I've just found something interesting - well interesting to those who sew or do other crafts which involve a self-heal mat ...

The first question to answer is 'what is a self-heal mat? with 'what are they made of?' and 'what do they do?' following closely behind.

A cutting mat is a measurement tool used for sewing and crafts projects. Generally a cutting mat is a rectangular piece of durable material, such as vinyl or rubber.

They protect the work surface from damage, and prevent your knife blade from dulling quickly.  Cutting blades create tiny scratches in the mat surface that reclose afterward; thus the description "self-healing."

They don't "heal" exactly. The cuts are still there. The mats are made out of a rubber that expands slightly when cut, which pushes the two sides of the cut closer together so you still have a mostly smooth surface. 

They expand because the inside is compressed (under pressure) and the film/surface material is holding them in that way so when they're damaged, they get released a tiny bit but are still mostly held in place by the rest of the mat. 

How to clean your self-heal mat:

• Soak in a bath or large container (to lay as flat as possible) and soak it for 15-20 minutes in a solution of 1/4 cup white vinegar to every gallon of cool water. Let me repeat, cool water. Do this every so often to help extend its useful life. 
• Then use a squirt of mild dishwashing liquid and clean the mat with a very soft brush .  The purpose of this gentle scouring is to remove the fibres that get trapped in the cuts marks preventing the cuts from coming together. 

also see:
http://makezine.com/2010/11/23/what-are-self-healing-cutting-mats/ 
http://www.core77.com/posts/17891/a-materials-mystery-what-the-heck-are-self-healing-cutting-mats-made-from-and-a-possible-alternative-17891

 

Can we always believe what is in front of our eyes?  Here are some photos we need to look at in order to understand fully ....


And here are a few more:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/awesomer/photos-you-really-need-to-look-at-to-understand?utm_term=.kboRjoMr4#.lt5jWRNn2

For some reason I've not been able to access this blog for the past nine months but am so pleased that at last I can.  Please watch this space as I have a lot of catching up to do......

Winston Churchill loved paraprosdokians, figures of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected.

1. Where there's a will, I want to be in it.

2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it's still on my list.

3. Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

4. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.

5. War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

6. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting
it in a fruit salad.

7. They begin the evening news with 'Good Evening,' then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

8. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

9. I thought I wanted a career. Turns out, I just wanted pay checks.

10. In filling out an application, where it says, 'In case of emergency, notify:' I put "DOCTOR."

11. I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

12. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street...with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

13. Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.

14. A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.

15. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

16. Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.

17. There's a fine line between cuddling and...holding someone down so they can't get away.

18. I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so sure.

19. You're never too old to learn something stupid.

20. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

21. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

a22. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

23. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

24. I'm supposed to respect my elders, but now it’s getting harder and harder for me to find one.

(with many thanks to Sylvia Chapman)

SOME PHOTOS TAKEN AT THE WINSTER SECRET GARDENS EVENT LAST WEEKEND (16/17 JULY)

Every year many Winster residents open their gardens to the public (next year is provisionally set for 15/16 July).  

The place to get the best
coffee and walnut cake!

On Sunday afternoon, as we wandered around the over 20 open gardens we could have had lunch of tapas and pudding, then cake. 

one of the many beautiful roses
seen amongst the walled gardens

There were ice-creams, soft drinks, wine, beer, cider, jazz, plants for sale, art exhibition, tapestry on show, crafts..... even chickens to feed.  

Later on there was a 45 minute concert in the Church.

a neat little hide-away

Woolerton Old Hall Garden
Shropshire
Trip 30 June 2016
http://wollertonoldhallgarden.com/

Hodnet Hall Gardens
Trip 30 June 2016

http://www.hodnethallgardens.org/