Bits and Pieces of the Weekend Past

What a vast improvement a working furnace can make to one's weekend! Free from the coats, blankets, and five foot radius around the portable heater, I was amazed how much I as able to accomplish. First a little TLC was given to my sewing nook. I've actually surprised myself at how well I've been able to maintain the orderliness I worked so hard to achieve during my "Where I Create" overhaul last fall. My main goal this time was to dig current works-in-progress out of a hutch in my bedroom and find a more "inspirational" method to store them...one that would not foster the "out of sight, out of mind" dilemma. The stairwell banister proved to be an excellent solution! By draping an old baby's quilt over it I can even pin up smaller projects so as to keep track of them. It's my very own little design wall and production line all in one.

Having re-discovered these pastel nine patch squares I made several years ago I set to work making a mini quilt top out of them. Several weeks ago Humble Needle posted a great tutorial on making the tidiest mitered corners when attaching the binding to a quilt. I've wanted to try it out ever since I saw it...and soon I should be able to!

I've also been wanting to acquire a book I read about over at Blueberry Cottage, "The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady" by Edith Holden. What luck it was for me to accompany my husband to a "new" old bookstore he discovered several towns over, for not only did I find that treasure but another little gem too, "Cottage Gardener" by Jackie Bennett. The illustrations in both are quite beautiful although one of them in particular almost negated the sale in it's entirety. . .

. . . for wouldn't you know it, my first flip through Holden's book landed me on page 50 where I was introduced to the Adder who is apparently "very plentiful in some parts of England." Oh where are those wellies when you need them! Luckily I was soon distracted by Bennett's sweet pea trellis suggestion.

Speaking of England, did I ever mention I finally acquired the long sought for Christmas issue of the British Country Living? Well I did! I have enjoyed reading this one over and over again even though the holiday is now long gone. It might even be my new favorite so far. Lucy's too apparently. . .

It seems she's been doing a bit of moonlighting! If I'm not mistaken, I do believe she is perched there on the second shelf down in a hutch pictured on page 127.

Someone else is finally able to "perch." By Sunday night my basic doll and her little friend had been assembled and let me tell you it was a lot harder and took a lot longer than I ever would have imagined. Granted, putting the legs on backwards, having to CAREFULLY remove them , and then reattach them in the correct direction didn't help. The arms remain separate on purpose...apparently they are to be attached after the body has been painted and may require a pair of needle nose pliers to ease the sewing procedure!?! Wish me luck!