Staying put

We finally found out this afternoon that we are not going to be moving as DH did not get the job in Wales. Although I was happy to move I do feel mighty relieved that we do not have to face relocating and all that entails. So I can put my roots back down again and hopefully get some focus back - well, maybe!

I'm glad to report the birthday girl loved her bag and has carried it round all weekend according to her Mum! I actually felt quite tearful when she told me how much she loved it :)

DH was busy busy this weekend replumbing the bath and shower which meant I was on Minx and Monster duty. We kept ourselves nicely busy and even managed to sort out their art drawers - just how many thousand felt-tip pens do two children need? I did find them some great pictures to colour in here and that kept them occupied for quite some time :o)

I had a desperate urge to crochet (as you do!) but having decided the ripple blanket would be a Christmas surprise for Minx I had to find something else to do. I dug out some thrifted wool and a big fat hook and whopped together (technical term my Mum used to use) this scarf in simple filet crochet:

I think it's pure wool and it was lovely to crochet with. It also drapes beautifully. I just hope it isn't itchy to wear as it's going into the Christmas presents basket. I'm not sure who will end up with it yet - hopefully someone who will appreciate it!

Once the babies were in bed I got on with some more rippling. The colours look awful on this photo - it's actually much less red than this. It is growing quite steadily and the pattern is well and truly lodged in my head now so it's a real picker-upper, if you know what I mean.


Sunday afternoon was sunny and warm so we headed down to our favourite country park to walk the dog.

Just look at these crab apples - amazing colours. I'd have loved to pick some but it's not encouraged sadly. Still, they'll keep the birds going over the winter.



This footpath was closed for months for repair work and has only recently reopened, so we decided to take this route back to the car.


With the little folk back at school this morning I felt in need of some retail therapy. I called in to my local charity shops and managed to find a few good bits.

Some white cotton sheeting and yellow flanelette. The flanelette was too good to pass up as it's great for adding a bit of body to handbags - a great tip from Amy Karol's book.

I also found some pretty pillowcases, two and a half pairs of curtains and a couple of remnants.

Some of this has already been cut up to make cushions for Christmas presents. I've been inspired by Bethany's reading cushion and now have about eight to make!!

All this lot came to less than £10 which I felt was pretty good going.

I've got to squeeze a lot of crafting into this week as the children are at home for half-term next week and I'll be entertaining them rather than me!! There might even be a bit more scouring of charity shops too ...

Yay, it's F-F-F-Friday!!

As I'm not going out to work just now it surprises me that I can look forward to Friday so much. I love being at home, on my own, during the week. (It's my time, all mine - hahahahaha!!)
I'm even looking forward even more to next Friday and the start of the children's half-term holiday, mainly because we won't have to have that morning rush to be up and out.

My two look shattered at the moment. It seems to have been a long half term for them. Settling in to new classes, new school for the Sos and getting to know new friends. I'm so proud with how they have dealt with all that life has thrown at them this year.

I pulled my finger out and got a bit of sewing done today. Minx has her friend's party tomorrow and I made a little bag and purse to go with the hair accessories we bought for the birthday girl.

The bag is made from the sleeve of a thrifted jumper that had been preshrunk for me :) and some patchwork fabric I have had for simply ages.

Matching purse made from patchwork fabric - I hate making these as I never seem to get the zip and lining quite right. I need lessons!

I hope she likes them. It's difficult with other people's kids as they often seem more streetwise and label driven than my two. Having said that I did make a big fluffy cushion for Minx's best friend who then turned accusingly to her poor mum (who works incredibly hard with mentally ill adults) and said 'Why don't you make me things?' - her Mum saw the funny side thank goodness.

The rippling is going well but no photos today. I've also almost finished the left side of the cabled jacket for Minx - just one more side, two sleeves and the collar and it's done ;) . Of course all I really want to do is make monkees - just like the lovely minty ones over here !

I don't know if I'll be blogging this weekend as DH is taking the bath out to replumb the shower which no longer works due to us changing the boiler - phew! Gonna be a stinky weekend chez Moog.

xxxxxx

Storm in a bone china teacup, with a lace doily and a fairy cake.

A fascinating debate seems to be developing since the publication of Jane Brocket's book. I've nearly finished reading it and have thoroughly enjoyed it. If you pop on over to French Knots you'll see what I mean.

I've just been reading Jane's entry for today on Yarnstorm and it just gets better. A journalist asked her today whether she considered what she was doing was legitimate!! She's certainly hit a nerve and if it helps her sell more books, become a huge success and bring forth a massive upsurge in the 'gentle arts' then all the better. Go Jane!!


So here's my illegitimate offering for today - LOL!!!

Some more growth on the rippling. This is so therapeutic to do. I've never crocheted anything on this scale before. Apart from granny squares and the odd crocheted flower I've never followed a crochet pattern before. If I can do this it must be simple - Lucy take note!!

I've decided to make this in secret as part of the Minx's Christmas present. It's using all the leftovers from things I've previously knitted for her so the colours are very girlie.

After a misty start to the day, listening to the ships fog horns blasting up from Southampton Water at 6am, it developed into a glorious sunny and very warm Autumn day. There was a very heavy dew last night and I decided to take the camera on safari round the garden.


I bought myself a digital SLR camera with my redundancy money and I'm still getting to grips with it. I suppose I could always read the instructions ;o)

I did manage to get a bit of loveliness to share.

Here's a beautiful penstemon that has flowered and flowered all summer:

Snowberries - they should be edible. What would they taste like if they were? Marshmallows or mozzarella?

A single solitary rose hiding it's light behind a bamboo:

The spiders have been busy again:

My nut harvest in DH's twisted hazel that I bought for him when we first moved in 6 years ago.

This tree is much more impressive in winter when it's lost it's leaves and is covered in 4 inch long catkins.

There's lots of good stuff going on out there in blogland. Beki has made a beautiful bag and I feel inspired to be more daring in my fabric choices and Future Girl is battling the lurgy in a very unique way with a beautiful and ingenious idea for a crochet hook holder.

Whatever you do don't go to Lucy's blog and put you name down for her 50th blog giveaway, as I am going to win! If you are of a nervous disposition do not even consider seeing what Monkee Maker is up to - I'm on to the RSPCA when I've finished this!!

I've got some sewing to do tomorrow. Minx has a party to go to on Saturday and I was so underwhelmed by the girls' toys on offer that I bought hair accessories and will be making the birthday girl a bag tomorrow to go with them.

Before I head for the phone to report monkee abuse I would just like to say an enormous thank you to all of you who have left messages this week. You are all lovely - whether or not you are legitimate remains to be seen!!!!!!!!!

Lovexxxxx

I would do anything for love ....

Isn't it amazing how unexpectedly hearing a song from your past can give you such a happy feeling? I went to the farmshop for veggies today and Meatloaf was playing loudly on their radio. I had a great time choosing my fruit and veg, humming to 'I would do anything for love'. What I would like to know is what it is he won't do when he says 'but I won't do that' - answers on a postcard please.

I've had a really gentle sort of a day - I think I needed it.

First I had a good chat with my brother who has shouldered most of the pressure this year with Mum's illness and organising care for my Dad - he lives very close to Dad, we're 140 miles away. Now that Dad is getting into more of a routine with his carers my brother has been able to let go a bit and now Mum's death is really hitting him hard. There are so many emotions involved when you lose someone dear. Fear, anger, emptiness and disbelief to name a few and nothing can prepare you for it.

We waved hello to Granny on the walk to school this morning. It was a very cloudy morning and we noticed a strange bright glow where the clouds had parted slightly. We decided it was Granny pulling back the clouds to see what we were up to. My sweet Minx walked all the way down the road waving at the sky and calling 'Hello Granny'!

The children have been so good today and that always makes for a peaceful home :o)

I wanted to do something creative but I didn't want the mess of getting the sewing machine out - mainly because I'd have had to clear it up again before fetching the children from school!

I got out my crochet hook instead and started my first ripple blanket. For you yarn lovers out there look away now as I'm afraid it's acrylic - I know, sorry :o(


Having only recently become more switched on to knitting and crochet I am a bit of a learner with yarn. It's only since seeing and hearing about the beauty of natural fibres on all your lovely blogs that I have come to realise it is worth it. Not sure I'll be able to afford it, that's the only hitch.

I'm amazed how quickly the ripples grow. I really thought it would be very laborious but it's actually quite easy to pick up the pattern and get into a rhythm. This may even get finished!

I rippled whilst listening to Radio 4 - taking plenty of hints from Jane Brocket here - and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I've got some granny squares on the go but doing them one at a time does seem to take ages and progress is more than slow on that one!

I was very strong minded and switched off the computer so have not spent hours reading blogs today. I'm going to give myself half an hour max. when I've finished my post and then I'm back to the cabling or rippling or a bit of both.

In case you are in the slightest bit interested this is what I had for lunch today. Home grown tomatoes on yesterday's homemade bread, toasted, with a drizzle of olive oil and plenty of black pepper - deeeelicious !

I thought I'd better slip in a gratuitous Moog shot as it's a while since she's been on show. Here she is making some knitting stinky and hairy a couple of months ago:


Today has made me realise just how lucky I am to have this time to myself at the moment. After years of working and then bringing up children plus working I am very grateful to be able to be at home right now. It is the right time for me to be doing this. Financially it is hard. Not having to dash home from work, fetch the babies from the childminder, throw food together, rush homework and chuck them into bed within a 2 hour slot and then start the housework is something I appreciate every day.

I am also so grateful that my Mum gave me the desire to be creative and let me know that it was ok to make stuff. I can honestly say that I am never bored - except when ironing! I don't know what the future holds work wise but right here and now I'm happy to go with the flow :o)
A lottery win would be helpful though...

Remedy found for body dismorphic syndrome

Today started very wet and very dark. I had to go to the bank for DH and just everyone at the local shops looked like this :( . The cashier at the bank was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders and could barely bring herself to smile for her bedraggled customers.

Now, I know we don't all like rain and this poor lady may well have had more than her fair share of problems but having worked with the public in one way or another all my working life, I absolutely hate with a passion being made to feel unwelcome or a nuisance by people who work in public places. If you don't like it find something you do like and spare us the sulky faces!

Unfortunately for her I don't give in so easily - she wasn't going to cast her glumness off on me. I gave her my best, friendliest smile and she did manage to dredge up a slight 'smile' from the depths of somewhere - trouble was it was so pained she looked like she had wind ;o)


It's so lovely to realise that I am my Mother's daughter!

I thought you might like some rainy day loveliness and found a few goodies on t'Internet to share with you:

Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet - Roger Miller

A rainy day is the perfect time for a walk in the woods - Rachel Carson

The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

and finally from the other man in my life:

There's no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes - Billy Connolly

So having cheered up a dreary bank clerk I came home and tucked into a mug of coffee and a slice of this from Jane Brockett's book:

After a lovely exchange of emails with Lucy - thanks Lucy, just what I needed - I got stuck into making the children's advent calendar.

When I put together the head I had made last week with the embroidered 'pockets' I realised something had gone amiss with the scale of the poor beastie. A very severe case of rheindeer body dismorphic syndrome - body too big for your head, mmm I recognise that feeling ... it's

not that my body's too big, just that my head's too small!

I was not about to make new pockets so decided to make a new head and had to upscale quite a bit.

I was determined to make this out of my existing stash - hence the back of the head is several shades darker than the front and the body is made from two Tesco value teatowels. The arms and legs are made from some thick cord from the Scrapstore - which was an absolute bugger (sorry!) as it frayed dreadfully as soon as I cut it.

I sandwiched a piece of flanelette and some wadding between the body front and back to stop it being floppy. I had intended to handstitch the felt for the head, hands and feet but I was so desperate to actually get something finished that I machine stitched it instead.

It could have been put together much better if I had not been in such a rush to just get it done but the finished thing isn't too bad if you don't look too close! I only realised 10 minutes ago that I'd put his antlers on the wrong way round - ah, well.

I'm just relieved that at least I've finished something and hope it's broken my crafty drought :o)

Sausage and Minx love him and want him to stay up until Christmas now!

I can now cross something off my list of 'Things to Make before Christmas'. However, I daresay it will be replaced by something out of this book:

How d'you like my 'photo studio' ? DH has been doing some plastering and is now using the conservatory to store his 'stash' - classy eh?

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments on yesterday's post - those knitted knickers certainly provoked a reaction:o)

No fridge wisdom tonight but I thought this might do instead:

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine - Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book.

Loves xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Knitted knickers and soft kid gloves

These are the goodies I bought in Salisbury today. We didn't have a great deal of time to look round all the little shops but Lakeland was good and we also found Dinghams Cookshop, which didn't appear huge from outside but went back and back in a series of rooms all full of wonderful kitchenalia. There were things in there I didn't even know I needed!

I was very very restrained and didn't go mad. Miracle ;o)

I couldn't resist these from Lakeland for the Monster's birthday next month. I may do decorated cupcakes instead of a big cake.

As promised, here is the book I picked up at the Autumn Fayre on Saturday. I have no idea how old it is but would imagine it's 1950's at the latest.

It is packed with goodies to make, including lingerie:

Gloves:

and those essentials - knitted underwear!

I asked Minx if she'd like me to knit her some new knickers. The look of abject horror on her little face was priceless LOL!

I think my favourite thing about the book is the illustrations, especially those of babies and children:

There is also a great section on sewing machines which I will be using soon.

Considering I set out to write a craft blog it does seem to have been light on the crafting for the past couple of weeks! I don't seem to have got stuck into anything in particular but have lots of ideas and several projects in the pipeline. It may not be helped by the fact that I've woken up at 4ish every morning for the past week for no apparent reason :o(

I gave myself a talking to tonight and did a couple of hours of cabling on Minx's jacket. I'm almost half way up the left front and am getting into the rhythm a bit more with the pattern.

All your lovely comments are very much appreciated and I am probably spending too much time looking at everyone's blogs instead of getting on with some craftiness myself! I have a feeling I may be painting the hallway tomorrow but will have to fit something creative in somewhere :o)

Here's today's fridge magnet wisdom - thought you might need a fix Lucy!

Love to all you crafty peeps out there xxxxxxxxxxx

Old English Charm

The children and I had a lovely day out today with my best friend and her beautiful two year old boy. Sausage and Minx thoroughly enjoyed being the grown-up ones.


We went to Bosham, near Chichester, which is the most wonderful little village. In the photo below you can see cars parked in front of the houses. They all have to move before high tide as the sea comes right up to the buildings and the road is covered in several feet of water.

How cool is that? Having to tie your boat up to the outside wall of your house - I dare say it's needed if you run out of milk at high tide and need to nip to the shops!

Minx took a photo of the swans with their cygnets:

We had a very nice light lunch here:

and we walked our lunch off exploring the side streets a bit:

The children had a good run round on the village green that overlooks the water:

and we wandered a bit more absorbing the quaintness of this special place:

and admiring the boats:

I just love that ropework along the side of the wooden boat.

There are the most stunning houses around the water's edge - I could live in any of them - and it is so peaceful there - it could be 40 years ago or more. Bosham is a real favourite with artists too as the light is so beautiful there.

We took a look around the Craft Centre in the village where I oohed and aahed over gorgeous new and vintage textiles. I didn't buy anything as I'm trying so hard to economise but it wasn't easy when I stumbled upon a basket of patchwork fabrics. I'm glad (I think) to say common sense prevailed.

I'm having a girlie day out with another friend tomorrow - off up to Salisbury to explore the Lakeland shop. We're on the lookout for preserving jars and heaven's knows what else :o)