Bobo Bun

Decisions, decisions ...

2012-01-28T16:30:00.000-08:00

Today has been a mad and wonderful day. We got up ridiculously early as Miss Rosey had a big day ahead. Once she was done we went for a lovely lunch which is a rare old thing, followed by a proper mooch around favourite shops and the fleamarket.

Then we had a dash home to get to the Observatory in our village who were hosting a Stargazing evening. We had freezing toes by the end of it, but we've seen Jupiter's four moons, checked that the moon is still there and learnt that Venus is the planet just below the moon (from here anyways). I also know now that the moon is actually black, it's just white from the light bouncing off it. So there you go in case you didn't know that either.

Apart from starting a new cardigan this week, from some aran I've had for years, I've done nothing else but work and keep life ticking over. As a good luck present for Miss Rosey I did finish up Podge on Friday night. She asked for him for christmas with exact instructions about shape and colours. A month later he was finally born and placed by her bed with a card.

Tommorow being Sunday we all have lots we want to squash into one day, but one day just isn't long enough. Being lazy, wearing jammies all day and knitting sounds good, Miss Rosey wants me to cook a veggie roast at lunch and bake cakes, Little Bun wants a long walk by the sea and then there's also a new vintage fair in town tommorow that might be worth a quick whizz round. Luckily Mr Bun will just go with whatever we choose, but I bet he'll fancy the staying in jammies option after the busy week he's had.

There are a few new things I collected this week to play with. Then there's the ton of yarny projects to hide in a corner with so I might just get up early and stretch the most I can out of tommorow.

I also need to do some searching in our garage for a frame for this lovely Eileen Soper poster. I fell in love with it when I spied it in Milly and Dottie's Emporium and knew Little Bun our sheep adorer would love it too.

Now I've been doing some more thinking and re-thinking over the last week. I decided doing this old teaching lark for four days just wasn't working with everything else. It doesn't leave me any time in my head for creative thoughts. These thoughts are the things that lead to new ideas and plans which then grow into stuff. At the moment I'm dealing with the days paperwork and then planning the next days lessons at 10 o'clock once everything else is done and dusted. No time left for thoughts and actually doing. So I acted this week, I was honest about my needs and hey presto a replacement was been found for the day I'm struggling with. It's all about balance really isn't it.

Yearning for the Right Yarn

2012-01-20T16:21:00.000-08:00

Friday - Oh happy day. No work, so no mad last minute rushing around feeding endless animals before we leave the house. Being able to walk into the playground with the remains of yesterdays make-up on in true slob I'm having the day off mode. Coming home to peace. A house all to myself and no talking needing to be done for a whole day.

Different colour combinations have entertained my mind this week. All saved up waiting for me to play with them today. After work last night I popped to the yarn shop to get the blue shades that I'd been thinking of. For crochet blankets and what nots I've finally found the perfect yarn for me. It's taken a lot of searching as I'm very particular about what I'm after.

I wanted a yarn that wasn't as pricey as my favourite choice of Debbie Bliss which I save for posher projects. Cheaper stuff tends to be an acyrlic mix and then it's either shiny or sticky and itchy to handle. I wanted soft and matt. I also wanted a great selection of colours as I get really annoyed when I find a yarn I like, but the choice of colours is really limited. Ideally the yarn I was looking for wouldn't be splitty which slows my hooking up too much.

Well, after a few years looking and trying out different yarns I finally found the one last year. So if you're as fussy as me then you'll probably like Sirdar Snuggly DK for your hooky projects too. I keep on finding more and more colours to play with which means there's a store of projects filed in my head. The Round and Round Blanket was the first thing I tried out with this yarn. I finished it this week so on to a new hooky thing for me.

Instead of pretty colours I wanted something sharper and brighter. Mainly it came from wanting to use the bright blue I'd thought about this week. I think of colour combinations a lot. It just makes me happy.

I think I might have a bit more staying power with this blanket as the colours are really working for me. I'm just decided on whether to go for all blue surrounds or to mix it up with groups of four edged in blue and red. I'll have to do a bit more and see how I feel.

After a couple of hours hooking granny squares, I ran up some zingy bright mini bunting flags too. I fancy a line of these along a cupboard somewhere.

I've been made to promise I'll make pancakes for breakfast tommorow, but after that I think I might hide with my hook for a wee while. Just to see how that colour combination is coming along.

Riding on a See - Saw

2012-01-15T11:53:00.000-08:00

I'm having a big think about how I'm going to balance and juggle all the things I want to do and have to do. How to teach four days a week, keep designing and selling as Bobo Bun, enjoy family life and do all the general dogsbody PA stuff I seem to do for my lot. There are things I've realised I'll have to drop for a bit is we're all going to keep sane. So I'm trying to think of new ways of doing stuff so I only have to chuck a few.

All of this thinking is making it hard for me to settle on anything at the moment. All week I've been starting one thing and then hopping on to another. I'm all over the place waiting for my new routines to start and trying to get stuff sorted as I won't be around to do it next week.

I've got two blankets on the go, so madly I've started another one inspired by a sighting on Jane's blog.

On Friday, after another session with the dentist, I made myself finish off the green barkcloth cushion that I'd started chopping up on Monday. That made me feel better.

I also get bored really quickly and excited by new ideas, materials and yarns. With my head in a spin, ideas flicking around and all sorts of started and not finished stuff around here I'm trying to get a bit of focus.

Although I have another couple of new distractions. I've started knitting a tea cosy as I just love them, it's the taste of tea I hate. Mr Bun and Little Bun have begun to take tea together and I do love the whole ceremony of the pot and the milk jug so something cheery and fancy for our pot will be perfect.

Hiding underneath is some gorgeous Amy Butler that I managed to get for £5 a metre. I had my eye on it last year to make a skirt or dress. Really glad I waited now as I love a bargain. I just need to find the dress pattern that I've got in mind and I'm sure I'll get going one day soon.

My hexie is going along slowly, but I knew that would be a long project perfect for every now and then. I've had to unpick the stripy red hexies as it turned out I didn't have enough fabric. Must remind myself to check supplies first next time. Mind you it gave me the ideal excuse to pick up a few more bits for my stash while I was out mooching.

I just need to sort out a few crafty bits to take with me to work tommorow. I never get a lunch break as there's always something to sort out, but new rule to myself is to take one of my projects in to work on as a distraction from it all.

Have a lovely week and I'll see you somewhere in the middle of it all.

Of Kings and Lightbulb Moments

2012-01-10T16:05:00.000-08:00

A bit of finishing up, getting Spring type thoughts, feasting and finding the obvious solution all under my nose. That pretty well sums up my days since I last came by here.

I finally pulled my finger out and sewed a buttoned back to the Mabel cushion for Little Bun. Not a bad idea having christmas gifts through January too.

As we said goodbye to the season of sparkle and packed our decorations away on Thursday, I was already moving on to Spring in my head. Daffodils, tulips and hyancinths came back with me the next day from the Friday market.

Along with white hyancinth bulbs to put in my favourite bowl.

Needing only a small excuse to make Friday night special, we planned a Twelth Night Feast for four. While Mr Bun cooked, the Bun's and I whipped up our crowns to wear. All in honour of the Wise Men and their Epiphany you see. There's no religion behind this for us, it's just that we are mad keen on legends, stories, history and rituals here. Oh and any excuse to make a day a bit more special.

On Saturday morning I knew we'd need lots of cake to sort us out after the big garden job we had to do. Two of our apple trees fell together and smushed the hen run when it was really windy last week. Luckily a tree surgeon man lives in our village so he did the deed with the choppers so the ladies were safe again. A huge rose grew in the trees which always looked stunning in the air, on the ground it filled up the whole top of our garden. Big bonfire time and henhouse mending with bits of string and all ok again.

On Sunday more christmas presents arrived. An elephant to race the drummer boy, a sonic screwdriver pen, books and a huge tin of Bourbons. If you look again at my collages you'll see how well liked the Bourbon is around here.

Late on Sunday night I had my own patchwork epiphany, a real lightbulb moment you know. I was stitching more badly shaped hexies and thinking I must act on your fabulous suggestions, when an idea hit me.

I suddenly realised that Patch should have a hexie template in the back I could copy and it did, in exactly the right size. Problem solved just in time to watch Sherlock do some real problem solving.

How many sides does a Hexie have?

2012-01-06T15:46:00.000-08:00

I'm on a blogging roll at the moment. Soon my blog fix will have to be reined in and fitted around more days of teaching, like everything it'll find a new rythmn.

My best far too far away friend who sends me gifts from upside down land and I have our own gift sending rythmns. Her birthday is at the beginning of November. I always miss it and then put together a mish mash of bits and bobs in a parcel that might just make it for christmas. This year she got it yesterday, which is quite a nice surprise when you're not expecting it. I was pipped to the post mind you as I got a lovely parcel last weekend. I've been wearing my heart bracelet ever since. I've also got a stripy bagful of colourful bobbles and fabric to get more ideas bubbling away. The washday bag was a New Years gift from my mum, just because with some peppermint soap in it. I like surprises, nice ones of course.

On a visit to Summerfete the other day she mentioned a blog called Molly Flanders. I popped over for a visit and was thoroughly inspired by her beautiful work and use of colour. When I saw these hexagon flowers laid out I just couldn't stop thinking about them. After laying in the bath waxing lyrical to Mr Bun (sat in the chair beside me) about the beautiful colours, the shapes and how I want one too I decided to get on with it there and then that night.

Mollyflanders

I dragged out lots of my stash and plonked it here and there. I never work to a huge plan. I have an idea where I want to go, know what I like and what I think works and just let it happen as I go along.

After a bit I settled on my first hexagon colour way. Satisfied that my plan was already started I went to bed happy. The next day I struggled to make a hexagon shape. Mathmatically I think I'm possibly a moron, but somehow I've got through life so far. I've even taught basic maths which is quite funny really as it turned out I knew more than I thought I did. I still think maths is deathly dull mind you, anyways I'm going off on a tangent (which is probably a mathmatical thingy too). Back to hexies, there must be a formula I guess for making an even sided hexagon? I opted for an odd shaped one in the end where I jiggle with the fabric and we'll just have to see what happens won't we.

With my paper pieces made, off I went, cutting, tacking and stitching. I think this might be a long project, but at least I've made big hexies so that helps me get a bit of speed on.

When I was adding the link to Summerfete I saw she had written a quick tutorial on this technique (except her shapes look right unlike mine) which is called English Paper Piecing apparently. If you want some patchy inspiration I heartily suggest you pop on over to visit these ladies too.

Something Gentle for the Head

2012-01-04T01:08:00.000-08:00

Whilst I was beavering away the week before christmas trying to finish all the gifty makes, Eldest Bun announced "I'd like a new hat, rose pink I think." Little Bun joined in too, asking "can I have a nice soft shrug for christmas?". Shrug problem was solved by cheating and buying one and as for the hat, well I had just the pattern in The Gentle Art of Knitting. I bought a couple of balls of yarn and waited for the lazy bits after christmas to get on with the making.

I clicked away in every spare moment and finally finished the slouchy beehive hat on Monday. By the way Eldest Bun wants a new name on here, something a bit more just so for an eleven year old. So Miss R it'll be from now on I think. Little Bun likes her name on here by the way.

I loved knitting this as the yarn is gorgeous, there are flecks of yellow, white, red and blue running all the way through it. It's Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Aran if you fancy getting some.

Miss R had a grand time acting the model and was pretty patient while I put her head just where I wanted it and yelled "don't move".

Her little sister found it all pretty funny. You take a snap only looking at what you're focusing on and then see a cheeky face grinning up at you.

Then you see another one who keeps making wonderful goofy faces inbetween times. They've got a cracking sense of humour this pair and thankfully want me to keep on making them stuff.

Just Before we start the next One

2012-01-03T06:40:00.000-08:00

I'd planned this post for the 1st. Bad blogger wouldn't be help me upload my pics so in the true spirit of proper laziness I gave up.

Before I get going on the excitement of a whole brand new year laid out with plans and ideas I wanted to capture some of the best bits of 2011.

Starting right back in January and February when we were having what felt like the 100th snowfall of the winter. I needed tons of colour, cosy treats and naughty indulgences.

In March and April everything starts getting more exciting. Flowers are sneaking through the ground, Little Bun's birthday and Easter egg hunts fill my head with ideas and plans a plenty.

By May we had lots more glorious sun-filled days. the washing was snapping on the line, doors were flung open and the first warm beach trips began. The end of summer is marked by Eldest Bun's birthday and a whole new season to get ready for.

Summer stayed for a lovely long while this year and we had a slow steam into autumn. It meant lots more days for walks and lazy picnics while we ate crumbles and got the winter drinks sorted.

Suddenly it was darker and colder. The woodburner was blazing and christmas excitement started bubbling away.

Now I have two very loud and screechy girls here ready to get on with the new year. I think they'd rather have a few more days at home doing what they want, but I'm ready for a bit of whatever I want to do time so back to school they go. I hate the end of things, but the start of new ones is pretty good.

Happy New Year to you all.

Last bit of Razzle

2011-12-30T04:03:00.000-08:00

Little Bun had fun making me a sticky and gorgeous gummy bear trifle for birthday tea. Eldest Bun made the tastiest chocolate birthday cake (all munched). Mr Bun's a great cook, but all food becomes inedible if he tries to make anything cakey or puddingy so he's banned from trying.

We had planned to go to our favourite Italian restaurant in the evening, but they're back home in Italy. Then we thought we'd try the new Veggie restaurant, but they're shut until the New Year. The 29th's not a great date if you're in Norfolk as all the shut signs go up.

We drove up to the North Norfolk coast in the morning as I fancied going on the Mince Pie steam train ride along the coast to Holt. The traffic was beyond rubbish and so we missed it. I sulked for a bit and then we went for a bracing sea walk followed with soup and cakes in a tea shop. We also found a lovely shop and I treated myself to a couple of things. Promise to show you another day.

Today is a lovely chill out day - well until 3ish when we're going for after christmas drinks and then off to see the film Hugo in our big 3d specs. The cold I had before christmas turned into enormous loud sneezes on christmas day. Now I've got a swollen throat and the back of my tongue feels all huge and sore. Mr Bun can't stop laughing when I speak as I sound special apparently.

So I'm being quiet and having a rifle through some of the lovely books I've been bought. Last night I snuggled in bed with the Strictly annual that Eldest bought for me.

I'm taking time to enjoy all the bits and bobs around the place. Like the jolly new deer that Mr Bun found for me.

I'm dreaming up plans of new makes, even though I still have two toys, a sock, a cushion and probably something else to finish first.

Having time means I can really enjoy all the bits and bobs we add to the tree each year. Ever since the Bun's were born I've bought them a decoration each for the tree. This year Little Bun got a drummer girl.

Eldest got a small crocheted monkey. Johnny her monkey has been her best cuddly friend ever since we spied him in a charity shop when she was one. He's no longer fluffy and bears all the signs of worn true love. There have a been a few long drives back to places she's left him, our hearts pounding all the way hoping that he would still be there.

Then we have the old friends that made up Mr Bun's christmas childhood.

Now it seems it's time to start thinking ahead. I've started on the slouchy hat that Eldest has chosen from Jane Brockett's knit book. I'm using Debbie Bliss aran tweed which is a bit itchy, but has the most wonderful colour flecks running through it.

Once they all go back to school and work I've one day free to try and finish painting the stairs. I started them just before the holidays as I'm getting sick of them not being finished.

After that fun I've planning to do writing up three schemes of work. Two for completely new courses I'll be running and the other that largely depends on the individual learning needs of the students I'll get so it has to be vaguish and flexible if you know what I mean.

Let's try to keep the real world at bay for a few more days though shall we, keep munching the roses and daydreaming?

Eve's

2011-12-28T09:39:00.000-08:00

After a beautiful and perfect christmas eve, we're now on the eve of my 43rd birthday. My mum was 43 when I was 18 and I thought it sounded an ancient age to be. It still sounds ancient, but I really don't feel it, or look it thank god.

On christmas eve we went to the crib service at the village church. It was the perfect start to christmas being called into church with a peal of bells. After a few carols we were off home again to a candlelit supper followed by the Darling Buds of May christmas eve programme. Then it got tense, excitement rising as stockings were hung. We read Willow at Christmas as we've done since they were a toddler and a baby (Mr Bun and I are dangerously nostalgic and melancholic and hang on to traditions fiercely). After strict instructions not to repeat last years 4 am wake up call they were off to bed.

They were true to their promise and came in on Christmas morning, dragging their stockings onto our bed after 7am. I love the whole Santa preparations, from the letter, drink and biscuit to the excited yell of "he's been, he's been". I remember this so clearly from my own childhood and now love watching it with our girls. We're so lucky that they believe in magic still. Mind you they know we do.

Eldest Bun had fun laying the table for lunch. She was busy wishing the time along waiting for grandparents to arrive and present opening to begin. When I was wee we had to wait until about 4 o'clock for the presents. Lunch would pass and then the grown-up's would wash up. I'd think at last - now we can get on with it. Then my aunty or mum would say shall we have a cup of tea first? I'd be pulling out my hair by this stage.

Now with family christmas get togethers over, it's time for birthdays, drinks with friends and a New Years eve dinner to look forward to.

I also need to plan some sort of a give-away for the new year as this blog will be having it's third birthday. I'll have a think and get back to you very soon.

Running Up

2011-12-23T07:49:00.000-08:00

Just before I get ready for our festive drinks tonight and blow the dust off the furniture I thought I'd pop by here.

It's been a lovely run up to christmas this week (apart from the Bun's bickering which then makes me a very shouty mum). I love all the preparations and anticipation of christmas. Christmas Eve most definately is my favourite with christmas day coming a close second.

We had a wonderful evening at the end of the pier christmas show for Mr Bun's birthday, then it was back to the wrapping presents grindstone. A bottle of Advocaat and a tin of Roses really help make this go with a whizz and a bang. Two very excited Bun's searching under the tree in the morning checking out labels.

The Bun's loved the labels I'd made so created their own the next day.

We also found a moment to make a few crackers with our own naff jokes inside. The hats we made from music sheets wouldn't fit in so they're ready and waiting instead. By the way, the plant behind is a Paperwhite. It has to be the most godawful stinky plant I've ever had in the house. Two pots are now hanging around the back hall where Alfie Blue sleeps.

Even though I've not found any Babycham glasses that don't break the bank I still love the wee bottles.

Everywhere is decked, the tree is sparkling and the cupboards are full of food and drink. Half the stuff I started making mind you hasn't been finished. Lots of I.O.U's methinks. I will get these placemats done though as they're pretty easy to whip up.

Next year will be even madder for time it seems as I've just accepted another day and half teaching a week today (the money was too tempting to say no). Decisions will need to be made about how to juggle all the things I really want to do with bringing in hard cash which means life can be more fun.

Righty o - off I go. Wishing you a very Merry Merry Christmas and see you after the big day.

The Shiniest Week

2011-12-18T16:45:00.000-08:00

A week of glitter and glamour has been and gone. End of term fun with my students; the school disco for the Buns; dragging our christmas tree home in the dark to be decorated while Mr Bun partied; singing songs full of seasonal cheer at the school carol concert and visiting the man in red himself yesterday followed by rides on a glittering carousel. Mind you I wouldn't reccomend sitting on a wooden horse for too long in this weather - brrrrr.

Coming home to the shimmer of candles and chucking tons of logs in the woodburner soon warmed us up. Snuggled by the fire with a full bottle of fizzy on the go I ended up hooking a Toadstool after a bit of begging from Eldest Bun.

Now Little Bun wants one too. Hers sits waiting by the mini tree for blobs and a face to appear. Meanwhile a ton of makes need to be started and finished before next Sunday so I got a wiggle on today.

Mr Bun who has two feet has a sock for just one of them. Unless a small miracle happens with my knitting speed he'll have to choose which foot to put it on. Mind you I'm pretty impressed with myself for making something that actually looks like a sock and after rejigging the pattern so I could knit them in DK Cashmerino yarn. The pattern I used is from Purl Soho if you're interested.

All afternoon my sewing machine has whizzed and whirred starting on napkins, tunics, cushion covers and pencil cases.

Being able to make stuff and have girls who love handmade means that the list of stuff they ask for keeps getting longer and longer. A slouchy beret and a snood got added to the list yesterday. One day maybe, but not this week.

Anyways all is calm, the house is decorated and I'm sure everything else will happen while we get on with the business of enjoying ourselves. A birthday party tommorow, then Mr Bun's birthday on the 20th followed by drinks a plenty with friends.

Have a lovely week and Merry Christmas to you all if I don't manage to pop back here before the big day.

Slowly realising it might be Christmas

2011-12-11T15:35:00.000-08:00

Finally I have a quiet moment to myself to write a bit of this and that. After a week taken up with a school interview for Eldest and extra hours needing to be made up at work there's been no time for stopping by here.

I'd been vague with Eldest's school about the time I'd be bringing her back after her interview, so we had a bit of stolen playtime. After hot chocolate and cake I used her good colour sense to help me choose yarn to knit Mr Bun some christmas socks. She went for a teal blue with silver grey, but wasn't too impressed with the mustard I chucked in.

I gave up trying to knit my first ever socks last year so this counts as my first go and it's had it's ups and downs. Mind you I've not made it easy as I changed from a 4ply in the pattern to DK Cashmerino which also meant bigger needles and therefore less stitches needed. I knitted a huge ankle first, then pulled it all out and went down by ten stitches. That meant I had to rewrite the whole pattern and I can't believe it, it's worked and I have what looks like a sock - so far. Whether I get to wrap just one up with an IOU another sock remains to be seen.

This weekend has been the first stay at home and just chill we've had in a long time. We've had a lovely time making paperchains, toasting marshmallows and trying to find the chirstmas decorations. The Buns and I plan to get the tree after school later this week. Mr Bun can't touch the tree or he gets all itchy so he stays well away and I have to wrestle with it and a bucket of mud.

We also found these wee crackers we made last year and started making a few more to add to the tree.

When no one was looking I grabbed a moment here and there to work on secret stuff cutting fabric patches and starting on Eldest's tunic. The list of things I want to make for them all and the amount of time left before they break up doesn't seem to be adding up. I've not even bought one present yet, hoping to get all of that done tommorow.

Somehow I feel relaxed and really not too bothered. Might be the sloe gin drunk by the fire every night that's making me feel everything is just fine.

Hope it's all dandy with you too.

Why the Poo Man?

2011-12-04T09:32:00.000-08:00

Little Bun had a winning raffle ticket at the school Christmas Fair yesterday. On the table were chocs and wine a plenty. She picked a rubbery poo shaped man and is truly delighted with him.

While I was wrapping presents for Santa's Grotto on Friday a couple of gorgeous somethings were delivered that helped make up for the lack of wine and choc.

I hinted to Mr Bun to get me this necklace for christmas. Then I decided it might get sold before he got round to it so I pressed yes please and chucked some vintage terry into my virtual basket too. Maartje (big apologies if I've read your name wrong) over at Silly Old Suitcase writes a lovely happy blog and has various delights for sale in her etsy shop to tempt.

Next package was from Penny who had turned one of her hairslides into a brooch for me. I'm liking yellow right now after declaring who the hell could want to wear yellow.

My hands are slowly practicing making things so hopefully I'll have a bit of this and that to show you next week. Enjoy the rest of your weekend won't you.

How could I resist?

2011-12-01T15:40:00.000-08:00

What temptations there were at the Pick 'n' Mix Makers Market. Little Bun brought home a bag of sparkly reindeer food. Alfie Blue had other ideas about any reindeers eating it, so he had a go at it yesterday when we were out. What a treat to have an oaty, glittery house to come home to yesterday after a lovely day out with the Buns on strike day.

I can't wait to hang the wooden sign I bought from Gabriella. She said she'd only made the one, so I was glad I managed to get it for us. We don't christmas sparkle the house until the 14th or so, plenty of time then to decide where to hang it.

Although I have a minty green lovebird brooch from Daniella of Acorn and Will, I couldn't resist this eggy yellow pair once I'd seen a couple of friends wearing theirs. I'm a complete sucker for colourful plastic stuff.

After buying something of Daniella's from Ruth I somehow found myself wandering over to Acorn and Will's webshop and pressing the yes please button a few times.

Just a few of the happy making badges I had to have, along with some vintage inspired wrapping paper. As I know Daniella from the early Pick 'n' Mix she very kindly popped in a packet of Reggie deer to cheer up a cake or mincepie. She sells fabulous fun things for incredibly reasonable prices. If you've not visited Acorn and Will before then I highly reccomend a trip over there.

Once I spied this delightful Mabel Lucie Atwell hanky on Faded Splendour's stall I quickly grabbed it. I knew Little Bun would adore it. I've had an idea since that it might look good surrounded by patchy squares to become a cushion cover for her bed.

I did manage to get the tin from the Emporium too. A friend of mine told me it was still there in the morning so I sent my mum and the Bun's up there to make sure it came home with me. It comes with it's very own whiffy vintage cake smell and old cake paper inside. Lots of soaking before my mince pies will be hiding in there I thinks.

One other tin came home as a gift from Penny and has already been filled with pencils and crafty bits lying around.

Before I go there's a few things I must say. First off thankyou Kathryn (cheeky cherry wearer) for your lovely message, it was very much appreciated, glad you had fun. Second, hello to new followers who have jumped on board, good to have you along. Lastly my poor old hands are recovering from what I hope was just too much knitting and hooking. I daren't try and make anything yet as I was in agony with my hands and couldn't bend them out of a claw shape for hours on Saturday. I've so much I want to make for my lovely ones so here's hoping they heal properly soon. At least I haven't got sausage fingers anymore.

A Sweet Treat

2011-11-28T16:42:00.000-08:00

Mad rushing, lots of busyness, bombing here and there to get it all done in time and then suddenly it was time for the Christmas Pick 'n' Mix. A hall filled with my vision of what a truly fabulous makers market should be. Colour, joy, passion, creativity, oodles of talent, wonderful people and lots of laughter. Some supplied by the forever smiling Gabriella of Moobaacluck.

image from Planet Penny

Instructions from Roberta of Ripping Yarns to laugh in the face of our easterly winds when wearing her stunning fairisle berets.

image from Purple Podded Peas

My always happy, ever smiley gorgeous friend Ruth of Glory Days brought her joyful makes to town for the day. As the only stockist of Acorn and Will in Norwich means that even when the lovely Daniella can't make it at least she's there in spirit.

I forgot to buy Alfie a pressie and have been told off by the Bun's ever since, so I must remember over our next G & T evening to get his doggie treat bag sorted.

I've also got a phone call to make to see if the wee kitten in a basket is still needing a home from the superbly talented toymaker extraordinaire. Hint hint Sasha when you read this, could you please hold on to it for Little Bun.

Amongst all the pops of colour and noise Emma of Silverpebble found a moment to work away on a design. She's one talented lady whose design career is just flying. It's a fine balancing act between being a mummy and being the artisan she is. If you're about in the next couple of weeks then you'll be able to catch her at the Selvedge Christmas Fair on 10th December.

I was really pleased with my stall this time round. I decided to put less out and not be so cluttered this time. I sat next to the lovely Sam of Mamphii Button who was great to meet at last. Really it's like organising a party filled with a darned good selection of folks.

Friends popped up to say hello which was really appreciated and there were many familiar faces from previous Pick 'n' Mix's who had such lovely things to say. Having such a great day and knowing a lot of people want markets like this makes all the hard work worth it.

There are far too many wonderful people to mention and show you here. I'll post over at the Pick 'n' Mix blog later this week once work and the PTA meeting is done. School's xmas fayre is this weekend and I haven't a clue what I said I'd do? So I guess that means I haven't done it yet! If you want to see more then pop on over to Planet Penny and Celia at Purple Podded Peas who've both written up lovely posts of the day.

The day after Pick 'n' Mix Mr Bun ran his first ever half marathon with a bunch of friends. It was all in aid of Macmillan which is a truly fine cause to be running for, especially when the memory of so many loved ones come with you. Somehow I don't think this will be the last long run he'll be doing.

This 'n' That

2011-11-23T03:25:00.000-08:00

After generating tons of paperwork for the Ofsted inspection I'm now trying to build up a few more colourful piles of happy things for this Saturday's Pick 'n' Mix Makers Market in Holt.

As always there's loads in my head that I doubt I'll get round to starting or even finishing. I feel really calm and unstressed about everything so my body's decided to let me know it feels pretty stressed by seizing my neck up. I much prefer that to feeling like a manic headless chicken though.

To relax a bit I treated myself to a few hours at a fairisle knitting workshop last Saturday. In a couple of hours I reckon I cracked it, so now lots of practice for me and then I can have a go at all the fairisly things I fancy making.

Sunday saw us whipping along to Holt to put up posters and a big hedge banner to let everyone know the fabulous makers will be rolling into town. Both Buns and Alfie Blue were with the grandparents so a quick half in the pub and then a mooch around a warren of rooms in the Emporium. The word emporium promises so much magic to me and thankfully we weren't disappointed.

I fell in love with this tin, but we'd drunk our pennies so didn't have enough left. Fingers crossed he'll be waiting for me on Saturday. I've been a tragic addict to tins since I was small and I can't see a cure coming.

I did have enough pennies for this wee fellow though, so it was a toss up between the kitsch kitten tray and him. Mr Bun's no help in deciding as he loves it all too.

The drive home was a bit hairy with thick fog all around. Nearly home and it started to disappear.

Right I'd better disappear too and get on with some makings. See you all properly for a visit once this manic weeks out of the way.

Getting ready to Sparkle

2011-11-13T14:53:00.000-08:00

I've so many more words than pictures today and that's not the way I really like to do it. Mind you the words aren't going where they should be at the moment and that's on the huge mountain of paperwork I'm trying to create. Dear OFSTED called to say they'd pop by for a visit and check out our teaching the week leading up to Pick 'n' Mix Makers Market. Buggery bugger is all I can say, what a week to pick. All I want is to focus on making lovely things and get on with the arrangements of the market. Mind you by Saturday 26th they'll have been and gone and then my mind can turn to all things sparkly.

I've found a few moments around stuff to try and make a bit of new stock. A small pile of Mistletoe Kisses brooches has been growing, but that was put on hold by a hugely exciting day off work at driver punishment camp listening to a very dull man talk about road signs for four hours.

This week also had the sadness of losing another old friend. Little Dotty was our last Guinea Pig, the daughter of sweet Bluebell, who lived with Pixie our last rabbit. She was quite poorly one night so we made her a box indoors and tried to keep her warm. The next night, while Little Bun cuddled her, she died peacefully. Now poor Pixie looks so lost without her wee friend to groom and snuggle with that I think we'll be getting another Guinea Pig pretty soonish.

My head, however, is clearly focused two weeks hence on a hall in Holt where I'll be meeting up with this lovely lady and so many more wonderful makers that are a joy and inspiration to be around.

If you fancy finding out more about Pick 'n' Mix Makers Market then please pop on over to take a peek.

Waving Goodbye to Alan

2011-11-07T15:20:00.000-08:00

Time seems to be racing ahead and I've gone into slow mode. I'm having a go at doing everything at once and hardly getting anything done at all. This always happens when life gets a bit mad. Your well wishes about my dad were just the right bit of medicine, so thank you all. He's finally off the Acute ward and now he's having fun watching the world go by on a normal ward.

I made sure I had some time for planning and thinking today. I got out a selection of books with pictures that inspire me, plopped a few piles of fabric on the table and thought about all the things I could start making.

Somehow I just never got past the thinking stage. Today I lacked the energy. I have plans for that soft fleecy tartan to become a tunic for Eldest; I've squares I need to cut to become purses and pencil cases; there's an idea involving toadstools and all sorts of bits knitted and hooked that are waiting to be sewn into brooches. Ho hum, they'll just have to wait for another day.

Somehow I did pull my finger out to do something with the ripple blanket that got given up on. I started rippling away two summers ago, but stopped a long time ago as the colours stopped exciting me. Today I got out the scissors, chopped through it and the blanket became a cushion.

Now I've left introducing Alan until last as he's a bit of a freaky lad.

Left in my hands the Penny for the Guy was more the Invisible Man in his prison gear. The wig had to go as Mr Bun wanted it back for next Halloween.

By the next night, Alan had been born minus the lemon yellow hair and woolly hat I gave him later on. Alfie Blue found a new friend and snuggled up on Alan all night. I think he'd curl up on a burglars lap that daft dog.

There were some amazing Guys for the competition at school. Ours perked up after a can of Thunderbird, but he didn't win. On Saturday they were all in the village hall to meet the locals before the fireworks began and now ours wants to come home as some small bright sparks got upset at the thought of Alan being burnt. I think I might leave him peeking over the hedge.

Wednesday Treasure

2011-11-02T11:55:00.000-07:00

Today I needed to blow the cobwebs away and get distracted by stuff so I headed off to a field full of potential car boot treasure. Yesterday my dad was rushed into hospital with pneumonia so it was a worrying day for us all. I was good for no one at work so I rushed to the hospital to be with my folks. Today we know he's stable and pumped full of medicine which should help clear up the infection. As he's in his 80's and already has chronic lung disease he's doing amazingly well.

Today cleared my head in lots of ways. Something just right about looking for treasure and bumping into good people I've not seen for a while.

This Battle of the Flowers brooch was a bit pricy, but how could I resist a wee gnome pushing his wheelbarrow. I've a friend with a wee baby boy who I know will ooh and aahh over this too.

I spied yet another dog with a mournful face and so into my bag he went aswell.

Last bit of fabulous treasure I found was a pile of fabric samples from a company called Rosebank. They were all sewn together so I've unstitched them and laid out my favourites to ponder over. Perhaps they might become small lavenderbags as I bought a pile of dried lavender too.

Before I head off to help the Bun's finish stuffing the Penny for the Guy I want to show you something I actually finished on Monday. I started making this pink elephant in March for Eldest, so it's been a hell of long time in the making. I made all the bits and then just couldn't be bothered stitching them all together as I'd already got distracted by too many other things.

That's me at the moment. I hop from one thing to the other, not doing any really as well as I'd like. I guess I've taken on a bit too much and then struggle to get the balance right of family, sleep, work, fun and all that. I find time to write a blog post, but never seem to have time to visit all the blogs I love to read. I'm sorry if I seem rude as I always mean to come by, especially when people have bothered to stop by and say hello to me. Tonight's joys are filling in teaching paperwork, planning tommorow's lessons, writing the PTFA agenda for tommorow nights meeting and all I want to do is drink wine and knit. Wonder if I'll say sod it and just do what I want instead of what I should be doing. By the way I'm not moaning or saying poor old me, just trying to explain my lack of visits lately. Hope to see you soon.

Partying with a Dead Badger

2011-10-31T16:06:00.000-07:00

We Halloween'd at home tonight while we waited for Mr Bun to return from the horrors of the dentist. After days of scary pain he finally gave in and came home feeling ohh so much better. Once he'd added the dead badger fright wig we knew he was ready to party.

Two glam wee witches helped me cook up witches stew, with mummys fingers (cheese straws) and squirting eyeballs (profiteroles). We played games like pin the wart on the witch and then curled up and read the daft spooky stories we'd all written.

This last week has gone by far too fast for my liking. Lots of just being and doing what we wanted has gone on. A whole afternoon drawing and eating choc and popcorn was pretty fine.

I rummaged through cupboards searching for lost stuff one morning and found nothing I needed, but lots of things that brought back lovely memories.

By the end of the week we were in need of loads of walking and animal stroking, so we popped off to our favourite farm. Poppy and her beautiful foal Grace gave us a great welcome as did the donkeys with their foal Mabel. I fell in love and forgot to take a pic. The star of the day was a pig called Lord Gaga who had a temper tantrum when we walked off and then cooed and grunted when we came back to scratch him some more. Such a relaxing, perfect feel good day for us all.

Now it's back to the nutty grindstone once more of school and work.

Apples Awake

2011-10-25T16:29:00.000-07:00

No nasty post came through the letterbox today. Just one squashy pink parcel filled with lots of possibilities from Little Teawagon no less.

Add this to the many crochet bits and bobs that I'm hooking away on at the moment and the possibilities list seems to be getting longer and longer.

Remember that acrylic yarn I showed you that was to be a scarf for Little Bun? Well I played with some shapes as you can see, then somehow I ended up working a granny square that has grown and grown. It wants to be a blanket and will probably get finished well before the Smartie's one I'm also working on. I need to track down some more Debbie Bliss cream aran for that to get done and dusted.

Now this being half-term week I've two extra playmates around for a while and a Mr for a couple of days aswell. We've started hanging the ghosties and spiders in readiness for the 31st when all manner of bumps and squeals will be heard.

A baby bat hangs up high trying to scare the bejesus out of us, but fails miserably. Tommorow we'll be making more bats to keep him company or maybe we should just wake the ones in our attic?

A few eyeballs have been left lying about, some are quite tasty too.

Before our thoughts turned to Halloween we made sure we welcomed in the new season at Apple Day on Sunday. This year it was like a small county show and we loved it.

It was British eccentricity at its finest. Morris Dancers with bells a jangling; strange folk with ancient steam engines and just a general joy of simple stuff.

When we visited the farm we found that the Sow had had another litter of piglets. All snuggled in the warmth of the afternoon sun.

We daydreamed a while watching the sheepdogs work the geese around the pens and fell in love with a fluffy collie pup.

I love visiting here, it reminds me so much of the Victorian farm I played at when I was little. Geese were used as guardogs, we used to squeal with pretend fear as they chased us here and there. We usually ended up hurling ourselves over the pig-sty wall and racing through the squealing pigs to safety in a straw filled sunlit barn.

Today was much calmer. We went for a walk by the river and back across the fields when we heard the sound of the fiddle and the Morris Men's bells calling us all to the apple orchard.

After dancing the Circasian Circle we shouted a rousing cheer for the apple trees to awake once more. It was the perfect ending to a hazy and warm sunfilled autumn day.

The only thing that could have made it even better was if we had driven home in this beautiful Morris Traveller. One day soon - I've been waiting for one since my teens, so one day soon I'm sure.

Decisions, decisions

2011-10-19T15:59:00.000-07:00

Some important decision making has been occuring over here. After a few days being ill I really couldn't face big food shopping. The cupboards are getting a bit bare to be honest, instead we just bought what we needed for tonight and that included a huge box of chocs in the reduced pile.

Eldest Bun was straight on the case trying to match the pictures to her favourite choccies.

The other important decision so far this week was to get on with some finishing up jobs. While Little Bun and I recovered together on Tuesday I gritted my teeth and got on with sewing in the threads of all 40+flowers on my Japanese Flowers scarf. I finished it in the summer and reckoned if I stood a gnats chance of wearing it this winter I'd better get on with the horrible job.

Little Bun ended up wearing it as an afternoon cosy once all the ends were tidy and stitched out of sight. It would be fair to say she loves it and so do I.

I worked it all in a mix of Amy Butler's Cotton and Aran mix for Rowan. The yarn is so soft around my neck and very very cosy. It's a dream to hook with too, just in case you're tempted to get some.

It looks especially right against my blue velvet coat and made me feel just the right side of upbeat today when I wore it.

Illness finally over and Little Bun back at school so it meant I could keep my date for cake and chat with Gabriella of Moobaacluck and Penny at Planet Penny. It was a lovely way to spend the morning in the company of two very talented ladies. They'll both be joining me and setting up their mobile shops at the Christmas Pick 'n' Mix Makers Market in Holt on Saturday 26th November. I can't wait to see their work all laid out and ready to tempt.

I gave in to early temptations today, rather than waiting another month. Who could blame me when I spied this Sasse and Belle toadstool whatnot. Toadie pincushion, sticks for putting threads on and a mini toadstool for needles. I just love it.

I'd gone to the lovely things shop to find yarn to make an early start on the first christmas present. Little Bun loved my flower scarf so much and asked for her own colourful one. I normally avoid manmade yarns, but loved the colours of the Sirdar Snuggly range too much to resist.

I've started playing around with shapes and joining them up this evening. I don't want to make another Japanese Flower Scarf, so I'm doing something different which I hope will show up the colours perfectly. Once I've done a bit more I'll show you how it's going.

I did give in to one other wee bit of desire when I went in the discount shop. This gorgeous cardi was £20 instead of £75 and as there's no way I'd ever have paid that much (even if I could) and I have a cardigan obsession, so it had to come home with me.

Last decision of the day is to post this and say goodnight I think. See you soon.

What a Treasure

2011-10-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love how much bigger and better blogging makes my world. Without it I wouldn't have met half the wonderful and talented people that I do. Take for instance the fact that I just can't design posters without using scissors, paper and glue. When I asked the super talented Jane of Teawagon Tales if she could help me, she very kindly said no problem. She gets exactly what I'm after which is handy as she's up North and I'm tucked away in the East.

This is the most recent design she's done for me. Isn't it the sweetest poster? I'm thrilled with it and love that I've been able to meet Jane like this in blogger world. On Wednesday mind you I'm meeting some bloggers for cake and chat. More about that afterwards I guess.

This weekend I had to whip up cakes for us to munch and cakes for the school. On Sunday it was the Autumn Treasure Hunt and tons of nibbles were needed to keep us walking around the village searching for the clues.

We had good fun doing it and a fair few families came along as it was blue skies all the way. This was my first event as Chair of the PTFA, shame I didn't have much energy and only a small croaky voice.

Looking for clues in the churchyard, the first family shot in years.

Today Little Bun's been off school feeling poorly. This morning I kept her company on the sofa and knitted through quite a few Sarah-Jane Aventures repeats. Making is now in full flow for christmas time.

A sniff, a snuffle and a Stitch or Two

2011-10-15T05:30:00.000-07:00

Aches, pains, a runny nose and loud sneezes have been taking me over since Thursday. After a fun afternoon in the castle and a surprise visit to the dungeons with my students I shivered my way home feeling sorry for myself.

I took it easy on Friday and just did a spot of easy stitching either side of a friend visiting and then a pampering trip to shape up my bob at the hairdressers.

I've thought about making these curtains for long enough, four years is enough time I reckon. I settled on a bit of blue pom pom for a tie back as was suggested by you in my last post. You all definately love the pom pom. With all the bits and bobs ready all I had to do was chop the blue floral up a bit and then stitch in the yellowy orange floral.

There we have it, one panel, minus the lining, being pressed and any curtain hooks. I just slung them over the pole for now to see if I liked them and I did. The next bit's fairly easy as they already have the curtain tape along the back. All I have to do is chop up some blanket to line them and to make the doors extra cosy this winter.

The light was too bright yesterday to show you how pleased I am. I'm thrilled with how they look, just mustn't leave it another four years before I finish them off.

This morning I treated myself to a bit of a lazy lay in after a lovely evening at a friends. Can't sit there and do nothing though while I wait for Mr Bun to deliver my coffee in bed. I put the finishing touches to one garland which I'm trying out on the mantle.

I also managed to string together the colour blobs I'd hooked the other evening. Just the tedious job of sewing in ends left, which I hate. Little Bun has claimed this one for her room. After that I'd better get on with the serious business of making more stuff to sell at the Pick 'n' Mix Makers Market.

F is for Fabric

2011-10-10T15:18:00.000-07:00

This morning was catch up with paperwork, phone calls and planning time for teaching, Pick 'n' Mix Makers Market and other stuff. It all had to be done, but I just wanted to get on to fabric playing time. Not long though and then the fun part of the day finally came round.

What do you reckon to this mix of fabrics for some wintery curtains? After four years of cold winters I thought it was about time I made some warm curtains to cover up the French doors. The blue floral is a weird kind of non-fabric, definately man made, but I like the print and I just can't stop loving blue. To break it up I'm thinking orange and this is the only orangey fabric I've got at the moment. I was going to add orange pom poms, but Mr Bun who always likes what I do, shook his head fiercely and said bad idea, don't please.

I was also feeling kindly with my fabric playing today. I cut up some pirate fabric we bought to make Alfie Blue's Halloween costume. Mr Bun likes the dark at night, I like light and have to read to nod off. His night-time Zorro mask is falling to bits so I had a mind in my kindly mood to make him a new beddy byes mask.

All the pieces are cut out, orange binding has been chosen, now I need to get some black elastic and all will be stitched and ready to wear.

One thing I did actually make and finish was a quick bag for Eldest Bun's tights. She's been using the laundry bag I made while she was still in my tum, but it's getting a bit worn out now. New was definately needed. I even managed to use my new pink trim as inspired by Jane. Somehow I've missed out the lemony polka dot ribbon tie in my desire to avoid showing you my sluttish painty badness. Still you can just see some of the paint I've slapped on the glass and not taken off yet.

And finally - just for you my dear Cuckoo here's what I was knitting yesterday morning. One finished, but not sewn up yet wristwarmer.

Busy trying to do Nothing

2011-10-09T15:22:00.000-07:00

After the most nutty week for Mr Bun and I we planned a weekend of cosy comforting stuff just chilling out at home.

I made sure I filled the cupboards with yummy food on Friday. Starting with breakfast, followed later on with homemade soups, cakes and pies and a Frenchly delectable meal I whipped up tonight, it's been a food fest indeed.

Alfie Blue got into the whole relaxed mood and played dead a fair part of Saturday until he did a leap of magnificence onto the sofa when we went to dinner at my folks.

To make the weekend even more comforting I brought home a few goodies. Haven't used the trims yet, but I've ideas a forming. Hopefully I'll get time for stitching tommorow.

Today I've been knitting this and that, cleaning out animal houses and whipping a duster around here and there. While our meal cooked this evening we played board games and munched on Frazzles. It was as undemanding a weekend as was needed by us all. Roll on next weekend please we've got plans for you already.

Sleeping, Ploughing and Footie

2011-10-05T14:50:00.000-07:00

I felt so joyful when I woke up this morning and realised it was Wednesday. A day off in the middle of the week is a heavenly thing indeed. After three nights on the trot with Little Bun being awake between 3 and 6pm I was feeling a bit raw and confused. She slept most of Monday morning to make up for it all so is much better now. To top it off, yesterday I started teaching a new group of heavily testoteroned 16 year old lads with tons of energy, just when I had none. Thank god I'm a fairly good actor and appeared on the ball or they'd have run rings around me.

Today was my day. Car boot after the school run and then straight to church for a spot of 'We Plough the Fields and Scatter' for the school Harvest Festival.

The rest of the day went in a blur of fiddling about. A spot of knitting the wristwarmers I'm sure will be needed soon was first. I decided to add a stripe of the mustard I'm knitting the scarf in just because.

Then I finally sewed up the strip of fabric I'd cut to make a skirty panel for Eldest Bun's bed. Simple and straight with ties both ends and all along to tie it to the frame and hide the stuff hidden underneath.

To end my fiddling about before heading back to school I thought I'd better pot up the supermarket Heather's I bought. Steph over at Curlew Country always inspires me with her green fingered skills. She mentioned these wee plants as a quick autumn fix and I thought I know I can manage that one.

Now here I am after a quick PTFA meeting tonight in the pub. All business done and dusted at breakneck speed with events planned up to February. I suggested we had Penny for the Guy and put the winner on the village bonfire (Guy that is - not child!). So excited about this one, the playground will be filled (hopefully) with Guys for a week and then on judging day we'll sell bonfire toffee and toffee apples.

Now I fancy trying to catch up on a bit more of my missing sleep, but first I've got to write a risk assessment for taking my students out to play footie tommorow morning. Then it's time to snooze and dream.

Willy Whale and the Fluffy Mallows

2011-10-02T15:14:00.000-07:00

Just in case I forget what the start of October was like I think this says it all. The joy of getting home and cooling off.

To make Saturday afternoon even better the Bun's whipped up some dotty Marshmallows to go with the pink milk. Just dip them in melted milk choc (or plain I guess if that's your thing) and then a good dip in a bowl of 100's and 1000's. Either scoff straight away or put in the fridge to chill and then scoff them all. Whichever you choose they're delicious.

It Doesn't take Much

2011-09-28T15:26:00.000-07:00

Some days you just know are going to be easy going good feeling days don't you. First thing this morning there was a hazy mist hovering about which meant another hot one. It was an ideal rootling around in a field for treasure kind of a day, but I just wanted to enjoy having the whole day at home by myself. I really enjoy my own company and had plans for my day.

After dropping the Bun's at school I got home, threw the doors wide in the dining room and rushed through the morning chores.

A hot choccy and a dripping in butter teacake were the perfect fodder to get me ready for the sewing I had planned. After work yesterday I found a few gorgeous things that I had to bring home. My folks collected the Bun's from school yesterday and then stayed to eat with us so I hadn't had the chance to look at my buys as yet.

How I adore this fabric. I could make so many things in it that my wardrobe might start looking a bit too family von Trapp. You know when you've had a fabric in your head for an age. One that you don't know if it exists or not, but you hope it does. Then one day you suddenly find it and you feel so excited. Well this is that fabric. There was only a metre and a half left and a fat quarter which I bought too. Just so's you know, as I bet some of you will love it too, it's Liberty Marylebone collection Meadow for Rowan. It comes in other colour ways too, but this one was the one.

I also bought some more pom pom trim. Goodness knows why, I just loved it and so I've stored it in the big sweetie jar and one day it'll get used.

On Monday night I started a spot of winter scarf knitting with Mustard Debbie Bliss Donegal luxury Tweed. Now doesn't that shade just look wonderful next to the florals. At the moment I can picture plumy grapey coloured tights and t-shirts under it.

The scarf pattern is from Jane Brockett's Gentle Art of Knitting by the way. I realised recently that I don't give enough information and that's frustrating if you see something you like on here, so I'm going to try to remember to be a wee bit more helpful. I love this book, just to look at and enjoy, but now it's all coffee stained and rubbishy looking in places as Alfie Blue jumped on the table to run at Mr Bun's lap the other day. He sent coffee flying as he raced past and I called him loads of sweet names.

Now I also brought a couple of delicious books home last night to add to my other lovely crafty books. I'll show and tell about them another day as I've loads more to show you here.

You know I made a tunic on Saturday and then I wore it on Monday, well that divine fabric I bought yesterday became another tunic today (a shorter one mind you).

I stitched and stitched until I had a new top. As my helpful camera girl happened to be at school you'll have to try and get the idea from my attempts to take my own photo.

I'll be wearing a t-shirt under it mostly and cardi's galore, but far too hot for that today. If you can spy what look like threads at the bottom then you're right as I've not hemmed it yet.

Just enough time was left to grab a very late lunch and then a race to school and off to basketball club.

One last thing that I'd not managed to fit into my day was brewing some fruity gin. Little Bun helped me prick the sloes while I got the cheapo gin ready and the jar the dog biscuits had been in.

All ready to go and still some more sloes left so there was nothing for it but to use some Bombay Sapphire to fill up the empty gin bottle. I reckon December will be a good month for sampling it.

In case you missed my mention in my comments. My cardi in the last post is from White Stuff and I did go back and ask for 20% off and got offered 15%. So there you go.

Finally hello to you new followers. I always try and find a link to visit my followers, but for the most part there's never a link in the box thing, which is a shame. Right I think I've talked enough, I still need to get on with re-designing a students CV yet tonight so best be off. Night night.

Straddling two seasons

2011-09-25T08:54:00.000-07:00

You might remember that I signed up for the Dottie Angel Ultimate Challenge. New clothes buying was off limits from April 2010 to April 2011. Now I've got some stuff I'm just sick of the sight of as I wore it so much and other stuff is falling to pieces (mainly helped by the madness of moths). I need tons of socks, t-shirts and best of all cardi's which I love.

I treated myself to this spotty one which I just love. Then I found out there was a 20% off day the next day. Why didn't I know this?

I also came home with some cheapie wellies for Eldest. She's gone past pretty boots and now wants proper looking ones. Handy then that we're the same size feet as I can borrow them for morning chicken duty.

After starting the autumn clothes prep the weather just did an about turn this weekend and it's gone all hot and sunny. No one's complaining mind you.

At breakfast this morning we asked the Buns if they fancied a home day, a day out somewhere we love or a walk, foraging and a picnic. They chose the last one hurrah - cheaper, more fun and we wanted to hunt the sloe for winter gin drinks.

I fed the ladies, hung the washing and just enjoyed all this warm Sunday morning air.

Then I convinced Eldest to take some shots of me in my new tunic. I stitched it together yesterday and only came unstuck a few times.

I'm really pleased with it, apart from how it looks in these pics on me. I'm convinced it looks better in reality. I've got a meeting tommorow morning so I might give it a trial run then.

While the fashion show was going on, the Sunday icecream van's bells were heard so Mr Bun went out to get the orders in. It's such a lovely thing having a van stop by the gate, but the miserable 'blighter' (I'm only this polite on my blog, I actually call him something else) just makes it hideous. He's rude to the girls, glares and today moaned about his logistics being interefered with when he served us before turning around at the end of the lane. What a prat - we'll be buying our own for the freezer from now on.

Now where was I? I was packing up a picnic and off we went. We pitched up in a field to eat and be whipped by the warm wind.

Eventually we got to the hidden lane where we've found sloes before.

The Bun's love exploring the tree covered undergrowth and disappeared for most of the walk.

Mainly they were busy collecting autumn stuff.

Eventually we found the autumn stuff we were after. Mr Bun pulled down high branches for me to clear of fruit and fill the candyfloss tub with.

Cheap gin to buy tommorow and then the brewing will commence.

Desire, Lust & Need

2011-09-21T14:38:00.000-07:00

No sooner had the money for my hardgraft hit our bank account than I was straight out the door in search of things I'd desired while I was waiting for that lovely dosh.

In that long shopping list I've got stored away in my head I can now put a big tick by pink china edged with gold bits.

That list also has 'need lots more fabric' written on it. Last Friday I caught up with a very special friend. Before she treated me to lunch we had a good poke around the fabric shop. I knew I'd be back when I had something shiny to spend. Along with adding to my repro fabrics I lusted after the cutesy, kitsch animal print and think I need to make a small bag to keep stuff in with it.

I also got a generous metre of the grey rosy fabric. A friend lent me a tunic pattern so I can get stitching (quick aside - thanks for popping it through the door Amanda). If it works out then I fancy a fine cord tunic (in my head looking as if made by Toast not me)

Next shop and more dlights. This blue dish caught my eye while I waited for my bobbles to be cut and bagged up.

Final stop of the morning found me in the wool shop. In the proper planning of things this is on the other side of the road from the lovely fabric shop. Last autumn's Debbie Bliss magazine was priced at a grand 99p which was just the thing. I'd gone in search of mustard coloured yarn, but the one I wanted won't do the things I want so I picked up a couple of soft balls of baby cashmerino to knit up some wristwarmers instead.

After all the nicety of my morning I had the nasty food shopping waiting for me. I raced quickly and filled my trolley wondering if any of it actually amounted to a real meal. Roll on Friday, I've got food in the cupboard and supplies to get stitching with.

A Change is a comin'

2011-09-19T15:35:00.000-07:00

Small piles of autumnal stuff keeps appearing here and there. Each time we go for a wander the Buns fill their pockets with some more of their finds. The seasons are definately having a change about.

After school last week I decided we needed to go and pick some blackberries before they all disappeared. I dragged the Buns and Alfie Blue off for a walk to find some and see if we could find those sloes that make that delicious happy making gin. We only managed to collect a jugful before the rain chased us home again.

Never mind we got more than enough blackberries to cover the stewed apples we turned into a crumble. All part of Saturday's warming lunch cooked by Eldest Bun. She's growing up and wants to learn to cook, which is find by me, so we started with Butternut Squash & Chilli Soup, followed by fruit crumble. A change of season and changes in my girl are afoot.

I'm also planning for those longer evenings cosied up by the fire that are coming. I really want to learn new things. Usually if I want to know new stuff, I go through books and just ask around until I work it out for myself. This time I decided to go the quicker route and actually get taught a how to, so I've signed up for a one day Fairisle knitting workshop.

I did have a go at fairisle once before, but the wristwarmer only covered half my hand. I'm not sure if my problem's tension, amount of stitches or that fairisle just doesn't like me.

Even though there was a nip in the air, the sun was out this weekend so we made the most of the gorgeous weather. On Saturday we had an afternoon bike ride along the lanes running from our cottage and worked off that hearty lunch. The only hint that autumn is coming was the change in light.

On Sunday we had an afternoon at the coast to celebrate my dad's 85th birthday. We go every year to the place where he holidayed as a small boy in the 1930's. Normally we have a picnic on the beach and set up camp for the day. This year dad couldn't manage getting on the sand so we had a grand time strolling and playing on the prom prom prom.

And because he was a birthday boy we came back here for a tea party of champagne, trifle and cake to end the day perfectly.

Meet the Gang

2011-09-15T15:56:00.000-07:00

I really do fancy stopping by here more often than I do, but then the week runs away from me and suddenly I find another whole week has passed by. So it seems another catch up of this and that will be best way to go today.

It was an even thinner car boot haul this week, but I just can't keep away. The week I don't go, the best treasure in the world might be hiding in that field and I'd have missed it, but then I wouldn't know either would I. My lot loved this wee band I found as much as me. They seem so familiar, maybe I had some as a child and that's why I was drawn to them, whatever the reason I love them.

I really want to get back to making stuff now the Bun's are back to school and I have a few full days. Somehow I haven't been able to get my making head on though, although I've got plenty of inspiration to get me going again.

I couldn't resist this quilting book. It's the best one for me that I've found so far. It's got templates all ready to use in the back, the fabrics are a mix of vintage and just downright cheery and the quilts are handquilted with tons of cheery stitches.

It works for me, because it's got the kind of quilts I'd like to make in it, the pictures are just up my street and it's full of original ideas (well ones I've not come across yet). All very important stuff when choosing a crafty book I think.

These two are my favourites. I'm keen to have a go at the one with black florals in a much bigger way than the dolly size here.

For the most part when I've not been working, I've been having a huge autumn clear-out. Bags full of stuff have gone to the charity shops and tons of muck hoovered up.

Then tonight I did something daft. I did it once before at the Buns old school and now I've gone and done it again. I went to the PTA AGM and volunteered to be Chair. The dad who was Chair definately needed a break after three years and no one else was coming forward so this idiot here put her hand up.

It must run in the family though as Eldest went for Chair of the school council this week. Posters were put up this week, campaign speeches were today and then voting tommorow. She's gone to bed all nervous about the results - fingers crossed.

Can I turn my fingers green?

2011-09-11T11:20:00.000-07:00

This week we've had a short three day dip back into the usual routines of work and school. Even though it was a short week, we still did the dance of joy when it was the weekend at last.

Wednesday was the first day back to school in these parts. Luckily that was car boot morning, so no more groans from the Buns about going and then me giving up convincing them to come. I could go, race down each lane with my eyes scanning all I passed and grab a treasure or two.

Mind you treasures were pretty thin on the ground. I grabbed a few more coloured needles, some china and two wee deer.

That afternoon I got in garden mode. I like gardens and wish we had a lovely cottagey, messy in the right kind of way garden. But - truth be told I can't really keep up my interest for longer than half a day and I think it takes a bit more dedication than that to get the kind of effects I have in my head. Also I don't have the first idea where you start with plants and stuff.

Anyways to start some kind of prettying up I bought trays of violas because I can cope with putting things in pots for instant colour.

Next up I started attacking half the patio with a screwdriver. I hadn't weeded it properly for a couple of years so the weeds looked more like a lawn as they were starting to join up. Olive got confused about where all the green stuff had gone.

To give you an idea about what I was dealing with here's the other half I've still got to do. We'd convinced ourselves it looked quite homely and wasn't a state at all.

I've been back indoors since with plants I understand. No more time for gardening either as we were bowling and pizza-ing for Eldest's birthday yesterday and then at an airshow today. No pictures I'm afraid as those planes whizz by so fast.

Temptations

2011-09-05T02:00:00.000-07:00

Lots of small things have been making their way back home with me lately. Stuff that I spied and just couldn't resist.

For a long time now I've seriously wanted a Carlton Ware toadstool cruet set. A friend has one, but I couldn't convince her to part with it. These wee new ones are nowhere as gorgeous, but they do a really good stand in cheery job.

Then last weekend, while we were at Village at War, I kept being drawn back to the bombed out, get your supplies here stall. I had to rescue this pink rabbit, she looked too much like the Velveteen Rabbit and needed a new home.

Later as we sang along to Minnie the Moocher my eyes wandered to the stall again and I spotted a couple of aprons. 1950's I'd guess and full of oh so gorgeous fabric with far too tiny waists. Mr Bun couldn't resist a dandy black umbrella with masses of holes to let the rain through and keep his head cool.

Another fair, another day and I'm reaching out for this wee bag.

Now the summer holidays are nearly over here in Norfolk and we've been blessed with really hot sunny weather. Picnics in fields have been fitted around dull uniform shopping.

Some gardening has actually been done too. Believe me I only ever show the good bits here, mainly we're weeds, nettles and brambles here. As we poked about the mystery of our hens not laying any eggs was solved. Little Bun found 21 eggs piled up in the leaves at the back of the log store.

Lots of baking and pancake munching needed to use up these beauties.

Now we're off to enjoy our last day together as I'm at work tommorow and then school for the Bun's on Wednesday. I always feel sad at the end of summer when all those lazy promise filled days are behind us and we're heading back into routines. Mind you some occassional peace and quiet might be quite nice. I'll even have time to actually visit lovely blogs and say hello to people who stop by to say hello to me.

Elevenses

2011-09-03T04:53:00.000-07:00

September 1st marks the end of summer and a warm glide into autumn for me. It's the moment we two became three and didn't really get what a big deal it would be. It's the day Eldest Bun was born and life just kept getting better and better.

She appeared a few weeks earlier than she was supposed to, but then she has always been impatient. We never found out if she was a boy or a girl because we just knew who was in there. Our baby was Rosey and that was that. In a hurry and ready to get on with life from the first.

Each birthday I feel overwhelming pride for the beautiful young lady she is becoming. The little girl who could win prizes for the most tantrums in a day has grown into a calm and contented sweetheart.

Nowadays kisses aren't allowed in public, nor holding hands and any of that other funny stuff. Doesn't stop me trying though even when she cringes.

A morning by the sea and then the Seaside Special end of pier show was the birthday outing this year. The last was so fabulous that the Bun's had begged and offered all their pocket money to be able to go again and see the other show. This time it was the matinee show and then a ride on the little yellow seaside train back up the cliffs to the car and home for birthday tea.

Next weekend is the party with friends, nothing like milking it is there.

Colours Colours all Around

2011-08-29T17:06:00.000-07:00

Oh Lordy blogger is being a big pain. I've got the smallest bit of patience that could ever be handed out to one person so I gave up after it took me what felt like a week to upload just four photos. Right - rant over back to nice stuff.

Once the working week was over last week I gave in to the urge to paint furniture bright colours. Friday morning saw me slapping green paint on the shelf I'd dragged back home a couple of weeks ago on the ferry.

It's just not the right shade of green though, far too arsenic for me, so the shelf hides in shame waiting for more paint to be mixed. To save expensive mistakes I've just found out that Dulux mix tester pots too, so I think I'll stop racing in next time.

The pink is being tried out on some of Eldest Bun's furniture. I've still not made up my mind if I like it or not yet.

So much still to finish in her room (and it's only a wee room too). I made up a string of that old failsafe - bunting to give her bedroom that colourful zing now I've whitened it out.

The colours work perfectly and Eldest is really pleased with it all so far.

Now after a busy and fun filled weekend it's the last week of the summer holidays and two days to go before her birthday. Cocktail umbrella's are ready for party drinks, but no presents are wrapped or handmade pressies finished.

This weekend we visited Voewood, which is a stunning arts & crafts house in Norfolk. A friend was responsible for the PR for a literary and music festival they had up there so we popped in with the press passes she sorted out for us. Not the first time we've been press. We had fun with a very rude and uppity French Maitre D when we convinced him we were food and wine journalists. We got great service in that hotel after that. Wonder why?

I'll be back to show and tell more of my weekend when I can actually post photos at speed. Just to say it's to do with the 1940's and some lovely vintage buys.

Sunshine on the Right days

2011-08-24T16:57:00.000-07:00

Here I am, just in the nick of time for a mid week catch up before we hurtle into the joys of a long bank holiday weekend.

Every weekend's been a long one for us though as Mr Bun's taken off Friday and Monday each week. Got to have some perks for all the hard slog of being self-employed. Mind you as we race off for adventures with me chauffering he usually sorts business stuff out with phone calls here and there.

This Monday we ended up with a picnic further down the coast in Suffolk. Now this is a real beach Mr Sussex Bun declares, none of that sandy stuff here. I agree. I love the look of sand, building sandcastles and all, but I've always hated feeling gritty.

Once we'd munched our lunch I even managed a few peaceful minutes with my eyes shut just enjoying the wind on my face and listening to the sea.

Then it was down to the serious job of Best in class pebble, Ugliest pebble and strangest pebble.

After watching this boat glide along the shoreline we headed off for a spot of serious sailing ourselves.

We sat on our other yacht so no racing today. The little boy at the other end had a great sailing technique. He threw his boat in, yelled plop in delight and then grabbed it again. Pure pleasure.

After a long walk along the shore and back down the high street we couldn't resist the temptations of a cream tea lazing on a hotel terrace. Reminded me in such a tiny way of the days when I was pregnant with Eldest and we spent most weekends in hotels generally indulging after a long week teaching. This time there was no lazing around before being served dinner. Instead a long drive home and then giving in and saying yes to a bike ride.

I did plan a car boot rummage today, but it just didn't happen so we hit the charity shops instead. Sixteen videos in one haul (the Bun's are working through the best of the 80's and 90's and went a bit mad). Little Bun spied Shirlee lamb and I knew I couldn't leave her behind.

We also popped into my friend Ruth's shop Glory Days for a catch up and I couldn't resist this small jug. Ruth is changing her business and so September 3rd will be her last day in the shop. If you're out and about pop in and see what she has for sale as this might be your last chance for a while.

The rest of today was spent with a lovely friend who had me drooling over her amazing vintage finds, fabric stash and makes of late. I wanted to steal her formica rose printed table badly.

Before I go a hello to my new followers too, thankyou for stopping by.

This week I've mostly been ...

2011-08-20T15:34:00.000-07:00

I had that can't quite put my finger on it things are coming to an end kind of feeling at the beginning of the week. Summer just seems to be melting too easily into autumn and we haven't even got to run through sprays of water from this little fella yet. It was back to work for me too which meant the end of days just blurring into the next with the Bun's which I just love in the summer. My head had to stop being all dreamy and get quick witted again which was a real shock to the system.

Last Sunday I decided that the week I was going back to work would also be the best time to start decorating Eldest Bun's room! The Buns bunked up together and Eldest Bun's room spilled over any space we had left upstairs so I wanted it done pretty quickly to get back to normal. Problem is I'm fussy and decided years ago that Mr Bun's painting skills weren't nearly as good as mine. I do it all which is fine as he hates doing it and I like it, but it just takes longer with only one. Daft aren't I. All week I seemed to be planning work, doing it or painting and so no time to even think about blogging or visiting anyone.

I'd also lost my phone charger last week Then we found it in the skipping ropes pile. Until then I couldn't even call friends with my dead phone holding all my numbers. Thankfully some people I know go for the wonderful traditional posty service to say hello. I got this lovely card that had been all prettied up by a friend this morning. She doesn't do emails and I couldn't do texts. What's the world coming too hey?

The stuff I enjoy best about life has been taking over in the last couple of days again. We've had a seaside fun evening again. Then today we drove past a fete and just had to stop for a bag or two of candyfloss. I found a stall selling some lovely bits and bobs and fell in love with this Victory play tray. Some things are just needed for the pure delight of looking at them again and again.

I have managed a small bit of making this week too, but it's been more off than on. I fiddled with colour ideas with Jane Brockett's crochet squares, worked teeny tiny stitches along hexies for a cushion cover and had a think about what to make Eldest Bun for her birthday. Clean out of ideas as yet - did wonder whether to applique her name on a pillowslip.

I've also been training the Bun's for the day when I collapse in a heap on the floor refusing to cook or clean anymore. Lessons are going well so far because they still think it's fun to do - little do they know!

Then there is always the down with the up. The week started with me feeling odd and ended with sadness. Yesterday morning I went to let the hens out and saw only Hennypenny out with the youngsters. When I looked I could see Betty's white head through the henhouse door.

She had obviously died in the night poor old love. She hadn't been eating well for a couple of weeks and no longer followed me everywhere so I knew she wasn't herself, but I hoped she'd get better. Out of our original four each had a real personality of their own and hers was being the matriarch. She made me laugh with her bossiness and white feather knickers.

I really hope Henny is as daft as they say hens are as I hate to think she misses her mate who she followed everywhere. I found her this afternoon tucked up in the dining room having a nap and wanted to tell her it would be alright.

Meanwhile this lot seem to be doing fine apart from being bossed about by Hennypenny who is taking over from Betty to let them know she won't stand any funny business either.

North folks & South folks

2011-08-13T00:25:00.000-07:00

I can't believe another week has whizzed by. An extra stolen whole week with the Bun's filled with so many lovely things.

The feathery ladies are settling down into strict divides of eldery and youngster gang culture. On the second night they just wouldn't go to bed. In the end Betty clambered off her perch, got on the top of the henhouse and yelled at Olive, Maggie and Bluebell. I helped her out by grabbing them all with a shove up the bum through their door.

In the middle of the week we went to Walberswick with friends. We parked the other side of the river and then walked over and round to get there. We didn't even make it to the sea as we had such a lovely time just mucking about in the village. I even brought home a big shelf that I couldn't stop looking at and knew I'd really kick myself later on if it didn't come home. We gave the shelf a ferry ride across the water on the way back to save my weary shoulder, much more fun than walking.

In betweens swimming, rounders and playing at camping with friends I finally made up those kitchen curtains that have been waiting to be made.

I'd guess the fabric is 1950's and is pretty well worn, but far too gorgeous not to save somehow. I cut off the ripped sides, patched up holes here and there and added a smidge of flowery blue to lengthen.

They're real quick cheats. I didn't bother to edge the frayed sides, just strung up some hooks, threaded them on a wire and off we go jolly kitchen curtains.

On Friday we had a Seaside Special treat with the end of the pier summer show. Apparently it's the only one left in England so it's a special one indeed.

We zig-zagged down to the Edwardian pier to collect our tickets before climbing all the way back up for a fish and chips pre-show tea.

The whole experience of being on the end of the pier in a tiny theatre was perfect. The show felt like being taken back to my 1970's childhood with all the variety shows on TV, just better. Singing, dancing, glitter, glam and tons of laughter. The Bun's loved it as much as us, maybe even more as they offered their pocket money on the way out so I could get tickets for the next show.

Walking out onto the wooden promenade, twinkling lights all around and the sound of the sea on pebbles ended the evening perfectly for me. Many moons ago in Brighton Mr Bun and I would go down to the beach at night for a walk. We'd sit and talk about what life would be like when our baby was born. Never could have imagined it would be this lovely and content.

Three Hens in a Box

2011-08-09T17:55:00.000-07:00

I dithered over writing tonight. I have so many blissful things to show and share, but the simple easy things my family's enjoyed seem self-indulgent luxuries when I compare them to what's happening out there in the world and parts of our small island. As my blog is about me finding the happy in the everyday and celebrating that I decided to chat away.

Hens are on our minds this week. Our ladies are getting older and haven't laid an egg for a few weeks now. They seemed a wee bit run down so I fed them a dollop of scambled egg with garlic to perk them up a bit. Now we've gone for shock tactics.

After finding a perfect hen lady on Monday and making plans to visit her this week, eggy things were all around. When we went to the sweetie shop yesterday Little Bun spotted these 50's eggcups in the window next door. She knows me so well that girl.

All ready for breakfast nestled up with our other treasures. Definately need to finish up that paint job I slapped on a year ago don't I.

Somehow my needles ended up working a few more stripy egg hats last night too. The colours of our new eggcups inspired me to make some new ones to sit on top.

Yesterday the girls showed they know a mean thing about a flat pack DIY project. Four years ago I bought a chicken coop off ebay, then a friend just gave me one all made up and even put it in my run for me. For four years it's nestled up with the logs in the woodstore pleading to be made and not burnt. Yesterday I finally dragged it out and we got going with the Alun keys, a faded plan and tons of patience.

It's like Barratt Homes meets Cold Comfort Farm dilapidation. Plan is old house for old ladies, new house for new girls. When they all fall madly in love, they'll move in together and have a paint party (colour still to be agreed).

As it happened the project I run has been put back a week, so not earning, but then more time with my lovelies. As we're so impatient it meant we could go pullet shopping this afternoon. I got hopelessly lost trying to find the farm, so Eldest was on the phone being talked in by farmer Jen and yelling directions to me. We arrived at an idyll of goats, three week old kittens, more hens and ducks than you can shake a stick at, the most nutty eccentric seven year old I've ever met who gave the Tour and Jen sat calmly straining honey slowly into jars in the middle of it all.

After chatting for an age - knitting, bee-keeping and animals we went off to pick our hens. From the top are Olive a Red Rock (she nearly was called Cabbage - Eldest couldn't stop laughing and said she loved it as a name even though it made her laugh, could she please call her that? I thought it would be mean calling her a cabbage, now I just think of Olive from On the Buses), next up is Bluebell who is a Bluebell (after Little's now no more and beloved Guinea Pig. Mr Bun's cousin was briefly a Bluebell girl many moons ago in Paris so I like that too) lastly we have a Magpie Ranger who we've simply named Maggie.

We finally got home about 8pm (I got lost on the way home too!). They are so lovely and used to handling so liked a cuddle before bedtime. We had to quickly push them in as Hennypenny came out to see what all the noise was about. Thought a surprise in the morning was soon enough to find her world's changed.

Before I pop off I'll add a couple of pics of our other dreams. Wandering down peaceful paths and having a small ramshackle meadow with a sheep or two for Little Bun to love.

Fingers crossed our Ladies think the newcomers have always been here and just let them be part of the gang. Think that's just wishful thinking don't you?

Endings before Beginnings

2011-08-07T12:27:00.000-07:00

In the blink of an eye our short break was over and the Bun's and I descended on Mr Bun with tales to tell late on Friday. I've been fiddle faddling getting our cottage just how I like it ever since.

On Saturday's food hunt I visited a wonderful roadside hut where you can buy the most spectacular dahlias ever. Can you believe I filled two jugs with these fat beauties for only 80p.

After we played Piggy in the Middle, we tickled the greengages and decided they needed plucking. They taste gorgeous, I need to find a few things to do with them before they go all squishy.

See that bright splodgy green and blue flower print underneath my plums? Well I spied that in a very high up cupboard that I don't normally go in at my parents. I got all excited about the look of that lovely fabric and wondered out loud if it could be mine for chopping up and sewing with. Well it turns out it was my bedspread in the house we lived in until I was seven. I can't remember it at all, but I really like the idea of using it to make a quilt to cover up the grown-up me's bed.

My mum also bought this wonderful book to help get more making ideas going in my head.

I'm totally passionate about colour, so much so that sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the choices and then I just can't decide which to use when I start any new thing. What I loved about this book more than anything are the projects in it and the tips on knitting with different textures, playing with colour to achieve different effects. Like working cables in a different colour to the background. Stuff I wouldn't have thought of at all.

Somehow my food finding trip ended up at the yarn shop. I had no choice really as I found that however big my stash I just didn't have any magenta. I love this colour mix and thought it would be a perfect start for the ripple effect bag I'd started first thing.

I also want to get my head around fairisle and the book gives some really quick helpful tips rather than go on and on which bores the pants off me. The bottom wavy one is called entrelac and for that reason alone sounds something good to try.

Starting all back to front - I've finally got to where this week all started.

All my flowery knick knacks laid out in my childhood bedroom and now we're ready to go off for some girlie fun. On the way to our tacky seaside evening we visited my mum's friends restaurant. It's on the Norfolk Broads and has a repro Edwardian launch that we went on. All calm on a hot summers evening.

Next stop crazy pirate golf, deep fried doughnuts, candyfloss and glitz.

I managed to get the Bun's to ride the snails at the fair. I adored them when I was little. They slowly trundle along and roll down gentle hills and through tunnels. I've tried sitting clamped to a fast scary ride with my eyeballs turned inside out and have come to the realisation that the snail ride through nursery rhyme land hits the spot for me for thrills and spills.

We managed to fit in a day at the beach on the day that the whole world seemed to end up on it. After two hours I couldn't take it any more as the next load of people plopped down beside us so we trundled back to the little train to go into the town.

Icecream and cockles on the harbour wall before a wander and then scones in a calm walled garden. Mum and I felt better already.

Rainy days were spent lunching, shopping and playing games. It was pretty darned good to be looked after by my lovely mum who made sure we had a wonderful few days with her.

Now I'm off to start catching up with blogland again. See you soon.

Ticking off Lists

2011-08-01T17:19:00.000-07:00

Glad you liked the quilt, it's being loved a lot around here too. Before I finished stitching it all together we had a few days out - just me and the Bun's. Eldest was booked in for a couple of days basketball and then they cancelled it all at the last minute. Little Bun and I had an outing planned with friends and they had to cancel too so I thought something good was needed to cheer them both up.

I packed up a picnic and took them on a Mystery tour.

We ended up at a water garden (which was once a huge private estate). After a wander along wooded paths, over bridges, along riversides and shaking a cute bum we ended up at a mooring on the broads.

I'd booked for a boat trip around the broad to see a bit of this and that. There were quite a few birdies, which I do like, but I don't get this whole bird watching thing so I was more interested in the waterside cottages with their boathouses. We argued for a bit about which home we wanted to buy - Eldest went for hugely grand mock old thatch pile, I went for the one that looked like it should be condemned and Little Bun preferred the small cosy cottage.

We had a great day mucking about together and just being. The next day the sun actually shone and it was hot. Eldest had a friend over for the day, so I took them all to a stately pile for a wander and to go around the maze for the 100th time since we've lived here.

On the way back we stopped to pick raspberries for tea and ooh and aah over the baby Bantams there. Felt like summer was properly here after that.

Today we bought summer toe nail paint. That was after the saga of the blocked loo and me putting all the wrong numbers in my online banking so now it's blocked. Great timing just when I need to transfer money to pay all the bills. Wondering if the lime will glow in the dark?

I managed to fit in a spot of crochet in the garden later on with the ladies dashing circles around me. I had a quick flick through the new library books and am itching to get started on this bag.

Mind you the kitchen curtains are still waiting in a basket to be sewn up and I've also added another thing to the wants to be made pile. I've decided to try out hexie making with a cushion first.

I was making up a wallet for my Dad (he was really impressed with the teachers gifts and asked if he could have one too for all his stuff when he goes to the Dr's) I thought the boat, spot and star with a few others thrown in would make a perfect hexie cushion for the bathroom. We have a lovely Lloyd Loom chair in there which Alfie thinks is his while we end up sitting on the floor. Plans are to get him a mini Lloyd chair of his own and then I can be bothered to make a lovely cushion if I we win our chair back.

While I was at it I made myself a wallet so I can take making stuff out and about with me.

Aswell as all that I've been getting all sorts of stuff sorted so I can properly have a few days off starting tommorow. Written a to do list for Mr Bun, reminded him he needs to squeeze plums daily as they're nearly good and soft and to change the bed if he lets Alfie sleep in it (I bet all rules go out of the window with that spoilt Pug when I'm not around to be stern and scary. I'eve uploaded a huge ebay listing to pay the garage bill, finally done my tax return (albeit hideously late, but done all the same), booked trips for my new students for the next few weeks and started the Pick 'n' Mix Makers Market ball rolling again for christmas. Phew - been putting all of this off for last two weeks and then done it all in two days. I'm always last minute.

The girls and me are having a few days with my mum staying at hers. Normally we go away, but with my dad's health not so good it's better that we'll be around a bit for him. First trip planned is tacky seaside funfair, hot doughnuts and candyfloss. Can't wait.

Before I head off I thought these books might be helpful for all quilty novices like me. Cuckoo asked if I could let her know a good one. Well the Emma Hardy is great as it has loads of small learn how to do it things inside. The other one is the Jane Brockett book which is just fabulous to look at and how she writes she could make reading about loo rolls interesting. I'd say just jump in though and work it out as you go along, make up your own rules and have fun.

Righty o - see you all in a few days or so.

Loving my Needle

2011-07-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

Before I show you what I've just finished making, I have to say thanks so much for leaving such interesting and thoughtful responses to my last post. Writing it out helped make my thoughts a lot clearer. Also having the pressure off and not doing all the summer markets means I'm relaxed and really enjoying my time off with the girls. One more week and then back to work though - boo.

Today I put the last stitches in the quilt I've been making for Eldest Bun. I started it a few weeks back now, but it's really been over a year in the making in my head.

At the end of the summer she'll be eleven and really and truly she's grown out of a bedroom that is all pinkness itself. She needs something more grown-up and funky with white walls and painted furniture. I thought a quilt full of colour would give it that extra splash amongst the white. I've been collecting fabrics to add to some of her baby dress fabrics for a long old time now.

I wanted a simple square patch quilt using my brightest cheeriest 30's feedsack, 30's repro cottons, snippets of Eldest Bun's toddler dresses and the happy loud colours of 60's and 70's bedlinen. I made it as a ten across, twelve down quilt reckoning this would cover a single bed pretty well.

I'm definately no expert in this quilting lark, but I've asked questions and read around stuff that I couldn't sort out for myself. Like why when I made a Memory Quilt for Little Bun over a year ago did all the layers slide around when I quilted them together? Well I found some basting pins and they really helped me out making a nice neat sandwich of it all. I read in Jane Brockett's book that she doesn't like using them, but they worked out great for me.

The other thing that I bought was some fancy lightweight soft cotton batting. It was expensive, but I really loved working with it.

Once I'd actually chosen the arrangement of all my squares, patched them together and then made my squishy sandwich it was time to spend hours and hours stitching a rainbow of embroidery threads along each of the strips to quilt it all together. I prefer the effect of using a bright running stitch and handquilting rather than machine stitching. I sat for a few evenings stitching along each strip of fabrics and got to really look at all the colours and the prints far more closely than if I'd rushed through it all.

For the backing I used a soft flannelette sheet I'd found in a charity shop over a year ago and had saved for this quilt. Eldest is called Rosey and loves blue so blue roses covered with spots seemed to good a find to be true.

This was the quilt first thing this morning. All quilted and waiting to be trimmed and bound. I made a huge length of binding from the turquoise spot I'd used on the skirt I made a few weeks ago. Zipped quickly around one side with the machine and then switched my brain off while I hand-stitched for what seemed liked forever on the back.

Then all of a sudden there it was done and finished, ready to be admired and cosied under. I want to make a date and name tag for the back, but I just ran out of being bothered steam today, so that'll have to wait.

While Eldest and Mr Bun were out running with Alfie I laid it on her bed ready to suprise her when she got home. Problem is it makes the rest of the room look really badly in need of that paint job now. Better get that brush out soon.

While I sat stitching that b..... binding this afternoon I thought about all the other stuff I've patched and quilted over the last year since I found out what fun it was. I couldn't find any pictures of Little Bun's quilt or the hot water bottle covers I've made, but I found all of these.

I have in my head that I'd like to try making a hexie quilt, but I'm not sure if I've got the patience. I'll wait and see how much the idea niggles at me. For now Mr Bun wants a quilt for our bed. I've said I'll only do it if he stops laying on the bed with the darned dog.

I might fit in one more post before we go away for a few days next week, but if not have a lovely week and hope to catch up with you very soon.

Been thinking ...

2011-07-26T16:33:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to get my head around my love of making stuff lately and where it's going. I've all sorts of random thoughts racing around my head and I can't seem to make any sense of them. While I painted the kitchen this afternoon I had a thought that if I write it here then maybe I'd get a better idea of what I want to be doing.

I've always made things from when I was little and I've always had my head in a book. Studying textiles at art college somehow led to working for the Met Police and then on to my Literature degree. A stint in PR and then advertising brought me to a post-grad teacher training course and suddenly there I was a fully paid up FE Lecturer. I really enjoyed teaching academic stuff, but I have to admit I was really thrilled when the Head of Media (Mr Bun) and I fell in love and then I found out I was pregnant with Eldest Bun. I handed my notice in quick sharp and got ready to enjoy being a mum.

Apart from making clothes I'd not done any other making for years. First my mum taught me to knit again when I was pregnant with Little Bun. I'd thought it was really dull when she showed me when I was little, but it really grabbed me this time round knitting for my girls. Along the way I started making all sorts of stuff for friends and then I got a few commissions. I knew there was no way I was going back to 60 hour weeks teaching and I'm not ambitious about climbing any career ladder. Couldn't really picture myself ever teaching again to be honest. I can remember exactly when I decided to work for myself. I'd changed nappies endlessly all morning and thought I was going to go doollally if I didn't have something that was just about me. All the stuff I'd been making grew into Bobo Bun and off I went.

I started off selling my work at playgroups, through a few local shops and taking stalls at smaller markets. I've really changed my style from what I made then. It took a while for my ideas to evolve and know what I wanted to do. Four years ago I stopped selling at smaller markets and went for the bigger ones that targetted the people I wanted to sell to.

Along the way I taught myself to crochet. A year later I was running crochet workshops and started writing this here blog. That led to setting up Pick 'n' Mix Makers Market as a way of promoting handmade talent. Then in the middle of all this we hit a financial burp and some guaranteed extra money was needed each month. Pretty handy I guess that I was a teacher as it meant I could get a job working part-time and earn enough to balance running my business alongside being a mum too.

That's kind of worked for a while now, but I've found this year that I've sort of run out of steam to do it all. This is where all of this is leading to. I teach two days a week now and it's pretty draining stuff as it's a seven hour day being as upbeat and calm as possible while I try to meet the needs of teenagers who have a wide range of emotional and learning problems. Also it's not really two days a week as there are emails to answer and write on my days off, plus planning and all the other stuff involved.

Basically this leaves me just wanting to make things for the sheer pleasure of making stuff. So I've been making lots of things for the Bun's and our home as I need to relax and switch off. My real dream is to make Bobo Bun grow alongside running creative workshops. At the moment I just don't seem to be able to balance out the demands of my job with my dreams.

Why this all feels odd is that it just happened without me thinking about it. Suddenly one day I just didn't want to get up at some god awful hour and set up my mobile shop. I feel happy not doing any markets for the moment as I don't want the pressure to be making stock. I want to get back to the heart of making and really enjoy it while I work out which direction I'm going and how I'm going to get there.

Meanwhile I've got quite a few unfinished projects on the go all dotted throughout this post to keep me busy. I figure that I'll work it out as I go along and just think a small holiday from it all's no bad thing at all. I just hope it doesn't take my head too long to work it out.

Apologies if this all seemed self-indulgent, but as it's about why and how I've ended up creating things I thought here was a pretty good place to chat through it all with me and with you.

* One other thing - I thought I'd try replying to your comments in my comment thingy from now on as that makes sense really and then if I can I'll stop by and say hello like I do anyways.

Ready, Steady and off we Go

2011-07-25T11:28:00.000-07:00

Two cheeky girls plopped down beside me yesterday morning ready to start their holidays. Red nails still linger from the end of term disco, tears of tiredness are ebbing away as the holiday mood takes over and Moshi Monster tattoo's are being liberally applied.

They looked so gorgeous cuddling up to each other, so I yelled "stay there, don't move" while I ran off to find my camera.

Problem is once they know the camera is coming they can't resist making faces. Cue dreamy lovey dovey expressions.

When I asked really nicely if we could have a lovely picture too. I got faraway daydreamy faces trying hard not to laugh.

Then they thought enough of this squit, lets have fun. I took loads more pictures of cute chipmunk faces and the odd one of them being strangled by each other too.

Summer holiday mood is already here you see.

I guess I need a spot of catch up stuff as it's been nearly a whole week since I've last stopped by. I had last week off work, apart from a training day and tons of school stuff so I don't think it really counted as holiday and now I've got two clear weeks with the Bun's - hooray.

Mr Bun had an interesting time at the palace. The Royal lot came out to a band in the garden playing the theme tune to the Archers, which had me hooting when he told me. Apparently the whole afternoon was completely surreal from start to finish. Urns in the garden taller than our cottage, elderly Brigadiers and Bishops dotted here and there while three bands played to them all. Oh and the cake was delicious too in case you wondered.

Sometimes I Talk a Lot

2011-07-19T08:41:00.000-07:00

Well I've got all sorts I could ramble on about today. Funnily enough the fringe disaster was met with tons of unexpected your hair looks great - so I'm definately going to ask for a Richard 3rd fringe again. The school BBQ was good fun - we were put on the ice cream, truffle and kids drink bit. Lots of little helpers to make us laugh, scoffing of choc and free Pimms for being good eggs and working so hard. The Bun's had brilliant reports come home that day too so we promised a celebration meal for Saturday. To be honest (proud mummy moment) they've always had good reports. They love school, give it their all, have great friends, avoid all that silly falling out stuff and are just good fun lovely girls.

Unfortunately my teeth were a disaster at the weekend and were so painful. We had our meal out and had a great time, but it was like I was eating pizza with wooden teeth. Monday I was straight into the dentist for more root canal stuff. Poor elderly teeth of mine.Then I rushed off for a quick treat with a friend. We'd planned for so long to go to Biddy's Tearooms for afternoon tea and my teeth weren't going to stop me. It was such a wonderful place that I've made a date with my man for Friday afternoon treats. I'll try and take some pics to show you as you'd love it.

This morning was Sports Day so I took my crochet along for a bit of light relief. I managed to rustle up a few more smarties for the hexie blanket and cheered my lovelies on too.

I spent the afternoon sewing up a couple of quick teacher gifts. I don't normally go for this whole teacher present thing other than some flowers from the garden. The Bun's have been with their teachers for two years now and have built up a great relationship with them so I wanted to give something as a way of thanks.

I thought pencil cases would be the ideal handmade pressie. I used an old tablecloth and the lovely Lecien fabric I bought a while back. We're thinking a few chocs inside would be appreciated too.

As I type this Mr Bun will be in full swing with the Buck Palace Garden party. Wonder what Queenie said to him (if anything). Once he gets his mobile back on the way out I guess I'll hear all the funny tales of the day.

One other thing before I go. I was asked how much wool I would need for the hexie. Once I've got more to show I'll get back and give you the low down on how to and how much if you fancy it. It's all a bit guess work and suck it and see, but then I did tell you I'm a jump in and see maker.

Righty must get ready for fish and chips with the grandparents while the other half nibble Royal canapes.

Bitty

2011-07-15T07:27:00.000-07:00

I'm all over the show today. Last night I was hooking away, getting all caught up in the joy of watching colours pop together. I started making something I've fancied doing for a while now. I'd spied a gorgeous hexie blanket on Greedy for Colour and ever since it's been floating around in my head as another one on the will do soon list. When I realised it had passed 1.30 am I thought I'd better go and join everyone else upstairs. I just don't get tired some nights, but boy do I feel odd in the daytime after a late one.

I had planned to work on Eldest Bun's quilt today, but then I woke up and my hair looked bad. So instead I went for a quick haircut and that was a truly bad decision as I now have a two inch fringe. Not great when you're five and you hover between looking stupid and cute. Really really bad when you're 42 and you just end up looking stupid. While she chopped, I shut my eyes to stop the hair going in them. Next time I'll remember to keep them open.

When I got back I soothed my vanity into calmness and ignored the mirror with a bit more hexie making.

I wandered for a bit thinking I could perhaps fit a quick bit of sandwiching the quilt in, but then I remembered that I had to make a pud. Tonight is the annual PTA BBQ which is so much more fun for our kids than us, but hey ho fundraising and all that malarkey. I'm still trying to decide if I'll look rude with a basket filled with my crochet or just relaxed and happy?

One fruity, ginger cheescake plonked together and I did a bit of shelf moving of stuff.

While I ambled, I remembered my lovely package that I'd ordered from Jane. I've left it on the table with the green fabrics against the orange paper bag stripes to fix an idea in my head. I just love the way it all looks together in it's clashing not quite right way.

Last bit to do is pop some more eyecream in Afie's peeper before I head off to the drama club play and then off to be sociable. Poor old Alfie Blue had a vet run this week as his eye was shut and sore. Pugs have bug eyes and they get hurt really easily. This ends up with ulcers and possibly losing the eye so you have to get it sorted pretty quick. He's a real pain at the vets. He's the kindest, most gentle boy who hates big dogs. I would too if one had bit me aswell. To deal with this he just barks like a loon all the while we're there. It's like having the bad kid at playgroup. I get disapproving looks from elderly ladies whose cat is being traumatised by his "I'll have you" attitude. The girls just roar and think it's great fun. Then we go in and and the nurses swoon over him.

Right must go to clap and cheer the Bun's. Have a great weekend.

Patching a Memory or Two

2011-07-13T15:49:00.000-07:00

Whenever we go out I can usually be relied upon to forget my camera. On Saturday evening we saw a gaudy, sparkly and fun parade and had a lovely time at the fair afterwards. All part of our cities Lord Mayor's procession. I do have a few pictures on my phone, but how to get them from there to here? So just imagine drag queens dressed as washing machines, Scottish pipe bands and everyone having a good time and you get the general idea of the fun we had.

What I can show you is the slowly growing quilt I'm making for Eldest Bun.

On Saturday morning I chopped up the rest of the squares needed. So that's 120 squares all cut by hand after I'd drawn round the template I'd made. I just can't get my hands to work my blinking cutter so it's the long slow chop chop for me. Lots of lovely squares of 30's feedsacks, 30's repro, 60's and 70's florals and some of Eldest Bun's toddler dresses all go into the patchy mix. Putting all of the rows together was the fun bit, a bit like doing a jigsaw and fiddling around until you know the right piece is in the right space.

I planned to stitch all the squares together today, but did the car boot first. It was an expensive trip today as I lost £10 from my purse, I'd only spent a few pounds too on some china and flowers.

So does a pretty floral bowl make me feel tons better? A little.

The Larkspur worked their magic when I looked at them.

So did the small and chubby teapot that came home with me. I'm no tea drinker, but I do admire a fine teapot.

This afternoon I managed to stitch and stitch away until all 120 squares had been patched together. This is going to be a hard one to give away to Eldest Bun as I'm falling in love with it for our bed. As I work though I think of all the love I have for her going into this quilt. How she'll have it on her bed at nearly 11, feeling all cosy and content. How maybe in the future it'll go wherever she goes and she'll feel that same cosy contentment she felt when it was on her bed aged 11.

I plan to hand sew some of the quilting when I get to it. Wonder how that'll work out as I haven't much of a clue about quilting. I just jump in, have a go and figure it out as I go along. I much prefer sewing this way as I don't really like following instructions. It can be a bit haphazard though.

Pick a Pile

2011-07-08T05:44:00.000-07:00

Today I'm surrounded by piles. I've got stuck into cutting up squares of jolly fabric to get a quilt made for Eldest Bun's bed. That means I've ignored the pile of washing up and half of the ironing that I dumped in a pile in the kitchen. I reckoned it might get done if we kept tripping over it, but we've managed to ignore it pretty well up to now. Somehow today I really should sort out the pile of paperwork that needs attention, but this pile is so much more interesting.

I've only cut out 24 of the 120 squares I need so I'll be here a while yet.

I love putting it all together and seeing all the colours and prints bounce along so much more chop chop for me. Doing happy undemanding stuff today is just what I need. I feel as bright as anything, it's just been a hell of a week. On Monday my dad was rushed into hospital unable to breathe. He's in his eighties with heart problems so it was stressful for mum particularly. Thankfully he came home again yesterday. We all had to fit in work aswell as two evening school play performances too this week. This morning I had to concoct a gnome and grandad outfit. In reality that meant grabbing tons of stuff from Mr Bun's wardrobe, plus a beard and moustache from the spy kit. It's drama club's dress rehearsal tonight and of course we only remembered at 8 am.

The piles have happened from trying to keep us all fed, sane and getting where we needed to be this week. One more day of ignoring them and making new piles and then I might just attack it all.

Blossoms of Making

2011-07-04T09:15:00.000-07:00

I've had quite a few bits to show and tell lately so I've managed more posts than normal. I'm glad you liked the garland you know. Once I'd made a large bunny tail for Little Bun's school play costume last night I hooked a few more shapes to make more garlands to string about, give away ? and sell perhaps?

Today I'm wearing my latest make, it's not a bunny girl outfit much duller than that, but I'm thrilled with it.

Before we went off to the BBQ yesterday I started cutting out and sewing up the skirt I planned to make from Amy Butler's Soul Blossoms. The Bun's were late to bed because I couldn't resist a bit more sewing when we got back. They didn't grumble mind you. I stitched, they roared with laughter at a film and Mr Bun planned his weeks work with the radio for company.

I finished making my skirt up today and for the proof of the pudding, I'm wearing it too.

I made it from Sew Serendipity by Kay Whitt which has lovely dress and tunic patterns, plus a nasty coat pattern which I won't be making up. As I chose turquoise spots for the pockets I wanted a bit more dotty somewhere else. I ripped up a long strip like nursey bandages so the edges will gently fray and stitched it over the join between the main skirt and the bottom panel.

My best mate in Oz emailed me to say she'd ordered the same fabric from America to make a skirt too. Wish she was here standing by me now twin like in our skirts. Been too many years really, but we still manage to keep in sync and keep a great friendship going as best you can when you're both upside down to each other.

Now if you fancy having a go at the patterns from this book you need to know the measurements are way off for us Brits. I measured as a L (which I thought was odd anyways) and made a cord skirt in the winter this size. When I put it on it fell off me, so I had to do loads of altering which was a pain as I'd sewn all the seams up properly like it said. Normally I just chuck stuff together if it's for me. This time I cut out a medium and still had to take the sides in a wee bit more.

I was really pleased when a couple of mums, who sew, stopped in the playground to ask me about the skirt. I'll definately be making this one again as skirts in the shops are always way too short for me. I always end up thinking they're kiddies skirts and then realise it's just a height thing.

Are you awake yet?

2011-07-03T03:01:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning Little Bun snuggled up for a 7 o'clock cuddle and long chat. I was a mumbling sleepy head who who made no sense so she got her DS out to play. Half an hour of beeping and fidgeting later I gave up trying to keep my eyes shut. I'm most definately not a morning person, all my lot are.

In the end I plumped up the pillows and went off to find some yarn and a hook.

By half nine I'd worked up these colourful blobs and stars. I've fancied a hooky garland of my own for a while now and my early morning brain could cope with the idea of this one.

I even got brought my post and coffee in bed. Service is good around here you know. I had a lovely thank you card from a friend which made me think I should write properly more often. It's so lovely getting a surprise in the post rather than the brown envelope depressing surprises that normally come through the letter box.

Anyway - back to my garland. For now I've hung it up at the window over my laptop.

I don't know where I'll put anymore garlands, but I want to make more and more.

Off for a family BBQ this afternoon. Hopefully the Pimms will be a flowing. Wonder if I'll end up looking as daft as this smily face the Bun's made and took a photo of for me.

Swapping

2011-07-01T16:04:00.000-07:00

This Thursday was an INSET day which meant the Bun's had a extra day off school. I swapped work days around to be with my lovelies. No car boot for me this Wednesday, but then the treasure's been getting pretty thin lately.

We managed to get Mr Bun to take the day of too to join in the fun. A day that feels stolen in the middle of the week always feels special, something good has to be done.

We chose a picnic at the beach, rock-pooling and then playing the penny arcades, icecreams on the pier, crazy golf and chips for tea. Half-way there I remembered my camera that I'd forgotten to pick up. No piccies of our wonderful day, but I liked just doing and not thinking about taking pictures for a change.

On the way home I picked up the first dahlia's of the year from the village lady. I love these bright splodgy flowers which always make me think of heavy oil paintings.

The gorgeous basket beside them was a new to me buy today. My mum invited me to lunch and on the way there I stopped for my fleamarket and charity shop fix. I couldn't believe my luck when I found this gem in perfect nick.

The other thing I wanted to show are our stunning hollyhocks. We used to have them growing at the back, until the hens dug them up last year. Somehow they've blown on the wind and swapped where they rock colourfully to and fro. Each day I come home I'm greeted by this lovely sight so I'm glad they decided to pop up here instead.

What a To do and a To Dah

2011-06-27T11:31:00.000-07:00

I had the most horrible cold in the world last week. Everything ached, I had no energy, my throat was sore and I covered everything in sneezes. I managed to keep going until Thursday and then I just gave in. Not that there's much of a chance of being properly indulgently ill anymore. I did manage to do a lot of ignoring of the usual stuff though and watched the dirt build in little piles around the place.

I also managed to lift my feeble hands to keep going on with my Japanese Flower scarf. This morning I made the last flower. Yay.

No ends sewn in or flattening/stretchy thingy done as yet. Don't think I'll be needing an aran weight scarf anytime too soon though. Definately not today when it's been in the 30's.

I'll need a skirt made out of this though, so better get a wiggle on before we're back to rain and wind. I picked it up as I rummaged around J.Lewis' yarn sale bins. Rowan Calmer for a jumper for Eldest, material for me.

Somehow I've got this idea that I'll be able to work magic. She likes this jumper which is far too grown-up and in completely different wool. I'm having a try at knitting it with less yarn, but bigger needles. I thought if I re-worked the back so it matches the front and make it a bit shorter it might work. I can't do the maths so fingers crossed I don't run out by the last sleeve like I did with the last sale yarn.

One other thing that I should be knitting up first is poor Elsie. She's been waiting patiently for her ears, legs, tail and eyes for an age now and I did mention something about trying to finish stuff I've started didn't I.

The other happening around here is about the hedgehog rescue centre I seem to have set up. On Thursday I crawled home from work and thought it was Timothy (the baby hedgie from earlier in the week) looking all floppy on our front lawn. I tucked him up in a box and called for advice. I found out he needed a hot water bottle as hypothermia kills them quickly if they're out in the day and how to feed him. I was also told to check Everywhere for fly eggs as they eat hedgies alive. We kept changing the bottle and spoon feeding until in the evening we saw Timothy wandering about. So it turned out that this one was a new hedgie and the third I've ended up looking after in a couple of weeks.

We made a nursing hospital in the old guinea pig run and tucked him up for the night with a warm bottle. Mr Bun was so thrilled when he made it through the night and had moved about a bit and eaten. It was so sad when we checked later on and found he'd died as we thought we'd made him stronger. As Rolf would say "poor lil' fella" .

Floral Symmetry

2011-06-22T07:05:00.000-07:00

Just after I got all excited about finding just the right fabric for making up a new bag I found these flowers. A lady in our village sells plants, fruit and flowers with an honesty jar for payment. On the way home with the Buns from school I picked up bunch after bunch - cornflowers, yellow things, sweet williams, sweet peas and daisy type things.

In the usual way of doing a million trillion things at once I only had time to plonk them all in a jar. Masses of little bugs flew all about the kitchen - yuk.

Now the flowers are scattered around the place in jam jars and vases scenting and cheering up the rooms.

When I finally got to sew up my bag today I realised how much this fabric is like my collection of summer blooms.

I only had enough to cover the front, make a strap and use a small piece for the back. The rest has been patched with some old red spot from Cath.

I only bought a metre of this red spot and so far it's covered a pouffe, lined tons of stuff and I even managed to find enough to make the bathroom blind. Such good thrifty fabric.

I'm thrilled with my new bag. Off to road test it now with a spot of after school shopping.

Now Where was I ?

2011-06-20T09:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday seemed to be a celebration of eating and playing. Father's Day was a good excuse to just be as a family, snuggle up and have a good time.

Afternoon tea in our new/old Meakin teacups with the Bun's not so cheesy heart shaped cheese scones made with love for daddy.

Now it's that fabulous day Monday. I no longer work on a Monday so I get to tweak just that little bit longer out of my weekends. Little Bun felt plain rubbish today so she joined me too to enjoy a stolen Monday at home.

We came back from the school run to find Mr Postie had delivered a happy parcel from Jane.

See, in Mr Bun's gorilla mug, those candy coloured hooks, well Jane really kindly sent them to me as I'd asked where she got them from. What a lovely start to a day.

When I got in the kitchen I saw my love had picked the sweetest smelling rose for me. See my freshly painted windowsill. I painted and painted all the cupboards on Saturday until the kitchen was finished. Thing is I did it back to front and I forgot the walls and ceiling because I got excited by the blue paint I found in the garage. Then I found these too short curtains. Something must be done with them.

While I did the usual morning hang washing, feed the hens and put the rabbity/guinea pigs out I spied a little spiky ball.

The ladies were really unimpressed as I forgot to feed them, but fed our new visitor. They shrieked which set off Alfie Blue who ran around barking at all the hedges. So it's not all as peaceful as it looks.

Little Bun thought it made for the best kind of ill day and has named hedgie Timothy.

For the rest of the day I was strict with myself. I get too sidetracked by starting new things and leaving baskets filled with cut up half sewn, half made stuff. I've been trying to finish up some of the stuff I've started and today I finally sewed up Little Bun's school bag which I started well over a month ago.

I had instructions for the shape, type of handles, colour and that it had to have an M on it, the rest was up to me.

I patched together an M from some of her old dresses and tops. It looked a bit dull on it's own so I added a wee mouse to crawl up the M. It's a real hit, bag charms have already been added.

Now I can be rewarded with starting something else I reckon. I made this bag for me a year or two ago and use it quite a lot. I really want a red one, but haven't had the inspiration for fabrics so far.

Then when I unloaded the washing machine I stared at my fabric stash and saw the bottom florally vintage fabric peeking out. It's one I absolutely love and so I'd hidden it away waiting for something good to happen to it.

I'm definately going to mix it with the red spots, but I'm not too sure if I'll use my new blue at the top. Hopefully there'll be more sewing time around tea and then on to working through some more of the last sixteen flowers on my Japanese Flower wrap tonight. Wonder what other plans and ideas will bubble away.

Action was Needed

2011-06-17T15:24:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd find the time to pop back in here in the week. Tell you a bit of this and that, but other stuff happened. Two busy teaching days sandwiched between lots of happy family stuff.

It was wonderful reading your well wishes on my last post. Mr Bun said "what lovely people". You are you know. I really appreciate each and every comment I get. I get frustrated about the balance between writing a post, enjoying getting comments and then finding time to stop by and say hello too. Around the demands of teaching part-time, which then filters into my days off too when I'm trying to run my own business and just wanting to be a mummy and a daydreamer, alongside having a husband who just doesn't DO DIY, I fail miserably to be a good blogger. This is a constant part of the deal of blogging this back and forth. It all works because of the support and the friendliness and if I feel I'm not keeping my end up I feel guilty. I'll have to keep on feeling bad though because the reality is I can't do it all, so my apologies.

Snippets of the week include school shoes which needing buying. Little Bun's feet were all scrunched up in her shoes so there was no way she could limp along to the end of July. Such badly behaved feet aren't they to grow before the end of term. Then there have been friends for tea and catching up with mine for a quick natter.

I quickly ran up a sample mini-purse after work on Tuesday just because. I'm really pleased with it and have used it for my lipstick and powder all week. I'll use interfacing to stiffen them up a bit when I make more as vintage fabrics are quite floppy, expecially soft feedsacks like this one.

After seeing that hideous photo of me (which I showed you in my last post) all I could think about was getting my hair bobbed again. I ran to the hairdressers with indecent haste on Wednesday desperate to get me back again.

Thank goodness she knew exactly what I was after and snipped and snipped until my hair stopped looking like a huge wig. I did long hair once, but I think I'm going to give up on that one now. Growing hair is so slow and dull, it's really not for me.

Today I'd planned to do a thing or two with these delicious fabrics I bought on Monday. The one at the bottom (in case you wondered) is a cotton Lecien print which feels wonderful to touch and the others are repro 1930's prints. Instead the painting bug hit me. I re-painted all the bathroom and kitchen tiles and then started on the kitchen cupboards. Now the house stinks and the furries keep sneezing.

Baking beckons tommorow. Cheese scones and other goodies for Father's Day presents need to be made. Hopefully I'll find time to have a play with the new additions to my stash too.

Royal Treats

2011-06-13T03:14:00.000-07:00

Before I tell you all the news of the weekend, I really really must tell you about something we've had to keep a secret for a while now.

My incredibly talented, driven and compassionate husband has added another award to his collection. In 2003 he set up his business Blue Cat Initiative as a Social Enterprise to provide training and education to vulnerable learners. At the time he was Head of Media Studies in a college and an Educational Consultant for government programmes. He had the choice to either climb the ranks or follow his heart. After hearing Tony Benn talk in London he came home fired up and knowing it was time to act on his plans and ideas. As a committed Socialist and lecturer he knew there were far too many barriers to learning faced by so many which stopped them living the lives they deserved. He has worked tirelessly over the years creating projects, seeking funding for them, having a business lunch with Princess Anne and politicans who have the power to make change and has seen the small and large successes of those who have benefited from the projects accumulate.

This morning his invitation to the Palace to receive the Queens Award for Blue Cat came through the door.

He was notified over a month ago, but was told to tell no one until June 5th. Just before this he was also awarded funding to ensure Streetlife Soccer, a sport and education project he designed for homeless people, would be able to run for another five years. The successes on this project have been phenomenal.

I very rarely talk about my marvellous man as this is my space and he doesn't really want to inhabit it. He's such a star with the wickedest humour that makes me laugh like a drain and I still go weak at the knees when I look at him. We're a great team and as always he was there to help and support me this weekend for the Pick 'n' Mix Makers Market. See enough of him now, lets talk about me me me.

If you pop on over to the Pick 'n' Mix blog you'll see the stunning work that was brought to market on Saturday. If you do visit then it would be great if you left a comment as I'd love to hear what you think.

Throughout the day I hit the streets with gorgeous Zoe to spread the word. She was decked out in an ever changing array of hats and fascinators which are designed and made by her mum. I was lent a yellow fascinator to wear. I don't have a photo which is probably a good thing.

Mr Bun and Alfie Blue manned the welcome desk wonderfully. Alfie had four girlie Pugs come to visit and say hello which was a bit overwhelming for him. Mr Bun also ran a great creche with makers and our own children lined up beside him playing hang man.

Now I'm only showing you this because some of you asked to see the dress. I'm in shock by how matronly and mumsy I look. Note to self need to lose weight and growing my hair maybe isn't such a good idea.

We had a wonderful day, full of laughter and hard work. I brought a couple of gnomes home with me from Sasha. I could buy all of her work as it's sensational. New to the homestead are Geoffrey and Mimi.

Little Bun bought a purple sheep brooch from Penny. She was quivering with delight when she found them.

Sara , who is behind Wildwood, brought me a pack of these delightful Donkey cards which was so kind of her. I had only just seen her on the Friday as I ended up rescuing a hedgehog who was dragging its leg across the road. It was near her cottage so I called in for numbers of rescue places. Instead of my planned sewing I ended up racing around the countryside with another friend Lizzie in search of a vet we'd been told about. Hedgie all delivered and doing well.

I'd only popped out to collect my new business cards before I found my new spiky friend.

Well what a whirlygig of stuff to tell you. Apologies for it being such a long one, but I couldn't wait to tell you in lots of smaller posts.

Pick 'n' Mix

2011-06-09T15:14:00.000-07:00

After the rollercoaster ride of juggling the demands of my teaching job with home life and a visit to Mr Rod Stewart, I can finally concentrate on the main thing in my mind. My list of to do's for those last minute things for Pick 'n' Mix seems to be getting a bit shorter. That worries me a bit as then I end up thinking I've forgotten something, but it all seems to be ticketyboo and shipshape.

Most importantly I have a dress all hanging and waiting for me to wrap myself into it. In the week I was just passing Ruth's shop Glory Days. I only popped in to say hello and then gave in to full blown temptation. While we sat there chatting over her sewing machine, my eyes kept wandering to a dress I'd thought about for a good while.

All of a sudden there it was, wrapped in tissue paper, in a bag and off I went as happy as Larry. It's made by Kind Hearts who make fabulous clothes. It doesn't really look so exciting on the hanger. On it gives the illusion I'm a lot slimmer and has a lovely girlie frill that hides up knees I'm not so keen on. I always like a good excuse for a dress I've waited a whole year for.

At the midweek Car Boot I got all excited to see tons of tents up for sale. I didn't have enough paper stuff with me, so I hope they'll be back so I can buy one. I used to do the more glamorous version of camping all over the UK and Europe many a moon ago. By that I mean lipstick at all times and an airbed, no roughing it. Anyways I want to show the Bun's how there's nothing like sleeping under the stars. When I saw this flask in town later on I decided it was a fairly good start to our camping kit. Start small and work up.

I did have enough pennies at the boot for these lovelies.

And this. Can you believe the seller called it tat? Mr Bun roared with laughter when he saw the kitten. He thinks I'm turning our home into an old folks home, but that's ok as he thinks it's funny.

Somehow tommorow I've got to turn this pile of fabric into purses, make some more hangers, collect cards from the printers and loads more stuff than I think the day is long.

Oh and wash and iron all these cloths I found at the car boot too to pretty up the cafe tables at Pick 'n' Mix. It'll get done won't it?

See you the other side with pics of the market and tales of our goings on.

Spendy Ways

2011-06-06T06:33:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much for your good wishes for yesterday's market. It was a wonderful day for a market that I love being part of. Heydon is small village with only one road in and out, Little Vintage Lover take over the wooden WW1 hut and set stalls up in and around it with music being played by DJ 78. Such a magical day, but I'm sorry I have no photos as I was busy selling, chatting - oh and buying a few things too.

I was so happy to find this gorgeous Meakin casserole dish. I thought it had an extra £10 on it and thought it good value at that, but no I'd upped the price so I grabbed it quick. That's the beauty of selling at these markets, you get first dibs.

It was love at first sight for this wee kitten. I knew the Bun's would love her. When I got back to my stall a friend thought it a compliment that I looked like the kitten.

Mr Bun got an early Fathers Day present. I sort of wanted it for me too, but a gifts a good excuse for spending my profits.

On my second trip around the stalls later on, I couldn't believe I'd missed these beautiful frosted, flowery pressed glass plates. They're just beyond beautiful to me. Beautiful blue buttons couldn't be resisted either and neither could this cloth that I grabbed when we were packing up.

Today I went on a quick cake and catch up jolly with a friend and had to have a quick look in the Sally Army shop. Another £1.50 lighter and I have a new blanket and a sweet wee basket to cheer up a rainy Monday.

A busy week ahead now as I need to plan this weeks teaching, Rod Stewart's concert on Wednesday night with my mum and mad auntie plus so so much to do and make for Pick 'n' Mix. I've added all our final makers to the blog today so it would be lovely if you stopped by to have a look see. Full steam ahead for me.

Wishing you all a lovely and productive week.

I'm late, I'm late ...

2011-06-04T16:27:00.000-07:00

Why oh why is it always last minute with me? Tommorow is Little Vintage Lover Fair in Heydon and as usual I'm stitching up to the last.

Today I've finished up two cushions, a pile of brooches and edged some vintage towelling I've turned into hand towels. I'm really pleased with all I've done so all good there, no panic honest.

I love my Roundabout Cushions and need to get hooking in circles again pretty soon to work through the other orders I have for them. I think a basket of wool will be coming with me as I am on a makey roll at the moment.

The cushions that make me happiest at the moment are my Candysplash Patchy Cushions. I think it's the childhood memories these 1960's and 70's fabrics bring back. Mind you I remember dark purple wallpaper covered in brown owls in my bedroom too, so it wasn't all zingy and jolly back then.

In the middle of all this last minute busy I ran out of Bobo Bun labels. Then I thought I could make my own. I think I like these just as much.

Somehow we packed the four of us, the dog, furniture and boxes and boxes of my stuff into the car later on. We dropped the three cuties off and Mr Bun and I went to Holt to put up the signs and banner for next weeks Pick 'n' Mix Makers Market. We even managed to drop most of my stuff off in Heydon.

I'm looking forward to tommorow as it's always a lovely day in Heydon. Lots of small nitty gritties to sort out for Pick 'n' Mix and then suddenly it'll be the day itself, I can't wait. It always feels the same as organising the lovliest party just the way you always dreamed of.

Summer Workroom

2011-06-03T02:02:00.000-07:00

Eldest Bun was very poorly with food poisoning yesterday. Little Bun was so disappointed as we had an exciting day planned with Grandma. We swapped our days around so Grandma went to work so she could have today off and I worked instead of working today. Problem solved.

Once Eldest Bun slept the afternoon away my full-time nursey role was over. Little Bun and I played with the angel cards for a bit and then made plans.

I painted a table and a few other bits and bobs while she painted posters and drew pictures of her toys. We chatted about this and that catching up on her news and views.

Later I brought my work outside while she showed me her skipping act. It was slow progress - hook a few - "watch this mummy", " hang on a mo", " are you ready now?" - I kept reminding myself these moments are irreplaceable, so I slowed down and just enjoyed watching her.

Most of the flowers I made while I sat with Eldest Bun in the morning. I think I made two during the skipping show.

I made a new brooch on Tuesday night based on a favourite of mine in felt. I wore it to the beach and I love it. I love the size and how the colours work so well together. The plan is to make a few more to take with me to LVL on Sunday and Pick 'n' Mix Makers Market next week.

When Little Bun ran in to see her sister and daddy I stayed, enjoying the sun and watching the ladies decide which plant to wreck next.

It's slow progress working outside, but so relaxing. We dream of having a Shepherds Hut one day and then maybe I'll be out here more and more stitching and knitting away.

Thankfully my beautiful girl is so much better today and eating lots of toast. A morning of sewing for me and then off to the Grandparents for us.

The Famous Five & an Awfully Big Dog

2011-06-02T02:24:00.000-07:00

We got invited to go on an adventure to North Norfolk yesterday. We set off early as it was going to be a long drive with us hitting 40mph at our top speed. As I'm the driver in our house it was a real treat to be a passenger for once. I made sure I packed my knitting along with the picnic and bucket and spades.

Chatting and knitting in the front, giggling and singing in the back.

When we arrived at Holkham we unloaded the awfully big dog (Maisie) and set off through the trees to the beach.

After a short wander through the pinewood that encloses the beach ...

you come out to this most wonderful of views. What Norfolk is famous for, Big Blue Sky.

The sea is always at low tide when we come so it's a bit of a route march to find anything wet. Across the samphire and sea bed until we find the perfect spot to set up camp.

The Bun's and their friend are happily playing in the water channels so we take Maisie for a stroll. She cracks along at a pace with the wind in her mane.

When we come back for lunch her manners are appalling. She nibbles on the end of the french bread and tries to steal our picnic. She gets plenty of carrot and apple treats to keep her happy before she settles to just watch the world go by.

After lunch and out of wet cossies Maisie wants to join in with the digging and keeps nudging Little Bun for attention.

Before we leave this glorious day behind we go for one last long stroll along the beach all wandering as happy as can be.

Then it's time to head back. Grass and water for Maisie, icecreams for the Five.

Last stop, fish and chip supper at Wells Harbour before we climb aboard the big bus sleepy, happy and content.

This week I've mostly been ...

2011-05-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

Another week has whizzed by and finally I can sit down to ramble away about a bit of this and a bit of that.

Well going all the way back to Wednesday - the car booty was good fun. I bumped into a few friends for a catch up which was good, but treasure was thin on the ground. The best find was this 1950's sugar or honey pot. I love the long ladley spoon.

After the car boot I realised that even though I'm growing my hair it badly needed a sorting out. Once your children tell you as kindly as they can how rubbish your hair's looking you know it's time to get it sorted. I booked in for a cut with a man who used to style our hair in the 80's when a bunch of very tall friends and I used to model. We had a fabulous nostalgic catch up and a good laugh to boot.

By Friday I was getting itchy for half-term and lie ins. I taught crochet in the morning and then spent the pennies straight away on lunch with a much loved friend.

Yesterday was my mum's birthday and we wanted to make her feel fabulous for the day. Bunting was strewn everywhere, handmade gifts were wrapped and after a morning baking cakes, pastries and a cooked lunch ready in the oven we started the party. I can't believe we managed a huge lunch and then a full on birthday tea too, might be why we're all groaning today.

My folks came bearing a gift too, some more of their delicious sloe gin which I might have a snifter of while I'm cooking the tea.

I've been madly knitting away in the evenings, making up goodies to sell this weekend at Little Vintage Lover Fair.

First on the list are covered hangers as inspired by Jane Brockett. I'll also make a few hooky and fabric covered ones too.

I've been loving the colours and the soft yarn I'm using. Usually I work with cotton, but I sorted through my stash for the exact colours I had in mind and could only find merino and cashmere mixes.

While the Bun's skipped on the lawn today I found a quiet minute to sew up a couple of Happy Hangers. I made the small bobble flowers for my first ones, but might add cherries and butterflies to the other ones.

Now I can hear the fizz fizz fizzing of a pink gin calling me so I'd best be off. Happy Holidays if you're on half-term.