Our garden is not small! Most of it is grass with some trees and little tended corners. At this time of year the growth can be measured in feet every day and our sit on lawn mower is being mended. There is no date for it to be returned to us and if I'm honest the stress was rising. (Especially with a wedding in the garden in August.)

As I stood in the kitchen this morning I spotted the red poppy, just popping it's head over the small hedge. Off I went to explore. I took my phone to snap some photos and what beauty there was. Hidden among the long grass were so many colours, so many different varieties of grasses, Ox-eye daises with buds just waiting to burst. God has blessed us indeed. It's hard to believe that Eden could have been more been more beautiful than our plot this May morning.

So 'No Mow May' seems like a good thing to me. The Lord has calmed my soul and relieved me of the stress. He has shown me the beauty of His creation this morning. Neat and tidy will wait for another day.

All things to His glory.

My dear readers,

Sometimes people wonder why I sew. I freely admit that it could be seen as ridiculous! There are plenty of clothes out there in shops to purchase quite cheaply and to be honest I have enough clothes already to see me through most of the rest of my life. So why bother?

One of the driving forces is creativity. I shut my door, pull out my fabric, feel a few pieces, drape them a little in front of the mirror and wonder what one will become today. A piece of fabric is so full of potential! I am not a person who generally buys with a garment in mind, I just know what I like. I tend to buy cheaply and so I am not too precious about making mistakes and generally I end up with something wearable.

Perhaps the second reason is linked to the first. I like to dress creatively. I don't think I have ever got over the joy of dressing up. If I could choose to wear long floaty dresses everyday well, why wouldn't I? And colour. I have walked into clothes shops, glanced around and realised that I don't like anything this season. Just not my colours. But generally I can find fabric in colours I like.

Thirdly I'm short. It's really hard to find anything to fit me well. Dresses are always too long from shoulder to waist and again from waist to ankle. Sleeves have the same problem. (And since having babies I don't like anything tight on my waist.) In short (!) I can make my clothes to fit me.

And so, my friends, I have a constant drive to find an hour or two each week to sew. I just love it, from buying fabric, to washing, draping, folding, cutting, sewing and of course wearing.

I thoroughly recommend dressmaking to you. And so, perhaps, over the next few weeks I'll share some of my processes with you because I never use a pattern which gives me great freedom.

Why not create something unique yourself?

My dear readers

It was with great joy that I found myself on the train to Birmingham. I have to say that it's not my favourite city in the whole world but it certainly is my favourite place to shop for fabric. Although there has been a pandemic and so it's been rather difficult to stock up I must say that I do still have shelves heaving with potential but there is nothing like something new to inspire you! The best day for fabric seems to be a Tuesday and although there may be fewer stalls than prepandemic there seem to be more very cheap stalls. That suits me fine. £1 a meter and 50p a meter, how can you go wrong?

So my shopping trolley was bulging. 7 pieces of fabric each 3 meters already washed and ready to have fun. That's 7 dresses, tops or jackets for £25! Why not make the trip yourself?