My first home made Smash Book! Eeeek!

I have had my eye on creating my own Smash Book for a while - the pre-printed ones seemed so expensive for what you got therefore, here you have my DIY effort!

I have made this for a trip I will be making with my family to the Isle of Lewis in the Western Isles of Scotland at the end of October - a little early to be done and dusted but you know me, I always like to be organised!

I have not bought anything to create the book. To begin with I had one of my favourite things to work with, a Reeves sketchpads in stock from when I used to make embellished journals. (Check out my Pinterest board here.) I wanted to show you the inside pages using a video link thing into my blog but have failed miserably. Instead here are a few of my favourite pages and I'll figure out how to do it another time - might see if I can get it onto Pinterest.

To start making something of the blank pages I searched through all of my papers, card, embellishments, stamps, you name it. I also took pages out of books I use for paper crafting and basically anything I had lying around that seemed appropriate. Luckily I am a bit of a magpie and usually have something of use! Again, as with any journals I have done in the past I tried not to make it look too contrived and I think I'm really happy with it. I have purchased a double-ended glue/pen pen to take with me 

and I have asked for a few things to make my entries special for birthday presents.

Whilst I'm at it I may as well tell you about getting set for the coming school term. We were given some weekly plans from school. as usual to keep tabs on what the boys will be doing each day but they are a bit plain, being black and white. Instead I found these on the internet so are now completed and placed on the wall under the calendar in the kitchen. This way the boys can double check what they are doing and I know when things have to be in school on what day! Love them. Good job I printed off an extra one last week as the tomato ketchup came flying out of the door shelf of the fridge yesterday in spectacular fashion and practically covered one of them. Funny?

Time to go but just have a minute to show you the first Gladioli I have ever grown and that I am very chuffed with myself. Love the colour!

 Right, must dash but hope you liked what you saw, especially the Smash Book.

Catch ya later.xxx

It is that time of the year I love!

Hello.

It's been a little while since my last post but my very favourite time of the year is upon us. 

         

I just love the new beginnings which come with September. The boys went back to school yesterday and I can't quite comprehend that they are in years 2 and 3! I'm slightly sad they will not see out their primary education in their current school because of our moving plans, but I'm making the most of things whilst we are still here. Two different playgrounds, a new book bag to buy and all the necessary lunch, PE kits etc made for the usually interesting morning at the beginning of a new term. Can't wait to get the raft of letters, which will duly arrive over the next week or so, about all the exciting things they will be doing, new class topics and field trips to be made. I tweeted a timetable I found yesterday so we all know what everybody is doing, seperate to the main home organisation calendar we have on the wall! Call me particular if you like! So,what have I been up to lately?                                                                                                                                                                                          

 I finally got round to a bit of sewing and decided to replace my ancient peg bag so ta dah!

 

I love the material and, though slightly wonky at the top, I am chuffed with it as it does the job. 

I've been working on something else recently but can't share it as it is a gift but pictures will follow later, I promise.

 

I found I had bought excess red onions and decided to make one of my fav recipes to use them up - red onion and balsamic vinegar chutney. Some of you may remember my tweeting about the last batch I made, once you get the onions but it's a piece of cake and very rich and yummy, possibly something to do with the glug of red wine the recipe calls for! I put the chutney in these oh so cute Kilner jars as they just give that extra zing when you have made something yourself and I love seeing them in the fridge. Have to check I open the right one as I use them for lemon curd too.

                                                                                                                                                                                   


Well, must dash as need to get some lunch and am having coffee with a friend via the post office before the afternoon school run.

Catch ya later! xx

 

 

Pretty Nostalgic, me and mine.

After a fairly turbulent time recently, the newest issue of Pretty Nostalgic will very soon be hitting the doormats of its new Society members all over the country. 

 

  
The changes being made by the wonderful Nicole and her team are so exciting and I for one cannot wait!

So in celebration of this fact I have been looking at just a few of my favourite articles and features, going right back to issue1. (I was lucky enough to get my hands on every back issue and my book case looks all the better for it!)

As you know I have started sewing in the last few months and the regular A-Z feature in issue one was about haberdashery.  

There is just something about the idea of adding some nostalgia into a new project, I use these kind of items for things other than sewing, too. Vintage buttons and bows, fabric and fasteners. If you are looking for something special for your next project here are a couple of wonderful websites offering this type of sewing paraphernalia, Pocket and Pin and The Old Haberdashery. 

I have again chosen the A-Z feature in issue two as this is about afternoon tea. 

As you know I love baking and nothing beats a full cake tin when you need something yummy to go with a brew. One of my favourites has to be lemon drizzle, maybe because my boys and husband love it! Another regular bake is wholemeal banana muffins, often to be found in the boys' snack boxes on the afternoon school run with extra sometimes for friends at the park.

I am an established member of the #PostCircle scheme, thanks as always to the wonderful Anna from Tea with Miss Beatrix.

 I chose this feature in issue two about letter writing as I love writing to the eight or so people I have been regularly corresponding with for the last six months or so, due in part to Anna. I so enjoy opening my post box knowing the envelopes beautifully decorated with Washi tape, labels and stickers are from my #PostCircle and #happymail pals. We have great fun sharing our news and, as some of us are creative, we talk about our latest projects and I much prefer this to social media. I have no Facebook account and am seriously considering cancelling my Twitter account; only the other day I as explaining how I felt life is so instantaneous and there is no anticipation; that is what I love about getting a letter!

And lastly I chose an issue nine feature about Medical Memorabilia. I, too, have been collecting some sort of medical items because I bought a fantastic vintage first aid box. 

Since then I have been gathering things to pep it up a bit. Thanks to friends gifting items to me and buying some items from places such as flea markets, boot fairs and a website called
Vintage Purveyor I have amassed quite a collection as you can see. 

This is a really effective addition to my spare room.

I hope this vintage ramble gives you an idea of what you can expect as you turn the pages of this wonderful, soon to be, book. Join this Society which is helping us appreciate what went before, bringing it into the present and hopefully making our lives just a little Pretty Nostalgic!

Catch ya later. xx

And we have returned...

So we are back from our summer holidays having stayed with Nana in Menorca. The boys had a great time swimming every day and Jon and I must have eaten our body weight in whitebait and squid tapas. Mmmm! 

I came home a proper pan and rice to make paella as I cannot visit a supermarket abroad without bringing home some kind of cooking/baking foodstuffs. Last year, from Spain, I unpacked and realised I had come back with Harina flour, Spanish sherry vinegar from Jereth, lots of yummy bread snacks and 4 terracotta tapas dishes!

We have two weeks before the boys go back to school so I hope we have some good weather during that time. The hottest day whilst we were away was the Sunday before we flew back and it was 46 degrees at 6.30pm!

Regarding our house, we have not had much movement but are confident somebody will soon spot it on Rightmove and think it is just the thing for them! We are so very keen to move by Christmas and I suppose we have quite some time yet for things to get going, but when you know where you want to be it is very frustrating.

I have talked about the kind of life that we are planning with our move and now I have to let you know, just because I can't wait any longer, that we are intending to move to the Western Isles of Scotland. Quite a move we know! We have not seen any properties in the flesh because we are waiting to get a firm offer on our place, plus we need to make a 12 hour journey to visit what we are 95% sure is our forever location. We have done an inordinate amount of research including using the Internet, emailing people who live on the islands, spoken to friends who are familiar with the area and looked at the school and there is nothing that has turned us off to the idea so far. We just want to go and visit!

But, we just have to be patient and are doing all we can to sell our house as soon as we can. It is so frustrating when the thing you most want is within reach but you can't quite touch it.

It is coming up to the time for coffee number three so I'll leave you to decide, though we are just so flippin' excited that we think of pretty much nothing else right now, if you think we are bold, brave or mad to have made this decision. 

Catch ya later! xx

 

Pre-holiday ramble.

I really do seem to have had no time for blogging since my last effort, what with getting ready for our holiday, tomorrow! Plus, the boys went away for 4 whole days with the Gramps and I spent most of the time doing stuff around the house. I know I probably should have taken some time for myself but I'm still having trouble focusing on things when we are constantly thinking about selling the house and preparing for our holiday! We did manage to go and see a film which was not aimed at children which was great but I still hate how much it costs!

The for sale board went up yesterday. We decided not have one initially but have thought it might be a good idea as we do get quite a lot of passing traffic because of the little pub across the road. Wouldn't it be just wonderful if we received an email whilst we are away to tell us we have had an offer? We live in hope.

The boys and I took time to go to the park with a friend of mine and her little boy today. We had a lovely time chatting and had a coffee while the three terrors ran around like maniacs for an hour -  and we just managed to miss a short shower, too.

In a short while I have the boys' beds to change so they are done for when we come back and right now they are downstairs turning each other into mummies by wrapping double sided sticky tape on their faces! The packing is all but done except the toiletries tomorrow and then a quick whip round the bathrooms and a vacuum and we are done. Can't leave the house without being cleaned when we are going away, plus we may have some viewings so it needs to be spotless!

Sorry for ordinariness of this post but hope to have some holiday memories to share with you on my return from sunny Menorca.

Catch ya later. xx

Busy, busy, busy and news!

Phew! The last week or ten days have been rather busy. During the middle of last week we started getting the house clean, spick and span because on the following Monday we had an appointment with an Estate Agent. 


Yes, our house is on the market again and this time we will definitely be going ahead!

We are very excited as we are continue our search for just the right property. We really hope to find the right place which will give us the means to grow as much of our own food as possible, I can keep my chickens and the boys will be able to have a very special time for the rest of their childhoods. We have not made any decisions yet but myself and my other half are still very excited about the prospect of  living the life we have hoped for since we met, and creating a special environment for our boys; I will keep you posted on any developments.

Summer term at school is drawing to an end as I have mentioned previously and last Saturday was the summer fayre. I went to help out on the Tombola for an hour and I also took the hamper I was baking for to be a prize in the raffle. What do you think? 

 I even used some fat quarter fabric to sew a lining for the basket!

Of course I included an old faithful, lemon curd, but everything else I had made before but not included in any of my hampers. (If you check out my Pinterest account there are some I have made in Summer, for Christmas gifts and raffles etc.) However, this time I felt like making some more savoury things so I plumped for Sweetcorn and Cheddar scones, with a little kick thanks to a shake of paprika, Soda bread which I make a lot but this time with pistachio nuts and sundried tomatoes and then red onion and balsamic vinegar chutney - a kilo of onions gave me a lot of pain and just about two jars of chutney! The cake was a little departure for me as I am known for making loaf cakes but went for a round one this time. Described as a cut-and-enjoy fruit cake it's the ideal recipe to go with a brew or as part of a tea party occasion. I am hopefully going to put the recipes on my food page in the next couple of days. Please keep checking as I tend to take a while to do this - may just have to resort to taking a picture of my recipes if that works! #lazyblogger!

I have been gardening a little and planted some Hollyhocks called Creme de Casis and a Veronica called Shirley Blue and really got on with some proper weeding. It's looking really quite nice at the moment, and I want people to see it looks good WHEN they come to view our house, SOON I hope! Here is how it is looking just now.

Unfortunately the Hollyhocks are planted in the bottom right of the first  picture but I couldn't show them as they were in the shade. Not a good sign for the future, perhaps! The Veronica is hidden beyond the first chimney pot - really must work on my camera skills!

I love the Corduline in the above picture. It was just what I wanted and at £6 from Asda I thought it was a steal.






I hope some colour will be injected into this end of my patch soon when a couple more things, like the geraniums I have planted, come into flower.

Ok, I need to get changed from my painting clothes, yes, me, I have been painting the walls in the cellar. Not a job I normally undertake but all hands to the pump when you want to make your house look the best you can.

Hope you liked what you saw, let me know!

Catch ya later! xx

Where does the time go - almost July!

Well I don't know what happened to June, really I don't. Time seems to have really flown since my last post, for various reasons, and I'll explain a little more why soon.


That aside, I have been getting on with a few bits and pieces. I finally got round to making some of the fabric fridge magnets a la Sarah Moore and I love them!
 

 
So much lovelier to look at when you are pining all that much needed stuff to the front of the old Frigidaire, I wish!

I am enjoying writing to new pen pals, some from my #PostCircle and others I have gathered along the way. A new correspondent, Kathleen in California, sent me some quite beautiful doilies which will be used for my vintage bunting I plan to make; very frustrating as I just need a couple more to start but I am picky, not me!, about the size I want to use! One of them is in the picture above.

The end of the school summer term is almost upon us and one of our wonderful teachers is taking retirement. She was with both my boys for their Reception class and gave them a wonderful start to their main school experience; an honour to have such a dedicated person to encourage and nurture my boys. I have decided to give her as a gift one of my journals I have embellished as the words on it are quite appropriate. We will add to the collection being made for other gifts, of course, but wanted to do something special as she has always been very supportive of my crafting projects. 




I shall also have to think about presents for the teachers of both boys' classes - a total of four, including teachers and teaching assistants, but then there are other staff members that help out who the boys really like but where do you stop? I like to make things for them so it isn't just a case of buying a box of chocolates; I need to get my thinking cap on. I did consider sewing some "Thank You" hearts out of the hessian I  recently bought from the wonderful Pocket and Pin.



I made the item below for my dear friend, Little Bohemian Butterfly, for her recent return to work; I thought something along these lines would be good for teacher gifts. 

What do you think?

 Well, I didn't want you to think I had forgotten about you or indeed that you had forgotten about me! So I hope you enjoyed out little catch up and I'll be back again very soon with more to share with you.

Catch ya later.xx