Jazzing it Up!

Had a really productive day today. Even though the weather hasn't been brilliant, it was dry enough to work in the garden and do jobs inside when the rain started to spit.

I'm so happy with my dresser. It's been on my 'to do' list for a while, I wanted to paint it to hide the rather orange coloured pine and also to make the room brighter and lighter. Here it is...

I painted it with Annie Sloan chalk paint, original and buffed with her clear wax afterwards to give it more permanent and hard wearing finish.

We already had some pretty drawer knobs to use. The only problem was that I couldn't find any draw handles to match, or even that I liked. It wasn't really a problem though as we filled the holes from the previous handles with wood filler and Andrew drilled new holes for me to put the new ones in.

I don't think the photos show how pretty it looks. I took the back off and lined it with wallpaper rather than painting it and I think it sets it off beautifully.

 I love it and thoroughly enjoyed dressing it with my lovely china and bits and pieces.

So between the light showers (and they weren't too bad, I still managed to dry a machine load of washing outside) I popped into the garden to do a bit of tidying up. Emptied some old tubs with bedding plants that were past their best and planted a few new things.

I do love miniature Cyclamens, I like to have some in the house too.

Geranium is hanging on in there...

Covered in lots of tiny buds ready to bring more life into the garden

I'm amazed at my Dahlia, it's covered with flower buds again, beautiful.

There was lots of weeding to do and the patio needed a good, stiff brush.

Perhaps not perfect, but beautiful all the same.

It was lovely to spend some time sitting outside when we'd finished just soaking up the fresh air and appreciating what we'd done.

Made a quiche for tea, so nothing else to do, but relax and enjoy the evening. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Take care
xxx

Getting Ready for Autumn

I think my first words need to be a hearty congratulations to our beloved queen. Queen Elizabeth II, our longest reigning monarch, long may she reign.

Picture from the BBC

It's definitely here, Autumn. The weather's already changed, you can feel it in the air, but for me the clincher is our daughter starting the new school year. A bit later than usual this year, but off she went this morning after the obligatory first day back photo.

I have to tell you about the caterpillar infestation. You could see in my last post how they had ravaged our green vegetables, well they literally ate themselves out of house and home! We came downstairs to a patio covered in hundreds of poor little caterpillars all desperately searching for more food.

Over population leading to a lack of resources. It was a bit icky, but a bit sad too. I've never seen anything like it!

 Now for a complete change of subject. Books, I love books, I love to read, but I generally only read a book once. I think because there are so many amazing books that once I've read one I want to move on to the next. I am now making an exception and rereading some books from my teenage years.

My mum used to like books by the author Jean Plaidy (amongst many others) and I tended to pick books up after her. I remember looking for a Plaidy book some years ago and being told they were out of print. Then in The Works the other day... look what I found...

 It's the Tudor set (except for the last in the series). I couldn't resist them as it was 3 books for £5, they needed to come home with me!

 These books tell the story of the Tudors, starting Henry VII after the reign of the Plantagenates and war of the roses. I think I found some of my love of history from reading Plaidy's books as a child. Obviously they are fictionalised, but it helped me learn my kings and queens and gave them more of a 'real' feeling. I'm trying to persuade my daughter to read them, not much interest on her part though.

Take care
xxx

Rainy Days and Caterpillars

Oh my goodness, I don't think it's stopped raining all day. It hasn't been the best August weather wise, so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by the lack of sunshine as it draws to a close.

 Absolutely teeming down as you can see in the photo above. Not a day for venturing out, more of a curl up with some magazines or a good book kind of day. Perhaps time to open my new notebook and fill it with my plans, wishes, hopes and dreams...

I really didn't think I could justify buying a new notebook (I love stationery), but look how beautiful it is, the embroidered birds and flowers, almost too good to open and start writing in!

A new notebook should surely have a new pen too. See the owls, so cute.

 Maybe one of the things I write in my notebook could be some plans for the garden next year after our disaster this summer. We planted some Sprouts and Broccoli in our raised bed

 We just forgot the hordes of butterflies who would visit us

Next year... netting, lots of netting

I think there're so many caterpillars that they may run out of leaf to eat!

Take care
xxx

Bars and Melody... and a Poor Fairy

My daughter has been very lucky to go to a school that encourages the top classes in year 8 to sit their GCSE English exam early. Imogen took it in her stride and we also reassured her that even though we hoped she would do her best, if she didn't pass it wouldn't matter and she could still be proud that she sat her GCSE at such a young age.

Well she aced it and we are so proud of her. We asked her if there was anything she'd like to do or go as a reward. The only thing Imogen wanted was to meet her idols Bars and Melody, 2 boys who were in Britain's got Talent, I think last year. She follows them on all the social media sites and loves their music, so knowing they were coming to Sheffield HMV to sign their newly released cds... well, you know where this is going!

We live about an hour from Sheffield, so set off to arrive an hour before they were due.

The queues... thank goodness it wasn't raining

We queued patiently for an hour waiting for them to arrive, Imogen clutching her cd for them to sign, she was so excited.

One of the security men came along the queue to let everyone know they were here and we were told we could go straight in and use the lift (because of my chair). To our surprise, the lovely security men took us straight to the front of the queue, Imogen was besides herself!

Just a few more minutes waiting for them to come in. The noise was quite deafening as hordes of teenage girls were shouting and chanting for them. Imogen even had a wave from Leo as she was at the front.

Leo and Charlie, they're lovely boys, very polite and made Imogen feel special even though it was only for a few seconds. It was their 3rd sitting that day so even if they were tired, they hid it well.

oops, sorry about the finger blur

Now for a complete change of subject, I've been playing with some felting wool and made a little fairy

She was my first attempt, so I was quite happy with her, just needs a few embellishments to finish her off.

I'm glad I took a photos of her because... arghhhhhhh...

The dogs wanted to play with her? I can't be cross with them, she shouldn't have been left where they could reach (they're only small dogs). I think it may have been a protest as we've been going out a lot. Poor fairy was unrecognisable!

Oh well, I'll have to try again.

Take care
xxx

British Wool Show

Still enjoying the school summer holidays, we seem to have packed quite a bit in. After going out every day for a couple of weeks it left me feeling a strong need to spend time at home and in the garden (my favourite places really).

One of the places we visited was the British Wool Show in York.

It's held every year over 2 days to celebrate British wool. They had everything, knitting, crochet, weaving, spinning, felting, cross stitch, embroidery... workshops were held throughout the day too so new skills could be learnt.

So much talent and skill, so much to look at. The felt art was absolutely amazing and would not have looked out of place in any art gallery.

These hats were amazing

The artist busy making them

I managed to to do a bit of felting in one of the workshops - we made a felted chicken (though mine may have been more pigeon looking)

While I was busy trying not to stab myself with those barbed felting needles (there were plasters on the table), my very patient husband wondered round with the camera...

I thought these seasonal scenes were stunning and treated myself to a kit

Knowing my love of dolls and all things crafty, Andrew surprised me with one of these hand crafted Waldorf dolls. She now sits in my old Victorian dolls pram.

I thought this felted fox was wonderful.

So many gorgeous hand dyed skeins of wool... you could easy spend a small fortune at this show. I manage to keep myself in check due to the lack of space to put it once it gets home, all my storage is already full to bursting!

It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon, which I'd definitely recommend for next year, perhaps I'll see you there!

Take care
xxx