Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they? Think not of them, thou hast thy music too

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines^[that round the thatch-eaves run;

To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,

 

And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;

To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells

With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,

And still more, later flowers for the bees,

Until they think warm days will never cease,

For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.

 

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?

Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find

Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,

Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;

Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,

Drows'd with the fume of poppies, while thy hook

Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:

And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep

Steady thy laden head across a brook;

Or by a cider-press, with patient look,

Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?

Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,-

While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,

And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;

Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn

Among the river sallows, borne aloft

Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;

And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;

Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft

The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;

And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

from 'Sew' to 'Stitch'

I have been away from my blog for a while now but I am determined to get back into the swing of posting reguarly again. This post is very specific and refers to the book 'Sew' by Cath Kidston and to her exciting new book 'Stitch'. Very excitingly my mum managed to get us tickets to the launch of this new, long awaited publication at our local Brighton store. Unfortunately I can't go; I was really gutted when i realised. Don't go feeling too sorry for me as I shall be visiting a very dear friend in Paris instead - so it's not all bad!

 

As the launch is this evening I thought I would post a few images of the projects I have attempted so far from the 'Sew' book so I can be there in spirit. I took 'Sew' on my easter holiday break to the lake district with my family along with all my sewing supplies. Mum and I worked through a project a day while assorted brothers, friends and dad walked the fells.

 

Here is my slightly wonky pastoral scene hottie cover - fabric from Laura Ashley and Liberty and button from Wickle in Lewes:

Next up is the quilted evening bag - I particularly like the rick rac edging effect on this one. I am going to try this again and next time make sure I sew the back seam together straight rather than slanty!

I love this simple cushion design - I have used two classic Cath Kidston fabrics for this one and I am going to make a whole set for my bedroom.

This bird cushion is probably my favourite of all the things I have made from the book.

Mum was very helpful and supportive with creating the aplique birds - it is a family joke that I am not a patient person!

 Finally this is the bag from the cover of the book made with the fabric that came with the book, I really like this floral spray pattern.

I used the hexagonal template that came on the pattern sheet to form the central panel of the patchwork quilt that i completed a few weeks ago, and really like the way that the book and the templates can act as inspiration for future projects.

I can't wat to hear how the launch goes in the Brighton store and to get my hands on a copy of 'Stitch'. It is available online here: Stitch!