Forget-me-not Elephant Bookmark

I would like to think that some of you may have wondered where I've been and why I haven't posted this week's Zakka project but, in all honesty, I think that my absence wasn't forgotten just unnoticed.  Well I'm back from my holiday in the Lake District in England having just spent a week in a little whitewashed cottage in the small village of Hawkshead.  Yes, 'tis Beatrix Potter country and I saw her original black-and-white pictures which were on display for the first time in the gallery there.  I also visited Wray Castle where Beatrix and her family spent their summer holidays - also open for the first time this year. 

I have been going to the Lakes every summer for the past decade so I knew that the rain would arrive and when it did, I was ready.  Tucked away in a corner of my suitcase was my Zakka travel sewing kit, Zakka book and a few charm squares of fabric.   When the rain set in and the hardened walkers went out exploring, I curled up on the sofa in front of the fire (yes - in July!) and set about this week's project - a lovely little bookmark in the shape of an elephant designed by Kat Mew of Zakka Inspired.  

I am pleased to say this project went without a hitch.  The instructions were clear, the template was the exact size and the project was perfect for hand-stitching.  I wanted my elephant's face and feet to be rather plain so I hand-stitched a strip of beige striped fabric to the top and bottom of a Moda 'Flora' square and used this for the elephant's body.   Even turning the body out the right way was relatively simple although turning the trunk was not!!  I added ribbon embellishment, a little button for the eye and tied a little piece of pink ribbon into a neat bow for her head. Hey-presto - a pretty little reminder of where I am in the Zakka sew-along.

One of my favourite places in Hawkshead is a little tea shop called 'Poppy Red'.  Not only is it a tea shop but it also stocks lots of lovely little knick-knacks.  I popped in there for my lunch on Tuesday and demolished a cheese and chutney panini washed down with a frothy coffee (yes, it was as lovely as it sounds - the birds were hopping on the back of my chair singing for a crumb - 'not a chance' I sung back!).   After lunch I took a stroll around the shop and picked up a trinket for my sister (and a couple of hand-made buttons, a notebook and some ribbon for me - just out of support for the local artists you understand!!!)   It wasn't until I arrived home today and unpacked that I realised how very appropriate my sister's gift was for this week's Zakka project - it is a little hand-carved forget-me-not pot.  So that is one person, at least, who will remember me next time I am late with my post!!!