Bunting Bag

I cant believe it's nearly July. How fast is this year going!

 I can't believe I go on holiday in 3 weeks.

I went to my friend Suzette's last Thursday for a sewing day and we had a bag making day.

We got the idea for the bags from Debbie Shore's Sew Bunting book.

Lily doing a fabulous job of modelling her bag.

We both used denim for the main bag.

We loved how they turned out. 

Lily loved hers and says she's going to use it as her beach bag.

Suzette's Bag.

Melanie xxx

Baking and Bunting

This morning I needed to do some baking for the Lunch Boxes.

I decided on St Clements Traybake and Orange & Coconut Muffins as I hadn't made them in a while.

All the others are in the freezer already or they would disappear far too quickly! They might last for a little longer this way!

.........................

At the weekend I got the bunting out for the garden.

 I have to say it was looking a bit shabby!

So I looked through my stash and came up with this selection.

Two days later it looked like this...

Now its like this.
Taa Daa!

It has been overcast for the past couple of days but I'm not complaining at least it isn't raining.

The garden is bursting into flower and looks lovely, and the aroma from the Roses, Sweet Williams and Pinks was beautiful as I sat having my morning cuppa.

I really need a trip to the Garden Centre though to fill in a few of the gaps.

Have a great week.

Melanie xxx

FNWF

I had a little visitor while I was sewing last night. 

His name is Thunder and he was a naughty boy, as I was sewing he decided to have a gnaw at my seagrass baskets!

Naughty Thunder!

He didn't listen so after two more attempts at the basket, it was back to the hutch for him!

Then it was my turn for a basket. I decided to make a scrap basket for my sewing table.

I chose a basket tutorial from The Stitching Room it was a really simple pattern to follow. I'll be making a few more of these for the gift box.

I was really careful to make sure I had the fabric going the right way, until I sewed the sides.

I sewed the inside on the outside and vica versa, by the time I realised I only had side left to do. So as it's for me I left it.

Note to self : Don't sew when you're tired!

Hope you all had a good evening crafting. I'm off to see what the other girls were up to. Why not pop over and have a look too.

Melanie xxx

Sunny Morning Sewing

What a beautiful sunny morning. Not the norm for this time of year so I've been sat out in the garden finishing my tea cosy.

Ta-da!

Melanie xxx

Santa Sack Swap 2014

I had such a great time for the past two years, I'm doing it again!

It's The Santa Sack Swap over at Cheryll,s SSS 2014

Why not pop over and join all the fun :)

Cheryll is also hosting her monthly FNWF I'm in as always.

I need to get some baking done tomorrow and put a bottle of wine to chill. 

I need to be prepared ;)

I'm off to browse the recipe books.

Melanie xxx

Knitting For A Change

This week I thought I would have a change from my normal crafting. I dug out my knitting needles and found a free pattern online that I fancied and away I went.

I loved the site I found. Justjen Knits and Stitches she has lots of free patterns and I think I'll be using her site again

It only took a day to do, I thought I would break myself in gently as it has been years since I knitted anything. I've just got sewing it together to do and putting the buttons on and then it's finished.

Last week to my delight Mr Postie bought me this lovely box of goodies. It was my Secret Tote bag Swap parcel from Lia @ Lia's Handmades. 

I love it so much it was just the sort of bag I wanted and she lined it with shower curtain fabric as she knew I wanted to use it for the beach. She really did her homework.

Thanks again Lia.

Happy Crafting

Melanie xxx

Charity Block : Oops Nearly Forgot

On the first Monday of each month I go to the Hilton Sewing group. 

We has decided this year to all do a block and put them together for a Charity Quilt.

We ere given a choice of fat eighths. I chose these two and added a white on white fabric. 

                          I used the same block I had used for my Secret Tote Bag Swap.

I sneaked off into my sewing room this afternoon and finished my bag for the swap. So I'll be off to the Post Office in the morning to send it to it's new owner.

At last we've had a glorious sunny day so out came the camera and here are a few of the blooms I've got in the garden at the moment

Rose

Hostas

Antirrhinums

Foxglove and Geums

Have a good week whatever you are up to.

Melanie xxx