Finding my Ho Ho Ho

Slowly, ever so slowly a few things seem to have happened. Suddenly I feel more like a person again, rather than just being a floppy mass of coughs and aches. I can move and actually want to do things again. There is a problem with this though. While I felt poorly, nothing mattered much except being cosy at home. Now I'm back in the land of the living it dawned on me that there's only six weeks until our first Pick 'n' Mix Market and then there's that other thing happening just after. Also Mr Bun and I are late December babies, so it becomes a busy time of year for making presents and planning stuff.

I thought about all of this for a bit and then realised I'd better try and get the sparkly creative part of my head switched on. I took a few festivey shots to get me in the mood. I'm not sure if it's working just yet, but I'll let you know. If you really don't want to think about all of this jingly jangly sparkle stuff just yet Look Away NOW.

NeArly finIsheD. Mr Bun and Eldest Bun came back with this great bottle of beer. Eldest Bun is a very beautiful Rosey, so she roared with laughter when she thought this beer was named after her.

Now I think I'm nearly inspired enough to go off and think of Robins and jingly bells. If you want some christmas inspiration pop on over to our Pick 'n' Mix blog as we have listed nearly all of our makers now and there are some truly fabulous things to look at.

Happy Horrors

The Bun's were so excited about the family party we were having for Halloween. I was a party pooper though as I've been flat out with the flu for the past few days so we had to cancel the guests. There was no way we wanted them to go without a party though. Amazingly pre-children I would have been laying in bed groaning and sleeping. These days you get up and do the best you can and we had fun. In the morning Mr Bun took them to the castle for spooky fun and then came back to cook and prepare the party.

We ate dead man finger stew, followed by scary jelly with jelly frogs in it.

Then we played a few games. One of the favourites was pin the nose on the witch. We also played guess the monsters name pinned to your back. Mr Bun having Tinky Winky pinned to his back caused hysterical laugher.

Now fingers crossed for wellness as a busy week is ahead again. Not least another interview with a journalist for a feature about our market. As she's bringing the photographer with her I hope my red nose and black eyes disappear. Or is that just the ghoulish make-up from last night?

Nasty Bug & Organised Bug

Ever since half-term began I've been fighting off the all over achey, coldy, lurgy thing. Yesterday we had a home day and as Mr Bun chose to work from home that day, it meant all meals were sorted by him and I could just be (apart from attacking all the nasty horrible ironing). At first I did inanely dull, but low energy stuff like organising the tangled web of coloured threads in my sewing tin.

Now these last few threads have been sorted I do look at them and think how nice they look - all tidy and ready. That's just not me really though, so I know there will be new threads that will make their own tangle soon.

Then I curled up to watch a movie with the Bun's who were having a cosy day too (they now have the lurgy aswell). I've been wanting to make these hearts for a while now. I can see a garland with Bobo Bun spelt out to hang over my stall. Then of course there are two girls who have been asking ever so nicely. I'm not sure I really like the colours, but it was a case of using up the cotton I have left.

While Mr Bun whipped up a tasty casserole for our evening meal, I pulled out last years stockings. Now the more I look at them I think I like them, but I don't go mad about them. I definately need to change the designs somewhat and move on to something else. The main problem is I don't know what as yet and there's oh - only four weeks before the next fair. Tons of time.

One year soon I must get my head around christmas in the summer as I prefer to be making the Bun's their presents now. How wonderful that would be to know all stock was made and lined up ready to go.


Now I can hear the kettle calling me to make hot chocolates all round., then I think a bit more flaking on the sofa is required.

Hope you've escaped the nasties.

Making Our Own Sunshine Sparkle

Summer briefly came back yesterday, but today it was drizzly and gloomy so we needed lots of colour, comfort, and fun.

I collected together Friday's CS treasure and the crafty goodies that I got from the wool shop to inspire me to get working.

Mid morning, I braved the rain and dashed down to the henhouse to feed the ladies. Only two eggs today. One of such thunderous proportions , beside a normal one.

Later we played Monopoly, which was great until it all got a bit nasty with the jelly babies. In the end we ate them and put up a few more hotels.

The Bun's and I also made some glasses (inspired by miss frugality) and gave Alfie Blue the spare pair. He didn't even bother waking up to have a look.

Then to really beat the gloom we made the cottage sparkle. The woodburner and candles were lit and the fairy lights came on here ...

... here ...


... and here.


A perfect day to beat all the wet gloom outside.

A hook and a spot of weather

Last night I gathered together some more converts to hooking. We met at the church which is in the next village to mine. It has a great room attached to the side which was perfect except for one thing.

I arrived early with good intentions to walk briskly through the graveyard, put all the lights on and get the room set up.
Instead. Mmmm - what did brave me do instead? I looked through the darkness (remember this is the countryside so no lights, just black and yet more black) and considered the stone angels lit up from underneath while the rain poured down around me and thought the car looked a good place to wait for the others to arrive.

So here we are - all cosied up with cake, flapjacks and coffee to keep us going. Soon we will be joined by a few more novice hookers who are already signed up. For now four was the perfect number and gave me the chance to give everyone the time they needed.

Strange angle for this one - a bit tipping off to one side.

After all the rain we had yesterday, we woke to the most fabulous day. Even though we were running a wee bit late on our drive to school, I had to stop to take these photos as the mist looked so beautiful with the sun breaking through.

Right now off to do some nice things for the day (making) and not so nice things (paperwork and bills). Hope your day has more nice things in it than not so nice.

Some flowers, an egg and a slice of cake.

Thank heavens for old ladies who are still selling Dahlias

and Pinks from their doorsteps to add a splash of bright summer colour to the grey skies.

Oh and the egg. Well I found that one in the garden laid in one of the little hidey holes the ladies use. We don't know its age or vintage as yet. Even though it doesn't float in water, I still don't trust it completely. So it sits alone until we bravely crack it open.

These petally explosions inspired to me to get on with making up some more flowery hair bobbles and clips. Oh and the cake was essential to give me the energy for all that snip snip snipping of felt.

A felty flower border soon started to spring up.

Two have already been set aside for school tomorrow. Blue and Orange for Eldest Bun and ...

... red and minty green for Little Bun beside the Dahlia's that got me started in the first place.

Special Things

My darling Eldest Bun was off school on Friday and still no improvement today so we're off to the doctor's later this morning. Now when you're nine and feel a bit low there are things that a mummy can do to make you feel just that little bit better. A bowl of sweeties for me and a bowl of sweeties for you. Both eaten while we had a lovely cuddly. That's a good start.

Next up to get started on her wristwarmers. We chose these two zingy shades of Sirdar Sublime at the wool shop last week while we were waiting for Little Bun to finish drama club. I followed the pattern in Hip Knits, except I used DK rather than 4ply. I was going to add flowers to the wrist, but changed my mind as I thought a butterfly landing on her wrist would be just perfect. I might put a flower on the other one. The one that hasn't been made yet.

I also picked up these fabulous floral prints from our quilting shop. No plans for them, they simply needed to come home with me.

Now on Friday we needed a hot water bottle and I realised we needed a cover. Something pretty for a little girl. Blue rubber is fine for Mr Bun, but not for a girl Bun. Eldest Bun chose the top smaller floral print and I picked some vintage sheeting for the lining.

I copied the pattern from CK's latest book on to some baking paper and off I went snip snipping away.

I've left the backing slightly bigger so that it won't pull up too much when I sew through the layers. Now I've marked up the lines for the running stitch I'd better hurry up and finish it so it can be cuddled in bed tonight.

Next I really better start thinking christmas making as there are about four fairs coming up over the next month or so.