Chookshed Challenge and first week of June

 Deana and RNG came up with #7 for June, and on my list that is rust.

Some of you will remember a few years back that I followed a short online course with Deb Cooper who works a lot with rust. I produced this small sample - neutral threads on neutral fabrics, all natural fibres.

The piece was then wrapped tightly with iron nails etc inside and soaked in hot strong tea for a few days which gives this lovely effect. Well, I think it's lovely - opinions differ!

Anyway, at the time I started on another piece to add to this, got so far and then it was tucked away in a box awaiting another day to shine. 

Well. that day has come, so I pulled it out this week and added some more stitching, as below.

I wrapped it all up and stuck it in a jar jar this week with its nails and tea and it is now residing in the airing cupboard to brew. I shall share the results next week. In the meantime I am planning to prepare a fabric background to stitch onto that will eventually reside in a small frame. Hopefully again, more next week.

June's Stitch Journal panel has started nicely - here are the first five days.

Here are the pictures of May's stitching.

Also this week, I have completed the embroidery of the white crazy panel that I put together last week.

You should be able to pick out the heart shape which is stitched in blue. This is now waiting for a sewing machine afternoon.

And finally, it has been a busy cricket week so lots of knitting happening - this is the second sock of a pair and I am at the point of knitting the heel flap.

It's been a damp week here, windy at times, so apart from a couple of appointments we have not been out and about. The big news is that on Tuesday we had the roof of our conservatory insulated which should mean that the room will be cooler when it is very hot and warmer in the winter.🤞Anyway, it looks very nice and has eliminated the nooks and crannies inhabited by spiders so all good for the moment.

Happy stitching.

The End of May - Almost

 Yes, just one more day of May and then we are into June. It's not been a very productive week here - it has been so HOT! Cooler today thank goodness and for the coming week. We may even get some much needed rain.

Just one more day to add to my Stitch Journal - here though are my additions for the last week.

I have put together a crazy background ready for embellishment - this will be a gift for a friend.

And I basted a batch of hexagons ready for whenever Deana pulls out #5 for the Chookshed Challenge.

 These are 1" hexies, my prefered size. I think I mentioned earlier that I planned to do these as part of this months challenge, along with my crochet basket. I am sharing another picture of the basket here so that I can add this post to Deana's link when she puts it up.

Now I am looking forward to finding out which number Deana pulls for June.

Have a lovely week.

The Ups and Downs of the Weather

 Well, it has been one of those strange weather weeks. The beginning of last week was cold wet and windy with maximum temperatures of 12 degrees. Today it is sunny and hot! - 30 degrees and hotter forecast for tomorrow. Nice for those on half term this week - not so much fun for us in Cornwall last week. Still, we enjoyed our week away with visits to a few favourite places and a few new to us.

We paid a return visit to Godrevy which was wet and stormy when we visited last year. This time was a dry sunny day but the wind was strong and cool. 

We battled the wind and walked up the point, hoping to see seals from the cliffs on the other side but unfortunately they had not made an appearance that day. However the view across the bay to St Ives was spectacular. But of course never translates to a photograph.

We visited Portreath which the internet promised was 'Cornwalls hidden gem'. Sadly it lied. Having expected pretty fishermans cottages we were greeted by modern houses, the majority of which looked to be holiday homes. And what was at one time a lovely harbour had been allowed to deteriorate. Although, with fishing in decline in Cornwall, I suppose not surprising. The harbour reminded me of the beautiful one at Charlestown (of Poldark fame) which has been maintained and restored beautifully. The Portreath hardbour has this beautiful curved entrance from the sea.

Outside of Portreath we did find our reward though - a vintage and antiques centre which we enjoyed browsing and vintage tea rooms which provided our lunch.

The only hand work I took with me was my Stitch Journal as I spent any spare time catching up with some reading. Some recommendations next week.

The top set of circles is todays addition.

The crochet basket was completed before we left and now contains my next crochet project.

Very happy with how this has finished - just as I imagined. Sadly didn't make much of a dent in the aran stash though🤣

That's it from me for this week, happy stitching.

Barrington Court

 Yes, garden pictures to come but first my stitches for the week.

More buttonhole and I am using a piece of needlelace as my inspiration - it is a strange shape as well as my incompetent drawing! A bit more work is needed to complete the motif.

After another evenings work on my crochet basket I decided that it was not going the way I envisaged so undone it came back to the base. At this point I was free to make a few changes so first of all I made a few decreases on the first round to help the sides stand up better. I had been working one round at a time and my start and finish point was looking very untidy so this time I am spiralling round which is much better. Before I was using a mixture of trebles and dc to work up the side, but I have changed to half trebles which is giving a firmer finish. I could have worked it all in dc which would have been firmer still, but would also have been a lot harder on the hands. So tadah!

The band above the handles is all dc and I need to do a few more rows - that will be my FNSI this evening.

Now, Barrington Court. And I know I have posted about these lovely walled gardens before but every time we go they are different - they change with the seasons and every year so always something different to see.

First up the vegetable garden which has a purple theme at the moment.

As has the border leading to the white garden.

The white garden was looking stunning - especially this beautiful white wisteria.

This allium was over a foot across.

And then the lily pond garden.

This one is for you Chantal - and anyone popping in from The Netherlands.

And another beautiful border.

We were very fortunate with the weather as it has been cold and showery since Monday, unusually cold for the time of year we are told. But heatwave coming at the end of next week!

I am not around next week but hope you all have a happy stitchy one.

 Many thanks for all your birthday wishes. Had a lovely family meal out on the day to celebrate the three birthdays and a wedding anniversary which come in the same week. Excellent meal and the sun shone.

We are now at day 9 of May and here are my first nine days of the Stitch Journal.

Four days of Chevron stitch and four days of Buttonhole/blanket.

I have spent a bit of time this weeke shortening this beautiful prom dress for our grandaughter. It has been waiting on the back of the door for a few weeks while I plucked up courage to attack with the scissors.

I still need to cut the net - 3 layers eeek! - but the dress itself has been done. I had to herringbone the lining to the skirt and it is a long way around!

Remember the partly knitted jumper I showed you last week that I was planning to unpick? Well, that idea lasted about 5 minutes! Fortunately there were plenty of balls of wool in the bag so I cracked on with my crochet basket which grows quickly while I am watching TV.

I think it is going to hold it's shape nicely once it is a bit taller.

The garden is growing beautifully after some nice steady rain last weekend followed by some warm, but not too hot, sunshine. The runner beans are in - always a major highlight for Philip who loves runner beans. And the tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers are in their growbags in the greenhouse. The blue tits have been busy feeding their young this week and there is a lovely family of blackbirds feeding regularly on the green at the front of the house. Spring is well under way.

Have a good week everyone and happy stitching.