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Category Archives: sewing

Curtain, Garden and A Poem

Having finished the curtain for the back door, I had reason to go to my box of bits to make something else and re-discovered a piece of the Laura Ashley fabric I showed you the other day. There was enough to make a curtain so I have made another one for the back door in a fabric we love more.

This was the view from the dining room window as I was sewing this afternoon.

If you have seen the film, Hamnet, you may have wept over the twins. Having twins myself, when I read the novel by Maggie O’Farrell, I found the chapter heartbreaking. One of our twins was very ill as a tiny baby and when we visited him in hospital every day, I always put his twin sister in the cot beside him. I love this poem by Helen Farish.

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on February 27, 2026 in family, garden, poetry, Postaday 2026, sewing, Uncategorized

Tags: Helen Farish, Maggie O'Farrell., twins

Curtain, New Jigsaw and A Poem

04 Feb

I’ve made the curtain for the back door today to hang on the new rail put up last week.

We have a new jigsaw, a present from my lovely Mr S’s brother at Christmas. It is a street map of the part of London where they grew up. We’re not sure if it’s going to be very hard as so many pieces look alike or easy because the road names are all so familiar. I’ll let you know.

I love this poem by Simon Armitage, so few words that tell the whole story. It is taken from his collection, ‘Dwell’ inspired by The Lost Gardens of Heligan.

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Posted by mybeautfulthings on February 4, 2026 in poetry, Postaday 2026, puzzles, sewing, Uncategorized

Tags: Simon Armitage, street map

Cathedral, Project and Supper

28 Jan

Here’s a different view of Truro Cathedral, taken from the window of the coffee shop where we had excellent coffee and a toasted tea-cake. I was pleased to catch the gull in my photo just before it took off. Just look at that lovely blue sky as we are between storms, another due tomorrow. .

I love a new project! Today we bought the fabric for the curtain to go over the new back door.

We had a delicious veggie chilli for supper tonight with sour cream, guacamole and cheese.

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Posted by mybeautfulthings on January 28, 2026 in Cornwall, Postaday 2026, sewing, Truro, Uncategorized

Tree, Wreath and Sunset Sky

10 Dec

I’ve put up our first decorations, both fabric, both beautiful gifts from family. I hang them each side of the glass in the inner door.

Tree, a gift from family in Warsaw, Poland

Wreath of fabric hearts, a gift from family in Atlanta, USA

Walking home this evening the sky was lovely, gentle pastel colours in the sky behind the Bassett Monument and the castle on Carn Brea.

A Letter, A Book Club and Threads

15 Oct

I wrote a letter to The Guardian yesterday in answer to someone belonging to a book club but who couldn’t read each book in only four weeks. They published it today, and I discovered this evening that 15 people have joined the ShelterBox book club as a result of reading my letter! I am delighted.

I needed some red thread to mend my red leather wallet so went to my Mum’s cotton collection and found one to match, of course! I have kept the drawers from the sewing cabinet my Grandpa made for her to her design when she was eighteen. That was in 1933 – I’ve never worked that out before. Almost every reel is wooden and one has the price on it, 23p.

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on October 15, 2025 in family, Postaday2025, sewing, Uncategorized

Tags: ShelterBox, ShelterBox book club, The Guardian

Park, Ducklings and Tea-Cosies

05 Sep

After a lovely breakfast with friends in Truro, we took a short walk in Boscawen Park. The flower borders are still looking lovely, I like the design of the signs and I loved watching the ducklings.

Afterwards when shopping I saw some quirky and very attractive tea-cosies made by Poppy Treffrey, a maker and designer I have only just become aware of but whose website is a delight. See it here.

Buttons, Knitting and Some Advice

20 Aug

I found both the patience and the time this afternoon to sew up another of the little jackets I am knitting for babies in Ukraine. I have three more knitted and all in pieces but so dislike sewing up that they’ve been waiting a while. Happily the truck going to Ukraine isn’t going for a while. I am using the mother-of-pearl buttons that were my Grandfather’s sample ones when he was a button salesman in the 1920s so they are 100 years old! It gives me enormous pleasure to handle them, to sew them on and to make every little jacket extra special.

Note to self from Sallie G – she’s right!

7 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on August 20, 2025 in antiques, family, family history, Postaday2025, sewing, Uncategorized

Tags: Slava Ukraine, Ukraine

Posy, Wall Hanging and Useful Words

14 Aug

I picked a little posy of marigolds and purple sweet peas today.

I love the wall hanging seen a couple of weeks ago in Truro Cathedral that says thank you to their volunteers.

The following very useful information came my way today and I thought you might appreciate it.

With thanks to Steve Bartlett

We’ve had a lovely time today as friends we made on holiday in Tuscany last year came to visit, brought us lunch and lifted our spirits enormously. As on holiday, we talked and talked, laughed and laughed and shared so much that matters.

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on August 14, 2025 in Cornwall, craft, embroidery, friendship, garden, Kindness, nature, Postaday2025, sewing, Truro

Tags: Steve Bartlett

Spirals, Chocolates and Supper

05 Aug

I missed Roots this morning as the charging cable for my laptop had broken so I had to go to Truro to get a new one. As I was on my own, I spent another hour or so in the Cathedral admiring Jacqui Parkinson’s beautiful textile hangings that I told you about a few weeks ago. Check that post out here. Today I was looking more closely at detail and became aware that there were spirals in every piece and then saw that the artist explains her intention. Do enjoy the gallery.

Not sure about the spiral in this one….

….maybe in the spider’s web?

I then went to buy chocolates for a treat for my lovely Mr S at home on his own for the first time since his op and was drawn to some with spirals!

I made a delicious ratatouille for dinner tonight, seven plant foods in one meal.

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on August 5, 2025 in art, Cornwall, craft, embroidery, Food, Postaday2025, quilting, sewing, Truro, Uncategorized

Tags: Jacqui Parkinson

Exhibition at Truro Cathedral

09 Jul

Regular readers will know that I love textiles and creativity and today we saw the most amazing exhibition of beautiful textile panels in the Cathedral. Threads Through Creation is a wonderful depiction of the story of the creation as told in the Bible. If you live anywhere nearby or the exhibition comes near you, do go to see it. I want to go again when I have more time. Here is a gallery to give you a flavour of this glorious work.