Sew neglected.......

 Thought I'd start off by showing you a photo of a corner of my sewing room that I love

before I show you the 'working' end of the room which hasn't seen much in the way of action this past week.

Before Chris gets in a snit with me I'd better tell you she came over on Monday and she was busy.  Me... I was useless.   My Sloth genes kicked in again on Saturday making it almost impossible to remain conscious for more than two minutes at a time.    At one point I couldn't even form a sentence and according to Chris was talking in a language that made gobbledygook sound intelligent!    Hey ho....

Now.... the more observant of you might have noticed the absence of the very large bag of bark mulch that was blocking the view from the sewing room window.    I moved it......

the entire bag is now spread over the newly weeded fruit bed.   I did get to play with fabric though... weed control fabric.   You just never know when your cutting and fitting skills will come in handy do you.   I finished the job on Saturday morning.... racing the rain!   I worked like a maniac to get the last wheelbarrow of bark laid just seconds before the heavens opened.   I ended up drenched with sweat,  perspiration or glow whatever you care to call it.  Hair sticking to my head and  face the colour of  an over ripe tomato.  Not attractive!

I did make a little progress on In My Garden......

four of the five applique blocks are finished.   Amazing how much can be done in stolen moments here and there.   Loved stitching that little row of plant pots and those bugs are so cute.  Mum thinks I'm nuts!

I cut some fabrics for Economy Blue.   Still having trouble with lights and darks.   There just doesn't seem to be enough contrast in the fabrics I've managed to collect.    Can't get my hands on enough Kaffe light blues. Maybe I'll get lucky and find some at the Quilt Festival in Birmingham...  ....

 

Then is was back to the land... again.      This photo might not look like much to you but believe me a lot of hard work went into clearing this piece of ground.   The picture doesn't show the real gradient of the slope to the right either.  

My first death defying feat was to lop as many of the lower branches off the three pine trees as I could.   A job which at one stage involved me hanging onto a branch stump with one hand... one foot on the slope the other leg wrapped around the trunk and my spare arm/hand wielding a saw trying to persuade the thickest of the branches to part company with the trunk.   All this without the aid of a harness or safety net.......   first person to call me stupid gets a black eye!  :o)

This steep hill (this is just the top.... it's a long way down to the bottom)  is at the back of the garden and leads down to the 'Secret Garden' which needs some serious clearing out to make it accessible again.  There are some concrete steps but I need to clear them before they are safe to use.   This is a job that's going to take a while.......

Now... bet you can't guess what this is a photo of....

it's a shot looking down into a drainage channel that runs round two sides of Mac's workshop.  It's about 14 inches wide and four and a half feet deep.   I'm showing you this because Mac fell into it last Tuesday.   That's why there's a bit of broken wood and some torn mesh (it keeps out leaves).   This goes to  prove that
there are downsides to being slim.... I'd never have managed to fall in there!

Still.... we did get to spend a 'night' out together courtesy of his nose dive.... in the A& E department of the regional hospital.   Mac injured a knee and foot (same leg) in the fall.   He was hoping for a plaster cast or at least some strapping and a brace but the X-rays showed no broken bones at all.   He left disgruntled at midnight with a bad sprain and some paracetamol!

The was a touch of Deja Vue about the evening.   When Mac asked me out on a first date he suggested we go out for a meal.   Lovely.   Well....imagine how stupid I felt dolled up to the nines eating fish and chips in a hospital canteen.   As a policeman he assured me his knowledge of  gourmet hospital eateries was beyond compare.    I should have known then ......

OK... today I put the first paint undercoat on this.....

the mirror I bought for £20 in the antique junk shop last year.    I've removed the mirror... it's on the floor... just in case you are thinking there is something strange about the photo.

I'm also stitching happily on this.....

I know it looks lop sided but trust me... it's all part of the plan.

Before I go I wanted to remind you that this Friday is FNSI..... amazing how quickly these sew in's come around isn't it.    You know what I'm going to say next don't you...... SIGN UP... it's fun!    What's not to like about a totally self indulgent evening doing what makes you happy.   I'm assuming that will be something to do with fabric or yarn....... if not... keep it to yourself! ;o)

Look for this button on my side bar.... click on it... then sign up.   Easy!  

OK... I'm going.   I've just taken a roast chicken out of the oven and Maisie is going bonkers trying to get her paws on it.    Better rescue dinner before she succeeds...

Have fun.... see you at the weekend
Hugs
Josie
xxx