Bag lady

It was time for a bit more crafting with Lottie this week.  I asked her if she minded being mentioned on the blog so much, thankfully she said she didn't!  We decided that we were going to make messenger bags based on the tutorial in Mollie Makes no 10 by Jane from teawagontales.  I already own two of her bags as I haven't had the courage to try to make one of my own, and I love the ones she has for sale so it isn't difficult to press buy when looking at her etsy shop!

My first Tea Wagon bag



My second one!


The whole bag wasn't completed in a day though as we spent so long deciding which fabrics we were going to use that it was lunchtime before we even began!  I decided that for my main fabric I was going to use a piece of the curtains that were left in our kitchen when we bought our house three years ago.  The strap was from a pillowcase, the lining I bought in Abakhan and the pocket is a piece that I got from Jane herself!  I finished it all off with a Cath Kidston button. 

Ta- dah!



Jane's fabric peeking out!


What do you think?  It was surprisingly easier than I thought it would be so I think I might be trying to make another one!  Only not for a while as I have to work full-time for the next two weeks so no crafting for this lady until the end of the month!

I also had a wonderful surprise this week in the form of a present from Lazy Daisy Jones!  Two beautiful hand-made cats for the girls and a bag for my crochet bits and pieces.  Unfortunately I can't show a picture of the cats as the camera has decided to play up - hubby won't be impressed when I tell him, but I'll put them onto my next post if I can.  I was so touched and still am by her kindness. 





How pretty is this?!


I've also been asked by Pretty Nostalgic Magazine to set up a vintage book club here too.  Our first meeting is this month and we have been given Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen to read.  I'll let you know how it goes!

Enjoy your bank holiday - I think we will probably be heading off to the zoo, again!

G x

Tales from the big city

This weekend saw frantic activity down south in that the hubby and I spent 4 nights in London - on our own!  Girls went to their grandparents and we went on a business trip without them.  This is quite an achievement for myself as I have only ever spent 2 nights without them in the 6 years since our eldest was born.  It must have been okay though as when we went to collect them they asked if next time they could stay for 6 nights instead!!!

We had a busy itinery of things to do and see but as these didn't start until Friday afternoon, I managed to get a morning of shopping in first.  Would have been rude not to.

First stop was Spitafields market.  I had high hopes already in place here so was a little disappointed by the wares I found.  I did manage to pick up a hardback copy of Selina Hastings biography of Nancy Mitford for £1 which was good - and then I found out when I got home I already have it in paperback!!!

A tube ride and a 20 minute walk later saw me on Columbia Road.  Now I was excited.  Not only was there a fabric shop to be found but also this little haven of treasures, all the more delightful as they normally shut on a Friday but today were open!




Apologies for poor quality as all photos taken on phone!




Alas and alack I didn't make any purchases at either store, but could easily have blown my bank account at J&B, their stuff is divine but very expensive unfortunately.


I also found time to pop into Liberty for a bit of fabric stroking.  Wanted to buy the shop but didn't!  I did manage to get a look at a copy of Pip Lincolne's Sew La Tea Do book which has just arrived so I'm going to start dressmaking very soon!

Then it was back to the Tower of London for afternoon tea and a trip to view the crown jewels - diamonds galore!


View from our room

 The evening was spent at a mediaevel banquet which was the most fun (and whilst ringing my mum to check on the girls but I spied David Suchet going in to the building next door - I could have cried with excitement)!

Saturday was a proper tourist day, firstly we took an open-top bus tour round the city, followed by a trip up the Shard!  It's high!





View from floor 72!

After this we went back to our hotel to get ready for dinner and our champagne ride on the London Eye! Thankfully the heavens decided to open as we boarded so the view was a bit blurry but at least we didn't get wet.  A short walk later and we were on our boat for an evening of cruising and dining on a river boat up and down the Thames!


Sunday saw the end of our trip with a bit more shopping thrown in!  Hubby treated me to a Selfridges voucher so we went there first (I got some Cath Kidston pumps plus other bits) and then a stroll onto Carnaby Street to check out Choccywokkydoodah!  If we had had time we would have gone to the cafe but we needed to get back to the girls so I've bookmarked a return visit!

Hope you all had a good weekend too

G x

Sharing the love

I'm getting a little excited now in preparation for Tuesday 23rd April.

For those of you not in the know, it's the third annual World Book Night and I'm a giver again.

Let me explain if you haven't a scooby doo what I'm on about.

World Book Night began in 2011 and the basis behind this is to spread the love of reading a good book.  I didn't take part that year (not brave enough) but I participated last year.  I was one of 20,000 people chosen to distribute copies of I Capture The Castle by Dodi Smith and I went up and down the local town, into shops and the hospital, as well as door knocking and approaching strangers on the street to see if they wanted to read a copy.




This was the reworked cover I gave out - love that dress!


I loved it, so I applied again for this year, and got chosen!!!  This year I am giving out copies of The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde which is a quirky tale sent in 1985 but not the 1985 we remember.  Literary detective Thursday Next needs to help rescue Jane Eyre who has been kidnapped, or the fate of the novel, and many others will be changed before her very eyes!




Original cover



Reworked cover

 Again, me and my trusty 4 year old sidekick will be trawling the streets near us giving out copies of this wonderful book to anyone who looks like they might enjoy it.  Only light-readers or non-readers need apply! 

See you Tuesday

G x

Pretty Nostalgic

Having a lovely time all on my own today.  Hubby has taken the girlies away for a 'daddy weekend' leaving me to play by myself.  We try to do this at least once a year and it's great for all involved.

So...while they are kicking up their heels in Wales, I caught the train ooop north to the Vintage Village market in Stockport.

 It occurs on the second Sunday of each month and is well worth a visit.  Every event has a theme too, this one was Westwood Ho! so staller holders and visitors were encouraged to dress in their best Westwood or tartan outfits.  I was tempted to go in my tartan skirt but as it's a) short and b) bubble shaped I decided that with this wind that is occuring I'd be better off in my jeans! 

I knew that Emma would be there from oooh betty so I trundled on over to say a 'hello' to her.  She was so lovely and nice to me, even when I popped back to say hello again, and again.  I didn't buy anything from her stall, despite wanting to; I think I need a fox in a box.

I got some nice flowery fabric though, a sheet, and some pillowcases.  I turned some of the sheet into a skirt yesterday. 



Skirt made from this with some cream trim around the bottom



I also saw this granny dress and fell in love with it.  It cost a mere £5!  I decided it needed blinging though so I sewed the lace onto the pockets and around the edge when I got home.

The other thing I treated myself too, and I blame Emma for this as she blogged about it recently, is a subscription to Pretty Nostalgic magazine.  Oh my goodness me, it is divine.

It's a newish magazine that started last year and comes out 6 times a year.  It's pricey (at £8 an issue) but is more like a book that a standard magazine, being smaller and printed onto much thicker paper.  Can I also add it smells gorgeous too.

They were doing a special offer with 25% off subscriptions and a free back-issue and card too so I just had to subscribe, didn't I?!  I chose the gorgeous issue 5 and ended up buying the current issue, 6, too.  The other issues are available to get online so I may just save up the pennies to get the whole kit and caboodle.

Sam is the regional manager for the north and she was lovely - she has a blog, and is on twitter too if you fancy following her, and if you haven't read about the book group they have started running, let Emma guide you through her first one.




Beautiful card


I've got until 5pm today on my own but don't know where to begin.  So much to do, and so little time to do it in.  Decisions, decisions, decisions!

Back to school tomorrow!

G x

My! What big eyes you have!

All the better to see you with!  And my eye spied this yesterday whilst visiting the Most Marvellous shop (again) when on a visit to my parents house!  It's becoming a bit of a ritual now, even the girls asked when we were going in!  I love it in there, there is always something to buy!



Red Riding Hood Basket

What do you think?

I've been looking for a whicker basket for ages but not found a substantial one.  This one is really heavy and I love that it has a lid.

Do you think it needs lining?  Do say.

We haven't seen much of hubby of late as he has been busy squirreling away building a gazebo for friends, so on Sunday we took a much-needed family trip out.  We decided to go across the border in Wales as we never go there, and do some exploring, dog included.

We went across an aquaduct built by Thomas Telford, with a canal running on the top of it.  I'm not great with heights and I must admit, walking across made me feel a wee bit dizzy.  The worst bit was having to pass people!  We then found a lovely cafe run by volunteers grannies in the community centre.  Hubby was a bit unsure to start with, he had spied a posh coffee shop earlier along the way, but my heart knew this was 'the one'.  For a mere £4 we had a pot of tea, juice for the girls and four, yes four, cakes!  All on mis-matched china too.  Hubby was actually very impressed.  Girls got to spin around in the play area too which they loved before we all headed back along that narrow bridge!

We then drove around the Horseshoe Pass, there was still loads of snow, as the hubby was keen to demonstrate!

It was nice to have some family time.

Talking of nice things, I also won a copy of Polly Williams' new book by just doing a re-tweet (or RT for those in the know) on Twitter!  How nice is that?

Hope you are all enjoying the last week of the hols.  Hubby is taking the girls away on Sunday for the night so I'm hoping to get a little crafting done and for inspiration I'm off to the Vintage Village fair at Stockport on Sunday.  I'm hoping to meet Emma from Oooh Betty as she will be there.  I am a little nervous if truth be told, what if she doesn't like me?

Hopefully I'll have treasures to show from there!

G x

Dippy Egg

The hubby loves nothing more than a dippy egg from our ducks, to the extent that I don't even offer to do them for him anymore as mine just aren't perfect enough!  So for Easter I found the perfect present for him



just right for keeping an egg warm

This is from my lovely friend and blogger Tracy over at Olive and Harry  She, and her partner Stephen run a fantastic animal rescue charity with a no-slaughter policy and she spends her time looking after these animals plus crafting to raise money to help pay for their upkeep.

They have all manner of rescued souls, including some goats who have recently had babies, despite being destined to die at the start of the year.

She has an etsy shop too and makes all manner of crafty things from their home ooop-north.  I have a songbird broach that I bought last year to brighten up my denim jacket

When hubby's gift arrived on Saturday, I was amazed to find within its wrapping, another gift; all bundled up in a doiley and lace.  Inside it's folds was this:


March Hare Broach

A beautiful gift from another crafty soul.  I have to say, the thoughtfulness behind this gift made me cry!  So in return, if you have time, do drop by and say hi to Tracy on her blog (do tell her I sent you), or buy a crafty jewel or two from her shop 

If you are feeling so inclined, you can also join their 1000 club  This is the amount it costs each month to feed their growing number of animals.  All you have to do is donate £1 a month to help.  It's a small amount but it goes a long way.

For today though, my March Hare is disguised as an Easter Bunny and is brightening up my jumper, being worn with thanks and love.

Happy Easter

G x

I spy with my little eye...

...something beginning with C




Crafty magazine

I was actually looking for the new Inside Crochet magazine which they didn't have but this caught my eye so I had to buy it!

This is issue 1.  It's got lots of interesting articles in it on photography and grafitti artwork.

It's also got this piece on making insects.  I love these images of insects to make yourself.

There is also this tote bag to make.

And a piece on simple paper sculpture.

And chair upcycling!

There is also an interview with the lovely Laura Clempson who blogs under cupcakes for clara

Owls to knit plus lots more, and it comes with a piece of calico with three project ideas to use it with.

I love the paper it's printed on - that thick, heavy matt stuff.  It smells nice too!

Not only have I got my Great British Sewing Bee book to look at (still), my parents bought me some books for Easter

Hope you're having a crafty Easter too!

G x

Mollie dolly

I had a sudden urge on Monday to make the girls an Easter present.  Last year I made them both a fabric chick and a little drawstring bag filled with mini eggs.  No worries, I thought, I have plenty of time to rustle something up.

I set about going through my collection of Mollie Makes magazines, and settled upon a Mollie dolly from issue 14.  My friend Lazy Daisy Jones makes these at the drop of a hat; you can view her beautiful collection here.

After spending an hour faffing around on the tablet (the usual reading of Facebook, Twitter, Blogger etc) I finally got the sewing machine out from the wardrobe and set up in the lounge.  So far, so good.

After ironing my fabric choices I then noticed that I didn't have enough felt for hair so had to make an 8 mile round trip to the local habadashary store for supplies!  Make 2 dollies in a day, it was now lunchtime - this wasn't going well!

By the end of Monday I had almost completed one doll and the plan for an Easter suprise for the girls was lost.  At best, I could attempt to finish one doll on Wednesday with promises to make a second after the holidays for whichever daughter would be prepared to wait.

This is the Mollie dolly. 



Hi, I'm Mollie


She isn't perfect, she needs a bit of tweaking but I think my girls will love her regardless of her flaws.

The postie has made today a little brighter by delivering some fabric pieces that I bought off of Ebay. 



A pretty piece of Sanderson fabric!


I stupidly lost out on some fab pillowcases by adding them to my watch list and not buying them when I had the chance as someone else beat me to it.  I'm still sulking about that.

I was meant to be going to a Vintage Market today in Market Drayton but when I got there, I couldn't find it!  C'est la vie.  I've decided to go to the Vintage Village at Stockport next month instead as the hubby is taking the girls away for the night.  I might even get to meet Jane from oooh betty as I think she will be there too!

My copy of The Great British Sewing Bee has arrived and thanks to everyone who contacted me to let me know when it starts.  It's going to be on BBC 2 on Tuesday 2nd April at 8pm.  I think there are only 4 episodes so don't forget to tune in.  Unfortunatly I only had time to flick through the book yesterday but it looks really nice.  I'm hoping that I wil find my clothes-making mo-jo in there and can start making more than a 'hour' skirt.  I'll keep you posted!

Will it ever stop snowing?

G x

The Great British Sewing Bee

Is it just me, or is anyone else excited about The Great British Sewing Bee hitting our tv screens soon?

If you have't heard of it, it's the crafting equivalent to The Great British Bake Off and it's due on soon!

Even more exciting, it's being presented by.....

Claude!!!!

I love, love, love Claudia Winkleman so for me it's a double treat.  Crafting goodliness and the dry wit and banter of Ms Winkleman.  A win, win for me.

I don't know when it's starting but it must be soon as the book is due for release at the end of the month.

I've pre-ordered my copy already through sheer excitement.  I hope it's going to be good.  Apparently it will "provide amateur sewers everywhere with all the technical knowhow and inspiring projects they need to produce a core collection of 25 fabulous garments and homewares. From a child's sundress and a swinging circular skirt to unisex pyjama trousers, a tea dress and a waistcoat, the garments offer something for both sexes and all ages. The homewares and accessories include aprons, bags, cushions and window dressings. In addition to this core collection, 4 winning designs from the series are also included: a simple daytime dress, a child's party dress, a jacket and an evening dress - all with complete instructions and full-size patterns."  (Thanks to Sainsbury's for this blurb)

I have the high hopes that this book will provide me with all the necessary know-how to be able to start making my own dresses.

Watch this space!

In the meantime I hope you are all keeping warm with the increasing amount of snow that is falling.  This weekend, the girls and I are meant to be staying in the Lake District.  This may not happen now.

G x