JUST A LITTLE OF WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO!!!!

Hi !

Just thought I would have a ramble - fill you in with my hum drum doings!!

First of all an exciting Award from the lovely Twiggypeasticks! Thank You so much for sticking with me and reading 'everyday drivel' I come up with!

The rules which go with this are ;-

1 . I can put this rather sparkly Logo on my Blog.

2. Put a link/or mention (If you can't like me do the 'Link' thing yet!) the lovely person who

gave you the award.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put a link to those Blogs on your Blog (Unless you need to learn that bit - like me!!)
5. Leave a message on their blog of your nomination.

So I would like to Nominate ! (all can be linked through my side bar)

Juicy Fig

The imagination of Ladysnail

Pipany

View to The Hill

Lace Threads

Driftwood Shack

Fan My Flame

Take a little look, they are all so entertaining, a good way to while away the hour you are supposed to be ironing!

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A lovely surprise in the post, from one of my trendy young things - that I like to call a friend! - goodness only knows what they see in a batty old thing like me, hiding away in my garden!

Just take a look at these delightful little birds - delightful little things created by Ladysnail - take a look at her blog and little Etsy shop (The Imagination Of Ladysnail - link through my side bar)

I just really love the batik type fabric, and the pretty colours.

This is Mr Chickeny chops, just check out his button wings!

Both are now happily ensconced amongst the other memory trivia which hangs above the table in the conservatory!

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Just a couple of garden-y pictures, as you can see the flowers are trying their best - just getting bashed and battered by the rain!

The first of my Hollyhocks! - I've not had Hollyhocks in the garden for many a year so these are very welcome. I think I will try and save the seed, and get some more going - fill the garden, they are so cheery looking!






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A Little Carbooty Find!

I found this on Tuesday - I thought it was so different! Some one has spent such a lot of time making it. I think it is made from some sort of hessian - maybe an old sack or something (during the war or times when fabric was hard to come by?) It is beautifully embroidered and in very good condition. Mind you now I have it I don't know what I will do with it! Just knew I had to 'save' it - how sad is that!






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Waste Not Want Not - Home Economy!!

I know, I know - Christmas is ages off! -and you don't want reminding of it yet! BUT! I am being PREPARED - GIRDING MY LOINS!!! (I just love that phrase!)
No really, this 'industry' came about after a 'stern talking to' from one of our sons who said it was just 'not on' us (as parents) spending a fortune on presents for them (the children), as they are all 'grown ups' now and working - after all it should be just a token thing!
SO - taking them at their word, I am just going to fill a stocking for each of them - and send them to Santa of course!
I have always done them a stocking - they say that is the best bit of the Christmas present-y bit anyway, so this year no big pressys - it will be a challenge to find interesting bits and bobs of the stocking.





So here we have various stockings being made and re-vamped, ready for the - hopefully!- exciting fillings I can find!

More On The Home Front!

Because we live in such a small cottage, I don't have much storage space, and I really felt we needed a CRUNCH CUPBOARD! - this is a storage cupboard for storing extra supplies - tins and whatnot ( buy them when they are on offer/cheap ready for any unforeseen 'lean' times). Hubby P calls it my Crunch cupboard - short for Credit Crunch! When we were at war with Saddam Hussein some years ago I had/well we still call it the Saddam cupboard!
This new cupboard is only an old steel cabinet - not very smart really, but sound and clean, and it fits into the greenhouse - which is going to be the new shed - another blog post altogether!





Not a very exciting photo, but you get the idea!

Good old beans - Its amazing what you can do with them!

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A New Fence!

Again - make do and mend! Hubby P has made these fence panels from old pallets - they look great don't they!

We have a bit of a problem with two aspiring young footballers next door - whose aim for the goal is still a bit dodgy, so the balls end up in our garden - squashing the veg plants! Hopefully this fence will help save the plants a bit. I have tied up my very prickly old climbing rose this should stop little people wanting to climb the fence! As you can see we still have another panel to make, lets hope its not raining this weekend!

Hope you all have a good weekend

Ta Ta for now xxxx

DID YOU KNOW? SHED WEEK 2008!!

Shed Week 2008!!!!

I saw this in an article in the Times, and thought it might be worth a look for all us interested in Sheds! Shed Week 'celebrates the importance of the shed, hut or gazebo in our our culture as a place of refuge, storage and amusement'. There is a competition for the 'best' shed, 1000 are in the running!

The article suggests a visit to Readersheds.co.uk and Shedblog.co.uk, for all you 'sheddies' out there!

News on our shed front!

We have the shed we won from a nice Gent on Freecycle up and running (its nearly full already - where does the stuff come from!), and we have moved the chicken shed - so the sheds are 'back to back' as it were.

This gives the little lovelies (chickens) more of a view of the garden and closer to the house - and us! All the better for me to 'commune' with ' chat', 'share secrets' and generally 'ask advice' of the special little souls!!

You will be amazed how much sense you can get from them - such 'knowing' little bodies!!!

Now we have moved the sheds across we have all this yard space!







Hubby P is going to build me a new larger greenhouse, from recycled timber and whatnot! Got to keep the Green ideals alive - its so easy sometimes to slip into the easy option of 'lets just go to B &Q and buy it'!
But I firmly believe 'everything comes to she who waits' - and there is so much of everything in this world, so much wasted, what you need always shows up! - So I am just waiting for my greenhouse windows!!!



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A quick garden pic - the runner beans are doing really well, perhaps all the rain!!!
We had our first beans for Sunday Dinner!





And they were just wonderful!!!



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Carbooty Finds!!

This pretty pretty runner was wet, dirty and stained, in a 3 items for 50p box. Just look at it now - after a good boil wash and de-stain (little bit of bleach). I think maybe its destined for Ebay - its a bit big/long for me - too long for me to display anywhere.
No doubt it will make someone happy!







And these lovely vintage brooches, so pretty - just to brighten my day, I wear them daily - they were made to be admired!






A couple of Willow Pattern plates for my collection - I want enough ( and cheaply) to use them daily - they don't necessarily have to match - I have found the colour varies widely.






Now this is just the 'Bees Knees'!!!!
and all for £5 -
I found these two Victorian Lace window panels - just beautiful, they even have the original little brass hanging rings on the top.
There is some damage ( to be expected really) - so I will attempt to do little repairs and then a gentle wash.







I can't decide where to display them yet, I am worried if I hang them at the window, the sun might do further damage to the fragile fabric. Think I will give them a wash and see!






So romantically pretty!!




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Home Front Economics!!


I think we are all a bit worried about the cost of power and fuel!
So continuing my theme of 'Economy in the Home'! I thought I would give you an insight into our heating arrangements - our 'Stock Piling' -' Girding Our Loins'!!!!!- an all that, ready for the long (most probably wet) winter!

We have various sheds (more sheds! - I know!!)- and piles of wood - not just any wood, Hubby P makes sure it is all graded! (he can be as sad as I!!)
This is the rubbishy - recycled - old timber, pallets etc shed. This burns really well, hot but quick and is good to start the fire. This gives enough heat for use during the summer - if its needed, or to air a bit of washing!







This is the 'posh' wood, Our son Will is a tree surgeon, so we are lucky not to have to buy logs - it sometimes means having great lengths of tree lying around, until has time to cut it up - but hey - it saves us a fortune.
We burn the logs during the colder months, they are longer lasting and give off a steady heat, and if we are lucky we get some nice scented wood -maybe a bit off apple or cherry - lovely especially around Christmas time!

We can,and do burn coal on our multi fuel, but it is so expensive (didn't they use to call it Black Gold!), someone told me the other day that coal was going up by £3 a bag - that would make it nearly £13 a bag! I really don't think there is a cheap heating system today - its a case of get out your woolly vests girls!!

This is what we burn it on! This heats all of the original part of our tiny little cottage!

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Crafty Bits!!

Not a lot of crafting really, just made another couple of smocks, from what fabric I had lying about.

All in the name of Frugality!

They are so comfy to wear around the house - cheap and cheerful!

Hope to get back to something a bit more creative and challenging soon.

Got to go , Ta Ta for now xx

DRING DRING!!! GWALCHMAI 172!

Look at this!!! How exciting! I have been given an old vintage phone that really works - and works well! Its a real 'meaty' sound to it -DRING DRING! it calls - and a body simply has to answer 'Gwalchmai 172! Lady of the house speaking! How may I help you?' - this of course necessitates me being dressed at all all times in twinset and pearls and investing in some RED lippy!

Its so smart - well the kids think I have gone totally mad, but you know what - I don't care!

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Carbooty finds!!

Its been so wet its been difficult to get a 'Fix', I think Hubby P has with drawl symptoms, at least I have been able to go to the Tuesday carboot whereas he has to work!

This delightful little number is so cute, embroidered by Phylis M Taylerson, Colchester 1949 (it has a little card inside with these details ) - so nice to have a little history with a 'find'. I wonder what Phylis was doing in - I think it says -Everry Tree Camp, Colchester?

Such a pretty little thing, and the work is beautifully done - I shall treasure it!

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More wonderful Gifts!!

Take a look at this - unfortunately the photo doesn't do it justice.

My very special friend Alice (pixiealice.blogspot.com/) gave me this very special picture - it was part of her Degree Show work (she is a illustrator). The guy in the picture is my son Will (he's a Tree surgeon - thus the leaves!). She has captured Him sooooo well!

Check out her other work on her Blog - pass her name around - girls trying to get on the career ladder, God knows its so hard these days for young people.

And me and my chickens!

A gift from Inspector Marmalade! - another illustrator friend! She knows I love chickens - I think this was probably something to do with her Show work. Check her out ( inspector-marmalade.blogspot.com/ ) I am so thrilled that they should think of me!

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A RANT!
Ok! The heavy - worryin stuff now!! Prices, Recession, Credit Crunch!!!!!

How we gonna manage? everything is going up and up - I am dreading the increase in electricity - its one of our biggest bills ( we have no gas this part of the Island, and anyway that's going up too!)

So , I've gone back o he War years - they managed then, and its fascinating, how little they had with rationing, and what they did with it!

Hubby P found me this book on his lunchtime charity shop trawl, and I am on the look out for others. I know there is lots on the web, but there is nothing like a good book is there!

I have got back into making bread, I use to do it all the time - but I got lazy! But it is so much nicer, and I worked out that it costs about 25p/per nice wholesome fresh bread, compared to the what - approx £1/loaf at the supermarket! (I know I am so sad!)

The only down side is - You just want to eat great chunks of it - spread with Asdas reduced price butter ( down to 50p over the weekend!) and nothing else! Looking more like the side of a house every day!

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Where Do You Get Your Inspiration!!

I was just thinking the other day -as you do! So many people out there with wonderful ideas, where does it/creativity come from.

I know I shamelessly browse books and magazines and often link one idea with another, I collect all these ideas/things I like/ things I would sell my soul for!!! by sticking the pictures in scrap books. I have quite a collection, and they are nice to browse through for ideas.

Here's a little photo of some of the scrap books - nothing fancy as you can see, but in a way I suppose they 'sum me up' - my likes, my wants, my interests, my dreams! When I am dead and gone someone need only look at these to get a picture of this nutty woman living in a tumbly down cottage in deepest darkest Anglesey!!!

Ta Ta for now xx

-AND THEN WE GOT THE WIND AND THE RAIN!!!

And what wind!!!!

We have been away for a few days - we had a family funeral 'Up North' - what horrendous driving conditions as we made our way home on Saturday evening.

I could have cried as I stepped out of the car and saw my poor wind trashed garden! Sunday (in between the showers) was spent trying to prop up, tie up and generally give the poor plants some TLC!

A great stem of my cardoon had broken off and lay on the path - such a waste - it was looking so good! I have snipped off the flowers and put them in water - they are pleasing to look at on the table - but I would sooner have them in the garden!

However - much better today, the sun seems to have reappeared!

AND GUESS WHAT!

I had a visit from the lovely Twiggypeasticks! So nice to meet her, and her family - they are on holiday here.

She is so busy with that little one, yet she had time to make me this lovely little cross stitch - with a little shed on it - so apt!

We had a nice morning talking Blogland! then off they went to the beach.

Not a lot happening on the crafting front - just been messing about with an old bag I found at the carboot, putting a few toadstools and whatnot on it.





I just find I have to do something with my hands as I sit watching TV.






Taking advantage of the sunny weather I have been drying herbs for the winter, I find I use them quite a lot, and I didn't do enough last winter, so 'trying to do better' this!






This is some sage I hung up a week or two ago - it doesn't take long to dry. I just hang it from the ceiling in the conservatory bit - along with all the other junk!

Had to show you these delightfully PINK PINK, gloves and secateurs (they were a Birthday present - from people who know me Soooooo well!!) Ideal for clean cutting my herbs.

I thought I would dry some Lemon Balm (Mellissa) - I drink a lot of tea made from the fresh leaves in the summer - so refreshing (Properties - calming and helps the digestive system), so dried leaves might just be the thing during a cold wet winter!

To days haul Golden Morjoram, Oregano, Lemon Balm, and comfrey - I make a salve from the comfrey to help heal cuts, bruises and fractures (I used it twice a day, every day on my broken ankle, and it mended remarkably quickly - and well) - the country name for comfrey is Knitbone - they knew their stuff those old wise women!

Anyway that's all for now folks! - got to do some housework!!

Ta ta xxx

WHERE HAS THE SUNSHINE GONE!!

Hi 'Folks'

Where has the sunshine gone - poor little sunhat hasn't seen much action over the last few days, and it was really cold at the car boot on Sunday! I pitied all the holidaymakers in their summery clothes - I was wrapped up like a stuffed turkey - or similar!

Carboot finds - I know we all like to have a nosy! Not too much to be had, there was a lot of stalls - just 'Mums' trying to make a bit extra selling their old baby clothes and toys - great if that's what you want, but not really what 'floats my boat'!

I managed to find a pretty floral pillow case (just one!), I might just have it on the bed as display - then I can look at it, rather than put it in the linen cupboard ( with all the others!!).

The pretty trim/ribbon was a bow that had come off a hat - 20p, I unpicked it and washed it - just need to find a nice project for it now!

How cute are these little birds! I got a whole box full for £2, I have put a few on ebay and kept some for myself - no idea yet what I will use them for, but Hey! they are so cute! I have put some amongst my indoor plants, I have a little 'jungle' corner where my plants grow a bit wild and I have some larger (pretend) birds and whatnot amongst the foliage - I forgot to take a photo!

Look how tiny and cute they are, even small enough to use on cards I should think.

Some project will come to mind.

More Pretty Pretty Poppies!

These poppies come every year - usually amongst the vegetables! they like the disturbed soil I believe. They are all different, some have just single petals and others are like this one - just bursting with them, and colours vary from reds, purples, purple with black and all the shades of pink.

Just look at my Broad Beans!! and these are just some seeds I planted in old buckets, can't believe they are doing so well.

On the Crafting Front!

Not a Lot!

I have been spending a lot of time in the garden! and a girl can't be everywhere!

I have been making some little summer smocks (for me) -I always use the same pattern - I know a bit boring! But I found this one (it was a smock I bought, wore to death, unpicked and use now as a pattern) - it is so comfy, and being on the larger size covers all the lumps and bumps!!

Of course it has the requisite decoration of a few chosen buttons!

I have another smock half finished - so I shall away now and do a bit of that!

Ta Ta for now xx

WHAT A NICE BIRTHDAY!!!

Yes! Its that time of year again when I just try to think of all the good years - just wish in a way they hadn't gone by so quickly!

But really - I have had a lovely morning with loved ones and nice thoughtful gifts!

And! great excitement - my Inspirational Summer Swap arrived all the way from Cleary in Florida.

As you can see its a beautiful little quilt of the amazingly cheerful colours, with a delightful embroidered little strawberry motif in the centre.

Quite the hand of fate that it should arrive on my birthday!

Thankyou so much Cleary - I love it!

Just a bit of crafty stuff - I thought you might like to see this. I bought this little daybed for peanuts at a carboot sale a while ago ( it was in a real state of disrepair - so sad!), any way I kind of recovered it, using all the oddments of vintage fabric I had - I wanted to make it all jazzy and full of life!
(sorry this picture is rubbish!)




Its been stored in the summer house for a while, but I have had a bit of a change around in the sitting room and made some room for it. Its great for storage too - I can get loads of fabric and whatnot in the base - Not that that is an excuse to buy more fabric, I am supposed to be being good!!





This was another exciting freebie this weekend! A friend of Hubby P's (another Shedhead) suggested he - Hubby P would need a cupboard for his shed, and off they went to look at old cupboards the chap had - its a Man thing. I thought nothing of it , until he arrived with this beautiful 40s sideboard - its a piece of utility furniture, so finely made with brass and pearl like handles ( I think they may be Bakelite).
And you know what! - it was just the right size and shape to sit next to my sewing machine, and hold all my sewing stuff -too ungainly for his shed!!! - not really a manly, sheddy kind of cupboard at all - shame!



Of course he agreed with me - it really was too nice to cover in old engine oil and paint, and he kindly handed it over. A true test of enduring Love! never mind all this red roses stuff!

It looks really well net to my sewing machine and it means all the unsightly stuff -half finished projects, and scruffy plastic bags of stuff you cant bear to throw out - are hidden away!

I even managed to save the old vintage lining paper - is that a step too far -too sad!!

Anyway going to do some more Birthday type stuff now!

Ta Ta for now xxx

CHEAP AND CHEERFUL T SHIRTS!

Just a Quick post to show you these - quick cheap and cheerful T shirts I have been making whilst watching 'Spring Watch'!

I found these T shirts in my craft cupboard ( I think they were left overs from when I use to do Family Art and Craft -T shirt painting, workshops), anyway I just made them a bit more interesting by applique-ing a Desperate Dan - for the Dads and a Denis the Menace on the child's T shirt.

Bit of a scary Denis I suppose!

Again a little Denis on 'Dads' bottom!

And a big hungry Dan on the front of 'Dads' T shirt - who ate all the pies?!!!!

I have just put them on Ebay - they wont fit anyone here, hopefully someone will enjoy them!

Ta Ta for now!