Books and that bit inbetween

 Hello I hope you are all enjoying a good rest and not too bloated from a week of over eating and drinking ;) I have to say it is 5 pm here I am about to start a curry for dinner and I am drinking a glass of rose!   Just the one mind although not usual on a Wednesday, it is Wednesday right?  We are currently in that bit of the holiday where I really don't know what day it is or what I am supposed to be doing with myself.

I do like a new start to the year, some people think it is pointless to start with new intentions but I like to plan something new.  That does not mean calling them resolutions though because I feel people miss a day with those and give up.  I prefer to try to do more of something and write it down, that way if you miss a day it doesn't matter as you can always reset the next day and still see all the days  you have been successful and not stress about the one day you missed.  I think doing something most days of the year and occasionally slipping and having a day off is far healthier than doing something every day for a month then giving up!

It is also fun to look back on my notebooks as I can see what I was doing or being interested in a year or two ago.  I have only done this the last few years but is very enlightening and there are also some super quotes in them and I have wrote some of them out again as a reminder.

One thing I did today was to move my cook books into the kitchen, now years ago I had them in the kitchen at my first house.  I did say never again as a few got a lot of splashes on them, looking back they were too close the oven area so that is why but they are to be used.  Up to now I have had them on the book shelf in the dining room and walked back and forth everytime I wanted to check something.  So no more of that but my son has had instructions not to splash milk every where when getting cereal as they are near the fridge unit.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you keep your books close to where you need them or in a safer place?  I didn't pay a lot for any of these, the oldest one there is possiblt the Rose Elliot one and that was from a charity shop along with Veg, Deliciously Ella and the Abel and Cole one. The big Vegan Cookbook there was a recent gift from my son, the Aine Carlin ones were all new but a fiver each and I have to say they are very well used.  The vegan baking one on the end was also bought new and is very good.  A few of these  books I had from the library first before finding second hand for a few pounds.

Personally I have never had the Abel and Cole veg boxes but a friend did and used to pass on some recipe cards now and then so that is why I spotted that particular book.

I have just been to collect my car from the garage and it has passed its MOT (that was before the glass of wine of course) we use a car centre that is very local to us so we walked there with the dogs then my husband carried on and I drove back.  It is always a relief when you don't get a big car bill after these things.

Well I had better go and get on with that curry as no one else will cook it. Just a bit of a check in today so stay safe and rested everyone and I will be back soon.  

Year end

 Hello I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas however you chose to celebrate.  We had a quiet one which is just the way I like it, dinner with close family and a walk with the dogs that left us drenched due to the wet weather we are having at the moment. 

We have no plans for New years eve we never do, just a quiet night in again, that may not seem very exciting to some people but I have no desire to be in a crowded, over priced venue as the clock strikes midnight I am very content in my home.  Another bessing to this is that my dogs have us here with them when everyone starts going crazy with the fireworks for hours on end.  I don't know how you find this where you are but they are so loud here and seem to get worse year on year, I may sound a grump but it is very hard on the dogs and I don't see why such a loud explosion is deemed entertainment!

I can now share a blouse I made for my friend for Christmas...

It is cotton chambray with slightly gather sleeves at the shoulder and a little button at the back.  I do think this is nore of a classic look, much as I like all the wild prints I know not everyone shares my style and people do like a simple look.

I was going to do a flounce on the bottom of the sleeve as sleeve details have been a thing this year but if what she normally wears are an indication then I thought she would prefer them plain.  It is also easier to get your jackets and coats on  because lets face it here in the UK we generally need one of those.

Today I am wearing a dress I made for  a video a few days ago, the style is very baggy so I am wearing it with a belt.  This is another fashion trend of this year that does not suit my body.  As I am quite petite the looser style tend to just look ill fitting on me so I do prefer a more fitted look.

I have a red belt on with it and this works much better.

Here I will share a few of the cards I made, now I made all of them but what happened was I was making them and writing them as I went to be organised.  This did mean that I only thought about photographing them when I was nearing the end so a few pics for you but the rest were already sealed.

Even though I have a lack of images for all my hard work I am pleased that I managed to make everyone this year. I have read over at Three Stories High that Jo makes hers for the following year as she is taking down the old ones. What a great idea!  I am going to do this rather than saving bits and starting the following winter it makes much more sense.  Also you are still in the festive mood. 

In my true nature of getting the most out of all my fabric I made a bag with leftover bits from my colourful bomber jacket.  I am pleased to say it sold on my Etsy shop the very next day.

Well I must be going now as we are off to visit family shortly, enjoy the rest of the holiday season and take care everyone.

December...ing

 Hello, I hope you are all well and ready for the festive season. We like to keep it small here so it will be just us and our grown up children plus my mum. I have had more family over in the past but sadly due to the passing of my husband's parents and my father it is just my mum now. My oldest son's girlfriend likes to have her lunch with her mum and little sister.  I am pretty much sorted and the tree has been up a few weeks now as I love to see it and it brightens the dark evenings.  So here are a few things that we have been up to this last few weeks...

Eating  a meal out with friends.  This is something that we haven't done in such a long time, first they were ill then we were ill and time just passed while we all recovered.  So went for a curry locally and a couple of drinks after (literally a couple it is all I can manage these days!) It was so nice to sit and chat and just do soemthing different really.  I did get a compliment as my husband said the curry was not as good as the one I make. 

Sewing various items, a couple of bomber jackets, a cardi, a few tops and some gifts I will share a few pics below but not of the gifts because they may be seen. I did make two brooches for one of the teachers I have worked with and she has opened them but I forget to photograph those.  I have said when you wear them take a pic for me.  She said she loves them, I do hope so. I have seen her wear simialr things so I think I have captured her style, it is such aperconal thing making soemthing specific to a person.

This is one of my favourite recent makes, the rib and lining are recycled from an old hoodie belonging to my boys.  The outer is dashwood studios from minerva.

I don't know why this pic is so grainy, cowl hood jersey dress.

Cardi/jacket in stretch cotton it's a cor style fabric.

Jersey dress with pockets.

My second go at this top, it os sparkly but it doesn't show in the image.  I think I prefer the non collar version of this top that I made a while ago.  That is just some of my making not all of it, I need to stay more current with my updates as I am losing track of what I have done!   Also the coat  I made was lined and I redid the belt with a buckle.

Oh and this is the other bomber jacket, this one is in textured jersey very warm, all these fabrics are from minerva.

Watching Ghostbusters at the cinema last night, Penistone Paramount and I loved it.  I think you have to be about my age and clearly remember the first one to fully appreciate.  I remember winning tickets in the Junior Sheffield star to see the first one and I took a friend, going to the cinema was a big treat for me back then. 

Also a new series called Carnival Row it is very bizarre but I am somehow getting into it. 

Eating too much chocolate, vegan chocolate but still.  I had some bought for me for my birthday, then my husband bought me the nomo advent calendar then I have more from school.  I appear to have acquired a taste for it again now and every time I pass through the kitchen I have to have a little nibble.

Dreaming of places we will visit in our caravan next year, we have a couple of trips booked.  So let us pray that we do not end up in another lock down in the new year. 

Leaving my job to do more work for myself in the new year, scary but also very freeing.  I already feel lighter and excited. If it doesn't work out I can always go back to working a day job but I am giving it a go. 

Intending to be more organised next year, I manage to get lots done but it is often in a whiz of fabric and mess. My sewing room currently looks like a bomb has hit it, it is very small so all the more reasxon to be more on top of it.  I will try.

Whatever you are up to I hope you are safe, happy and well.