Catching Up

Oh dear, is it really that long? In my own head I had written a blog post more recently than I really have, so to anyone out there who still stops by I say HELLO, thankyou for visiting and wish you a very belated Happy New Year, a belated Merry Xmas and everything else!

The end of last year whizzed by with lots of good and happy times, busy fairs and lots and lots of sewing.

But this year I'm trying to slow things down a little, and get back into doing more of the things that I love to do and that enrich my life but which got sadly neglected last year in the consuming rush to make, make, make! 

In no particular order I miss regular pottering round the garden, tidying it a bit here and there, growing vegetables, a cup of coffee on the bench by the pond whatever the weather, spending time with family and friends, gardening, crocheting whatever takes my fancy, painting furniture, junking, decorating, baking, trips to gardens, trips to London, little things like taking photos with a camera instead of my phone, and last but not least, I miss blogging and the interaction with the lovely, talented and inspiring friends I made in Blogland.

I have really missed keeping up with my favourite blogs and being inspired by all the colourful posts, the crochet, sewing, plants, gardens, homes, recipes and ideas out there, and so that's something that I'm going to try to remedy. I know some of you are on FB and IG too and I occasionally catch a post on my feed but all too rarely. 

So this year so far, as well as making bags, cushions and other items for my space at the loft Room and my Etsy shop, I've already made inroads into a few neglected areas. Like crochet.

Crochet!!!

I find it so relaxing to crochet and missed making things last year, so once the fairs were over I picked up my hook again.

I've been on a bit of a crochet roll since the last apron and xmas stocking orders were finished before Christmas as I didn't want to stitch another thing for a long time. 

I made a bobble hat for my daughter and have another one on the hook......these are the first crochet things she has ever asked me to make, and she has shied away in the past from anything crocheted, so after I picked myself up off the floor we went yarn shopping and she found a pattern online.

Its a great pattern, just make a rectangle of rib, gather up one edge and join one end of the strip to the other and add a bobble. Simples!

  

I've made a few mats and coasters in spring coloured cotton yarns which I've been using for the almost permanent vases of daffodils that are scattered thorughout the house at the moment as I'm treating myself to a few bunches every week when I do the shopping. At a £1 a bunch who could resist?

And I'm in the process of making some sweet little baby slippers at the moment, that although I have no one to give them too I just wanted to make as they kept catching my eye in an Erika Knight book. So a "just because" make....

Just need to make another tiny flower to stitch on the second slipper and thread some satin ribbons through the little loop at the heel. So tiny and sweet! 

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I squeezed in a trip to the local flea market the other week and joy of joys, as soon as I walked in the room I spied this little beauty....it was love at first sight and I knew we were meant for each other!

For £20 this little portable Olympia Splendid with case included was mine, all mine!!! 

One word from my husband when I excitedly told him....."why?"

He has no soul.

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Bella and I had a brilliant day out in London this week as she's home for reading week. The National Gallery in the morning, Covent Garden for lunch, and Tate Britain in the afternoon. It was such a special treat to see all those amazing works of art...Leonardo, Canaletto, Turner, Constable, Sargant, Waterhouse, Rossetti, the Pre raphaelites.......a whole room of favourites around the mid 1800s in the Tate, not just placed individually but three paintings high in some places.....almost too much beauty to take in. I can't explain how magic it was to be up close to well known and favourite paintings, mostly painted centuries ago, and discovering new works of art and new artists.  

The whole day was wonderful, but one of the best things was that we did it all on foot once we arrived in London. Usually trips to London are for a specific event, a trip to a concert or a Fair or show, and involve diving straight down into the underground then popping up again wherever I am heading. So no tube, no buses, no taxis, just walking and looking and absorbing.

Bella

So for the first time since I worked in London in Marylebone Road and another time just off Oxford Street, and used to tramp around all over the place over 25 or more years ago, we properly looked around us and walked, marvelled at the buildings, architecture, streets, statues and shops, immersed in the sights, sounds and smells. 

It was brilliant. Trafalgar Square, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, the Strand. The Mall, Buckingham Palace in the distance, Horseguards Parade, Whitehall, Parliament Square, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and of course the river. We went past the MI5 building and tried to spot spies, and we tramped back to Charing Cross in the evening rain with the sight of the London Eye lit up in red behind the incredible silhouette of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. We clocked up over 7 miles that day, over 17,000 steps.

We're already planning our next trip!

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I have finally finished a cross stitch embroidery that I started about two days before a friends daughters wedding and knew it wouldn't be done on time but it is now ready, and as they have just moved into a little cottage I thought the time was right, and only nearly a year late!

So this year is about trying to get a better balance in my life, and that includes getting back to blogging. I won't try to be over ambitious but will try and blog every week or so instead of rarely, and will try and keep up with my favourite blogs.

 I wish you all a Happy February and may Spring be with us soon!!!

Gill xx

P.S You can find me on Instagram as Pinkgillyflower ! 

Autumn Makes

As usual my good intentions to post fortnightly, or even monthly, seem to have gone to pot and I have no idea how we have got to November so quickly!

If there's anyone still out there following me, then a big "hello"!!! Hope you are well!

 fabric covered baubles

Life is one big rush at the moment and I seem to exist in a continual state of being surrounded by works in progress, getting ready for festive fairs and keeping my space at The Loft Room in Brenchley, Kent, looking enticing!

So today I'm sharing with you some of the goodies I've been making these last few months, and I'm sorry to say they are mostly Christmas things so look away now if you don't want to be reminded yet!

 felt reindeer with embroidered saddles

 felt wool hearts with snowflakes

 patchwork tree hangers

 

 aprons from a vintage pattern

 hessian and vintage wool robins

 french style calico bags with vintage ribbon

 Annie Sloan painted cabinet for customer, shown with calico bags

hessian bookmarks

french lavender filled vintage fabric hearts and antique grain sack cushion

Phew! 

Back in September we had a wonderful week in the Yorkshire Dales with lots of walks through the beautiful countryside, and I feel like I could do with another peaceful week there right now after all this sewing!

But with only a few weeks to go now until I attend the first of the festive fairs, the three day Wealden Times Midwinter Fair at Bedgebury in Kent, it's back to sewing, sewing and more sewing!

Summer Round Up

As usual it's been ages since my last post.....once again I don't know where the weeks go, but anyway, here I am!

I hope everyone is well and enjoying the summer holidays.

We have been pretty lucky with sunshine and dry days here in our part of Kent for the most part this summer, but we have just had a dark and gloomy morning with torrential downpours accompanied by thunder and lightening - but good for the garden we cry! 

Life for me at the moment revolves around my space at The Loft Room in Brenchley, where I am lucky enough to share studio and showroom space with two lovely creative ladies who have become good friends.

In between being there several days a week "working", I am as usual struggling to keep the house and garden not looking too neglected, and making sure we at least have clean clothes to wear, food to eat, and a vaguely tidy living room and kitchen even if the rest of the house resembles a tip!

But if I don't turn my back on it all, I don't get any sewing done!

I haven't taken so many photos in the garden as usual this year as I've been too busy, but here are a few highlights.

Despite having some lovely new raised vegetable beds put in I didn't get time to plant anything except one bed of curly kale and cabbages......first time in years without homegrown runner beans and french beans!

Hopefully next year I'll find more time.

On the sewing front I've been making a few more Cathedral Window pincushions as they have been popular as gifts in The Loft Room and I only have a few remaining. These little ones I sewed by hand.

I've also started making stock for the big 3 day Midwinter Fair I am doing with the other two ladies at The Loft Room at The Wealden Times Midwinter Fair, Bedgebury in Kent....we'll be having one large stall with all our three products combined. 

This is the photo we sent as an example of our goods when applying to the Fairs organisers, and we were so excited to be accepted.

It's really quite daunting though, so much stock to make!

I have been making some pocket tissue holders from natural linen with contrast lining and edge for gifts, teachers presents and stocking fillers.

And I've started making some Christmas decorations in August although I am struggling with getting into the mood!

Luckily I have some stock left over from last years Fairs so I'm not completely starting from scratch.

I've also been busy sewing childrens aprons which have been in great demand, especially those covered in dinosaurs, pirates and cars! Not my usual style but its good to make something different for a change!

I hope you enjoy the rest of the summer holidays, lets hope the sun comes back soon. Thank you for visiting me here and thank you for all your comments on my last post!

Spring Colour at Great Dixter for a grey day!