NEW KNITTING :: OLD CHAIRS

i finished off my first proper knitted scarf just before we went away...and now it's lined with a combination of cosy winceyette + vintage fabrics from my stash + a cotton print (how exciting to find a huge range of amy butler stocked at my local john lewis!)

now ready for me to wear with my new found love of all things navy + grey this season. also working on the 1st set of my autumn-winter range of accessories for my etsy shop in this colourway which will be called astrid. i'll be listing the update on 31st october.

i've had a big wardrobe remix recently...just a couple of new additions including coat + tights (essential for the chilly days ahead!) i feel the need to stress that my funds have been helped by ongoing ebay listings of the to-go pile of clothes...it seems a bit tasteless to talk of new indulgences in light of the current economy but this is my way of splurging without too much guilt...and a girl needs a bit of retail therapy every now and then!

sitting by the fire of an evening sans-knitting proved too much to bear and so project 2 has now begun. i got my mum to choose some wool (which coincidentally matches her new noa noa tights too) and once i'm done i'll be lining it like mine. it'll probably be for christmas as it's progressing at a slower pace...less chunky wool and thinner needles you see. thanks for your patience mum!

and just to finish off i'd like to show you some chairs that my dad found for us on gumtree this week. i am so happy with them + can't wait to make them over with new seat pads and a lick of beeswax.

p.s. drinking christmas tea today...loving the scent of cinnamon + spice as the cup steams on my desk! thinking that the next few weeks are going to snowball and i need to plan out gift making which i'll be doing alongside buying handmade this year.

SATURDAY SOUP

thank you for the welcome back!

brrrr! last night i slept in a cardigan! and today it hasn't got any milder...chilly fingers ahoy here as i type! we are being grumpy and trying to not put the heating on until it gets truly wintry. instead the wood burner is roaring + i'm off to join c + b in our one warm room very soon with my knitting. i have a date with the dancing later too : )

a saturday soup recipe to share with you. i bought (for the first time) a romanesco yesterday on the market. it's certainly an eye catcher of a vegetable + it is indeed very tasty too.

1 romanesco :: 1 potato :: 1 onion :: 1 clove garlic
all diced + put in a pan with 25g melted butter
+ splash of olive oil
fry for a few minutes + season well with mucho pepper!
(i like black + white)
then add about 750ml veggie stock
(i use marigold bouillon)
simmer for about 20 mins
take off the heat + blend
add a tablespoon of creme fraiche
+ a whole lot of freshly grated nutmeg
taste + season again if it needs it

(this made about 6 servings)

these pretties also came home with me. i'm thinking that they'll get roasted to go with the goat's cheese i bought today + a few walnuts. one of the best things about autumn...the comfort food!

ON THE RUN FROM THE PILE OF IRONING

i have made a sneaky dash from the laundry just to say hello + to report that we had a really lovely holiday in ireland...enjoying all good things with family. we even had sunshine on our faces! here's a photo story...

and of course it is nice to be home too. (save for the unpacking + washing overload!) i'm planning a reward of catching up with favourite blogs later. happy autumn by the way...are you liking the new season? x

A HAT FOR A DO

i'm getting there on my list of to dos...

one headpiece finished and i'm making my handbag tonight. only decided what to wear to the wedding in ireland yesterday after panicking that a) i needed something a bit more autumnal and b) that it's most likely to be cold so i'll need to wear tights! so i've abandoned my cream summer dress and gone for a jade green one with plum legs instead. if we get any decent photos i'll post some on our return! lucky ciaran is a groomsman so he has his suit hired and waiting for him when he gets there. it's so easy for men!

i know i made this little hat under pressure but it made me remember just how much i love creating them and i am very excited at the thought of testing the water and making a few to sell when i come home.

thank you for the sweet comments on the last post. i just made the draw and the corsage is heading off to sweet myrtle tomorrow. giveaways are fun. i must do more!

so it's back to the sewing machine for me now. cup of tea and the archers for company. i'll not be back until october 1st...so cheerio for now! xxx

p.s. i was so happy to hear from this lady yesterday...who i went to school with years and years ago. we're in touch now through facebook and i spent time falling in love with her shop and her hound when i found her wonderful website. hope you're reading this simone...how funny to find each other through blogland all this time later!

PURPLE PART TWO

did i say tomorrow? you knew i meant a week tomorrow didn't you?

; )

i just don't seem to be able to manage my me-time lately. we have a house guest. we've had some decorating done. i'm trying to get sorted for our holiday next week. putting off packing. say no more...hoping that i'll get back in the groove come october!

and back to purple. so much of it about in the shops right now. i'm pretty sure that full on prince purple just doesn't suit me no matter how many magazines say it's the colour to be seen in this season. but there are shades on that scale that i do like.

i think it's a good colour to accessorise with. i have some things to put in my etsy shop in october and ahead of the restock i'd like to offer a little giveaway. would you like a dolly corsage?

just leave a little comment by thursday evening 2000 gmt and the next day i'll announce a winner...i'm happy to post anywhere so don't be shy.

and now i'd better get back to my to-do list...if i'm very much mistaken i haven't actually decided what to take to wear to the wedding in ireland and i also need to think what way to get my hair cut tomorrow!

PURPLE PART ONE

a credit crunch crumble

plums from grandad g's garden...£0

elderberries from our garden...£0

other bits from the cupboard + recipe found here

i've never used elderberries before + wasn't sure if they could be used. i found another website that suggested elderberry schnapps which might make for some good christmas gifts. don't they look like black pearls? so pretty.

making jam with the rest of the plums is on my list of jobs for the week ahead.

(purple part two tomorrow)

MORE WOOL PLEASE

right now i'm at a standstill.

while we stayed up in norfolk a week ago i had a knitting lesson from my mum. we chose wool + bought needles. we planned to spend time together with my grandma mary that weekend...hoping she'd find that place where she felt happy + confident doing something that she was the best at. memories of the cosy aran pieces she made for us all...the sweetest fairisle jumpers too. for the littlest ones and the grownups alike. she could watch tv, read a book + knit knit knit all at the same time. and i probably never quite appreciated what a talent that is until now.

my mum's a great knitter too. i'm so pleased that she's taught me how to cast on. i ended up going the wrong way on the second row! mum rescued me + started me off again...then i sat and merrily (if rather awkwardly) + carried on. and i made myself stop for a minute and take in the lovely picture before me of us all sat there together...needles in hand.

of course i didn't really know where my 30 stitches would take me at the time. i just knew that i was enjoying it. that calm feeling of repetitive action without too much thought (once i got going!) and the nice soft wool between my fingers. so i just kept going and here i am now at the end of the ball...having progressed to a knit 1 row purl 1 row. suprise suprise i've decided on a scarf and my mum is going to get me another 2 balls + give me that all important next lesson when i see her on wednesday. when i'm done (and had my cast off lesson!) i think i'll line it with some fabric as a nod to the patchwork style scarves i've made in the past.

i told you i was in an autumnal mood! i'm already thinking ahead to wrist warmers and leg warmers...and lots of layers. maybe with this lovely top from tulip and nettle?

happy september!