Wray Scarecrow Festival 2014

 We had a super day on the Bank Holiday Monday - we went to the Wray Scarecrow Festival and spent an hour or two wandering around the village admiring the wonderful scarecrows on display. 

This years' theme was heroes and villains and the villagers worked their usual magic and produced some amazing  figures.  I loved the first photo of the Sacked Scarecrow  his expression was just so funny.

 

 

Barry made a new friend  - a pair of jokers together!!!

 



 

 

Stick Turpin reminded me of the 'Wicker Man' but I thought it was a very clever design.

Finally the winning figure - Captain Jack Sparrow  - I just loved this - its an amazing figure a worthy winner.

All in all we thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon among the Scarecrows and look forward to doing it again next year.

Sue
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Chick Chick Chick Chick Chicken!!!!!!!!!!!

I didn't have time to make many Easter cards this year but I did manage to make a couple.  Anyone who knows me knows that I love chickens and could watch them for hours.  I would have some in my back garden if only it was a bit bigger and we didn't have Max the cat (he would love a few chickens to chase around the garden).

I recently came across a set of  rather sweet chicken stamps  made by Woodware and just had to have them.

Here it is then:-

The words are from an old song that my Mum used to sing to us every time we had a boiled eggs for tea as children and she would have really approved of it.

Ain't it funny where the inspiration comes from some times.  Miss you Mum xx

Thanks for looking

Sue

Little Boxes Little Boxes

I have been on leave of absence again - I have had an operation on my eye and have had a new lens implant in my left one.  Very strange experience that I don't want to repeat in a hurry but it has healed ok and I'm just waiting for my new glasses.  Hopefully they will be ready this week to pick up and I will be back to normal crafting mode.

Consequently, crafting has be a little restricted but I went to craft club this week and spent a very happy evening playing with a small plain box, diluted PVA glue and a book of old maps.  Here is the end product:-

I have some Easter Cards to show but they will have to wait for another day.

Thanks for looking.

Sue
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Happy St Patricks Day

I meant to post this yesterday but got all behind with various chores and didn't manage it so it's a belated Happy St Patricks Day to everyone.

I made myself a little present of a Shamrock Mug Rug with some fabric bits I had  left over and considering I made the pattern up as I went along I think it turned out rather sweet. I still need to practice binding the edges but I'm getting there with my sewing. 

Thanks for looking

Sue
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Here's a view of Morecambe basking in the early Spring sunshine - and isn't it about time.  The last couple of days have been lovely and I have been out walking on the promenade with my camera taking a few photos.

 

It was great to feel some warmth on my face - I think it makes us feel so much more positive.  Everyone's smiling and say hello as you pass by.

 

Roll on summer.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for looking

 

Sue

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Bara Brith - A Childhood Memory

Browsing Pinterest last week I realised that it was St Davids' Day (the Patron Saint of Wales) and I had a wonderful memory of my Mum's best friend - Aunty Eirwin (a lovely Welsh Lady) who lived almost next door as we were growing up.  Now my Mum was a brilliant baker but Aunty Eirwin gave her a run for her money and she made the most amazing fruit tea loaf called Bara Brith (Welsh for Speckled Loaf).  It was the most amazing fruit loaf  full of currants, sultanas and spiced with cinnamon and mixed spice - spread with butter it made the most amazing treat after tea. 

It sent me off searching for a recipe and there are loads to choose from - I found this one  on Marriage's Master Millers website and it was very scrummy I can really recommend it - the whole loaf disappeared rapidly with shouts of 'make this again PLEASE'. 

One for the family recipe book I think.

Thanks for looking

Sue

Latest Cushion Creations

 

I've spent  a lot of time recently playing with my new sewing machine getting use to all the 'magic' it can do and the more I use it the more I find out how much sewing machines have moved on. It was not the most expensive machine on the market (I looked at one that was over £2000 !!*@£$$). 

 

The one I decided on was a Brother machine and what sold it to me was the automatic needle threader and the free Quilting Kit that came with it  (well almost - there was also one or two more features I liked lol).  Buttonholes are a dream, embroidery stitches are as easy as ABC, and it has opened up a whole new world of free embroidery - a very steep learning curve but this is work in progress and I'm hoping to improve.

 

I have just made these two cushions with appliqued Scottie Dogs machined on with a blanket stitch although you can't actually see the stitches - Note to self  I must start using my camera and not my phone to take photos as the quality is much better. 

 

 

I have plans to make more cushions and personalise them for family members for Christmas this year - just a bit different. I have just drawn a Hare silhouette and this will be my next project but I have some bunting to finish first.

 

Hope your watching The Great British Sewing Bee on BBC 2.  I know I am - who would have thought a sewing competition could be so addictive.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Sue