A little extra cash, a little less blood

Wednesday started off nicely with a £50 win on the premium bonds.  Okay, it wasn't the top prize of a million, but it's very welcome all the same.  I stopped by the doctor's surgery for a routine blood test, then off to the allotment.  It was a very fine spring morning - the air full of birdsong - and I came home with a tub of fresh spinach leaves to add to my lunchtime salad.  I love it when I can gather up spinach, chard and rocket leaves, adding in some just-picked chives, and soon there'll be lettuce too.  Not to mention the promise of strawberries in the not-too-distant future.  

On the crafty front: today's postcard uses a simple colour combo of red and mint green.  I've a copy of Maria Shell's book on improv patchwork where she explores using bold lines and plain fabrics, and have been trying out her ideas.  This postcard is based on her method of making what she calls 'tracks' (as they resemble train tracks).  

I pieced together this small section of track, but felt the horizontal lines were too wide, looking out of proportion.  Instead of cutting into them, I added pleats.  

For the binding, I used a polka dot material, up-cycled from a skirt, plus two scraps of silk.  The silk's a novelty pattern from a gent's necktie.  I bought a job lot of ties from eBay, and this was the one tie that I wasn't keen on.  Novelty patterns generally aren't my thing, so this postcard's a good opportunity to use some of it, and actually the bowling pins add a quirky touch.  As do the three tassels.  I would've liked to have used wool for those tassels instead of embroidery silk - so they looked more like mini pompoms - but it was a case of using what I've got hanging around.  

I find these plastic clips useful, much easier than pins.  Kinder on the fingers. However, the plastic does get brittle if they're frequently used and they snap easily.  

Here's a view of the back of the postcard after I'd sewn down the binding.  

And here's what I made.  

A simpler design than the previous two days efforts, and not as satisfying to make.  It looks rather clunky.  But the challenge isn't meant to provide me with 31 immaculate fabric postcards all of exceptional quality and design.  I mean, it'd be great if it did, but realistically there'll be some postcards I'm pleased with, some that're a bit 'meh!' and others that I decide are hardly worth keeping.  It's all about exploring ideas, going with the flow and seeing what turns up.  The good, the bad and the indifferent.  

Okay, that's me done with this blog for another day.  Instead, I'll read more of Bernardine Evaristo's 'Girl, Woman, Other'.  I wasn't sure about this book at first.  Some very un-likeable characters early on had me wondering whether to ditch it - but I'm warming to it now.  

I mean, it's no 'Demon Copperhead' but I'm engrossed enough to want to finish it and see where the story leads me.