TARRAGON & THYME

Patchwork is something I have been wanting to get to grips with for quite some considerable time.  My problem is not with the stitching but with the cutting.  I have the rotary cutter the pressing board and the cutting board but each time I have tried to use the rotary cutter things have gone a tad wrong.  I have lots of scraps that need using up and I want to make my own quilts so I recently sent off for a Dresden plate template and I am going to have a play.  The reason behind going for the Dresden plate design is because it can be worked a little at a time and be something to do that is not going to take up a large amount of space -  I can cut out the pieces and then work up the wheels a little at a time either by hand or on the machine and then when all the plates are worked they can be mounted and stitched, padded then backed and quilted.  A little bit at a time for when I have not got much time and when time permits working as quickly as I can. I...

It was my birthday last Saturday and I spent the day with friends and it was a lovely day and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  We went to one of the open days (part of a week of events) at The Arthur Findlay College in Stansted the Psychic College for the UK and there were talks, and Masterclasses, mixing with people of like minds exploring the shop (always worth a reccie) and walking through the grounds, having a reading. We were fortunate in that the sun was out most of the day.  We had a picnic in the grounds wherein I was presented with a surprise birthday cake from my friends. It really was a smashing day. Here are some photos of the cake it was very appropriately an Angel Cake and it was delicious. Thank you everyone I really had  smashing day . As I did not spend my birthday with OH or see my mum (I usually see my mum on my birthday) I spent Sunday with them both going over to see my mum on Sunday afternoon and then being taken out  by OH for ...

This should have been posted up on Sunday but real life has got in the way again and as a result I have been delayed in popping up this update. For over a year I was knitting squares in white, lilac and purples and I have started knitting the border strip as well in white.  I am not what you call a natural knitter and I get bored ever so easily with knitting; I am trying to get to grips with that but I do try to be neat. Since completing the squares however it has all sat in a bag waiting for it to be stitched up.  I hate sewing up knitting as well.  However I have made a start; once it is all stitched up I can finish off knitting the border.  I decided to tackle this one first as I can work at it piecemeal a bit at a time until all the stitching is done.  I am aiming to have it sorted by the weekend. Still a little way to go but nearly another project to bite the dust.  It is my birthday on Saturday another year older; it is als...

Friday was a mixed emotion day  for me as two of my kittens (two little boys) went to their new owner.   I was a little upset and concerned as with the best will in the world you never know who they are going to.  However it would appear that they have gone to someone as soft as myself for which I am pleased and both boys are together  as she has decided to keep them both - originally one of her friends was going to have one of them.  So I am grateful from that perspective.    Although I have indicated that if for any reason they cannot keep them (one never knows these days) then I would take them back as I would not want them to be without a home.  Cats, kittens dogs are for life  - well they are in this household. Molly has been calling for them and looking for them but she will settle and. at least she still has the other three at home which I am keeping (one more than originally anticipated). .The kittens keep looking for their sibli...

Ham, Gammon, Cured meats I very rarely buy sliced meat unless it is on offer. The exceptions to this being salamis or cured meats however I aim to tackle that one in due course.  That is on the list to have a go at.   As I have said before for the best part I buy ingredients preferring to buy a chunk of ham or gammon or a ham hock and cook it from scratch.   I have more choice of what I can do with the meat this way on, quite frequently getting a full main meal out of this for a weekday tea with the addition of vegetables as well as for pack ups or salad and any bits and bobs left over can go into a soup (Pea soup sprinkled with ham hock is particularly nice or Risotto and of course I also get the ham stock in which to make home made soup and for adding to gravy.  It is a buy product of the cooking so why waste it. It adds a lot of flavour.  But ah you say gammon or a boiling hock are extremely salty.  Well they can be it depends upon the cu...

For those of you with kitten envy just a few photos of the little darlings.  There are five in all, three little boys tabby white and grey and two little girls the little tabby who is the runt and who is called Mischief, one of the Grey and white tabbies is called Bumble and the Little black and white one is Tinky 2.  This is a little photo heavy and the photos have been taken with my phone so are a little hit and miss. They are into everything but very very affectionate More to follow later on Pattypan xx

As I have indicated in a  previous post I am intent on experimenting with different crochet stitches and expanding my stitch repertoire as up to now I seem to have concentrated on trebles and variations thereof. I am quite taken with the popcorn pattern and I have located a tutorial here : For the single row version h https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dK4V6ZtC2A  For the double row version:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMKIf_WErOQ And a pdf written pattern here.  The written pattern provides for one row of the popcorn stitch where in the video tutorial a double row is used although in complementing colours. Here is the link to the pdf.   popcorn_flower_granny_square_bobwilson123.pdf Here is a photo of my first attempt - I was quite surprised how quickly I got to grips with the popcorn and I really like this pattern.  I just need to work on the tension a little bit and placement of stitches in the centre.  I also did an extra r...