Rowan Tree Cottage

 The colour combinations of birds’ feathers often inspires me. Going to Slimbridge Wild Life and Wetlands sanctuary on a cold day in October was special. I took my camera rather than relying on my iPad. It is south of Gloucester on the other side of the River Severn from the Forest. You can see the forest in the background of the photo below. The photo below that is a zoom in of the birds in that photo. I found it hard to find them using just my eyes. Can you? Enjoy the rest of the photos at this busy time of the year.  I think the green teal was a rarity.

 Horace the Gargoyle has an important job.  The hold the bag containing various bird foods. A Great Tit came in onto the bedroom window sill one morning so I used the bird fabric at the top, and Mary Engelbreit  garden fabric for the rest of the outside. I added a pocket to the inside just in case I want to use it when gardening in Spring. The pocket should be enough for seed packets. There has also been this make from a vintage piece of Diary of an Edwardian Lady "Wild Flowers." It covers the little practice amp, and goes with the curtains in the living room which also come from the Diary of an Edwardian Lady range. Da dar! Finished with a plain cream lining and a green dotty binding. The main amp will get the same treatment when the odd metre of the same fabric I tracked down, arrives. I am liking this going away from plastic bags in the cottage and trying to make it cosy and pretty for these colder months which we spend more indoors.

Mary Engelbreit came to the rescue of a very English problem. We buy multi packs of crisps which come in a huge packet which invariably rips when you try to find your favourite flavour. The crisp packets are then scattered all over the cupboard, taking up valuable space. So this is a bag for all those feral crisp packets to be kept in. The yellow lining has cherries on as do the main fabric and the handles. Isn't that armchair perfect for knitting in? The bag is now hanging in the dead space inside the electricity meter cupboard. Thank you Simone for the gorgeous fabrics. Another bag was needed for sheet music and music books now I am teaching Hubby to play the guitar. Mary Engelbreit came to the rescue again. These were unused FQs from her Caroler range with musical notes on. The white with red notes fabric was all used up. I like it when that happens. The outside is black and glittery. It is a stronger than normal cotton as it seems to have a rubbery film on to k...