Belated good wishes...

Well, where did December go? After a very nasty bout of 'flu which really took its toll and desperate travelling conditions every day for a month.Just walking the dog was a major undertaking.... Lots of things happening at the shop and the fact I broke my camera then lost the connecting cable to the lap topnI have been a bit quiet....

It was then time for carol services, nativity plays, twilight tea parties,christmas parties and final assembly followed by a bit of this....

Well actually a lot if wrapping.Which resulted in this.....omg....

I do like to add a tree decoration to each present as a little extra.I enjoy the whole angst about buying the right present and take a lot of pleasure in the wrapping usually,but due to a lot of sad news this year my heart was not really in it .I also half heartedly did the decorations.The tree was up a whole weeek with only lights on it..I went for a homespun look of sorts with accents of red and turquoise.

last year I did just white which always looks lovely.

We spent a really lovely Christmas day at my sister's house and she is the most brilliant host.Her sons were with their dad and we always miss them.However, they are all home for New Year so hopefully we can all get under the same roof for a while.
We didn't do much except eat and drink and watch terrible telly.It snowed again so getting Mum and her two rather ancient retrievers in and out of the landrover was a whole other story......So December just passed by in a flash.I found my cable today in my dressing table drawer!!(It's the menopause-I look in that same drawer every day of my life !!!!!) so I will be able to be a bit more talkative henceforth..Still have lots to tell but have really enjoyed reading all your tales of Christmas present.Have got to go to work now and wade through all the puddles as the thaw is well and truly under way.Hope you all had not the perfect Christmas but the best with famiy and friends.
With much love and best wishes to you all you lovely ladies out there in blogland.

Anne x



Homestead Open House

Well the elements were well and truly against us.It has snowed a little bit (12" at least) in these parts just lately and travelling has been quite stressful.I have been late for school just about every day.Heidi held her annual Open House on Sunday and Monday but the footfall was not so great due to the bad weather which is a shame as it was so lovely.My photos really don't do it justice at all.I think it was largely due to my camera having a broken screen and me running a temperature which has now developed into a nasty flu like virus which has kept me in bed for the last twenty four hours..the stress that this is causing is another post...Anyway here is a little taste of what was on offer.It was so nice to be able to buy unusual gifts.We are all having a meal and doing a secret Santa which consists of something made,something for a pound and something from a charity shop.This will be a bit of a challenge.Certainly the making bit,charity shop no problem...

Heidi's lovely lavender in beautiful vintage containers....

Linda's lovely pictures

Rosella's crocheted items and fabulous cushions

Just a quick view of the road to Scarborough which hasn't had much snow compared to the foothills of the NY Moors.I will post some really snowy pictures when fully recovered.

Loving the Love bakery

Definitely one to add to the wish list,girls.

Love bakery,cupcakes from the heart!Just look at these inspirational photos...

Really must have a go at these pretty Christmas cakes with the children at school

1. 
   
   
   

These mood boards are great idea....

Hot water bottle love....

It has been a bit chilly in these parts with ice and freezing fog but I love this time of year.I like to come home light the woodburner and the cinnamon candles( so you can't see the squalor that is engulfing my house now I'm back at school and still living with three men and writing school reports!!!!!!!) However,girls we must cosy up and what better way to do it than turning off the central heating in a fit of frugality -Oh,okay, turning it down a notch and hugging a hot water bottle.I love them.Does anyone out there remember Walter Hottle bottle and Harold Hare in the Playhour comic?(Don't know where that came from)

                            The above two were made from vintage blankets.

 I am so loving this gorgeous russian doll hottie available from my online shop

and her little sister the hand warmer.......

Also the first thing I do before the crossword, one episode of Scrubs and a cappucino is put on my slippers.I love these Lisbeth Dahl crocheted beauties also available online....

Oh an I nearly forgot.Further distractions from my reports....

A little disappointing this year, as last year I feel.I prefer Homes and Antiques which has some brilliant ideas for thrifty but unusual presents.I will post about this soon.

                                                 New wool for cushions......

This scarf is from Monsoon for children and belongs to one of our four year olds and I love it and am desperately trying to work out how to make it.I love the colour combination..

Have to get back to my reports so hope you are all feeling well and not getting too despondent.It's nearly the weekend.

Much love Anne x

Infant art: Part 2...

Just wanted to share some drawings done by some of the six year old girls in my class...I love the attention to detail and the colours....

                                              Have a great weekend

Anne x

Homespun and Vintage fair.....small beginnings....

I had a lovely day on Saturday, yes I know it's now Thursday but it's been another hectic week...I went with Mum and Jules to the first Homespun and Vintage fair which was hosted by Cheryl and Linda and was held in the Friends Meetings House which is such a great  

venue   .It was very well attended and there was a lot of really lovely things to buy,from Vintage items for the home to  handmade corsages and cushions and also fabric and knitting and sewing notions, jam,chutney, cakes and delicious handmade chocolates.....

This is the lovely Andrea who works at Bespoke Country Collection.She makes the loveliest cards and I am saving a very special one for my Christmas blog.So talented and very happy as she had pretty much sold everything by the end of the fair.

Quilts and cushions

Maxine ready to make a brew or two!!

Cheryl and Linda's handiwork...something for everyone....

I really wanted to take more photos to show you but it  was so busy and I was too busy shopping!!Congratulations to all the girls who took part especially to Cheryl and Linda.Thanks for a lovely experience...I will show you  some of my shoppoing in another post

Anne x

Thursday thoughts.......

Morning,girls.Have had a jolly hard time uploading photos so in desperation I turned everything off and now it's working so I thought I would post this litle photo and hope you will all do as you are told at least for today.We spend so much time doing stuff we dont want to do and stuff we do want to do foe other people that the stuff we do need to do for ourselves gets continually squeezed.

So,have a manicure,read a book,crochet/knit/sew all day.Pluck your eyebrows or in my case your chin(another menopausal delight.)Kick the leaves.leave the housework and do something lovely just for you.This is especially for my sister Jules who has been very run down lately and needs to be very good to herself from now on

http://julessewpretty.blogspot.com/)....

Anyway let me know what you do to be good to yourself...

This one is for me as I have to go to the dentist again today.Orthodontic cleansing and scraping yesterday-don't you just hate that! Dentist today......Im also going to tidy my sewing room which looks as if a cyclone has hit...see you later girls -have a good day.

Anne x

Bags and bags of up-cycling...

Well it was a wet Sunday.What's to do?Cosy up in the sewing room..

Take an old, felted woolly jumper, an faded tea towel, a pair of curtains(car boot bargain) a selection of needlecord dresses also from car boot collection,ribbon,buttons and a little bit of crochet and you have some really cheap and cheerful  not to mention unique Christmas presents.Jules and I had a lot of fun making these bags and feel pleased to be making pretty rubbish at very little cost......a splendid way to while away a rainy day.We also rediscovered our love of sherry which we love to drink at this time of the year..

The jumper and the tea towel and a lovely crocheted flower...

Curtains made from this gorgeous 1950's barkcloth.I really love this.... a few vintage buttons and the green ribbon was used as a cakeband last Christmas.

A patchwork of needlecord clothes and lots of little bits,ric-rac,lace,crochet....

Not to be out done Mum has been making gorgeous hats for gorgeous babies....

It was a great Sunday,Hope yours was good too......

Anne x