Op Shop show off - Basket and wool holder

Haven't been for for a while, been busy painting caravans and sewing curtains!
But a few weeks ago I found this basket.  Perfect for knitting wools and crochet cottons.  Looks so nice and bright with them all in it.  I found it at the local Hospice shop. 

And this I found ages ago and was going to keep for felt pens in the caravan as I didn't know what it was, then I was reading through some blogs and found whats its really for, holding wool still while knittng or crocheting so your wool doesn't fly all round the place.  It works great so sorry kids its mine now!!

Back in the 70's everyone seemed to have a basket similar to this (except my mum!), I think I even did a bit of basket work at school, would love to have a go now. It has hole in base where handle meets base but doesn't effect it even loaded up. I'll have a go at fixing it up somehow.

It was very grimey when we got it, gave it a good scrub trying not to get base too wet but think I'll have to have another go from the look of this close up!!

Linking up with Max for Op-Shop Show-Off

The spring fair

On Saturday we had the school spring fair, the weather wasn't great, cold and showery but they still raised loads of money.  Myself and two friends had a stall, I'd been crocheting shoe, bag and hair clips, sewing fabric flowers and some bags (couldn't get the photo of the bags to work though).  So with whats left I'm going to start my little online shop.

 

There were pirates and witches riding horses!!  The kids had a great time and we made a scarecrow for the competition.

 

 

Surprise!

 

On Saturday my little family said they'd like to take me out for a coffee because we hadn't done anything apart from have cake in bed the day before, they asked me where I'd like to go and told me we were going to leave at 1.30pm.  So 1.30pm comes and we were still having lunch, dad was rushing everyone to get in the car, I said we should just go later but he still kept rushing us.  So then we are driving, we drove past the cafe of my choice and were wondering where we were going.  The we pull up to this cafe, I notice a few cars that I know and then the penny drops, its a surprise tea party! 

 

 

There was a large table full of my female friends and family, some had travelled from the other side of the island, they had snuck into town the night before.  I had wondered why everyone had been avoiding me the last few days!  They didn't want to spill the beans!

The table was laid beautifully complete with handmade upcycled napkins which I am allowed to keep.  Lillie stayed for two minutes then was whisked away to go and fetch her cousins who were waiting for her at one of the husbands house.

Layers of cakes, scones, slices and sandwiches came to the table and I wished I hadn't just had my lunch!!

And there was a pile of presents waiting for me at my seat too.  Then there was cupcakes and candles to blow out then we all got two cupcakes in a cute takeaway case to take home.  And someone took all these amazing photos.

And above this was the sewing helper for the napkins!

And this is the chief secret squirrel organiser!!! Thank you all so much. I had a great afternoon and yes i was very surpried!  You are all good secret keepers!

Today

 

Today I turned 40!  Arrrrrrrrrgggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh, sounds old!!!

 

It all started at 6am with chocolates and presents in bed, then cake for breakfast!

 

 

Once the kids were at school and preschool I went to a friends house for a lovely morning tea, felt like we were at the Ritz for high tea!  Thanks ladies was a fun morning and I came home with armfuls of great presents.

We didn't even get to the birthday cake so we all took a wedge home for avo tea.

My Cath collection is growing, roll on summer and picnics, I'm all set to go.

And this is what I bought myself, been using already, the hooks are lovely to use and I love the book.  Happy birthday to me!

Trug

 

 

I'm back, been slack, busy making for school fair, been away in school holidays and then away again!

 

My new trug, the next best thing to a lovely rimu one that I wanted but didn't fit my budget.  Its going to be great in summer, I always used to take a big bowl out to pick veges only to have it overflowing, then the dogs would wander off with cucumbers and tomatoes then I'd find them half eaten around the lawn!

 

I've just been weeding the garden and thought that last years spring onion flowers would be perfect for the picture!! And then the dog wouldn't get out of the photo.

Linking up with Max for OP-shop show off

Sunday Crafternoon

We borrowed this book from the library, its the first week of the school holidays and we had a very wet and cold weekend so it was good to have something to keep the kids occupied and me too!  We started on Saturday afternoon and the kids have asked to do crafternoon everyday since!  And they are big enoughnow to give them the craft box and they can get on with it themselves while I do some of my own craft.

Q

So this is what I made while they played with buttons, cut up fabric and fiddled about.  Lillie chose the buttons for their letters while Marco flicked buttons everywhere!  

I was given this crochet lady by a friends Grandma who moved into a retirement home, along with the pattern so may have to give it a go now I've found a very small crochet hook.

We've just taken a window out of Lillies room so now I can fill the new wall with some crafty art from our crafternoon sessions.

London quilt

 

We were recently sent a lovely pacel from my Aunty in England.  It was a pile of London themed patchwork squares so no time was wasted and I got straight to work sewing.

 

I labeled some of the things as wondered if the kids would know what a phone box was as there aren't any left round here and it broke up with black a bit too.

 

And the union jack turned out lovely!

And I discovered double sided iron on batting, it was great hardly needed any pins and it didn't move one bit!

Looks like I should have been weeding the garden instead of sewing!!!!!