Sunshine Sampler and pea pods.

Gosh, am I suprised at the amount of peas we have had so far this year. This is just a very small amount (half the peas ended in my tummy as I was podding them!) Last year we made some pea pod wine (put in the bottles in January) so here's hoping that it is soon ready to drink, and if indeed, it's drinkable! This lot were grown in the poly tunnel, starting off in winter. Last year when I grew them outside, they weren't ripe until late summer. So nice to have an early crop for a change.

Eat the peas, turn the pods into wine and then pop them onto the compost heap!

I did manage to finish off my 'Sunshine Sampler'. I was just going to photo it in the frame and the batteries ran out.

16 squares in all with little funky, quirky houses in each square. Guess which one is my little cottage!
The saying says 'Walk on the sunny side of the street' and each little embroidery has a sun to brighten the day.
                                                  Close ups.

                    

                                                         

                                                    

These are all hand embroidered with tiny bits of material (see, never throw anything away haha) Some of the trees are felt others are embroidered and  yet others are fabric. Do you like the teeny tiny robin sitting on the fork in the veggie garden?

Each square took an evening to do although some were a bit quicker than others. The background fabric is linen. It has a red frame all ready and waiting.But I have a confession, what did I do....yep, measured once and cut once!! So its a wee bit short on the frame, but only by a couple of centimeters, although still very annoying and I have already mentally kicked myself very hard!

Think it might hang either in my kitchen or in the hallway.....or might put it with my other little squares sampler

whilst I'm having a think do pop over and see the wonderful blogs in these linky parties.

Sunday.
handmadeharbour.blogspot.
Monday;
.the-chicken-chick.
Tuesday;
thediydreamer.
Wednesday;
ivyandelephants.blogspot
lavendergardencottage.
finecraftguild.com/party-72/
thededicatedhouse.blogspot.
Thursday;
sparklesandastove.
Friday;
craftsalamode.com

Tour around garden and start of mini sampler

Would you like to come on a tour around the veggie patch? Off we go then.

 You might remember the veggie patch sign that I blogged about, it is now fixed to the gate that leads into the allotment. (I have run out of the blue paint to match the fence, so it's either going to be left like it is, or, painted some other random colour)

The gate still needs to be fastened as it's only propped up, and it needs a bit more refining around the ages!

 And yes it was a clear blue sky and sunny, which, by midday, was overcast and dismal and then the rain came, what a disappointment. (This was Saturday)

Nikki getting in on the photo...guarding the vegtables! HH cut out the pointy finger which is attached to the fence, just in case you miss the gate. haha.

As we open the gate (which was made from old floorboards as is the planking fence, all hobbled together. Pinched from HH's wood pile) this is the start of, hopefully, some lovely veggies...if they grow!

 The stuff that is starting to sprout are potatoes, lettuce, onions, leeks, turnips, carrots and kohl. With peas and beans that were grown on in the poly tunnel.

In the background are raspberries and blackcurrants. The apple trees have lots of blossom this year but I wonder if we are just too exposed for the apples to grow to any size (but hope spring eternal!!)

I would like the pathways to be gravelled over at sometime to stop the weeds sprouting like triffids.

The poly tunnel is once more coming into it's own and the peas that were sown in winter in there, are now nearly ready to eat. (Love peas straight out the pod) Strawberries are starting to ripen...yummy and the grape vine has 3 small minute bunches growing, now that will be interesting to see if they grow to proper size. Lots of other things starting to come along, we didn't have much bother from slugs or snails but cabbage butterflies were a pain, with caterpillars all over the brassicas which were picked off by hand everyday. Yuk.

On the crafting front I have started to embroider a little house sampler.
Here is the start...

There are 14 squares altogether and maybe, just maybe, they will be finished for next time.

This weeks linky parties are;
Sunday;
handmadeharbour.blogspot
Monday;
the-chicken-chick.
thededicatedhouse.
Tuesday;
thediydream 
Wednesday;
ivyandelephants.
lavender garden cottage.
Friday;
finecraftguild.
dianarambles.
myfashionforwardblog.

Mugs, samplers and Nikki

craftsalamode.what-to-do-weekends-21

I sent away a couple of my Quirky house photos to have them put on a couple of mugs.
Here they are on my mini dresser.

                            
                                            Close up

 

and whilst they are OK I think they should have had a brighter sheen to them as the photos that were downloaded were nice and clear and bright. So a bit of a disappointment really.

Anyway I did manage to finish off this little cross stitch sampler this week.

The aida was white but I wanted a more 'antiquey' looking colour, so it was soaked in some cold tea for a while. Unfortunately the photo shows it a pale brown, whereas, in real life it's a deeper, rich brown. That is Head Honcho with Nikke and me with a blue chicken!

At last the flowers are starting to pop up. Nikki takes a keen interest in the garden, after all there are bees and butterflies to chase, passing cars and bikes to bark at, bits of unkown yuk to nibble on. Here she is having a rest inbetween activities.

But she would like to remind you to take the time to slow down and smell the flowers!

This weeks linky parties are:
finecraftguild.com/linky-party-67/
handmadeharbour.blogspot.
usscrafty.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/submarine-sunday-32.html
Monday
the-chicken-chick.
thededicatedhouse.
Wednesday;
lavendergardencottage.blogspot.
thediydreamer.
Friday
michellestastycreations.
dianarambles-linky-party-34.
thededicatedhouse.
craftionary.net

Have a cuppa cross stitch. Muddy pawsteps from Jazz!

I hope that you are getting some share of the sun, if you are, we need some up here so pass it on!!

The poly tunnel has been slowly filled with plants and seeds of various descriptions with some experiments going on. I have cut one of those shoe bag tidies that hang over doors, in half and part filled them with strawberry plants. (in the soil I mixed a bit of gel retention crystals so they don't dry out to quickly)  A bamboo stick was threaded through the re-sewn hem, a bit of wire fixed either end of the stick and then hoisted over the railings of the roof of the poly tunnel, thus freeing up space on the floor and also bamboozling the ninja slugs. I am hoping this will work as I love scrummy strawberries.

Not been crafting much this week so will show this little cross stitch that was done a few years ago but I still love it.

  Tea tastes better served in a posh bone china cup....but I always have a mug and save the cup for special times. Need me tea, otherwise I collapse in a hopeless heap!

 Nikki was having a snooze and doing a good imitation of Aleksander the Meerkat....and wondering if she  there is a vacancy for a body double. (If anybody out there is an agent she would consider going into the advertising industry!! haha )                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                    

 Totally unaware of what Jazz was getting upto in the kitchen.

Jazz was saying 'what me guv, weren't me, honest'  All innocent about these very muddy footprints all over the kitchen floor!

But how can you be angry with those eyes looking at you.

This weeks linky parties are;#
Sunday;
handmadeharbour.blogspot
craftsalamode.com
Monday;
.the-chicken-chick.com/
dianarambles.
Tuesday;
thediydreamer.
Wednesday;
finecraftguild.
lavendergardencottage.
thededicatedhouse
Thursday;
craftionary.
Friday;
craftsalamode.com
finecraftguild.com/linky-party-67/

Veggie Patch sign and little Jazz

Do we plant seeds or not? Well, I've planted some potatoes and onion sets and in the greenhouse have put some peas in pots, and that is that! Itching to plant all the other veggie seeds but to early and cold, probably May will be the best time and as we have such long daylight hours up here in Scotland, they usually catch up.

In  anticipation of all this, we have built a fence around the veggie patch out of re-claimed wood and having a rummage, found this picture that I painted many years ago on the back of a cupboard door. This is going to be screwed onto the fence, so everybody knows what is going on behind the fence!!

I just painted the wording on this week. We used to have it ontop on the kitchen cabinets for some years. I was practising painting on almost anything that didn't move in those days!

                                              Close up

A sweet little birdie perched on the flower pots, and a trowel ready for action.

On other news my daughter has just got this little darling.

Little Jazz a cocker spaniel. How cute is he.... and such a lovable little doggie. Him and Nikki get on really well together, although Nikkie was a bit wary of him at first but soon sucumbed to his charms. (although she was a bit indignant that he had the audacity to go in her bed and inspect her toys!!) haha.

This weeks linky parties are;
Sunday;
 handmadeharbour.blogspot.
sewmanyways.blogspot.
 submarine-sunday-28.
Monday;
he-chicken-chick.com/
thededicatedhouse.blogspot
Tuesday;
thediydreamer.
Wednesday;
 finecraftguild.com/party-64/
lavendergardencottage.blogspot.
thebusybhive.blogspot
Thursday;
thebusybhive.blogspot.
craftionary.

Wee Scottish Houses.

Here we are again another 2 weeks flashing by. This time I have two little wooden houses to show you all. The first is the 'wee house on the cliff'

The £ coin is to give a scale to how big this wee house is.


Side view and you can see there is a loooong drop into the sea!

The sailing boat is already to set sail for a fishing trip.

 Next is the 'wee house in the wood

                                       

Nestling in amongst the trees, with the light shining in the top window, the owner must be getting ready for some shut eye!

The trees are made from stiffened fabric with a matchstick sandwiched inbetween.

                                              Both together

They are rather addictive to make.....good job we have lots of wood so I can whittle away to my hearts content!!

This weeks linky parties are;
Saturday;
michellestastycreations.
submarine-sunday-26.
Sunday;
handmadeharbour.blogspot.
sewmanyways.blog 
Monday;
the-chicken-chick
thededicatedhouse
Tuesday;
thediydreamer
Wednesday;
lavendergardencottage.blogspot.
finecraftguild.
Thursday;
thebusybhive.blogspot
Friday;
 craftionary.net

Little Scottish Harbour and more tea cup coasters.

Hello everyone from a very cold Scotland. We don't have any snow but the wind is so cold it cuts through me like butter. So different from a couple of weeks ago when it was almost spring like.....come back sun we miss you! I have trays of seedlings slowly growing on the window sills and I want to plant them up in the poly tunnel but I fear it will be too cold for the little things to survive. I just hope they don't get to leggy and fall over!

I have at last finished a little wooden Scottish Harbour. Wood rescued from the fire. The harbour measures approx 17" long by 2 and quarter inches tall. And nestling on top of a nice curvey piece of wood are a row of darling little cottages.

All the little houses were tiny bits of wood with the roof shaped and chimneys added.

                                              Some close ups.

                                     Little sailing boat made from some balsa wood.
Can you see the little street lamps? They are a whittled down matchsticks with a paper clay ball painted white on the top.

                                        The tree trunks are thickish wire sandwiched between two pieces of green paper.

You can almost hear the waves crashing against the harbour wall! It now sits on the bathroom windowsill and makes me smile. I have done another harbour scene but will let you see that another time.

Also this week I have been making some more tea cup coasters.

This time with different coloured 'rims'

This weeks linky parties are;
Sunday;
handmadeharbour.blogspot
the-chicken-chick.
Tuesday;
thediydreamer
hewellcraftedhome
Wednesday;
finecraftguild.
Thursday;
thebusybhive.blogspot.
craftionary.net/2013/04/friday-link-party-59.html

Friday;
hededicatedhouse.

Teacup Coasters, Teapot Tess and crochet.

This last couple of weeks I have been finishing off some of the unfinished projects that have been around for ages, so made my mind over and fixed them!

First up here are some tea/coffee cup coasters.

                                                         sold

A little collection.....

                                                   Now all sold.
 Made from linen and cotton. Place a teabag or two and send to a friend, who can then use it as a coaster while they sip there tea (or coffee) and think of you!

And here is little Teapot Tess....

you guessed it another sock monkey lol. She has teapots and teacups as decoration.

With her best friend Gertie. They like to chat and whisper secrets. (although Gertie's leg looks rather elongated in this photo they are both the same length!

                                               Having a cuddle together.

The lace that I unpicked from this embroidered tablecloth which is here was waiting for me to do something with.So at last got the iron out and re-shaped it and it's now ready to go...

Now added to my little dresser.

                                                    Close UP

I stuck it down with double sided sellotape. I do have quite a bit more of the crochet....hmm where to put it!
(the dresser was originally a display unit for my jugs, somehow or other a lot of red bits have crept it.....can't think how. lol.

Making some progress on some wooden bits I'm putting together and hopefully will be able to show next time.

Linky parties are here;
Sunday;
handmadeharbour.blogspot.
#michellestastycreations
Monday;
the-chicken-chick.
thededicatedhouse
Tuesday;
thededicatedhouse.blogspot.
thediydreamer.
Wednesday;
thewellcraftedhome
Thursday;
thebusybhive.blogspot.
finecraftguild.
craftionary

Not much going on....labels and a card.

It's been a slow couple of weeks. Not got my crafting mo-jo going at all :0(
I seem to have taken 2 steps forward and 6 back so a lot of frustration with things being binned or put away in disgust!

I did make these tho that came out OK. Little linen tags or labels for that extra special gift.

And a card for my m.i.l. and that's about it. I wont show the failures as they are long gone!!

Last but not least, Nikki ,looking so sweet after she has done a puddle on the floor haha.

This fortnight's linky parties are;
Saturday;
michellestastycreations.
Sunday;
handmadeharbour.
Monday;
the-chicken-chick.
thededicatedhouse.blogspot.
Tuesday;
thediydreamer.
Wednesday;
flusterbuster.
Thursday;
thebusybhive.
finecraftguild
Friday;
craftionary.net/
dianarambles.com

Framed Embroidery & more coats for Nikki. 2 happy bunnies

 Here we are again. My fortnightly update....

I have my embroidery sampler framed at last. It is a plain wooden frame so it doesn't detract from the picture. The before photo is here  with the embroidery finished. It is now up on the wall.

We have not had any snow to speak of just a dusting, but the wind is very cold and it has been wet. Nikki needs some waterpoofs as her other coats were getting quite wet from our walks and runs on the grass.

Another recyled outfit! The brown fabric is an old bean bag that was past it's best and so was useful for the waterproofing. There was a discarded furry, soft ,water bottle cover that was no longer needed and that is underneath. Very cosy. Finished off with some green bias binding. A friend said she needed some leg warmers to complete the outfit, but I think that is a step too far. lol

All ready to go! Her little tail going nineteen to the dozen. She has worn it quite a bit and it certainly does the job properly. No more wet tummy. She is putting on weight around her middle (bit like me) so this coat is a bit bigger than the others. I did make her two coats with the bean bag plasticy material, the other one has red binding and an old woollen blanket for reverse. Fastened together with velcro. A good way to upcycle discarded materials.

These little rabbits are the last of the fluffies. Only 2 left now from this particular yarn. One happy chappy with his red heart jumper and matching scarf.....

.....and his little friend Daphne who sports a pink jumper with a white heart and matching scarf. They both are approx 8£ tall.I you would like to purchase one just email me.


This week linky parties are;
Sunday
handmadeharbour.blogspot.
Monday
the-chicken-chick.
thededicatedhouse.blogspot.
Tuesday
thediydreamer.com/from-dream-to-reality
Wednesday
finecraftguild.com/linky-party-52/
Thursday
craftionary.net
Friday
dianarambles.com