Sunday twitching

I took part in the RSPB Garden birdwatch again this weekend, and spent a very pleasant albeit chilly hour in the park yesterday counting birds. My haul was one blackbird, bluetit (rare; hadn't seen one for ages!) and robin, two wood pigeons and two crows, three dunnocks, three house sparrows and six collared doves. I saw more in the air, but they have to land to count. None stayed still enough for a photograph, but I found this woodcut instead.

Retro picnic

I'm a sucker for wicker baskets, and always snap one up if I see one in a charity shop - I've struggled home on the train from Weybridge clutching one with a broken handle, from Putney with a violin, stand and associated paraphernalia  and from Christchurch with lots of other luggage; nothing stops me! Today I only had some food shopping so that was easy!

Finding the hamper was fortunate - but what a treat when I looked inside! A fabulous 70s Timothy Whites brown and white picnic set for four, with storage boxes, flask and salt + pepper pots. Some matching napkins and a sunny day and we're ready to go! I already have the tea-towel and apron from a previous trip!

And how much did this splendid haul cost me? Just five pounds! Bargain!

Happy Birthday CAFOD!

CAFOD celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year, and we were invited to join a massed choir for a celebration Mass in Westminster Cathedral yesterday. Long rehearsals and hard work paid off, as the sound in the Apse was wonderful! The girls were thrilled to part of a professional choir, and did us proud!

Breda and the girls up in the Apse, above everyone. Check out the gorgeous marble!

Monthly Make for January

At last I've finished January's Monthly Make! A neckwarmer for Sean to do the ubiquitous when he is at the forge. Here he is modelling it.

HAPPY LOVES ROSIE: Happy Greeting Card Winner

HAPPY LOVES ROSIE: Happy Greeting Card Winner: ...and the winner for the Happy Greetings Card competition is.... SKY BLU PINK She suggested the lovely idea, that we go on a Murder Mystery weekend....
 http://www.happylovesrosie.com/
I entered this competition on the lovely Happy Loves Rosie blog to suggest a way for Happy and her husband Freddy to celebrate their Silver Wedding - and I won! I'm sooooo pleased! I win a beautiful set of hand made cards designed by Happy - I'll blog them when they come. Have a look at Happy's blog - she lives in a wonderfully colourful house that would make you smile all the time! Her eclectic sense of style is amazing, and everything looks perfectly in its bright, vintage place.

Thankyou so much, Happy - I'm so touched to have won! Let me know where you go, and whodunnit!

Pretty finds

These lovelies were just asking to come home with me from my favourite charity shops.

This beautiful cake plate resplendent with lilac blossom is such an interesting shape. No lilac yet, but I've been drying some lavender, and Mairead gave me a lavender bag for Christmas.

This pale yellow set is Colclough, and the Eternal Beau of the 1950s, which is why it appealed to me.

Any excuse for a cup of tea really, but I'll bake some confectionery treats to show them off to their best advantage this weekend!

Dress a girl around the world

On the hunt for something to make some dresses I found some plain cerise pink pillowslips in Wilkinson fairly cheaply yesterday- with some appliqué from remnants and a pocket, they will look pretty. Click the button on the right or http://www.facebook.com/DressagirlaroundtheWorldUK to find out more, or to join in!

Bit busy to make them at the mo; in a couple of weeks, maybe, I can show you the finished product.

Making Things

I've signed up for two Making Things pledges - click the links on the right hand side after my Blog List to have a look and perhaps join in as well!. Hopefully I can use up some of my material and wool stash and resist the temptation to buy new for each project (except pillow-slips, but my favourite charity shops should come up trumps!!)

This is my current W-I-P, a skinny scarf for Sean, as requested by him to tuck in his collar to keep his neck warm when he is forging outside. I'll show you when it's finished and blocked and ready to wear.

More finds in the recycling

I have acquired these pretty glass bowls which appeared by the glass recycling bin - how pretty! They had their first use with profiteroles. Thankyou whoever put them there and didn't smash them in the recycling bin!

Tea and resolutions

Mug from Primark last year amidst the Royal Wedding souvenirs, saucer from Cath Kidston. My Christmas cake, and a dear little Florentine from Morrisons.




A nice little afternoon tea on this Bank Holiday, whilst I contemplate some resolutions, all of a practical nature:

1. Buy only what's necessary; (ie food and housekeeping) with the occasional charity shop treat. I'm fast running out of space to store it all.
2. More sleep. Less procrastination at midnight getting ready for the next day.Do it earlier!
3. Increase my fitness levels. An hour of Pilates a week and running up and down 5 flights of stairs several times a day whilst adequate probably  isn't enough. Dust off my bike and pump up the tyres.
4. Aim to be tidier (the most difficult of all!)
Let's see if I can keep them!

Other things:

Cash in my Christmas present from Sean - 10 lessons in a new language (I think I'll try Dutch).
Complete my Theology course.
Sell the Kent land and house-hunt  in Wiltshire.
Hand-make more of my gifts and presents.
Set up my Folksy shop.
Put things I don't need on Ebay.
Blog as often as I can.
Write real correspondence on pretty stationery.

I'll add to the list as the year progresses, and let you know how I'm getting on!

Welcome 2012!

Here's to a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful Year!