Miss Wilmott's Ghost - Plant of the Week

Eryngium giganteum

What a stunner this is.  Also known as Sea Holly or, my favourite, Miss Wilmott's Ghost.  So called, after the 19th-century gardener, Ellen Wilmott, who liked to secretly scatter seeds of the plant in other people's gardens.  The following year the plant would appear; the ghost of Miss Wilmott.  It is a biennial, but self-seeds freely & usually needs thinning out.



Being silly

Yesterday I had a trip to the dentist, my friend came with me as I'm such a wuss.  I usually cry after the dentist, but did really well this time & managed to maintain my dignity.  Didn't last long though; we found ourselves in the shops playing at "find the most revolting shoes you possibly can". So what do you think?

This gorgeous silver and gold lace-up numbers?

Or is this colourful mock-snakeskin detail shoe more to your taste perhaps.  These were high, I was 6ft tall and holding onto a shelf to keep upright.

My prize is going to the gold and silver ones, they cheered me up after the dentist-trauma anyhow.

Today I've been back at work in the orchard, mostly getting soaked by heavy rain showers.  It would seem we're having April's showers in June this year.

I uncovered something unusual today, - a pretty slug!  I'm not a fan of slugs, mostly because of the damage they cause, but also they are quite unattractive.  This one is nice though, look at those lovely markings.  Am I losing it?!

I've been laying out my sampler blocks so I can think about sashing colours.  I've decided I'm going to use a bright pink.

These are the two new blocks I've added:

Flying Geese, using speed piecing techniques.

I'm loving this one.

Win something lovely

Ellen at The Long Thread has written a very lovely looking book & over at her blog is giving five copies away.  Check out the trailer above too (beware, the music is very catchy I keep getting it stuck in my head, -probably a good sign for Ellen).



Another chance to win something lovely is over at The Eternal Maker blog.  There's a Moda layer cake and a jelly roll of the new range from designer Liesl Gibson of Oliver + S.  This isn't out in the UK or even the US yet, but will be by the end of the year, so this is a real exclusive and a great opportunity to show off.

Blogger is still driving me insane by not letting me comment on many blogs, so lets just hope I actually get chance to enter.

Cushions

I finally finished the secret summer house cushions!  It feels great to have actually finished them; I've lost count of how many weeks they've been hung over the top of my living room door half-done.  

These colourful cushions have been made for my parents summer house & this will be the first chance they've had to see them.

I do think they look quite good in my bedroom though. . .

Even the ones that are meant to be square have turned out slightly
oblong.  I do really like them, but always like to point out the imperfections.

For the reverse sides I used some upholstery weight fabric from Ikea.

The idea for these long cushions came from the Sew Mama Sew pillow month tutorial by Julie from Jaybird Quilts.

The quilting is a mixture of machine and hand stitching.

All that remains now is for the collection/delivery.  I think I'd better stash them out of the way for now in case I get too attached.

Weekend Report

I've been to ALL my local quilt shops this week.  I had a good excuse, - I need more of the fabrics I'm using to make my sampler quilt.  I got this pile from my favourite fabric shop, Quilty Pleasures in Brighton.

As well as getting 2 out of 3 of the fabrics I needed from Brighton Sewing Centre I also got tempted into buying this stack of solid fat quarters.

I also went to the Patchwork Dog & Basket in Lewes yesterday looking for a particular fabric I've been using in my sampler blocks.  Sadly it had all gone, and I actually managed to refrain from buying anything in there, which was a bit of a shock.

I keep walking past this lovely looking shop on North Road, Brighton, when it's shut.  I've pressed my face up against the window a few times, so walking past yesterday morning I ducked in for a bit of a snoop around.

It's one of those shops I feel like I could quite happily live in, I'd definitely be happy curling up in this bed.

I'm obsessed with my sampler blocks and have churned out another couple over the weekend.

I'm pleased with the star, but I'm not sure Log Cabin suits me, it's pretty slap dash & the other one I made is so wonky I'm too embarrassed to show it.

Go #?*! Yourself

I really enjoyed completing my Subversive Cross Stitch kit that I bought at the Hayward.  I'm really happy with how it's turned out.

I was going to find a frame for it and put it on the wall, but after reading this blog post at One Flew Over, I'm now thinking I might make it into a cushion cover.

This morning I'm waiting in for a plumber and I'm also taking part in Fresh Sewing Day with Lily's Quilts.