rubykittyruby

 I do love a list.  It's not only the start of a fresh, brand spanking new month, but it's a Monday, so time to write down what I want to accomplish this week.  A lot of my list's the home admin type thing - check home insurance renewal date, move savings around from one account to another, contact the gutter cleaning company.  The sort of stuff that's dull, but necessary.  Especially the gutter cleaning company.  It's like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon have suddenly sprouted up there on the roof.  Anyway, I've also got several craft-based tasks on my list and - yay!!! - I've already got some of 'em done.  Like this needlebook.   I lined this piece of scrappy slow stitching with felt, then made felt pages to insert inside.  Today I finally sewed those pages in, and added a button & ribbon fastening.   It's a simple construction, but these kind of needle books are very handy.  Much better than pushing your needles...

I'm not a natural when it comes to using a sewing machine.  Any use of it is usually accompanied by some rather 'industrial' language.  But I decided to finally tackle the tricky business - or would it be easy? - of inserting a zip using the machine.  I gave the zipper foot a go, but couldn't get along with it at all.  My stitches slid all over the place, and any sewing was followed by copious amounts of unpicking.  Sweary unpicking.   Here's one of my errors.  Gap should've been left in the lining, not the outer fabric of the pouch.  Doh! However, reverting to a standard foot and following the simplest of patterns for a lined zip-up pouch I managed to get three pouches made and three zips working fine 'n' dandy.  They're not 100% perfect - a wee bit lumpy and bumpy - but they're good enough.   I realise other people will be able to knock up one of these in ten minutes flat, but for me doing something like this is a big deal....

The hollyhocks are blooming lovely.  Sugary pink petals and big fat bees who've even taken to sleeping inside a flower to ensure they can feed the moment they wake up.   The butterflies are loving the marjoram.  I think this is a Small Tortoiseshell.   In the last few days I've managed another jaunt to the charity shop.  I bought an L K Bennet dress and an ASOS top.  The dress is too tight for me, it's a tailored size 10 so not surprising.  It's headed for my fabric stash.  However, the top I'll wear.  Weirdly, it's a size 14 and - despite the baggy kind of style - it's tight on me, especially around the wrists.  Fashion brands need to standardise sizing, don't they?   Anyway, on to crafty stuff.  I've been making a bag recently.  Just a big roomy shopper.  I've pieced the outer part of the bag, and am still stitching the handle, then I'll find a suitable material for the lining.   It's a mix ...

The foxgloves are flowering, the days are warm and sunny, its light until late into the evening, what's not to like about this time of year?  Coats and scarves can stay in the wardrobe, though the only downside is I can't keep wearing boots and must break out the sandals.  Better give myself a pedicure before I show these trotters to the world though!   Okay, here's a quick round-up of Friday, Saturday and today's fabric postcards for my '31 days in May' challenge.   This is Friday's, under construction.  I had the urge to play about with crosses.   Friday's completed piece.   I like using a mix of denim and cottons as you get a pleasing difference in textures.  Saturday's postcard was another play on using crosses.  This contained upcycled tartan patterned material from a skirt (bought in the eighties from the now defunct Chelsea Girl) and scraps from a mens tie.   I'm really pleased with the darker colours of t...

  Okay, before the crafty talk commences I'll share pictures from the allotment.  The iris are in bloom, and looking magnificent.  I thought they would as the tubers were baked by last summer's blisteringly hot weather, and apparently a lot of heat is what causes them to flower exuberantly the following year.  Also full of purple flowers and attracting the bees is the Phacelia.  I'd never heard of it before I bought the seeds, but it's a 'green manure', doing all kinds of good, worthy things to the soil by rooting in it.   Redcurrants?  Blackcurrants?  Who knows?  My labelling skills need working on.   This creeping buttercup is probably a weed, but it's pretty so it's staying put.   Right, that's enough greenery for now.  On to my seemingly never-ending fabric postcard challenge.  I was cheesed off with Tuesday's insipid effort, but Wednesday's made me happier.  I made sure to use a good amount of upcy...