Blissed out

Nuff said...

Whether the weather

 As a nation we are passionate when it comes to talking about the weather - we discuss it endlessly, the forecast, what weather we have had, what is to come, if we like it hot, but not this hot, if the gardens need rain or sunshine, what grade of rain it is,  that fine stuff that wets you through, torrential fat rain that bounces up when it hits the ground, we have dry days, humid days, days to rival north African temperatures and Arctic climates - summer events either end in sun burn or get rained off, winters are clear sharp and crisp or miserable wet and grey - what would we talk about if the weather never changed? - lets face it, we have a lot of weather!

 Our felines have discovered they can also turn the weather to their advantage - as soon as it rains they are in and out of the house like they are on elastic, not because they enjoy getting wet, but because Mr Juicy has taken to rubbing them dry with a towel each time they come in which they can't get enough of - I think he has made a rod for his own back with this one!

I really don't mind the English weather - it can be frustrating at times, but hey, we should be used to it by now! So take delight in the small things, rain drops on roses carnations, morning dew on a spiders web, amazing clouds and sunsets, I even witnessed Blackburn from a nearby hill 'steaming' after a cloud burst on a hot day last week - the weather is rarely dull!

Now - how do I get all this washing dry???

Whether the weather be fine
Or whether the weather be not
Whether the weather be cold
Or whether the weather be hot
We'll weather the weather
Whatever the weather
Whether we like it or not.

Making it up as I go along

Sometimes it feels like all I do is moan about one thing or another, and over the past couple of weeks I seam to have had reason to moan - but probably took it to the extreme, so today is a calm Sunday. 

Well, t would have been calm, but first thing this morning I had to dash out to a muddy field to rescue Baby Fig from her flooded tent after she had been woken by a torrential cloud burst at the aptly named 'cloud spotters micro festival' - I don't know, teenagers these days have no stamina or sense of adventure! 

Last week I went to our local wool shops first birthday party, and was inspired by the speaker Veronica Shaw who writes patterns for Let's Knit Magazine to just get on with my knitting, make stuff up as I go along, mix colours and textures and basically stop pontificating over everything I do! So to this end I have been crocheting a new blanket of blues from my huge basket of double knitting 'odd balls that need using up'

I did however get a little distracted mid week after discovering King Coles new sequined yarn - I am not a sequin type person at all so I am not really sure quite why I fell for this yarn, but cautiously invested in just one ball and am now working it into a frilly edged scarf I designed myself.

Not a brilliant photo - but the whole of the Ribble Valley is currently sitting under a very grey cloud!

It is now just over 12 months since I worked for the Department of Work and Pensions. The department I worked for was the Child Support Agency. In the 6 years I worked for them I learned more about bitterness and suffering than I ever imagined was out there on our small island. I think I had been rather nieive about life! I saw a side to people I would be more than happy never to witness again, both within the workplace management, myself and the customers.  It left me wondering just how disproportionate my view of humanity was compared to reality, and it also left me feeling distrustful and suspicious - almost paranoid! I am however working very hard on seeing the country and it's people with a more balanced view, but also trying to look at myself and my part in the grand scheme of things - I am by no stretch of the imagination a model citizen - how boring would that be! but I am trying my best and have been looking at the SLOW MOVEMENT - I am not signing up to anything, joining anything or telling anyone else to - but I like the ethos behind it, it's new old fashioned ways - the sense of appreciation of your own toils and those of others. Life is too short for all the stress and worry we create for ourselves. I don't suppose I will stop moaning about things, people, situations - but I am determined to to make an effort not to let the same things wind me up like they have in the past.

So - here is a 'big up' to life, lessons and living - next time I am about to have a rant, I will count to 10, look at it from all angles, fight the fights that need fighting and take the most from small pleasures in life like a sparkly sequinned scarf - and spot happiness in everything around me. 

Finally, a moment captured last Friday at Warrington Walking Day - My Grandma who is 96, attending her 96th walking day - She loves everything about it, especially when the pipe bands play as they pass us all standing in the same spot we have stood in for over 100 years!

 Grandma with a bag she asked me to crochet for carrying her handkerchief!

 Sis-in-law Elpetha with her youngest Daughter Gracie

 Our now dwindling group of family and friends in the usual spot!

 My baby brother on the right and uncle on the left

 Gracie running out to give her Daddy his walking day money

 My wonderful mum giving her Brother his walking day money

Friend of the family who walk every year

that was the week that was...busy!

 I have had an incredibly busy week! I have finally finished this baby quilt that was my first commission - I chose the colours etc, so I just hope they like it! It has been finished in a record 2 weeks, this is mainly due to my Daughter's statement when I started..."I bet you don't finish it, it will end up with all the other blankets you have started" - I am now wondering if my client paid her to say this, as they both know me so well! so - 90 squares, and 4 balls of wool later - it is done. I hope Baby Oliver (when he is born) appreciates all these  colours!

Last Wednesday Baby Fig and myself went to the first of 6 FREE printing workshops at Blackburn Museum.

It was a fantastic afternoon, the teacher was so lovely and very talented - however, the only people there were baby fig and myself - what a shame! So, if you are in the area and have a Wednesday afternoon free, get down to the museum and have a go - we can't wait for this weeks workshop!

I have been busy tweeting...the internet conspires to keep me at my computer far too long! but if you are a tweeter - come and say hello!

Very exciting for me, I was asked to write a GUEST BLOG by a fellow twitter-er, so I did! I was quite pleased with it - which is unusual for me! These girls have a lovely site about thriftiness and good money management, do pop over and say hello to PennyWisePenny

So - in the next few days I will be posting up a couple of Bread making recipe's to tie in with the blog, my basic-can't go wrong-daily loaf recipe, and my Grandma's 70 year old woman's hour recipe! 

All we need now is more sunshine - what happened to it?

Some one has to win!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered my little may give away - it's at times like this I wish I could afford to send everyone who entered a prize! 

Good to see some familiar faces, and also good to see some new faces - but enough waffle! 

This morning I made 2 parcels up - both identical, with some lovely smellies, and a little extra something! 

All the names and entries were put into a bowl

Including my friend Fig at Hairy Knees - living in distant South Africa! 

2 impartial 'name taker out of bowl' people were found...

Mr Juicy went first - and selected....

Look at those workmans hands! - Well done to Fiona Mac!

Then Baby Fig picked a name....

Disgusting nails BFIG but well done to Michelle!

THANKS AGAIN to EVERYONE who entered - and Fiona and Michelle - I hope you love your parcels! 

The Great May Give-away!

Welcome my bloggy chums - I thought it was about time I did a Juicy Give away, and as May rhymes with 'Away' well, a May Give away was in order! 

To be extra generous, but also make you work for your entry, you have 4 chances to enter - Names will be drawn out of the proverbial hat (i.e. a bowl) on Sunday 15th of May, at 12pm - so get your entries in before then to qualify.

Ways to enter;

1. Leave a comment if you are allready a follower

2. Follow the JuicyFig blog, and leave comment to let me know!

3. Tweet this post on the twitter-me-bobs, leave a comment to let me know you have done it

4. 'Like' the JuicyFig page -  then leave me a comment here to let me know

I will put the name of EVERY comment in the hat - and draw out 2 winners. 

But what do I win? I hear you cry!

Well, as I have been having a blast making scented items for both my Folksy and Etsy shops - it will be a selection of scented items - and a few other little goodies! 

These all smell fantastic - Baby Powder and Vintage Rose scents for your wardrobe, knicker draw, car, bathroom, anywhere you need a sweet smell!

So what are you waiting for? Share the love and maybe win a prize, Sweet! 

Busy Sundays

 Why is it that Sundays are always so busy? Mind you, I do feel like I have achieved a lot!

A couple more hexagons sewn today - Still trying to make up my mind about what they will eventually be, but Knitting bag is number one on the list of possibles right now.

Listed a pile of summer jumpers on e-bay for the 'traditionally built' ladies out there, as well as some beloved fabric, some almost vintage Rowan wool, and a load of Simpson's Toy figures - I have no idea why I had them for so long! - Links at the top of the page if you fancy an e-bay bargain! 

Then, Made a pair of curtains for my 14 year old Niece who lives next door - Her dad has been doing her room up for 6 years now, and tonight she finally gets to move out of the room she has been sharing with her 6 year old sister, she is VERY excited, and I have promised her I will blog about the room once she has 'sorted it out'

Tea is almost cooked - and I have another 50 granny squares to crochet for a baby blanket - not all tonight, but hoping to get another 10 done at least!

Also - After forgetting I had signed up for a Button swap, and getting a reminder from my swap partner, I have been thinking a great deal about what to make for her - I will be ready for a rest tomorrow!

Looking back, over your shoulder...

What a morning - I have just spent half an hour looking back through my own posts - mostly being astonished by how long ago things occurred in relation to how not so long ago they are in my memory! (does that make sense?)

This time was supposed to be spent reading other peoples blogs - I am getting so tardy at this, and I so love reading all your adventures! But since signing up for twitter, and starting a JuicyFig facebook page, I get so easily side tracked, mind you it does not help me being SO computer illiterate, it takes me AGES to do anything!

 The other thing that struck me while looking back is how clean and tidy my house looks in them! Since finishing work and Baby Fig moving back home, the house has gone to pieces! there is not an inch of space anywhere - I wouldn't mind so much if I hadn't spent the past 12 months throwing stuff out and selling items on e-bay, plus I can't afford to buy anything new! - so where does it all come from?

 Has anyone been watching the series on BBC1 about Liberty's, Habitat, Boots et al?

I had dreams of my products being stocked in Liberty's for years - but to be honest, after watching this programe, and seeing artists and crafts people taken on by them, then the gorgeous stuff they make being mass produced abroad, and there prices being knocked down and down, I am not sure I would want that! - Still, the money would be nice right now. My compensation from my last job has long since ended, and I am at another of those strange life junctions with decisions that need making. Baby Fig has also lost her job, but is desperate to get back into screen printing. Our goal is to work together someday - we just need a huge cash injection - a donation preferably!! hehehe

 In the mean time, I have been busy knitting. These scarves are all in my Folksy shop - HOWEVER! the twirly ones are so simple to make, only the knit stitch is required, so I am going to post the pattern on here so if you fancy having a go you can!

Right - better start tidying up! 

Craft Fairs and Farmers Markets

Hello my bloggy chums, I hope (if you are in the UK) you are making the most of this glorious sunshine!

It has been an absolutely stunning spring so far, which always makes me think that summer is going to be rotten, but fingers crossed it will continue to be as glorious as it is now! 

This morning we went off to Browsholme hall in Bowland to their monthly Farmers and craft market - it is in the most stunning location, nothing but rolling hills, green fields, twisty country roads and woodlands as far as the eye can see! I had gone to see if it would be worth taking a stall their. The market is in the old Tithe barn, and there were plenty of people there, but apparently people were not spending much money - also another stall selling items similar to mine already had residence, I was a little disappointed by how little the lady was charging for stuff, how she made things for so little I don't know. All the way home, all I could think about was finding a workshop for my Daughter to set up screen printing and me to sew the fabric she made - everywhere is just so expensive though! I will keep dreaming, who knows, one day! 

So - to help facilitate said dream, I listed some new items in my Etsy shop, one step at a time sweet figgy!

Bodkin The Brave

Thanks for the get well soons for our teeny tiny kitty Bodkin.

He has somehow managed to take some of his stitches out, so another trip to the vets was needed to get his leg stapled instead - he is now feeling very sorry for himself, as he has to wear one of those Elizabethan collars that looks like a trumpet on his head - he has been banished from the great outdoors until it heals more - in the mean time he is insisting on throwing himself against the windows to get out, then moon walking round the house - very funny, but I can't wait for him to be allowed out again!

Only a couple of days now until the Royal Shindig - I must admit that although I am not a fan of Royalty, it does completely fascinate me! As far as I can tell our country does have the longest Royal History, there have been good 'uns and bad 'uns, and I would rather be a citizen than a subject - I think...but we really do pomp and ceremony like no other country, and every aspect of the wedding has some historical story behind it. 

I was watching a program earlier today about other royal weddings, and the gifts received from loyal subjects - one of the queens wedding gifts was a pile of knitted dish cloths - I wonder if she still uses them?

When Charles and Di wed in 1981 - I was 10 years old. I was spending the week at Stonyhurst collage, about 5 miles away. On the day of the wedding they set up a TV in the refectory - it was the most amazing place to be, I felt almost Royal! (check the link and you will see why!)

This time I am going round to my mums to watch, we will make sandwiches and drink Bitter Shandy's!

What ever you get up to on Friday - I hope you have a wonderful day!