WHO STOLE THE LEAVES........

Hello my dears ( I sound like that 'old' lady in the childrens TV programme who flies the plane!)

It seems ages since I did a 'proper' post and so much has happened in that time.......

First I can't believe that it was only a week ago that I took these pictures....not very good as they were taken from our car whizzing on our way to Ikea......

And now the trees outside my window are bare!.......

And then only a week ago spent a happy afternoon doing this..........

and now all the bonfires are out and the fireworks done.....

However I'm kind of excited about this picture, not because it is a work of art, or won any competitions, but simply because it is lit with battery operated tea lights from Hobbycraft!  My grandson was thrilled that he was allowed to carry it to the door to show his mummy and daddy, and that it could stay indoors lit!!

I am now trying to get some more to place around the house for Christmas....I have always loved those photographs of stairways lit with candles, but immediately it was followed with gasps of 'how dangerous'. But no more!..... I shall be able to have my dream staircase this year and will show you piccies when we decorate the house.  Obviously they are better in almost darkness, but then real candles don't show that well in the light....but the safety aspect with young children, (and drunk adults) is surely a bonus.

I have been busy sewing again, some orders...though not enough yet!...and none actually from folksy. Have been doing quite a bit of 'secret sewing' for Christmas presents and the Autumn Leaf Craft Swap kindly organised by GiddyStuff

Obviously I can't really show you anything yet but here is a little peek.....

....and finally a very naughty bit of retail therapy... Last winter I was fortunate to pick up an absolute, and I believed never to be repeated, bargain of a beautiful brown winter coat, at our local designer outlet. £299 down to £79!!. A real classic which will last me forever.  Of course being a girl that likes several colourways in her wardrobe, I felt it didn't quite go with everything I possessed and rather fancied a grey. So...with hubbies approval...I withdrew some of my savings and went shopping again......

OK so not quite as good a bargain as the brown, (I had to pay £20 more), but it is super. So warm and I think stylish and a real investment.

I feel now as though I should refuse all Christmas presents as I am so lucky to have such nice things.....but I do like to open a little something on the day.....now where was that diamond ring I saw in that catalogue....only joking. We have limited our spending to £20 each this year, but we can make what we like....so I'd better get back to that machine.

BTW, I see the Christmas fairy has been early and sorted out some of the gremlins in the photo upload....yippeeeeeee!!

Hope you all have a productive and pleasant week...

TTFN

Jenny xx

NEW FOLKSY SHOP

Just a very quick post to say have taken the bullet between my teeth and opened up a Folksy shop. Will take some time to get more things made to sell but thought I would make a start. This site will be for items already made and generally not personalised.  I will be selling those on my website hopefully very soon.  However if anyone wants something custom made they can contact me direct by email, or through Folksy.
Please forgive me for being cheeky and please wish me luck.......

TTFN

Jenny xx

GLOUCESTER, CHELTENHAM AND TEWKSBURY....

You know how it is when you build yourself up to something and then the reality doesn't quite hit the spot....

well our arrival in Gloucester last Saturday was a bit like that...

To start with we were only stopping at a Premier Inn, not a place I had stayed in before...I know I have been a bit spoiled, but I have had to wait until my retirement to sample some of these lovely old hotels....anyway....

I was pleasantly surprised, the room was clean, not over big but adequate, the bed very comfortable and the staff delightful! ....so far so good..

We drove into the city to take our first look around and that was when we were a little disappointed....dusty grubby streets, shops closed...altogether a bit drab and absolutely not what we had pictured....and then we rounded a corner and found ourselves here.....

Gloucester Cathedral, what a stunning building.....and from here things only got better....

stunning architecture.......such a shame that those 'To let' signs are everywhere you visit now !.......

 unfortunately the Tailor wasn't in.....

A little gem ........

and the stunning dockside area where we found our first Antique shop....Its hard to believe looking at that sky that these pictures were taken within minutes of each other!.....

After a short stop for tea and cake we returned to our hotel with instructions on how to find the new shopping area in which there was another Antique Centre.....

On Sunday we found ourselves at Cheltenham Racecourse.....no not to back the gee gees, but to see what bargains we could find at the large car boot sale.....and bargains we did find, including some of the Masons Pink Vista I collect and a couple of pieces of Johnsons Goldendawn. 

We left here to go back into Gloucester only to find yet another CB, but after a brief tour we finally set off to find the second Antique Centre we had been told about.

This was on several floors with units filled with all kinds of treasures. We all found something to our liking here including DH so it was a very successful visit.

.......But the most amazing thing is that back at home on Monday evening I settled down to catch up with all you lovely bloggers when I spotted a post by Jayne at Country Cottage Chic showing some new things she had just put into her shop. One of these was a tin in the shape of an old cotton reel, and I knew it was one which I had picked up and almost bought on Sunday. I commented on Jayne's blog about it and explained that it had lost out to a piece of Johnsons Greydawn, and would you believe that was one of her items as well. talk about small world.

Well if you are in Gloucester and enjoy Antiques and Collectibles you must visit the Gloucester Antiques Centre at the Gloucester Quays, it is well worth a visit!

Well Monday found us heading for home, but we decided to check out Cheltenham and Tewkesbury while in the area and we were quite impressed. Cheltenham reminded me a bit of Bath, mostly the architecture...

and Tewkesbury very similar to Boroughbridge in North Yorkshire..........

only small but filled with tiny Antique shops, cafes and boutiques as well as Tewkesbury Abbey...no photo I am afraid as my camera battery failed, but another place worth a visit.

Well that was a bit of a marathon, if you're still here and not asleep, I am impressed and I apologise for the initial negative vibes about Gloucester and happy to say my first impression on this occasion was wrong.

Off now to read a few chapters before I turn in so.....

TTFN

Jenny xx

A FLEETING GLIMPSE.....

Well I said I would.........

One New Coat........

..terrible pictures as taken in the evening when I was packing to go away for the weekend....

It came away with me and was warm and cosy...so glad I lined it though as not sure I would have liked all the seams showing.  The pattern has no fastening except the attached scarf, but I put one button at the top and this seemed to work OK.

Back tomorrow with the piccies of Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewksbury.

TTFN

Jenny xx

OCTOBER GEMS..

No not the sparkly sort.....

...the ones that make you really appreciate your lot.....A beautiful afternoon spent with good company (DH and grandson) enjoying the marvellous scenery and mother natures treasures.....

Rutland water...

...people messing about in boats....

....exploring the woodland paths...

....man and boy in perfect harmony...

...then the spoils of an unexpected car boot sale....still carrying on until the weather breaks.....

Ok so its only repro..but it will look great in my kitchen....

...............and the best find of all.........

I already have one of these but without the box, and I have to say that it is the box which appeals to me the most...I just love the illustrations, It will look great in my sewing room!  I think I might have to take the other one to a little antique and collectors fair that my SIL and I are doing at Lincoln showground in December..

Well lets hope the rest of the month proves as pleasurable as these first few days. We are off to Gloucester at the weekend. Never been before so hoping for a good rummage.
The new coat is almost finished so should be able to give you a peek in a day or two, hoping to take it with me, so I'd better get it done!!

Finally I have been very honoured to be passed the 'versatile blogger' award by Amy at Blighty Boutique.

I am very flattered but I am supposed to tell you seven interesting facts about me........well I will be honest and say I did this once before and can't for the life of me think of anything else at the moment, so I am going to think about this a bit longer.  I should also pass it on to 5 other lovely bloggers, but there are so many of you that deserve it far more than me that I hate to leave anyone out, so am not going to do this either.
I do hope Amy will forgive me and still read my blog!

Well that really is all for now, its getting very late again..

TTFN
Jenny xx

THE DEVIL MAKES WORK............

Well believe me when I say he didn't get a look in this weekend!!......

My plan was to make the green tomato chutney and start on some slipper orders.....Well thats what I did but somehow I seem to have got a bit carried away...not that I'm complaining as next week I will probably achieve nothing....

First of all the chutney, 9 one pound jars stored away for Christmas. The recipe from this book....

was so easy and the instructions very clear. It smells lovely and I cant wait to see how it matures.

Then I decided to do a bit of sewing for myself. I purchased these patterns the other week,

I started with this......

with the intention of  using up some of my stash of fabric. As I havn't made any of them before I didn't want to use my best fabric, but as two of them are knits making a muslin first was not an option. Any way for the top I found a remnant of a boucle type knit I once made DD a top out of and as is usual I am rather pleased with the result, but no doubt when I use a fabric that's a bit more pricey it won't go as well
I did make a few adjustments though.  I made the top 4 inches shorter and the neck band only half the width it was supposed to be.My fabric was quite bulky and I thought any more would have been too much.
I bet on some of you younger folk the original length worn over a top, with a belt and some contrasting tights would look pretty good and certainly keep you snug when the weather really turns.

I then started on the cashmere coat I mentioned in a previous post, but not the style I had intended at all.  I found this, unlined coat pattern which I really like...

Much less formal and a perfect solution for weekends away.  I will line mine as I am not keen on unlined coats. It is all cut out now so I'll show you my progress soon.
The dress pattern will have to wait until I find some knit fabric that inspires me as believe it or not there was nothing suitable in my stash...mind you most of it is linen and cotton so it's not so surprising.

Finally I made some of these....

for Emma at Land of Emma for her Christmas stall to raise money for 'Help for Heros'.  If you have any thing hand made that you would care to donate and get to her by November 10th, I am sure she will be more than grateful.

Well thats about it really, apart from having a rant about blogger!!!!! what is going on????
I have been trying on and off to do this post and upload photos since 4pm.  I have never had this problem before they changed things.  I always make my photos smaller in photoshop so that they do upload quicker, but it's taking so long now I seriously considered packing it in today and just reading everyone elses!!!!

Anyone else having this problem or is it just me and my machine!

Off to have a very stiff drink....or two now....

TTFN

Jenny xx ( Oh those extra grey hairs!!!)