pics of pifs

now that my PIF gifts are safely received by their recipients, I can share the pics:
I'm on a bird sewing production line at the moment - all birds are cut and waiting patiently to be sewn. They make pretty scraps:

It's still October but...

I've listed a few of my scrappy tree Christmas decorations in my etsy and folksy shops today. I'll also be listing some of my birds soon too.This weekend I've also been working on a couple of PIF gifts for Mrs Locket and Dotty Designs. I'll share these once they have arrived with their recipients.

As most people reading this will know, the clocks in the UK went back last night (they probably also went back in some other countries too right?). How great is that - a whole extra hour of sleepy goodness, and as a result I seem to have had quite a productive day. The bad thing about this of course is that it gets darker earlier - and taking pictures is more difficult with less natural light.

This week I was also featured on Cuteable - a whole post all of my own. Sweet. Thanks Lyndsey.

glove love

There really is still hope for all the single gloves out there. phew.



if you have any single gloves hanging around looking for a life partner, you can donate it and help it find love. You can also purchase a newly matched couple too. How sweet.

ducks, pups and chairs

check out this fab fabric (can you say fab fabric?)

You can get it online here. If I could think of something to do with it then I'd have already purchased some - especially at £3.99 per half metre!

china

I've recently been collecting fine bone china It might seem a bizarre thing for a 33 year old but I have reason. Next year, me and Mr Monda are getting married, and have decided that we'd like an old fashioned afternoon tea as part of our celebration. It will be quite a modest affair really but will be quite beautiful with an ecclectic mix of old fine bone china. I've found some lovely pieces and feel like I almost have a new addiction for pretty china. It's understandable that people used to have this saved in cupboards and sideboards for special occasions. I think it's massively underrated and I'll no doubt be using some of the lovely pieces after our wedding too (I can't believe I am writing 'our wedding' - it makes it all seem very real).

I've not had much time for creativity this week, I've been sewing a few more birds but really need to get my butt into gear and get a 'to do' list on the go. I've been doing some drawing and have some ideas for some new softies that will hopefully emerge in the coming few weeks.

birds of a sweater

A little something I've been doing in the last few (chilly) evenings. I made some of these hanging birds last Christmas also, and they proved quite popular so I'm making a whole lot more for my upcoming fairs this year (and a few for my shops too).

This weekend I've also updated both my etsy shop and my folksy shop. Some prices in etsy are reduced (exchange rate check) and have added some of my stitched postcards into my folksy shop

shoes, lasers and green tomato chutney

I've been doing a spot of internet window shopping today, and came across some shoes that must be mine. It's a shame for my feet that they are not in stock in my size, but my bank account is happy about this - they are £80! They are lovely though aren't they.

Today I also had my 6 weekly laser zapping session. PCOS causes a hormone imbalance - increased testosterone and this results in excess hair growth. Some people can deal with this but it really depresses me, so I opted to pay for laser treatment to reduce and elimate the hair.
The lovely lady who does the treatment whacked up the intensity of the laser beam today, and I definitely knew about it. It's only a momentary burning sensation but I was just on the right side of yelping out loud, whilst tyring to have a conversation with her about the recession. The things us ladies have to go through just to look and feel normal.

As a couple of people have requested it, here is my recipe for Green Tomato Chutney:

1kg green tomatoes
2 medium sized apples
500g soft brown sugar
500ml malt vinegar
2cm root ginger
125g raisins
300g onions or shallots (I used white onions)
1 tsp salt
1 tablespoon of mustard seeds (I used the white ones, not sure what it would be like if you used the black ones)

1. Wash and chop the tomatoes into small pieces. 1kg is a lot of tomatoes, so I gave mine a quick blast in the food processor
2. Peel the ginger, and bash it with a rolling pin - but don't break it up
3. Peel apples, and chop onions to roughly similar size to tomatoes - again, I blasted mine in the food processor
4. Put all the ingredients in a deep cooking pot or jam pan, stir with a wooden spoon and bring to the boil, stirring constantly.
5. Once boiling, turn down heat and simmer for at least an hour, stirring occasionally.
6. Prepare glass jars by washing, drying and then heating in a 200 degree oven for approx 20 mins
7. The chutney is done when it has a jam like consistency. Depending how liquid it is, you may need to cook it for up to another 30 minutes
8. Before decanting into Jars remove the ginger. Decant chutney into the warm glass jars and cover each jar with a disc of greaseproof of wax paper whilst still hot
9. Leave for at least a week before eating. 3-4 weeks is best :o)

I tried and tested the chutney today - I had it with some pate on toast and it was dee-lish.

Canvas Bags

Last night I went to see Tim Minchin - a very clever, funny and talented guy.
I've just checked You Tube to find a funny to share with you. This one will require you to crank up the sound a bit, but it will be well worth it (there are also other versions on YT but this one was closest to the one we saw last night). I love the Michael Jackson moment towards the end. Genuis.
I just won't believe it if you tell me you're not hooked on this tune. You'll probably sing it when you go to the supermarket from now on.
Enjoy.

for the love of tomatoes

Anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE tomatoes.
I've been busy using up the last of the tomatoes from the greenhouse - the ones that were just not going to ripen before the plants started to rot. I've been a fan of green tomato chutney since my mum made it when we were kids. This one wasn't my mums recipe though, just one I found online that suited the ingredients I had to hand. It's been maturing for a couple of weeks now and I'm having to resist opening it and having it with some nice strong cheddar and soft fresh bread. I'm salivating.

I do actually have one tomato plant left which I planted out in the garden late. I've moved it to the greenhouse now but I'm not sure if the tomatoes will ripen - we've had some warm days but some pretty chilly nights of late. I might need to make a few more jars of chutney.
I'm finding more and more that I enjoy the process of growing, eating and preserving foods. Last week I treated myself to a Maslin Pan, a confectioners thermometer, and the WI book of preserves. Mr Monda just groaned when he saw the book, in a 'you're becoming an old woman' kind of way. Oh well.

Last week I also made myself a little button necklace to go with the outfit I was wearing. I didn't own any purple accessories so I raided my stash and made a long necklace from buttons, felt balls, and a length of black waxed string. My friend also liked it, so I made one for her in oranges and yellows - very autumnal

trying a bit of hookery

Way back in May this year, me and my sis went off to do a crochet course. Prior to this, I'd tried teach myself to crochet on several occasions by looking in books at pictures which never really made any sense to me. I also tried to get my mum to show me how to do it, but alas the hookery eluded me still.
On the 4 hr crochet course I'm pleased to say I learned to do the basics, but since then, despite my best intentions, I didn't get around to trying it again.
Over the last week or so, I thought the time was right to try again, and had a very basic project in mind. I was amazed that I had remembered how to do it - it's like riding a bike I supposeMy finished effort is not perfect by any means, but I'm pleased with the result. This is basic level stuff, but I feel confident to try different things now - follow a pattern perhaps!

I'm also finding that I have a new found love of Grey (Gray) at the moment too. I've never really thought much of grey as a colour, but I'm finding myself quite attracted to greys hues of late:
1. Components (C365: day 49), 2. Natural Gray Black Wool Handspun Yarn, 3. Grey as buttons, 4. grey undertones [spun], 5. gray, olive wool, 6. this tile rug rocks it in gray, 7. Brooch, 8. Collection of gray, 9. skein of grey handspun

vintage love

A few weeks back I went to car boot sale and had kid in a sweetshop type moment when I found lots (and lots) of vintage lace and crochet. I didn't buy half as much as I could have (or wanted) but I did pick up some very pretty pieces indeed for just a few poundsI really like this little box of buttons. The people's box contained 4 linen covered buttons - a good assortment?
I'm have quite a lot of vintage love at the moment - I've also started purchasing odds and ends of fine bone china for a little 'project' I am planning. Will share more about this soon.

I'm back!

Crikey - almost a month since I last blogged. This was an unintentional but probably a necessary break. It's quite scary how you can lose a month isn't it. Lots has happened of course over the last month, some of which I will blog in due course.

I suppose for the purpose of my own recollection at a later date, I should start with the thing that is most immediately memorable, and that was my excursion to hospital on Tuesday this week for a little operation.
I blogged about having PCOS a while back. The side effects of this are getting a bit out of control so I had exploratory surgery on Tuesday to find out what is going on with me and how it can be controlled. I won't have all the results for another couple of months though, so all I know for the moment is that I feel a bit sore, I am quite bruised and that I am happy that this surgery took place whilst I was asleep.
I don't mind admitting that I was really quite scared about having this operation - probably because I'm a control freak, I like to be in control, it feels comfortable. You really are not in control when you have a general anaesthetic however. You put your life into the hands of a person you have never met and probably never will again, and you sign away your life on a form that says something like 'we could accidentally injure you or kill you, are you ok with that?'

Bodies are incredible and amazing things though, and I really think we take this for granted.
When I got home from hospital on Tuesday evening I stupidly tried to take the dressing off my stomach to have a look at what had been done, and I almost passed out. Mr Monda was with me saying - 'are you ok, you've gone transparent', at which point I couldn't really hear him, but just the hissing in my ears, which I guess was the blood rushing around my body trying to protect my vital organs. It's funny how the body knows how to do these things instinctively isn't it.
I am also amazed how much you need to use your stomach in normal every day life. I've found it hard to sit, lie (and sleep), pull up my pyjamas and underwear(!), stretch, bend, cough, sneeze (ouch) - you get the picture. All being well, I'll be back to normal in another few days.

Swifty onto a different topic: Before going off to hospital, I did manage to make one of my long (long) awaited PIF's to send to Gina.
a recycled paper stitched collage (with the odd bit of fabric thrown in), and a brooch made with bits and bobs from my scrap bag and recycled button stash.
Only 2 more PIF's to go. I feel really bad that I didn't get around to my PIF's within the stipulated year - I'm usually very organised. Lucy and Sally-Ann, I haven't forgotten about you. Your PIF's are the next thing on my creative agenda.

cooking up a storm

I've made a bit of time to cook today. I enjoy cooking but wasn't do it only for pleasure today - I was adamant to use the remainder of my first fruit and veg box from abel&cole (my next delivery is tomorrow!).
I flirted with an organic veg box from Riverford a few years back, but found I just wasn't using everything, resulting in a waste of food and money.
A few years have passed and I thought it was worth giving it another go. I've become a bit better at not wasting food. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that I have been growing some of my own this year?

So today, I made:
some fruit salad - I know, its not exactly cooking but the fruit needed using:a potato, cheese and onion pie, using the last few potatoes and onions from the veg box and some courgette chutney - using courgettes, onions and apples from the veg box and some tomatoes which were just going a bit soft in the fridgeThe Courgette Chutney was so simple to make - you can find the recipe here

I also used one of my cucumbers from my greenhouse in the salad we had with our pie. In a way, I'm amazed that I have managed to grow things that we have been able to eat. This year I've grown and eaten radishes, peas, potatoes, herbs, rocket, cucumbers, strawberries, and tomatoes. At the moment I have a LOT of green tomatoes in my greenhouse - waiting to ripen in the sun (ever the optimist).

I also did a little bit of sewing today - just playing with sewing onto paper again. I might get around to sharing the results with you later in the week.

the weekend blogger strikes again

I'm going through a phase of blogging only at weekends again (I think it happened this time last year too). I feel like I have a split personality at the moment - the weekday me, and the weekend me. Needless to say, I much prefer the weekend me - I'm happier, more relaxed (read less stressed!) and get time to do this things that I enjoy - like pottering in the garden/greenhouse, reading, catching up from the week, being creative, cooking, and spending time my boy - Mr Monda. Mr Monda has been absent this weekend, visiting his parents so I have been home alone with my moggies. It's a strange feeling, almost like I don't know what to do with myself, by myself. This said, I have got quite a lot done this weekend.

One thing I wanted to do this weekend was try out my newly fixed and serviced sewing machine.
These interesting specimens were removed and replaced: A capacitor from the foot pedal (which caused the machine to work by itself!) and a new bobbin winder piece - apparently, this one was quite worn out.
It seems to be sewing well and seems a bit smoother too - such a relief. It cost £60 to be fixed and serviced by a nice man who came to the house (massively convenient) - a recommendation from a local fellow blogger - thanks Helen!
I think considering I've never had it serviced it was a good deal - especially if it means I can get years more sewing out of it.
During the week I also received some 'treasure' I purchased on ebay recently. In a moment of self indulgence, I bought a tin of old buttons - for my stash of course: The same seller had various other vintage items, so I indulged a bit more and bought a couple of old sewing/knitting books, and an old bridge set - mainly so I could cut them up and use them in some of my stitched paper collages:This last couple of days I've been working on some stitched postcards. I've made 8 different designs - so just need to photograph them and get them into my shop. Here is the first couple:


Back here next weekend then? :o)

This into that

Why is it that you can never sleep in at the weekend, even though you really want to? My body just woke up early this morning and didn't allow me to go back to sleep. So I got up and started reading my new copy of Olive Magazine Olive is a great food magazine - its a mixture of reviews of restaurants/eateries/places to eat out, ideas for eating in and entertaining, topical foodie subjects (this month is about British meat), recipes and ideas, where to buy, and generally quite inspirational mouthwatering photography.
Then checked my emails which let to a spot of indulgent online browsing - clicking links from page to page, site to site - I love doing this because you never know what you're going to find.
Today I came across a site called 'this into that' where the maker creates functional furniture and art from old books and tools. The book/wood shelf with the random hooks is my fave.
Take a look:
I've used the random number generator to pick a few recipients for my card giveaway. The lucky punters are: Jennyflower, Gina and Cat.
Ladies please email me your addresses (you can use the 'contact me' button on my profile page) and I'll pop them in the post for you.

In sewing machine news, the fixer man is coming to diagnose on Wednesday next week. I hope it's nothing too serious. I don't need an excuse to buy a new bernina, but I like my solid old one and would like to think it will work for many more years to come. Fingers crossed.