Inspiration!

I wanted a steady hand!

This is what I did!

Wet Bank Holiday Monday

Bank Holiday Monday and its wet!  Never mind I have plenty to do, but I wanted to get into the garden.  There was a boot fair this morning, but we didn't go, anyway I have been to two others, one on Saturday and one yesterday!  Didn't buy anything though, actually saved money!!

Made dolly number two some knickers and an underskirt, but she now needs shoes

this one is for sale.

Had an order for some more flower brooches

.......and created a 26" circle! 

For a pattern I will be making soon.

Tutorial here

We met Ben!

 Helen invited us to lunch.   We were a bit late caused by various hold-ups on the road but we eventually arrived and greeted by wonderful Helen and the biggest, softest, gentlest, giant blackest  most beautiful dog.  Ben if you know Helen's blog is often featured.  The weather was a bit hot for him so he just lazed on the cool ground while we chatted.  

We had a choice of two wonderful Quiches of smoke salmon, and broccoli and cheese and lots lovely salads followed by Eaton Mess

Occasionally Ben joined the conversation

Afternoon tea before we left

Helen's apple tree has not only a few apples but has blossom too!

(click on picture to see clearer)

I saw the items which will be seen in the next Bustle and Sew magazine - they look wonderful.

And before I left Helen gave me this embroidered cover to add to my collection.  I thought there were only Radio Times ones, but I have knitting one and now this one for blotting paper. 

Last Sunday took another trip to Lacock (19 August) where they had 1940's Lacock.

This was inside the caravan

1940's Armoured First Aid tent

This lady was kind enough to let me take a photograph of her and her car.

My dad in the early sixties had the next version of this car a Baby Austin

This is how you learnt to drive before road tests 

 my maternal grandfather was one of the last drivers that actually never took a driving test!

and there was a fly past of the Wellington

Since the last blog post.........

...................We have had Caitlin's third birthday last Friday (10th August).

Caitlin in her new gardening outfit we bought.

........and of course we cannot forget Liam!

think he was being called in to put shoes on!

Made Caitlin this cardigan which cost virtually nothing!  It was made from left-over King Cole Splash yarn used in other projects and I have enough blue to make Liam one.

Made Caitlin and Liam four 24" cushions and two toy bags from their old curtains!

Put my doubled-up magazines on eBay

Made some Scotch Eggs and Sausage Rolls

and Lemon Tart

(both recipes can be found here)

Restored this Dolly bed which is now in Sally's shop.

The bed was waxed with Lavender Wax Polish instead of being painted, the mattress is covered in ticking and I made the little quilt, the sheets and pillow case was made from an old pillow case, and the blanket from a piece of fleece fabric, and a finishing touch of a little Lavender Heart hanging from the bed head.

Now.......That's something you don't see......

............A Seagull sitting on the bird feeder

(sorry for the quality of the picture. It was taken through two windows, the kitchen and conservatory)

Bloomin' weather!

Yesterday we decided, the weather looked good ~ yes here in Somerset.  The sun was shining brightly!  We took ourselves off to A' La Ronde near Exmouth in Devon.  As we crossed the Somerset-Devon border on the motorway the weather changed dramatically.  The heavens opened, we couldn't believe it!  But we had a really great time there.  The house itself isn't very big and on a clear day you can see the sea!  This house is famous for the shell gallery but the public are not allowed to view it close-up because it is quite delicate, but there is a video, and you can view it through mirrors too.  Around one of the rooms there is a frieze of pictures made entirely of feathers.  Fascinating  place, it showed what people did before television.  Embroidery, Shell collecting, making pictures from different objects - great ideas that have been lost in time.

The weather was so atrocious, the curaters of the house are prepared, they make you feel very welcome, they take your wet coats and hang them up.

You are not allowed to  take pictures in the house, but the Laundry was in an outbuilding.

The washing machine

there is also a tiny sink just next to the this tub for delicates and hand washing

The soap powder

You grated the soap in to the hot water.

The pre wash tub

For really soiled washing

and for the clean wash to be taken to the spin dryer

The spin dryer

We were going to walk along the beach for awhile as we hadn't been to Exmouth in a long time, but you couldn't see the sea, so we came home back across the Devon-Somerset border into brilliant sunshine again!
We stopped off at Morrison's for a gooey cream cake, which is what we probably would have had if we had stayed longer

We like to share, sorry there was only enough for two, we had these with Earl Grey Tea

More pictures of A' La Ronde can be found here