Zip case and Oceans x stitch

 It's been wall to wall rain and wind today!  It's been amazing to stand and watch the rain fall and I could almost see the grass starting to turn from crispy brown to definitely some green coming through.  I've spent the day prepping for my class Monday week.  And I've really enjoyed myself.

I will be making the Center Street Quilts Nightingale Zipper Case and have been buying the odd long quarter of Tilda fabric here and there.  I've been wanting to make this for a while so I'm glad I've set some time apart to finally do it.  It's been fun playing with the fabric and deciding which one will go where.  I then decided to quilt it before my class and prep each pocket.  If I didn't have such a busy week next week, with baby sitting, guests staying and then more guests next Saturday I probably would just march on and make it, but at least I know I have a whole day of sewing next Monday!

I've also completed the 8th part of the Climbing Goat SAL Wonders of the Ocean

There's approximately 1500 stitches in this section and includes a Whale shark, cleaner fish, common remora, moon wrasse, vampire squid and lanternfish.  It's hard to believe there are only three parts remaining, the last one being published on November 15th (nearly Christmas!!)  I have enjoyed it a lot!

Tomorrow I'm not sure what I will be stitching?  I only have a small section to finish the Cockerel and that would be a real bonus if I can get that done.  I will link up with Kath for some slow Sunday stitching

Sheep Virtues and Hexies

 We've just returned from spending a lovely week on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon.  It was really hot so only a small amount of stitching took place (more reading this week to be honest!)  But here is what I've been working on over the last two weeks.

I picked up the little Sheep Virtue cross stitch to work on while away and it is nearly finished but I need a couple of colours that I had left at home, so hopefully by next week it will be done.

I stitched seven hexi flowers (one a day)

I did manage to visit two fabric shops in Devon and bought this lovely French linen.  I'm a bit obsessed with this fabric at the moment and hopefully I can turn them into some more moon trees.

Moon trees leads me rather nicely to the partial eclipse of the sun on Wednesday 12th August.  And Devon was to experience 95% coverage.  Now bearing in mind that my husband is a keen astronomer he forgot to bring any eclipse glasses with us.  We really do have quite a few pairs at home but not 120 miles away in Devon!!  You may have read in the news that people in the UK had been trying to get hold of them and he did valiantly go into lots of shops trying to get some - no chance!  So we improvised!

This is using a piece of card and a colander (thank goodness there was one in the holiday let.  Lots and lots of suns! Then we tried card with a pin hole

I think the multiple sun/moon shot through the colander is rather lovely.

We had fun doing it and he has promised to take me any where there is another total eclipse, which will have to be abroad because there won't be another one in the UK until 2090+

I'm off to do some slow Sunday stitching with Kathy and the crew!

A room with a view and Cockerel

 Yesterday my DH and I visited an Arts and Crafts fair.  My sewing group entered a piece of work each, of the view outside our window where we have been meeting once a month for over 15 years.

We picked this angle because we liked the building and the reeds in the foreground.  I turned my piece into a book cover.

And here are all the interpretations of the view, with three of the group getting 'Highly Commended' and the rest a 'Commended'

One of the group wrote a nice piece explaining what we did and how it wasn't just about the sewing, it was more about the friendships and support we have forged over the years!

It was a good day out and we both really enjoyed ourselves.

I haven't had a chance to add much more to my cockerel but after starting to stitch the leaves on the right of the picture I realised it should have been the red/brown thread rather than the light brown.  I can't take it out as it would be really tricky so I am going to stitch his legs next, which should be in the light brown and hope I have enough thread and then go back to the leaves!  A bit annoying but not the end of the world.

Joshua also asked me to make an apron like his sisters.  He chose the fabric only problem is you can't see his name very clearly but hopefully he won't mind!  I did most of the apron on the overlocker so it was a really quick make.

I will link up later with Kathy for some slow Sunday stitching