I enjoy little sewing projects. Usually, they’re easy and don’t take that long to make up. Just before the weekend, I made two identical purses to give out as presents for two birthday girls.

I didn’t do so well with pressing, meaning I didn’t really do it. And I should have. They would have looked really tidy if I’d been more careful with the iron. I didn’t not get the iron out, but neither did I use it every time I needed to. Rush rush and being lazy. Also, with a good press, both bags would have opened without the lining repeatedly getting stuck in the zip. One did, one didn’t.

The tutorial is by Skip to My Lou, and it is really easy to follow. I think it looks a bit more special than a plain purse. The only problem was that the zips I had were too short, so I added a small strip of extra fabric to each end of the zips to make up the length. I got the idea from here at fishsticksdesigns.com, and I’m really pleased with the effect. Also, in that tutorial, the zip is top-stitched, which would help to stop the lining from getting stuck in the zip. And, don’t sew too close to the zip teeth, that helps.

The garden is in a lull. I think it is a common occurrence in June. All the spring flowers have gone or are looking sadly scruffy, but the true summer flowers are not yet at full gusto.

I’ve got straggly areas that I don’t know what to do with, and they could look much better with some planning. Next year I would like some sweet william and centaurea, please. The erysimum is a new addition, and I like it, hope it’s happy too.

The lupins are now tired; however, the bees think they’re awesome and have been buzzing around them constantly. I will take pictures of other plants from now on; these have had their moment.

It’s time to move on to the veg patch. Things are beginning to appear! I’m as excited as I can be about courgettes coming. I’ve also got flowers on the sugar snap peas and runner beans. I’ve had a couple of batches of spinach for dinner, too. It’s all a bit behind other years, I’m sure, but I’m starting to feel relief that production has begun.

And, I am so pleased about the apple tree. This is only the second time that fruit has decided to turn up to the party. I bet they get some hideous disease and wither from their branches.

I love my garden. I hate chunky, plastic garden toys. I do like these wooden blocks, though. There is an old baby walker they belong to. I’m not sure where it is at the moment, but the blocks have been sitting outside for a couple of weeks.

Anyway, this was a bit of a mish mash of garden pics that I’m not really happy with. I think it’s disappointment that the thrill of spring flowers has passed and I don’t know what is going to happen next…. Apart from some crochet, I  know that that is going to happen next. I’m going to get a move on with turning some circles into a blanket.

I can’t decide what to blog about today. I fancy having some random pictures is the thing.  I bought some fabric a couple of weeks ago from a shop in Exmouth. Gorgeous fabric, expensive fabric, birthday money fabric. I have no clue what I will be making with it. Every now and then I stare at it, then I put it away in the fabric drawer.

Last Thursday I went to Exeter for car mending and lunch. There is a bookcycle place down the bottom of the high street. The books are free but you give a donation (however much you feel the books are worth). Three per person, but I stole Husband’s allowance too. I found Ladybird books!!

More Ladybird books to add to my collection! I love Ladybird books. I love jumbling for them, car booting for them and finding them in charity shops. They’re getting pricey these days though and hard to find.

I’ve been rooting through my basket of tricks this week. It’s a massive mess in there but it’s full of all things awesome.

I got the basket out to make some felt eyes for a project I’m working on. It’s mostly a crochet thing. A new pattern I’ve invented all by myself! A friend is going to help me design a PDF thingummy so that, I can maybe put them on here to download and ultimately (one day) sell stuff on Etsy. Or some such thing. Maybe. It’s alien to me at the moment but it’s important to learn new skills I suppose.

Here, more gardens pictures, ha! Next door is like a building site, I pretend it’s not there.

The peonies are out but I don’t understand what all the fuss is about. They’re not that great. The clematis is on its last legs.

The best thing about the lupins is the leaves. A fantastic contrast to boring roundy leaves. There are loads of colourful spires on this one too.

Anyway, I think  I’m going to go and sit in the garden now (after I’ve done the washing up and hung out some laundry).

And lastly, in this random collection of pictures, I would like to say Thank You to Joyful Solitude for nominating me for a blogging award. Wow! Such a fabulous thing to happen so soon. Must be doing something right! I googled it and haven’t found where the specific award comes from. My gut feeling tells me not to accept because I don’t know what it is.

Well, actually, I’d love to accept, but there are conditions of acceptance which, to me, defeat the purpose of this space, which is that it is mine and I want to do my own thing.  To accept the award, you’re supposed to tell seven things about yourself and nominate ten others for the award. I might be shooting myself in the foot, but maybe I can defer for a while instead?

I’m being a pooper at a party about such a nice, thoughtful thing. Eh, I’m still thinking. Also, I’m still adjusting to blogging. It takes me ages to do anything. For five years, I said, “I’m gonna start a blog tomorrow.”

Sorry, one more thing. My eldest (6) requested that I post this picture of his Hot Wheels car. Here it is sat on a dusty shelf.