The one where I can finally say TAH DAH

Well it's been a long time coming but I have FINALLY managed to finish something, it's not like I dont finish anything I start, it's just that I always seem to be busy making things for craft fairs/etsy etc that I don't really get chance to complete many of my projects.
So here it is, it's just a circle cushion, nothing fancy or complicated just a plain old cushion but I love it.

Okay so it could have done with a little more stuffing, but me being the impatient girl that I am, I settled for the not- so- plump look.
Not only did I manage to finish the cushion, I also managed to make a top for myself and a pair of pyjama bottoms for Mr. H.
Now anyone who knows me, knows that my sewing machine and I are not great bedfellows and in the past I have come very close to throwing my little Janome through the window, but I persevered and after a few hiccups catastrophes with the p.j bottoms (don't ask) I abandoned the instructions as they may as well have been written in Japanese and winged it, and by sheer luck I managed to make something that not only fit the extra long legged Mr. H they actually looked quite professional even if I do say so myself.

The top I made for myself is a pattern that I have used before, but even so, I didn't hold out much hope of being able to remember how to do it, but again it was pretty straightforward and was made in a couple of evenings (okay it was only supposed to take a couple of hours but who's counting?)

I even felt brave enough to customise a pattern for a top that I started last year but never got around to finishing, the shoulders were too wide and the neck too high, but not anymore (I think I had become a little scissor happy by this point and way too confident for my own good).
By the way just in case you are wondering.......it's still not finished!

I think I need to step away from the machine while I am on a roll, besides I find it all way too stressful and much prefer my needle and thread to be in my hand where I am more in control.

Here is a sneaky peek of the next project on my to do list, it's been on the back burner for a while but it needs my attention if it's ever going to be ready for the summer hols.

In the mean time I will leave you with this....

it's something I picked up at the car boot a couple of weeks ago and I desperately need a second opinion......is it cute or have I finally gone a tiny step to far, answers on a postcard please!

: )

Gadgetry

As some of you may know because let's face it, I bang on about it often enough I am now a regular user of public transport, and I have to say I absolutely HATE it. It's unreliable, it's uncomfortable and it's very often smelly and I have yet to come across a driver who has a basic understanding of common courtesy.
Unfortunately the cost of parking in the town centre, even if you are lucky enough to find a space is so expensive and because I only work part time it's just makes more sense for me to catch the bus.

However this little beauty has made my journey that little bit more bearable

I wasn't quite sure what to make of it when I unwrapped it on Christmas morning (sorry Mr. H)
you see I am a book lover addict and somehow it just felt wrong.
I liked the idea of being able to have hundreds of books stored in this tiny little thing and being able to make more space on the bookshelf but on the other hand I just love real books.
It was going to take some getting used to but do you know what....................I absolutely LOVE it.

Of course I had to make a cover for my new gadget, which in theory seemed like such a good idea, but in practice proved slightly more difficult as my machine sewing skills leave a lot to be desired. I unpicked it more times than I care to mention and it took a good few hours to complete but I was actually quite pleased with the end result.

Check out the felt lining!


Speaking of gadgets, It's ages since I used my trusty old ancient i pod, so I thought it was about time I dug it out and put some new stuff on it.


Note to self: put new i pod on Christmas list!


I used to love the app on facebook where you would be asked to list your top 5 things on all manner of subjects and one of the things you could do was to set your i pod to shuffle and post the first 5 songs that came up, so out of pure curiosity I thought I would give it a whirl.
I think it was Living Social, does anyone else remember it?
I promise I haven't cheated, these are the actual tracks in this order...........here goes *cringing*
track 1 505 - Arctic Monkeys
track 2 Kiss with a fist - Florence and The Machine
track 3 L.S.F - Kasabian
track 4 Then - Charlatans
track 5 Love like a fountain - Ian Brown

Well that wasn't too shabby was it? I was convinced that old Boyzone track was going to rear it's ugly head just to embarrass me!

Sadly this app is no longer available and I have had to search for new useless activities to keep me occupied.......All I can say is Thank goodness for Pinterest!!!


Have a great weekend : )

Marvellous Mary

OH This weather!
I really don't want to bang on about it but what is happening?....glorious sunshine one minute and torrential downpours the next, my poor veggies don't know whether to look to the sky or dive for cover, they are looking decidedly bruised and battered.



However the dreary weather doesn't seem to be bothering the bees and the chives are absolutely heaving with them at the moment





Apart from the obligatory mowing, the gardening has been sidelined for the moment as the chickens will be arriving next weekend (about bloody time I hear you cry!) We knew the longer we talked about it the less chance we would actually get around to building the run so we decided hey why not order the chickens then we would definitely have to build the run, so thats where we are at the moment... still no run and the girls arrive next Saturday!

Back to this Saturday and it was that time again when St Mary's church in Sheffield threw open it's doors for it's 8th (I think) Vintage and Craft Market.

As always the fair had been well publicised so an orderly queue had formed outside and as soon as the doors opened at 10a.m the church quickly began to fill up,there is always a really good mix of people from all generations, some experiencing vintage for the first time right through to the more mature ladies and gents who have seen things come round full circle.
The sellers and crafters are also a great mix of people and the organisers always manage to get the balance spot on, keeping the regular stallholders but always mixing it up with new sellers.

As ever I took ages to set up as I always take too much so it was a quick sprint around before I had to get back to man my stall ( and devour a bacon sarni!)

My stall was the usual mix of vintage bits and bobs with a few of my makes thrown in, although I have struggled to find time to make much I don't think it looked too bad. Sorry no picture today, I forgot!!!
I try to make something new for each fair just so the regular visitors don't get bored of looking at the same things. I have noticed I have a few customers who always buy from me which is really lovely.





I made a couple of these to take along, sadly I also brought both of them back home again,I noticed people were certainly not spending much today and after talking to many of the other sellers they were noticing too, and some of them were only just getting their stall money back which is really sad when you put so much care and attention into making things not to mention the cost of the materials.
I didn't do to badly so I can't complain and I have lots to take along to the next fair and I did have a couple of ladies approach me about possibly selling my things in their shops, one a tea room and the other vintage furniture, both were looking for locally made crafts so fingers crossed!



I met Heather last Christmas at a school Christmas fair and was bowled over by her gorgeous books







the book covers can be anything from vintage tea towels, to ladybird books and maps, I could have quite easily emptied her stall in one fail swoop as anyone who knows me knows I have a thing for notebooks.

I was very very good again today and only came home with this sweet little brooch....



although there were lots of other things I could have brought home, including this little fella



All made by a lovely lady who's other work can be found here.

I have been so busy getting ready for the fair that I'm ashamed to say I'm not on the ball with Father's day preparations this year and only managed to get a box of licorice allsorts for Mr. H and as for my dad and stepdad I will have to get my thinking cap on and get something in the morning - OOOPS!

Off now to make 3 Father's day cards and 2 cards for Grandad's.......It's true what they say- a woman's work is never done!


Love to all the Dad's, Grandad's and let's not forget the Godfather's

: )

Jubilations, celebrations and exasperations

One can only say that it has been a Truly great weekend. I have watched most of the coverage from the comfort of my sofa and the bits I didn't manage to see, I have recorded so I will look forward to catching up with that very soon.






It seems like I am a week behind with everything at the moment, only catching up with The Chelsea Flower show on Friday!
Jubilations aside Mr. H booked a full week off work so we could spend some time together and the plan was to go camping in Derbyshire for a couple of days, thanks to the not so great British weather we decided to abandon the trip and wait until the sun decides to show it's face again so that will probably be around the 12th of........NEVER!!!



Despite the disappointment we have still managed to enjoy our time off so far and little H has a camping trip with scouts at the weekend so it's not all bad.

Iv'e managed to squeeze in a bit of making whilst been sat on one's backside watching the Jubilee and will be taking the fruits of my labour along to the next vintage/craft fair at St Mary's on the 16th June, so if you are in or around Sheffield then pop in for a mooch, I can highly recommend it!





I think granny squares have to be my all time favourite thing to crochet, quick,easy and so very versatile!





bunting is so hard to photograph in all its glory.

Iv'e also been on the hunt for treasure and managed to pick up a few bits and bobs over the last few weeks I usually have a hard time in deciding which bits I'm going to keep and which bits I will take along to the fair to find a new home but this latest haul is mine..... ALL MINE!

I don't know what kind of person would take this to a charity shop but obviously they are either deranged or just have no concept of Cath but I kid you not this is what I found in my local charity shop today for only two (yes you heard correctly) English pounds.



The box has never even been opened.

and it's not the first bit of C.K I have discovered in recent times, prior to this amazing discovery I have found a necklace and earring set still in its original packaging and never been used and a set of 12 place mats again still packaged and never been used. *speechless

This lovely stool picked up from the local Thursday morning flea market.
Unfortunately I had to cart it through town, then into work, up to the twelfth floor and through the main staff dining area then all the way back down again and through town then onto the bus to get it home. I think it was worth the effort though as it looks right at home in my teeny, tiny kitchen.

A few more Enid Blyton's for the collection from our local monthly car boot.




One of my favourite Ladybird books from childhood (oh no I feel another collection coming on!) this came from the same lady as the Enid Blyton's, I think it was 10p



This cute little glass and cottage pomander, just need to replace the ribbon as it was a bit grotty.




Sunshine yellow knitting needles from another local charity shop.






The little Whitby boat was picked up for £1 and will be added to the collection.




The Woods ware gravy boat was another bargain at 50p, this will be used as part of our everyday crockery.

So all in all some great finds and I am very happy with my lot.

This week has also seen the return of the sewing machine to the dining room table, as some of you know this piece of machinery is not what you could call a friend, the mere sight of it makes me nervous as I know it will only cause me stress and heartache the minute I put my trembling foot on the pedal (not sure if your foot can tremble but you know what I mean!)
Even sewing straight lines causes me grief so why on earth I promised to make Mr. H some pyjama bottoms I'll never know.
I did attempt a skirt last year which is wearable but only just and I also had a bash at a shell top which was supposed to take a couple of hours but in fact took me a week and isn't even finished yet!
So I'm going to count to ten and take a deep breath and venture into the dining room
I may be some time......................................

God save the Queen

God save our gracious Queen
Long live our noble Queen
God save the Queen
Send her victorious
Happy and glorious
Long to reign over us
God save the Queen

Hope you have a Right Royal Knees Up!