Yet more treasure

Yeah I know, I whinged and whined about not having enough room.  So guess who went to the car boot on Sunday.  I did give myself a talking to and did set out just to "have a look" but I could not resist these lovely beauties!

Anyway the "Shumble Sale" is in 2 weeks so if I get my bum in gear most of my treasure will be someone else's and I can start again!!!!!!!!

These are staying at home with me and are getting put on some vintage bedside tables...

And ending on another positive the house is now finished - yep totally. I promise that once I have some photos I will take you on the grand tour : )

Staying on track.......

Hello, thanks for dropping by.  I have had a busy week again and have not really had much time to pop in and update.

I got weighed again today and lost 2.5lbs wooo hoooo!  I am very happy with this loss and it meant that I got my half a stone award. I now need to focus on the week ahead so I can have another loss next week.

We went shopping today so I bought lots of nice healthy things like a watermelon, cooked chicken, pomegranate's, figs........   I have made a very yummy chicken broth for tea tomorrow as the weather has been horrible and it is definitely not salad weather anymore!

We also have some exciting house news.  Over the past couple of weeks we have be inundated with viewings and someone liked it enough to make an offer so we are officially in the early stages of moving : )   I am very very excited!!!!!!

I have very nearly finished my Elmer blanket too - all in all a very eventful week!  Definitely looking forward to the next week x x x
Take care, have a good week too and I'll chat again soon : )

Day 1 - feeling chirpy

Well it's day one of being motivated and I've given my head a little wobble!

I feel quite chirpy to be honest - the kids have been hard work but I have managed to get a couple of things done today.

We have decided to change estate agents and the change took effect last Wednesday, in that time we have had 3 viewings and 2 offers.  The offers were too low to accept (investors being cheeky) but it is just nice to have had them after 6 months of hearing "it's a lovely house - just not for us".  If you have been reading my blog for a while you will already know that we have found our new house and the sellers really want us to have it so they have been patiently waiting for us to sell ours.  I speak to them often and we even have a brew and some homemade cake.  They have also agreed to lower their price so that we can accept a lower offer - they are just such lovely people <3.
The estate agents phoned again this evening and we have another viewing booked for Tuesday x x x x yipeeeeeeee.

I'd already decided earlier today that I would start to sort through the "stuff" in out house and box it up in the hope that we would be moving soon - I have managed to throw out some broken bits and bobs and charity shop unwanted clothes.  I feel better already.  On to the loft this weekend! 

I just love cleaning and tidying however the same can not be said for dieting and I need to give myself a big kick up the bum.  My lovely cousin has lost 4.5lbs this week so I think this needs to be my motivation for the week.

Speak to you tomorrow for day 2

Simply plodding along!

Again its been a while since my last entry and I can't say that I have achieved much more since then!

My table at the local art and craft exhibition was not a huge success I must admit, but I did sell a few items so at least I can say I had a go ; )   I suppose in a sense I am also a little more prepared for next time too.  The items that I have made and not sold won't be wasted either as I have signed up to do another event in June so it's not all bad.

We are still waiting for someone to want to buy our house - we have had 4 viewings since Christmas and 4 no-shows.  I think that has something to do with my deflated mood.   Oh yeah and probably the fact that i am back to work tomorrow after 2 weeks off  : (   I'm not a happy bunny. 

I have at least finished a ripple blanket that I have been making for a friend - but again my computer is not letting me upload the picture!

I have however started to think about what other things I can start making and have ordered some beads off the Internet at www.beadcrafty.com and can't wait for everything to come.  Once it's all here I will upload some pictures and you can see what I have got!

A Lazy Day!!!!

Well I haven't posted in a while - I have been meaning to, but things have just got in the way and then another day has passed!

We had our first viewing last week after a couple of time wasters.  It went really well and they really liked the house but not the electric pylon nearby so still no movement.

I have also made some progress on those dreaded unfinished projects that I hide behind the sofa!  I have managed to finish the scarf, mug cozy and ribbon blanket so feeling quite pleased with myself.

I had the day off today and had lots of good intentions - I planned on doing some cleaning, crafting and others bits and bobs - but you know what, I started reading a book by M.C Beaton- As the pig turns, and that was most of the morning gone! 

I did do some crafting this afternoon and spent an hour making some lovely easter gifts ready for my table at the craft fair.

What do you think????  I could only seem to find a bunny one that was knitted, have never used circular needles before and am totally clueless about making stitches in the front and back!!!!! So I made my own pattern and this is how it turned out.  Have already got a list of people that would like some so might be busy for the next couple of days.

I also managed to make another ribbon blankie, this time using this wonderful fabric which I love!

I hope everyone is well and busy with their own projects; I would love to know what people are currently working on.

xxxxxxxxx

Spring

For the first time this year it actually felt like Spring was on it's way!  I bought some flowers (tulips and daffodils) last week to make the house pretty for our viewing on Sunday and these have really brighten the place up!  The splash of colour just makes me smile : )

On the way to work, the sun was shining and it felt lovely and crisp - I actually carried my coat and braved it in my cardigan. You know what, it didn't actually feel cold either - no icy wind in sight.

I am feeling a little more optimistic not just with viewings on the house but actually with life in general.  I'm still busy (if anything slightly busier) but this week I have actually managed to squeeze in some "crafting" time and have finally got round to starting my own ripple blanket.  I have been admiring "Lucy's" ripple at Attic24 for quite a long time!  It only took 3 attempts with the pattern but I think I have just about cracked it.

The only problem now is that I have already run out of wool!  When I was holidaying in Scarborough last year I bought 3 balls of Robin Chunky in lemon, pink and rose not really having a project in mind but loving the colours.  Hey Ho no big deal!  I'm going to have a little trip out to Bury on Friday to see if I can find some on the market; if not it looks like I will be bulk buying them on the Internet as that will be the cheapest option.  This blanket is not for anyone in particular and if I get it finished before Easter it may have pride of place on my table at the craft fair.

Still on the topic of "crafting" I received a parcel on Tuesday which I could not wait to get home to!  I bought some fabric from www.fabric.com a couple of weeks ago and it had come, excited is not the word.  This is what was delivered:-

I just can't wait to start making things with them and have admired these prints for some time, these 3 are my favourites though!  And the minky dimple in pink is just divine!

 I also ended up buying some cute little buttons and ric rac from a wonderful haberdashery in Skipton - it would have been rude not to!

 

 Anyway its getting late and it's work again tomorrow (12 hour shift) so I'm off to bed but I'll leave you with one last photo - I made rock cakes again this evening and they were yummy, although I have to be honest and say that some of them were slightly more browner than others ( I may have forgotten about some of them - oops).  I hope that you all have a good week filled with lots of spring-time moments and plenty of opportunities to spend time crafting too x x x x x

What a weekend we've had!  Not a good one either it has to be said.

We got a phone call from the estate agents on Monday to arrange our very first viewing!!!! Excited.com to say the least - so it was all systems go. 

Through one thing and another we struggled to do anything on the house until Friday and even that was a struggle - my poor little girl spent all Friday being sick, followed by my husband Friday night and my little boy Saturday.  So in between changing clothes and bedding I was trying to tidy the house and rid it of the poorly sick smell!

Uh oh and then I got sick - I spent all of last night in the bathroom : (   Not good

Woke up this morning feeling slightly better and all ready for 11am and our viewing.  I shipped the kids and hubby off to the park and waited with bated breath.

• 11.15am maybe they got lost 
• 11.30am still no-one,
• 12 noon - no don't think anyone's coming.

So all that effort and a weekend of being poorly sick that sort of sums up the mood here today.  Everyone's still cranky and feeling out of sorts.  The kids don't want to be entertained with toys, books or TV and the weather is not playing nice either. 

No crafting going on here today : ((((((((  Next week is half term holidays so fingers crossed this bug will be gone, the sun will be out and we will all be feeling a bit more perky!

Busy, Busy, Busy

Well can't complain but soooooooooooooo busy! 

I so want to spend time being "crafty" and doing lovely "crafty" things but there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day.
I'm still getting used to being back at work after 12 mths maternity leave, but the two long days do seem like a hard slog!  So that only leaves me with 5 days - 3 of these I have my little girl with me at home so trying to knit or crochet is simply out of the question.  I can say, I did try ONCE but it took me a week to get all the knots out of my wool!  So we are down to 2 days - these being the weekend.  This is the time we like to spend as a family so knitting and crocheting are a no no and are way too boring for my 5 year old!  I do try and be sneaky though and suggest some days out to the Lake District or Seaside and this means that I can use the travelling time to get a few rows in!

This week has been so busy - we went to a pantomime at the weekend "oh no you didn't" I hear you cry, "oh yes I did" I reply (so couldn't resist) which was fab, it was nice to be out of the house and spending some us time with my eldest Jake. 

Then it was tidy, tidy, tidy on Sunday as we are going with some new estate agents in an attempt to sell our house. 

Monday we got an unexpected call from said estate agents as they wanted to come and retake some of the photos - thank goodness I did that cleaning!

..................................................................

and guess what?????? Yes it's already Wednesday - just where did the time go.  I have a 3 day craft fair in 11 weeks and no stock, with weeks flying by without being able to get a hook out let alone a sewing machine my little table is going to be a very sorry affair!!!!!!!

Well impressed with myself

Well this week has been quite productive!

• I've cleaned and tidied the house ready for some new estate agent pictures (which we get to see as a brochure tomorrow)
• I've made 3 new mug cozies which I love!
• I've done a meal plan for the week as the healthy eating has started today
• I have started to organise a couple of craft fairs for the end of March - now I just need to make the stock!

Here are the mug cozies like I promised!

This is the first one that I made and the one that I adore, I thought it would make a perfect gift for Valentines Day and have put it on my facebook page.  I went round some local florists today to see if they would like to put them in their shop but unfortunately they were more interested in items that were mass produced but looked homemade!   I thought the mug cozy would be nice as a complete set - the cozy, the mug and a handmade fabric heart with a ribbon loop.

This was my second cozy - complete with a dangling heart!

And third  - not 100% sure about this one, it's really hard doing stockinette stitch as it curls over at the side so I may have needed a few more stitches either side.  I still think its "lovely"!

Can't wait to do some more - I'm really enjoying knitting and the free hand sewing - watch this space.

Off now to have a brew!!!!!!!!! Complete with cozy

Checking in!

Nothing new to report so just checking in with you all really!  

We still haven't had any viewing on our house despite the estate agents "doing their best"!  We have now issued the ultimatum and they have a week before we moved to another agent.

Been really busy this week working and house tidying which with 2 kids and lots of toys is a mean feat, I can tell you.

Really want to have lots of time to do "me stuff" preferably crochet, knitting and sewing.  Want to make bunting for a craft fair at the end of March (and some for the new house of course), little purses from cutesy fabric, crochet mug cozies, finish my pink stripy blanket and make lots of fabric hearts but alas there is just not enough time : (

Here's one of the hearts I did make a few weeks ago and its one of my favourites - I've not perfected the stitching yet but there's time and I think it adds to the homemade look (It was only my second attempt!).

I have tried to make the mug cozies this weekend and have managed one - yes one full one!!!!!!! but the second one just won't finish and I've had to pull it back twice - don't think trying to count stitches on the motorway from Blackpool helped - especially as it was the journey home when dark, and no I wasn't driving ; )

When I've done I will post a few pictures and the pattern if anyone is interested as I've had to modify the one that I originally wanted to use as just couldn't fathom it out!

Ta - ta for now xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Don't ya just love Sundays!

Sunday is the day that I try to catch up on a few jobs around the house - and since we expect to get some viewings soon I thought it would be a very good idea to tidy up.  I gave myself a limit of 1 hour upstairs and 1 hour downstairs and then rewarded myself with some home baking.

Well the oven was on so why not!   I had hastily scribbled down a recipe from a book in the library last week and thought I would give it a whirl and voila some yummy scrummy rock cakes.

I had one with a cuppa and it was delicious  ; )  The recipe made 12 but in my house they don't last long especially when they are still warm from the oven (you know who you are!!!).

Hubby has already asked me to make some more so I think it will be a weekly thing from now on and I can definitely recommend the "Mary Berry" rock cakes as they were super quick to make.

It's Monday as I'm writing this and a quick update on the house - we still don't have any viewings booked but we made an offer on the new house today and woo hoo it was very quickly accepted so we are in with a chance; just got to sell ours so keeping tabs on the estate agents and have to say they have been given a deadline - or we will be going elsewhere lets see if that gets them moving!

chick chick chick chick chicken lay a little egg for me!!!!!!!!

Uh Oh!!!!

Well the house viewing on Wednesday night went well to say the least!  It is a lovely house with lovely people that have obviously enjoyed living there for the past 15 years.  It very homely and the complete opposite to our current house which is a bit like a show home with no character.

This one needs quite a bit of work but when your married to a decorator it doesn't seem so bad!

We were there for more than an hour chatting to the vendors and yep you guessed it we arranged a 2nd viewing so that we could go in the daytime - and that was TODAY!!!!!!!

Wellies on and playtime in the new garden as the rain stayed away.  The garden is a bit of a jungle but goes on for what seems like miles and there's a wood at the back so there will be wildlife and you guessed it plenty of room for the hens.  We had tea and cake which the lady had made and iced - some lovely fairy cakes so my little ones were definitely sold!

Estate agents are getting phoned on Monday and an offer put in, but fingers crossed we get some interest in ours soon, otherwise we may miss out.  The vendors have been really good and have said that they will wait, but the question is how long?


Still soooooooo excited for the hens, for the decorating, for the garage that will be my yummy craft room - and will have shelves on the wall for my wool!, for the apple tree that's good for making jam and for spending cosy nights in with my family in front of the wood burning stove - yippee!

Fingers and toes well and truly crossed  - I promise to keep you posted : )

Sooooo Excited

Well even thought the weather outside is horrible, wet and bleak I can't help but feel excited : )

We are going to view a house tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yippee!!!!!!  We saw it on the internet just before Christmas but have had to wait for the estate agents to open yesterday - and I can't tell you how long that wait has been <3

It's so hard not to get giddy and dream about what colour scheme we're going to have and where our furniture will go - we've even named the chickens that we're going to buy for the back garden!   "No don't" I hear you cry and I know I shouldn't dream but sod it, I can only hope we like it and that we can sell ours too.

Just in case you were wondering the chickens are going to be Hetty, Dot and Peggy - what do you think?

I've had such a busy week so far, back to work, school runs and the weekly routine that it feels Christmas was a lifetime ago.  All the trimming are down and it all looks a bit bare.  Come on spring hurry up!

On a positive note people seem to want decorators so hubby is nice and busy and I've got a few orders coming in for scarves and my little baby comforters so that's a bonus.

I've also made some progress with my resolutions - continue with my blog - check, start my craft business - check and tackle my weight - check.  Only small baby steps but if I give myself too much I won't get it done. 

Better get on; little one is wanting some lunch and I'd better tidy up before the estate agents come to take new pictures. 

Hows everyone doing with their resolutions??????