You like?

The very fact that I am starting this post with an excuse might indicate just how many doubts I have about my most recent of purchases.

The fact that I am going to reveal said purchase slowly so as to minimise the visual shock might emphasise this further.

You see Mr K - who shall thus forth be known as Mike for that is his name - insisted on popping in to our local charity centre. As I duly followed him in I was feeling fairly nonchalant about the prospect. Having had a conversation on our way there about having too much 'stuff' I had resolutely stated that I'd have a look around, but really didn't want or need anything at all. I was there purely to support his quest for some old cameras.

It nearly worked.

Then Mike spotted something I'd missed.

Something with a lovely pattern.

And an interesting shape.

Maybe a feature?

Or two?

At this point I feel it is only fair to warn you that if you possess a modicum of taste you might want to stop here.

You could imagine I have bought a beautiful old vase.

Or bowl.

Maybe a dainty cup or a tea set for summer picnics.

What you probably won't expect is this.

A fine example of a prettily patterned pottery dog!

And if you're still here you might be thinking 'how could this get any better?'

I'll show you how.

A pair of prettily patterned pottery dogs!

They made me smile.

I chuckled all the way home.

Today the chuckle has been tempered by many doubts. Am I turning into the sort of person who throws taste out of the window in favour of a cheap thrill? Will my twilight years see me surrounded by hordes of prettily patterned animals? I have never given much heed to popular taste and have always fancied a wall full of cuckoo clocks.

Is this a slippery slope?

HELP!

Jane

xxx

Hidden Treasures

I think it's only fair to warn you about this post. Mr K has recently treated me to a new camera and today was it's first outing. Needless to say I was particularly snap happy so if you fancy some eye candy (where on earth did that phrase come from?) rather than my customary poignant and inspiring writings (!) go ahead. 

Just saying.

Some time ago I wrote about Leek - a nearby market town with a wealth of history set among beautiful Staffordshire scenery. So when they advertised a Dickensian market Mr K and I thought it would be the perfect way to celebrate the start of the Christmas holidays. The weather was predicted to be fine and bright but - as we drove across in heavy sleet and rain - my expectations were considerably lowered. The market was still on but the weather had obviously taken it's toll. Some treasures still caught my eye however.

Sadly the rain was coming down too hard to have a proper mooch so we quick stepped it around the wild mallards to the indoor market.

Fortunately the nativity scene was under shelter.

And at last we felt a touch of Christmas past.

Although this little chap had clearly had enough!

Not sure what was going on outside Boots but it was all very jolly.

In a valiant effort to keep warm and dry we ducked into places hitherto unexplored.

Friends from my knitting group have often mentioned the store Bibelot and  I expected it to be a small town style wool shop. 

How wrong I was!

As we entered Mr K immediately recognised the proprietors as two of his old students. As he was waxing lyrical about the 'old days' I decided to have a peek upstairs. 

Look what I found.

And although I like Cath Kidston to a degree I couldn't help but be bowled over by this display of loveliness.

It just carried on.

Where to look? What to do? Where to buy? I was actually so totally phased by the amount of stuff in there that I came away with nothing - apart the firmest of intentions to attend one of their friendly craft courses in the New Year.

Next stop was a cafe called Spout. 

We were immediately greeted by young friendly staff and invited to choose from a fantastic range of goodies from the menu. Settling for the simple teacake option (!) we explored the rest of the rather large, rather quirky, rather beautiful old building.

Even the toilet had a distinct personality!

Upstairs there was a fantastically well stocked ale store called The Bottle Lab.

Needless to say quite some time was spent in perusal mode.

By the time we left it was dark.The way home across the moors and hills was speckled with fairy lights of various  colours, shapes and sizes - notably one that was in the shape of a bus. 

Who knows? 

Looking back the weather did us a favour. We explored indoors rather than out and in doing so were treated with a wealth of treasures.

And of course we couldn't resist bringing this little chap home.

Hope you are keeping warm and well.

Jane

xxx

Just not feeling it ...

... are you?

I've been trying ever so hard.

Maybe it's the unseasonally warm weather we've been experiencing.

Or the fact that frosts haven't yet forced my pelargoniums inside.

But I just haven't got the Christmas bug. 

Not yet.

There are three separate Christmas productions going on at school.

And glitter abounds.

But even though the beautiful strains of 'The Snowman' keeps echoing down the halls  I'm still not 'getting it'.

This morning we received our first Christmas card. I've put it next to our gorgeous smelling mulled wine candle (I told you I was trying) on the mantelpiece in an attempt to ramp up the Christmas cheer - but no. Nothing.

The ingredients for the Christmas cake - usually mixed together with great competitive fervour in anticipation of winning our annual 'cake off' - are gathering dust behind the fruit bowl.

Don't get me wrong. I like Christmas. My singalong songs during December vary from anything between 'In the Bleak Midwinter' to 'All I want for Christmas - is Yoooooou' (for which I apologise). But I think that might be the point. It's still November.

I have many dear friends who already have presents wrapped and cards sent. But for me Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the mad dash around the shops hours before the big day. 

Something needs to snap into place. Just like the urge to plant seeds hits me in the Spring, and making jam is an absolute must in Autumn.

So what have I been doing?

Well I've made a couple of happy purchases.

Look at this set of pretty glasses. £2.50 for six!

Surely these will twinkle perfectly against the fairy lights on Christmas Eve?

And I had to snap up this sign for £1.

Who wouldn't want a knitted brassiere - that fits!

I've gathered the last of our apples.

Made lots of soups.

And been fascinated by the rate this hyacinth bulb has put down it's roots.

I've also been doing a bit of crochet. I love the idea of having a snuggly wrap around shawl for the colder evenings.

With a chunky wool and 7mm hook this is building up really quickly.

I've also been tempted by the new Rosie Mitts pattern by Pink Milk.

The embroidered rose detail is so sweet.

So there we go. I'm not complaining. In fact as I sit typing this I'm being bathed in the most glorious winter sunshine. Mr K is down at the allotment adding finishing touches to the shed and I'm about to don my wellies and wander down with emergency coffee. 

I'll try and spot some robins!

Jane 

xxx

I've Finished a Thing!!!

Now just in case you think you must have stumbled in to the wrong blog I would like to assure you that it is I - dreamer of many things, starter of some and finisher of few - who has indeed completed 'a thing'! I bought this wool at the Bakewell Wool Gathering last year and swore I would have it all wrapped up and round my neck by December. What I hadn't considered was that it might be the following December. It's a wonderfully soft Blue Faced Leicester twist - not sure of any of the other details now as the ball band disappeared into the pale blue yonder many moons ago. 

The one on the left!

As you can see from this little chap this is not his natural colour.

Image courtesy of  cottontailcrafts.co.uk

It had been hand dyed a rich orange with a mottled effect. Because of this I decided to stick to a straightforward moss stitch. I cast on fifty five stitches on 4mm needles and just went for it. Obviously the repetitive nature of this became stultifyingly boring after a while, which may have explained it's absence from my list of priorities.

To 'tidy up' the edges I slip stitched around with a 4mm crochet hook, and added a little bit of extra detail with some teeny tiny loops at each end.

Overall I'm really pleased with it. It could have been a bit longer but to be honest it's snuggly, it's warm and it it's a perfect contrast for my new to me five pound coat!

Bad picture alert - it's tipping down outside
and  try as I might I can't get these colours to
ring true
- the coat is actually teal!

If Maud had thumbs they would both be up!

I'm busy beavering away at something else at the moment for which I'm trying to write a tutorial. Crikey! Hopefully I'll be able to tell all soon.

Wishing you all warm and well.

Jane

xxx

Thanks to all of you who contributed to my last post - stories are still appearing in the comments section so do go and have a look if you fancy a 'spooky' fix!

Ding Dong Sewalong!

For those of you who might be wondering what on earth I'm on about (and not for the first time) I am, of course, referring to the very talented Miss Daisy Jones who is hosting a tip top sewalong for a 'simple' skirt. Now let me just clarify - 'tis not I who have coined the phrase 'simple' here.No in my case it's more of a tip top skirt for a simple person. Hmm. 

(I've just been distracted by a duck sitting on the roof right outside the window - maybe he too would like to join in - no?)

Anyhow, if you're still there, I thought you might like to see the fabric I've selected. Please bear in mind that in true 'me' fashion I have waited until the time in the evening where it is impossible to get a good picture - the colours aren't quite as lurid as they might seem.

Contender number one

Yes you are correct in thinking that this is an old curtain. I love the colours and the loose weave but I'm currently using it for bag making.

Contender number two

Another curtain. This time with more of a glazed finish but I think more suited to a dress I've got in mind. (Hahahahahahahahahahaha - oh yes it's amazing the dreams we can dream!)

So the final contender, and to be honest the one I've plumped for, is this one.

A very fine needlecord which is far prettier in real life than this picture shows. It was a roll end from a charity shop and cost the grand total of £2.49. I've been waiting for the right thing to do with it so hopefully fate has called and I will soon be parading around proudly in it.

So that's my choice. 

Do I have a zip? No.

Do I have the pattern yet? Errr - no! (but hopefully popping onto the doormat any day now)

But do I have the enthusiasm? Heck yes!!

This is going to be good fun. If you haven't joined up yet pop over to see Daisy or use the button in my sidebar.

Simple - that's my kind of sewing!

Off to watch 'The Great British Sewing Bee' now for my weekly fix.

Jane

xxx