tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73167477540206062212024-03-13T15:02:44.131+00:00Sew and SiwAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-57969337905735035572016-01-11T11:44:00.000+00:002016-03-08T13:49:26.524+00:00What I want to make in 2016Last year I put this list together (from what I'd left undone in 2014!!) of things to make during the year. As you can see from what I've crossed out, it wasn't that productive a year!<br />
<ul>
<li><strike>Bedroom curtains - our room</strike></li>
<li>new cushion for Lloyd Loom chair</li>
<li><strike>bedroom curtains - sewing room</strike></li>
<li>finish snowdrop sampler</li>
<li>something out of box of old cloths</li>
<li>bedroom curtains - top bedroom?</li>
<li>finish spring tapestry cushion</li>
<li>new canvas for garden chairs & coordinating bench cushions</li>
<li>use DH's old shirts to make tops?</li>
<li>something out of striped Mulberry fabric</li>
<li>Something out of Nain's pink/orange fabric (Amy Butler Lotus tunic?)</li>
<li>Scandinavian garlands from Scandinavian Needlecraft by Clare Youngs as Christmas presents - use stuff stored in boxes/attic?</li>
<li>key rings/fridge magnets - possibly from Made in France: Sweet Treats in Cross Stitch by Tinou Le Joly Senoville; garden secrets book at home; also see 'key to it all' post</li>
<li>Presents/<b>cards</b> for birthdays</li>
<li>Christmas tree skirts - as presents</li>
</ul>
But, looking on the bright side, I don't need to worry about curtains for the top bedroom as I brought a pair I made about 20 years ago from my flat (I was fed up with my tenants having my lovely curtains and the last one certainly didn't appreciate them). So, I have curtains made by my fair hand in all rooms but one of our house (and the curtains in that room have new linings made by me).<br />
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Another small plus is that now that the major projects (you guessed it, curtains) are done, I can hopefully concentrate on some smaller finishing touches, like the chair cushion and some tie-backs for the numerous infamous curtains.</div>
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I'm not going to promise to complete this list as a) I don't want to put pressure on myself, b) I know I won't manage it and c) I'll probably do other stuff that I haven't considered putting on this list. I am hoping to concentrate on a few of them though:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>tie backs for 'final curtains'</li>
<li>new cushion for Lloyd Loom chair</li>
<li>finish snowdrop sampler</li>
<li>finish spring tapestry cushion</li>
</ul>
and take it from there. It is four years since I started blogging here and the last 18 months have been pretty poor to say the least, so hopefully this will be my blogging come-back year.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-36327185591539605932016-01-08T12:00:00.000+00:002016-01-08T12:00:23.112+00:00Advice from our grandmothers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6LmZmXvTfe8DdupFJ7iGg8CRknTbIVZFP0IYGsfmnU3mnzqZje904tu3o3NZ1LTfwFIhlrc6tuyJdISu-fqtIrayWs2Hx55qpO9mvVWoWlxoZDzeWJAHvffohi7fY-F4IhDnHjwOgw2X/s1600/12075076_10205634038306772_6500640645549617743_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6LmZmXvTfe8DdupFJ7iGg8CRknTbIVZFP0IYGsfmnU3mnzqZje904tu3o3NZ1LTfwFIhlrc6tuyJdISu-fqtIrayWs2Hx55qpO9mvVWoWlxoZDzeWJAHvffohi7fY-F4IhDnHjwOgw2X/s640/12075076_10205634038306772_6500640645549617743_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now I know where I've been going wrong all these years!</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-34646367190013308222016-01-05T14:00:00.001+00:002016-01-05T14:00:45.929+00:00Merlin has new friends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You've probably noticed over the years, that I quite like making Christmas decorations. It may also have come to your attention that I buy sewing/embroidery/craft magazines that often have free gifts or kits.<br />
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So in true Sew and Siw fashion, I bought a Christmas craft magazine with a free kit a couple of months ago. And again, in true Sew and Siw fashion, I waited until the Christmas holidays to get the kit out and craft!<br />
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I'm probably 'officially' too old for finger puppets, but you're only as old as you feel aren't you?!? ;-)<br />
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PS: Merlin is our cat in the background - I don't think he's all that impressed with 'his' new friends though! After all, they take the limelight from him ;-)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-15167097060634549392016-01-04T11:22:00.001+00:002016-01-04T11:22:34.399+00:00The final curtainI know I probably shouldn't say this, but <i>I really hope</i> <i>that the title of this post is true!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
For those of you have been faithful followers of this (rather intermittent) blogger (and thank you if you are!), you will know all about my bumpy road to curtaining our home (is there such a verb as curtaining?!). It has involved a <i>huge</i> amount of fabric, miles and miles of thread, aching knees and back and (literally) a substantial amount of blood, sweat and tears. Not to mention an inordinate amount of patience on DH's part!<br />
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I hope that you are sitting down as you read this next part, because I have made the final* pair of curtains!!!!<br />
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I have been keeping fairly quiet about them I admit. Partially because I'm so sick of making curtains, but also because we've had quite a big family event behind it all, which I didn't want to say too much about. It still isn't imminent, but at least the curtains are up now.<br />
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They should have been a quick and easy pair to make as the window involved is soooo much smaller than the others I've blogged about. As ever, though, it all took longer than I'd hoped. I didn't order enough fabric to start with (a bit of a boo-boo to say the least) and then I ran out of thread. After getting more supplies and starting the next stage, the sewing machine decided to go on the blink! To be fair to it, though, I've had it (or I think my parents would say, <i>we've</i> had it) for over 20 years and it hasn't been serviced once (shame on us), so it has done brilliantly to last this long.<br />
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So, all in all, my <i>final</i> (hopefully) foray into curtain making hasn't been the smoothest. With all the experience I've had, you'd think I'd have perfected it by now though, wouldn't you!?! As ever, I've decided to try something new again - blackout lining this time - and it is a bit weird to sew with. I was a bit concerned that the stiffness of the lining would put me off them now they're hanging as it doesn't hang as nicely as 'normal' lining, but it isn't as bad as I expected. That is one bonus of worrying yourself silly for months about something - it can NEVER be as bad as you expect! ;-)<br />
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Et voilà!<br />
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*At least, the final pair for a VERY VERY long time.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-23357131559047992642015-10-31T12:00:00.000+00:002015-10-31T12:00:08.804+00:00House tour - part 5We're almost there now! Not far to go!<br />
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As I've implied in previous instalments, what I've left to show you is probably the least dramatic of all the work we've done to the house.<br />
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In the 'guest' bathroom and WC, all we changed really was the ugly lino for some tiles and a fresh, clean coat of paint.<br />
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The guest room was a bit of a surprise when we first got the keys. Everytime we'd been to the house, the teenage son was recovering in bed from a late night out, so we'd only ever peeped in and seen it with the curtains drawn. We realised that it was a convenient 'ploy' after getting the keys as this was the only room with a Critall window (just about visable in the photo below) - hideous! And draughty! Initially we were just going to paint and carpet it, but the plaster was pretty awful, so it was replastered too and last year we replaced the awful window.<br />
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The second spare room had some nice original features - bare floor boards, original fireplace and a nice little cupboard (and no radiator as we discovered some months later!). They were however painted a rather bright blue:<br />
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And now:<br />
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(you may recognise this as my sewing room now!)<br />
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Then the final bedroom, like the guest room, was replastered and redecorated and carpeted and went from this:<br />
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To this:<br />
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Now that leaves just one room left. The previous owners used it as a dark room, so it had a sink in it already. We'd thought of keeping the sink and using it as a laundry room, but when we looked more closely at the sink it was disgusting (photographic chemicals presumably). So a bit more money spent and it was transformed from this:<br />
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to this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9zdI5Jbxs1sQHiGkrkP3o_5P92JVdejjYhMEapdt2EKXDJykSubi13SfJ88nk4Cr7M1e0m8yRvnZl9NUGGt2O0d5LyohSshcDvGzax25VKIRJhWufqkrd_ICO4H4PUgHafLclqcZx_-F/s1600/IMG_8557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9zdI5Jbxs1sQHiGkrkP3o_5P92JVdejjYhMEapdt2EKXDJykSubi13SfJ88nk4Cr7M1e0m8yRvnZl9NUGGt2O0d5LyohSshcDvGzax25VKIRJhWufqkrd_ICO4H4PUgHafLclqcZx_-F/s200/IMG_8557.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51oDCyuaYfgHT-O7eu221pTvmGha55i7SftZAS_qPByVz_mJwjlPJPxD6DP6hAX8bF5ShSPQRuXktCXBmjfOnTRDYjW-ougLbM81cPN8TrlzwkgtmpH3jhLFZpexgEvddWhyphenhyphenN2_4o4mfA/s1600/IMG_8555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51oDCyuaYfgHT-O7eu221pTvmGha55i7SftZAS_qPByVz_mJwjlPJPxD6DP6hAX8bF5ShSPQRuXktCXBmjfOnTRDYjW-ougLbM81cPN8TrlzwkgtmpH3jhLFZpexgEvddWhyphenhyphenN2_4o4mfA/s200/IMG_8555.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-31468468257613957012015-10-22T12:00:00.000+01:002015-10-22T12:00:01.851+01:00Getting the juices running<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIdx0gUTWv5i6Wp6m0Ra8TNQCdIIQTRt4jZAGYo26A4KMrEUE4A3QaIGO9MyYeJHo5wwxEbWYbBsEGDxQeP9L54-HcD0JZdBqc-kWLqHPYLpsiUrel3_XS3-xaB90HLyXPFTUvqXJGenI/s1600/Zwetschgendatschi.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image of plum cake" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIdx0gUTWv5i6Wp6m0Ra8TNQCdIIQTRt4jZAGYo26A4KMrEUE4A3QaIGO9MyYeJHo5wwxEbWYbBsEGDxQeP9L54-HcD0JZdBqc-kWLqHPYLpsiUrel3_XS3-xaB90HLyXPFTUvqXJGenI/s320/Zwetschgendatschi.JPG" title="Zwetschgendatschi" width="240" /></a></div>
I know the title of this blog suggests that it is all about sewing and suchlike, but are there restrictions to being creative?<br />
<br />
Like many of you, I'm sure, I've been getting my teeth into the latest series of Great British Bake Off (excuse the pun!). As ever, it makes me want to bake more and try new techniques and recipes. Not that I'm intending to construct biscuit and choux pastry towers or anything. I just enjoy baking and would like to do more and get better at it.<br />
<br />
Two years ago my DM had a severe stroke. Over recent years, we'd shared the Christmas jobs between us to a certain extent - a good friend has given us a couple of Christmas puddings as part of her extremely generous Christmas parcel, DM would make the cakes (one for all of us, some for friends and relatives), DS and DNs would decorate the family cake, I'd do mince pies ... You get the idea. Well, since Mam's stroke, baking was more than my already over-stretched sister could face, and I didn't want Christmas to change too much as a result of DM not being at home any more. So, guess who now has the job of making the cake?!? You've got it! Since DM has been out of rehab, I've included her in the job - she supervises me :-D And she's done such a good job that the only time I've managed NOT to curdle the mixture with the creaming method is when she's keeping an eye on me. And the Christmas cake baking weekend isn't far off now ...<br />
<br />
The downside of baking is the eating (depending on how you look at it, obviously). Generally, the eating is The Upside, but DH and I don't want to put weight on (anymore than I've already done), so having cakes and biscuits at home is a bit awkward. Since GBBO, though, I've found a way around the problem - work! If I bake something at the weekend and take it into work on Monday, I get to indulge my baking dream and have an office load of people to eat the cake. I'm lucky that I work with people who love cake too :-D<br />
<br />
So, my two offerings so far have been ...<br />
Bavarian Zwetschgendatschi (or plum cake)<br />
And double ginger cake (but my colleagues got to it before I did with my camera - sorry!), but which is a lovely moist cake flavoured with both ground ginger and crystalised ginger (from <a href="http://www.nigelslater.com/">Nigel Slaters</a>' Kitchen Diaries). I must admit - it went down a treat at the office, so I shall be making another (but maybe just for us next time!).<br />
I'm not sure what will be next as last weekend and next I wasn't/won't be able to bake, but it is 'that time of year' again and I feel a pumpkin pie coming on ...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-56640010036779403182015-10-14T14:50:00.000+01:002015-10-14T14:50:07.216+01:00Literary catch upI am acutely aware that I'm a bad blog-mother (or whatever you'd call someone who should be caring for her readers but forgets to post anything for weeks or months) and haven't given you any 'sustenance' for some time.<br />
<br />
To be honest, it has been a pretty awful few months for us recently and crafting hasn't been very high on the agenda. Finding the emotional energy and concentration for it has been beyond me too. I've tried to carry on with household crafting, but the sewing machine stitch length regulator packing up hasn't helped much either!! The machine is now back on its feet, so hopefully I can tell you all about that soon.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, following a chat about books with a colleague, I thought I'd at least fill you in on my reading this year. It was <a href="http://sewandsiw.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/reading-again.html">January</a> when I last updated you. As I say, I've not had much patience or concentration for crafts or reading over the summer, but I'm gradually getting back into things again now and I'm going to try and work my way through the pile of books I've had next to my bed and cluttering up the front of the bookshelves over the next few months. So, since January ...<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Llwyth - </i>Bethan Gwanas (a Welsh language book for teenagers - I know, I'm well past that stage now, but I met the author and this was the only book I hadn't got that I could get her to sign. It is about tribes (hence the title, which is Welsh for tribe) in a sort-of prehistoric, mystical Wales where the tribes have animal attributes - crows, wolves, bears and dragons - and they have to overcome their fear/prejudice of each other to fight a common enemy. Enjoyable even as an adult!)
<br /><i>Martha, Jac a
Sianco - </i>Caryl Lewis (a novel set in rural Wales, on a farm where two brothers and a sister live together after caring for their parents. Are they still 'young' enough to start afresh, or is it too late for them now? Not an unusual situation in rural communities where the children (or at least one child) remains at the family home caring for the aging parents. Quite a poignant and sad tale.)
<br /><i>O'r harbwr gwag i'r
cefnfor gwyn</i> - Robin Llywelyn (Like <i>Martha, Jac a Sianco</i>, this is an award-winning novel. According to <a href="http://gwales.com/">Gwales.com</a> (Welsh book council's website/shop) "a fantasy love story about the quest of the hero for his love against many odds". I must admit, I found it hard going and struggled to persevere with it. But I hate being beaten by a book!)
<br /><i>The Miniaturist - </i>Jessie Burton (My MIL was given this as a gift and I'd intended to borrow it, but when I was looking for something to read on holiday I threw caution to the wind and bought myself a copy. I loved it! I'd visited the Rijksmuseum and had seen the doll's house that had inspired it, so I simply couldn't resist. Well worth a read if you like historical novels - this is a good HN, but with a difference.)
<br /><i>The Luminaries</i> - Eleanor Catton (We had two weeks on holiday and two long flights to fill, so when there was BOGOHP or something at Waterstones I had to choose something to go with T<i>he Miniaturist. </i>There was another book in competition, but for whatever reason (possibly because it was a Man Booker prize winner) this is what I bought. It is a who-dunnit of sorts, but a historical novel too. Quite puzzling - I found it hard work, but also couldn't put it down. I think the ending disappointed me a little, but quite a good read.)
<br /><i>An Equal Music</i> - Vikram Seth (This was DH's holiday reading choice. He loved it and recommended that I read it too. We both like music, so it was pretty certain to appeal. Another poignant story, but also a page turner. It left me wishing that I was a better musician - again.)
<br /><i>Excursion to
Tindari</i> - Andrea
Camilleri (This was the start of a bit of a 'binge' read and a clear out at the same time. I'd bought an unboxed 'boxed' set of Inspector Montalbano books from the Book People, so having read the first four, I wanted to finish the set. So, how better than to 'binge' in them, one after another? All the Montalbano books are atmospheric and full of mouth watering descriptions of his favourite foods! I can't imagine that the Sicillian tourist board need anything more than these books to tempt people there! It is certainly high on our list of places we want to holiday in soon. There are common themes running through them too - including, topically (or not as these books actually prove) the problems mediterranean destinations face with the influx of refugees. Despite the obvious distress and concern the recent news items have caused, I got quite angry that the media made it sound as if it was a 'new' problem. <i>The Snack Thief</i> was first published in Italian in 1996 and deals with the son of a refugee who is being traficked - so the problem has been around for at least a decade! Anyway, these are great 'light reading' books, with plenty of atmosphere, humour, serious themes and drama - so I won't write about each one individually.)
<br /><i>The Scent of the
Night</i> - Andrea Camilleri
<br /><i>Rounding the Mark</i> - Andrea Camilleri
<br /><i>O! Tyn y Gorchudd </i>- Angharad Price (I actually read this a while ago, but only realised it wasn't on my list in the midst of my Montalbano binge! It is tells the story of Rebecca Jones and her life in rural Montgomeryshire. another award winning book - and well worthy of the prize. There is a <a href="http://www.gwales.com/goto/biblio/en/9781848511750/">translation </a>available, which DH found fascinating.)
<br /><i>The Patience of the
Spider -</i> Andrea Camilleri
<br /><i>The Seville
Communion - </i>Arturo
Perez-Reverte (This is another 'throw back' that somehow missed getting on my list. If you enjoy mystery/thriller type books, but fancy one that is a little different, I'd recommend any of Arturo Perez-Reverte's books. This one is about "murderous goings-on in a tiny church draw the Vatican into the dark heart of Seville. A hacker gets into the Pope's personal computer to leave a warning about mysterious deaths in a small church in Seville that is threatened with demolition".)
<br /><i>The Paper Moon</i> - Andrea Camilleri
<br /><i>August Heat </i>- Andrea
Camilleri
<br /><i>The Boleyn
Inheritance</i> - Philippa
Gregory (After a crime binge I needed a bit of a change, so reverted to my other 'love' - historical novels. Philippa Gregory is difficult to beat too. I'd already read her Cousins' series about the Wars of the Roses and had dipped into her Tudor series, but I've decided now to read them in chronological order (rather than the order they were written). As it happens I'd got as far as 'dear ol' Ann Boleyn, so the 'aftermath' was next. As usual, Philippa doesn't disappoint. Luckily, the next novel chronologically has just come out, so I'll be moving on to that soon.)
<br /><i>he Captive Queen</i> - Alison Weir (This and <i>The Boleyn Inheritance</i> have been my way of getting back into reading after a horrible summer, so thank you to Philippa and Alison for tempting me back. This is about Eleanor of Aquitaine. I remember reading the Plantagenat series by Jean Plaidy when I was still at school. I've enjoyed the Plaidy books over the years, but this gives a bit more flesh to the bones, and probably more historical fact too, although there isn't much about Eleanor apparently. I've only read <a href="http://sewandsiw.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/reading-again.html">one other book</a> by Alison Weir before, but I may 'pinch' my DM's copy of <i>Katherine Swynford: The Story of John of Gaunt and his Scandalous Duchess</i> in the future.)<br />
<br />
Since then I've completely changed direction. As I've promise (!), I am going to work my way through the pile of books blocking the other books on our bookshelves and the pile next to my bed. So, as good as my word, the top of one of those piles was <i>Good Ideas - How to be your child's (and your own) best teacher</i> by Michael Rosen. In short, it is about making every day experiences fun and educational for children. The introductory part was hard going (but I was tired and run down at the time), but it is fun reading it. A lot of it is probably stuff you'd do without thinking, but it may well open your mind to doing something different (in my case, despite LOATHING mushrooms, the thought of going foraging in woods with an expert - obviously! - and seeing nature, the life cycle of plants ... AND getting something tasty (for some people) to boot, sounded like fun. So I may well give it a go one autumn - as long as none of you make me eat the results!!!<br />
<br />
So, what have you been reading recently? Any recommendations? Have you read any of the books I've been reading? If so, what do you think of them - and do you agree with me?!
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-4286788402716301322015-09-16T16:55:00.000+01:002015-09-16T16:55:01.385+01:00Back to basicsI've been having a bit of a rethink about my sewing plans recently, ... mainly in light of the shambles I made of some recent projects.<br />
<br />
I admit, I've lost confidence in my ability and have come to the conclusion that the next step is:<br />
a) to give up<br />
b) only make what I know works, or<br />
c) do something about it<br />
<br />
It is probably true what DF said when I was getting all of this off my chest - I need to get back into it and practice more. It has been a looooong time since I did any serious dressmaking and most of my sewing has been restricted to home furnishings for quite some time. And that hasn't exactly been a regular thing until recently. And they've been BIG projects that have literally and figuratively swamped me - as well as making me doubt that I really got an A at GSCE maths.<br />
<br />
Another thing that has held me back with dressmaking it finding the right pattern. Now, I may have taken this to a 'how do you find Mr Right' kind of level, but what frustrates me about making your own clothes is this. You go clothes shopping, you see something you like on the rail and you either know it will suit you, or if you're unsure you can try it on before you buy. Even then, if you change your mind after taking it home, you can still take it back to the shop and get your money back or exchange it for something else.<br />
<br />
But with dressmaking, you choose a pattern, choose your fabric (or you may do it the other way around if the fabric has inspired you), buy your pattern, fabric, and the million-and-one notions necessary. At home you spend ages pinning, cutting out, pinning again, tacking, sewing .... to get the final garment ... try it on ... and it looks hideous on you. So what can you do now? Nothing except chop it up and use it as dusters, put it in the bin or take it to a charity shop. You've wasted hard-earned money and precious time and gained ..... nothing!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
So, having 'regrouped' mentally a little, I'm going to take a step back and not run before I can walk before I can crawl.<br />
<br />
I'm beginning to formulate a plan for this, which at the moment looks a bit like this:<br />
<ol>
<li>make more clothes for myself - using commercial patterns</li>
<li>where possible, make these clothes using the stash of fabric that has been hiding in various boxes, bags and trunks in my possession over the years</li>
<li>if I get stuck or struggle with something (such as the collar band on my half-finished toile/muslin of the Liverpool tunic by Amy Butler, or the fit of a pattern), put it to one side, take a deep breath and wait until I can either work it out myself, or get help at a sewing cafe or similar</li>
<li>as I regain my confidence, venture into pattern alteration - either at a cafe mentioned in 3 above or by enrolling on a course/for some lessons (this may happen anyway as a way of regaining my confidence before I get to step 4)</li>
</ol>
I will have to accept, that in order to get it right at step 1 above, I may need to make toiles first and ask for help if they're not quite right. If they 'just don't suit', give it up as a bad job. However, if they work - then I've got a pattern I can use over and over again! Hooray! Also, if it is a toile, I won't have wasted any expensive fabric in the process, and if I still feel like following in Scrooge's footsteps, I'm sure that I can find bed sheets at a charity shop to use for making up toiles.<br />
<br />
Above all, I mustn't rush any of it and get flummoxed as this will only take me back to where I am now.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-5278726468129400742015-06-18T16:48:00.000+01:002015-06-18T16:48:25.686+01:00Total blackoutIt is high time that you all got an update following <a href="http://sewandsiw.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/a-complete-disaaaaaster.html">my last disastrous post</a>. The title of this post could refer to my lack of contact with my loving public (!), and I apologise profusely for that*. In fact I'm referring to the fact that DH and I are now sleeping much better (and longer - oops!) because we have a pair - YES, A PAIR - of matching curtains in our bedroom!<br />
<br />
It has been a very long road to reach this point, but goodness, it feels good and looks pretty good too. At least, we both like them.<br />
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* The fact is, we've had so much other stuff going on recently, that the curtains have been about the only creative thing I've had in my sights over the last few months. Hopefully that will change soon and I can get back to something slightly less bulky and time consuming. So, please don't give up on me and continue to watch this space!?!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-57094522191626011692015-02-23T15:51:00.003+00:002015-02-23T15:51:55.073+00:00A complete disaaaaaster<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm sure you all realise that not everything works out as planned with sewing projects, as with anything else. Well, let me tell you that that was definitely the case for me last weekend (not the one just gone - I had to wait a week to blog about it as I was too worked up and upset by it all!). <br />
<br />
My curtain-making had been on hold for almost a fortnight thanks to a late delivery of an online order for extra header tape, so I was already frustrated and behind on things. DH kindly went to John Lewis late night shopping on his way home one evening to get me some more so that I could carry on properly the following day - but they'd run out of stock! So I went into town myself on Friday morning to track it down elsewhere - and finally got it at the third shop after a 'magical mystery tour' of the West End. And when I got home, there was the online order waiting patiently on the doormat!<br />
<br />
So, Friday afternoon was spent putting all three layers of the HUGE curtain together - pinning, tacking, sewing side seams, hemming ... Saturday afternoon was more of the same followed by pinning the sections for the pinch pleats (my least favourite part of the process). I hadn't been happy with how the pleats had turned out in the first curtain (currently hanging at our bedroom window), so I'd decided to try to use the fabric pattern when planning the pleats on the second one. However, the pattern had other ideas. So at supper time, I'd had enough and was feeling pretty miserable and frustrated - and gave up.<br />
<br />
Sunday afternoon, despite feeling groggy and headachey, I persevered. If it was the last thing I was going to do, I was going to get BOTH curtains up by the end of the day! I decided I was asking too much of myself to get the pleats to work with the pattern. This was only my second attempt at pinch pleats and my first with patterned fabric, after all. So, how many pleats did I want - 9 on the first curtain weren't enough and it was all a bit baggy. So I did some maths for 10, 11 or 12 pleats and decided I'd give 12 a go. All pinned, I marked the sewing line on my machine to help keep things straight and away I went. Hooray - 12 pleats ready to pinch!<br />
<br />
DH was out for the afternoon, so I waited to hang it once he got back. And all was looking pretty good .... until we drew them closed ... or not as it turned out. The second curtain wasn't wide enough to cover the whole window!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAARRGH! And it was puckering at the bottom, so there I was tugging gently as the leading edge ..... when I realised that the leading edge WASN'T MEANT TO BE THE LEADING EDGE. Not only wasn't it wide enough - I'd pleated the bottom (ie it was also upside down!).<br />
<br />
After a couple of tears for frustration (understatement), I decided that the sooner I unpicked the whole thing, the quicker I'd get onto resewing it. <br />
<br />
Isn't it weird - it had taken me a number of afternoons to get the blasted curtain put together, but it only took me about an hour to unpick it completely.<br />
<br />
And then it hit me - the pattern wasn't going to match across the window! Somehow, the second curtain had been cut out about 3 inches lower down the pattern than the first so the only way that I'll get the pattern to match across the window is to unpick the curtain that is already hanging as well!!!!<br />
<br />
Please, will someone pass me the valium?! NOW!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-39825744229189011732015-02-16T16:18:00.002+00:002015-02-16T16:18:24.390+00:00From Bedroom to Zenana*After we moved into our house, we were ridiculously organised and went fabric hunting for our kitchen, bedroom and living room curtains WAY before there was any hope (or money and time) to make them. At least we managed to save up and make the kitchen blinds, and after a considerable amount of huffing and puffing the living and dining rooms also have curtains. So it is finally the turn of our bedroom.<br />
<br />
When we were initially having work done on the house, there was so much to think of that I couldn't face deciding on specific colour schemes until we knew what would go where (we didn't move in until the work was done). As a result the house is mainly painted cream with white woodwork. Excellent as a base, but not much help when you're trying to decide on a colour scheme! <br />
<br />
We were given a deep purple throw and coordinating cushion with allium on it as a wedding present and we used them in our bedroom on and off for a while, but for some reason, DH wasn't all that enthusiastic about having lilac/purple as the colour scheme for our bedroom.<br />
<br />
We were wandering rather aimlessly through the fabric department of John Lewis trying to find something we both liked when DH found an <a href="http://www.osborneandlittle.com/osborne-&-little/karavansara/" target="_blank">Osborne & Little fabric</a> that gave us an idea. We had two problems with the fabric in question - a) we couldn't afford it and b) even if we could afford it, neither of us can stand George Osborne who is part of the O&L family! BUT it did inspire us.<br />
<br />
We went to India on our honeymoon and loved Jaipur and the Moghul stamp (aka paisley) and I had a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salwar" target="_blank">kameez</a> made while we were there out of local hand-blocked silk with the paisley pattern on it. So, clever DH suggested we use India/our honeymoon/paisley as our theme.<br />
<br />
As usual (see <a href="http://sewandsiw.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/curtain-up.html">Curtain up</a>), I was trawling the web for fabrics that fitted the bill and found the <a href="http://www.harlequin.uk.com/lalika-fabric.aspx" target="_blank">Harlequin Lalika collection</a> and fell in love with the <a href="http://www.harlequin.uk.com/DesignDetails.aspx" target="_blank">Azara</a> fabric in particular. We ordered samples of all colours and narrowed it down to either red or blue and despite being torn, we've decided to go for the blue.<br />
<br />
In 2013 we spent a lovely relaxing week in Turkey and brought some nice souvenirs back with us to adorn our home. Along with two Kilim rugs for the hallway, we bought two lovely ceramic plaques/plates in the Iznik style and a lovely lamp for our bedroom (that had a bit of an adventure getting to Britain - but that is another story). So, our bedroom has become more of an Islamic art theme than just Indian now, but so far we're loving the change.<br />
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<em>* Not sure DH would be all that pleased, but this is the </em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zenana" target="_blank"><em>definition of Zenana</em></a><em>, but ironically I'm a baptist too, so it is quite apt.</em>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-26117055998607241302015-02-09T11:44:00.001+00:002015-02-09T11:44:06.995+00:00New year's sewing resolutions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As ever, with the new year, new leaves are turned over, fresh starts are made, blah-di-blah.....<br />
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Well, that is all good and well if you've finished everything off before the new year starts! Unfortunately, I didn't. So my new year is starting by trying to finish off last year's UFOs. There are two that I'm concentrating on - one for the evenings vegging in front of the <strike>TV</strike> fire and the other for the weekends so I've more time to give to it.<br />
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My 'evening' UFO is my snowdrop sampler (see <a href="http://sewandsiw.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/commissions-update-snowdrops-2.html">Commissions - updates</a>) and the end is now in sight.<br />
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The 'weekend' UFO is our bedroom curtains. One is up (goodness knows what people across the road make of our 'odd socks' look at the moment), the other is in three parts awaiting 'construction'.<br />
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Maybe after that I can start to look at new new year projects. Or maybe not - sad face. I'm loath to list what I'd <i>like</i> to make this year as the list I drafted last January has very little crossed off it now. Last year was a bit of a toughie though with lots of family stuff going on, and now that we're getting settled into the new situation this year may be more creative/productive.<br />
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However, our next project is to clear my sewing room - very sad face. I'm sad to have to pack it up and move after waiting so long to get it, but there is a good reason (more of which will be revealed eventually). But I'm going to try and 'decamp' rather than 'pack up' by moving my stuff to the laundry room. It will be cosy there, so some will probably have to go in the attic, but there is quite a bit of storage there that hasn't been used efficiently and the ironing kit is already there, after all. Hopefully the non-sewing/craft stuff will find a new home in other parts of the house too (enter DF with his DIY knowledge and toolbag!).<br />
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The trouble is, with sorting through the stuff in the sewing room, I'm coming across fabrics and garments that are giving me ideas and I know that I just won't find the time to bring those projects to fruition. Oh well, at least Great British Sewing Bee has restarted to cheer us all up and get us dreaming ;-DAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-7711986484104354642015-01-22T17:43:00.001+00:002015-01-22T17:43:40.296+00:00Commissions update - Snowdrops 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, so much for being determined in <a href="http://sewandsiw.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/commission-update-snowdrops.html">March 2014</a> to get back on track this commission.<br />
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To be honest, progress was more or less non-existent until the Christmas break, but it must be in the running for the 'most travelled embroidery project' by now with numerous trips to Cardiff and Norfolk, not to mention Brussells, north Wales and Provence in 2014. I'm really pleased (and hugely relieved) with how it is going now. There was a mild (understatement of the week!) panic over the weekend when I got to the last corner and realised that the two 'ends' were one thread out of line. Yes ONE thread!!! Aaargh!<br />
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But, I found where I'd gone wrong and thankfully it isn't as big a 'repair' job as I'd feared. So, last lap here I come. Just one more repeat of the V shaped motif and it is on to the text of the poem for the central space. I still have the white flowers to catch up on (daylight is an absolute MUST for these at this time of year), which I may still outline (watch this space).<br />
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I'd love to find a suitable font for the poem though. The border is 'art nouveau' influenced and all the backstitch ones I've found so far don't really 'match'. There are plenty of lovely cross-stitch ones around on-line, but I'm constrained now by the border, so it can't be too large. I've found some nice 'print' fonts, which I may attempt to convert to backstitch (or at most, cross-stitch over one thread). We'll see how much time I have. I don't really want to 'spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar' this close to the finishing line though!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-53979180455714342842015-01-15T16:23:00.000+00:002015-01-15T16:23:20.171+00:00Nice coloursAges ago, during my quest to design a sampler for my friend's little girl, I came across these gorgeous websites (thanks to <a href="http://wildolive.blogspot.com/">Wild Olive's</a> suggestions - I hope she won't mind me repeating them). I came across them again whilst tidying up my draft blog posts the other day and got distracted by them all over again.<br />
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They have some scrumptious colour palette suggestions and I'm tempted to get lost in them again looking for some interior colour scheme inspiration. <a href="http://design-seeds.com/index.php/home/entry/fallen-tones4">This one</a> could almost be the inspiration for the colours in our living room carpet.<br />
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They're a really good way of learning about colour too I think, especially if you're not that confident with mixing colours together (either in what you wear or things around your home). Using an image you like - either one you've taken yourself, or one you've seen in a book, magazine, blog (!) etc - as the basis for a colour scheme is a great and simple idea. All you need to look at is the blocks of colour and 'separate' them out (as these websites do for you) and, hey presto, you have your colour palette.<br />
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I hope you enjoy them as much as I have!<br />
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<a href="http://design-seeds.com/">Design Seeds</a><br />
<a href="http://color-collective.blogspot.com/">Color Collective blog</a><br />
<a href="http://www.creaturecomfortsblog.com/home/category/color-crush">Creature Comforts Blog - color crush posts</a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-34169609238636258092015-01-13T13:53:00.000+00:002015-01-13T13:53:03.564+00:00Stringing alongJust a short post today, to say that I'm rather pleased with myself for having recently learned how to knot beads. It is fantastic what you can learn using t'internet! <br />
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This was a coral necklace that my DF bought for me on a work trip to Hawaii (I think), but it was threaded on wire and had somehow acquired a 'kink' and never lay flat. <br />
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Not perfect, but I'm chuffed how well it has worked. And I've already have more use out of the necklace than I'd had before rethreading.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-37342879030412341712015-01-08T16:45:00.002+00:002015-01-08T16:45:35.347+00:00More readingWell, hello and welcome back! And a happy new year to you all. Once again, my apologies for my absence from the blogosphere. I'm afraid that other pressures haven't given me much time or material to write to you. So, going 'off piste' a little to get myself back in the mood, here goes. In true SewandSiw fashion, it is almost a year since I've given you and <a href="http://sewandsiw.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/reading-again.html">update</a> on my reading projects.<br />
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I have managed to catch up on two of my partly-read book that I mentioned last time, namely:<br />
<i>From the Holy Mountain </i>- William Dalrymple (a bit of an epic journey to read about, but fascinating and an eye-opener in places)<br />
<i>Life of Pi </i>- Yann Martel (It took me a while to get going with this, probably why I 'flaked out' last time, but really worth persevering.)<br />
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In addition I've also read:<br />
<i>Fall of Giants</i> - Ken Follett (his books are always favourites and this was particularly timely as it is set during WW1)<br />
<i>Sieben Tage Ohne</i> - Monika Peetz (some German chick lit about a group of friends going on a detox holiday (an oxymoron if ever I heard one))<br />
<i>The Lady of the Rivers</i> - Phillipa Gregory (really the first in her Cousins' War series, but the last one for me to read. As fascinating and gripping as all the others)<br />
<i>In the Company of Cheerful Ladies -</i> alexander McCall Smith (one of the No1 Ladies Detective Agency series. Very entertaining and fun)<br />
<i>Mother tongue: a history of the English language</i> - Bill Bryson (fascinating for a language geek like me!)<br />
<i>Bring up the Bodies</i> - Hilary Mantel (after reading Wolf Hall, I just HAD to read the second in the series. I couldn't put it down - just like Wolf Hall)<br />
<i>One Step Behind -</i> Henning Mankel (the start of a crime-fest after some history)<br />
<i>The shape of water</i> - andrea Camilleri (the first of the Inspector Montalbano books - although they're crime books, they are quite funny and you really get a feel for Sicilly, especially with Salvo's obsession with food!)<br />
<i>The terracotta dog </i>- andrea Camilleri<br />
<i>The snack thief -</i> Andrea Camilerri<br />
<i>The voice of the violin </i>- Andrea Camilleri (I'd bought a boxed set of 10 of his books!!)<br />
<i>Enigma </i>- Robert Harris (having bought this for Dad after our visit to Bletchley Park and before going to see The Imitation Game, I wanted to 'get into the mood'. A brilliant read - but don't watch the film with Dougray Scott and Kate Winslett within a few days of finishing the book or you'll be spotting all the errors and omissions for much of the film and annoying anyone else in the room!)<br />
<i>Labyrinth </i>- Kate Mosse (I started this on a 7-hour return train journey from Provence and to DH's amusement I kept saying 'I'm not sure what to make of this', to which he replied, 'Well, you seem to be getting through it despite not being sure!'. I think it was the sinister undertones that were putting me off, but well worth a read)<br />
<i>Treason's Daughter</i> - Antonia Senior (the author was at uni with my BIL and the book was given to DH by his brother and as I like history novels I decided to give it a go. It is set during the Civil War, which isn't a common period for history novels, and on the whole I enjoyed it. I was a little disappointed that the title and the blurb gave the impression that the main protagonist is a woman, but it really follows her story AND her two brothers through the Civil War. I can't decide what I think about the ending either)<br />
<i>The constant Princess</i> - Phillipa Gregory (the first in her Tudors series. Looks like I'm on a bit of a history-fest again!)<br />
<i>The Other Boleyn Girl -</i> Phillipa Gregory (guess what! I'm going to try to read the whole series now, although I may take a break 'en route' for some more crime!).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-12817862973932966122014-08-26T12:23:00.000+01:002014-08-26T12:23:18.440+01:00House tour - part 4Shall we go upstairs?!<br />
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Sounds a bit saucy doesn't it. But actually, almost everywhere in our house is 'upstairs'. From the front the house looks like a pretty average mid-terrace house with a bay window upstairs and down. But at the back there are three floors!<br />
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So, we have about 6 stairs from the kitchen up to the entrance level/living/dining. Then from the entrance level there are another 7-8 stairs up to a bedroom, bathroom and WC. Then another 7-8 stairs from there up to another two bedrooms and then up another 4-5 stairs, finally to the top floor and another bedroom and box room. It was exhausting when we first moved in, but we're used to them all by now.<br />
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The main difference upstairs is really the master bedroom, en suite and landing. We had some board put down in the attic and in the process the top landing ceiling collapsed (not completely unexpected!). So that was re-plastered and we replaced the attractive shelving around the water tank with some more practical cupboards.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Landing ceiling - before</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Landing ceiling - after</td></tr>
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<td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUgn_XLID9c2Ud3mio3G8NMSs6iAsijprt8iCZlaJTiCjK1sXyubZB0rDmbo33BzRBYNa_k9N0bmIdYU_FqjojhZSXV3pHQlr7aMsqsp3FYmwB0P47L9ku0rc28Ku1Ppbg2BQyZ2zkqb7o/s1600/IMG_6806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWE_ER1DE4o1Pc3vWDSKnSkoyJqWIZmD8tOY4I372AyblMwKUqL0rgrTlz0gVz3MQacmYI96QqInLtplyYHhEDFm7DkmdlcfOcTTqx0YtjN1KR-srYmzmFKYPw1_PldRsrPhpX6g1m_eb/s1600/IMG_6916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWE_ER1DE4o1Pc3vWDSKnSkoyJqWIZmD8tOY4I372AyblMwKUqL0rgrTlz0gVz3MQacmYI96QqInLtplyYHhEDFm7DkmdlcfOcTTqx0YtjN1KR-srYmzmFKYPw1_PldRsrPhpX6g1m_eb/s1600/IMG_6916.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Landing ceiling - before</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Landing ceiling - after</td></tr>
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The en-suite was reasonable, but a vile colour. However, we decided against keeping the bidet and replaced it with a shower cubicle, so the whole suite was shuffled around a little to make it work better.<br />
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Before - in germolene pink<br />
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Now - nice and calming<br />
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In a similar fashion to the water tank, the 'wardrobes' in the master bedroom had been rails hidden behind curtains, so Mr Door-man was employed again to build us some wardrobes. His and Hers, either side of the (original!) fireplace.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVEBpdEtYP6wCZHn8XBIpRcQ0cw9KY8vWufq74RxSUiCPb7MUa9LWmT6YwEse2xWX4bZxLuG7t0jic4JWZi7buuo3FfHa1HdyOE7cCxTEYWCzxjAcNe8l-HD2J2kh7xFi9WnhpYWIjAHP/s1600/IMG_6758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVEBpdEtYP6wCZHn8XBIpRcQ0cw9KY8vWufq74RxSUiCPb7MUa9LWmT6YwEse2xWX4bZxLuG7t0jic4JWZi7buuo3FfHa1HdyOE7cCxTEYWCzxjAcNe8l-HD2J2kh7xFi9WnhpYWIjAHP/s200/IMG_6758.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
It was great to find a house that our furniture would fit into. We'd seen so many flats beforehand (and some VERY nice ones) that were only just big enough for our king-size bed (a collective wedding present) so that we'd have had to use the other bedrooms for wardrobes, chests of drawers etc. <br />
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Thanks to our holiday in Turkey last year, we're a little closer to how we want this room to be now. We've 'just' got the curtains to make and then choose a more suitable rug. I have a feeling you may hear more about these curtains in the future!<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxKWGWoHIujcIVaRMQLWR19py7aYzo9QUY-IetuPPuQ6RiOrpPQnyjg7o24MZzXvZEWLFgm3AnexI8lTyqeSnOl3zXty07PTWuzKPWHZKN_aWL4c8N_hPrSKaNnvAFSi8YI-ioHZhQnUX/s1600/IMG_6760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxKWGWoHIujcIVaRMQLWR19py7aYzo9QUY-IetuPPuQ6RiOrpPQnyjg7o24MZzXvZEWLFgm3AnexI8lTyqeSnOl3zXty07PTWuzKPWHZKN_aWL4c8N_hPrSKaNnvAFSi8YI-ioHZhQnUX/s200/IMG_6760.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWE_ER1DE4o1Pc3vWDSKnSkoyJqWIZmD8tOY4I372AyblMwKUqL0rgrTlz0gVz3MQacmYI96QqInLtplyYHhEDFm7DkmdlcfOcTTqx0YtjN1KR-srYmzmFKYPw1_PldRsrPhpX6g1m_eb/s1600/IMG_6916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWE_ER1DE4o1Pc3vWDSKnSkoyJqWIZmD8tOY4I372AyblMwKUqL0rgrTlz0gVz3MQacmYI96QqInLtplyYHhEDFm7DkmdlcfOcTTqx0YtjN1KR-srYmzmFKYPw1_PldRsrPhpX6g1m_eb/s200/IMG_6916.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-39711658207043698292014-08-15T13:23:00.004+01:002014-08-15T13:23:54.602+01:00Sing a song of sixpence ...A while back I saw a Miss Marple episode called 'Pocket full of rye', which brought the old nursery rhyme back. I don't really know why, but despite being a Welsh speaking family, I don't really remember many Welsh nursery rhymes from my childhood. We were living in Chester at the time, so that is, presumably, part of it.<br />
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Anyway, if we 'sing' the whole nursery rhyme, we might get to the topic of this post ...<br />
<dl style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.2em;"><dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: center;">Sing a song of sixpence,</dd><dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: center;">A pocket full of rye.</dd><dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: center;">Four and twenty blackbirds,</dd><dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: center;">Baked in a pie.</dd></dl>
<dl style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.2em;"><dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: center;">When the pie was opened,</dd><dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: center;">The birds began to sing;</dd><dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: center;">Wasn't that a dainty dish,</dd><dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: center;">To set before the king?</dd></dl>
<dl style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.2em;"><dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: center;">The king was in his counting house,</dd><dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: center;">Counting out his money;</dd><dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: center;">The queen was in the parlour,</dd><dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: center;">Eating bread and honey.</dd></dl>
<dl style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.2em;"><dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: center;">The maid was in the garden,</dd><dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: center;">Hanging out the clothes,</dd><dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: center;">When down came a blackbird</dd><dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: center;">And pecked off her nose.</dd></dl>
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And before you ask, no, I'm not going to give you tips on catching blackbirds, or baking pies, but rather show you how I went about making a peg bag for my parents.</div>
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Many years ago I made a peg bag for my parents, which is now literally falling apart at the seams. A little more recently (but not a lot) I made another with some cross-stitch decoration. Unfortunately, this one is too small to hold all of DP's pegs, so I've combined the size of the old one with the design of the second to make another for DPs.</div>
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I wanted a finished bag that was the<span style="background-color: white;"> width of a standard coat hanger</span> (the hanging 'mechanism' for DP's 'dying' peg bag and approximately 35cm) by <span style="background-color: white;">45cm</span> long, so I cut a piece of fabric twice this length plus 1.5cm for each seam allowance by 45<span style="background-color: white;">cm </span>wide plus seam allowance. To add a bit of strength and give a better finish, I also cut another piece the same size in a plain 'lining' fabric.</div>
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I had decided to make the opening <span style="background-color: white;">15cm</span> down from the hanger, so I measured<span style="background-color: white;"> 15cm</span><span style="background-color: white;"> plus the seam allowance </span>from one end of the outer fabric and centrally marked a horizontal line the width (also 15cm) I wanted for the opening.</div>
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As I wanted to embroider around this opening, I then tacked some scrap embroidery/tapestry canvas onto the right side of the fabric to act as a guide for the cross-stitching. Unlike the original bag, I decided to pick out two colours from the fabric and embroidered the design beneath the opening in one colour and the text in the other and then alternated the colours for the peg designs either side of the text.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoh7lOHRsg_nuRuNckgJiL0h7-hJBcYHmOwnmeSwaFqYMUJN1qiWZ1ze32cPc-oGHWGRTeN6BHSY8vpHdbpBBA5hHW8Kio8HBAkb52qIbXy_3-0TCuI2626yZaYkqVXBR9G44k_HguxF4/s1600/IMG_0677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoh7lOHRsg_nuRuNckgJiL0h7-hJBcYHmOwnmeSwaFqYMUJN1qiWZ1ze32cPc-oGHWGRTeN6BHSY8vpHdbpBBA5hHW8Kio8HBAkb52qIbXy_3-0TCuI2626yZaYkqVXBR9G44k_HguxF4/s1600/IMG_0677.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now that the embroidery is complete, with the right sides of both fabrics together, I sewed a narrow rectangle around this horizontal line. I then drew lines diagonally from the central line to the corners of the stitching, to mark the cutting lines. Carefully, I cut through both layers and press the seam allowance towards the lining fabric. If possible, understitch the seam allowance to the lining as closely as possible to the seam.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimecaq-gqcAGZcnk6QV-yZ_U4uteRh__XxKJ3t_UmWvx1qnjvxPMhxZCI_aixKq88bm8JHMdSDnpXKRIkqP_IwpXvtNnGuv5tCxhElbcSNWeGoFfpgByLNUAZKCGikztY_0P0cH7hgsecx/s1600/IMG_2153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimecaq-gqcAGZcnk6QV-yZ_U4uteRh__XxKJ3t_UmWvx1qnjvxPMhxZCI_aixKq88bm8JHMdSDnpXKRIkqP_IwpXvtNnGuv5tCxhElbcSNWeGoFfpgByLNUAZKCGikztY_0P0cH7hgsecx/s1600/IMG_2153.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pulling out the softened waste canvas - took FOREVER!</td></tr>
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Now turn the fabrics the right sides out. Fold the lining fabric up in half, pin and tack and stitch up the two sides and trim the seam allowance. NOTE - don't sew across the top of the lining yet! You could sew a slightly wider seam allowance on the lining so that it is a fraction smaller than the outer bag and thus reduce some of the bulk in the seams.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbA6KgtA2TO9Sz3LDkuHTiekPvnDryux_hBx0tw6WoLZftS54rxqXjDMqwX1NF7EsPdJe3S64Gr1WLL-GXFPyRx_PS-viZ7l_pGBWNqSVyvgT-jTkJF1mtmP9K1FxbL21Bsq1Rs5QDxUa/s1600/IMG_0745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbA6KgtA2TO9Sz3LDkuHTiekPvnDryux_hBx0tw6WoLZftS54rxqXjDMqwX1NF7EsPdJe3S64Gr1WLL-GXFPyRx_PS-viZ7l_pGBWNqSVyvgT-jTkJF1mtmP9K1FxbL21Bsq1Rs5QDxUa/s1600/IMG_0745.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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Next, pin and tack the outer fabric, right sides together, and stitch up the two sides (with a slightly narrower seam allowance than used for the lining, again, trim the seam allowance. You should end up with two bags attached at the opening, a bit like 'conjoined bags'.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Zp72AnOfVDSMt7NaStAIaHUIP2Vxkmoz-BiaONei_5JA_mlaulcwKDhQuySjUmDF7Oc7GUIqsE8djs7y_qtqHSK5DqDwWbV3OTC9EnFM8-j3mWLgjxujwT35k7_wUBbw_v3se8Ji7Bcn/s1600/IMG_2155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Zp72AnOfVDSMt7NaStAIaHUIP2Vxkmoz-BiaONei_5JA_mlaulcwKDhQuySjUmDF7Oc7GUIqsE8djs7y_qtqHSK5DqDwWbV3OTC9EnFM8-j3mWLgjxujwT35k7_wUBbw_v3se8Ji7Bcn/s1600/IMG_2155.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Understitching the opening of the bag</td></tr>
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After pressing both sides, turn the outer fabric bag right side out, over the lining bag.</div>
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Carefully, fold down the top section of the outer bag to free access to the lining bag. Insert the hanger just inside the lining and pin/tack the seam allowance along the curve (if it has a curve) of the hanger. Carefully stitch along this line, taking care not to damage the machine/needle with the hanger! Trim the hem.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xoymEq0UoR-unyPTxTKekrbw2oexEEwbODlUHa5RQ6YAAl5JcuadYpSDmW1QO4tiDYPkmtb8GQAeijYAp-XZ2VVXADYvaSeFm8Jx1iES9xl2ixEMJFjgCXWuLDoH5TxqftIz9qJGR1ya/s1600/IMG_2157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3xoymEq0UoR-unyPTxTKekrbw2oexEEwbODlUHa5RQ6YAAl5JcuadYpSDmW1QO4tiDYPkmtb8GQAeijYAp-XZ2VVXADYvaSeFm8Jx1iES9xl2ixEMJFjgCXWuLDoH5TxqftIz9qJGR1ya/s1600/IMG_2157.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
The outer bag can now be unfolded over the rest of the bag. Turn the seam allowance in along the upper edge of the hanger and hand stitch (slip stitch) closed.</div>
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Et voilà!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-58813474870866978292014-08-04T15:55:00.003+01:002014-08-04T18:00:49.569+01:00A 'blinding' cushion!With all my repairs and mending out of the way now, I have no excuse to avoid getting on with a new blind for the kitchen. As you know from ..... after replacing the windows I had to alter most of the blinds to fit the new frames. Unfortunately though, one blind was just too short and too narrow for the new window, so I had no choice but to start from scratch. Thankfully when we ordered the fabric we didn't realise that we'd be able to get two of the bay window blinds out of one length of fabric - so, we have enough spare for the new blind :-)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilc9KKBW72dXvfI7Mk1ALxFgt4z6pig9ZcIvKXifDiTDe0NDgi-kJpAzLhUTaU7t9oYeLJ0jeWN7ID8C09daI4QvIKxFxNk5TXJyDKPZPyafJ8YlwUHuVFvyRasPbXw_S-tqGmv00_Vte/s1600/IMG_1982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilc9KKBW72dXvfI7Mk1ALxFgt4z6pig9ZcIvKXifDiTDe0NDgi-kJpAzLhUTaU7t9oYeLJ0jeWN7ID8C09daI4QvIKxFxNk5TXJyDKPZPyafJ8YlwUHuVFvyRasPbXw_S-tqGmv00_Vte/s1600/IMG_1982.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to decide how I want the stripes to lie</td></tr>
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But I really didn't want to waste the old blind (must be something to do with being brought up with parents who grew up during WW2!). So I've decided to unpick it and use the fabric to make a cover for a cushion for our 'new' pew in the kitchen.<br />
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Following the advice of my friend, <a href="http://bette-noire.com/">Bette Noire</a>, I bought 2" thick 'recon' foam and 1" thick foam for the top layer. It was an added bonus that the supplier (amusingly called Pentonville Rubber!! I've had such fun posting my visits on Facebook just to see what comments I'd get!! ;-) ) was able to glue the layers together for me, and save me a job. With an electric carving knife, I cut the two layers to shape along the front edge - fun but bizarrely difficult to keep it vertical, so they're not perfect, but hopefully once covered no-one (unless they read this) will be any the wiser.<br />
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I made the top and bottom to match with the stripe going along the width of the bench/cushion and cut the strips for the sides along the stripes too, rather than across them. It would mean that I'd need to be careful to stitch them carefully so that the stripes don't end up wonky though!<br />
<br />
The edge strips were cut to be long enough to go around the front edge, the two short side edges and part-way around to the back edge. The remaining gap would be made up of two strips, half the width of the whole so that a zip can be incorporated. Unfortunately, getting a long enough zip in the right weight was a bit more difficult than I expected, so I decided to buy two. It was a case of a) getting all the materials ready so that when I had the time, I could just get on with the job, and b) thinking (or hoping) that it may actually make life a bit easier to have two zips that meet at the centre. We shall have to wait and see.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjCngnfKj-vyIHTfruqzbtvE3YWP_lwGIrFb65KIV2pf7lsh_R2NmwqKm3QD6r_qhY7DMbHNLogwhyphenhypheneefmUnv7g47Nwar_83YiwOGaxaUnkicuousWtG1wjeDxuyFBVPoz4CN7M9jgrFo/s1600/IMG_0992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjCngnfKj-vyIHTfruqzbtvE3YWP_lwGIrFb65KIV2pf7lsh_R2NmwqKm3QD6r_qhY7DMbHNLogwhyphenhypheneefmUnv7g47Nwar_83YiwOGaxaUnkicuousWtG1wjeDxuyFBVPoz4CN7M9jgrFo/s1600/IMG_0992.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The zip section ready to <br />
be added to the edge piece</td></tr>
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I was undecided about what to do about the piping. I was torn between having a contrasting bias binding (red or green - undecided there too) and making my own out of the same fabric as the rest of the cover. <span style="background-color: white;">In the end, I decided to stick with the stripes as a) I didn't think I'd be able to find the right shade of red/green bias binding and b) I had enough fabric left over.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvbnzEprk6B1dk5G6OmjiOv3yC3wC_fzKBXsrayWIkYgze9OMQa1JGE7-FwncAlA_eIiMpVUwJdqBa-F0z_eBpqKCwnlTqqYA7nZAm0uT0MR4V4M1Jcm7ReEo4kDY_98dtE6ZGalzaZwm/s1600/IMG_0746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvbnzEprk6B1dk5G6OmjiOv3yC3wC_fzKBXsrayWIkYgze9OMQa1JGE7-FwncAlA_eIiMpVUwJdqBa-F0z_eBpqKCwnlTqqYA7nZAm0uT0MR4V4M1Jcm7ReEo4kDY_98dtE6ZGalzaZwm/s1600/IMG_0746.jpg" height="200" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First round of piping complete</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Again following Bette Noire's advice, I practiced applying the piping on some scrap fabric as I'd never quite managed to get it right in the past. It was a fiddle, but following a few attempts I decided to give it a go on the real thing.<br />
<br />
It isn't perfect, but I'm quite pleased with the outcome. And the pew is a lot more comfortable now :-)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FEWg2hwLKBznIGRc690imv5YCI84M-3wZGodgb_ce6jqO19zhbUE-qPjokgqin2RyXUkOFF3tcYeV1ZnuFU8JWKeSyGlO0pJ6SHn1dWYUaxO7QaQhcblup5sUvotRBuZptSmhyphenhyphenrwFZIL/s1600/IMG_2162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FEWg2hwLKBznIGRc690imv5YCI84M-3wZGodgb_ce6jqO19zhbUE-qPjokgqin2RyXUkOFF3tcYeV1ZnuFU8JWKeSyGlO0pJ6SHn1dWYUaxO7QaQhcblup5sUvotRBuZptSmhyphenhyphenrwFZIL/s1600/IMG_2162.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blinds and matching cushion on our chapel pew, <br />
with matching collection box (hanging on the wall on the left!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span id="goog_588884995"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-38332312137711964092014-07-29T17:33:00.000+01:002014-07-29T17:33:17.061+01:00House tour - part 3Hi remember me? Probably not as it has been so long since I've been here. Sorry! It's been a bit of a manic few months, but I hadn't forgotten about you - honestly! So, while I get myself back on track a little, here's a little tit bit to keep you going.<br />
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In <a href="http://sewandsiw.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/12-house-tour-part-2.html">my last 'House tour' instalment</a> I told you about the big building work in the kitchen, but also mentioned that the other 'heavy' work happened downstairs, in the living/dining rooms.<br />
<br />
We didn't want to do away with the wall between these two rooms completely, but we did want the flexibility of being able to use them as one room if we wanted. So we opted for a doorway between the two rooms. <br />
<br />
Initially I fancied getting some reclaimed doors and to build the doorway around them, but it wasn't quite as easy as it sounds. In the end, we had bespoke doors made and are very pleased with the result.<br />
<br />
We're both keen readers and have lots of books, so it was essential that we had plenty of space to store/display our books. In fact, for DH it was more than essential (if that is possible!). The two alcoves either side of the fireplace in the living room were perfect for some bookcases. We looked at ready-made ones and couldn't quite find what we'd pictured in our heads for a price we could afford and so the 'door man' also built these for us.<br />
<br />
So, here is (more or less) how our living room looks now:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mOXOp0S68qe5VGSE5VLhYCQzkwltONL0pysPLcx57gvxjly6mqWZ449u-RJ_yY8shWLWp6tAb7R8MegkLb5gO-g_FVe-fH5kQQMxUFtZDZ_9yXMcU86DlqvUuPJtuhSzUslHHaSoEmhF/s1600/IMG_8543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mOXOp0S68qe5VGSE5VLhYCQzkwltONL0pysPLcx57gvxjly6mqWZ449u-RJ_yY8shWLWp6tAb7R8MegkLb5gO-g_FVe-fH5kQQMxUFtZDZ_9yXMcU86DlqvUuPJtuhSzUslHHaSoEmhF/s200/IMG_8543.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnVu68M2hyLHm7I-xxirjrlOMIFQPI1QyzrneT2Hsvsqa3CpfeW5VtXxu8Tla3kFledflAL9viZ1wSaRBvSNngFBy6ZVv5q4P54dpAy17ZPXNYFN8gJWJHPCSSnfkxxU5uz165cMfTXae/s1600/IMG_8545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnVu68M2hyLHm7I-xxirjrlOMIFQPI1QyzrneT2Hsvsqa3CpfeW5VtXxu8Tla3kFledflAL9viZ1wSaRBvSNngFBy6ZVv5q4P54dpAy17ZPXNYFN8gJWJHPCSSnfkxxU5uz165cMfTXae/s200/IMG_8545.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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And our dining room:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0ZSBB7MWllHUtTaGLIIW9Kaml5eCUgMBYaBsNaEvEW-TNftjWG4QD_OvCO3NaXtRA2ZnH0-gRKdyE4XY5-xQ5OmDFuJkdhtfCRyE4jg7v7b9b7LqBiuFK8JLxdN2DxXaMLTfxZc6czXz/s1600/IMG_8546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0ZSBB7MWllHUtTaGLIIW9Kaml5eCUgMBYaBsNaEvEW-TNftjWG4QD_OvCO3NaXtRA2ZnH0-gRKdyE4XY5-xQ5OmDFuJkdhtfCRyE4jg7v7b9b7LqBiuFK8JLxdN2DxXaMLTfxZc6czXz/s320/IMG_8546.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
One day we'll have the original French windows in the dining room restored too. They're far too nice to replace, although we've yet to decide whether or not to have a little balcony or some stairs leading down from them into the back garden (who's idea was it to remove the originals?!?!?).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-19831300336673181762014-03-31T14:24:00.002+01:002014-03-31T14:24:42.347+01:00Sewing RevolutionAlthough I've been a bit distant here, I've been trying to do a bit more social media and have started tweeting a little (@SiwanH in case you want to know!) and have one of this year's contestants has been tagging #sewingrevolution.<br />
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So last weekend, I took inspiration from the 'revolution' and got on with it. Having finished the kitchen blind to complete the collection (most of the job was DIY as I'd done most of the sewing already). Once that was up, I braved a new concept for me - upcycling.<br />
<br />
I've never been all that confident at altering clothes, so the thought of somehow reusing the fabric from a garment to make something completely new was rather daunting. But having been brought up by two war-time children, I find it difficult to throw something out that may have a 'second life', and I've been piling up DH's worn out work shirts for a while in the hope I'd be brave enough to make something out of them.<br />
<br />
Not wanting to start too big, I opted for <a href="http://www.coletterie.com/colette-patterns-news/free-pattern-to-download-the-sorbetto-top">Colette's Sorbetto top</a> - a popular pattern from what I've seen online and a favourite of Lauren from last year's Sewing Bee - and also my first foray into online patterns. Having taken my own measurements, compared them to the chart with the pattern, I traced the correct size onto tissue paper. Not as difficult as I'd expected :-) I then made up a toile out of some left over curtain lining fabric (or something) to see how it suited. And apart from being a bit loose, it was ok.<br />
<br />
Ok, I admit, I did have a bit of a melt-down with DH because I couldn't work out how to alter it to stop the armholes gaping. But a cup of tea and a hug (or two or three, or four!) later, I retraced a smaller size and started again, with a better result. The fit still isn't perfect, but it is at least passable.<br />
<br />
So, on to the Real Thing. I chose a shirt and tried fitting the pattern onto it. I knew that the pleat at the front may have to be sacrificed, but in the end I opted to keep the buttons/placket and move them to the back and have a plain front.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWziIc7e9O-RdFO-Z9SNqPE8ZtOsYaTFa7tSwoxAfTIbFMjSj6abrHg5gDp2m6-dhj6FRwVHvdJdypf3cYlHMhqXQbohihPiYcx3N2p4dtHTi9tbv8SIer1lkooLZOiBv6uGzrLTWtOmc/s1600/upcycle+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWziIc7e9O-RdFO-Z9SNqPE8ZtOsYaTFa7tSwoxAfTIbFMjSj6abrHg5gDp2m6-dhj6FRwVHvdJdypf3cYlHMhqXQbohihPiYcx3N2p4dtHTi9tbv8SIer1lkooLZOiBv6uGzrLTWtOmc/s1600/upcycle+1.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">trying to decide which binding to use</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhM2MCUWxJSex0yZEK1wjPjucTFECeJ7qfI1LK1B7yaLbJQ2WxSo8ZGQSn4ZZslwvkSi2ButWz3JxIls2IppnGl4wI71W_2tovS574npdT7Lc6p15wKffGllrXROR-gMTn4oG-GA-lWMAq/s1600/upcycle+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhM2MCUWxJSex0yZEK1wjPjucTFECeJ7qfI1LK1B7yaLbJQ2WxSo8ZGQSn4ZZslwvkSi2ButWz3JxIls2IppnGl4wI71W_2tovS574npdT7Lc6p15wKffGllrXROR-gMTn4oG-GA-lWMAq/s1600/upcycle+2.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost finished (except for some girly buttons)</td></tr>
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So, now it is onwards and upwards. I'm certainly going to give the pattern another go, although I'm going to try and alter it slightly by moving the darts to a better position for me. So it is just a question of which shirt I should upcycle next?<br /><br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-16854898971248924202014-03-27T21:00:00.000+00:002014-03-27T21:00:00.769+00:00Commission update - SnowdropsAlong with everything else in my life recently, my commissions have taken a bit of a back seat. But with the New Year, new-found energy (if it lasts!) and getting rid of my back-log of odd jobs, I'm getting determined to get back on track with the last commission of 2013.<br />
<br />
My <a href="http://sewandsiw.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/snowdrops.html">last update</a> about it was months ago. So HIGH time for me to be getting on with it again. Over Christmas I was, at least, able to touch base with the commissioner, and I think they were rather surprised that it was as big as it is. In fact, I suspect they hadn't expected me to go to quite so much trouble with the border (which is going to be quite prominent).<br />
<br />
Progress has been slow until fairly recently, but I'm now<span style="background-color: white;"> fairly happy with how it is coming along</span> now. Getting the first corner right was a little complicated and took longer than I'd expected. I had made two versions of the chart to see which looked best, but even so, when it came to stitching it, it changed slightly. I'm a little disappointed that there isn't more of a contrast between the fabric and the white of the snowdrops. I'll have to see how it goes, but I may end up outlining them so they stand out more.<br />
<br />
I'm expecting the stitching of the poem in the central space to be quite a quick job after the wide border though. Let's keep our fingers crossed!<br />
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It is a good feeling to have turned a corner (excuse the pun!) and realise that I'm over half-way through the border now.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-28521645181343057482014-03-25T14:27:00.001+00:002015-01-26T12:30:30.193+00:00House tour - part 2<p>
Following on from an earlier post, here's more on our renovations.<br />
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Downstairs, or the reception rooms is where the majority of the heavy work was done.<br />
<br />
Originally it was four rooms - living room, dining room (or study, as the vendors had it), breakfast room and kitchen. The kitchen was pretty small and dark. I later discovered that the kitchen would originally have been three rooms - a (very) small kitchen, a pantry and an outside toilet - that had been knocked into one. But for us, it was still too pokey, so we decided to knock the wall between the kitchen and the neighbouring breakfast room down to create one large room.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsrly1RfYKNteBko1qTs_LHwnUcgraU81wnbmfHfNGdQW9qWr5KxSLb_yDNRsu7HqW9WTa2LPrmQfQDEdLrTKyuX1jmqpQ2th2XJzwgJc0uaoGr98M5LJVlFkNuXBG95LRC4sNTQKE1-X/s1600/IMG_6767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsrly1RfYKNteBko1qTs_LHwnUcgraU81wnbmfHfNGdQW9qWr5KxSLb_yDNRsu7HqW9WTa2LPrmQfQDEdLrTKyuX1jmqpQ2th2XJzwgJc0uaoGr98M5LJVlFkNuXBG95LRC4sNTQKE1-X/s320/IMG_6767.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original kitchen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAJY8Dzhz_gIvlSwjZtmeYK9yIyb8rPptzwEVWfJiyCxT7GmxFRzIcAcIyuR2tlLJDGpUSvyE5wdaFHg7hMj4KHhsqGsiwSSU7gxkPxGbVFBlEVoxCwliZ2IlwxJ49WM4joXvRZVBhM0G/s1600/IMG_6766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAJY8Dzhz_gIvlSwjZtmeYK9yIyb8rPptzwEVWfJiyCxT7GmxFRzIcAcIyuR2tlLJDGpUSvyE5wdaFHg7hMj4KHhsqGsiwSSU7gxkPxGbVFBlEVoxCwliZ2IlwxJ49WM4joXvRZVBhM0G/s320/IMG_6766.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The breakfast room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIq6pba20N7eNaIdKxlPkcz2akSnAvhzfysHq8XU-rqR6PHwB01tUiIqT0qIPolRNdG00D7lvJF0F5BHZUT0dGsiZG4I_K-9e4Ky_uNH_pCm1MJL4oBIK2D-WrN-pQ-dDuCXVt4Oxg7wa/s1600/IMG_6790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIq6pba20N7eNaIdKxlPkcz2akSnAvhzfysHq8XU-rqR6PHwB01tUiIqT0qIPolRNdG00D7lvJF0F5BHZUT0dGsiZG4I_K-9e4Ky_uNH_pCm1MJL4oBIK2D-WrN-pQ-dDuCXVt4Oxg7wa/s320/IMG_6790.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The work in progress!</td></tr>
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This was a huge job and took quite a lot of time, but eventually it was ready for the new kitchen units and appliances.<br />
<br />
It faces north, so I was concerned about light in the room and opted to go for light units and light wall tiles. Not a common combination these days, but we'd seen a very similar kitchen in New York and it looked great. It was MUCH smaller and also had light floors and work surfaces, but we decided to go for a bit of contrast to vary things a little and chose a wooden work surface (which hopefully reflects the floor boards in one half of the room). We decided that the 'work' end of the new kitchen, which had been the original kitchen, would have a tiled floor and that way we would also 'show' a little of the house's history by delineating the two rooms we'd knocked into one.<br />
<br />
If you've been reading this blog for a while, you will know that one of the earliest 'house' posts was about the blinds I made for the kitchen, which were recently altered to suit the ne<span style="background-color: white;">w windows installed last spring, </span>so it now looks like this.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-87296310638768476122014-03-17T13:21:00.000+00:002014-03-17T13:21:05.866+00:00Great British Sewing Bee - series 2I am so thrilled that this series has returned. I'm falling in love with it all over again!<br />
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And I'm getting itchy (treadle) feet again and want to get back to making my own clothes. It has been YEARS since I made any clothes for myself, so this may well be just the ticket to kick-start things again (once I've finished the million and one other tasks and WIPs on my ever increasing list of course).<br />
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I don't know if any of you have ever bought Sew! magazine. It was new to me and I was drawn to it by the free pattern (New Look 6144 in the current issue). I was even more tempted when I read the item inside about the Liberty print version they made - at about £14 per metre (may sounds a bit dear) - actually means the dress would come in at about £30. A LIBERTY DRESS FOR £30!!!! Even DH was convinced when I pointed the figures out to him :-)<br />
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Now, being of an insecure disposition, I'm wary. Do I take the plunge and buy fabric and go for it? Or do I 'um' and 'ah' about whether I should give it a go. Will it suit me when I've made it? If it doesn't it will be wasted time and money and I'll feel miserable that I won't have a lovely new dress at the end of it after all, and feel even more insecure to boot. I suppose I could compromise and make up a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toile#Test_garment">toile</a> before taking the plunge properly. But then, you can't easily adjust the fit on yourself (and there is no hope of getting dear DH to help with something like this!).<br />
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That has always bothered me about sewing your own clothes. You buy patterns, fabric and all the notions. You spend time and effort cutting out, tacking, pinning and sewing together and then when you're all excited, you try it on and the fit isn't right or the style makes you look like a sack of potatoes. It would be so much easier if you could try it on before you buy. <br />
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If only May and Patrick and all the Sewing Bee gang were on hand to help!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316747754020606221.post-91875226004894907752014-03-04T13:30:00.002+00:002014-03-04T13:30:56.997+00:00Reading againThe other day I was updating my reading list, wracking my brains trying to remember what I've read over the past few months, and I realised I hadn't let you all know how I've been getting on with it either. And you deserve a sign of life from me again! And looking back over it, I've left it some time too.<br />
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So here are the additions to my <a href="http://sewandsiw.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/man-is-known-by-books-he-reads-ralph.html">first</a> and <a href="http://sewandsiw.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/catching-up.html">second lists</a>:<br />
<i>The Hobbit </i>- JRR Tolkien (I last read this at primary school, but wanted to refresh my memory before watching the first installment of the film trilogy. I'm glad I did - the film was so long, at least I knew which bits had been added so I could pop out to powder my nose without missing anything crucial!)<br />
<i>Wessex Tales </i>- Thomas Hardy (I fancied returning to an old favourite, but picked something I hadn't read before)<br />
<i>The Phantom</i><i> </i>- Jo Nesbø (another go at reading a Harry Hole novel. It went a bit better than my last attempt)<br />
<i>Heartbreak Hotel</i><i> </i>- Deborah Moggach (A gift from my MIL. We watched Best Exotic Marigold Hotel together and were joking that Deborah Moggach should write something about a hotel in Wales ... and she must have been listening!)<br />
<i>Hanas Gwanas</i><i> </i>- Bethan Gwanas (a Welsh writer and broadcaster. This is her autobiography - it made me laugh and cry - fab)<br />
<i>Dyddiadur Gbara</i><i> </i>- Bethan Gwanas (I then went on a bit of a Bethan-fest didn't I? She spent two years after uni doing VSO in Nigeria. This is her diary of her experiences)<br />
<i>Yn ôl i Gbara</i><i> </i>- Bethan Gwanas (S4C filmed her returning to the village in Nigeria where she lived 20 year on - this is her diary of the journey)<br />
<i>Byd Bethan</i><i> </i>- Bethan Gwanas (this one and the next are some of her columns for the Welsh Herald)<br />
<i>Mwy o Fyd Bethan</i><i> </i>- Bethan Gwanas<br />
<i>Ar y Lein Eto Fyth</i><i> </i>- Bethan Gwanas (The book to accompany her S4C series about following various 'lines' around the globe - this one is the Equator, but she's also done the longitude of her home town, Dolgellau and from pole to pole)<br />
<i>My name is Red</i><i> </i>- Orhan Pamuk (This was about Istanbul in the time of the Sultans. He won a Nobel Prize for Literature)<br />
<i>Istanbul</i><i> </i>- Anthology (another gift from MIL for our holiday last year in Turkey)<br />
<i>Death comes to Pemberley</i><i> </i>- P. D. James<br />
<i>The White Queen</i><i> </i>- Phillipa Gregory (I had to read this trilogy in preparation for the TV series)<br />
<i>The Kingmaker's Daughter</i><i> </i>- Phillipa Gregory<br />
<i>Tulip</i><i> </i>- Anna Pavord (the history of tulips)<br />
<i>A Commonplace Killing</i><i> </i>- Siân Busby (Siân was a member of our choir and grew up in the same part of London as DH and set this book there too. Very moving as she died shortly after completing it, but before its publication)<br />
<i>Innocent Traiter</i><i> </i>- Alison Weir (I have an obsession with Jane Grey, so I had to read this)<br />
<i>Wolf Hall</i><i> </i>- Hilary Mantel (I was on a bit of a history fest!)<br />
<i>Cathedral of the Sea</i><i> </i>- Ildefonso Falcones (inspired by our trip to Barcelona in November)<br />
<i>Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow - </i>Peter Høeg (As I'm rather partial to Scandi-lit, I thought I'd give this a go, but struggled to stick with it. I don't think I'll bother with anymore of his books)<br />
<i>The Follies of the King</i><i> </i>- Jean Plaidy (I felt I need to know more about this period after we saw David Tenant in Richard II. I hope to track down the following novels in the series before we see Henry IV parts 1 and 2)<br />
<i>Aderyn Brith</i><i> </i>- Rhiannon Gregory (based on the life of a Breton miller's daughter who rose to become courtesan to a Prince and then wife to an industrial mogul)<br />
<i>The Kashmir Shawl</i><i> </i>- Rosie Thomas (a lovely story connecting India and Wales)<br />
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Goodness - I've just realised that it is more than a year since I filled you in on my reading escapades! Sorry! Count yourselves lucky that I had a bad autumn for reading, or this post would be even longer. ;-o<br />
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I must really get back to some books that I've started but haven't managed to finish now and let you know how I get on (if I don't get distracted by other books!):<br />
<i>A short
histoy of Nearly Everything</i> - Bill Bryson<br />
<i>From the Holy Mountain </i>- William Dalrymple<br />
<i>Y
Trydydd Peth</i> - Siân Melangell
Dafydd<br />
<i>Eine
Frau in Berlin: Tagebuch-Aufzeichnungen vom 20. April bis 22. Juni 1945 </i>- Anonyma (the diary of a German woman living in Berlin as WWII comes to an end and the Russians flood in. Fascinating, but hard going, especially in German. It caused such an uproar when it was first published, that it was published anonymously)<br />
<i>The
curious gardener </i>- Anna Pavord (this is a 'dip in and out' type of book about stuff to do at various times of the year in the garden. Maybe now that there are signs of life in the garden again, I'll start dipping into it again.)<br />
<i>Life of
Pi </i>- Yann Martel (I'm not sure why I didn't finish this! LOVED the film though.)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04997660758692827143noreply@blogger.com0