Excuses excuses

I made a promise to myself that I would do my very bestest to blog a little more often than I have of late, its obvious I haven't adhered to this promise (thankfully I only made it to myself) and have in fact blogged less....OH DEAR!
It's not that the intention isn't there, I have a camera/phone on the verge of combustion from all the photographs I take with the intention of boring you all to death.
I have blamed my recent lack of posts on many things, including bloggers block (still not sure if there is such a thing) Iv'e also used lack of time and inspiration as an excuse, but to be perfectly honest I have come to realise it's just plain old fashioned laziness.
Plenty has happened since my last post but the time lapse has blurred things a little and everything is out of sync but I'll try and do a super quick catch up for anyone out there who is still remotely interested!

we had a little trip to the big smoke

We've been busy in our little plot

and enjoying the fruits of our labour.

Iv'e been busy with the hook

and the glue

and there have been one or two thrifty finds

There has also been a small matter of a 13th birthday  but I'll save that for next time.

thanks to everyone who has stayed tuned! xxx

This and That

 I still seem to be suffering from bloggers block (not sure if that's a real condition but hey ho!)
It's not that I don't feel the urge it's just as nothing interesting seems to be happening in my life at the moment, I'm just pottering along nicely (well apart from a terrible week at work last week but I'm not going to moan about it here)

I'm patiently waiting for the spring to arrive so I can get out into the garden and make a start.

I found a couple of treasures at another jumble last week which I wasn't expecting as we didn't roll up until 10 minutes after it had started.

a lovely little sugar shaker for 10p

and a lovely retractible tape measure for another 10 of my pennies.

I finally got around to pimping my shade!

I couldn't resist the urge to add a few buttons!

better late than never!
It's a lovely old standard lamp that came home with me when the convent closed, one of the many beautiful things I was kindly given and which I will treasure for many years to come.

I also managed to finish the hexie cushion front so only got to make a back for it now, lucky for me Mr. H has been sorting through his wardrobe so I have the perfect solution.............stay tuned!

I'm still enjoying reading your blogs even though I haven't been commenting much, hopefully normality will resume very soon!

Thank you for your lovely comments on my last post,  as always they are very much appreciated and  what make this blogging malarkey worth while.

: )

It's been a while

Well hello there.
I'm still here although it seems like ages since my last post.
Iv'e been a bit, what you could call 'out of sorts' lately.
I'm not entirely sure what it brought this about but I'm guessing it may have had something to do with me being called upon to do jury service. I think I have been feeling a little anxious without realising it, I have even lost a few pounds so I know something is up!
Anyways I have been excused from the call up as they have enough for the jury, so I'm now feeling slightly relieved, but at the same time a little disappointed...there's no pleasing me is there?!!!

There's nothing much happening around here at the moment, the usual day to day stuff, school run, work, tidying up after EVERYONE, laundry, throwing together a meal before back out for the school run, you know how it is!
I suppose that's another reason why I haven't been around much, just getting on with life really.


Last Monday evening we attended little H's school for a GCSE options presentation. I'm doing a fabulous impression of an ostrich at the moment, burying my head in the sand, wishing it would all go away, as my baby is far too young to be considering his GCSE options (o.k I know he's nearly 13)but the only options he should have to face at the moment is whether to put ketchup or brown sauce on his bacon buttie or what colour pants to wear!
I am so not ready for this.

I have managed to squeeze in a teeny weeny bit of crafting, just to relieve the stress you understand.

The campervan hexie cushion is coming along nicely albeit a little slower than anticipated, probably due to the fact Iv'e started something else....OOOPS just how did that happen?!!!

I couldn't resist the colours of this cheap as chips wool. I think I just needed something bright and cheerful to cheer me up on the dark, dull and downright miserable January days.

Iv'e also managed to make a few cards but not nearly enough to see me through the year, which if you remember from my last post was my intention. Never fear the card making stuff is still on the dining room table so I intend to crack on with a few more this week.


I feel slightly more myself now that February is here because as some of you know February is my birthday month.
I'm not that happy about being another year older and even less enthused about looking another year older but on the plus side birthdays in our house are always celebrated with a day out somewhere and ALWAYS cake.
This year Mr. H and I will be tootling over to Buxton to see a band and the lovely Mr. H has also booked a little place to stay over, so no driving home.

I haven't had much luck with the thrifting lately, my local charity shops seem to be struggling to fill the shelves at the moment.
I did attend a jumble sale last weekend where I did pick up this cute little bookcase.

Sadly it went downhill from there as I ended up in a slanging match with a couple of blokes who thought it was acceptable to push me so hard I nearly ended up on top of the table along with the jumble, suffice to say I left in a huff with my little bookcase tucked tightly under my arm!

: ) x

Cake, craft and more cake

I finally managed to get the Christmas cake made this week. It's normally baked around the end of September and has had at least 3 dousings of brandy by now so I am way behind.

I can't say I am entirely happy with the end result as it cooked a little too quickly for my liking and I fear it may be slightly dry. I'm sure Mr. H will tell me if it's not up to my usual standard!


On the upside I had a lovely friend come over on Saturday while the boys were away at football.
We had a great day starting off with not one but two Christmas fairs at local churches.
We both have a passion for vintage and thrifting so I was afraid we would be fighting over the goodies but all was well as there was plenty enough bargains for the two of us.
I found a few bits and bobs that were looking for a new home.

A plate rack that will be perfect for the new cupboard and in yellow

a cute little tablecloth which reminds me of Christmas, I think it must be the colours.

buttons because one can never have too many, especially at 20p

Christmas and vintage, what more could you want!

As well as all the bric-a-brac there was a beautiful stall full of knitted goodies.
There were so many gorgeous things to choose from, sadly I didn't take a photograph partly because the room was so full and also because I was way to giddy to even contemplate whipping out the camera and wasting valuable shopping time. I eventually came away with these.

a gorgeous pair of hand warmers made from the softest wool for £2.50 and the brooch £3.00

a pair of coat hangers, the larger one was £2.50 and the smaller one was £2.00, I couldn't believe the lady was selling them at this price.

something to listen to while I'm pottering.

last but not least two cornish tea towels which will probably end up as cushion covers for the campervan.


After lunch in the church hall it was back to mine to peruse our haul, and what a haul, between us I think we had three large bags full of goodies.

The whole purpose of the day was for us to get together for a full day of crafting so out came the slippers and footstools, followed by the wool, felt, paper and punches.
How time flies when your'e having fun!

Afternoon tea was served from the trolley.
We had a great girly day and we have planned our next day out so I am looking forward to that.

Thank you for your lovely comments on my last post, the kitchen cupboard is well on the way to being finished so hopefully there will be a reveal next week. I'm feeling slightly under pressure now I just hope it lives up to the hype!

Oh yes nearly forgot this is what I picked up from the church Christmas Fair last weekend for a fiver.

It's residing here for now but I want it in it's rightful place at the bottom of the bed so the furniture will need a re-jig (something else to add to the bloody list!)
I have some lovely barkcloth that I think will be perfect for re covering the top but for now I will enjoy it as it is.


Today I have been enjoying the sunshine.

this was the view from my bedroom window this morning.

Iv'e also been pottering around the house, ripping out a cupboard that Mr. H and I have got sick of the sight of, so on a whim this morning after breakfast we decided enough was enough and out it came!
We always seem to embark on some D.I.Y project or other just before the festive season, so not only have we got the kitchen cupboard to finish painting and lining we have now got to repaint the dining room walls, all this before next weekend.

Wish me luck!
Hope you are all having a great weekend whatever you are up to

: )

Special delivery

Our Postie is a very nice chap at the best of times but even more so when he pushes treasures like these through the letterbox.
First to arrive this week

My copy of Country Living Magazine. I keep threatening to cancel my subscription but somehow never seem to have the heart to go through with it. (I did however sell a small mountain of old copies at a car boot recently)

along with the magazine was a very special envelope containing these

So excited as I have never been before and I love Harrogate.
mr. H decided we should make a weekend of it so we are staying overnight here.
We've stayed before and really enjoyed it and it's only a couple of minutes walk away from Harlow Carr so that will be Saturday sorted.

Then Tuesday a lovely little package arrived

beautiful fabric from Sew La La with a few little buttons thrown in for good measure, I will definitely be popping back very soon.


Wednesday morning I collected these from my local sorting office.

I must say the book is not quite up to Cath's usual standard but I love it nontheless and I can't wait to get cracking on Stanley and the little deer, however I will be using my own lovely soft felt rather than the cheapy acrylic stuff that came with the book (I will be putting some of this lovely felt in my Etsy shop very soon)

I love the diary and have already started adding the birthdays and can't wait to start using it.

Sadly by Thursday the only thing gracing my door mat on my return home from work was a bank statement and a takeaway menu for a rather dodgy looking kebab shop!

No thrifty finds again this week as I have been doing full time hours at work but I'll leave you with this, a little something I picked up for 10p from the jumble sale a few weeks ago that I'd forgotten to show you

a gorgeous candlestick that claims to be a present from Skegness.

Have a great weekend
: )