Shopping and teachers

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

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?

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!

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

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

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

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.