The beginning

Here is the very first patchwork item I ever made. As you can see, it is looking a little tired now.  This is partly because it has sat on my sofa for around ten years, and partly because my seams were more than a little dodgy. Being sat on and washed regularly has hastened its demise.

It's made using cotton shirt material, and I took the inspiration for the pattern from here.
When I made it, I could fit all my sewing equipment into a plastic sandwich tub.  I cut all the pieces out with scissors, and hand sewed them together. As i didn't know what i was doing, I did the piecing as though it was machine sewn, and pressed all the seams open. Not the best way to make a durable item.

Although it is technically dreadful, I still really like it.  I need to make a replacement, and I think I will do something in the same style.  I'm sure I could do a much better job with the knowledge and equipment I have accumulated. For the squares I would rotary cut, and machine sew. For the stars, I would try English paper piecing.

Some friends of mine also had a new beginning recently.  I have sent them this super-cute card that I found in a local bookshop. You slide the tab to change the picture.

Bluebells

I'm having a little bit of difficulty getting blogger to accept my photos.  So this is a trial run.  This is a picture of some bluebells in local woods.  It was taken more or less this time three years ago, and is my calender photo for April to remind me to go for some woody walks. 

 Taking photos of bluebells is always tricky.  While my eyes see oceans of blue, the camera always seems too pick out the green leaves and grass inbetween.

World textile day Wales

A few weeks ago my Mum and I went to world textile day in Llanidloes.
After being inspired by yhe morning lecture I bought a book. Its a beautiful book with lots of lovely pictures. I will keep my book on a shelf, and every so often I will take it down, admire it, and then put it away again.

After being inspired by the afternoon lecture Mum bought some fabric. Its beautiful fabric, with amazing depth of colour. She will keep her fabric on a shelf, and every so often will take it down, admire it, and then put it away again.
To me this makes perfect sense.

Here I am

Hi, my name is Hazie, welcome to my blog. I'll start by telling you a little bit about myself and what i hope my blog will be.
I live in Aberystwyth, which is a seaside town in beautiful mid Wales. I like to make things, and my current favourites are patchwork and crochet, although I have had a go at lots of other crafty activities in the past.
I like to read other people's blogs, so I thought I'd see if I like writing my own too.
I'm hoping to post something around once a week, mostly updates on projects, but if there's not much progress, or I've been busy doing other things then maybe just some pretty pictures.
So thank you for reading, i hope you enjoy the rest of my blog.
Hx.