It all seems such a long time ago

Does anyone remember autograph books? Some people collect autographs from famous people, I collected them from school friends and teachers. 

Yes Christine, I did go to the Methodist church, but I didn't get to kiss the boys on Mondays. 

Susan, at 13 years old, I didn't know what making love was. I was a late starter, it was another six years before I started that malarkey.

Oooh, you are cruel, Sandra. Funny you should mention cow muck, they have been spraying the fields around the village this afternoon, there's a heck of a pong outside.

Same here Jacky. Four of us used to play kiss chase, I always made sure I caught the boy next door.

Oh dear Lorraine, that wasn't very good business sense was it. A tin of milk is worth at least 2/6.

Blimey, we were so naïve. I didn't grow up until I left home at 18.
Anyone else collect autographs, got any little rhymes?
Toodle pip.  ilona

Spinning a tale.

I was standing in the toilets at Marks and Sparks, idly reading the sign above the hand drying machine, as you do. How clever of M & S to choose turbo hand dryers for their customers convenience. There is nothing more annoying than standing around rubbing your hands together underneath a wisp of air which has no more pressure than a fart. And then giving up and finish off by  drying your hands on your clothes, or waft them about as you leave the room. Piles of grubby toilet paper surrounding the garbage bin usually means the hand dryers are rubbish and people have given up on them. 

In the bottom corner of this sign is a small message. Wow, M & S have really gone to town with their re cycling and re using policy. So how did they make this sign, that's what I want to know. Which waste materials did they use? It looks very professional, not hand made like something being scrawled on a broken piece of plastic packaging, or part of a pallet.

What equipment would have been used to cut out a perfect sign, what did they use to print the message on with? It wasn't knocked up in someone's shed. And what is the actual point of it? Why did they bother with a sign at all? To give themselves a pat on the back? Maybe it says, look we built you a brand new store, we closed the old store in the town centre, bought this piece of land on the outskirts, and built a new store. The least we could do is use some of the rubbish we created, on this sign. Well bully for them. And they pay people good money to think up these ideas. Spin the customers a tale, and they will keep coming back. Errrr., maybe they won't.
Toodle pip.  ilona

Rock bottom, but not forever

I spent a lovely hour down by the pond this afternoon. It's been a sunny day, though a tad windy, but fine for a walk. The swans have done well this year, five babies, teenagers now. 

The area round the pond is looking good. New paths laid, new fencing erected, the grass has been mowed, and new fishing platforms have been built. A nice place to bimble. .

Just about done all the shredding. As I was loading it into the machine I was tempted to read all the bank statements, especially the monthly totals. This one caught my eye so I pulled it out to keep. Just to remind myself how badly off I was financially. Pretty much rock bottom I would say, but it was all my doing. I had cut down my driving hours with the agency, and was running a small business, which ultimately didn't make any money. I was doing something I enjoyed but it wasn't paying enough. When it got this bad I asked for more hours at the agency. But I survived and I'm still here to tell the tale.

I should be alright from now on, unless the government goes bankrupt. My pension is enough to live on, and pay for some treats. It might mean I have to stay where I am for a while, good job I like it here, and not having a mortgage or rent to pay is a bonus. I thank my lucky stars.
Toodle pip.  ilona

Chatting about my arty projects.

Been a bit miserable here today, but no matter, I have been busy. Made this video. Blog readers will know about this because I have covered it in blog posts, but not all yooootooobers read the blog so it will be new to them.



I've been working in the office (back bedroom) today, I have far too much paperwork from previous projects, it has to go. The shredder has been eating up all the sensitive documents, there will be a few bags to take to the recycling centre when I next go.

A school re union is planned, I might go. It's 55 years since I left school at age 15, wonder if I will recognise anyone. I would like to see some old school pals, but they will be scattered all around the world by now. Apparently one of the teachers is 90, the party is for his birthday. I will have a party when I am 90, might even have one when I'm 80.
Toodle pip.  ilona

At the end of the day

It was still light when I started my walk tonight. I went outside the village for a change. 

The sun is going down on my right.

And the moon is coming up on my left. Looks like a big one tonight. 

 Zooming in, it's glowing orange. Magic.

There are severe weather warnings being issued, but we have had very little rain. We had two days of wind and that's calmed down now. I've been in the garden today taking the tops off the conifers at the bottom of the garden. It's a bit easier to do now that I have got a taller step ladder. It's a big job so I only do about an hour at a time. Usually spread it over several days. 

I put some pictures of my new weaving on the Textile Art site and it's had 276 'likes' so far, and lots of nice comments. I'm a bit chuffed. Off to bed now. Goodnight and Toodle pip.  Ilona  

Folk art weaving landscape.

I was working on this for most of the day yesterday. When I started it I didn't know what I was going to end up with, but as I began adding a bit more and a bit more, an idea emerged. A landscape possibly, a tree possibly, maybe two trees. 

The loom is an old picture frame, the warps are white wool. 

Keep checking the sides, don't pull the weft tight across, leave some slack. Try to get two colours with a neat join.

Now it's off the loom, knot the top and bottom warps while I add the detail. First a sun. I decided to use felt for the extras, easy to sew on.

Two trees and some French knots at the bottom. Luckily I had a red plastic knitting needle which is just the right size. Add some twisted cord to hang it. 

It is 12 inches top to bottom, and 8 and a bit inches wide. I have stitched a piece of dark blue felt to the back to hide all the messiness. I trimmed the fringe at the bottom, three inches is about right.

I'm really chuffed with this, I can see me doing some more weaving, maybe a bigger loom next time. 

Toodle pip.  Ilona 

My Trucking Life. Part 11.

I'm getting a bit behind with the yooootooooob videos, as one subscriber pointed out to me. Yes, I'm guilty. But fret no more, here is another one of the Trucking Life series. I will make more, new subscribers are signing up to my channel nearly every day.



Windy as hell today. I've just done a litter pick in the woods, the noise of wind rushing through the trees was deafening, exciting though. My one bag was no where near enough, filled to the brim in no time. The wood does look a sorry sight, the youths have trashed parts of it. I used to come here regularly, it was a lovely place to walk. Not now, the footpaths have not been repaired, rotting wood lying about, overgrown with nettles. Not a good place to walk any more. Sad.
ilona

Another job done.

I've been thinking about this last board, what shall I put on it. Got a little bit lost in weaving, too many ideas, which shall I do first. I've gone for the easy option so I can move on. Sticky back glittery foam hearts. My first idea was to cut circles out of a sheet of foam, and layer them, and pin them to the board with drawing pins. But the edges of the circles were not neat enough. I got these hearts from a £1 shop so that saves me the job of cutting out. Although stuck on I put drawing pins through the middle which I had painted with glitter nail varnish. The thickness of the hearts stop the pins from going through to the other side. 

Eight boards now done, I don't have any more.

Can't decide which one I like best. Now I will get back to the weaving. The bigger one is off the loom, now I shall decide what to put on it. I like playing. Toodle pip.  Ilona 

Scrummy breakfast

Today must eat strawberries. Nuts and seeds and cereals, topped with big luscious British strawberries from Staffordshire. So so sweet. Second portion later.

ilona.

Looking for bargains in Hull.

I've had a very nice day out today. After breakfast, and a bit of weaving, I loaded the car up with a pile of stuff for the Scrapstore. They were very pleased with it. Tracey was getting another room ready for a big sale they are having on Saturday. I managed to stop myself from buying anything there. The Scrapstore was busy with customers and it was too much hassle to squeeze past them. 

Afterwards I went to have a look round Hobbycraft. It's on a retail park in Hull with several other shops. No need to rush back so I had a browse. I bought some balls of green wool. For some reason I seem to use green more than any other colour.  

There is a new store opened, The Food Warehouse, worth a look I thought, just in case there were any food reductions. Lucky me, I found yellow stickers. They were hand written, 50% off. I added it up to £4.50 but when I went through the till they said £4.65. I paid, then checked the receipt before I left the store. Sure enough, he had misread two prices, so I asked for a 15p refund. Well it's the principle. The Food Warehouse is part of the Iceland group. 

I wanted a few things from Home Bargains, cat food of course, they had some Sheba offers. I now have to get Sheba for Oscar, he has gone off Felix and Whiskas. I got some wash-up brushes and scourers, and a few other bits and bobs.

I had a look round Sue Ryder charity shop, they had a sale, all skirts and trousers now £1. Couldn't find anything I fancied though. It was quite a big shop and a good place to look for anyone wanting to set up home. Some nice second hand furniture at reasonable prices.

Time to do my walk. I'll go now while it's still sunny. Toodle pip.  ilona

It's all very crafty here

I've left this a bit late, hope I don't fall asleep on the keyboard. A bit more progress on the weaving. these are random colours, I like contrast. I was struggling to get a neat edge on the dark red against the pink and blue. I thought the usual way would be to start at the bottom and work up as I did before but it looked messy. I unpicked it and started with a straight across line at the top, and worked my way down to the bottom. That looked better as it was a lot easier to join the two colours. I did the same with the pink to join it to the yellow.  

A friend has given me a bag of old buttons, I suppose you would call them vintage. I'm not sure what I will do with them, something will come to mind eventually.

The bin bags under my table are full of fabric. I shall deliver them to the Scrapstore tomorrow. I think they will be chuffed. I have been told there will be some more fabric to come when the family have been able to sort through some more of the house. The old lady who lived there had collected tons of fabric. Although she was into crafts, she was never going to use all of it.

That's all. Time for bed. Toodle pip. ilona

Let's weave

It's a wet Monday morning here in North Lincolnshire. A quick blog post before I go off to Crafty Club. I have a big bag full of wool to take, given to me by the same people who gave me the fabric. The ladies will be able to dive in there and take what they want. 

I've made a start on the next weaving. The loom is an old picture frame, 12 inches by 14. I've used wool for the warp which is better than string because it has a degree of stretchiness in it. 

At this stage I have ideas floating around in my head, no definite plan, see where it takes me. I'm thinking maybe lollipop trees. 

There is a strip of cardboard underneath the tassels which will be removed when I come to take it off the loom and tie the ends of the warp together.

Oh, and while I have a minute, here's a message for the sad troll who is constantly monitoring my every move, just to make sarcastic comments. Your campaign to belittle and put me down 'aint working sunshine. Carry on if you must, but it is you I feel sorry for. My life is just brilliant, yours must be absolute hell if you feel the need to bolster your confidence by pulling others down.
Toodle pip.  Ilona

PS. Scroll down to see what the trolls response is to the message I posted above. This person has a personality disorder. 

Arts and crafts on the cheap

That was soon finished, an experimental small weave on a home made loom. Arts and crafts don't have to cost an arm and a leg, most of the materials can be found free or for a few pennies. 

So what have I learnt. Not a good idea to use string for the warp, unless you are going to do some of the weaving with string. It would look better with wool wrapped around that pencil. 

I made two rows of nails at each end of the loom, as per the instructions on the video. That's fine if you want a tighter weave but the loops at the top are two different lengths, so a bit loose on the pencil. The next loom I make will be bigger, and a single row of nails at each end. 

I like the idea of stitching into the weave to add that little bit extra detail.

The weave itself is 4 and a quarter inches wide, and 5 and a half long. It was a bit messy at the bottom when I removed it from the loom and tied off the string loops, so I added a fringe with a crochet hook to disguise it and fluffed it up with a needle.

I like it, it's cute. I'll make a bigger one next time. The possibilities are endless with the different materials that could be used.

Here's another little experiment I have been playing with. What can you do with the foil lid on a tub of Coffee Mate. I have saved some of these in the hope I will come up with an idea. 

I like the shiny texture.

Why not embroider a simple design on it. 

I think it looks pretty nifty, now all I have to do is think what to do with it. 

I've done my walk today, 9 till 10, my friend came with me. I have a load of washing out on the line, it's warm and sunny outside and I have opened up the summer house so I think I will be spending some time out there today. Toodle pip.  ilona. 

A new hobby.

I want to do some weaving but I haven't got a loom. The answer is to make one, so I looked at videos on yooootoooob. I just want a small one to practice on, I have a shop bought cheap piece of tat, a canvas, no I didn't buy it, and the picture was damaged. So I stripped it off, and measured up the spaces for the nails. It measures 8" x 6". 

Followed the instructions from the video, and wrapped some string around the nails.

Then choose some colours. I used wool but any yarn can be used. This is what it looks like so far. I have put some fringing into it. Nearly ready to take it off the loom. I want to add a fringe at the bottom, and attach it to a bar at the top, and add embellishments. The side strands need weaving in at the back. 

This could be the start of a new hobby. I'll post pics when it's finished. 

One more board left to do, when I think of an idea. 

Toodle pip.  Ilona 

Walking Group check in. January to July.

My goodness time flies, best get out walking while we still have a bit of summer left. Before you know it we will be into Autumn, and all the leaves will be falling off the trees.

How are you all doing with the walking challenge? How many members of the International Walking Group are still walking? Me for one, I stick my hand up, me me me. My target for the end of July was 584, I have done 596, yipppeeeeee. Off to a good start for August.

Those doing the 1000 miles, are you anywhere near that? Going by your last reports I think some of you are forging ahead, you won't be beaten, good for you. Some walkers will have their own targets, how are you doing, anywhere near them?

I have been doing some morning walks, a friend wanted to join me and that is the best time for them. Usually 9 till 10, then I can get on with whatever else I am doing for the rest of the day. He will be moving away from the area in a few weeks so I will revert to walking at the best time to fit in with my schedule.

Let's have your numbers, this is the place to check in with your progress reports. Thank you for popping in. You can come back to this post at any time if you don't get round to making a comment today. Toodle pip.  ilona