~Sewing in the hols~

Spurred along by Daisy's Sew-Along (click on the link opposite) and also the final of the Great British Sewing Bee on Tuesday, I've started a new sewing project...

 

It's New Look 6895, which is a multi-size pattern for 6 tops - I'm making view C, top right, which takes 1.5m of fabric.  It's got a gathered scoop neck, and gathered short sleeves.

I made another of these (view E) in 2012...

 

 

I'm using this navy soft cotton lawn, which I bought a few weeks ago for £5.99 a metre from the fantastic Fabworks millshop here in Dewsbury. It looks a bit faded in my photo, but it's a true navy.

Talking of the Sewing Bee; I did apply for this year and made it to the phone interviews but no further. *sad face*
That said, as I do my cutting out on the floor in a most unglamorous fashion, oofing when my knees hurt and I put my tongue out whilst concentrating - all these things would have not made easy viewing!
Here are my 4 pieces cut out, notches cut out and tailor-tacks done, all ready to start after tea. See how messy my sewing room is now you can see the untidy side! 
And now, Small Dog has just wondered in to have a look a la Claudia, Patrick and May just to check up on me...

I will return tomorrow with some progress (hopefully).

 

 





~Come for a walk~

I've had a nice few hours with Laura today. Lunch at Pizza Express at Xscape here followed by a bit of retail therapy.  Enjoyable simple things don't cost any money though, so here is our walk with Small Dog this afternoon punctuated by things that please me.
The warm Spring hazy nearly-sunshiney afternoon.  I like that.
Care to come along?
I like where I live - it's a large village in the southernmost tip of North Yorkshire, with lots of history. And a busy little high street.  I like that too.
Sherburn in Elmet is one of only 3 villages in the area whose name reflects that they were historically part of the kingdom of Elmet. I do love a regular dose of history.
Here we go then...
Down to the park...there's Laura with Small Dog...

Church tower in the distance...
Past the Scout Hut and up to Church Hill...

Into the churchyard of All Saints Church...

I love this old path!
All Saints is a church with 12th Century origins and apparently the field on the next photo is thought to be the site of the palace of kings of Elmet, which was given by King Athelstan to the Archbishops of York in the10th century.
At the back of the church there is this fantastic view on a clear day right out to Lotherton and Towton...

Then we drop down behind the Church...

All the fields are freshly ploughed and drilled waiting to be sown...
Another favourite thing of mine; the sight of a ploughed field...love it!
And looking back up to the Church before circling back round to the village centre...



Thankyou for coming along.  Don't you feel better when you've been out in the fresh air?
Have a good weekend x

~My Sewing Room~

I'm always intrigued to have a peek at other's sewing rooms. Do you want to have a look at mine?  I only ask as I've had a tidy up!  I've done a bit of painting this weekend - painting the walls and ceiling white and I also bought 2 sample pots of Farrow and Ball Estate Emulsion in Calamine and Nancy's Blushes...

These sample pots are £3.95, and are a good way to experiment and paint furniture on a budget. Nancy's Blushes must be a new colour as it wasn't on my 2012 colour chart (which I look at for recreation!) I know lots of you love Annie Sloan paint, but I still like F&B and always get good results. Here are the pinks...

I painted the legs of my sewing table in Calamine and my Ikea storage drawers in Nancy's Blushes,
both had 2 coats then a coat of Colron Finishing wax...

So here is my sewing room now...this is the finished storage chest with my button tins and jars.  The vintage medicine tins have my darning needles in.

Tidy ribbon in a basket...velvet ribbon is my favourite trimming.

To the side of my trusty Janome sewing machine is my Cath Kidston pincushion toadstool which Laura bought me years ago.  The round pin tin was my Nana B's and the rose needle book was my Nana F's.

The crochet bunting was made by a friend. The pine shelves and table are Ikea from years ago - the table legs in Calamine look lovely now.  The piano stool is next for the pink treatment...

The spotty bags under the table are filled with fabric scraps I can't bear to throw away!

A pile of folded  fabric...

And some more fabric I've bought to make some new clothes.  I also found this Merchant & Mills pattern for a Madison Dress - totally forgot I had it; so that will be on my 'to do' list.  

This cute 'I love sewing' rack by Sass and Belle was a present from a friend and holds vintage Sylko wooden reels...and a random evening bag  :)

And from a different angle...

How long will I keep it tidy?