Charity Shop Finds and an Elephant Bag

On Saturday we  went for a walk in town and had a browse in the charity shops, I am not a fan of shopping as something to do but we were treating ourselves to lunch out and there are quite a few nice charity shops on the same street.  Whenever we are near one I will have a look and often come out without anything but there is always that chance that you will spot something you need/want and that is the fun part.  Going and buying things new the minute the impulse takes you is not great for the purse but I can appreciate if it is something you truly want and you can afford it then why not.
I love the fact that you are saving unwanted items, getting a bargain and benefitting the charity so it makes the whole process feel a lot more satisfying to me anyway.

As I often mention on this blog I get most of my books from the library but sometimes if there is a particular cook book or reference book that I know will be  read more than once I sometimes buy them.  So with that in mind I was delighted to find this Deliciously Ella book for £2.50, I would not be able to buy that cheaper on ebay as you have postage costs so that was my first bargain, it is a hardback too and looks like new.
The pretty little skirt above is from Oasis originally and I paid £1 for that from the reduced rail, it is a little big so a little bit off each side seam and it will be perfect, it is fully lined too. The glasses were £2.49 for four and I love the fruit design on the sides, finally there is the cute cake tin for £1.50.  My husband did not get why I was so thrilled with this but it was the design more than anything, I think it may stay in sewing area for non food related items ;) it is too much fun to stay in a cupboard.

I finished another little bag yesterday and I am afraid I want to keep this one, I know I will not get very far stocking up if I keep taking a fancy to them myself but it is also sad if they sit waiting to sell and I could have been enjoying them.   This was made from elephant fabric leftover from my blouse from a while back, the stripy blue and white skirt I made last year, duvet cover lining and new vinyl.  Oh and the charm is just odd bits and beads.

I am wondering if white is a good idea on a handbag but it will wash. 

We have been watching a new French drama on Netflix this last week, it is called Black Spot  (Zone Blanche in French and that doesn't mean black spot but rather white zone or area so that bit of translation is a mystery).  Anyway it is a crime drama set in a small town surrounded by a forest with high levels of crime, a lot of it centring around this  forest. There is an unusual police force and the town seems to follow it's own set of rules. We are really enjoying it and I have seen other French dramas with the similar backdrop of the sinister forest, it seems to be a recurring theme in a lot of their television.

I have finished two books this last few day Small Move Big Change by Caroline Arnold and Make Your Bed by William H. Mcraven  I found the first book interesting and the second very repetitive they both cover the subject of positive habits but Make Your bed is from  a military perspective and I really don't feel that all the yelling and screaming from drill sergeants or whatever they call them is always the making of people.  In fact I wonder how many are actually broken by the whole experience, so while discipline is good and needs developing in the mind I think there  are healthy limits.  That's all for today, thank you for reading. 

Making Parts

Today I have been busy all day but not with what I originally intended, I came down ready to start a another bag but was annoyed to find fruit flies in the kitchen not loads but enough for them to be annoying and of course we don't want that in the kitchen.  So that meant a browse on the net to find the best solution without chemical to get rid of them.  I opted for a trap that is just apple cider vinegar in a jar with a bit of washing up liquid, you then put a paper cone in the top and they go in but can't get out.  It is working, but initially as I was vacuuming I was getting any strays with the nozzle.  I feel bad  about this but we can't have contaminated food.

After that distraction I vacuumed the whole house as I may as well while I had it out, then I was hot so I did my pilates then rather than later followed by guitar and a shower.  Can you see how quickly I went off plan? Watering the greenhouse I noticed how large the pansies were and flowering so they have been potted up  along with a hanging basket.  Washing out and 'Oh look at the time' better do the supermarket shop. After putting the shopping away it was time to take the dogs to the park and then of course because it is actually warmer today the rest of the garden needed a water.

 I must try and pass on some lettuces this weekend as I don't want them wasted.

When I finally looked at the sewing machine there was just enough time to do something but not much before I had to start the dinner.  I decided to make a strap for the bag I am going to make as that felt like a complete thing in itself.  I am a bit funny in that once I start things I like to carry on but I have been trying to make things over a few days recently to take a more relaxed approach.   I have some cotton and recycled bag furniture so I paired that with some faux leather.  At least I feel like now I have achieved part of it, I will go back and do a bit more later.

I suppose it is better not to rush and I have thought making the handles in advance like this might be something I could do in future so that I have ready made supplies, if I do them in  quite neutral colours so they will go with lots of fabrics.

It has been a bit of a ramble today I know but that sort of goes with the day, sort of non stop without the doing what was planned.  Do you ever get those days where you know you have hardly sat down but when asked 'well what did you do today' you feel like you can't think of anything of any substance?    Of course that is not true, the house is clean, the fridge stocked everyone has clean ironed clothes every week and a cooked dinner but of course don't these things often go unnoticed. Oh dear now I sound like Victorian woman I am going to go before I ramble some more, bye for now. 

Babushka Bag

A lovely Tuesday to you all,  I have just got home and I am feeling relieved as one of my dogs was sick last night but now he is bouncing around and seems perfectly well.  My son has been home all day as exams are finished and he said he has been fine.  Last night he managed to find a bit of cream rug to throw up on in an otherwise hard floor living room, he was ill a few more times with us quickly ushering him to the door.  Aside from the vomiting he was not acting unwell but dogs can't tell you that is the worry.

I completed another little bag on Sunday, I don't know about you all but sometimes I  am not sure what I am going to make until I have all the bits on the table and that was the case here.  I had some babushka fabric leftover from a bag I made a few years ago, just a small amount and various other recycled bits.  The result was this little bag and I like the effect of the colours together, I wasn't sure I had made the right choice when I began stitching.

There is some recycled duvet cover in there for lining,  the red zip was unpicked from an item so long ago I can't even remember what! The stabilizer is some felt that I had and the strap is recycled, the little charm was bought as part of a pack of three a long time ago and this is my last one so I may buy more as I do like them.

This is the back view, pretty much the same without the charm and zip pocket.

I will keep adding to my shops on Etsy and Folksy gradually and the worst that can happen is that I will end up with a bag for every occasion if they don't sell.  I am already finding folksy gets more views than Etsy after just a few days.  There is also the fact that I have read that the search favours large shops over those with just a few items, so my having only a few items listed will not do me any favours.  Also not sure at the moment if I should just concentrate on Folksy as it is more local.

This weekend I read a couple of books 'The Silent Guides' by Prof Steve Peters, he wrote the books on our inner chimps and this one is more if the same really but aimed at raising children.  I didn't really notice that when I picked it up as my children are grown but I do work with children so not a waste of time.  I did find it a quick read, it has 274 pages but lots of graphics and bullet points.  If you have read his previous work I wouldn't say it offered anything new on how to manage your brain or that of your child.

The other book I read was very short but interesting and  was 'The deal of a Lifetime' by Frederick Backman, more of a short story but an interesting one.  I enjoyed it and would recommend it, sometimes you work your way through hundreds of pages just to come to a poor ending so this was a refreshing change.

On Sunday I also listened to another interesting podcast by Cal Newport, I have read some of his work before and he was interesting to listen to.  His topic was digital minimalism and that is the theme of his latest book.  What was interesting is that my generation are the last to grow up in the developed world who won't have had access to smart phones and social media growing up. It was also stated that this links to the current younger generation having high levels of mental health and anxiety issues.    It was on the rich roll podcast on YouTube again so if you have listening time while doing some menial chores why not give it a go.    It was quite sobering as last week I had read a book on online marketing which basically said you need to be on everything to have any chance of success online.  Cal Newport however has never had a social media account, he does very well with his books and career and the one thing he does keep up is his blog. I might also add he is a professor of computer science!

Have a good week.