February arrived with snow and ice here in the Preseli Hills. On the first day of the month our driveway and lane were treacherous with ice so, although school was officially open, the bus didn't come. Our driveway is sloping with a bend in the middle; getting down it is a mini bobsled run in those conditions, and getting back up is impossible, so we had a snow day. The thaw was quick this year, though, which was a relief after last year's frozen … [Read more...]
January – life lessons from a tree
January was a wet windy month full of annoyances and niggles, hospital visits, a minor car accident (occupant unhurt, car repairable) and it ended with one of our mature oaks falling. I was determined not to see the stricken tree as a metaphor for the month; it fell over, but not quite all the way. Its roots are still in the ground - sort of - because it was growing in the Pembrokeshire hedge bank that surrounds the field and a good seven … [Read more...]
Snuggly hot water bottle covers – FAQ
Why buy a Magatha Bagatha hot water bottle cover? My covers are designed to be a snug fit. This means they help keep the warmth in, so the bottle stays warm for longer. They are made just like a traditional patchwork quilt - layers of 100% cotton fabric and soft wadding. They are designed to slip on over a standard one litre hot water bottle. How is it made? The cover is three layers. An inner layer of cotton fabric next to the bottle, … [Read more...]
On my sewing table… Doctor Who Kindle cover
It has been a while since I shared pictures of anything that I have made - which just goes to show that I prefer making things rather than photographing and writing about them I suppose! But I am always making things and occasionally I'll even make something for myself, so when I was given a Kindle e-reader for Christmas and it needed a cover, sewing one was the obvious thing to do. There are lots of patterns for Kindle covers on the internet, … [Read more...]
Dachshund hot water bottle covers
Who doesn't love their hot water bottle? It's so very comforting to get into bed with something warm to cuddle - ideal for back or shoulder pain, or just to take the chill off your cotton sheets. I have just added four dachshund-themed hot water bottle covers to my online shop, so I thought I'd share their history with you. We've all got hot water bottles here and I was unhappy with the cover mine came with; it was a bit loose and baggy and … [Read more...]
5 ways to forget you’ve got a blog!
1) Have lots of bouncing baby lambs We haven't got a huge flock, but there are a few more now! This year's lamps decided to be HUGE and (I may be biased here) they are such pretty lambs. We have two being bottle fed - Bilbo was one of triplets and his mum decided three was one too many, Balin's mum was young and clueless and he decided he'd prefer human parents. 2) Get distracted by the Easter holidays Not that we actually went anywhere … [Read more...]
Wonderful bespoke bunting
I ordered some bespoke bunting from Magatha Bagatha before Christmas. It was to be an extra special present for a very special little lady I know. I'm not sure that there is anything better than hand made and being personalised. It stood out from the crowd of manufactured samey 'stuff' and was received with squeals of delight. If you'd like something similar then contact Maggie (click the Contact Us button on the right hand side of the … [Read more...]
It’s (nearly) Christmas!
It's nearly Christmas, and I have no idea how! Yesterday, surely, it was summer, the hottest and sunniest for ages and we were warm and surrounded by flowers and butterflies. Now though, there's a nip in the air and the radio is full of festive tunes. I've been sewing away merrily, another quilt has been completed, but I can't show it to you because it's a Christmas present... okay maybe just a little peek... And I've been sewing for … [Read more...]
Delicious autumn!
"Delicious autumn!" wrote George Eliot, "my very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." I'm not sure I'd go that far - I do like all of the four seasons - but there is something special about autumn with its mists and bountiful harvests. We've been enjoying kicking the leaves about and snuggling up in front of the wood burner while the wind rages outside and the rain lashes the … [Read more...]
Here comes Autumn…
I love autumn, but it does take some getting used to. I have been in denial for a couple of weeks now, getting dressed in the morning for summer and then having to go back a few times and add layers. On Monday this week I had worn three different coats before breakfast (but largely because the weather couldn't make up its mind either!) But summer - and therefore the long school holiday - is over and it is time to get back to work. I largely … [Read more...]
A sewist… interrupted
Well it's the summer holidays. All parents will know how it goes, you sit down to do something important (like sewing) and someone will yell: "Muuuuuuuuuum!" My sewing room is now a pile of WIPs and UFOs (that's work in progress and unfinished objects) and my hands are itching to get to work. But children are children so fleetingly and the summer holidays are so special and so short, so what am I to do when there are ice creams to be licked, … [Read more...]
Free motion quilted koi carp
One of the things I do to start my sewing days is to work on a current project that I see as a bit of a treat. It usually is something that teaches me new skills or some aspect of sewing that I absolutely love - like free motion quilting. I love stippling most of all - meandering in a lazy fashion all over the quilt top. I see shapes in this like seaweed, or coral, and it seemed to be a natural background for my latest WIP. … [Read more...]