Signpost image from - easyvectors.com

Obviously, my website doesn’t point you to any toilets (although that depends on your opinion of my blog posts!)  but it does have links to my shops and my blog, as well as my social networking sites too.   It’s very much ‘work in progress’ at the moment as I still have plenty more things to add to it, but I’ve had a lot of fun working on it so far :-) 

Right now though, I will have to get back to the task of re-stocking my shops and tidying up my house – both have been rather neglected lately! 

My new website - click image to visit :-)

See you soon

Angela x

My plans for this year are simple:

a)  To eat and drink less

b)  To sort out my wardrobe so that it is full of lovely, feminine skirts and dresses

c)  To use my brand new, ‘page-a-day’ diary to organize myself

So far I’ve failed on all three!  This is because:

a)  I still have drink left over from Christmas.  I’ve eaten all of MY chocolate, but the kids still have some and children shouldn’t really eat too many sugary foods now should they?

b)  I’m still tramping around in my scruffy old jeans and doing the school run in my tired old coat (I’m sure that the other parents must think that these are the only clothes I own!)

c)  Well, I filled in my ‘to do’ lists on the second and third of January but the next few pages are blank.  I’m just not very good at organizing my time, and usually end up putting off jobs that I don’t want to do until the last minute (right now, I’m supposed to be altering two jackets, not blogging).  Maybe I should get this diary instead?

On a positive note, I’m now working on a new website which I’m really enjoying.  Also, both my Etsy shop and my Folksy shop are open again.  They are both very low of stock at the moment, but they will be getting filled up again shortly with plenty of woolly goodies to feast your eyes on :-)

See you soon

Angela x

Food Network UK - click image to visit website

Almost all of the shows at the moment are Christmas themed, so it’s really helping me get in to a festive mood which is a good thing (although it also makes me feel very hungry so that isn’t so good). Last night, they showed an episode of ‘Cupcake Wars’ which I have heard about but never seen before. I really enjoyed it and have ended up seeking out some other episodes on ‘Youtube’ today, so I haven’t got much work done!

I’m not sure what’s in store for tonight’s viewing as it’s sometimes nice to have a surprise (although an episode of ‘Nigella’ and maybe ‘Ace of Cakes’ would be nice). The channel does have a lot of repeats but it’s not really a problem as I enjoy them all. I must admit though, that if they show how to make ‘Reza’s exotic Christmas Koftas’ one more time (although they do look delicious), I may just have to switch over!

Reza's exotic Christmas Koftas - click image for recipe

My three already get an advent calendar from each set of grandparents, so that’s six of the cardboard temptations propped up for a start. Last year, I left buying the ones from us until the last minute (as in November 30th) and so they had all been a bit picked over at my local supermarket.  So, as I had plenty of time on my hands (I’m joking) I decided to improvise and make my own. I bought some mini chocolate bars, such as ‘Celebrations’ and three Cadburys ‘Magical Elves’ bars.

Cadburys 'Magical Elves' (Image from - www.britishcornershop.co.uk)

I sat for hours and wrapped 69 of the mini bars and also the ‘Elf’ bars individually in festive wrapping paper. I then spent a few more hours on ‘Photoshop’ to find some nice Christmas clip-art pictures to which I added all the numbers from one to twenty-four. These were printed off three times and then sellotaped to each of the chocolates (the ‘Elf’ bars being the big one to open on Christmas Eve).

The kids loved the idea, especially as they had to rummage in the casserole dish which I had placed them in. I wasn’t actually planning on doing it again this year as it took up quite a lot of time, but all three of the kids asked me if I would, so of course I had to oblige. I seem to spend most of my time lately grumping and moaning at them about homework etc, so I thought it was about time I did something nice!  My mum very kindly helped me wrap them all this year, and do you know – whilst we were doing the wrapping, I only ate one of the chocolates and she didn’t eat any!

Individually wrapped 'advent' chocolates in a tin

This year, it’s a bit more fancy as they will each get a slightly bigger surprise on the 8th & 16th but not as big as the ‘biggy’ on the 24th (which is a Cadbury ‘wishes’ star chocolate but Sshh – it’s a secret!)

Individually wrapped 'advent' chocolates

As for the leftover chocolates in the ‘Celebrations’ tub? Well, I put them on the chair arm next to Mr Woollyduck last night………………….

"That greedy Mr Woollyduck"!

Today didn’t start too good.  I was just waking up nicely from a pleasant slumber (dreaming of cake), when my youngest son came into the bedroom to tell me that he had spilled milk on the kitchen floor.  I went downstairs, expecting to only have to deal with a little puddle.  I really wasn’t expecting a two-pint lake of the white stuff which had spread out under the fridge and the pedal bin!  What a mess.  So, half asleep, I had to mop up the best I could, drag the fridge out from under the work-top, and get down on my hands and knees with hot water & bleach.  Grrrr!

Anyway, on the plus side, today has brought to a close all the work that myself & Mr Woollyduck’s sister have been doing for a local craft fair on Saturday.  We’ve been busy beavering away for the last couple of weeks making allsorts of items to sell, from fabric apples to cupcakes & lollipops made from face-cloths.

Some of the things for sale at our stall

Some of the things for sale at our stall

Some of the things for sale at our stall

It’s only a small fair but if you live in or around Yeadon in Leeds (near Leeds & Bradford airport) then please do come along & say ‘hello’ :-)  It’s this Saturday (19th November) at St John’s church hall at Barcroft Grove in Yeadon, Leeds.  The time is: 12pm until 2.30pm.

Hope to see you there!

- A bored child on school holidays

- Some pebbles

- Some garden debris (twigs, small stones, grass etc)

Add a little imagination and there you have it – a collection of  pebble spiders just waiting for Hallowe’en!

The one wearing the hat is an explorer!

The set is gorgeous to look at – lots of bunting and cakestands everywhere, so it’s also been a real inspiration for me. I have plans to make pastries, whole cakes and lots more goodies in the near future – in felt of course!

Contestants & presenters from 'The Great British Bake Off' - click picture to watch :-)

If you’ve missed any episodes, you can watch them on the BBCiplayer – I’ve added a link to the picture above. At the time of me typing this, all the episodes appear to be available. Of course, if they aren’t, then there is always good old ‘Youtube’ :-)

I loved watching the final because the last three contestants were all good in different ways, so you really were kept guessing right to the end as to who would be the winner. It was also nice that there was an update at the end to tell you what all of the twelve contestants are doing since the end of filming. It was lovely to see that most of them are making a career out of baking, which is great to hear!

Below, are some lovely items which have been inspired by the show. I have added a shop link to each, so if you want to take a closer look, then please just click on a picture……..

4.5 meter Large Union Jack Bunting by CakesAndBunting by Julie

Tea towel - Cakes Of Britain, Burnt Orange by Jillty Drawings

'home baking' fabric picture by Jane Lightfoot Designs

Handthrown heart shaped pouring or batter bowl by CaractacusPots

Recipe Spoons by little star *

Rustic Hand Painted Wooden "Bake" Sign by Clare's Rustic Makes

Hand Stamped Moleskine Cahier Notebook - Recipes by Fresh 'n' Funky Cards

Shabby chic cupcake tags by Breagha Beads

Adult apron by Bella and the Moo

I planned this ‘Hallowe’en’ inspired theme a while ago.  I was assuming that by now, the weather would have turned colder, the curtains would be drawn in the early evening, and the central heating would be switched on.  Just the perfect time of year to start thinking about Witches and ghosts and all those spooky things that go bump in the night.  

I didn’t think for a minute that we would be having beautiful blue sky without a cloud in sight, slapping sun cream on the kids and digging out the sandals and the sun tops!   What’s going on?

Anyway, I decided to stick with the theme I had already chosen because despite this insane weather,  Hallowe’en will soon be upon us.   Pumpkin lanterns will soon be appearing in windows (we always used to use a swede when I was a kid, which took ages to hollow out!).   Kids wearing scary masks or dressed as witches and ghosts will be knocking at doors saying ‘Trick or treat’, and the Supermarkets will sell out of those ‘funsize’ bags of chocolate that are just too easy to eat!

Below are some amazing items that I have found on Folksy this week.  As usual, I have added a shop link to each so if you want to take a closer look, then just click on a picture.  Go on – don’t be scared!

Joe and Vinnie Primitive Folk Art Halloween Cats (Made to order) by Sparrow Primitives

Witches Brew, tea bag storage by The Grimm Exhibition

Ghost Earrings by MrJin's Shady Business

Dolly the Witch's Cat by theothermousie

Shabby chic distressed plaque by Kristi-Krafts

Jack O'Lantern Halloween Cat Collar Breakaway by Mog's Togs Cat Collars

Halloween Gift Tags Vintage Style x 8 by Vintage Dreams

Bat Coasters - Hand painted silk - set of 4 by Jane Cameron

Toddler Pumpkin Slippers by WINNIBRIGGS HOUSE

It’s my birthday today.  I’m forty in case you want to know but are too polite to ask!

It’s another decade ticked off of my life span – one out and the next one in I suppose you could say.   I wasn’t sure how I would feel when I woke up this morning – would I have some sort of panic about getting old, or would I just not be bothered?   Would my face become a mass of wrinkles over night or my hair turn grey?  Worse still – would I grow one of those moles on my chin with a hair sprouting from the middle of it?!! Well, here’s what happened………………

……………Nothing!  Absolutely nothing changed at all apart from I was showered with lots of lovely presents and cards from my beloved family and friends.  I still look the same, think the same and (unfortunately) have the same dress sense that I always have.

There is a saying that ‘Life begins at forty’, but I’ve already had a happy thirty-nine years so far so I’m not wanting much to change. Perhaps a bit more time to spend on my felting would be nice, and lose a couple of inches off of my hips would be good but that is all.   Life has been good so far and long may it continue :-)

Below are some of the lovely presents which I received today.   As well as those pictured,  I’m getting a new sewing machine (which has been ordered), I got a lovely scarf (which is in the wash) and some birthday money (which is safely in my purse!).  I also got a wonderfully gooey chocolate cake but this has unfortunately been eaten.  It was very nice though!

I got some lovely flowers

I got some spirits

I got some wine

Lots of chocolates

Some wine AND chocolate together!

I got a great new mug (it will hold lots of tea)

A bottle crammed FULL of silver coins with cash bags to count and take to the bank

And lots of other lovely goodies too :-)

I feel like I have been very spoiled with gifts today but it’s been lovely. Now I just need to get the kids to bed, then tidy myself up before I go to the pub for Guinness and crisps with Mr Woollyduck. Very simple and low-key I know but it’s my ideal night out :-)