Wednesday 23 April 2014

Easter miscellany


We've had a wonderful Easter - I hope you have too. This is the first year I can remember where we've made such an effort (Easter eggs, spring lamb, card-making) and it's because of Joe. Being a parent makes you realise the importance of creating happy memories for little ones.

So, lots of family time with parents and siblings and grandparents and cousins. Lots of walking and discovering and enjoying the mild, sunny weather. And, of course, lots of photos.


Gillian kindly mentioned my photos on her blog because I'm keen on collaging. For me, it's not only fun to play around with colour but it allows me to use a lot of photos when I've been a bit snap-happy. If I included these as single images posts like this one would go on and on for ever.


Anyway, back to my miscellany. We've eaten a lot of chocolate (there's a whole lot more in the fridge), baked (and devoured) a lemon cheesecake and enjoyed said lamb and some very pricey but delicious Jersey Royals.

In other food news I picked up a few random - i.e. not on the shopping list - bits and pieces at the market: a punnet of little sweet red peppers which ended up roasted with tomatoes and blitzed into a tasty pasta sauce, and some Cheshire rhubarb (now stewed with a few slightly past-it apples).


John Lewis honoured their promise and the extra fabric arrived. It's now laundered and cut to size so I managed a bit more progress on my dress/tunic/smock. I encountered yet another obstacle with the neckline and, upon discovering the bias binding would be on show, sent off for a bias binding maker. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and want the whole thing to match so will be trying my hand at making my own binding.

I also returned The Goldfinch to the library despite not being quite halfway through it. It was so disappointing to have to do that and I'm now back on the waiting list for it. In fact I fired off an email suggesting they reconsider their fortnight limit on 'in demand' books if they happen to be as long as this one is.

I emailed because I'm too scared to mess with our local librarians in person.

Anyway, I hope you had a lovely Bank Holiday weekend - there's another one just around the corner too, hooray!

18 comments:

  1. Hi Sarah, I found you via Gillian's link and love your blog....I've already added you to my looooog blog roll :0)
    Good luck with the sewing....I've never heard of a bias binding maker.
    Jacquie x

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    1. Hi Jacquie - thank you for your comment and adding me to the blogroll. I always visit other people's spaces when they comment here - it's a great way to connect with new blogs and bloggers:)
      The bias binding maker is a little metal contraption you feed a strip of fabric through (cut on the bias) and press with an iron as it comes out the other side so it has those creases on the edges.
      I only know this because the sewing shop lady told me!
      S x

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  2. You should be brave with librarians... they're really nice people! I hope you get the Goldfinch back soon. Was it a good book thus far?

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    1. I have to admit, they seem nice. I suspect the problem lies with me not wanting to come across as a whinger!
      The book was good. I was really enjoying it which is why I hated parting with it prematurely... As long as I remember the story so far I should be fine once I get hold of it again. Restarting the whole thing from the beginning would be a nightmare!

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  3. Hello Sarah,

    Your beautiful collages do capture the fun and joy of what was obviously a wonderful Easter for you and your family. As you say, this is the stuff of which lasting memories are made and the enthusiasm of small children make all the work worthwhile.

    We know what you mean about overly efficient librarians. Sometimes one feels that they simply do not want any books moved or removed from the shelves. There can be some amazing differences between libraries. At the one extreme they are dusty repositories where the air hangs still . On the other extreme they can be fun, interactive places of learning where the needs of everyone at whatever age or interest is catered for!

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    1. Hello! I do love a good library (or bookshop - which probably explains my soft spot for Hay-on-Wye). When I worked at the University there were numerous departmental libraries and archives, and they had a wonderful atmosphere to them...
      It's such a shame many of our local libraries have closed due to funding cuts. They're important places not just for reading and research but for community activities too.
      Looks like I'm on my soapbox, doesn't it? Better stop now!
      I hope you both had a wonderful Easter - I suspect you did :)

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  4. Lovely photos of your Easter weekend, Sarah. I especially love the little blue flowers in the big collage. I'm glad you had a good time. It really is fun at the holidays when you have a little one who is just beginning to understand the festivities and all the fun stuff that goes along with them!

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    1. Hi Jennifer! I had an inkling when Joe came along that we'd get to revisit all those fun things we did ourselves as youngsters, and I was right! It's lovely.
      The blue flowers are forget-me-nots. Very pretty but very invasive; they pop up everywhere (but then, I quite like that!)

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  5. I don't think we really bothered with festive traditions that much until the kids came along. Now I am all about the traditions! Kids make that kind of thing so fun. I learnt how to make bias binding at sewing class - it involved a square of fabric, some very complicated folding, then one long cut and hey preto! a huge strip of binding. It was like sewing magic, and there is no way I could replicate it now! Good luck with yours. Gorgeous collages - that last one one with the blues and greys is especially lovely. x

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    1. Thank you! The amount of photos I take is silly really, especially when it comes to editing them, but I can't help it. I love doing it and my camera is definitely one of the best things I've ever bought.
      As for the binding, I hope it works out. This one garment is taking forever what with the endless hitches and the fact that I've been depressing the foot pedal on the machine so gingerly I'm surprised it hasn't stalled!
      S x

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  6. Your photos are just lovely...such eye candy...and I love your use of collages. I want to try and incorporate collages into my blog. I'm afraid I may be guilty of picture overload at times. Sometimes it's so hard to only pick a few photos.
    The fabric you have chosen is beautiful!!! I can't wait to see your finished project...I do hope you let us see. :)

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    1. Hi Emily! Of course I'll share but it may be a while off yet. This dress is turning out to be a serious undertaking!
      Do use collages. They're really good fun to put together and it means you can use loads of photos in one post. I know exactly what you mean about struggling to choose between images, especially when they were taken on a sunny day or at a special time.
      S x

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  7. We also only started the various festive tradtions when BigR was born...and this year both girls received lots of chocolate. The bigger one loved it, the little one not so much and swapped her choccie for a banana...strange child! Obviously not inherited that trait from me! :-) I love you collages Sarah. You have a real eye for putting things together. I love the last one with the blues...beautiful. I'm glad JL came good and sorted the fabric. So looking forward to seeing the results...xx

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    1. Oh, me too! I feel as though this journey will never end... I just keep visualising pulling the thing over my head and wearing it. I've learnt so many sewing lessons already!
      We have a lot of chocolate which I've broken up and put in a Tupperware in the fridge. Joe's allowed a little bit most days so this lot should last him months. Although we do dip in too. Just knowing it's there is lethal!
      S x

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  8. Have fun with your bias binding maker I think they sound like the sort of machine that would take my fingers off! I always buy it myself as I often like a contrast.

    Your photos are beautiful :)

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  9. I'm laughing about your scary librarians, I've come across a couple of those in the past too. Fortunately the ones at our local library are absolutely lovely and can't do enough for you. A shame the book had to go back though, it's often not enough time, especially if you want to finish another one before you start the ordered book, which isn't unreasonable. I saw you mentioned in Gillian's brilliant post. I absolutely love collages, I really must get to grips with them a bit more. I did manage one for my blogiversary, which I was happy about. Time to try another one I think! Hope you're having a good week Sarah, CJ xx

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  10. You have my curiosity piqued - what is a Jersey Roll? Lovely photos you have, as always, and I am envious of the beautiful scenery which you are surrounded!

    Too bad about the book. I too am on the list but it's for the Kindle edition. Can't wait to start it, hope you get your copy soon.

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  11. What a lovely Easter ... much like ours, full of family, fun and chocolate ... and hasn't the weather been so beautiful ... wishing you a lovely weekend ... Bee xx

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