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:

Little gadgets and notions - Corner template

I have not had this long, but it is already coming in handy.  I have several cardboard corner templates that I use to box corners that I cut myself, but rounding is not always as easy.

It had little spots that are supposed to make it grippy

I have acquired several templates, my husband often adds them to my Christmas presents, that are aimed at quilters, but use them all the time with my rotary cutter, which I tend to use most of the time rather than scissors.

Little gadgets and notions - foldback clips

I made a little bag for my 'turners' and hang them from my shelves so that i never lose them.

These paper turn back clips are really useful.  You can use them for

• holding fabric
• hooks as seen in the picture
• cable tidy - clipped to a shelf or desk running the cable through them.

There must be more uses....just can't think of them at the moment!

Little gadgets and notions - point turner

I guess everyone has something for this, I kept misplacing mine, so bought a few different types over the years, and have now found them all.

Have to say the knitting needle is used the most, it is fact enough to have a nice rounded point.

The little metal one is handy with its little red measure, but it is too flimsy to be an effective point turner.

Little gadgets and notions - Turners

These are handy, I tried my own methods, but have to say the pokey tools and 'pipes' do the trick, a lot of the time.  I have also put cord/string/ribbon ready to pull through the end, and this can be good too.

Have to say the 2 in the packet I have yet to use!  It was a Christmas present, so need to try them.

I found a video but can't find one in English!
loop turners

here are the pipes etc
pipes and sticks....

I generally try to avoid making pieces that need turning inside out when a tight turn, as they do get a bit infuriating at times, but these certainly help things along much quick.

Little gadgets and notions - bias makers

I have had these for years, think they were just off Ebay.  I have never actually made proper bias binding, as have not needed it to be on the bias.  So have just cut strips and made a nice edge for  my tissue pouches in the colour of my choosing.

Loads of youtube videos showing you how to use them just pull through and iron as you go.

Definitely worth getting, I have not used the smaller one, so if you just want to get a couple then have a think about what sort of size you will get the most use.

Cambridge

We went to the museum of Computing history in Cambridge, not sure what I was expecting, but it was more like the museum of gaming with some computing chucked in - and some reading around the walls, was nice to have a wander around - but definitely lots of room for improvement!  Could have done with some video shorts rather than reading - to see some of the things in action such as punched cards, mainframes and tapes, the old NCR machines and a lot more besides.

Had all sorts of reading about program languages, Leo (Lyons computer), Steve Jobs and Bill Gates etc.and loads, and I mean loads, of gaming consoles through the ages!

My purchases - all at £5 a metre

On the plus side we went into Cambridge for a wander around and went to sew knit craft and I managed to get a few bargain metres in there, she has some fab fabrics in there, but nothing I needed, so just went for the bargains!

Fat quarter

I got this tilda fat quarter from Rose green fabrics recently, and I used every scrap, with the addition of some other fabric, ribbons, buttons and snap fasteners.  Pretty fabric. 

Little gadgets and notions - little measure template

I love this little thing, they are only a couple of pounds, and gets used loads, you can probably cut your own from card but just not worth doing.

I do have many card triangles for corner boxing - I must do a few and laminate them.

Another template I have made from card is one to place handles on a tote bag.

Does everyone make templates?

Denim bags

Spotted these kids jeans in a charity shop recently, so pretty.  They just needed to be made into bags.  Added a zip to the second one, this one I might just have to keep for me. :)

Farrowby Farm, Hinxworth

My things

I have been to the vintage barn at Farrowby Farm today and taken on a few shelves to sell my wares.  What a lovely place, with animals and tea rooms, along with the barn where I have put my things.


They have goats, pigs, rabbits, birds, a cute cat and much more.  Things for kiddies to play on.

Farrowby Farm FB page

Vintage Barn FB page

And here are a few pictures of the barn, and the goats!  Will have to take a few more when I go back.

I know this basket is a bit small, but I can fit in it....

Bags

Broke into some new fabric this last week, and have little mopeds now on a couple of bags.  Have added a zip, and also wadding to some of them to make a change.

Pleased with the lining as managed to buy it from a charity shop, clearly left over from someones project as pieces missing, lovely quality fabric though.

Little gadgets and notions - bodkins/loop turning

These are another must have in my opinion.  I am not quite sure what they are called, elastic turner/bodkins.

I think I may have got them from here:

bodkins

I use them for cord, ribbon, elastic, so much easier than the old traditional way of a safety pin.

Get them!