A Beetle Bug in the Asters

This is Bert,  a 'beetle bug' from the book 'Softies' which I have mentioned before.
 It is a great book for soft toy patterns and this is the 7th type of toy pattern that I have made from the book now.
The pattern was easy to trace and the intructions simple to follow and he took less than an episode of 'New Tricks' on the iplayer to make. The head is blanket, the body one of my favourite Kaffe Fassett fabrics, and the legs are a recycled shirt. He looks particularly at home in the Asters which are in full bloom.



I am still going with the liberated sampler and have now run out of the 'Ten Little Things' fabric. It is looking a bit white at the moment so I think I will try and introduce some colour with the quilting. I wondered about big colourful running stitches like the Kantha quilts from India.Will keep you posted.

Catching the setting sun on the new log pile

 

We have a new log pile ready for the winter and it is a great place to take photos in the evening light.

 

 

 

The liberated sampler is growing and I only have a few small pieces of the charm pack (Ten Little Things) left now so I am thinking a border of some sort.

 



 

The cushion that I started on holiday is finished and will be ready to warm a new home.

 

 

And finally a glasses case for a friend.

 

Linen skirts

I really like wearing linen skirts and have a couple that I use on holiday that were shortened from old bias cut skirts that I have had for years.

I decided that I wanted some to wear for work and found this pattern by Newlook number 6053.

I made it first in black and used some bias binding that I found in Liberty's in London, to hem it. The binding didn't show but I new it was there.

 

 

Then I decided to make a second skirt from the same pattern but this time put the bias binding on the outside and I love it!

 

(The other rose patterned fabric is just the facing at the waist edge). 

 

 

Our first Hollyhock came out this  week and I am hoping the others will flower next year aswell.

 The colour is fantastic and the plants are made more special as the hanfull of seeds were pulled from some plants I admired, and  given to me by a very kind person.

 

Figs and flowers

We have lots of these on a tree in the garden..

 

 

 

I am not very good at using them up before they go soft.

I have tried cooking them in a sort of syrup but I seem to be the only one eating them and the rest of the family just look at them with horror!

Any ideas for other recipes that work?

Has anyone made figgy pudding or maybe some sort of cake?

 

 

 

 

The sweet peas are still going and are providing a burst of colour on the kitchen table.

 

The liberated sampler is growing and I will try and get some pictures at the weekend.

Cows in the mist!

 

It was a beautiful misty morning yesterday, children all back to school, and my final day of holiday.

I went for an early morning walk with the dog and took my camera.
 

 

The spider webs were amazing because of the mist.
 

 

Our vegetable patch has been disappointing this year to say the least.

This just about sums it up, so much for a pumpkin pie!

 

 

 

I think the french climbing beans did best.

 

 

The flowers had a better year.

This is a hoverfly on the rudbeckia that have just started to come out.
 

 

And my favourite rose is having a second flush of flowers.

 

Just in case you thought I had not been doing any sewing...

 

 

 

This is a linen skirt, cut out and ready to sew together.

 

 

 

And these are my random liberated blocks, from the 'Ten Little Things' charm pack and a recycled white sheet.

I have learnt how to do a windmill!

 

Have a good weekend.

Lavender

 

One bush gave me all this and there is still more to come as you can see. I'm doing the 'bundle it up as you go' method this year as last year it all ended up a bit of a mess and was difficult to separate from the stems.

I never know exactly when to pick it and I probably leave it a bit late really but the bees are having such a good time on it I don't want to spoil all their fun!

 

Soon I will be able to start some smelly nellies, aroma robbins and who knows...

Fragrant Fish? Smelly Snake? Beautiful Bug?!!!