Saturday catch up

 A lot of my sewing time this week has been spent on my new project. Some years ago now I purchased a copy of this pattern

I have always fancied making it up but have never done so because I had no idea what I would use it for - the sewing bag I have I love and am not about to change.

Anyway recently I saw several of the lovely bags shown on posts from Scrub Stitching which reminded me of the pattern and also at the same time, I realised I needed a new bag to hold all my knitting needles and knitting bits and bobs. Bingo. And then of course I had all those lovely Tilda fabrics that I won from FNSI

I was off! I spent an afternoon carefully cutting and fusing all ready for another afternoon at the sewing machine. Here are my linings with zips inserted

After I had corrected this little wobble! Whoops.

And this photo I love - everything was looking so perfect!

Another afternoon at the machine got the outer quilted and attached, and the bindings and final zip added. An evening stitching got the bindings sewn down - I am not a fan of machine stitching the bindings. Et voila!

I do love those peacocks! And inside, loads of room for everything.

I was very pleased with the pattern instructions - clear and easy to follow - everything went together perfectly.

However, I am not ecstatic about those 'ear handles' on the ends and if/when I make another I would do things differently.

Well, nice to have that one ticked off my list!

I have two more FJ embroideries completed - sorry, not pressed!

And my knitting is progressing.

We had a day out on Exmoor yesterday. After visiting friends for coffee we found a quiet spot to sit with our picnic. Lovely view across the valley

Look closely and you can see red deer

We drove on to visit the church at Stoke Pero. 

No sooner were we in the gate than the guardians raced up to check invaders!

Having passed muster we were allowed through the stable door and into the church.

No electricity in the church so lots of candles. There were two gas cylinders outside for the basic heating. The organ, on the left of the picture below, was powered by a foot pump.

Beautiful roof beams and carved bosses.

We have had another warm dry week here although it has just started to rain - fine drizzle which really wont help all that much. We have a busy week ahead - will update you next week with exciting (for me) news. Have a great week.

FNwF's November

 It's been a showery wet week here but Friday was dry and sunny and so we headed out for the day. We drove along the north Somerset coast to Porlock a pretty little village on Exmoor. Lots of small shops to look around and the home of Miles Tea and Coffee so Philip was able to stock up on his favourite teas.

The church of St Dubricius, dating from the 13th century, was unusual and interesting to look around.

This little stairway took you to the entrance to the Chapel of the High Cross.

These stairs were a little more tricky!

But fortunately the chapel was not far away

This is the 15th century monument to John and Elizabeth Harrington. He fought with Henry Vth in France and sadly died there.

We enjoyed coffee accompanied by scones with clotted cream and wortleberry jam in the Wortleberry Tea Rooms before moving on into Exmoor. Our next stop was Robbers Bridge - narrow and approached at an angle from both directions! - and I loved the moss covered trees nearby.

Exmoor was looking beautiful with all the autumn colour.

After our day out all I felt like doing in the evening was watching TV with some mindless knitting. I finished this sock up to the toe - not sure yet which colour to knit the toe, it will depend on how much wool is left. And made a start on the next sock. Most of that rib though was done this morning while watching England beat Sri Lanka in the T20 cricket - sorry Australia!😊

Many thanks Cheryll for hosting our FNwFs - pop over here to see who else took part.

Happy stitching.