Fabric Galore!

I went on a bit of a fabric spending spree this week - but starting a new project always means new fabric right? The first photo shows my new Tilda fat quarters and a charm pack.  Underneath is some fleece to back my 60 degree EPP travel project that has been hanging around far too long!

Those Tilda fabrics are gorgeous!  The next two picture are fabric bought from my local fabric shop that is unfortunately closing down.  All the fabric was 50% off so I took the opportunity to do some stash building and the off white fabric will be backing for the Gossip in the Garden project.  For a very short time (and I mean a nanosecond) I did feel a teeny bit guilty about spending so much money but the guilt didn't last long LOL

I love every last one!!!  So you all know what I will be doing today for slow Sunday stitching!

However I will try not to neglect the other projects I am working on.

The red fabric and the bias binding above are for this red work project.

And a bit more work on the Cotton and Twine project.

Lots to be going on with but I am a firm believer in variety is the spice of life!!

Hop on over to Kathy's blog and see what every one else is working on today.

Devon and slow stitching!

 For my lovely husbands Christmas present I bought him (us) a stay in a cottage in Devon called Stargazing Retreat (he is an amateur astronomer so it seemed like a match made in heaven!) And what a fabulous time we had (despite the weather).  It was very luxurious with a log burner, all mod cons, lovely white linen (not sure that was such a good thing with one wet, soggy spaniel who has the run of the house when we are at home!!!), beautiful views, no traffic passing by and a HOT TUB!

Yes that's me in the tub!  Above the bed was a huge window in the ceiling and we could watch the moon passing over!  Nearby, just over the border into Cornwall is a wonderful fabric shop called Cowslip (it's actually on a working farm) and an equally fabulous café.  So we had lunch and then I hit the shop.  There is so much fabric in this shop that I felt a bit overwhelmed but I did buy a pattern that I have seen on Pinterest and coveted for a while.

It has a nice mix of hand sewing, EPP and applique (I'm going to give needle turn applique a go)

This is the first block

I can see this in Tilda fabrics, so I've ordered a selection on line and hopefully they won't take too long to arrive.  The only sewing I did while I was there was my next project from Cotton and Twine and even then it didn't amount to much.

We were due to drive home on Friday but we knew that storm Eunice was about to hit us and we were in the red danger zone so made the decision to leave Thursday evening instead.  As it turned out that was the right decision.  Where we live also moved into the red zone and we just hunkered down!  We live right on the coast with the Isle of Wight just off our coast line.  On Friday it recorded the highest wind speeds of 122mph which is the highest ever recorded for the UK! Very glad we were safely tucked up at home.  Luckily we didn't loose power but thousands of homes did, including my brother in the east and my step mum about 30 minutes from west London.  And of course sadly people lost there lives, so a grim time.

The wind is strengthening here again so I will spend the day crafting and link up to Kathy's blog for some slow Sunday stitching and probably watch the closing ceremony of the winter Olympics!

Cross stitch, red work and EPP

Have you ever started something and realised quite quickly that it isn't going to work? Well that's just how I felt after I had cut the fabric for the border on my 60 degree diamond travel quilt!  After lots of through I decided I wanted to keep the shape of the diamonds around the edge so I cut some 3" borders from my stash and pinned and started to hand sew it in place.....

 I'm sure this isn't the way to add a border to this type of edge (I cut a piece of card 2" deep to get the correct position at each point) but I really didn't want to cut out and do EPP to fill the gaps. I carried on and finished one side, gave it a really good press and it lays flat and looks ok (it's a miracle).  So it might not be the conventional way of adding a border but if it works I'm not knocking it!!

During my isolation I also got some more hand sewing done.

The bird and egg is finished, hopefully this week I will get time to mount it on card ready for Easter and a few more stitches added to my red work.  I did manage to resist starting my new cotton and twine subscription box but not sure how much longer I can hold out on that one though!!

I hope to link up to Kathy's blog for some slow Sunday stitching (link in side bar) but as we will be looking after Amber for the rest of the day I'm not sure I will get any sewing done!!

This and that while self isolating!

 I had to go to the hospital early this morning to get my covid test before self isolating through to Wednesday afternoon for another hospital appointment.  Again I'm quite looking forward to it!  The only thing I don't like is missing my daily walk with the dog.  And tomorrow I will be missing my craft class too which is a blow but I will just have to get on with my stitch book when I find out which two stitches are next.  I will also be missing making fabric flowers from batik fabrics which is a shame but can't be helped!

Some progress on my current projects.

I'm just about to start row 41, I should say really my 41st colour change on my sweet pea blanket from Attic 24.  Still LOVE the colours in this one!

Some progress has been made on the bird and egg cross stitch (hopefully get this finished while I'm self isolating)

And a little on the red work Birthday calendar from Mandy Shaw at Dandelion designs

But (that should really be BUT) I've received the latest subscription box from Cotton and Twine and this is such a pretty pattern, with gorgeous coloured thread, that I'm really itching to start it - I'm going to try and hold off but who knows,  (this box came with its usual sweet treats, tea and prosecco flavoured lip balm as well as the frame, thread and fabric to complete the project.

I'm going to link up with Kathy for some slow Sunday stitching and then I will sit back watch the winter Olympics and stitch for the next four days - sounds ok to me!