In The Garden | October 2020 - Planting Plans and Pickles

 Time for a little 2021 preparation. My little holiday to the Isle of wight reinvigorated my enthusiasm for my garden and what I can grow next year, I also found lots of seeds which I want to try!

• Isle of Wight Garlic Farm

• Plum and Apple Chutney 

In The Garden | August 2020 No.02

 After a week away, its time to see if my plant babies survived the heatwave that we had in the UK!

In The Garden | August 2020

 So July melted into August and meant it was time for another little garden wander. This time it was all bout readying my plants for a week without my TLC...AKA over attentive coddling!

In The Garden | July 2020

 

UFO Hall of Shame 2020 - Sewing Edition

 

May The Fourth Be With You!

Happy Star Wars Day! 

In honour of today I have just re-watched The Mandalorian, how good is that show!? it has got to have been one of my favourites shows of 2019, along with Good Omens...oh and His Dark Materials, that was a corker! Anyway, I digress, as soon as I saw 'The Child' I was, like most of the internet, hooked! How flipping cute, and mischievous and such a great start to the series!

Please note, if you make this little tike, you gotta keep both eyes on him at all times, it's not only Mudhorns that he likes to play with!

As much as I was in love with 'The Child' my knitting of this pattern actually happened by chance, I was scrolling through Facebook and saw a crochet version of the infamous 'Tiger King' (see it here) and jokingly suggested to my friend and colleague Steve, that I could make him one, as it was a show he had been enjoying (like most people it seems, me not so much) and I had lots of time on my hands due to being furloughed, he countered with this Baby Yoda pattern, and to be honest it was a pattern I was much more keen to actually knit, and so I ordered some yarn and got going!

~ The Child ~

Pattern:

Baby Yoda created and kindly shared by Kim Konen

Yarn: 

Worsted weight Cascade 220 in - Antiqued Heather

Worsted weight Cascade 220 - Pesto

Careful, the force is strong with this one!

I have made a few little changes to the original pattern to make it a little more realistic to the version in the show, please don't see this as a criticism in any way of Kim's pattern, its just that I had plenty of time to tinker, partly because I could and partly because I was using yarn that was quite different in thickness and behaviour to that used in the original pattern.

BODY
Knit the body as pattern instructs.

EARS
Knit Ears as pattern instructs.

Only thing I did differently was to weave floristry wire through the outer edges of the ears to add structure to my floppy yarn - this means its is not suitable for children.

ARMS
Knit in green only, following what the pattern instructs for the measurements.

Instead of rolling the arms up, I seamed them along the hand and up the long edge and stuffed them with stuffing, before attaching them to the body - Wait until you have sewn the cloak before attaching the arms as you can use the cloaks holes as a placement guide.

Sew three knots on the ends of the arms, to create a hand - I did this by oversewing in one area a few times and then securing, then threading the loose end of the thread into the body to hide.

CLOAK
This is where I varied from the pattern the most, work as follows.

On 5mm Needles Cast on 42 stitches.
Row 1: Slip 1, knit to end
Row 2: Slip 1, knit to end
Row 3: Slip 1, purl to end.
Repeat rows 2 & 3 (essentially stocking stitch) until work measures 3 inches ending on a purl row.

We now need to make some arm holes in the shawl, this is super easy to do
Next row: Knit 10 stitches, bind off 2 stitches, continue knitting until you are 12 stitches from the end of the row, bind off 2 stitches and then knit to the end.
Next row : Purl 10, wrap yarn around needle twice to create 2 stitches, continue until next hole and wrap yarn around the needle twice, purl to end.

Continue in Stocking stick for another 2 inches.
Bind off.

SLEEVES (make 2)
Cast on 12 stitches.
Work in stocking stick for 2 inches, ending on a purl row.
Next row: Slip 1, inc 1, knit 4, inc 1,
Continue in sticking stitch for another 1.5 inches.
Bind off.
Sew the sleeves together along the longest edge, to create a tube.
Attach sleeved to cloak but inserting them into the hole and over casting the two pieces together.
Roll end of sleeve back up the arm, increase row should be approximately where it folds.

FACE
Work as pattern instructs.

I only had 1 cm black buttons, but I think they worked well. To give him a little more definition in the eye, I sewed an upper and lower lid, by stitching each side of the button, creating a long thread which ran across the eye, and then securing the strand (couching might be the correct term) a couple of times into the face until it was secure, then repeating this until it looked about right, it was not a precise art. but it does give the option of tucking the buttons behind the lids, to close his eyes a little  you know when using 'his hand'.

So there you have it, my tinkered with version of 'The Child' just in time for Star Wars Day, The pattern is a lovely one to work with, hats off to Kim for creating it! I think he has turned out very cute indeed and I know I will struggle to part with him - however I have plenty of yarn left so I will start on my own version very soon!

I hope wherever you are in the world that you are safe and well and are able to enjoy a little bit of escapism today, no matter what galaxy you choose to find it in!

Wendy x

Monthly Meanderings - March 2020

So, then there was march 2020, and what a month that would turn out to be! If anyone had told me at the beginning of March what would be happening by the end I would have though they were bonkers.

- Plants, Pharos & Panic Buying -

So I started my March vlog on a bright sunny day preparing for a trip down to London with my family. Corona Virus was very much in the news at the time, but the governments advice was, as long as you wash your hands as often as humanly possible and don't touch your face, it was safe to travel around as before.

Benn & James at Kew // Greenery at Kew // Dad and mum on the tube //
Pharos tomb tresures // My wonderful friend Alan // Beautiful Mosaic at Chingford STN

Then there was a comedy of errors involving a early morning incident on the main drag in to Hinckley, which meant that we couldn't get the bus to the station and so we missed our train, even after ordering a taxi which didn't show up (I tried six companies before one agreed to even try, Uber is not a thing round here). So rather than spend another £90 on replacement tickets we resorted to driving down. I was already hesitant about our trip, I don't need much to set my panic sensors blazing and the news had been seeing to that, so the extra stress of missed trains, I will confess to have been anxious as hell! I didn't convey any of this in my video.

Despite it all we had a wonderful few days first visiting Kew Gardens for my little brothers birthday and then on to Tutankhamun Exhibit at the Saatchi Gallery and V&A on Sunday. On Monday before heading home. we made a little detour to Walthamstow for some fabric shopping and for Benn to taste the delights of 'Pie & Mash' in the wonderful victorian L Manze, a true Cockney must.

The trip was wonderful and turned out to be a very poignant way to start the month, as merely two weeks later and we were about to enter an unprecedented time of restrictions to our movements here in the UK in the form of the governments Lockdown. I am so grateful that I was able to see some of my friends and my family just before it all began in ernest, and also for having this video to look at to remember the happy times as well as the monumental things that happened in March. Stay safe and stay at home!

Wendy x

Monthly Meanderings - Feb 2020

So what did February have in store!

~ Sewing & Growing Plans ~

It was a stormy old month February, I did my best to get outside when I could but rain stopped play more often than I would have liked!

Benn spent hours sanding and fixing the stairs // I finally get to do a bit of digging!
// Tracing // Garden planning // Suits you Sir!, sewing plans!

It did mean however there was plenty of time to spend plotting a big sewing project, which is always fun, speaking of fun Benn  decided that a prank was in order!

Wendy x

Monthly Meanderings - Jan 2020

~ Woman about the house ~

January was a very quite month,which means that it gave me the chance to do a bit of an early spring clean and slowly build some motivation, for 2020!

I even started sewing again, something I haven't done properly since I moved in with Benn!

• Re-Nourish: A Simple Way to Eat Well 
• Annie Carlin Keep it Vegan: 100 simple, healthy & delicious dishes

Wendy x

Monthly meanderings - Nov-Dec 2019

having had weeks of sunshine in 2020, it seems strange to look back at frosty mornings and crisp days of November and December, but here is my 2019 vlog from those months, with a little reminder of the winter and a more 'normal' time.

~ Brilliant Birthdays & Green Gifting ~

Liverpool museum and soup to warm the soul! // A painting from the Lady Lever Gallery // GMRC at Warley
// Finally a dining table // Sunset over the water

November we made another, trip to see my dad on the Isle of Wight, it was a short and sweet trip and we enjoyed some gorgeous sunny spells! My crochet game was still strong and I was still joining those squares together! 

My Birthday, day, we stopped at Crown Street to look at the park // Eco Gifting // Terrarium time
// Liverpool your gorgeous // Sunlight and Xmas Stockings // Beau and some Baubles!

December involved birthday for me, which mean a little trip 'oup north' to Liverpool for a few days being a tourist, visiting the city and then a little trip out to Port Sunlight and the Lady Lever Museum.

Then christmas rolled in and had me making Eco friendly Xmas gifts to help kick start the clan into a less plastic way of living, a girl can try!

Wendy x

Monthly Meanderings - Sept-Oct 2019

This is a plant heavy episode, I bought a lot, killed a few and then bought some more!

I also finally got some crafting going with Granny Square plans.

~ Plants, plants, plants... oh and some Crochet ~

Crochet Squares // Loo paper by the mile

// Jamin' // Sansevieria Trafiscata

I bought a lot of grant squares from eBay as I had grand ideas of making something very 70s!

I also did a spot of Jam making, a very tiny bit of decorating, we ordered our first 'Who Gives A Crap' loo roll order! And then there was a lot of plant potting and fingers crossed saving!

Wendy x

Monthly Meanderings - August 2019

August has rolled around and it is full of things to be done!

~ Gardening, Island'ing & Vegan BBQ'ing ~

Beautiful Butterfly on the Budlia // Benn and my Dad enjoy a pub dinner
Dom came to visit and inspired a Vegan BBQ // 'Somewhere over Shanklin'

In this episode there is a little catchup on the garden, which includes some surprise potatoes, some of which were eaten as soon as they were dug up! 

There is another little trip to the Isle of Wight  where we he'd to Dimbola lodge and see the Bowie Photo Exhibition I wanted to see the last time we were there! I have to say the weather was particularly fierce and certainly added a sense of drama to the occasion!

And some gorgeous cows which we saw on our way home from Shanklin!

Once back on the mainland there is some house plant repotting to do and a very exciting trip to the compost heap (what do you mean its not exciting) oh and a little Vegan BBQ, which went a little bit wrong...no vegans were harmed don't worry!

Wendy x

Monthly Meanderings - July (Part Two) 2019

Part two of Julys vlog is all about getting things done at home

~ Sewing Room Tidy ~

In this episode I spend my time, trying to fit all my stuff into my Sewing room, Spoiler, I didn't quite manage it, there is still lots to set but its a start and thats something!

A Billy Bookcase to make the sewing room neater!?! // Me pondering my tan // Yarn stash!
// The burning bin from Hades // Benn's secretly built compost heap!

We also get our very first doorstep milk from Milk and More, Benn builds a Compost bin, and then sets light to some stuff, I'm not sure the burning bin will ever be the same! 
Oh its all riveting stuff I'm sure you'll agree, haha!

Wendy x

Monthly Meanderings - July (Part One) 2019

So now to July, where I films so much I had to break it down into two!

~ Eisteddfod & The Isle of Wight ~

So in part one of Julys vlog, we take a trip to Wales for the opening of the Llangollen Eisteddfod, where Benn has a warm up set and we get to see Jools Holland!

Benn found a traffic light he proves of  // Oxalis looking fabulous // demure as always! ;P
Jools Holland and the Selecta!  // The Needles // Benn keeping us in time

Then there is a holiday to the Isle of Wight, where we visit Ventnor for food and sea side relaxation, Shanklin for Record buying, Sandown for Glass blowing, Ryde for charity shopping, Freshwater Bay for relaxing and Haven Street for a Steam trip, before returning home to a blossoming Oxalis Plant!

Monthly Meanderings - June 2019

So its June now in my round up of well overdue videos, the internet round here is no better than before!

~ LDN & MCR ~

Planting herbs //Oxalis bulbs // Benn on the decks
Phillip //  Euston Station // Quarry Bank

In this video there is a day trip to London to catch up with my wonderful friend Phillip, where we stroll around and get lost! Theres a little planting of herbs and new bulbs and...

I ended the month with a trip with Benn to Manchester, for a spot of DJ'ing and a Birthday day out to the beautiful Quarry Bank Mill!

Things mentioned:
• The Doric Arch
• Monstera Deliciosa'Taueri 
• Oxalis Trangularis
• Jamies Jungle Instagram
• Soul Sauce DJ
• Quarry Bank Mill

Monthly Meanderings - May 2019

Hello, its now May, well it is in the round up of my over due Volgs - which happens to mean quite a bit is going on! 

~ Foliage & Festivals ~

Planting up my succulents // my dishevelled moosh //
Benn doing his DJ thing // Suede giving off their 90s best!

In this video there is a bit of DIY, some plant shopping and a lot of plant waffle, some vintage shopping and the Bearded Theory Festival 2019!

My Boston Fern has started an indoor plant obsession, oops!

Not having had a garden of my own for quite a few years now and being a hopeless but passionate gardener I was finally able to get a few plants from the garden centre, which was very exciting, I bought a few indoor plants not something I have really dabbled with much and can feel a new hobby/habit forming!

We also go the chance to visit the Vintage Home Show which is held a few times a year in Coventry, usually we are away or busy the weekend that it arrives but this time the stars aligned and we were able to pop along and snag a few, very green as it turned out, bargains!

We finished the month with a 5 day festival extravaganza, at the Bearded Theory Spring Gathering, Benn had been booked to DJ the VIP bar and invited along the legend that is Martin the Mod, together the ensured that the staff and artists we kept well tuned with their mix of Soul, funk and 60s classics. It was a great weekend and even better that I got a chance to sneak off and watch a teenage favourite Suede!

Things mentioned:
• Lucy's Lock-up
• Monstera Deliciosa'Taueri 
• Boston Fern
• 'Plant these save the bees' T-shirt
• Vintage Home Show
• Bearded Theory Spring Gathering
• Soul Sauce DJ
• Martin the Mod

Monthly Meanderings - Jan-April 2109

Hello everyone, its time for another one of my monthly vlogs, we have finally made it to 2019 and we have four months in one, so we will nearly have caught up very soon!

We have a trip for work to London and another one to Glasgow, a house move and a little look around my current home, well... mostly the garden as in April there was not much more than a mess to see inside the house!

Monthly Meanderings - December 2018

I know it's way too early to talk about Christmas, but what about Christmas 2018!?!

~ Christmas Shopping & Sewing ~

Beau // Hinckley's Lights // My first Project //
Difficult sewing decisions // Lefunk! @ the Woodstock Stockpot

So in the December 2018 edition of nonsense Wendy got up to, we have a little bit of sewing, some difficult decisions- prompting a whole lot of waffle, a quick view of my fabric stash...obviously that's what airing cupboards were really made for.. a trip to Liverpool and Stockport for Christmas and lots and lots of Benn being very clever with the band he's part of!

Links to bits mentioned in this Vlog:
• NewLook 6619 - only available second hand Ebay
• Secondhand Rose Worcester
• LeFunk! Stockport


Wendy x

Sew It - Vintage Hair Bow Tutorial Part 2

So here is part two of my Hair Bow Tutorial, the written out version, to see the video click here!

~ A Vintage Hair Bow ~

For this tutorial you will need:

• 1m of double-sided satin ribbon

• Matching Cotton thread

• A Hand Sewing Needle & Pin

• A Ruler or Tape measure

• Clear nail polish or Fray Check

• An Elastic Hairband

• A pair of Scissors

1. You will need to cut your ribbon in to the following lengths

• 1 x 2.5" strip
• 1 x 12" strip
• 2 x 13"strips
• 1 x 14" strip

2. Once all of our strips have been cut we need to see the ends, to do this we need to paint the raw edges of the cut ribbon with Fray Check or clear nail varnish, once you've done this you'll need to let them dry for a few minutes before moving on to the next step!

3. Now you're going to need to take one of your 13" strips and place the 12" strip on top. Centre it up so the ends are evenly spaced, as seen at the top of the picture. Now you need to grab your 14 inch strip and fold it in half so that the two raw ends meet in the middle.

4. Pin the bow you have just created with raw sides facing downwards into the centre of the two ribbons you have placed on top of each other, and then stitch these three layers together. Finish by pulling your needle through to the top of your work.

5. Next take the longest piece of ribbon that you have left and fold it in half. Place it over the stitches that you have just made and then sew through this layer and the others a couple of times to attach it to the rest of the bow.

6. Once you have done this take the needle and wrap it around the centre of the bow a couple of times to draw everything together at the middle.

7. That done it should look like the image above, secure thread and cut off.

8. Next you need to attach the short piece of ribbon you have left to the centre of your bow, this can be done with a simple overcast/whip stitch as it will not be visible when we are done.

9. Time to add the hair band, loop the band through the tab you have just created and wrap the ribbon around twice (this will depend on the sickness of your band, a thinner band may need more) until the raw edge is on the back side of the bow.

10. Stitch in place with an over cast stitch, secure thread and then paint the row of stitches with a thin layer of nail polish to secure.

11. Done, time to get your 50s screen starlet on and wear with abandon.

Wendy x

Sew It - Vintage Hair bow Tutorial Part 1

It's time for a little tutorial, this is one I started back in 2016, shocking I know, but it seems to have become a trait of mine of late!

So I am posting this in two parts; Part one is the video tutorial, for those who find watching someone create something more helpful, and part two with is the pictorial version for those who prefer to read the instructions, just choose which works best for you!

I love this bow, it is really reminiscent of Brigitte Bardot and Audrey Hepburn and gives you an easy-peasy touch of vintage glamour to any outfit! I have worn my lots since I created this tutorial back in 2016, its such a quick way to give your outfit that 60s beat girl vibe which is something I have spent most of my life trying to capture!

You don't need any sewing skills at all for this, you could use a hot glue gun if sewing is not your thing and to make it up will only take about 15 mins, so really you have no excuse for not giving it a go!

I hope you enjoy this video, and if you make one do let me know!
Wendy x