Organize your bits and pieces

Hello. I try and keep things tidy so I know where to find things. There are plastic storage boxes you can buy, of varying sizes, to store small items in. I don't spend money if I can find a cheaper or free alternative. My bead collection is stored in various tins and boxes. These two plastic trays once contained posh cakes from M & S, I nabbed them after a party as they were about to be thrown out. The trays fit exactly inside an old chocolate tin, one on top of the other. 

In this tin I have a couple of ice cube trays, and small individual pots made by cutting the top off some supplement containers. I collect all kinds of plastics and have had these for a long time, when I used to take extra vitamins. Yes, I fell into the trap of thinking I needed them, but having not taken any for several years, I now know they did not make any difference to my general health and well being.

Another tin, this one has those small yogurty type drinks bottles in it, with the tops cut off. I buy these if they are on a yellow sticker, would never pay full price for them. They make handy little containers for bits and pieces.

Those Ferrero Rocher plastic boxes make good storage boxes as well. You can see at a glance what you have without taking the lid off. 

Has anyone else got their own unique storage system made with re purposed tins, boxes, jars, and plastic bottles? Share your tips so we can save money by not buying new from a shop.

Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon. Toodle pip

Look through my window

Hello. At last I have made a frame for this picture. It's been hanging around for months, I've been playing around with it, changing bits of it, adding things, now I've done enough and it's framed. 

I've daubed paint on it, and added more stitching.

Lots of French knots.

The mountain colours have been toned down with paint and needle felting, and beads added. The clouds have disappeared under splodges of blue paint. 

The frame is four pieces of wood I removed from an arm chair when I was dismantling it for disposal. I've made it this shape to give the impression of looking at the view through a window. I've sanded the wood but not varnished it, I don't think it needs it. The fabric is stretched over a board and fixed at the back, it drops into the recess of the frame. I haven't put glass in it, it's already quite heavy without. One thing I have forgot is to add my name at the bottom. I will stitch that into it, though it would have been easier to do that first. I forgot in my haste to get it framed. 

Glad that's done at last. It looks pretty good.

Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

It's fine without a dressing

Hello. The art sign looks good on the lamp post, very eye catching next to the shop near to the Village Hall. Let's hope it brings people out to have a look on Sunday. 

I've just eaten this salad, it's completely naked, no dressing whatsoever. I've run out of the cheap mayo from the Cash and Carry, and haven't got anything else to put on it. I don't like oily dressings, in my opinion it ruins the fresh taste of the individual items,. I don't buy them nor do I make them. I might occasionally buy toasted sesame seed oil but I prefer that on steamed veg. It doesn't seem right to put oil on salad and make it greasy. So, naked it is. 

I've had this bottle of whipped body oil for a few years, it lasts so long because I can't be bothered to squeeze a small amount out. I only moisturize my face, and if I squeeze the bottle on to my fingers I always manage to get too much out and I end up having to wipe off the excess. I had a little empty plastic pot so I filled it from the bottle. This makes the job a lot easier, all I have to do is dip my finger in it and get out just the right amount.

I have been given a very large window blind and a smaller one, aren't they the most ugliest things ever. My friend thought I might be able to make something with them. I don't have windows to fit them, nor would I want to hang them in here anyway. Give me curtains every time. I will take them apart and have a play with them.

Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon. Toodle pip.

Art exhibition here on Sunday

Hello. A couple of people mentioned that my Summer House is in the Waitrose Weekend newspaper, thank you both for that. Curiosity got the better of me, and as we don't have a branch of that supermarket here, I had to take a trip over the bridge to Willerby near Hull to pick up a copy. I combined it with a visit to The Ropewalk art gallery in Barton, to take a look at their latest exhibitions. They had some lovely coloured hand made glassware on display, with another artist showing original knitted cushions at a mere snip of £50 each, cough cough, I'll pass on that. 

Here is the picture. No credit for the photographer, the sponsor of Shed of the Year, or me. A few pages further on is a short article about the competition, cobbled together from other newspaper reports. Looks quite good, but it's a shame that the first two letters of my name above the heart are hidden. I wouldn't recommend shopping at Waitrose, everything I normally buy is more expensive than anywhere else. 

I've been busy with this sign today, I want to put it up on a lamp post tomorrow morning on the High street where everyone will see it. I deliberately didn't put a time and date on it so that it can be used again if we have more art exhibitions in the Village Hall on a Sunday. The details are on other smaller posters scattered around the village.

Steamed veg for dinner tonight and it's about ready, so I'll go and remove it from the hob and dish it up before it turns to mush. Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip.

Attention seeking

Hello. Life is back to normal, I'll tell you all about yesterday at a later date, but for now I have things to do. Still haven't got a wheelie bin for my garden rubbish and as things are growing rapidly I need to keep on top of the job by trimming up the hedges. I rang the council as I should have had one delivered by now, so she took my details and I have had confirmation that I will get one within the next seven days. Chuffin heck, I need one now. If the bin men had reported mine as broken almost two weeks ago I would have one. I'm going to put this broken one out again on Monday with a note on the lid saying where is my chuffin new bin? 

Moving on......we need a sign for our art exhibition on Sunday the 19th. There's nowhere to put it close to the Village Hall except on a lamp post. Luckily I have got some long narrow pieces of plastic 29 inches long and 5.5 inches wide, just the job. I will be able to attach it with cable ties. I've made a start, painted it yellow, there will be lots of colour. Should grab people's attention. 

Kathy has mentioned a new programme on BBC called MAKE! Craft Britain, thank you for that. Just by chance I watched it today while I ate my lunch. It was quite interesting, so if any of you crafty people out there would like a butchers (look), click on this link which will take you to it on the iplayer. It's available for 29 days. I haven't looked if it's on yooootoooob yet. I thought there might have been more similar programmes available on the iplayer but all there is at the bottom of the page is a button to click on if you want to buy more craft series. Looks like this is a taster to get you to cough up some dosh if you want more. 

Here's a question to my fellow bloggers. Are you getting a banner which says,  'Your HTTPS settings have changed. All visitors are now able to view your blog over an encrypted connection etc etc etc'. Anyone know what it means in simple English. I've clicked on the 'Learn more', link but I'm none the wiser. I wish they wouldn't muck about with the gubbins. Has anyone turned on the HTTPS redirect? What happened? I am reluctant to fiddle with things for fear of losing stuff. I tend to leave things alone while they are working ok. 

Right, I'm going to wind down with a book. Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon.

Toodle pip. 

Oooooo la la...PS added

Hello. I am slowly drifting along on cloud nine, floating towards the ground at a very gentle pace. I think I will be back down to earth sometime tomorrow morning. A clue. This is a new picture I am working on.

Another clue look at this....  Can't say no more, work it out.

Chuffin heck, that was a lot of fun.
We'll catch up soon. Toodle pip

PS. After reading your comments on the scant information I gave you, I need to confirm something. I have not won anything, no results have been announced, and will not be until the TV programmes are aired on Channel 4 sometime in the summer. All the 32 sheds from the eight categories are being filmed this week, and will shown. We all have to wait. William was very huggable  :o))

Fun and games with a friend.

Hello. I had a visitor today. I met blog reader Simplesista about a year ago when I was over in Yorkshire for a few days, so as it was time for a catch up and she had a day off work, she came here. It was great to see her again, we never stopped talking, so much to say. After a cuppa, yes I have got tea bags, and a tour of the garden, we went to the cash and carry so she could grab a few bargains. She is very price conscious so I knew she would appreciate some cheap food with a growing family to feed. 

Back home for lunch, we sat in the garden. She had her pack up, and I made a sandwich, then we went for a walk and had a bimble through the woods. We came across this swing and couldn't resist having a go. 

On the way back up the hill I wondered if Joanna was in, she lives in the 1939 house, and yes she was, so we stopped for a natter. We found her in the garden putting some plants into the ground. She very kindly let us look around her house. I have seen it before, but Simplesista was quite excited to see it in the flesh.

The time went far too quickly, we had a photo outside the summer house just before she left to go home. There is a blur across the middle of it, not sure how that happened. I look like a giant compared to her, she is tiny.

It was great to see her again. Thanks for coming over, SS, I enjoyed the day.

The pressure is off now and I don't have to chase anyone for votes, but blow me down, I did my walk and met someone who didn't know anything about the competition. That's one vote I missed out on, probably missed more. Anyway, all done and dusted so I can relax. It will be a long wait for the results, they won't be revealed until later on in the year. Thank you all for voting.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip.

The deadline looms

Hello. It's less that four hours to go, voting closes at 12 noon today for Shed of the Year. I have told everyone I know about my Bespoke Summer House, in the hope that they like it enough to vote for me. There are four sheds in the Budget category and I am one of them. It would be super duper if I could win a plaque to display on my cute little house at the bottom of the garden. If you haven't yet voted please help me out now by registering your vote. I would be very very chuffed. Here is the page you want, open it up and two clicks and you're done. Send it to anyone you know, every little helps.
Thanks very muchly.
Ilona
PS, A blog reader is visiting today, I'll tell you all about it later.

Out of date? Not a problem.

Hello. That's another little job done with a handy tester pot of paint. I have a collection now of these colourful pots. It all helps to brighten up the garden. 

No, not a packet of brains, or a bag of string. I can get vacuum pack noodles from the Cash and Carry, four of these for 30p. they are out of date of course, but that's not a problem. They're handy for knocking up a quick meal.

I've just scoffed this, it will keep me going until my next meal at around 5 or 6 pm. Sliced mushrooms, tail end of a cucumber, handful of baby spinach, cooked in oil for a few minutes. Add spices and a packet of noodles, and cook for a few minutes more. Blimey, I'm stuffed.

I need to go to town now so I'll buzz off. we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip.

Quiet village? Nah, not today.

Hello. Tis the season of barbecue's, and bouncy castles, and loud disco music, and kids running amok and laughing and screaming their little heads off. Oh the joys of having a birthday party in your back garden on a nice summers day. No, not me, the neighbour. It's sheer purgatory from this side of the hedge, only the lawnmower drowns out the noise. To be fair, they don't do it that often, so one day indoors won't hurt me. Yesterday I was popping back inside because it was too hot, now I need to come in to rest my ears. My neighbour on the other side must like it, he has his patio doors wide open. I shall escape and go and do my walk.

Bye for now. Toodle pip

Anything goes with pasta.

Hello. It's been another hot 'un today. Some time spent indoors, housework and sewing. Yesterday I made a veg stir fry, I started it off with an onion and a potato, chopped small in a pan in some oil. Then I added some of this out of a bag. I don't very often buy it, not that bothered about stir fries, but I got it for a change. It turned out quite nice. I added some veg granules and garlic powder for flavour. 

I fancied some pasta and made enough for three meals. Two portions with the stir fry, and one portion with scrambled eggs and grated cheese.

When the sun wasn't quite so hot I went outside to clean the roof on the summer house. It's quite a balancing act to reach up there. One foot on the step ladder and the other on the pallets while hanging on with one hand and scrubbing with the other. Those darned pigeons don't half make a mess. The perfume wafting past my nostrils from the lilac bush was just divine. It's a shame it's hidden away in the corner of the garden. I have a white one as well closer to the house, but it doesn't smell as nice as this.

I got up at 5am this morning, so I'm starting to fall asleep now. I'll say Goodnight. Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Not many flowers out yet? Cheat.

Hello. A murky start this morning but this afternoon it's roasting in the garden. I have to keep popping indoors to cool down. It's still hot now at gone six o clock. The kids are no use at all when it comes to gardening. They usually follow me around to keep me company, but today there was hardly any life in them. Heidi chose to doze under the bushes. 

Bugsy took refuge under the pallet table to get out of the full sun.

And Mayze was flat out on her back in the nest she made in the long grass. Her head was hidden.

I have been tidying up the raised beds. I have to admit to buying a few more plants. I bought some Fuchsias from Aldi,  and a few from a stall in the market. The colour you see though is cheats flowers, they are plastic, and they were free, ha ha. The sunflower is real. 

 The seeds and bulbs I planted are beginning to show.

In all this greenery I am not sure which are from seeds, and which are weeds. This is what you get when you scatter seeds will nilly. I've pulled up a few potato plants out of here.

Too darn hot. Still got my long baggy shorts as you can see. They are wearing well. 

Sorry, no picture of Rocky, he is sprawled out on his bed indoors, too hot for him outside. I'm going to have to wait an hour or so before I go for a walk, wait till it cools down.

Tatty byes for now. Have a good weekend. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

The Walled Garden is ready for showing

Hello. At last, just about finished. All I have to do is sew the backing on, I am using denim for that. So, this started life as a piece of wire mesh with one inch squares. I cut it off a roll I bought at Poundland in the gardening section. I had a lot of strips of felt which I got from the Scrapstore, £2 for a big bag, so I cut lengths one inch wide and wove it through the mesh, keeping it flat. At that stage I could see a wall garden emerging. I layered some needle felting over it to blur the edges and added curly green wool to it. All the flowers are stitched on with beads added. I'll leave you to scroll through the pictures. Click on one to see a bigger version, then scroll through them. 

The measurements are 24" x 23". You can still see some of the mesh but that's fine, I hadn't intended to hide it. I am pleased with it, this is just how I see a walled garden in my mind.

I have other ideas buzzing around in my head for the next project, but I'm not going to rush into something. The house is a mess because I have spent a lot of time making this, so I need to tidy up a bit. Going to be busy next week as well.

I'm off for a walk. No doubt someone will stop me to talk, I am in the local newspaper today, big feature, three photographs. This new story is from a telephone interview I did on Tuesday, I must say, she has made a good job of it, very well written. I think it's only in the paper version, can't find it on the web site.

Quick reminder for the walking group to send in your mileages, either total, or just for May. I have shortened the list on the walking page because some people haven't sent me any updates, so I am assuming they didn't get started, or are doing their own thing. Those that I have heard nothing from have been removed. The rest of you are doing pretty well so keep it up, only another month to go and we are half way through the challenge.

I am still waiting for an address from BrendaR. Lilly's Mum, your bag is in the post.

Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Another bag winner.

Hello again. Very windy weather today, so I have been indoors a lot. Almost finished the Walled Garden picture, looking good.

I have pulled a name out of a box, no hats available, and have a winner for the second shopping bag. Step forward Lilly's Mom, and tell me your postal address so I can post it off to you. Put it in a comment which I won't publish, or use the email address on the side bar.

It's getting late and the battery is getting a bit low in my brain, it's starting to malfunction. I am a morning person so I will be back tomorrow when suitably refreshed after a nights sleep. Thanks for popping in.
Toodle pip

WINNER. Chuffin heck, at last.

Hello It was an almost impossible task, to ask you to guess the magic word, but in the last few hours, 23.49 on the 31st to be precise, someone did indeed get it right. So step forward BrendaR. In your frustrations you wrote the word CHUFFIN, which was chuffin right.

Yep, it is definitely it, Jenny. I'll eat my chuffin' hat if it isn't it :-)
Ilona, it's it isn't it?
BrendaR

I asked for the magic word, it could have been anywhere in the comment. 

BrendaR please tell me your postal address in a comment and I won't publish it,  and which colour preference, pick one from the picture, blue, red, green, and I will send it. 

As you have all tried so hard, I will have the normal prize draw and pick a name out of a hat. So come back later to find out who it is. Thank you all for joining in the fun of it.

Catch you later. Toodle pip