When technology conspires against you....

....Do some crochet!

I haven't spoken to my lovely sister properly for a few days now, and that's very unusual! We may be on opposite sides of the Irish sea, but it's not uncommon for us to talk for 2 or 3 hours a day, thanks to the wonders of technology. Well, technology has been letting us down recently. If it's not her internet connection, it's my Skype account. It looks like it loads. It tells me it has loaded. And yet, it refuses to work. Sometimes it even opens, but then freezes my computer. Then, as if to kick me in the teeth, it refuses to close. It taunts me, saying "you can look at me, but you can't use me". Ooh it's annoying.

And, to make matters worse, an office rearrangement means that it's now more difficult to have a bit of sneaky google chat with my lovely big sis.

All in all, not cool.

So, to compensate for my lack of cyber company, I have been working on this...

It's getting quite big! Still a work in progress and the intention is to make it at least twice the size, so still a way to go, but it's looking good I think! I wish I had any kind of photographic skill...

I hope you like!

Peg xxx

ps. Come back soon hedgehog!

It's all about the love...

Tonight I have been mostly making Valentine's cards...

I have a friend (well really she's a friend of my sister who I have come to know quite well) who owns and runs a gift shop with her sister - Mootiful Gifts. Well, Lovely Anna and Lovely Emma have agreed to pimp my wares through their lovely shop, so at important points in the calendar I make stuff! At Christmas I make cards and decorations - angels, Christmas trees, puds, stars etc. Valentine's day is all about the cards. Mother's Day, some more cards! I also have some door signs and bits and pieces of jewellery in the shop all year round! They're ever so kind to me!

As it's getting ever closer to the Saint's day, I thought I should get a wriggle on and get some cards made. Tonight was my mission!

The finished articles, all packaged and ready to sell! 5 hours work on my living room floor!

Let me know what you think, hope you all like!

Big love

Peg xxx

Productive Sunday

As the title suggests, I've got some stuff done today!

My intention was to get in some sewing machine practice, crocheting, cooking and rearranging my bedroom... Well 3 out of 4 isn't bad!

Yesterday I did all the boring food shopping. But on my travels I may have accidentally popped in to the wool shop and bought 7 balls of various colours. Oops. However, it did mean I could get a bit further along with my blanket.

Today I went out with my Dad, went to Congleton, then Leek then home via Buxton. Lovely scenery on the drive.

When I came home, I was in the mood for doing, so I rearranged my bedroom. I used to do this quite a lot when I was younger - every year or so I would move all the furniture round. Well, I did the same in my lounge a couple of months ago, and had been plotting what to do in the boudoir, and finally got round to doing it. I must say, its rather lovely. I don't have a photo because I have started (but not finished) the decorating, so it doesn't look as good as it could... One day I'll get it done!

Then, I went on a bit of a cooking mission. I had a wee bit of spare pastry from hairy-face's pie, so thought I'd make a quiche, a proper one this time! So I did that. Then, seeing as I was on a roll, I also made lasagne, cranberry and chocolate chip cereal bars, apple and banana bread (it's good Hedgehog!) and shepherd's pie. I have taken a photo, but unfortunately some of the bread and quiche have already gone... Things don't last too long in our house! Still, it's all tasty-gorgeous, which is the main thing! And, it means for at least the next 2 nights when get in from work I don't have to do cooking! I can just eat eat eat! One of my favourite things to do!

All in all, rather pleased. Now it's time to get ready for work and ready for bed!

Toodles!

Peg xxx

Stitching and cooking, not in equal measure

I've had a sewing machine for about 5 years. Saturday was the first time it has been turned on in those years. Admittedly for a good portion of that time, I had misplaced the foot pedal... I have moved house 3 times since acquiring the machine, and seemingly only took parts of it with me. I searched ALL the boxes I hadn't unpacked and it wasn't there. So I checked the ONE box I knew it wasn't in, and lo, it was there. So, I asked my aunty (who my sister will attest is an amazing woman, an incredible role model who could build a log cabin from scratch and then furnish it for you) to give me a sewing lesson. And she obliged. So, Sunday, and my Aunty came, ready for my lesson. I set up the machine (after 10 minutes trying to find the illusive foot pedal - I'd put it somewhere safe after I found it, and subsequently lost it again), read through the instructions and settled at the table, ready to thread the machine. But no! No bobbin. I had EVERYTHING needed except that. My bobbins were in fact in storage - one of the few things I hadn't removed from my Dad's house during my various moves, and he had put it into storage while having his house renovated. Curses. So, we went on a bobbin hunt. Tesco, no joy. Rymans, no joy. TJ Huges, no joy. Aldi - full sewing machine - possibly a little OTT just for a 20p bobbin. So, trek back up to my aunty's house (a good 15 minute drive from me). But finally, bobbin joy.From then on, the lesson was productive, informative and enjoyable. And now, I just need to practice getting a straight line, then I can feather my cap some more! And with perfect timing, my lovely hairy-faced man bought me this....

Happy days! Lots of lovely projects to get stuck in to!

I think it might have been a thank you for the meat and veg pie I made for him the other day. My first attempt at pie... I'm hoping to be more home-focused... Making my home nice, cooking more, crafting more, that sort of thing!

I know the heart is a bit twee, but I had spare pastry... Incidentally, I hate making pastry. I'm pleased that I can, and because I know I can, I think its reasonable for me to buy ready-made stuff from now on. Is this acceptable?!

I haven't done any more crafting since my last post, but I have been cooking a lot. In addition to my pie I have made 2 lots of banana bread (a hairy-face favourite), cannelloni, and what I like to call 'pasta-quiche' (something I keep insisting my sister make, because it is yum-scrum).

Cook pasta and leave to one side

Chop onion, mushrooms, peppers, bacon, chicken (or whatever you would normally put in a quiche), and cook until soft

Beat 3 eggs together with a dash of milk and some salt and pepper

Combine all ingredients in a greased quiche dish

Cover with some grated cheese

Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes

Serve hot or cold, it sits well in old tummy tumkins. Mmm-mm!

This week I have been working the late shift, so my evenings are painfully cut short. It makes me grumpy. I'd much rather finish work at 4 and have hours and hours to while away on crafts and cooking and lovely things. Stupid work getting in my way. Ah well, back on 8-4s in a week and a half... Roll on February 7th! I'll be much more productive then!

Anyway, that's all for now.

Toodles

Peg*

xxx

Crafty Crafty...

Well, I thought I'd give an update on my craftings since my last post...

I've been crocheting like a good'un!

In my last post I made reference to the huge amount of wool sent over by my sister... Well, I have been working my way through it!

I made a hat and scarf for my sister. However, my niece was rather enamoured of said hat, and repeatedly modelled it at school. I must admit I quite like the fact that she's so taken with it... So pleased in fact that I made her one of her own! This one is slightly smaller (being only 8), and is shades of pink and white. Not sure of the reaction to it yet, it is en route! I have to confess that this is the only piece of finished crochet so far, and the only things I haven't taken photos of... Oops. I'll have to get big hedgehog (hint hint) to take some photos and post them instead.

I have also managed to get through ALL the coloured wool I was sent. My plan is to make a big old granny square blanket. My efforts so far...

Once I get more coloured wool, I will be adding to this - it needs to be at least 6 times the size I reckon. Mmmm toasty warm!

I have also made one side of a cushion cover. Again, made with 'sister wool'. I'm actually quite pleased with it. I just need to do the other side, then I have finished article number 3!

Other than that, I have made a start (finally) on some Valentine's Day cards and things. Still a LOT more to do, but again, it's a start!

Any thoughts are always welcome!

Peg xxxx

Inspired by Kojak

Well...

I haven't done any form of update for some time, so figured maybe I should.

I have been inspired to write by a couple of things - firstly, I have been looking at lots of lovely crocheting and crafting and lovely homely blogs, and it's all very lovely. This year, I really want to make more effort to do more myself - more crafting, more baking, learning to sew, make soap and candles and all sorts of lovely things to make people smile. It's all about lovely.

Second, I nagged my sister at Daffodils and Dandelions into blogging again... She hadn't posted anything since November you see, and although I talk to her every day, I still enjoy reading the comedic descriptions of her adventures and misadventures. Her latest in particular is the inspiration for the name of this post - think Kojak, think bald...

What I have been up to isnt a great deal if I'm honest. My attempts to grow veg failed miserably. I managed a whole cherry tomato. No courgettes at all, very disappointing! However, I'm going to plant things at the right time of year, so I may have a bit more to eat come summer time!

I didnt get any decorations, jewellery or cards done before christmas, so no update there either! However, I did make a couple of door signs.

One was a VW camper van, and the other a sign for 'Sebastian' (requested to include the lobster namesake from Little Mermaid, and a reference to boxing. Below were my creations...

Slightly less recently (but still more recently than my last post),

I made a couple of other signs, for new babies.

Quite simple, but still quite pretty.

However, my newest/rekindled obsession is crocheting. I'm not that good, and I can't follow a pattern, but I do enjoy it. I don't understand plans or instructions AT ALL - my Dad taught me, back to front (I'm left handed, he's not) and we know none of the terminology so what I can do is very limited, but I do my best. My brother-in-law came over last week to do some work in my Dad's house, and brought with him 'a few bits of wool' from my sister, that she wouldn't use. Now, when you hear 'a few bits', you assume a few bits....

I admit the picture is terrible (my normal phone with decent camera is broken, and I'm stuck with the old one 'til upgrade time!), but you get the idea. Rather a lot of wool... So my plan is to make a blanket. It may be hideous, but fun all the same. If I get it finished I'll show you!

Toodle-oo!

Peg*

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!