Updates

Firstly, please forgive this shameless self promotion. I have recently been trying to make something more of my crafting, and trying to make a few much needed pennies. I created a new Facebook group to showcase my creations to hopefully attract some attention and, if I'm lucky enough, some orders. The group is Pegstar Designs - Hand Made Originals. If you're on Facebook, please pop along and have a look-see and if you like, please join. End of promotion.

Now, on to the updates!!

I'll start with the crochet updates.

I've been making more slippers! As well as these, I have made 4 pairs for various members of Hairy Face's family (including a green and purple 'Incredible Hulk' pair)! I've made a few variations on the pattern linked in a previous post, and I'm getting quite swift at them. I enjoy doing them, and I'm building up quite a stock of them!

Some of my slippers

After the slippers, I decided to make a blanket for my lovely friend Gail. Gail is expecting her first baby and she's incredibly supportive of the stuff I do (she's my biggest customer and has genuine faith that I will make it big one day), so I wanted to make something special for her. She doesn't know if she's having a boy or a girl, so I couldn't make a pink or blue blanket. Here's what I came up with...

Also in my last post I included a picture of the start of my 2nd commissioned shoulder bag... Well, here it is in its completed glory. I was really pleased with the finished result, and I think the new owner was too! What do you think?

On to the plant updates.

Do you remember in my last post, I uploaded a picture of the tiny beginnings of my very first pepper? Well that one grew, and I ate it! Then another 2 started, and they grew a bit...

Do you see the nub where I cut off the first pepper!?

And a bit more...!

(You can see how much bigger my carrots have got on the right of the peppers)

I haven't harvested them yet, I'm going to leave them to go red, I do so love red peppers! I'm really pleased though, considering the poor plant only has a pot on my windowsil to grow in, I think it's pretty cool!! Also managed to grow a chilli, which I left to go red and then added to a home made pizza. It was some good stuff!

Now some fimo updates!

I have been making door signs and matching trinket boxes...

...and various other bits and pieces. Would you believe I'm already gearing up for Christmas!? I've been working on little baubles, Santas, Christmas puds, ready for cards. I've made a whole batch of Angels too. And, I've been asked to make a bride and groom for a wedding cake. That's my current project, and I'm really excited about it. I'll post a picture when it's done!

That's all for now really! I'm off for a while, to work on some more.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit, it's always greatly appreciated!

Take care all,

Peg xxxx

Bags and Peppers and Stately Homes

Evening all.

Remember in my last post I showed the bag that I'd made? Well, in all honesty it wasn't that great (I purposely didn't show any close-ups of my questionable stitching), but I went to a friend's house and 2 other friends asked for bags of their own, and were willing to pay for the privilege. So the second and third bags needed to be a fair bit better than my own. Having made the first, I knew what I did wrong and was able to remedy some of these errors, and managed to produce this!

Genuinely quite impressed with my efforts. I put in a functional zip and everything! It was purchased by my lovely friend, and if that wasn't enough, she asked me if I would make a hat and slippers to match!

And this is the start of bag number 2. Really nice colours I think! Eventually the whole thing will have a brown border. The lining fabric is green with green and brown leaves, and when finished will look pretty similar in size and shape to the one above.

I also made myself a pair of the slippers that Hairy Face loves so much. These are mine, and after a couple of hours being worn in I can see why he doesn't take his off, they are seriously comfy!

On an un-crafty note, but relating back to earlier posts.... I have been trying to grow veg again. Well, touch wood, I have had slightly more success this time! Below is a picture of my pepper plant, with something growing that looks suspiciously like a real (if really small) pepper! VERY exciting!! It gets noticeably bigger every day. 2 days ago it was the size of a pea, and its now already almost an inch long. I'm hoping the other flowers (3 and counting) will also turn in to delicious home-grown goodness!

Yesterday, my Dad and I went to Dunham Massey. Absolutely beautiful. I'm in love with it. I love all National Trust properties, I love to wander round them and imagine huge flowing dresses sweeping through the rooms and servants scurrying unheard down uncarpeted and unpolished hallways, removing themselves to their cramped, basic quarters until they're required at the break of the next dawn. Grand carriages rolling down long, private driveways and unloading magnificently dressed cargo on the steps of the main entrance. I can get lost in my own imagination, especially in a house that lets you see so many of the rooms, unchanged for 100 years. Just beautiful. Definitely worth a trip if you're in the area. If I had the chance again, I would do a very different degree. Architectural History. I'd happily do my homework then!!

I think the kitchen was my favourite room. I say room, suite of rooms. Scullery, Chef's room, wet larder, meat larder, game larder, kitchen proper, butler's pantry, serving room. The kitchen has one of the biggest Agas ever built, commissioned specially for Dunham. There was also a wall to wall cast iron range, topped with copper pans and urns, with what look like individual bread ovens beneath. And on the table on the back wall, a HUGE Mason & Cash mixing bowl. Now I have to say, I have been wanting one of these for some while, I got quite excited (and jealous in equal measure) when I saw it. And I told my Dad so!

This morning I had a call at 9.15 from my Dad, asking if I would be at home in an hour... Little ominous. I said I would be, and sure enough, at 10.15, my Pa arrived, and handed me a (rather large and heavy) bag. In this bag, to my surprise and joy, was...

...a MASSIVE (15 inch diameter) Mason & Cash mixing bowl. He had seen one when shopping in town, and bought it for me! I know I'm a geek, but I was properly excited about it! I'm going to christen it with a double batch of banana bread. Yum!

Over the past few weeks, I have got into a very bad habit. Whenever I go into town, I seem to come back with a couple (or 5) balls of wool. Like I said, its a very bad habit and I need to get out of it. Not least because I have a LOT of wool, and it doesn't have a home. Well it does, but carrier bags down the side of my settee look so unsightly! I tried to remedy this today, and bought myself a hanging storage thing. I put it up, and filled it with my wool...
Not too bad. However, shortly after this photo was taken, the loop that it hangs from started to rip, so I had to take it down. My wool stash is too heavy! I need another solution... Any ideas?!

Take care, and good night!

Peggy

xxx

I'm making a start...

In my last post I waffled a bit about how I'd love to live in the country, and have chickens and veg patches, no neighbours and a quiet, peaceful life. Well, I've made a start on it. Kind of...

I've started to grow my own veg, which is no mean feat seeing as I have NO outside space to call my own. As a present, my lovely hairy faced boyfriend (JTM) even bought me a mini gardening tools set and a tiny watering can to aid me in growing my windowsil garden!

I have tomatoes growing in one windowsil - some of the plants are up to 3ft tall now. No signs of fruit on them yet, but they're growing!

In another windowsil, I have 3 courgette plants. Didnt realise when I planted them that you get on average 15 courgettes per plant. Oops - there are only two of us in my house... Looks like my dad will be getting some! They've flowered a lot, now there are the first signs of baby courgettes growing. Even JTM is impressed with watching them grow.

In yet another windowsil I have the seedlings of bell pepper and cayenne pepper plants, basil, baby leaf salad and parsley.

Today I made some cheese and herb mini scones, using my own basil and parsley, and if I say so myself they are quite tasty. Although it slightly defeats the object of making mini ones when I eat 6 at a time... Ah well, the thought is there! I also made a salad, using my home-grown baby leaf salad leaves, and I made home-made vinegarette dressing to go over it. Also yummy.

As, at the moment, I am still a good way away from my dream home in the Irish countryside, I have been working on getting the country cottage look in my town centre terrace... I have been decorating! My kitchen is newly wallpapered - it's all very twee, but I really do like it. I've also bought a mini dresser to go on the wall, stolen an egg-chicken from my Dad for on top of the microwave, and made plans to get some curtains for the windows. The final stage (eventually) will be to get some tiles for the splashbacks and the floor, and actually finish it off! One step at a time though...

So there are my updates. My life isn't anything at all wild or exciting, but I dont really want anything like that. I'm going for the simple life... I reckon I'll get there! Any helpful suggestions are very welcome too, I'm only just starting!