April Goal Finished

My goal for April was to finish 1 top for summer, possibly using rayon from Spool and Spindle and the Aida shirt pattern from Sew Liberated.  I am happy to say that I am done.  Here is the resulting garment...

I think I can safely say that had it not been for my one monthly goal I would not have finished it yet.  I love the colour and drape of the fabric but it was 'wriggly' to work with and very fiddly, by the time I got to the curved narrow hem I could so easily have left it lingering on the 'to finish' pile for a couple of years or so.

I'm pleased that I pushed on though as I'm very happy with the result, perhaps I should note that it represents contrast top #1 of my spring/summer capsule wardrobe.  Now all I need is for some weather good enough to wear it.

Linking up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal - April Finish Link-up, thanks for all the monthly motivation once again.

Kirstin

New Shoots

At last, the snow is all gone and the weather is, if not warm, at least above freezing during the day.  On Sunday temperatures 'soared' to 14 degrees so I got out into the garden for the first time this year to get some work done.

Now I've noticed a lot of people around here have tidied up all the dead leaves and remains of perennials from their flower beds already.  I once heard the all knowing Alan Titchmarsh advise against too much clearing until all risk of frost is gone so I've left most of the debris lying about.  But look what's lurking underneath it...

My daffodils are starting to push through, hope they do better than last year.

I only planted these alchemilla mollis in October last year, I wasn't sure how they'd manage in clay soil and with such cold winter conditions but fingers crossed they will do really well.  I hope so as they are such a gentle, foamy plant and remind me of Mum's garden in the UK.

I know this Hellebore isn't looking exactly spectacular but those purple bits in the middle are new leaves.  Honestly, I've been walking past this for the last week while the snow melted thinking what a shame that they are rotting away but the purple balls weren't rot after all.

So all is looking good except for the nibbled patches on my heucheras and shasta daisies, I suppose the poor rabbits are hungry after a long winter and I should allow them a bit of a treat now it's over but they'd better not get too carried away.

What's growing in your garden right now.
Kirstin

Summer Wardrobe

Over the weekend I finished sewing the last two strip sets of Wonky Wheels together and the flimsy is now done.  Doesn't it feel good to get to a big milestone in a project.  I've got myself on a long arm quilting list for this one so now I can start a new project with a light heart knowing there's nothing more I can do for a few weeks.

So this month will be a garment sewing month.  I have 2 possible projects...

I bought this fabric in February then got so involved with quilting that I've not done anything with it.

Last week I went back to Spool and Spindle and bought the Aida shirt pattern by Sew Liberated and this fabric to make it.

On reflection I am thinking that the navy striped fabric (which I have about 1 meter too much of) would make a nice shirt dress and the Aida shirt would look great in the flamingos.  I think I have enough flamingo fabric, I won't know until I cut the pattern, if not I'll just have to go back and get a bit more.

So my One monthly goal for Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal April Link-up is to complete one garment with some of these materials.

Good luck everyone.
Kirstin

Yes, nearly a finish!

At the beginning of March I set myself the goal of finishing off half of the blocks on Wonky Wheels.  I am happy to say that this moth I have over achieved.  I finished all the blocks, made some sashing and look, I've only 2 seams to finish and I'm done the flimsy.

It's amazing what you can do when there are no ice storms, snow days and contractors in the house.  I feel much better about the failure that was February now.

I'm feeling generally hopeful all round at the moment.  The big piles of ice on the boulevard at the end of the driveway have nearly melted, the red winged blackbirds are shirring away and I can walk to school without snow boots.  It feels great to wear sneakers again.

I can't wait to get back in the garden.  I've an enormous bag of garden soil being delivered next week.  So far I've just got these teeny tomato seedlings to plant in it so I'd better get my act together and get some more stuff started.

Linking up to Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal - March Finish Link-up.

Happy Spring,
Kirstin

And now for something completely different...

I've heard that trying out something new and different is good for your brain and keeps you young so for the last few weeks I've been teaching myself Python.

For the uninitiated Python is a programming language used (I believe) in data manipulation and 'back end' website design (??????) I don't think that it has anything to do with bums though which is a great shame as it might be more interesting if it did.

I've got to say that I am not finding it easy.  It's so long since I attempted anything so logic based that getting my head around all the various syntax protocols and different sorts of loops etc is like trying to fit a soccer ball into the equivalent volume shoe box.  It's frustrating and it hurts but it does feel good (sort of) to be stretching myself.

I only tell you all this because it is definitely impacting my ability to put out 2 blog posts each week, generally after I've spent an hour or 2 wrestling with Python I cannot face turning the chrome book back on for any reason.  It's surprising really that it has not been thrown with great force through a window or used to stage my own mini 'will it blend' experiment.

So for today's picture here is a screen shot of a short programme I wrote to help Jacob to decide whether he needs to do laundry or not.

Enjoy.
Kirsitn

Signs of Spring

For the last month I have been wishing desperately for spring.  All the ice and snow this February was horrible and I will be truly glad to see the back of it.

I read in Gardening Month by Month in Ontario that flowering shrubs and trees will come out early if you bring a branch indoors and place it in water so last Wednesday I picked a dead looking piece of Forsythia and popped it in a jug.  I didn't hold out much hope to be honest but will you look at this.

My own tiny piece of spring.  I think I'm going to try with a bit of the scraggy trees from the back garden next.

Happy Spring Blossoms
Kirstin

March Monthly Goal

February saw my first failure to make my monthly goal.  I'm putting it down to the weather and the short month but if I'm honest there was a certain amount of enthusiasm lacking too.  I've caught up a little now, have just got hand sewing and hemming to do to finish my jacket and I went out yesterday and bought the fabric to finish Wonky Wheels.  Here it is.

And so to my goal for March.  I am going to stiffen my resolve and get the final outer layer done on half of my Wonky Wheels blocks, that's 10.  This is ambitious, especially given last month's efforts (or lack thereof) but I am hoping the fact that I already have the materials and have only set myself one goal will help me achieve it.

Linking up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal March Link-up.

Happy Sewing everyone
Kirstin