Friday 30 November 2012

All the C's!

Todays post is one which includes all the C's...

Charity Shopping ;0)
I was thrilled to go on a thrifty mooch with a good friend yesterday.  Charity shopping with company is my idea of fun.  What's even better is that we have such differing tastes that neither of us want the same things!  It's quite funny, each of us hold up things to the other and then curl our noses and both burst out laughing!  We both came away with a few things - so very different from the other's collection of treasures.... So my hoard this time:

Some star baskets... these were a bargain £1.50.  I want to spray these white and put them on my Christmas mantelpiece standing up like this.  I love sets of 3 stars of reducing sizes and this will be an affordable way to get that look!
 
A gorgeous vintage floral tray and glass bottomed trinkets with floral embroidered lids - I love them and they are soooo my kinda thing.  I was very happy to find them and although £15 I've decided to label them my Christmas present to myself!!

 
This little fellow was a mere £1.  I love him and he'll make his way into my Christmas decorating.

 
Around 6 months ago I bought another single book end with a girly type bambi deer on it.  Now my cute stag has a partner!


Chutney - my last batch for this year!  Hooray!  This one is mainly tomato and courgette based (thanks to Grandpa for supplying the HuGE courgette / marrow!)  It's called Mediterranean Chutney and is not one I've made before.  I had the ingredients though (mainly from relative's gardens) and so had to give it a whirl!!

The very colourful raw ingredients (I'm glad I've finished cutting onions in large numbers for another year!)
 
It's always amazing how much the ingredients reduce down...

 
All ready for labelling & getting creative with the decorative lids!!


Crumble - apple crumble in fact!  I used the very last of the apples from my mum's trees for a crumble for our pudding this evening.  There'll definately be two happy boys in this house tonight!  I'll warm it in the oven at tea time and it'll brown a bit more then but already it looks yummy!


Crochet
I'm so pleased with my progress on the crochet learning front.  A friend lent me this book.


It was fabulous in getting me over the confusion I was experiencing in following different patterns. I really needed straight forward instructions to boost my confidence!  So I've managed to crochet these:


and these from the wonderful Lucy of Attic24.

 
The pale green, cream and blue are the colours of my lounge so I was thinking they could stay up all year round!!  The bright colours I love the most though.  They are wonderful jewel like tones and look nicer in reality than I have been able to photograph I'm afraid. 

 
 
I'm not going to do 2 sided baubles as per this pattern though.  To keep them a little more frugal I'm crocheting one side according to the pattern and then use felt and embroidery to finish off the back and hide some of the workings.  I think that'll work and I'll show you them when they're properly finished!  I'll then get twice the number of baubles out of the yarn.  I'm loving these though so can see me whipping a few up for presents.

But my favourite C?  Christmas!!  Getting a bit excited now.  Well, a bit is a little of an understatement actually.  I can't wait to start decorating but we have some lovely guests staying this weekend.  Normally, the decorations go up on the first weekend in December in our house.  I've set aside all next weekend though to do it.  It's a full family affair and decorating the tree especially is one of my favourite things of Christmas time.  My gorgeous children get so giddy over my collection of decorations as they pull them from the boxes (in another lifetime pre children I collected interesting baubles as a passion) and also as they remember their own homemade versions. 

I LoVE it.  I'm really proud of them and their enjoyment in doing things rather than having things.  I have to admit I have to let go of my need for the perfect tree and instead let them share the joy of hanging the decorations themselves where they choose.  I'm getting better at that.  Instead I revel in their excitement and exclamations.  That's the magic of Christmas time for me. 

I have a couple of crafty Christmassy things underway but will show you them when they're finished!  Welcome to my new followers and to all the visitors to my little blog.  I hope you have a lovely time starting to decorate your homes and that you are beginning to enjoy the essence of the season.

J9 x

The wonderful Annette from My Rose Valley is having a fabulous giveaway - pop on over and take a look at her colourful and creative blog!

Today I'm linking up with these fabulous parties!
 

22 comments:

  1. Great vintage finds. If I had been shopping with you we would have fought over those star baskets!! Your crocheting looks like you have been at it for years - you should be proud! Have a wonderful weekend!

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    1. Oh thanks Bronwyn! I've found it so much easier to follow crochet -patterns with pictures rather than symbols!! I would recommend anyone giving crochet a go - I wanted to do it for years but thought it looked so complicated! Once you've learnt the basics it follows quite logically eh?! Anyway, have a good weekend, J9 x

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  2. Hello Janine... so happy you stopped by my blog this morning, thank you for your sweet comments!... love all of your pretty finds... those little deer just captured my heart!... and your flowered tray and trinkets are just stunning!... two of my nieces just moved back home from London this summer and brought me some beautiful treasures from "across the pond"... I am English on my mama's side of the family (French on my daddy's side) so I look forward to seeing more of your gorgeous photos and hearing about your life... signing on as your newest follower... xoxo Julie Marie

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    1. Oh you are so very welcome! I'm glad to have you join along with me and I too will look forward to catching up on what's happening chez vous!! J9 x

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  3. Hello Janine... so happy you stopped by my blog this morning, thank you for your sweet comments!... love all of your pretty finds... those little deer just captured my heart!... and your flowered tray and trinkets are just stunning!... two of my nieces just moved back home from London this summer and brought me some beautiful treasures from "across the pond"... I am English on my mama's side of the family (French on my daddy's side) so I look forward to seeing more of your gorgeous photos and hearing about your life... signing on as your newest follower... xoxo Julie Marie

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    1. Oh dear - I'm soooo not technical - I tried to delete the duplicate messages but failed terribly!! I didn't remove this because it was horrible!! (Thankfully!) J9 x

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  5. Hi Janine!
    What a wonderful post! Yes, you've been very busy. It would take me weeks to accomplish what you have done in just one week.

    Oh, how I love going thrifting! I am just smitten with all your treasures. I love your new little Bambi and it's sweet that your other one has a playmate now. Your crochet is coming along nicely. What a great little book and what perfect illustrations to learn by.

    I, definitely, think your blog is friend worthy. I enjoyed reading about your life and adventures. I am not on facebook for a couple of reasons. Time is the number one reason and also I like my privacy. I am computer challenged and just don't know who has access to my daily comings and goings. My husband has it and I get on his occasionally. that seems to fill the bill for me.

    I do hope you have a lovely weekend, my new friend.
    Blessings to you across the pond.
    Carolynn xxx

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    1. Oh thank you Carolynn!! Since reading your back posts I've been speaking to my husband about it. It's funny - I think because we started about the same time I guess I've re-questionned as to why I've not shared my blog publicly (well to people I know!!!) I think all the reasons I don't do facebook worry me about sharing my blog - which I'm really enjoying and I don't want to be judged harshly by people that don't get me!! Also, it's still my own insecurities of people I know pre accident (who live away from us) seeing photos of me in a wheelchair too... Although I'm at peace with it now, the explaining part of what happened is still not easy. Yes, I think that's it. Thanks for helping me work this through in my contrary little way and sorry for going on a bit!! J9 x

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  6. You scored some amazing deals at the thrift...I just love that little deer and his pretty friend! Have a great weekend!

    ~Trisha

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    1. Thanks Trisha!! They make a good pair don't they!?! Bought months apart. Enjoy your weekend too! J9 x

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  7. Love your blog! Thanks for stopping by mine and leaving such a nice comment. Following you too!

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    1. Hi there!! You are very welcome and thanks for following along!! Enjoy your Sunday, J9 x

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  8. Would love to see you at another blog party - "Open House"!!!

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    1. Thanks!! I'd love to join in! I'll try and remember for next week! J9 x

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  9. Thanks for visiting my blog today ! I am having fun visiting yours :) I love the reindeer! :) I am bookmarking your site to come back and visit again ( just got home from work not too long ago so I want to come back over the weekend when I have more time! :)

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    1. Oh bless you Debra - thanks for stopping by! Hope you enjoy your visit and the rest of your weekend! J9 x

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  10. I love that tray! Would look so pretty in my bedroom! But, I'll just enjoy looking at it on your post for now--maybe I'll run into one someday! Great finds--and sounds like your Christmas is "merry and bright"!!!!

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    1. That so often happens doesn't it?! I've been in no rush - having various items in mind (for purchasing from the charity shop) for my home and gradually over a period of months I've come across them and done them up to be exactly me!! Thats the best bit about thrift stores isn't it - you never know what you're gonna find!! Good luck! J9 x

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  11. Well girl, you wouldn't find me turning up my nose. I love what your brough home! The deer bookends are too sweet! They are fun for Christmas but they would be precious in a babies room also. Good job on your crocheting. Haven't tried it in years. Both times I tried I did it way too tight and gave up. Yup, I'm a quitter! lol! Thanks for sharing with Share Your Cup.
    Hugs,
    Jann

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  12. Thanks so much for sharing on Simple & Sweet Fridays. I love all your vintage finds and would love to learn crochet. Great job!

    Jody

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  13. What fun Christmas treasures! And your crumble and chutney look yummy! Thank you for sharing at TTF last week. Have a terrific day!

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