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Category Archives: sewing

Curtain, Eccles Cakes and Piranesi

The curtain may not be conventionally beautiful but it represents hours of work, learning from Youtube, various frustrations and ultimately, satisfaction. I’ve made clothes since I was 14. I’ve been making curtains since I was 21 and furnishing our first flat but I have never made a box lined door curtain from velvet before and it was certainly a challenge. It now hangs from the rising portiere curtain rod that the lovely Mr S fitted last week in our sitting room and now, hopefully, we will be protected from the draughts.

I’ve made some more Eccles cakes, much loved by the aforementioned Mr S.

I have just finished reading the most magical novel, utterly entrancing and one which will be in my mind for some time.

13 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on January 20, 2022 in baking, Postaday2022, sewing

Tags: rising portiere rod, Susanna Clarke

Figures, Sculpture and Cakes

06 Nov

You’ll know my glass angels are in a pop-up gallery at the moment. Here is another section of the exhibition. I love these two pieces.

Made by Ann Butland

Yesterday we went to another exhibition, The Village.

My choir leader, Claire Ingleheart composed the music and put together the sounds – bird song, voices and music. There were short films, photographs and small sculptures and the whole effect was very moving and a reminder of the bleakness and the anxiety of the lockdowns. This was balanced by the positivity of some of the contributors, including one of our own LiveWires. It was delightful to hear her voice around us as we examined the exhibits.

By Trish O’Shea

We were so busy yesterday that I didn’t have time to make my usual Coffee Cake for today’s Redruth Market so this morning, I made a dozen Coffee Cupcakes. I was in such a hurry to get them to the market that I forgot to take a photo. Believe me when I say they were very beautiful with piped coffee cream. These are the roughly iced ones I kept for us!

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on November 6, 2021 in art, Photography, Postaday2021, sculpture, sewing

Tags: Ann Butland, Simon Birch dance, The Village project, Trish O'Shea

Yellow, Tree Spinach and A Quilt

13 Aug

Our Patty Pan squash on the allotment are prolific (or profilic as we used to say in our family) and today I have made a scrumptious batch of soup, Creamy Summer Squash Soup and have three pints to freeze along with just one pint of Runner Bean Soup. (Sadly, our beans are not very prolific this year.)

We had stir fried garlicky Tree Spinach with dinner tonight. Delicious!

Chenopodium giganteum wilting in the garlic butter

Making one of these quilts is on my bucket list!

Bookcase Quilt

6 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on August 13, 2021 in allotment, craft, Photography, Postaday2021, sewing

Tags: Chenopodium giganteum

Treasures Found while Sorting

27 Jul

First in my discoveries was a wonderful photo, caught up with some modern ones, of my Grandparents in 1919. Here is my Grandfather, the Reverend Richards, on his beloved motorbike and with my Mum on his lap and my very lovely Granny in the sidecar with my Uncle.

Next I found a little book which turned out to be the Manchester University Student Union Handbook the year my Dad was President of the Union..

I love his address to the students where his principles are clearly on show.

Lastly, for today, going through my sewing projects box, I found an unmade Clothkit for dungarees for a 2-4 year old. I never got around to making them but have a lovely young friend with a two year old. I asked her if she might like to make these for her little boy and she was delighted, saying she had grown up wearing Clothkit clothing herself. I am equally delighted to be helping her to carry on the family tradition.

I look forward to seeing A in his smiley lion dungarees……..

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on July 27, 2021 in antiques, family, family history, Photography, Postaday2021, sewing

Tags: Cloth Kits, Manchester University, Manchester University Student Union Handbook, Union President

A Poem, A Poppy and A New Outfit

14 Jul

The following poem came to me the other day and so clearly expressed the joy of ‘gathering’ treasures along the way.

Something snapped the head off one of our glorious red frilly poppies still in bud but with the outer skin just opening. I put it in Mum’s green glass and over two days it has opened up beautifully.

ClothKitty now has some shorts and a sun hat.

5 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on July 14, 2021 in environment, garden, nature, Photography, poetry, Postaday2021, sewing

Tags: ClothKitty, Nina Bagley

Snickerdoodles, A Bow and New Blooms

30 Jun

I have been sorting through all my foodie magazines, cutting out favourites and decluttering the rest. I came across this recipe for biscuits with the most delightful name, Snickerdoodles, common in USA I think but not here in the UK. As I typed the name in to tell my neighbour that there were some waiting for her on her doorstep, my iPhone knew exactly what I was starting to write!

ClothKitty has a new bow in her hair (to disguise the small hole.) She looks pleased with it!

The salmon coloured Nasturtiums are blooming.

3 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on June 30, 2021 in baking, environment, nature, Photography, Postaday2021, sewing

Tags: ClothKitty

Front Door, Bench and New Clothes

25 Jun

Yesterday’s walk offered so many photo opportunities. Here is the lovely front door of the Manor House.

I just love this lichen covered bench set on a rather precarious slope.

Much of today has been damp and mizzly so I spent my time making ClothKitty another set of clothes – a skirt (which was cut out many years ago) and finished off a rather natty waistcoat (I had done the binding but not been able to find the time to finish it 40+ years ago with four little ones to look after.)

8 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on June 25, 2021 in architecture, Cornwall, Photography, Postaday2021, sewing

Tags: Bonython Manor, ClothKits, ClothKitty

Cloth Kitty, Cookies and First Crop

23 Jun

I first made Cloth Kitty about 40 years ago and am now revamping her for the younger LiveWires. This is her in one of the outfits I made then and today I made her a lovely dressing gown. I’ll show you the new outfits as I get them done. They are very fiddly. I need to mend a little hole in her head too. I’m told LiveWire no 5’s favourite colour is red so I plan on embroidering a little red bow.

I had a sudden fancy for some Choc Chip Cookies this afternoon – they don’t take long to make. I added some chopped up crystallised ginger which made them super delicious!

There were just enough Purple Mange Tout at the allotment for us to harvest this evening and a baby courgette all of which I added to our mixed veggies risotto for supper – healthy and delicious!

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on June 23, 2021 in Grandchildren, growing, nature, Photography, Postaday2021, sewing

Tags: allotment produce, choc chip cookies, Cloth Kits, Purple Mange Tout

Number 50, Lunch and A Sign

19 Oct

I sent photos of the new masks to Barcelona last night and this morning had a call – teenage LiveWire doesn’t want beads this time, please can I make another with elastic? Of course! That makes a total of 50 and today I have cleared away all my sewing stuff ready to get my glass out again.

Patterned lining so it’s different from her Dad’s

Lunch was mini pizzas made with part baked rolls, some reduced passata with herbs, pomodorino tomatoes and cheese – scrumptious!

Coming up from town, we noticed a warning sign, kindly put out by someone along our lane.

Monday night is choir rehearsal. I really miss my singing and the people with whom I sing.

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on October 19, 2020 in environment, Food, nature, Photography, Postaday2020, sewing, Uncategorized

Tags: masks

Autumn Colour and Yet More Masks

18 Oct

The beautiful Autumn day saw us just take our local walk where there was a surprising amount of colour – and lots of blackberries still to snack on.

Much of my day was spent completing the next set of masks for our Barcelona family. That’s 49 I’ve made altogether, for us, family and friends and I think that’s enough!