January Blues

... and yellows and pinks and greens

I crocheted colourful tuna tin covers for my bargain daffodils - 99p each in Morrisons

I had a trip to the cinema with my sister to see The Railway Man 

I bought yet more materials for yet more craft projects

 

I ate a full English breakfast - a great start to the New Year!

I've been really struggling for time to get up to date with my blog. I know this is a bit of a random post but I wanted to record my January moments.

♥ 52 Weeks of Happy (9/52) ♥

We've had some lovely sunny days this week - it was so nice to feel a little warmth in the air.

Hey-hey, I think Spring is on it's way.  This week I spotted the first daffodils and the first spring lamb.  

On the school run on Thursday afternoon I noticed that the temperature gauge in the car had risen to 13˚.  I drove past a guy fixing a dry stone wall with his top off - I'm not sure if it was that warm!  The chap in the petrol station said how much cheerier customers have been this week.  A little sunshine goes a long way to brightening everyones mood.

We've had a busy, busy week.  Son2 had his very first driving lesson on Thursday - he was quite anxious about it but thoroughly enjoyed it and is now looking forward to his next one (1 a week at £33 a pop - ahh!).  We took MissG up to Penrith on Tuesday and Thursday to attend two 6th form Open Evenings - she now needs to decide which subjects to study at A'level.    Plus all the usual stuff, work-work, house-work, home-work, grocery shopping, school-runs etc.  Oh yes, and I sneaked in a couple of hours in the garden centre cafe with my friend Helen - tea and cake and a good chat - just what I needed.

My 'happy moments' this week include -

1.  Teaching myself to crochet!  At long last.

2.  Receiving my utility bills and 'whooping' with relief to find that both my gas and electricity bills are in credit!  I have had the central heating on much more than usual because I've been working from home.  I know it's not exactly news worthy but it did put a smile on my face!

3.  Buying a pair of burgundy Converse All Stars.

4.  A little trip to Penrith Crafts shop for a few little goodies. 

  

I've got the crochet bug!

I have amazed myself this week.  I have practiced and persevered and have finished my very first crochet project.  I've never been a knitter or a crocheter so I'm rather chuffed with myself!

There are some great tutorials on YouTube and I bought a little crochet book.  I progressed from the 'flat' daisy-like flower to this little pink rose-bud, complete with cute little leaves.  

I then decided to try to 'make' something so I watched (yet another) YouTube video to see how to join in new colours.  Once I mastered that I was off. . .  and made myself this little strip of stripy stripes!

and this morning, after a bit of stitching and tidying the ends, I have my first crochet tah-dah moment.

A colourful crochet coat-hanger complete with rose-bud embellishment - tah-dah!

What will I make next?

the greyest day

Today has got to be one of the greyest days ever.  We have had the most awful wet and windy day here.  The afternoon got darker and darker with each passing hour and by 3.15 when I had to venture out for the school run it was so grey and gloomy that I had my full headlights on in the car. 

On a more positive note though... another item can be ticked off my to-do list.  The joiner came round this morning and fitted two new doors - one door through to the garage and one to my craft room.  I've never had a door on my craft room so it's quite exciting for me (I know I don't get out much!) and it now feels like a 'proper' room.  It should be a lot cosier in there and therefore a more appealing place for me to sit and 'craft' to my hearts content!  I have been doing a few things - sewing and decoupage - but can't show pictures as they're for Christmas presents and I don't want to spoil the surprise.

I like a bargain

While out searching for a birthday present for Emma (my son's girlfriend) I popped into The Works (a discount book store) and spotted this book.

It has some really lovely ideas with beautiful photographs

and inspiration for making Christmas presents

it was a bargain price too.

I found a present for Emma.  The little shop I went into had a fantastic array of gifts.  One of those shops that you'd be happy to take home one of everything!  I spotted so many things that I'd like for myself. I ended up buying two silver bracelets and gave my son the choice of which one to give to Emma and then kept the other for myself.  Emma and I share a birthday so I thought it only fair!

I also popped into a new charity shop and bought myself this purple polka-dot scarf and heart necklace.



I rounded off my day with a visit to the cinema.  I met my sister and Aunt and we went to see Anna Karenina.  I really enjoyed the film and loved the story but would have preferred a different leading lady.  Have you seen it?  What did you think?

Photo 16: out and about

Surprise, surprise.  It's raining, it's pouring.  Again!

MissG and I donned out rain coats and headed out and about.

We went to Ulverston today.  The statue above is of Laurel and Hardy - Stan Laurel came from Ulverston, you know?   

Ulverston is only a half hour drive from our house but I have never been into the town before.  I'm sure it's a lovely little town on a nice day but today the rain was so heavy that we sat in the car for 10 minutes deliberating - should we brave the rain or not?

We did brave it and went to 'Crafts, Collectables and Cupcakes' in the town hall.  I bought a glass perfume bottle and two framed butterflies ( I plan to reframe them to go on my living room wall).

We then headed to Grange-over-Sands where we sat in a cosy cafe to warm us through - we had a really tasty lunch.

We walked though the park (in the rain)

There's a super little garden centre at Grange so I bought a couple of climbing hydrangea for my back garden.

the end of january

Well I'm so pleased that it's the last day of January!

I have not made any New Year's Resolutions (I never do really) but I have decided that I'm going to try my hardest to accept as many invitations to go out. I'm quite lazy. Well no, not lazy but I do like to hibernate in the early months of the year and love to return home from work and the school run and get cosy and comfy and not stray too far away from the sofa (a couch potato, I hear you say!) So... tonight I'm off out for a trip to the cinema with the girls from the BBC (Burton-Book-Club). We're going to see The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (with Daniel Craig). The other girls in the Book-Club have read the book and it was one of the rare books that was enjoyed by all. I have been passed the book to read but I'll probably not bother to read it after I've seen the film tonight!

I have a few things lined up for February too. I have lots of craft projects on the go and really need to get some things finished that have been lingering around for months (I'll post some photo's soon). I have accepted yet more invitations by encouraging/pushing myself to get off the sofa and I've even signed up for an Embroidery Workshop!

Here's hoping for a fabulous February! A February full of frosty but delightfully sunny days. A February full of fun and joy...

molly makes magazine

Hoorah!  My new Mollie Makes magazine was delivered yesterday.  Did you get yours?  Even after just a quick flick though I was buzzing with inspiration!  I love the whole look and feel of the magazine too - it has been styled really well.  I love the feature on maps and I plan to make something for my Dad for Fathers Day - I have an old book of road maps that has seen better days so I've already pulled some pages out ready to do some decoupage.

My first project though is the freeby felt flower kit - I think I'll sit and make it tonight.

I'm still dipping into Issue 1 too and checking out some of the blogs and websites. Great for checking out new suppliers.

Don't you just love getting a freebie?  I do!  Although I don't think the felt mobile phone kit is really me!  I'm going to be creative and use the pattern and pieces of felt to make something else - maybe a little love heart with the bird on.  Have you made yours into a phone/ipod cover or have you been creative too?