TARRAGON & THYME

I have made a very small start to my hexie quilt and am going to try and sew a couple of pieces a day. Still loads more to do.

I have recently invested in a new patchwork effect cotton quilt for my bedroom as the other one was getting a little tired but will be reused elsewhere as there is still a lot of use in it and I like to keep warm. It was not terribly expensive but I am pleased with it.  It looks pretty and fresh and should go well with my cream metal bedstead. I tend to have a country cottage theme as the base for my homestyle as it is very forgiving when you blend old and new. In the meantime back at the Ok corral I have been busy sourcing cotton fabric by the fat quarter by the metre jelly rolls etc .  I have also stick piled and started to prepare the fabric so that I can start making my own quilts from shirt material already stashed and brand new fabrics as well.  I have also invested in a brand new pair of Fiskers shears for general dressmsking  use as I now have my Accuquilt to play with on the patchwork front. As well as machine made quilts I also want to have a h...

I am not sure whether its a generational thing or not but I was bought up listening to the radio its just something we did as a family.  My mum and dad always listened even my brother and my partner listen.  However my sister in law and nephew cannot abide itEven now I listen when I can.  I am currently missing it like heck.  My last one hit the great radio in the sky recently and I am looking to replace it to listen too when I am cleaning or cooking.  Its doing my head in.  I shall have to see what is available purchase ine and then get back into a routine.  Its not just the same without it. Do any of you listen or is it something off your radar in this day and age. If you do listen what channel or type of music do you listen to.  My taste is quite ecclectic as I like classical as well as other musuc across the genres.  The only type I am not too fussed with is jazz and then not all of it When I was growing up the radio was part of the d...

I hit the Charity Shop yesterday and found two slow cookers in excellent condition and not too pricey.  They were in better condition than two I already have for cooking so my original two are going to be used for soap making and for continuing my candle making. Oh has also eventually built up a small kitchen work trolley with a couple of shelves on to give me a little more room for food preparation which is proving to be extremely useful. Now just have to get him in the right frame of mind to tackle a couple of more projects for me.  I have to choose my moments carefully. We had the Gas Engineer come out to check the boiler and the cooker yesterday.  The hand thermostat has given up the ghost and is not talking to the main boiler. We gave to have a new one sorted out but also apparently the boiler needs a separate fuse box to isolate it should there be any problems.  It currently does not have one and the Landlords Agent apparently will have to provide an elec...

...being at home that is. I have had mu ch more time to browse things and one or two things have dropped into my craft basket for use at a future date that is. I am getting things sorted for doing my patchwork.  Getting fabrics in place discovering what a Jelly Roll is and how to turn them into quilts.  I have also read and saved a tutorial   My Go Accuquilt cutting equipment is starting to arrive and I can see I will be making my own Jelly Rolls in due course. However we will start slowly with recycling the shirts.  I have also ordered different sized bias binding making tools so that I can also make my own bias tape.  Something which I was taught to do at College when studying my dressmaking o level. So on a practical level I am starting to get organised.  However have not had time to do anymore to my hot water bottle covers although am part way through the needlepoint although have not done any since the last post.  I am in theory trying yo take c...

I ordered one of these last week together with some dies.  The machine has not arrived yet but the dies have and they look very promising. So much so I am itching to play but ovbiously I cannot.  However the dies would appear to be sturdy and substantial and their is a registration scheme for the dies which in turn will keep each owner updated as to which dies are available. I ordered heart dies in 2 inch 3 inch and 4 inch sizes ideal for a heart quilt or useful for applique and recycling fabrics giving a greater degree of accuracy for the cutting. A rectangle and the Dresden plate. The little rectangle is the one I want to use for my recycled shirt material quilt but the Flying Geese will be a good one to use for this too. I am thinking blues lilacs purples at the moment.  I am so looking forward to playing with this as I can see so many possibilities.  If I can get to grips with the quilting and patchwork this will feed in beautifully with my handmade Christmas a...