When I have a few minutes

I am attending to odd jobs that need doing and believe you me, there are many of them.

Last week we found a leaking radiator which had quietly been dripping on to the back of a wooden chest of drawers that I had, and which stored my CD collection.  We had not seen any signs of the leak because it had soaked into the backing of the cabinet (a hardboard backing).  As a result, I had to dump the chest, but that means I now need to find a home for my massive collection of CDs.  I am also going through each CD to clean and tidy them up.  Some have found their way into plastic boxes.

Yesterday for instance after I had stopped in the front bedroom for the day, I went into the back bedroom to sort out a small craft cupboard that I have, which has a lot of my Christmas crafting decorating items in it.  They were all over the shop, and it is now a lot tidier than it was.  I have managed to put a few more items in there as well.  

I have also sorted out a box of Christmas decorations.  During the process I found a few of my "Treasure chests" of glass reproduction Mercury Christmas ornaments by Thomas Pacconi. I love these decorations as they have a proper old fashioned feel to them.  The beauty for me is that they come in wooden box/chests and they are extremely colourful and fragile.

I also found quite a few sets of battery lights for incorporating into the Christmas decorating.  I do wish to add to these eventually but I do not think that it will be this year.  I have not bought any new decorations this year, despite having my eye on some.  That is how it goes.  Some years can add to the collection another it is not possible.  Have to be grateful for what we have, not what we do not have.

I also found a cross-stitch card (made by a friend) which also comes out every year too. Really it needs to go into a frame to protect it a little better.  Something that is made with care, means a lot as that person is putting some of themselves into each piece they create.

I had some clay which I had wanted to use to make some clay ornaments.  However, when I went to get this out, it had gone as hard as rock!  Oh well it is back to the drawing board.  Might make some Salt dough up (with some dried wallpaper paste in it as it stops the dough from going mouldy) as it has an antifungal in it.  Will see how we go on the time I have - it may not get done this year,  but then again it may!

I also have games, and vintage style items that I put under the Christmas tree after presents have been distributed as I always think it looks a little bare afterwards.  I have a stack of board games (somewhere), but bought this Ludo, and a fishing game and a Backgammon game recently.  Makes it easy to get hold of them for a game.

When I was at home it used to be all out war with Monopoly over the Christmas season.  I have the original of that too. We have always played games even if it was simple card games.  Jigsaws too although to be honest it is a long while since I have worked one.  Might have to change that.

After all that was done, I then sat to watch/listen to some TV, whilst checking on the Internet.  I then started processing some of the shirts I have over a period of time sourced from the charity shops. I have stripped three shirts this evening, as well as salvaging the buttons. There is approximately three metres of fabric.  I paid £9 (£3 per shirt), which would have cost me a lot more if I had bought new.  There are some benefits to recycling where you can.

I think some of the buttons may well be used on some homemade Christmas decorations for next year.  They are "pearly" but not vintage pearl buttons. Will still look effective though.  I have also seen an embroidery technique that I want to try which uses a button as a base and then you build the button up with embroidery stitches to create a personalised button or set of buttons to decorate a shirt.  Might have to have a dabble at that.

I now have a stack of fabric ready to prep and possibly turn into some scrap quilts.  Jury still out on the design, but I want to concentrate on my machine work and get to grips with patchwork generally.  This is a cheap way of making quilt tops, as you get approximately a metre of fabric out of an old shirt (the larger the shirt the more material).  I have some ideas as to what I want to achieve overall project wise, but now need to put it into practice.  I am not terribly good with a rotary cutter so this will give me chance to practice.

Today, has been scrub out the bathroom day.  Loo is all scrubbed top to bottom and bathroom itself half way through.

Tea tonight is Toad in the Hole, just waiting on the "Toad" to cook through before settling down to a comfort meal. This is sorely needed today as my back is absolutely kicking off.  Think it is all the bending, and then scrubbing the floor with a proper good old fashioned scrubbing brush.  Gets things nice and clean.  Told you they had been scrubbed within an inch of their life.

Right tea is ready.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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