Rattling On...

A case of the blues...

This post, if it does nothing else, will illustrate just how hard it is to take photos in rubbish light. They were all taken on the same day with the camera on the same settings. In terms of colour accuracy I think the last one is the closest as it's not as bright as the first one suggests and not as 70s denimy as the second...

(Edited to add: I've looked at the colours on a different computer and now none of them look like the real colour!! In fact the first looks better, the middle still too pale and the last far too dark... whatever, it's really pleasant in real life!)

It's a shawl of course. I saw it here and decided to make my own version (details on Ravelry as always). As we all know I don't like circular needles so I made it on straights with aran yarn. It starts off with seven stitches and the increases are worked to provide the shaping.

I got to 325 stitches then no more would squeeze onto the needle so I stopped. Fortunately that made it exactly the right size. Which is good!

It has a definite rustic homsteader charm and it was really easy to make. Honestly. I don't go in for stitch markers and all that faff and it was easy to see what was going on and when the increases were required. Perfect evening/TV viewing project.

The last grainy picture is to show the scale against the back of the door. It's plenty big enough for my farming shoulders, and it would tuck into your pants on a breezy day...

Now down to business, the giveaway.

The winner of the book is Paula, and if she'd like to e-mail me her details I'll post it off to her. I know she likes baking so hopefully it's off to a good home!

Giveaway...

One week ago this blog reached its third anniversary. Three years of rattling on, I think it's post 1053 today.

In slightly belated celebration of this fact I'm offering a rather nice book as a giveaway prize. Fiona Cairns' Bake and Decorate is full of excellent cake recipes and ideas, and they're all sensible as well which I like in a recipe book. It's all well and good having fantastic pictures and styling, but Joe Bloggs has to have a fair chance of reproducing them as well.

So, if you (like me...) have cake tins that need using and would like a good book to inspire you, then leave a comment on this post and enter the draw. As always I'll post anywhere and you don't have to have a blog, or any other stipulation.

Although if you would like to offer a cake-related limerick, your baking history in three words or a reason why you should be created as a peer of the realm then do feel free...

You have until next Saturday.

Giveaway Winner...

The winner of the Autumn Giveaway ( Homemade gifts vintage style ) is.... Eithne!

She and her family are having a handmade and secondhand Christmas, such a great idea, and this book should give her loads of inspiration.

This reminds me of someone I once knew. He had his own business and suddenly became very successful. Christmases were getting out of hand in the Competitive Gift Buying stakes and so the whole family decided to have a £5 Christmas (kids included). £5 was the top amount anyone could spend on one person, but if you could get something free or secondhand or buy bits to make something that was fine. He said it was the best Christmas they had ever had.

And I once received a personalised wooden spoon, wrapped in newspaper, from a skint friend. It was lovely and I had it for years. It really is the thought that counts.

Eithne, please email me your details and then you can get cracking on the presents, the link is at the top of the page.

Autumn giveaway...

If you get Mollie Makes you'll have seen projects from Homemade Gifts Vintage Style featured in this month's issue. I've had a copy for a while and am very impressed by the ideas in there, the book that is. And I have the magazine as well, just to confuse things.

And then there's the second copy... the one I thought someone might like to win in a giveaway, just in time to make some Christmas presents perhaps.

All you have to do is leave me a comment telling me you'd like to go in the draw. You don't have to have a blog and I'll post it anywhere (can't promise anyone abroad will have enough time to get cracking for Christmas...). The closing date is the 11th of November and I'll announce a winner on the 12th.

In other news: school is as cold as a morgue at the moment, a chimney problem means they can only light the boiler for tiny amounts of time. The cold was compounded by a fire alarm 'malfunction' yesterday, leaving us shivering outside, only to return to equally cold classrooms. My down filled gilet is being pressed into service. It's either that or a hot water bottle strapped to my (bad) back for comfort. And it's not even winter properly yet...

It's the mailman...

Look what I received the other day! A parcel full of goodies from Anne's recent giveaway. As I opened it I guessed straight away what one of the things was going to be... a lavender bag which smells gorgeous.

There's a notebook as well, I love notebooks... and a set of coasters. Funnily enough I've been thinking I needed coasters and Anne has read my mind. They are beautifully made and presented, how talented she is. But you'll know that if you read her blog and have seen the quilts she makes.

I'm also in two swaps that are coming up. The first is an Autumn swap with Vicki, she's currently in plaster so we extended the deadline a little on that one-which suited us both!

The other is with Tracey, and this one is being hosted by Emily as a celebration of her blog's second anniversary. There's still time to sign up if you fancy a bit of parcel fun. And let's face it who doesn't lurve getting a parcel? Well, I do.

In fact I'm off to the post office in a bit to post one to No1 at Uni. It contains the course books that didn't arrive in time for us to take them last week (Amazon Traders... buck up your ideas!!), some magazines and general mail. No doubt it will cost an arm and a leg, but it's cheaper than the 500 mile round trip would be! She is having a whale of a time. No sleep and already a trip to A&E following a cooking accident. I knew the knife set was a mistake, along with the fact that she's only ever really cooked beans on toast before...

Ladybird, ladybird...

Hooray for the ladybirds in the garden, and their larvae. They are very necessary at the moment as the ants are busy in the front garden. Farming...

Thing is, they've decided to go for it on a big scale this year...

Er, dinner anyone?

A Pinteresting giveaway...

Have you heard of Pinterest? I was on the waiting list for an account and now I have it!  It's a place to put all the photos of interesting, cool, must-have things you see as you browse the web or other people's pins.  (And the site you get it from is automatically credited)

You set up some 'Boards' for the different categories and away you go. The only problem is choosing what not to put on there, or which picture really says something to you. There are some amazing collections on there.

Anyway, to celebrate the fact that I am up and running, I'd like to share the experience with a couple of my blog friends (the brilliant Pinterest team give you invites to send to a few people).

If you'd like to win one of the invites then read on...

Just leave me a comment telling me what Boards you'd have on your Pinterest, and maybe a link to a picture that sums it up. (BTW, I believe it's considered a bit naff to pin your own stuff... you have to hope someone admires your blog/Flicker/Pinterest enough to provide the exposure you crave!)

Closing date is Friday 10th June.

(As a final note... you need to have Facebook or Twitter to enable Pinterest. But setting one of them up isn't much of a hassle.)

Better late than never...

I missed my blogiversary in February, and therefore missed holding a giveaway. Now is the time to put that right.

If you'd like to win a copy of make! by Cath Kidston then this might be your chance. All I ask is that you leave a comment on this post between now and next Saturday, the 7th of May, telling me what you like to make. A winner will be chosen at random.

The book contains ideas how to customise lots of things, stencils and a cotton bag with embroidery threads so you can get started. The reviews on amazon aren't fantastic, but that's because they misunderstood what the book was offering...ie ideas and nothing set in stone. 

Depending on who wins, and what they like to make, there may be a little extra thrown in...

My loss...your gain?

**Giveaway alert**

 
I'd seen this book reviewed on a couple of other blogs and loved the styling and idea that they were quick projects. With Christmas in mind I sent off for it immediately.

When it arrived I wasn't disappointed, there were loads of things I fancied a go at. I rummaged through the stash to find yarns in advance of matching them to patterns. Needn't have bothered.

Regular readers of this here offering will have divined that I'm strictly a two-needle practitioner of the art of knitting. It's not that I can't knit on four (or more), more that I really don't enjoy the process and find it incredibly slow.

And here's the rub...this book has only a couple of patterns for two needles. All the rest, including the scarves (!!) are on four or five or circular. Knitting Hell for me, and rendering the book a complete white elephant.

So, if you want to relieve me of my burden feel free to leave a comment to go in a giveaway draw at the end of the month. I will gladly post to the UK or Europe. Then someone else at least can get cracking for Christmas!

 

What a week!

 

A little while ago I won the giveaway over on Liz's blog. It was for a copy of The Otherwise Girl by Keith Claire. So when I got a text from the girls saying there was 'a parcel' for me I was surprised.

As you can see it wasn't just a book in the parcel. Inside the brown paper clad box there were lots of beautifully wrapped surprises and a card made by Liz.

It was more like receiving a luxury hamper, and look- the chocolates made it as far as the photo, I'm so lucky. Thank you, Liz!!

As if that weren't enough, I also received a parcel from Sarah which wasn't really to do with her blog except in a roundabout way. While she was out and about she spotted something and thought of me...

A butterdish in Hornsea Heirloom pattern. Perfect. The collection is growing and I am in sore need of more shelves. I've been planting the idea in my Dad's head for a while and I think he's up for making some.  

It's very flattering to know that someone has thought of me while they were browsing around, though I'll admit I often see things that remind me of the blogs I read. Thank you, Sarah!!

And as if all that weren't enough...there's more. I put my name down for a swap over at periwinkle in June and my swap partner turned out to be Tess at Driftwood. There wasn't a theme to the swap as such, it just had to be something to make the swappee happy. I have sent off my parcel but forgot to take any pictures...maybe Tess will show them on hers.

Tess' parcel included some handmade items (as did mine) and I'm impressed by the felt brooch. She also made the bag and the keyrings.

The delphinium seeds were a lovely idea and I'll be planting them at the appropriate time. Thank you, Tess!!

I'm currently involved in one more swap with Emily, it's her Snail Mail swap where she's swapping once a month for a whole year- there's a button on her blog for up to date news. The swap items were agreed broadly between her and the other swappers. My item is a lap quilt and Em has a rough idea what she's getting. My month was September and the 'quilt' (you'll see why it's in inverted commas when we show and tell later on) is well on the way to completion. 

When I first started blogging I saw all the swaps going on and wondered how to become involved. Then I saw a post for a new one...and just put my name down. I have an idea to host one here a bit later in the year and I hope lots of people will want to join in.

Today's post has been jam packed with the kindness of others and it was needed this week. I cut my hand very badly at the beginning of the week and it has been a pain both literally and figuratively. Crafting has been slowed down because of it and I was feeling a bit sorry for myself. Prezzies don't half cheer you up, though...

And the prize goes to...

Yesterday No1 and I did the draw to find a winner of the recent CSN £50 giveaway. I thought the flower looked suitably like a gold medal!

Well, the lucky person, drawn from No1's new Festival Hat (in anticipation of good weather at the V festival) is Anne over at frayed at the edge. She can now go on a bit of a spree online and treat herself.

I was more than happy to host the really generous giveaway, and there were no conditions attached to the deal. If anyone else is interested in hosting a giveaway or doing a review of a product please let me know and I'll pass on your details. If I'd chosen to do a review I could have kept the item in question...I just thought it was more fun to give something away to the people who read and support me.

So, well done to Anne, and thanks to everyone else who entered. Maybe I'll be able to do something else in future...

In the meantime, I've entered another swap (I'm also in Mousy Brown's Snail mail swap) over at periwinkle. My swap partner is driftwood and the theme is Happiness. We just have to swap something we think will make the recipient happy. What a lovely idea...

Giveaway Day has arrived...

Does your life need a bit of lighting up? Or would a new kitchen gadget cheer you up? Maybe you just want to treat yourself. If any of these apply, then look no further- I might have the answer.

You see, the wonderful people over at CSN Stores have given me a prize to give to one of my lucky readers. Better than that, it's a gift certificate so they can choose something for themself. 

The deal: If delivery is in the UK it's £50. Germany and it's 50 Euros. US or Canada and it's $50. If you win and you're outside the UK then you must use the certificate in a 'local' on-line store. I think that would get you a serious treat!

What do you have to do to be in with a chance? Well, not a lot really. Just leave a comment on this post. I'd be interested to know what you'd get, and why you want it, if you won...for me it'd be something like this, with a bit left over towards one of these. Humour me, they'd be for the dream kitchen. You know, the one that always smells of baking bread and never gets dirty. I did say dream!  

You have a week. Entries will close at midnight on Sunday 27th June and I'll announce a winner as soon as possible. Please feel free to leave an entry if you don't have a blog yourself, or are a new reader. Good luck!

4-4-4-1

Don't worry all of those who read the title and thought it was going to be my warped football formation. Though goodness knows, after Friday's dire World Cup performance we could do with fourteen players. Yes, I do watch the footie. And I understand the offside rule. But I prefer rugby.

No, this is my cake recipe. I know it's usually 4-4-4-2, as in 4oz of butter, sugar and flour and 2 eggs. But I used just the one egg, a goose egg, and was very impressed with the results. I blew the egg and have washed it out to save and use for something display orientated later on.

The jammy filling is my own blackberry creation from last year's garden harvest. It's stored perfectly and tastes good as well!

I also made scrambled egg with the duck eggs the other day. Again, they tasted really good. So, I can recommend all sorts of eggs for all sorts of applications now. You couldn't describe it as extensive testing, but it's not, as they say, rocket science.

Don't forget that tomorrow sees the giveaway. Did I say it was good? I meant it was really good.
 

One Today...

Well, the blog is one year old today, and as promised there's a bit of a giveaway.

I'd been reading other people's blogs for quite a few years, and commenting on a few, before I decided to take the plunge. I wish I hadn't waited so long.

Just like this time last year there's snow on the ground and it's bitterly cold. But the days are getting longer and there's some sign of life in the garden. It's a good time of year with lots to look forward to.

Anyway, if you'd like to be in the random draw, just leave a comment on this post. It doesn't matter whether you are a regular commenter, or you never usually comment.  It doesn't matter if you don't have a blog of your own, or where you are in the world...it just might take a little longer to get to you, that's all.

I'll be closing the draw on the 14th and will let you know who won soon after that. Go on...you know you want to.

And the winner is...

I had a really clever idea for choosing the winner of the giveaway. Clever as in sounded like a good idea at the time...

I'll let Coco choose, I thought, and duly wrote down the names on plain paper. Folded them and scattered them on the floor. Coco chose all right. Chose to eat the winner. But after a process of elimination (don't even go there...) when I saw who was missing from the names I knew who'd won. Simples.

The soldier-boys will be on duty with Maureen for the festive season. Assuming the posties pull out their collective fingers and shift the backlogs.

Changing the subject completely, what about my carrot tops? I occasionally get the urge to re-visit my childhood and this falls into that category. The cats have enjoyed nibbling at them as well.

Roots are growing, I've never actually planted them and seen what happens next. Maybe now's the time to find out...