Summer days

Well here is the rag doll I made in all her glory.....

She has hair, and a sundress and skirt, complete with cardigan in this photo.

Here she is in a yellow dress with tiny gingerbread man tucked into her pocket.

ready for bed in her pajamas

All tucked up in her cradle.

I really enjoyed making her little outfits, I thought it would be easier to make small clothing, 

but if anything I found it a bit more fiddley! 

I journeyed on the train to just outside Rugby to attend a one day course at the Toft Alpaca Farm, http://www.thetoftalpacashop.co.uk/ where we had a wonderful day, starting off with coffee and croissants, then for a refreshing walk around the farm, led by one of the owners, whose knowledge of the alpacas was amazing. made all the more interesting by the fact I was lucky enough to be bought a Toft bag knitting kit a couple of years ago.

So here are a few photos of  some alpacas....

After a delicious lunch, eaten outside sat on straw bales, we returned inside to listen to Kaffe Fassett give a talk about his works, I bought his book "Dreaming in colour" An Autobiography, about his life and creative works.

To close the day we were treated to a variety of cakes and sparkling wine.

I then spent an enjoyable few hours on the train home, reading the autobiography, and admiring all the creativity!

Making the most of this great Summer weather, we spent a few nights at Pooley Bridge overlooking Ullswater in The Lake District.

Lovely to wade in the waters, and take in the views.

We also visited The Beatrix Potter visitor centre ,http://www.peterrabbit.com/en/beatrix_potter/lake_district/the_world_of_beatrix_potter_attraction spending a happy few hours with some furry friends... and found a little book about Mr.Tod  at the local flea market.

Off to Ullswater again tomorrow, hopefully to splash about, have stone throwing competitions, and just enjoy being outside.

Hope you are making the most of the weather

Wendy x 

Bunting by the lake

Continuing on  from my last post, I have purchased this book  Sew Your Own Rag Doll  by Cath Kidston. www.cathkidston.com Since this was my first attempt, and not having much time I decided to go for a kit version which is included with the book.

Here is the head and body cut out and ready to piece together.

I decided to add woollen hair that could be combed into different styles. Hopefully later in the week she will also have a dress to wear too!

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We went camping at Lake Bala in Wales over the weekend, beautiful views, friends'  birthday celebrations, lakeside walks,  and late nights sat by a  log fire.

Somebody brought lots of bunting,

The fresh air made for a very tired pooch.....We passed this village chapel on one of the walks near the lake,

where I took this photo from the outside of a beautiful stained glass window as I looked  through a window from the other side. The building was locked, but a notice mentioned it was soon to be restored through charitable funds.

The window on the left said Margaret, and the one on the right, Faith. I have never made stained glass, but I intend to go on a course next year.

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There were some very old trees near the waters' edge, and this one reminded me of the doorway to a hobbits' house. I could easily picture it painted in a bright colour, with a large door knocker!

Our next trip will be up to The Lakes, at the end of the month.

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Here she is so far

I now have to work on the rag dolls' hair, and make some clothes, plus finish a quilt.

Thanks for reading these few lines, and enjoy yourselves, whatever you are making!

Wendy x 

Rock a bye baby quilt

Hello on this wild and blustery day...It's a special little girls' birthday very soon, and I will be making her a rag doll, I have been looking at several kits, and books, so the rag doll (still to be named), needs a cradle. I remember seeing a lovely pale blue vintage one at an antiques market in Lancaster. She will also require a patchwork quilt, how could she not! So here are some photos of the one I have made for her....

I cut squares out, and arranged them,

I joined the squares row by row, then joined the rows up together.

I then selected material for the backing, and put a piece of wadding in between front and back. Then I pinned the layers together using quilting safety pins. I chose an all over stripes and roses pattern for the back.

I then used my trusty sewing machine to sew all three layers together, and  folded the backing to the front to  

bind the edges together. The quilt can be used both ways, and I added a row of pink flowers along the top of the backing fabric.

I also added a row of pink ric rac at the top, and pink ribbon to the bottom.

So there you have one doll quilt ready for the cradle.  I loved making this small version, so much so I will be making some more for my online shops.

....

The rag doll post will be here very soon. A good thing she has a quilt to keep her warm, as I'm not sure she will have many clothes to begin with! I think the midnight oil will be burning! Please come take a look at the makes over at Handmade Monday http://handmadeharbour.blogspot.co.uk/  

Wendy x 

Cornish quilt

Where has this past month gone? I find it hard to believe that June is almost upon us. I have a few weeks to catch up with. So here goes..... I have just spent a week in Cornwall, down by Trewellard, near Pendeen and St. Just. I have made up a quilt top that reminds me of the sea and seaweed and mussel shells washed up on the shore.

The cottage we stayed at was a 10 minute walk to the sea, a beautiful coast road surrounded by the Cornish hedges blooming with late Spring flowers and wildlife. I couldn't resist taking this photo of a snail shell, hidden amongst the gorze.

Sea thrift,

ferns

The walk to the seapath

bluebells

sea pinks

gorze

I love the pink, greens, blues and yellows of the sea thrift, bluebells, ferns and the yellow gorze. I visited a fabric shop in St. Just www.littleblossomsstjust.com and bought some fat quarters to go towards making a quilt where the colours remind me of the hedges and walk to the coast.

I cut the fabric into squares, and will be adding different borders.

Also added was a little miniature cross stitch, found in a thrift shop in Marazion.

We called in for a delicious cooked breakfast at the Kegan Teg at the market square in St. Just.

I went to St.Ives, and had a look in Poppy Trefferys' lovely shop full of goodies, and bought a pretty badge brooch with a little daisy on it, no photo as it was part of a birthday present.

I popped into the Seasalt shop

where the other half of the present was purchased, a beautiful scarf, based

 on flowers that grow in The Scilly Isles. The clothes seasalt sell are very much to my liking, and in between thrift shop bargains I treat my self to an occasional item from them. I bought a rather handy jacket with hood in a sea blue colour.  

I took a couple of hoops with me to work on while staying at the cottage, I will be adding bits of fabric to this one.

and writing on this one which reminds me of the stripes on deckchairs.

The views from the cottage in the evening where there were a lots of coast magazines to read in front of the   

fire

Whist at the cottage I received an email from the person who ordered a quilt I mentioned in my last blog. They were very happy with it, which made me happy too! 

We also took a small boat ride across the Helford River, and spent an enjoyable few hours sat outside a pub, a waitress went past with bowls of hand cut chips that looked so good I ordered some too. Rather yummy especially since we had such a beautiful view. I should have taken a photo but didn't want the food to go cold!

A great time was had by all. So much so we are going again in September to celebrate my birthday!

Hopefully my next blog will follow shortly. Probably including more about Cornwall. I have been reading lots of my favourite bloggers posts, and thank you for reading mine. 

Wendy x