FNSI July again!

 So we have had two FNSI's this month and I joined in again on Friday. I decided that this was the time to get a finish ticked off my list and so on Thursday I spent an hour or so cutting and interfacing all the pieces to make up my clamshell Sew Together Bag. This meant that on Friday I was ready to get the machine out of it's hidy hole and crack on. By the time I had had enough for the day I was to the point of adding the main zip. This I completed on Saturday afternoon and I now have a second Sew Together bag using the lovely Tilda fabrics.

Once again the bag went together like a dream, this really is a good pattern. And I do love the clamshells.

Many thanks Wendy for getting us together again.

                                                             ++++++++++++++++

Earlier in the week we visited Dunster Castle again. This time with friends who had not visited before and who were both very impressed with the castle and it's grounds. It is a while since I had been inside and it was nice to be reminded of this beautiful silk patchwork cover on one of the beds.

Poor lighting for conservation reasons.

It is dated 1830 and was made by three spinster Luttrell sisters. The Luttrell family owned the castle from the late 14th century.

We also discovered the recently restored 'Dream Garden' which was originally laid out in the early 1900's by another member of the Luttrell family. I have often peered through this gate and wished I could get inside!

This time the gate was open and it was lovely!

I do love that gate!

That's all from me for now, have a great week.

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.