The harvest is here and I love preserving my left over veg. I had loads of green tomatoes and an over abundance of cucumbers.
The tomatoes were turned into lovely green tomato chutney
I added sugar, red wine vinegar, spices, onions, sultanas, ginger and home grown red chillies to offer a little warmth. I managed to produce 4 jars which will last us through the winter and into the spring
I planted my very first cucumber plants this year and they were so productive and easy to grow, that I wondered why I have never grown them before
After having plenty for salads and for sharing with friends and family I decided to pickle them along with onions, sugar and white vinegar with spices. This the first time I have pickled them but next time I think I will make a chutney with them.
I am making quillows and teddy bears for my grand children and friends for Christmas, so I have been inundated with projects. I have concentrated on the teddy bears and have used 2 different patterns.
This is the first pattern I used with the arms and legs separate. I have attached the arms and legs using plastic safety hinges and boot studs for the eyes and nose. This is for a friends daughter and I shall be doing a quillow to go with it.
This is the other type of bear. The arms are sewn on and the legs are attached when putting the body together, so no need for hinges. This bear is able to be posed sitting with its legs hanging over.
So I have more bears than a teddy bears picnic but I know that each one will find a loving caring home with a little girl (or woman) who will love them forever.
If anyone would like the pattern for the second bear I will post it.
What crafty ideas are you all getting up to or home making Christmas presents
Take care
I have not posted on this blog for over 6 months so I have decided to give it a makeover and to put it to better use.
I have been extremely busy in those last 6 months....and we have a new family member
Meet Paddy. He is a puddin' Jack Russell Terrier. Puddin's have shorter legs than normal Jack's but more often than not they are call Irish Short Legged Jack Russell's.
He is a lovely boy who spends his day chasing a ball, , enjoying his snacks and sleeping on the settee with his dad.
He is 4 years old and has been rehomed twice, both times for good reasons, but now he is in his forever home with his forever mum and dad.
I shall post on my blog about what we have got up to, how the growing season is going for us, the preserves I have made and also about the crafts I am creating. I hope, in a few weeks, to return to an art group which will give me the push to revisit my paints. I will post pictures of my artistic skills but David Hockney is safe, I only paint for fun.
Today, I picked up a fabulous bargain. My local Wilko's were selling tomato collars for £1.50 reduced from £2.95. That's almost half price so I bought half a dozen, 3 for the grow house and 3 for the greenhouse. I can't let a good bargain pass me by.
I hope you enjoy reading my blog and thank you for passing by....so long for now!!
