What's on the list?

As I'm the Queen of Procrastination and I irritate myself by having so many unfinished crafty projects lurking in corners, I've written a 'To Do List' and am gradually working through it.  Two items crossed off - I finished the embroidery started at Saturday's workshop, and I've finished what I've been calling my boho style bunting.  I could've sewn a few more of the triangles, but this work-in-progress has been in-progress for far too long so I assembled it and added a couple of ribbon loops to hang it from.  

Each triangle's backed with yellow cotton.  

I suppose I could add a beaded tassel to each pointy bit.  What do you think?  Too much?  

Apart from that, I finished reading 'The Thief on the Winged Horse' which - after a very promising start - seemed to go off the boil about two thirds of the way through.  So I've picked a historic novel for my next read, 'The Rebel Daughter' by Miranda Malins.  It's set during the English Civil War, 1643 and concerns the daughter of Oliver Cromwell.  That's an interesting period of history I don't know much about, so fingers crossed the novel's well written.  

Okay, so what else can I tell you?  I'm going to attempt tomorrow to 'repair' my small cutting mat.  I mistakenly used it as a flat base on which to spread a towel and then iron something.  Not realising the iron's heat would make the cutting board buckle.  Doh!  Sweary words were muttered when I saw what I'd done.

You can see from this sideways view how badly distorted the surface is.  But apparently this can be fixed by using very hot water.  Submerge your mat in the water and let the heat smooth it out, and lay your cutting mat on a flat surface to dry.  I'm told it'll flatten out perfectly.  Will let you know if the trick works.     

The only other thing to mention is I was making up fabric packs this morning, choosing material themed around the colour blue.  They're destined for my Etsy shop.  The idea is they're for anyone who's getting into slow stitching but doesn't have a stash of fabric scraps to delve into.  I'll add a link tomorrow when I've got around to listing them.   

Anyhow, that's all for now.  Not the world's most interesting blog post, but I'm typing this on a short break between episodes of a gripping 'Storyville' on the BBC iplayer.  Episode one was about the Reverend Jim Jones and the People's Temple, the church he set up.  It showed him as charismatic, charming, manipulative, running a church that was initially a joyous and enlightened place, where churchgoers found a much needed sense of community and belonging.  However, episode two, which I'm about to dive into, shows the church's move to Guyana in South America where Jones becomes increasingly unhinged and drug addled, and eventually leads about 900 people to commit mass suicide.  The story's horrifying and fascinating in equal measure, and it's jaw dropping to realise it's truth not fiction.  

On that grim note I'll go ... bye!