The good, the bad and the downright ugly

Iv'e been holed up at home all weekend and with the ironing and housework done I set to work finishing my hexie cushions.
As some of you know I'm not great on the machine but I think I managed to do an o.k job.

I'm pleased with both cushions but I think my favourite has to be the blue one.
(rubbish pictures...sorry)

With the cushions done and dusted I set to with the card making today, I had lots of ideas buzzing around in my head and couldn't wait to get going with my fabby new papers.... sadly my card making mojo seemed to do a bunk the minute I sat at the table and I struggled to come up with anything remotely good.

However,I was successful in managing to turn the dining room into a complete bomb site.
I finally gave up and decided to call it a day after Mr. H asked why the dining room looked like it had been turned over and why was I was being so ratty.
.....who knew paper crafting could turn so nasty!

Calm was soon restored when I sat down to watch call the midwife with a little slice of chocolate panetone, it didn't take long before I was back to my old self again!
I'll have another bash at the cards tomorrow.


.....So Fingers crossed for more white stuff this week, hopefully the proper stuff, just like we had in the 70's!!!

: )

Brown paper packages tied up with string

It's been a bit like Christmas here again this week when two very nice parcels arrived with my name on.
Remember I said I was going to make a pile of cards to see me through the coming year, well I decided I wanted needed some new supplies, especially as I have quite a few man/boy birthdays coming up, and being as Iv'e completely exhausted the C.K cowboy theme, I knew it was time for some new inspiration.
I have recently discovered this company (I can't remember how/where) but I knew they would have exactly what I was after.
luckily there are a few U.K stockists so I didn't have to pay extra for shipping from the U.S
I eventually decided to order from here, and with great postage rates and super quick delivery it would be downright rude not to order from them again!!!

My little box of papers did not disappoint, lovely quality and double sided to boot!

Rocket Age perfect for boys both large and small!

Not sure what I had in mind with this one but just couldn't resist it's cuteness!


Obviously I couldn't overlook the Christmassy papers and a couple of those just fell into my virtual basket!
I don't know about you but I'm still not quite ready to let go of the festive season even though we are well into January!

There were a couple of other little paper purchases but I couldn't wait to get chopping

As if that wasn't enough,a huuuuuuge box of goodies arrived a couple of days later, a perfect blog photo opportunity you may think... unfortunately I was in the grip of over excitement and before I had the chance to grab the camera/phone I had untied the string and literally climbed into the box (I did say it was huge!!!)
Sadly it wasn't all for me :(
As it's a wholesale company you have to place a minimum order of £125, now don't get me wrong I could have quite easily made the minimum order myself but not convinced I could make Mr. H understand why I needed 6000 buttons and 8 miles of pretty coloured ribbons I thought it would be a good time to get together with a few of my crafty mates.
I did eventually managed to whittle my order down to a few essential items, but never fear, I have another list of goodies ready and waiting for next time ;)

So all that's left to do now is settle down at the table and get down to some serious paper crafting.......now where did I put the glitter?!!!

Don't stop me now

Well the first week back at work done and dusted and boy am I glad it's over.
Things are a little unsettled AGAIN as another co worker bites the dust  (through choice) so as from Monday I am back to running the cafe practically singlehandedly until the new lady starts in a few weeks time. TBH I'm trying not to even think about it!
 There will be more disruption to come in February as Iv'e been called upon to do Jury service, I'm  excited and nervous scared to death at the same time...eeeeeek!
On the plus side I'm on a crafting roll at the moment and there's no stopping me.
A small mountain of hexies have been lovingly whipstitched together ready to be made into two cushion covers...hopefully by next week.

 Hand stitching is most definitely my 'thing' and Iv'e loved plonking myself on the sofa of an evening, feet up with a cuppa and one or two  three or four biscuits to hand, stitching away... trouble is, I don't want to stop there so Iv'e embarked on another hexie cushion project, this time for the campervan. It's going to be another random pattern (not sure random pattern makes sense but I know what I mean!)  Iv'e decided I prefer this look on a small project, and I also have lots of odd bits of fabric to use up, so two birds one stone and all that.

Like I said hand stitching is my thing, it always has been and I'm proud to say I have been complemented on my teeny tiny stitches more than once, However I'm determined that 2013 will be the year I bond with my sewing machine and hopefully dare I say it, become firm friends... (don't hold your breath as Iv'e had this same conversation with myself on many an occasion!)

I also had a pile of badges to sew onto little H's scout shirt (not my favourite kind of stitching project!) but it reminded me of another little job I wanted to do....unpick the badges from his cub scout jumper so I can stitch them onto the family camp blanket.

This brought a little tear to my eye, it's the helpers badge that little H  had to stitch on all by himself, I think he was 8 or 9 when he did this so not bad eh!

 In a bid to become slightly more organised with the birthdays this year and to satisfy my craft obsession Iv'e decided to make all the cards (plus a few spares) I'm going to need for the year.
I'm always on the last minute with birthdays, sometimes only remembering the day before, or in my step Sister's case the day after...ooops sorry Sis. Anyhow it gives me the perfect excuse to order myself a few new goodies to add to the stash.
 I will also be popping over to Creative Breathing for inspiration. I have dipped in and out of this blog for ages now but after seeing the fabulous Christmas creations I am now a regular loiterer!
I have to be in the mood for card making but when I am I become obsessed, especially when I come up with an idea, I end up with endless variations on that theme.

Sadly there have been no thrifty finds of late and I'm starting to feel a little tetchy so I'm planning  a mooch around the local charity shops tomorrow....better wrap up warm!

Hopefully I will be back next week with at least one Tah dah.

Have a great weekend   : )

No New Year resolutions here

I no longer make new year resolutions, I know myself well enough to know I do not posses one iota of willpower, therefore ultimately resulting in disappointment by the second week in January.
I have decided though that this year I am going to put more effort into making things for us and our home. I still hope to do a few fairs but as they take up so much time, I'm going to concentrate more on the Etsy shop, probably adding a few vintagey bits and bobs to the mix......who knows I might even make another sale!

Iv'e already started as I mean to go on, Iv'e hooked up a few granny squares and made lots of little hexies

these will hopefully be transformed in cushions for the dining room chairs (boy are they hard on the old bum!) they will also add a splash of much needed colour to the predominantly green/cream colour scheme.
My eyes have been opened to colour over the past year or so and colours I would have never thought of entertaining have now become firm favourites and feel I need them in my everyday life.

I always like to have a few balls of colourful wool and a hook close to hand as I find crochet something you can dip in and out of at any time, especially when the light fades and it becomes difficult to thread the needle (I'm turning into my grandma!)

So as I'm still not ready to completely let go of Christmas I hooked up a few of these which will become jam pot covers for the home made chilli jam I have in mind to give as little prezzies next year.

I had also planned to do a litte makeover on the standard lamp and after seeing this gorgeous shade at the button tin last year but never managed to get around to it, somehow other things just got in the way (and Mr. H needed some convincing) then seeing Ada's blog and her amazing lampshade 'tree' I knew I needed to have a go, then as if I needed any more convincing I visited Dotty about Vintage on my recent Christmas jaunt to Whitby and there in the shop window was Trudie's gorgeous tree, the only problem I have now is whether to use fabric like Ada or tissue paper like Trudie........decisions decisions!

There are also a few rather large decorating projects that need to be tackled in the coming months. Our windows need stripping and re painting on the outside. Mr. H insists on doing these ourselves as he takes pride in the fact he completely strips them back, replaces any old/rotting wood with new then undercoats and paints them meticulously, something he says no regular painter would do unless we took out a small mortgage and I must admit I think he's right, and the proof is in the pudding as they say because the sash windows we renovated at our old house nearly 20 years ago are still going strong and look as good as new.
Our hallway floor also needs completely re sanding and varnishing, the loft needs insulating and boarding and there are rooms that are also in need of a lick of paint and a spot of prettifying, not forgetting the 30 quid kitchen unit that needs finishing.
I also want to spend more time in the garden. I'm sad to say I did lose faith after the chickens were taken last year, in fact I haven't been able to bring myself to do anything out there since they went, but thanks to the lovely Mr. H who gave me this for Christmas, I have found I'm itching to pull on my wellies and get myself out there again.

I have a massive crush on Monty just incase you didn't know!


So no resolutions per se but plenty of plans and more lists for the year ahead so bring it on!

I would love to hear of your plans resolutions or anything else you might be getting up to in 2013

Rewind

HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE AND ALL.
I'm hoping by now any sore heads are a distant memory and everyone is feeling wide awake positive for the new year ahead.
Although I don't want to tempt fate, the Hotchpotch household has managed to steer clear of the dreaded sickness bug and apart from the odd cough and sniffle we have stayed relatively healthy.

I just want to say a BIG THANK YOU to followers/loiterers old and new and to anyone who has left a comment or kind word. I never realised how addictive this blogging malarkey would become, and I for one am more than happy to be an addict!
Through blogging I have realised that there are plenty of like minded people out there and this has given me the confidence to be happy in my own skin, doing my own thing.
I have done vintage/handmade fairs and opened up an etsy shop (o.k I might have only sold one thing but we will gloss over that!) but I have sold things at the fairs to people who return time and time again to buy purchase my wares.
I have met some fantastic, kind and generous people and Iv'e even met a 'real life' friend through blogging and to say she makes me laugh out loud is somewhat of an understatement (you know who you are!)
Anyway that's enough gushing for now.

2012 brought it's ups and it's downs.....I'm pleased to say mainly ups.

Here was my 2012 in pictures

Of course who could forget the amazing Jubilee Celebrations and the Olympics which I absolutely loved.
As you can see, I am a girl of simple pleasures and I can't see this changing any time soon.

So here's to lots more blogging in 2013 (hopefully I might learn how to take better photographs but don't hold your breath!!!)

: )