The Ugly Duckling

On our visit to Florida we often look at Antique Malls and shows, we visited the Garden Show earlier on in the year at Renningers Mount Dora and found some of the creations quite inspirational.  A picture frame caught our eye which had been painted and had chicken wire added to use in a shed for storing seed packets. We thought this would make a great noticeboard.

We had some old window frames in the work shop and some wire that had been taken from an old aviary from my parents garden.

 

Some beading bought for £2 and a paint job turned the ugly duckling into a beautiful swan.

 

Now I have the perfect notice board for my craft room.

 

A perfect addition, perfect to display photographs or my collection of vintage cards.

 

See you soon.

A Shift in Seasons

Apart from a walk around the car boot sale at Stickney Saturday morning, the rest of the weekend was spent down at my parents home, decorating the bedroom and cleaning carpets.  Only the kitchen left to do down there and we are on top of the jobs at that house.  My house is a different story...

I did manage a few quiet moments to make an arrangement in preparation for my nieces new baby girl expected shortly. I used a vintage holder and pink roses to make quite a statement piece.

 

Finished off with luggage tag and sparkly butterfly. 

 

The view at the back of my house is looking quite stark, a sure sign that Autumn is on the way.  The harvest done and the field empty.  Why is it the seagulls always follow the tractor?

 

There is a definite shift in the seasons, already the evenings are getting darker, there is a nip in the air in the morning and early evening.  Time to think about warmer clothing, throws and knitted socks...

Car Boot Treasure

First of all I would like to say a big thank you for all of your comments on my recent posts and also to welcome my new followers.  Yours comments are always appreciated, any questions I always try to get back to you personally.

The weather was looking a little overcast so not too sure if it was going to be a good day for car booting, but we decided to take the chance, I am really glad that we did.

We managed to get some glove puppets for the grandchildren for £1.

Children's books for 25p each, I say this every time I buy books, it never ceases to amaze me how little value is placed on a book.

 

£4 secured me a whole box of dressing up clothes, including masks and wigs.

 

Finally we managed to get our next project for a mere £20.  A solid wood piece of furniture for a bedroom, cupboard with drawers.  Watch this space.

 

All in all a very successful walk around the boot sale.  Anybody else manage to get some bargains?

 

See you soon.

Christmas Fabric Stash Busting

I always try to buy fabric after Christmas and in the sales so that I can be generous with the crafting projects.  I have managed to use a fair amount this week with lots of things been accomplished.  I have completed the throw for myself, which match the 2 fleece backed throws for the chairs.

 

The overall effect of them is quite pleasing.  I have put some gingerbread fabric onto a kitchen towel and added a gingerbread cutter for a gift. 

I intend to use the towel to line a Christmas hamper.  For Bertie my eldest Grandson I have made a cowboy boot fabric backed with dark green fleece throw for the end of his bed.  A perfect addition for his cowboy themed room.

 

Lily and Daisy have matching throws for their beds, using the fabric I used to make their Christmas sacks last year.

 

A pleasing overall effect bound with an added TY Jingle Beanie.  I have already embellished towels for Wilbur with some Christmas Mickey Mouse fabric and I have made him a shelf elf out of a kit that I bought from Mount Dora.

 

I also bought some vintage tree decorations that are yet to be made up from the same vendor at Renningers Street of shops, Mount Dora, Florida.

 

Slowly but surely I am getting through the Christmas fabric stash and making some lovely stocking gifts which is quite pleasing.  How are you getting on with Christmas preparations, or is Christmas in August too early for you?

 

See you soon.

 

Yarn Along

I have had a visit from my beautiful granddaughters, so I was able to pass the bag made with the really disappointing ribbon yarn along.  Lily loved it and insisted on taking it everywhere which was a great relief.

Daisy was gifted a crocheted headband complete with daisy which she loved.

 

She actually wore it all day which is unusual she doesn't usually like to have anything in her hair.

 

I have been reading lots of children's books with my granddaughters who have a great love of books.  One of their favourites We're going on a bear hunt, we never tire of it.  Another one is Guess how much I love you by Sam McBratney which is accompanied with squeals of delight.  Reading books together is one of my favourite pastimes along with colouring books whilst chatting.  The joy of being a Granny.

 

I am once again joining in the yarn alongwith Ginny over at Small Things

 

See you soon.

 

Garden Update

The courgettes have now finished but we had a good crop and really enjoyed them.  The last of the cabbage has been eaten by creatures unknown but probably slugs so the bed has been cleared.  They really have been brilliant a very tasty variety that I would be happy to have again.  The lettuce has been brilliant and had a lengthy harvest.  The leaves now are getting taller and producing leaves on long stalks, they are showing the classic signs of bolting.  It is still edible at the moment so we are picking some everyday for either lunch or dinner.

The beetroot continues to flourish and we have had several lots with salad.  The last of the harvest I intend to pickle ready to go with cold cuts over the Christmas period.

I have already frozen several portions of the dwarf green beans and there is still enough for several more.  They have been a real delight easy to keep tied up in the winds we have on this blustery coast.

The runner beans have also been a good crop but a nightmare to keep up because of bad weather, a good crop none the less and tasty.

The tomatoes have been amazing, we are now eating them on a daily basis either at lunch or dinner.  I intend to make a couple of jars of chutney in preparation for Christmas.

The chillies have been slow but continue to grow and the peppers have been amazing.

Leeks have been transplanted into a cleared bed from the mini greenhouse.

Finally the turnips are ready to be thinned out.

A rather pleasing set of crops from the garden thus far this year.  The hard work making and putting in the raised beds has been worth it as my husband can do so much more in the garden at this height.  It has become a lovely shared hobby with wonderful edible rewards.  Not enough for self sufficiency as is our dream but a pleasing first step. 

 

See you soon.