Rain Rain Rain

 Well yes, it has been a wet week here and we have just had a warning for heavy rain again on Monday. Today we have Storm Ingrid bringing more wind and rain. As The Levels are already flooded as are many roads around Taunton it does not bode well. However, as an area prone to flooding, in fact The Levels flooding relieves the pressure elsewhere, houses tend to be built above flood levels. But of course the run off from these new developments just adds to the problem elsewhere.

It has therefore been a quiet week at home and everywhere is a little cleaner than it might have been! I would have done a lot more to my Chookshed Challenge and crochet had it not been for the latest Cormoran Strike novel. Having started it I just couldn't put it down!

Here however is my progress this week. My Stitch Journal was worked on every day, there is just one more week to go on this section and I have reached the original embroidery which you can see top left.

My Chookshed Challenge has progressed and I just have the vegetables to add not to the top of the box and the little fob. On track for a finish next week.

And I have been crocheting while watching TV.

I am about 3/4s of the way through last weeks instructions. The new colours arrived yesterday and hopefully I will get as far as them this week sometime.

So that is about all from me today - happy stitching from a soggy Taunton!

UPDATE - I have just been online and seen how much damage has been caused along the south coast by Storm Ingrid. Including the railway line at Dawlish being damaged again - they have only recently completed the repairs from the last big storm to hit it. And sadly the loss of the pier end at Teignmouth, an irreplaceable structure.

October Chookshed Challenge - a finish!

 Yes, finished already, although I loved doing this so much it was hard to put down. So here it is - my Sue Hawkins Fritillary thread cutter pocket and matching magnets.

As anticipated there was plenty of thread left over from the cutter pocket for me to be able to make the magnet covers using the same design. Very very happy with these, the colours are so pretty - I may NEED to see what other kits are available in this range!

This is the last challenge of the year - many thanks to Deana for organising us and I am hoping we are going again next year because I have already started my list!

In other news. I emptied the last two dye jars that were lurking in the greenhouse and I am very pleased with the results of these.

Earlier I had used some dead hollyhock petals which I had picked up from the ground. Some were still soft, some dry but they all had a sort of pod attached to the base of them. Although the dye looked inky black the result was this green.

So I tried again using more petals but cutting away the pod. And this lovely blue is what I got.

In the other jar I had put the dead flowers from a deep purple buddleia and I got this lovely greeny brown.

I now have a bag full of threads and scraps which I am looking forward to using next year. 

Meanwhile, this years Stitch Journal continues on it's way - this week I have been playing with chain stitch variations.

My crochet is coming along nicely now - hopefully a picture of progress next week. I also have another challenge to work on and more about that too next time.

Have a lovely week.

Some new cushions

 Evenings I have been busy sewing together hexagons for my Wings border, and they are going together very nicely.

We decided this week that we needed a couple of extra cushions so I dug out these pieces of bargello canvas work.

They have been sitting in a suitcase for at least 30 years along with a length of brown velvet all ready to be made up. So yesterday afternoon out came the sewing machine and I made them up.

The smaller one was actually a curved piece that had been made for a rocking chair seat so I had to square it up as best I could. We already have four of these cushions which I made many many years ago and which show no sign of wear and tear so I thought a photo of all of them was in order.

Good to finally make those up and I wonder now why it took so long!