Sweet sweet peas

I was so delighted with the success of my sweet peas! I have a big pot of them grown from seed. Everyday I harvest some and bring them in as they are so pretty and smell fantastic, like honey. 

Latest Sewing

I’ve been sewing a lot lately. I find it interesting and relaxing.

I bought a sewing pattern for an authentic Japanese kimono which will be an exciting project. It’s from an American company called Folkwear who make patterns for clothing from around the world and for vintage clothes. 

I’m also making or made:

A black jersey dress with pockets

A multicoloured striped tshirt (Shown)

A pair of pyjama shorts in pirate pattern fabric

Several pairs of knickers (one shown)

A 70s style maxi dress in black and white floral fabric

I bought fabric for another cardi in mauve and (maybe shorts) in grey cotton with pink dots. 

Still life with Bins

I liked this varied group of wheelie bins and the contrasting mattress and worktop I spotted on Hardgate opposite the chinese takeaway. Is this the most boring view yet? 

Growing Food

This year I decided I wanted to try growing food in our new garden. Some successes, some not. We also inherited an apple tree (type unknown) and a massive clump of delicious rhubarb. And a mystery shrub which turned out to be a blackcurrant.

Success

Rhubarb and blackcurrant are delicious stewed and served with yoghurt.

The apple has good apples on but they are not ready yet. It is grown as an espalier flat against the wall, which is very nice and historical looking.

Courgettes grew and fruited( I think they are fruit strictly speaking) well and I like to serve them in a fritatta omelette with potato and cheese. We have yellow and green ones. They are very attractive with big yellow flowers and enjoy growing in a large pot.

Broad beans did well, I got a slightly shorter chunkier variety. Lots of pods on them.

Less Success

Strawberries did not fruit much. The wild ones are not good to eat but spread everywhere.

The peas were mostly eaten by creatures unknown.

The squash is a spectacular plant but I think it is too cool here for the squashes to develop and grow.

Runner beans still to make beans.

I really enjoy growing the plants though it has been great fun and even one serving of food is a bonus.

All the herbs are doing well I have fennel, dill, chives, mint, rosemary, sage and thyme. 

More Gothic

Another gothic house from our boring walks. This is Newton House on Braemar Place. I love the Aberdeen road signs with the rather weird pointing hands on them too. 

Gothic House

This is the very gothic Deeford House we see on our walks by the river. I drew it in a gothic novel cover style. I might seek out some more gothic houses to do as I really enjoyed this! 

House Tour 2

House Tour 2

70s dress

So I finished my 70s dress inspired by our retro Dr Who watching. You can’t really see here but it is in a 70s floral pattern and I used a sewing pattern from 1973. Its very comfy as I cheated a bit by using a jersey fabric and adding waist elastic. I need more dresses with long sleeves for our at home date nights as the weather in July is appalling, we actually had hail this week! Disgraceful!