Shades of red and other colours

Good evening

What a difference a few hours made - the rain Monday afternoon gave way to a beautiful sunset here in Suffolk - luckily I was in the right place at the right time and snapped a picture on my phone;

We were lucky here - yes it rained but there was no flooding and destruction like in other parts of the country - quite shocking to see the news pictures.

Tuesday I went to visit my Grandma - as ever I had a plastic tub with me so I could collect the blackberries that grow along the driveway. I also raided her orchard as I knew there were pears that were ready to pick - some for her and some for me. I also collected some of the windfalls for jam making.

 After lots of peeling & poaching of the pears - it was time to add them to the blackberries I've been collecting - the perfect amount - 1kg of fruit for 1kg of jam sugar. After bubbling away nicely it was time to jar it up - 6 jars in total - 5 for us and 1 for my Grandma :)

I've also been making pressies this week - this time for a stitch and bitch group friend - a simple string of rainbow felt hearts finished off with a jingly bell. Each heart being edged with blanket stitch in a contrasting colour;

Today there was a very rare sight. Me wearing trainers! and also gym gear. Yep I've rejoined the gym - I used to go regularly a few years ago and enjoyed it but the job I had at the time increased its hours and sadly I stopped going. Well after thinking about it since I stopped physio I finally made the call the other week and today was my first session with an instructor. Off tomorrow for a proper work out - I wonder how much my body will ache on Saturday? Probably quite a lot but am sure it will be worth it long term!

 As its the end of the month almost it time for 2 mosaic pictures. Firstly 9 pictures that sum up September in the VV household;

 Spiders, berries, butterflies, back to school, The Tour of Britain, autumn fruits, leaves changing colour, the steam fair at Henham and lastly chutney making time.

There have even been a few makes this month - mostly for the fair in 2 weeks time - more have been made since these pictures were taken. I need to spend a day with my sewing machine this weekend as there are strings of bunting to be made too.

Right that's more than enough for tonight - my eyes are feeling very tired. As soon as Little Son gets home from brass practise I'm off to bed!

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx
 

I've actually made something!!!

Good evening

How has your week been so far? The weather here in Suffolk has been mostly kind and I've been plodding on with my late for 2012/early for 2013 'spring' cleaning!  Blooming spiders they been so busy.

As well as the boring stuff, I've found time to do some making - first I've really done since May;

 I went back to my S&B group last night for the first time in ages - a combination of the weather, apathy and lack of mojo meant I'd not been for a couple of months. Was lovely to see friends again and have a good catch up - new babies, graduations and other news. I quickly made this little felt owl as a pressie for one of the groups birthdays as I knew she was an owl fan.

 As the weather was kind, I took photos of some of my other makes in the ivy on the side of the house. All of these are destined for a fair next month.

 I love making felt gingerbread men - must have made over a 100 in the past few years.

When I was in town the other day I went past one of the charity shops and something colourful caught my eye. I remember these books from my childhood - we had a vast Ladybird collection (wish we'd keep them all). The collage pictures of paper & wool brought back many happy memories - of reading these to myself and later on to my younger siblings.

Who else has been watching this on BBC2? Whilst I've enjoyed the other programmes in this series this one is my favourite. My Grandmas family lived in the countryside and she's often spoken about wartime life on the farm. I've ordered the free booklet that accompanies the series and I've added the official book to my online wish in case someone wants to be buy me something for the event in December that we must not mention yet!!

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Sunny Monday

Good afternoon

Phew what a hot one - more blue skies, the occasional fluffy white cloud and about 1mm of rain at 4am!!

I know - I must be mad to be indoors but sadly at the moment I'm being held prisoner by pollen - for the first time in about 20 years I am really suffering with hayfever :( I guess the pollen isn't getting dampened down so instead it is attacking my eyes & nose :( So whilst my garden suffers - my sewing room has been getting loads of attention!

A new frock for me :)

Brooches and hair slides towards the craft fair

More teacup pincushions - have another 4 to finish tonight.

The best place for me at the moment is right on the coast, so we've been to Aldeburgh Saturday and Sunday for a walk - it was so quiet there - hardly a tourist in sight - strange. Sunday Little Son came too - he thought he might get an ice-cream - he was right;

I picked up some new sunglasses from the opticians this morning - they cover more of my eyes and might just help reduce the amount of pollen that gets in there and yes they are purple ;)

As you can see my natural 'highlights' have been allowed to take over - only a few more inches of coloured hair left to go before I am back to being natural for the first time in over 15 years! Kind of used to it now - my hair feels better too.

Wow @ all the comments on my last post - I wonder if there will be a national shortage of purple shoes?? Hope everyone who wanted one got their CK bag - that mag has sold our in our little town completely.

Right off for a quick blog hop and then wait for my boys to return home from school - its their first full week in ages - I think by Friday they will be shattered.

See you soon.

xxx Vicki xxx

Who can resist a little bargain ;)

Good evening

Well the wall to wall sunshine of earlier in the week was replaced today with blue skies/grey skies/fluffy cloud/great big black ones which threatened rain and then blue skies again! Was really windy too - at least it meant the washing got dry & aired - such an exciting life I have sometimes!!

As you all know, I have a bit of a thing about charity shops - can't walk past one and am getting pretty good at spotting something lovely buried under piles of stuff that I doubt will ever sell. The ladies in my local Church shop are getting to know me very well - even putting aside things they think I might like. Here's some of the lovelies that have been rescued by me over the past few weeks;

Easter/Spring themed linens - 4 napkins and pretty cloth.

Barge ware painted enamel mugs - not good enough to drink from but pretty enough for flowers :)

More playing cards to use as labels - these have the prettiest backs.

Another ladybird book for my growing collection - first one I've found in quite a while.

Trying to think what I've done since I last wrote - started filling in my census form - just waiting for boys to decide what they'd like to put as religion, debating between Jedi & Nintendo at the moment! Though little son did 'get married' in a Hindu ceremony yesterday! (They has an RE day at school and were visited by 6 different faiths). I've almost finished another pair of dolls. I've been losing my battle with the spiders again - I just don't want to have to add them to my census form as permanent residents in this house! Oh and I've been getting things together for the 2 swaps I'm doing and I've just realised there's another birthday coming up soon on the Birthday Swap list!!

I suppose I really ought to go back to my corner of the sofa and battle with yarn & thread then.

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

The north wind doth blow.......

Good evening

And its felt cold enough to snow here for the past couple of days. All dreams of spring and the wearing of less layers than a polar explorer have gone out of the window. Today I even resorted back to the thick ski-mittens the boys bought me in the January sales - have been tempted to wear them in the house too.

In a bid to trick my body into thinking its warmer, I've treated myself to another hycanith - it normally lives on my kitchen window sill but I couldn't get a clear picture of it on there;

Some people hate the smell of these gorgeous flowers but I love it.

The postie brought me a new toy yesterday - a glue gun.

I've had such fun sticking things together - some repairs - like this brooch thats had its stone out for ages and ages;

And I've also been making a few little bits (earrings mainly) towards another stall (no date sorted yet);

I've also treated myself to some new zingy springy fabric & buttons;

I was brave today - I went to visit a local shop and took some samples to see if they would stock (on and sale or return basis) some of my makes - they said yes. Therefore I need to start churning out a lot of Rainbow Raggy dolls - my sewing table is becoming covered in body parts;

Just incase I get 5 minutes this week, I've treated myself to not one but two new magazines - I'd seen the Simply Homemade one on loads of blogs and MrVV managed to track one down for me whilst he was out and about;

Big son went on a course last night to train to be a Young Leader with the Scout Association. He's been a member since he was just 7 and is now helping each week with the Beaver Troupe. The boys love him - I don't think they really believe he was ever as small as them. He's earnt himself a new badge to sew on his uniform. He had more dates for more training later in the year - should keep him busy;

Lastly little son came home tonight and handed me 2 school paper towels which were wrapped around something. He goes to a Science Club one lunchtime each week and last week, they made bathbombs - he handed them over with the words 'Happy Mothers Day Mum' - early but lovely :)

Lastly the new list for the Photo Scavenger Hunt is out - I just wonder how many Lions I shall find in the Suffolk Countryside???

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Making & baking

Good morning

Not often I blog during the daytime but I've a cake in the oven and I can't wander too far from it as its getting to the almost cooked stage. Another birthday tomorrow - big son. Cake gets made today and then decorated once he's gone to school tomorrow as I want the finished item to be a surprise. Lets just say it will be along the lines of my normal over decorated and colourful cakes! I've also a pile of pressies to wrap too - am hoping that he'll love the Toy Story paper I found yesterday.

Been finishing off more items for the craft fair this week but I found time to finish a felted purse for myself;

From knitted piece, to felted shape to purse :)

I've another piece of felting drying at the moment and started knitting another piece last night whilst watching mindless nonsense on the tv.

I've also been playing around with a collection of random cups & saucers that I've got - far cheaper than Liberty's - I've started making these again;

Teacup pincushions with Annie's lovely pins in them.

I treated myself earlier in the week to some lovely new fabric to make myself a new dress - so far I've got as far as washing it to preshrink it and then hanging it out to dry;

The 2p gives you an idea of how small the squares are - all those straight lines should make sewing nice and simple!!

As I was wandering around the house earlier opening windows, I thought I'd take some reality photos of my house - here's big sons room complete with floor 'storage' and the mess of a soon to be 15 year old male.

Who lives in a mess like this????

Study area complete with card collections and a radiator based Top Gear cool wall.

I need to have a hunt through old photos later to find something suitably embarrassing I can post on here or Facebook tomorrow - can't believe another year has gone past so quickly. As he informs us - only 2 years till he can learn to drive - have suggested he starts saving ;)

Finally before the timer goes ping, Monday went really well. The crematorium was packed with people from the many parts of FIL's life. We heard so many stories about him and laughed as well as cried.

See you tomorrow with some cake pics.

xxx Vicki xxx

Faintly Patriotic????

Hello from Soggy Suffolk

I started writing this post on Thursday night but realised I'd forgotten to take pictures - thought I'd wait for the better light in the morning - wrong - tis grey,dull & wet outside so the photos aren't  as clear and flash free as I'd like.

Anyhow - this faintly patriotic thing - it started on Wednesday night at S&B. We were having our cuppa and we started to comment on one of the mugs - a rather posh Silver Jubilee one that belonged to a friend. It lead the conversation round to whether the rest of us still had our mugs (those old enough) from 1977. I still have mine - it now sits on my desk and holds pens;

A friend had her daughter with her who was doing some drawing before she goes back to uni - about trend predictions. She mentioned about a patriotic theme due to the forthcoming weddings and next years Diamond Jubilee. It made me think about the bits I've been making this week towards birthdays and the craft fair - I hadn't realised that there was a red/white/blue theme coming through;

I wonder if that's right - will everything be red/white/blue this spring / summer and next?? And I wonder if my children would keep a mug for over 30 years??

See you soon

xx Vicki xx

Almost stitched up!!

Good afternoon

According to the forecast its supposed to be warmer here today - my bones don't agree and I'm writing this post in between mugs of tea and dashes around the house trying to get some little jobs finished and too keep warm.

Its been a heck of a week - my 'dear' husband had to go delivering this week and his route took up the country via the Lakes and over the border into Scotland. As everyone knows and of course so many have seen, the weather up there has been awful. He was very lucky - apart from a few delays he managed to complete all his drops over the three days and get home just 1/2 an hour later than he expected last night!! I didn't let on whilst he was away but I was so worried that he'd get stuck or have an accident - quite glad to have him home again.

I've been trying hard this week to get some festive preparations sorted and have so far managed to cross some essentials from my list - I've been to the butchers to order something for Christmas Lunch and finally written my christmas cards and also hunted out pressies which have been bought & made to make sure I hadn't forgotten anyone!! Oh and I finished little sons wrist warmers - am so glad its been dull otherwise I might have had to wear sunglasses to knit these!!

He loves them and now wants a scarf to match - least they'll never get lost or stolen!!

When I sorted out the pressies I was pleased to see how many I'd managed to make - mainly for the females in my family;

For my not-so-secret-sibling-santa-swap

For my Mum

For one niece

This is for my youngest niece - she's getting a mini sewing machine from Father Christmas so I've made her a starter kit (based loosely on a giveaway win I had earlier this year from Lissylou). A thrifted jar filled with ribbons, cotton, a patchwork pin cushion, buttons, pins and 3 pretty FQs.

Even for my oldest niece who is far more interested in gadgets, I've managed to find something on her list that I wanted to buy - a beginners knitting book :)

Right my hands are getting cold - time to find another job to warm them up.

Quite a busy weekend ahead - brass engagements, a christmas party and then on Sunday the menfolk are helping MIL move house. My role in that is providing meals!!

See you Sunday for a 3rd Pause in Advent.

xxx Vicki xxx

What a difference a day makes

Good evening

Just a quick post tonight.  When I started writing my blog I decided that I'd try hard to keep it as a diary of family life and events that happen during our year. Sometimes it means that almost every blogger is writing very similar posts - basically what I'm saying is - 'here's more snow pics!!'

This was our rather scruffy patio yesterday morning - much improved by a layer of snow - sort of reminded me of a gorgeous natural patchwork. Of course with snow comes icicles - I love these and get very excited when I find any formed on the house!!

The boys enjoyed their day off school - many snowballs were thrown and our drive & lane were so frozen there was some very kamikaze sledging going on - good job there was no cars about!!

Last night MrVV & I went off to a christmas party - a meal out with an Abba tribute act as the evening entertainment. Just wish I'd taken my camera. It was a wonderful evening - the highlight of for me was the sight of our very sensible training band-master up on stage singing along with the 2 girls and another poor male dragged from the audience!  A great evening and very very late night.

When we woke this morning and peeked out of the hotel room window we were shocked to discover that sometime after our 2am snowball fight a thaw had occurred!!

Today has been rather quiet - I've not really done much. However I have made good progress on some wrist warmers for myself, having finally had the patience to get the ribbing for the cuffs right!!

Right off now - time for SCD. I wonder what delights Ann & Anton have in store for us tonight? Will they stay or will they go??

See you tomorrow

xxx Vicki xxx

Festive finishes & new handsome fella!!

Good afternoon

Have you got snow?? Nothing here in Suffolk - just sunshine & its very cold.

Am wrapped up today like a russian doll - so many layers. Have resorted to wearing my old Ugg boots as slippers as my feet are so cold :(

Its been a fairly quiet week - sort of calm before the festive storm starts to hit this weekend. Brass engagements for little son & MrVV - think it will be time to hunt the thermals out for them.

I'll managed to finish my festive WIP's;

 Mum's Christmas pressie - a snuggling on the sofa quilt

Its little hand sewn label

Knitted 'paper' chains

The reality uncropped shot with my cluttered kitchen dresser!!

Usually each week I visit all 4 of the charity shops in town at least once - recently I've not found much. But this week has been very successful - a couple of additions to my wardrobe - a NoaNoa beret for just £1 and a gorgeous green sweater for another couple of pounds. I was very pleased the other day to find this handsome fella in our church shop for just 20p!!

Hopefully over the next few weeks I'll be lucky enough to find some more festive additions to the house.

Right off now to try & keep warm. I must get my decoration swap parcel wrapped today and possibly even my SS one too.

Keep warm & I'll see you soon.

xxx Vicki xxx