Day 1

Last week I was very excited to see this asparagus shoot pop up in my new raised bed.  Even though it was tempting, I know it will be a few years before I can harvest them.

Today my 5 crowns looked like this!  I had planned to spend the first day of my holiday in the garden but heavy rain stopped play. So I've been inside instead.

I've been making some patchwork hexies from scrap fabric so added a few more today.  All hand sewn and made from fabric that was no use to my Lovely Mum and her quilting friends.

It's slowly growing.  It's totally random as long as patches made with the same fabric are not touching each other.  It's a nice easy project to work on at night or on rainy days.

As always the first day of the summer holiday has been a lazy one.  I have so much I want to do so I need to make a plan! 

Holiday round up

I over did it on the painting front.  I know I had a deadline for the carpet to be fitted (I set it myself so I'm not complaining!) but I pushed myself too hard.  There are still a few niggly finishing off bits to do especially as OH has been drilling holes for new handles and hooks etc.  I'll do them next weekend I think.

So I spent the remainder of last week doing some crafty things and some gardening (mainly tidying up).

I painted some gold photo frames (donated by my Lovely Mum) and the Dream cutout for my bedroom in Graphite chalk paint.  They were a bit boring.  Then I found some Glitter finish when I was browsing in B&Q.  What a difference a wee bit of sparkle made to the black!!

I printed off some quotes I saved on Pinterest and here they are ready to go on the wall in my study.  I posted this photo in my Thrifty Recycling Group on FB and got a fab response.  So I've entered these pics into the monthly 'Make it Yours' Rustoleum competition.  Looking at past winners I might be be lucky enough to pick up one of the 10 runner up prizes of a goodie bag!  Fingers crossed 👍

I made some Rhubarb vodka with some forced rhubarb from my garden and Elderberry vodka with some dried elderberries.  I love the contrast in delicate pink and almost black colours after just a few days!!

I started sorting some craft materials.  I found things I don't even remember buying 😳 I found a bag with 9 balls of Rowan Biggy Print (discontinued).  It's a super chunky wool that needed size 20mm needles!  The biggest ones I  had were 15mm ones.  I could only get 30 stitches on the needle!!!  I knitted 3 squares to stitch together to make a wee throw to go on one of my living room sofas.  The colours are even more vibrant in real life.

I went to TK Maxx to look for a large white plate/bowl to sit on my dining table.  I got a white picnic basket.  No idea what I'm going with it but I couldn't leave it!

I also got some bargain priced quinoa for my storecupboard.

And some green tea (I've discovered making cold brew tea!!)

I also got some PJ bottoms, a glass water jug and the white plate I was actually looking for!! 😆

Today is the last day of my holiday.  I think we're going to go out for a spin on the motorbike later.  Tomorrow it's back to work for 4 days then I'm off again for the long Easter weekend.  It's going to be an interesting week as I have a student teacher on his final placement.  I've already had the heads up he needs "a bit of support" and not to commit to other duties in school "in case you're needed in the classroom."  I'm trying to be positive and hope I can be a good mentor.  My last experience with a student was 'interesting.' 😒

I've also been given another half day to work with other classes to raise attainment in writing.  I love doing this!  So from now until the end of May I won't actually be teaching much.  Could be an interesting term!

Last day: Cook, Clean, Clear and Create

Yesterday was the final day of my wee challenge as it was the last full week of my summer holiday.  I go back to school next Friday (17th) so next week will be all about getting organised for work.  I'll be popping into school as it will be open for the cleaners to go in and finish the 'deep clean.'  Our school has 3 cleaners who are all fabulous but just a few years ago there were 7.  So these lovely ladies have a lot to do in the time.

I did try to create some more of the crumb/scrappy squares but my sewing machine broke.  It's due a service any way but it has stopped play for now.

There was no cook, clean or clear yesterday as OH and I took a day off to go to the Edinburgh Festival for some Fringe shows. We do this every year and it's a fab day out.  We saw the play Brexit featuring some well known comedians (I loved it but OH wasn't as keen) and 2 stand up comedians Jo Caulfield and Mark Steel (both good but not as funny as I'd hoped).  As usual there were lots of free street performances (some good, some ok) and plenty of fab food and drink choices.  We took snacks and water with us but did indulge in some fish and chips!  It was very very busy!!  I thoroughly enjoyed the day but I'm done with people/crowds/cities/public transport for a good few months now!

Every morning when I let Emma out for the first pee of the day, Penny has been waiting for me on the doorstep.  She knows I'm going to feed her and shouts loudly at me to hurry up!!  One of these days she's going to come into the house if I leave the door open long enough.  🐔

Day 11: Cook, Clean, Clear and Create

Tonight's cook was a home made healthy pizza. I'd been looking forward to it all day.  It really was delicious!

My create project was to finish a purple square I started last night.  That makes 6 in total.  I really enjoy making these! I'll do 3 more and then get started on the quilting bit.

My clean and clear for today was to clear out a bit of the garage so I could put my road bike and turbo trainer back in there.  I ended up doing more than I thought but my garage is tidy again and I can access my bikes.  I took a full car load of 'stuff' to the recycling centre.  I always feel good when I do that!

I added the finishing touches to my family room/den.  I bought a plain red lampshade (£12 in B&Q) for the floor lamp and paid a whopping £3.50 for red curtains on Ebay 😂  I've also ordered a rug to disguise the horrible carpet until I can afford a new carpet.

I crawled into the eave space where I've got loads of things stored and looked through the assorted pictures from my old house. I forgot there were so many!!  I found a couple that I thought would look good.

Sadly there's not much I can do about the hideous fireplace!!

The TV isn't connected to an aerial but I can watch DVDs on it.  The cupboard contains my school stuff.  My new rule is if I can't store it in the cupboard it's not staying here.

I have several more boxes ready to take to school so my study is a little messy until that happens.  And as for my dining room again...

*sighs*

Day 10 : Cook, Clean, Clear and Create

Hmm, not much new cooking has been happening this week but thanks to my full freezer I haven't needed to cook.  All my meals have been a defrost and cook affair.  Love it!

I spent a few lovely hours to create 2 more crumb/scrappy squares.  Top red one is my favourite one so far.

I rather like this pink/lilac one too!! I took some time to iron them all and they're looking much better.  I've got 5 now.  I'm planning a purple one and a neutral one tomorrow ✂

I didn't spend all day sewing (even though I wanted to!) as I was on a clean and clear mission to get my family room/den reorganised.  It's amazing how one change (getting the new to me sofa) has inspired me to change the whole room.  By the time I finished the light wasn't great for taking photos so I'll get some pics tomorrow.  I've got a carload of bags and boxes to take to the recycling centre in the morning and a few boxes that I'll take into school next week.

I'll sleep well tonight after all my efforts! 😴

Day 9: Just create

Oh dear! I seem to have spent most of today creating these crumb/scrappy squares from the fabric I sorted out yesterday 😂 This one is sort of orangey colours.

This one is navy and blue 

And this one is green (although it looks turquoise on my monitor!!) 

They're very addictive (LOL!!) and easy to make.  They're about 11 or 12 inches and will be trimmed to 10 inches when I quilt them.  They're not ironed yet so look a bit crumpled!

I did give Emma a decent walk and I've been waiting for news all day on the Teenogre's exam results (he did ok but not got into his first choice uni) and DS's girlfriend who had an op (she's groggy but ok) so I don't feel bad for not cleaning or clearing today.  I'm off to the gym now.  I might cook something when I get back.  Or I might not 😉

Day 8: Cook, Clean, Clear and Create

I had a stay at home day today as I was waiting for a delivery.  Lots of gentle pottering about was the order of the day!  My cook for today was to do something with these forgotten fruit bowl items.  Nothing very exciting, I just cooked and pureed the apples and popped them in the freezer for later use.  The banana got mashed and the lemons sliced and straight into the freezer with them too.

This was the delivery I was waiting for today.  I swapped 2 small armchairs for this sofa with my lovely mum for my family room/den. We are both delighted with our new seating arrangements!  My clean was to dust, polish and hoover this area before it arrived.  You can just see my road bike to the right on my turbo trainer.  It will be relocated.

My clear was sorting out the many bags of fabric scraps donated by my lovely mum's quilting group.  I've started sorting them by colour and then I'll sort them again into sizes.  Some will go to school and some I think I might try to make into a scrappy cushion cover or 2.  I watched a Youtube clip on how to make a crumb quilt.  That was a new technique to me.  I like how it uses up teeny bits of fabric that would normally get thrown out.

My create was a project I've had in my head for ages.  I made a new cushion for my living room.  Details HERE.  I am trying to finish off all the wee jobs and get this room totally finished.  I also stitched more of the squares on my blanket.  I won't wait so long next time to do the sewing together bit!!!

Day 5: Cook, Clean, Clear and Create

Today's cook is really prep for a family meal tomorrow.  OH's daughter (the one in the army) is home on leave and it's her birthday.  Sometimes we go out for a meal but as there are 7 of us it can be expensive and honestly sometimes the food is just ok. So OH asked if I would do my Chinese buffet here.  Of course!  I love cooking for a crowd and I can control what goes into it.

So, I'm marinading a Lidl beef joint (silverside) in Tamari (GF soy sauce), Worcester sauce, brown sugar, white wine, sesame oil, 3 cloves of garlic, 2 inch piece of ginger and 2 tsp of Chinese 5 spice powder.  Tomorrow I'll pop it into the slow cooker and make Chinese spiced pulled beef.  We'll also have a chicken dish and a prawn dish served with fried rice, noodles and prawn crackers.

My create was taking these 2 framed photos to DS's flat.  The photos were taken a lifetime ago at Skibo Castle (where Madonna got married to Guy Ritchie) by a famous photographer.  We weren't members but our friends invited us.

John Swannell signed this one so it might be worth something some day (ha ha!!) but as it has the ex in it, it's been stuffed in a cupboard.

DS had a lovely watercolour painting but the frame and mount were damaged.  My idea was to take 2 pictures apart and create a new one.

I reused the mount and frame from the friends photo to make a new picture with the watercolour painting. It looks much better than this photo of it!  It's a lovely view of Schiehallion above Loch Rannoch.  As a family we spent a lot of time there when DS was young so it means something to him.  We hung the new picture on his wall.  DS loves it and it was free!! Some more details HERE

My clean and clear task for tonight will be the dining room for the meal tomorrow.  

Day 1: Cook, Clean, Clear and Create

For the next 2 weeks I'm challenging myself to do these 4 things every day.  I'm going to cook something for the freezer. I'm going to deep clean something that isn't part of my normal weekly cleaning routines.  I'm going to clear a cupboard/drawer/box and declutter.  And I'm going to create something from the crafty resources I already have so no cost is involved.

So I started by cooking 1kg of steak mince and made 4 portions of meatballs and 4 portions of bolagnais sauce for the freezer.

I cleaned all the kitchen cabinet doors and kickboards.  Goodness knows what DS cooked when he once here but he's definitely inherited my messy cook genes!!

I cleared these 2 boxes of plastic ware and matched lids to boxes. A few lidless boxes will be used for a clearing project tomorrow.  I now have a single clean box containing 6 soup mugs and a few small containers.  Everything else is gone.

I took this damaged canvas painting and added bits to it to create a usable picture to hang in my family room. 

I've also (finally!) updated My upcycled home blog and added this project to it.  Have a look HERE 

I really need to get cracking on all the unfinished projects in this house and get some new ones started.  This wee challenge will give me the kick I needed!! 

Frugal teaching

I resisted for ages because I just knew I would be obsessed with it but I finally gave in and joined Pinterest.  I've already lost a weekend!!!  BUT it is a great source of inspiration for many things. For example, I have sourced lots of free worksheet and classroom organisation ideas for work.  Most good teachers buy a lot of supplies out of their own pocket.  I know I've spent a small fortune just on useable pencils and felt tip pens.  And photocopying paper!!!!

 

So I've made a conscious effort to begin applying my frugal principles in my classroom.  One of my favourite ideas gleaned from Pinterest is using paint colour samples as borders for display.  I went to Homebase and B&Q last night and collected rather a large amount these lovely colours.  All free!!

 

Here's the result on my Phonics wall :-) I have loads left over so will do a few more borders and use the rest in an art activity.

Our Context for Learning (topic!!) this term is Medieval Castles (as part of a local schools project on the 700th anniversary of The Battle of Bannockburn)  Here are our princess crowns and veils made from gold and silver card from The Pound Shop, my trusty jar of buttons (for jewels) and some old voile curtains.  The cardboard castle to the right is actually a rabbit play toy.  That was an ebay bargain.

It's Parents' Night next week.  I'm going to be cheeky and ask for donations of old bits of wrapping paper, cards, odd pens and pencils etc  I can make use of almost anything.  One wee piece of wrapping paper can't make much but if you've lots then there's a mixed media activity ready to go.

With help from my mum

 

I had a lovely visit from my mum today.  I'm now into the 6th week of this rotten filthy cold and struggling a bit with lots of things.  I'm managing work but very little else is being done.  Look at the next 2 wee mice she's knitted for my class!!  A Scottish knight and a jester who has his own wee tiny jester puppet!!!

 

 

She had also cleared out her cupboard of paper and card.  Lots of lovely free craft stuff for my wee ones to use.  Paper in schools is very expensive and infants use a LOT!!!!

We also dismantled an old single bed and took it to the recycling centre.  It was a lot easier than dismantling my old sofa.  LOL!!!  We moved another bed and built a third.  Slowly getting things done but without my mum's help nothing would have been done this weekend.

I've done a little bit of clothes shopping.  I got a warm ski jacket on eBay for 99p.  I don't need top of the range stuff, I'm just a beginner so that'll do me nicely.  I also got some salopettes (padded trousers with braces really!) for £4.99.  Haven't got them yet but I'll be happy with them at that price :-)

Before........

I love makeovers especially when you compare the before and after shots. I especially love ones that don't cost a small fortune where people have re used what they already have.  Consistent feedback from viewers says my house needs updating.  I agree but I just don't have the funds.  But I have some crafty ideas ;-)

 

My house has a one bedroomed annexe.  My oldest son lived in it before he moved out.  I recently painted the living area white and bought really cheap white cottony curtains from Ikea.  There are 4 windows in that one room!  So I needed a lot of curtain fabric that didn't cost much.  I think in total it was £35.  There was a lot of fabric leftover as some of the windows were small.  I added it to my stash :-)

 

This is the annexe bedroom upstairs.  Now a dumping ground for my laundry, tartan stuff and my middle son's belongings that he didn't take to Vienna. The walls have been painted cream (cos I had lots of leftover tins in the garage) but I've still to paint the orange (yes, it's really orange!!) woodwork.  I still have white satinwood paint left. The carpet is a strange shade of green.  It's a good quality one so I'm not changing it (mainly due to cost) so I'm stuck with it.  Note the handmade pink and green bag to the left of my bike.  The green in it matches the carpet!! 

So I'm thinking of making some curtains from the leftover curtain fabric and some of that pink/green fabric to replace these orangey ones.

It's an Amy Butler fabric.  I've just ordered 2 metres at a cost of £14.80.  My plan is to make plain white curtains with a bold broad stripe around the edges.

I already have white satinwood paint, white curtain fabric pieces and a couple of old picture frames.  My plan is to turn that room into my workroom!

You've seen the before pictures, now watch out for the after in a few weeks :-)

Happy Valentine's Day

I haven't made a card for ages but dug out my supplies to make one for my OH.  I really do have a lot of craft stuff!!! I spent a happy hour sorting through boxes of inks, stamps and toppers.  No cost as I had everything. Hope he likes it. With a little bit of work I could save a lot of money by making cards again.  They seem to have shot up in price.  I saw a card of similar size in the shop selling for £3.99!!

I also baked him a cake.  He has a very sweet tooth!  It's a lemon drizzle cake baked in 2 wee heart shaped tins. I used my bargain eggs and lemons ;-)  I sandwiched it together with my home made apricot jam and drizzled the lemony syrup over it.  I also made some heart shaped cupcakes from the mixture for my other sweet toothed guy.

I saw an idea where you put a marble in the tin to create a kinda heart shape.  I used some baking beans.  They came out ok ish.  The hungry Teen won't mind what they look like!!