An open-shelved delight

When we arrived at our holiday cottage in Norfolk last October this was the view that met us as we opened the door, quite breathtaking isn’t it?

We knew the cottage would look great, but we perhaps weren’t expecting our breath to be taken quite so much away. I like the idea of open shelving in a kitchen, but I know that mine would rarely look as pretty as these! But I was hopeful that for a few days, and in someone else’s space, I wouldn’t mess it up too much.

I was also quite taken with the zinc worktop, and it’s something I’d have in a future kitchen. Perhaps not on every worktop, but I can see the advantages of incorporating it somewhere. I could get MOH to make even more pastry - one of his specialities - if he had such a space couldn’t I? I’m less good at pastry, I think because my hands are too hot, but that works for bread making, which is very much more my thing.

The worktops looked great, but in reality for longer term living all the ‘staging’ probably wasn’t that practical. Though adding the gourds and pumpkins was a really lovely touch and one that’s do-able and very repeatable in my own kitchen. I just need to remember - or find this post again - in the autumn.

The stack of enamelware reminded me how much I like enamelware, and reminded me of what I have at home, and rarely use. This was a soft grey and white variety, whereas mine is white with the blue trim - quite the classic look. I do like a classic, as my Le Creuset is the traditional orange sort too. Having been reminded of the enamelware’s beauty I promised myself to make more use of my own, and I’ve added to it too. MOH now has some espresso cups, and I’ve my eye on a roasting set too, if it ever comes back in stock.

The mix of practical and pretty really appealed to me. I don’t think it’s much of a coincidence that I’ve also bought some pretty and hand painted coffee cups either. And even though the look is modern, there were many traditional elements, like this drying plate rack above the sink.

And I bet like me, you weren’t really surprised to discover the style of the cutlery in the cutlery drawer.

Picking up my patchwork

It’s been a while, but over Christmas the patchwork quilt I planned and started a while back started to call my name. So I braved it, pulled it out and quickly remembered the reason I’d put it aside was because my next job was to cut up an old duvet cover to use as the plain sections of the quilt. I also remembered that I needed to cut over 300 pieces once I’d done that.

However, as I said it was calling my name, so there was nothing for it, but to get on with it.

And like many things, once I’d started it wasn’t as bad as I feared. It wasn’t long before I got into a rhythm and piles of the right sized blocks started to form.

So the next piece of my quilt puzzle was to reacquaint myself with the 2.5 inch squares I’d already cut after choosing fabrics from my stash and working out the layouts. Now I needed to decipher my system - thankfully my logical self had left plenty of clues, including some blog posts and photos of each Great Granny Square layout. Sometimes I even amaze myself.

Which all meant, it was time to start sewing. I decided to pin a couple of blocks to speed up the actual sewing, and it’s a system that’s working out well for me. I currently have four blocks assembled, two more ready to assemble, two ready for the first seams to be pressed and another two blocks pinned and ready to sew.

I do like a system.

SEWING SQUARES TOGETHER

CHAINING MORE SQUARES TOGETHER

SEWING THE STRIPS TOGETHER AND ASSEMBLING THE BLOCKS

The sewing is actually the enjoyable bit, cutting out less so - but clearly needs to happen. I’m sure MOH is bemused about the desire to cut up bits of fabric to sew them back together again, and on a level I see his point, but knowing I will create something bigger and better than its parts is what it’s all about.

Each strip and block I sew is full of memories. I know where each piece has come from and many are years old and some are much newer. In the blocks below, the pink and white floral pieces are from remnants in mum’s stash of the Laura Ashley curtains I had in my bedroom as a teenager, the brown stripey fabric is newer and a recent purchase from the V&A. The turquoise aztec pattern is from remnants from a childhood dress of mine, not the actual dress, but a piece that mum made me a magazine bag which I used and used. I used so much the handles came off, and so it was put aside and when I came to look for fabrics I knew this was going in.

The centres of each block, and the pink and lilac striped material are from old shirts. I’m not sure its usual to use stripes in patchwork, however I am. Striped fabrics have memories too - though I’m trying to use them so all the stripes head the same way. I suspect there’ll be a hiccup along the way, but that’s the plan.

Some of my seams don’t quite match up, and some are perfect. I’m trying not to focus on those that don’t too much because when it’s all together it will be unlikely that the imperfections spoil the overall look. Well, I’m hoping not anyway.

I’ve realised just how much I do like patchwork quilts, and how long it is since I’ve sewn one. When I had my first house I made many quilts, selling them to friends and family but got out of the habit somewhere along the way. I’ve also realised that quilts have many life lessons in them, as well as memories, as done is way better than perfect.

And while I’ve certainly not been rushing this one, they aren’t something to rush either. Though even I’ll admit leaving it a few years in between stages is pushing it. I’m not even sure MOH believes it will ever exist as an actual quilt either. I’m sure it will, though I’m not quite prepared to say exactly when!

A new crochet project

Last December, for the first time in a long while, both MOH treated ourselves to an advent calendar. His was coffee, though I think he’d much have preferred whisky, or as he later discovered a port advent calendar, and mine was wool. I was more than happy.

Each morning, opening our advent calendar, became part of our new ritual. He even feigned interest in the wool, me likewise for the coffee! My original plan had been to try and use each skein close to the day I opened it, but that was way too optimistic. And so they were carefully admired and put aside for when I knew I could enjoy them properly.

And here they are. The nerd in me couldn’t resit photographing them in order, starting with day 1 in the top left corner. The nerd in me is still sticking to using them in order too, as you’ll discover later on in this post.

Clearly I had no idea what colours would be included, but I’d given some thought in advance on how I would use them, but before we get onto that I needed to wind them to use. No fancy winding tools here, so I spent an enjoyable afternoon creating these balls of wool ready for use, and thankfully not too many of them misbehaved and ended up in a muddle of knots. Though a couple did, and my patience to untangle them astounded me.

Having already given how I would use them some thought and deciding to try something slightly different for me - though still crocheted squares - I knew I would need some neutrals to make my half and half squared blanket, well, less garish.

I’ve started with day 1, and so far I’m really pleased with how they’re turning out. I chose two neutral colours, one a pinky-grey and the other (not shown) a blue-green, both of which are colours that fit our decor and I like.

So now, it like one or two other projects on the go is calling my name each evening when we sit and relax. And I’m keen to see how this one works out.