Patchwork

 I have watched a few patchwork videos and found a design I love, in a simple format, easy to make, using my stash of Christmas fabrics. I have always planned all projects, and with craft I always double and triple check, my notebook is never far away. The table top is 49cm x 61cm, I do want the cloth to drape down the sides. In my notebook I drew squares to check what size I wanted them on finished item.

Firstly I trim the edges to ensure the fabric is straight, then I cut strips to sew them together in stripes. I cut 14 different fabrics, much more that I need, but as always as I start making, plans change. Plus I have a use for the strips not used.

The strips are sewn together, I now need to cut them horizontal, the strips are cut the same width as the vertical cuts, making neat squares once sewn together, all is measured to help keep corners tidy.

 I now have 11 lengths, I will stitch the ends together creating rounds. I then unpick each round at a different point to stagger the designs.

Now I am stitching the new lengths onto a pretty background fabric to make the tablecloth. I am using clear quilting thread so the stitches can't be seen, it a great help with all the different coloured fabrics. I attach the strip right sides together ensuring the design is the correct way up, thus attaching the top of the previous strip and the bottom of the new strip to the backing fabric, after stitching iron flat and repeat.

I decided to make my own binding, again using fabric I alreay had, therefore making this project without purchasing anything new. It's really easy to make, cut strips fold using an iron for sharp creases and the tuck both raw sides in, ensuring the tape is the same width the whole length.

Some of the patchwork corners are slightly out, it does not bother me, I'm happy with my new cloth, it will look good on the small table under the Christmas tree. 14 squares across and 11 squares up, the table is oblong not square.

I have a huge jellyroll of fabric strips, enough to make a quilted lap blanket, not another design using squares, I'm thinking lots of different lengths of oblongs, no corners to match. I have used vast amount of my stash of Christmas fabrics, most of them fat quarters, a few designs are up to 20 years old, you can feel the difference in the quality compared to modern cottons. 

On my last post  I received a comment correcting my grammar, the comment was anonymous, and no name within, I don't post comments which I find rude, this blog is not my english project, at school I excelled in maths and science, grammar was always a struggle, please be polite and pass over any mistakes as I and everyone else would do on all blogs we read.  

I am back in Somerset visiting family, we all get together on everyone's birthday, last weekend was Bridgwater carnival, not a good time to visit, This is the facebook link, most of the sites now you have to pay to view. The town was full of visitors and very busy, always best to avoid if possible. 

Changes

I've moved my wildlife camera, I put some hedgehog pellets in the house and something has ate them, I also noticed Lilly showing an interest in this area, if it's mice I'm OK with them having a nibble, if it's rats then I will remove all food. The hedgehog house is still sadly empty.

 This is a brilliant story, set in two timelines, one historic, family history and home, what can the past tell you. Book 88 read this year.

I rarely purchase new books and almost never purchase hardbacks, but this one I think will be special I like so many others have always loved her, she is wicked and funny. The book is a conversation between her and her long term friend Brendan O'Hea, it's very relaxed, and easy read. Book 89 read this year.

Many years ago I got Micky and Minnie for my Christmas tree, from a trip to Disney world Paris, I dropped Micky and he broke, so for years Minnie has been alone, not any more.

I've done my hair, and I love it, the mauve looked pink and was a bit pale, now with the addition of the darker shade I'm happy. I used my highlighting cap and pulled through thin strands of hair, I did not leave the colour on for the full time. 

We are having uneventful days, our lovely plumber popped back for two small jobs, hubby had a couple of appointments, so I had time at home, got my first sewing job finished, I will show in next post. I am also doing a small knitting project, which until finished looks messy, again photo's soon. 

Today we are going out to lunch, we are going to a local lovely beach bistro, lots of lovely dishes to choose from.

I still have a couple pots of bulbs to sort, it's so cold outside, I can do the pots on a sunny day, inside my greenhouse, the rest of the garden is now settled for winter, leaves are starting to fall from the magnolia tree, I am collecting them, once shredded they will go into a bin for mulch next year. At this time of year it's all crafting and reading, a little less reading as I have become more active as I feel better. 

Pretty flowers

Daughter and I popped to my favourite garden centre, Garson's, previously I had seen yellow hellebores, I got these cyclamen just because they were purple, and the violas because they were pretty, all to top my spring bulb pots.

Daughter was paying for the yellow hellebore as a birthday present, sadly they had sold out, I have loads of different shades of pink flowers, so I had a look at other plants. These are yellow and I have spots for both of them, daughter gets me plants every year to add to winter colour.

The veg beds have been sorted, I've sown broad beans, and used one bin of leaf mulch on both gardens, I still have carrots growing, the leaves were not shredded so they are big, it won't matter, they will break down over the winter months.

My thanksgiving cactus is in bud again, this one lives in our downstairs bathroom, its a pretty colour. I have a second pot with another pink and a white bloom together which also has buds.

Having my hair coloured feels good, it's a bit paler that I wanted, so daughter will help me add more colour, just a few highlights, I've not bothered for years, I need my nails done again, I can't paint just the tips, which I do love. 

Daughter and I had fun shopping in Southampton, I visited many shops with brands I don't normally view, daughter got a few bits, I didn't. I thought John Lewis Christmas section was unremarkable, I passed on their decorations and just got a couple stocking fillers for Will. We did have a nice lunch out, choosing festive flavours, we were back home by 3.30pm. Friday hubby helped sort daughters garage and shed, I planted daisies in her back garden, Will who was home helped me weed the slate beside the path to the front door, he was truly helpful. I went online to M&S outlet to get some underwear for myself, I did add a jumper to the basket as did hubby, I find the quality even from M&S is lower, nothing last as long. 

Hubby made red velvet cake for my birthday, requested by both Will and Molly, he again made cupcakes, which they love, I spent Sunday at daughters house, she cooked a roast dinner, the children were tired after after a busy day with parties and a firework display, which they watched in a carpark near by with two other families with disabled children, hubby was playing petanque, so I had a lazy day.

After a busy week we had a very quiet Saturday at home, being a year older means very little once you get older, cakes are made and ate solely for the children to enjoy, otherwise we would not have bothered. I have asked for years no gifts, there is very little I require, hubby got me my wildlife camera which I love, which I had early.

Rusty lines

I got this metal edging for the raspberry bed, Lilly keeps kicking out the soil.

I got a pack of five pieces, enough for the front of the fruit bed as well, the pretty black metal arches never stopped the soil from being kicked out, I will use them elsewhere.

And enough to do the front of the square flower bed, the green plastic edging is getting brittle, I will pull it out soon, this bed it ground level and always messy along the edge. 

I have wanted this type of metal edging for ages, mainly for the flower beds, I got fed up with sweeping up soil from the grass, it looks good in my rustic garden, shiny metal would not work, it was cost effective to purchase the pack, and do more places. I will get another pack next spring for the long side bed, I am unable to see the edge of that garden because of all the plants still there. 

We did a huge shop at Tesco this week, normally we go to Asda, we are stocked up until the new year, we will still need to shop in Lidl's, we have a few chocolates for us over Christmas, neither of us looked at the clothes, and only glanced at the Christmas section. Avoiding huge supermarkets is always preferred on the run up to Christmas. 

We watched Bake off on Tuesday night on channel 4, all the advert breaks were full of Christmas, so it's officially the silly season. A local charity has started a collection for toys to help families locally, we took some books the children no longer use, all look brand new, later I will get a couple of toys to go in the boxes, every child should have something to open.

Today I'm off to Southampton with daughter, we both enjoy a days shopping together, and love the festive season, especially in John Lewis, plus lot's of brands we don't have local, Southampton is less then and hours drive, daughter always drives.