Catching up with the Doctor

We’re back from our week in Scotland. It would seem we had the better end of the deal with the weather. Glorious sunshine every day, except yesterday. We arrived home this afternoon, unloaded the car and put the kettle on, ready to catch up with the first of the new series of Doctor Who.

Imagine our surprise when they turned up in Glasgow at the end of the episode. I think they left something behind! This is a contender for #10 in the Scavenger Hunt: A photo bomb. The definition given is a lurker in the background and this chap walked right into the front of the shot. It was still a surprise.

We discovered later why the Doctor was there. This dalek may get a little Rusty.

Feedly appears to have had a bit of a makeover, while I’ve been away and there are an alarming number of unread posts. I’ll be having a catch up with all of you over the next couple of days. Have a great weekend.

A few thoughts on….zips

Remember that little sewing project I was working on a couple of weeks ago? I finished it up and it’s now full to bursting with loom bands ready for a very long car journey to Scotland tomorrow.

It’s not perfect, but I learnt a lot in the making and it serves its purpose pretty well.

I interfaced the outer fabric, but I do not like the cardboardy feel this gives it. I’ll try the sew in stuff next time. I’m also not keen on the sloping corners at the top, but unsure how to avoid this happening. Any suggestions gratefully received.

I found it very tricky to get my stitching even along the zip. I know that only bad workmen/women blame their tools but in this case I think my particular style of zipper foot may have had something to do with it. I did a bit of research and it turns out that the snap on one that came with my machine is not well loved.

Using glue to hold the zip in place, while stitching, was a revelation to me. Pins make things awkward and I’m far too lazy to tack it in place first. I’m not sure I’d do it with clothing, but it in a project like this it’s the perfect solution.

Blogging has been somewhat sporadic this month. I’m taking a little break for the next week or so and I’ll be back in September.  Enjoy the rest of your Summer.

What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday #272

This time last week I was on top of the world. Well, not quite. I was at the top of the Wrekin. The view was worth the climb. Beautiful Shropshire all around. A contender for #7 in the 2014 Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt: a rural landscape.

I’m back home now, after a 325 mile round trip to spend a couple of days with an old college friend and his lovely family. This is what was on my kitchen table yesterday afternoon. All the pieces cut and marked for a skirt.

I bought this stretch denim a while ago, because I loved the purplish colour of it. Once washed, it ended up with weird lines all over it and, despite throwing it back in the wash again and ironing it to death, they won’t disappear. It was removed from the machine promptly and hung straight on the line so not sure why it happened.

Getting momentarily distracted by children, while doing that ironing, resulted in this. Oops! This is the wrong side, which is more of a magenta colour, showing the stretch thread. I was ironing on the right (more cottony) side and kept the iron still a little too long. I did think about using this as the right side, but I’m not so keen on the colour and I don’t like the slightly synthetic appearance.

I managed to avoid the worst of the lines (and the scorch mark!) when cutting out the pieces, but I’m not sure how well it will wash and wear. We’ll see. In a way it’s a good thing, because I’m not worried about messing it up, when I put the skirt together now. I’ll look on it as a trial run.

Just got to master those pesky zips. More on that subject on Friday, when I share what I made from the pieces I was cutting out a couple of Wednesdays ago. For now, it’s over to Julia’s place, to see what everyone else has been up to.

One Photo in Twenty Words ~ Sunday Roast?

Linking up with Abi today, now that the last of the sleeping over boys has left.

I didn’t feel like cooking a Sunday roast. They didn’t feel like eating one. The solution? Hot dogs all round.

Surprisingly those sleeping over boys were all up at 9am. Maybe it was the promise of a full English. Having cooked that for six, I don’t think there will be a Sunday roast here today either!

Hoping that (if you’re in the UK) you’re not being blown away. Happy Sunday to you.

Pile of Postcards Exchange

It’s been fun to be part of Sian’s Summer swap. There is something delightful about postcards dropping on the door mat and mine have come from all over the place.

From Sussex and Kent, Northern and Southern Ireland and the United States.

I’ve seen quite a few popping up in my Instagram feed, including one of my own. I know that two have arrived safely at their destinations and hope the rest have too or will do very soon.

I learnt that postcards always go second class, even if you put a 1st Class stamp on them. That it’s safer to put them in an envelope, when posting abroad and confusing to the counter staff in the post Office, when you stamp that envelope to look like a postcard!

Thank you to everyone who sent me a card. With a little bit of detective work, I think I have thanked you all personally, but just in case. And, of course, big thanks to Sian for organising another fun swap.

What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday #270

Here we are. Wednesday again already. In fact last Wednesday passed me by. Not much crafting was going on around here. The Mechanic had a week off work and we got a few niggly jobs done around the house and had a couple of days out.

This week it’s been a case of grabbing the table when I can. When it’s not full of Summer Art projects, or games of Carcassonne, or sometimes even food. This was actually Monday afternoon while I was cooking dinner. I managed to get the pieces cut (and find the right length zips) for a couple of different things I want to make….

….and this was yesterday afternoon, again while cooking dinner. I’m trying to get over my fear of zips and find the best way to sew them on some smaller projects. I find it quite tricky to get the stitching an even distance away from the teeth on both sides, but I’m getting better as I get used to the foot on this machine. Hoping to get another chance at the table, later today, to finish it off.

For now, it’s over to Julia’s to join the party. See you there.