30 days of September

30 days of posting.

I set myself a challenge at the beginning of the month to post daily. This was mainly because I started the blog back in May and I thought I knew why....but then I was posting only every now and then, so this self set challenge has cleared up a few things for me.

I only discovered blogs in january this year and I'm addicted. I started reading for home inspiration and now craft inspiration too. Also now I read certain blogs because I care what is happening in these 'virtual' friends lives.

I've always been very cautious about the internet, but the blog community is proof that fundamentally people are Nice. Honest. Trustworthy. Generous.

This month has made me see that I don't necessarily have anything to share daily. And to be honest I'm still not entirely sure if I have a 'purpose' to my blog. Then I ask myself - does it need a purpose?? I like that blogging makes me record my projects. I like that blogging makes me take photos. The camera is nearly always to hand these days - which means more snaps of my boys for me too.

So, I shall continue! Hopefully without the committment of a post a day it may free up a bit more time for all the projects on The List!

Sandie, at Dancing on a Blade of Grass, accepted the challenge herself - sucessfully too! And she has very kindly given me this.....

Thank You Very Much Xx

I'll be back in a couple of days- hopefully with the answer to my paper gift bag question!! I dismantled a laura ashley paper bag last night, I'm going to use a felt tip and mark the fold lines and use as a template...watch this space!!!

Paper Bags

On the cover of the latest freebie B&Q magazine - there are some gift bags made out of wallpaper.
I had been thinking about how it would be great to make some gift bags...so I decided to look into it when I got the magazine.
Thing is - I'm a bit cack handed and I need the idiots guide to folding a paper gift bag - which I cannot source online...so here's where you come in :)
Can anyone point me in the right direction - book, link, anything!


I've found this...and this...neither are what I really need, (well the 1st one is exactly the type of bag I want to make but without the techy bit!!) so any help would be gratefully received.

Sunday Sewing

I'm a bit fragile today and haven't felt like doing much.. but I escaped to my room this afternoon and made some bags to hang on the new peg rail in the kitchen.

Can you spot the (not so) deliberate mistake?

Oops - obviously hangovers and sewing aren't the best combination!!! Its still hung up at the moment but I think it may have to be re-done as I know its wrong and it annoys me :(

Something in the woodshed

Well there would be, if we had one! I gave the OH 2 days notice to build one but he failed his challenge lol!!This is our 4th winter in this house, the first we were a bit nervous of the real fire so it was an event to have it lit!! The last 2 years we have used offcuts from building work in the house and the offcuts my step dad gets from his wood turning club - this year determined to keep the gas costs down we will be using real fires more - hopefully the woodburner will be sorted if the man ever returns our call....But we have nice stacked 'posh logs' ready for the winter....next year I will have a woodshed...this year we will make do with a tarpaulin covering them!! Can I just add I stacked these logs all by myself, with just a 3yr olds assistance!!Please excuse the lack of paragraphs - blogger hates me today:)

2nd Post

First one muffed up...my html picture thingy didn't work and with me being a tiny bit anal about things not being quite right...I deleted it!
So...you can see my Christmas shopping instead!!
From The Book People - cheap as chips books.

All between £2.99 and £3.99.

Its never too early to start your christmas shopping!! 3 months today and it'll all be over!!!!

Bake Day

Well nearly at the end of the month - some days I do feel I have something to blog about - others ,like today, well you are going to have to look at my baking!!!

I was an almost domestic goddess - I made some more of Delias runner bean pickle - forgot about it and it overboiled so I ended up with runner bean toffee - oops!!!

I then made bread - not pretty to look at but very tasty - what is it with fresh bread? I must have eaten half a loaf!!!

And nigellas breakfast bars - delicious all day :)!!! I adjusted them a bit so they have cranberries and walnuts in.

Treats

I bought this tin at the weekend - its dinky, just big enough to put 'nice' choccies in for my treats.

It was in a gift shop - displayed on a huge pine dresser with lots of CK and similar goodies. I feel I have turned into my mother (not the worst thing in the world I hasten to add!!) - I spent an age at this dresser oohing and ahing...they had a carrier bag holder in a pretty fabric for £7....egg cosys padded with an appliqued heart on for £4 (although the only egg cups left in this house have tweenies and bob the builder on - the shame!!) and door stops for £15......Not paying that thinks I - can make myself!!!

As a teenager if my mum said this whilst out and about (and my mum is a hundred times the seamstress that I will ever be..) I used to tut, roll my eyes and say get a life!!!

Now its my boys turn..ah the circle of life - hakuna matata and all that!!