The Garden Party that nearly didn't happen

Last Saturday was the date for the St Nicholas Church, Keyingham, Garden Party. Every year this event takes place in the Rectory garden in June. We arrived home from our holiday in South Africa and had to do some serious grass cutting and digging of weeds to get the garden reasonably tidy for the day. Unfortunately, the weather was very unpredictable and rain and strong winds were forecast for the day. At 07.30 in the morning the organising committee made the decision to hold the 'Garden Party' in the village hall. In some ways, it was more convenient but there wasn't the same atmosphere - and it didn't rain but the wind did blow. Oh well...

A lot of people came and things seemed to go quite well. I had made a number of very simple shopping bags for the craft table, mainly from fabric that had been given to me over some time. I took nine bags and seven were sold. One lady said the two she bought were going to Hong Kong! Now I'll have to get on and make some more for a sale due to take place at the care home where I work.

Here are the bags I took last Saturday:

 

An end and a beginning

Today I completed my first sewing project of 2013: a child's back pack a friend ordered. Her first granchild, a baby boy, is due in a few weeks and she asked me to make her a back pack to hold several little things she has made for the baby. She had seen the photo of my grandchildren with their back packs in Italy and thought it would be something her grandson could use as a baby and then when he is older. This is what it looks like:

A long lasting project has come to an end. I started a crocheted blanket for a double bed long ago; in fact, I can't remember when I started it but it must be a few years ago. At first I used wool from my stash and from a half-completed jumper of my daughter-in-law's, but I soon had to buy balls of wool as it grew bigger and bigger. It is the first double bed blanket I've made and I managed to complete it just before the end of 2012. This is what it looks like on the bed in our spare room:

Already my hands feel idle on these cold, dark evenings so I'll be looking for something to do pretty soon. I actually did some cross stitch the other evening, after plugging in my daylight lamp, but I do find it a strain on my eyes at night, even with the lamp.

As far as sewing is concerned, I have a cover to make for my daughter-in-law's food processor and that's all in the pipeline at the moment. The Red Cross charity shop in a nearby little town has advertised for craft items to sell in the shop or at craft fairs so I think I will use some of the fabric I've been given over the years to make some shopping bags for them. Who knows what 2013 will bring, though? I seem to be planning holidays at the moment!

Next week the Great Golfer and I are going to a seaside town for a few days. It might not be the best time of year for a seaside holiday but we both need a break (he has conducted five funerals in two weeks plus all the Christmas services) and my aching body is telling me to take a break from work. Yesterday I booked my flights to Bahrain in February! Off to see my son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren at last! Then in May we have booked a visit to the rest of our family in South Africa. I do hope you are planning some recreational time in 2013.