Sunday 29 November 2015

End of November...

Morning...

Well the end of November is nearly here....its been a rotten week...I've just wanted to hibernate...the weather has been awful and I have felt a little unwell...so not much has been happening :(

A little bit of creativeness happened on Monday when I had to do a posy for a friend...


a pretty posy in pink....

I have been doing a little on the granny square blanket but haven't got too far into it at all...so wasn't really worth posting any photos of it...

I did make a little hat yesterday for Mr Squirrel....


The instructions were from a Pin I did ages ago...you know... the ones you Pin and think I'll make that and never do ha ha...


quite a simple process of looping wool around a bit of toilet roll...Puppy Dog pinched what was left and played with it for a while ripped it to pieces...so I couldn't make anymore :)

And that's about it...so as you can see...it really has been a non productive, pretty boring week!

But next week....its December!!!! All my Christmas mugs and plates will be out...I change them over from our normal ones every year...a tradition I picked up off my lovely friend...but she goes the whole hog and all the crockery gets changed...its just lovely....I also have a little costume make to help out with for a little ones Christmas play so much to look forward to next week....

Now for Christmas makes....this week I thought I'd choose Wreaths...I love a wreath and much inspiration is to be found on the Internet...these are some which I think would be fairly easy to make...


Using shop bought artificial foliage and berries and pretty ribbons....


Again shop bought artificial berries...glue gun them onto a wire, polystyrene or twig wreath base...


Using new baubles or better still old vintage pieces even if they are broken...they can have a new life glue gunned onto a wreath base and a lovely way to display family pieces :)

The next picture is the one I used as the inspiration for mine that I made last year....


I had never done anything like this before...I had made lots of fresh foliage Christmas wreaths and added ribbons...but I figured with a glue gun anything was possible :)

And here is my version...


I used a twig wreath base...pinecones I had collected on our walks...some nuts purchased from the supermarket...a few artificial berries and some cheeky little robins...I hung it in the hallway and put some little battery fairy lights around it...cost was very little as the main part was just picked up off the fields and dried out :)

So a short and sort of sweet diary entry this week...I very much doubt that I will have inspired anyone this week...not even myself ha ha...I'll leave you with this weeks vintage photo...


I clearly remember the corona pop lorry coming around the streets to deliver...and we used to save the bottles to return as you got money off for saving them...see we did recycle even in those days :) I also remember the beer wagon coming around...."Beer At Home Means Davenports"...I can still remember all of the jingle....

This weeks quote....


A must for all that have been worrying.....take care...have a lovely week...enjoy everything you do...xxxxx






Sunday 22 November 2015

OK....Christmas Decorations are Fair Game Now...

Morning....

Its a chilly one here today....but I quite like the cold...I love getting wrapped up warm and cosy and feeling that cold air on my face...and they way you look really healthy with rosy cheeks...ha ha....We've had snow this week too... :))) it snowed late on Friday night but by morning it had gone...which I was disappointed with as I was looking forward to Puppy Dog racing around in it... :)

I've not done too much this week....I have been feeling a bit "under the weather"...felt like a cold was coming on all week...but its manifested itself in a wonderful (NOT) cold sore....! But I'd rather have that than a horrible cold any day :)

I met up with another of my beautiful friends this week....she has been in my life for most of it! We've been besties for 40+++ years! She has picked me up and dusted me off more times than I care to remember...I don't know what I would do without her :) ...we had a lovely pub lunch...and lots of chatting and laughing...always a good therapy...always great fun...great friends are one of the best things in life I think.... :)

Crochet this week has been slow and steady...my blue blanket is almost finished...just have the last little bit of border to do...just ran out of wool...would you believe it! Never mind good excuse to order some more ha ha...


I have managed to follow a pattern for the border...wonders will never cease...I'm hopeless at following patterns...that's why I'm no good at writing them...but with a mixture of reading the pattern...looking at the picture pattern...and trial and error I think I got there.....


I purchased this border book sometime ago...its lovely with over 150 different borders and it shows you how to go around the corners of your work....


In the basket this week is yet another Granny Square blanket...people seem to like these...they are always the ones that sell (another one of my previous blankets sold this week and the new owner is thrilled with it...that makes me very happy)...and I love just making the little squares...its easy, enjoyable crochet :)


Now the end of November is fast approaching...so in MY book...Christmas is now fair game!!! :)

I have been purchasing little bits and pieces...and earlier in the week we went to the Christmas Barn which is just full of beautiful decorations...I was in heaven....
These are a few of the bits I have been gathering so far....these little red tea lights have already made it out into the kitchen.... :)


Stanley the Stag is already up on the wall....in fact I think he will stay there permanently...I love him...he will just have fairy lights hung around him for Christmas :)


and this gorgeous tin of shortbread and little tartan dogs with bells just had to purchased :)


So now I can start posting about ideas I have been collecting on Pinterest....I thought I would try and "theme" it a little each week....this week is fairy lights...I love fairy lights :))))

The following photos have all been taken from Pinterest and can all be found on my Pinterest Christmas board....I just love the idea of fairy lights in glass and you can buy battery operated lights so cheaply...don't they just look fab.... :)

This is my favourite...

These glass light fittings can be found in car boots sales, antiques fairs, charity shops and think even Ikea do variations of these...

This is a Pinterest favourite...its been pinned from my board every day of the year...its had over 1700 pins so far!!!

Bet you cant tell I absolutely adore decorating for Christmas can you?  ha ha

Well Puppy Dog is telling me its time to go and play ball....so I'm off to get wrapped up warm...I'll leave you with this weeks vintage photo....

 
 
Who remembers these? I vividly remember having to lick the back of the stamps and put them in their book...once your book was full you could exchange them for "goods" in the Green Shield Stamp shops...which eventually changed to Argos Shops...when I was little we had a Petrol Service Station and Repair Garage...I used to go of a weekend and help out...and we used to give Green Shield Stamps out with purchases...I remember our customers knowing that I collected the stamps and if they only had one or two stamps with their purchase they would give them to me.... ha ha happy days...the littlest of things...even a few stamps gave pleasure in those days....
 
and so to this weeks quote...
 


So very true of all my lovely beautiful friends and family...and to all of you who read this blog...until next week....sending lots of love...enjoy everything you do....xxxxxx









Sunday 15 November 2015

Oh the Wind and Rain...

Morning...

Well what a wet and blustery week we have had!!!  I'm sure we have gotten off light compared to some areas of the country....but its been oh so dark....still it makes the fairy lights in the kitchen sing out with some pretty sparkles :)


I have been to see my beautiful friend this week...she cuts my hair (and boy did it need it)...as well as being my living Guardian Angel and my Reiki Master...so it was lovely to catch up...put the worlds to right...and a good old natter...and also to drop off the little poncho I made a few weeks ago for a gorgeous little miss....here she is modelling....


so pleased the pink matched her favourite pink boots! :)

I have only been working on my duck egg blue blanket (I'm still unsure of my V stitch bright blanket :/)...I have toyed with loads of options...started them...undone them...started something else...but I have settled on this and its coming along nicely....

 

Hubby purchased some new cushions for me as a surprise...(and yep it was a surprise he never buys stuff for the home on his own!)....so my little brown chair now looks smart for the Autumn/Winter now :)


He has been full of surprises this week...we had a "spur of moment" outing as well...we took ourselves off to Trentham Gardens...although its practically on our doorstep its the first time I had been and it was lovely...beautiful little log cabin shops full of beautiful bits and bobs...cafes...and the estate gardens and lake...and so dog friendly, so puppy dog had a wonderful day out too! :)


The Italian gardens still looked lovely...I must say I cant wait to go back and see the place in Spring and Summer and I would think a few weeks ago...when the leaves were turning it would have been spectacular!

 

They had beautiful sculptures of fairies and my favourite things dandelion clocks...quite dramatic against the grey skies....

 
 

Our day trip was on Wednesday...Armistice Day....so it was lovely to see the wild flowers still in full bloom...dotted with poppies....

 
 

and little fairy villages....


To that wind and rain...you didn't spoil our day....  :)

Now there's no getting away from it....its nearly Christmas time....  :)  Pinterest has been full of ideas and decoration....Just to get you in the mood ha ha....


and I loved this simple idea for a decoration with candles....I've seen lots of deer and stag figures around in the shops and I have loads around the house....


Well todays diary entry ended up being top heavy with photos and not much writing...but that's what I love about doing my diary here....I can add in all those photos to look back on :)

This weeks vintage photo is....


I love these and if I had the space I would have one now....my friend has one and still uses it loads when all the family descend...I've also borrowed it for my parties they are just brilliant!....did you have one in your house? 

And for this weeks quote.... I saw it on a friends post on Facebook...with it being Remembrance Week and the awful scenes from Paris...I think this is quiet appropriate....


Have a safe week all...love the people close to you...enjoy everything you do xxxx












Monday 9 November 2015

It was all about Sunday :)

Morning :)

I know I'm a day late with my diary entry...but Sunday became...all about Sunday....its was a relaxing, easy going day...but I didn't seem to get a spare hour to write...

Hubby has been at home all week again.... I suppose its been a bit like when the kids are on half term...(our children are not at home anymore so we don't have that to think about)....but when Hubby is here my focus becomes different....housework goes out the window (Yay!!) and its more about doing things together....

We have been for some lovely walks....a bit of retail therapy :) and lots of down time...we've had lots of yummy lattes...


and slices of coffee and walnut cake....


a very chilled week.....


On that note not a lot of progress has been made on the two WIP I have on the go...just a little bit of crochet here and there....I've finished the main square of the duck egg blue blanket...and Saturday toyed with the idea of edging it in little flower squares...but I think I've changed my mind again!!!

 
 
I've only done a few more rows on my closed V stitch blanket....

My pumpkin vase finally gave way middle of the week....a split developed in the side and out came all the water making a bit of a mess but not too much...I have to say I was impressed that it lasted just over a week....the flowers were still ok so they have been transferred into my antique teapot....

 
 
Sunday arrived and it was antique fair day :))))) (very happy face) Myself and my parents headed off for the morning and it didn't disappoint....full of lovely things to look at....I could have spent a fortune...but I'm quite happy looking and buying the odd little thing here and there...mainly spoons...I love spoons!!! ha ha....as it was Remembrance Sunday the fair had the 2 minutes silence at 11:00am...and dead on the dot of 11 everyone stood still and was silent....the only noise was of all the clocks on the stalls chiming....it was just lovely...everyone in silent thought and the chimes rings....all very moving...When I got home late afternoon it had stopped raining so we took Puppy Dog for a lovely walk....then it was tea time....we had a takeaway....what a treat for a Sunday! Then TV time took over...Country File....Strictly Results (although I already knew who had left....I'm a Digital Spy addict)....X Factor....Downton Abbey....so you see Sunday just took over....a great day...joyful.....

I haven't done much Pinterest trawling this week....but I did come across these little beauties....


how adorable are these!!!! Could resist posting this pic :)

To end this weeks quite short diary entry (not much has happened)....the vintage photo....


I remember having this...or lemon and barley water...when I was little... if you were a "bit under the weather" or had a cold...I wonder if it was just full of sugar in those days...probably ha ha...I quite "liked" having a tummy ache when I was small as Nan used to give me a little nip of India Brandy, sugar and hot water..."that will cure it" she used to tell me...and it always did :)

This weeks quote is very apt for todays post....


I hope your Sunday was lovely too and that you have a week of content....enjoy everything you do....xxxx


Sunday 1 November 2015

Three "Works in Progress"! :)

Afternoon....Happy Sunday....after a pea souper of a foggy morning its turned into a beautiful sunny day here...I hope its the same where ever you are :)

Well after last weeks grumpiness this week has been much better :) and productive...

I've baked a cake...mainly to prove to myself that I can still bake after my failed attempts in the kitchen over the last few weeks!


A lovely Victoria Sandwich but with lemon curd instead of jam and lemon buttercream...yummy :)

I also did my spot of flower arranging....if you remember a few weeks ago I posted an inspiration picture of a pumpkin vase flower arrangement....well this was my attempt....


Not as exotic as my inspiration photo....I just used a plain old supermarket bunch of flowers with added ivy from our walks...but it looks really bright a cheery and I layered the display with my stash of acorns and conkers, my little crocheted pumpkin and the pottery hedgehog....so this is my Halloween/Autumn Welcome display...I know not very scary :)

Having finally deciding what to make the Limited Edition Wool Pack from Stylecraft (which isn't so limited anymore as they are releasing all the colours mainstream now - which I am glad about as the colours are lovely)....this was my creation...


I have a particular little Miss in mind for this....although as I didn't have a model I used our little Miss instead....


Ha ha....as a Facebook friend commented this morning....her expression says it all really....a case of "oh my God she's at it again...I'm not a doll you know!"

The other WIP's are coming along....

 

Now this is a complete first for me...hence the title of this post....I have had THREE works in progress this week!  I have only ever worked on one crochet project at a time...always telling myself just do one thing and finish it before you start something else....but this has been totally liberating! I have LOVED having more than one thing on the go...just dipping in and out of each as I feel like it...it has given me a whole new pleasure and joy to my crochet... :) I soooo wished I had done this earlier...but there's no stopping me now :) may also lead towards having to buy more yarn!

So now its November...am I ok to talk Christmas or is still too early? Anyway I'll just post this picture I found...I love this idea and think even I could make it!



That's it about Christmas....I wont push my luck too much....but just be prepared for lots more over the coming weeks!!! :)

Now the clocks have changed and its getting dark early....its candle time :) I do have candles on all year...but Autumn and Winter I have loads dotted about... these are the ones on the hearth....


I adore the gentle glow they give...it make me feel all cosy and warm....

Pinterest has really been "playing up" this week...I haven't been able to add any photos to my boards :( apparently there's a problem with loading photos from the IPad...I hope they get it sorted soon...but whilst just "looking" I came across this...

I just adore these...so pretty to hang in the kitchen...I have loads of cross stitch patterns that would work with this idea :)

Also I had my pre-ordered book delivered...Modern Vintage Gifts....its gorgeous...some lovely little projects...I will learn to sew...well that's what I'm trying to convince myself will happen :)

Well its time to put the chicken in the oven for our dinner so I'll take my leave for this week...the vintage photo is....


Its 100 years since Ladybird books were first printed...I had loads of these as a child and loved reading them...I'm sure mom and dad still have some of them :)

Talking of Mom & Dad....I have been over to them today....and had my first cuppa out of the new mug they bought me for my cuppas at their house :)

Its nice to feel special :)

This weeks quote is....


Have a lovely week all...enjoy everything you do...most of all don't let others bring you down xxxxxxx