Christmas

Well we all had a wonderful Christmas and so far we have managed to escape the terrible flu that is going around. We had Christmas dinner at home and invited my Mom & Dad (we usually go to theirs). It was great and everyone ate and drank too much. In the afternoon we popped across the road to my brothers where we had a great time trying out my Niece's Wii Fit.

Boxing Day lunch was at Mom's. We were all there as you can see from the photo. Today we have been Go Karting to Oswestry with our friends. Only the lads had a go, the ladies just watched and got very cold.

Saving the Pennies

Don't know if that how you spell pennies but it will have to do. A few weeks ago whilst buying presents on Amazon (you must think I'm addicted to this website) I came across this book.

The Thrift Book

Live well and spend less

by India Knight

It is full of great tips to save yourself money. Even my 17 year old Daughter sat and read up on how to save money on clothes and make up and was very impressed in what she had learnt.

There are tips from Holidays to Christmas, weddings and family get togethers I have found it so useful. There is a section on crafts and some of the blogs which I read are listed there.

I had a go at the veg curry recipe and we all enjoyed it and it cost hardly anything to make.

Who's A Lucky Girl Then!!

Last week I decided to have another go at making my own bread. I'm so sick of paying over £1 for a loaf of bread which is as hard as a rock the next day. I tried in the summer but my loaf was hard as soon as it came out of the oven! This time I decided to use my food processor (this is an ancient model bought when we got married in 1986 but still working ok). My mom was visiting when I got my loaf out of the oven and she said "well it smells like bread" but they all no my disasters when making bread.

John was the first person to cut it and he couldn't believe how light it was for a change. He loved it and so did everyone else. It didn't last long as I could only use 1lb 2oz of flour in my size processor. It was such a success that I made another one on Sunday and after this one worked also I decided to look at the Kitchen Aid Mixers on Amazon to see how much they were. They had one on offer fro £149, I thought I'd give it a go asking hubby for one for Christmas and Birthday pressie (my Birthday is on 18th Dec and he always moans to me that it's too near Christmas) I was sure he would say no, but to my delight he agreed. I pushed the add to basket button so quick just in case he had a change of mind.

Well it's arrived and I'm so chuffed. Thought I'd post a photo of it before I use it. I'll let you know how I get on in my next post.

On the sewing front I am trying to make a blouse for myself for Christmas but I don't know whether it the material my machine doesn't like or my machine that is playing up but I'm sick of the cotton breaking and the bobbin keep knotting up. I had to put it down yesterday and walk away before I flung the blouse in the bin.

Got a photo of the dressing gown I have made my Niece. It is a lovely lime green colour. I hope she like it.

A Busy Time

I have been so busy the last week or so trying to get thing s made for Christmas and also I have found Facebook. I'm on there everyday and can't believe how many of my old school friends I have made contact with. Some of them it has been 25 years since I last saw them and the strange thing is we don't seem to have changed that much, well the lads have lost their hair and perhaps the girls have put a few pounds on but nothing major. Our kids will never loose touch with their school friends because they are always on Facebook, MSN, or myspace.

Back to the few things I have managed to make. A fleece dressing gown for my niece, an apron for my Sister-in-law out of Simple Sewing by Lotta Jansdotter (this is a good book full of useful patterns). Haven't got photos of these yet, mind you the photos of the other things I have are not very good as I have had to have the lights on in the house most days. I made my brother an apron with Wife's Little Helper embroidered on it for a laugh as he doesn't do much cooking.

I have managed to embroider around 30 Christmas cards on my Janome machine. I had all the card apertures from Craft Creations last year and didn't get round to using them.

I kept all the cards we were sent last year and recycled them into new cards for this year. I think they have turned out quite well, just hope I don't send the same card back to last years sender.

(Got two of this photo as I don't know how to delete it. Perhaps someone else does)

This afternoon I have managed to make Sophie an elasticated waist skit. You use 2 inch wide elastic and sew the material onto this. She hasn't tied it on yet as she is getting ready to go out so I will probably know the verdict in the morning if she likes it or not. Have just cut her out another skirt from a pattern off the Burdastyle website but it is in black so will have to wait until tomorrow to sew it as I struggle sewing black in artificial light.

Hope to be back soon with a few more makes.

Oh, I forgot I also made a wheat bag each for my aunt and uncle.

Little Nan

Yesterday was my Nans 82nd Birthday. For her present I made her a cake, some of my plum jam and a couple of puzzle books to pass away her time. My Grandad died 15 years ago so she has been on her own quite some time. Apart from being a little forgetful she is still capable of looking after herself. It was my Nan who got me interested in sewing. She has an old singer treadle sewing machine and she can make anything with it. For about the last 12 months though she hasn't done any sewing but she always like to have a look at what I've made. We took her out for lunch to Gardenland, we managed to persuade her to go in a wheel chair so as she could have a look around all the Christmas decorations, I got some ideas for my own decorations form here. When we got home, about 3 O'clock she said she had had a lovely day and was ready for bed.

Remembrance Sunday Parade

Not much happening in our household this weekend, Jack came back from Uni so most of my time was spent doing washing and ironing. I don't mind though, it was just nice to have him home for a while. The Remembrance Sunday parade passes in front of our house each year. Mos t of the neighbours stand outside to watch it go by. Each year you notice the old soldiers getting less, this year there seemed to be a lot of younger people marching and there was one young lad in his Navy uniform who looked very smart. The Brownies, Guides, Cubs and Scout packs out of the Village all march too. I used to have walk with Sophie when she was in Brownies.

Whilst I was standing watching I noticed the Daffodil bulbs coming through in my pot in the front garden. Couldn't believe they were so high already.

I Think I Got a Bargain

Whilst I was doing my shopping on Saturday I had a look on the local second hand shop and I saw this bird bath. I had wanted one for a while to go in our garden and for £12 I thought this was a bargain. Managed to take a photo but its a bit dark as it's not got light here for the last few days. I think November can be a depressing month, it always seems dark and damp. Hope the birds will like it.

Spent yesterday morning up the loft sorting out my stash. I have things I had forgotten I had bought. I am going to try and make quite a few Christmas presents again this year and hopefully use some of the material which is up there. I have made a start by recycling an old top into a teapot cosy (I'm sure aunt Val will love this).

This is the before.

This is the after.

Have also made a tea cosy for Mom in law too. Not quite so pleased with that one, could have been a bit bigger.

I have finished my coat also, I will try and get someone to take a photo of me wearing it so as I can post it soon. Saw Jack on Sunday, he's lost a bit of weight but says he's ok and enjoying himself. He raced at Grimley and managed to come second. We were all freezing all day long, I was so glad to get home in front of the fire.