Summer break....

I have decided to take a break from blogging.

Sometimes I feel it is necessary to take a step back to see things clearly. In recent weeks I have not felt like blogging, so I am taking the rest of the summer off, and hopefully I will come back in September with a spring in my step... September is quite possibly my favourite month of the year; my birthday month of May is a close second.

I found the most delightful embroidered tablecloth last week in a junk shop... it is small and I don't know if I will keep it, sell it or cut it up for patchwork yet...love the colours and I am toying with making some sort of quilt with the vintage fabric in the first picture...

Still plodding along with this blanket when the mood takes me... I very much hope this will be finished by September. It nearly ended up as a knitting bag, but I have lost one of my bamboo handles. I took this as a sign that I shouldn't make a bag. Now more squares have been added to the blanket, the handle will turn up in some bizarre place!

Found this pretty lilac embroidered tablecloth last week in a charity shop; it is a good size on a lovely white linen background. You may be looking at a new pouffe cover... although I know me and I would turn into Mrs Annoying if anyone tried to put their feet on it, so maybe not on second thoughts.

One thing I do know is this shawl WILL be finished for September... I could do with wearing it now, never mind in the Autumn.

I will leave you with this photograph taken from our upstairs window, showing the silver birch trees which look so beautiful in the winter light. I know I live surrounded by countryside, but I still absolutely love seeing - and hearing - cows from our window; I can't explain why. I just think it is cool...

I hope you all have an enjoyable summer/winter with many happy tales to tell along the way x

And the sewing weather continues....

Sometimes I get so "in the zone" with a project, that I have to finish it as soon as possible... its not always a practical approach when you have a job. This cushion was intended for sale in my etsy shop, but in my eagerness I seem to have messed up a seam (which would have involved a lot of work to fix) and so you are looking at a "second".... destined for our sofa. Not a bad thing, as I like it...

I have taken off most of my crochet covers and given them a wash. Some have been taken apart; the photo below is of a back I had made for a cushion. I love the colours and had forgotten I'd made this square... the colour scheme would make a wonderful blanket. All the colours used are Stylecraft DK.

I've just finished a busy period of work and now have a few days off. I am officially a "Tour de France" widow, which suits me just fine as I can craft away to my hearts delight guilt free.

The junk and charity shops have been kind to me this past week and I have picked up a few lovely tablecloths and fabric... This cross stitch cushion cover is made out of a small tablecloth and is backed with a super fabric found at a car boot sale.

I've started making a few cushion covers with the intent of having a craft stall at the end of this month. If I'm honest, the idea of this fills me with apprehension. I think it is the thought of being there in full view and seeing people looking at my wares and not being able to hide behind my laptop! Deep down I know I am being silly and should just "bite the bullet" so to speak.

Do any of you dear readers like doing craft fairs?

I am going to put the cushion covers in my Etsy shop... until I make up my mind about the craft fair.

We went to a neighbours barbecue at the weekend and I wore my winter jacket and sheepskin boots... I left before midnight as I was cold. It is July. The good thing about the weather is it is spurring me on to finish my crochet shawl/scarf... and also that I love the way our garden flowers look in the rain. So with that, I will leave you with a picture of our lilies and wish you all a wonderful crafty week x