Pickle-Lily

Drawing bags

2012-02-27T01:14:00.000-08:00

One of my 'best sellers' have been baking bags. These are a little cotton shopping or storage bag with an apron, recipe card, cake cases, rolling pin, wooden spoon, whisk and a cookie cutter.

Baking bag

I've made them in all sorts of fabrics and hopefully they'll continue to do well. Last week Pickle-Lily and I created our newest product - Drawing bags. These are a cotton bag with a packet of pencils, sketch pad, palette of paints and a choice of felt pencil case with a pencil set in it. I'm hoping they will appeal as presents or something to take in the car or just for storing all those arty bits in.

Great fabric for the bag!

Some of the pencil case designs.

I've got quite a few events lined up this week, for some reaon they've all fallen together, so I will see how they sell.
Now for something different, I have realised it is our first birthday and the next post will be the 100th, so for the next post we will have a Birthday Giveaway! P and I are busy creating a party bag for the lucky winner, so watch out for the next post.
Inbetween this all I will be visiting all the blogs over at Wendy's Handmade Monday - it usually takes me all week, but I enjoy the later visits as I get to read 'more' blog if that makes sense!
Have a good week!
Jo x

Book Week Cometh!

2012-02-23T04:56:00.000-08:00

With World Book Day happening next Thursday, lots of mums will be springing into action creating costumes, so I would like to share my simple costume makes.
Most of them are based around a cloak - it can be made in different colours and used for all sorts of characters, and some I made have been hand sewn as I didn't have a machine at the time. So here goes ...

Simple cloak

Robin Hood - the cloak here is just a large rectangle of fabric with a channel sewn at the top edge and thick cord or ribbon threaded through. To add pizazz I bondawebbed a crown motif into the middle. Underneath a very simple tabard, again with the crown motif.

and a hat made from two triangles of felt sewn together with a feather to finish. The next stage on is to create a hood...

Little Red Riding Hood

Hand sewn in

This is done by creating some pleats about three quarters of the way down the cape, and a ribbon sewn onto them, the pleats can be adjusted to suit the height of the wearer.

The shorter end is then joined across the top to create the hood. I also made one in black for when Robin became the sheriff ! In brown it could a Jedi cloak.
I hope this will offer some help in creating a costume.
Jo x

Fused Glass

2012-02-20T02:11:00.000-08:00

Fused glass heart

Green and orange

A few weeks ago Pickle-Lily and I went to Connies to take part in a fused glass workshop. We had a super Sunday afternoon cutting coloured glass and then using drops of superglue to fix it to clear glass. The glue is temporary as when the glass is fired it melds together and all the sharp edges become smooth. P and I made hearts for Valentines or Mothering Sunday, and rectangles where we could be creative.

Rainbow

Careful cutting

We loved doing this, it was simple and very effective, but sadly we can not afford a kiln.
During the week I will be visiting all the other blogs other at Wendy's for Handmade Monday . Thank-you to Wendy for my brilliant dishwasher sign - I'll show you that another time.
Jo x

Placing the glass carefully

P.S. We have discovered that we are coming up to our first birthday and to 100 posts so watch out for a giveaway!

Snowdrop Valley

2012-02-16T07:41:00.000-08:00

My guest blogger today is .... Pickle-Lily

On Wednesday 15th February 2012 My Mum, Brother and I went to Exmoor.

We first visited Snowdrop Valley, a beautiful forest carpeted with snowdrops in February. It has a single track entrance so narrow you can’t even walk past the minibus used for taking tourists up to the valley when it comes up. We parked in a nearby car park and took a Snowdrop valley park and ride minibus up to the valley.

As soon as you get into the valley the vast amount of snowdrops really hit you, and a peaceful sensation fills you with a real appreciation for the countryside.
There is a set route through the valley (on a rather muddy path!) and it takes you through patches of gorgeous snowdrops. The sheer amount of snowdrops there are its amazing. The snowdrops aren’t natural and were thought to be put there by monks in a nearby village. This magical place is only accessible by bus (in February) or walking to stop traffic blockages when the snowdrops are in full bloom.

Little birdie

2012-02-12T23:58:00.000-08:00

Little birdie

Sorry I haven't blogged for a while but last week I had lots of supply teaching work (which is great and I'm not complaining!) and on Tuesday I even swapped schools at lunch time!
I spent the evenings finishing up some old favourites, the mermaids

and a new bag design for spring - which I am also using for keyrings and needlecases. I made the bags in lovely soft pastel felt using spotty felt for the little bird.

baby blue - my favourite

lilac

and raspberry

Which colour is your favourite?
Now I'm waiting for the scaffolders to turn up, as tomorrow are having free solar panels fitted, so it could be an interesting few days - as well as being half term.
Whilst I'm waiting I'll be visiting all the other blogs over at Wendy's Handmade Monday to see what everyone else is up to.
Jo x
If you want a simple Valentine gift why not have a look at the felted hearts keyrings.

Festive Friday - Kung Hei Fat Choi

2012-02-03T00:54:00.000-08:00

A week late, but as the celebrations can last for up to fifteen days I feel I am allowed a little lee way.
A make for this then ...

Knitted fortune cookie

a knitted fortune cookie!
I made these to put in my role play Chinese Restaurant at school, to encourage small people to write messages or 'fortunes' on. You could send a message to a loved one for Valentine's Day, Mothering Sunday or just pop it in a lunch box!

To make -
Using double knit wool and 4mm needles cast on 12 stitches.
Knit (garter stitch) 1 row.
All rows are garter stitch.
Increase 1 stitch at each end of alternate rows until 20 stitches. I like to pick up the loop after the first stitch and before the last stitch as it gives a neater finish.
Knit 10 rows.
Knit 2 together at beginning and end of alternate rows until 12 stitches.
Knit 1 row.
Cast off.

It will look like this

Now sew the cast on and cast off edge together.

The join the two side pieces together on the straight row edges, like this

Leaving a channel to put your message in.
Very simple, designed for my daughter Pickle-Lily to knit but fun.
Jo x

Some bunny loves me

2012-01-30T02:22:00.000-08:00

Last week I spent making these bunnies ...

beautiful bunnies

1..2..3..

Can't find me!

some bunny loves me

(I made them using beautifully soft merino yarn from a pattern from Fuzzy Mittens - there's a link on my side bar. I just added my own touches with the daisy and tassel.)

.... And going to the dentist! So I'm afraid not much to blog about at the moment.

Pickle-Lily is fast asleep upstairs with a cold and headache and missed the little snow we had, she will be disappointed and I'm off to visit all the other lovely blogs over at Wendy's for Handmade Monday.

Jo x

Wassail

2012-01-23T00:41:00.000-08:00

On Saturday evening Pickle-Lily and I went to the Wassail at the local cider farm with the guides.
The word Wassail is derived from two Anglo-Saxon words "waes" and "hael", meaning be of good health. The guides were first on the stage doing some African drumming.

Choosing the queen

There were also morris men, belly dancers, the mummers and local bands during the rest of the evening. After the drumming one of the guides is chosen to be the wassail queen - this is done by cake. A special apple cake is baked and cut up whoever gets the piece with the note in it it, is the queen. She wears her queenly outfit and a crown and is carried on her throne in a special procession to the oldest apple tree in the orchard.

The wassail queen on her throne

At the tree, traditional wassail songs are sung, there is much shouting and noise making and then the tree has toast pushed into the cracks and is sprinkled with cider. The wassail ceremony is at this time of year because the tree spirit is sleeping and needs to be awakened, which is why we sing and make lots of noise, this also helps to frighten away any evil spirits. The toast soaked in cider is an offering to the robins who are seen as good spirits. The wassailing ceremony has been going on for hundreds and hundreds of years, and can be regarded as a thanksgiving to the apple trees and hoping for a good harvest during the coming year.

The mummers fantastic costumes

Toasting the tree

Sorry about the photo quality, but we were on the move a lot, it was dark and there was over 400 people there! At the end of the wassail the guides went home and the merriment went on long into the evening!

raaah!

For Handmade Monday this week - thank-you Wendy, and Creative Me - thank-you Jenny, I would like to offer dinosaurs ...
I have been busy making these for all the little boys out there either in self striping yarn or more sedate colours! Why not pop over to all those other fabulous blogs and have a look!
Jo x

Deck the Albert Hall

2012-01-20T00:22:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday I recieved this email

"Hi Pickle Lily,

I thought you might like to know that I picked up your pattern for a paper chain on the internet...
I’m hoping to use if for a large event at the WI AGM at the Albert Hall in May...

Best regards,
Katy
Crafts Council"

How exciting is this! I'm waiting to hear some more from Katy, but I had to share!
Have a good week-end.

Jo x

Big Shot Bliss

2012-01-17T02:41:00.000-08:00

After blogging about my needle felting presents last week, this week I have been playing with my other Christmas present - the Big Shot. Again, I am an absolute beginner in using this, but having read Caroline's and Kerri's posts and my fingers aching from individually cutting out little flowers I took the plunge! So this week I have been making

flower brooches

I am also making bigger flowers to use on felt bags and needle books

and I have started designing and making felt crowns - ready for the Jubilee and all the little princesses out there! There will also be a boy's version when my new die arrives all the way from America!

Don't I look lovely!

Pink flower crown

A short post as I am offer to wander through the hundreds of cutting dies listed on ebay!

Happy Handmade Monday everyone - why not go and visit some more brilliant blogs?

Jo x

Felted Hearts

2012-01-13T01:16:00.000-08:00

Felted heart key rings

I'm not sure if I have already told you, but my lovely sisters-in-law gave me some needle felting kit for Christmas. I already wet felt (but that tends to a warm weather activity outside, with all the soapy water used) and machine wash felt, but wanted to have a go at needle felting. I have already got the traditional needle, but to be honest the barbs are just daring me to stick my fingers in them, so for Christmas I was given a Clover brush and five needle pen. I also indulged myself in the Hobbycraft sale and bought a couple of moulds and a needle pen.
So this is the Pickle-Lily beginners - teach-it-yourself guide to felting hearts! I can not say if this is the correct way to do this, as I have been teaching myself, but I am very pleased with the end result!

Place the mold on top of a normal piece of paper on the brush.

Fill the mold with short sections of fluffed out merino tops.

Punch the tops using the pen through the paper.

This is what the reverse of the paper will look like.

Carefully remove the heart, turn it over and repeat the process on the other side, still placing the paper between the brush and the heart.

The finished hearts.

I then attached them to some normal wool mix felt to make the key rings ready for Valentines Day or Mothering Sunday.

I'm now off to order a book from the library to see if I'm doing it right!

Hearts and eggs

2012-01-09T04:21:00.000-08:00

After the success of the kits at Christmas, Pickle-Lily and I have designed two new ones. A pink and red heart mix ready for Valentines Day and Mothering Sunday

Red and pink hearts kit

and - really thinking ahead here ...

Easter eggs

Felt Easter egg decorations! It always takes a while putting colours, buttons and ribbons together and we have lots of discussions about our personal favourites. We also put some sweets in each kit - P's idea - I think it is so she can check out them all out first! This is what the finished Easter egg kits look like ...

We also have fun making all the kits up, using the ironing board as a mini production line, a much better use for it than ironing!
I have lots more ideas all buzzing around in my head, it is just getting the time to make them all! Just a short blog today as I am wondering what everyone else is up to over on Handmade Monday - why not go and visit as well?
Jo x

Thank-you's

2012-01-05T03:46:00.000-08:00

When I was little and then as a teenager, my mum always insisted I wrote thank-you letters for my presents. Sometimes I wrote reams, others I hated it with a vengeance, but now I really appreciate them when they arrive on my door mat. It's a little social nicety that I feel shouldn't die out. So, I have always made thank-you cards with my children, from hand prints, to photo notelets and this year with my lovely new shiny Big Shot! Thank-you Mr P-L for my fab present - and I still can't believe you kept it secret till Christmas day!

Thank-you Mr P-L

Simple thank-you notes.

I made the notes by embossing some patterned paper, trimming to size and sticking on a folded A5 piece of card. Some years ago I invested in a thank-you stamp, so the message is stamped inside and there is space to write a message. You can always write the message on a piece of white paper and stick it inside the card, in case a mistake is made. Two will fit snugly in a A5 envelope side by side and then pop them in the post.

I would also like to say thank-you to my lovely stocking swap partner - Emma . I resisted the temptation and waited to open my stocking ...

All these pretty things!

Fab fabrics!

Super stocking!

So thank-you Emma - I hope you enjoyed your stocking!

Handknitted in merino wool

This is what was inside!

A thank-you to Pretty Petal Handmade who a while ago awarded me with a Liebster Blog Award

I now have to pass this on to five of my favourite blogs that have less than 200 followers, so here goes, in no particular order ...

Bella-Boutique Lots of lovely ideas and tutorials.
Rose & Dahlia Again lovely things - and she has a Pickle too!
Home Grown Originals Met these lovely ladies at a Retro fair, they have so many lovely things!
RosMadeMe Fab tutorials for great things, and such a generous lady to share them with us!
Handcrafted by Picto Another fab blog and lady!

and thank-you to you for sharing my blog!

Jo x

Ice-cream on the beach

2012-01-01T14:20:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! Today we went for a walk along the beach and met these very brave people!

Anyone for a swim?

They were raising money for our local rescue hovercraft by going for a quick dip (and being sponsored to do it!).

What very brave people - even though the weather is mild, the water is very cold. So we settled for an ice-cream instead.

A great way to start the new year!

Happy New Year

2011-12-30T03:15:00.000-08:00

Lots of lovely new goodies waiting to be made into all the ideas I have whirling around in my head!

Have a very happy New Year everyone!

Jo x

Christmas Eve eve

2011-12-23T01:38:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas

Pickle-Lily would like to say a great big happy Christmas to all our lovely blog readers

See you in the New Year!

Last minute idea for a teenage son

2011-12-20T03:24:00.000-08:00

I have been racking my brains for stocking fillers for my teenage son. I made him a phone sock - he gave it to his sister, I've bought him some microsoft points, he's not into beautifying (at the moment!) so no need for posh 'products for men'. I had thought of 'googling' Stocking fillers for teenage boys, but the thought of what I'd find made me decide not to do that!!!!
Yesterday P made a jelly in our new jellybaby jelly mould.

Jellybaby jelly mould (from Lakeland)

There had been much debate over what colour, but red was decided and the jelly made (it takes two packets if you buy one). Big brother couldn't wait for it to set! But eventually it was ready and turned out (very easily).

A photo had to be taken!

The laughter and giggles as this poor jellybaby was cut up, had it's legs chopped off and decapitated by the 13 year old son! So ... idea one is a jelly baby mould and some jellies - I've got to go out today for more jelly I have been told!
Stocking filler idea two - a voucher for a cake and one for a pudding of his choice to be redeemed during the year, or knowing him next week!

When Mr PL gets home tonight I'll see if he can do his ICT whizz kid stuff and can put a link on somewhere for the actual document.
The cards are written and the tree is decorated ... cakes to marzipan this afternoon!
Merry Christmas!
Jo x

Merry Christmas to all!

2011-12-19T06:34:00.000-08:00

Well - it is now Monday afternoon, and I have finished the last Christmas Fair for Pickle-Lily, dropped off a load of goodies at Seabreeze and sat down to relax.... but I haven't finished my cakes off, bought presents let alone wrapped them or written Christmas cards yet! So I think this week is going to be just as busy! But I have still made time for Handmade Monday - and am looking forward to everyone's blogs this week.

Ice skating at Hestercombe Gardens

I spent last week-end at Hestercombe Gardens as part of the Christmas shopping market. A long day Saturday, left the house at 8 am back home at 9 pm! P visited Saturday afternoon to go ice skating - and loved it, so when she spent the day with me on Sunday she had two more sessions as 'wages'. £4 an hour for a child I thought was very good value for ice skating.
Whilst I was there I had a lovely chat with a lady about the mini Christmas stockings and I said I would publish the pattern.

Mini Christmas Stockings

I once knitted 30 of these as individual presents for the children in my class. On Saturday one of them visited me and told me he still hung it up every Christmas!
Using double knit and no 11 or 3 mm needles, cast on 24 stitches.
Purl 1 row.
Knit 1, increase into next stitch until the end of the row - 36 stitches.
Stocking stitch 7 rows.
Knit 14 stitches, knit 2 together four times, knit 14 stitches
Purl
Knit 12 stitches, knit 2 together four times, knit 12 stitches
Purl
Knit 10 stitches, knit 2 together four times, knit 10 stitches - 24 stitches
Starting with a purl row stocking stitch 13 rows. Finish with main colour.
Garter stitch 5 rows in Sirdar snowflake for the fluffy top.
Cast off
Fold in half and stitch the row ends and cast on edge together to make up.

Merry Christmas to all!
Jo and Pickle-Lily
xx

And another idea!

2011-12-15T04:31:00.000-08:00

All ready to go!

A simple gift for teachers, grandmas, grandads anyone really! A hyacinth in a pot, a coloured cellophane bag and a snowman tag.
The tags were made by printing two white circles using a carrot - cut off the top and bottom, smaller end is the head, top end is the body. I used readymix paint. Sprinkle with glitter whilst the paint is wet so it will stick to the paint.
Cut a sponge into a hat shape - any sponge - bathroom or one of the green scrubby kitchen ones - with a pair of scissors and print the hat using any colour you like. Add details of face and buttons when the paint is dry using a felt tip pen.

Great fun, easy and effective.

Christmas Ideas

2011-12-12T02:32:00.000-08:00

Welcome to another Handmade Monday - and thank-you to Wendy for hosting it while she is so busy. Congratulations on your success Wendy, and I am so glad I did my Christmas order back in about September! I'm also joining in with this week's Creative Me Monday another blog party full of brilliant ideas. So my blog today is one of ideas for Christmas - I hope you enjoy them.

A gardening gift

Garden book from Paperchase, hand cream and home made plant labels

The lovely hand cream came from The Beekeeping Ladies Pickle-Lily and I have often met these lovely ladies on our travels their lip balm is amazing and Mr P eats jars and jars of their honey marmalade. The labels were an idea from a Christmas magazine. Paint plant pot wooden shapes with chalkboard paint and glue lolly sticks on the back.

Pudding net bag

The pudding net bag was a gift from P's grandma yesterday. Although Mr P is excellent at tying knots, lifting the 3lb pudding I make, out of hot water (it's too big for the streamer and it will all be eaten by the end of Boxing day) with a string handle can be a little wobbly at times - this is brilliant, and I can make puddings now without having to wait for Mr P to tie them up.

A new Poinsettia and an old Advent Calendar

I love this variegated Poinsettia - makes a great gift for anyone, but I'm keeping it! The Playmobil advent calendar we have had for years, P loves building it each year and setting it all up, highly recommend this to everyone.

An elf on a shelf! This is this year's 'craze' from what I can gather. One of Father Christmas's elves sits on a shelf and sends messages back to FC on how well behaved people are. P and I saw the original one yesterday - £25!!!! - for a hardback book and a rather disappointing plastic elf (she didn't like his face), so we got this little fellow instead. He is now going to be part of the Christmas traditions and travel around the house (more of a game as who can find him) and will probably visit my last Christmas Fair - Hestercombe House - next week-end with me. P is coming with me on Sunday to go ice skating.

Elf on a shelf

I will be back with more ideas later in the week - have a lovely week.
Jo x
P.S. washing machine repair man has just been, guess what I need for Christmas!

Festive Friday - Decoration Swap

2011-12-09T01:27:00.000-08:00

This week an exciting package arrived full of these exciting parcels - all beautifully wrapped up in starry tissue paper.

It was my Christmas decoration swap from Giddystuff - organised by Hookin' With Laalaa (Congratulations). I have been so busy this week with school, family and orders that I saved opening it until this morning to brighten a very wet and hailey day. Inside were all these goodies ...

Thank-you!

How cute!

Perfect!

Beautiful - and it's mine Pickle-Lily!

Very colour co-ordinated, scrummy and lovely!

Beautiful Knitting Goddess yarn, reindeer decorations, a cute crocheted tree decoration and pin cushion (the photo shows you how cute!), chocolates (yum), a mini sock kit and a beautiful beaded bracelet (probably will have to be hidden from you-know-who or I'll lose it!!).

This is what I sent

I'll show you what's in it when I know it's safe!

Thank-you Giddystuff, so much for my lovely things.

Have a lovely week-end

Jo x

Proud Mum

2011-12-07T09:09:00.000-08:00

Today P had her work featured on the Crafty Ribbons blog .

She made this all by herself following their tutorial.

Candlelight

2011-12-06T00:54:00.000-08:00

Blackmore Farm

A busy week or as my husband would put it ... 'Busy! I just spent four hours burying the cat.' He is a HUGE Monty Python fan.
I have been busy crafting and at Christmas events - some were badly organised, some were fine, some had browsers not buyers and yesterday was super. Pickle-Lily was at Blackmore Farm, Cannington, just outside Bridgwater.
What an incredible place.

The Great Hall

Amazing flowers everywhere! All the candles lit for the evening.

Some of my wares

I was in the Gallery with Heather who sold beautiful bronze figure, lovely Linda who sold out of scarves and her marvellous mum who does amazing machine embroidery! Full of dark wood panelling and stone walls with leaded light windows. It was very cold during the day, but in the evening when the heating went on and the shutters closed we soon warmed up. The house was lit by candles for the evening, with a blazing log fire in the Great Hall and period live music playing. Mulled cider was available and lots of shopping done. I'm afraid my poor writing skills do not do justice to this place and I couldn't take photos in the evening as it was so busy!

Imagine buying your mulled cider with all the Tilley lamps alight from here.

Things have now slowed down and I am trying to catch up with orders, blogging and housework. So I shall return later in the week.
Jo x

There's Only 26 Sleeps...

2011-11-28T10:20:00.000-08:00

My scarf

Hi its P,
It's been a very busy week at Pickle-Lily (again)!
Yes a depressing thought to most adults but I'm very exited - I've been making loads of pressies including a pompon scarf for mum and something else she doesn't know about! The pompon wool knits up really quickly and the scarf is extremely long!

I've also been sewing coasters for family, my favourite is the bumble bee!

Soon the advent calenders will be up and we'll have to drag dad up into the loft to get them, along with a chocolate one which gets bigger as you get closer to Christmas! All this excitment (and squealing on my behalf) has made for a very excited time (except Dad as I may have burst his eardrum with all the squealing).

We also went back to Coldharbour Mill for another fair!

If you've come from Handmade Monday please go see everyone else's beautiful blogs.

Pxxx

PS Mum will be back later in the week.

And the winner is ......

2011-11-24T11:13:00.000-08:00

...Picto!

Well done Picto

Congratulations you are the lucky winner!

Hi its P here and I would like to thank everybody who followed our blog and left a comment!
You have won...

A beautiful bag made by Claudia from Annabelle bags, from lovely spotty and floral Laura Ashley fabric

... Issue two of Mollie Makes with knot necklace kit

...a ball of Adriafil Impulso trends

.... half a metre of Japanese shopping fabric

... a little box of Lindor chocolates!

I hope you enjoy them!
After lots of paper folding, I picked out a piece of paper to decide the winner, thanks for entering!

No peeping!

I hope you keep following, today I continued with my project-a knitted pompon scarf for mums Christmas pressie- watch this space; and made a trip to MIU after popping my foot!

Mum and I are off to Coldharbour Mill on Saturday for their Christmas Fair, really excited, I wonder if there will be alpacas again?

This is P signing off xxx

Only 7 to go!

2011-11-21T02:01:00.000-08:00

Only seven more followers needed and then Pickle-Lily can draw for the giveaway!

What you can win!

Thank-you for your lovely comments and now to business.
It's been a busy week - as always. Last Tuesday I went to the W.I. where we are making shopping bags out of old t-shirts. They are going to be sold and the money donated to Weston Hospice.

So easy to make

I used my son's old t-shirts as adult ones made ginormous bags that would drag on the ground if filled with shopping. So easy to make - sew across the bottom and cut off the arms and neck to make the handles. There is a demo here .

Ho-ho-ho!

I also returned to the lovely Connies in Weston to make a sock reindeer. Here he is guarding a basket of reindeer food ...

Socket

P has named him Socket - the antlers aren't quite right, they look more like horns so I shall have to rethink them. I met a lovely group of ladies and we had a super evening making our reindeer in a lovely environment. And of course P wants to make one now.

Have a good week - please visit Wendy at 1st Unique Gifts to see what everyone else is up to for Handmade Monday. I am looking forward to Coldharbour Mill Christmas Craft Fair this Saturday and not the hour appointment I have the dentist (again!) later this morning!

Festive Friday - Felted Christmas Tree Decorations

2011-11-18T00:13:00.000-08:00

Welcome to this week's Festive Friday

Felted Christmas Tree Decorations

I made these to use as either Christmas Tree Decorations or as a decoration on a gift. They are very easy to make using any pure wool. I used Rico's Creative Filz yarn to make these. Instructions are on the Felted Tree Decoration page.
Don't forget to enter the Fifty Follower Giveaway.

Fifty Follower Giveaway

2011-11-14T02:24:00.000-08:00

Pickle-Lily is having a giveaway.

I would like to reach fifty followers so I am having a giveaway. Here is what you could win ...

.. .a beautiful bag made by my friend Claudia from Annabelle bags from lovely spotty and floral Laura Ashley fabric

... Issue two of Mollie Makes with knot necklace kit

...a ball of Adriafil Impulso trends

.... half a metre of Japanese shopping fabric

... a little box of Lindor chocolates

All you need to do is....

Follow my blog and then leave a comment to say you have done this. If you are already a follower (thank you) please just leave me a comment.

For extra chances to win you can....

'Like' me on my Facebook page and leave a comment on my blog and on my facebook page to let me know you have done this. If you already 'like' my FB page then please just leave a comment here and FB!

If you would like to blog about my giveaway this will give you another entry. Again leave me another comment here on my blog.
Please ensure that I am able to contact you.

I will keep this giveaway open until I reach fifty followers on here and FB when I will then put all names into a hat and get Pickle-Lily to choose a winner!

I will post internationally so all welcome to enter

So what have I been up to? Last week I felt rotten, I had my tooth out Friday morning and by Tuesday I was back at the dentist as it had become infected, so I didn't manage to craft much - which is why I decided to have my giveaway instead. This week I am busy again and there will be a Festive Friday so please pop back. So why not pop over to Wendy at 1st Unique Crafts for Handmade Monday to see what everyone else is up to.

Jo x

This is now closed and a lucky winner has been chosen.

The easiest play dough ever!

2011-11-07T01:02:00.000-08:00

Mini stockings

This week I am busy knitting mini stockings for two fairs I'm attending.
Last week I made some red glittery cinnamon scented play dough for the children at school. It has got to be the easiest recipe ever - no saucepans or bowls with mix welded to it! You need

1 cup plain flour
1/2 cup salt
4 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 tablespoons oil
1 cup of boiling water

Mix it all together and knead. It will make your hands lovely and soft.

just mix

No need to cook it - the boiling water does it for you. I added red food colouring, glitter and some cinnamon. I've made black sparkly, white with toothpaste (scent and colour) whatever takes your fancy. It will keep in an airtight container for about a month - depending on any other items that get mixed with through play. It would make a great gift for any child of whatever age!

Red sparkle play dough

Happy Handmade Monday and Creative Me Monday to you all and thank-you to Wendy and Jenny for hosting and thank-you for all your lovely comments.
Jo x

Handmade Monday

2011-10-31T01:52:00.000-07:00

We won a Blue Peter badge for this photo!

Happy Halloween!
Yet another busy week revolving around the children! Lots of being Mums taxi and trying to fit some sewing and knitting in. Today I've got to 'empty' the pumpkin so Pickle-Lily can carve it when she gets home tonight! This year's pumpkins were a disaster, so had to use an old photo of one we grew a few years ago.

My very useful unit

My contribution for this week's Handmade Monday - many thanks to Wendy and thank-you to you for stopping by - is this brilliant unit Mr PL has made me. It is made from two IKEA shelf units screwed together and castor wheels on the bottom. The cutting mat fits perfectly and it is now full of all those bits and pieces that were stacked around that I use every day. It can be wheeled to wherever I am working (I'm not lucky enough to have a workroom) and can also be used as place for visitors to put their cup of tea Just need to find the time to paint it and make some labels to go on the drawers. It could always have another floor built on it if needed as well.
I have been busy with P's help making up sew it yourself kits

I made them as raffle prizes but they have turned out to be on be of Pickle-Lily's best sellers this year so far!
Just to let you know there probably won't be a Festive Friday this week as it is my turn to visit the dentist and have a tooth out. I'm off to visit some more blogs on Handmade Monday now and look at lovely things.
Jo x
P.S. Have just joined in with Creative Monday - lots of lovely blogs to visit there as well, why not pop over and have alook?

Festive Friday #3 - Happy Diwali

2011-10-27T23:37:00.000-07:00

Knitted Diva lamps

For Festive Friday today, a make and a bake - well actually no baking just mixing!
The make ... Knitted Diva lamps, I have said before that I will knit almost anything!

Knitted diva lamps

Look on the makes page for these - I used battery operated tea- lights (mine came from Hobbycraft) and earthy striped yarn, but for Christmas you could use glittery, sparkly or any colours you like. Thought these would look great on my stall, especially on evening events or in a Diwali display, child's bedroom ...

And the bake ..

Barfi sweets

On the Bake ... page. Delicious, can be made and eaten at any time of year, and again any colour you wish!
Have fun this week-end
Jo x

Handmade Monday and Leigh Retro and Craft Fair

2011-10-23T23:44:00.000-07:00

Yippeee ... it's half term!! Pickle-Lily and I have lots planned this week!

Last Saturday we went to Leigh Retro and Craft Fair (it's near Sherborne, Dorset) and what a fantastic day we had! The fair was really well organised with a brilliant mix of stalls, and busy from the beginning to the end. We spent lots and met loads of great people...

From Home Grown Originals

P bought an owl as a birthday present for one of her best friends, from Home Grown Originals . I also bought a lovely cheerful red seersucker tablecloth, just right for Christmas.

Home Grown Originals

Elm House Studio

P had to buy some hearts!

We were next to Elm House Studio Pottery ...

I also had lovely, long lingering looks at Make and Mend

Childhood memories

Make and Mend

And these are Pickle-Lily's latest offerings - wee Jock and friends.

Wee Jock and friends

Hello, if you're visiting from Handmade Monday please go and visit some other lovely blogs, I know I will.

Jo x

Festive Friday #2 - Mini Mittens

2011-10-21T00:43:00.000-07:00

Mini Mitten decoration

For this week's Festive Friday Pickle-Lily proudly presents .... Mini Mitten decoration!
I have given this pattern a page of it's own , so it is easier to find!
Enjoy!
Jo x
P.S. Pickle-Lily will be at the Craft and Retro Fair at Leigh Village Hall (near Sherbourne) this Saturday 10am to 3pm.

Choking

2011-10-17T04:28:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry I haven't blogged for a while but last week was so busy both during the day and in the evenings! Today I have finally stopped, and I'm now trying to catch up with house-work, Pickle-Lily and blogging. Today's post is something I don't usually blog about, but after yesterday I feel it is really important to share the information with as many as possible, because you'll never know when you'll need it, so please read on.
On Sunday I spent the day on a first aid course run by St John's. I have always held a first aid certificate and mine needed renewing and updating. In those past years whenever doing a course the first thing covered was always DR ABC (danger, response, airway, breathing and circulation), not so yesterday. The trainer started our course with choking, and showed us this video

Sorry - I haven't worked out to post the you tube video on the blog.
Frances, our trainer told us that choking will affect every single one of us, and that everyone should know what to do, because it can make a difference. For more help on what to do see here
Please watch it.
Jo x

Autumn Muffins

2011-10-10T00:28:00.000-07:00

Blueberry Muffins - photo 'clip art' by Pickle-Lily

Last week-end Pickle-Lily went blackberry picking with her friend. She came back with a lovely pot of juicy blackberries which she made into blackberry muffins.

Blackberry muffins

They were gorgeous - and didn't last long! The recipe has got to be the easiest muffin recipe ever - and is on the Bakes... page. We then made blueberry muffins Sunday morning as well - they were all eaten by tea time!
Thank-you to Wendy for hosting Handmade Monday - and thank-you for visiting me.
Jo x

Festive Friday #1

2011-10-07T00:49:00.000-07:00

I am such a big kid as I love Christmas!
Having taught the younger age range for soooo many years I have been lucky enough to have two Christmas's a year - one at school and one at home! Every year on the first school day in December I would get out the school decorations and decorate my classroom, we would have a Santa's workshop and I could build a sleigh out of an upside table and some seats ( and lots of fabric!).

I also for many years bought Prima Traditions Christmas magazine - made the Nativity costumes and knitted the gifts, but it hasn't been published for about ten years. I was so surprised and pleased when I found this

on the supermarket shelf this week. It is brilliant! Absolutely chocked full of great ideas and makes, like these

And so many more great makes. The magazine is £3.99 and well worth it.
Because I love festivals so much - Diwali and Hanukkah also featured heavily in school celebrations, and don't forget Halloween and Bonfire Night - the blog will have some Festive Friday features (I love alliteration!) up until I run out of ideas!

Happy Friday!
Jo x
P.S. Pickle-Lily is at Brent Knoll Village Bazaar and Farmer's Market tomorrow 10 to 12 noon.

a BIG thank-you

2011-10-04T10:53:00.000-07:00

Bookmarks - Bookmarkblogs

A big thank-you to every-one who left comments on my last post. I have had real problems with blogger when trying to leave comments, as soon as I highlight google account my comment disappears! I hope to reply somehow to you, but in the meantime Thank-you!

As a thank-you to everyone out there I am going to have a giveaway when I reach 50 followers so keep following please!

I'm taking part in the Great Stocking Swap over at The undomesticated scientist why not go over and join in too?
Jo x

Season's greetings!!!

2011-10-03T05:28:00.000-07:00

Welcome to autumn and what a fabulous week we have just had (and still having)! Although I'm not sure my garden knows what to do, as the apple tree seems to think it is spring as there is blossom on it!

Photo taken on 3rd October

It has meant that I have found it really hard to get on with making Christmas and winter goodies for Pickle-Lily - so decided instead to make some lavender bags and felt cupcake bags.

I love this pretty fabric

Store in an airtight container

I have dried my own lavender this year - pick nice long stems, put heads down in a paper bag with a rubber band to hold it closed and pop somewhere to dry.

Stripping the heads (pull through your thumb and forefinger into a container) can be a bit time consuming but the smell is gorgeous and invokes thoughts of hot summer days. I make small cotton bags with the lavender in to go inside the 'outer' bag, so it can be re-used again. I'm now trying to work out how to make Christmas bags with all the scents of Christmas inside.

Sorry about the quality of the photo's but Mr PL is in the

Falklands with the main camera - where it is snowing! So, I thinks I have visited every season in one post - hence the title!

If you are visiting from Handmade Monday - please go and enjoy some more blogs.

Jo x

It's a baby!

2011-09-27T00:48:00.000-07:00

The title is taken from one of my favourite Christmas story books Jesus' Christmas Party by Nicholas Allen. It has been turned into a Nativity play by thousands of schools, as it is such a good version of the story, from a grumpy inn-keeper's point of view.
My sister-in-law introduced me to the story many, many years ago, as she is a teacher too. She works at a special needs unit attached to a main stream school, and last year asked me to knit a nativity for her class to use, so much of last autumn was spent working on that project. It was finished and given as a birthday present (stupidly I forgot to photograph it - but it was the Jean Greenhowe one.) The children loved it, but she was asked where was the donkey and the angel?
So for this year's birthday Sister-in-Law has a donkey, an angel and a sack to store them all in. The donkey was another Jean Greenhowe pattern I found to go with the Nativity set. The angel is using her pattern and my imagination.

The angel

If you want to knit one she is based on Joseph's figure - white body, cream sleeves and sash. Her hair is knitted in yellow using Josep's hair pattern.
The halo is made from double knit using two strands, cast on 50 stitches, 1 row purl, cast off knit wise. Join the ends together. This is so thick it will hold it's shape well and then can be attached to the back of the head to stand out. I attached mine to the sides as well to make it extra secure for the children.

I love this fabric

This is the fabric I used for the sack to story all the figures in, I just love the colours and the expressions.
Happy Birthday Sister-in-Law.

Jo x

Monday Morning Musings

2011-09-26T03:38:00.000-07:00

An old railway poster I bought in the TIC to go my cloakroom wall!

Don't worry not morbid Monday morning musings!
Last week I felt 'out of sorts'.

Couldn't settle on anything. The previous week I had received a phone call from a local school, saying they had heard good things about me and was I free to work for two and a half days up till Christmas - I of course said 'Yes!'. For a supply teacher, a regular work offer like this is manna. So last week was my first regular week, and it really threw me! I have worked solidly for the past twenty plus years until September 2010 when through various circumstances I became a supply teacher. It also allowed me to become an almost full time crafter as well, fitting it in around my supply work. Now I have to go back to a routine, and to my surprise I don't really enjoy that any more! Of course the children have their routines that I have to fit around, but I think the notion that I couldn't sew or knit on three days really threw me.

Last week also threw in its usual surprises. Monday evening Pickle (my 13 year old son) got his front tooth knocked out at the swimming pool. He then pushed it back in! Everyone has said that's the right thing to do, but I couldn't do it to myself or to him, the thought makes my top lip curl round my teeth as I write. Two visits to the dentist on Tuesday and one on Friday means that they think his tooth will be saved. He has a mini brace cemented onto his teeth to hold it in position, and this Friday they are going to drill into the back of the tooth, clean out all the inside (as that will be dead now and in danger of going nasty) put on a temporary filling, and then repeat process until all inside is clean. It means the tooth will be 'dead' but will stay in place - we hope. I am not looking forward to Friday.

Tuesday I had a fab time at the W.I. we even sang Jerusalem I had watched Calender Girls to prepare myself - great film. But no real crafting all week - it was school, packed lunches, washing-up, cooking, mum's taxi and ironing and I felt really, well out of sorts!

The lighthouse

The hovercraft

On Saturday I popped into town to go to the bakers and buy a newspaper. I parked on the sea front and the sun was shining. The prom was full of people eating ice-cream, the rescue hovercraft was out practising - and suddenly the world seemed to be a lovely place! I went for a lovely walk, on my own (Pickle-Lily was watching the rugby with Mr PL, son was at cadets for the week-end), all along the prom just enjoying the sights and sounds and smells. Isn't amazing how something as simple as that can make such a difference!

I then spent the week-end making these..

Make felt hearts kit

I want to call her Carole - but P says no!

Though I know this week will be different again as Mr PL is off to the Falklands!
If you're visiting from Handmade Monday, please go and visit some more lovely blogs - and a big THANK-YOU to Wendy for hosting it.

Jo x

95 sleeps to Christmas - another make!

2011-09-20T03:10:00.000-07:00

As you know I have started to make Christmas things over the past few weeks, including some tree decorations. The little mitten above is one of them, and I will do a tutorial on these at a later date. Today's tutorial is a 'quickie' on how to make a twisted cord, perfect for hanging all your decorations. I have also explained it several times over the past few weeks to different people, so now I can point them in the direction of the blog. I will put the tutorial in the Makes ... page.

Only 95 sleeps to go according to Pickle-Lily.

Jo x

WoWWI !

2011-09-16T01:55:00.000-07:00

Next week I am looking forward to my first ever Women's Institute meeting. It is something I have wanted to do for a while, but the local groups meet across the middle of the afternoon (2 - 4pm) and if you need to collect children from school or work, the timings don't work.
At a Knit Club meeting many moons ago I was discussing this with some of the ladies there who also wanted to join the WI and so they decided to open a WI of their own in Weston-super-Mare.
Next Tuesday is the first meeting - in the evening, so I can go! We have been promised lots of cake - and if it is made by Helen it will be very good cake - and the bar will be open (if you are not driving).
If you would like more information please visit their blog and I may see you there!
Have a good week-end.
Jo
P.S. Women of Weston Women's Institute

101 Sleeps to Christmas!

2011-09-14T00:20:00.000-07:00

I've made a start!

Our advent countdown is up - only 101 sleeps to Christmas, and I have made a start on Christmas goodies for Pickle-Lily. I am being - to quote my son -'very sad' and knitting a paper chain to decorate my stall and then my home with. It is sooo easy. I knit a link a day in the car while I'm waiting for the kids to come out of school, so think how long it could be if I keep it up!

Knitted paper chain

The pattern is on my Makes.... page.
Happy Knitting!
Jo x

Babcary and owls

2011-09-12T00:50:00.000-07:00

All photos taken by Pickle-Lily!

Early this Saturday morning Pickle-Lily and I went to Babcary Vintage and Craft Fair. What a super day we had! P made friends with another young lady - whose mum was Pica-Pica - both ladies were in vintage dresses and looked fabulous. I hardly saw P all day as she was so busy with her new friend, although she did manage to spend most of my money!
During the day I met and chatted to lots of lovely people - Jo from Kushmitts who makes amazing fur headbands, cuffs, hats, scarves and welly warmers from beautiful fake fur. Very cosy and glamorous for the autumnal weather we have now. I was next to Vintage-Jane whose stall was full of lovely vintage home ware and accessories, I was tempted by lots of things but P had already spent my money! Vintage-Jane has also written about the fair on her blog and has taken some fabulous photos to go with her blog. Why not pop over and say hello!

Key rings

I had lots of my new owls for sale - key rings ...

and notebooks and needle cases ...

Neddle case

Notebooks

And of course - knitted owls ...

All on Folksy from today

During the show we had a visitor - it wasn't until later that I was told I had sold pink owl to Pearl Lowe.

If you are visiting from Handmade Monday please go back and visit all the other lovely blogs!

Jo x

Scrumped!

2011-09-06T04:58:00.000-07:00

What's wrong?

This is the view that greeted me one morning last week (sorry about the quality - another job to add to list - clean windows!). 'What's wrong?' I asked Pickle. Finally we worked it out, the tree on the right was empty, the one on the left covered in apples! We'd been scrumped!
Both trees were presents, one from my sister-in-law one from a small village school I'd had a very happy year at. They are ready at two different times. I had been following the excellent advice on the BBC website for checking when to pick them, but someone had beaten me to it!
So I set to work picking apples before we lost the others. To be honest I don't know what sort they are except they are eaters and really pretty!

What pretty apples!

I am now peeling lots of apples and stewing some for freezing. They produce a lovely pale pink juice and are just as pretty when cooked.

Too pretty to eat!

So I am also making all things apple - so another recipe to share - Apple Cake - look in the Bakes... page.

Apple Cake

Enjoy!
Jo x

Cupcake Swap

2011-09-02T02:16:00.000-07:00

Back in July I took part in the Unbirthday Swap and a gorgeous parcel of goodies arrived in the post from Dosie Rosie , so when I saw that a cupcake swap was being hosted by OhSewBeautiful I joined up!
This is the parcel of goodies I sent to KandiPandi ...

A beautiful cupcake bag made by my friend Claudia especially for the swap - she is so clever!
A keyring made from felt by me.
A felt needlecase made by Pickle-Lily.
Some pretty pink spotty cake cases.
Some dolly mixtures - perfect for decorating your cupcakes with
and some lovely cupcake ribbons, all wrapped up in tissue paper by P.
This is the lovely pile of beautifully wrapped goodies that arrived yesterday ....

and in them

WOW!
P was most impressed by the personalised cupcake card, and I was impressed by how beautifully neat all the stitching is. The large cupcake is a handknitted facecloth rolled into a cupcake and beautifully presented with a handmade cherry on top! So a big THANK-YOU to both OhSewBeautiful for organising the swap and KandiPandi for ally lovely things.
If you want to take part in a swap Hookin' with Laalaa is hosting a Christmas decoration swap, I'm off now to sign up1
Have a good week-end!
Jo x

I am Elizabeth Bennet!

2011-08-31T14:00:00.000-07:00

This evening I was reading Cuckoo's post about Knit Club and she wrote about Sew Sweet Violet in her blog, so off I went to visit (A very clever lady who makes beautiful things). In the side bar was a picture declaring 'I am Marianne Dashwood', so I had to visit and take part in the Emma Adaptions Quiz and I am Elizabeth Bennet!

Take the Quiz here!

Do you like my house Pemberley?

I absolutely love Jane Austen, I have all her novels as yellowing Penguin Classics and must have watched every film and tv adaption of her works. My all time favourite is Persuasion with Ciaran Hind and Amanda Root. I regularly watch the DVD. I have visited Bath to stand in the colonnade, I lived in Winchester for four years and often walked through the city imagining... and a few years ago I went to Lyme Park.

Your family they are well?

I watched Pride and as Pickle-Lily called it Pred Juice when it was first aired many, many years ago the Jennifer Ehle version. Mr PL was supposed to be decorating but ended up watching it with me. We now have regular P&P 'fests' watching first the videos and then the DVD together and all the Sunday afternoon repeats. We can quote huge chunks of it and then we went to Lyme Park. If you don't know P&P was filmed there. We so embarrassed our children. As I am typing this P is begging me not to write about the embarrassing part. Well dear reader, we acted out several parts of the programme 'in situ'. The children actually ran away and hid.

How much longer are they going to do this?

P.S. Mr PL came home and read this post and the conversation turned to Sense and Sensibility and to the Vicar of Dibley when Harry proposed to Geraldine. Love it!
PPS Mr PL said I ought to explain the caption 'Have you seen my house Pemberley?'.
About the same time as Colin Firth was strutting in his breeches, Victoria Wood was entertaining us all with a character who went about in her duffle coat and beret saying 'Have you seen my friend Kimberley?' and we changed it to 'Have you seen my house Pemberley?' - if you had seen it you'd know what I mean! I'm off to search You Tube to see if it is on there!

Banana Bread and a cup of tea

2011-08-28T11:04:00.000-07:00

My new tea pot

Pickle-Lily and I have been enjoying The Great British Bake-off over the past two weeks and have already decide on who should stay and who should go. I usually watch it with a lovely cup of tea from my new funky tea pot that I found in a local charity shop and a slice of something ...

Banana Bread

One of our family favourites is banana bread or cake. This is great at using up any over-ripe bananas if you have them and very easy to bake. Whenever I make this, it is usually eaten warm from the oven spread with butter, but I do believe it is just as good cold (it never really lasts that long!). The recipe is on the Bakes ... page.

I've just remembered I need to send you all to Wendy's Handmade Monday page to read all the other blogs!

Fibrefest

2011-08-25T02:46:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday P and I went to Fibrefest in Devon. We had a great time, met lovely people, spent money, had a great hog roast roll and talked to the animals! Pickle-Lily took over a hundred photos!!

Mohair goat

The animals ....

A very curly sheep

The alapacas

The people ...
These included Sara and Darren from Sara's Textile Crafts and Suzie and Annie from The Wool Sanctuary. We also chatted to lots of other interesting people along the way.
We visited 'Above and Below the Waves'. this incredible knitted project, that had a marquee all of it's own. P visited it at least three different times during the day and found new things on every walk around or through. We met Alison Murray, the amazing lady who created all this! She chatted for ages telling us how over 2,000 knitters contributed, it takes about three days to put up, never put knitting on ice rinks - it freezes - and about her next project. Why not visit her website to find out more about her?

The mighty shark!

Knitted coral

Nemesis the sea monster

Rock Pool

Alison Murray

Look at the detail in Neptune ....

and on this bucket.

We had an amazing day - and there is more to come as we watched the alpacas being shorn. This involved two men having to tie down the poor creature who complained all the time. We were also warned he might spit (apparently it's green!) or wee everywhere! They talked to him all the way through and the end he seemed quite happy but a bit grumbly ( reminded me very much of a teenager being forced to go for a haircut!).

Before

During

After

Sock Rabbit, Connies and Kacie!

2011-08-18T00:29:00.000-07:00

Making rabbits

Last week Pickle-Lily and I went to the new making shop in Weston-Super-Mare called Connies . This is a lovely shop full of lovely things and run by lovely staff!
P was taking part in one of their sock animal children's workshops, where we met Sarah from Fairycraft . Sarah taught P how to make a rabbit out of just one sock. P had a brilliant time, even though her arm is still in a cast and now wants me to book her in to all the other sock animal workshops.
Connies is a super place for children and grown-ups as I could sit and have a cup of tea and knit while P was sewing - bliss!
A special mention to Kacie who was very friendly and gave P's rabbit a little glow in the dark bead necklace. P has now named her rabbit Kacie after her!

Meet Kacie

Bread Pudding

2011-08-15T05:39:00.000-07:00

This is in honour of the Great British Bake Off returning to our screens this week!
Both my husband - Mr PL and son LOVE bread pudding, so I thought for a change I'd share a bake with you. Now I go to the supermarket and buy a cheap loaf just for the purpose of making a bread pudding for them. It does of course use up old stale bread, but I never seem to have enough of that around!

Bread Pudding

I was planning to take a photo of the whole pudding - but it was got to first, still at least you get a glimpse of inside!
Please look for the recipe on the Bakes ... page.

Christening Bags

2011-08-12T08:48:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy week here at 'Pickle-Lily Palace' - P has had two friends round to play which has been great at keeping her busy, the plaster came off and then went back on again for another three weeks (so the whole school holiday in a cast for her) and we went and visited a new shop / makery in Weston-super-Mare where Pickle-Lily made a sock rabbit. More about the sock rabbit and Connie's when Mr PL downloads the photos from my phone. Big brother has spent the week on his xbox - I think I have forgotten what my son looks like standing up!

Christening bags in pink and blue

Sea Breeze ( the shop that now stocks some of my things) asked me to come up with a Christening gift for them to sell. As they were often asked for these sorts of gifts and wanted something different to offer, so I came up with Christening bags. These contain a lovely small children's Bible that has simple stories and illustration - so is suitable for children up to about eight or so. They are made in felt and lines with pink or blue gingham fabric. I took them in last Friday with some more mermaids and they both sold on Saturday! Perhaps it is Christening season. Anyway off to make some more. They are on my Folksy shop if you are interested.
Am at Brent Knoll Village Market tomorrow morning between 10 and noon. Have a good week-end.
Jo x

Handmade Monday

2011-08-08T00:51:00.000-07:00

Hello to anyone coming over from Wendy's Handmade Monday it is lovely to meet you.

This week-end I have been busy making smaller things for my next craft fair - hairclips. Inspired by Keri and Crafty Ribbons I have made lots of lovely sets of hair clips, some with flowers and the gorgeous sparkly bling ones. Of course Pickle-Lily wants one of every sparkly colour, but they are so lovely I might wear some myself! Pickle Daddy ( or Mr PL as Caroline has now dubbed him) designed some super cards to display them on for us.

Our Vistaprint order arrived and we now have a banner to put on our stall and t-shirts to wear to advertise us, so you should be able to spot us at any event! Again designed by Pickle Daddy aka Mr PL!

Why not pop over to Handmade Monday to see what other bloggers have been up to?

Jo x
P.S. We registered with Vistaprint - didn't order as it was going to be quite expensive, then got lots of special offers which made the whole process much cheaper.

Dirty Washing!

2011-08-05T00:25:00.000-07:00

The photo does not do true justice to the colour!

Pickle or No.1 son has been at Marine Cadet Camp for the past two weeks (or thereabouts) and the washing machine has had a holiday as well! Yesterday he returned - the smell was the first thing that hit me. I must be honest, and say for a teenage boy he is very clean. He will shower every day, keeps his hair clean and short and puts on clean clothes at regular intervals. But being 'out in the field' makes everything different I was told. The poor washing machine is now on full time and I am hoping for a sunny windy day to dry everything. Yesterday I managed three loads and there is more to go today!

Can you guess what I've been doing!

Housewife's Kit

When he went away we were issued (at the very last minute) a kit list, including a housewife's kit, this I discovered was a sewing kit for marines. So I made him one out of a travel soap dish - I thought this would keep it dry, clean and stop it getting crushed. This could be made all girly - with pretty things instead of camo style needle case and heavy duty buttons. Snips, heavy duty sewing thread in appropriate colours, big safety pins, large eyed needles and a thimble were also added. Since he came back I've added some spare ankle twists (they use these to get the baggy bits at the bottom of their trousers) and a lip salve, as he forgot both of these and they fit quite snuggly and are ready for next time he forgets them! I'm now planning to make a girly version for Pickle-Lily (great stocking filler I thought).
On a totally different note I am taking part in OhSewBeautiful's cupcake swap - why not go over and have a look it closes on Saturday 20th August.
Have a lovely week-end!
Jo x

Felt Flowers Make

2011-08-02T04:37:00.000-07:00

Felt Flower tutorial by Pickle-Lily on the makes page

Bits and Pieces

2011-08-02T00:13:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't blogged for a while, but time seemed to slip away so quickly last week, and I can't believe it is Tuesday already!

P's felt flowers

Pickle-Lily didn't go to Guide camp in the end and ended up in a bright pink glass fibre cast on Friday. She spent the week reading and watching a lot of TV. Over the week-end she discovered, thanks to the lovely Jill at Savvy Sisters she can wet felt, one handed! Since then she has been out in the garden making lots of lovely felt flowers for her friends as presents. P's plan is to write a tutorial for the blog on how to wet felt with the simplest easiest equipment going, so watch this blog!

P and I dragged the Pickle daddy along to Coldharbour Mill for the day on Saturday. We had such a lovely day, that's where we met Jill, sat next to our friend Sara from Sara's Texture Crafts and admired all her beautiful yarn and tops. We enjoyed the sunshine, made new friends and had a lovely day.

I spent the week making extra things as there is now a stockist of Pickle-Lily products. Sea Breeze in Burnham-on-Sea now stocks some of my mermaids, pirates, felt bags, pencil cases, brooches, hairclips and phone socks. If you are in Burnham pay the shop a visit - it is packed with lots of lovely things. I am now making lots more things to sell on my stall, as well as lots of ideas buzzing around in my head with my fingers itching to make them all! Just never enough hours in the day.

I did make this felt bag on commission for some lovely ladies I met at Cannington, and very soon it will be winging its way to New Zealand!

As well as the knitting and sewing there has been lots of the usual everyday stuff washing, ironing, baking and maybe even some cleaning! So not an exciting week but very busy, just like all the other mums, and I do apologise if I haven't commented on your blog lately I 'will do better'!
Have a good week.
Jo x

Unbirthday Swap

2011-07-26T07:02:00.000-07:00

My unbirthday present!

Check out the cute button.

This morning the postman delivered a parcel. It was my unbirthday swap from the lovely Gill at Dosie Rosie. This is a swap organised by the Undomesticated Scientist and Gill and my parcels travelled from the east coast to the west coasr!

In my parcel - which Pickle-Lily had to open as well - was a lovely bar of Norfolk lavender soap, a very pretty shopping design fat quarter, a bar of yummy chocolate, some pretty stickers (I've hid them already!), some lovely smellies, a lovely little zip up purse and a lovely wallet with cute little dog button detail on it.

P has already laid claim to this! I'm a real push-over at the moment as she is moping around with me. Still I've managed to move her hospital appointment forward as she didn't get to go to camp.

Detail from the card

There was of course an unbirthday card to go with the swap.

Gill is a very clever lady.

Ups and downs

2011-07-22T10:41:00.000-07:00

It's been bit of a strange week this week. Full of ups and downs.

The Cheshire Cat

Saturday I was at Apex Park for the Alice in the Park event, run by Highbridge and Burnham artists group. It was pouring, I had thought we were in a marquee, it was actually three gazebos tied together, with rain pouring through the gaps! Only me, Shelton who makes amazing things from wood - beehives, cupboards, stools, big things and the man from Somerset Wildlife trust turned up out of the 12 stalls booked. That should have told me something!

White Rabbit

The HaBa ladies had made some amazing sculptures to go round the park for a sculpture trail and laid on lots of other activities, but because of the weather kept it all close together. The decision was then made to move Shelton and I into the plastic gazebo as the rain was pouring into the canvas ones - I hadn't even unpacked at that time! Pickle-Lily had already given up and daddy had come to collect her!
Lunchtime the sun came out for a short while and the band played and people arrived - it was beginning to be fun! Then the rain started again and the wind blew - it blew the band's gazebo over, it ripped the back off the plastic gazebo and several of the sculptures were damaged. At that point we all decided to pack up! Sunday was cancelled!

During the week I had hoped to go to the local community centre to do a free stained glass taster session, and then amaze you with my first creation. The tutor couldn't make it!

I did sell more things in my Folksy shop - that was good, and I did buy some lovely ribbon from Crafty Ribbon ordered it Thursday arrived Friday! Isn't it pretty?
My mystery toy knit along has slowed right down I've only done an arm this week.

First day at school - 2004

Thursday was also the last day at primary school for P. the whole week has been full of emotions for both of us, lots of ups and downs (11 year old girls can be so horrible to each other!). Still, we have come to the end of this stage of her life, and she has lots of good memories about primary school and the friends she's made. The leaver's service at the church was lovely yesterday, very simple and very moving, I just can't believe my little girl is going to BIG school in September. It also made me think about all the friends I've made at different stages - primary school, secondary, college, work and I've decided I really need to make a bigger effort to keep in touch, with everything going on it is so easy to loose touch, but friends are important.

Day one - lovely and white.

Oh and as a postscript we've been to the MIU again... I feel like I'm on an episode of Outnumbered. P's wrist is now in plaster for the next two weeks. It looks like this now, but she's off to Guide camp Monday, what colour do you think it will be when she gets back?
Jo x

P.P.S. - Guides now saying she can't go to camp with her arm in plaster!

Dinosaurs

2011-07-19T08:49:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to say that I have put a new storysack on ebay here all about dinosaurs.

Mystery Toy - part 2 and thank-you's

2011-07-14T02:49:00.000-07:00

The noggin

This is the next part of the mystery toy from Ravelry, the head or noggin as Emily calls it. I'm thinking it looks quite squirrel like, but are there 250 different sorts of squirrel? Anyway, the next clue that goes with it is ...
'This animals' predators (besides humans and habitat loss) include eagles and hawks.'
Part three comes out on Friday - can't wait!
Now for the thank-yous

Funky chickens

I am making these for Pickle-Lily to give to her friends at the end of term, to say thank-you for being such great friends. I must admit I'm getting a bit teary at the thought that next week is her last week at primary school, they really do grow up too quickly!
A thank-you to the lovely staff at Bridgwater MIU - as yet again we have had to pay them a visit! P crashed her bicycle on Sunday and apart from the grazes and bruises hurt her thumb. They think a small bone at the base of the thumb may be broken, she just has to wear one of those germolene (doesn't that word make you think of exactly the right colour - and the smell!) pink Velcro thumb and wrist supports, until we go back again next week for more deliberation. That's why I'm making funky chickens, as she had wanted to make them herself.
Another thank-you to Caroline who has nominated me for

I would like to pass this on to to Cuckoo for her blog that is full of lovely pictures, being so entertaining and true to life!

And finally thank-you to Dorset Girl for her One lovely blog award! I now need to say 7 random things about myself which was hard enough the first time! So here goes ..

I collect blue jugs - but they can't be new.
Life is unbearable without cups of tea in it!
I still can't get my flapjacks to stick together - tried again last night, I have a tin of very large crumbs!
It took me fives goes to pass my driving test!
My favourite cars are Pandas - I am now driving my third.
I still can't crochet, but want to.
Hopefully the patio doors will open today - the lock has been jammed for over a year, and the nice repairman is fixing them now!

I also have to pass this award onto other blogs - so here goes ...

As always you are under no obligation to accept these awards but please know that I enjoy reading your blogs and would like to recommend you to others.

Made from scratch who I know from Knit Club
Sara who I met at Coldharbour Mill a few weeks ago Crafts of Texture
and The Krafty Cupcake for being such a good read!

Phew - finished!
Jo x

Innocent Smoothie Hats make

2011-07-11T04:11:00.000-07:00

7 hats so far!

The knit club is taking part in this years Innocent Smoothie The Big Knit campaign to knit little hats to go on top of smoothie bottles, for every one sold they will donate 25p to Age UK. Knit club's target is 400, so far my grand total is 7!
Pickle-Lily has said that she would like to help make some as well, so I have designed the simplest pattern ever, and I would like to share it with anyone who is interested.

Hat make

It is to make a hat like the blue one above.

Finished knitting

Cast on 28 stitches on 4mm needles using any double knit wool you like.

Knit or garter stitch 16 rows.

Cast off.

sewn up

Sew up by joining the two row ends together, placing the seam in the middle, sew along the cast off edge, as in this picture. Turn inside out.

make a tassel - part 1

To make the tassels. Wrap the yarn around your fingers about 5 times and then, with a separate piece of yarn sew a knot.

Make a tassel - part 2

To make the Funky Hat, I used up all those long odd bits of yarn that are too long to throw away, and just accumulate in your knitting bag. I knotted them together to make a long piece of yarn. 2 rows garter then 14 rows reverse stocking stitch, with the purl as the outside. Made it up the same way as the blue one.

Funky hat

Why not pop over to Wendy's blog to find out what everyone else has been doing for Handmade Monday.

Jo x

Folksy Friday

2011-07-08T10:25:00.000-07:00

Apple for the teacher!

My apple keyrings have just been featured on Woollyduck's blog. Angela creates the most beautiful felted food - take a look.
Thank-you Angela!

Mystery Toy KAL

2011-07-04T07:01:00.000-07:00

Clue 1 - The Body

I'm taking part in the Ravelry knitted toys group mystery knit-a-long. It's brilliant! A toy designed by Yarn Miracle's Emily that is being released in four parts, one a week. You don't know what it is you're making and there is so much speculation and discussion about it on the thread here. Judging by her other designs it will be cute. I'll post photo's as I go. Anyone else taking part?
Jo x

Updated Tuesday, finished the body

This is the first clue, I forgot to add it yesterday!
Clue:

This mammal has more than 250 species in his family. He’s not the most diverse creature in the world, but he has it all over the aardvark (total aardvark species = 1). But really, how many types of aardvark does one planet need?

All about me - Pickle Lily

2011-07-03T07:29:00.000-07:00

Today we have a guest blogger - Pickle-Lily herself...

Us at Wedmore

Hello
I am Pickle Lily otherwise known as P. I got my nickname after my brother's- Pickle!
I love reading and I've always got my head stuck in a good book at bedtime, I've just finished a book from the library - North Child it's really thick and I was always saying it's at a really good part! Also my choice has gotten bigger realising I could read young adult books from upstairs (in the library)! Enough rambling on about books and time to ramble on about animals.

Jemima the alpaca I met at Coldharbour Mill

My favourite animal is a penguin! But I also love Alpacas!
I love horrible histories and the TV and game show that goes along with it- I also love annoying my family with facts and songs!
I love...
   M aking
   A bsolutley
   K rafty   I nteresting
kN itted
   G ifts!

I will be leaving primary school this year and everything is extra special!
I love music and loads of great songs and the disco!

We went to Wedmore street fair and I had a bacon buttie plus a chocolate ( another thing I love ) cupcake!!!!!

My fence

I had fun! I decided to annoy my mum (to her discontent) and bop a balloon around until I popped it! When I went to see if they had any left - they didn't but somehow I ended up weaving! And I made a little fence!

Later just after we put everything behind the sofa on the shelves mum got called out to a fair at Berrow that started in a half hour! She went and had fun!

I had fun blogging- maybe I'll do it more often
P

(All photos taken by Pickle-Lily)

I've won something!

2011-07-01T06:50:00.000-07:00

I can't believe this - but I have won a years free subscription to Mollie Makes magazine!
Our computer has been out of action for the past few days, caused by some malicious software. Husband decided to wipe the computer and re-install everything. This meant no computer for about three days as everything was sorted. The good news was when I opened outlook express there was an email about my prize! Back when it was the royal wedding I entered a competition on The Making Spot and then forgot all about it! So looking forward to my first issue arriving.
It was surprising how much I missed using the computer and all the blogs I like to read. It did mean I could get on with things like cleaning, ironing and making things though. Pickle-Lily and I are at Wedmore Street Fair tomorrow, so we're hoping for the good weather to continue.
Have a good week-end!
Jo x

Chocolate Chip Crumble Muffins

2011-06-28T15:31:00.000-07:00

Chocolate Chip Crumble Muffins

Just a quick post as I had to share these with you....
They are sooo good, especially eaten warm from the oven. I found the recipe on PuppyFly Boutique's blog and made a dozen big muffins and a dozen mini muffins from the recipe. The mini muffins are perfect for putting in a Pickle-Lily lunch box, the big muffins ... well there are only two left!

17

2011-06-27T00:40:00.000-07:00

17 presents

OH at last I've worked out how to add captions to photos, all this time I've been writing my blog in 'Edit HTML' mode instead of compose, which lets me do all sorts of things - I am daft!

It was our babysitter's 17th birthday, so Pickle-Lily and I got together 17 (mostly) handmade presents. They were ...

a finger of fudge - a finger of fudge is just enough to give the kids a treat (she looked at me very strangely when I sang it to her).
smarties - got to have choccies on a birthday, and of course because only smarties know the answer.
a flower drawing pin - from Paper and String
a funky chicken - P calls her Mrs Chicken, inspired by After Hours ( I wanted to buy one from here, but couldn't organise it in time.)
bath bombs
bath confetti - both bought from some lovely ladies at Weare Street Fair.
body butter
soap - because you have to have smellies for a birthday gift.
a painted birthday girl stone paperweight
a painted slate decoration - both from a lovely lady I met at a fair, who sadly doesn't have a blog or website!
a party popper
a packet of lovehearts
a pot of bubbles - you are never too old for bubbles!
a phone sock from Pickle-Lily
a felt keyring
a student survival kit
all in a pretty bag made by Pickle-Lily herself for Mrs Chicken!

We had great fun finding and making 17 little presents together.
Once again a big thank-you to Wendy for hosting / organising Handmade Monday.
Jo x

Spirit of Wells

2011-06-24T06:40:00.000-07:00

I just love these pictures! Top one is P the bottom one is called 'Toothache'.

On Wednesday I was invited to the Spirit of Wells day with Pickle-Lily and the rest (well all 7 of them) of the year 6's at Wells Cathedral. It is something they do every year for all the church schools in the area, as a way of passing the end of primary school and looking forward to secondary. What a fantastic day, the weather, as now sadly seems to be the norm, was rubbish, the journey a little long winded (to avoid all the Glastonbury traffic) but we all had a fabulous time.

There were lots of different workshops to take part in, I did storytelling, drumming and being a cathedral guide with my group. The cathedral cat, Louis, casually strolled down the aisle during the opening worship as if to greet the children. The children sang their hearts out and at the end the organ filled the cathedral as they opened the big double doors at the front and everyone poured out onto the cathedral green. Even now I still get goosebumps remembering the emotion, the joy, the feeling of well-being as we left that incredible building.

I took lots of photos - of course! Including the gargoyles that just are everywhere, we were told that during the winter the workmen couldn't work on the exterior so they would create hundreds of gargoyles for the inside.

I do apologise for the quality of photos, but it was difficult taking them. I was also a very proud mum as P was chosen to carry the school banner. The other thing that was amazing, all the people of all ages, who gave up 6 days (it takes 6 days to accomodate all the schools) to help with the Spirit of Wells.

'Summer' 'Fairs'

2011-06-22T00:17:00.000-07:00

This title should be ~~Summer~~ ~~Fair~~, but I haven't worked out how to strike out in the title bar. Saturday was Cossington Country Fair, I should have realised how grotty it was going to be, as stall holders were packing up as I arrived! In between the downpours with very little, grumpy help from Pickle and lots of help from dad we put the gazebo and stall up. During the day the rain was so heavy at times it was coming through the roof, the gazebo was rocking and lifting in the wind and I did not like it! I wimped out at 2 o'clock and phoned for them to come and help me pack up! It was a shame as a lot of effort had gone into organising the day and if all the stalls had been there, would have been a great day out for the family. I do hope they raised lots of money for the Children's Hospice Southwest.

Sunday morning was an early start for Coldharbour Mill. A quiet day visitor wise but Pickle-Lily who came with me had a brilliant day. In the room next to the stalls a lady was demonstrating wet felt making, so P made a flat piece of felt, a felt string and three felt balls and is going to make them into a bag when she puts the spindle down.

The stall next to mine was Sara's Texture Crafts and it was full of beautiful wool in various stages. During the day she taught P and I how to spin using a wooden spindle. I, of course, bought a kit to spin some of my own yarn (lovely ice-cream colours), but Pickle-Lily has hogged it ever since Sunday, and is using the purple tops I got her for felting to spin and knit her own wool. She is knitting it straight off the spindle.

By the way, after turning the house upside down, I found the missing hoodie wrapped up inside her camp blanket, stuffed in a carrier bag. But I did find it!
Have a good day!
Jo x

Unbirthday Swap

2011-06-20T02:55:00.000-07:00

I have just joined in with The Undomesticated Scientists Unbirthday Swop - who could resist with a title like that! Have a look on her blog - it looks great fun.

Hoodie hunt, Knit Club and other things ...

2011-06-17T02:33:00.000-07:00

Sitting at the computer with a mug of steaming tea and two plain choccy biscuits means I can update my blog - before I get back to the great hoodie hunt.

I finished the bag and purse (my first commission) and my customer was really pleased with it, and has now ordered another one for someone else! I hand cut out and sewed on all the letters which took a while as I wanted them perfect.

The rest of the week has been spent looking for P's Guide hoodie, ironing (I was going to post an 'arty' phot of my ironing volcano but it was too depressing!) and making stock. I am doing two fairs this week-end, Cossington on Saturday and Coldharbour Mill on Sunday. Pickle-Lily is away with the Guides at Exeter on Saturday (which is why I am now turning the house upside down looking for the hoodie. The problem is none of us can actually remember when she wore it last, and when something like this happens I have to find it, I won't stop looking until I find it as it will annoy me until it is found.) So Pickle (big brother) and the P's dad have been volunteered to come and support me. I've no idea what to expect so watch this space... P is determined to come on Sunday, despite the early start, as there are supposed to be llamas at Coldharbour and she really wants to meet a llama (actually so do I).
This means I will miss Knit Club on Saturday. I love Knit Club - it is run by the lady who taught Kirstie Allsopp to knit. Suzie is great fun as are all the other ladies who go, and it's a chance to knit, drink tea, eat cake, chat and knit. It really soothes my soul. I love knitting and crafting - that's how Pickle-Lily came about (the stall not the girl!), when I stopped teaching full time, so many people encouraged me to make things and now sell them instead of giving them away. But Knit Club is also about the atmosphere and the friendliness as well. Hark at me wittering! So - I'll miss it tomorrow.
Anyway, tea finished, back to the hoody hunt.... I will find it!

Handmade Monday

2011-06-13T03:02:00.000-07:00

I'd hoped to do Handmade Monday last week but Sky broadband was down all day and evening, so I didn't get time. I managed to pick up some work on Tuesday and spent the day with a delightful class in the Quantocks. Then the rest of the week was spent making stock for the fair on Saturday. Unfortunately not at all busy - too many village fairs going on around us I think.

Back to Handmade Monday - I promised Pickle-Lily last week that the next one would feature all the things she'd been making, and to be honest I'm feeling rather proud of her with all her crafting.

She is especially proud of the apron made on her sewing machine all by herself. it was put into use on Saturday as a money apron. Brilliant - playing shops in real life!

Now I must get back to finishing a commission for a friend, I hope to post it on here later this week.
Jox

Two good things!

2011-06-08T08:15:00.000-07:00

First ..... I've made my first sale on Folksy, five apple for the teacher keyrings.

Second .... Caroline from redneedle sewinghas awarded me 'The Versatile Blogger' award

So now I have to ...
Make a post linking back to the person who gave you the award.
Share 7 random things about yourself
Award 7 recently discovered bloggers with this award and contact them to let them know they have won.
7 random things about myself
- I hate vinegar!
- I was an Akela in a Cub Scout Pack for about 20 years.
- I didn't learn to ride a bike until I was 21.
- I want to learn to crochet.
- My favourite film is 'Bride and Predjuice' - the Bollywood version.
- I've been on holiday to Taiwan.
- I love Troll beads!
Now I would like to pass this award onto
Cuckoo at talesfromcuckooland
Keri at Bella-Boutique
Tina at Bella and the Moo
Wendy at 1stUniqueGifts
Little Cotton Rabbits
Suzie at The Wool Sanctuary
Louise at Sew Scrumptious

Phew done it!
Jo x

Shopping and teachers

2011-06-04T02:54:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday Pickle-Lily and I took big brother shopping. He didn't want to go - but he had no choice1 I'm not really happy at leaving him alone for over a couple of hours - when he's plugged into the xbox he wouldn't notice the house burning around him, just think it was part of the game! I also said he could have the new Rick Riordan book if he came. Brilliant book, yes I know it's meant for kids but I read it in a day totally hooked!

Anyway, back to shopping, we went to the big shopping centre at Cribbs Causeway, he was fine in the first few shops we had to visit, we even went into Game and HMV for him, but it was John Lewis that was the problem! There is just sooo many lovely things to look at. I did suggest he went to the electrical department, but I don't think he trusted us timewise, that we'd take even longer. Still, armed with my list I went to haberdashery, again soooo many lovely things. P and I loved showing each other all we'd found as someone got crosser and crosser! Then we went to pay, and the queue was enornmous, around two walls of the department. Someone was now ready to explode and was muttering away. The problem was he was so funny, P and started to laugh and so did some other ladies in the queue. In the end I thanked him for entertaining us and suggested he waited by the escalators ready for a quick getaway! Then we went to Hobbycraft ... he stayed in the car with his book!

When we were in M&S P and I were looking at teacher cards and talking about a present for her teacher in July. So as I drove home the brain went to overdrive and this is what I spent Thursday and Friday creating...

Apple for the teacher keyring and notebook
(both are on Folksy if you're interested).

Folksy Friday

2011-06-02T23:53:00.000-07:00

When I checked my emails this morning, I found a message from a lovely lady Jane Lightfoot. She has included my baking bags in her Folksy Friday. I am really excited as this means people are liking my things! A lovely website full of beautiful things including delicious looking cakes, as you know I love baking too and that coffee cake is saying 'bake me, bake me...'
Why not visit her?

Why are pirates pirates?

2011-05-31T06:43:00.000-07:00

Because they arrgghh!!
I have finally finished my pirate prototype - here he is - knitted in Rowan wool, and he is now ready and his crew to go on the website and to craft fairs with me! Pickle Dad has been busy over the week-end adding to the website so it can show some of items that you can buy from Pickle-Lily. It is still very much work in progress, as I now have to write descriptions for everything we make and take lots of photos.

This is mummy mermaid with her girls, handknitted bodies in soft cotton and the tails in Sirdar medici, a beautiful glittery yarn, with long wild hair - sounds like P's hair! I am really pleased with these ladies. P has spent ages making up names for them all.

I've still got lots more ideas floating around in my head, it's just finding enough time to make them all!

Still, now the rain has stopped I've got lots of washing out drying, which means lots of ironing as well, and all I want to do is sit and knit! It is also half term, which means I need to pry Pickle (big brother) away from the xbox and out into the fresh air - just had visions of the witch in The Wizard of Oz going 'I'm melting... I'm melting...'. Pickle Lily wants to put on an art show in the house - all I am thinking is where?

Have a happy half-term!

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!

2011-05-24T03:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I accompanied one of the classes I do regular supply with to the beach at Weston-super-Mare. To say it was windy was an understatement!

We had a lovely day - visiting the museum in the morning, full of interesting things ...

What about this Victorian Punch and Judy stall! it was so gruesome complete with coffin and hangman's noose.

It is a great place to visit though, as it was full of corner's for the under 5's - with books, cushions, colouring, toys, dressing up and somewhere for a weary adult to rest their feet.

We had a very windy walk along the new pier, where we stopped to watch the waves crashing below our feet.
The afternoon was spent eating ice-cream and making sandcastles on the beach. It was a super day, and all paid for by the school PTA!
When I got back home for a lovely cup of tea it was then just removing all the sand - in my ears, eyebrows, and when I ran my hands through my hair it showered sand!
This has inspired me more with my seaside ideas for Pickle Lily - so hopefully there will be new ideas on here soon.
Jo x

Chocolately chocolate cake

2011-05-17T00:38:00.000-07:00

This is the chocolately chocolate cake I made for P's party Sunday afternoon - it was so yummy (if I say so myself!), and it all disappeared by Monday! I finished all the purses and then we filled them with bits and bobs, and the girls seemed to like them. I had a couple of mums say how much they liked them in the playground yesterday.
Last week was busy, as P's school had OSTEd in, and they asked me to do some supply for them on and off during the week. This was great as I had lots of work. This week I haven't been booked at all, so I am busy re-stocking. One of the mums asked me to do a Pickle Lily party, but I'm not sure. I've never even been to a commercially organised one, you know like Jamie Oliver or Usborne books, so I wouldn't know where to start. Still I shall give it deep thought.
I would like to say thank-you to Wendy at 1stuniquegifts for Handmade Monday last week, as I had lots of lovely comments, so if you're visiting from there WELCOME!

Handmade Monday

2011-05-09T14:54:00.000-07:00

I have just joined Handmade Monday! It's a way of promoting your blog to others. If you want to know more see www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk/blog
If you're visiting me from there - welcome to Pickle-Lily!

This week has been slower on the crafty front as I have been busy making purses for P to use at her pottery party this Sunday - all to the girls colour order! Just hope they like them!
Jox

Folksy and Baking Bags

2011-05-03T01:34:00.000-07:00

I have now opened a Pickle-Lily shop on Folksy to sell some of my items. I am sure more will be added as I get the time.

My latest idea is Baking Bags. I have a daughter who loves to 'enclose' things, put them in bags, boxes, whatever she can find or use. P also likes baking. So I have put the two ideas together to create Baking Bags. A cotton bag with an apron, whisk, wooden spoon and rolling pin, cake cases, 2 cookie cutters and a recipe card. Great as a gift or for a child who likes cooking. P had to keep my prototype. I've put them on Folksy and will take them to any fairs I go to. We'll just have to see how it all goes.

Royal Wedding

2011-04-29T01:18:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Kate and William!

As you can see, we didn't buy a mug, plate or even a tea towel at Pickle Lily. We got HappyLand, and have had great fun with it so far, lots of wedding photos already. I'm planning to sit in front of the tv and craft all day - bliss!
Have a good day!
Jo x

Happy Birthday!!!

2011-04-26T03:59:00.000-07:00

Today is P's birthday.
She spent the first part at the MIU having her arm x-rayed (we were there at 7.45 am!) so present opening is now this evening. It was good that we went so early, as we left at 9 am there wasn't an empty seat in the waiting room.
But two lots of good news ....
It isn't broken - so no more cast! Yipee!
and ....
We won the Bella Boutique giveaway!
Thank-you very much Bella Boutique!

Happy Easter?

2011-04-24T06:47:00.000-07:00

What a week-end!
Yesterday's craft fair at Berrow went really well, and I had my first two comissions for personalised sacks, so I am now busy making those!
During the day P complained so much about her arm hurting that I phoned Dad to come and collect her at lunch time. She had somehow (to quote her) sat on it Friday afternoon and it had clicked. Despite us calpolling her up and resting it and saying she has just strained it, she was still complaining about it this morning. You can of course guess what comes next! I take her to the minor injuries unit at 8.15 am this morning - we live in a seaside town and with this fabulous weather it is very busy here, and consequently, so is the MIU. The very nice nurse doses her up on megacapol so P will let her touch it, and she now has her arm in plaster as they think it is a greenstick fracture! We now have to go back on Tuesday morning for them to recheck it and take an x-ray, with our packed lunch and tea as it will be so busy after the holiday week-end! Tuesday is also P's birthday!!!

I have just listed three new story sacks on ebay - Noah's Ark, Eric Carle stories and Dear Zoo.

Craft Fair this Saturday

2011-04-18T14:45:00.000-07:00

Pickle Lily will be at the craft fair in Berrow Village Hall this Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm.
See you there!
Jo

Button Stash Giveaway

2011-04-18T00:51:00.000-07:00

I love reading other people's blogs (as well as writing Pickle Lily) and often happen on them by chance as I did with Bella-Boutique. She is giving away a lovely stash of buttons for Easter including P's favourite kind - chocolate! Why not have a look and enter, there's a link in my blog list.
Jo x

Ants .......

2011-04-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

Not much crafting done this week-end as I spent yesterday ferrying son around and today in the garden.
The strawberries are flowering well,

but have outgrown their tub, I have lots of grand plans for a vegetable and fruit raised bed, but this all depends on when the help is available! So in the meantime it is pots everywhere! The other things that are everywhere are ants! They invaded the kitchen last night - a small skirmish in the ant war - and we are now on full alert! Some even made it through the kitchen window this afternoon. So I am on the lookout for an ant barrier that works. I have read that chalk stops them, but it didn't last night.

The Easter Bunny sign also went out today!
Hoping to get some more knitting and sewing done over the next few days ready for our next fair - Berrow Village Hall, Saturday 23rd April - see you there!

Happy Easter

2011-04-14T07:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, for some strange reason, I really wanted to knit eggs! P's knee was bothering her, so we stayed in and I knitted eggs.

So Happy Easter everyone!

Sun shiny day

2011-04-10T07:42:00.000-07:00

What another beautiful day!
The apple trees are in full blossom, as I took this picture you could hear the bumble bees buzzing with happiness!

These knitted creme egg critters are waiting to be found at the bottom of the garden (or at the next fair) by some lucky children! Luckily for me P doesn't like creme eggs.
I hope you like this posting's title - it was P's suggestion.

A good day out for someone...

2011-04-09T08:16:00.000-07:00

P and I went to the Stitch and Creative Craft Show in Shepton Mallet today. I got some lovely fat quarters and thick felt shapes to be creative with for Pickle Lily. Not much though for knitters there, a lot of card making stalls and cross stitch was also well catered for.

Someone else did a decoupage workshop, and then got a beginners set to decorate a big letter for her room, a fancy hair clip and a small girl guide cross stitch kit.

We then stopped at Street - Clark's outlet shop village - for a drink on the way home, and came back with two tops from Monsoon for her. Someone has had a very good day!

Whatever Next!

2011-04-07T09:14:00.000-07:00

One of the things I enjoy doing is making story sacks. Schools and pre-schools use them to help books and stories come alive, families at home often use them as well. So, this is my latest creation - Whatever Next! by Jill Murphy. I made the biscuit packet and drinks can by covering tubs with felt and adding the details, so they are as similar as possible to the illustrations. If you are interested it will be going on ebay tonight. I have thought of making them to sell at craft fairs, but I don't know how much interest there would be in them there, what do you think?
Jo

Ahhhhh

2011-04-03T12:56:00.000-07:00

Look what someone made me.
All by herself!

Happy Mothering Sunday!

2011-04-03T05:36:00.000-07:00

Happy Mothering Sunday.
P and I went to church today with the Guides to celebrate Mothering Sunday. At the end of the service I was given this pretty posy of primroses. I hope you are having a lovely day too.
Jo

Busy times

2011-04-02T01:25:00.000-07:00

I have not been on here for a while because for once I have been really busy at school. I am a primary supply teacher, and some weeks can be very barren of supply, but for the past two weeks I have been virtually fully booked, I just hope this continues! It does mean that the crafting slows down however.

P and I did our first craft fair - ever - two weeks ago with the lovely ladies of Bella and the Moo. We had a super day, chocolate cake was highly recommended by P, having to do her homework was not. We seemed quite busy and sold out of some of our products.

These lovely rabbits made from Fuzzy Mittens design are wonderful! They went away being cuddled by their purchasers.

The whole family are off on the annual school Easter Egg hunt this afternoon, so I will post more later!
Jo

Knit a red nose!

2011-03-11T11:15:00.000-08:00

Whilst browsing the web this week, I found this great item - that I had to share with everyone

a Red Nose corsage! I am already planning to knit one for P and I to wear next week (just have to get the wool) and have made my donation for the pattern. If you want to do the same visit http://my.rednoseday.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=349451 Happy knitting!

Coldharbour Mill

2011-03-04T11:08:00.000-08:00

Beautiful wool

Today P's class went to Coldharbour Mill in Devon to spend the day as a Victorian child applying for a job at the mill. Coldharbour is still a working mill and I bought this beautiful wool in their shop - pure wool £2.50 a skein. The only thing now is what to do with it!!!!
If you ever get the chance to visit we would highly recommend it. The children spent the morning in role with Mr Robson, the mill supervisor being put through their paces to see if they were suitable for a job - 2/6 for a boy. 1/6 for the girls, only 13 hour days with 20 minutes for lunch, and as the mill owner was a Quaker they would get Sundays off to go to church. The whole morning really gave them an idea what life was like for the 80 children employed there.

Some of the fabulous wool!

In the afternoon we were given a tour around the mill, the children collected little bits of wool in the various stages as they went, and were inspired by the gorgeous colours. The wool is only available from the shop there (they do do mail order) and all the profits go to supporting the charity.
An amazing day - and I shall have to go back to buy more glorious wool!

A busy day!

2011-02-26T09:46:00.000-08:00

As the title says a busy day today! P and I visited our favourite shop - twice! Material Needs in Burnham-on-Sea is an amazing crafting paradise with very friendly, helpful staff, no wonder they won the 2011 Stitching Retailer of the Year for the UK - have a little look here http://material-needs.co.uk .

P went to a party this afternoon, and rather than wrap her present she made this - to put the present in.

We stopped at a table-top sale on the way to the party and came away with these ...
Off to cook tea for the men folk - busy watching the rugby and me now.
Hope you're having a good week-end too!

Felt bags

2011-02-22T14:43:00.000-08:00

green felt bag

P went to a clay workshop this morning and came back full of enthusiasm and now wants to join the art club there. I grabbed the chance to finish this off, inbetween being a chauffeur. P sews the motif and I make up the bag and lining. Problem is P wants it for herself now!

Our very first post!

2011-02-21T08:15:00.000-08:00

This is our very first post as bloggers!

Today we went to Bristol Zoo to see the new meerkat enclosure. It was very cold outside but lovely and warm inside. The meerkats seemed very excited with their new home. We love going to the zoo, in all weathers.

We then went to IKEA and stocked up on supplies and then to Hobbycraft for even more supplies! We are looking forward to our very first craft stall with Bella and the Moo at Spaxton in March. Hopefully we can tell you some more or even post some pictures of our creations soon!