The Record Store

This Saturday, 2nd August, will find me and some friends stitching  in David's Recordstore and Bookshop in Letchworth  as part of the Embroiderer's Guild National Day of Stitch.  It's the second year that the Guild have organised this national event as a way of promoting the Guild and its activities.

To quote the Chair of our branch, Gina (aka Fan My Flame) -

"We are taking part to raise awareness of who we are and what we do, and hopefully to attract more members.  We feel that some people might be put off by the name 'Guild' and believe you have to be an expert to join us, but we cater for all levels of stitcher, from absolute beginner up to professional, and for all types of stitch from embroidery and dressmaking to knitting and crochet, as well as every type of textile art you can imagine.

David's Music and Bookshop very kindly agreed to let us stitch in their cafe from 10am where we will be stitching (I hope they've bought in extra cake) and handing out kits to make flower brooches, along with an invitation to come along to our meeting in September to make up the kits.

  

And when they're finished, they'll look like this .....

So, if you stitch, or if you've ever wanted to stitch and you are anywhere near Letchworth - come along to David's on Saturday and say Hello.  We're very friendly xx

The Record Store - The Brunettes

The Lincolnshire Poacher

Been too busy gardening to sit indoors and blog - except for the days it was raining and then I was too busy sewing.  This is one of my recent makes - the pattern is from the July Prima magazine.  I subscribe to it, so I get the pattern sent out with the magazine, which comes a day or two before it's in the shops.
As soon as I saw it I knew that not only did I want to make it, I wanted THAT fabric.

I rang the shop that was shown as a stockist for the fabric, and was lucky enough to get the last 2.3 metres they had.  

The fabric arrived in a couple of days, and by that time I had already traced the pattern, and made a toile, so I was already to go.  Here's my version

I'm really pleased with it, the bodice has princess seams, which I think I prefer to darts, with a flared skirt, rather than gathers.  I tried to find a red belt to match, but in the end I I made my own with the last remaining bit of fabric, some fold-over interfacing, and a vintage green buckle.

I'm laughing because my friend/photographer told me to click my red heels together, and I did - but it doesn't quite come across in a photograph.

I wore the dress on Wednesday for the Homecoming Parade of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment  who marched through Hertford following their return from Afghanistan.

They looked very smart, very young and just a tiny bit warm

Apparently the Battalion are know as 'the Poachers' hence this guy ...

There was a really good turn out in the town, with lots of cheering, clapping and flag waving, which is the very least these brave young men deserve.

Oh, and to prove that I've been gardening - look at my produce.  This was collected on Thursday

and this was picked about an hour ago

A combination of torrential rain and hot sunshine seems to be doing the trick.  The blueberries possibly leave a bit to be desired, but the courgette - yes, that is a courgette and not a marrow - has more than made up for them.

The Lincolnshire Poacher - The Regimental Band and Corps of Drums and 2nd Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment