A Post about Nothing

I thought I would have loads of time to blog about great things this week as I'm on holiday from work.  Not so! The week has flown by and I seem to have done very little, even though I've been busier than ever.  The new ideas for my fair stall are progressing at an achingly slow rate, very unusual for me as I'm normally full of enthusiasm about such things.  I'm either tired or the ideas are not as good as they should be.  Oh dear ...

One of the highlights of the week was meeting up with an old friend, Nick.  He's a very talented writer and was delivering a workshop on crime writing at the local library, so met him for coffee and catch up in a nearby seafront cafe.  His writing style revolves around the seamier side of life in London and the North, especially in the    1960's, 70's, 80's, with references to the social culture of those times - music, fashion, etc.  It's very atmospheric and evocative.  Nick has also co-written two books about the Grimsby fishing heritage:

Nick has also told me that "Frank is Coming"! (More on this later in the year).  In the meantime there are some brilliant short stories on his blog Electric Lullaby.

Even my charity shop ventures were mostly failures this week.  I only bought

An Ironstone Broadhurst handpainted plate, designed by Kathie Winkle

and a cute mug, just right for my fancy teas.

I even did an extra day's admin work at Artlandish, my other job, instead of lazing around or crafting, and today is Granddaughter Day, so I'll be busy again.  I'll just leave you with a few photos of a garden in full bloom with growing produce.

Down a Bit of a Different Road

I've signed up for a stall at a fair in August and have been thinking about what to put out for sale.

At the last fair, in which I didn't take part, there were a lot of shabby chic stalls with a plethora of beautifully-made items - bunting, hearts, soft toys, pinnies, peg bags, etc.  This made me think that I would be just another similar seller so I've decided to take a gamble and concentrate this time on more vintage-y items.  I hope people will go for old style with a twist.  Who knows?  Still, "Speculate to accumulate" they say. 

I rootled out all my doilies and lace, plus cottons, hand-dyes and floral stuff...

... what a mess!

I had to tidy up the whole workroom after this rootle.  

I even hunted out some very old embroidery transfers and have started stitching old-fashioned lavender bags. I'll keep you up to date with proceedings anyway.

Son of C, No. 2, brought his joinery skills to bear on a little request I'd made.  I have a tatty old loom which makes lovely strings of tied cloth strips - see previous post on Corsages and asked if he could made a couple more, a little less tatty.  These turned up yesterday:

Six expertly-make loomy things, plus a big one for thicker fabrics!

What a clever boy!  I'm getting him on to peg looms next...

By the way, there are two lovely giveaways going on in Blogland at the moment, so pop over to Gillyflower and @home for a chance to win a fab prize.

- also -

I have 41 followers and would love to get to 50.  If I do I will have a lovely giveaway, so please get your blogfriends over to make it a reality.  Thanks loads xxx

Today I Am Mostly Buying ...

Two lovely embroidered antimacassars (I think)

 A floral Nienhaus blouse

 Three lovely white doilies

 A vintage-look summer skirt (only Primark but beautifully lined)

 Two T-shirts

 A Scandinavian- looking tea towel

 A Per Una cardi top

 Floral bowl, saucer and glass to make a posh sweet or soap stand

 and a heavy linen bag (pen there to show size)

All from one charity shop for less than £15.  Yay!

And now three makes ...

Here is the completed soap/sweet dish

I made a few variations to the pincushion kit sent in a swap by the lovely Odd Socks and Pretty Frocks.  It has the names of new Grandbaby C and her mummy can use it as she wishes.

 Art Jars for collecting money for next year's holilday, ready for sale.

Have a good weekend xxx

No Longer a Swap Virgin!

I have received my first swap, courtesy of Kandipandi's swaparooni!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Odd Socks and Pretty Frocks, for the following ...

An exciting parcel of pretty tissue and shiny packages 

 and a mysterious envelope!  The parcels contained ...

 lovely co-ordinating lace and ribbons,

 Cute stitch kits,

 a fabulous array of gorgeous fabric

 and a cheeky little hand-crafted pom-pom thingy!  The lovely card told me it's either a neck decoration or scarflet, made by OSandPF herself.  It's great to get such unique handmade items.

 Mr C found a new way to model it, however!

I hope yours arrived safely, swap partner!

Much love xxx

Winding Up The Weekend

It's been so lovely and sunny here all weekend.  For once I haven't had to go anywhere or do anything particular so most of the time I've been in the garden, picking fruit, tidying up the flower and veg beds and making stuff at the patio table.  Such a treat - hopefully it will set me up for the coming week, which may not be so good.  Our work team has now moved in with another, same building but different office, and the atmosphere is a little ... well, sometimes okay, sometimes a bit iffy.  There are problems I don't want to bore you with but hey-ho!  We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Anyway, here are the updates:

I have started to make use of my new natural dyeing book,  Dyes from Kitchen Produce.

So far I've experimented with 

Little Hard Windfall Apples

 The resultant colour is a very pale yellow cream when rinsed and dried

 Begonias 

 This beautiful shade fades to a pale pink when rinsed, but still pretty

I have also finished the manky footstool I bought for a few pounds, painting it grey and distressing the legs then spraying areas in silver.  I also recovered it in striking black and white sample fabrics.

Before

 After

Next thing I made was a quick skirt from a huge swatch of fabric I bought for a £1 from a chazzer. 

It was one of those easy two-hour patterns.  I might make a top to go with it.

Final make was a little knitted dog from the hank of natural wool I bought from the Woolfest.  He doesn't look exactly like the pattern, which was in beautiful white cotton yarn, but I love him.  Any ideas for a name?

I have also been visiting my gorgeous new grandbaby and there may be more pictures soon - you have been warned!

Have a lovely week xxx

Just Stuff!

The sun is shining and the back door is open

Wimbledon is on tv

Fresh raspberry crumble is in the oven

and I'm in short sleeves, so it really must be Summer!

This lovely lily broke off a day or two ago.  Mr C gave it the kiss of life and it's repaid him with lovely pink blooms.

I finished knitting up the wool I bought in a charity shop in Kendal - two deep blue balls of old Paton's "Husky".  I had no pattern or real thought of what to make, just really wanted to see what it looked like.  I sewed up the sides, gave it a gentle felting and added some of the rough felt bits bought from Woolfest last week.  Hey Presto! A teapot cosy or hat depending on the need at the time.  It's currently being modelled by my cafetiere, however, as the teapot is hiding in the cupboard.

Everyone seems to be making crochet squares at the moment and I'm no exception.  I had a tiny ball of wool left over from Jasmine's cardi and tried a new design for the squares, then added some contrasting yarn.  There was only enough for one side of a cushion but I rather like it.

This is my latest chazzer shop purchase - a set of six English bone china cups and saucers in a very summery pattern.  £2's worth of delicate prettiness.

I am pleased to say new Grandbaby Carrad, little Eves, is doing splendidly.  Rather better than her mummy who has had complications "down there" and is a bit poorly at the moment, bless her.  Here is my mum, Eves' great-grandma (or Nanny G as she's known, the G is for Greta).  This is her first cuddle and she was smitten to bits!  

Mum is looking a cool hippy chick in her Biba top.