Friends..

Just popping in to say hello and hoping all is well with you lovely girls out there.So happy that January is finally over- am snowed under with work and the shop etc and wish the light was better for taking photographs-not long now though....I really enjoy reading about all your news and your amazing creations..such a tonic..

Have a great week.

Much Love Anne x

Secret Santa...

This was last Sunday at Heidi's.There were eight of us, me. Heidi, Liv, Laura,Linda,Jules,Jilly and Rosella. We ate Mexican drank bubbly and had a perfectly lovely evening.It was our Secret Santa night.Before Christmas at the Open House we pulled names from a hat and in the spirit of present financial restraint, the idea was to buy something for a pound,something from a charity shop and make something.Well it was very interesting to see how different the interpretations were.A lot of thought and fun went into the exercise.On the handmade front there was a cushion, a corsage, a crochet hook folder,a padded heart and a keepsake box.( I wish I had taken photos)

I picked Linda and I managed to find a Caroline Gardner calendar for a pound, a pair of lovely glass water goblets for a couple of pounds and I made Linda a patchwork bag from all sorts of scraps, including a Laura Ashley skirt.It is rosy on one side and cool blues on the other side.I had real trouble parting with it and intend to make one as my new school bag.

         It is a nice thing to do and it really does let your creative muses fly.
                                     Thanks girls for a lovely evening.

Back to school.......

As part of our commitment at school we have to offer after-school activities or lunchtime clubs to all our pupils.Over the years I have done many things,ornithology,calligraphy,art & craft,model making,knitting,nature club and gardening.However,I like to have a change and far better to do something that I enjoy rather than just filling in time.So last term I started a Junior chef club,which has been so popular and is is a real pleasure to teach.I have thirteen very enthusiastic chefs(aged 8-10yrs) who have their own aprons,chopping boards and peelers etc.We have learned how to make  soup,bread,chutney,pies,crumbles and sauces and then lately we did  cakes,mince pies and then finished the term with cake decoration which was really enjoyable.I just wanted to show you some of their efforts. Children are far more conditioned to' have a go and never mind the consequences' and I let them loose with fondant icing and edible glitter etc and they had a wonderful time......I think they did really well.

My other club is on a Tuesday lunchtime and I teach sewing to twenty girls aged

(5to10 yrs}They start off with very simple things like needlecases and pincushions and then graduate onto embroidery,patchwork,cushions and bags.Some of the older girls use the machine and are learning to cut out patterns.We have made heart cushions for mothers day, mice,angels and this term we made owls out of felted woolly jumpers and stuffed them with lentils and kapok so they are like beanie owls.

Here are a few of the finished, rather quizzical looking owls.

So I am happy to be at school again. I am not a great cook or particularly skilled with a needle but I am keen to pass on the domestic arts and I think it is really important not to just teach but to inspire and enthuse children.....and sadly many of these things are no longer on offer in our schools.

Have a great weekend

Anne x

Miss Betty..................

As some of you will know I have one elderly dog and two tabby cats,Tom is nearly fifteen and Billy is nine.Over the course of twenty six years tigether John and I have had many cats- twelve in total all of whom have been waifs and strays or who have just wandered into our lives,Chalky our white cat, much beloved by both sons and nephews just appeared in our living room one morning and never left.He lived five doors down but he wasn't cared for and they would leave him out in all weathers with no shelter.I really believe that 'Six Dinner Sid 'style some cats choose their owners.Anyway to get back to the point,about a month ago my eldest son appeared at the foot of my bed early in the morning to tell me he had got me a present and then produced this little kitten.Apparently the owner was going to get rid of her as he couldn't afford to keep her. As it was six am and he had woken me up I can tell you quite honestly I was not terribly grateful.I really didn't want another cat and I really didnt feel it was fair on  Tom who is an old man and doesn't need all the hassle.Really didn't want to start with litter trays  etc.Well she is not the prettiest cat in the world but she is so affectionate  and sweet natured and the fact that she is a girl is a real plus.Ive only ever had one female and she was my best and beloved Cleo who was seventeen when she died and I miss her to this day.So I wanted to introduce you to Betty who is a naughty little cat full of mischief but very enchanting  and intelligent and I am afraid I am besotted.She is sitting on my arm as I am trying to type this and she is reading every word.So Betty is my best present not just for Christmas but for life.

She loves my vintage shopping basket which is hanging on a coat rail- yes she loves to climb.

                 There is one member of the family who is not too impressed.

                                  This is Billy sulking and giving me that look......



Happy New Year..

Well, as I had a five am start to the day yesterday, it was a case of very early to bed and for the first time in years I did not welcome in the new year and I missed Jules Holland.Yesterday was not a day for resolutions as I spent the day lozzicking on the sofa watching Harry Potter and Twilight in between cooking a aroast dinner and dying the grey out of my sad  middle aged locks.With all the gloom and doom which they say lies ahead I think stubborn optimism is the way forward and all the austerity measures will perhaps make us all appreciate the simple things in life a lot more so I don't intend to make any drastic changes to my life, just small alterations and simple appreciations.......
One of the things I really do hold dear are the kind thoughts friends and family have put into my Christmas presents.I received such lovely things and was quite moved by everyones thoughtfulness and generosity ...

A beautiful vintage tablecloth from a good friend and some gorgeous books.I love the pictures in Sophie Dahl's ook and love Kirstie's no nonsense language  and common sense.

                  A pretty corsage and bunting from Cheryl ...I love them......

A Cath mug and fabby White stuff wristwarmers from Jules, a collar from John which is soooo warm and a vintage clock from Jenny....

 Love poems from John.....I really love Laura Stoddart's illustrations and have several of her books.

A lovely cushion that Mum bought at the Vintage and Homespun Fair

 Another gorgeous cushion which Jules bought from Rosella who crocheted the hearts.I nearly fainted when I opened it.Its soooo pretty and I think Jules had a hard time parting with it -And as you know I am in great need of cushions..........

Some very cleber felt bunting made by Jules which is currently adorning my dresser

 Jules also made me this pretty snood which is very thoughtful as I wear a lot of scarves etc to keep my neck warm as I am prone to sore throats...It is so soft and warm...

 Just had to show you Jules's wrapping .....she sewed padded baubles out of Christmas fabric and crocheted stars.......How pretty is that????????

I am out done again !!!!!!!!!

It's funny that how ever much we think we are over Christmas there is a small voice that is saying next year I shall.......

Happy New Year to you all wishing you good health and small joys.

Anne x

PS.There is one present I haven't shown you.That's for my next post....

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.