Leather Tool Roll

Ages ago...(maybe 4 or 5 years 😲) my son asked me to make him a tool roll for his chainsaw files etc. So, because it was going to be complicated, I put it on the back burner to think about how I would do it. At one point I thought I would get on with it, but the leathers I had in the stash did not suit his ideas.

But the vendor I regularly got leather from had stopped vending... so time went on. Then in 2018 I caught a glimpse of a leather vendor just as I was leaving the Bristol show They we’re back last year. She had a good size piece, but for £30. Which I hadn’t got. So I said, what about that misshapen section? So she cut that part off, leaving her with a more squared off piece others might like. The piece I got was about twice what I used here. and only cost £10!

I find it easier to design something out of my head if it already has an interesting shape. 

Anyway, after dithering (🤨will I be able to make something he likes?) I finally decided I better do it for this birthday and get it out of my head!!

Plus - An extra file pocket and a small pocket for whatever. 

Free perks

A Certain Young Man has come home...he’d rather be locked down with us than on his own when everyone else has already gone. The research PhD students stayed on longer than the rest of the uni.

Anyway, he and the Thoughtful Man went to get a bit more food. At this point it is still allowed!

They came back with this!

FREE!

The manager said they were near their sell by and no one was buying them, since Mothering Sunday was on Sunday. The ticket said £10!

Nothing wrong with them as far as I can tell. I have put them next to the 3D card my son gave me Sunday. He also cooked dinner on Saturday evening AND Sunday!

Something on Saturday (or not)

Okay. So this wasn’t actually posted on Saturday. I was finishing off another project with a deadline.

Treasure 54

A vase given to me from my son.

It holds my collection of peacock feathers.

Pancake Day

Yesterday we met at our friend’s house to have a pancake night. One day early because other friends were going away today. 🧇
Mr Thoughtful was one of the ones who made pancakes. And some gluten free pancakes for me. We love getting together with these dear people.

But I forgot to take photos when we were there. 🤭

Something on Saturday

Treasure 50

A new Treasure. It is just right.

Oh, and the kettle is new. NOT a treasure! The old one died on Sunday morning...that afternoon we had a knock on the door, delivery of a new one. Looks swish, but apparently it was cheap and Sunday delivery.

Some sewing related pressies

Aren’t friends and family so thoughtful?

Some books, fabric and other sewing related things have come into my studio.
Not to mention the chocolate!

Note books and eco- dyeing materials

And notelets from a very good friend.

Thank you so very much everyone!

A very cool thing!

Today we got a Christmas card from a relative of my husband in Scotland.

Sequins!

Then trying not to damage anything...

Ha! It is a piece of sequinned fabric!

How cool 😎

Designed for WHSmith 

Something (meant to be) on Saturday

I have had a head cold and Saturday got lost in falling asleep.
So, anyway.

Treasure 40

A decorative warming pan given to me by my mother in law. I don’t know if there is a story behind it.

Something on Saturday

Treasure 39

This treasure is actually my husband’s. It belonged to his dad. One of those Loch Ness souvenirs, given him because he was Scottish. This one held whiskey.

 I  know if it was brighter when new. I know it was displayed in a windowsill for years by my Mother In Law.

Something on Saturday

Treasure 25

This is a new treasure.

A Certain Young Man picked this lovely mug when he had a layover in Dublin.

Something on Saturday

Treasure 24
Another watering can.

From my Mom because I like cherries 🍒.
Even though cherries have pits or whatever.

Lovely day!

Though it was extremely hot 🥵 yesterday, it was a lovely day for a birthday because I didn’t have to go out, and I didn’t have to cook!
But mostly because friends and family are very precious.

New keyboard and mouse, little pots of herbs to grow, posh needle cases, colours that can be made permanent on fabric and a poignant book about the fabrics poor people wore-discovered through research of the identity tokens left with babies at the foundling hospital.

And a bit of swag. Meant to be for my stitching, but I am sure some will actually be worn for a while.

Look at these special gifts! And at least one more in the post. 😁
Thank you!

Something on Saturday

back to the Treasures I was posting every Saturday.
( I think I had set myself so many different rules/ deadlines that I got to the place where I couldn’t keep up. So, hopefully I am back in control and things like this can go back to being fun or at least not a chore. )
Treasure 23

 I have a little collection of watering cans. Some work and some don’. I like this one because my Mother-in-law gave it to me.

I Like Thankful Thursday

Last week as I said, was a bit busy. I sorted out the rest of the rubble of my stuff moved because of putting in the lift. And of course, did too much. This week the body says, REST, please.
This new little blue stool was very helpful!

However! I did get the pattern cut and sewn to check what changes I might have to make to use it again.

So, I like that with a bit of remnant that someone didn't want, I have a 'wearable toile'! Which means it is near enough in fit, so that if I finish it off I can wear it. and the few changes are simple enough to go ahead with making it up in fabric I have been saving.
Yes, I could do the same with my bodice block which I already know fits me. But I wanted a refresher about patterns because I was to help my friend with some of her pattern fitting issues.
The main change? I wanted to try a square neck. But this one is a bit too wide. So I will adjust that on the pattern next time.

The back could do with a bit of help in the lower back, but it is good enough for some summer tops. now to hem it and bind the armhole.

I love my baby iron! This lovely little present I showed you early in the year, was brilliant for pressing the seams open without getting the ironing board out.

and also last week my sister sent me some photos of my Mom. Good to see she is doing well! Mom is in her 80's. She had a lovely adventure for Mother's Day weekend.

She flew from Maine to my sister's in New York. From there they drove to Detroit area to my nephew's place. My sister's other son drove up from Tennessee. So she was able to see her great grandchildren she had never met, and to see her grandson's again after a very long time.
This photo was at Letchworth State Park. But they also went to Niagara Falls and to a camp where Mom had worked one summer as a young lady. Now she is back home.

I went with friends from church on a walk Sunday. So glad for the walker! Pretty shattered by the end, but it was so lovely to have time to just chat.

To see what the others like, follow the link to LeeAnna's blog.

Something on Saturday

Treasure 18

Another treasure painted by Mrs Campbell .

She was doing what was called  “tole painting”. It is double sided.

I love this one. I really like how the ‘shadows’ that are painted give a 3d look.
Sometimes I have had it in the window and yet the colours are as bright as ever!

And the answer ...

Hurrah! My transportation device has arrived!!!
 downstairs
upstairs 

Beam me up!

Hope you can see the video!

My studio, though, has been turned inside out. The Thoughtful Man had to take things out of cupboards to move them! 😱 My machine is on a wee table in the corner of the dining room. and...I did finish the Stretching Art piece this week. Off in the post today!

The blue boxes in yesterday's post were the biohazard arrangements for removing asbestos. Apparently the boss of the asbestos team (sublet by the lift team) came out for this job with the others as it was high grade worry type of asbestos!!! They only removed what was needed for doing the lift. We have to get a plasterer in now to do plaster the wallboard. As it so turns out, the top recommendation in the Checka Trade list is our new neighbour at no.22! So he is coming to look tomorrow.

Something on Saturday

Treasure 10

This was one of the treasures we had from my Mother-in-Law.


I don't know the story of it. All I know is that I think the egg is beautifully painted! It might have been a gift to her from a young lady from Japan who stayed with her at least one summer. She used to house foreign exchange students.

Something on Saturday

Treasure 8

Just a little bit of wood, but it was carved by my youngest brother.

He has been gone 20 years, but I still think of him and miss him so much.
This is one of the very few things I have connected with him.

Something on Saturday

Treasure 7

This wonderful cut glass jar was handed down from my husband’s Granny.

I love the way it catches the light.

It usually lives on the window sill in the dining room, which gets a lot of morning light.

But at present, the amaryllis are living there.

Something on Saturday

Treasure 6

This painting of chickadees is done on a piece of slate. It is around the size of the treasure from last week.

My favourite bird is a chickadee. They are plentiful where I come from. They stay though harsh winters and bring much cheer with their song. They are a bit like the coal tit here in England.
The painting was done by a lady who was a big part of my growing up. She also became my youngest sister’s Mother-in-law. I have a few things around that she painted. Some with more chickadees. Perhaps one will become a treasure on another day.