I only went in for a look around honest Guvnor

……………..had not been there for some time. I am talking of course of Hobbycraft. I could really seriously hang out here even more if required.  It would never be a chore. I will never go to heaven.

Got a tad expensive.  Was quite taken with the fact that they have organised things better in the store and made more of a feature of the items they are selling. Umpteen pounds later!  Rather a lot of pounds later I have come back with several bits and bobs including a new mini glue gun and sticks, a pyrograph machine for £10, (I have been after one of these for a little while so I jumped at the chance of getting this.  I just need some wooden boxes to practice on.  I also bought some dies for my Big Shot, some Ball preserving jars as they were on offer at least half price £7 for 6 standard mouthed jars advertised at £14.99.  Might go back and get some more tomorrow as they really were a good price and I am starting to get into the swing of canning stuff.  More on that later on.  

I have splurged on some wool.  Found a pattern for a knitted jumper with an Aran style centre panel.  Do not think it is too complicated but I may yell for help as I am not a natural knitter and I get easily confused. Never attempted anything with a cable in before.  The wool is a lilac mauve colour 3 x 200g,  I so need some new jumpers and the only way to get what I want at a reasonable price is to knit them myself.  Well try and knit them myself.  Will see how I get on.  I am a great fan of jumpers to keep me warm especially during the winter months.  The wool was £15, £6 for knitting needles two sizes and I got the longer length, £4 for two stitch holders (£2 each( and £3 for the pattern £30 all told.  However I am pleased with the yarn.  I saw another colourway that I quite liked as well and if this one goes well I may well go and get some more of the other colour which is a deep purple with peacock colours in it.

There was a lot of Christmas stuff in for cardmaking and also general stuff like pumpkins and skeleton head cut outs and spiders for Halloween.  I bought a couple of pieces on the Halloween side and may go back for some other bits and a proper look at the Christmas stuff.  I have come away with a nice wooden Advent calendar piece that lights up in any event and a garland of stockings.

I saw a wooden box which will be ideal for me to try the pyrograph machine on, but came away without it as I had far too much stuff to bring home.  Hobbycraft was my first port of call.  I shall have to look out for some suitable blanks to play with.  If I go back tomorrow I might have to appropriate a box or two.

I have also bought some other little pieces.  A picture with paper butterflies mounted inside.  A couple of metal butterflies which are free hanging.  Butterflies are symbolic of freedom.

I also bought some wooden letters spelling "Tricia".  Last time I looked they did not have all the letters but I am planning to do something in a frame with these.

This evening I have been recipe searching for ideas for the Canner and the Steam Canner.  I have been writing the recipes down for my own use and to test whether they work for us as a family.  So far I have recipes for soup, stock, sweet and sour sauce, grapefruit, Bruschetta in a jar, Ginger spiced plum sauce, Strawberry pie filling, lots of other pie fillings, French Onion Soup.  I am handwriting them down n a book so that the recipes are all kept together.  I have been doing a couple of an evening.  I am also interested in stew, chicken pot pie filling amongst other things.  So I am going to be playing an awful lot in the next few days amongst everything else I have on the go.

Right am a little tired it has been a very busy day but an extremely enjoyable one.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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