(Early) Rainbows are...

... a stained glass star hanging on our chimney breast...... a patchwork bag I picked up at Veti'relais... ... new purchases - four 'rainbow' baskets to hold things on shelves - watch this blog to see what happens to them!...

... a sweet Ikea lampshade...... which sits on a very pretty bottle which held Beaujolais Nouveau 2008...

... crocheted mats on my ironing board cover...

... a crazy patchwork cushion...

... and a very kitch crocheted one from Relais'frip (another Charity Shop)... how the boys love these cushions...

... plus a wonderful quilt which our friend Hazel made (she made two, actually, for each of the boys)...
... and if you look carefully, you will see all of the last three items on our rather OTT winter sofa...... 'dancing waters' at a show with the boys last summer...

... treasures from an old tin...

... an ititial...

... the prayer room at Toulouse International Church...

... rainbow chard from our garden...

... son number 2's rugby team (he's the small one crouching down with the head-protection on!)...

... a Gallileo thermometer...

... rainbow wool...

... and a plate of smarties used to make maths biscuits...

And that's the end of Colour Week! It's been such fun, and I've met so many interesting and sweet people, and seen so many varied photos. Thanks, Lynn, for the idea.

PS This is going on early, because we're off skiing for the day early tomorrow morning! Wish us luck! (skiing in Jaunary, son 2 broke his thumb - he is feeling very cautious now, fortunately).

A bit of Make Do and Mend

I saw a wonderful denim/floral patchwork bag in Claire's Accessories the other day (of all places). Son number one, who was with me, said dubiously, 'It's very Mummy'. However, I wasn't going to pay the asking price, oh no! It was one of those 'I could do that myself' moments.

So far I have decided to use this little broken Roxy bag as a base. I looked at handbag patterns on the net but I'm not feeling like starting from scratch. I'm feeling exactly like 'make do and mend', so that is what I shall do.

I've drawn around the bag and cut out a pattern onto which I've pinned the pieces - it's a bit like crazy patchwork but with hems.



Now I have to start stitching, which shouldn't take too long. The real challenge will be fitting it round the base-bag. I will let you know if it works...




I've been very inspired in this by Happy of the great blog http://happylovesrosie.blogspot.com/. This is the first time that I've posted a link, so I hope it works! You'll really like her wonderful ideas and creations.

Crazy Patchwork

Well, I've just read on a lovely blog I've found (Sal's Snippets, see my blog list) that 'everyone is doing crazy patchwork'. I don't know if I'm glad to be part of 'everyone' for once, or annoyed that I had an idea that apparently isn't unique after all. For me and our younger boy, it started in the autumn, with a great second-hand book I'd picked up years ago and never used. We decided it was time to use the wackier fabrics in my collection to make a completely OTT cushion. We did:

In the photo you can see him working on a piece of starry pyjamas which he inherited from his brother which were, before that, worn by two older friends. Also visible are a piece of 19th century eastern European embroidery, the lacy hem of a girl's dress, several bits of ethnic skirts I wore in the '80s and a beautiful tie-died circle from a baby suit the boys were given from Thailand (thanks, Anna!).

The cushion has been finished for months and, to be honest, isn't holding up too well on the sofa. I think that little fingers can't resist fiddling with the treasures... But we still loved making it together.

Six Nations Rugby

Wales 23: England 15