Coffee Morning and a walk.

Good evening. Coffee morning was very busy this morning. The last one of the month is usually more popular than the other three weeks. They have a game of Bingo, and a raffle to finish off the session. I don't play Bingo, but I did buy some raffle tickets. I won a prize. A tube of Nivea soothing night cream, which gives a 24hour moisture regeneration boost. Ooooh, I'll slap some on tonight and hope I wake up with a completely regenerated smooth skin. 

I took the bunting with me that I have been making. The Christmas ones have sold. I will make some more for next week. I saw some bunting like these on a photograph of a stall at a Christmas Fair. They were priced at £12 and £14 and weren't as long as mine, so my friends got a bargain.  

After lunch I had to go out into the sunshine. I hadn't left myself enough time to drive somewhere so a local walk it had to be. 

I also made a video which I will upload tomorrow. Some more photo's to come as well. 

Thanks for popping in. See you soon. Toodle pip.   ilona

It's almost like Christmas.

 

Full credit to Mandy Harding. This topper can be seen at Morrisons, Malvern. This has got to be the best  by far that I have seen. What a talent eh! Check out the UK Facebook Toppers Group for more pictures. 

Toodle pip.   ilona

Exclusive fashions.

If you possess a garment that is a little bit boring, and you don't enjoy wearing it, you could jazz it up a bit with some stitchery and some buttons. Let your imagination run wild. Add colour. 

This cardy was £1 from a charity shop. It's functional, made in a far away factory, and it's a bit bland. Needs something. Needs colour. I followed the lines in the pattern and added some colourful running stitches. I took the original matching buttons off and replaced them with colourful odd buttons. I also added extra bigger buttons for decoration. 

What next? I know, I need pockets. Old socks worn out on the heels, cut them off at the ankle, and there you go, pockets. Glittery bits added. Now what do I do with the other five pairs of socks? I'll think of something. 

I thought about extending the coloured stripes over the shoulders and putting them down the back as well, but that would be too predictable. I need circles. Some on the back and three on one arm. I might add some more later. 

I am now looking at my clothes in a different way. Not shoving them to the back of the wardrobe if I don't like them. What could I do to customise them? Maybe start my own fashion label. You never know, the trend might catch on. Friday the 13th, unlucky for some. But lucky for me because I have just found out there is a local event on tonight. I may be going for a walk. 

Have a good weekend. Toodle pip.   ilona

I'll think about it.

And now as if by magic, the picture is finished. 

All I have to do now is think about what I am going to make next. I have several ideas floating about in my head. Just need to find the right piece of fabric, the right thickness, and the right colour. Or should I make a needle felted picture in a hoop. Or should I do something with wool, got plenty of that. Crochet or knitting perhaps. Maybe some patchwork. Or paint something. 

Up and down the stairs, looking in cupboards and drawers, checking the storage boxes, looking for just the right materials. Maybe I'll just go for a walk. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

New fashion

Good morning. My friend Angela gave me a sun visor. Brand new with Reebock across the front. I try not to advertise brands so I needed to cover it up. I thought about it for a while. Should I add flowers, embroidery, applique perhaps. I searched my stash of decorative bits and bobs, and there was the answer, BLING. Something shiny and sparkling for a change. 

It gets the approval of Geoffrey. He looks cool with his sunglasses. 

And cool without his sunglasses. I do like a man with long hair. 💖💖💖

Gloria is not impressed. She sits quietly in the corner trying hard to smile but not quite making it happen. It's too small, she moans. 

Oh well, I suppose I will have to wear it the. Hello to the Glitter Queen. 

Test driving the new rucksack yesterday. It didn't seem too hot when I set off about 2pm, but boy did the temperature rise a couple of hours later. I was in two minds whether to cut it short and return home. I sat on the bench for twenty minutes and some clouds came over. I decided to carry on with the normal five miles. 

The side pockets are ideal for carrying bottles of water. There are three sections in this one. Much better that the two in the old one, when I was always diving to the bottom to find what I wanted. The shoulder straps are comfortable. This one will do nicely. A good find for £3.50 I thought. 

Looking good outside this morning. Sunshine. Thanks to those who checked in with their walking miles.

Some good conversations going on, on my yooootooob channel. Thank you to Cro for including some sensitive topics on his blog. 

Another weekend is upon us. Let's make it a good one. Toodle pip.   ilona

It's a Crafty World at Doncaster

There was another reason I ended my trip to Yorkshire early. Apart from the fact that I couldn't think of another place I really needed to visit, there was an event on Saturday at Doncaster that I wanted to go to. Home on Thursday night meant I could have the day off on Friday to start sorting out the pictures and writing up the posts. 

I went to this event last year. I took lots of photo's then, no need to do it all again. Here are a few from this year.  

I had a good mooch around the stalls. Sat in the eating area and consumed my own food. Chatted to a lovely lady who had come down from Scotland for this. Free parking across the road and £8 to get in.

 

I was intrigued by the flashy dresser, so I asked him if he was famous. He laughed. He told me the story of how he came to wear sparkly suits. It all started during lockdown when he wanted to lighten the mood. People liked it and so he continues to dress this way. He is the Guest Manager of the Racecourse. His role is to make sure everyone has a nice time, and is on hand to help anyone who needs it. A woman had left her bag in the hall and so he located it and brought it to her as she left to go home. 

My purchase was very simple. Two wooden embroidery hoops, of sizes that I can't find in the shops unless I spend time looking for them. I wanted to buy a very bright and jazzy backpack, but the stall owner wouldn't sell it to me. It was on display to show off the kits she was selling to make your own bag. I don't want to make one. I know that sounds daft to a lot of people because I do make things for myself. But at the moment I have more than enough to do to keep me busy. 

Now to go to the Post Office in the church, then a bit of gardening to fill the brown bin which will be collected tomorrow. Then take Billy boy for a walk. Then check on my friends cats, second visit. Then get me some dinner. Then go back for a third and last visit today to the cats. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Ideas.

A while ago I stitched some buttons onto small blue fleecy squares. I added some of them to the edge of my  hat. 

What to do with the rest of them? No ideas came to mind, and then I thought why not trim them from squares to circles. And why not sew them onto a background and make a picture. So here we are. A work in progress. Not sure how it will end up at this stage. Watch this space, but it won't happen quickly. 

Thanks for popping in. Grey and overcast here, hoping it doesn't rain.

Toodle pip.   ilona

Making flower decorations

I've had the production line going today, making these flowers from plastic, vinyl, and cd's. The stalks are knitting needles. They will be for sale at our Summer Fair. 

I've found this picture of some I made a year ago. I only just started using cd's then. These all sold on the stall. They make colourful decorations for pot plants and flower beds. This is a video I recorded, on how to make them. 

It's been hot all day here. some gardening done, but not much. The ducks haven't been for two days now. I hope they are alright. 

You'll never believe it. As soon as I typed that last sentence, I looked out of the window, and YESSSSS, they have come back. That's a relief. 

And now the hedgehog has come out. It's in the middle of the garden, and it's still light. 

Anyway, I had better water up the pots and raised beds. It hasn't rained for a few days.

Catch ya tomorrow. Toodle pip.   ilona

I heart hedgehogs.

Something I have been playing with over the last couple of weeks. I like to keep my hands busy. It's 6.5 inches diameter. I have used felt because it's easy to work with. Buttons and threads given to me. I have enough now to last forever. No patterns used, I make it up. Hoop cheap from Home Bargains. I wrapped the outer hoop in green wool. Makes it easier to sew the backing on, and I like the contrast. The actual heart shape is a bit wonky. Could be better. 

Hedgie was a bit early last night, it wasn't quite dark. I am sure he is sleeping somewhere in the garden. I normally feed it close to the house, but last night he was running up the garden. I don't know if he looked in the usual spot first, I was busy. I quietly crept closer to him and he froze. They curl up when they are frightened. I put a handful of food near him and left him to it. They must have a good sense of smell because he found it quite quickly. 

Thanks very much, now I'll have a drink. 

Feeding animals has become a bit of a routine here. It's almost lunch time and the ducks have not yet arrived. They will appear at some point. I think they scout around in different gardens. The cats are loving it outside. Even Mayze who is mainly an indoor cat. They have their hidey holes and when I go outside they appear as if by magic. Ooooh good, the food is coming. 

Now I must get my lunch. Have a good weekend. Toodle pip.   ilona

Check in time for the Walking Group

It's a glorious day here. A good opportunity to get out in the garden. 

This floral arrangement in a 8inch hoop is now finished. It is how I imagined it to be. I saw a picture of something similar and so put my own spin on it. 

I wrapped the outer hoop with black ribbon because I thought it needed to contrast with the yellow background. I have tried to keep with the red, pink, and purple theme. 

I'm pleased with that. 

Here is a little reminder video for the International Walking Group members. You  can check in here and share your triumphs, and your failures with us all. The target for four months was 333 miles. I missed it, I was ten miles short. I promise to make it up during May. 

Now it's garden time. Catch ya later. Toodle pip.   ilona

Fantastic quilts

There are rather a lot of photo's here of the Quilt Show at Wetherby. I went a bit click crazy. Words are not needed, all you have to do is scroll through them. I have included some close ups, so you can see the perfect stitching. I think you will agree, they are pretty fantastic. These works of art should be in an Art Gallery. 

You've seen the photo's, now you can see the movie. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona