Five on Friday - Button Love

A busy week in the craft room catching up with a few jobs and designing a few bits and pieces for the children.  I will share these on another post.  The weird and wonderful weather continues, I have started to wear layers so that I can take off and add as needed.  Friday has come around a lot quicker than I would have liked, the time is flying by.  Consequently I am heading over to catch up with Amy over at lovemademyhome.blogspot.co.uk/ for the Five on Friday get together.  Using a book I was given for my Birthday for inspiration I have based my Five on Friday around makes using buttons.

 

One

 

First up is a pomander using two of my favourite things Harris Tweed and buttons.

 

 

Buttons were layered and threaded together using a pipe cleaner and then pressed into a frayed edge piece of Harris Tweed into a polystyrene ball.  A wide selection of buttons were used including, old new, used and vintage and looks quite striking hanging in a window.  Unfortunately due to the light and lack of photography skills I found it quite hard to photograph.

 

 

Two

 

I then went onto make a headband using a plastic base, wadding and an oddment of fabric.

 

 

I then simply stitched on a bow...

 

 

...embellished with two silver buttons.

 

 

Three

 

Once again inspired by the book, but adapting the idea slightly I made a little cluster of flowers.

 

 

These were crochet flowers that were used for my daughters wedding.  I made wreaths for the reception venue.  So now I always have a beautiful reminder of a lovely day sitting on my table.

 

 

Four

 

Using plastic combs, ribbon and buttons a rather delightful hair comb was made.

 

 

Ribbon was wrapped around the comb and then a hot glue gun used to adhere the buttons.  It was a quick and easy project to do but took me such a long time as I was playing with the buttons It was a joy to sort through them, remembering where they were bought or who gifted them to me.

 

 

Five

 

My final choice was a brooch,  one that I have made many times before and gifted to a lot of friends and family.  Once again using Harris Tweed and buttons as an embellishment.

 

 

They are looking a little flat at the moment but they fluff up well over time and fray a little giving them depth and character.

 

I  anticipate being busy all day as I intend to be in the kitchen baking and cooking preparing for our daughters and their little families to visit.  It was out eldest daughters birthday yesterday, she was 32 years old.  The time has flown by it certainly doesn't seem that long since she was a babe in arms.  My husband is also celebrating his birthday on Monday, like me he will be 21.  Take care and have a wonderful weekend.

 

See you soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With Silver Bells and Cockle Shells...

I cannot believe the change in the weather.  From a sunny and beautiful weekend we have a new weather system going through so the temperatures have dropped and we are once again back to rain, rain and more rain.  From having the windows opened as far as they would go we are now back to having them firmly shut.  Although the heating system is still off for the time been, we have resorted to lighting the stove.

 

The dancing flames, dazzling us with their beauty and warming our hearts.

 

 

From light salad lunches we are now back to hearty soup.

 

 

Leek and potato soup with cheese and tomato flatbread, a winter favourite.

 

Who would have thought we are half way through May!

 

The few days of decent weather gave us a taste of Spring and tantalized us with hopes of Summer and a bountiful garden crop.  In truth we now regret planting out the cauliflower and calabrese , the rain has given them quite a battering.

 

 

This little plant certainly looks a tad jaded.

 

The broad beans are growing steadily and have just started to flower.

 

 

The peas are just starting their journey and are showing great signs of growth.

 

 

The spring onions have gone from strength to strength and once again we are looking forward to enjoying the fruits of our labour.

 

 

We have tomato plants scattered all over in pots and hanging baskets co planted with French marigolds to keep the bugs away.

 

 

The lolla rossa lettuce is doing well for now, hopefully this adverse weather will not affect their growth.

 

 

Finally the rhubarb, ready for cutting again crumble is its destiny for the weekend.  We have the family coming.

 

 

 

 

 

How does your garden grow?  Thank you as always for your comments and visits, they really are appreciated and a very warm welcome to a new follower I hope you enjoy my little adventures through life.

 

See you soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Car Boot Treasure

What a glorious weekend with amazing sunshine and the temperatures creeping up, certainly is uplifting and makes you want to work outside.  I spent several hours in the garden potting on a variety of seedlings and transplanting some into the ground.  I hope that I have not been too previous having just watched the weather forecast for the week.  They are predicting yet another change in the weather system and the temperatures to drop.  Time will tell.  I will share my garden news in a later post.

We went for a stroll to  Hemswell Antiques Centre, they hold an enormous car boot sale as well.  I was looking for something special for my husbands birthday next week.  The whole family are coming to celebrate, exciting times.  I did get lucky with a vintage gift that I will share on a later post.  The sun certainly bought people out, both buyers and sellers were aplenty.  It was a crafters paradise with so many items for sale. There were lots of stunning antiques and vintage stalls a feast for the eyes, although the majority were a little rich for my purse.

I did come away with some bargains which include a rather large wooden stamp for the bargain price of 20p.  I don't have a project in mind but couldn't walk past it.  It was brand new still in its original packaging.

 

From the same stall, craft scissors for 20p, always handy for the children who are just starting out with scissors.

 

 

Roller tape for 10p a packet.

 

 

A blast from the past was this Sooty and Sweep pattern.  Whilst I will probably never knit them, the pattern did make me smile and is a wonderful addition to the collection.  Once again a bargain for 10p.

 

 

A crochet pattern for 10p, I love the flower in the centre of each square.  I have always got a blanket on the hook so this will be used many times I would guess.

 

 

I did have a good look through a stack of fabrics but the only one that caught my eye was this cord fabric with owls, there is well over 2 yards of it and I paid £1.  I have a pattern for a pinafore dress so I thought I might give it a go for one of the girls.

 

 

I bought a whole roll consisting of 100 yards of ribbon for £2.  At that price I can afford to be generous with the children's craft projects.

 

 

I also got lucky with yarn there was lots of it about.  Who would be able to walk past this beautiful alpaca wool for 20p per ball.  There were only 3 balls but the pleasure just touching it, I am really going to enjoy working with that.

 

 

Finally some door knobs for a project I am working on  for 50p each, I loved them.  They will certainly enhance a rather plain cupboard into something enchanting.

 

 

Hemswell Antique Centre is a real joy housing over 375 dealers in a former bomber airbase.  A joy for us both with so many different artifacts to browse.  Certainly somewhere I would definitely visit again.

 

See you soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Five on Friday

What a wonderful week, amazing what nice weather does for your spirits.  The rain has stopped and the temperatures are starting to creep up, long may it last.  I am joining Amy at Love Made My Home for the weekly get together, pop over and see what everyone has been up to.  This week I am sharing five things that have made me smile.

One

The warm, bright and sunny weather has brought people back out into their gardens, including me.  It is so nice to hear the hum of mowers, the chatter of little ones and music playing once again as we stroll through the village.  My garden is starting to look a little more presentable and starting to show a little colour.

 

Amazing what a little sun can do.

 

Two

 

The sun continued to dominate my week and make me smile with the return of the horses calling into the local for a pint.  A regular occurrence in the summer and one that always makes me smile.

 

 

Three

 

The tandems back out, always a sign of good weather and consequently making everyone smile.

 

 

Four

 

I was able to get the bed linen out on the clothes line to dry, the smell of fresh laundry, bliss!

 

 

Five

 

Due to my daughter and husband having to attend a funeral I was blessed with looking after Wilbur for the day.  What fun we had enjoying the garden, the park, the beach,  soft play and crafting.

 

 

Every super hero needs a nap...Granny did too!

 

 

Welcome to new followers, I hope you find something to enjoy as I continue my little adventures through life.  As always thank you for your lovely comments, my husband was thrilled with all your best wishes thoughts and prayers.   The good news the steroids are helping and he is able to walk a little now, the power of prayer is an amazing thing.  Hope you can find something to smile about.

 

See you soon.

 

 

 

 

 

...and so into May

Another couple of wonderful days with the boys, Wilbur and Hector.  We had so much fun in between the showers playing tag in the garden.  The dog gets a little over excited and barks but chases around and joins in the fun, he's just not very good when its his turn to be on.  We also had some great fun making puppets, a regular pastime with Granny.

 

Wilbur's imagination knew no bounds, making up tales of a Prince and shark.  My Mum had knitted them both Cardigans ready for the colder weather, who knew we would still be needing them in May.

 

 

May arrived with a bit of gust, but still a lot better than the strange mix of weather that we have been experiencing.  I generally browse the Diary of an Edwardian Lady and the not so well known Country Diary book of crafts at the beginning of each month for a seasonal look for inspiration. 

 

May certainly did not disappoint.

 

 

The illustrations are magnificent, a joy to behold.  I was enthralled with a beautiful Crochet Rose Camisole, I have browsed the pattern and it certainly appears doable.  I always seem to be making things for others and never really make a lot for myself so I am going to treat myself and focus on me for a little while.

 

 

Isn't it beautiful!  I can see myself in it.

 

 

The decision is made...a camisole top for ME.  I am excited, now where is the cotton yarn?

 

See you soon.