All In The Golden Afternoon

 The sun is really doing a fantastic job of shining this week - so out I popped with my trusty camera to get some photo's of the flowers in my little pots at the front of the house now they are literally springing to life! 

Every time I see a cluster of pansies or 'micky mouse faces' as my grandma calls them, I am reminded of this little song from  Alice in Wonderland

 I just LOVE the colour of these ones, they look almost black in some light - truly sumptuous!

Another of my favorite spring flowers are Grape Hyacinths - I don't think we can ever replicate what nature does with colours! 

These ones were planted up from a supermarket mothers day gift years ago, and their little colony is growing steadily

Last years primulas are also making a triumphant return - I usually loose them and have to replace them every year - it must be Mr Juicy's secret fertiliser formula that they liked.

and I finally got my knitting mojo back after getting some recycled cotton yarn - I have been busy making face cloths for one of my shops - I have even designed a pattern for them, if it works out, I may just be posting it up here as a little freebie gift for you all! 

right - off to my nieces school show this evening, a 1980's music extravaganza! got my dancing shoes on, and my jacket sleeves rolled up ready to boogie!

Jobs I have put off for too long or The worlds slowest way to tidy up.

I am not a fan of house work - in any form. I alway seem to have something far more interesting to do, or far more urgent, or far more anything that actually commiting to doing house work, e.g. right now, I should be tidying the living room - but updating my blog is just so much more entertaining! 

After doing a pretty rotten craft fair on Saturday, and having spent the previous week making items for said craft fair, Sunday should have been a good housework day - but it was Mothers Day - so as a treat to myself, I gathered some old magazines I had been saving and went through them, cutting out pretty pictures to make scrap book pages to inspire my creativity - what ever was left of the mag was then taken swiftly to the recycle bin, so they wouldn't find themselves back on the bedroom floor!

Actually, it was very relaxing! I was like a 'pig in muck' so to speak, my magazines in shreds, some big skisors, and a glue stick.

Not quite sure if I have managed to glean any inspiration or ideas etc from this excercise and the house work is still calling out in a 'please put me out of my mysery' winy voice - but what the heck - I enjoyed it! 

British Summer Time begins & THE CENSUS!

It doesn't even feel like spring has fully arrived yet in the Ribble Valley - but British Summer Time started this morning, "Spring forward, Fall back" 

Giving us Brits an hour less in bed we don't get back until autumn, but the nights are now an hour lighter - I had a feeling this was going to be abolished this year, but no - we have been saved from gloomy nights for another year! 

I know this is a contentious issue on our small Island, many people in the far north want it abolished because the mornings are dark again - and as we no longer need to "dig for victory" it isn't really needed to help feed the country in desperate times, but I like it - I like looking forward to longer days, I like the fact that it is peculiar to us, and I like the fact it confuses people! 

So here is a whoop to BST! 

have you changed your clocks yet?

And don't forget to fill out your CENSUS forms today! Figure out what your job is, count the bodies sleeping through the hour change - and declare you are a JEDI KNIGHT!
I love this country!

Red Nose Day - behind the scenes exposed!

Tomorrow is Red Nose Day - As usual I have bought a red nose, but due to financial er...lack of money, will not be contributing any more. 

A few years ago I was fortunate to get the opportunity to work in one of the Red Nose Day call centres for the evening. An e-mail had circulated work from the DWP asking for volunteers, and you could also bring any friends along to - so I fired an e-mail straight back - then surprised my hubby, daughter, brother and friend with their sudden volunteer roles - luckily they were all really chuffed and excited!

We had a fantastic night - we each had our own desk and phone with head set at Cardwell House Job Centre Plus office in Blackburn - Baby fig was too young to man the phones, so was assigned a position as runner - dashing round the desks collecting the pledges, then tallying up the totals.

It was quite a surreal evening - there was a TV in the corner with the show playing, and the phones never stopped, we were warned to expect a massive increase in calls each time one of the scenes in Africa was shown, and we certainly got them!

I had 3 memorable calls in the evening - the first from a lovely lady who's brownie pack had backed biscuits and sold them raising £65. She asked if it would be possible to get them mentioned on TV - but there wasn't anything I could do to make that happen! The second was from a gentleman with a very serious tone - I asked him how much he wanted to pledge then almost fell of my chair when he calmly said £4000! I covered the mouth piece and hissed "this guy wants to donate £4K what do I do?" - "Take it off him!" said the guy in charge. Do'h

The third memorable call was my last one of the evening - we were shutting down and logging off ready for another call centre to take over when my phone rang, the guy on the other end had been watching the programme in the pub - and was extremely er...well oiled.

He did not have a credit card to make his pledge with (the only way possible for anyone to pay over the phone) and for 15 minutes I tried to get him to understand this, That I couldn't take cash over the phone, and that if he went to post office the next day he could pay it there. He was crying by the end of the call - so much has the show moved him - I was almost in tears too - everyone but the guy in charge had left the building and nearly all the lights were off - I often wonder if he did go and make a donation the next day.

Anyway - that's enough rambling - enjoy Red Nose Day wherever you are, and think of all those volunteers in call centres all over the country excitedly waiting for your call!

A bit of what you fancy does you good!

Today has been a wierd old day. I have not gotten into the sewing room yet - but instead have become enraptured by twitter, and done some baking!!! 

The kind butcher sorted me out when he asked what I was after, and I replied "Tea for 2 for £5.56" as that was all I had in my purse - managed to aquire mince, potatoes and eggs - the eggs have gone into a fruit loaf, the potatoes and mince will be transformed by Mr Juicy later on.

Baby Fig has the night off work - she is working in the Whalley Arms pub, and has developed a nasty throat infection - although I thought she might have drunk enough alcohol to kill any bugs etc!

My first ever PURCHASED ACEO arrived from Estonia this morning - photo's to follow soon - in the mean time here are two more ACEO's I have been busy creating! 

ACEO me-o

Have you heard about ACEO's? I am completely obsessed with them at the moment - the title had me all curious at first, so after some investigation I found out they are tiny pieces of art work that can be traded and collected, they can be in any medium so long as the dimensions are 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" 

Mostly they are in what I would call 'ART' mediums like pencil, paints etc - but anything goes!

And here is my very first attempt at an ACEO - you never know, it could be worth millions if I ever become famous! 

for the wiki definition click here

ACEO: Art Card, Editions and Originals

 I have been buying more buttons this week after the two brooches I made for the craft fair sold straight away - I LOVE these, and fully intend to buy even more - to check out the shop click on the photo, she is so lovely to deal with as well! 

And now...The Craft Fair...what a strange day! and what an odd bunch of people these stall holders are! The lady on the stall next to me was very upset about so many things, most of which hadn't even crossed my mind, and another would not let me take any photo's of her work in case her designs were stolen, I explained I only wanted to blog about them, put a link to her shop etc, but no, she ended up shooting odd looks at me for the rest of the day.

Overall I had quite  good day, I took more money than I expected, but that was due to quite a lot of sales to friends and family!

So here is just a couple of shot - the bottom stall was soooo gorgeous, I love how she has taken a theme and used it so inventively, I wanted the rug, and the bags, and the brooches (one of which will be coming home with me at the next fair!) please check her Folksy shop out - again another REALLY nice down to earth Lancashire lass.

Next Fair!!! 19th March HERE! Pop along if you are in the area - I would love to meet y'all!

 

Treasure Island - with cute animals.

The sun has been fighting through a thick haze all day, making it look warmer than it is! After spending most of it chained to my sewing room, on my last sewing day before Saturdays Craft Fair (tomorrow is labeling and final titivating day!) Mr Juicy and I went for a swift walk to blow some cobwebs out of the old noggin!

Jemmy was extremely pleased to be out for a second time, and Stitch came along for part of the way

He insisted on walking over the snow drops I was trying to get a shot of. Too cute to be told to bugger off though! 

This little guy was born a few nights ago in the field opposite - his mum had kept us awake shouting for an epidural the night before.

This season should be re-named 'the time of cute baby animals'

Thanks for your comments on my last post - I am in the process of inventing the perfect island paradise - in true sci-fi manner, once imagined - anything is possible! 

so far there is a small hamlet of warm stone cottages, large gardens with soil perfect for growing veg.  Trees, fields, streams, hills and valleys - but it all fits onto a few square miles! the children can run round barefoot, and the village shop will not be tesco's, but a lovely co-operative that also stocks the fruits of out crafty labours for the odd tourist who makes it there. Now then, men... Strong, outdoor types with rugged good looks, and they can have an old barn on the hill to do bonding type things like building fires etc. when there is a good period drama on TV!

oh well, will keep working on that plan.

So, before I say ta ta for now, here are two pickie of a couple of brooches and some key rings I have been slaving away over - ready for Saturday!!!! 

you wait for 1 craft fair, then 3 come along at once!

It has been CRAZY here at Juicy Towers this past few weeks. After getting hitched up mentally to the possibility that lady Golfers may be from another planet and not appreciate my hand made earth items, and being set right by some of you good readers, I have signed up to 2 more craft fairs BEFORE the golf club fair.

 I have always suffered from 'What the heck, give it a go' syndrome. This in the past has seen me come away from various meetings with a new role. For example, when Taryn was a tiny figlet, I ended up as chairperson of her play school committee, then after attending a meeting to re-energise the local horticultural society, and sitting listening to 2 old gents argue about weather to alter the entrance fee from 15p to 20p for half an hour - I left as Chairperson - again. When some parents wanted to start a 'Rainbow' unit in the village, I came out of the meeting running the 'new' unit - then there was no knit and natter group,  the African drumming class, the list goes on and on - it got so bad that my husband threatened to cut my arm off to stop me raising my hand at the crucial 'do we have any volunteers?' moment - now I just avoid going to meetings - but a tempting e-mail...well, sometimes you do just have to throw caution to the wind and sign up! 

I have been face booking the events, twittering the events, sticking up posters, handing out fliers, and busy busy making items I just hope the buying public will love so much they need to part with their cash to own it! 

In the mean time I have been watching programmes like Hugh's fish fight, The peoples supermarket, country file amongst others and feeling quite confused and torn up about being a part of the whole 'problem'  - I have resolved to buy unusual fish, shop at the fishmongers, and keep an eye out for mackerel on local chip shop menu's (although I can't remember the last time I went to the chippy!) I am trying to shop at Tesco (or the others) as little as possible, but as a child of the 70's I have grown up with large supermarkets and no local grocery shops - so it is taking me some time to get my head around how I shop - getting there though! And country files report on affordable housing for local people in rural locations hit a real chord - this has been a gripe of mine for 20 years! I was brought up in a house my parents bought from my great grandfather, and they still live their - however when me and baby fig moved out almost 20 years ago, I could not afford to buy or rent a property in the village, so had to move to the next village where much of the housing was council housing or mill terraces, and over that 20 year period the prices of houses in Whalley has become obscene! a small 2 up 2 down will set you back up to £250K! The village is growing and growing with new housing - about 10 years ago a huge old 'mental hospital' was closed down apart from a small secure unit - then hundreds of new houses were built around the site, almost doubling the village population - and now plans for another 2-3 hundred houses are being made. All on green fields. They are even considering building a new school - please don't let them knock down the 200 year old school we already have! 

I am feeling less and less like a 'local' I hardly know anyone in the streets and shops, and while walking down a country lane the other week had some 'newcomer' in their 4x4 blast there horn at me to move then call me a 'yokel' as they tore past! 

Give me an Island, with a sewing machine and a stack of fabric - nice weather, Internet connection, and a husband who can catch our food.

Call for Lady Golfers!

Well, the van has gone - Sold!!! I had just posted it on e-bay when a lovely local chap knocked on the door - he had recognised where I had taken the picture, and came straight over to offer me cash! 

All my lovely drums are scattered about now, My brother is looking after about 15 for me, mum and dad have about 10 of them, and we managed to get away with only storing about 4! so still in business for the odd drum circle or class. - I just hope I do see the van around town looking good and being used. 

I have been asked to have a stall at an open day event at Gt Harwood Golf course. I have no idea at all would appeal to lady golfers, Taryn said to make golf club cosies. I said NO! and anyway, I would have no idea what shape to make them etc...I am hoping they are like normal human beings and like other things besides golf...

So - I have been trying to come up with more ideas - so far I have managed some notebook covers! then run out of ideas again... 

Who would have thought creativity was soooo difficult?

Oh yeah - I made some shoe sweeteners in case they get smelly golf shoes!!! That's er..lateral thinking? well, something like that!

These ones smell of Baby Powder. - Do women admit to smelly feet? 

My Van is DEAD!!!!

New on Folksy

Hello My Bloggy friends!  

What a miserable couple of weeks! the weather has been rotten, the days speed past so fast I feel dizzy! and the house work is just never ending.

My Van had to go for it's MOT this week, and has failed miserably - I cannot afford to get the welding done to get it through the MOT, so have decided to cut my losses and get rid of it. It has been a real star for me, a good work horse getting my mountain of Djembe's, Douns, Kpanlogo, Apentema etc all over the North West of England, from schools to youth clubs, corporate knee's ups, African Drum classes and Community drum circles - but the work has diminished over the past couple of years and I have been left with gigs for very young children who just don't get anything out of it!

I am selling all but a few of my drums, and Valda the Van will end up being sold or scrapped.

The End of an ERA for me. and I must admit, I have cried quite a bit over it.

I have been very busy moving the sewing room round as well, now I can manage the leek better, and it did need a good sorting out! I managed to free cycle a huge bag of fabric, though you can't tell, and another bag to the charity shop full of t-shirts that were going to become a rag rug, but that could be anytime n the next 20 years! there is only so much I can store for those 'just in case' moments! 

Finally I got around to some more items to sell on Folksy in my newly tidied and re-arranged room!

 A friend asked me to make a heart for her sister who had just had her bedroom decorated in black/white/grey - I made one for her, and one for the shop - she was so pleased with it! there is nothing like instant positive feedback!

 These are a new idea for me, and I have been working with a lovely woman who makes scented candles and soaps to get something to scent my items with that won't fade too fast or stain the fabric - these are for stinky trainers and smell of chocolate! I am going to do a few different 'flavors' and some more manly ones - because they have smellier feet!

and a couple more needle cases - I love this linen fabric from my new favorite e-bay shop

Shopping with Mother

I have no idea how I managed to work full time and do every thing else I either wanted to do or had to do, House work etc, Since I stopped working, I have never been so busy! The house work NEVER ENDS! And I don't even do certain things, like IRONING! It is a real struggle to find time to be inspired to sew and knit, and list things on Etsy and Folksy and E-bay, and tweeting and facebooking...the list is endless.

I have just been to tesco for about the fourth time this week also. BUT today I forgot my bags and saw the new Tesco charity shopping bag. I um-ed and ah-ed over the £4 price tag I couldn't really afford, but caved in eventually and had to have one of the new Orla Kiely designs (I could certainly not afford one form her shop, and it is for charity!)

It was lovely and sunny today as well, Clitheroe was Packed with shoppers, and the charity shops were like sardines packed in a tin with tomato juice!

so baby fig Taryn (who has just started her own blog and Etsy shop) took her old mum to Jimmy Citheroe's market cafe for coffee, pie, peas and gravy. We were playing around with my camera while waiting for the food

I love these shots, but then she is my favorite model!

Thank you everyone for your advice and commiserations regarding the roof - I am sure we will get it sorted out before it lands on us! 

Before Christmas our Dryer broke, after freezing solid in our shed, then the ice breaking the fan - so all radiators have been permanently covered in washing - Today Mr Juicy finally dragged it out into the yard and we found the broken part, a quick trip to the local appliance shop and it is all mended, I envisage none stop washing for about a week now to catch up with the back log!

I have been busy avoiding My Juicy while repair were being seen to - and made a few bits for folksy...

My Mum dropped by earlier and commented on my domesticated 'look' 

this involved me wearing an apron (a shock for her no doubt!) and as I pointed out to her my lancashire house wife's clogs!

right, back to scaling the dizzying heights of the washing mountain!

Tiny stitches

Thank you for all your comments regarding the roof - every spare penny is being saved for it at the moment, then we just have to find an honest roofer (having already paid 3 different roofers to go up their and do nothing!)

The 'dummy' turned out to be the good type! but as daughter Taryn acquired it, she is now keeping it in her already overcrowded bedroom. She has started her own blog this week, and put photo's of 'Pertunia' up Pertunia the plus size model

Still away from the sewing room, I have been doing a little bit of embroidery as well, Taryn bought me a book for Christmas with some really pretty idea's for cross stitch - not thinking too much about fabric and hole sizes etc I set forth on a couple of little samples - my eye's were nearly bleeding when I finished! Me thinks some bigger fabric might be in order!

I also signed up to Twitter this week - what on earth is that about? I kept thinking it was crucial because everyone is tweeting - but I just don't get it! still, it is keeping me both perplexed and amused for the moment.

Right - I am off to Culcheth near Warrington today - double visit as always, Black Sheep Wools first, then into Warrington to visit Grandma.

Wet and Miserable.

 What a HORRIBLE couple of weather days we have had in the North West. Not only has the rain hardly stopped, it hasn't allowed much sunlight through, so the days have not ever really been 'light'

 We have known for a while that our roof is in need of some MAJOR work, most of the beams supporting it are rotting and need repairs or completely replacing, but as neither Mr Juicy or myself are currently in full time work, and only just managing to pay the bills, it has been put on hold until we have the money! 

Yesterday the rain seamed to be coming in from the East, hitting the front of the house, and pouring into my beloved sewing room above the window. I have rescued my hand made blind, and moved most of the items on my workbench (in front of the window) - there are two large pans catching the water, about 4" during the night.

 I just didn't have the heart to sit in their and work around the water yesterday, so to try and cheer myself up, and inspired by the cushion I received in the swap I have dug out my own granny's garden quilt project, now in it's 20th year, and sat down stairs in the gloom, sewing until my fingers hurt!

The hexagons sides are just 1" long, and it contains bits of fabrics from most of my projects over the past 20 years, and still fits in the first Octagon box I ever made!

 Even Bodkin was in a funk about the weather (I had to get him to open his eyes to focus the camera on him!) 

While Stitch is having a wonderful time asking to be let out into the rain, then returning 5 minutes later for a good rub down with a towel and a purr, then asking to go out again!

the be-clothed bunny

Thank you all for your advice! in the end I made....HIM....a purple jumper (although he could still possibly be a she)

Billy Bunny is now for sale on Folksy, and I shall be making a larger bunny or two, so I can make dungaree's pinafore's, skirts and pants etc - all in Purple! hehe, or not. 

I have been very busy photographing the stages of making marmalade all day, and I still haven't finished it, and have decided my Etsy shop will be for Vintage items and my Folksy shop for hand made items. I have been trawling through one of the many button tins from my Grandma (now in her 97th year don'tcha know!) and it is a real wrench getting rid of any of them, but there are so many, and I can't see me ever using some of them. If you are into your buttons, take a look, they are all reasonably priced (I think!) '

Right - I am off to pick baby fig up from work - she works at the clothes store EVANS in Blackburn town centre - the shop is closing for good the first week in February, so they are clearing out all the junk. Apparently she has managed to get her hands on a shop dummy - I just really really hope it is one of those tasteful headless calico bodied, one wooden leg affairs and not some slightly chubby plastic, naked, bald chick!

The Naked Bunny

I have been busy making some new 'almost spring' items for my Folksy shop - and created this bunny yesterday. I think he looks kind of...well, very naked! 

I am wondering if I have the skills to knit him a jumper, or to sew her a dress, or both - or should a bunny be naked?

If only....

 I have searched everywhere for Seville Oranges this year. It has been quite a sad little journey really - at one time you could have bought them anywhere at this time of year, but I suppose if there is a lack of demand they are less likely to be imported or stocked - also all our local markets seam to be on a downward spiral. 

Our nearest 'big' market is Blackburn. This has been a huge vibrant market all my life and way way into the past, however over  the past 5 years the number of stall holders has dwindled. A couple of years ago, the MALL bought the town centre and market. They have been refurbishing the shopping centre and building an all new singing and dancing market hall where rents will be higher and stall holders will have to be open 6 days a week. This has put most stall holders out of business or caused them to move to other markets. Last week the very last of the fruit and veg stalls closed on the old market. Very sad - and all we can do is stand and watch as it all vanishes.

A similar fate has been working it's way through Clitheroe Market - a smaller market for a smaller town, but after a huge over haul about 10 years ago, that too has become smaller and smaller.

It doesn't help that both these towns have a large amount of supermarkets, and that for the average working person a weekday market that closes about 4pm is just not practical, and Saturdays are spent trawling round the huge shopping centres and supermarkets - to be totally honest, we only have our selves to blame.

So it is with a certain amount of shame on my part that I finally found my oranges in one of Clitheroe's Supermarkets. And yes, I am as bad as the next person - I could have supported the markets more, the local shop keepers and helped to keep my community alive, but I do go to each of the supermarkets, have a loyalty card for each, am loyal to none, and if I can get it cheaper their, I probably will.

Anyway - I have those darned oranges now, I just hope the marmalade will taste sweet, and not leave a taste more bitter than it should be!

 AT LAST!! I signed up for a cushion swap - ooh, AGES ago! Then - I completely forgot about it! Imagine my surprise when this absolutely gorgeous parcel arrived from Neeta at  Everything Neet

 It is so lovely, and SO ME!!! all hand sewn, finished beautifully, and with some lovely 'extra' too (she has managed to encapsulate the relative size of my underwear uncanilly accurately!)

 The cushion cover received a feather pillow to give it maximum squashiness and has resided by the fire place on a tiny stool over Christmas for my smaller nieces to sit on!

 In return (after a bit of a shock reminder!!!) I sent out my cushion cover. I hope Nita liked it, she had requested something not too old fashioned, but once I finished it, I kinda thought it was a bit old fashioned...eek! but by then it was too late to make another.....

I am going to restrict myself to only 2 swaps this year I think - or - just organise one myself...so any suggestions of what to swap would be cool!

I had a request for my Marmalade Recipe - I have added another page to my blog with the recipe! No photo's yet, but take a look if preserves are you thing - and all comments are welcome, perhaps share some of your own fail safe techniques!

Tea of Life

2011 is here. I made it!!

As Mr Juicy's birthday is also 31st December, and he is now tea-total, we had a quiet night in, him scoffing his gluten, wheat, dairy free chocs, and me eating everything else! - well, someone has to do it, can't have all those short bread going off. 

Above is a gift from baby fig's new man - the most adorable collection of tea's I have not been able to open until I had photographed them, and now feel I should open as they look 'healthy' and smell fantastic, but I don't want to spoil them...oh well, perhaps I should have resolved to not hoard things because they 'look nice'
They are Pure Ceylon Tea flavoured with Earl Grey, Red Pomegranite, Jasmine Orange, Mint Julep, White Lavender, Tropical Sorbet and Green Passion Fruit, to name a few!!! 

One resolution has been to walk more - or cut down on my car use, especially now the price of unleaded is so high. I have been taking my camera with me as well, but sometimes get fed up with taking photo's of the same things over and over, however, I have been walking under what is known as the 'school house' my entire life and never ever noticed how colourful it actually is. Maybe it was just the light, angle etc, or that I had been reading my new Kaffe Fassett book about patterns and textures etc.

I just have to figure out how to turn these images into beautiful hand crafted items!!! 

Oohh, and it is almost Seville Orange season. I have been making Marmalade for donkeys years now, mainly because I love marmalade, the home made stuff is always better than mass produced orange jelly with a few shreds thrown in, it is so therapeutic to make and usually lasts us a whole year - Mmmmmm