Slowly does it

 One of my parcels have arrived, this was the 2nd replacement parcel, from Hobbycraft, who handled the courier delay in my 1st parcel so very well. It is a bit bigger than I expected, but it's perfect for my project trolley, it sits in the corner of my craft room and can be wheeled out when I am crafting. 

At the moment I am using it for rabbits and other handmade toys, the bottom tray has fabrics, a couple old pieces of clothes I want to use, middle tray is my tools plus, buttons, braids and other bits. The top tray is for patterns and the cut out bits. You can see my fibre, which I am still working on. 

Another smaller parcel arrived, this was expected a purchase I asked for, made by a lovely lady from Bits and Bowes, I have used her a few times for embroidery, I would love a big machine, but the cost for the model I want, is very high and I would not use it that much. These will become footpads for each animal. 

I have not given up on my cat idea, I have changed the colour of the felt, this is a rust colour not shown well in this photo, but seen better in the photo above and purchased a thinner felt, which when adding the fibre it's not too thick, this is now working. I have 2 more pieces to work on then I can cut out the cat. Molly won't be able to play with it, but I am enjoying the challenge of making it. 

A happy cast on, men's socks shoe size 7, so not too big, I was chatting to the owner and her husband of our local haberdashery shop, she does not knit and he has never had home knitted socks. I asked him to choose his yarn, he agreed with having the plain blue top, toes and heel, I'm enjoying knitting. 

If the 1st parcel sent from Hobbycraft arrives, I will refuse delivery, so it should get back to them. The last parcel, which I am wanting is now almost 3 weeks late, the company has responded very slow to my ticket I placed asking for them to trace the parcel, today they asked for a review of my purchase, so I have stated I have not received my parcel or any help, not the way I would like to behave, but they have almost £50 of my money, and I would like the goods or a refund.

I have not started any sewing, but I have most of what I need to start, it's just a case of getting going. We have been out most days this week, hubby has is doing everything he can to help me feel good, January is always a hard month for me, feeling so sad and blue, even the lovely sunny days have not helped. 

1st finish

The train set has a nice new bag for storage

 A smaller bag for the people, animals and trees.

I enjoyed a sewing session on Saturday afternoon, Will's train set is now packed away tidy, and fits into his toy box. I have more sewing to do, but it can be done at another time.
I've finished sorting here in my craft room, I have done the last huge drawer, this is where I keep cards, envelopes and other card making items, I have had a huge sort out and passed on loads of cards I have made but will never send, my taste have changed so much since I started making my own cards, having less means I can see what I have.
I also sorted my fabric stash, but as I knew, I have just put it all back neat and tidy, I was looking for a piece of fabric, which I found, but was too small for the task.
On the plus, I found some thin yarns which I can use for weaving, I have 7 lovely colours, so I will be able to play, plus cotton I can use for the weft, I purchased them in Spain years ago, just because I loved the colours. I have ordered a loom and a few shuttles, should be here in the next couple of days. I will start watching you tube for tips. I have added the cost to my stash list.
All the left over yarn from the ripple blanket is popped into a soft bag, I can pull it out when I want a simple craft to do, I will use it all up on small granny crotchet squares.
Saturday night we were at neighbours house, it's the annual eat it up supper with added extra of wine, we had fun it's good to catch up, plus so much wonderful cheese.
Today I have Will for the day and hubby is back to his small driving job, he now just takes two disabled boys to school and then takes them home later, just 3 days a week, so everything is back to normal. Sign class starts back tomorrow, it will be lovely to catch up with everyone again.

Sorted

From this

 to sorted

 Junk drawer

 Sorted

For me January is the sort out and planning month, planning is very easy, I make list, I love a list, at work I was always know as queen of excel, if ever we had a meeting, it was always left to me to make a spreadsheet, play around with the figures showing the best and worse of our results, it was always a labour of love. So it's no surprise I still keep spreadsheets, thank you for your many comments regarding my targets, with years of working in sales I find a target keep my mind focus.
I also love a tidy home, and sorting the bottom big drawer with my stash of magazines in brought to the fore front, how much money I have spent on magazines, I threw loads away, I did offer them free on our local facebook page, but no takers. I don't throw much away these days, simply because I don't buy so much, which has been our driving force for a couple of years, we both love life without the clutter. Enjoying our savings with the unspent monies.
My mind is turning to cleaning the kitchen again, I did a huge clean beginning of last year, with the promise I would do it again in September, which did not happen, I am mainly talking the top of the kitchen cabinates, dirty but necessary job, on my list to do this month.
The builders from next door are making a mess of our shared drive, they are digging out foundations for a conservatory, and are going to pave the whole garden, they have already been erecting 6' wooden panel fences, which won't impact on our sitting area, it will be nice to have our garden private again, we don't mind in a few weeks they will be gone and the peace will return.
I had a fantastic afternoon with Josh and Sam on Friday, we went to Lee on the Solent, it was a cold sunny day, we spent some time in the amusement arcades, they had cake and ice cream, followed by a nice walk along the water edge. Perfect way to spend time with my eldest grandsons.

Just a few things

I have been reusing some of the nicer jars we have, 

bringing some of my lovely beads and buttons on show.

The shelf is cut from a leftover piece from hubbies side of the office.

I have a second spare shelf if I want to add it later. 

I watched this series on TV and it was wonderful

I don't normally read a book after watching it on screen, BUT this book is brilliant, I knew what was coming but the book is written so well, and still it offered a twist and turn. 

 Pomegranate potted into a bigger clay pot

I am on a mission to get as many 2nd hand clay pots as I can

Plastic pots are on their way out of my garden. 

I have just ordered the wormery below, in green

It's back in stock in June, can't wait for it to come.

I don't like to touch worms, they are slimy, but I do know their worth. This model allows the worms to munch their way upwards, so when the top tray is full, the bottom layer can be removed, compost used in garden and then the empty tray is added to the top. So no worms will be touched at any point. It's a good size for us, and would ensure our waste from the kitchen is used in a positive way. Plus the tap at the bottom will drain and we will have liquid fertilizer. I will use the last of money gifted to me to purchase this.
I know I am a big girls blouse in the garden, I do not like to touch worms or slugs, worms are carefully tucked under the soil and slugs are removed on my trowel. My mum used to laugh at me, but it's just the way I am. 

We are still looking at waste, we throw away so little these days, as I have said before, if we don't purchase it, we don't have to get rid of it in the future.
Our food waste is almost zero, which is very pleasing.
We do not have plans to  renew anything, if it breaks, we will try and get it fixed, only replace where we have to. We pass on things we don't need, and happily take passed on items where we can use them. The only new things we regularly get are clothes and shoes, but we don't spend too often, I'm not ready to wear clothes that have been passed on.
A couple of points from my last post regarding the bird house, both really good points to point out, the paint used is nontoxic, and regarding the metal roof overheating the box, we already decided to place it in a shady spot, where the sun won't reach it after late morning.

Ummm Sunshine

All tidy again, with loads of things left out

including stitching and photo's on the wall 

 I am loving the dark wood floor

We spend most of the weekend sorting, which meant another load of stuff to our local charity shop, we always take our unwanted things to Save the Children. I did not sort all my drawers, the job seamed just to daunting, the stuff can stay where it is for now. I did decide not to put back 3 shelves on the wall, they attract so much clutter!
My car has been back to the garage on my recent service they found an oil leak in the gearbox, it's now repaired with a new clutch, all under warranty and it's had another clean, it is positively shining almost glowing on our drive. Oh well a couple journeys to work will bring it back to it's normal state.
I have had the past two days off, this cough is keeping me awake at night. On the positive side I do feel better today, so the hope is I will go back to work tomorrow.
The garden is coming to life, we have snowdrops in our front plot along with daffodil growth, lovely green leaves everywhere. In the pots along the side of the house are crocus leaves, and more daffodils leaves in my side garden. I have primroses in the pots along side my greenhouse. My Magnolia tree has loads of buds, the flowers always form before the leaves. Blueberry and blackcurrant bushes have tiny buds forming, plus the start of new growth on my strawberry plants, which are raised in tubs.
February is such a month of promise, but spring waits until March has done it's final winter fling. If we are to have snow it often falls in March.

Still daughter is waiting as we all our for the arrival of grandson.

Now I am going to do some crafting.

Dull out, interesting inside

Yesterday we went out for lunch and had afternoon tea

with daughter and SIL

 I love the miss matched plates and cups, the food was wonderful

Local to our daughter was the Cork and Cheese

Wine shop and deli with a lovely seating area

I am loving using my knitting bag, I have to pack this away each time I am finished with it. Purdy really loves the wool's to play with so I can't leave anything by my sitting room chair. It is compact but with the pockets useful, Here's how I made it

 It sits on my sewing box, with my sewing machine and other bags

The red bag Pam made me, it keeps my cross stitch in the frame neat and tidy

Behind is another quilted bag made by Pam, she is brilliant at patchwork.

At the back is my Patchwork tool's and fabric holder, which I recently made.

This part of my office is tidy all the time and very pretty to look at.

 I have finished the yolk of the baby jacket and it has worked, all I have to do is knit the two front bands and sew the lower part of the sleeves together. I really hate sewing knitting together, so this has worked well for me. I have another to knit using the same pattern, but this time I am going to add cables on the fronts and sleeves. 

 I have re-potted my Bouganvillea Amarilla which I got in Tenerife last September, it's now huge and healthy, the hope is for it to fill out and look less twig like. 

I managed an hour in the garden and greenhouse this morning, I harvest the last couple of sweet peppers from the greenhouse and did a general tidy around, it's full in the greenhouse, I have my olive bush and citrus plants, plus a couple of cacti which don't like being waterlogged in there. My shed is also full with loads of ceramic ornaments from the garden. I did cut back the small side cottage garden, the seed heads had been eaten by the birds and the cold wet spell has softened everything, which then dropped over the edge. I can see bulbs starting to grow around the plot, a promise of things to come.
I have also managed an hour doing my 2016 blog book, I have to manually transfer each post and photo's, which is slower, before Blogger would copy over all the items in bulk. It is slower but much easier as I do one post at a time.
I have few plans for this evening, the last Sherlock is on at 9pm, it's a case of keeping warm and crafting.

Stash

Another tidy area

 I spent an hour just sorting my shelves, putting all my ribbons in the tins and boxes, and ensuring the contents in my wooden dish look tidy. I love all things wooden, and can not walk past items without touching them. This shuttle is just beautiful to me. 

My green basket holds my finished cross stitch and other small fabrics, when the contents spill out, I know it's time to get me sewing machine out.

It's been a busy day, I caught up with the ironing as well this morning. I had lunch with Ann, who I worked with, this is the first time I have stayed in contact with someone once I leave a job. Having worked a year together, we have become very good friends.

When I got back home I found a parcel from Dawn, she had sent to me some evenweave, left over from her shop, 3 packs, which has been added to my stash.

 I have had this unit for years, 

I keep my silks very neat and tidy, in number order, ready for use, 

and looks good next to my chair in the sitting room.

 The large bottom drawer is for fabrics, and a few sewing items.

 My main sewing items are kept in this huge tool box, again I have had it for years, I find it great, easy to move to where I am sewing and everything together. Plus my sharp sewing shears are safe for the grand sons. The wine bottle holder has my knitting needles in.

 We did not stitch yesterday afternoon, so much gossip and so little time. 

I did work on the skater last night.

Tonight it's the first 6 Nations rugby match, 

Wales v England, 

so my Welsh hubby, will watch the match and shout at the TV, 

so loads of stitching time for me.

It works

I have finished stitching this heart, it's bigger than I wanted, but now it's done I love the shades of brown, both Su and Fliss love it, so I'm hoping Nic will love it too.

 I hand washed the piece to remove the soluble canvas, which washed away completely. I would use this again if I could get it in a smaller count. If you look below you can not see any shiny canvas left.

Now I have to stitch it into a heart, I plan a sewing day with my machine this weekend, I have a few things to stitch. 

 Not the best picture of my cat, but I have done more, the shades of grey are so very close, it hard to tell them apart, it is a hard photo to take and below is the best I could do. I have almost finished the paw and next I will get on with the nose and mouth. This is very cute.

My heart is on my wall, this corner of our office being mine and fully of crafty items, my green basket on the shelf is full of finished items. Not sure if you can make out my TUSAL jar, it's getting full, loads of stitching this year.

Today is bonfire day and tonight is all about fireworks, our cats are in and safe, and we have no plans to leave them. Josh and Sammy are having a firework party at home with their daddy. We do not go to displays, once there you have to stand for hours, and if it rains you get very wet.
I plan to stitch the cat tonight, and then back to Grand Marquoir.

With a rare weekend at home, I plan to finish sewing Christmas presents, and making the cookie jars, I have been looking on the net and getting hints on how to layer them so they look good and printing the recipe. I am in full Christmas mode, my cake should be baked this weekend.
I also want to potter in the garden, any dry day I will spend an hour just keeping every thing tidy.

Slow going

 I have finished N, but it is slow going, that's 5 out of 9 on page 3, I think I am missing the colour from my other project, still 2 weeks before the next stage is released.

I have been sorting in my office space, I have moved my shop and kitchen to the book case, I have room here to have a small house, but at this time I can't decide on a theme.

I have been busy, my CV is every where, had my 1st job interview this week, and fingers crossed for more.

I am home today hopefully it's the last visit to get our boiler working, I am also finishing my third book, Poppy Patchwork 2012, I just need to have one final read through to ensure there are no stupid mistakes. I do not change much content on the blogs, so soon I will have 3 books. I have a second book to print, it's the story of Somerset House, my house maybe gone but  I will always have the record of it.

We don't have plans for the weekend, it's too cold for planting, but I hope to sort my little greenhouse and get things going in there, Josh and Sam are at grandma's house for the weekend, I hope to spend time with Fliss and Su, as well as loads of time with Kev.

My main aim is to find a localish cross stitch shop to visit, I would like to add to my stash, but I feel a touchy feely time coming on.

Hope your long weekend is full of fun, and a bit of warmer weather.

Monday night thinking

This is my space and I love it, I can add what ever I like, pin as much cross stitch as I like on my walls, I have my miniature projects around me and through my window I can see my garden. I know I'm lucky, I have enough drawer space for most of my craft things, and I don't have to pack away a project when it's half finished just because I have run out of time.


My Desk runs along one wall and I can clutter it, I don't like alot of clutter in the main rooms of the house, and Joshy love to come here and print our sketches of Fireman Sam, Bob the Builder and others, he knows where his felt pens and crayons are stashed. I'm in a reflective mood, we have a second viewing on our house this Saturday, and they have already put in a cheeky offer, which we rejected. So I sit here thinking I might have to pack all this away!
My beautiful flowers Kev brought me for our 25th anniversary are still looking good. I will keep you posted ref the house sale.