May Makes

At the beginning of May I attended an embroidered notebook workshop run by Penny Edwards of The Embroidery Bird.  Each attendee was supplied with a rag paper book and some linen/hemp for a cover.  Then we rummaged in Penny's stash of vintage fabrics, lace and buttons to decorate our covers.

As soon as I saw this lace I fell in love with it and designed my cover around it.

I added a Suffolk puff/yoyo, some buttons and appliquéd fabric motifs to the front.

Then I cut out some of the lace and added a little embroidery.

Next I stamped DREAM on the reverse of a piece of fabric and attached a different lace motif, bow, pink button and stitched some fabric roses.

On the back I kept it simple.

A few mixed media tags for the pages.

Next I will work on some pockets for the inside flaps, then I can stitch the cover together.
During May I played catch-up with the April cross stitch design by The Snowflower Diaries.

I also managed to complete the May design.

 I have been knitting my Together Shawl by Sofia Kammeborn and my Northeasterly Blanket by Melissa Alexander-Loomis.

These projects can be seen in greater detail on my May vlog on YouTube.

Merry Month of May

Our garden looks at its best in May!  All the spring flowers are in bloom and the ground is completely covered with lush greenery.

I planted an acer in a pot as a reminder of our holiday in Japan.

The lilac tree was also looking beautiful and I picked some blooms for our daughter's birthday cake.

  Early in May we visited the RHS Spring Show at Malvern.  The weather was rather damp, but it didn't spoil our day as we walked around the show gardens.

The Gardener's world team were filming that week's episode.

There were some beautiful displays in the flower marque.

We listened to some very interesting talks.

Other trips out in May included a day in Bath.

I attended Sip, Stitch, Shop organised by Helen of Curious Handmade and Carmen of A Yarn Story.

It was a lovely day catching up with friends and doing a spot of shopping at the mini market.

Mid month we visited relatives on the south coast and popped into Lewes for a wander around.

Lewes is a very pretty and historic town, with lots of antique shops

and a brewery.  S came home with a bottle or two! :)

14th C gateway.