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Friday 30 November 2012

Christmas Posts .............

I am planning to write a new post everyday from now until Christmas Eve - I'm not sure if I will manage this, but the idea is that my blog is going to be my advent calender - and of course it's calorie free.

 advent calender
I love everything about Christmas, from finding or making special gifts for people I love, dressing the house, making all the lovely special food, and sharing my home with special friends and family.

You will all have guessed by now how much I love cooking, especially baking but this year I am a bit scared as I am still watching my diet. Since June I have dropped two full dress sizes, I have lost about 36 lbs which I am thrilled about, but I am really worried about the temptations that this festive time of year bring, as it's so easy to put weight back on again.

But I have been focused and I am committed to maintaining this healthy balanced lifestyle ( keep your fingers crossed for me!)

talk to you all on December 1st x
 




Thursday 29 November 2012

my creative space - more hats .............

It's Thursday and "my creative space" post is here again -  I'm sorry to be so repetitive but since last week I have been knitting hats in all shapes and sizes and love them so much I just had to share them with you. I hope my grandsons will be happy with them.


I promise this will be my last "hat" post - if you have seen my "yarn along" post you may have guessed that I am now hooked!  - just can't put my crochet hook down ( I am about to start my third granny striped cowl )

I hope you join me in visiting Kirsty over at "my creative space" for lots of inspiration.

Talk soon x

Wednesday 28 November 2012

yarn along - first ever granny striped cowl..............

For my yarn along post this week I am proud to present my first ever granny striped cowl and I love it. I am an avid follower of tangled happy and came across this amazing pattern for a crochet cowl. The pattern was created by Inverleith which is a lovely blog that I am going to be looking out for in the future.

I started the cowl yesterday and once you have completed the foundation chain it grows really quickly, the pattern suggests Cath Kidston colours but I used yarn from my stash and I think the colours have worked well.


My reading this week has been the indulgent kind where you curl yourself up on the sofa and lose yourself in the plot, oblivious to the rest of the world (especially at mealtimes). I started with a bad cold a few days ago so it's been a good excuse to rest up with a book and I chose one that I have been wanting to read for a while, Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell. I love crime and forensic novels and Patricia Cornwell has long been one of my favourite authors, this book doesn't disappoint.


I think it looks even better on  ............
Hope you all visit Ginny to support her yarn along post.

Talk soon x

Monday 26 November 2012

Round up of my week .........

It's been a few days since I last sat at my desk, life seems to have stepped up a gear. I thought I would give you a quick round up of what I have been up to. On Thursday I was invited to a ladies charity evening to help raise funds for Stockport Women's Centre. It was an opportunity to meet up with some good friends, dress up in our finery, and support a fantastic charity.

On Friday I took my dad into hospital as he was listed to have a hip replacement, the surgery was successful and he is recuperating well. Luckily the hospital is only a few miles away so I can visit him frequently and organise transport for my mum.

Saturday I was busy making small cakes for Alex's 10th birthday party, hard to believe he is so grown up.



On Sunday morning I made a big chocolate birthday cake as Vicky and Laura were bringing the children round to celebrate Alex's birthday as his party on Saturday was for big boys and girls only!

a cool dude but still loves candles!
and making a wish .................
Evenings have been spent knitting, my scarf and hat collection is growing and I will soon have hats for all of my grandchildren for Christmas.

I have a busy week ahead as dad is still in hospital and I am doing a Christmas Craft Market with Pam on Saturday, so need to get on with some little last minute gift ideas.

talk soon x






Friday 23 November 2012

My creative space - hats for special little boys.

It's that time of year again when my special little grandson's need new hats. I put my scarf pattern away and started to look for nice snuggley warm hat patterns.

My favourite so far are slouchy hats knitted in stocking stitch, the edge rolls back to give such a trendy look. I have knitted a stripey one in aran, however, even though I used the specified yarn and knitting needles it has turned out quite big, not quite age 1-2 years ( I should have knitted a tension square!)

I then used some slightly finer yarn and went down a needle size and this seems to have worked out better.


As I have five grandsons I am sure I will find two little boys that they will fit, just a few more to knit though.

Hope you head over to see Kirsty on my creative space - it's definitely worth a look this week.

talk soon x

Thursday 22 November 2012

yarn along.......... a little late

It's hard to believe another week has gone by since Ginny's last yarn along post, and unfortunately I am now a day late. I have been knitting more of the Witu scarfs and have just tried doubling the number of stitches for the width of the scarf and reducing the length, which uses the same amount of yarn but makes a fatter shorter cowl, which has worked really well.

When I am busy knitting I often dream about running a successful cottage industry and supplying well known retailers with my knitted and crochet accessories, whereas the reality is I have the occasional commission and exhibit infrequently at local Craft Fairs and Christmas Markets. I feel that I need some inspiration so I have started to read a really interesting book that Kate bought me a few months ago, Craft Business Heroes by Alison McNicol.

It's about the experiences of 30 Entrepreneurs who kindly share the secrets of their crafting success. The book has filled me with motivation and some new ideas - you never know until you try.



My stock of finished products is reasonably healthy as I have been quite productive over the last few weeks in preparation for Christmas and a couple of local Christmas Markets that I have signed up for. 

I am now motivated to start photographing my work again and listing them on my folksy shop, which currently is either empty or has about 2 items listed, it needs a little more love and attention. I have also decided to explore Etsy, as I know lots of people are very successful on this online site..

talk soon x

Sunday 18 November 2012

Christmas Markets and lunch at the Hilton .....

I have had such a nice few days and Saturday was really special. It started with lunch at the Hilton in Manchester with a lovely glass of champagne as an aperitif. It was all the more special as unbeknown to us Manchester City Football Team (I am a third generation fan) stay at the Hilton when they have home games - so I saw my favourite team up close and personal as they were leaving the hotel on their way to play Aston Villa (to top the day off I later found out that they had won 5-0 yeah)

After our sumptuous lunch we spent a few hours wandering around the Christmas Markets in Albert Square, then we walked to Kendal's, which is one of Manchester's oldest and most famous department stores. I hoped to get some inspiration for my partner's Christmas presents but unfortunately I failed, however I did find two amazing sweaters for me!

Manchester Town Hall .....




Then it was time to get the train home - I had a few parcels of goodies to take with me but I can't photograph them just in case a few people I know catch a glimpse of my blog before Christmas!

Talk soon x.


Friday 16 November 2012

an afternoon of fun ...........

I have had a lovely indulgent afternoon - it started with a manicure. My nails have been shaped, buffed and polished to perfection, the nail varnish is a lovely soft dove grey colour with a little bit of sparkle on the top, they look so sparkly ( if that's a real word).

I then called in to see Laura who was sorting out her cellar, she was taking advantage of the fact that both her little boys were having a play date at their cousins. I did distract her a little from her chores and persuaded her to have a quick coffee and chat.

My next stop was John Lewis, one of my favourite department stores. They have just opened a Christmas Shop and everything is so pretty and festive ( I want to say sparkly). I spent quite a long time looking at the wondrous confectionery they have, it's always good but at this time of year it's quite spectacular.

Another favourite of mine is the baking section, it is full of glorious bowls, jugs, jars, utensils, cookie cutters, cake piping sets, in fact an endless number of wonderful kitchen treasures  - I would love them all.

I bought a few little things as stocking fillers, that were good fun to choose - what do you think...............

cute little change purse filled with coconut mushrooms .........

Eskimo money box with chocolate coins ...........

little sweet treats ...............


I have got more Christmas fun to look forward to as I am out for lunch tomorrow with my partner and hopefully we can explore some of Manchester's Christmas markets.

talk soon x

flowers make me smile ..........

My mum and dad called in to see me this morning for a quick coffee and catch up. I feel very spoilt as they came bearing gifts, three beautiful little rose bushes as a special little treat. The roses have filled my house with an abundance of vibrant colour and when they finish flowering I can put them in the garden - how perfect.

all in a row - with a perfect container to catch any drips .........

such a perfect colour .............

I am so lucky - what a lovely way to start the day.

Talk soon x

Thursday 15 November 2012

a spot of baking .........

I love nothing more than having a quiet day in the kitchen and losing myself in my baking. I am always amazed at what can be achieved by mixing a few simple ingredients together. The satisfaction of taking lovely well risen fairy cakes out of the oven, the sweet vanilla aroma of hot sponge cakes cooling, waiting for sweet sugary toppings or melted chocolate drizzled over their tops.

Yesterday I made some simple vanilla sponge cupcakes. When they were cool I poured melted milk chocolate over them and then decorated the tops with chocolate chips, strawberry flavoured buttons and some grated white chocolate (so just a few added calories)

I also made a tray bake, using a Victoria sponge recipe and then added cherries, dried fruit and a sprinkle of demerara sugar on the top, to give it crunch. Lastly I made some of my favourite muffins, Christmas breakfast muffins. The muffins are made with wonderful festive ingredients, cranberries, cinnamon, grated fresh nutmeg and the zest of clementines, they smell amazing the whole kitchen had a Christmas fragrance for hours. The recipe suggests you use a large muffin tin but as these are one of the things I know I will be tempted to eat I make 24 small buns instead and they work really well. Another advantage is that they freeze perfectly, you can defrost a few at a time and warm them up for a few minutes in the oven and have them with a big mug of coffee as a special treat.

One of my favourite things about baking is seeing my cakes and biscuits all cooling on trays it gives me such a feeling of fulfilment. So many aspects of our lives seem to take lots of time before we get a result, or positive outcome. With baking you start with your ingredients, a bit of mixing, into the oven and then what comes out is usually the finished article, ok it might need a bit of decoration and artistry but more often than not the job is done. Then you have the lovely task of filling your cake tins, your cakes can be given to family and friends or even taken into work for a special treat. For me baking is all about sharing, maybe a little vanity comes into it as well as nothing is nicer than seeing someone enjoying my baking.

my favourite cake tin ................


yummy chocolate treats ............

Christmas breakfast muffins ........
simple fruit cake ..........
Now I need to think what to cook for supper - strangely that doesn't fill me with joy!

talk soon x

my creative space - Witu Scarf

I am still loving my new Granny Chic book, but also wanted to share with you a great new pattern my friend Pam found for a scarf/cowl.

The pattern is a free download from Purl & Jane (I have added the link under the pattern below ) it's really nice to knit and I love the lacey detail. I have knitted a few in different lengths and colours, and wearing two together looks good.
Purl & Jane
My friend Barbara loves scarfs and probably has more than any other person I know, but as it's her birthday tomorrow I thought I would knit her a Witu scarf to add to her collection.

I hope you have time to check in with Kirsty on "my creative space"

talk soon x


Wednesday 14 November 2012

yarn along - granny chic

For my yarn along post this week I want to share with you my new favourite book "Granny Chic" (I am so fickle, I seem to have a new favourite every week, maybe I should call it my book of the week)

I had  read an excellent review of the book and have frequently dipped into Tales of Ted and Agnes and DottieAngel, so I decided to treat myself and ordered my copy from Amazon, it has just arrived and I love it just as much as I thought I would. 

Granny Chic ............
Tif Fussell and Rachelle Blondel (dottie angel and ted & agnes) show you how to make lovely items that will add the charm of granny chic to any home. I love the style of the book which  leaves blank spaces for you to scribble your own thoughts and ideas down. Granny Chic is one of the nicest and most inspirational crafty type books that I have read for ages, it will be a book I come back to many times it's already a well thumbed copy and is living next to my bed.

I have started to make little piles of pretty pink granny squares and flowers, I hope some one soon has a  baby daughter as they would sew together to make a very snuggley baby blanket.

Hope you have all had fun creating this week, and you have had time to pop over to read Ginny's yarn along post.

talk soon x

Sunday 11 November 2012

pretty stationary ...........

I love pretty stationary - cards, writing paper, stickers, notelets - the things you can buy are endless. My daughter Kate has a special talent in sourcing stationary treasures and she is always buying me perfect little gifts.

I have been tidying my desk and office/creative space (sounds good but in reality it's the spare bedroom) and as I have been sorting through I have been sidetracked by my lovely stationary and felt them to be worthy of a special mention all of their own.
The most adorable note cards you can imagine .......
I love the wellies .........
more tiny toes ..................
so far to pretty to open .............

perfect jotter ................. I love the pink pencil
such cute sticky notes .....I want to leave myself little messages

more sticky notes .................
so perfect ..........
these could be my favourite ................
I want to bake right now so that I can give it away with one of these amazing labels ...

now we come to my favourite journal ...............
it's just so lovely and of course so useful .......
stickers and labels for my journal -wow
I want to write lots of lists .............
address books can be gorgeous...........
so pretty .......
Kate even finds me cute tissues ...........

so adorable ...............
what amazing stationary - hope you agree .......

I have so many beautiful things - some far to pretty to use - Kate is so clever at finding such different and quirky treasures - what a lucky mum I am.

talk soon x