Meet the girls

Two weeks ago our cockerel Giblet has some new lady friends. They have settled in very well.

When they arrived we put them into their new hen house and kept them closed up for 24 hours, the next day it took a while before they came out to explore the run.

Nutkin, Blossom, Petal and Snowdrop

They quickly found they had a new man in their life, but he was shut up for a while, whilst they found their way around.  Our Giblet can be a bit feisty at times and we did not want our new girls upset.

Now they are one new happy family.  The girls are laying lots of eggs for us and we have been enjoying lots of cakes, biscuits and lovely omelets.  Thank you girls.





My New Web Site

I have spent the last two weeks photographing my sewing for my new Web Site, it's almost ready, so I'm getting excited about having it up and running.  This photo of the latest Wedding Dress will be my main wedding photo, it has taken a while to complete, but I am really pleased with the result. I was shown how to use my overlocker to do a rolled hem the other day, so I used it to hem the dress. I was really pleased with the finished result.

The close up shows the plaited feature on the neckline of the dress. The satin fabric used on the underdress has a lovely shine, which added to the dresses sparkle.



A Trip to a Museum

Last week we went to Forge Mill Needle Museum in Redditch, the last time I went there, was shortly after it was restored and opened.  There were a few differenced on this visit.

They have continued with the restoration and made many improvements too. The history of needles is well illustrated it's amazing just how many different kinds of needles there are.  The proccess of needle making is on the ground floor with models and old machinery showing what it was like at the time the mill was working and making needles by hand over 100 years ago.

I liked this last picture, it is says so much.

To Sew or Sow!

Last week the weather here was wonderful, I spent as many afternoons in the garden as I could.  The front was so untidy it needed sorting out.  I've done half but now its cooler and not so nice outside.

Being in the front garden you get to catch up with the neighbours who have been hidden away inside all winter, but you don't make the progress on the weeding.  When its done in the next couple of days I think I'll add a photo or two but not until then.

The sewing has gone crazy in the last couple of weeks, with loads of new jobs. A number of things are finished now too.  My skirt for my City and Guilds is looking good.

I'm not a fan of sculpture but for part of the course I had to complete an abstract sculpture, it was a challenge for me, but with Daniel my nephews help, who supplied the pipe, I managed to rise to the challenge.

I started with a piece of bent pipe, cleaned it with wet and dry paper, then sprayed it with silver metal paint and started the process of wrapping it with wools.

The finished sculpture does not look much to me, infact I was surprise when Alison the tutor on my course said it was fine, just what she wanted!!  I'm still finding it hard to understand how this fits into a Tailoring course, but life is full of surprises.



Where does the time go?

I've been very busy since starting my Tailoring City and Guilds course. There aren't enough hours in my day now.  I've enjoyed every minute and have learn a  lot of new things which is exciting. There will be some photos of my work next time.

Sophie was 21 earlier this month and I've been finishing her dress ready for the party on 21st.

We started with a commercial pattern back in November, we toiled it and made some adjustment at Christmas and she came to my house at the beginning of the month for a final fitting and it looked good then.  She was delighted with the finished dress.  I think my next challenge might just be another but more important dress!!

The last time I did this was 32 years ago!

When I arrived at my sister's for the party she had not iced the cake. Together we set out to do it and as the last cake I iced was my sister's wedding cake, I don't think it was too bad a job!  I did not realised my hands could shake so much.

Admiring our work, I iced, Yvonne mixed the icing, put on the ribbon and added the musical  notes.

Happy Birthday



Busy, busy, busy

Another week of sewing activity with some great results, really pleased with the last 7 days work!

This corset is made using Chinese Brocade, it was worked in 10 panels which were joined together and the seams were covered with casings for the spirals (modern boning). The spirals give the garment the support it needs, each casing was made using a contrasting silk which has been embroidered using a simple pattern on my Bernina Sewing Machine to reflect the pattern of the fabric.

It's Sophie my nieces birthday in two weeks, and she needs a special dress.  Today she came to my house from Somerset about 163 miles drive for a fitting. It needed to be right after such a journey.  I'm really pleased it looked brilliant. What do you think?  Comments please.

I did the toile fitting at Christmas, the dress needed some adjustments, but they were only minor.  It's a Simplicity pattern with an adjustment to include thin straps.  It's made in duchess satin and I decided to line it fully, the commercial pattern only lines the bodice, but it was simple just to cut the skirt pattern out in the lining, but just that bit shorter.  It will look better when I've taken out the tacking stitches, and hand sewn the lining in place  and put up the hem.  I've spent about 12 hours working on it so far and have enjoyed every minute.

The Start of the New Sowing Season

Today I started sowing my broad beans and peas for the new season.  I have used root trainers because I think they are great for getting a good root system before planting out.  I have planted Feltham First Peas and Aquadulce Broad Beans.  I know the later should be planted in the autumn, but after the last two years, where I've lost all my pre christmas sowings of broad beans, I've decided to leave it until now.  In 2010 and 2011 I replanted the broad beans in January and had a good crop both years.

One of the gardening magazines I subscribe to had an offer for Hostas last autumn and I ordered some, they arrived this week.  They are great, with really good root systems and ready to plant, I want to give them a head start by potting them up into small pots first.

They arrived with a leaflet giving clear instructions for what to do, so out in the greenhouse I went to get them going.  I am new to growing Hostas, over the last three years I have bought a few because the garden has a large shady border and they are a good plant for these conditions.  I have grown mine in pots, so when the early seasons flowers are over I can move the Hostas into the gaps .  Each year I bring the pots up to the side of the house for additional care in the winter, being in pots and not in the ground I think they need some extra TLC.

In my garden the slugs don't seem to bother Hostas, is this because they are in pots? Or am I just lucky! I wonder.  As it works for me I intend to continue growing them in pots, just as soon as January is over I shall put them out into a cold frame and at the end of the winter plant them into some nice new pots and find a shady spot in the garden for them.