Washer Wonders

It's been a busy few weeks and not only have I not blogged but I haven't made much to blog about either! I have however made this washer necklace for a colleague who has just retired.

I saw this tutorial over on "Always a Project" (great blog name) while I was blog browsing and although I liked it for some reason I forgot to bookmark it. So I had a go without any instructions and although I love the finished product from the front it's not a pretty picture on the back! It was joining the washers together that I messed up. I must have another go and this time pay attention! Anyway it was gratefully received and it is pretty from the front which is what really counts!

What's Cooking This Week

I have to say, being back at work has really put the brakes on my experimenting with new recipes! But I still try to have a go at something new on a Friday which is one of my days off. Last week I tried...


Zesty Haddock with Crushed Potatoes and Peas It was yummy! Definately printing that one off for my binder. We had cod instead of haddock and I also used spring onions instead of chives because it was pouring with rain and I couldn't be bothered to walk to the bottom of the garden to get chives! I think when I make it again I will still use spring onions, nice to have a bit of crunch.

This weekend we've had a very chilly BBQ and tonight I treated us to crispy duck and pancakes, yummy, yummy. I've also knocked up a batch of my Rhubarb Jelly now that it's in season again.

This week...
...will be a busy one. My parents are on holiday and I'm going to be watering their mammoth garden as well as looking after Daisy, their dog and keeping an eye on my Nanna. So quick and simple food is required. Some of the meal on plan are...

Chicken allla cacciatora
This is a Nigella recipe and I've made it many times, it is super easy, quick and tasty. I might freeze a couple of portions for Bambino.

Homemade fish finger sarnie
Another fishy favourite, fairly recently discovered. I love the way that the fish is coated in cornflakes, you'd never know when you taste it!

I'm also going to make Bambino some Cheese and Carrot Muffins from Annabel Karmel's 100 Finger Foods. She likes muffins for tea and I have some lovely silcone cases to make them in.

Tiaras!

Here we go, the long awaited Daisy Tiaras. I so enjoyed making these and we popped along to the evening reception: the bride looked gorgeous and the bridesmaids were lovely.

Here's hoping for some more bridal orders. They're so much fun!

The bride's tiara

The bridesmaid's tiaras (a little less bling!)

The bride's jewellery

The bridesmaid's jewellery

Magnetic Noticeboard

When I saw this tutorial over on madigan made I really wanted one. Not only that but I thought they would make fab presents so I set about making one for my sister whose birthday was approaching.

I found this fab paper at Flutterby Crafts (I bought several for myself and still can't decide which to go for). I bought the spray paint on Ebay (it's for retouching a car!) and I also bought the little wooden birds, which became the magnets, on Ebay. I think they're meant for card making but I have hot glued magnets to the back.

I didn't fancy the tie hanging madigan made used so I used epoxy glue to stick a hook to the back

I was so pleased with it. Now I need to decide which paper I am going to use for my board and find some suitable magnets. Here it is again!

I will try to pop back again this week to show off the tiaras I mentioned!

Ooo things are growing!

Long time no blog... again! But look, things are growing in the garden. How exciting! We even ate radishes from PJ's plot this weekend.

I've been making a couple of things, though craft time is seriously depleted by being at work three days a week! I can't reveal anything today as one is the tiaras I mentioned, for a friend's wedding, not til next weekend and the other is a present.

Be back soon!

High Hopes

For some reason this year I've got the gardening bug. This is after years of living with my mother, who is an amazing gardener, but not feeling tempted to have a go myself.

I'm starting small, with a teny flower bed. I've planted some small rose bushes (so small you can't see them in the pics), some cornflowers and poppies and I've put some daffodils and lilies that were in pots into the ground too. I'm also going to try to train a honeysuckle to climb a trellis and cover the wall I hate!

PJ is gallantly sharing the garden with me, carrying on planting his veggies and herbs and keeping the grass looking lovely. He had some real sucesses last year, especially his pet favourite, the chillies. This year I've asked him to grow more so I can make more of the jam that was so popular at Christmas! He's also nurturing some sunflower seedlings for me which will go in between the cornflowers and poppies.

Here's hoping we've got green fingers!

I've just been reading a great post about Hoarding clothes on one of my favourite blogs, Rock My Wedding. Inspired to comment I thought I would repost here... My name is Lucy and I am a horder and an Ebay addict.

My shape has changed massively since I got married nearly two years ago, mostly due to having a baby a year ago. Pre baby I had had fairly consistently been a size 12/14 and had lots of clothes that I got out every year with the change of the seasons.

Post baby I was a size 18, with no clothes that fit and had almost no money (the only draw back of maternity leave). Not only could I not afford to invest in new clothes, at a time when you really need to feel good about yourself, it seemed a waste as I wanted to loose the weight.

So I bought myself some basic bits and pieces to 'get me through' the first few weeks on Ebay and although I was going for the things at the cheaper end of the scale I was surprised at how much some pieces with the right title, ie. good brand, BNWT (brand new with tags), went for.

I have dabbled in selling bits and pieces before. I even bought a dress for my brother's wedding, days before the event, and sold it on (on Ebay) at a profit. Many of the sellers dispatch goods quicker than any commercial outlet! (This is key to good feedback and your long term success). Anyway before I returned to work, size 16, I cleared out my wardrobe.

I didn't discard everything that was size 12/14, I still hope to get there one day but I had to admit some of it was simply no longer my style or practical for my new lifestyle. I didn't make a packet, and previously I would have taken it to the charity shop, but it did make a sizable contribution to my return to work clothes budget at a time when I was struggling.

My top tips would be

• Use the advanced completed searches to price it right (that includes weighing the item and getting a postage estimate from the Royal Mail website so you don’t underestimate this and loose money).


• Take several good photos (use a mannequin if possible).


• Add loads of detail to the description; style, dimensions, fabric content.


• Be friendly and helpful if someone contacts you with questions.


• Post the goods ASAP.