WOYWW #895 - Buildings Works.

Oh my life - quietly losing it here. Just to clarify about the buildings works and that it is not going away soon, in fact it has just been added to...

1) Nextdoor east of us sold part of their garden and a new single house is being built there on the corner. Started March 2026 expected to be finished by Christmas 2026.

2) Shanly started building 17 homes on the old allotments at the end of the cul-de-sac behind us. Started July 2026 and expected to finish 2028 (yes that vague).

3) Yesterday nextdoor but one west of us started their "Summer" loft extension.

The lorries tear down our road before negotiating the hairpin turn (site of single house being built) into the cul-de-sac behind us. You can just imagine the dust from a month without rain and them not having water on the Shanly site still.

We have spoken with and written to Shanly also written to the council planning breach department and I have spoken with the site manager of the ground works contractors. How much money they must have put into planning agreements and then they flout many of the conditions, it is beyond belief.

I did force myself to do a journal page but ended that with slicing my right index finger whilst cleaning my scissors!

I did add Helen's Echinacea's to my embroidery.

I'm now having a go at a plant which keeps catching my eye on my morning walks. I have used a piece of my dress fabric for this section. I looked on maps and the shrub (whatever it is) is draped over a wall so I guess I'll add that to the bottom. I need to have a go at a double line hand mending stitch too. So I guess this is somewhat a sampler for stitching as well.

So stay in my room, air-con, fan and music on. Don't look out of the windows or open doors or go for walks between 7.30am - 6pm. That should do it!!!

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #894 - Precious Little

As the title says, precious little crafting done this past week. 

Here's my desk where my "daily" scripture writing is even left wanting!

I did however, spurred on by some of you, add a further strip to my embroidery. 

The silver/grey plant was added after a friend's visit Friday and a photo she shared. 

The blue was supposed to be a Hydrangea but looks more like a pond in the distance LOL.

Still severely upset by the buildings works with all the dumper trucks, plumes of dust and insidious beep-beep reversing alarms. Plus elsewhere workers parking completely on the footway/pavement saying they didn't care.

Thankful for the cooler temperatures, though still in flimsy Summer dresses. I did manage going to church on Sunday which was the first time in 6 weeks. But all in all still struggling.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #893 - Dress & Embroidery

I bought and altered a Summer dress this week. Didn't really have anything cool enough for this continued heatwave.....

I outlined the process in my previous post. 

I was going to add in-seam pockets but I tried undoing the side seam on a piece I'd cut off and it proved a tad difficult. Flimsy material vs extra firm unusual stitching! 

Eeeek! Oh well....

My living line is now 1.8 metres long. I added a floral section and am nearly at the end of my second backing strip.

Shall I add more I wonder???

Not done much else. Sunday was a lovely day cool breeze and I actually managed to turn off the air-con and have the windows open for a while. Oh and it was quiet without all the buildings works and dumper trucks too. 

Unfortunately the heat is rising again so I'm back holed up in my room with the air-con on again. 

I did fashion a couple of cardboard pieces to fill the gaps my window leaves with the flue at the base. I still attach the navy cloth to the bottom of my blackout blind as that goes round the flue as well.

That's about all the paper crafting I have done this week  - LOL.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

New Dress - Altered!

Not bought any clothes in ages due to no fitting rooms 🙁 in supermarkets anymore.

However I managed to get a Summer dress in Asda this morning 👗. 

It was a bit big and as ever the length swamped me but I had it in mind to chop✂️ the bottom off anyways. 

I also took the sides in  as they gapped somewhat. 

Sorted, nice and cool and 100% cotton too whoop whoop. 😁

Lots and lots of fabric left over for sewing projects - might even add some pockets. 

But for now I'm wearing it in these hot times.

WOYWW #892 - Really Struggling - Heatwave #3

Oh my life really struggling here - if the heat wasn't enough, the road works have been extended for a further 3 weeks and are now out the front with 4 way lights causing chaos. I am so stressed about it all - it is making me ill. My autoimmune skin condition has flared up as a result and I feel horrid.

Earlier in the week I did manage some embroidery and ended up making a little vignette of last weeks walk by the River Mole geocaching. I have posted details on a previous post. including the photos I worked from.

I've since added the woodland round the tree trunk. 

Wasn't sure where to go next so just couched some odd yarns down and am filling in with some flowers and whatever takes my fancy using up odd threads from my bag. Honestly not really feeling like doing much as feel so horrid.

Well it looks like this current heatwave will be with us a few more days with a 4th "hot" on its heels. I so want to move to Scotland!

Happy WOYWW Everyone - hoping you all are coping better than me.

"Living Line" Embroidery

Following the last Making ZEN on-line sewing retreat I started what was presented as a "Living Line"... 

My piece is about ten centimeters wide and now one and a half metres long!

The premiss was to have something to add to now and again or even daily. The given exercise was to sew lines and dots...

I sort of started this way but soon morphed into my own thing.

I initially took inspiration from our garden  whilst sitting in the conservatory. 

Then from walks around the neighbourhood.

Most recently a geocaching trip along the River Mole.

This latter inspiration has turned into a sort of Vignette of the trip.

A glimpse of a bridge through the trees in a private garden.

Tumbling roses against a blue door.

The whoosh of a weir.

Shaded woodland with the river in the distance deep in the valley.

Dainty pink and white flowers lining a footpath between fields recently cut for hay.

It's like a "Stitched Diary" said Jan of last week's WOYWW post.

I wonder where it will go next....

WOYWW #891 - Pretty Fed Up

Gosh don't know what else to say really, glad of the slight heat respite but know another heatwave is forecast to begin on Monday. Not been up to much this past week as only just getting over the last heatwave.

I did manage to sit at my desk yesterday and stick some bits and bobs down for July's scripture writing page.

Here's June's page

The little pocket contains a tag where I have been writing one word a day from each of the scriptures.

Another bone of contention is we have road works for the electricity for a new housing development off the cul du sac out the back plus a new house being built in next doors garden, both causing loads of access and noise issues. Really had enough of everything to be honest.

I have done some more embroidery though. The straight lines (wall) was just how I've been feeling.

We did manage to get out to a geocache by the River Mole on Monday and the sight of a rambling rose against a blue door really struck me.........

.... so I have added that to my piece.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #890 - Over a Meter Now!

Oh my life the heat, had my air-con on 24/7 in my craft/bedroom since last Friday! I managed a couple of nights sleep after that but it's all gone haywire again!

Needless to say I haven't been up to much other than the embroidery. 

I have joined another length of backing material and keep it all rolled up and safety pinned whilst working on it.

I have been giving a go at the lesser known stitches in my little  "vintage" book, plus some I have found on-line. I have fallen in love with the lazy daisy with the integral french knot - how cool is that! (blue arrow)

There's also the long french knot (2 to left of above) Certainly easier than the knotted buttonhole/blanket stitch over on the right. 

The bluey green thread is a line of different buttonhole stitches. Particularly like the  Up and Down buttonhole stitch.

So my embroidery is now 1 metre 20cm and I have no idea when I will stop.

I added some Broidery Anglais edging where the backing material became too narrow before I joined the next one, really enjoying doing as I please with this project.

Here's what I have done since last week.

And if I hadn't had enough of embroidery I did make a green heart for my denim book like the one I showed a few weeks ago which I gave to my friend.

I did do a quick watercolour butterfly Remembering my Dad last Thursday. Saw it on a FB reel and just had to have a go. It was a bit of mindless doing which served its purpose well.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

My Dad - Fondly Remembered

28 years ago today but still in my heart and mannerisms.

I caught myself scratching my head just like he used to. Both hands start at the parting going outwards. He had lovely thick wavey hair.

Can't believe how sad I am this year. So many tears.

Love you Dad xxx

WOYWW #889 - Napkins

Here's my desk on Tuesday morning. Struggling the past few days with the heat so finally caved and sorted the air-con out again with windows/curtains firmly shut! 

I had made the mistake of visiting a neighbours show garden on Saturday afternoon. The sun was far too much for me and made me quite ill. 

On my desk is my daily scripture writing journal. I use a double spread for each month and paste in lots of printables to get it going.

Also there is the New Testament schedule that our church is reading together this year and the last journal page from Encounters.

I've been struggling with life this week yet again (plus the heat!) probably as it is the anniversary of my Dad's passing on Thursday - 28years ago but still the grief affects me.

I did enjoy the chain page in Encounters last Wednesday. It doesn't look much but the process was really relaxing.

Casey Turner's offering was brill, I love her process loads but struggled with my name so put Child of God instead.

I have since found out that...Billy > can mean Strong-Willed Guardian or Shielded by a Higher Power. Jane > God is Gracious and Yahweh is Merciful.

I lost the plot Friday after playing Badminton Thursday evening so sat all day embroidering and watching Scott & Bailey on ITV X. The living line has grown as a result.

Saturday I tried to make sense of Friday's and Saturdays Encounters lessons but struggled with "seeking with all my heart" and "dreams" so just did happy colours and the stencil baby wipe thing and found the 2 words in my stash plus some previously watercoloured hearts. 

I also received my first ever Ebay order. 

I got a selection of napkins - well pleased. 

Lots of florals and birds and various other animals and lots of patterns besides. Great to have some different images to draw from.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.