Looking back ......

Can you really believe this was happening 12 months ago?

Apart from a frost this morning it is gorgeous out there now with blue sky and sunshine and I even saw a live wasp on my way back in the front door after dog walking.

December already and hopefully this weekend will see the decorations go up if I can get myself organised and into the loft.  Space has to be made downstairs first though and I feel a little freecycling coming on later .... I've been feeling restless lately and in need of a change so for 2012 it may be a case of out with the old/in with the new (or newish because almost everything I acquire is secondhand and I'm proud of it).

Talking of acquisitions this little beauty was delivered this week .... a Fleabay bargain and the seller is based about 5 mins away from me so how good was that!

It is painted with F & B Calke Green and now I have seen it there may be some colour changes ahead .... green is my favourite colour

I decided against buying crappo wrapping paper that tears as soon as you look at this year and I'm using good old fashioned brown paper with Christmas ribbon and homemade felt reindeer heads .... I have embroidered names on the back so the littlies have a dual purpose tag/tree decoration.  Gonna use some Christmas stamps for the grown ups I think.

I hope to find time at the weekend to make some more vintage book paper chains .... these books are ex-library so are well used and not really fit for any other purpose so rather than have them sit in a box I think their new lease of life will be around for a few more Christmases yet.

What did we do BI (before internet) .......

My second daughter has returned to college this year to do the Access to Health & Social Care course in preparation for undertaking a midwifery degree next year .... consequently she keeps nicking my laptop and although I can read a few forums from my phone I can't comment and have had severe withdrawal symptoms this week!

Having said that I have got lots more done and by making a list every day and updating it as the week went on, it is amazing how much can be achieved when not attached to the interweb ;-)

Felt Christmas decorations have been completed with some lovely felt from Annie The Felt Fairy but like a numpty I forgot to take photos before I took them down to Country Matters at Hexton .... this glorious Aladdin's Cave of goodies is decked out for the Christmas period now and I picked up a couple of bargains myself down there this week.

This is last year's Dotcomgiftshop's Advent Box .... it is so sweet and will last for years for the grandchildren to open and thankfully there is enough room in each little box for sweeties for all of them!

This little hanging ornament in the shape of a tree is simply three copper cones that make a lovely ringing sound when shaken .... it was only £1.25 and I hope there are some left when I go down again at the end of the week.

A visit to the wool shop in Baldock was on the agenda yesterday .... Baldock is a small Georgian market town with some lovely old buildings on the High Street

I am loving Katia yarn .... it is from Spain and the range is fantastic .... the Triana is used for boa scarves like this

I did make another grey mix one last night to go with my bargainous M & S coat from the charity shop but a certain little lady who has been on sleepover with us this weekend pinched it!

It's a wool/cashmere mix and is so light and soft and looks as though it has never been worn all for the princely sum of £8 ..... Ellie did make laugh though when she said nanny Pat from Eastenders wears a coat like that!  Mmmmm I was quite confident till she said that .... better not be wearing any big dangly earrings with it then!

Some more finds this week were ...

an Oak tea trolley from the CS .... now on the project list for a paint job but in the meantime commandeered by said little lady as her desk cum dolly trolley

A nice little occasional table ... again on the paint job project list

Three vintage needlework magazines all with the pattern sheets unused inside

I had no idea that the Littlewoods catalogue had been around this long and that sitting room !

Can you imagine having to wear this???  Especially if there was a wet accident .... yuk !

and a little forward thinking to next summer ladies ..... fancy having a go at some rather fetching crochet headgear ?

 

I found this in one of my craft room drawers .... probably acquired at a car boot but I really can't remember .... perfect for these dark evenings and the Christmas tree when it comes down from the loft in a couple of weeks.

The Victorian Oak mirror from the Essex auction has had a polish and now hangs in the hall

 This charming print of Fred Morgan's oil painting 'Never Mind' came from the same auction and must have been living in an attic next to a chimney .... it was absolutely filthy with soot but has cleaned up nicely and the frame has had a coat of black enamel paint .... he apparently painted some of the Pear's Soap pictures and this one dates to 1884.

Finally my daughter's friend wanted a personalised present for her mum .... this is her favourite verse which I have transferred to a piece of vintage linen which is sewn onto some blue ticking stripe fabric to make an envelope back cushion cover.  Hope she likes it!

Autumnal colours ....

Well what a difference a week makes!!!  This time last week we were basking in sunshine and today it is dark, gloomy, wet and flipping cold but I am determined that the heating won't be going on in September.  The boiler annual service is booked for the 19th and I am crossing everything that we can get another 12 months from it.

I have been accumulating rather a lot of fabric samples and decided a few weeks ago that it was high time I did something with them.  My first thought was to re-cover the easy chair that was a freecycle acquisition when my husband had his knee replacement two years ago.  He needed an upright chair to be able to sit comfortably and raise his leg but do you know that although it is not very glamorous it is very comfortable to sit in so we kept it.

I made two panels and they have been hanging on the back of my sewing room door and the more I looked at them the more I thought it was far too nice for husband to park his bum on (usually in his work trousers) so I sewed them together and added some more.  The colours are very autumnal in terracottas, brown, beige, burgundy and gold and some lovely textures too including linen, faux suede, embroidered linen, silky satins, soft velours and damask.  What to back it with though???

Keeping on theme with autumn and the rich textures I thought velvet or velour would be perfect and to my amazement when in the charity shop this week there was a panel of gold velvet fabric hanging in the curtain section.  It had obviously been salvaged from a larger curtain but at only £3 I thought I would take a chance on the size of it.

Armed with my new found buddy when layering throws together ....  a can of low stick spray adhesive (recommended by another lovely blogger) ... I started to pair them up this morning and ta da here we have a warm autumn throw which is big enough to cover a single bed or sofa.  All it has cost me is time and the £3 spent in the charity shop .... now I have to decide do I snuggle under it or take it to my next fair .... mmmmm I'll have to think about that one!