Tight Knits

Woohooo - it's the first day of our half-term and I'm feeling knicky knacky noodled. Plans are for some good fun time and plenty of cosy resting too.

I wonder what this weather will do? Will we need woolly hats and mittens or will it stay happy and warm. Just in case of a quick cold change, I've finally finished up the slouchy hat I was knitting and am nearly there with the girls mittens.

This is the first cabled thing I've ever actually finished so quite an achievement really. I might have gone wrong on a couple of row counts when I lost my thoughts for a while, but it all looks fine to me. Each cable makes me think of soft plaited bread. This hat was from Ros Badger's latest knitting book and is meant to be quite slouchy. As I knit pretty tight this one isn't. Note to get myself some bigger circular needles for the next one. I love this hat and pattern so much I'm going to knit another in mustard with a bobble for Little Bun and a duck egg blue for Miss Rosey and I to share.

 

It's a really thick and cosy hat just for really cold days. As it's knitted in two balls of Cashmerino Aran at a time you can literally feel the warmth oozing out of it.

Just to prove it's not too slouchy, but still fits, here it is perched on my head squishing my eyes down as hats always do. 

Before they slip down.

I might have to pop some ticky tape on my forehead to stop slippage.

Now on to other things. Thankyou so very much for your well wishes and support, it means a lot even though you probably wondered what on earth I was on about. It's a problem that won't go away, but at least I feel in charge of it again.

Hello also to new followers. Now I have a bit more of my own time for the next week and a half I'm planning to be doing much more blog visiting as there will be so much to catch up on and read I'm sure.

Action was Needed

I thought I'd find the time to pop back in here in the week. Tell you a bit of this and that, but other stuff happened. Two busy teaching days sandwiched between lots of happy family stuff.

It was wonderful reading your well wishes on my last post. Mr Bun said "what lovely people". You are you know. I really appreciate each and every comment I get. I get frustrated about the balance between writing a post, enjoying getting comments and then finding time to stop by and say hello too. Around the demands of teaching part-time, which then filters into my days off too when I'm trying to run my own business and just wanting to be a mummy and a daydreamer, alongside having a husband who just doesn't DO DIY, I fail miserably to be a good blogger. This is a constant part of the deal of blogging this back and forth. It all works because of the support and the friendliness and if I feel I'm not keeping my end up I feel guilty. I'll have to keep on feeling bad though because the reality is I can't do it all, so my apologies.

Snippets of the week include school shoes which needing buying. Little Bun's feet were all scrunched up in her shoes so there was no way she could limp along to the end of July. Such badly behaved feet aren't they to grow before the end of term. Then there have been friends for tea and catching up with mine for a quick natter.

I quickly ran up a sample mini-purse after work on Tuesday just because. I'm really pleased with it and have used it for my lipstick and powder all week. I'll use interfacing to stiffen them up a bit when I make more as vintage fabrics are quite floppy, expecially soft feedsacks like this one.

After seeing that hideous photo of me (which I showed you in my last post) all I could think about was getting my hair bobbed again. I ran to the hairdressers with indecent haste on Wednesday desperate to get me back again. 

Thank goodness she knew exactly what I was after and snipped and snipped until my hair stopped looking like a huge wig. I did long hair once, but I think I'm going to give up on that one now. Growing hair is so slow and dull, it's really not for me.

Today I'd planned to do a thing or two with these delicious fabrics I bought on Monday. The one at the bottom (in case you wondered) is a cotton Lecien print which feels wonderful to touch and the others are repro 1930's prints. Instead the painting bug hit me. I re-painted all the bathroom and kitchen tiles and then started on the kitchen cupboards. Now the house stinks and the furries keep sneezing. 

Baking beckons tommorow. Cheese scones and other goodies for Father's Day presents need to be made. Hopefully I'll find time to have a play with the new additions to my stash too.

Zipa-Dee-Doo-Dah

Here I am later than planned. I'm not sure where the day's gone. After a busy day at work yesterday I stood in a very long queue with the Bun's and Mr Bun to meet Jaqueline Wilson for a book signing. She was wonderful with the girls and took a real interest in them and their friends. Eldest Bun became totally star struck and froze to the spot unable to speak. She does the same when we visit Father Christmas. Both important people to her. My gang went home and I went off for drinks with a very lovely friend. I'm paying the price for fun today as I feel shattered.

Now let me show you the beginnings of my Tickled Pink garland.

 

I finished sewing the letters on last week, but haven't got round to all the adding of stuff yet.  Not quite sure where it's going yet.

Out of all the letters the e is my favourite.

 

On Wednesday I promised two things didn't I. One was to show you a treat for me. Well I found the most wonderful sewing book.  It has patterns for gorgeous dresses, skirts, tunics and jackets which you size yourself. It claims to be really easy. We'll see about that once I launch in.

 

I don't feel too guilty buying this new book as I've been really good so far following the rules of Dottie Angel's challenge for only thrifted and handmade.  After all I should have the know how (fingers crossed) to make more clothes for me and the Bun's. That's the plan anyway.

 

I still haven't had time to curl up and read it yet since buying it. Thank goodness for the half-term pyjama day-dreaming days ahead. 

Now I'll let you into my secret. It's something I've wanted to do for over twenty years now, but have never been able to decide on exactly what I wanted. This week it all just happened and I'm thrilled. I'm aware some people will think yuk, but who cares it's my bluebird and my shoulder. Zipa-Dee- Doo- Dah Mr Bluebirds on my shoulder.

 

I asked a friend who has tattoo's where she went this week. At lunchtime we ended up near the chrome parlour she'd told me about and so she said go in now you've decided. I explained to them I wanted a 1950's style blubird with the wings up. I knew exactly how it had to be and they had the exact one. 

An appointment was made for after work and hey ho there he sits upon my shoulder. No regrets, just thrilled I've finally done it. Some people have asked about the pain, but as I gave birth twice with no pain relief (Little Bun was 11lb's too) I reckon I've a pretty high pain threshold so who knows if it hurts or not?

My only concern was that the Bun's wouldn't like it, but they think it's beautiful. They're used to seeing their daddies so it's probably no big deal. All I can say is I really feel like me this week and it feels good.

Can I Play too?

I've always liked a challenge, something to get my wonky teeth into. I've been reading Tif's blog and loving her makes, her style of setting up a shot and her general air of life is good (or peachy as she says) for quite a while now. I fancied taking part in her challenge of the utmost kind, but kept dithering. What if we suddenly inherited sackloads of money from an unknown relative; what if the chickens dug up buried treasure ... all those kinds of things that meant spare money would be floating around needing to be spent on new things. But do you know I figured that really isn't going to happen around here so I would just keep on doing what I do and that's making stuff and buying stuff that has been around for a while. To put it nicely it's called handmade, vintage and thrifty living.

So I finally came to the conclusion that I would officially stand up for all that is how I live, take the oath and say yes please Tif I'd like to play too.

Tif got back to me to say course you can be a challenger. So hands up for my pledge to myself " for twelve months ... that's April to April 2011, I'll be buying secondhand, be as thrifty as thrifty can be, be making and a making and buying handmade when I do buy." Exciting really as I like taking stock every now and again and at least being skint has to be more fun when you make it a game.

This morning, before I heard from Tif, I had so many plans. It was my first day off work and being by myself for three weeks so I think I got carried away wanting to do it all in one go. I did get the kitchen chair pads re-covered and even added ties so they don't get used as a dog bed each time they fall off. I love this cherry blossom barkcloth. I've still got a bit left as I cut it from a curtain panel, so I might make some more cushion pads.

I also felt the pull of the charity shops, especially the Cat Home one where the batty lovely lady chats away and makes it even more fun being in there. I casually mentioned coloured needles (there haven't been any around for a while now) and she revealed the hidden stash under the counter. Blackmarket needles - apparently they're very much in demand and not everyone gets to see them. She even laid them out for me to pick the colours I wanted.

A rummage in the wool basket threw up these two balls of 4ply which is just what I need for my Dingle Dangle brooches. Then on the crockery shelves I found some pretty scalloped edge Greendawn plates. They've already been used by three little girls to eat chocolate muffins so they were a necessity I guess.

Can you spot some cut up patchy squares under the glass? Well I did get round to cutting those up for some more cushions I want to cover. I plan to sit in the sun, ignore the weeds and make this weekend.

In the last bit of my day before I became a fully functioning mummy again ,I popped into New Look to spend a £5 voucher I had. I'd already got the blue ring from a charity shop aswell as some t-shirts for the Bun's, but I needed more BliNg. I spent a while deciding on whether to get the pink ring or cream ring. I settled finally on the cream and then the girl at the till said it's buy one get one free on jewellry. Fabulous idea this I thought.

I didn't get to be a great functioning mummy for a while longer though. On the way to school I timed it wrong and so I ended up sitting admiring an enormous herd of cows amble along past my car on the way to be milked. I called the school so no problem there and then I just sat and enjoyed the moment.

It looks like it'll be a great weekend so fingers crossed you all have a great one.
X

Making Me Happy Right Now

Before I set off on my usual ramble around the happenings in the world of Bobo Bun I wanted to say how I was completely overwhelmed by the generosity and support of your words after the sad news in my last post. Thank you all for taking the time to stop by and offer a bloggy hand of kindness, it was really appreciated. I have tried to get round and say thank you personally, but have only got half way so far.

Now my lovely friend Nina sent us all a little parcel of goodness today. While I was signing for it our postman chatted to Alfie Blue, who then rushed out to try and have a go at one of the villagers dogs. I really enjoyed having to sort out a dog fight in my jammies and with yesterdays make-up on still! What a glamourous sort I am.

Nina made brooches, which the Buns have worn today and cuddled the little owlets inside. I'm saving the choccly for later on tonight.

She also popped in this dear little boat. A real make you happy kind of boat I think.

Next happy is that it's finally getting warm enough to wear my new cardi. A floral bouquet from Tesco no less. I've covered my face as it was still waiting for todays make-up.

I have been hooking away making all sorts of new bits and bobs. There's another Little Vintage Lover fair on Sunday and I need to re-stock the shelves in time. So we have a pot stand in very Noa Noa colours. I got impatient so I started working the back and joining it together at the same time. I love crochet - it just hits the spot perfectly.

A roundy cushion will a yellowy froth edge. Definately have a few flowers added to this one.

One more pot stand and some birdies I've been wanting to try for a while. Really quick and easy actually, but I'm not sure what I'll do with them yet. Lots of ideas, just need to settle on one.

Then there's the final happy things. Mr Bun brought back this lovely tin for me from a friend which was found on the same day as Mr Twiddle. Never heard of Mr Twiddle before or his friends Mr and Mrs Fankle. Think Enid might have been losing her thread by this stage. Gave us a giggle though.

Tomorrow we're off to the Spring Fling - a mini version of the Norfolk Show. Wellies are polished and raincoats on standby for a day of fun, animal oohhing and ahhing and a whole load of stuff besides. Little Bun also wants to celebrate Molly's birthday as the 15th was the date chosen by her when she first came to live with us.

Hope your holiday is happy too.

Picture This

I took a picture of me today. When I went through our photos I realised I don't feature much. I'm always the one behind the lens with my lovely family doing whatever they're doing on the other side of it. I think a record of me is needed for the family album to prove I was actually there at that moment in time. The only thing is I look too serious as my eyes meet in the middle to try and see where the button is. Should have ignored vanity and put my glasses on.

Little Bun took this picture of her playdough pizza with blackbird nibbles for mumma's blog. She has asked me ever since to put her picture on here as she felt sure everyone would like to see it. It makes me laugh how much blogging has become an accepted part of their daily lives. I get my camera out and they ask is it for the blog (hide faces) or for us (show faces). They tell me what would be good to photograph and love being involved in it all. They even tell people how to find it on the web.

They also asked me to take this picture of my first ever attempt at chutney. I used the plums we picked and some of the apples from Little Bun's tree. I only covered one jar as it was fiddly and I lost patience in the end. We also popped the damsons we picked into two big bottles of gin with some cinammon sticks and sugar. We're shaking them daily and can't wait to bottle them up and maybe try a little bit as you need to make sure you've done these things right.

Believable

I have just added a comment on thrifty mrs' most recent post and my word verification word was bleable. These words amuse and interest me in the same way that Bill Bryson was fascinated with English place names in Notes from a Small Island. My real grown-up job, before I became a full-time mummy and juggler of lives, was as an English Lecturer. Words have always held a fascination for me. As a child my head was always in a book. Sometimes it is just the absurdity of words that makes me chuckle and occasionally roar with laughter. I like the words that get thrown up when I leave a comment and usually end up making up my own meanings without realising I am doing it. Todays word is about being believable. Seeing what is really there.

In the spirit of seeing what is really there I took some photos of myself today. The ones we have look nothing like me. Or - the way that I think I look. So here I am, Mrs Bun, the person behind the words and images.