Ruby's Button Tin

Kitchenware

There's something very pleasing about kitchenware.  Maybe it's the combination of practical use and handsome appearance, as with stripey blue and white Cornishware. I love the way the utensil jar so robustly states what it's purpose is.  

When I'm rich (ha!) I'd love a dresser full of Cornishware, row after row of chunky storage jars, jugs and plates.  Until then I pick up the odd things in charity (thift) shops and discount stores like TK Maxx. 

This Emma Bridgewater bowl was a charity shop find. Strawberries & Cream is written on the outside, Love & Kisses inside.   

More Cornishware and a lovely vintage style cake tin (empty of cake.  Boo hoo ...) 

General craftiness

Not much text, just some crafty photos for you ... Above are two lavender bags with applique poppies.

 Anyone for cake?  They taste rather felty though ...

  Eat your veg!  Mmm, felty texture too!

Amazing artichokes

I took these photos of Jersusalem artichokes, sadly not growing on my allotment but maybe I'll have some next year.  The pictures don't do them justice as they're absolutely stunning, like pieces of modern sculpture.   

 More gardeners ought to grow these in their borders among the flowers and ornamental grasses, they're far too glamorous just to be confined to the veggie patch. 

Almost back to normal

Well, my arm's functioning a little better now, and it's not so sore.  Thank goodness I didn't have to wear a sling for more than a fortnight as it was driving me crackers.

Haven't been able to get on with very much at the allotment, just a bit of one handed weeding!

The Evil Slugs have - despite the organic slug pellets - been munching their way through the courgette plants and purple sprouting.  But the nasturtians (not sure that's how you spell the word!) are flourishing, as are the marigolds.  Have planted some larkspur, a foxglove and some lupins, which will hopefully - fingers crossed - flourish.

I haven't been able to get much sewing done, though I have got some ideas for a flower based embroidery project, maybe a table runner.  I've been cutting out flower photographs from old issues of Country Living to give me some ideas.

No sewing, no working on the allotment ...

I'm typing this one handed as a couple of weeks ago I managed to come off my bike.  I'm having to wear a sling on my right arm.  Some bone around the elbow area has got a little break in it, so I'm getting thoroughly bored and cranky as I'm not able to do much in my spare time.  Can't sew - no needlepoint, quilting or softie making.  No knitting.  No cycling.  No weeding or planting on the allotment.  No nuffink!  Grrr ....

The half finished projects around my flat are staying half finished ...

... like this needlepoint which is intended to use up scraps of wool left over from other cushions or tablemat designs. 

I'm getting more reading done, re-visiting some favourite Agatha Christies.  I do so love an old fashioned murder ... preferably in a quaint English village full of maiden aunts, eccentric vicars, scheming ne'er do wells and mysterious strangers.  Add a dash of cyanide for the perfect crime.

Bye Bye Baby ...

Just sitting down at my laptop having a few cups of tea to start the day off.  It's a very rainy Saturday, and I'm planning on lots of clutter clearing and cleaning up.  There might be several trips to charity shops to drop off unwanted books and clothes. 

It's been a sad week as I've had to say goodbye to my beautiful cat Caesar.  Old age and illness finally caught up with him.  I will miss him loads as he was my constant companion for the best part of 15 years, so it'll be funny without the pit pat of his feet around the place.  I'm hoping to acquire a couple more kitties, but need to do lots of decorating and get new carpet put in, so that'll be easier while I'm on a cat break. 

 What a handsome boy!

Odds & Ends

What I'm reading:

Marigold - frumpy, a fish out of water, hideous in her own eyes, known to one and all by the unfortunate nickname Bilgewater.  A really lovely book by Jane Gardam.

What I've bought:

6 glasses with colourful bird designs, £2.00 for the lot from a charity shop.  A bargain!

Are you getting 5 a day?

It's been raining so much this week I haven't spent more than an hour on the allotment.  I did manage to pop over yesterday early evening, only to find that The Evil Slugs have been feasting on my poor little plants.  Tender leaves are either more full of holes than a piece of cheese, or have been munched until there's nothing left but a stalk.  I'm loathe to use slug pullets, but I might have to. 

Anyway, on to craftier matters ... are you getting 5 a day?  Pieces of fruit I mean. 

I've been making strawberries for a while, but the apple slices are new.

There's also been some baking going on ...

These gingerbread men look pretty pleased with themselves.  The colour doesn't show up too well in my dodgy photo, but the felt is a wonderful spicy shade, perfect for gingerbread. 

A grey, rainy day

It's raining.  I'm sewing. 

Fruit & veg

Well, since my last posting I've got my allotment.  Yay!!  I'm the proud occupant of plot 39a, and have been since last Thursday.  So I've been weeding and weeding, pulling up grass and dandelions and generally clearing the ground so I can start with a blank canvas.  I've planted the odd thing - a nasturtium, some marigolds and mint, but it's mainly a tidy-up at the moment. 

This is a view looking down the slope at my patch.  At the top I'm planning on putting flowers, then a veggie patch.  Then you get to the raspberry bushes which apparently produce masses of lovely berries in autumn, then another veggie patch, then it's compost corner. 

My windowsills all around the flat are full of seedlings in pots, and the courgettes in particular look to be very sturdy little fellows.  I've got high hopes of them, if I can keep the slugs off them of course.  Maybe eventually I'll end up with an abundance of brightly coloured veg - something like this???

I've been making lots of carrots and cherry tomato felt sofites, plus cake - Bakewell tarts and jam tarts.  It's weirdly addictive ...

My desk, as usual, is a total state.  What I really need is a separate sewing room, but no chance of that!  So I'll just have to live with a dining table covered in felt food.  How do people in swanky magazines manage to cope with those severly minimalist homes where there's not a dust bunny out of place?  Do they just clean and tidy 24-7  ?  Are there really people with no clutter?  They can't be crafters ...