Handmaiden

Silent Cinema Fabric

I am looking around for some new fabric to inspire me for a quilt and came across Jenean Morrison through Quilt Home.

I purchased this small sampler of Silent Cinema from her blog

 I am only going to use the grey and yellow fabric

 This is Jenean's Patchwork Cushion Tutorial  from Sew4Home using an alternative Silent Cinema colourway.

Lots to think about

Sharon

 

 

FELTernative

I have been really enjoying experimenting with felt making and have become part of The Victorian Feltmakers who meet regularly in Hartwell.

I went to the opening of Felternative at Hawthorn Town Hall Gallery and it is great. A curated range of contemporary articles from felt artists. It's on till end of August. So go and have a look.

I particularly loved this scarf inspired by Begonias

Sharon

Nikki's Pattern Free Cowl Top

Now in my new studio and craft space I was looking for something to start my creative juices. In my stash I had some great red jersey and I wanted to experiment from Nikki's You Sew Girl Book.

This was very easy to make and  although I did not have enough length to cover my hips it sits just below my waist. I loved the technique of making a binded hem and used the beginners technique for the armhole binding.

I would certainly make another one but this time get the right length of fabric to sit on my hips. But a great first attempt........you really can't go wrong.

Perfect for layering or on it's own 

Sharon

Preserved Lemons

Last week I was given a wonderful basket of lemons.

So this week I turned some of them into preserved lemons.

They will take a few months to preserve but well worth it for use in tagines.

If you want to have a try it's really easy.

Add some rock salt to the bottom of a sterilised preserving jar.

Quarter your lemons without cutting through the base and push in some salt and close, add to jar. Continue until jar is full, adding in extra salt as you layer up. I have added some cinnamon sticks and cloves.

Then add the juice of one lemon.

Store in a dark place for a few months if you can wait that long. They will last for a very long time. Remember when using them just use the skin and discard the inner flesh which is far too salty. They should become very soft and more translucent.

Enjoy

Sharon