summer.....maybe not as this is the largest size on the pattern.
Each dress takes just a metre of fabric with enough offcuts to cut a few squares for my growing stash of charm squares.
I need to challenge myself a bit now so the next dress I make for her will be a little more complicated and has some gathering on it so we'll see how I go with that.
Before I start on that I am going to cut all the fabric for my Beatrice apron/dress which will give me three to work on.
That will be my task for today as I have a good few hours at home alone with Andy at work until 7pm and DD going to the gym straight from work....she will arrive home just before Andy.

No cooking to do as Andy is having some of the cottage pie I made yesterday and and DD and I will have a sandwich I think with a bit of side salad......actually....thinking about it....there are some ciabatta rolls in the freezer and mozarella in the fridge so I may do tuna melts on the pannini grill......good thinking Batman....lol.

If Mr Log Man keeps his noise down it could be a very nice peaceful day indeed....just the sound of my scissors snipping away and maybe the odd expletive if anything goes awry.

Have a fabulous Friday.
Sheila-x-

A Bit Of A Shock!!!

Yesterday was just lovely.
I got a cake baked and then spent the rest of the day sewing the dresses for Marlowe.
At one point I was listening to Simon and Garfunkels' Bridge Over Troubled Water album which I love and I realised that the first time I listened to that album was when I was about fifteen......forty five years ago....forty five years for gawds sake.
Where did all that time go? I was shocked.

Usually I keep the laptop on all day just in case I need to look anything up or if I want to listen to some music on You Tube that I haven't got in my collection but I am getting very good now at switching it off. Yesterday it went off after I had done my blog post and it never went back on until 9pm. I am going to try and do that every day now....just think of the electricity I will save.....and the time....because once I get on You Tube I can be lost for hours.

Today I have a pack of minced beef and some veg that could do with being used up so I'll make a cottage pie for tea tonight and will probably have enough to put in the freezer for another meal.
We are all still wanting a hot meal at night as although the days are sunny at the moment...the nights are still quite chilly and it's nice to snuggle down to something warm and comforting.

Well I had best go and get chopping those veg and.....the job I hate most of all....peeeling potatoes.
I might just have a coffee first to get myself going though....lol.
I hope you have the blue skies and fluffy white clouds that we have here this morning.
Sheila-x-

 

A Bit Of Party Planning!!!

Those grey clouds can just go away if they don't mind. They are spoiling the look of what is otherwise a lovely blue sky.

I have a long day on my own today.
DD is at work.
Andy was out early to the hospital for the second round of his blood tests after his operation and he's not sure if he will be back or have to go straight to work from there.
DD has invited me out for tea tonight so I don't have to think about cooking which means once everywhere is tidy I can sew up the two dresses for Marlowe.

Somehow I have found that I am having a birthday party on Easter Sunday.....well more of an afternoon tea really......so I have a notepad permanently by my side making plans for the food. Ruby is very excited that Ganma is having a party and really wants to help so she is coming to stay for the weekend from Good Friday and we will spend Saturday doing some baking and preparation.
I am really looking forward to it.......although if we go with all of Ruby's ideas we may have to invite everyone from here to the little town to help us eat it all....lol.

Sounds like my neighbour has done with his sawing and log splitting for this week so I am off to throw the windows open and do my bit of housework.
I hope it's a glorious day where you are.
Sheila-x-

There She Goes Again....Getting Sidetracked!!!

The apron/dress didn't get cut out yesterday but I do have a good excuse....honest....lol.
I was trying to find somewhere to squeeze the recently purchased fabric stash and found the only way I was going to fit any more in the storage was to take some out and use it so I cut out two dresses for Marlowe and they are now waiting to be sewn up.
I need to make some chicken pies before I can get to doing that though else I shall be in trouble with Miss Doodle.
The filling is ready and I just need to make the pastry and assemble them....one for us and one for her Mummy and Daddy to have for tea tomorrow.

It's cold and grey today but dry with a breeze so I think the sofa quilts can have their freshen up today and then I'll do all the cushion covers tomorrow.

So I am off into the kitchen to get all the tea prepared so that I can snatch a couple of hours on the sewing machine before Ruby arrives.

Have a lovely day.
Sheila-x-

A New Week Full Of Possibilties!!!

The second week of April looks to be off to a good start with some  bright sunshine and in honour of this lovely day I have swapped my usual uniform of trousers and top for a skirt and a bright pink tee shirt. 
Hardly a whiff of breeze but I will hang out the laundry this morning....it may pick up a bit.

Early morning hugs and kisses from my beautiful Ruby have set me up for the day and I am good to go now on all the jobs I have on my list for today.
Ruby has requested her favourite chicken and leek pie for tea tomorrow so the filling will be made today.
Laundry, hoovering up after the dog....again and a bit more tidying away of stuff on the landing which is still there from the bedroom move.
Hopefully once that is all done I will have time to get this............

......cut and pinned ready to sew.
I made ten metres of the binding yesterday which should be plenty but I have more fabric prepared to make extra if needed.
I used a new method of making binding which I had seen on You Tube and now I have the hang of it I will be using it all the time. It takes just one fat quarter of fabric to make 4-5 metres of binding and you only have to sew two seams.
Here are the links to the videos

Part One
Part Two

I found it a bit tricksy at first but once I got the hang of it I had ten metres made in next to no time.

Just waiting for Andy to get back from town so that we can have our coffee together before I do anything else.

Hope the sun is shining on your corner of the world.
Sheila-x- 

A Bit Of A Bind!!!

Andy is making up for last Sunday by cooking lunch today and doing my favourite roast chicken.
DD is out in the garden as it is lovely and sunny at the moment although it looks like it will rain before the day is out.
We have just got back from the garden centre where we have been to use a 50% off any pot coupon and a 20% off in the craft shop coupon. DD got her pot but they didn't have what I wanted in the craft shop. I did get a couple of things though so we both came back happy.

I am going to spend the afternoon making bias binding ready for my apron/dress as I need quite a few metres of it and then I shall have a look through the Sew Pretty Homestyle Tilda book I have just purchased and decide which of the delicious things in it that I would like to make.

It feels like we haven't had one of these slow and lazy Sundays in forever so I think we are all going to enjoy this one.
Hope you are all having a smashing Sunday too.
Sheila-x-

The Rag Quilt!!!

I did it. I sewed all afternoon and finished at about 8pm. It went straight into the washer and then the dryer to fluff up the rag effect.
The snipping of the seams took almost as long as sewing it together and my hands ached like hell by the time I had done but I am very happy with it and can't wait now to gift it to DS and DDIL.
I hope they like it.

No gardening for DD today....it is raining so she is doing some sorting out upstairs as she still has all her New York pictures to move from her old room to the attic.
Andy has gone to The Doodle House for a bath to ease his aching muscles. We are both looking forward to getting the bathroom sorted out in June and having our own bath put back in and then he won't have to go off with his towel and Radox.
One of my jobs today will be hoovering the dining room floor to try and get rid of all the little bits that the quilt shed after it had been washed and dried.......millions of them...lol.

Andy is in the mood for a Chinese tonight. No cooking for me today then so I might make a start on my apron/dress if there are no other house jobs that want doing.
Saturday night is usually a dvd night but gawd knows what we will watch. We'll probably end up with something off the shelf that we have seen a hundred times before but at least it will be time spent together.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend....whatever you are doing.
Sheila-x-