French Knots

World Book Night

I really enjoyed 'A Life like other People's' despite it centering on mental illness, it's not one I would have picked up myself but the observations of life and the small things that matter to us all are wonderfully observed.

Thank you to those that asked for it to be passed on to them, the random number generator ( well actually I asked Mr FK to pick a number!) selected number 2 which is Vintage Squirrel! I will send the book on to you, it can be tracked so we can see where it goes on it's journey. Which is quite exciting really. Or perhaps I don't get out enough!

 

 

World Book Night

I hadn't heard of World Book Night  until Colette posted about it and offered a couple of copies of 'A Life Like Other People's' to her readers. I was lucky enough to be drawn from the hat

 
I planned a peaceful time with the book and the lovely chocolate that Colette kindly sent too........ah yes you are right, it seems to be missing from the picture!

There was also a pretty book mark included in the parcel

 
which perfectly describes all the things I like to do best.

Thank you so much for the parcel Colette, the book isn't one I would have picked myself but I'm really enjoying it as it is so thought provoking and I'm also looking forward to sending it on another journey to the next person to read.

Imagine all the thousands of World Book Night books winging their way across the world encouraging people to read and relish books.Brilliant!

So would you like to read this one next? Just leave me a comment and I'll pick a name at random.

Thrifty finds

Thank you for all the blanket love!

The new ball of wool has arrived so hopefully next week it will be finished, if I can bear the tedium of sewing in all those blummin ends! It took 18 balls of Rowan handknit cotton, plus the extra one. I planned a random pattern, trying to use all the colours evenly but as I have about a quarter of a ball of bright pink left and ran out of the green the planning can't have been that good! I am hugely pleased with the blanket, it is cosy and just the right size for snuggling under on chilly evenings.

Look what I picked up the other day

a lovely old satchel, slightly battered and loved. I can just imagine it bumping along to school on someone's back, reading book inside, Janet and John no doubt!

 

20p each in the charity shop! Wonderful old Ladybird books, such facinating subjects  
 

My Little Helper thinks the swimming book looks interesting and is going to take some of the nature books with him when we go away, to add to his collection in the caravan. He has bird spotting books, trees and sealife guides and enjoys keeping a nature journal of the things he sees. No doubt the lure of the DS will soon take over but for now I am keen to feed his hobby, especially when such super books are only 20p each!

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Book lover

I love to read, always have. Used to get bagfuls of books from the library when I was a child and devoured Famous Five, Secret Seven and so on.

It seems The Baby Brother has inherited this love of books

So many books, so little time!

Even when my eyelids are drooping as I collapse into bed I have to read a few pages. Recently I've nodded off while reading which means I either drop the book on the floor or my face and wake myself up! But I couldn't get to sleep without a bit of reading though sometimes I'm so tired I read the same sentence several times.

So far this year I've read

A Red Bird Christmas - Fannie Flagg
Can't wait to get to heaven - Fannie Flagg

Tea Time for the Traditionally Built - Alexander McCall Smith

Postcards from Wits End - Sarah Harvey

Driving Over Lemons- Chris Stewart

The Saffron Kitchen - Yasmin Crowther

Of Bees and Mist - Erik Setiawan

Excursion to Tindari - Andrea Camilleri

Small Island - Andrea Levy

The Paper Moon - Andrea Camilleri

Early Days - Miss Read

The Good Husband of Zebra Drive - Alexander McCall Smith

Blue Shoes and Happiness - AMS

The Miracle at Speedy Motors - AMS

A mixed bag as they come from either the library or charity shop, love it when they are on offer at 3 for £1! I've read all the No1 Ladies Detective Agency books before but they are so enjoyable, a pleasure to read again.

What have you read recently that I should add to my library request list?? Few things beat loosing yourself in a good book, transported to another life, another world.

Reading inspiration

 

Nothing like a stack of books to get the creative juices flowing. So many wonderful ideas, things to make, cook, do. You've all been reading them I think over the last few months.

Homemade is such an appealing book, the texture and colour of the cover as well as ideas to make my piles of treasures into something.

 

Knitting projects for the cooler weather, must try to stay awake beyond 9pm to fit a bit of knitting in. I miss creating, most things in my day at the moment need doing again almost as soon as I've done them, tidying, washing and so on. It's never ticked off the list for good whereas an embroidery or bit of knitting once made stays made - unless I unpick!

 
  

Sew Sunny Homestyle has such a fresh feel, just the thing for a gloomy grey day like today. Not all the projects are to my taste, some are a bit too twee but my sewing project wish list is growing.

 
 

Handmade Home is very much an extension of Soulemama's blog, creating a love filled home for your family. Homemade with love. That sewing list is growing.....

With the changing of the seasons my cooking changes to reflect seasonal produce and a need for warming soups and filling casseroles. 'How to feed your family' is an everyday book, straight forward ideas to add to your menu plan but tasty and no faffing. I made a tomato soup from it which was very tasty and quick to make, fitting around swimming lessons, Beavers and Guides. Not to mention babies needs. I love using the slow cooker in the autumn and winter, stick everything in it in the morning, enjoy the tasty smells all day and serve when the family all get home. 

Right time for another load to go in the washer.......then a quick flick through The Wonderful Weekend Book.....and hopefully that's what we'll all have!

A little light reading

 

What a lovely stack of inspiration, these are keeping me company at the moment. The great thing about books for Christmas is the weeks and months of pleasure they give. I've earmarked projects in Sew Fabulous Fabric and Childhood Treasures but will have to wait a while to get started as my sewing room is undergoing a transformation. Mr FK is building a couple of walls to split it into a nursery and little sewing room, such a treat to still have my own little space even if it might be a bit neglected after May! The Cath Kidston Make book is my least favourite, nothing in it really grabbed me.

So while the building work is going on upstairs I have been knitting instead, some little squares to make a pram blanket trying out different stitches. Some are a bit wonky but I'm working on the basis that once it's been sicked on and through the washer a few times I'm not going to notice.

 

These lovely dpns were also a Christmas present, thanks to my lovely ( but blogless) friend Amanda. I find wooden needles much easier to knit with and now have them in every size I might need - more hats and socks to come I think. No surprises there!

Some advice too please. I have a great, woollen, stripey rug in lovely zingy colours that I got from a fellow freecycler in perfect nick apart from the fact that the end is fraying. I think I need to bind it with something to stop it getting any worse but amguessing I'd need to stitch it by hand as it's pretty chunky. Unless any one knows of an iron on wide thingy that would do the trick?!

Hope you are having an inspired and cheerful start to the week.

Small pleasures

 

Copied my friend Belinda and made some simple handwarmers, good for keeping me warm when blogging with the heating off! Simple rectangles of rib, stitched up the side.

The Big Sister's excitement and total lack of trepidation at going to Brownie Camp for 5 days next week ( unlike me, who is worrying about her already and shes not even gone yet!)

Borrowing The Kite Runner from a friend and reading it in one sitting

Planning the Christmas presents I'll be making, how I love a list!

Plum whisky in the jar on the window sill

Candles lit as the nights draw in

Autumn cooking, hearty stews in the slow cooker

River Cottage Autumn 

Sew Hip loving the fact that I know and read the blogs of so many contributors and of course the editor too, looking forward to the next issue.

Have a crisp, bright autumn weekend.