Baker turned gardener!?!

Well, the weather is warming and so I've decided to expand my mini window garden from one very ill basil plant that now looks rather full and perky (thanks to 'mr baker' rescuing it from dying of thirst) to a whole array.

I am now the proud 'parent' of dill, parsley, basil, chives and two types of tomatoes (tiny thumb sized oval ones).

Wish me (and them!) luck they!

Love

B

Baby Boy Quilt Gift

I wanted to put together a baby quilt for fun!

I thought I'd make an "eye spy" quilt. Basically its a quilt with lots of different fabric squares put together and each square has a little picture (a dolphin, car, cat etc). You can then play eye spy with the baby and tell stories etc. It also makes a nice colourful cover for the bed, playmat or pram and when they are older, it can go on the wall.

I got a selection of different fabric patterns that have a blue focus (for a baby boy). Then I cut it into squares trying to get interesting scenes into the middle of each square.



This pic shows the squares sewn together randomly into the quilt top. The full quilt isn't finished yet but this is the work in progress...



This is the border of the quilt itself, dark blue to frame the pictures then a sky blue border the width of a block (it has a cloud pattern), then a blue binding. I've just placed the material to give you an idea of the overall look.






Once its all finished then I'll post a finished quilted pic. Its going to have a fluffy soft backing on it (like a flannel to make it snuggly).




Love the Quilter xxx

My new Singer!!

Here is a blog just about my new baby - my Singer 7468 sewing machine! I've been looking around for a machine that will handle general purpose sewing but will also handle patchwork and machine quilting. I settled on a Singer, like our grandmothers and great-grandmothers and then got the 7468.


As I was informed by the saleswoman...140 stitch functions, 93 built in stitch patterns, 7 different button holes, electronic stitch formation, computerised with automatic setting options, auto reverse, twin needle control, automatic needle threading, programmable up and down needle, top loading bobbin, electronic foot control.......too many features to mention...etc, etc, etc....she had me at 7 different button holes....ooohhh, SEVEN of them.....me must buy!!

As a picture tells a thousand words I'll mainly put pics up to show you what its all about...

The machine has a removable tray (as shown in the above pic that opens into a tool / storage box. Once removed it has a free arm you can use for sleeves etc). Then there is a table which clicks on (as shown in pics below) the table makes sewing larger items easy...



Here's some of the machine feet, front row left to right are a free style foot (for quilting the top of a quilt), Standard foot, zipper foot and blind stitch foot. The big one at the back? Thats "megafoot" :-) also know as a walking foot for quilting the top of the quilt at the end (it walks over the fabric so it doesn't pull the different layers apart, hence its size).

I'm looking forward to doing some sewing and posting the results.

Love the Quilter xxx

Sunday afternoon snack attack!

Sunday afternoon snack attack! Combining two recipes to make one yummy, sugary nibble.

Brioche as a cinnamon scroll definitely fills in the afternoon tummy rumbles and is so easy it basically makes itself!

Love

B

The Gardener's Lettuce

So the end of the season is here for my summer veggie garden but as I plan my winter crop I thought I would share with you some of my marvellous lettuce.

It makes for a wonderful salad with homegrown tomatoes, basil and spring onion.

XX The Gardener XX

Airport Greeting Sign

A quick signal I made for some relatives at the airport. Rather then the traditional welcome sign I thought I'd have some fun with balloon animals :-) Just chose some balloons colours that match the visitors country of origin, twisted them together and off I went.

The dog balloon turned out perfect - you could see it above the crowd and I got spotted easily at the airport!

The Quilter xxx