July 2016

We're half way through August & I'm only just getting around to blogging about July!

The weeks & months always go so fast, I feel like a hamster on a wheel!

So July........ remembering the Somme, day out to a 1940's weekend, lots of knitting, cats socks, spending time in beds with the cats, lots of walking, finally getting in my old dress, new PM, Prince Charles visiting Exeter, Andy winning Wimbledon, remembering Teddy & lots of work!!

Phew..... it sounds like a busy month.

It's been a year since I gave up the fundraising job & I'm enjoying being back in the shop. However I've now agreed to do the Ebay shop for all 9 shops..... what a fool!! 

As it's so busy in the shop I'm finding I'm doing more work at home so hence the lack of time. But..... everything we sell will help the animals so it's worth it.

You can find our shop here

Little Valley Animal Shelter 

Be back soon!

Crikey!

I can't believe it's that time of year again....... I will be there selling my makes.

Come & say hello!

January 2015

The first month of the year has flown by.

I enjoyed 2 weeks off & the winter sunshine. I finished my Christmas jumper, received treats from a fellow blogger, remembered the holocaust & of course I spent time with the children.

At the end of the month I started a new job!!

I will now be working 2 days a week at the RSPCA Little Valley animal shelter as the fundraiser.

This is a great opportunity & something I've been keen on doing for a while. It's my first ever office job & after one day of sitting on my bum for 8 hours I did find it pretty hard.

Thankfully I will still be in the shop for the last 3 days of the week so I'll still be dashing about.

We need to raise £1m to re build the dog kennels...... guess I'll be busy then!

October 2014

Hello....... I've been away so long!

My poor blog never gets any love these days, Instagram has well & truly taken over.

Just popping in to let you know what I got up to in October

It was a busy month for me...... catching up with friends, seeing The Beat, getting hooked on puzzles, cracking on with my Christmas jumper, making lots & lots of poppies, celebrating Halloween with the family & of course spending time with my girls.

Only 2 months left of 2014...... Crikey!!!!!

November is shaping up to be just as busy. I have 2 craft fairs booked in..... it's the only 2 I planned to do this year & of course I'm not ready! So I'll be busy making over the next few weeks.

I also have lots going on at work, I've been asked to organise a Christmas raffle for all 9 shops, decorate the charity Christmas tree in the city centre & come up with some ideas for fund raising for 2015...... phew!!

So you can see why I don't have much time for blogging!

Crikey It's Over!

The sun certainly had it's hat on yesterday!

Unlike last year when it rained for most of the weekend & traders were chasing their gazebos around the field.

I did manage to walk around & say hello to other traders but tried very hard not to spend money!

We raised lots of money for the shelter & spread the word about the wonderful work they do.

Lots of raffle tickets were sold for the knitted Noah's Ark. I've now set up a Just Giving page for those people who can't make it to the shop.

You can find it here

It's pretty big so the winner must be able to collect from the shop.

Hope you've all enjoyed the sunny weekend.

Crikey...... It's tomorrow!!

Yep it's Crikey time!

I'll be there selling for the RSPCA shop but I'll also have a few of my goodies to sell.

The weather forecast is beautiful (unlike last year!) which is good because I'll be outside in a gazebo.

I've been boxing & bagging up all week so I hope I raise lots of money.

We'll be spreading the word as it happens to be the RSPCA week too!

If you're around Exeter do pop along to say hello, I'm only there on Saturday.

D Day - 70 Years On

Ok so I know I'm a day late posting this!

Yesterday I spent the morning watching the BBC coverage then I had a date with a pint of cider & some birthday cake!

You see D Day is also OH's birthday! 

We spent the afternoon in the pub with friends.

I also did a little nod to D Day in my shop

A lovely being creative with my windows & it's great having lovely comments from customers

I'm enjoying 3 days off at the moment which is great. Only 1 day left to do all my housework but I'm hoping to fit in the boot sale & see my nephew after his big operation on Friday.

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend

May 2014

May included cuddles with my girls, remembering VE day, a evening at the theatre, a new puppy in the family, losing weight, drinking too much & getting some Headspace!

I didn't manage to tick anything off my list but I now have 2 more men in life.... more about that later! I also started a cardigan, it's been about 20 years since I made myself a cardigan! Unfortunately my Carpal Tunnel is playing up so I'm going to put it on hold for the moment, I've been aware for a few days that knitting this has made it worse but I've been trying not to think about it.

I have a few half finished project which I plan to finish in June, I also need to work on my list & read more. Before we know it we'll be 1/2 way through the year!

June also brings the RSPCA week..... I plan to do a window display of knitted animals so if you're in Exeter & fancy helping out please let me know.

Victory In Europe

Today I'll be remembering the 69th anniversary of VE day.

Giving thanks to those people who gave their lives for us.

I've even done a window display!

Sew for Victory

I've finally got around to sharing my Sew for Victory project!

Way back in March I decided to join in Rochelle challenge. Crazy I know as I'm not the best sewer in the world & can't remember the last time I made an item of clothing from a pattern..... when I was in my teens I think!

So the pattern was brought

I love the style of the trousers & have purchased 2 pairs online in the past few years only to find they fit in some places & far to tight in others. I thought this would be a chance to get the perfect fit as this pattern goes up to a 28.

The sizes are listed on the back so armed with this information I headed to the fabric shop to buy the cheapest fabric I could find. It didn't go to plan & I ended up spending £20.... much cheaper then the online ones but a lot of money to waste if they didn't work out.

Ever since I mentioned I was making trousers a few people had told me how hard they were & I would be better starting with a dress or skirt. It was too late now I had to make them work!

I chose a black twill fabric & had excellent service from the little fabric shop called Percy's in Exeter.

The man made sure I had everything I needed to get going.

On Good Friday I headed to mum's...... she worked in Gossards in the 1950's making bras so I knew she would be a good teacher. I wanted her to be there just in case things went wrong...... me & Bob bobbin don't get on & I always fiddle with the tension which results in the cotton snapping & me getting very angry!

So we started cutting out when disaster struck...... the pattern only went up to a size 18!!!

I was planning on making the 22 so I could have ample space for my huge hips.

I was gutted & as we had started I couldn't return the pattern so had to go for it.

I was very pleased with my first darts

I even had a little helper with the trying on stage

Unfortunately we had to remove my lovely darts as I needed every bit of fabric :(

We also had to do a visible zip to save fabric!

But at the end of the day I had a completed pair of trousers!!!

Yippee..... I can't tell how thrilled I was. 

They do look long in the picture but I measured & they're the same length as my current work trousers. The waist band has a gap at the back so more work needs to be done on that & I need to sort out a button hole as the popper I used keeps popping open which will drive me crazy.

After investigating the pattern on Amazon I see you have to order size bb for the larger size but it didn't make it clear on the page & they've now added the larger size. After several emails complaining they gave me a complete refund so I'm now planning on ordering the larger pattern so I can make another pair.

I want a light weight denim fabric for the summer.

I'm also planning on making these culottes for summer. 

The pattern was very easy to follow so top marks for Simplicity.

Thank you so much Rochelle for giving me the kick up the bum I needed to make an item of clothing.

Crikey!

Saturday saw me heading off to Crikey & for once I wasn't worn out from making!

The organiser very kindly gave us a table for the shop, we had a selection of vintage goodies all boxed up & ready to go

It was at the Exeter Castle, a new venue for Crikey & I can say it worked really well.

Leading up to the building there was plenty of space for vintage cars….. this was my favourite.

You'd never know you were a couple minutes walk from the main hight street

Close up of our table

A big selection of goodies

Thankfully there was less to carry back! 

It was so good to spread the word about the shelter & the great work that goes on there.

I'm loving my job…. let's face it, I'm getting paid to do Crikey!

And of course I had to treat myself!

Woods Ware Jasmine Beryl cups & saucers & a Tupperware tub for my toy eyes.

The cups were a really good price, I've seen them at Crikey for double the price so I'm very happy!

Hold your breath…..

Yep I brought a dress!!

I saw a lady wearing one in the morning & thought how nice it was. I then found this one on the 1/2 price rail in my size!! I nearly didn't get it, there was a few people trying to get it off me but my brother was very firm & I parted with my cash. Now will I be brave enough to wear it?

I'm not sure about the neck detail, it shows off more than I care to show. I won't be able to wear a vest underneath so any ideas?

Today is my day off so I'm making the most of my purchases!

I'm also cracking on with making things