tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69689743236655645492024-02-18T18:04:15.956-08:00Debbie made...Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-60709935141202071502014-10-07T11:28:00.001-07:002014-10-07T11:30:42.698-07:00...a mini chicken salad bar<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5RMjZwGhYxk5Ko6rQGfqwScCZDSZAmmQOVMZ7ieSC6vBPDpaSjUMTUJowcdahT6TNmSORlf591PGkLZ0iWtBavQytfAUjQbsj_Z3TCLAeOjS2oX3lkJDAEj4iZWHP9cJx4OoqpGenK4u/s640/blogger-image-1363066956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5RMjZwGhYxk5Ko6rQGfqwScCZDSZAmmQOVMZ7ieSC6vBPDpaSjUMTUJowcdahT6TNmSORlf591PGkLZ0iWtBavQytfAUjQbsj_Z3TCLAeOjS2oX3lkJDAEj4iZWHP9cJx4OoqpGenK4u/s640/blogger-image-1363066956.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My chickens adore greens. Over the summer that is not an issue but over the winter it gets more problematic + they stay in their run more when the weather is bad and need some entertainment. For my chickens the only sort of entertainment really worth considering is food based. Other people's chickens seem to sit on swings or enjoy toys. Mine ignore these thing repeatedly making keeping them occupied and not letting them get fat from too many corn rationing toys a bit of a challenge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I wanted to make the chickens an area in their run for ages that has mesh over it and grows plants so they have ready access to greens if they are in their run. Problem is despite their run being quite large there isn't really room for one with the compost heap, the dust bath, the logs, the food and water oh and the chickens of course in there too! Also it is nearly winter so nothing would germinate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Bring on the mini chicken salad bar - a small hinged lidded cage topped box that you can put a couple of plants in. The chickens can go at them and nibble away without totally destroying them, allowing them to grow back for more nibbling. Pots in this case are planted with some clumps of grass from between some paving slabs and an old perpetual spinach plant that has gone a bit leathery (good tip for summer greens - old plants such as lettuce, spinach, mustards etc that are not producing human edible leaves will carry on keeping chickens happy for ages, put them in a pot, put the pot in the run, leaves get stripped off, take pot out after 10 mins, leaves grow back after 3 weeks, repeat). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A couple of notes on the making. It looks shonky - it is. Amazingly we had some pallet wood (very clean used once pallet wood, I would never use dirty stuff) that was exactally the right size for the pots. Sadly the ends were a bit off square and due to my current hand situation drills & sanding ok, sawing and detailed work not ok. Doesn't explain why the lid does not fit though!! Nice thing about making things for hens is they really dont care about that kind if thing. Green = happy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-18564724050860364272014-09-28T11:15:00.001-07:002014-09-28T12:20:41.835-07:00...a couple of discoveries<div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It is the last day of Waste Less Live More Week. It has been a brilliant exercise for me, blogging everyday and getting all sorts of things done I have been meaning to do for ages. I have a happy glow of self satisfaction about the whole week.</span></div>
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Todays challenge is Discover It and originally we were planning to go out for the day somewhere new and exciting but we got a cold and I feel rubbish! So I have been on two voyages of discovery today, one in my own backgarden and a trot around the wonder of the web.</div>
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As you can see from the photo I noticed all sorts of lovely things today. One of the real joys of having a garden for me is that any day of the year, whatever the weather, I will always find something lovely that makes me happy.</div>
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As for the web, it holds a never ending myriad of information, some of it good, some of it bad. It has taught me a tremendous amount of stuff that has contributed to the productive happiness place that is my garden. I have had a lovely time today watching the Men's Cycling World Championship Road Race and finding all sorts of excellent sites and blogs. Some are old friends I am revisiting and some are new to me but I found all the sites below interesting and full of useful information - give a few a visit next time you have a free rainy afternoon!<br>
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Click on the image below to save the list. Really sorry I could not make it so you could click on the links. Having some IT/brain function issues this week :)</div><div><br>
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Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-82079898180271971412014-09-27T12:15:00.001-07:002014-09-27T12:15:08.929-07:00...nice tools<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqASMnnrr-qsPhybaMarXS1ljbcaXoS0GWikORmgixhMJ67XatwcsEXZiRIjvUcrdhcI5u3LIxXQCD6TstQGUsR2ume0Aa5TsVBTbpGYsiHZsWH3g95c-7sWHkqy1BPwoef7zPjAukCZSs/s640/blogger-image-439669255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqASMnnrr-qsPhybaMarXS1ljbcaXoS0GWikORmgixhMJ67XatwcsEXZiRIjvUcrdhcI5u3LIxXQCD6TstQGUsR2ume0Aa5TsVBTbpGYsiHZsWH3g95c-7sWHkqy1BPwoef7zPjAukCZSs/s640/blogger-image-439669255.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I have a secret garden shame.</div><div><br></div><div>I consider myself a good gardener. I adore my garden. I look after it well, I am passionately, strictly, organic and peat free, I genuinely care what impact my gardening has on the world around me. I manage, from 66m2 to produce nearly all of our veg each year. It is the cornerstone of what health I do have and it makes me happy. </div><div><br></div><div>But I have never ever, not ever, got round to properly cleaning or maintaining my hardworking garden tools. They deserve so very much better. They are the reason I get all this benefit. Without them I would be stuffed. Every year at this time I read the tweets, the posts and the articles about maintaining those tools and I just don't get round to it.</div><div><br></div><div>Shocking.</div><div><br></div><div>Worse still one of our spades died recently, it's head fell off. Directly as a result of my wanton neglect. I have never felt so guilty. What a waste. I will be making a dibber from it in the future but that is for another day.</div><div><br></div><div>So inspired by this years Waste Less Live More campaign, in honour of day 6's call to fix things I am doing proper tool maintenance. Everything wooden has been given a sand over and the rusty spots have been cleaned off. A coat if tung oil has been applied and they look (and smell) beautiful. </div><div><br></div><div>Honestly it really wasn't that difficult. Don't they look amazing? I have to point here that they look like really expensive tools. They aren't. They are from Wilkinson's. Seriously, they do ash handled tools at a really good price. They have already lasted over five years and will for many more now my new regime is in place. </div><div><br></div><div>And I hearby promise in front of everyone that I will do this every year from now on.</div>Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-45786251530116281372014-09-26T10:13:00.001-07:002014-09-26T10:18:04.187-07:00...Piccalilli<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHjfIAX97ctzLwW1dd6m6uteuQ9C4By31uL7ZeFBDdQ_KHfMTfCu7FDxY5VcgPnxM5eVhCnQaRKCgcdrKjrw_jcG8Tvmnri2CZ9xscPk2IxGbpvzTB5VKA-i8-JMXdCbK5t8pS3vKQnMs/s640/blogger-image-817920700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHjfIAX97ctzLwW1dd6m6uteuQ9C4By31uL7ZeFBDdQ_KHfMTfCu7FDxY5VcgPnxM5eVhCnQaRKCgcdrKjrw_jcG8Tvmnri2CZ9xscPk2IxGbpvzTB5VKA-i8-JMXdCbK5t8pS3vKQnMs/s640/blogger-image-817920700.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Piccalilli is one of my favourite pickles. It is also one of the only ones I make. I am a confident gardener and can easily pour food into the kitchen. Cooking, no problem, but processing food for storage seems to give me trouble. For some reason I lack confidence in the whole jam and pickle thing, a fact not helped by the fact Dan once choked to death (seriously) on jam I made. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">However, if I am to pull off the minor miracle of making sure we have food all winter I realise that preserving things is something of a necessity. But I got a bit overwhelmed this year by all my options.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I have a simple strategy I apply to most things. If I am a bit intimidated by something I look for somewhere to start that I feel most comfortable with because I know I have done it before. So, we came to piccalilli. I have made it before so I trust the recipe, it does not have a record of nearly killing one of us and it does not need to be sterilised post jarring in scary large pans of boiling water. Easy peasy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It's also one of my fave recipes because it uses up the last of the summer's produce, even the bits that aren't quite right (however hard I try this is the only way I like green tomatoes). Easy, economical, gorgeous and that yellow is like a ray of sunshine on a cold winters day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And as todays Waste Less Live More challenge is Share It I thought sharing my Piccalilli recipe (derived from one shared with me by my Mum) might be just the thing, so here it is...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Piccalilli</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">3 Sterilised Jars (I do mine in the oven 10 mins on 120c)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">100gm Salt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">1ltr Water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">250gm Green Tomatoes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">250gm Onions</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">250gm Mixed Veg (cauli, green beans, peas, carrots, celery, peppers all work well - experiment with your favourites)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">35gm Plain Flour</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">15gm Mustard Powder</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">4gm Turmeric</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">150gm Sugar</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">450ml White Vinegar</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Chop up all vegetables into small pieces. Stir the salt into the water until it is dissolved. Soak the vegetable in the brine overnight. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The next day rinse the brine from the veg and put them in a large pan covered with cold water. Bring to the boil to blanch the veg and then drain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Put the flour, mustard and turmeric in a stain proof bowl and mix with a little vinegar to make a smooth paste.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Add the paste, vinegar and sugar to a pan and stir while heating gently. As it heats it will slowly thicken. Do not rush this bit or you will have a lumpy much less pleasant sauce! (It is very like making fresh custard if you have ever done that)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Put the veg into a bowl and pour on the sauce, stirring gently until the vegetables and sauce are very well mixed (do not stir too vigorously or you will put lots of bubbles in it).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Put the lumpy yellow gloopy wonder into sterilised jars, stick a chopstick Into the mix a few times to release any bubbles, seal well and keep for a couple of months until you dig in. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Enjoy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div></div>Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-36667150309654494252014-09-25T07:46:00.001-07:002014-09-26T10:21:44.997-07:00...slug collars and a stir fry bed<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOEvb0fa8nrhIOZPyV6snBLatF3Fb58bdaCJpifsSRkpl86cP5YOT9SVWbXuSCARtT0HM5roypd9EaHINcBFa4VeG_BjbcI0MH4XG_yfHwSWQPR02bd_Nx2uCslG-kXI-61nP-c16hxGZ/s640/blogger-image--318978480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOEvb0fa8nrhIOZPyV6snBLatF3Fb58bdaCJpifsSRkpl86cP5YOT9SVWbXuSCARtT0HM5roypd9EaHINcBFa4VeG_BjbcI0MH4XG_yfHwSWQPR02bd_Nx2uCslG-kXI-61nP-c16hxGZ/s640/blogger-image--318978480.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Day 4 of the Waste Less Live More Week is Grow It. Kind of an easy challenge for me as a garden addict who grows all our veg. I love gardening. It has been a massive part of my life for all of my life and in truth I would not like to be without it.</span></div><div><div><br></div><div>But I thought I would try something new for the challenge and also pass on one of my current garden experiments aimed at reducing everyone's favourite nemeses the slug and snail.</div><div><br></div><div>One of the things I have tried to develop over the last few years are ways of keeping the vegetable harvest going over the winter. So here is this year's new idea to help with the aim and also to make it easy to pick food when it is cold, wet and dark. The stir fry bed has been planted up so that if you harvest some off each plant there should be a selection of stir fry leaves about once a week. Plus it makes it easy for someone else to pick stuff rather than me being the only one who knows which plants are ready to be picked. Might work, might not but it is fun trying these things!! </div><div><br></div><div>I am going to make a number of these patches so that when one is exhausted another will be ready. They will be cloched over the winter and will keep producing pretty much all season, although they will slow down when it is very cold. I achieve this winter gardening magic through careful sowing times, good protection and choice of plant. Plants are multi sown in 7cm modules, thinned to about 4 plants per module and planted out when ready. This year my beds have a selection of the following plants (*= one you can see in the photo)...</div><div><br></div><div>Mustard, Greens in Snow* and Red Frills </div><div>Mizuna Greens*</div><div>Pak Choi, Green* and Red F1</div><div>Tatsoi</div><div>Komatsuna, green and red</div><div>Perpetual Spinach</div><div>Spinach Red Cardinal</div><div>Rocket</div><div><br></div><div>If you want to know more about winter growing by all means ask questions and I will help where I can but most of my knowledge comes from two book which I thoroughly recommend - Oriental Vegetables by Joy Larkom and Winter Vegetables by Charles Dowding. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>The second part of todays post is about how to make sure you get the benefit of all your growing fun rather than it just being slug fodder. I have been trialling, for about the last year, various slug collars. As a seriously organic gardener I don't use pellets and I have to admit to not being the biggest fan of traps (they are gross and I get sad when ground beetles go in them). So I am always looking for ways to protect new plants from their evil little mouths.</div><div><br></div><div>I am trialling two basic types as you can see below, one type with copper, one with pointy bits. Obviously using the copper means buying copper tape which is quite pricey but I am delighted to report much of my copper tape is 5 years old and has been reused many times now.</div><div><br></div><div>Without a doubt the most effective are the downpipe sections with copper tape on but for a good free option you cannot beat a pop or milk bottle cut up. They really don't like going over those pointy bits!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVERToguJoQakH1qZaW3LbaAgxWhsEuQV46dDxSjlZtzhMhvkTjUKnVhUn-TL9W9jiJS_U-ZIXXVGzstdY-GxpYeyK01Tmykz_S1pA1N26Er9HxdqH7_IrCLH3CTQQB99YViU6K9Q34CIS/s640/blogger-image--319071721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVERToguJoQakH1qZaW3LbaAgxWhsEuQV46dDxSjlZtzhMhvkTjUKnVhUn-TL9W9jiJS_U-ZIXXVGzstdY-GxpYeyK01Tmykz_S1pA1N26Er9HxdqH7_IrCLH3CTQQB99YViU6K9Q34CIS/s640/blogger-image--319071721.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">If you make any slug and snail defences I would love to hear from you how sucessful they have been and what works best for you.</div><br></div></div>Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-8279120446489321682014-09-24T08:44:00.001-07:002014-09-26T10:25:33.582-07:00...upcycled T-shirt<div><br></div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgw4uvXqV8DhvA-lgbrhxtRnBwtZA2jRrJKdqCf_h1oWfn_K8AM00Wv8Bv-eI-qNqk4rsjxfj14_OoVRVoV8tFsXcIWFzJLa9_HjT2248Fze110JqSYasENp_tKDHWlNEENnSzO7jt-xp/s640/blogger-image--641350206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgw4uvXqV8DhvA-lgbrhxtRnBwtZA2jRrJKdqCf_h1oWfn_K8AM00Wv8Bv-eI-qNqk4rsjxfj14_OoVRVoV8tFsXcIWFzJLa9_HjT2248Fze110JqSYasENp_tKDHWlNEENnSzO7jt-xp/s640/blogger-image--641350206.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Todays Waste Less Live More week challenge is Value It. This was an easy one for me. T-shirts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We have a couple of T-shirt issues in our house. A good example of two problems making a solution (for one of us at least). I realised recently that I had no T-shirts without holes in them. Quite serious holes. Now in one respect this is fine, the chickens don't mind my holey T-shirts and gardening chic kind of demands a few holes, right? But I do occasionally leave the house and it is occasionally nice to have clothes without holes. I went out and bought a new T-shirt and promptly ripped a hole in it on the chicken run. Current budgeting dictates this cannot continue so, new approach needed...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">At the same time piling up in my sewing corner are a stack of Dans not very old T-shirts. He is quite tall and broad shouldered hence after about 20 washes a fair number of T-shirts are already too short and look like he has grown out of them. The upside to this T-shirt tragedy is that there is enough fabric In Dan's tshirts to make new clothes for me and he has worn the fabric in so it is nice and soft. Super!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So this is todays wardrobe rework. Dans top to my top.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMZvr9MHHYuD8u_pB7f11naiHTf27UfF3bTF_YsUa_6uXyy7yO7-z1SSuABOHb3FIvR85dmtkuxxsqNQ-lS63PoocoZyk2MeIE8KfWOkjFgISAGtiYaxreHLbMwspjoN58shI9NH4djDD/s640/blogger-image-1147678849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMZvr9MHHYuD8u_pB7f11naiHTf27UfF3bTF_YsUa_6uXyy7yO7-z1SSuABOHb3FIvR85dmtkuxxsqNQ-lS63PoocoZyk2MeIE8KfWOkjFgISAGtiYaxreHLbMwspjoN58shI9NH4djDD/s640/blogger-image-1147678849.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">1) Cut off the neck to make a new neck line. I used one of my fave tops as a pattern.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">2) Cut the cuffs off & take a slice out of the arm to make them the right length. Sew the cuffs back on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">3) Cut the bottom hem off, below the seam stitching to make a lengthy piece of binding for the neck. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">4) Cut the stitching off left after cutting the bottom hem off and rehem the bottom edge. I used a blind hem foot on my serger so it has some stretch. Use a zig zag or stretch stitch on a regular machine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Use the binding made from the bottom edge to bind the neck edge. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Tips for sewing with stretch fabric-</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-Sergers really help, theres no getting round it and they are so fast. I bought a really cheap one and its the best bit of sewing kit I ever bought. So fast and versitile.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-When using a regular sewing machine treat yourself to a walking foot. It stops the fabric puckering up which is a real problem when sewing knits</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-Use ball point needles rather than regular sharps. They work much better and make it easier for your machine</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-Cutting stretch fabric can be tricky, a cutting wheel is easier than scissors if you have lots to do. Use sharp scissors!</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-7659391085227162292014-09-23T11:28:00.001-07:002014-09-23T11:31:46.234-07:00... a sort of forest garden<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbS5aGTg7xeMlM2EZC-mZgE_YzJtdrsZV1WmY4NAA0seKz8JY6DCp-Zk4pWLC0ZBGmM4ZY0UWm48zO41SVzg5apBd0AVlZO0u37Or1QJqQk0TnKhrqBJeutntmM1X_ABrx7C8DK0Na30JB/s640/blogger-image-495436769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbS5aGTg7xeMlM2EZC-mZgE_YzJtdrsZV1WmY4NAA0seKz8JY6DCp-Zk4pWLC0ZBGmM4ZY0UWm48zO41SVzg5apBd0AVlZO0u37Or1QJqQk0TnKhrqBJeutntmM1X_ABrx7C8DK0Na30JB/s640/blogger-image-495436769.jpg"></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Waste Less Live More week, day 2 - Borrow It</span></div><div><br></div><div>I love the library. I adore books and am able to devour them at a rapid rate of knots. When I was recovering from surgery reading was one of my favourite things to do, the slight problem being that I could not hold a book or indeed get to the library. So at the time it was audio and digital books only for me. </div><div><br></div><div>And then I discovered that the public library has a digital library - a whole new feast of accessible booky wonder. Check it out. Ours in Gloucestershire is fantastic. I have borrowed countless books, fiction, non fiction, audio book, ebook. Brilliant! Try it. Free books you can have whenever you like. Whats not to love?</div><div><br></div><div>All you need is a library account and you can register, visit you local library or see your local council's library webpage to find out more.</div><div><br></div><div>I tend to read a lot about gardening. One of my main responsibilities in our money saving exercise is to provide most of our vegetable crop and eggs from our garden. We have 66m2 of available back garden to grow veg and keep chickens in, not a huge space, but this year the only veg we bought were potatoes and mushrooms and I have no idea when we last bought eggs! With such a small area there is obvious competition for space and I am always keen to keep as much of my veg beds as possible for annual and more choosy veg. Problem is herbs, comfrey, rhubarb etc all have different ideas and need somewhere to go. Then my partner said "Why not use the front garden?" (a 16m2 hedge surrounded weedy, dead, unused space). </div><div><br></div><div>Coincidentally at the same time I borrowed a great book by chance from the download library called Forest Gardening by Robert Hart. All of a sudden my front garden, the plants needing a home and the forest garden idea all converged. Front garden makeover! </div><div><br></div><div>Forest gardening is a low-maintenance, sustainable plant-based food production system based on woodland ecosystems, using fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, vines and perennial vegetables which have yields that are useful to us. Key things that stuck out when I looked into it - low maintenance, sustainable, useful to humans and as an added bonus they are beautiful. I love the idea of a more natural, interdependent garden. As someone who loves to garden but is not always well enough it is great sometimes to feel less needed!</div><div><br></div><div>One slight issue to start with, there are no trees in the front garden, I don't have any trees to put out there and if I did put one there there would be no room for anything else. But we do have a hedge and a shrub that came with the house. No idea what it is, red berried and the army of sparrows & bluetits love it so thats good enough for me and will have to suffice as our upper layer. In an ideal world I would probably start my forest garden with a plum tree (dreams of future garden...). So this is going to be a sort of forest garden.</div><div><br></div><div>The garden before the makeover ...</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavgsuuCTVFSoaxbGJvozoczeQ-JVhulCCqGCAcuZ-RjMBT8WmWnMa_-6uz2H4QsEcNi74xUa6jnJJf-U7ZPSZ8vb7p8j_cZXZ-0q31dU8mYknq7NzSfX13wEaSS2va_jEV8FfimjfP3HR/s640/blogger-image--187111237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavgsuuCTVFSoaxbGJvozoczeQ-JVhulCCqGCAcuZ-RjMBT8WmWnMa_-6uz2H4QsEcNi74xUa6jnJJf-U7ZPSZ8vb7p8j_cZXZ-0q31dU8mYknq7NzSfX13wEaSS2va_jEV8FfimjfP3HR/s640/blogger-image--187111237.jpg"></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">So today has seen phase 1 of the project, planting up a section of the sort of forest front garden. I have cleared away all the mouldy nasty bits, put a log border in (from our old tree that came out) and planted various plants from the list below. As the perennial plants will get bigger next year but either will be dormant or small over winter I have added some short term veg to add colour and get the garden producing immediately. Swiss Chard is adding spectacular colour and green food for the chickens and I have put some Mustard, Red Frills in there as an experiment, they have been uniquely slug and snail resistant in the back garden and I want to see if the hold up in the wilder front garden. Phase 2 includes a bit of bush moving that is a two person job so that will have to wait a few days. Plus I created so many bags of weeds I might have to spend the rest of the week composting!</span></div><div><br></div><div>Plants going in the sort of forest garden and what they will be used for :-</div><div><br></div><div>Rhubarb (food)</div><div>Gooseberry (for cuttings & food for sparrows!)</div><div>Fennel (food, herb mix)</div><div>Mint - peppermint & apple mint (food, herb mix, insect repellent)</div><div>Oregano (food for us & chickens, herb mix)</div><div>Lemon Balm (food for us & chickens)</div><div>Tansy (insect repellent)</div><div>Thyme - grey, broad leaved & lemon (food for us & chickens, herb mix)</div><div>Wild Garlic (food for us & chickens) (not from wild, from my back garden!)</div><div>Wild Rocket - perennial rocket (food for us & chickens)</div><div>Chinese Celery (food for us)</div><div>1000 Headed Kale (food for chickens)</div><div>Sorrel - red veined & buckler leaved (food for us)</div><div>Perpetual Spinach (food for us & chickens)</div><div>Red Frilled Mustard (food for us)</div><div><br></div><div>Flowers will be added in the spring - calendula & nasturtium</div><div><br></div><div>(Herb mix is a dried mix of various herbs I use in my chickens bedding to keep the bugs at bay and their health tip top)</div><div><br></div><div>Plan of my sort of forest garden...</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUNBES3VSOV_CDwANW1hfcYwvc0dOU515tag0j2g3mMyGQE_Eo7bijIQ79FhdOIgVWAS_xUX85TTcDJQPuZ_KkJSZjapH3KvCzphqYNztIQXZqfVVmJGkiv7fJk_xlwN6uRQnR6LG0udF/s640/blogger-image-787978123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUNBES3VSOV_CDwANW1hfcYwvc0dOU515tag0j2g3mMyGQE_Eo7bijIQ79FhdOIgVWAS_xUX85TTcDJQPuZ_KkJSZjapH3KvCzphqYNztIQXZqfVVmJGkiv7fJk_xlwN6uRQnR6LG0udF/s640/blogger-image-787978123.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-6443666750881061052014-09-22T09:55:00.001-07:002014-09-22T12:01:04.668-07:00... Lavender Bags<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfY5_T5bBcHzU5sUG1tMYTOkK7shNGXzGE5z17nY1Ej1fJtYlgj98QZlXIIbBi03UdR9M47PD8eY3o765YT8RwIgrKD85GinTd_qc0gTNc6WYEabvizIgrWuSg07yy-iq2SQr5tm1fk2YP/s640/blogger-image--151028780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfY5_T5bBcHzU5sUG1tMYTOkK7shNGXzGE5z17nY1Ej1fJtYlgj98QZlXIIbBi03UdR9M47PD8eY3o765YT8RwIgrKD85GinTd_qc0gTNc6WYEabvizIgrWuSg07yy-iq2SQr5tm1fk2YP/s640/blogger-image--151028780.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div>It is Waste Less Live More week this week - http://www.wastelesslivemore.com - a great idea and something which caught my attention as, by necessity, we are being mindful of what we use and how we use it at the moment. </div><div><br></div><div>We need to move house. Houses are expensive. We need to save astronomical amounts of money to move house. This means our resources are more valuable and stretched than ever. This week I am taking up the Waste Less Live More challenge because it's a good idea, it's good to not waste stuff and to spice things up I am trying to focus on those pesky tasks that we all have, things you know you probably should do but haven't quite got round to. So this week the planet wins as I will be tying to impact on it as little as possible with my makes, I win because I get stuff and hopefully other people win as I will be sharing something every day to help you waste a bit less too.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Day 1's theme is Make It. So I am making lavender bags. Two reasons:-</div><div><br></div><div>1) We have needed moth repellers for our wardrobe for ages and much to my shame despite having the fabric & the lavender our clothes were left to protect themselves. It's a good idea when trying to save money to not need new jumpers because your old ones were moth food.</div><div><br></div><div>2) I<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> saw a tutorial for making lavender bags the other day and it made me angry (I realise this seems a bit far fetched and you may think I need help). They had crafted beautiful hand stitched lavender bags from new fabric and said at the bottom that you couldn't refill them so when they didn't smell anymore to throw them away and make new ones. I mean really? Throwing stuff away wilfully is bad enough but something handmade that it is super easy to refresh is just plain wrong I tell you. WRONG!</span></div><div><br></div><div>So these lavender* bags are cute, easy to make and best of all can be refilled!!!</div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">*Actually you can put all sorts of dried herbs in your bags if you have other herbs or don't like lavender. Bay leaves, dried basil leaves, mint, thyme, tansy, rosemary and wormwood will all help repel unwanted buggy guests.</span></div><div><br></div><div>Tutorial and the pattern for regular, butterfly and ukulele versions are below as pictures you can save and print out if needed. Sorry they are a bit dark, they will be updated in the week - IT issues :( To be honest they are not complicated patterns so have a go at designing your own!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVtm2y_0N_uSv3qoMNMxvu5ooQA0hAqefRF0Wgh3z-yE0VmSx50FaK30sdRiLiNDLLoiXDMK8uLdtvm4eGcevolgsG7qHqabOESOFLP7-XUD2Ikl4Vp_Tk8j3SjssN9SHkOvJCXSg9reL/s640/blogger-image--1608439575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVtm2y_0N_uSv3qoMNMxvu5ooQA0hAqefRF0Wgh3z-yE0VmSx50FaK30sdRiLiNDLLoiXDMK8uLdtvm4eGcevolgsG7qHqabOESOFLP7-XUD2Ikl4Vp_Tk8j3SjssN9SHkOvJCXSg9reL/s640/blogger-image--1608439575.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRF-nDjDBQD0jxeBI3q9VVBd9IISV0FLjVpqkaFd7PTKCGD3ztQC2AhPX0E1jqa8ah1Bxq-XpZM7DMy-IP3mx-O8r-6lD0oJ71mkQqMPofcshw1-gjglPUhnZ63yAIwHbf9hgztaN5AGG/s640/blogger-image-1232696341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRF-nDjDBQD0jxeBI3q9VVBd9IISV0FLjVpqkaFd7PTKCGD3ztQC2AhPX0E1jqa8ah1Bxq-XpZM7DMy-IP3mx-O8r-6lD0oJ71mkQqMPofcshw1-gjglPUhnZ63yAIwHbf9hgztaN5AGG/s640/blogger-image-1232696341.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>A few notes on the waste less theme...</div><div><br></div><div>I used offcuts of fabric from other projects for these bags. Use something stiffish (my partner is a painter so I have a responsibility to find 101 uses for 10cm strips of painting linen). I save all fabric over a cm square -seriously I do! </div><div><br></div><div>I dry my own lavender and other herbs - it's easy. Hang some lavender clipped from your plant up somewhere dry for a few weeks until it is crispyish. Leaves can be used too they are just not quite as strong.</div><div><br></div><div>I used a machine to sew mine as I had 2 lots of hand surgery recently and that rules out hand sewing but if you can hand sew them it would both look lovely and save a bit of electricity.</div><div><br></div><div>I hand drew the pattern and instructions as it saved tons of digital device time and was good hand therapy to boot ( only just been able to start writing again recently). Don't print out the instructions unsless you absolutley have to!</div><div><br></div><div>Replace the herbs in the bags about every 6 months</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div> </div>Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-83612960398847670632014-08-30T01:36:00.001-07:002014-08-30T01:51:03.898-07:00...Storage Pots<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpN3eJlx6oOMA9tdnuTF8NNExFIskUcUu-u8Qcdhkccx6imsQbQFmyXvQmUZ8sa__4zxIJrcu72IdFBIntkrgTZ40d6w4otJp-7S3RKiNUEjCMC41xi9opZ7k1YRAc4bXP-NCvlq50SrW/s640/blogger-image--410880794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpN3eJlx6oOMA9tdnuTF8NNExFIskUcUu-u8Qcdhkccx6imsQbQFmyXvQmUZ8sa__4zxIJrcu72IdFBIntkrgTZ40d6w4otJp-7S3RKiNUEjCMC41xi9opZ7k1YRAc4bXP-NCvlq50SrW/s640/blogger-image--410880794.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div>I love terracotta pots - they are beautiful things. They have a gorgeous colour, texture and look. </div><div><br></div><div>They are also fragile. Unfortunately for all around me I am somewhat prone to dropping things and have made a fine art out of knocking into stuff and consequently I break a bit more than my fair share of the world's goods. This is bad news for my terracotta pots. They end up being fairly frequent victims of my inability to walk in a straight line or see things where they actually are.</div><div><br></div><div>As you may by now be aware I am pathologically incapable of throwing anything away. And when it is something I broke I feel a desire to give it a second chance in life as a kind of thankyou/ sorry for its previous service in making my garden beautiful and my unacceptable behaviour towards it.</div><div><br></div><div>Hence broken things in our house often get stored for repurposing. I had built up quite a collection of small but broken terracotta pots and as they were on the easy craft list I decided their time had come. For such a simple process it is a great result that really brightens up the greenhouse and makes things easier to store than the mishmash of greehousey stuff i had crammed into various tubs before.</div><div><br></div><div>These were super easy to do for my hands and I am really pleased with the results. A real bolt of colour for the greenhouse which I think will be especially cheery when I am out there over the winter!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-16880009006410936062014-05-18T06:10:00.001-07:002014-05-18T06:10:30.300-07:00... a clever garden thing<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSP9DcIgVQWSVElxO1Tp254Ak4J8msU3cLicTU-jJxH-HCY3vK2lZAg1xJEJS5b_cHEji0OfKhwBvxupsQrgDbQ86ixbiiGQEKxHS7SBIMpjqk5MBf-eh10LreI9Kzy0xOXgBw7lZR3cE/s640/blogger-image--320556624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijSP9DcIgVQWSVElxO1Tp254Ak4J8msU3cLicTU-jJxH-HCY3vK2lZAg1xJEJS5b_cHEji0OfKhwBvxupsQrgDbQ86ixbiiGQEKxHS7SBIMpjqk5MBf-eh10LreI9Kzy0xOXgBw7lZR3cE/s640/blogger-image--320556624.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div>Ok, so I have not blogged for over a year. Bad bad bad. Problem is I've hardly been able to make anything for the last year due to all the hand surgery fun I have been going through and seeings as how my blog is about things I have made and not where I moan about chronic pain, surgery & the general joy of hypermobility I was left a bit short of material. <div><br></div><div>My left hand is now recovering slowly and my right hand is very pleased it is starting to feel better after last years surgery. What I have been doing is gardening. A lot. "What?" I hear you cry, chronic pain, surgery, gardening??? Surely that's not a good idea. Having finally mastered (most days) the fine art of pacing gardening is more than possible, in fact I truly believe almost anyone can garden on some level and the benefits are truly immense.</div><div><br></div><div>Some things are a bit beyond me though - like writing by hand which makes labelling your plants a challenge. So I made my label coding system. Very easy, write on the board what colour represents what variety and use that colour when sowing seeds. Easy, colourful, cheery, saves work and cheap, oh my it's a win win win win win.</div><div><br></div><div>Possibly my easiest make ever (bit of sanding on the edge of the wood offcut, sticking on the labels & talking nicely to someone to drill the holes) but one of my favourites and I am sure the lettuces have grown better this year!</div>Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-7508818860398583422013-05-05T13:01:00.000-07:002013-05-05T13:17:38.851-07:00... CyclistsAs mentioned last year (blog post on 27th August) I have fallen for cycling. It turned out to be no summer romance and is turning into a long term relationship. I have just started watching the Giro d'Italia, the last major tour I have not seen yet and I am settled in for three weeks of spectacular sporting wonder.<br />
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Three weeks I hear you cry in concern for my possible sanity. Well maybe I have a few other plans, alongside keeping my rapidly growing veg garden in check, I am mainly hoping to expand my collection of cycling embroideries.<br />
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So to start off the fun we have two new cyclists who can join Bradley (sorry, Sir Bradley) to make up the start of the cycling wall of wonder in our front room. They will be joined by others soon, probably something to celebrate Mark Cavendish's spectacular first stage sprint to take the maglia rosa (it means he's winning), (designed by Paul Smith this year) and then some to celebrate the range of colour wonder that are cycling jerseys and the crazy feats of human endurance they give them out for.<br />
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<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipi_TgwIkwb5YeyJ7qmV2Qd7tMUC26vSN_6ucKCAP6E3fUWzPnVBtzCHAE5splxJidFz8nBlzncayuTk1xL9xdJvb2MgwLCZFD37KRkmQyvIcvofJl6nOUeqEkpFU-VS-Z-l9eIqxGoAzr/s640/blogger-image--1402442710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipi_TgwIkwb5YeyJ7qmV2Qd7tMUC26vSN_6ucKCAP6E3fUWzPnVBtzCHAE5splxJidFz8nBlzncayuTk1xL9xdJvb2MgwLCZFD37KRkmQyvIcvofJl6nOUeqEkpFU-VS-Z-l9eIqxGoAzr/s640/blogger-image--1402442710.jpg" /></a></div>Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-839842057088158142013-01-27T01:43:00.000-08:002013-01-27T01:43:20.606-08:00...crocheted cushion covers.Sometimes (most times indeed) I like to make things out of stuff I have found, scavenged, been given etc (more on that soon). However, sometimes you want to treat yourself to something new and exceptionally lovely to work with. This was one of those times. I had a hankering for some cotton to crochet some cushion covers with and after much searching, visiting many wool shops and nearly everywhere online I settled upon Debbie Bliss Cotton in a beautiful turquoise . I know - good name coincidence eh?<br />
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As you can see from the picture it is a beautiful colour and you will have to take it from me it feels just as lovely. It was a real treat, a little bit more than I would usually spend but worth every penny. I was in making raptures for the whole project. <br />
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(Just to stick to my repurposing roots the black cover the crochet is stitched to is made from an old sofa cover and the buttons came from an old coat)<br />
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Maybe my reverence for the materials or maybe something else explains why they have taken me so damned long to get finished! Seriously I have had these on the go for an age and they were a long standing member of the job pile.<br />
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That is all behind me now. They are done and I love them. <br />
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Off to gracefully lie around on my gorgeous cushions....<br />
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Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-61021826272788488962013-01-23T05:49:00.001-08:002013-01-23T12:07:02.420-08:00...a hot water bottle coverDesigned to be extra snugly in response to all the snow we have been having.<br />
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If you have been following my makes for a while you might think I make a slightly above average number of hot water bottle covers. You'd be right, I have a thing about them. Most people's hot water bottle covers last for ages but I have 10+ hot water bottles a day to ease the daily pain and stiffness I enjoy due to hypermobility. As I also often have more an one at a time I need quite a lot of them and due to their hard lives they tend to give up the ghost quicker than the average!<br />
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In my aforementioned drive to get on top of my making pile hot water bottle covers were near the top of the list as my hot water bottles have been going round in the nuddy for a while now. This is all my own design and I enjoyed crocheting it so much I have already started another one prior to writing up the pattern.<br />
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This is the third completed job in my drive to get on top of my making pile hot water bottle covers were near the top of the list as my hot water bottles have been going round in the nuddy for a while now in my pile reduction drive (job number two was repairing Dan's long johns but I decided you didn't want or need to see them, however good the sewing was). Job number three is likely to involve cushion covers or pyjamas, we'll see where my mood takes me when I face up the pile next.<br />
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Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-73048013139116922852013-01-12T09:08:00.001-08:002013-01-12T09:15:31.487-08:00... more Croc linersSo it came to pass that I really really needed to sort out my craft area. My normal method of sorting my space out usually ends up with everything in neat piles but sadly the same amount of stuff is still there (too much stuff bay far). But not this time. This time I have decided to tidy my space up by actually doing the jobs in the various piles not just rearranging them so they look better. Revolutionary I know!<br />
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Brace yourself for a raft of upcoming posts that are finishing off projects. I am going to feel GOOD after this little episode is over.<br />
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Completed project number 1 is a reworking of the Croc socks that I made a couple of years ago which were a great success. This time I changed the pattern somewhat to meet with feedback received on the first pair which meant there was some fun freeform crochet moments (I.e. I made it up as I went along). But despite the need to bodge them a little they have turned out a treat and just in time for the upcoming snowy conditions.<br />
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Right onto the next thing in the pile... <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ODZATcQScZJr5fmEOj1sSdiqDutyK1HoBnhIfW2gNjMyHkuPeoIHM1G14CElIMPG-s8anxwQCLewzjtvsO-GP-SNmsLrqQWCdR7MGsnwNlg8sTybb_pFuMnek4AAV5n1o5JSC-zCBBr9/s640/blogger-image--151633546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ODZATcQScZJr5fmEOj1sSdiqDutyK1HoBnhIfW2gNjMyHkuPeoIHM1G14CElIMPG-s8anxwQCLewzjtvsO-GP-SNmsLrqQWCdR7MGsnwNlg8sTybb_pFuMnek4AAV5n1o5JSC-zCBBr9/s640/blogger-image--151633546.jpg" /></a></div>Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-71655698909266594952013-01-04T06:16:00.001-08:002013-01-04T06:28:33.862-08:00... a monsterI was bought a zombie making kit by some friends for Christmas which was a brilliant present and having had a making break over the festive period this seemed like a good place to start warming up my crafting muscles ready for my new year plans.<br />
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So I hunkered down, put on appropriately unchallenging tv (Star Trek) and created a monster zombie. Not quite like the one the pack was designed to make as I employed a large dose of creative licence!<br />
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He needs to be handled carefully as his jaw, like my own, can stretch quite a lot. Unlike mine however, his is, at a stretch, capable of eating a small human or dwarf (of which I am one, though which one no one knows).<br />
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They are all for sale at the wonderful Johnny Rocks Vintage Emporium in Cheltenham<br />
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Go and check out his beautiful dresses at his <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Johnny-Rocks-Vintage-Emporium/354626411278573" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page and show him some love. I would give anything to be able to sew like him!<br />
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Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-32795445399166725232012-10-26T09:44:00.002-07:002012-10-28T08:24:29.810-07:00... a mini chicken house<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love having chickens. Ever since I got my first chickens when I was four I have loved them because:<br />
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<li>They lay eggs. Big organic, yellow yolked lovelies.</li>
<li>They are hilarious comical beings. </li>
<li>I like having animals around.</li>
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But these chickens are vicious. Truly evil. not just a bit 'hen pecky' really, really nasty. For the second time since we got them I have recently had cause to separate them . One of the hens had been ill and then started to moult and subsequently the other two began two tear her apart. <br />
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Sadly the truth of these lovely birds (or vicious dinosaurs as we refer to them as) is that once they have the site of blood they will keep on going until they have pecked the weak bird to death. So a temporary home was created out of our old pot store to put the hen pecked lady in to recuperate (the last time one was ill they lived in the greenhouse for a while - never again, it was a nightmare and made me jealous as the greenhouse is firmly my territory). She started to get better and last weekend we started to reintegrate them with disastorous consequences.<br />
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Now I expected a bit of sparring but not the all out blood fuelled assault we witnessed. Needless to say the hen was removed less than an hour after we started to reintegrate them.<br />
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So this time I am trying a different tack to diffuse our ongoing chicken wars. Some happy time living side by side (but not together) will hopefully pave the way to reconciliation (it had better because on a cold day two lots of water and two lots of food to sort out take the you know what and to add insult to injury only one of the damn hens is laying anyway).<br />
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The chicken run has been duly separated which means no one has a lot of space but no one is going to die of being pecked to death either. Each can stay in their own side and just get used to each other without the killing part. So to cut a long story short I needed a small, one chicken, studio apartment for the solo hen to stay in. No good leaving her in the run without a house as the fox would just love that!<br />
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To answer my chicken dwelling issues I made the mini house shown above and in situ below. It is made entirely of found materials. In fact the wood I used was the shed floor that came with the house when we bought it, was used as a wooden floor in the chicken run last winter and has been living under a forsythia for a while. Amazing what you can do with a few bit of scrap (but still in good nick) timber, a few screws and a lick of wood preservative (chicken safe of course). It is not a masterpiece but it is high level bodging and I am very proud of it.<br />
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It is also a timely lesson it taking things at your own pace. I am not in a very good way at the minute with all sorts of joint problems (got to love the cold weather coming on when you have a joint condition!) and consequently in lots of pain. I am also not very good at taking things slowly. But I am learning that there is no shame in going at your own pace, even if that might be a bit slower than everyone elses place. This woodworking marvel was possible (despite the knackered joints) through good planning, doing a bit at a time and most importantly accepting that while others may have made it quicker or better they didn't, you did and therefore you get to be pleased with yourself which is a nice feeling.<br />
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And so the face off begins ....<br />
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<br />Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-66278189415875185992012-10-10T11:34:00.000-07:002012-10-28T08:27:18.822-07:00... Debbie made<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkillobz8CnkTF88YWcSIwl26Z4YQjWKRz98M4VL6ETx8CJqa7iMoos3UdtP17c9rwD6P1Lfq20PVlF6OIjlwsUPGhXU5ElmI3Jcop1l3YvHaWcPeScdgxUntUYeHChtwDdtRbJD3LI_w7/s1600/needlewoman+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkillobz8CnkTF88YWcSIwl26Z4YQjWKRz98M4VL6ETx8CJqa7iMoos3UdtP17c9rwD6P1Lfq20PVlF6OIjlwsUPGhXU5ElmI3Jcop1l3YvHaWcPeScdgxUntUYeHChtwDdtRbJD3LI_w7/s400/needlewoman+resized.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
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This is the design for the postcards I am ordering this week to advertise my new crafty venture.<br />
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I wish I had her poise when sewing, I think my back would appreciate it! I am afraid to disappoint my loyal followers by divulging that I sew in more of a 'hunched over in my lounge pants with the tele on' kind of way. Not in the alert pose this lady employs when crafting.<br />
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If only I could live up to my own romantic notions....Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-12534581064218724562012-10-02T11:43:00.001-07:002012-10-02T11:43:05.574-07:00... a lady eating cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkgjG83h1cGm4O_7ogUFwfzukvrZxfNEShYCLIwouVBlxwovWXt_rA837FGFbcpKYBVmoRV9ekggUxxKbaHdOG8n3sfXVDON04ZTjrJ0lKrStkSDYNkgpPAQRoZGd0XSsDcsbZWxoHAL9/s1600/lady+eating+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkgjG83h1cGm4O_7ogUFwfzukvrZxfNEShYCLIwouVBlxwovWXt_rA837FGFbcpKYBVmoRV9ekggUxxKbaHdOG8n3sfXVDON04ZTjrJ0lKrStkSDYNkgpPAQRoZGd0XSsDcsbZWxoHAL9/s320/lady+eating+cake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This lady likes cake (as opposed to my earlier <a href="http://debbiemade.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/embroideries.html" target="_blank">lady</a> who likes pie). <br />
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One of the things I was a bit worried about when I started to make a lot more craft was that I would get a bit 'bored' of doing it all the time. I have, what can only be described as a bitch of a cold at the moment, (my partner works at the local uni so it is undoubtedly a bout of freshers flu as the students started back recently - thanks kids) and it has knocked out my ability to do almost anything (this blog post is sponsored by vitamin C, paracetamol and sudafed). <br />
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This means no craft. And I am missing it - badly. My fingers are bored stiff. Can't wait till I can focus my mind and eyes enough to coordinate my fingers again to the required level to sew nicely (also does not seem nice to be sneezing all over things I intend to sell!).<br />
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So as I can't make anything at the moment I thought I would show you all something I made a little while ago. Fingers crossed (if you can coordinate yours) that my hands are able to start doing what they love again very soon.<br />
<br />Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-50716880947038217342012-09-25T08:29:00.001-07:002012-09-25T08:31:26.714-07:00... Lovely ladies - set 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycDncNxFvrk4XSCxTduAzh50j8BormjTqf2-j8MWWOkU8ZZ170J7gPBNd5YxNw0LDgHHj8qGmK_jr-bZ25THqkr_LmwF0W9PAUUl0Xene6BY6LbVWV5XjIpTRV9qAZOuuppFDVzRdVal0/s1600/embroidery+lady+orange+jumpsuit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycDncNxFvrk4XSCxTduAzh50j8BormjTqf2-j8MWWOkU8ZZ170J7gPBNd5YxNw0LDgHHj8qGmK_jr-bZ25THqkr_LmwF0W9PAUUl0Xene6BY6LbVWV5XjIpTRV9qAZOuuppFDVzRdVal0/s320/embroidery+lady+orange+jumpsuit.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
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So, as promised (ok so maybe a little later than promised) the next 4 ladies in the series I have been making.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkSao8XNwTC3-li4hU0DB4yPv8mii9bbpkcY0Um5CWMtcD-yxw6U-eG5rR0ZNZCdwaa5j4ZIUzJhDEpzlBi_dJPO6ITqrN8Y173vhf72LU2ZraGNqMSFWeF6WGCmKT6-icm4Eo-g-Gy_1/s1600/lady+in+a+purple+dress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkSao8XNwTC3-li4hU0DB4yPv8mii9bbpkcY0Um5CWMtcD-yxw6U-eG5rR0ZNZCdwaa5j4ZIUzJhDEpzlBi_dJPO6ITqrN8Y173vhf72LU2ZraGNqMSFWeF6WGCmKT6-icm4Eo-g-Gy_1/s320/lady+in+a+purple+dress.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
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Need to blog faster - my making is outstripping my blogging by some way!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkg5AbS24g-pzH23PIPVe8Rt5cTFD6oIMeq8oyzHeJCzuOzuisoMK8cIaGJZz-_nqEWyg9tRxG4X6lvB5UqRbKb5dTevxItXHtDMv7BKUzBVAwQqbgLeG32RPleT92a-PbCDnVqPIjISw2/s1600/embroidery+lady+purple+trousers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkg5AbS24g-pzH23PIPVe8Rt5cTFD6oIMeq8oyzHeJCzuOzuisoMK8cIaGJZz-_nqEWyg9tRxG4X6lvB5UqRbKb5dTevxItXHtDMv7BKUzBVAwQqbgLeG32RPleT92a-PbCDnVqPIjISw2/s320/embroidery+lady+purple+trousers.jpg" width="243" /></a></div>
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My first pair!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOkoJAWbMhWh-5p_oom3GeKEhZXiYJdGd21QkkMTLJBfB2iWug7cNlGIpUFPcLh0KKuxzMk8h6egW2tnKWSiNlUYq51F722Ix3VMWrhupiLgBgmq-b5K5KNuZv8EmVSPtluZTW3EHfz6b/s1600/embroidery+lady+pair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOkoJAWbMhWh-5p_oom3GeKEhZXiYJdGd21QkkMTLJBfB2iWug7cNlGIpUFPcLh0KKuxzMk8h6egW2tnKWSiNlUYq51F722Ix3VMWrhupiLgBgmq-b5K5KNuZv8EmVSPtluZTW3EHfz6b/s320/embroidery+lady+pair.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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10 more pieces for hoops got designed, transfered, applique pieces cut and attatched. Time to begin the furious sewing!</div>
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(All the pieces you can see here are available for sale as of the date of the post at my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Debbiemade?ref=si_shop" target="_blank">Etsy shop</a> - if they are not they have sold (hooray) and there will be new, exciting things in there.)</div>
<br />Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-34281708975732140542012-09-18T03:07:00.001-07:002012-09-18T03:07:52.178-07:00... lovely ladies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTDq5dACoJ0Gpq3ikOMKpkq2r6-_Z-pi_gFiKi5EONfAtkh74Rvqcigug7_flLEXAu4ZswAumIzbUDE6hi3bPeXwbagvneX7YKIw_APEjEawDB6qMIBc9WY-gdymjWhY1FNXuW-v-M8_I/s1600/embroidery+lady+red+dress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTDq5dACoJ0Gpq3ikOMKpkq2r6-_Z-pi_gFiKi5EONfAtkh74Rvqcigug7_flLEXAu4ZswAumIzbUDE6hi3bPeXwbagvneX7YKIw_APEjEawDB6qMIBc9WY-gdymjWhY1FNXuW-v-M8_I/s320/embroidery+lady+red+dress.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
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So, last week I promised I would explain why I, seemingly out of the blue made an embroidery lady holding a pie (not that there's anything wrong with this).<br />
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A few weeks ago i had the chance to have some time spend making things. After getting a few jobs done I had on my sewing pile my thoughts started to turn to things I have long wanted to do. A big one of these is more embroidery work. I love sewing. I really love sewing, particularly hand sewing and making beautiful things.<br />
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I started to learn to sew long before I could do more mundane things like maths and writing, consequently I have had plenty of time to get the practice in! My undying thanks go out to my Mum who was solely responsible for this wonderment. She was a needlework teacher before I pursuaded her (though being born) that she wanted to spend time with me instead. So I was lucky enough to grow up with my own, incredibly clever and talented needlework teacher. Lucky me!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLhA9SiKlcJ-dzXp31Ow4a2h7P6mVDYCRX7SkC2AgbM4oKax-0NrsX5_BKHmUuXpfs7zK1iblz2IFSLO0dQUE1lySQVkgw1uPpxQKUQ65aFwC8LSQt_xgCsEg1KA4MdmdlOYui2DQ2QZR/s1600/embroidery+blue+dress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLhA9SiKlcJ-dzXp31Ow4a2h7P6mVDYCRX7SkC2AgbM4oKax-0NrsX5_BKHmUuXpfs7zK1iblz2IFSLO0dQUE1lySQVkgw1uPpxQKUQ65aFwC8LSQt_xgCsEg1KA4MdmdlOYui2DQ2QZR/s320/embroidery+blue+dress.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
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Thankfully enough of her enthusiam, skill and love of all things crafty rubbed off on me so I can wield a needle and crochet hook in pursuit of lovely handmade things too (although i will never, to my undying sadness be as good at dressmaking as Mum).<br />
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Consequently I spent a glorious amount of time as I grew up in sewing departments and habidashery stores as my Mum was purchasing her sewing paraphernalia. If you have never been in one you have missed a treat (well i think so anyway). They are places of wonder full of fabrics, buttons, ribbons, sequins, fastenings and all manner of glorious things. As a child who loved art my particular favourite were the patterns and pattern books containing all the wonderful designs that we could buy and my Mum could make - for me if I was lucky! I loved the ladies on those patterns. They are tall, graceful and beautiful and were wearing the most amazing, luxurious clothes. Now I promise this is not an envy thing but even when I was young it was obvious I was not going to be model or ballerina material. I don't think I will ever forget the Dr saying if they got a hundred children I would be the smallest or second smallest. I have, what we call in our family, flatteringly, a 'low slung bum', - my Dad has one too - basically I have very short legs (and in fairness short everything else. So all people tall and graceful were wonderful to me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTpWKwoOsFx2fsrVX5W7DVmxOy3juKxg0dLJeIO8FPXAnyqhBViMnzW_8Tvwo7E0PPqEVlBrA1KByzjC3pB5I7VhcbPAdDc6bvGMDWGEz6e1-tNXGe9XRptcPfzC1BIGJl22CuEpxx75z/s1600/embroidery+lady+green+dress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTpWKwoOsFx2fsrVX5W7DVmxOy3juKxg0dLJeIO8FPXAnyqhBViMnzW_8Tvwo7E0PPqEVlBrA1KByzjC3pB5I7VhcbPAdDc6bvGMDWGEz6e1-tNXGe9XRptcPfzC1BIGJl22CuEpxx75z/s320/embroidery+lady+green+dress.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
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My love of embroidery, patterned fabric and vintage patterns has collided in a pleasing way to make these lovely ladies. These were the starting point for my journey to pie lady. Making sense now? These 3 are the first set - set 2 tomorrow.<br />
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Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-15333151885258972932012-09-08T13:04:00.001-07:002012-09-08T13:05:17.295-07:00... Embroidery Lady with a Pie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmAG-orwGwyQW6NCEMVv5OuX52wUL1MoC4mk453-Khex7afu0F59_NBLTBW1tOAOqQ_vWgDNEoP4t7oJjdUBwDOGggOhw5qhtkBq2D9f4wWImZeRmFwqgcg1Z4fl6y6wjB7g7W0TopHSr/s1600/Pie+Lady.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmAG-orwGwyQW6NCEMVv5OuX52wUL1MoC4mk453-Khex7afu0F59_NBLTBW1tOAOqQ_vWgDNEoP4t7oJjdUBwDOGggOhw5qhtkBq2D9f4wWImZeRmFwqgcg1Z4fl6y6wjB7g7W0TopHSr/s320/Pie+Lady.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am not boasting here but I am better at making than I am at blogging. At least I should be thankful it is that way round I guess.<br />
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If I was better at blogging it would be perfectly obvious to you why I have made the lady above as you would have seen all the other things I have made but I am not good at blogging so you have no idea!<br />
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I have been embroidering for a while now, making all sorts of images but the main pieces I have been creating are a series of ladies based on images from vintage sewing patterns or, like this one 1950s adverts.<br />
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This lady is very happy with the pie she has made and who can blame her a good pie is a wonderful thing. She was made as a gift for a friend who, like myself loves food and cooking and I have many fond memories of sharing wonderful feasts with her.<br />
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In an effort to explain how we got here I am going to blog the other things I have made over the next few days until we are all caught up and know where we are at (as best as is possible).<br />
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I am planning on making a few more things in hoops as I bought 135 of them today. Wow that is going to be a lot of hoops when they arrive!!!<br />
<br />Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-40195749235617488702012-08-27T04:18:00.002-07:002012-08-27T04:18:34.898-07:00... Bradley Wiggins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7esbMssPu44FLxyZt1C-MyyxWccL-cooTluaxDdS-oSgiFhKPAuw81g5rcXrkhLH2VWGTBLA9ezvJQnC8svRHXkYSJU9EU6mdvAyQ5RZ8aj60J6N9YtWQueU-VMoMhDi9Rbp1pcDFXrh/s1600/Bradley+Wiggins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7esbMssPu44FLxyZt1C-MyyxWccL-cooTluaxDdS-oSgiFhKPAuw81g5rcXrkhLH2VWGTBLA9ezvJQnC8svRHXkYSJU9EU6mdvAyQ5RZ8aj60J6N9YtWQueU-VMoMhDi9Rbp1pcDFXrh/s400/Bradley+Wiggins.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Well an embroidery of Bradley Wiggins anyway - I would be super proud if I had made the real thing!<br />
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Thing is, I love sport. Not one sport. All Sport (well maybe there are a few things I wouldn't watch). I used to love playing sport and now I can't I adore watching it. Bar all the usual stuff (rugby, football, snooker, cricket, multiple motor sports etc) I have reveled in the woodwork world championships, marvelled at Jack Russell racing, got up in the middle of then night to watch olympic performances, stayed up ridiculously late to watch my beloved Green Bay Packers win the Superbowl, spent whole weekends watching sports and recently spent two weeks solid watching the wonderous olympics (seriously - two weeks solid). But I had never really got into road cycling. Obviously being British I adore track cycling (we win a lot) but had never really tried out the wonders of the road race.<br />
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I had cause recently to see quite a lot of the Tour de France (the second half where wse all reveled in Bradley Wiggins & Team Sky whupping everyone) and then was locked into the Olympic cycling like the rest of the country. I can't ride a bike to save my life but I adored watching the amazing, complicated, tactical and physical performances required to suceed at this demanding sport - inspiring. Now I am loving the Vuelta (the tour of Spain) have sat through terrible coverage of the American Pro Cycling and watched a couple of other races too. I am hooked!<br />
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Yes, unashamedly, I started loving it cause Bradley did well (hence my tribute in fabric and thread) but it has gone beyond that. It is great sport, fascinating tactically, full of superhuman endeavour and absolutely beautiful to watch. For someone who loves colour and the outdoors there are the fantastic colours and forms of the riders in the peloton (officially my new favourite word) and the glorious scenery. As a bonus it is also great to have on when I am making.<br />
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This piece is staying with us at home for our own personal shrine but it is also a test piece for a cycling based series I am planning on making - more soon. <br />
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Fingers crossed everyone for the Tour of Britain (9th - 16th Sept) - see <a href="http://www.tourofbritain.com/" target="_blank">website</a> for more info - can't wait.Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-80948498943223238252012-08-24T02:51:00.001-07:002012-08-24T02:51:07.560-07:00... a potting bench<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcWlR9Zz0UQlpG8C6ePm_8iKiY56by9kK5JJTWCS_CfymncUyBIAMovUTf58wit9gl1vpE6No80Gp0Z_0CVig_0wfHRgxeZAqEieh8cSrHT5iyDQPwlwI07tqF_Zh8285X-bQQdfBZt4k/s1600/Bench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcWlR9Zz0UQlpG8C6ePm_8iKiY56by9kK5JJTWCS_CfymncUyBIAMovUTf58wit9gl1vpE6No80Gp0Z_0CVig_0wfHRgxeZAqEieh8cSrHT5iyDQPwlwI07tqF_Zh8285X-bQQdfBZt4k/s320/Bench.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Something a little different today on the making scale, my new potting bench. I can assure you this is real woodwork - not crocheted, embroidered or constructed from fabric in any way!<br />
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This is another 'miriacle of leftovers' project where seeming scrap that is clogging up your life (in this case the shed) gets turned into something distinctly more wonderful and useful that rather than clogging up your life, in fact, enhances it.<br />
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I love gardening, particularly veg gardening but it really takes it toll on my less than robust back and knees so we have been on a making it easier to garden campaign for some time now. I have wanted a potting bench for ages as I end up doing a lot of potting up on the floor (hence the complaints from my back and knees).<br />
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I have looked round for some time for a bench I liked to buy and there seemed to predominately be two choices. Cheap and rubbish or expensive and swish. I refuse to buy cheap and rubbish and I can't afford expensive and swish. The will we, won't we debate about whether to make on has gone on for some months.<br />
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Anyways as I am not currently working the debate is over - make it! Especially when you work out all those leftover bits of wood that you trip over every time you go into the shed add up to a simple, robust and very lovely potting bench.<br />
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Thanks to Dan for doing the cutting for me thereby leaving me a bit of shoulder function for today. My bust shoulder didn't think much to the drilling and construction workbut on the upside this means I now have very cool looking (thanks to the Olympics for making strapping trendy) blue and black magic shoulder strapping which has amazingly made my shoulder stop hurting.<br />
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I am truly blessed - a free potting bench and a shoulder that looks cool and doesn't hurt. Result!<br />
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<br />Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6968974323665564549.post-56485546239933777382012-08-15T12:43:00.003-07:002012-08-15T12:43:24.380-07:00...mini monsters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As promised, more of the things I have been squirreled away making....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qOhTrryFxpZ9Aze9Too812ybva-063j8tqhopfTeMJnwbsamp0SvqcxtDbwqOWizvkGRS71MySKADSMjx-EIhB3wOpbx1M7zpLW7oBXbkC7d1PZ0X0q9Vos8qcKc7ynXbnfyMRsfHOTd/s1600/Monster+mash+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qOhTrryFxpZ9Aze9Too812ybva-063j8tqhopfTeMJnwbsamp0SvqcxtDbwqOWizvkGRS71MySKADSMjx-EIhB3wOpbx1M7zpLW7oBXbkC7d1PZ0X0q9Vos8qcKc7ynXbnfyMRsfHOTd/s1600/Monster+mash+up.jpg" /></a></div>
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Mini monsters are both cute and safer to have in your home than fully grown monsters which can, at times, be known to cause certain problems.<br />
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Not these super cute lovelies. They are housetrained, safe and looking for a good home.<br />
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They can be found hanging out in my Etsy shop - <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Debbiemade?ref=si_shop" target="_blank">Debbiemade</a>. Give one a home, some love and most importantly a name.Debbie Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13845476384431190353noreply@blogger.com0