Friday

Well as not being one to celebrate Halloween, what did I find myself making today? Something for Peanut to wear to a birthday party, with a fancy dress 'halloween' theme. He wanted to go as a dementor from Harry Potter, so armed with some black fabric I sourced from a car boot sale the other weekend I whipped up an outfit for him this morning.

He seems quite pleased with it and is expecting to win 'the best costume' competition. I've tried to explain to him that he may well not, but bless him, he thinks it is just the best!

I had physiotherapy this afternoon and on my way home popped into the CS I found a few weeks ago. (The one in which I bought my lovely pink coat). I nearly bought myself a lovely leather brown handbag, but I was wearing my 'do I REALLY need it' hat on. I think I will probably regret leaving it behind, but hey ho, I CAN make myself one afterall - maybe not leather, but definitely orginal.

However, these didn't escape my notice, and did come home with me. Okay I probably didn't NEED these either, but they are Clarks, leather and haven't been worn and a perfect fit so will be just perfect for those cold winter days. Oh yes and they are BLUE so how could I possibly not take advantage of such a bargain!

Peanut told me they were 'Awful' and 'What's Dad going to say?'

Being rather short of cardigans I spied this lovely pink number and it too is in almost unworn condition as well, so it made its way home with me as well.


Last night I wanted to do some crocheting as it has been a little while since I'd made anything and inspired by Lucy's hanging birds I thought I would give one an attempt.

Thanks to her perfectly clear and precise instructions this little bird was made last night. I can see me making more of these! Thanks Lucy!

Buttons, Bags & Birds

Despite the postal strikes a little parcel popped through the post today for me from Vicky of Anglesey Allsorts.

It was a bit like pass the parcel...

Beautifully wrapped...

Buttons! I had been one of the lucky ones to win her button giveaway!

Thank you Vicky, they are great - a girl can't have enough buttons you know :-)

I have been busy sewing again today. Partly successful and partly very frustrating.

Successful - Morley the Moreport


Extremely frustrating.... this floral bag.

The instructions were not especially clear and I think the handle is too short. Plus it has taken me hours to make!

Still it is very roomy and fully lined, with an internal pocket has plenty of room for the kitchen sink!

Do I have a problem?

Dear Aunt Agatha,

I think I have an addiction problem.

After finding my first couple of conkers the other week I thought I must be too late and had missed the conkers. Well imagine my surprise this week when walking the dogs with hubby that I found more.... and not just a few.

These few I gathered today - I wasn't wearing a coat so only had the pockets in my jeans, so couldn't collect many...

I just love the patterns on them when they are first dropped and still shine.

Now where was I, oh yes my addiction...um...collection has grown significantly. It is now causing so many stops on the walk that even the dogs are losing patience. And believe me they do like to stop at every tree if they were given the opportunity. Now where was I? Oh yes, my addiction has grown so much so that when I saw these:

Lovely green bowl...

and brown autuminal bowl...

For £1 each in the local CS. I thought - aha! Perfect for...


Displaying my vast collection of conkers! :-)

So Dear Aunt Agatha (Does anyone besides me remember Agony Aunt Agatha?), do I have a problem?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It has been a lovely day today and although not much blue sky the temperature has been around 18 degrees celcius, so very warm for late October.

We have been racking and 'vacuuming' up leaves today...

Or rather hubby has :-)

The leaves have been turning yellow and then brown and dropping from the trees.

Our lovely Maple's glorious bright green leaves have turned yellow.

The combination of yellows, oranges, browns and greens is quite beautiful. I really enjoy having my crafting corner by our patio door as I can sit and look out at the garden and enjoy it.

Oh, and my African Violet is in full flower

Isn't it just so pretty?!

She just keeps sewing...

Lately my posts seem to be very taken up by my recent projects. Partly I guess because of the fair looming, as that seems to be very much at the forefront of my mind. It has been many many years since I have had a craft stall, and then my 'makes' where of a different sort entirely, so this is a new venture for me.

Having something to focus on has also been good for me in terms of getting on with things and not getting too upset about still not being able to play my beloved clarinet. Of course I am still hopeful, but it is obviously going to take a lot longer than I had ever expected.

I have been given this little old table for displaying some of my wares on. I thought I would give it a 'wee shabbying up' - I should be able to manage that hopefully, although this was as far as it got today. The front porch!

I'm still feeing rather under the weather - this cold/virus lurgy seems to be dragging on and on. With it being rather overcast and damp today, it definitely called for inside activities. I have been quietly making away while Peanut has been 'Incredible Hulking' and 'Need for Speeding' on the playstation.

I've made some needlecases and matching pincushions, which I need to stuff and hand sew up this evening. I have some more lavender apples to stuff and sew up as well.

I've always fancied trying my hand at making a fabric bucket, having received one in a Polka Dot swap I did a while back. Luckily I had a magazine - 'Sew' September issue, which had a pattern for one. I did adapt it slightly.

Peanut was impressed with this and suggested I make some to put Christmas pressies in.

Of course this would require me getting some Christmas fabric - can I justify this on the Utmost Challenge? If I am making them for specific purpose then, yes I guess I can. To be honest I could do with some Christmas fabric for my stall at the fairs I am doing.

A few other makes today have included a felted brooch, a cushion and a jolly mess in the living room!

Yesterday evening, prompted by feeling a bit cold, I made some hot water bottle covers.

This one is hubby's favourite.

Another fabric/felt brooch.

Hot Lemon!

Fresh lemons, manuka honey and just boiled water...

Pop it all in a pretty cup and much more medicinal than that powdered stuff that comes in packets!

A popcorn type of day!

It's been rather a popcorn and movie, or rather playstation kind of a day for Peanut and his friend.

While they have been busy annihilating aliens and other such things I have been busy hand sewing.

Hanging apples scented with lavender.

Pinwheel brooch - although looking at my photo I need to redo the button as it is off centre, now can't be having that can we?!

A couple more tweed brooches.

Some crochet flower brooches.

Lastly a butterfly brooch.

Now I've got to see if I can clear a table so we can have dinner! Normally we all sit around the small table in the kitchen, but Peanut has invited his friend to stay for tea so we will have to move into the living room where we have a bigger dining table. Trouble is it is nicely tucked into a corner, piled with cottons!

Autumn colours

What a rotten day it has been today - drizzly and miserable all day. Just the sort of day to do nothing really. My usual Saturday activities such as getting the guinea pig supplies in the morning and the green veges in the afternoon have been completed, although not a lot else really. No that isn't entirely truthful, I haven't completely wasted my time and have made another bag.

Again fully lined with an internal pocket and detachable brooch on the outside.

Peanut has spent the day at Nanny's which meant I could have Dire Straits blaring while I did my sewing. He doesn't cope with loud noises much so it was nice for a change to blast the old eardrums while dancing and sewing - LOL that conjures up quite a picture doesn't it?

I have to report the hubby was very impressed with my DIY skills yesterday and said that he would have been proud if he'd managed to put it up on the wall like I had. He also admitted that if I'd asked him to do it he would have rubbished the idea, so it was just as well I went ahead and did it myself! It was so much easier today to reach over and grab a button jar as I was sewing.

I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring, but we have started the half term holidays so hopefully we will get to do something together as a family. This seems to be increasingly difficult as the boys are growing older. Master 18 is very rarely home now and Peanut, well doesn't really like going out that much, but I'm sure we will think of something.

Last night we watched Seven Pounds together - very moving and thought provoking - although I think Peanut had a few problems with interpreting it. We had to have a little laugh later at his comment; 'Why did he phone the hospital before he committed suicide?' He seemed to really struggle with the fact that he couldn't phone the hospital afterwards!

We do try and watch films together in the winter time. It is nice to snuggle up altogether on the sofa, although usually it is just the three of us now as the older one is often out with his friends.

Dinner is calling - I've made Shepherds Pie - a family favourite! What are you having for dinner?

Look what Peanut brough home for me today!