For Catriona!!!

Hi Catriona.....
As promised here are a couple of pics of the little needle changing tool I made for myself..........

Take a childs glue spreader and trim off a little of the flexible blade.
Pierce a hole just big enough for the lower part of your needle to slip through. I used a tiny Fiskars plier punch but if you don't have have one you could hammer a tiny tack through it to make the hole or maybe heat an old machine needle and push it through.

And here it is in action.
Use it to remove and insert your needles and you should never have a problem again with them dropping into your feed dogs.

I hope you find this useful.
Sheila-x-

A Dress!!!

Another dress finished for Ruby................

Fabric in a sale from Derby Market. Pattern-New Look 6466.
Once I had sorted out the slightly confusing (to me) pattern  it was pretty easy to make and was done in a day.
All I need is for Ruby to try it on so that I can try the shoulder straps for placement and sew them down.

Today I am finishing off Marlowe's tops and then I shall have a rifle through my patterns for something else to make.

We had rain last night....about enough to soak the top quarter inch of the garden if it made it past all the foliage....lol.
I went and stood out in it and could almost hear my skin sizzling as the drops hit it. Oh it was lovely.
Dull and grey with lots of dark clouds today but we are not predicted to have any more rain until next Monday here.

We couldn't face the spag bol last night and had ham and salad instead. The sauce has been frozen to use in a lasagne for Sunday lunch instead.

Nothing much to do housewise today so until I have to prep the salad and cook some fish for tea I can spend the day sewing.
There is a lovely breeze blowing through the back door so it will be rather pleasant to have it blowing on my back and shoulders while I sew.

Hope you all have a lovely day today.
Sheila-x-

Good Afternoon!!!

I hope you have all had a good weekend.
Mine has been both frustrating and productive. 
Frustrating that in the whole of a three floor, three bedroom house the dog doesn't want to be anywhere but in the middle of the floor in my sewing room making it very difficult for me to move around.
Productive in that I made a whole dress yesterday...zip, lined bodice and everything and it looks really good. I am amazed.
It is on the washing line at the moment but when it has been ironed I will take a photo.
Today I will start on two little tops for Marlowe. They won't take long at all as they are very simple.

A question for anyone who has an overlocker........
Where do you buy your large cones of thread at a reasonable price?
I am currently using Lidl thread. I don't like it and the colour range is very limited so I would love to find an alternative.

Having a break from salad today and making a spag bol for our evening meal as I have beef mince that could do with using up.
The freezers are starting to look a bit empty so I'll use up what we have and the plan a freezer shop sometime in the next week or two.

It has just started spitting with rain but it doesn't look like it will be much today.....in fact it has stopped already after lasting less than two minutes so that's not going to do the lawn much good.

Anyhoo....I am off to crank up the sewing machine and get these two tops done for me gorgeous girl.

Have a wonderful day.
Sheila-x-

Arrrrrgh!!!

I am having such a frustrating day today.
It's hot again which makes me cranky anyway but Smudge is driving me even more bonkers by lying on the floor in the sewing room right where I am wanting to be standing while I cut out some fabric. If I've tripped over him once I've done it a dozen times.
My language is rather unladylike I'm afraid.

DD has been out and done some shopping for me this morning as I just couldn't bear the thought of going into town in the heat and tomorrow is going to be even hotter so I certainly won't be wanting to go out then either.
We could do with another shower or two like we had last night

Oh thank goodness for that....Smudge has departed for the living room so I'll go and finish my cutting out before he decides to come back.

Hope you are having a good weekend and doing lots of fun things.
Sheila-x-

Mrs Tea Towel Makes..........!!!

.........Tea towels

During my tidying yesterday these pieces of fabric were removed from a box to make room to squish some other fabric in.

One pound remnants from Derby Market. I have had them for a good while.

Not sure how long they will last but I shall enjoy seeing them every day.

Cold again this morning and the weather forecast says we are getting rain which I will believe when we see it.

Today is a Doodle Day.

Ruby couldn't come for tea on Wednesday so she will be visiting today. Aunty DD has invited us out for tea so we are going to Ruby's favourite place.....the Chinese buffet. She doesn't know yet so that will be a nice surprise for her.

As I don't have to cook today I will spend some time tidying up ready for the weekend. We have no plans for Saturday or Sunday but there are some things that I want to get done and if the cool weather continues I will cook a Sunday lunch.

Ooooh....Andy has made coffee so I'll get off and drink it while it's hot.

Have a happy day.

Sheila-x-