Marooned!

Good morning

Have been marooned indoors now since Sunday - the snow started to melt and then refroze - its done this 3 times now and as a consequence the drive and lane are like a skating rink and far too slippery for me to venture out. I watched one neighbour slide sideways down the road this morning in her little car and that made my mind up - another day indoors for me!

The conservatory roof keeps starting to clear and then it freezes again - leaving slabs of snow hanging waiting for someone to stand under there and get covered comedy style. There's also been some lovely icicles hanging from there too;

At least it means I've caught up with domestic stuff and have had a chance to catch up on some making too. Firstly upcycling a skirt I made years ago into a dress with the addition of some fabric I bought many moons ago as I just liked the feel of it. Both parts are a brushed cotton and oh so soft. The skirt part was made from a vintage Laura Ashley dress I bought a sister when she was pregnant 10 years ago. The deal was she got to wear it and when she'd finished I'd get it back as I loved the material. It was made into a skirt for me and other bits of the fabric have appeared in quilts and makes since. The skirt hasn't been worn for a while so I decided to make it into something I would wear - I cut the top part off and made the top of the dress yesterday afternoon. This morning to the 2 parts got put together and the moment of truth dawned - would it fit and would I like it? Yes and yes;

 Now getting a picture of me wearing it was tricky - there's no-one here to take a photo and the light is bad and obviously if you are taking a pic in the mirror you can't use a flash - so here's the best of many attempts;

I've also finished 3 cushions towards next weekends stall;

My sewing space was tidy when I started working - however it doesn't take long to get messed up and won't get another tidy until I've finished making stuff;

I've been rather lucky this last week - I've acquired not one but two new cameras! The first one was a reward sent to MrVV for being the top seller on an auction site he uses. He had no use for it as he's got a rather nice digi-SLR he treated himself to last year - so he gave it to me. Its a Nikon Coolpix S610 and is a better spec than the Pentax Optio I have been using for the past 18 months. So I gave the old camera to little son as he wanted a small point and shoot camera that he can take out and about. In turn it seemed that he had MrVV's old camera and wasn't planning to use that anymore so he gave that one to me - and I am rather taken with it. I'd forgotten how simple it is to use and its been my camera of choice this week;

 One new toy

and another one!!

It meant when the Green Woodpecker visited the garden the other day to trash the snow in search of a good meal, I was able to capture him with no problems at all;

Had to laugh at him throwing snow out of the way so he could find a patch of grass - he spent ages there so I assume he found what he was looking for!!

Right I'd best be off - want to make a cuppa before I have a wander around blogland to see what you've all been up too.

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Monthly Makes 2012 - January

Good morning

Thanks for all the comments on the CK review - I'm just sorry that so many people have had problems with stuff and have been left feeling disappointed. I do think that if we have a problem with things we should email these companies and let them know - I did - just waiting to hear back.

Anyhow, I thought I high time to show you my makes for January - I know its not over for another 9 days but next week is looking hectic so I don't think I'll get much more done.

I've started well - lots of smallish makes - some for pressies and others are destined for the craft fair pile. There's even a few of things in there for me!

From top left - a purse for a friend, infinity scarf for craft fair, owls - a mix of pressies and fair stock, 2 teacup candles - one for me and one for a pressie, THAT CK cushion, my first attempt a crocheted jar cover, bunting for the fair, my upcycled Debbie Bliss Eco cotton infinity scarf and more bunting.

I think that's not a bad load for a month - looking at my to-make list theres loads more still to make towards the fair - I need a raggie making week I think. Plus I've still loads of family birthdays coming up and several for my S&B group friends too.

I'll leave you with a self taken pic of my new scarf - its so soft and snuggly - I think more of this yarn needs to find its way into my stash;

Right - I can finally hear noises from upstairs - guess it means MrVV & the teenagers are starting to wake up. Time for more coffee and then lets see what Sunday has to throw at me - nothing to taxing I hope - I'd rather be crocheting!!

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

 

PIF winners and other stuff

Good afternoon

Did you have a good weekend? We did :) It started with a walk on Saturday morning with MrVV went via the local Panto (oh yes it did) and ended in a family meal out - rather lovely.

Right important stuff first - remember I was a PIF winner in December and in turn I offered 3 people the chance to receive a parcel from me sometime in the next few months??

Well there were lots of takers - sadly there can only be 3 winners. So in true blog fashion, the names were put into a vintage teacup and the following 3 were the first ones out;

Traci @ Madaboutbags

Pene @ Scrapmymiddlelifecrisis

and last but not least

Sue of @home 

Ladies I will be in touch to get your details and then all you have to do is sit back and wait a few weeks for the postie to bring you a parcel and then in turn you offer a parcel for 3 lucky people - simples :)

In other stuff news;

I received some more yarn from Cath Kidston so I can finish my Crochet Tin project. Lets just say this hasn't been the experience I expect from a brand like CK and the quality of the yarn leaves a lot to be desired. I think in the fairness of it all, I shall be writing a proper review so that others who are considering buying it are prepared :(

Much better news - I decided the other night to make something for me - a fancied one of the infinity scarves I've made for pressies and the forthcoming craft fair. I decided to recycle some yarn I'd previously used for a couple of knitting projects (blog posts on 27.9.10. & 16.9.10.) Its a Debbie Bliss product her Eco cotton yarn - the colours are lovely and its great to work with. Firstly the 2 scarves had to be unravelled - that took a little while;

I've finished now the basic scarf - I'm just waiting for another ball to arrive so I can finish the edges off neatly and then I can show you the finished result.

Lastly for today - there have apparently been some fantastic sunrises/sunsets recently - sadly our house doesn't get to see them. In the mornings the rising sun is hidden behind other houses and trees and even in the afternoon its hidden behind a massive oak tree in a neighbours garden. I did manged to get one photo the other day which shows the glow of the setting sun, between the bare branch of our cherry tree and the said oak tree.

Right - another day - another birthday cake is baking - this time for little son who turns 14 tomorrow! Oh and there are parcels to wrap too.

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

Good morning

Are you feeling festive yet?? I think today I am. 

We tried hard at the weekend to bring some festive feeling into the VV household - we decided to put our tree up on Sunday. Things were gathered from the attic and cupboards and left in the front room till spare time was found. Once little son had been delivered to play carols in a little church in town, the remainder of us gathered in the front room. Big son has the attention of a gnat when it comes to low-tech stuff and soon wandered off to the safety of his gadget haven bedroom! This left just the 2 of us. The tree is easy - 3 parts and a stand. 

MrVV then turns to me and asks 'Where are the lights?' 

'In the box taped to the tree box' was my reply. 

'Oh no they're not' he says in his best panto voice.

'Blast, well where are they?'

Off he trots to the attic - actually he grumps and huffs about this ;)

The attic is searched and no lights are found. Perhaps they didn't survive last christmas? Who knows - I can't remember what I did last week let alone 11 months ago!!

So we down decorating and head off to the nearest place that might sell Christmas lights - the Factory Shop in the next town. Hurrah they had lights - only coloured ones but at just £5 they'll do - hopefully they'll last longer than one year!

Anyhow - the tree is finally up and the decorations have exploded on there in their usual random chaotic muddle :) I've even managed to put some other bits and pieces up too - that meant housework had to be done as well - trouble is once you tidy one bit it makes the rest look bad!!

I've tried to take pics of the tree lit up in the dark - not sure I've got the settings quite right - however I did like this weird effect I got when I move the camera - Christmas light candy canes;

Now there's a tree, it means that presents can go under it - but they've to be wrapped first - the first few have made it under there;

Nice and simple - brown paper, recycled card tags and crocheted ribbon.

Some presents can't go under yet as they are still unfinished. Two fairies came off the production line yesterday afternoon and as it was dry decided to pose outside in the ivy for you;

 Almost twins - there's a 3rd one that might get finished today.

Here's the rear view with the felt wings;

I don't think I'll be taking photos outside today - the weather is yuck - very wet, cold and windy. I'm happily staying indoors - plenty to do - both boring (housework) and fun (baking & sewing).

Right - I'd best be off - the pastry has chilled for long enough and I need to make mince pies for visitors later.

See you at the weekend for a final Pause in Advent - just how quickly is time flying by?

xxx Vicki xxx

Free & Frugal

Good morning :)

Hope the sun is shining where you are - its a gorgeous day here. Just despatched the boys to a sisters for a day of light gardening :) Lovely and peaceful here now! Just the sound of MrVV tapping away on his keyboard and Ken Bruce chatting away in the background.

When we visited my Grandma earlier this week, we left with a huge pile of lovely free food - blackberries from her drive (collecting these each week towards jam making), plums from her orchard and eggs from a friend of hers;

I think next week when we go, the pears & apples should be ready for picking too - thinking crumbles and apple/blackberry jam time - hurrah :)

Within our (quite large) family, we've operated our own version of freecycle for years - if we've something we no longer need whether its furniture, clothes or toys - things are offered to other family members first. Some items are on their 3rd or 4th owners now - there's one bookcase that's appeared in so many houses over the years - it was 2nd hand when my parents bought it 35 years ago!  Well for months now we've needed a replacement wardrobe for little son - his was a cheapie we bought for big sons bedroom when he was a baby - its moved house twice and really had seen better days. The trouble with wanting a replacement was, we don't like having to go furniture shopping - most of our house is furnished with samples/seconds from MrVV's business but sadly he no longer sells wardrobes :(. Well good old MIL came to the rescue - she decided that she no longer needs a spare bedroom so a sturdy pine wardrobe was spare to a good home - ours! With the addition of a shelf upcycled from the old one - it now should last little son into adulthood :)

 

Heavily influenced by my Grandparents, I've always been one to be frugal - I don't like waste especially food. I think hearing all the stories of wartime rationing and how everything got used has stuck in my mind. So when there's only 2 of you for lunch and the fridge turns up 1/2 a head of broccoli, an onion and few potatoes then its time to make the first soup of the season and very scrummy it was too;

 

Right the washing machine has finished - time to hang things outside in the sunshine and then head off into town to do a post run.

Have a great weekend folks - hope you get some sunshine and you're able to get out and about.

See you next week

xxx Vicki xxx