That Spring Cleaning Feeling...

Hmmm nothing to do with housework I admit, but there just get to be some times when I need to reorganised, clear out and finish off!

Having spent some time last week checking what was in some boxes in the loft and putting some work away up there to keep the study clear I went to a Boot Fair with my friends who live either side of us. I always feel better when I come home with less than I started - it's actually nothing to do with raising money, but lots to do with feeling less cluttered!!

Once I started on the finishing off it sort of carried on....

Actually, I say nothing to do with housework, but I did feel better when the washing basket and ironing pile was clear - more to do with Graeham's pushing it all through than me being efficient. Mind you, I was very happy to finally get to grips with handwashing some jumpers that I kept ignoring - mainly because it's such a bind finding somewhere for them to drip happily in the midst of the weather we've been having.

Anyway, where was I, oh yes, finishing off....

Well, I'm still attacking the stash and I've decided to go for 'pick something up and then don't put it down till you've done something with it'. The first victim of this was a ball of chunky wool left over from a waistcoat at Christmas. So here it is.. all finished...

 

 

Of course there was still a bit more left so it had to be a cowl.. followed by the wool left over from making Ruby's one so that was another!

Then the left over sock wool turned itself into mobile socks...

 

Then I got as far as finishing the proofreading marathon I was on and onto these books that needed teachers' notes....

 

 and these too......

 

They then had to go back into the loft - so I suppose I'm sort of back where I started, eh?!

 

And then I HAD to finish off the last of the Easter eggs ... well you have to don't you?????

 

Still, it's badminton tonight so let's hope I run off some of that chocolate....

Am off the Handmade Monday now - sorry it's a bit short and sweet this week, but I've got 8 more books to do before I head off back to Wales on Wednesday... will be more expansive (and hopefully more interesting too) next week....

 

Have fun!

 



Sick Note

Dear Teacher..err.. Reader,
Please forgive Susan's absence from the blogging world for the past couple of weeks. This has been sue to severe eyestrain and clogged brain leading to a complete lack of creative productivity and..

Convinced? No, neither am I, but I suppose like all good fake sick notes there's an element of truth in it!

Plenty of time working away from home and a pile of close proof reading have rather impinged on my blog and making time, still let's see if I can catch up a bit..

Talking of sick notes - just a mention here for my niece Jen who managed to fracture her elbow on her way home from work the other weekend... She's on the mend and packing for Boston, so hopefully she'll be feeling a lot better soon.

I did get down to Cardiff Bay last time I was working in the Principality and got to take a look around and visit the Craft Centre. Very interesting - I hardly recognise anywhere from my time at University - still as that was rather a long time ago I guess it's to be expected.

We also got to Bovey to the Guild Craft Centre to have a look at the latest exhibition and displays. Even when the stuff there isn't to my taste it's still inspiring and great to refresh the crative side of the brain (especially when it's a bit numbed by endless computer work!).

There were some lovely cushions there as well as some other textile work and it made me itch to get the machine out...

 

As luck would have it, Graeham was out playing badminton one evening so I did actually get as far as starting this bag that came already cut out in a book that my nieces bought me ages ago. It still needs its handles finishing, but I'm quite pleased so far.

 

Oh yes, and I did get my mum's cardy finished and posted off to her too.....

Right, now it's off to Handmade Monday for a browse before settling down to work - writing this time at last....

Back next week.. or I'll have to get a proper note from my mum, eh?

Hectic - yet fun!

Monday rolls around again - yet another different kind of week with lots going on..

Last week we had Graeham's brother and his wife to stay for a day or two so we had a nice stroll by the beach, lunch out and a game of ten pin bowling. Oh yes, and the 'main event' - Gillingham (Steve's team) were playing Exeter City (our team) on the Wednesday evening. The game was a good one from where we were standing, but the result doesn't really do it justice - a goaless draw. Mind you in the interests of family unity I suppose ending up all square isn't a bad thing!

Taking of squares - I think I'm cracking this crochet thing! Here's the latest additions to the pile - it's about the only stuff I've made this week, but then I suppose it has been a bit busy. I'll pop over to Handmade Monday once I've finished this post and concentrate on being inspired by those more expert than myself rather than frustrated by my rather basic efforts....

I have had some nice surprises this week too.. Roz (my sister-in-law) brought a couple of pots of her shea butter moisturiser as presents - one for Graeham and a lovely lime one for me. You only need the tiniest bit to smooth the skin and they smell great.. She makes lots of goodies and you can see them here at her website.

Then I've got one or two samples - I think this ought to be thrifty tip number 10 - ask for samples.. Here's some of those that either came in the post or were given out in shops.. I find them ever so useful especially with all this overnighting in Wales. They take up next to no room in my bag and cost nothing.

Finally I opened my bank account to check something this morning and YouGov had paid in £50! All for filling in a few surveys.. I think that has to be tip number 11... online surveys. You have to be a bit picky - you don't want to spend almost the same as you receive in electricity bills for the computer, but by doing a few here and there you can build up some nice benefits whether that's in cash or vouchers!

Work carries on with a trip to Cardiff on Thursday and the last of the first set of notes for reading books. Last week's were great and I enjoyed these two as well. Can't wait for the next batch!

 

Having visitors shows up some of your old belongings though and we've decided that these have got to go!

 

 

Not only do they clash with most of the dining room and the crockery, but they are very faded.. But throw them away.. I don't think so. Perhaps some 'distressed' bunting or padded hearts or... well I'll show you when I think of something!

 

This weekend was football again - only this time five goals went in.. four of them for us! Then a party and a quiz, phew!!

 

Sorry about the lightening tour - but now I'm off again.. just a quick whizz over to Handmade Monday and then off to Wales until Thursday... never a dull moment eh?





Only just - must be tired!

OOoohh nearly missed the Monday deadline - I'm going to blame a long journey home and tiredness for being a bit late this week (I like to get this done first thing, before I start on a new week's work and play!).

The long journey was after a really nice Mothering Sunday trip up to see Mum, my sister and two nieces. I decided to gp back to cross stitch for the card this year and was quite pleased with the result. I didn't finish the lacy cardy that I showed you previously, but measured the completed back against Mum and that seems to be fine so I must push on and finish it!

 

 

It was a really nice day with just the five of us.. Rebecca's husband was busy out on a photographic job at a wedding in Kew Gardens, lovely backdrop, shame about the weather!  He's a really good photographer - his website is http://www.romahoneyphoto.co.uk/ and he also does walking photographic tours once a month for Culture Club workshops in Covent Garden where he teaches people how to get the best out of their cameras.... all that and a day job too! Perhaps I need a bit of time with him to sort out my shots for this blog??!

 

We ate over at Jenny's (my youngest niece) - both the girls worked on our mini feast - Italian style and very nice too.. with cake and cream for pudding - I'm very lucky to be able to gatecrash every year! The journey up and back in a day is do-able, but yesterday the entry to the M5 to the M4 was closed which lengthened proceedings somewhat.. Still got home safe and sound that's the main thing!

 

 

I asked Jenny for a few words for today's blog - she reckoned 'Eat cake and be merry' was about right.. Which nicely ties in with the next book I've got to write notes for...

 

 

Followed by...

 

Then when I've finished this spell of writing it's back off to Wales for the end of the week... I'll be able to take that cardy with me for evening-in-the hotel-knitting as I've now finished the scarf I made with the sari silk waste that I spun a while ago... still didn't get enough alpaca spun up to add too much to the blanket I'm doing - I did enjoy having time out last week to spin though...

 

Think that just about covers this week! Now I've just enough time to dive over to Handmade Monday to see what everyone else has been up to before I get some of my writing off for proof reading!

 



A Quieter Week....

Good morning all!

After the hectic rushing around of late it's been a much quieter week....

I should have been desk deep in writing new materials, but due to a bit of a hold up sending me the books I ended up with a bit of editing and more breathing space.. lovely!

The first of the books have now arrived and as soon as I get sent the template for the task I'll be at it again. Here's one of the first I'm doing..

It's a great read with a lovely message..

I know I was all confident about Mum's top for Mothering Sunday, but when I got over halfway through I realised that the yarn was going sooo much further than I thought at first so I changed my mind.  Here's what I'm working on now - whether I get it done in time for Sunday could be in the balance, but at least it's a spinning day on Wednesday so I can get some more done during the day.

The 'girls' at spinning are great especially when I'm nearing the end of a task (generally at the sewing up phase). I jsut have to say that I've brought something to finish and they are happy to keep nagging (broken up by plenty of tea and cake) until I've completed the job. I'm looking forward to Wednesday as I haven't been spinning since the first week of January so have missed it a lot. I'm also keen to spin up some more alpaca to get on with one of the shawls where progress has stalled through lack of yarn!

With the 'spare' time this week I've been able to have a good sort out in the study and re-organise everything, putting older work away in the loft and getting the things I'll need for the work that's about to arrive ready at hand. It might not look any more organised to anyone else, but I know where everything is now. It reminded me of when we first moved here and had to get our stuff sorted to change from one way of life/work to another.

So here's 101 tips for thrift number 8..... if you don't need it pass it on...
After we'd moved and put a lot of things in the loft 'just in case' as we didn't know what could be useful, if either of us would need to find teaching work, etc. By the first September we were ready to get rid of some more stuff. (We'd already thinned a lot of things out in a Boot Sale before we moved - getting rid of it rather than packing it up and moving the storage problem with us!) Encouraged by my sister I investigated Ebay, tried it out with one item, found out how easy it was and off I started. With a book from the library for advice I started to clear out the surplus. About £300 later I was stunned and delighted. It was also helped by the fact that the move had left us with tons of bubble wrap and tape stacked up in the loft. Some books and CDs went better on Amazon - you just have to check it out and see. Since then I seem to have regular mini clear outs. A little while ago I dealt with a pile of old badges, photographing them first for posterity and then selling them - it's amazing what you can get! That saying about one man's rubbish being another's treasure certainly seems true.

In the sorting I opened our lounge cabinet door...

 

I'm not sure how long it would take to watch all the DVDs or listen to all the CDs, but I know that we've already got plenty to watch stored on the hard drive too so it looks like tip number 9 has to be prune your collection! I think it's time I used those long drives to listen to some CDs and then discard any that no longer appeal (so that's a no listening to favourites until I've been through the stockpile rule I guess!) and then the evenings in hotels could be put to use with the DVDs that I bought ages ago and not watched. Of course there are plenty that I want to keep and watch again and again (my sister's choices are usually in this category) - you can tell those they're usually the ones at the front!But the older ones that I don't want to revisit can go on Ebay or Amazon or one of the newer sales sites as I get through them!

 

I feel quite exhausted already.. Time for a break and some cake before relaxing over at Handmade Monday...

 The cake is courtesy of Graeham.. we went to our local craft centre for a bit of an outing yesterday only to be a bit disappointed at the way it seems to be developing - there were still some nice pieces here and there, but there seemed to be far more mass produced stuff than ever before. We then wanted to go over to the Craftsman's Guild place at Bovey, but the new exhibition doesn't start until next week. So Graeham decided it was time for some cake.. and quite right too....

Enough from me - sorry about ramblingon - I suppose that's what happens when you have a bit more time!!

See you next week....

Home, Sweet Home

Much as I love travelling around, especially revisiting Cardiff where I was at University, it's lovely to be home for a little while! I've got all this week at home until next Tuesday.. phew...

Anyway lots happening as usual - can't say life ever gets boring around here - even though some thought moving to quiet Devon and giving up the day job for a sort of retirement might prove a little slow.....

We went over to visit Grae's son and granddaughter on Friday and when she saw the scarf?cowl? whatever I had one she wanted one, but in pink (naturally). So here it is ready to go in the post today. I also sem to have enough yarn for at least one, maybe two more! So much for diminishing the stash...

 

I've also started this....

 

 

It's yarn from Mum's stash that she's not using and a veerrrryyy old pattern. With luck it'll be finished in time to take up to her for Mothering Sunday.

 

Then I decided to get a grip on my lack of crochet skills. I've always done cobweb-y shaped shawls in the past - mainly because my tension is dreadful and I end up with droopy corners that have to be truned into a non-rectangular shape! But armed with the recent Mollie Makes I've decided to work on it. This is my first 'square', it's a bit wobbly, but by  the time I've done 80 and trimmed them in a common colour, then joined them together I'll either be a) more proficient, b) able to hide the mistakes amongst the many or c) ready to throw it out of the window. We'll see....

 

Then, following on from Graeham's card I carried on with the needle felting - no injuries this time (just as well - got a shuttle on the cheekbone last week - bruise subsiding - one injury a week from hobbies is probably enough!). I've put a brooch bar on the back and I must say I'm quite pleased with it! Now who to give it to? WIll look at the birthday list....

 



Finally, I got a phone call about the next writing project. What bliss.. I'm waiting for a pile of beautiful picture books that need notes to help teachers with both comprehension skills and writing from them.. The work should take at least a couple of months so stand by for some drooling over lovely children's books...

That's all from me for now. I'm off the Handmade Monday to spend some time enjoying everyone else's blogs now I've got a bit of time before the postman arrives!!

Good grief it's mid-February!

I can't believe after all my good intentions I've missed a couple of blogs and it's only February!

In my defence work has been a bit manic, but other than that I have no real excuses...

So just what has kept me away? Uuummmm.. well I have been back and forth to Wales for work. It's still exciting stuff going into schools and supporting eager and enthusiastic staff. It's also lovely the way they let me demonstrate different techniques with their classes and I really enjoy the easy way the children respond and chat! I'm not too wild about the staying away/hotel bit, but I have managed to get to the end of all the appropriate stash wool so the blankets have reached a stall until some more matching types of yarn find their way into my shopping bag!

My sister sent out an SOS for some more socks.. I managed to find some 'spare' wool for one pair that I could do quickly and post, but the other I had to buy some more wool and finally finished the pair on the train up to see her and Mum last Monday..

 

 

We had a lovely day - complete with pancakes a day early!

 

Then I got Graeham's Valentine's card done - I decided to try some needle felting - must remember not to do it while watching gripping TV - my finger is now recovering from being needled itself! I have got some bits and pieces ready for brooches, but they're not quite ready for show.. maybe next week...

 



 

 

What else? Ahh - yes more Exeter City fixtures - this is how close we were to the TV commentary box - sadly the team were a lot further away from a win!

 

 

On the 101 Ways to Save Money side of life I bought two new dresses! Well, I know that doesn't sound too thrifty, but I did need some presentable gear for school visits in order to look professional.. but that lead to a big money saving - honest.. I did wonder if I needed some new shoes so we got all my shoes out (12 pairs, plus some boots, if you don't count trainers, flip flops, walking boots - you know specialist type stuff). Graeham then got out the scuff cover, polish, suede brush, etc. and half an hour later it looked like I had eleven new pairs of shoes with one waiting to be re - heeled.. quite a result and it didn't cost a penny (well not until I'd paid for the re-heeling! - still cheap though).



 

 

Then there's the writing.. great fun this week as I had to do Teachers' notes on Shrek and Ratatouille!

I've never seen Ratatouille and thoroughly enjoyed it - and it's quite current in tone with the present worries about food too.

Oh yes and I finished the Kate Mosse book too.. very gripping. I felt like I'd missed one or two things within the historical/mystical part of the story as there was so much going on. But it was fascinating and, as usual, really well written - I do feel the need to re-read it and look forward to that.  As a bit of light relief I read the P.D. James 'sequel' to Pride and Prejudice 'Death comes to Pemberley' - interesting concept, but without the Austen wit!

Now I must scoot over to Handmade Monday and then knuckle down to the proof reading I keep putting off.. partly because it's close, eye-bending work and partly because I'm having to add bits of Welsh that are too far back in my memory banks for comfort!!!

Have fun this week - I'll try and be good and get back here on time next Monday with more to show - some crochet perhaps.....