Swaps, gifts, and nice things.

This is a bit of a show off post really.Goodies have been sent and received for the lovely spring sewing swap over at kestrelfindsandmakes.blogspot.com .

 

I was lucky enough to be swapping with Vicki from vickikatemakes.wordpress.com/ it has been so lovely creating a parcel for a new friend. Vicki has an amazing talent makes the most wonderful fitted dresses. Being a swap this is what I received, oh lucky me! I just love the skirt pattern and plan an autumn skirt already.

This is what I sent Vicki, a hard task but good fun making a parcel that is liked by a new blogger friend.

 

 

I have also been a winner this week, Super Debbie from  minnado.blogspot.com  

 Look at this lovely plaid (as it's called in the US) and beautiful lace. Thank you so much Debbie.

And finally, a confession, I just couldn't help myself, it was only £10 and when I looked inside I surprised at how many lovely makes there are inside. So I bought it!

Sewing update : Yes I'm still working on that maxi dress, I hope to finish it soon as I'm planning to join in with the bombshell swimming costume sew along.

Hope all is well in your world. x x x 

What I was going to say was....

What I was going to say two weeks ago was, no time for sewing the sun is out and we are a family of mini adventures this year! But of course time has gone by and another weekend of no sewing and now the sun has gone in ans I even managed a short hour of sewing time this week. BUT I did want to share my adventure.

So lucky me managed a long weekend over the hottest days of the year so far. We planned a great camping trip, just a one night but still great to get away from it all. We drove to Totnes in Devon to get to market day, which I know you wold love, it's a mixture of hand made, thrift home cook or reared. We got many supplies here!
We also stumbled upon a lovely community garden, it was so beautiful and climbing area made from a fallen tree, meadow like with paths cut. Although it was new it had wonderful tall trees for shade, it was real inspiration.

We then made the short journey past Kingsbridge to Old Cotmore Farm. This is a lovely little site with only a few camping spots. Ive been here over a decade ago when they used to have a extra camping field which was a little more wild, this was unavailable at this time. All the same great toilets, showers, freezer for ice blocks. To be honest it was rather pristine for use it felt like we were camping in someones back garden!

Being so close to the coast we made an evening visit to Beesands, where there isn't any sand! I love this long long coast line that can be ever so bleak and it was here that I decided that I would move to Devon. On this visit the sun was shiny and the old fish shop has gone more up market, selling great fish and chips.

So onwards we went to a stunning cove called Lannercombe bay. With only parking for half a dozen cars and miles down a tine dirt track you don't get too much in the way of over crowding. All I can say is it wonderful!

The mini adventure didn't stop there. Although we returned home on the Sunday we went to the Respect festival in Exeter. An amazing multi cultural festival of music, food, and good times. As a part of this the Yoga community came together to practise 108 sun salutations. I took part managing only half which even then took over an hour! It was a lovely experience.

And yes Arthur who has now reached 4, also had a great time!

 I hope you all have been enjoying life along with the joys of crafts and dressmaking. I'm slowly plodding on with my maxi dress hopefully have something to show you soon.

What A Week

And I really mean, what a week! The first half had been intensive preparing for an interview. AS some of you will know, I enjoy my job as a physio technical instructor but I work to many hours and find the home life work life balance difficult. To cut to the chase I have bagged myself a new job, more or less the same. A generic therapist working physio and occupational therapy duties in the haematology ward of our main hospital in Exeter, I can not tell you how pleased I am and what a great opportunity this is for work and home, so lets hope the next month moves along and I get to start.

With all the excitement I ended up with a tummy bug and a few days in bed! This changes the plans for a bank holiday but has enabled me to really enjoy the home, and things that I like to do, so to the main point : My allotment!

MrPB helped dig over the beds, and we have six small beds with runner beans, french beans, shallots, potato, mixed carrot and parsnip and cabbage hearts. Well it's in and we will keep our fingers crossed.

My biggest joy has been the humble shallot, I think  it is because is it has survived all weather and looks lush and healthy.

So that was the tidy half, this is the more caotic side yet to be mastered to my vision!!

We have been so lucky inheriting a asparagus bed, that I have often had this for breakfast, I feel like a queen.

As you know all the other jobs don't go away, but I have been thrilled that some of the garden has started to look after itself. A great example of this is Arthur's willow den, started lasted year and just looking amazing.

Yes the garden is still for veggies to and my favourite space saving beds are old tyres, they really are amazing. This year we have rhubarb, runner beans, nasturtiums, tomato and sweet peas no less.

So alot happening in the veggies garden and life. But just so you know I'm not down hearted after my jersey disaster I already have a summer dress on the table. Here is a sneak preview, and yes my first fully lined dress.

I hope you all had a good weekend. x

Disapointing

I thought the sewing bug was in full force, inspiration, trying to enhance skills bla bal bla. What really happened was Mc Call's easy jersey top., (never be fooled by the term easy on the front of a pattern)

 I had a lovely bit of jersey really soft and floaty, which made it hard to use. Also I have found that it tends to roll on left edges. The pattern itself wasn't too hard to follow I was just disappointed with the results.

 The overall problems have been it is drapes so much it doesn't really hold onto mu shoulders, I find a bit risky! I did really like the way the body came together very slimming. It felt somewhat lopsided that was definitely due to my sewing skills.The fabric was difficult to handle and I was longing for a nice bit of cotton by the end!

Sadly I don't think I will be wearing the version, I'm not so disheartened though I well my try one of the other versions that look a little more sturdier on the shoulders. I also have a very long to do list, Colette patterns and a maxi dress.

I hope your own projects are coming along nicely, there are some amazing makes on the blogs out there. x x x

Swap and stuff

Hi there, I feel like I have been busy doing not alot! Everything is ticking along but I dont have any finished projects as such. But the most exciting news is from the sewing swap. I am a super lucky girl who has a swap partner and new friend to be Vicki. who blogs over at Vicki Kate s Makes. I love Vickis style and she has even made a Colette Sencha, which is high on my to do list, we also have little boys called Arthur! I am really looking forward to putting a parcel of goodies to Vicki.

I have also become totally addicted to pinterest, one of my growing boards of inspiration is hand made summer clothes, feel free to follow and have a nosey round, it would be great to build up some more friends. Make your own summer board.

Lets hope I have something to show you all soon. 

A mixed bag.

This week has all been a bit different, out of the normal routine as poor Arthur has chicken pox, so days off work. It has felt like the good old days of stay at home mummy. I have cooked, and baked mainly from my favorite new book Honestly Healthy. I have been in the garden planting seeds but most exciting is that I have picked a pattern and fabric to start a summer top, and dress!

Arthur had time to help with the cooking.

Poor chicken pox boy fell asleep on the floor.
 

Spelt base pizza, topping of beetroot, garlic ans feta. Also courgette, lemon, and feta.And a traditional ham and sweetcorn.
 

The summer top pattern.
 

And the summer top fabric.
 

It has been lovely pottering at home, I don't want to return to work! I hope you have all been enjoying your week too. x

This is my favourite book of the moment!

Honestly Healthy: Eat with Your Body in Mind, the Alkaline Way by Natasha Corrett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book ROCKS!!!! I totally love it. It is clean and fresh for the eyes and the palette. All the information is simple and thought around real people that can slowing make positive changes to their diet without the crash and burn 'I can't keep this up' kind of mentality. The recipes to have a few weird and wholefood shop only ingredients but I think that is good as we should be supporting these shops, any way that's a different subject all together. Recipes, they are colorful and inspiring. Just buy it, make stuff from it, feel good. ;)

View all my reviews