Cricut Cosy!

I'm taking my Cricut to a weekend retreat at Debden and don't want it to get damaged on route. So I decided to make it a cosy!

I quilted some fabric first to make it padded, then made my own paper pattern to work from. It was a bit fiddly round the ends but I worked it out in the end. Made lots of bias strips to bind all the edges.

It opens and closes so the handle can still be used and the flap is secured with a band of velcro. Sad I now but now I think it will be safe!

Red House

52 Walks with my camera 2010 - Week 14

Today I revisited Red House , Bexleyheath, with Alan and Emily and our cameras. The rain threatened but held off until we left. We first visited this house two years ago when Catherine was studying for her GCSE Textiles and was creating a garment in the style of William Morris. Then we booked the guided tour of the house and gardens, but today we just went for a walk by ourselves in the lovely grounds.

This beautiful building was commissioned, created and lived in by William Morris, founder of the Arts & Crafts movement, Red House is a building of extraordinary architectural and social significance. When it was completed in 1860, it was described by Edward Burne-Jones as 'the beautifullest place on earth'. Only recently acquired by The National Trust, the house is not fully furnished, but the original features and furniture by Morris and Philip Webb, stained glass and paintings by Burne-Jones. The architect was Philip Webb.

The front entrance

Anyone for croquet?

Entrance from the South side

The well in the south side garden.

The Stables

The kitchen garden

If you are ever in the area do pay a visit. It only took me twenty three years of living here to get around to visiting this place!

Log - 52 Walks with My Camera in 2010 so far:1. Bexleyheath, 2. Woodbridge River Front, 3. Hall Place, 4. Chislehurst, 5. Bluewater, 6. Theatre Land,7. Leeds, 8. Orford, 9. Snape, 10. Chatham,11. Nottingham, 12. Twickenham, 13. Woodbridge. 14. Red House.

Alicia

Using two images is the theme for this weeks Passion for Promarkers challenge. I used this Kraftin' Kimmie stamp called Alicia. My second stamp is a parrot from the same set, which I cut out and perched onto the skull,using 3D foam pads. The Skull and cross bones charm has been in my stash for years and came from Crafty Pastimes. The papers are My Mind's Eye and the feathers were donated by George the parrot who lives next door! The stamps are from Quixotic Paperie.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all by blogging, crafty friends.

Have an Easter cake!

Woodbridge in the Rain

52 Walks with my Camera 2010 - Week 13

I completed my walk for week 13 today, the weather ranged from bright sunshine to pouring rain. I got soaked through in the name of this photography challenge !!

Right back at the beginning of this year I did my walk at the riverfront and marina in Woodbridge in the snow, but today I walked through this pretty Georgian town.

Woodbridge is in Suffolk, not far from the coast. It lies along the River Deben. It is twinned with Mussidan in France.

Whistle Stop Café is situated in the station building, and is open daily (Bank Holidays included). Serving all day breakfast and lunches. Eat in or take-away. Station Road IP12 4AU
01394 389320
Reminds me of that great book by Fannie Flagg - Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. One of my favourite books and films.

Just beside the station is this new shop, Adnams Cellar & Kitchen Store for wines, beers, kitchen ware and gifts. They sell a lovely range of goodies from around the world. Station Road IP12 4AU 01394 386594

A few yards from here is the Riverside, cinema and theatre with restaurant. Quayside, IP12 1BH 01394 382174

Below the photo shows typical cottages of the town.

This is the scene outside Windmills, the florist in Cumberland Street. IP12 4AH 01394 384109

I stopped off here to buy my sister a birthday gift. My favourite kitchen store. The Woodbridge Kitchen Company, Cook Shop. Thoroughfare IP12 1AA 01394 382091

The shop below is Bears & Stitches a craft and gift shop in Cumberland Street IP12 4AB 01394 388999
Got a bit delayed here buying wool and a knitting pattern!

Here is the brand new library. New Street IP12 1DT 01394 446510

This is St Johns Church


Today there was one of the regular vintage and contemporary markets, but by the time I walked up to the market it was pouring with rain, so not good for photos. The building in the centre of the photo is The Shire Hall, and has been the the focal point of the town for over 400 years. The Shire Hall was built in 1575 by Thomas Seckford, Master of the court of Requests to Queen Elizabeth I.

The war memorial.

This is the view back down the square from the market.

Below is Woodbridge Violins a fascinating store where they make, restore and sell musical instruments. Market Hill IP12 4LU 01394 383150

Ye Olde Bell & Steelyard Public House is charming 16th Century Inn, the oldest pub in town. To compliment the local real ales and cider, a menu of home cooked food using fresh local produce including home made pies and fish and chips. There is a roaring log fire in the winter and a beautiful cottage style garden for summer. New Street. 01394 382933

The historyof the steel yard, once used to weigh carts can be found here.

This lovely old house is in the same street as the pub. The Bridewell, a Tudor House, once used to house prisoners from the Battle of Sole Bay.

The little properties behind these railing look quaint.













A little further down the same street coming back to the main shopping area from the Market.

This French post box is on the side of the old library building, and can be used for posting post cards in the summer months.

New properties behind the new Library below.

Log - 52 Walks with My Camera in 2010 so far:1. Bexleyheath, 2. Woodbridge River Front, 3. Hall Place, 4. Chislehurst, 5. Bluewater, 6. Theatre Land,7. Leeds, 8. Orford, 9. Snape, 10. Chatham,11. Nottingham, 12. Twickenham, 13. Woodbridge.

Country Kitchen Quilt

I have been experimenting with a selection of fabrics from Quilter's Haven. I have done some quilting before but never tried the 'Attic Window' technique. Today I made the top part of a quilt using this quilt design by Karin Hellaby from this lovely store in Wickham Market. Now need to buy some wadding before I can move on with this project. Here are the fabrics I have been playing with:

Each window will feature a different recipe once it is finished. I intend to use this mini quilt as a wall hanging for the kitchen once it's complete. There are plenty of left overs which I hope to use for card making. Will be back to post when this quilt is finished.

The recipes on the gingham fabric are for jam tarts, fairy cakes, flap jacks, chocolate cake, chocolate chip cookies, gingerbread med, cherry pie and Victoria sandwich.

Look out for this excellent booklet called Sew Simple Attic Windows - patchwork techniques for the 21st century by Karin Hellaby.

New Life

Look at all this new growth, it must be Easter!

I love this old fashioned Primula plant Alan got for me from the garden centre, reminds me of some of the old Elizabethan tapestries.

I'm looking forward to planting out my peppers and pumpkin plants too. We also treated ourselves to a selection of petunias.

I put my geraniums indoors on the window sill and porch over the winter and here are a few of them.

My neighbour gave me a seed head from her Arum lilies which I dried it out and planted, so I'm thrilled to see its starting to grow.

There are so many daffodils in flower I decided to bring some inside to enjoy.

Happy spring and have a good Easter everyone.