Sewing fabric and seeds

I'm pleased to find out I'm not the only one with a loads of projects on the go. Not that I was worried about it, I mean why would I be worried when I can pick and chose what I work on. That is unless it's for someone else. My older daughter asked me some time ago if I would make her some dining room curtains. I said yes and was given the fabric but needed the window measurements. I got the measurements and checked the fabric quantities and spent time working out the lengths I needed to include hems and headers. Cutting the fabric was a little tiring as curtain fabric is heavy and there was a need for pattern matching as well. I put the curtains off for a little while as fabric matching is a bit of a pain but made a start on them earlier this week. I'm a little off on the one leaf but over both joins there are only minor areas where the pattern is slightly off. On the whole I count the pattern match as good.

The other problem with making curtains is the size and weight, especially when they are for a big patio doorway. Anyway I'm pleased to say these are all finished now and ready to take to my daughter when next we are seeing them.  The fabric is fun with animals and plants on them and they will look good in situ. I've very happy to have them finished and it's one less item on my sewing todo list.

Earlier in the week I also made time to sow some seeds. I had several packets of seeds that needed to be sewn in March or April. Well March came and went and I didn't get time but with the sun shining brightly I set to and got the job done. Although the weather has been warm and sunny we are expecting it to go cold again so I have put the seeds in my mini greenhouse. This way I can close the front as the afternoon cools down and it will help prevent any frost getting to the seeds. All the seeds were new so should come through nicely.

On the quilting front I need to cut a load more fabric for more flowers for the Grandmothers garden quilt. I'm enjoying making progress on this project however I do wish I could master the art of using a thimble when hand sewing as the tips of my fingers on my right hand are getting sore. I will just have to persevere to train myself to use a thimble.

In  between sewing curtains and sowing seeds John and I managed to take a walk around the local cemetery. This is a nice green area to walk round when we don't want to travel far. The perimeter path is one mile and makes a pleasant walk. On our walk we saw a beautiful re cherry tree.

there is also a white cherry

This tree is cherry laurel and was in full bloom.

The horse chestnut was in almost full leaf and the flowers were developing well.

Along the grass at the side of the main path there were three cornered garlic in flower.

I'm not sure what this tree is but it was very pretty.

Work on my Chookshed challenge for the month is continuing. I spent time working out how many flowers I needed to make to complete the round. That total was 19. Since then I have cut fabric, basted hexagons and sewn them together into flowers. I still have more to do. I checked which fabric I had already used for the flowers attached to the quilt and I then labeled the fabric I would be cutting the remaining hexies from. I didn't want to end up with too many similar flowers in the round. Have I made the process too complicated? I haven't taken a photo of the progress on the quilt but I will do that at the end of the month and hopefully all the orange flowers will be added, (fingers crossed). I have one finish for the month with the curtains but it would be rather nice to have a second.

I need to check out my other objectives for the month. I know one of them was to make a start on the second front of the cardigan. I may cast on the stitches tonight as we have planned to watch a film but we haven't decided which one. For now I need to get back to the hexagons.

Take care

Lyndsey