As requested by CT

In my last action packed posts ( HA ) I mentioned I went for a 'look' in our local fabric emporium. The jolly lovely CT from Countryside Tales wanted to see the extent of my 'look'.... 

First I looked at some remnants 

Then I looked at some fat quarters 

Next I went back to look at some more remnants 

( Although I looked at a whole metre of the white polka instead ) 

I then looked through the knitting patterns 

 

The dress patterns were half marked price and it would have been rude of me to leave without looking. 

And apart from 2m of black satin ribbon for my shoes I left without looking at anything else!! 

The Rugby World Cup began last night. You should know the team I follow is my beloved Wales. So they're the games I'm looking forward to most of all. Today though the South Africa v Japan game was ON FIRE!! I'm now also rooting for Japan!

This week has been lovely and sunny and should it continue tomorrow I'm planning on going in the garden. There's weeds cropped up taller than a toddler in some places and I have some pets to rehome. 

!£)(()?(;(KING caterpillars!! 

Dunno what this is but it cheered me up after Caterpillargeddon 

Last but not least, I made my first buttonhole on Brenda. ( Brenda Brother ) 

 I've washed the little dress I made and will show you tomorrow when I've ironed it! 

That's it for now, I've knitting to do! 

Lots of love from

Rachel * Royal Caterpillars for sale* Radiostar xx 

Summer Hols - Days 3 - 16

Hello folks, 

I can't believe I've been off for two weeks already! Been mostly pottering around. Need to have a huge bloggy catch up with you all. 

I've been mostly having a lovely time pleasing myself with what, when n where!  I adore not being constrained by having all my daylight hours spoken for. I've baked, cooked, cleaned, sewed, socialised, faffed about, gardened, been out, stayed in, watched TV to my heart's  content! I've also been shopping a lot for remnants of materials. This creation uses some £30 per metre silk I got for £1! 

This lot was less than a tenner!!

Now I got an A in my O'Level Needlework back int black n white days. But I have not made anything from a pattern since. I've done plenty of repairs and alterations- just no creating using a pattern. I've some lovely patterns for dresses and tops for myself, but felt like I needed a bit of practice before letting myself loose on the pretty fabric I chose. Sew... ( sorry ) 

Remember this >>>

Well, I finally got around to using my new machine! It's amazing!! 

It has a touch screen dashboard thingy. Want to wind a bobbin? It tells you how! 

Little moving pictures! 

Ta daaaaa!! 

You select your stitches and sizes etc from the screen and the first thing I sewed was an old tea towel! There is a speed control too! 

It. Also. Can. Self. Thread. The. Needle.... AND It. Cuts. The. Thread. By magic! ( by pressing a little button actually ) but it blew my mind for an afternoon!!! 

Sew anyway..... 

Ears first... Not very smoothly done! 

Little arms - made a mistake on paw 1. So unpicked it carefully. 

The pattern/bear it is supposed to look like- my bear has a withered leg, poor thing! The footpads were a real bugger to get right too, so I think he has different sized feet! 

Here he is all cobbled together...pose able arms and legs!! just his face to do...

Meet Teddy the first! He's not as 'horror film' as I anticipated. I've learned a lot from making him. Already have had requests from people who want one!

He cost about 75p to make! The stuffing was out of the uni ones old unwanted duvet. The embroidery thread was some I've had in for years! I think I might make him a friend this week! 

Right, I've knitting to attend to! It's been somewhat abandoned of late! I'll be back soon! 

What've you been up to whilst I've been sewing? 

Lots of love from 

Rachel *loving being off* Radiostar xxx

Summer Hols - Day 2

Well Day 2 of the hols brought rain and sunshine. 

I baked... using my new fancy pants sillicone bread baker 

You weigh out the ingredients in it

You mix the ingredients in it. 

You fasten it and prove in it. 

When doubled in size you just whack it straight in the oven as it is! 

Out came a Viking boat shaped loaf which was utterly crunchy on the outside and soft as down on the inside. Completely delicious and gone in the blink of an eye!! 

I just tried this recipe out of the little booklet 

I also introduced Jill to Beryl. Jill was another of my birthday presents off the HG. Another loaf was made! 

Jill and Beryl showing the dough who the boss is! 

There's a little bit of this one left! 

I then went in the garden to move plants into different pots. The photo is poor. But this is my beginning to that stunning border I showed you yesterday!! The poor bunny isn't faring well. My bush is too mature I think ( WHO SNIGGERED AT THE BACK??!!) so I will start afresh with a baby one! 

 And there's actually a Delphi flower that the slugs didn't get!! 

Like I said...it's a start!! 

I made a start on a new thing to make 

You will have to wait and see .... it might just end up like something from a horror film! 

I made homemade cheese stuffed burgers for tea and marinated some stewing beef in curry spices for a Friday night fakeaway. Back tomorrow for news of Day 3. 

Lots of love from

Rachel *actually nipped in to work again to do some illicit photocopying* Radiostar xx