Spring has sprung!

 

I came back yesterday from my week away, and feel so much better for it, really refreshed and inspired - it was just what I needed I think! I couldn't have picked a better week off weather wise - it has been gorgeous every day, with blue skies and temperatures into the twenties. It's been more like mid summer than the end of March, though today  it's back to the cold and grey. I hope that wasn't it for the nice weather for the year!

I love spending time with my family, I don't get to see them often enough because we live so far away, so it was a lovely week. We took a few day trips out but because the weather was so nice we also were able to sit around outside quite a bit. I took all my blanket yarn so spent lots of time making squares in the sun, happy days!

Mum and dad also wanted to find a planter for their courtyard, so lots of wandering around garden centres was done looking for one. Needless to say they didn't actually find what they were looking for, but I really like pottering around looking at the plants and flowers especially as the weather was so nice...

 I thought the little coloured watering cans filled with  primroses were so sweet!

I so love spring flowers, so happy and bright and colourful after the dark grey days of winter...

We need to do our garden this year. It is basically just soil at the moment because when we moved in last year it was getting towards winter so we decided to leave it for a few months. Not really sure what to do with it though - it is quite a small space, but sure we can do something nice with it! Need to get some gardening mags/ books really for inspiration.

I managed to make another 90 squares for my crochet blanket this week in between trips out. I've changed my mind so many times on the colours - I started out with turquoise, pink and red (my fave colour combination!) but gradually decided a slightly paler, more Spring like palette was the way to go. I'm still using my Stylecraft yarn, so it was quite difficult to decide on colours which were different enough to the other two blankets I've made, but that would also compliment each other. 

This is what I have decided on at the moment...

What do you think?

It reminds me of crocuses with all the purple, yellow and green so just right for the time of year! I've now done about 140 squares in total. I'm not really sure how many squares I am aiming for, probably around 200 then it will be the dreaded joining together (really not looking forward to that bit)!

I also came back to some lovely post including Master Sorrel...

I bought him from the lovely Jooles of Sew Sweet Violet and I LOVE him!! Such pretty colours and so beautifully made, he is happily living on my new pinboard which I actually made at eight o clock this morning... (Told you I was refreshed and inspired,  I couldn't wait to start making again!)

I just covered an old board with some wadding and pretty pink floral fabric using my staple gun, then stapled on some criss-crossed ribbons and hammered in some upholstery tacks - sure they neighbours were impressed with the noise so early on a Saturday (actually their cars had gone so I'm hoping they weren't in).

Anyway have just popped some of my favourite cards and bits on it for now, though I'm sure I will fill it up soon enough! I love to make spontaneous things like this for the house, I just don't often have time. Some mini bunting is next on my list though whilst I am on a role!

I also bought this....

... after reading about it on lots of other people's blogs. Only had a quick flick through whilst I had my breakfast but it is so up my street - lots of colour, pattern and inspiring ideas, it is just gorgeous! You can buy it here and also check out Selina's fab blog.

I also got another super exciting delivery in the post too - but more about that next week - it will include another giveaway too! Anyway hope you have had a good week too, and have been able to enjoy the lovely sunshine while it lasted! Take care, will be back soon xxx

Merry Christmas!

Ooops... it's been exactly a month since I last wrote a post, how did that happen! This last six weeks has been crazy busy especially in my Not on the High Street shop and it has been one big round of making up badges and mirrors - especially of the personalised variety! The amount of orders way exceeded my expectations so my own Christmas preparation plans have kind of been pushed to one side this year. As has my blog reading, I've missed so many lovely Christmassy posts I know but hope to catch up a bit soon.

I did put the tree up a few weeks ago, and gathered a few bits for the dresser, but all my plans of crocheted bunting, paper chains, Christmas baking and other handmade decorations sadly went out the window. Next year I'm going to start earlier... round about March I think! (I'm only half joking.)

Here are a few little snippets and favourite decorations from around the house...

My bargain candy canes I bought last year came out - some are hung on the tree, some are arranged in glass jars....

My lovely dresser... which still looks a little bare really, complete with homemade bunting!

The red and white rag wreath I made last Christmas is back too!

...some Scandi inspired red and white stars

Lots of candles...

 ...the little gingerbread house I treated myself to in Bath a few weeks ago

 

...a fairy with pom pom hands and feet :)

... a feathered and sequinned chicken with a crown

 ...a sequinned nutcracker and little reindeer

...a bejewelled peacock I think this one is supposed to be!

and lastly one of my absolute faves, Mr pom pom earmuff bear! 

There are many more ornaments just as random as these on our tree this year that I've collected over the past 7 or 8 years...  Collecting Christmas decorations is something I really love and it is a tradition to buy at least a few more every year! 

When I was a student I worked part time for a few years for Monsoon Accessorize so many of my novelty decorations with the moving arms and legs and pom pom feet come from there. Since then I've been collecting slightly more 'tasteful' ones of clear glass and red and white but the old favourites still have to come out. Last year I tried just a gold and silver tree but it looked so boring, so am happily back with the jumble of colours and styles this year!

I also bought myself an advent calender this year for the first time since I was about 12! Have loved the little chocolate before breakfast each day but quite dissapointed there were no pictures behind the windows like there used to be. Still for £1.99 not sure I can really expect anymore! 

 

And lastly my latest purchase is these adorable felt and knitted reindeer. For those of you who follow my facebook page, you may remember when I fell in love with them a few weeks ago... well I happened to be walking past the shop again and they were in the sale... it was meant to be obviosuly, hehe. Aren't they adorable? :)

Just before I go and since it is almost Chrismtas, here are my festive December projects for Crafts Beautiful magazine. (For more crafting ideas go to www.crafts-beautiful.com)

 Brightly coloured 'fill your own' decorated crackers... I love how these have been photographed. Too bad I didn't actually put in any gifts when I made them, otherwise we could have used them on Christmas day!

...and a festive stocking project!

Anyway so here's wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! We will be spending actual Christmas here just the two of us, then will be off to visit my parents and family over the New Year - can't wait as it has been a good few months since I was last there, and a whole year since I saw my brother! Hoping to squish in some kind of crochet project in my suitcase for the long train journey. My stripe blanket is still not finished, but is much too big and heavy to take with me... so something smaller... maybe a cushion cover I'm thinking. Or perhaps the bunting I never got round to finishing... at least it would be ready for next year! Anyway, hope you all have a wonderfully festive, happy  and relaxed week with your loved ones, see you in 2012!

xxxxx

Sunshine

Hello, it's been a while! I've had a lovely time soaking up the sun for the last few weeks but now back in rainy England, with my tan hidden under jeans and a big thick cardie! Not impressed with the weather I've come back to at all!

We went to Lagos again on the Algarve in Portugal like last year but for three whole weeks this time. I totally got into the relaxed, laid back way of living... a little lie in every morning, then a bit of sunbathing, lunch, a potter about, maybe a siesta, beach for a couple of hours, then maybe drinks in town... No real pressure to do anything and time to just sit and chat... lovely!

I also managed to get my tapestry finished - at last - feels like I've been doing it forever! Really pleased with it, just need to get it framed and I will do a little ta-dah post on it :)

The beaches around Lagos are really lovely and there are loads to choose from... we tended to go down in the late afternoon when the sun wasn't quite as hot. Sometimes we would just walk along the shore, other times we would set up camp for a couple of hours. I did go in the sea a few times but it is so COLD being the Atlantic that I really couldn't stand it for more than a few minutes at a time!! 

Picked up loads of shells too... really pretty ones which I just had to bring home in the suitcase. It's funny, out of the two main beaches we went to (only a couple of miles from each other around the headland) one had so many shells you were falling over them - there were literally hundreds and hundreds - and the other had none at all. Quite weird since they are so very close. 

 

Also went out a few times at night into the town for a meal or just drinks... and always passed this old fashioned carousel as we waited for taxis. Sadly I didn't actually get to go on it, (most of the occupants being under five) but I could still admire the pretty lights! Isn't there something so magical about old fashioned fairground rides... Those lights have me captivated!

 

So all in all it was a really lovely break and a much needed one after the stresses of moving...etc. Back home now though and it is really nice to be back, except we currently have a broken boiler which  annoyingly means no hot water :( Hopefully it's being fixed in the morning, fingers crossed! I hate not being able to shower, I feel so grubby even after one day! Urgh... 

Still got lots to do this week around the house too. Because we went away so soon after moving, I've come back to lots of boring paperwork and post which needs to be dealt with. I've also got quite a few pairs of curtains to make this week for the lounge and bathrooms which currently just have temporary hangings up. Hopefully I'll be able to remember how to make them without too much trouble, not made anything more complicated than pencil pleat before!

So anyway what I'm actually getting around to saying with all this is that I'm going to be keeping my shops shut for another week or so just to give me time to get myself sorted before I start thinking about the 'C' word!! Arggh... how on earth are we back here again, feels like I've only just stopped sewing puddings and presents and it's nearly time to get them all back out again. Madness!

Anyway thanks for visiting as always, back soon x

a granny square update...

Hello! Just popping in with a quick crochet update and also a little news...

The granny blanket is coming along slowly but surely. Still only managing one or two squares a day but it is surprising as the weeks go by how quick it starts to build - have done forty squares so far. Have decided to make the blanket 8 x 12 squares with a nice big border round the edge so nearly half way there on the squares front anyway! (And actually, I have done more than forty squares, that was a little lie... but some of them I just wasn't happy with the colours so I have hidden them in my drawer of shame!) Haha, yes I am that much of a perfectionist.

It was mainly that at the beginning, I did some squares that turned out either too light or too dark and they just looked funny amongst the rest. It would never have sat easy with me that they were in there, so annoying as it was to have to re-do them, it is for the best I think! 

There are some colour combinations and sequences that I find so lovely together, and then there are others that are not quite up my street individually but I think the overall balance is ok - am trying my hardest not to be overly fussy and just look at the bigger picture! 

Is it weird though that I am thinking about my next blanket project even though there is so much to do for this one still?? I am planning a granny stripe next. Oh I do think I may be a little bit blanket obsessed, but since I am always cold, I always have one never far away, so at least they will come in useful!

 

Anyway I also have some other news to tell you... you may (or may not) have noticed that both my website and NOTHS shops are suspended at the mo, and also I have been pretty much absent from the world of twitter/facebook etc recently. Well, these last few months have been quite stressful but kind of exciting too, as tomorrow, we complete on the purchase of our first house!!!!!

It has been a long old road with months and months of delays with mortgages, plans and solicitors (seriously, I have the solicitors on speed dial the number of times I've had to ring them lately) but things are almost there now. We have carpets to be fitted on Monday but then we will be moving on Wednesday next week with any luck!!

Have not even started the dreaded packing yet as I have been working hard to get a couple of commissions out of the way beforehand, but as of this afternoon, I am going to start on the packing/cleaning/organising stuff in earnest! So basically, I may not be around much for the next few weeks. Apart from all the above, I'm not holding out too much hope that BT will get their act together and transfer our phone/broadband etc on time, so may or may not have access to the Internet for a while anyhow, though fingers crossed we do - I hate living with no Internet, I always feel so cut off!

Then the week after we move, am actually going on holiday to Portugal for three weeks (yes I know, I did say three weeks!!!) Apart from the month I spent backpacking around Europe, I think it will be the longest holiday I've ever been on! Am hoping to be able to squidge my grannies into my baggage allowance but failing that, three weeks of sun, sea and hopefully relaxation will follow! So officially am not going to be re-opening my shops until 1st September. Wow does that does seem like a long way off at the moment but I know it will just whizz by, especially as I am planning to pack such a lot in!

Anyway, hopefully I will get the chance to post again before I jet off, but just in case I don't, here is wishing you all a very happy summer! 

Jenny xxx

a week away...

Hello, hope you are all good! It seems like an absolute age since I last posted even though it's probably only a fortnight!

Took last week off and went to visit my mum and dad for a few days who are now living up in Shropshire. We seemed to do quite a lot whilst I was there - lots of little trips out to various places - the garden centre, Ikea...etc which were nice to have a wander about. Also went to several of their local towns, including Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth and just generally pottered around really. 

I found these sweet little Easter decorations in Vinegar Hill, one of my favourite shops. I never got around to putting up an Easter tree this year but these shall be perfect for next spring, and they were a bargain at only 30p each!

Mum also treated me to this sweet little Cath Kidston mug - it is the absolute perfect size for a hot drink and I am completely in love with the colours. It goes so well with the enamel CK plate I bought recently too! I have a real thing for pretty pastel kitchenware at the minute.

Unfortunately I didn't really take many photos whilst I was there, despite lugging my camera around with me most of the time, though I did take a few of these greedy geese in Bridgnorth!

We (maybe stupidly) decided to give them some of our leftover sandwiches. It ended with us running away literally as fast as we could with a flock of geese hurtling along behind. Was quite funny but they do scare me a bit - think it's those big beaks!

In fact, this one has a very mean look in his eye doesn't he?! I think he was the ringleader!

Anyway, I also managed to do quite a bit more of my tapestry whilst I was away. I literally hadn't picked it up since Christmas, but I'm pleased with how much I got done... Still got a fair bit to do, but it's getting there!

There is so much detail in it, every time you look there is something else to catch your eye - My favourite parts have to be the little dog and beehive!

Anyway, it was a really nice break, but I now have lots to catch up on. Have been working on Halloween and Christmas projects this week which is always weird at this time of year. I also have a lot of blog reading to catch up on too- hopefully will pop in on you all soon, just don't know where the time goes sometimes!

Have a great week x

A day of cupcakes...

.

I'm now back from my week away visiting my family up in Shropshire and both my shops are now open again. Had a lovely chilled out week catching up, which was really nice as I don't get the chance to see them very often. Me and my sister Harriet baked some yummy cupcakes together when she came home at the weekend... the icing and decorating part was the most fun - as you can see we were going for the 'anything goes' style of decoration, but I think it works!



The recipe we used for our cakes was taken from a lovely book called 'Bake Me I'm Yours: Cupcakes' by Joan and Graham Belgrove, but I thought I would write it out here in case anyone had the urge to go do some baking!

Chocolate Sponge Recipe (makes 24 medium sized cupcakes)

Ingredients

♥ 3 medium eggs

♥ 175g (6oz) caster sugar

♥ 115g (4oz) self raising flower
♥ 30ml (6tsp) cocoa powder
♥ 1.5tsp baking powder
♥ 1tsp vanilla extract
♥ 175g (6oz) slightly salted butter

Instructions

♥ Pre heat your oven to 170 degrees, and place cases in bun trays
♥ Put sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla extract into food processor and blitz together for 2-3 minutes. Alternatively, mix it all together using a hand held whisk
♥ Sieve the flour, baking powder and cocoa together into a separate bowl and then add to the mix gradually, folding with a spatula
♥ Spoon the mixture carefully into the baking cases (be careful not to overfill, they only need one good dollop of mixture each as they do rise a lot in the oven)
♥ Place tray in centre of oven and bake for approximately 16-18 minutes, or until the tops of the cakes spring back when lightly touched
♥ Turn out and allow to cool before the decorating fun begins!



We couldn't decide on which icing to make, so we halved the recipes below and did half pink, half chocolate!

Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients
♥ 225g unsalted butter

♥ 5ml vanilla extract

♥ 450g sifted icing sugar
♥ 40ml cold water
♥ Few drops of food colouring if you want coloured icing

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients

♥ 115g soft unsalted butter

♥ 50g cocoa, Dutch processed if possible

♥ 175g sifted icing sugar
♥ 45ml cold water

Instructions

♥ Beat the butter to a cream in a food processor or alternatively use a hand held whisk
♥ For the chocolate recipe, sift the cocoa and icing sugar together and gradually beat into the butter with the water. For normal buttercream, just add the icing sugar and water to the butter, beating until the mixture is light and fluffy, then add the vanilla extract
♥ Add a few drops of colouring to the buttercream mixture if you want coloured icing
♥ Spoon the mixture carefully into an icing gadget with a star nozzle to make lovely swirly patterns
♥ Decorate you cakes with sprinkles, chocolate shavings, silver balls, edible glitter...etc
♥ Sit back and enjoy all your hard work with a well earned cup of tea and a cake!



To be honest, we weren't the most careful or professional cake makers in the world, but we had a fun afternoon all the same!