Green

I've always loved green. Proper emerald green. To me it represents leaves and trees and riverbanks. The freshness of nature and youthful exuberance. It is as much a part of me as my name.

To illustrate-

Q: What's your name?
A: Jane.
Q: How many arms do you have?
A: Two.
Q: Favourite colour?
A: Green.

There.
Simple.

So it seems natural that my home would reflect this with glorious shades of green in each room highlighted with accents of eau de nil and jade. Yup, that sounds about right.

So what's going on?

My home is mainly neutral. 

There is lots of colour on the walls in the way of paintings, books and various collections.

The bathroom was a daring experiment in a lovely rich -  red. 

The fireplace wall in the living room is  - red.

Once you start really looking most of the accents are - (yeah okay we've got it now) red!

What's the time - ten to RED!

 I don't know how this has happened. I know it shouldn't matter but it has been bugging me. 
Am I a green fraud?
This niggle must have been dancing at the back of my mind as I went for my Friday afternoon charity shop trawl.

I was immediately drawn to this lovely top.

Followed by this dress.

Then these beautiful dainty plates jumped out in front of me.

Followed by these bowls.

And then - as if by magic (a la Mr Benn) it was all pulled together by the discovery of this fabulous tablecloth.

It was only as I unpacked my goodies that I realised there was a common theme. Green. 

Had the little green fairy been sitting on my shoulder?
Had the dancing niggle nagged my subconscious into action?
Am I over thinking this (yes you are now be quiet)?
I was relieved.
I am not a fraud.
I love green!

Jane x

What's your colour of choice?

Sewing!

A couple of weeks ago a member of my knitting group mentioned something about a sewing thing appearing on television. My ears pricked up! Sewing was the first crafty type thing I learned to do - very much self taught - and still remains close to my heart (even if not actually in my wardrobe!) I did make a dress a year ago but I used an old pattern and was most perturbed when - after hours of invisible hemming and enthusiastic humming - it didn't fit. How on earth could that have happened? To date it is still hanging on the back of my bedroom door waiting for me to drop a few pounds (don't worry - it's made itself quite comfortable).

Just hangin' around

Once my fancy had been tickled I had to pursue the matter further. After some frantic excitement on Google I found out more. For those of you outside the UK 'The Great British Bake Off' has become a National institution, in which two old treasures host a baking competition in a tastefully (if twee) decorated marquee in the picturesque British countryside. What's not to like (unless you have an aversion to duck egg blue and bunting)? The producers, doubtless very pleased with their success, have decided to replicate the winning formula and apply it to sewing. The result - 'The Great British Sewing Bee'.

Oooooh. Ooooooooh. And, what's more, there's an accompanying book! Now I don't usually treat myself to a book willy nilly - I usually have to justify it with a reason like eg: my birthday, nearly Christmas, it's Tuesday kind of thing. But with this I had pressed 'place order' and before Jack had time to be nimble it had plonked through my letterbox.

Gaze at these for a moment...

...then these

Of course I'm going to be very busy running up some of these

Although I think Little Sis might object to me interfering with this occasion

And Mr K is going to be thrilled with a new line in these

Oh yes it's going to be a busy time indeed.

The book also contains some historical references to the Queen Mother's Sewing Bees, as well as Mr Beeton and Beau Brummell. There are clear instructions on the basics - many of which were new to me - and a full size pattern for a tunic (sadly though the other patterns all need enlarging to 500% which could be a bit of a faff).

I love it. 

Did you gather that already?

Anyhow just to prove I am not turning my back on any woolly goodness I was delighted to find that the Ceilidh we attended on Saturday evening was being hosted by this band

Look at the bunting!

I'm off to don my tea dress and collect apple blossom in my hand made trug ;)

Jane x

What to look for in Spring

It's happened. 

Spring has arrived.

Time to dust down my trusty Ladybird book and see what delights I will be finding outside my front door.

By the end of February many signs of Spring have already arrived and, as the days grow longer, the hearts of country dwellers are stirred to renewed wonder at the swelling of buds and the sight of the early blossoms of hazel, willow, alder and poplar.

So says the introduction.

Let's go.

First thing I will be looking for is a field full of boxing hares.

Hmmm....

...although I did find a rather depressed rabbit.

Okay - next there should be some lively goings on amongst the canal folk

Too cold for any of those shenanigans

Canal boats will be nestling alongside banks of fresh green grass and celandine

Nope

The birds will be actively constructing their nests up in the sunny blue sky

Not happening

Okay now I know that finding a bunch of piglets might have been pushing it a bit but maybe I'll find some forsythia in full bloom

Too cold to bloom today

Primroses?

Ditto

Okay - I'm sensing a pattern here.

At the risk of sounding like a moaning Minnie I'm going to suggest that those pictures that we were brought up with as children may not have been telling us the whole truth. 

I'm thinking of writing my own version.

'What to look for in Spring - really!'

Do you think it will sell?

Keep warm

Jane x

Night of the naughty knubbelchen

Can I first say how lovely it has been to receive such wonderful comments on my previous posts - thank you to all my followers - you're all fab!

Back at the K's house...
It's been a nail biting afternoon. 

There has been some frantic knitting in the round.

Some double decreasing. 

A little bit of hat surgery.

Some knotting of hands.

And then at approximately half past seven this evening our knubbelchen arrived.

Now for those of you who have never met a knubbelchen before there is one thing you should know.

They can be very naughty.

Immediately he danced up on to the fireplace to conspire with Mr Woodpecker.

I wonder what he wants to know?

This was followed by some frantic searching.

Nosey knubbelchen!

Until at last he seemed to be satisfied that he had found what he was looking for.

You've guessed it - knubbelchen's love a nibble.

And, after a bit of a struggle...

...he was in!

Naughty knubbelchen!

Still who could get cross with such a happy face?

So he stayed around to dance on the piano.

And sniff the flowers.

And tomorrow he will tinkle (only because he has a bell in his head you understand - he is not THAT naughty!) his way southwards to my new second cousin.

I do hope he will behave.

Jane x