Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head!

Quite literally it has felt that everything you step out the door of the house over the last few months you will get rained on. First there was the jet stream that was affecting the weather and causing all the rain and then just when you think that 'crisis' is over and we did have a week of blissful sun for the first week of the school summer holidays, the rain returns! The constant sight of raindrops on the window that I look out of as I sew and the ever-increasing amount of bags filled with small fabric pieces, that I'm continuously stepping over or moving from one end of the room to the other got me thinking, there must be something I can do with them.

I am lucky that my other OH does not seem to mind too much my fabric obsession! In conversation with him the other day about the amount of bags in the room filled to bursting point with what are best described as 'fabric scraps' I mentioned that maybe I should recycle them. I was quite surprised when he answered 'really you must have some use for them'! I wonder sometimes what size fabric scrap other sewers keep and which they feel are too small to be used, I find it hard not to keep every last morsel! 

 

 

I ordered some dried lavender with the intention of making lavender sachets as gifts for my son's teachers but never managed to find the time so sitting staring at the dull winter like weather that was hitting the window the other day and with a head full of the smell of lavender I started playing around with my fabric pieces and doodling.

So please welcome my 'Patchwork Lavender Raindrops'.

I have really enjoyed sewing these, fussy cutting small pieces of fabric to get animals in the right place like this Orange Fox

and this 'Hiding Fox' {below} cut from my very precious last scraps of Cica 52 Birch fabric, the print is one of my favourite fabrics and I've been caught out by not having bought enough. I have finally tracked down a shop in the US that a metre left so are waiting its arrival eagerly, but still its a lesson to be learnt!

The raindrops are filled with dried lavender. I have made them with baby's in mind, thinking that they would look lovely placed in a nursery. Lavender helps to calm and aid sleep, lavender also acts as a insect and a moth repellent so these raindrops will be great for placing in clothes drawers or for hanging in wardrobes. Of course they aren't just for babies and can be hung or placed anywhere in the house.

 

 

I have listed them in my Etsy shop here and are hoping to add some to my folksy shop. I really hope they sell as these first six have not made dent in my 'fabric scrap stash'. I could probably make enough raindrops to fill the sky above me and still have small fabric pieces left!

Birthdays come and go

It wasn't my intention to leave it so late after my birthday to blog about it, in fact I ended up having such a lovely meal out that I felt really excited about sharing it with you - but this is the thing my birthday seems to just come and go! It's no surprise that it's often under celebrated as it comes exactly a week after my oldest child's birthday. He's due date was my birthday, I was never keen on that idea and settled happily for him being born 7 days before, but I should have realised that even having 7 days between it would mean that my birthday has no run up, very little excitement and we are often 'still' celebrating my son's birthday, but oh well, I guess that is often the case as we grow older, birthdays just aren't what they use to be!!

 

 

So my birth 'day' was pretty awful, to be honest we were still full of the fact that our oldest had just turned 7, still feeling pretty shaken by the fact that we had recently lost my Gran (that's another story) and busy with the fact that #2 was leaving pre-school to start school in September, and that #1 was finishing key-stage 1 to start key-stage 2 again in September, so my day was spent doing well 'parent' things. So it went pretty much uncelebrated. But sometimes this just isn't good enough and we well to be fair needed a treat so at the weekend we went to the River Cottage Canteen at Royal William's Yard, as you can see from the photo someone wasn't so impressed with the place, but my what a place. Royal William's Yard is a former Victualling Yard I'll admit I had to look up the history of the place when I got home and really wish I had done it before we went, it is an amazing place and the River Cottage Canteen fits in so well. 

We had a lovely lunch even with #3 stamping here feet and having a tantrum. The food was gorgeous, locally produced and in season, our waitress was brilliant with the kids which makes such a difference I think when you decide to dine out with kids. We felt welcomed, and the boys loved it.

We felt so at home that it made me question why we don't venture out more often with the kids for food, but then I remembered that this is England and we don't often manage to combine good food and child friendly atmosphere! It is one of the things that I miss from living in France. It was lovely for us all to be able to relax and still be able to eat such gorgeous food. 

 

 

Yes #3 mangaed to even sit back down and cheer up once her food arrived!

And for once even I had my photograph taken, well it was my birthday!

 

 

River Cottage Canteen is situated in the old Brewhouse building. The whole 'Royal Yard ' makes for a good wander and explore. We had a really special day out, one that we will all remember for quite a while and at a place we can't wait to go back to. And for me it was a real special birthday as I really felt like I relaxed - so for once I can't wait for the next one!