Hello all.
I have a had a totally fabby day today. It started off with the purchase of new under-wear and ballet pumps and it is going to end with Victoria sandwich cake & tea.
Before I tell you about my bestest bits I just need your opinion on something.
How do you feel about receiving handmade gifts and when I say 'handmade' I mean by the giver of the prezzie.
The reason I am asking is this, I am about to give my very good friend Laura a complete package of goodies made by me and it is the first time I have ever done that.
I do sometimes give a handmade item as a little extra but this time it is the whole caboodle so to speak.
Let me show you what the goodies are and then you can get a better idea.
Brief description; crochet granny square bunting, fabric button ring, Oooh Betty kitty, vintage button paper jumbo paper clips and a Knitting Nancy (not handmade but shut it).
I am trying to be extremely thrifty and this has to be part of my new regime.
Would you be happy with this little lot?
Would you give your handmade goodies as presents? (Sophie it is my birthday in Feb and I would be more than happy with a 'Fading Grace' bag) ;)
Can I have all you crafty peeps thoughts on this please.
Also, I am happy to report that the kitties are recovering well from their ops. We do not want any furry babies if you know what I mean.
They are helping each other with the recovery process by having loads of cuddles. So sweet.
Just need to get Mr Betty sorted now.....only kidding.
Another thing that has made me very happy is the offer of a special crochet hook courtesy of sarah of Emily Loves Bagpuss. This is such a kind gesture and I felt a bit choked up about it. Blogging rocks!
I am now looking forward to when it arrives and I can crochet in comfort. Sarah has probs with her shoulder and the hook works for her and she thinks it may help with my achey arm thing.
I must now tell you about my most super event of the day.
Today I met up with the most fabby Mrs Teawagon. We have met before of course. We met at Vintage Village and Magpies & I but this was a proper date. We met in a cool bar called Folk that is in West Didsbury. We had coffee and paninis.
It was so nice. We really needed a full day to be honest as we had so much to talk about.
It is so great when you meet a like minded soul and particularly when you have loads of things in common and we had all of that. Just great it was, just great.
Tonight I will mostly be eating a massive slab of the aforementioned Victoria sandwich cake, drinking tea and putting together wish list number 4, or is it 5? Can't quite remember.
Thanks for reading folks. X
Posted using IPad and half my brain.
Hello!
I have been absent from the blog world for what feels like weeks. I have just checked and it is actually only 5 days.
Truth be told, I have been feeling a tad blue. The reason for this low point is that I have developed yet another symptom of my Graves disease and this one is particularly upsetting. You will understand why when I explain.
I have started suffering with Carpal Tunnel syndrome which basically causes pain down my arms and makes my fingers all stiff and weak. As a lover of stitching and crochet this is just pants but because I am a stubborn person I have been doing loads of crochet and just getting on with it.
Anyway, I am now feeling more positive and I am not going to dwell on such miserable events so there!!
I have had a very thrifty day today (always good for the soul). I was going to blog on the official thrifting day but I am possibly too busy tomorrow and also I was very excited to blog as I have missed my blog and my blog friends even more.
What do I start with? (sound of my mind ticking or more realistically, grinding).
I got these lovely Sanderson fabric samples from a table top sale. I paid £5 for the lot which is quite a lot of cash for me but they are in great condition and very large pieces.
I am going to use some for cushions and I have in my mind that they will be very fancy pants cushions with 'in yer face' brightly coloured bobble trim. They will then appear on my Magpies&I stall. I may use a piece to cover this bobby dazzler too.
This sewing stool has me in a bit of a quandary to be quite frank. It is pretty cool as it is but could it be even better? Opinions please.
I also got all of this stuff on a trip out with 'other ooohbetty' today.
The first pic is a Holkham Pottery 'Owl' jug. I have had the mugs before but never a jug. I think it is quite a rarity.
Pic 2 is a rather lovely candle holder and some cute little floral bowls that 'other ooohbetty' thought were ideal for dips.
The 3rd picture is a Hornsea muramic pin dish but it is larger than I have seen them before. I like this a lot. It is therefore a keeper.
Pic 4 is a set of 6 Arcopal milk glass cake plates. Not my normal cup of tea but I just fell for the yellow Rose design, so pretty and springy.
Think pic 5 is pretty self explanatory. It is a rather nice one though. It has a really cool handle.
I got a bit of haberdashery too. Some funky mustard fabric.
And a large selection of vintage buttons. Not the best selection in the world but all very handy dandy.
I also got these Arthur Wood jars.
I am always buying Artur Wood stuff. I am verging on being an Arthur Wood groupie!
They always look good though don't they? Just simple and cool.
I have the flour jar, the flour shaker and the cheese dish already. 'other ooohbetty' has the sugar jar, she keeps dummies in it! Don't ask what she keeps in her biscuit barrel!!
I got this for Mr Betty for his pension fund.
It is a vintage savings box with 2 keys. I think littlest has his eye on it though.
I just had to buy this vintage postcard. I just love it. It is going on my wall.
Lastly and possibly most importantly I got this little fella.
I cannot tell you how chuffed I am with this.
I know he is not one of the bestest Danish monkeys but to me he is just perfect.
I have wanted a hanging monkey for donks and I have always known that I would be unable to afford one off say, eBay for example. I spotted him and I just knew he was going to be hanging on my fire place within the hour and here he is.
There is nowt better for sorting out ones frazzled head than thrifting an item one has only dreamed of owning.
It has got me to thinking that I am due another wish list. Whenever I blog my wish lists I seem to find something great. Sometimes I don't even realise it was on my wish list but that is irrelevant.
I will have produced a wish list before the week is through and I am going to blog another room whilst I have a reasonably tidy house. actually, forget the house bit, I have just looked up and things have gone downhill whilst I have been computering.
I hope you are all being looked over by the god of thrifting (Thrifticus).
Tonight I will mostly be sitting in the car whilst my son runs around a boggy field, eating chicken and salad, drinking tea, watching the best nights tv and doing crochet till my fingers burn.
Thanks for reading. X
Posted using IPad and half my brain.
What a day!
I was up bright and early with the aid of a strong coffee. Well it was actually about 8ish and I had to have 2 strong coffees.
As I told you yesterday, I was awaiting some rather important visitors. Mr Betty installed the new loo seat and I dusted and vacuumed in a glamourous fashion. I now realise how good it is to be a highly efficient person as I am.
Tom and Susie arrived as promised at 1 o'clock. We also had a German visitor by the name of Boris who was collecting a Land Rover from Mr Betty.
Boris came with gifts of chocs, coffee and sweets for littlest. What a thoroughly nice chap!
Boris, you are welcome at our 'house at the end of the runway' anytime.
Tom and Susie were fabby. It was honestly like having old friends round. I must point out that they are not actually old, they are both very young truth be told. I didn't let this ruin things, me being middle aged and all that.
Toms views on photography were refreshing and I was most excited about his top notch vintage Polaroid camera. It has been added to my ever growing wish list. Tom, send me a pic of the aforementioned kit please!
Tom was mostly left to his own devices whilst Susie and moi had a good chat. You know what us like minded ladies are like when we get together.
I am not yet sure when the pics will be published but I will be sure to let you know as soon as. I am so excited to see what Tom has snapped. What pics did he think summed up the 'Betty family'? Will he see things that make our house ,our home, that we don't see? The anticipation will make for sleepless nights but I just know it will all be worth it. Big thanks to both of you for a great experience and opportunity. X
I will now share some highly unprofessional pics of my own with you. 
A thrifted bird. Mr Betty has informed me that it is a pheasant. Isnt it pretty. She is called Phyllis.
Look at my kitties using their suitcase bed. They seem to really like it. Sometimes they are in look out position and sometimes........
.........they are in the mood for a bit of privacy. I imagine that they are whispering complaints to each other about the poor treatment they are receiving. Maybe the lack of cat milk or the unbranded food I had the nerve to serve to them last week.
My last smile maker pic is just about as good as it gets (to me anyway).
Let me just tell you why I have welcomed Trevor (Trevor the Terrier) into my home.
I am actually a cat person, if you don't already know. It's not that I dislike dogs. I am a bit scared of them but I am just not used to them as I was bought up with cats (not literally, I had a human mum and dad) but cats are what I know. Since I started blogging and I met Sophie I have been in love with her terrier,he features in her blog. He is not for sale. Also I saw a furry doggy on wheels at the Altrincham fair last week, I wanted to buy him but he was not for sale either.
When I saw Trevor on EBay I just knew he would be mine. I rarely bid on eBay as I forget when things are finishing. I only do the 'buy it now' thing but I wanted Trev so bad that I sat hunched over my iPad just waiting to bid. As you can see I won the bid and he was mine for £7.00. Can you believe that?
He is solid wood, he is big, really big. His wheels squeak and his paint is flaky and I am completely in love with him.
Tonight I will mostly be eating chilli chicken with green bean salad, drinking tea and catching up on all my fave blogs.
Thanks for reading. X
- Posted using IPad and half my brain.
What an achievement! Thrifty Thursday, on a Thursday.
I am very proud to be part of it.
The rain is still here :( Mr Betty is still here :( ......only kidding.
I will get on to the Thrifting in a mo. Firstly I must tell you some exciting news.
Tomorrow I will be visited by a photographer who will be taking pictures of my 'house at the end of the runway'. The pictures and the interview (which I have yet to do) will be featured here , I will let you know exactly when. I have been given this great opportunity via Old Fashioned Susie who is a totally ace person.
I am leaving all preparations until tomorrow morning as I dust work best under pressure. Also I have been out all day so needs must.
I have made a major purchase prior to this tres important visit. It was an absolute must. I could not have accepted such important visitors into my home without this new addition.
The old one was literally rotting away.
Yes, you know it, I have invested in a new loo seat.
The old one has been mistreated to the point of appearing to disattach itself from the loo and start a brave attempt to escape from the bathroom.
I don't have the heart to tell it that it will not be welcome in the outside world. It would be reported to health and safety and then the army would have to be called in with some sort of incendiary device. I will dispose of it in a kind and dignified fashion.
Anyway, what am I going on about? On to my important thrifty treasure. (don't get too excited, there is a treasure drought which is more serious than the water situation in this neck of the woods).
Yes sir! Yet another Vintage Polaroid camera. I just luv em.
Rather handy dandy spoon rest in the shape of an owl with a tacky poem to boot.
This will be used for teabags (thousands of them) and teaspoons between cups of tea.
An orange, melamine flour shaker by St Michael no less. I actually don't have a flour shaker, I always sell them. I may keep this one.
Quite possibly one of the best cup and saucer combos ever. It is Wedgewood and I am in love with it. Other Oooh Betty has one too.
A vintage Avon perfume bottle. Orange (of course) with a rather nice folky design. This has gone straight in my red cabinet.
I got a little table too. It needs renovation so I will blog about that at a later date.
Not the best selection I have shared in my blog life but it will do.
Tonight I will mostly be eating chilli chicken with stuffed butternut squash, drinking tea and making a little curtain to hide stuff behind (not the old loo seat, rest assured).
Thanks for reading. X
- Posted using IPad and half my brain.
