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Showing posts from May, 2010

Couldn't resist...

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Whilst visiting my daughter in Norwich a few weeks ago I was lucky to find this shop. This is a sewers' paradise , I think I 'drooled' my way round this store. It was fantastic! As well as buying cord material for Winter clothes I also bought a panel of this 100% linen border print. Now I don't need another summer skirt, lol!!! But this material is so fresh, summery, whatever ,and at £4.95 a panel of 54" wide it was a snip(excuse the pun!!!) Once home I found a very old skirt pattern(so old the drawing on the front is illegible, consequently I haven't a photo to show you) and in less than a week here is my gorgeous skirt. It is lined and all I have left to do is find a fastening for the waistband, but I love it. Keen sewers in Norwich are so lucky as on the same street as Anglian Fashion Fabrics is 'Sew Creative'. Here I found wool. patchwork and quilting supplies and sewing machines that I see in my dreams. In here, I did buy some material for quilt

The Phantom

Sharing birthday music, my dvd was not Michael Crawford but my CD was the original cast.

21 AGAIN?

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Well double 21 and add quite a few(lol!) and you'll come to my age today, my birthday. I received some lovely presents and cards from family and friends, many are sewing related so no doubt you'll see them on the blog soon. Tonight I'm going to spend time with my immediate family and watch a wonderful DVD I have been given ' Phantom of the Opera'!!!! See you all soon. Photo courtesy of this site.

Wordless Wednesday

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Cyprus. More pics can be found here --- take a look!

The Month of May.

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"Now the bright morning-star, Day’s harbinger,Comes dancing from the East, and leads with her The flowery May, who from her green lap throws The yellow cowslip and the pale primrose. Hail, bounteous May, that dost inspireMirth, and youth, and warm desire!Woods and groves are of thy dressing;Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing. Thus we salute thee with our early song, And welcome thee, and wish thee long."- John Milton, Song on a May Morning, 1660 Photo courtesy of this site.

On the farm in May.

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A Harrowing Experience? During May we clear meadow land (land that is cut for hay and silage) of sheep , moving them onto Summer pasture. The lambs are marked with our distinctive paint logo. This enables the farmer to recognise his sheep from a distance. Any dirty wool is trimmed from the ewes so making the fleece clean for shearing, this work takes about a week. Now comes harrowing the meadow land, sometimes called chain harrowing(see photos above).This beneficial process helps to breakdown any manure on the land. This aids it's complete disintegration into the soil and therefore acts as a natural fertilizer. Additionally, the harrowing levels off mole hills therefore reducing the contamination of the cut grass by soil. It takes the tractor approximately 6 minutes to cover 1 acre, the harrow being 4 metres wide, this leaves a stripe effect on the grass which disappears as the grass grows.

Amy's Quilt Festival.

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Over at Amy's blog there is an online quilt festival starting today and running for a week. As I have only ever made one quilt I don't have a lot of choice but as no judging takes place I thought I'd participate. Apologies to those who have already read the details of the quilt in an earlier post but I need to chronicle the it's making for the festival. It was about 2-3 years in the planning , as I was such a coward I really didn't know where to begin. The idea for the quilt was a request from my youngest daughter and not wishing to disappoint I immediately agreed. The material was duly bought and about 2 squares were sewn and that was it for at least a year!!! Then last Autumn I visited a quilt exhibition and when talking to a very talented lady just had to mention about 'this' quilt . She was very reassuring and said' as long as you stick to your pattern all will be well'. A pattern, what pattern? There was no pattern, I believed I could make th

Pink bloomers anyone?

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Well if you are 8 months old and as pretty as a picture you 'must' have a pair of pink bloomers, mustn't you? A matching top wouldn't go amiss too! These are my latest projects for my grandaughter. Both patterns were taken from the above book but I did alter them a little ---- Firstly the tunic was meant to have a plain band sewn on the hem but I fancied a frill. I sewed the straps longer so that they could be crossed at the back(I always found they stayed up better when sewn like that for my girls) I have backstitched around some of the stars with gold embroidery thread.(hope you can see this , perhaps you will need to click and enlarge the photo) The bloomers are pretty similar to the pattern although I was not able to get jumbo ricrac to trim the legs. The material is poly/cotton . I'm pleased with the result , I think she will get some wear out of them , both together and apart.

Weekend Viewing.

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My husband and I have just finished watching our latest DVDs. Monsignor Renard was a short series on t.v. a few years ago. Only four programmes were made and we were disappointed when it finished. It stars John Thaw, who I think was a fantastic actor, I'm a great fan with the whole set of 'Morse' dvds on my dresser. Set during World War 2, he plays a Catholic priest returning to his hometown at the same time that the Germans are occupying France. Trying to build a relationship with his estranged brother and trying to provide solace for the towns people are his biggest tasks. Dominic Monaghon (who later starred in 'Lost') took the part of a very 'cocky' teenager who strayed once too often over the Germans boundaries, once arrested he relies on Monsignor Renard to save him ... Excellent viewing.

Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came.

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Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came. by M.C.Beaton. Just as Agatha returns home from a South Pacific holiday her village is hit by severe floods. As the local river is forced under and around the village bridge a body is seen floating amid the waves. This is a similar situation that Agatha faced on her holiday as no sooner had she befriended a honeymoon couple than the young bride accidentally drowned. Here in her own village the body in the river is not only a young woman but one dressed in a wedding gown. Consequently Agatha's interest(although the local police call it interference) in the mysterious 'river' body is not quenched till the murderer is found. Along the way she wears many disguises and is aided by her new neighbour , a crime author, who just happens to be handsome , smart and apparently single. Could he be the new man in her life... An excellent book, crime, murder, drugs -- they were all used to develop the story. I find Agatha Raisin such a likeable

Wordless Wednesday

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Now you may think this photo was taken in Winter but in fact it was snapped yesterday, MAY 11TH. Within half an hour the hail had melted and the sun shone.

Teaser Tuesdays

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This weekly meme asks you to do the following---- Grab your current read Open to a random page Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! Here is my teaser for this week --- 'He was chatting to Stephanie, who looked quite animated and was saying,' But I've read all your books.' Over her shoulder --- her slim back was to Agatha -- John gave Agatha a dismissive roll of eyeballs.' page 135 ,'Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came.' You can find more teasers here.

Baubles, bangles and beads...

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Last night was spent making jewellery. I've tried one or two pieces in the past and haven't been too impressed with the outcome but I do like my latest attempts. My oldest daughter 'snaffled' the yellow/gold one and is wearing it today.(I'll never see that again!!!lol) The blue and silver combination--- I am wearing tonight as we are visiting a friend for dinner, and it will match my navy and white skirt and top beautifully. I must admit there was not a lot of skill needed --- the bracelets were made by threading different coloured beads on jewellery wire and the securing the ends to a clasp. The necklace took even less time as the shop bought pendant was threaded onto a silver chain I already owned, definitely no skill there!!! I think I could get hooked on this, so quick and yet so effective. What do you think?

Baptism and Confirmation all in one week...

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I'm back after a busy few days. Firstly as you know my daughter, husband and grandaughter arrived late Friday evening . The baby was in fine form even after a 5 hour journey. Saturday was spent preparing for her Baptism --- collecting the christening cake amd organising the refreshments. The Baptism day itself went very well. She was baptised by our parish priest, who also happened to be celebrating his 75 th birthday on that day.Her godparents were my oldest daughter and youngest daughter's boyfriend. After the ceremony family and friends arrived at our house for a few nibbles. Last night saw another celebration --- a confirmation ceremony. I was priviledged to be a sponser to a young lady in our parish . This again was a joyful occasion and one I was very pleased to be part of, God Bless M.