Eat, sew, chat

Hello Dear Reader,

We've had the most wonderful day. There is nothing more relaxing than good food, good company, friendly chat and the gentle whir of five sewing machines. The day started gently with a getting to know each other chat over a pot of tea and then onto the basics of a disappearing nine patch. Folk picked up the skill really quickly, including one lady who has only used a sewing machine for fifteen minutes before this day. She had nothing to worry about.

I made extra special sausage rolls. To make these, you'll need: one pack of sausage meat, 6oz of grated cheddar, one finely chopped fried onion and some finely chopped bacon - I used a small pack of smoked streaky and one pack of puff pastry - I don't make this. Roll out the pastry, spread the fried bacon and fried chopped onions onto the pastry, sprinkle with the grated cheese, roll sausage meat into a tube shape and make sausage rolls as normal. Brush with beaten egg. Bake at 200 for 20 - 30 minutes.

Spicy butternut squash and chickpea turnovers. - You will need half a tin of chickpeas, half a butternut squash, a heaped teaspoon of curry powder or paste, half a chopped onion, some oil. Fry the onions until soft, add the cubed butternut squash and cook for another 10 minutes until soft, add the chickpeas and curry powder, add some water if needed. Leave to cool. Roll out some puff pastry and cut into squares. Put a large spoonful of the spicy mixture in the middle, add another layer of pastry on top - crimp the edges, egg wash and bake for 10 minutes. 

A guest brought some lovely coconut biscuits, which are in the tin and I also made a Dundee cake. I also boiled a gammon joint and sliced it which works out much cheaper than shop bought ham. The Co-op had some reduced price salad and that was today's simple lunch. 

Everyone had such a lovely time and we were easy company for each other and the chat just flowed all day.

I just loved this little portable pink sewing machine!

A few charity shop shirts and a beginner making her first quilt. I think it's lovely!

This lady has a real eye for colours and can you believe that before today, she's only ever used a sewing machine for fifteen minutes!

I love these blocks and this was made by someone making their first 'machined' quilt and her ability to line up blocks is so neat and the colour combinations are lovely.

Everyone went away feeling they had learnt something and had achieved something and had fun.

Here's a quilt top made entirely from thrifted fabric and upcycled into a lovely quilt. I love the use of a vintage duvet cover.

Everyone came with the cars groaning with donations for the Woodside Rescue shelter and they need all the donations they can get. They were delivered to their charity shop by Dearly Beloved.

Here's my offering for the day, which I used as my teaching sample to demonstrate each step of the way. Everyone proved to be very willing easy pupils who just wanted to keep going and keep sewing.

I'm now planning my next sewing workshop of a bag making day in a weekend in November, which will be just in time for people to make gifts for Christmas. If you want to come along and make your own 'Yoosta-Bee' original, then send me an email.

Thank you ladies for your company, I've had the most wonderful day and Woodside got plenty of donations.

Until tomorrow,

Love Froogs xxxx