Everything Else! | Sewchet

February 15, 2015
by sewchet 41 Comments

Sunday Sevens #23

Nat from Threads and Bobbins organized this link up, whereby you showcase the things that aren’t quite meaty enough to dedicate an entire blog post to.

I’ve got a few things to show you this week and, whilst they only number seven, there are a few more photos than that.

1. A finished off blanket from last month.

I love the flower detail in the middle.

Such lovely, dusky colours in the softest yarn – Drops Andes.

2. I found a 1930s Grandmother clock, perfect for our house which was built in 1937! I’ve been searching for a suitable one for ages and was chuffed to bits when I spotted this in a local antique shop.

3. I picked up my knitting needles to start on the first jumper I’ve knitted since 1988!

This one’s for me and I fancied using a tweedy yarn (Stylecraft’s Aran with 20% wool) to make it a proper country jumper for when I walk the dogs. This is my first attempt at knitting cables though and I think I’ve got it right first time!

4. I don’t know if those eagle-eyed amongst you have spotted the new badge in my sidebar? I’m the latest blog to be sponsored by Minerva Crafts to use and review their products.

The materials for my first three months projects have just arrived! Don’t you just love getting parcels like this in the post?

My first make will be using this good quality sweatshirt fabric with a very modern “Chic” print.

I’ve got a great project in mind for this practical quilted leatherette.

I’m really excited about this one though – a gorgeous Chinese print brocade!

All these projects will be revealed and blogged about over the next eight weeks or so.

5. A couple of new book purchases (as if I haven’t got enough!). I blame this entirely on Teresa from Navy Blue Threads🙂

6. After we finished some amazing tea that was given to us by somebody who insisted they weren’t going to drink it, we hunted down some more.

At a hefty £25.00 for a tiny tin, I think we’d better ration ourselves with this next lot!

7. Finally, I whipped up a batch of eighty scones for a little boy’s Christening. Like you do.

February 4, 2015
by sewchet 9 Comments

The Big Comic Relief Crafternoon – Come And Join Us!

I’m hosting a Crafternoon to raise funds for Comic Relief – this Red Nose Day event was thought up by Mollie Makes magazine.

Keep abreast of all the news, including events near you, on The Big Comic Relief Crafternoon Facebook page.

February 1, 2015
by sewchet 32 Comments

Sunday Sevens #21

Guests have gone home, Husband has taken No. 3 Son to play in a tennis tournament and No. 2 Son is watching Toy Story with the dogs which all means…….my Sunday Sevens post is on time!

Seven photos taken during the week to give a little insight to my life as organized by Nat over at Threads & Bobbins.

So, here we go….

1. Homemade Blackberry and Apple Pie with fruit I picked and froze in the summer.

2. A surprise gift from visiting family!

3. Thinking about hosting a Red Nose Day Crafternoon…..

4. My latest creation to be blogged about shortly.

5. Guess who has something featured in the next “Country Child” magazine…..?

6. Pretty Nostalgic members meet up in Salisbury.

7. Procrastinated right up until the last minute (well, 57 minutes actually) about filing my Tax Return!

January 26, 2015
by sewchet 16 Comments

Sunday Sevens #20

So, here are seven photos taken during the week which give you an insight into my life.

Sunday Sevens, as organized by Nat over at Threads and Bobbins, is a weekly round up of things that don’t make it to the blog.

I ought to rename it Monday Sevens really, as I rarely manage to post on a Sunday….

1. Piña Coladas with friends.

2. My Tower Poppy arrived at last! You can read about our visit in this blog post.

3. The dogs enjoying a frosty walk.

4. Mmm….Nothing beats a Full English and a pot of tea after a walk in freezing weather.

5. Demolition of the old downstairs shower room and toilet.

6. Enjoying a spot of crochet and another cup of tea in a vintage china teacup given to me at Christmas.

7. went to the Hauser & Wirth gallery in Bruton. The video installation by Pipilotti Rist is mesmerizing.

Now, back to writing this bag pattern – nearly there Lucie🙂

January 5, 2015
by sewchet 24 Comments

Sunday Sevens #17

This week, my #sundaysevens post is a day late (again) with good reason – I was at The Ritz in London having afternoon tea and didn’t get back until nine o’clock:)

Shall we start with that then?

Hubby and me quaffing champagne…

…with two of our very good friends.

Cousins-In-Law modelling the crochet headbands I made them for Christmas….

….and the cake she made for our New Year Supper! (Check out her FB page!).

Teaching a willing student to crochet.

I made Salmon en Croute for lunch one day.

A frosty walk with the dogs.

Thanks to Natalie at Threads and Bobbins for encouraging us to keep blogging!

January 2, 2015
by sewchet 11 Comments

#sewingsanta Reveal!

Wow, what a Christmas and New Year – this is the first time I’ve turned my computer on since before Christmas! Although I have been keeping up with Blogland on my mobile and realize that I am probably the last one to show off the gifts from my #sewingsanta.

Shame on me:(

Lisa from Stitched Up From The Start organized a Secret Santa involving the swap of sewing gifts and Jodie from Jodie’s Adventures In Sewingland was given the task of trying to find me a suitable sewing related surprise, which must have been quite difficult as;

a) we are new to each other

b) my creative passions are varied and not restricted to just sewing.

Well, Jodie obviously took the time to look through my blog and, very thoughtfully, included some goodies that indulged my other crafting obsessions.

Here’s what I was lucky enough to receive!

A stunning fat quarter of bright red, white and blue cherry fabric with a small scale pattern – perfect for the little projects that I love creating so much;

Some beautiful gingham ribbon with a delicate crochet edge;

Some real vintage buttons – this girl must have read about all those buttons I couldn’t resist buying at Yarndale!

My first foray into needle felting was a little Robin Brooch that I made for Beth at After Dark Sewing. Jodie only went and bought me some fabulous fulling to continue experimenting with!

The wool from some Devon Alpacas was an inspired choice – thank you Jodie!

Also included was what I initially thought was another fat quarter, this time in a vintage-style ‘Roses’ print, wrapped in a white satin ribbon;

On closer inspection it turned out to be a beautifully made sandwich wrap, lined with wipe clean oilcloth in vibrant red and white polka dots!

This is the Christmas card that Jodie sent;

Many thanks again Jodie – I really am soooo pleased with my gifts and cannot wait to come up with some designs that will do them justice and I will, of course, show them on my blog when I do.

Happy New Year!

December 23, 2014
by sewchet 29 Comments

Last Minute Gifts Finished Off And An Amusing Mishap

Well here we are, just two days before Christmas and I’m still making a few last minute bits and bobs. With fifteen people and three dogs coming to stay for Christmas, I’ve been hard at it with the food and sleeping arrangements which has meant there has been no time to blog properly I’m afraid.

After a lovely pre-Christmas supper for ten, they’re all doing the dishes whilst I sneak out to the office to grab a few minutes on the computer – my last update for a while, I suspect.

So, this is what I’ve been up to the last week or so….

I made a birthday card for a friend using pretty scraps of fabric;

These are the pair of fingerless gloves that went into my #sewingsanta parcel – I had to make these quickly after the pair (that were originally intended to be included) sold on Folksy!

I made this card for another friend who is a music teacher….

….and wrapped her present in old music scores that I picked up from a charity shop.

Inspired by Tajana’s jumper, I made a scarf for my brother.

A “Rasta” hat as modelled by my husband but intended for a much younger recipient!

A golf club sock as a bit of a laugh:)

A pair of cashmere fingerless gloves.

A tea cosy….

….as part of a gift including a Le Creuset teapot and different teas.

Gift tags made from air-drying clay.

I’ve been getting in a bit of a muddle and put it down to the drugs I’m taking for a trapped nerve, but get this: I wrapped up my step-daughter’s present, tied it with pretty ribbon, added a homemade clay gift tag and put it under the tree only to come back to see her present still sat on the table, unwrapped.

I have no recollection of picking up a random tea light holder from the middle of the table and wrapping that up instead, so I think my Christmas brain must be addled – and the big day is still two days away! I have visions of people opening their presents to find a soup ladle inside when their real gift is still in the cupboard but hey-ho, I’m not unwrapping them all to check!

I shall finish off by wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and sharing with you a festive picture of my dogs:)

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!!!!

December 15, 2014
by sewchet 14 Comments

Sunday Sevens #14

My “Sunday” Sevens are a day late again – I was in Bath Christmas shopping with my daughter yesterday, an annual event in its twentieth year! Each year we drive in before the shops open, have breakfast, lunch and dinner out and manage a bit of shopping and mulled wine in between. It was the last day of the Bath Christmas Market too, so the city was looking and feeling very festive.

We really look forward to this girly day out which only ever happens otherwise on our shared birthday – we were both born on March 13th:)

Here is a snapshot of my week: –

1. Put up the Christmas Tree

2. Yarn delivery from The Wool Warehouse!

3. Walking around the village after dark in PJs, dressing gowns and wellies leaving Candy Canes on gateposts/car windscreens as a surprise for the children in the village to wake up to:)