tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28249626038805597442024-03-05T09:48:48.838-08:00Sweetpea and SailorHelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-32106672324884116152012-11-25T08:45:00.001-08:002012-11-25T08:45:31.296-08:00Advent Calendar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Seeing as next Saturday is the 1st of December, I finally got around to making an advent calendar. </div>
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Last year we didn't have one at all, and in years before we've just had a bowl of sweets on the dining room table. </div>
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But this year, I came across <a href="http://angrychicken.typepad.com/angry_chicken/2011/11/advent-calander.html">Angry Chicken and her envelope advent calendar</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51Eg2vPvTnpSu6_lHeDE9OX4HrJSF3svB2wXgMGjPr9xMxVZQqrpOGmpMgAuNIzI9vfmHy_HxPDMBWSGcXD7Nd54gRvMqsE5l5H9df4y3l8QrbcazdPU_9xQjFkS3nlKWeg8VtQla2OSE/s1600/IMG_1469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51Eg2vPvTnpSu6_lHeDE9OX4HrJSF3svB2wXgMGjPr9xMxVZQqrpOGmpMgAuNIzI9vfmHy_HxPDMBWSGcXD7Nd54gRvMqsE5l5H9df4y3l8QrbcazdPU_9xQjFkS3nlKWeg8VtQla2OSE/s320/IMG_1469.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I used the same website for the digital collage sheets, http://www.digitalcollagesheets.com. There are lots of great things on here, and it doesn't seem that expensive seeing as you can print them as many times as you like.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdK5AyORQgz91GE4KLciPSPVWWR7HRLu_HsH_N1rZpABeFgkq9t8PHDNyvCJGG3YASNege0IkIZyqrbeggSRbDyaAiMsa8s_qMIgJEJptYS4_ZDo69Mg5uvyBNUz3XVFhsqAH2SE2CN1i/s1600/IMG_1471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdK5AyORQgz91GE4KLciPSPVWWR7HRLu_HsH_N1rZpABeFgkq9t8PHDNyvCJGG3YASNege0IkIZyqrbeggSRbDyaAiMsa8s_qMIgJEJptYS4_ZDo69Mg5uvyBNUz3XVFhsqAH2SE2CN1i/s320/IMG_1471.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We are 23 and 26 so not so much into stickers and toys, but we'll go for a chocolate coin any day.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyaaOsAOe3mFrsLiUs5e8WFGDetfhAQq8MFZvs8zFlYh_b8ivmrMA1YXKSN6oqeglld3B7YUJPul-MSzpWn5cnrwlXIPyfIm0YRNABduWIXjOFI2QTXn6VBYSmDJRaMTRtjH8kA5EoY0a/s1600/IMG_1472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyaaOsAOe3mFrsLiUs5e8WFGDetfhAQq8MFZvs8zFlYh_b8ivmrMA1YXKSN6oqeglld3B7YUJPul-MSzpWn5cnrwlXIPyfIm0YRNABduWIXjOFI2QTXn6VBYSmDJRaMTRtjH8kA5EoY0a/s320/IMG_1472.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Because I've put 2 coins in each envelope, they are a little full, but I'm not sure how to get around this as bigger envelopes wouldn't work. I used some pretty ribbon and some large copper paperclips to fix the envelopes on with. </div>
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They look really cute though and they've started the festive theme in our house. </div>
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I may or may not adapt these to include a little message to open every day, but thought it might be a bit too twee. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHaToxRkB0A9ejURjW-t2GOKkd2nI78tYGGXScphZP019qqnlW9_hu0gtueGDiHqLJv0ihVxPWneeD9mxHRXB9pjOnI0yc-PNQghRJydD5y3kjJe0EWocvXFcu4KNKIOOObeF9lLMkz29/s1600/IMG_1476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHaToxRkB0A9ejURjW-t2GOKkd2nI78tYGGXScphZP019qqnlW9_hu0gtueGDiHqLJv0ihVxPWneeD9mxHRXB9pjOnI0yc-PNQghRJydD5y3kjJe0EWocvXFcu4KNKIOOObeF9lLMkz29/s320/IMG_1476.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Has anyone else started any festive making? I'd love to see!!</div>
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Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-10182584727828438382012-11-24T07:40:00.000-08:002012-11-24T07:41:01.711-08:00Rachel Khoo and My Little Kitchen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I made some things from Rachel Khoo's Little Paris Kitchen book. I made the mushroom terrine.</div>
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Here's Rachel's...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQ1Vel6EobP_VdOHr_vG8P_6vDSmqglSOORQMUKoajYE1fWyKlqkFAZ2WSeES-12Vdigm1bsUpT2qXEyskaVKUAPgpd2PqABadmR40Ejzce9MJXk0yIjWFOCbjb9oO8XHocEHPnGb370T/s1600/rachel-khoos-wild-mushroom-terrine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQ1Vel6EobP_VdOHr_vG8P_6vDSmqglSOORQMUKoajYE1fWyKlqkFAZ2WSeES-12Vdigm1bsUpT2qXEyskaVKUAPgpd2PqABadmR40Ejzce9MJXk0yIjWFOCbjb9oO8XHocEHPnGb370T/s320/rachel-khoos-wild-mushroom-terrine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And Here's mine...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_ojvXyFbxiZZneZLB9RZKBBU1uEn1QZSMNrpB1n3YJjkw0DrABOmObJ83Vs8k9E4LVwe5SNJvnQmCoobyUo7-1qgxc0XazCEXhDOmksIOPc8zjAXJo5qDwWDLPRCGK-_bDhNxXR7cduU/s1600/IMG_1467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_ojvXyFbxiZZneZLB9RZKBBU1uEn1QZSMNrpB1n3YJjkw0DrABOmObJ83Vs8k9E4LVwe5SNJvnQmCoobyUo7-1qgxc0XazCEXhDOmksIOPc8zjAXJo5qDwWDLPRCGK-_bDhNxXR7cduU/s320/IMG_1467.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I think it turned out pretty well, except she suggests eating at room temperature, I think it's a darn sight more delicious hot from the oven, but who am I to argue with a woman who has such impeccable fashion sense?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6l-tpe-KtveU2u_F_R7LtQZr_qY7mpPh2H8VK1hygG1flP4sLWPrQE9esxKYrNw071sxFKEzrFe9CbtYBxsk-cRRY2PRJiVPFb9C1aTUoxXYuy7FypliHdkhofz9mqD67t9yG87zywmuf/s1600/Rachel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6l-tpe-KtveU2u_F_R7LtQZr_qY7mpPh2H8VK1hygG1flP4sLWPrQE9esxKYrNw071sxFKEzrFe9CbtYBxsk-cRRY2PRJiVPFb9C1aTUoxXYuy7FypliHdkhofz9mqD67t9yG87zywmuf/s320/Rachel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Later on I'm going to attempt the little sugar-puff pastries. Yum. </div>
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I went on a little walk today, everything is flooded.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaB_RPSxkOn4e4vcAjv01fiWr8d0AsiOkkXc9GavjgkOY6w9JD2Hf0JBfNJyphMQdBp9wzAB0RzIeaIcvH_vovrtZSozetILbYWX9d-DidPSJyxxZAOmRyUFNSdwVIDdOnM3e2ZK_14bbw/s1600/IMG_1461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaB_RPSxkOn4e4vcAjv01fiWr8d0AsiOkkXc9GavjgkOY6w9JD2Hf0JBfNJyphMQdBp9wzAB0RzIeaIcvH_vovrtZSozetILbYWX9d-DidPSJyxxZAOmRyUFNSdwVIDdOnM3e2ZK_14bbw/s320/IMG_1461.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcgGqO68oTo0i6n86Mu_KLtw0sOaSiGlr-Qsry8d3PSMTLPlO2u6ozikspXNwBx7SSd07gHPPJgT0znURXdDz8QwNaOVCfuTtSXbG5wJfiR5e_oRRZxDoZY0Ab8l_GD5pm_E9NGaadH_E/s1600/IMG_1458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcgGqO68oTo0i6n86Mu_KLtw0sOaSiGlr-Qsry8d3PSMTLPlO2u6ozikspXNwBx7SSd07gHPPJgT0znURXdDz8QwNaOVCfuTtSXbG5wJfiR5e_oRRZxDoZY0Ab8l_GD5pm_E9NGaadH_E/s320/IMG_1458.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlT82Xkafkke6oRyBpD-aNqqAhEoiqoUghngfLSY5mHKq1xYSSl3EGuwfEsKTJEL7oCpfiFNCPoBbtH80cNgSVFDsEz2CS83-g8TVw09IvyWsB59xXLiHEc7L6yuCNhshut0RNzUVUVUBe/s1600/IMG_1455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlT82Xkafkke6oRyBpD-aNqqAhEoiqoUghngfLSY5mHKq1xYSSl3EGuwfEsKTJEL7oCpfiFNCPoBbtH80cNgSVFDsEz2CS83-g8TVw09IvyWsB59xXLiHEc7L6yuCNhshut0RNzUVUVUBe/s320/IMG_1455.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now I'm going to knit and eat bonbons in the armchair. Ahhhh Saturday. </div>
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<br />Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-12095934839192120192012-11-04T05:22:00.002-08:002012-11-04T05:22:13.254-08:00Lovely Free Printable Banners<br />
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What else is there to do on a Sunday morning other than design a couple of printable banners? Here they are for you to download and use as you wish (other than selling them obviously, that would just be cheeky).</div>
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They are circular motifs with capital letters on them, cut them out, hole punch the holes in the top and thread some ribbon through. I'm going to make a Happy Birthday one. And maybe a 'Honey you're home' to hang in the hallway. They'd be really cute for baby showers etc as well.</div>
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The Blue, Yellow and Grey banner is at: <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/112071067/Banner" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none;">http://www.scribd.com/doc/112071067/Banner</a></div>
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The Pink, Green and Grey banner is at: <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/112071058/Banner-Pink" style="color: #33aaff; text-decoration: underline;">http://www.scribd.com/doc/112071058/Banner-Pink</a></div>
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xxx</div>
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Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-47889204589319867762012-11-02T13:28:00.000-07:002012-11-02T13:28:02.933-07:00Knitting Books<div style="text-align: center;">
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The photos in this post are shoddy. I had candles lit, I
took the photos, they looked fine on the camera, they were not fine. By the
time I saw how bad they were I’d uploaded them and couldn’t be bothered to
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Obviously the photos in the books that I was taking photos
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As mentioned, I had a little splurge on knitting books...</div>
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The first book, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tricots-intemporels-pour-b%C3%A9b%C3%A9s-marqueurs/dp/2081214369/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1351887638&sr=8-10">Tricots intemporels pour bebes by Astrid Le Provost</a>, is full of classic, beautiful, chic designs. However, it is in French,
so some translation required before I can knit anything from it.</div>
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These super-cute designs are from the book.</div>
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The second book, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vintage-Baby-Knits-Heirloom-Patterns/dp/1584797614/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351887720&sr=1-1">Vintage Baby Knits by Kristen Rengren</a>, is
full of vintage patterns from the 1920’s to the late 1950’s, and also contains
a lot of interesting information on the history of knitting during this period.
A lot of the negative reviews on Amazon said that there weren’t many/any
patterns in the book they would knit for a modern baby. Personally, I found
just as many in this book, if not more, than I have in books of modern
patterns. I love the palette of greys, blues and mustard yellow. </div>
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A snippet of information I thought was really interesting
was on the use of blue and pink for baby boys and girls. Obviously nowadays
most people associate blue with boys and pink with girls but up until around
1920 it was the other way around. This was because pink was seen as close to
red and being a ‘stronger’ colour, and blue was associated with the Virgin Mary
and gentleness. Once blue began to be used in military uniforms it gradually
switched around.</div>
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I didn’t put in a picture of it because the one in the book
doesn’t do it justice, but Alicia Paulson knitted one of the cardigans in this
book and modified it a little. It’s <a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_486931274"></span>here<span id="goog_486931275"></span></a> on her ravelry page. </div>
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I'm going to have to get knitting. </div>
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xxx</div>
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Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-71736037725792039512012-10-31T14:56:00.002-07:002012-11-01T02:21:51.563-07:00Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">I've been having a little think this evening about the gifts I can make for Christmas. A little early I know but it always comes around too quickly and I always end up rushing out and buying things instead.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> I already have Oscar sorted with his little blanket, but other than that I'm not sure.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">My sister wants a tea cosy, I'm thinking this one designed by Ruth Cross:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAUXlPxbF_1qZBan93xW_SQZSrpp0D7PmxiOcdf189FmzMgI-wVAQXYSPWz7WRV-EwnCwKfab4SVPvlO3dgCGhII9d_DBToaEqySbUJvvoqdZy_NDVnxS-Rx_BDQkHJZOFy79LKoVjtQV/s1600/01_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAUXlPxbF_1qZBan93xW_SQZSrpp0D7PmxiOcdf189FmzMgI-wVAQXYSPWz7WRV-EwnCwKfab4SVPvlO3dgCGhII9d_DBToaEqySbUJvvoqdZy_NDVnxS-Rx_BDQkHJZOFy79LKoVjtQV/s320/01_medium.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">(But I'd have to buy the </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1846143020"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">book</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Alternatively this beauty by Keren Smith looks amazing but potentially a little beyond my knitting skills</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6co3ZLLTQvci4P3bsxxJ176HQFfdTFPARvtiMPtpARTZevVj9mii3oTSNH49_OUqvIvjAo1G3AKsei7T1Ue5RqgXeBPEenRCehDG1w5PmE5pCs4LxwOfVAV0QoveVLCpfv6U77aL_L7ez/s1600/2440155659_f1274eac2a_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6co3ZLLTQvci4P3bsxxJ176HQFfdTFPARvtiMPtpARTZevVj9mii3oTSNH49_OUqvIvjAo1G3AKsei7T1Ue5RqgXeBPEenRCehDG1w5PmE5pCs4LxwOfVAV0QoveVLCpfv6U77aL_L7ez/s320/2440155659_f1274eac2a_medium.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">The link to the pattern is </span><a href="http://teabythesea.blogspot.co.uk/2008/04/grannies-traditional-tea-cozy.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">here</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">I thought I might knit my mum a lacy scarf like </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/leafy-lace-scarf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">this one</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzltbz-E9qxuBrINy_pJARIWbyLAn60JNz0spsbTNhq7pW78Gq0M7-hGvdFmOK3og5EoW_mYRJpWBPnuSfV316h3VWvVzy_ISQdSDbGzrncwrubdFHuMzjPPJnVVh80RMDvmbeL5bG7Jr/s1600/543949021_8e3154b0d2_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzltbz-E9qxuBrINy_pJARIWbyLAn60JNz0spsbTNhq7pW78Gq0M7-hGvdFmOK3og5EoW_mYRJpWBPnuSfV316h3VWvVzy_ISQdSDbGzrncwrubdFHuMzjPPJnVVh80RMDvmbeL5bG7Jr/s1600/543949021_8e3154b0d2_z.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Or </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/february-lace-scarf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">this one</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgctea00WN7Hs2OPm1b0ppIfvu_IDgl4x7BkjR067R8fXx_u_42-Zr5JlX3nDcpSP3yN7L0F8peUlzod-93R8Qe_gHyzanqTAa-uIN5yedEOy2HuSRdHFc9b9RgyyOjIWv0DLs7oOcmor/s1600/3071766310_1a9b357376_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgctea00WN7Hs2OPm1b0ppIfvu_IDgl4x7BkjR067R8fXx_u_42-Zr5JlX3nDcpSP3yN7L0F8peUlzod-93R8Qe_gHyzanqTAa-uIN5yedEOy2HuSRdHFc9b9RgyyOjIWv0DLs7oOcmor/s320/3071766310_1a9b357376_z.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">How did I ever cope without Ravelry? If you aren't a member then get over there and join quick sharp.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">I've also been looking at edible gifts for the male/not so into knitted gifts members of the family.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Here are some that look amazing:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><a href="http://aliceandthemockturtle.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/vanilla-and-cinnamon-candied-nuts.html">Candied Cinnamon Almonds</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><a href="http://bakedbree.com/toffee-blondies-week-4-of-12-weeks-of-cookies">Toffee Blondies</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><a href="http://www.bakerella.com/mix-things-up/">Cowgirl Cookies</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Incidentally the last website took up a good portion of my evening. Be warned. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Any other good ideas for gifts? I like things that don't look handmade but people know they are. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Hmmmmm.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">xxx</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-51119148636586854032012-10-30T03:47:00.004-07:002012-11-01T02:22:37.523-07:00Oscar's Chevron Stripe Baby Blanket<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">There is a new baby. His name is Oscar. He likes to be slung over your shoulder. He is going to South Africa to meet his grandparents for Christmas. He will be coming back to England in January. He likes to be warm. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">So I started making his Christmas present early. In fact I started making it before he was born but I was a little ambitious with how much time I could devote to it (about an hour a week, watching Downton Abbey). </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.modernknitting.co.uk/shop/peter-pan-dk-baby-yarn-12866-0.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">This</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"> is the yarn I used, it's Peter Pan DK from Wendy. It was not too expensive (wasn't sure how well this was going to turn out and whether I'd actually want to give it as a gift), Machine washable (who knits things that can't be washed that are going anywhere near a newborn?!), and supersoft. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1VnRicczIFvegXBXYDbBYnGNjXQLkjAVZKe_GhmN-5ozOAxme3bDaUUAPLQbv7zewId3Slcucxow13Y38-AleXucxKMMTvfXNIxGR0F3a5VTefJ75kLwUcNIjTjUYdu9lVaxaRkfdjME/s1600/IMG_1246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1VnRicczIFvegXBXYDbBYnGNjXQLkjAVZKe_GhmN-5ozOAxme3bDaUUAPLQbv7zewId3Slcucxow13Y38-AleXucxKMMTvfXNIxGR0F3a5VTefJ75kLwUcNIjTjUYdu9lVaxaRkfdjME/s320/IMG_1246.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">The three colours I used were Raindrop (910), Freckles (903) and Primrose (380). This yarn comes in 40 shades so is perfect for making something really personal to the baby and their parents.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UPKnbjyBc29F7XsE62kM4GhnMryXIQmAUC-Juc0phgeCQckZCwZ1uBwlWlRG7g5UPS9uS0jIvPPkEaTRoCRa5-_p1RzQjHsblw9k49QuPWAxbqfrqrgTNySI7KhuVE2uAhroc7vDxJWb/s1600/IMG_1251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UPKnbjyBc29F7XsE62kM4GhnMryXIQmAUC-Juc0phgeCQckZCwZ1uBwlWlRG7g5UPS9uS0jIvPPkEaTRoCRa5-_p1RzQjHsblw9k49QuPWAxbqfrqrgTNySI7KhuVE2uAhroc7vDxJWb/s320/IMG_1251.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">I used </span><a href="http://hollandroadyarn.co.nz/blogs/hryc/6429512-the-jackson-blanket"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">this pattern</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"> and it's perfect. Simple, repetitive, good for knitting whilst watching TV. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CRwD7-IDvsLp6KOp3_kYeisZ-emSrE468aaauP-_mrzRaYkZ2kq2hpGlNLuIkNPpUdvNtZVv-4GK0oTECp4-f2KTWNDCConkbNtFKAiS1C_k9yGauGaTw1P0CfigoWwdAVU2okSxOh8c/s1600/IMG_1248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CRwD7-IDvsLp6KOp3_kYeisZ-emSrE468aaauP-_mrzRaYkZ2kq2hpGlNLuIkNPpUdvNtZVv-4GK0oTECp4-f2KTWNDCConkbNtFKAiS1C_k9yGauGaTw1P0CfigoWwdAVU2okSxOh8c/s320/IMG_1248.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYL9-8SVEeO9oxPNUu2abz4Hu4GrqiWIhhJn5p5ZQrQrcrkT8cHC5YqUwuCI1xx16OVJJCUB34Jk12modOOtlrObFJlPc2ClrJNrvwZ7TNzBdaqro7F3j4RkxpeW3-qNIHZKqP2W9U-5i/s1600/IMG_1249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYL9-8SVEeO9oxPNUu2abz4Hu4GrqiWIhhJn5p5ZQrQrcrkT8cHC5YqUwuCI1xx16OVJJCUB34Jk12modOOtlrObFJlPc2ClrJNrvwZ7TNzBdaqro7F3j4RkxpeW3-qNIHZKqP2W9U-5i/s320/IMG_1249.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkXlckukR1v0tWn8q_2hP5-Hg69AXewde5Gtmedft1cQoaaTI75XDMIHYAGlfEdfAWhL27LJbPn2TMxW5s-ekexBM79eTkqOFegWoLtBnh4haG6g2Xpq-H75xQn9svbJVMW9Nn8sAXCnc/s1600/IMG_1250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkXlckukR1v0tWn8q_2hP5-Hg69AXewde5Gtmedft1cQoaaTI75XDMIHYAGlfEdfAWhL27LJbPn2TMxW5s-ekexBM79eTkqOFegWoLtBnh4haG6g2Xpq-H75xQn9svbJVMW9Nn8sAXCnc/s320/IMG_1250.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">There's only one problem with this project, it's making me very broody and wanting to knit lots of other lovely baby things. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">I may have ordered </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1584797614"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">this book</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">I want to make </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/AliciaPaulson/liza-sideways-sacque"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">this</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">, </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/little-sisters-dress-kjole-til-lillesster"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">this</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;"> and everything from </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tricots-intemporels-pour-b%C3%A9b%C3%A9s-marqueurs/dp/2081214369"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">this</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">I'm also going to start making another one of these blankets when I've finished in more girly colours, I'm thinking Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj489anij9FhkWJpbclINWlOjX99bK26Vp6FJ3hSphoEhVJwCSs42fwu4CP7FKRhGu-FMtRfIoX4ztq2DD6RmyqPnE8yXXE0ephMLp2vM3NIAzBoUNX_r3c-UY72Ijf5LdYTgkkZxEhlZmi/s1600/D_YARN015202.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj489anij9FhkWJpbclINWlOjX99bK26Vp6FJ3hSphoEhVJwCSs42fwu4CP7FKRhGu-FMtRfIoX4ztq2DD6RmyqPnE8yXXE0ephMLp2vM3NIAzBoUNX_r3c-UY72Ijf5LdYTgkkZxEhlZmi/s1600/D_YARN015202.1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1zsgbaASuTF65ebDXrkseD_K5-sPtuSUhMfIvCOP7OmO9V0IkpVbjXSUaxVV7c-j3EuFi-iLvn8aDRGBj8-dCuIK1JucWo1qEND0SnqaUbbrOVrqbNa4qMeE2JJAjDADP-s6srZEVj6D/s1600/D_YARN020188.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1zsgbaASuTF65ebDXrkseD_K5-sPtuSUhMfIvCOP7OmO9V0IkpVbjXSUaxVV7c-j3EuFi-iLvn8aDRGBj8-dCuIK1JucWo1qEND0SnqaUbbrOVrqbNa4qMeE2JJAjDADP-s6srZEVj6D/s1600/D_YARN020188.1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Te80JNhDITzle6DyCfIbupcIUdzIrz0wUqnJ_h4M_adXEGmFAC0chOFt9ieduq7ckMLgYVjOXv9abH0THG3uyQ_kK2QFNoor1ydNdh7zyKvTQnfN7sva0U-EW5xVD7Aa951Yy3s2hM1b/s1600/D_YARN020193.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Te80JNhDITzle6DyCfIbupcIUdzIrz0wUqnJ_h4M_adXEGmFAC0chOFt9ieduq7ckMLgYVjOXv9abH0THG3uyQ_kK2QFNoor1ydNdh7zyKvTQnfN7sva0U-EW5xVD7Aa951Yy3s2hM1b/s1600/D_YARN020193.1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">Enjoy your Tuesday!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">xxx</span></div>
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<br />Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-48165231409846258662012-10-28T05:22:00.000-07:002012-10-28T05:22:49.271-07:00Back from a break.... and a new theme!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">Well, what a year! I've been sporadically looking at my blog and thinking... do I have time?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">I think that blogging should be a pleasure and an escape, not a duty and a bind. I started feeling that way about it when I began a new job in January which seems to drain all of my time and energy, and since then have not quite gotten around to blogging again. However, as half-term has rolled around again and I have found myself at a loose end with zero-degree temperatures outside, I think now is the time for a return to blogging. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">And with that return comes a new theme alongside the craft/thrift/cookery side...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">The sailor and I got engaged in August and my whole life has been turned into a whirlwind of planning and DIY-Weddingness. (This is no bad thing as it has led to a huge amount of new blogs for inspiration, the ones I've been looking at daily are listed below). So, as this is our wedding and weddings are nothing if they don't represent the couple, lots of the details will be handmade and homegrown. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">So, want to see what I did yesterday?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYo0kbugoTrsSx9xKBm7LT23K_HYHoHw-VjRw6ikAYa_QCWVKPhhHEu2sml_cb86Ct_DdgSwqfKa-65IramombMKxan_NeuivFy8t8EhKY_ByvvZ5-pt7g9OezFsrzRLXCQCegfqEtAG0B/s1600/IMG_1245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYo0kbugoTrsSx9xKBm7LT23K_HYHoHw-VjRw6ikAYa_QCWVKPhhHEu2sml_cb86Ct_DdgSwqfKa-65IramombMKxan_NeuivFy8t8EhKY_ByvvZ5-pt7g9OezFsrzRLXCQCegfqEtAG0B/s320/IMG_1245.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">I used the Martha Stewart instructions for making tissue paper 'pompoms' (I think they look more like peonies but hey ho). The actual ones we are using at each place setting will be smaller and in a much paler pink/peach colour but this is what I had for a trial run. Pretty non? I'll do a proper post on these when I make the real ones and give some details on sizes etc. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCxEpDXh4clhF-1H8blFW5K_J23pYVWncLWqMpUihE5aOB-7G84GYHoNaPCsDaIsYCv9LMOISiQB8FO2hTZmudumhJmbnkm3Zu2yTVC3MiiZoT424oNov_g5C94dJxWu2piRFa9rUZo0m/s1600/IMG_1244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCxEpDXh4clhF-1H8blFW5K_J23pYVWncLWqMpUihE5aOB-7G84GYHoNaPCsDaIsYCv9LMOISiQB8FO2hTZmudumhJmbnkm3Zu2yTVC3MiiZoT424oNov_g5C94dJxWu2piRFa9rUZo0m/s320/IMG_1244.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Still on the place setting theme, I made the placecards. These seem ridiculously expensive in shops and often unimaginative. We wanted something a little different so I did a bit of scouring the internet and got inspired. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUh2_ctUUxp3LwZvG3M5ejtKUdxTcI70OM5LDW_A3EnBUroc3sVsIihE8wwYndMjIl51uYKWcKy0dGmqanh8gOuQyeez0MbP7xkF_pDx_049iShhCg6tku8WdtZqgpFf9jw00tHPv07_W4/s1600/IMG_1240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUh2_ctUUxp3LwZvG3M5ejtKUdxTcI70OM5LDW_A3EnBUroc3sVsIihE8wwYndMjIl51uYKWcKy0dGmqanh8gOuQyeez0MbP7xkF_pDx_049iShhCg6tku8WdtZqgpFf9jw00tHPv07_W4/s320/IMG_1240.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">I bought 100 sheets of 300gsm Kraft card from </span><a href="http://www.razzledazzlerose.co.uk/a4-recycled-kraft-card-275gm-pack-of-50-sheets-79-p.asp"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">here</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"> (I used 8 sheets for the placecards, a total of £1.60). Then I downloaded</span><a href="http://www.dafont.com/old-rubber-stamp.font"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"> this font </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">(free) and typed out the names 10 to a page (38 point font). I printed these onto the card, used a label cutter from Hobbycraft (11.99) to cut them and a hole punch to put the small hole at the top of each tag. I bought some ribbon from a local market, cut 40cm lengths and threaded through the holes (£13.50 for enough to string 75 tags and to tie the ends around napkins). I actually already had the label cutter so these worked out costing 20p each, I think they look lovely. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiG-ydwvcpz1SL4FEb6lokkmK6Dy1ZUVI4bSjfPDSs9IbQ8d9l6iFstxnbqWBe6gmWyIx4bWoxMF8V7I1nt9RnqFrViXEZDxVpdiIyBezLzb1gHkJ_v-mXahkZRpF_zgvKdLes0Dy8frP1/s1600/IMG_1241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiG-ydwvcpz1SL4FEb6lokkmK6Dy1ZUVI4bSjfPDSs9IbQ8d9l6iFstxnbqWBe6gmWyIx4bWoxMF8V7I1nt9RnqFrViXEZDxVpdiIyBezLzb1gHkJ_v-mXahkZRpF_zgvKdLes0Dy8frP1/s320/IMG_1241.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW75_UIM1v6BQRHb-wOUGB7u2V36OzX9O2NC_h-lZwOwdZt-1xld1XDo7_uOO8x_39uvf14fxHJhjxue8PGOdQ5uOCvSvwOwcHohnW9nvU8S7CHozjpGOrJ9G7pGAn8H5yXUJ5DWluKZg2/s1600/IMG_1240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW75_UIM1v6BQRHb-wOUGB7u2V36OzX9O2NC_h-lZwOwdZt-1xld1XDo7_uOO8x_39uvf14fxHJhjxue8PGOdQ5uOCvSvwOwcHohnW9nvU8S7CHozjpGOrJ9G7pGAn8H5yXUJ5DWluKZg2/s320/IMG_1240.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrwWoiy98G71TV_IYV13ks-kLQKgJlk_hP0IllsfbvgBoVNqt3CDIIivO8rnUOlmVNxe6NcnpHnqfoDz1RXBrUTaB2ZKLQdbE0g4Vy3cANAPovnCTBssjifuTl8HSpONuzOS1osrQPIN5/s1600/IMG_1239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrwWoiy98G71TV_IYV13ks-kLQKgJlk_hP0IllsfbvgBoVNqt3CDIIivO8rnUOlmVNxe6NcnpHnqfoDz1RXBrUTaB2ZKLQdbE0g4Vy3cANAPovnCTBssjifuTl8HSpONuzOS1osrQPIN5/s320/IMG_1239.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">I can't find the cutter on Hobbycraft's website, but the same shape one can be found <a href="http://www.stickytigersupplies.co.uk/craft-seller-supplies/3-price-label-tag-lever-punch.html">here</a> for less money! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWflb0iR5BVVqxJ-TRT7fTQ3_-pdtWmSlMuuX-3ScmEzMkpc-dtBO1spB6KK1smjMdQ0opNJ6Cy1VvyjQEWHWIwgngy_mIDvv7J7Q5DLIiCDVXd5Omx7Y8NH6oiHnW27EBD7V_iiGWLfi/s1600/IMG_1242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWflb0iR5BVVqxJ-TRT7fTQ3_-pdtWmSlMuuX-3ScmEzMkpc-dtBO1spB6KK1smjMdQ0opNJ6Cy1VvyjQEWHWIwgngy_mIDvv7J7Q5DLIiCDVXd5Omx7Y8NH6oiHnW27EBD7V_iiGWLfi/s320/IMG_1242.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Lovely wedding blogs/websites:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">http://ruffledblog.com/</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">http://www.weddingchicks.com/ (Check out the printables section)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">http://www.rockmywedding.co.uk/</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">I'll most likely be blogging every day this week because I've got a whole lot of ideas to share! (That and the fact that our boiler is being replaced so I need to stay in and knit/blog/make things, what a hardship)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Have a lovely Sunday!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">xxx</span></div>
<br />Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-35155308159970030112011-12-12T00:40:00.001-08:002012-11-01T02:23:00.154-07:00Granny's Attic Sylko Haul<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685160510183379426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVC8yue9BNDmo-bBnRfBeqSZpUj3kgSXoiQ9pLmAN6Vy8yIAT_uQ2JE-bA6NZNRfcbRzKYFpZLRAoBRSiv3JomIZmWkDluJ033KZLYPAp54XVO9hPNR_zrnQ4O8RHF19jcQPvD1Dkp1Esf/s400/sewing+supplies.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></div>
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Last week I went to one of my favourite shops, Granny's Attic. It's a house clearance shop in a little market town near me, and is run by a really sweet lady who likes to stop and chat. The shop is tiny, but crammed full of all sorts of lovely things (and some not so lovely, but that's the fun of the thrift/charity/house clearance experience).</div>
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I'm going to share a secret. Under one of the shelves, hidden away, is a big plastic toybox. I'm sure that the shop owner and I are the only ones who know about this box, because it contains a whole host of delights. </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685160274854495682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnryQ4WtSi9mwSApwfdY4jCmNZWLPyD23f0QGLYLPDsz_QqFA4BUdX5vqwCYTdIfvSSO8FV5kLJGrpyTf9tNNk4plWuRl8LtEes8ILq6z4uqmh-iqUAYHaRFHNuEowh7MYHerDg5JlI1ur/s400/thread+on+scales.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
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Sylko thread (original wooden reels), vintage mending/darning cotton in a rainbow of colours, fixings, poppers, hooks and eyes, zips, the list goes on. The best part? 39p each, and if you buy a few (as I always do), lovely shop lady will round the total price down. </div>
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With new reels of cotton costing at least £1.20 in my local fabric and sewing shop, this would be a bargain if I were just buying it for the thread. But obviously I'm not. </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685159976484592546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivaBFbXWJ1NlL_H4rwhrCx46YSAG6INcMuc0hUF6J7RsijPsWSrEZ9fboryOgNEJTTs5nUiecZvxxlO0tZPW6mcCLzVn34j2k_aMW2jSCP-g0PIMZz2XLxZAXiHozkMb4r-zmT3g1KJgy/s400/sylko+thread+circle.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
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Hmm. Spot the plastic reel. And the Tesco one. </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685159757013633938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uMwOOuIFbj6TXnM3EFKMDHqPgmILTShhkja1Wuox5PQxzSIoS9EuKuD8Tc0yRnv49vw2HJYLc2NmK1oAbFH4UNpbZEdcDEdh7kbRplHxBezFZ5uuluHl-_6MBSDJsDGzrc9Uefpy9rT2/s400/thread+close+up.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
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Those amazing jewel-like shades. Be still my beating heart.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685159515311896386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tBO6gaKPmgDHYhbDxuTW5kkhqlCQPiFsCW-7cY4ZKmq8pfcY8RqEQjpAlkOypBq6HnueRCWqxK3OEO7Fmg7YN6nx7-5uxDE2YytLQz9f3dluIse3YHiw4iYJLo-RUDhfWSCkfDziAOiy/s400/thread+close+up+2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></div>
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The names of the shades are also amazing. </div>
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D. 417 - Gay Kingfisher</div>
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D. 45 - Turkey Red Shade</div>
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D. 206 - Pomegranate</div>
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D. 110 - Sevres Blue</div>
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D. 43 - Lt. Scarlet</div>
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D. 103 - Lt. Old Gold</div>
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I also have to confess that I bought two wooden reels with no cotton on them. Would it be too tragic to wind some new coats cotton onto them just for display purposes?</div>
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xxx</div>
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Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-20553080969774111922011-12-11T11:08:00.000-08:002012-11-01T02:25:15.399-07:00Food Glorious Food<div style="text-align: center;">
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At this time of year, all I want to do is eat. Warm, comforting stews, vibrant autumn colours, and long evenings snuggled under blankets with a plate full of crunchy crudites and creamy dip. Here's a little snapshot of some of the dishes that have been gracing my table over the past few days.</div>
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First up, it was our 5 year anniversary (since we met, no ring on this finger), and we went for some supper at Pizza Express. I had an amazing prawn and cajun pizza (I almost always have the giardiniera but was pleased with this foray into the menu) and James had the chicken pasta. Then he was sensible and had an espresso, and I was greedy and had a pudding as well.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684952702081909826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqjpEk-NKdSMA7GYvuBN9Tkhttk1cPtyTIY_HVeuemhNKFmU3AWyHg20M9bccQK5b8fbrw4P_TWSilY32wuuwDRYW_PkW2Cy3ZG4SuQt5rlTBjlq1vpLfUSY2-Tv0Kz3BDk1pr5yIwtVF/s400/pizza+express.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
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A few nights ago we settled down to watch Salt (which incidentally is a fantastic film, if a little violent). We wanted snacks but not crisps or nuts or popcorn or any of the other classic cinema foods. We wanted crunchy but not too filling. We wanted tasty but not too unhealthy (after the Pizza Express incident). I chopped up a load of veg that was sitting in the fridge, ripped open some sour cream and chive dip, and congratulated myself on a job well done.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684952489605054834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RJZFfU1oK-ujCFGQisAByc5loFqNM5TuWiSJgbDJS4j0nFi5d4-vqq7SCiPb2zuDo9ecO28O6x0TTbYyM0sx2g_A5BnFSTpatnjasKAKAxAstfIVKLiKxEDSIFCmZ5Xuxgf-2_YHfkLi/s400/veg+and+dip.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
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I made bruschetta. I watched Julie and Julia for the umpteenth time the other day, and my mouth was watering at the part where Julie makes this for her husband. I used roasted peppers from a jar, some tiger bread shallow fried in olive oil, and some plump red tomatoes. We had it for Saturday brunch with a pot of tea.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684950976786128514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTq9mpf0LDf72TH0oUn02oV6hHu2W2qjncVIkoU9NhM9VpCoT7uZFom4Kv7_hauytYZvV0_IcnYGmUJQlu3Ch5F-6LArmYyqEexslFn538ht9SlboGGixwQaElSvLNZW3tdwPoIF6cgz8/s400/bruschetta.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
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(I also made a REALLY tasty (if I do say so myself) bakewell slice with apricot jam instead of raspberry because that's what I had. It didn't last long enough to take a photo.)</div>
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Does anybody have any good ideas for meals at this time of year? I'm all about the one pot meals (no dishwasher), and feel like I'm making the same things all the time (rotation of curry, risotto, pasta bake-type thing, jacket potatoes, stir fry, and round we go again). </div>
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One last thought, although I love the festive season, a big part of me (mainly my stomach) can't wait for summer to roll around again so that I can make things like <a href="http://rosylittlethings.typepad.com/posie_gets_cozy/2011/08/weekend-baking.html">this.</a></div>
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xxx</div>
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-50274889425605754272011-11-30T11:19:00.000-08:002012-11-01T02:25:39.381-07:00Cath Kidston Bookmarks<div style="text-align: center;">
A few months ago, I set up a book club in my village. Alongside the chosen book each month, the club also has a 'book exchange' where everyone brings a book, wrapped up, and everyone takes home a mystery book. This obviously means that in any one month I have two books to read for the book club, plus various craft books and other bits and pieces that take my fancy.</div>
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I have always been a 'dog-earer', folding over the corner of the page to mark my place. BUT, I can't really do that to other people's books now can I?</div>
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So, after several nights of rummaging around in the bedside cabinet for a makeshift bookmark (receipts, record cards and scraps of newspaper yes, coins, paperclips, hairgrip, no (they rip the pages, oops.), I decided to make some of my own. I remember doing this way back in primary school, and I thought I'd use the same basic idea. I went to <a href="http://www.cathkidston.co.uk/t-Wallpaper.aspx">Cath's website</a>, and downloaded some of the lovely desktop wallpapers. I printed these out onto thin card, trimmed them to 9cm x 11cm rectangles, folded in half lengthways, rounded the corners, laminated, rounded the corners again, and voila! Four gorgeous new fit-for-purpose bookmarks.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680875740532386994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4RkZLH-Dbd4NFnF-19MpnOlMC4whecys3sVxoLWxp3Fm5b3Rl0ABrlNdkJmMF9ugdKrJSTTtYnXcXp4x5gtASoHEUiRANnI1DkeKtxCQBSvxEGJkuUc7LsEPN9N3iF6QWmaMIkFt1Szw9/s400/IMG_1065.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680875053623275634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLm6Y3t0AJ_27wkFE3U-x1ba_uVdORv7PAO4awGjWF70sJlmfCKD_HF-VuEgUGAOwf35ST1ylvq9QV9eUb8SIz7BGc2dixvFjcMsiGtYA9OOFxMXNG3ILAb87PPu8tXQ2fYQqrngJ2c0Dv/s400/IMG_1066.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680874308216700978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm31hrU5bShDC5tTSbebqxtcYafSgxhnQyzJJYHT4rx6OcjZgATqSC-jc3wBYDlD2KH4uypLXNDmZ7Ag7m4SZxgDbAvRwLcgwKjKj9_E14fSGQIV7biT1M_nKYj7a5W-K5a3MHcVl70LCw/s400/IMG_1067.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></div>
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Sidetracking, I also had some really delicious viennese whirls the other day, they were 79p for 6 from Aldi. Yum.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680873553703032610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimixt5TObCkJ55BU2e8W32F8vX2i7Jbf-e-qUf9YHXWTTAaw3Du6W5CYPpzgDzBPdIPPrAYEKHtkqLvgtsAwcimkrZ3CPw9enR-MKvYS9KDODkisDrgu7Av_ozcwrtGkkwukTV8KN77hcL/s400/IMG_1056.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" />Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-50072792152964353792011-11-22T08:52:00.000-08:002012-11-01T02:26:01.558-07:00Christmas Cake Baking<div style="text-align: center;">
I've had a while away, and I've only gone and got myself a job! I start in January, so I'm making the most of my time off. Today I baked a Christmas cake, and despite having a power cut about half an hour after I'd put it in the oven, it looks to be doing well (still in the oven, I had no idea they took so long to cook!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1KzQA4sqvWJyt7yvVfRDWmOJxFOsb_tdcUNNZHeuzYBE_MVnWWXyXR7ibmjH9_Lj9O53CLMrV_OZVY3i3D0AfAWJNcJf46oSh8L2dl4ynHXt1Ytf7zDYVSCDd8ed1WRzu8GziyRgWduNp/s1600/IMG_1042.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677868973590462850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1KzQA4sqvWJyt7yvVfRDWmOJxFOsb_tdcUNNZHeuzYBE_MVnWWXyXR7ibmjH9_Lj9O53CLMrV_OZVY3i3D0AfAWJNcJf46oSh8L2dl4ynHXt1Ytf7zDYVSCDd8ed1WRzu8GziyRgWduNp/s400/IMG_1042.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMS_toZiEf1oGofets22UM0xd1Hk6BH-s0KALlCy5HGm6wYviGOqTx2tQao42troI1e-p2TE2EFl05hZB5dqzuk5fbhTchmbUmwXRgFI2ZUi35xXBDfHf7fqJtjI3e7yo0QoTnljaPsNi/s1600/IMG_1049.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677866152967257426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMS_toZiEf1oGofets22UM0xd1Hk6BH-s0KALlCy5HGm6wYviGOqTx2tQao42troI1e-p2TE2EFl05hZB5dqzuk5fbhTchmbUmwXRgFI2ZUi35xXBDfHf7fqJtjI3e7yo0QoTnljaPsNi/s400/IMG_1049.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
On the plus side, although I haven't been blogging, I have been reading, and reading and reading blogs, and appreciating the time and effort others (other than slovenly me that is) put in.<br />
xxx</div>
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Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-46142844003045727362011-10-28T11:42:00.000-07:002012-11-01T02:26:18.865-07:00Autumn Sun<div style="text-align: center;">
I went for a little wander today, over the fields and far away...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsjqjTDl0sqjlvu2Vd19hE_Q5TO28HcvzMVUhlTBMUR1HBkI6osfBobYqUIFqO_h8-5b3mk0MI9YSCKLRgSykk34n6FpLEkArY8uVTuGx-ijWTOs_zfiRhdKkc7CZWovYldv11HbvGTbk/s1600/IMG_1027.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668618873167471346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsjqjTDl0sqjlvu2Vd19hE_Q5TO28HcvzMVUhlTBMUR1HBkI6osfBobYqUIFqO_h8-5b3mk0MI9YSCKLRgSykk34n6FpLEkArY8uVTuGx-ijWTOs_zfiRhdKkc7CZWovYldv11HbvGTbk/s400/IMG_1027.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutd1LPzA-0nAJVjUD0eGVkMyWDTCILZl6t6XlqgUxr7uKFmHGPUqzAlAd1Tez9k8-IyfT1R0J9EAEJ36EM_GvH7XWbPmRrF6gzEuHLHPeXm8zly9CzDHP345SNmRUYAU34ylZ78TUXvbF/s1600/IMG_1030.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668617682880205218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutd1LPzA-0nAJVjUD0eGVkMyWDTCILZl6t6XlqgUxr7uKFmHGPUqzAlAd1Tez9k8-IyfT1R0J9EAEJ36EM_GvH7XWbPmRrF6gzEuHLHPeXm8zly9CzDHP345SNmRUYAU34ylZ78TUXvbF/s400/IMG_1030.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzjeFk0SSFbYjIUKfj7ZXPKFw475BYKAYSUiTgA_bbBjK7WxMFrROhrQFzhRgcDAg2myrV20bXh4Uw5WCMmap6YgobSs3vMJl_JPlObqQ_KdphG3itvvYA6V4u1bsH5DJ4QExM01q8DJb_/s1600/IMG_1033.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668617019206810546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzjeFk0SSFbYjIUKfj7ZXPKFw475BYKAYSUiTgA_bbBjK7WxMFrROhrQFzhRgcDAg2myrV20bXh4Uw5WCMmap6YgobSs3vMJl_JPlObqQ_KdphG3itvvYA6V4u1bsH5DJ4QExM01q8DJb_/s400/IMG_1033.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74xksqXQizVeoen4ATN2c5gCBliJgoCgsAxvI67Rv7SdtwPaBVtDCTN0CieoHJv1B3u04BfDOUgbubZglwyu3JZU3UckoVbPfdyyon4dGtSTF032HjHEexbsYH6dNcfZ_Z2-_jSQHvn4t/s1600/IMG_1034.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668616294937507714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74xksqXQizVeoen4ATN2c5gCBliJgoCgsAxvI67Rv7SdtwPaBVtDCTN0CieoHJv1B3u04BfDOUgbubZglwyu3JZU3UckoVbPfdyyon4dGtSTF032HjHEexbsYH6dNcfZ_Z2-_jSQHvn4t/s400/IMG_1034.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Thought I should make the most of the autumn sun seeing as it rained ALL day yesterday.<br />
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Now I'm snuggled up watching television and knitting my latest project (more of that soon)<br />
<br />
xxx</div>
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-32280124607426856392011-10-08T01:02:00.000-07:002012-11-01T02:26:34.947-07:00And then we went walking...<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm sorry I've been MIA for the last few weeks, busy with new job and busy enjoying the gorgeous weather that we had last week.<br />
I went out for a walk with my Mum recently, and we both took our cameras (she has a new Olympus after years of an old Kodak circa 2001). This is a walk around the fields surrounding the village where we live, and we do it often. But this is the first time I've taken pictures, and looking back at them I'm appreciating the beauty of the area all over again.<br />
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Off we went, past King John's Hunting Lodge. We didn't stop off for tea today, because it's definitely a 'treat' kind of tearoom. (For those Frome locals, this is run by Margaret Vaughan who used to own The Settle there).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mGQMWnEd47XoTJzpJs5Lyw3mlPCW-fx_BIkPzMcs3hyphenhyphenmdGLbOthhobHNXE6a2PCRQoFK3-11HUBbP_Wdr7n8ALzvONoPefpaiqp952vw7-GgQO9tyJDGgwE49nWI_NLHfG_oJ1lxf-Qr/s1600/IMG_0987.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661037947559353010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mGQMWnEd47XoTJzpJs5Lyw3mlPCW-fx_BIkPzMcs3hyphenhyphenmdGLbOthhobHNXE6a2PCRQoFK3-11HUBbP_Wdr7n8ALzvONoPefpaiqp952vw7-GgQO9tyJDGgwE49nWI_NLHfG_oJ1lxf-Qr/s400/IMG_0987.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>We wandered around the churchyard, and I remembered walking around it as a child, being scared of the tombstones and rusty ironwork. Now I think it's beautiful.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBSgYAaFxuhvEFVogfNUGtofhr5-keZw5Uc01oTpIK31gu0bGXz57fmRQp2Buu_C8UnVqZ-YwTi0PNKwWBjM_zrx6ycGsQd6adtSy7qjkz6TXAwxFGkdc7bAEdKabKTurUFI3QMDiHEDA/s1600/IMG_0989.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661037044445538466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBSgYAaFxuhvEFVogfNUGtofhr5-keZw5Uc01oTpIK31gu0bGXz57fmRQp2Buu_C8UnVqZ-YwTi0PNKwWBjM_zrx6ycGsQd6adtSy7qjkz6TXAwxFGkdc7bAEdKabKTurUFI3QMDiHEDA/s400/IMG_0989.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>(Didn't have the preview screen on here, turned out a bit lop-sided!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsBMvB9wsXnsbjVXC-65GUfRspYPIrWkvLZskCTwoJjOzAuXyw97Abg6sjRcpakcV2U6UmP4NzfaaFUhhG85VRP2QduhQ4ZtoUCHPtbQutRcsgfyHw047Mq0nxbjCkBQ2FOO_DkRMZhiq/s1600/IMG_0990.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661036321089286674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsBMvB9wsXnsbjVXC-65GUfRspYPIrWkvLZskCTwoJjOzAuXyw97Abg6sjRcpakcV2U6UmP4NzfaaFUhhG85VRP2QduhQ4ZtoUCHPtbQutRcsgfyHw047Mq0nxbjCkBQ2FOO_DkRMZhiq/s400/IMG_0990.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KvzE4hS2tKM5iOW_-TcoumOLGVabF6n_kTuaNWxANPcBgjmQOsXdtMd5HR_4JGj5s2ou2XMQ256KnMewZld9AF4VFCitqtalRWJWki9-c_723FTOBpZWj8MTE7gC6hz9aSW5PJD6i7E8/s1600/IMG_0992.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661034890551159682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KvzE4hS2tKM5iOW_-TcoumOLGVabF6n_kTuaNWxANPcBgjmQOsXdtMd5HR_4JGj5s2ou2XMQ256KnMewZld9AF4VFCitqtalRWJWki9-c_723FTOBpZWj8MTE7gC6hz9aSW5PJD6i7E8/s400/IMG_0992.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWU1eP3Pj_WzXJPJYMvz4BGCxCymezGcl1lLe1yM2XdA_pru9EDk7fJrNy4l6c_Ux1HDzqd1zj7Ohu9KewP3S3CRKcKcHgg-_Ji5Tkt3zmkiU0waVgOJqWuOPvD1yANR1bR9QCwJBRJvr/s1600/IMG_0994.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661033744977774850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWU1eP3Pj_WzXJPJYMvz4BGCxCymezGcl1lLe1yM2XdA_pru9EDk7fJrNy4l6c_Ux1HDzqd1zj7Ohu9KewP3S3CRKcKcHgg-_Ji5Tkt3zmkiU0waVgOJqWuOPvD1yANR1bR9QCwJBRJvr/s400/IMG_0994.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
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Next up was the ford, the fields and the river...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FKgoCbKf74RmMm3s9fgBbFG0GKNm4rqLvNj5tWsyX6uA3efpjd5GH9ungPewdGuGmdSPafpWgY4hD7OcQrxP3dmzyTC8Z707BT8GgA2hkL4nrF6a-hMseCVLgJo34uT5e7fWRNBd2wjG/s1600/IMG_1000.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661032894316055442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FKgoCbKf74RmMm3s9fgBbFG0GKNm4rqLvNj5tWsyX6uA3efpjd5GH9ungPewdGuGmdSPafpWgY4hD7OcQrxP3dmzyTC8Z707BT8GgA2hkL4nrF6a-hMseCVLgJo34uT5e7fWRNBd2wjG/s400/IMG_1000.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuEnzFZ-wDLJO4wL_kpO8or_eMGKfT8euNKAgwtS7BJiUSMZEgEdTCeutCC0Z1Bx8BLVp9lXp_ogIm8CBVFJrJTLHHX12oj-ATuum1icbjLi98S7xkGDlqf_ROXQWEG33XjCnPu_-Z11F/s1600/IMG_1003.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661032204157885746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuEnzFZ-wDLJO4wL_kpO8or_eMGKfT8euNKAgwtS7BJiUSMZEgEdTCeutCC0Z1Bx8BLVp9lXp_ogIm8CBVFJrJTLHHX12oj-ATuum1icbjLi98S7xkGDlqf_ROXQWEG33XjCnPu_-Z11F/s400/IMG_1003.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVbG4JV6qr2dmydYckya2nz7bSus_vDPaGlt0dIatdjFH7Ve3kaMeztZsW7SuyAfuMWTtpmaaeBIVtSdSsIzNlCNQd7xR6lUhv1qhum0bW2fg4wFOJVbPxccUquBcYHh1knhhT7quN8Gj/s1600/IMG_1004.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661031399394894594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVbG4JV6qr2dmydYckya2nz7bSus_vDPaGlt0dIatdjFH7Ve3kaMeztZsW7SuyAfuMWTtpmaaeBIVtSdSsIzNlCNQd7xR6lUhv1qhum0bW2fg4wFOJVbPxccUquBcYHh1knhhT7quN8Gj/s400/IMG_1004.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRM-CzhSFbYnnoPsCrHaIINajttZgZ9GiUZm0s8uGDzYMtcVDYRJy0PBOLPt8jSeFNw8Nas6zrIUYo66fVgvYCJCKmu8aTVSfiJjn0kEfhnOnNtwTMO8bory2-CKhfIoGN3BEwLqxYRdS/s1600/IMG_1005.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661030609651433250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRM-CzhSFbYnnoPsCrHaIINajttZgZ9GiUZm0s8uGDzYMtcVDYRJy0PBOLPt8jSeFNw8Nas6zrIUYo66fVgvYCJCKmu8aTVSfiJjn0kEfhnOnNtwTMO8bory2-CKhfIoGN3BEwLqxYRdS/s400/IMG_1005.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
This was a lovely way to spend an afternoon, and I was glad we went. It was getting a little windy by the time we got home, so we had hot chocolates in the kitchen.<br />
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Autumn is truly here, leaves are falling and skies are grey. My favourite season, blankets on the bed and warm wooly scarves, the smell of woodsmoke and the crunch of leaves underfoot.<br />
xxx</div>
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-37318236097306208212011-09-06T11:13:00.000-07:002011-09-06T12:15:47.496-07:00Bath Vintage and Antiques Market, and a trip to Lacock Abbey<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, what a busy few days! First up was the Bath Vintage and Antiques market on the Sunday of Bank Holiday Weekend. It was pretty quiet, but we had a good day and met lots of lovely people. For anyone who's ever sold at markets, you'll know what hard work it is and so we are branching into the internet trade. We should have a website all set up and ready to go by the end of the month. If anybody wants to know more about this then we have a special e-mail address (info@unique-and-chic.com) for the business stuff.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkOZ1F6N7J0g1RIuNbYcBaS0BShq-VLDf46zgPfCm9fbxZ-z3hx8htKSlaRVWPQMo4nHBxYYqdv2jfKXAZ2UWctOYIyEGldUIuJRcamexA2NQcyNN0A29ObLRLAH4WVkL9P46xtZoNDMf/s400/IMG_0951.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649324126179244306" /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkAQ9UN7bLBrilrW7dXhtbADKwvW4Lku8N6T7GuRMeJliOnyuBilhTtgEOvmTbhMhgEM-OD1EJVZ_HDpxbd9Y-Z3Kl2dhJezLgdTnbYnCbbpDJ4MuFKYC4oJLM9F7zQE5d3-DEk5IDd2p/s400/IMG_0950.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649323525365625826" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxT7J2vXBjxz2363EPQZedVFlUME3RiklEE8abRbNOek9AT85ejBc_YdMv7ul2bq9MNIPhhyphenhyphenWJRIEUCt0PwNyGrmwsRPPBpN6ndt-QR99TbYa5ElysjUmNP2TE4IZHU9M3HT5yUqt1wHd/s400/IMG_0949.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649322871211174690" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We're also doing a monthly e-mail newsletter with local craft and vintage events, new items for sale, and (if I get my act together) free craft patterns to download. Sales talk over, here are some pictures of us at the market, and some of the lovely things we had on offer.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">At the weekend, James and I took advantage of our free Tenant National Trust membership, and went on a jaunt to the Abbey.</div><div style="text-align: center;">When we were looking for a house, a flat in this building (which is attached to the side of the Abbey) was available, but it had no garden so it wasn't a winner.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOokHhcXe4i7utVixnMdOzwAk7rEQdp8cgv9sTx51Iwb9yOaRe91g2mPqQ6f-Ko1e1KdKvta8EZGNHgZ1S2umhd2GqRQnIYJXXCIlsuIDOwntdQ62m7TYj9VStkwkp2O3SSHEmM4PEbB4d/s400/IMG_0956.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649321948005318370" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTNdFKb79tV62-aQRt5D7nX8PZk74FMEv3b_jxLQSFyTUKMs0YGHlO6EFfuoQULn-Ym8lELxlvEBh1YwAuWdRQiZlYm45nlXrVrmwCyHLZDm6Vrlogi-TRPnF1OfXzhic2KNHYUWHR0iH/s400/IMG_0957.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649320094272817202" /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNT677DlMNHWfSsQDnHeuVq2UzNxfmymEoi-5RbcV7m7x9Lob6LjySmOAPGmv8jctwTJuZ8AbVUAERfemi0hBfkkhKOfMpD_2bABtGdf9C3En5VqN3nkN_fwJ05RL51tKihLadMVrsh2W2/s400/IMG_0960.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649318694481938386" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We drank Fentiman's Ginger Beer. Check out the Abbey framed in my arm. While I'm on the topic of delicious drinks, lots of shops local to us now sell <a href="http://www.ocado.com/webshop/product/Fentiman-Rose-Lemonade/51726011">Fentiman's Rose Lemonade</a>. This is the tastiest and girliest (and possibly priciest) summer drink EVER. Perfect for the sunny weather we haven't had. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGwoE4bj7xbsWW8FG9MOPqTyTXZMJZTaq-I2Ur6-RQFQkYkjSAY8lcRujfUmtL7TSDm1sbJ7UjKIIs5uh2hyqTlghfdH0tWa91jzLr-V0hNW_HOeLzeKrnmF5xI4C62PMhPpm7oliqHWx/s400/IMG_0965.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649317778082663042" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We played croquet (James called it crochet).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9MSXd9q2EzpeHz5glp4EZ3ht9O37iJR8peaoZmw0oPu7LdDTmb6RoWt1tFe0DCMZ6QqhkuDbOLNykVoFNMwCoeMD0bQs5x4VYhBGWOi2JpzLlPIbKZYtJquPq4YWnney-hqM46iDD9zp/s400/IMG_0974.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649317048910239874" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODl65vOuGNe5FS7lmpH-CTIbOXSD5Ozm9xrevjo6V_1TLaTrasz4PhsWdtQC0P1V1lEEsHQZyyuvstKCGNkmdGzPb7zU_I6nOhv-xa_SFEctnpMoDLkbygTiH4eZB6hw9gqPC1JS0PkEZ/s400/IMG_0976.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649314850594356114" /><div><div style="text-align: center;">I wore my <a href="http://sweetpeaandsailor.blogspot.com/2011/07/is-it-collection.html">Laura Ashley dress</a> and my new bag. You can't see it here but it has a panther on the clasp. Slightly eccentric but I was drawn to it. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyLW7jx9I5r3DV74sjZRU6AtjgjQQ6g4NhzU2P80EzEIML1DVN0GL339DsCowdwEsdLOgHx97e_ml2sT98qyYEa2jAYt_GpNoh_Jgk82ils5rFneoK6KKdznSqCOBGCKMzpNmbHQSDeBd8/s400/IMG_0979.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649314033442784370" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hope everyone else has had a lovely week and those with children aren't too stressed out by the return to school! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">xxx</div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-2063093605284580192011-08-23T02:32:00.000-07:002012-11-01T02:29:24.461-07:00Busy Bee<div style="text-align: center;">
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Well I for one have certainly been a busy bee over the last couple of weeks, explaining the lack of posting and commenting going on. </div>
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All of a sudden all of the plums and courgettes and beans and carrots and raspberries and pretty much everything else are ready and not just waiting, but demanding to be picked and eaten/cooked/preserved.</div>
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So I've been trotting back and forth to the garden and allotment with basketfuls of produce, being eyed suspiciously by people in the street. First up were the courgettes, which I made into delicious soup, with some parmesan and stock.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643994890888487858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlDqeGaRl8C7PrVHkKjq6hQs2AdduUC4QZyrOOnID4TW-A8RQxkRmuXjuOkdtULEsD2T96cuJuA4JSXdKin_ypxSco0aVkbES-6XYL19w3UH6pxRFEP78gcvHYSJPcZW18wMJL-GuOQyk/s400/IMG_0861.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></div>
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Next was the mammoth and seemingly never ending task of picking plums. James' parents have four plum trees but no time to do anything with them. So we have been picking and jam-making and selling them. Incidentally I one first prize in the jam class at the village show, which was hilarious as it was pretty much the first time I had made jam on my own, and there were about 10 other entries from the local doyennes (is that the right word?) of preserving.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643993977150108578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7d83oID3PxatjYF_4TDbf4PCNfgiPNp0ibn3MC-EPwBiVKGqzJ7sZCudacYWGthDwb1EhxttECX0KmeXc9uSQy8hLZwsGph7ZZJTx62KCTzB5IH4zNOjvvPCaMRwgxJIpuNSjvWWtM3Y/s400/IMG_0857.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643993164926800466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WtEqvJytB5NUHZRP3ZQ65ggo5MURcAPLvLrUCpX3KGysn9aDodhN0LxLXNpSOYAQSn1DnZ-zVPQ6idI_j_EZN1NLaFagOqX8Dan4bEgiibt524A6ov-tMCijoGBoE2QG4M6im9vBl7N_/s400/IMG_0859.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></div>
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We are also in plentiful supply of other vegetables, and are eating them roasted with herbs</div>
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from the garden and plenty of oil almost every day.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643990768467086098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95vFlPkehFpejaX32Ss7xLLb0JSdyPgH44TB2KDSgrYDRQWppXMNLIZiHHP2Pa-MR-2GQez9aUVJxXnaIuy1GKPopKlSRjZPjJ9csuRt8RnBfPLa-SPEScr6N_xR6WRJSmWxgtub-JP2w/s400/IMG_0762.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></div>
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643989700450054642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKn4JxMOQlmBtflQR0JERKXMFQHr3k2w0-FPepn5X7ChWpqHL1GPXtpaYqhzDVIAGbMRQaZzWugAKjx-6yjLz98oC8eTb_a3YbYNDn33W-XSooy0D3K59d3ZG6WKCcKFNLn1vU_d-7Oaxz/s400/IMG_0766.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
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I had a brief but unsuccessful foray into cordial making. I had seen a recipe for lavender cordial <a href="http://lustrousmusings.blogspot.com/2010/06/lavender-cordial.html">here</a> and thought I'd try it out. I ended up not with the glossy, orange nectar that the photo shows, but some grey-purple liquid (not syrupy) that tasted like lavender, but not like cordial. BUT this was all me and not the recipe, because I left it in the pan once it had boiled because I didn't have a bottle on hand. So I think it ended up stewing and going yucky. Must do better.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643988221828942690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaj3VpQT2WXUzzOqbH0z6HUT82PoP5wfwAFbsgTn9kV6g87xtcPuc0XPZEGiTDx9rnTx-0am1JpZUFIwc7ly4qUmLIOqT7hi3wnLdU20WSIdC2Yrzh_aOLk4Zn99IISN5yZaUmciN0ZPpR/s400/IMG_0760.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
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As mentioned previously, I have also been super busy getting things together for our stall at the Bath Vintage and Antiques fair this Sunday (Green Park Station if anyone is in the area). I will do a post about all the beauties I have found and things I have made separately because I think people reading this will lose the will to live otherwise. Anyway, I had been fabric shopping to <a href="http://www.phasepatch.co.uk/">Phasepatch</a> and bought some lovely fabric. (Their website only shows their patchwork fabric but they sell a lot of other cottons and things as well in the shop, and the couple who own the shop are the nicest people ever, and I just love it!) Totally should have ironed these fabrics before I took the pictures but hey ho.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643987324884189186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgV1MJbh0yYtC3Z9e6YPPOOoiyTP6nUitSr2SlW22wS1tw9dvUIWdZCMcD69xEfNpi1RsWv-rEEebnXXvmuDbbf3iOrL2Gzt6Hsj96h_5KjOTnmBNLrsoslmzJ6H2euPaWNxTD_KyJ99yC/s400/IMG_0771.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643986655924780818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY58Dddr3p_-bIoHlyVDp3iWBWyTqjnDtlIm_VbovNXTCEBAgSBE_UgSdyMkHAvA28MbRDylsnosXsFAxwZ8zAtNVRtGkb0N2rUbLH6pJttahO1l29pq3QyPb3Y2mIenWmE2zvLacv4nec/s400/IMG_0870.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643985672680413586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHRJYRXKgRrcFYcaDFPYTtZs3KL3861e1s7WUajzZLZZiNQecHzkMnD0lRKI-NmOG0R5D_NzQJDxQS7I7789NTE0XM4s9WI5PXuXQxCen0b2J0C6NStVK27Shlkbuqj2_F-9N-IXNsM_w/s400/IMG_0871.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643985038267720370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHv2pKztUE3oVbOmbPD4y9f1I3ueY2YeUaI5smcYP70nb8hqGZ8gKlHBfzDfHcVQZa0HFCpUtw-UPXynl4ePi38fJkv2U3D-U_VaPkaWi9qkoEs9-G7CIy3kgEimawOnbNb6h_LOwr_hV1/s400/IMG_0872.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
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Last but not least I went to watch James and his friend Matt play cricket in Bathampton. It was a lovely afternoon, I took my camera (but not my knitting, definitely would have if I knew how long the game was going to go on) and took a few pictures. I was a long way away so they're a little blurry.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643984335100784994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnla_sysa9lcLjoBCUINkUOb-sdg3b_A7ncWXtBF_8ASWoTYQkC9waNMPuuvyyEZArUic-ecKGLFJGGfQEmhyYZq9f3K_JAYk_4iM0l7hXuDPv93UAvHM9G71FMzhehdtu8Bl-01MZccSx/s400/IMG_0879.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643983994364111778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwZMK3g-VTyJEntZS3DZTVyNJnn_MkabLin7q_MIRxj34GC7AW25WanYQigbE5DLE8WPzK6H2PIyWx3BKYJlUI2OiLtqnM19ERS1zDW6YT2L2mQcShDwEjHSbPpYtnbve0sQP_yms69rO/s400/IMG_0921.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643983670755778962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCCOMD4wfnkmnDvTKEiG5mTZoSxIVykCAWELOPunK7rAYOvZsGVK4VE-kraBpUz_WGcCAaaLtf8eZ7m9zk5V1rrY0YmwFutRl2SH3nbDXCVp17kJcohQdFJnNJFl7Ws-hJb0L4aNPVDD5/s400/IMG_0905.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
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All in all a lovely couple of weeks!</div>
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Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-52421216682122762652011-08-08T08:48:00.000-07:002012-11-01T02:28:33.865-07:00We've All Been on a Summer Holiday...<div style="text-align: center;">
Last week I went on the Eurostar from St Pancras to Avignon in the South of France. The sun shone (most of the time), we ate too much bread and cheese and drank too much wine, and generally had a fantastic time.</div>
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One of the best shops in the town is 'Lou en Provence', which sells beautiful throws, cushions, and other lovely things for the home. I dangerously paid by card and had to cycle back to the campsite with a rather full basket. These were some of the delights on offer...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0JeJ23wDp5sDzenUyOMoA39RIQVqvm5x07IgUg7X3-SMNLN1Xrnuw_033UzL_ZJLL9-XFSNaN4Dss1BAi7eUbC9KU0hQ2UJXYHKENVkqcEZxb9FjbCgwvVvgCpoQit-BJ5fupwSrGMbf/s1600/IMG_4697.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638516851276188034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0JeJ23wDp5sDzenUyOMoA39RIQVqvm5x07IgUg7X3-SMNLN1Xrnuw_033UzL_ZJLL9-XFSNaN4Dss1BAi7eUbC9KU0hQ2UJXYHKENVkqcEZxb9FjbCgwvVvgCpoQit-BJ5fupwSrGMbf/s400/IMG_4697.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>
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We went during the Avignon Festival, which is an annual theatre festival and all the theatres in town put on the same programme of plays all day every day. The entire town is full of actors doing impromptu street shows to advertise their play, and every available surface is plastered with posters and placquards. </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638516307585368834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXFyGt7tSfHNrcHxHYOpSofrWGJDjW67j3MPbnqfY_4FlLDAHi5YlIfyJEoVxKl56s0F1gc_PgVl-4wgIGjrbPdDVW6ivJSxS-HaC1z4TkLZTBm0oY_Y20hcV-1NQt68A310zrpxaiS3J/s400/IMG_4703.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></div>
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I've not put the photos in a very good order, so here's another of the French Maison shop</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRsCU0_LIs6ySOnKBkw1Vdq63gjoSoGLIbpF_8ToZwPqT9Y21mIWAUvUAGJMQWAtibeMs0Xwoof-aIYRTiuKtNRyZdCQOG1vbvIk2D-cGxphx2LTO0XzNVp61D11z5zfJ1zz7Oa7M0zWcw/s1600/IMG_4692.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638515824651425826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRsCU0_LIs6ySOnKBkw1Vdq63gjoSoGLIbpF_8ToZwPqT9Y21mIWAUvUAGJMQWAtibeMs0Xwoof-aIYRTiuKtNRyZdCQOG1vbvIk2D-cGxphx2LTO0XzNVp61D11z5zfJ1zz7Oa7M0zWcw/s400/IMG_4692.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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More theatre posters. We went to watch 'Lavita' which was a mime about a couple's life from teenagers to old age. It was great and everybody loved it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIs0yMJijjG_YyNweU8Jp_l3wVXYQhPjA60B50oaY7snp_2Q0puo6YFxGesx17FZnV0d4iljqbG11hy3575TPxYGBGmRvwvsR7-WFsItz8gOSZFmSY27PB9azSEd_IshO6Kmzb0Q1M9KRZ/s1600/IMG_4686.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638515164428021218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIs0yMJijjG_YyNweU8Jp_l3wVXYQhPjA60B50oaY7snp_2Q0puo6YFxGesx17FZnV0d4iljqbG11hy3575TPxYGBGmRvwvsR7-WFsItz8gOSZFmSY27PB9azSEd_IshO6Kmzb0Q1M9KRZ/s400/IMG_4686.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFo_aLDZMyF7MLJHoLYz4S0r6Xiiadcx4o3b5n1oid4UtlnGNR6JzADeuOoq9SWc5GxFJ93qpPHzNQUXCa_9EPUHo5A3nmNPHqBcI31JO9dWyuK5t96lfNA1satoO2zE1ETlIS7RLSts0/s1600/IMG_4685.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638514443393241842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFo_aLDZMyF7MLJHoLYz4S0r6Xiiadcx4o3b5n1oid4UtlnGNR6JzADeuOoq9SWc5GxFJ93qpPHzNQUXCa_9EPUHo5A3nmNPHqBcI31JO9dWyuK5t96lfNA1satoO2zE1ETlIS7RLSts0/s400/IMG_4685.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
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These are the classic holiday snaps, the Palais du Pape and the Pont d'Avignon. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRO8WhyphenhyphenZO1Tl76kOtG3cHNUTiOcg_sbQT77NgfmTH5LMCZ_82e993QJtZtfKyMoxY19lo9NoKvpyECaw2F6ygc90r58tAxRmO29giEQLdOsEB6NHaBfxFqAMceiGHOKdsPNhtS2SrpNl-/s1600/IMG_4908.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638513904081403826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAJ5-3heSX1Y9DnajvJS9hLEiqItCeuJksTnhU2hDEyZDhKHstlTT5r2ZFaK2d02QJqVXqymO0rjq56t9dGvH6w7QOE7aBMU2Btba4hmVbD0NeaASYSccqOp3PmPDI6Ta9Ir7xmU_0zXu/s400/IMG_4926.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRO8WhyphenhyphenZO1Tl76kOtG3cHNUTiOcg_sbQT77NgfmTH5LMCZ_82e993QJtZtfKyMoxY19lo9NoKvpyECaw2F6ygc90r58tAxRmO29giEQLdOsEB6NHaBfxFqAMceiGHOKdsPNhtS2SrpNl-/s1600/IMG_4908.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638513206435885586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRO8WhyphenhyphenZO1Tl76kOtG3cHNUTiOcg_sbQT77NgfmTH5LMCZ_82e993QJtZtfKyMoxY19lo9NoKvpyECaw2F6ygc90r58tAxRmO29giEQLdOsEB6NHaBfxFqAMceiGHOKdsPNhtS2SrpNl-/s400/IMG_4908.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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We had a great time, and a good rest. Highly recommended! We are now working very hard on our new venture, a vintage and antiques stall specialising in homeware and craft. This means lots of sewing and hunting for vintage china for me. The market is at the Bath V&A in Green Park on the 31st of every month for anyone in the area! </div>
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Hope everyone else is enjoying some time off this summer</div>
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xxx</div>
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-58398899579008246542011-07-15T13:18:00.000-07:002011-07-18T07:20:23.409-07:00A little tour<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Today I thought I'd take you on a little tour of my garden. I must admit, some of these photos were taken earlier in the year, but they are all in my garden :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Up the steps we go....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKa1y88ZLSR7TziDiMtnzGPAjc866lgsGht1O8DTT08OOZX_DHHB7NnCpeao_ihqjdq3dGIJJiqNieSUGnHA-CR77nzKvPOvxeWIjTgi9uqHl4jhDXITpETfVllXpKahVYJeXsfCycpXi0/s400/IMG_0615.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629685929335057714" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is our little garden shed, we're going to lay a patio outside it so we can sit of a summer's evening with a cold glass of wine and enjoy the honeysuckle climbing up the trees.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHEGRE6QD-6jyuzyqw-qjf9iwHJIMbK1gaCggV3Z7lu0OVQWvyo2JUb4U0ME0ImYF0gsnqmb2mdz7jMFA3GFPRVEb3UFJ94alRfJ07qrHDmE2J7bS0_aNiU642r4g4dRSljCPA8J2Vvl0/s400/IMG_0630.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629684725367570674" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is one of my neighbours' houses, isn't that rose amazing?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetcirh6JctOYtKfbRKQOBIdmQgPQV4D9xqShTbQkkLKKTHDI7ILqbugKp-Wbc4d_Tk3ueTWXbpl-VgLrMP_6whi2izA42aWXUXfo7qJPgAXksocdrLtENL1JLMmapZl2kHKlH0GlJqp1W/s400/IMG_0628.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629683761453992562" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't know what these flowers are called (you may have noticed that for all my practical gardening knowledge, my understanding of names and botany leaves much to be desired). They're a lovely colour though.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpydtCQmuHg8XNl4Jb9xRkL2dhXmwS0RHgJo7aoQ4u2yOrCkD9dz9MeQfDKDK4nITsp3sZGlCQm5Qv1it6PoNTvj1e9PQrJZeLilEKNWOYh4Ksyr2C0MdGc2d6_nktluQFXwhgP3T8q_HL/s400/IMG_0613.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629682844968603154" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">These are my herb pots, at this point I had mint, bergamot, basil, and sage. Since then the bergamot has given up and the basil withered but I think is making a comeback. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7A1OrfwNmOKgr7cXDhOE2y1bipjLMNl8aUoOVRAzG4hreqm6Tqd8zbHcqLt_1mww4nFu1ShSJaYKoDmHSthZM15svwCUzPlvH6civ7F8YqX5ZrCnT8mTv4b8IzH86kOPbjP6w6edvZUE/s400/IMG_0620.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629682190867731730" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is my little vegetable patch, so far it's been a success, we have had lots of delicious vegetables, and I find it really relaxing pottering around.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL_r9MkI_GWpQTg-77i0QHYpC1KkIOtyNEz3P5XmFuOqKcm3XHHzg2n0H6heE7nRdY-WfLnQ6uSpzyOBFkT6_l5p6yOCN8dAVtDUUpk-fNilJixH07yx5duDdlJH3qNm9ZU4GahwRy62Gb/s400/IMG_0622.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629680761379984194" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is our little apple tree. The apples on it are ripening nicely, and I'm looking forward to them. I don't know which variety they are, is there any way to find out?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVZOWIeZV4jdTTfqra14KiB4AYK_R9ann3TX5dORJgn5OcXdGmckqamHhoJBp24ErAtlSTjmdOYbH9DT4aD7tR-C2jhVPBLkboUhOjpaQmsw3VTGu95KQB0PWC3nh_ITbJcZGMkRCrD02/s400/IMG_0626.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629679569459637522" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This amazing rose is another thing that Daphne (the lady who lived here before us) left us in the garden. It started flowering in May and is still going strong. It doesn't smell that strong though, so I would like to plant a headier, old-fashioned scented rose next to it. Does anyone have any recommendations?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3Vrroze8pjqTHFoJuzFdjZWQhMADO8JeqSdyAICNtIZCtL0oyVciATGkEbP2pu5sOe9iZXVPpRVzbphqa7jGUsfHH-J7KCs1JTT7mqYVl0vC8zAsRkxG6jGDqFES1p1WXENKDBU7c2cn/s400/IMG_0619.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629678928374755746" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">James took lots of pictures of me hanging out the washing, and I think they capture those first bright days of summer beautifully.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZK_TghUljdQAlGBH4C-qVhORLxSfqeoZ_M6hiBUOxybOUVX-a_kkZIcTaDhRe-q7HrzECOVl1wyaOSjjbZu8M5x00dFP9DpZBOQm-nWVjDlMPGE6ZPu2tRSoXZ9ldj_DuRYpbs7JFsgC/s400/IMG_0446.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629678205803356370" /><div><div style="text-align: center;">This pretty butterfly obligingly stayed still enough for me to take pictures of it. I love how paper thin the wings look.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefwX9d8dG8EvERr7nZgL8Gqj1jpDiFBkQ2k2Z9muevwOKX0bPVBvGtHbqryY4mfkgTZrD77iRMne3qcoIzEJAcZJSp5cv56hGAU87I-HGYWC1nvErCm0Zyc8iBpZUBp1dC9KIVpZSW5VQ/s400/IMG_0466.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629677718184820274" /></div></div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-28903450665323018312011-07-15T13:07:00.000-07:002012-11-01T02:31:06.387-07:00Is it a collection?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircWjWzypRarv3_ZczVr_1xpEFNLIMc7CeuZI5numRy6HujwjpiEUloeS7uUooPR_Jfv3S-RrLYQXfjHrIZFyYzewtXHRqSiFlOFUG8lp5t7C2QCQbnj3IsoQ5G24kpPxYHjnxwUpB50Ju/s1600/IMG_0753.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629674715680157842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircWjWzypRarv3_ZczVr_1xpEFNLIMc7CeuZI5numRy6HujwjpiEUloeS7uUooPR_Jfv3S-RrLYQXfjHrIZFyYzewtXHRqSiFlOFUG8lp5t7C2QCQbnj3IsoQ5G24kpPxYHjnxwUpB50Ju/s400/IMG_0753.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
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Can you call two of one thing a collection? If so I am now the proud collector of Laura Ashley dresses (circa 1980, floral cotton only). Last year I stumbled across a lovely red floral belted Laura Ashley dress in Oxfam. It was mid-calf length (the most unflattering length of dress ever made?) but fitted me like a glove. And was £3.99. So I bought it, whipped out the sewing machine and took it up. </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629674069293397890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRj66JJRugZO8EW2aU-X-DQ78I38DpXtXENgem4jr3t7UJ8u4TaenLfxkdRLB81-GJrOrCaDeNurzcuUBL34_6qF8N2jqmSSrJnI5DPHF3Kz7rAV_o9n_txxESiee8rTeFXKQUnRKTu_hy/s400/IMG_0754.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
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Then last week I was wandering around the same Oxfam, and saw this blue beauty, perfect condition, same horrific mid-calf length, lovely slightly pouffy vintagey sleeves, for £3.99. I thought, this must be a sign that I should collect these dresses. The lady at the till looked at me as though I was a bit mad, not sure she understood why I was so excited. I rushed the hem a bit and didn't pin it enough, but I reckon I'll get away with it. </div>
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So, from now on, I am on the lookout for these dresses, they are lovely soft cotton and beautifully made. Anyone else have a collection of two?</div>
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xxx</div>
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-48620919358285590842011-07-15T09:45:00.000-07:002012-11-01T02:28:14.439-07:00Wedding Gift<div style="text-align: center;">
In October, my boyfriend's gorgeous sister is getting married. I wanted to make her and her husband something really special that they could keep and enjoy forever. She is also a craft lover and so will appreciate the time and effort that goes into a gift like this (sometimes its a bit disheartening when you give someone something you've slaved over every evening for weeks (or even months) and they're a bit, you know, underawed). She doesn't read my blog (or hopefully not) so I'm going to show a few bits and pieces of it. I settled on a cross-stitched sampler, personalised with their names and the date of the wedding.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629624574457402946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSV0goyOX6iGPKsNXOrnKfbz-Pk142GWqNpFwzDiuy2vmB38dIMaVm4bu5lUmBKXCDUw2lsByXF9NlduL55dIPZbOC8TfitKjEzHM8Sym1IhSic7eWsatqYJaZFNg7DwGr9Qpif6_l5SY/s400/IMG_0664.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629623978921386002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNsfr5iUbfnAOy_waA00pPsGXisnp3sp7THhVnRLPxUbfOMKkVZPhnu6utXE9saIN5kv2tQgTBzIUQAj1jh_W8Zmkpdcoa4phBOtpi9BpWp3HLJ6hpesk7aoTAtkLGzP7eaamoukGRKBc5/s400/IMG_0665.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></div>
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I love the pastel colours, and I'll probably get it professionally framed. I'm thinking of plain off-white, but not sure?</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629623384470593554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKb4MNdAtRTS1m1SWSL_ZconMoart1unsJeoG7ecWw7bvFrhPyagODx8__gEP0EHY46JUvpZ4BO0QxsU30XYG1D4SyFGxWeHcFYcMRmWym2G39RfqfPTcrFYuppB2oZhCeUV_Sok_89DWI/s400/IMG_0667.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
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I google imaged some wedding samplers and took inspiration from various sources to create the design. If anybody out there has a Mac, there is a great free program you can download called 'Stitches' (just search the apple downloads site). You can design your own cross stitch, and all the colours on the program are matched to DMC thread. Clever eh?</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629622295025779202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwXwO9J7j8k45zDNTMPQBSUbJhPv6i8NBD5xqfuH-zMNSTQamohuDkHSmgjKuyfDj4QSNZ4YowqS543KstM5gZOd_xbY__XBMtYJQHst8K0ZLKlHEmwHPJe_-KuDxgHGvIlXHEEXAVB78/s400/IMG_0675.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
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I need to work some more on this, it's slow going. When I have finally finished there will definitely be a lot of showing off about it, blog-style. But I also need to find times to do it when I'm not distracted by other things. See the 'R' of cherish above? It's wrong. What can I say, I was watching mad men. </div>
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-47897760318947152762011-07-13T03:08:00.000-07:002011-07-13T03:30:49.065-07:00No more judgment<div style="text-align: center;">I've been busy tidying up the border in front of our house. Over the last couple of months, its all gone a bit crazy and hundreds of weeds have sprouted. The honeysuckle has grown so much that we can't get out of the back gate without being honeysuckled (that sounds quite rude!) in the face. The hydrangea that I rescued when we moved in last November is about the only thing that is doing well. So I pulled on my gloves, picked up my fork and off I went.</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is what it looked like before.....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jwMdqlJUPd3YsFeBkDm4-_FhY1MXAzO2Vp3kgU58fPR6ilU7jxVVVXYGoVcJT2DX-vXYQDEzHzUu0LwTzvuDBk82gv0MhFjmp8g_Kwhc6MZFK8g-6KV98PusIhcBoR7PqXPTP2eav49e/s400/IMG_0701.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628782068752361410" /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIvTbCYXK6LRAOlJW6OZDtCWe434Cnq7kHS-Uyw99btD2ApmCO3IvD9XqvanoRTIo_65kTM5q92if9oehU5dSAcKDiCfUmSk8xBwbEIQkr_vfysQO9prhvdFgmgoWxoqjMFb6R47XvyND/s400/IMG_0703.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628781202146864130" /><div style="text-align: center;">And after.....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDe1DpdK8mgACE30ZeqHiM31TEWoZwcVtuqOYcCC_JP348g6m-ms-7UCbOXppWnkWLSGcXA26nRtT6acD0qezu0ftWLRMjRtYJg8-uJSclZavfkTdurxVpnkKdMTVJBFQVgm17sJtIq5b/s400/IMG_0712.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628778770592837538" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5ig_aOPcVdg8v9qLGLQd0UodpvnlsRhbURoqXPO5O8HQslEy8PQjA6lTnpGW2F2rIV0aKByNPofksIkt02NwXOjBRAadt8Z8GhFPH8s7cL-8DmDkxkXQlZZ2d-yiv0MGCqe-hTxo1wVW/s400/IMG_0714.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628777864367968338" /><div style="text-align: center;">We live in a National Trust village, and so hundreds of thousands of visitors walk past this border every year. Several times a week I used to hear people saying how bad it looked! But now people just admire the flowers :) Although we have no formal obligation, I feel as though I owe it to them to make it look nice! There is a man in the village who sells plants, and I got the dahlia and whatever that blue daisy-like flower is, and another pink daisy that's in the back garden for £5. Hopefully they will spread to cover a bit more of the soil. The wallflower, honeysuckle, and hydrangea were all inherited from the lady who lived here before us. She was obviously a lover of flowers because in spring the whole garden was carpeted with daffodils, bluebells, snowdrops, and tulips.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-51909844024101733102011-07-10T04:40:00.000-07:002012-11-01T02:30:21.803-07:00Car Boot Wonders<div style="text-align: center;">
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Sunday morning, 7am, up and ready to go! My mum and I headed to our local boot sale this morning, full of excitement at what we might find and our purses full of pennies. Sometimes this car boot is full of the 'baby clear out' type stalls and there isn't anything much that we like. But today, today was not a disappointment.</div>
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First up, I saw these pretty yellow jugs out of the corner of my eye. There were three of them, and they were only 50p each. In the bag they went.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627694655673620770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rmBG26laJoumdkJpWhnhBxgEvmMnw5PVwAyLmCiXc0lA7aAhNnfNRiw5XRATKLRFBObsN385AyBXmr8J17QgOmykLpz3YYNHOfHQaRAAt-3nyN_1AQ3r6KECfD0wy44v5BuK7A8gZAwC/s400/IMG_0748.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></div>
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Then I saw a stall with sewing bits and pieces, and picked up these threads (50p) and packs of buttons (50p).</div>
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At the next stall, there were two beautiful old mirrors. I've been looking for a 30's style mirror with a chain to hang it for a while, and then two come along at once! I bought the slightly smaller (and lighter) of the two, at £6.</div>
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Continuing the bargain day, I found a yellow teapot which cost 10p. I mean really, who could pass that by? My entire teapot collection was picked up at car boot sales and charity shops, and has probably only set me back about £4 in total.</div>
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We walked down a few rows filled with baby clothes and toys, then mum saw someone she knew and started chatting. Out of the corner of my eye I spied a piece of lacy fabric. I went over and it was, to my delight, a tablecloth. This is another thing I've been on the hunt for, ever since I saw the set of Delicious Miss Dahl (which I blogged about <a href="http://sweetpeaandsailor.blogspot.com/2010/04/comeback-kid.html">here</a>). I want to dye it pale blue and use it in the garden. £4 for the cloth.</div>
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I also bought a set of six silver fish knives and forks with a cream-coloured handle (not sure what this is?) for £2. Now all of that is worth less than £20 of anyone's money, surely?</div>
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How did everyone else get on at boot sales this weekend? I know some areas of the country have them mid-week as well (jealous) but for now I have my Sunday fix sorted!</div>
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xxx</div>
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Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-86060247118289360482011-07-08T07:59:00.000-07:002011-07-08T09:00:03.915-07:00Winter Wishing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJ9yzzOFSDjjZNnJf8xQPXZjjejr05r43vcelE0OPi-ydMZFgmjsz1JDTSzfh6PSykq34Z6Y0AMakpQ9t54AxIKbee7K-vCFDheeymIGmo-mjLWOoP1UCPorCa0jDqwp2t5RC9q79ibFY/s1600/IMG_0383.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJ9yzzOFSDjjZNnJf8xQPXZjjejr05r43vcelE0OPi-ydMZFgmjsz1JDTSzfh6PSykq34Z6Y0AMakpQ9t54AxIKbee7K-vCFDheeymIGmo-mjLWOoP1UCPorCa0jDqwp2t5RC9q79ibFY/s400/IMG_0383.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627005134969055922" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD16LLT-1Cm-6kzVYRYGJC0iDKwE33T-Q2QeptPV8tRC-IbmUYZQKyopBfjHMHtXTUi3Dxt94nxzCv-ZLSusIX9FQ8mvXuBdALbFj27AxUNwyf0nIrQ3UuGy6neabMPj5KJhkgMVa2mp79/s400/IMG_0380.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627001898986047954" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gMtFRrOYub1sYqi0IM3yTJw6n7hT0RzbYNEwJWWHRny3DQNDtk9D9UzIL39-f5iGm76e4OreCP_n1pQCBy47jcfw9bF6BHlyrV6FxZA9dsGmgCIaJ5gQiuEQ1GjHzXyGXEkdc2yygnR6/s400/IMG_0382.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626998988765780946" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Around this time of year, when the weather has been close and hot for a few weeks, I have a yearning for those crisp winter days. Berries covered in frost, seeing your breath on the freezing air, and a long walk ending with hot cocoa. Don't get me wrong, I would only wish for one day like this, one where your head is clear and your body swaddled in warm clothes. Middle of July would do me fine. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVvykKoNT-oHokREH87ZHPlOaEOkBlH1ZdoDTL9nNW399Kzp10pttuUk1o_7WwyAqg2fubRMLsB7ui75dBh7gSlzEeMM3IP9nGU_cAShxxEVbkKCCj1q3rK7kmGQ4gKKBrIopqV23wjyA/s1600/IMG_0395.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVvykKoNT-oHokREH87ZHPlOaEOkBlH1ZdoDTL9nNW399Kzp10pttuUk1o_7WwyAqg2fubRMLsB7ui75dBh7gSlzEeMM3IP9nGU_cAShxxEVbkKCCj1q3rK7kmGQ4gKKBrIopqV23wjyA/s400/IMG_0395.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627000128123989058" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">These pictures were taken last winter, on a walk in Castle Combe. This is one of our favourite walks, the village itself is beautiful as well, and makes for a good day out. Who knew that blackberries were still around in December?!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxSPe9up9He4nD3a1Tt78tUCON92O3UBDPXbZrey72XEwObNfILQQeIQvMiLfnl-Ml3Z73oIdDtRCiIBzttL0JL5xEckZqz3D-hx1su6m1fluUMjA4nnfhdGb6eYfkoI9vJomVwgNOjbP/s400/IMG_0400.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wouldn't it be nice to have a season swap for one day in summer and one in winter? There are some times in January that I would kill for more than 8 hours of daylight! </div><div style="text-align: center;">At the moment, there's nothing but rain, I wish it would make its mind up one way or another. Now, where did I put my jumper, blanket, and favourite cocoa mug...?</div></div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-27372416170951133102011-07-06T01:52:00.000-07:002011-07-08T09:14:49.401-07:00Anyone out there?<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Well, it has certainly been a long time since I last posted, and I hadn't really got into any kind of swing with the blogging thing before I got super busy with work and never found time to sit and do it. Anyway, I've resolved to try and make time from now on, especially as I've been quietly perusing other lovely blogs in the past year. <div>I was sitting having lunch yesterday and I thought it was a good idea to just bite the bullet and take some photos so I could post. Here goes...</div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiHOp7c6lrJY9cueOT24nEX61uU8Tl_VIEyG3f0G7974Nj_rcNhZ7hZM98ANYRXHqP1WRlW7jX4aBl-Cr39svlmeVEkIedJC3yx9Eqkdtrtnx5v77V52YVY-twDLXoBx475kfJnkPadYR/s200/IMG_0680.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626160907771378322" /></div><div>I had carrot and coriander soup, berries and Whittard peach melba instant tea (full of sugar but so delicious it's worth it). It was quite a wintery day here yesterday and I felt a bit coldy so soup was a good choice.</div><div>I've also bought <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blogging-Bliss-Tara-Frey/dp/1600595111/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1309942788&sr=8-1">this</a> book recently, and it's great! Loads of lovely pictures of blogs and I found some that I hadn't visited before. There are also really good tips for blogging, I'm a bit of a luddite when it comes to computers, so they're always welcome. </div><div><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRPJ71AlVLUu9p7AjgDyeaKJc7nCmWM0A3yFOqfFtMKYEXgS4JwDBYMzzKMR56iDjTPkVAJjwvqgCnTWQC1KmpGmQwRAnAbYzSMVkLl1rmajLMhEkDbc5wa31uilKaJbGXii3NY9zQo-3/s200/IMG_0699.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626163460286952434" /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm certainly going to posting a lot more from now on, and more about things I've been buying and things I'm doing in the garden (all the fruit and vegetables are secretly waiting). Hopefully there'll be some things worth reading, but for now I hope everyone is well and happy.</div><div><br /></div><div>xxx</div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-30774039423240861242010-08-10T12:17:00.000-07:002010-08-10T12:24:43.241-07:00FrustrationOkay, here's the problem. I have no space. Well, that's a little bit of a lie because I have quite a bit of space, just no organization. I need to have tins and boxes and the like so that my sewing things aren't just thrown into a bag. I need to have shelves to put said boxes on. I need to have a space to put my sewing machine that isn't also the space that James works in the evenings. I have seen so many beautiful workrooms on various blogs that invoke some serious lifestyle envy, and think I need to set about creating a space that makes me feel happy to be in it. Especially with my PGCE starting in a mere two weeks time, I'm going to need a big dose of inner peace before the start of September. <div>Rant over. </div><div>Well almost. </div><div>I cannot find the camera. Somewhere in the house (James' parents') there is a Canon G9. I have searched and searched, but no luck. James says he remembered putting it somewhere safe in case somebody came in the back door and stole it. Whilst this is reasonable, as our back door is open pretty much all hours of the day, it would be a better plan if he could remember where the safe place is. </div><div>Now it's over. </div><div>xx</div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2824962603880559744.post-58353302504630704612010-07-27T08:46:00.001-07:002012-11-01T02:28:58.495-07:00Hello, my name's Helen and I'm a courgette-a-holic.After a bit of browsing yesterday, I found a recipe for curried courgette soup. It was on a really beautiful blog, and I copied and pasted it, closed the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">web page</span>, and it was lost forever. So if this was your recipe, I give you the credit and apologize for my clumsiness! I could happily eat courgettes every day, but I think James would get a little bored.<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia-Bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Curried Zucchini Soup with Coconut Milk</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia-Italic; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>adapted from Great Food Fast</i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">1 medium onion, chopped <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">1 1/2 pounds zucchini (I used 3 medium-sized), sliced thick <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">2/3 cup coconut milk</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">toasted almonds for garnish <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> 1. Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and curry powder and continue to cook, stirring constantly until fragrant (another minute).</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">2. Add the zucchini, potato and stock. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer until vegetables are tender (15-20 minutes).</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">3. Add coconut milk. Puree with immersion blender or in batches in blender until very smooth and velvety. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Seasoning depends on stock and potency and freshness of curry powder (my soup needed very little seasoning). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">This will be on my table tonight, as apparently courgettes can grow in one day. Amazing. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">I have also found a pattern for a skirt that I'd like to make, I'm imagining it in a mossy-green thick cotton. Alas, it's an American pattern, so more searching is required for an English counterpart. I hate shipping. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">One last thing, I am (as mentioned in yesterday's post) thinking about Christmas gifts already. One idea I had came from a bit of inspiration from Linen and Roses, where Fiona's sister made her a <a href="http://linenandroses.blogspot.com/2009/09/f-is-for.html">beautifully embroidered framed initial for her birthday</a>. I thought this sort of thing would be ideal done on little purses or cloth bags, and managed to find some <a href="http://www.needlenthread.com/patterns">pretty templates for monogrammed letters</a>, which I can embroider with flowers.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">That's all for today, camera and photos coming soon I promise!</span></div>
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Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10148927558594143982noreply@blogger.com0