Japanese knot bag

I have always wanted to make one of these, there seems to several different methods - so here is the first attempt, will have to give it another go with some different fabric.

Same bags different fabric

The top fabric, is the one I bought from Cambridge, thought I would take a snap while the sun is shining.

I have left some of these on Wollaston Home & Crafts it is a cute little shop in a Courtyard.  You can pop next door and get some DocMartins as the factory shop is there.

Also in the Courtyard is a butchers and a tearoom, the Rushden Lakes is not far from there either,

Too much fabric and my start at patchwork

So as I have far too much fabric I thought I would have a my first go at very simple patchwork, it now needs pressing and making into a blanket, with very simple quilting....which I will do very soon!

My fabric collection seems to grow...who can resist some new fabric!

So this is all my 100% cotton so very pretty.

And this is all the other fabric...I have recently tidied it all up, so that it inspires me to get making!

This is my first go at patchwork, it now needs pressing and making into a blanket, which I will do very soon!

The garden

Here are a few pics of the garden after I painted some bits of the fence...so much more to do.

I have even repaired the back fence - got my tools out and replaced the fence tops, so now need to paint that one too, but plants in the way, will cut them down a bit in September and do some.

And as everything was being painted grey I did this also!

Flamingo bag

Had fun making this little flamingo bag, already sold at Hexton Country Matters, so maybe I ought to make another, if only I can remember how I did it!

My shed - re-use

Painted hinges!

We made a decision to convert our garage to a room earlier on in the year, since then we have put that decision on hold due to my husbands health problems, and are waiting to see what we need in the future.  But we had already got a new shed so that we could clear the garage, which had ended up to be quite a dumping ground.

The garage is almost clear now, and I used Freecycle and Freegle extensively, and have to say it has been nice to have a clear out.  Everything that has gone in the shed has been sorted and labelled.

I was a bit concerned that it would get too cold and damp in the shed, so after looking around I decided it would be easier to fill the gaps with insulating boards/thick polystyrene.

So this time I collected items from Freegle - and got a lot of polystryrene boards that were 5cm thick, then I managed to get some insulating boards from Freecycle, and then also from a skip down the road!  This is what I did...

I bought a roll of foil bubble to do the roof, and I also put some of this behind the thinner boards.  I think I could have done the whole shed in bubble, but at the time I wasn't sure I would like the look of it.  BUT

I then went to our local charity shop and spotted these curtains....and decided i would line the wall with them....

I have since been back and found some plain curtains to do each end, and had some hardboard that has been the garage for years that fitted nicely under the window.  So all in all the shed in looking very smart and lined, so I hope I should be able to keep some of the worst cold and damp away.  Still thinking about the doors and what to do.

This was the polystyrene from Freegle

The old shed is also on its way to a new home..... 

Kidney Research and Kidney care

Unfortunately my husband has been recently diagnosed with kidney disease, and is now on kidney dialysis at our local renal unit, I have added a link to the top of this page to a just giving page to support kidney research.

I am collecting Stamps; coins;currency and old jewellery -  if you are local, I will come and collect any from you and sort out posting it to them:

https://www.kidneycareuk.org/get-involved/stamp-donation/

Any stamps will do, I will cut them out of the envelopes, or if you do make sure there is a finger width of paper left.

here is some information on the old and foreign currency

"Collect all your old and foreign currency.  In fact, collect everyone’s old and foreign currency, including coins.  Ask your family and friends, your neighbours and even those at work.  The more you can collect the greater the donation.  We welcome all foreign banknotes and coins, no matter how old or what currency they are. We also welcome the old British decimal coins (the heavy ones!). Unfortunately the old British pre-decimal pennies, transportation tokens and gaming tokens do not hold any value for this appeal. There is no need to sort your notes or coins."

Kidney Research is collecting old jewellery:

https://www.kidneyresearchuk.org/support-us/recycling-it?


"We can recycle:

Any jewellery – gold, silver, costume jewellery, watches, broken and damaged items (like odd earrings, snapped chains or items with missing stones).
Any unwanted banknotes – old and new, UK and foreign banknotes, including all the pre Euro notes that are now worthless to you."

A few bits

Not posted a new make in ages, I don't seem to have taken photos, and also I have not really been making much. The summer has meant that I have been in the garden a lot. So this week I made these as we had a rainy day: