I foresee a spell downstairs sewing the binding on the scrappy tripalong. Yes, you heard me right. Remember this quilt? Well, if you are able to follow me on Instagram, you will know that I finally psyched myself up to get on with this monster this week.
Normally, I restrict myself to making quilts that are no larger than 60" in one direction because that is the width of my big table. I learned a while back that constantly sandwiching quilts on the floor is a killer for your back. However, the scrappy tripalong works so well on a big scale that I went with 36 blocks and a 72" square quilt. As you can see, this meant a bit of furniture removal in the sitting room and some time on my knees. Ouch. I was absolutely shattered after that, I can tell you. I never thought of quilting as physical work! I was kept company, of course, along the way.
Trying to be sensible, I decided it would be best to leave the quilting to the next day. Hmm, I thought I would just fiddle with the machine and get the tension right though. Of course, I couldn't stop there! No restraint.
An early start the next day (there are few benefits to living with a snorer), and the quilting was finished and the binding on by 9am yesterday. Go girl! Just the hand finishing now and I will be glad to snuggle under the quilt while doing that in this weather.
But let's backtrack. You'll probably have noticed that I'm sharing my Instagram shots with you in this post. It's a good way to look back and see what I've been up to this week. And golly, the weeks are flying by.
We've been entertained by the Munchkin and his fellow classmates in their tale of "Treasure Island". A last minute dash of inspiration with an eyeliner and this pirate has an anchor tattoo! There was "Red Nose Day" of course, which saw me elbow deep in chocolate gunge and Smarties but with someone keen to help with the "cleaning up". I had to resort to the hoover to clear up the stray hundreds 'n' thousands (they don't call them that for nothing!)
He's not the only one who got cake, though, as of course, a spot of baking was fitted in, mainly for Mr HenHouse (whose favourite is fruit cake), and also so I had an offering for Wednesday's crafty morning at Stag and Bow.
That was more felty love going on.
The weekend's main event was the trip to Legoland, of course. So pleased was I to fall in through the front door late on Saturday evening, wet and knackered, that I celebrated with a V&T. It never before tasted so good.
Sunday saw a well deserved sit-down in front of the fire and a new project started and finished. Inspired by "Pretty Pastel Style" (you see, I told you there was good stuff in there), I enjoyed working on this little crafty applique collage thingy. (The Mollie Makes free calendar for this month also bears the same inspirational photo as that in PPS.) In this picture, the thingy is unfinished. Golly, it was most enjoyable and I think that sort of thing could become quite addictive.
Serious cosiness, zzz...
The furry gingers had pressing stuff on their minds, or at least seemed to be having some sort of "pow wow" about it. What was it to be? Sleeping, eating, washing, purring?
Yesterday was an outing day. After crafty morning, I headed off for ole' London town, more precisely, Islington. I was of course, headed to the Spring Country Living Fair but I did have an idle wander along Camden Passage first (well, it is en route).
I admired Loop's yarny window but pressed on in search of vintage clothes shops and was not disappointed. Annie's had me drooling over the most stunning 1940's frocks, though I eventually went for a practical 1950's circle skirt as I am in lurrrve with primrose at the moment and see this with a little cashmere twinset (if I had one, that is).
Further along, I also perused the market stalls. Who knows whether a little treasure might be found there, per chance in the form of a 1940's velvet hat with a felt posy. Aaaarggh! Well as a collector of 1940's felt, I could hardy leave it there, could I?
On finally then, to the Country Living Fair. They had changed the layout a bit this year and the entrance was the best I've ever seen, oh so beautiful. I was glad I hadn't arrived until about 2.30pm as the crowds had dissipated (along with my cash?!)
I bought hardly anything at the fair, it was lovely but now I've been so many times, I have seen a lot of the stalls and know what interests me and what doesn't. I lusted after some vintage plaster advertising torsos (you know, those glamorous ladies' heads) but at £175, they were way out of my league. If you are popping along, I'm sure you'll have a lovely time.
It made for a very long day and I was glad to be back in my spot by the fire last night. Do you like our "new" rug? I found this all dirty and under some old furniture in my fave junk shop in Bridders the other week. I asked if it was for sale and £5 later, the deal was done. A few twirls in the washer (I figured I didn't have much to lose) and a spot of mending and ...ta dah! One delightful "readi-cut" rug. The furry friends approve.
And so this morning, it's always fun to look over one's spoils from the previous day's sport, no? I love this pretty French vintage nightie which I found loitering on a market stall amongst the 1980s-trying-to-be-1940s clothing. I think this is pretty enough to be a dress with a slip underneath (if feeling brave) or maybe shortened to be a blouse. It has the prettiest hand-smocking at the shoulders, Peter Pan collar and little glass buttons. Bargain!
And finally, recently my mum dug out and sent me some old photos. She knows I'm a sucker for sentimental old stuff like this. One photo is of my nan and grandad on their wedding day so that inspired a morning with my journal (the one I started on my Jessie Chorley workshop).
I was so pleased to hear that many of your were inspired to start your own journals after my post about Jessie's workshop.
Well, I might now have an hour with my beloved old mags, all in the interests of research of course, and wrap my icy fingers round a mug of something hot. I will give you more details another time (if you like), but I will be teaching a workshop to make my beloved felt posies, 1940's style, at Stag and Bow in May. It would be FAB-U-LOUS to see any of you kindred spirits there, too.
Thanks for reading. Stay cosy. X
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