June update

At last we have been having something which could be called summer weather 

and our garden is loving it.

I have been spending lots of time here, so not much time in front of small screens, 

but is is time for a little catch up.

I have ditched sewing for the time being, because I fell in love with

Janie Crow's "Sunshine an Showers" blanket, now CAL, 

which you can see on her Instagram page , 

and her website of course.

There are also monthly YouTube videos, with the introduction one by Jane here .

Jane used Stylecraft Special DK for her design, but I prefer something with wool, so I am using different yarns, either wool or with some wool element, Stylecraft Life DK and Drops yarns, and also some from my stash.

Some days had been too warm for woolly stuff,

but mostly it is OK. 

I am enjoying it so much that I am well ahead of CAL.

It is nice to crochet in rows for a change, instead of squares.

The blanket is made in sections, below are the two end pieces.

The weather here is also mixture of sunshine and light showers at the moment, so that hasn't been too bad for this year's Glastonbury Festival , the first one since 2019, which is just down the road from us,

in fact so close that we can here the music in the evenings,

(not well enough to enjoy it, of course!)

I just leave you with some pictures from our garden.

This is "Gabriel Oak" from Davis Austin, 

named after the character in Thomas Hardy's novel 

"Far from the Madding Crowd".

It is a beautiful one, with very strong old fashion rose scent.

We are growing it in a pot, close to the bench, it seems to be very happy, and we can enjoy it too.

"No room at the inn" - see below, which I am very pleased about; I have been accused recently not caring enough about wildlife. Considering that we planted some eight trees (and put up nesting boxes) in this tiny garden since we moved in and looking around here we are the only ones doing so, for some reason not many people like trees in their gardens here.

 We encouraged a hedgehog to our garden by building him a super home, so that remark was hurtful and did come as a disappointment.

Our little and simple celebration of Midsummer (a habit we picked up from our Scandinavia friends) was also a success, 

because it usually rains, but this time it turned out to be perfect summer evening.

 

Little baking, one of our favourite summer cakes, 

apricot squares.

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2022

don't you just love birthdays!

They do come every year, and the number is always higher! 

It was my turn last month. 

It was a wonderful sunny day, BBQ time!

I got some new books for my bookshelf, and CD's to listen to when crafting,

but the star present was this special publication of Jane Eyre. I was given my first copy of Jane Eyre

 (in translation) by my parents when I was a teenager (yes, a long time ago!)

I am grateful to Kim for writing about this one on her blog. 

It is beautifully illustrated by Marjolein Bastin , even the textured cover is very tactile.  

There are several books in Marjolein Bastin series, it must be wonderful to have them all on a bookshelf.

There are small surprises hidden through out the book.

And I was given vouchers to spend in Midsomer Quilting shop, 

what else does a girl need?

Besides that, my crafting is on "slow" right now,

just some more small blocks for Blooming Springtime,

and Tobermory squares, which makes 28 so far.

Summer has arrived at last, although we have been having very cold nights,

not much fun for young plants in the garden.

Extra long weekend here in UK to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee ,

the weather could be better - very windy in my part of the world right now, 

but sunny, so that's something to be grateful for.

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2022

It is the time of cow parsley and pink and red campion - 

they are everywhere at the moment.

More time being spent out than in (watching my garden grow)  - 

but I am keeping up with small applique and reverse applique blocks for Blooming Springtime quilt.

Today was a perfect "stitching in the garden" weather, 

but I didn't take any pictures 😒 - next time.......

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2022

FNwF

It has been a while since I joined Cheryll's group for Friday night get together.

Thank you, Cheryll,  for getting us together again!

This time I didn't do any sewing, but I did manage to crochet two more squares for Tobermory blanket.

Actually, there hasn't been any sewing going on all this week. After the winter months my tiny work room was in such a mess, some very overdue action was badly needed. 

I decided to do this properly this time, and even sort out all my craft books! I did collect too many over the years, crafts I wanted to have a go at, but never quite around to it, and unlikely I ever will.

 The only way to tackle this is to take all the books down, and then to decide which to put back on the shelves. 

I started with two book shelf units, and  managed to get it down to one! 

The charity shops in the town are very pleased about that 😀. 

This has given me enough space for a small 

"office" corner.   

 

I am not showing the rest of the room just yet, 

there is still lots to do!

If you are lucky to have a sewing room or just a corner somewhere, 

you know how quickly it can get out of control! 😉

After a very dry April we had some rain in last 10 days or so, and the garden has been soaking it up; it is getting quite green now, although we still need some colour.

There is a semi wild patch under the olive tree, which is looking quite pretty now,

with blue Camassias coming through.

The quince tree growing in the pot is covered in blossom this year,

so delicate.

I am having a go at growing strawberries in containers this year.

At last I am enjoying writing the blog again - we had new fibre broadband installed last week, what a difference! Uploading pictures is quick again, how it should be...

I wish you all a very productive crafting week!

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2022

I would like to start this post with a quote from a BBC Radio interview with Ukrainian professor at the University of Cambridge, Andrei Kirilenko, who's mother died in March in Mariupol, Ukraine.  

Asked how he'd like people to honour her life he said: 

"If you feel like you want to have an argument, don't do that, if you felt for a while that you wanted to say something nice to someone - today's a good day. 

If you feel you can improve something for someone, one person at a time, today's a good day."

It is as simple as that, I can't think of a single word I can add to that.

This is the time of year

 when the humble English bluebells are everywhere.

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2022