Christmas Snippets

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas!
Ours was lovely, but it seemed very short, as the Hubster and son only had 2 days off from work.
Our daughter came home for a few days and we also visited our family in Birmingham the weekend before Christmas.
It was wonderful  and chaotic at the same time.

Old and new favourite ornaments on the tree

 

 

I was a very lucky gal and received some lovely gifts, here are a few of them.

 

And look what I found at Oxford market, a very lucky find indeed!!A Magpie and The Wardrobe Doll!

 

Hope you all Have a Happy New year!Whether it be a quiet one, or party time!

We are having a gathering with friends.I'm down to make pavlovas and brownies

While the house is quiet I shall have a bit of hooky time and trawl Ravelry with a cuppa!

Rachel x

F..f..f... freezing!!

Oh my word, sooo cold and frosty today! I should be having a stall in Oxford but it is just TOO cold to stand outdoors all day!
I have been keeping warm and cosy indoors and making these. I have nearly finished my handmade presents now, I've really enjoyed it! 

Must start on my Christmas baking soon, haven't made any mince pies yet, but that doesn't mean I haven't eaten any!Tee Hee!
My dad has already asked if I'm making Nigella Christmas Rocky Road this year!

I've been using up some of my vintage sheet stash to make tea towels, don't know why I haven't done this sooner as they're quite quick to make!

We haven't put our tree up yet but the spiders have  done a lovely job of decorating the garden

They've been very busy!!

 

 

We'll probably do the tree tomorrow, helped by a few cheeky Baileys
Keep cosy and warm wherever you are!
Happy weekend to you!(I know it's only Thurs, but it feels like it to me!)
Rachel x

Still at it!

Oh yes, I've still been making handmade Christmas presents. Usually every year I attempt handmade gifts, but I never do as many as I'd like , but this year I'm really trying hard and I'm enjoying it too!

Usually I buy 1 new decoration per year , but this year I've made my own Snowmen, from one of the brilliant Tilda books.Made them from a cotton sheet and my sisters old curtains!

I've also started on my handmade Christmas cards too, so chuffed that I managed to learn to crochet simple snowflakes, still can't work out how to do a star though!
I've started a granny blanket too...dont know whether I'll get that finished in time...we'll see.

Also been making more brooches for my nieces and my little Etsy shop
I love to see everyones Christmas makes, trees and festivities on their blogs at this time of year
Anyway I must pop to the post office, better pick up stamps for my cards, that'll be a small fortune then!
Have a wonderful weekend
I'm off to London tomorrow to have a girly day with my daughter, shopping (Caravan)and Columbia Rd and exhibitions, can't wait!
Rachel x

Friday Crafting

Hello lovely gals,
Today has been a good day, I've been trying to get ahead of myself with handmade gifts for Christmas.

I have good intentions every year, but this time I REALLY am determined to have a handmade Christmas.These are little teddy brooches for my little nieces.Really enjoyed making them with their little winter scarves.

Need to make something for my 5 yr old nephew, don't think he'd be impressed with one of these....any ideas?

I've been finishing making goodies for my little shop and stall too....too many unfinished projects around the place!That said, I'm attempting Amigurumi today, mind you , I can hardly spell it never mind do it!

Have a lovely weekend
Rachel x

Crochet Peter Pan Collar

Crochet Peter Pan Collar, a photo by RubyRed06 on Flickr.

Loved making this in beautifully soft merino yarn, trying to get ahead with my Christmas gifts this year!

Rachel x

Vintage sheets and lots of crafting

Can't believe I've been away so long again! ! Hey ho,life has its ups and downs and we had a fair few family difficulties over the summer including, not so good A level results and having a massive shock that a close member of our extended family had cancer, which was awful, but  luckily after surgery and radiotherapy, that beloved family member is still with us and hopefully fully recovered.

 I totally lost my blogging mojo.But for the past month I keep meaning to write a blog post and share what I've been up to!

I have been collecting vintage sheets for a few years but they are becoming harder to find but last week I was so lucky to find 4 at once with gorgeous and vibrant prints for their age!I nearly skipped out of the charity shop! So I have been busy making Reto Kittens..

I have lots of little nieces, so I thought they'd make cute  stocking fillers,( the kittens not the nieces, although they are lovely)This blue floral is my favourite at the mo!

 

 

There's my new Greengate teatowel (bought it at Girls Own in Bridport, our summer holiday) as a backdrop

I've been busy with my crochet too,making granny bunting and Peter Pan collars.

http://www.lululoves.co.uk/item/crochet-collar-pattern.html
from this fabulous free pattern.It's a gorgeous blog too if you'd like to take a peek!
lululoves

Will post pictures of the collars soon, just got to pop the buttons on.
Hey the Sun has just come out! Have a lovely day, I'll hopefully be catching up with you all soon!
Rachel xxx

Local views and the garden

Hello lovely ladies,

it's a beautiful sunny morning here in Oxfordshire. On Friday we took the Hubster's car in for MOT, not very exciting I know, but the location is lovely so I thought I'd share with you.

This is Crawley, the pretty village where we take our cars to be sorted by a very nice mechanic.

Beautiful English cottages too, I love this one, there's a little brook that runs in front of it.
We crossed the little bridge, our destination was the village pub for a quick ice cold shandy while we waited for the car http://www.thelambcrawley.com/find.html.
At this point my battery was flat on the camara, so I will have to show you more pretty cottages another time!
Anyhoo, I have been very busy in the garden, enjoying the glorious sunshine.

I have been repotting geranium seedlings, not sure what colour they will be, as they were kindly given to me by a friend.
I've been potting up geraniums I bought at the local farmers market.

I also bought 2 pretty ceramic planters at the local car boot for a £1 each, I love the color.
Now I know lots of you are keen gardeners and this is where I need you help on plant ID, does anyone know the name of this plant please?

I've had it in the garden for about 5 years and this is the best it's ever flowered, this is a photo of just a section of it, its bigger and bushier than this, heres a close up of the pretty bell shaped flowers

Also I have this growing in 2 of my pots and I can't remember it it's something I planted, or a weed!
Any ideas? Your advice would be very welcome.I often forget to label stuff and regret it the next year tee hee!

I'd better go and water them before it gets too hot!







Thank you and Welcome to my new followers and commentors, really appreciate the fact you popped by, I will be heading your way if I haven't popped by already!

Have a lovely day wherever you are!

Rachel x

During May....

I have been

making cakes, this one was Coffee and Walnut, on a very wet Bank Holiday,

I also made a Banana cake with an online recipe, it was very tasty and quite light for a banana cake.

I have been making brooches

I love a bit of handstitching whilst watching Coronation Street!

I have also been stitching Scottie Garlands
and patchwork brooches

I have been sent a gorgeous surprise parcel from a very sweet friend in America,THANK YOU SO MUCH dear Paula,you really are the sweetest, kind thoughtful lady!!
He is the cutest darling teddy I have ever seen! I love him and my pretty and dainty hankie too!

I have been crocheting roses from the tutorial of the Amazing Lucy  I've crocheted roses before, but this pattern is so quick and easy, thank you Lucy

And picking flowers in the recent and glorious sunshine and yes I do include Buttercups as flowers, the are so cute and cheery with their nodding yellow heads

Been doing a makeover on a large unit that I bought from our local charity warehouse, so far I have Annie Sloaned it in Old White, I need to wax it now, I'm also going to wallpaper the backing board with pretty floral wallpaper that I've bought on Ebay, hasn't arrived yet though, can't wait.

What have you been up to in May?
Love Rachel x

Wet and Rainy in Witney

Hello Hello!
It's a horrid wet rainy day here today, I know the gardens need it but why can't it just rain through the night and let us have glorious sunshine in the day!
I have been making a treasury on Etsy this morning whilst having my tea and toast http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTY5NTI3MXwyNzIyNzAzNjM4/favorites-on-a-rainy-day?ref=pr_treasury
Managed to do this one ok, usually I seem to delete it before I have saved it!

Have been making little Dinky Bunnies this week too

Also been cutting into my Cath Kidston stash...well I must stop stroking it and start to make things!
Have made more Scottie Dog Garlands

Also made these at the weekend with my son, very moreish

Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites, I found the recipe on Pinterest, here's the link if you'd like to give them a go.
http://everyday-is-a-holiday.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/peanut-butter-pretzel-bitesyes-indeed.html
Just a little tip don't eat them before the chilling time is up as they are delicious when they have firmed up completely! We are just greedy and couldn't wait!
Have a lovely day wherever you are,
Rachel x