Eight-by-Six

I've been searching forever for ceramic knobs for my vintage pine tall boy when I found these at  Mango Tree They are function, funky and colourful, don't you just love them (I know I do) Go grab yourself some basic tools, screwdriver (for removing the old handles) and maybe plyers and/or an electric drill. We needed to drill the holes a tiny bit wider to accommodate the new gorgeous ceramic knobs but you might not need to. All 12 ceramic knobs were on the cupboard doors in about the same time it takes to make a cup of tea! a lovely place to store my hand made blankets Now to save some time and a lot of elbow grease (after all you want to enjoy the transformation) I used this furniture polish that contains bees wax and looks like I've spent hours waxing the cupboard, when I didn't. I'm not endorsing the polish, just giving my honest opinion of a good value product. Its called Wood Silk and you can find it in Asda, Tesco, Sainsburys for £1.50, bargain! ...

On Saturday we decided to make the most of the weather and headed off to Tankerton Slopes near Whitstable on the Kent coast. It's well worth a visit for the views a the top sof the slopes, the beautiful old (and new) beach huts, local shops and cafes. It has a shingle beach with timber groynes and sand and at low tide it is possible to walk out to sea on a natural causeway known as 'The Street'. At this state of tide there is a fair bit of sand and a few rock pools to explore. It was quite misty when we arrived and the tide was on the turn but we managed to walk The Street  strip of sand and Moss had a dip in the sea with a new friend he met. beach hut Whitstable and Tankerton Slopes are only a short drive from our house, about 25 mins. The beach allows dog walking up until May 1st, after that they have to remain on the lead at all times. I'm not too keen going there in the height of the season unless its very early in the morning before the crowds arrive. I...

Not only am I enjoying this new Drops Puna yarn (new to me) its like crocheting with cotton wool, I love it. My  really-easy-crochet-shawl  is coming along nicely in this yarn. I've started with the light grey, on my second ball and the next is grey then some rows of colour or maybe dark grey first. I'll decide when my next yarn delivery arrives from Woolwarehouse, I just couldn't resist ordering the colours they had on their Instagram account a few weeks ago (this is what made me buy the grey yarn!) I'm a sucker for yarn adverts, who isn't? vintage Sunday afternoon I've enjoyed an afternoon drinking tea from my vintage Alfred Meakin china I bought last weekend in Whitstable and of course yummy French Fancies. Reminds me of Sunday afternoons spent at my nans flat in London, drinking the, eating home made cake and counting buttons out of my nans large jar, fond memories.

Anyone that knows me, know I am just crazy about granny squares. I think I even dream about them! You can't beat a humble granny square blanket in my opinion. Since learning to crochet them straight, that's all I''ve been doing! just 8 more rows then its border time! The neat trick is to flip over after each row, simple! Oh and start in the right hand corner. I found this great tutorial over at ThePatchworkheart blog, Heather is very helpful and has always been an inspiration to me. My latest creation is an up-to-date on trend baby blanket with a vintage feel to it. Its crochet in beautiful Debbie Bliss Rialto DK that's so soft and warm. I've chosen soft grey, oyster, rose, duck egg green, vintage pink, pink and petunia. There is one other pink in there, but because its been discontinued I can't find the colour. I told my nieces about this colour scheme and they told me its so fashionable now, funny how you just pick up some colours and you're o...

I'm not sure if its my age or a fascination with bygone days but I do love a bit of vintage. I think it stems from my grandmother and counting buttons from her button jar and pairing up her knitting needles at a young age. But I do love vintage knitting needles and associated accessories such as my collection of bakelite beehive wool holders. I love the fact that someone else has knitted garments for their loved ones using these needles and now I'm doing the same. So when a lovely resident contacted me via Facebook this week because she'd read my plea for knitters and crocheters for the sixty million trebles project I rushed over there to pick them up. Oh what a lovely collection of knitting needles that are now proudly all mine. I couldn't wait to use them, my husband saw that cheeky glint in my eye. So when he climbed the stairs for bed last night I cast on a new snood. Not just any snood, but a Debbie Bliss Rialto Chunky big hug of a snood for the lady t...

Sunday morning started off sunny and baking hot. I met up with two local ladies in the new Mews Brews coffee shop, wow fab place and such great service. Too early for cake (I was just being polite) so had a regular latte, the best I've tasted in ages. The cakes kept calling but I resisted temptation as I've eaten my way through half a rocky road tray bake since Friday night. Trying out s new recipe of my Macmillan coffee morning in September - nothing like getting organised! Anyway back to Mews Brews. It's in the village and in the old estate agent shop, beautifully designed with a mixture of old and new furniture. We sat in the sofa library area, wow must go back with my crochet and grab that cost spot and a big slice of cake. Mews Brews Iwade  LOVE Cake! cute tea cosy the library corner I'm now sitting in the lounge, the coolest place in my house, crocheting granny squares for the yarnbombmoth project (being run by The Litt...

I know, its a bit warm to be sitting under a granny blanket, but as I'm now trying to complete the border I am trying to do this in the evening in the garden in the shade. I gave up last night in favor of my granny square inspired top, the back (or front) is almost finished, it will be tonight (yah!) granny square jumper in progress glorious granny squares June was definitely a granny square kind of month, just looking back on all my Instagram feeds, wow so many granny squares. I am totally hooked or obsessed, which ever way you look at it. Last night I sat in the garden crocheting and the big pot of red geraniums are about to flower. Good old Morrison's supermarket, always great quality plants and reasonable. Well gardening shouldn't be about spending vast amounts of money, should it? I potted three plants into a plastic tub my mum gave me ages ago. I went back to get more geraniums for the matching pot but sadly none left. I will post a picture once the buds a...

vintage stool with old varnish and wobbly legs On Saturday I popped to Maidstone Fremlin Walk to do some shopping with Jack, have a coffee and generally a no work kind of day. We walked along the old part of Maidstone High Street and wandered into a couple of charity shops and I came across this little stool that dates to about the 1950's. It immediately reminded me of my nana Mary and the stools she had in her flat in London that I would sit on to watch her bake. My Jewish grandmother would always be baking and making chicken soup; that is where my love of food comes from! I just had to have this little vintage stool, and the price, wait for it ..... £5. Yes just £5 and it all went to the British Heart Foundation , so a little good dead and made me feel happy to be swept back to my childhood and happy happy times. Walking back along the busy high street people gave Jack and me some odd glances to be walking around with a little old stool. I even sat it on whilst he paid...