Pleasant Ways to Recharge Your Body and Mind

I can't believe my last post was at the end of February!  Where has the time gone?  To be honest, I've been unbelievably busy, busy racing around for everyone else and not taking much time for me and now I kind of feel burnt out. So, the first few days of my Easter holiday have been spent lunching with my mum, lazing around and not doing very much at all, well, other than catching up with my Scheepjes Hygge Cal.  I'm about a week behind in this, but I'm not fussed as I'm taking it at my own pace and trying to get into the hygge moment. I've only started it back up again; I had to postpone it for a week after the wind caught and jammed my fingers in the garden door. Loads of blood, gore and pain and having two fingers strapped together.  You don't realise how much you need your index and middle finger until there incapacitated and bound together. My makeup looked liked I had licked and rubbed smarties on my face, my hair, well that looked like I'd been dragged through a hedge backwards and as for my writing; the words hen and scratching comes to mind.

On the crafting front,  I'm now onto the middle section or Week 7 of my Hygge Shawl.  I've just completed the Pastel colourway and half way through the Rainbow one. I'm about a week behind on this Cal but that's not too bad considering the hand injury.  As you can see from the photos I have a third colour; 'The Girls' Night In' box. I was going to start this and try and do the three shawls at the same time but I'm not going to start this one now until the other two are complete.  I just think doing all three at the same time would just become a chore, and I don't want that to happen, plus it gives me something to look forward to further down the line.  I'm also dabbling in the March edition of the Little Box of Crochet by the wonderful Amanda Bloom and her daughter Jenny.  I've been receiving these for about  4 or 5 months, I was only going to subscribe for a few, but I've decided to keep it on (a little treat to me, I know how many treats can one squirrel have lol!)

We've also started preparing for the better weather, by washing and clearing down all my clay pots. Paul thinks I'm crazy for riddling all the soil from these pots, but I did this last year, and my little garden looked gorgeous.  In the little full greenhouse, I have sown some seeds from packets and some harvested seeds from flowers last year; Sunflowers, Sweetpeas, Nasturtiums and on order are plug plants from Thompson and Morgan.  I've been using this company for a couple of years now, and I've always received fantastic service, plus they always have great deals on at this time of year. Just like last year, I don't really plan my garden it just seems to happen haphazardly.  I remember last year thinking my garden is going to be rubbish but by the summer it was in full bloom and I could hardly keep up.  Fingers crossed I achieve the same result this year. Third year in a row for looking after and maintaining my little sanctuary.

My favourite little being celebrated her 2nd Birthday in the middle of March.  You would think by two she would've have calmed down, but oh no she is still as silly and bouncy as the day we brought her home.  I am in fact talking about my little Rhodesian Ridgeback who is not so little anymore, but who does resemble a skinny giraffe. Hours of entertainment with this little one, she likes tearing through the house with bananas in her mouth, skin and all and grabbing letters while burling round and round in a circle.  She is just so crazy and in your face,  her show name certainly suits her; Walamadengie Lets be Famous. You are certainly famous to Paul and I little one, we've never met a pooch like you and I mean that in a good way.   Happy Birthday crazy little girl. 😉

xoxo xoxo

Getting Smart with a Vintage Singer

Thursday 26th January 2017

I came home from work on Thursday and trudged upstairs to shower, change into comfy clothes and relax but my O/H Paul followed me and managed to direct me into the front bedroom which is now my craft room. He was so busy talking that it took me about 5 minutes to realise there was a huge box and a couple of smaller packages lying in the middle of the floor. Yes, you guessed it the Vintage Singer had arrived. I was super excited but also exhausted from work that all I managed to do was open the outer box to have a peek inside. I think Paul was more excited than me as he lifted the machine out of its packaging to have a better look.  I knew I wanted to study the machine and that it was going to take nearly a whole day to do so, so I instructed him to put it to one side. He was completely deflated, but I am a creature of habit, and I knew that if I just looked at the machine, it would lead to me taking it apart.

Saturday 28th January 2017

Took one look at the Vintage Singer and look what happened.  Didn't I tell you I was a creature of habit and what I would do?

Armed with car cleaning products (I figured if it's safe for a car's bodywork then it's safe for my Singer) bowls of water, cloths, various screwdrivers and sewing machine tools borrowed from my Brother machines (they've been taught to share lol!) I was raring to go.  Three hours I sat taking photographs, removing screws, brushing out what looked like 50-year-old dust and lint, washing, oiling, and polishing.

Was I scared? Why hell yeah!  I've never taken a machine apart before. But do you know?  I reckon I sell myself short sometimes, and I don't give myself enough credit, because not only did I take the machine apart I also gave it a very thorough clean and then set about seeing if she would work.

Sadly the first half hour was fraught with thread breakage, bobbin mishaps and threads not looping to form stitches (see needle tracks in the photo above).   I scratched my head, walked off poured myself a drink, and then had a brainwave- bobbin tension, top tension, needle change and a quick prayer to Paul's Grandmother, who was a Vintage Singer sewer and seamstress. And look, look what happened! She produced real stitches, beautiful real stitches, stitches that looped with the bobbin thread underneath. I hate to say it, but I sat and cried, smiled and cried; I'm a sentimental soul.

You see, this machine was very much wanted. I've yearned for a Vintage Singer since being taught to use a treadle wheel one as a five-year-old at Primary School. I knew I would never have the room for one of those and loved the fact that the hand crank is well, driven by hand. So when I found this machine in Wales, I purchased it and brought it back home, not knowing its history.

This model that I now own, well, she was made at the Kilbowie Singer Factory in Clydebank, Scotland  (1867-1980) on the 24th January 1956. She's just turned 61, and she will enjoy her retirement being loved, looked after and allowed to take part in an occasional sewing project. I've also named her Killy because I can't keep calling her it or she anymore. Isn't she a lucky old girl?

Friday 27th January 2017

Hygge Scheepjes CAL 2017- I just couldn't resist.  I saw all the posts on Facebook and on Ravelry, and then I saw the pictures, and I was sucker-punched into making a purchase.

This isn't the colourway (pastel) I wanted. I wanted Rainbow (it was sold out) but hey-ho the colours in this box are gorgeous, and I can't wait to cast on; Wednesday 15th February 2017.

One of the other surprise packages that arrived on the same day as the sewing machine. This beautiful package from Fabric Yard this was an Instagram competition that I entered. I enter quite a few comps online, but I never expect to win anything so imagine my surprise when I got a pm to say that this would be winging its way to me; a half meter of Ditsy Flower by Sevenberry Fabrics.

I haven't  a clue what I will make with it but I do know...

It's my favourite colour; reds and pinks, very lush.

Yes, I succumbed to the Hobbycraft sale, and all these beauties jumped into my cart without me protesting. Not sure when I hit the shiny thread button, though (turquoise one).

The Amelie moment 

I opened this box today Sunday 29th of January 2017. I wasn't sure what to expect I knew there were some letters but other than that I was pretty much in the dark.

The tin is in a beautiful condition not much wear and tear and the base and inside look free from rust.

On opening, I'm faced with a folded empty paper bag!

Underneath this is a piece of material with a leaf pattern inked on it and to the side one single needle.

Rummage, rummage. I'm faced with another paper bag, which is also empty!

Next, a letter. On further reading, it looks like the instructions are written on a homework jotter page. Why do I think this? As on the other side, someone has written their class work.

Some embroidery thread, needles and pins and a glimpse of an envelope.

Not a letter at all (boo!) but an envelope being used as a needle holder.

The date; around 1954 by the look of the stamps and after searching online it appears I'm right (I used to collect stamps as a youngster).

More thread, snap fasteners and some crewel needles.

Some stitch instructions and carbon paper

This tin looks to have belonged to someone who loved embroidery and had a passion for dabbling in different stitch patterns. I love how they have written their notes down with their colour choices. The other letter was more seamstress based as it had skirt length and fabric measurements written down.

A New Tin to Explore

A bit flimsier than the floral one. I've not checked inside this one yet, and I'm not going to because I'm mean and want to leave the Amelie moment until next week. Lol!

xoxo xoxo

Ways to Embrace Illness

 

 

 I'm slowly starting to feel a little Christmasy; the weather is getting colder, I've been making some cozy hats, wrapping up warm and drinking lots of piping hot chocolate.  I've also worn one of my Christmas jumpers for a special day at nursery.  But the one thing that is getting me excited about Christmas this year-I'm taking part in two swaps.  A Secret Santa Swap at work and a Stitching Santa Swap online.  I already know my work swap partner, and I've received my email from Sewchet telling me who my swap partner is online!! This is the first time I've taken part in this Stitching Santa Swap, and I'm so excited. I've been having a good look at all the blogs of the people participating and also stalking my swap partners blog to get some ideas.

What else have I been up to? I decided to subscribe to a craft box when I was off work poorly with an earache.  I had heard of the box a while back and did have a peek at it but never took the plunge.  Being ill kind of sealed the deal, you know needing a treat and a bit of cheering up.Lol! I initially thought I would just buy the Autumn Box and then cancel the direct debit, but this isn't going to happen now.  I was so impressed by the box contents (pattern book, crochet hook. yarn, sewing needle, ribbon, badge fittings, acorn stitch marker and squirrel badge) that I'm now thinking let's keep it up and see what the next few bring.  I was also quick of the mark and treated myself to the second book of Making called Fauna on the day it was released.  I missed the first books release and couldn't find a seller anywhere in the UK, so I made the decision to purchase it from abroad. The book arrived at the beginning of the week just past but I kept the viewing of it until this weekend; work was busy with a Care Inspectorate visit, and this was my treat for getting through it. I'm an oddball I know. 

I've also been busy, as I mentioned earlier, making hats.  Did you know Downton Abbey the TV series have their own yarn? I've never watched an episode even though I love period dramas and I'm probably way behind everyone else discovering the yarn.  I purchased a few different colours from Amazon, and I must say I'm pleasantly surprised.  The hat in the blog post is Hermione's Hat made in the Downton Abbey yarn named Matthew in the colourway Harvest Gold. This hat is going to be a firm favourite of mine for this winter; I can see me wearing it loads.  The second yarn I purchased at the same time is named Lady Mary; a gorgeous jewel red with silver strands running through it. This is also destined to be turned into a hat but nothing has jumped out at me pattern wise just yet.

Shop update:  Made by Sun Rae

I've added a few handknits for adults and children to my store and hope to add more in the following couple of days. Please pop over and have a look by clicking the link above or by using the Folksy button on the side-bar.

I will be back soon with some more goodies and news.  I'm going to go now and top up the bird feeders in the garden. Stay warm and be good to yourselves. 

Much love

xoxo xoxo