Another Pin Cushion

Another place we visited in England was Kenilworth Castle. It's a lovely ruin, with a beautifully restored garden. There were two gift shops, and I fell in love with some of the tapestries for sale - especially one of the Tree of Life.

Unfortunately, the price didn't fit my souvenir budget, so I came away with this instead.

Why, yes, I do collect pin cushions. Why do you ask?

Fat Quarters

These pretty Fat Quarters followed me home from the Patchwork Cabin in Great Bookham, Surrey. It's a lovely, friendly little shop, and I highly recommend visiting if you happen to be in the area.

Cutting Table Wednesday

It's cutting table Wednesday. Let's see what's on the mat today...

It's a tiny pincushion I purchased as a souvenir in a charity shop in Great Bookham, Surrey, UK.

What's on YOUR cutting table today?

A Small Finish

You might think, in reading my blog, that I rarely ever finish anything. And perhaps you might be right. However, once in a while something gets completed, and even makes it out of the door to a new home.

This is my completion for June.

It's a small blanket for donation to either my vet or a local animal shelter. It's only a small gesture, but we have personal experience to know that they can be appreciated.

On June 7, we said goodbye to George - our oldest male cat - almost 17 years of age. He had a tumour in his face, and we looked after him and comforted him as long as we could, until it was finally his time to go.

My husband took him to the vet to see if we could help him in some way to keep him with us - but he was beginning to be in distress with the tumour.  To keep him comfortable while he received his final needle, the vet brought out a crocheted blanket just like this one - so that he wouldn't have to lie just on the metal table. In fact, it was a blanket I had crocheted before, and given to the vet's office.

We were glad for this small kindness for George, and happy that there was a small blanket like this that he could lie on at the end.

If you have an overflowing scrap basket, or extra yarn, why not consider making a small blanket to donate. It may comfort an animal in distress - and if the animal is one of the lucky ones - it may even accompany them home to their forever home.

Happy Canada Day!

I know it's late in the day, but I'd like to wish Happy Canada Day to all!

And is it my imagination, or did CSI actually use a Darwin Award winner as inspiration in one of their episodes?

Raccoonzilla?

Another Find

So what's this jaunty little fellow doing on my cutting table?

I have a fondness for collecting sewing items, and this was my latest find in an antique store recently.

The poor little duck has scissors through his head. On either side, you can see little waves, on which are pins for spools of thread, or a little thimble, or a very old measuring tape...

And underneath is a drawer which is full of old "bits and bobs". To be honest, I haven't gone through it yet. LOL

Guess I'd better move him off my table now so I can actually get some work done.

And yes, I'm also trying out another layout for my blog. I don't know if I'll keep it, but they say a change is as good as a rest.

So, how is your sewing summer going?

Barn Swallows

For many years, we have had a barn swallow nest above our front door, and there are usually 2 to 3 hatchlings.


Now, *this* year...

As you can see, we haven't taken down the Christmas lights for a while.