Friday 21 November 2008

Seaside sachet sewing (this week's tongue twister)



A big 'thank you" to everyone who has been leaving such lovely comments recently, it means a lot! Also a huge, huge apology to everybody for my inability these past couple of weeks to visit as many blogs as I would have wished. It seems that the sewing machine and I are now joined at the hip and we have been spending most daylight hours sitting side by side at the kitchen table. Fortunately we're good mates and get along fine and dandy, but I must say I do feel the need to spread my wings and (I'm saying this in a hushed voice so that Janome doesn't get too upset) leave the house!



The sun was shining the other day and I couldn't bear it any longer, I went out into the back garden to sit on the steps and enjoy the fresh air. My poor garden has been sadly neglected these past few weeks and is almost looking unloved. It felt good to breath in some air and feel the sun on my face. I was surpised to see amongst all the dead leaves lots of new shoots appearing already. I'm guessing it won't be long before we'll be able to get out there again, planting bulbs and sowing seeds, just the little matter of Christmas in between!



This morning I drove over to West Sussex to visit a friend. I decided to take the coast road, it felt so good to see the sea stretching out to the horizon. Sometimes when I'm cooped up I lose all sense of place, I don't know if that makes any sense at all, but it was good to see what lay beyond the four walls of my kitchen. So I drove along, one eye on the road, the other taking in the rows of beach huts, moored boats, a pier miles in front of me and another still visible behind me in my mirror and took a deep breath.



it's frightening sometimes to think where the days go, even more frightening to think that it was a year ago, practically to the day that I wrote this post. I had no idea this week when I was busy sewing that a year ago I'd been making much the same things. Perhaps the need for whimsy is even greater at this time of year before the real excitement of Christmas kicks in.



A recent find of some beautiful vintage fabric and a new stash of ribbon was all I needed to get me going this week. Gorgeous seaside images and cheerful brightly coloured ribbons, Janome and I have been having fun. Little bundles of nautical nostalgia.



Alongside these seasidey "postcards" are two that I really love. Wild ponies in the English countryside


and an old fashioned country fair. All bundled up looking bright and cheery in my Etsyshop. Talking of fairs, "Good luck" ladies to all of you lucky enough to be going along to the Vintage and handmade Fair tomorrow. I know you are going to have so much fun, enjoy meeting each other and spending lots and lots of pennies on all the beautiful things I've been seeing on all your blogs.



Have a wonderful whimsical weekend
x

26 comments:

Mary Poppins said...

What beautiful Seaside Sachets they are too, so delightful :)

I am so glad you and Janome are having fun, and ohooo how I wish that I had came along for the ride on your scenic drive, sounds lovely

Have an enjoyable weekend and yippee its Friday

Mary X

A Thrifty Mrs said...

I love those sachets. I think my mother in law would like some of these. I'll have to ask the husband.

Cape Cod Rambling Rose said...

Such cheerful seaside sachets, Kim! Love the fabric you used, and the gingham is the perfect trim! Our weather is horribly cold. We had our first snow two days ago, and the temps have been hovering around the freezing mark ever since. I think we are in for a long cold winter. Our woodstove has been going non-stop for days it seems. Have a lovely weekend!
hugs, beachy

Sal said...

I love your sachets,Kim!The fabric is gorgeous!
It always looks so lovely where you live!
Have a good weekend ;-)

LinenandRoses said...

The seaside sachets are so sweet. Lets hope there's a lot of need for lavender sachets this Christmas as I've been making a fair few this last week! Have a lovely weekend.

Anonymous said...

Such fabulous fabric, I think the wild ponies is my favourite but they are all so evocative of days past that it would be hard to choose.

MelMel said...

If i do well in my OFSTED i'm going to treat myself to one of those....and pat myself on the back!
Love em!xxx

tess said...

love the ribbons!

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

I totally empathise with your statement about a sense of place.. it is so easy to forget that there is a magnificent world on our doorsteps.

Love your work.. as always.. inspired and so pretty.

Love Dxx

Gone to Earth said...

Those are lovely sachets. I know what you mean about a sense of place - I get that too when I;ve been cooped up for days. You just need to get out and re-discover where you are. It's really refreshing I find.

Mrs Jelly said...

I so know what it's like to feel cooped up. My sewing workroom has no windows (!) and some days the only time I feel fresh air is on the school run.
I'm looking forward to January when I can take a break from my sewing machines (both Babylocks) and make plans for the year ahead ... none of which I'll stick to!

Garden Girl said...

Oh how I love your beautiful lavender bags. I have no room left on my mantlepiece for any more, I shall have to start throwing knickers away and put them in my drawer (far too lovely to hide away though!)
I remember your post from a year ago so well, we were getting ready for a lovely holiday to the coast ourselves, for a bit of rest and relaxation. Seems like such a long time ago now...
xxx

cathleen said...

What a bunch of pretty photos. I loved your description of driving along the coast...you are so fortunate to live that close. It would certainly calm me down to smell and see the sea. Have a lovely weekend.

Thimbleanna said...

You're so lucky to live so close to the sea dear Kim! I love your pretty little vintage sachets!

Poppy said...

I love the seaside sachets,ribbon, and the lovely fabric, yep I love it all. Have a lovely weekend.
xxx

Sandra Evertson said...

Love these and the plaid skirt below is Fabulous!
Sandra Evertson

Niki Fretwell said...

Hi Kim,
I love the sachets that you have been producing on that machine of yours joined to your hip! And I empathise completely - I had forgotten there was a real world out there too this week....am thinking of re-evaluating things for next year...
Take care,
Niki

Betty said...

I love your sachets. I know how it feels to be glued to the sewing machine and I think my garden is probably looking like yours. I need to go peek and see if any bulbs are coming up here. Have a wonderful weekend Kim. I hope you can get away from Janome for a little bit.

Paper Roses said...

How pretty... you have made a good job of your daughters outfit.
I bet your love of making things will rub off on her, even if not now maybe in the future.
Love Debbie.x

Pam said...

Everything looks so pretty.

Love the previous post about your daughter. She's lucky having a mum like you.

Kathryn said...

The sachets are lovely, love the ribbon display.
With Smiles
Kathryn

Sea Angels said...

Gorgeous sachets, you have the most lovely ideas Kim.
The Fayre was simply divine...my camera packed in so my photographs are rubbish!!!but what a wonderful day..you will have to start one in Sussex..maybe next year we could make a day just for Bloggers...bloggers day why not!!
Love and hugs Lynn

Pondside said...

I couldn't help but smile at all those colours and patterns - just the thing on a cold and grey morning.

Cassie said...

I love whimsy! And your sachets are wonderful. I love the country fair one it is very nostalgic. Hope you have having a good week.

moss stitch said...

Lovely sachets. The ribbon sets them off nicely.
The weather is very strange this year. One minute it is sunny and almost spring like the next there is a biting wind. Those buds are th promise of the spring to come.
Hope you had a lovely weekend
M
xx

Lisa said...

Lymington is such a short distance from me and I havem't been there for years and years either! Will definitely be taking the children next summer though, providing we get the weather for a train day trip complete with ice creams.
Lisa x