Today is a glorious day – there’s real warmth in the sun and the sky is a wonderful shade of blue, with just a few white fluffy clouds dotted here and there – it’s hard to believe that we’re in mid-November and Christmas is just around the corner. Ben is snoozing outside in the courtyard, and as soon as I’ve finished this post I’m off to take him for a walk through the woods behind our village. It’s at this time of year that I become more aware of the animals around us – deer and fox tracks are visible in the mud (yes, the mud has returned!), and often I glimpse a flash of movement in the corner of one eye as a rabbit or pheasant makes good its escape into the undergrowth. I was thrilled to see two large brown hares chasing across a field of stubble when I last dropped Ben at his favourite kennels a couple of weeks ago – I don’t see hares close up very often.
One animal that is regarded with very mixed feelings in our village is the fox. Clever, crafty – and the sworn enemy of chicken-keepers everywhere! But undeniably a very handsome fellow who features in the first pattern for the December issue of my Bustle & Sew e-zine.
I’ve tried to reflect his cunning and curious nature in my applique – I didn’t want him to be too cute – and I hope I’ve managed to achieve the right balance. He’s appliqued in felt and wool on a wool-blend felt background and here I’ve chosen to make him into a cushion cover. When we lived in Hampshire many years ago (when Rosie was a very little girl), a hedgehog used to visit our garden from time to time. I don’t see many hedgehogs here, apart from my very own Hodge and Podge – and I don’t really know why that should be as we have so much other wildlife around us.
Anyway, thinking about Podge, I know that sometimes it can be time-consuming to collect all the ingredients to make a softie like Podge, so I’ve assembled two “Make your Own Podge” kits and listed them in my Etsy Shop. The vintage linen pouches contain everything you (or a crafty friend) need to make your Podge – including the premium item of ……
…. a smooth, round beach pebble carefully selected by my canine assistant for its shape, size and general overall appeal! (well, it’s about time he did something useful.) If you’d like a Podge kit, then you will find them in my Etsy shop – just the two at the momentsorry both sold, as I don’t know if I have any more suitable fabric for her prickles – if these two sell out, then I’ll have a rummage around my cupboard!
PS the pebble was washed before it was added to the kit!
Coming next week – and I do hope you like it! There are seven Bustle & Sew projects (all those shown above) – some vintage patterns as well – articles and features, plus subscribers’ bonuses – free printable Christmas bunting and the opportunity to purchase either (or both!) of my quilting e-books at half-price too!
And of course, as always, the end of the month is the very best time to subscribe as you’ll receive the October issue straight away (containing the projects above) followed by the November issue with all the projects above and your discount codes to purchase my e-books at half-price next Thursday (25th October). So don’t delay – snap up a subscription today!! CLICK HERE to learn more and subscribe.
This is Podge, the baby hedgehog softie. Hello, Podge!
And here’s her big brother Hodge with their cousins, Horace and Humphrey. The pattern for Hodge will be in the November Issue of the Bustle & Sew ezine.
The really easy pattern to make Podge is can be found on my Free Patterns Page. If you like her, and would enjoy receiving more free patterns, tutorials and special discounts, then you might like to consider to subscribing to my free newsletter. You can join using the form in the right hand sidebar. (It’s free, safe – and I promise NEVER to share your details with anyone else. I also promise you’ll receive special offers, free patterns and all the Bustle & Sew news before anyone else)
And where are those naughty little hedgehogs heading off to? Just click on the video link below to find out!
PS No newfies were woken during the making of this video!!
It’s funny how sometimes you can tell the exact day when the year turns and the season changes. On Saturday the weather was warm and sunny. Townie Husband had gone to Bath for a day’s rugby, so Ben and I decided to visit Mill Bay, opposite Salcombe. We don’t go there much in the summer as the road is very narrow and parking is limited, and as it’s very popular with visitors, we limit ourselves to less well-known beaches. But Saturday seemed the ideal day to re-acquaint ourselves with this pretty beach. The sky was a deep blue, with just a few fluffy white clouds……
and the water was warm and silky, great for paddling – and hunting for marine life too!!
Then on Sunday we all went to North Sands, on the opposite side of the estuary. But the day felt so different. A chill breeze had sprung up and grey clouds were scudding across the sky. The approach to the beach was littered with fallen leaves, and the water felt cold to my feet….. autumn had arrived overnight. Of course autumn brings its own joys - one of which is snuggling down on our comfy squashy sofa, watching an old film on TV and knitting (which I don’t really do in the summer months). At the moment I’m making some small items for the Nostalgic Mix Fair in Totnes on 13th October – some Christmas decorations ……
And scarves for Hodge and Podge – two little hedgehog softies for the November issue of the Bustle & Sew ezine. I couldn’t resist taking a quick snap of Hodge – but Podge isn’t quite finished yet, so I can’t show you them in full until he’s ready too…
The forecast is for wet and windy weather this week, so lots more knitting – and I’ll be back to show you the completed Hodge and Podge in a few days time….. oh but I nearly forgot – how could I forget?!!? The most exciting news – you can now purchase the Bustle & Sew ezine as a proper printed magazine from Amazon. How cool is that?!
It is of course a more expensive option than subscribing…. but it would make a great gift idea, or if you wanted a particular issue as a printed version.
