Drooling over bargains

The wool in the bag was gifted..a gorgeous cotton/acrylic mix. Then the others are wool mixes from the charity shop yesterday.

And the best bit is this fabulous cotton double sheet for £2...just need to find a pattern so I can make myself a skirt :o)

Ohhh and oops!

Oohhhh, or maybe mmmmm, or both?! We've been to the woods again. This time we came back with wild garlic, nettles and jack-by-the-hedge. So this afternoon I made some.....

...wild green's soup,

some nettle and jack-by-the-green flatbreads,

some wild garlic butter (which I then wrapped in 25g pieces in greaseproof paper and put in a box in the freezer),

and some fish cake mix ready for tea :o). I have still got enough wild garlic left to make some more soup and some flavoured oil.

Here's my blanket so far. I know this doesn't really give you any idea of size etc but I couldn't be bothered to unroll it! I'm loving the simple repetitiveness of this...just rows and rows of treble crochet. Now, do you wanna see the oops?

I wasn't supposed to be buying any more wool (other than a couple of balls to go with the blanket) but just look at all that...for a fiver!!!!!! All wool mixes too. Charity shops are great.

Busy, busy

I've been really busy these last few days. I've made a horse keyring for Claire (piccies after she's recieved it), I've been doing the pink bag, I've made strawberry jam this morning, and I've been round the charity shops again. I only found a couple of balls of wool (plus other bits for the kids) and then I got some jute string for crafting.

The house smelt lovely this morning while I was doing the strawberry jam - I think more people would make it if they knew how easy it was. We love strawberry jam in this house, so this will be the first of many batches to last us the year.

I ordered a few books from Amazon, which arrived this morning. they are full of gorgeous things. The long awaited (or it seems like that anyway) fabric arrived today too. Now I can finish the garden bag as the fabric with the cockerel on it was there too. Depending on how the day goes there may be a picture of that later.

Back again

I've been helping my MIL this afternoon sorting through her Mum's house. I came away with a few things including a velvet jacket that I will use the fabric on because it wasn't suitable for the charity shop; a large, deep-sided tray that I am going to use as a work tray on my knee; and a knitting bag full of wool and knitting needles. Fantastic.

Did anyone watch Kirsty's Handmade Home on channel 4? I watched it and thought it was fantastic. It gave me more confidence to use second-hand/handmade in my home. I love charity shops and car boot sales anyway, but seeing it on TV made such a change from the normal house programmes that you get. Anyway, I'd definitely recommend watching it if you have access to the repeats/on-demand telly. With this in mind I'm going to add a handmade showcase to my blog to show you some of the lovely, talented people that I use to purchase things.

Wooohooooo...

.........I've finally finished sorting through and untangling all the wool that was given to me way back here. I actually thought it was in March so that's not bad is it - 6 weeks to remove it from my lounge floor :-). While I was in the sorting mood I also went through the very large scrap bag that I keep for the kids to use as they had got way beyond use even for their imaginative minds. We are now left with a small bag of useable fabric - mainly denim from old jeans - that they can do something with.

Anyway, I've nearly finished the outside of the scarecrow bag - had to order some orange fabric for some pumpkins - so I may just have to do some hooking later. I am missing it. I should really start the liners for the bags, but one evening off from them is ok isn't it?

I've also got to make hubbies anniversary card later as he is out of the house this evening at work, so the perfect opportunity.

Snippets

Firstly, apologies as we didn't do Free Food Friday last week because it rained Friday and Saturday so we didn't get out to pick anything.

The above piccies are of a couple of bargains that I found in the charity shops the other day. I actually got a metre and a half of gorgeous lace (looks handmade) which I'll have to photograph in better light as it's so dainty.

My cousin's funeral was today which I wasn't looking forward to, but it actually wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Bless you Tony.

Something about that cottage didn't look right so I've stitched some greenery around the door. Photo tomorrow.

Also got another bag order, and I've been informed today that the lady I'm making the other 2 bags for wants some more - I think she needs to see, and hopefully be happy, with the others first, but anyway - think positive :-).

Right, I seem to be waffling so I'll see you tomorrow with some more piccies.

Surprising myself

It's amazing the lack of confidence we have in our own abilities isn't it - I'm sure it's not just me. Well, I've surprised myself again by re-teaching myself how to crochet granny squares. My Mum taught me when I was in my teens, and thinking back it's probably 18 years since I last did any. She used to start me off and then pass it to me when there was 3 rounds - then I would just go round and round so it was a big square. Well, inspired by Claire, Becky, Joxy and Lucy, I got my hook out again on Tuesday. I've attempted this a couple of times already over the last few months but never mastered it - well, Tuesday was the night and I made 5 little squares using the bamboo wool that I got a few weeks ago. Amazing - I was so thrilled - my hubby knows I'm bonkers already but on Tuesday he was rolling his eyes ;-). Yesterday I sat and made another 22 and then this afternoon and this evening I've done another 3 (to finish the balls of wool) and then weaved all the ends in. Since this is my first go I'm going to do the blocking as well - might as well start as I mean to go on :-).

Sorting

Well, I've got most of the wool sorted out but there is still a small pile on my living room floor that needs untangling or pulling down and winding into balls. I also had to find a new box for my ribbon stash as I couldn't get the lid on the other one as there was too much in it. So this evening has been spent sorting through all the ribbons and making them look tidy (for 5 mins at least) and looking at the pile of wool wishing it would untangle itself.

Another keyring

Made this this morning while watching the grand prix. Enjoyed doing it as I like working with felt.

While I was making lunch a friend nipped in with 2 huge bags of wool. Her hubbies Nanna had died and they were sorting out her wool room. My wonderful friend mentioned I knit, so they sorted some out for me. Wonderful. Going to be spending the evening sorting through it all.

Mmmmmmm

After going to an art gallery this morning we nipped into the shopping area. A wool shop was calling to me so I had to go in - it was this wool below you see, singing it's 'come and stroke me' song. Well, who could resist?! Gorgeous D K by Twilleys of Stamford - 75% bamboo 25% nylon. Feels gorgeously soft.

When I got home there was a parcel of dried lavendar waiting for me. I'm going to make some lavender and hops cushions. I already have hops which I foraged and dried last year, but my own lavender bushes were not planted until last autumn so I don't have any of my own for any projects.

Too tired to think of a title

I should probably wait until tomorrow to post this lot but I know my head will be whirring if I leave it, so....

Here's the owl I made last night. Very quick and easy.

I won! I won! I frequent the paper-and-string blog where Sarah holds a give-a-way once a month - well I won this month, so thank you very much Sarah, it's gorgeous.

My Mother's Day present arrived today (and, yes, I have it early). I am sooo enjoying this TV programme - full of great things.

My MIL was sorting through her stash of magazines and asked if I wanted to look at them first. So here's a years worth of Country Homes and Interiors from 1998! I'm hoping to find some different inspiration in them.

Last, but by no means least (and the reason for my tired, tired person), are my charity shop bargains. My sister and I spent an hour browsing the 2 in my local town and I came home with a few things - buttons (of course), an embroidery hoop, pure wool (for penguins), tape measure, press studs, and a straw bag for carrying wool projects.

There were a couple of other things too, one being a must have book for me, no the kids, oh alright me, on Ivor the Engine (blushing). I'm sure this is the reason I love trains .... right, that's enough confessions, I'm off to bed.

I've actually made a hat for myself...and it fits!

I think this is the fourth hat that I've knitted for myself but this is the only one that fits...wooohoooo. I've knitted it with the Twilleys freedom wool that I got a few weeks ago. It's lovely and chunky - I had to knit the hat with 10mm needles but this meant that it didn't take long to knit at all. I think I might make a felt flower brooch to pin on the side of it.

I tried finding some red glitter today but as it's not christmas the shops don't stock it - aargh. Someone on the GP forum suggested adding it to the heart shaped bath melts for Valentines day. We did manage to find some mini heart-shaped confetti shapes so we might give that a go. We also got some more air drying clay from ELC to make some heart-shaped t-lite holders with.

I'll hopefully also get the walnut shell candles done tomorrow as I got some tabbed wicks off ebay.

It's not my fault

Just look what I've got today. An old friend popped over on his way home from work and gave me a carry bag. He'd been clearing out his loft and found 20 balls of wool that had been his dear Mum's and he decided to give them to me. How could I refuse such a wonderful gift? I best get knitting really fast because I now have no room in my very big wool box (no comments about e-therapy please Claire - it's not my fault you see ;-) ).

I had seen this gorgeous black knitted bag somewhere (can't remember exactly) which had ribbon to tie it and sequin/beads sown on the outside, which I was going to knit. When I got the wool yesterday in the charity shop there was this gorgeous pink wool (possibly mohair although I'm not really sure as it didn't have a label) so I decided I would knit it in that instead. I started yesterday with my new bamboo needles and got just over half done. I'll hopefully finish it later.

I have to say that the bamboo needles are fantastic - I keep stroking them, they are sooo smooth and warm and lovely. Sad arn't I.

(Blushing) More Bargains and treats (blushing some more)

After taking the kids to the library today I ventured into another charity shop where I know there to be a wool box. I came out with a few balls (8) and 2 rolls of handmade paper which we shall make handmade books with. When we got home there was a parcel waiting for me from my Monday escapades on Ebay with 4 balls of gorgeous wool and my first pair of bamboo needles (all in a sale I might add). Then I come on here and read the comments from Claire and feel slightly embarrassed that my secret is out (hehe). Anyway, I've calmed down now and say proudly that I am a hoarder, but at least I use it all - it may take me a few months (or years) but I will use it ;-).

Pyjamas, brooches, wool & fabric

I finished the pyjamas this evening, and although I made them bigger for Ds3 to grow into, they have been pinched already :-).

I also stitched one of the brooch clips onto the flower I knitted at Christmas, so now I can add it to my coat.

I took apart the quilt cover I got in the charity shop yesterday. I knew that the green patchwork that I liked was only on one side but I never actually looked at the other side properly. I'm sure there will be something I can use this for.

I decided to sort out our hat rack as well. This old scarf was in there, but was too tatty really to take to the charity shop, so I decided to pull it down and reuse the wool.

What a day

A lovely lady from the GP Forum was selling a load of material so I bought some for my stash. It arrived today in the post - how lovely it all is. It includes some blue velour, some from Laura Ashley and some from John Lennon. She also had 'free for postage', a bag of wool bits which I grabbed with both hands ;-). How gorgeous, thanks very much for the bargains - just need to find somewhere to house it all.

My brother and sister also came round for tea so we could sort out my Mum's craft bits. I'll go into it more tomorrow as I feel drained, but just to say that we didn't get it all done (in 4 hours)!

I will just add that my sister wants me to knit her some handwarmers, so that has made me feel really good.