Sucking it up! Buttercup!

Those of you who know me, know I have an on going hand problem, which has affected my ability to do  lots! I squeeze in crafting between periods where I can do nothing but pop pills and feel very sorry for myself....I have been letting the anxiety about my back garden build up until it seemed an insurmountable problem, so much so I was looking for someone to take it over for me...but after a bout of feeling low and depressed...I got ANGRY when hanging out my washing and thought "NO. NO .NO ;..this is MY bloody  garden and I am not going to let it BEAT me! So over the past few days I have been out there digging over my vegetable beds...asking the husband to help is a no go as he has arthritis in his shoulders and would be in agony for days if he dug! We are both useless lol! But a little bit here and a little bit there has resulted in two beds all ready and prepared....and although its not been easy...and I HAVE suffered for it....I am very proud of myself...I have reclaimed my garden! Once this hard bit is over and done...is basically just pootering around....

I have three quarter dug the big bed...and hoping to get it finished this week....then I will start planting stuff, I know its a bit late....but better late than never! Covered them over as I don't want every cat in the street to pooh in them! I didn't do all that hard word to make three giant cat litters!

I just read a quick paragraph about "NO DIG" gardening which is something I am going to have to read up and do research on! I even have plans to add two more huge beds...one will be a fruit bed..... but ....slowly does it! But I am so happy I have sucked it up and got on with it!

 Salad weather again! Hooray!The above is a very basic Tuna salad with Gouda cheese...but slap everything on a board and in little dishes and it gives an impression that one is somewhat of a domestic goddess...the hubster walked in and went wow!...which I am sure he wouldn't of done if I'd just bunged  it on the plate for him! lol!

 Nice to have fresh, crisp food again...Oh i hope we have  long hot heatwavey summer....we're due one!

 Although the evening still gets somewhat chilly so its still snuggle time with polka dots slippers.....

And my favourite quilt.....happy bank holiday! x

Unexpected gifts.......

Aren't unexpected presents the best kind of present! .

Today a friend gave me this beautiful little tea tray liner.......

When I got home I couldn't wait to use it x

It has two lacy tea cups within which a little napkins reside....

Afternoon tea tastes better with all the trimmings....tray liners and napkins.....

The china cups, and tea pots,the sugar bowls and milk jugs  the saucers and the tea spoons.....

And seeing as there are two little lacy tea cups and two little napkins...I can't wait for my friend to come and enjoy tea for two with me, now the sun is shining maybe it can be a tea tray in the garden x

The worm has turned........

Was happily working away reclaiming some material...unpicking seams and quietly folding up the pieces and discarding the piping on the floor...when.....the hubster comes in and says "Are you throwing this away?" I confirmed I was...and he bent down picked it up and wound it around his hand...and to my amazement said..."couldn't you make one of them lampshades out of your shabby sh*te books?"

Ladies I practically fell out of my chair.......MY hubster making a granny chic suggestion off his own bat! Sort of admitting he had looked at the book! ( although thinking back I can remember leaving it in  the loo!)

So of course I had to have a go!

So it was up to the attic to find a shade I knew was lurking around......

I stripped the shade of its covering .......

I sewed the piping together.......

In the original book they used thin cotton...so naturally my shade is going to be thicker and not let as much light through....which is ideal as I am going to use it next to my bed...as long as light falls downwards to light my books I am happy...it's the only time I ever use it and the Hubster is less likely to moan with the light diffused x

I began by winding around the frame at the top..I was planning to cover this with some trimming but I liked the effect so much I decided not to in the end..

It was then just a matter of weaving the piping around the frame.....which sounds easier than it actually was....

And here it is....a bit rough and ready around the edges.......Think it would look much neater with thinner weight cotton....but it is what it is...thanks Hubster x

Grumpy Guts.

Sorry I have been away...been very down in the dumps and was deciding if I was going to carry on blogging.....

 But at last the sun has come out and cheered me up a bit...as did sitting eating chips looking at the sea....

 Even did a bit of crocheting al fresco.......

 Finished the scarf I was making for mother...........

 What do you think of this bag of mixed wool I got from a charity shop........

 Included was a skien ....that has been waiting 65 years for someone to make something from it........

 And a skien of the finest cob web silk..........

 Couldn't be bothered to cook one night so we had fish finger sandwiches....I am such a domestical goddess....was yummy though......

 Fallen madly in love with my new brogues....I am a little bit sad..........

 Also become enchanted with my swan vase...which I find sweet...but Mother declared it "tat"

 Transformed this yellow pine dining table.....£3 from the auction.......out came the faithful chalk paint and wax......

 And the black board paint!

 I found this gorg new double bed spread.....who doesn't love roses x

 I also sewed an apron dress! Now I have only ever sewn a quilt so this foray into making an actual garment was quite exciting! I almost fancied myself on The Great British Sewing Bee!!!!!!

Its to use at my knitting club as I am  now helping out x

Up went my new picture wall..........

They say less is more.......but I say...sometimes more is more...although I  think I can stop with the pictures of floweriness now!

Hope you are all ok x

A Cup Of Tea Marm?

Not that I am raving mad Royalist or anything....

But one should have at least one royal tea cup incase ......

Lizzy wants to pop around for a cuppa.....

Mother got me this tea pot stand for my Royal Wedding Tea party last year x

God Save The Queen!

A Little Bit of This...and A Little Bit of That x

Very unmotivated and down in the dumps ...like everyone is at this time of the year. Doing a little bit of crocheting...a granny square scarf for Mother, will wool stolen...sorry...appropriated....

from her mahooooosive wool stash..... 

a few more squares to go before I start sewing up.....

Found some more vintage goodies this week.......

a pressed glass cake stand....

A 1970's child's quilt...... 

  Some hunting scene saucers..........

some CK bowl covers.....

a vintage Lexicon game

a swan vase...

and a rather lovely Vernon Ward which is going on my wall......

my next floral wall laid out...need to get around to actually hanging it!

Hope you have all been a bit more get up and go than I have been lately...see you soon x x x