Hello everyone.
Yes, things have been VERY quiet on the site lately. Too quiet. With regards to the house, there has been little progress. With regards to myself, we’ve had a stressful time lately with some major health issues but hopefully I am on the mend.
So, what has prompted me to post? Well, A Home For All Seasons is hitting the Steiner School Winter Fayre tomorrow (sorry for lack of notice!). The above picture shows just a few of our selected items we will be taking along and we have plenty more in line to stock our online shop which will open in the new year (what a wonderful way to start a new year I think). However, if you popped along and saw something that caught your eye and came here looking to order one then just drop us an email and I’ll get it out to you.
Looking forward to seeing some of you there.
Love C x
Find out more about the event here: http://www.wherecanwego.com/Search/ViewEvent.aspx?e=309645&h=Glasgow+Glasgow+Steiner+School+Winter+Fayre+and+Market

Remember back when I told you about the huge number of roses we’ve got growing out at the house? Well, as much as I bemoaned how boring it would be to simply dry them for pot pourri, I couldn’t come up with any better/quicker ideas, and was sick of seeing them go to waste, so grabbed the last few heads the other month and set about drying them. 

It’s amazing how much the petals shrink! What covered the bottom of our bath for a few days (a cheap but huge air fresher!) amounted to a couple of handfuls in the end, but they smelled so nice (if you like rose) that I packaged them up and will have them for sale when I do my first craft market in December. 

Yes, more on that exciting/ nerve-wracking escapade soon.

Given the number of accidentally ruined woollens I have been victim to in my time, I was sure that when I actually wanted to felt some old wool scarves I had picked up at a local thrift/charity store it would be simple. Oh how wrong!  

We are wanting to create a really cosy and homely feel in our new lounge and looking into lots of autumnal shades, tartans, plaid, woollens etc so need to start working on these to cover cushions and an old footstool and table that were left. 

So, after various temperature changes, rinses, powder and ‘aggravating’ methods, I still haven’t quite perfected the art of felting. I have scoured the internet for a simple tutorial but none have had the desired effect. Tonight we are using a kettle, soap flakes, a bucket and a pestle and mortar! Stay tuned! (or help us with your methods/tips).

One of my favourite Christmas memories is my first Christmas I was dating my now husband. We had been invited to his parents to help decorate their tree. They are BIG fans of the festive season and I honestly didn’t think that poor tree could possibly withstand the weight of another decoration.

There were so many! From all over the world and each with their own story to tell, they really ignited my own desire to build up my own epic collection. So, in addition to trying to buy some wherever we are on our travels, I have also been making some every year.

However, as you know, we’ve got a bigger house to fill this year (if indeed we get moved in for Christmas) so I have been looking into Ornament Swaps. I’ll be keeping you updated with any I find.

The first is over at A Small Fox: http://smallfox.typepad.com/a_small_fox_in_a_big_worl/2009/10/first-annual-small-fox-ornament-swap.html

They don’t call the lottery the ‘fools tax’ for no reason but ‘desperate times call for desperate measures’ and ‘you’ve got to be in it to win it’ have recently become my new mantras. Such are the mounting outgoings with no sign of a job for husband.

So, belts are being tightened and any luxuries we do decide to splash out on (Life is made for living after all) we duely attempt to claw back the money in some other way. Luckily we have the material possessions of our single lives to sift through and sell on Ebay and then there’s our other skills we have been using to do freelance jobs but it’s hard.

When you’re working so hard it’s easy to feel you deserve some kind of treat/reward for your efforts (job satisfaction doesn’t count, especially if your job doesn’t provide any on the best of days). So, we’ve now developed a new found respect for the simpler things like a long walk, a nice homecooked meal or visiting friends.

As for material things, we’ve done well on that front too by sticking to the Make Do & Mend attitude and creating ‘new’ items by upcycling old. My favourite was the notebook above.

I had been lusting after a large CIAK leather journal in gorgeous yellow leather for ages but at almost £20 once you included P&P, it was far too indulgent given our current situation so I found an old journal I had only used a few pages in a few years ago, tore them out, and covered it in a beautiful screenprinted yellow fabric from an oddment pack I got from the wonderful Etsy seller Made With Love By Hannah.

Excuse the blurry photo but I was in a hurry to get these packaged up and in the post.

These are a few prototypes of my herb labels which I made the other week. This particular photo was taken before they got a few more layers of colour and their all-important varnish but I really love them and they look great. The back has a lovely leaf print and the front can be made to say anything you’d like.

As with all of my handmade goods, they will be available to order online soon but if you can’t hold out until then just drop us a line and we’ll see what we can do.