Friday Chat Day

Hello friends

The weeks are flying by - Friday already and this time next week 

it will be November! 

I hope you are all well.  From reading your comments last week

we all enjoy a bit of TV and I would like to reassure you I'm holding

up my end by testing out more dramas to bring you some reviews,

stay tuned!

So what has been happening?

Firstly a purchase to share with you.
I have a real penchant for hares and was thrilled to
find this gorgeous 2020 diary from English Graphics.

Love the little bit of sparkle on his ears and eco-glitter too.

It is an independent website selling unique cards, diaries,

bags, mugs and more.

Each year I do splash out on a nice diary as I figure it is something

I use every day so well worth the pennies

And talking of lovely independent websites, if you are on the lookout for

books, gifts, stationery, jigsaws - have you visited 

Bee's Emporium?  

I admit to being a little biased here as my cousin Andy co-owns 

the business with Annabel and they both work their socks off.

There is also Peanut - the office dog and he is celebrating his first birthday 

soon with a special competition on Facebook - all the detail are here.

Pop along to be in with a chance of winning a gift voucher.

So the nights are drawing in and with the clocks changing this weekend 

it will definitely feel like Autumn.

I recommend warding off the cold and any winter lurgies with 

something to 'warm the cockles' as they used to say!

How about a tot of coconut and vanilla rum liqueur?

I confess when offered this I wasn't sure, I'm not a fan of coconut based drinks,

never a Malibu girl!  But...it is actually very nice and only £7.99 at Aldi.

I'm also rather impressed by the label - The Infusionist - very clever.

(I should point out I did not drink half the bottle).

Knitting progress:

Last weekend I visited my writer friend Carole Matthews up in 

Milton Keynes (she's the one that drank half the bottle of rum - hehe!) 

I took my big and mustard throw project with me and made good progress.

Here it is photographed against her gorgeous red tree,

that's my layman terms!

I should definitely be finishing this project over the weekend and 

thinking I would quite like one for me in pale pink or grey.

I did manage to get out in the garden on Tuesday, the only day it did not rain.

It was time to say goodbye to my wicker chair that has had clematis growing 

over it for many years.  Too many winters have taken their toll and the poor

chair is beyond repair.  Bella looks concerned too!

This was it in its heyday.

So instead of buying a new wicker chair I opted for a metal bench,

Amazon bargain on a daily Prime deal.

Mitchell kindly put it together and the clematis received a severe pruning.

Fingers crossed it flourishes next year and starts to cover the bench.

Elliott asked, 'it's not for sitting on then?'

Absolutely not! 

Although I did suggest he could jet wash the paving...

So that's another week of randomness done and dusted.

I have a weekend of lovely nothingness ahead of me and looking forward to

pottering and perhaps having a lie-in, although try telling 

three cats and a dog that it is OK to sleep beyond 7am! 

Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for stopping by,

more waffle next Friday if you're brave enough!

Friday Chat Day

Hello friends

It is time for another Friday Chat Day, let's see what random

ramblings I can bring you this week! 

It has been a very quiet week in the Emberson household,

possibly the change in the weather but I haven't felt like venturing too far.

I relented and put the heating on and that definitely felt cosy.

This week the focus has been on yarn, getting organised and 

making headway with some of my WIPs.

Another mustard throw is near to finishing.

I made one a couple of months ago, (my very first commission)

and it seemed popular so I've decided to make another. 

It's a knitting project as opposed to crochet and I'm using 

ginormous needles on a loop which was tricky initially, 

nearly poking various eyes out, but fine now.

I will be placing this throw up for sale once finished, hopefully this year!

Mustard is definitely the 'in' colour, I'm seeing it everywhere.

Pixel cat is not convinced by this season's colour though! 

  

So... I found out that you don't need to buy yarn, you just place bags of it 

together and it breeds all by itself!

Within a very short period I realised I needed to get the yarn stash

under control.  I have a Dad-made unit at the top of my landing, 

(it used to house a great deal of craft items when I crafted at home).

I thought it could be re-purposed and went online to look for baskets that would fit snugly.

Two days later I emerged (slight exaggeration) and was 

delighted to find these rattan ones from a company called Wovenhill.

They do the job perfectly and now I can see at a glance

how much yarn I need to use up! 

  

And here's a little gem that is crochet and nothing to do 

with attempting to deplete my yarn stash.

My Dad was out cycling and found this keepsake.  How sweet.

I've been reading a lot about these RAKs (random acts of kindness) 

and I knew that people were painting pebbles etc, but had yet to see one,

it certainly warms the heart.

This week's viewing whilst knitting/crocheting...

Outlander - available on Amazon Prime.

OK, so I gave this series a shot last year and lost interest but I 

decided to try it again and I'm now nearing the end.

My humble review:  I do love a bit of time travel but it does get a 

little farcical at times.  The heroine, Clare at one point, is supposed 

to age 20 years, the only indication is a few grey hairs that disappear by

the end of the episode.  I shouted at the screen "give that girl some wrinkles".

Bella agreed.

That said, it is entertaining with a rather handsome Scotsman 

and my English/Scottish history has certainly improved.

I definitely need viewing recommendations, I'm enjoying 

World on Fire on BBC1 - that is definitely gritty and realistic! 

As some of you may know I live in a tiny Victorian Terrace (the VT)

so my garden is pocket sized. 

It is rare to see wildlife unless you count the numerous cats (3 are mine),

so I was both shocked and excited to discover a squirrel sitting boldly 

on my fence this week.

I grabbed my phone and attempted a little video.

It hasn't been back although the following morning I espied a robin.

At this rate I'll be locking my cats in and ringing David Attenborough! 

I must mention Mum - thank you for the comments asking after her.

Glad to report she is doing much better.  

She still has a few obstacles to overcome 

but the hospital appointments are not quite so frequent.

As you can imagine, she's keen to 

get back to normal with her housework and gardening.

I think that wraps up this week's natterings.

Time is ticking by so fast and the website is in its final months

so definitely keep a lookout for the continuing bargains.

Take care friends - wishing you all a lovely weekend

and feel free to stop by next Friday.

Friday Chat Day

Hello friends

Happy Friday to you and how has your week been? 

It has been full on hobby haven/cabin clearing/sorting this week
and I'm delighted with the progress.

I do love a basket as this picture definitely shows and

glad to say that some of these are actually empty.

Not sure for how long...I may use them for yarn!
(Note I'm not showing you the stock room area, that's
not picture worthy just yet!)

This area is for card, I've still kept a good supply of coloured card

and pretty paper.

And this is the area I am most pleased with.  A new desk and writing area.

My plan is to spend some time here doing some writing as a hobby, 

more details coming soon.

I purchased one of the Hobbycraft trolleys because I kept seeing them on

sale and couldn't resist.  Who doesn't love a bargain?

It remains empty because I just don't know what to put in it!  

Other news:  it was World Cardmaking Day last week and 

Scrapbook Adhesives featured a card that I made, the details are here.

I was really happy to be featured because this card marks my 

final project for Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L. 

I've chosen to step down from their design team after being with them 

since 2011.  I thought about it long and hard and decided I 

really wanted to make changes and dedicate my time differently.

I will miss them, they are the best team out there with the 

most lovely supportive friends.

Crochet progress - 

the poncho, right now looks more like a scarf!

I didn't get to do a great deal again this week as each evening

I've been heading off to bed earlier than normal.

I'm attributing it to vigorous cabin clearing and the colder nights. 

And talking of getting colder, this week's purchase that highly amused

the boys - furry clogs/crocs from Aldi! 

Do you have a pair of shoes permanently at the back door?

I do and for years they've been these plastic crocs/clogs and now 

I've found them fur lined for Winter, I'm thrilled! 

I can now nip out in the garden without my feet feeling frozen - 

it's the little things and for only £4.99 too

(available in other colours).

Bella time and this week sharing her makeover.

Before she looks like a Star Wars Wookie and after, a startled Meerkat!

  And my final nattering this week is dedicated to food.

Along with many changes happening right now,

I've chosen to stop eating meat.  Various reasons -

health, environment and because there are just some things

you cannot 'unsee'.  

I have to say I've found it far much easier than I thought. 

Nowadays there's a wealth of alternatives and this week when I 

went out for breakfast I was introduced to Linda McCartney's 

Vegetarian Sausages and you know what?  They are really good! 

Also very tasty are the Linda McCartney burgers with mozzarella.

I would like to tell you that I've lost tons of weight by cutting out meat

but that's just not true, oh well you can't have everything! 

Well my friends that wraps up my week.

I do hope you are all well and have a nice weekend planned.

Please join me next Friday for my chatter,

no idea what will be going on but it's bound to be random! 

Take care friends.

Friday Chat Day

Hello friends

Happy Friday and welcome to my natterings.

Hope you are all having a good week so far,

we have lurched into Autumn head first, I swear the trees 

just look at the calendar and instantly shake all their leaves off!

Overnight I'm walking through masses of them with the temptation to 

kick them in the air (still a kid at heart) and I love the gorgeous colours.

So...here's a little of what has been happening in my world.

Firstly my cabin is undergoing some changes.

I've decided it is going to be my 'Hobby Haven', I quite like the sound of that.  

To that end, I kidnapped the boys and asked for their help in setting up little areas

for different hobbies.  My hope is to have a place for writing, sewing and papercraft.

Crochet is a home hobby in front of Netflix, just in case you were wondering :)  

So far, I've got a new desk, computer and chair - it's all rather white!

This is Elliott making sure all things techy are working.

(Note: he did not touch that duster to his left!)

And Mitchell putting together a more comfortable chair for me.

I've sat on that wicker one with cushions for years!

Also turns out I've had the same laptop for 8 years and

in computer terms that is apparently very OLD and the boys are horrified! 

My opinion was that it still works but I have to admit this new setup

feels very swish so I am happy.

I cannot quite convert the cabin to Hobby Haven completely 

as I need to sell off all the stock from the website.

I am doing that with lots of offers so please stay tuned, it all has to go!

I tend to release a new offer every Friday with occasional small offers in the week.

Right now I have overstocked on Grand Cabinet so that die is available 

for just £12 at the moment.  Becca also uses this die as a box, very pretty.

This week's new discoveries:

I stumbled across a lovely Instagram account called 

Made by Leah, this is her website here.

There is something so very charming about her designs and 

I especially like the Pink Gin drawing.

I've decided to have this framed and placed above my desk.

(For the times when it isn't suitable to drink Gin I can just imagine!)

I also thought the robin enamel mug was very cute.

Crochet update:

Slow progress on my poncho this week so I will cheat and 

show you what I am hoping it will look like.

This is the pattern - Uptown Poncho.

I've gone for a silver grey but you never know if it is a success,

I may choose to make another one in Aran and can wear it in approx. 2025! 

And because like all crafters we think ahead to our next project whilst

we still have half a dozen on the go - I've decided to make a crochet

dog jumper for Bella, this is a free pattern on the Hobbycraft website

and I'm thinking a nice red/Merlot colour would suit her for Christmas.

And talking of the lady herself...here she is looking very forlorn.

Unfortunately she got stung by a wasp this week.

It was a mad dash to the vets where she was checked out and 

I was told by the very lovely vet that rather than a costly injection,

 Piriton would work perfectly.

And it has, although we've only given her one as it definitely made 

her very sleepy.  But...what I didn't know is ...if you tell the Pharmacist 

it is for your dog they cannot sell it to you!  I even had a note from the vet

but he was adamant.  So I'm afraid I lied when I visited the next chemist.

(I do not condone lying unless your dog is at risk and then it is allowable!) 

This weekend, 100% cabin sorting.

I did shoot a little video to share but realised I had said the words 

'sorting/sorted/to be sorted' eight times in the first 30 seconds! 

I will perhaps have another go or failing that, a silent video.

I am finding it very cathartic sorting (see, I've said it again!)

the cabin and I came across this quote which I love and 

I will leave it with you all.

Have a wonderful weekend and hope you can join me again next Friday.

Take care friends.