I Like Your Trousers..........

Not much to report from Twiggy Towers this week, we're all still suffering from coughs, colds, upset tums and general lurgi, so I've had little enthusiasm for anything other than laying on the sofa watching tv and reading books - shameful I know. We eat pretty well and I'm now taking Vitamin C, Echinacea and wee Twiglet is on the Halib orange so fingers crossed we'll be on the mend soon.

Last week we had Halloween, Bonfire Night and Christmas all rolled into one. We started with cute pumpkin carved by Nana (apologies forgot to take photos - oops). We were going to go to a big firework display but Twiglet was ill so we bundled him up in pyjamas and ducky blanket and we all drove up to Castle Hill to watch the fireworks from up there. It looked great and was very cosy. Here are a few of Mr Twigs very arty photos.

The next day Twiglet, Grandma and I cosied up on the sofa and watched Raymond Briggs The Snowman - this still makes me cry and the little boy looks like Mr Twigs when he was a little boy - sigh and Father Christmas - brilliant way to spend a germy afternoon.

I've got a commission for more cards, my MIL and her friends are keeping me busy hurrah!

Here are some fab trousers I made for Twiglet last week, I love this Ikea fabric and have a roll of the same print in green so watch this space.Twiglet is most taken with his new strides :)

I've also done a little bit of sewing which I'll show you at a later date, will probably be used for Christmas themed stuff for my Etsy shop.

It was Mr Twigs birthday last week so Twiglet and I made the obligatory birthday cards, I think Twiglets is fab - apologies for mine being sideways and choccy birthday cake.

One of my cards won a prize in the Papercrafters Little Haven Charity competition which I was very surprised and pleased about. Most importantly a lot of money is being raised for a fantastic cause.

Talking of fantastic causes, have all you UK lovelies bought a poppy for the British Legion Poppy Appeal?http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/

If anyone needs to be reminded what a fantastic charity this is then watch some of the Armistice season on BBC television. I watched a really moving programme about a wonderful chap called Harry Patch who is 110 and fought in World War 1. Here's a link if you missed it, what an inspirational man. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0074t0t

Oooo it's been very murky up here today, we're so high up we spent the day in low cloud, so very drizzly and extremely dark.

I'll leave you with some photos from our jaunt out with friends yesterday to Cannon Halll Open Farm. Fresh air, exercise, piglets and cake, what more could a girl want,

Righto off to have a Lemsip now and looking forward to watching Spooks later - taped it last night, phwoar Richard Armitage. By the way I have realised that my failing health is probably related to the fact that David Tennant is stepping down from Dr Who, I will have to get my jollies elsewhere, now then where is that Spooks recording???????????

Have a good week.

love Twiggy x

It's the most wonderful time of the year...............

Christmas has come early at Twiggy Towers, the wind is HOWLING outside, the rain is battering the windows, my greenhouse is threatening to blow away again, so Twiglet and I have been making Christmas decorations - we have glitter everywhere!

I've also finished off my Christmas card commision this week, made 12 cards and sold the lot! not really my cup of tea, but when someone says will you make me some Christmas cards, well you have to improvise.
In fact I'm been on a papercraft roll recently, here are my October ATCs for Papercraftersunited swaps.
and a birthday card for my gardening mad pal..I've also been working on my Christmas Decoration swap for lovely Jennie at Falling Down the Rabbit Hole and it's nearly finished, amazing, I'm usually a last minute gal.

Look what I made last weekend, red tomato chupanee, as Twiglet calls it. I've salvaged the last of the green tomatoes from my greenhouse and think I'll make some green tomato chupanee too, just have to pester folks for spare jam jars!!

It's been very windy up here over the past week and according to the weather forecast snow and sleet may be on the cards for next week - it's half term here, so no early starts apart from Wednesday when I'm at work. I think it's time for PJs, cosy socks, chocolate and some MR James, Sherlock Holmes and a spot of telly. Particularly as we will be putting the clocks back here in the UK this weekend.

I LOVE Winter, I think it's because my birthday is in January so I always associate the Winter months with jollification!

We had a ride on the little steam train in our local park last weekend - a mere 20p per trip!!!, it was 10p when I was a littlie and that was a LONG time ago. We also went for a conker forage and came home with this Autumn loveliness.

Big thanks to Solstice Dreamer for my tag, I did the 6 random facts thing recently so I'll sit on it for a bit if that's ok, don't want too many exciting :) Twiggy facts at once. Thanks for tagging me though, lovely lady.

It's Mr Twigs birthday next week and Halloween, if only he's been born a day later!!!! We're planning on making him a birthday cake as the poor old thing has got to work all next week. We're then off to stay at Grandma Twiggys for the weekend, so we can try out her swanky new shower room - ohhhhh it's posh!!!!

Have a good week and stay cosy.

Twiggy x

Look at the size of my nobbly bobbly !!!!!!

Well the good news is that Twiglet is just about better he had a few tears at nursery yesterday as he was still feeling a bit tired :( but seems much better today. Poor old Mr Twigs was off work with the lurgy yesterday - blimey!!!! Anyhoo, he seems ok today, so what have we been up to?

Spent quite a bit of time in the garden, look at the pretty butterfly I managed to get a snap of.

There was Grandad Twiggys birthday, here is the chocolate creation, Twiglet and I made, in parts there were 3 layers of choccy buttons on top and Twiglet wanted more - that's my boy ;)Here are the cards we made for Grandad, firstly mine................................

And Twiglets, genius in the making I reckon......................We've also been using the bread maker again to make yummy homemade pizza, bit of dual rolling going on here.We decided, we might as well bake some carrot muffins which were scrummy.

More garden shots, aren't the leaves on our blueberry bush a gorgeous colour?Picked some rosemary to dry for the winter, chopped off sunflower heads to keep the seeds and picked more tomatoes.Ooooo and more tomatoes, we have loads from my greenhouse and Grandma Twiggys so I'm going to attempt what Twiglet calls tomato Chupanee(chutney) for the first time ever, I'll keep you posted.Check this out it's my nobbly, bobbly, don't ask! I managed to grow one cucumber and it weighed in at one and a half pounds, it was HUGE - excuse fuzzy photo.Righto, that's all for now. Being a saddo who likes to hibernate in the Winter, am v.excited to see the return of Spooks soon, with Rupert Penry Jones and Richard Armitage!!! Ding Dong A Go Go. Also spotted Mr Tennant in the Autumn schedules, oh my.

Have a terrif week

Twiggy x

PS Thanks for all your lovely comments about my cards.

Poor little Twiglet & some cards..........

Poor little fella is fast asleep on the sofa, he's a poorly little chap and has been sick throughout the night, think it's the end bit of this hideous cold that's lingering around Twiggy Towers :(

Anyhoo, as we had to cancel our plans to go out with friends, I've popped a few cards I've made on Etsy while he's sleeping. (I'm very pleased with my mini patchwork quilt card and think I'll make some more, it's so cute)Let me know what you think, hope you like them...........................

Twiggy x

Pay It Forward - the results are in.................

I was going to have a draw this evening, but we have been celebrating Grandad Twiggys birthday. I've had a few sherberts - only two - but that's all it takes these days, so I need to have a little rest after I've made dinner :) what an old timer!
Anyhoo the results have been verified and here they are in no particular order (I've brainwashed myself with Strictly).

Jan @ Daylily Lane

Lesley @ Moogsmum

Pretty Shabby

If you send me your details I will send some kind of loveliness off to you in the next year or so :) - meaning, better get my finger out and start thinking about my PIF parcels!
Well done to the winners and thank you to everyone who took the time to leave a comment, it is much appreciated.
Twiggy x

I don't want to disappoint you but...............

That programme on BBC1 tomorrow, Twiggy Swaps Frocks or some such, it isn't me, ok? It's some 60s icon apparently who has stolen my moniker. I just didn't want you leaving messages saying ohhhh you're a bit glam and look very well for 59 etc. I'm not glam, but I don't look bad for 59, whether or not I look ok for a 30 something is another matter :)

I've sadly neglected my blog and crafting over the last week or so as I've got ANOTHER blardy cold, I tell you working in a germ infested office and letting Twiglet go to nursery is not good for my immune system. It is obviously natures way of telling me we should be hibernating under Twiglets ducky blanket, wearing jolly PJs and watching DVDs. Sadly Mr Twigs and my bank balance don't agree. (Irrelevant photo of some of my buttons, I just like it, ok?)

Even though I've felt pants this weekend we had a very jolly trip down to Hemel Hempstead to stay with my Sister in Law, hubby and lovely little niece. we actually went down for little ladies birthday party and Twiglet had a TERRIFIC time which is what it's all about. It was great to see everyone, I'd show you some photos but in our haste to remember the vast amount of stuff we took for a one night stay, we forgot the camera - doh!!!

Blimey did you UK peeps watch Tess last night, I knew what was coming but I still sniffled and claimed it was my cold making my eyes runny, but I am a bit of a big girls blouse when I have a cold ( I even filled up when Anton and Erin were dancing on Strictly) oh the shame.

Anyone any predictions about Strictly winners yet? I reckon Austin Healy is pretty good and think Christine Bleakley perhaps or Rachel Stevens, but it's early doors innit? (I really need to get a life, please reassure me I'm not the only one that spends Saturday night, scoffing chocolate, sipping wine and thinking yay sparkly, dancing is great etc..............)

I'm so pleased to say that my swap partner in Indigo Blues Christmas Decoration Swap is lovely, lovely Jennie at Falling Down the Rabbit Hole. I have my remit and must refind the crafting mojo. My Mother in Laws friend has also asked me to make her 6 Christmas cards - wahey, wonder if my MIL will expect a percentage?

Don't forget you've got until next Sunday evening to add comments on my previous post if you want to be included in my PIF, haven't the faintest what I'm doing for it yet. Hopefully it will kickstart my creative muse (think she's currently skulking in bed).

This coming Friday is the night of Mr Twigs VERY EXCITING SECRET night out. I've managed not to blab yet, which is quite amazing...........................

Righto got to go and look at some really boring stuff about mortgages now - deep joy!! Then off to watch Juliet Stevenson on TV, I watch far too much telly at the moment that's probably why I'm not making anything, catch you later and have a good week.

Twiggy xx (1970s icon in a tartan kilt, red wellies and a Starsky and Hutch t.shirt. I know my fashion you know, that was what I was wearing in the 1970s not now, honest ;)

Postal loveliness and a PIF

Well not done much on the crafting front this week as I've been soooo busy. I have managed a bit of sewing which I'll show you later.

Hasn't the weather been gorgeous we've spent a lot of time in the garden, I LOVE September.

I've had two lovely parcels this week, the first one as mentioned previously from the very kind and lovely Andrea at Indigo Blue who sent me a cupcake parcel after hearing my Cupcake Swap partner didn't deliver the goods how kind is that?

Thank you lovely lady. Here are some pics, check out my Kate Moss figure. (I'm built for comfort not for speed ok:)

Also, today I received another lovely parcel from Kim @ Ragged Roses, it was a PIF that I was lucky enough to win a while ago.

It smelt divine when I opened it due to the cute lavendar pillow in the box, I loved the bag, pretty corsage and the flowery baubles are so sweet. Twiglet was after my choccy but I saved it and snaffled it whilst watching Strictly Come Dancing this evening washed down with a few glasses of wine, so please excuse typos.

Now onto something completely different, isn't life interesting. As you know I'm an avid Freecycler and still haven't blogged my new (to me) vintage Singer Sewing Machine, Evadne, Myrtle is a little jealous. (notice the old lady name theme? we used to have a guinea pig called Queenie). Anyhoo, a very nice lady popped around this evening to collect a baby change bag I'd put on our local board and I always remember faces and felt I knew her. Turns out after she'd left I do and I emailed her and we've had a good old chinwag, I worked with her 11 years ago - how weird is that??? Love her, she said you're much slimmer than you were 11 years ago, her memory is obviously failing her - tee hee.

Right onto other business, I still owe 2 PIFs, so I'm going to do one of them now. Just for a bit of fun I'd like you to tell me a happy Christmas memory from your childhood - I'm just nosey really, so leave me a comment and I'll do a draw in a couple of weeks or so.

Here's mine, we were allowed to open one pressie on Christmas Eve and I always remember spending ages throwing building blocks into a cardboard box by the light of the Christmas tree fairy lights with my darling Dad, how come it's always the tiny mundane things that are so special? I also remember going Christmas shopping with my Dad to buy a surprise for my Mum and I bought her a shiny red satin scarf and some Wade Whimsies, remember those?

Have a great week

Twiggy x

This week I have mostly been.............

1.Making cards for a fellow Papercrafter who will sell them to raise funds for Little Haven Hospice in Scotland, I would provide links but I'm a dunce. However if you'd like to show your support and whistle a few cards off let me know and I'll pass your details on. Also, if you become a Papercraftersunited member, any cards you make will be entered into a competition. (See my fave places to hang out for link)2. Starting my new job which is fine, still juggling my hours a bit as parking is a nightmare but so far so good, it's not rocket science but my colleagues are nice and it fits in around Twiglet nicely.

3. Sewing cards....................selling cards, I made 11 for my Mother In Law to choose 6 and she bought them all woohoo!!!!!

4. Having fun at the seaside........... We HEART Filey !!!!!

5. Joining Indigo Blues Christmas Decoration Swap, there are a few places left so get over there and get the festive feeling.

6. Watching Strictly Come Dancing and the Restaurant.

7. Saying ohhhhh crikey aren't the nights drawing in, it's so dark etc(I'm such an old biddy).

8. Getting excited about Mr Twigs BIG SURPRISE that I've planned for October, but more on that story later....................

That was Twiggys week in a nutshell, told you I'd be concise for once this week :) Off to sew labels into Twiglets nursery bag and coat now.

Have a lovely week

Twiggy x

Quick update, I joined Rachel Rabbits Cupcake Swap a while ago, dutifully sent off my parcel and sadly received no contact whatsoever from my swap partner, disappointed Twiggy indeed. Anyhoo the very lovely Andrea at Indigo Blue has sent me a surprise Cupcake Swap parcel today, now how lovely is that? I'm overwhelmed at your kindness Andrea and delighted with the lovely goodies that you and your husband chose for me. My swap faith is restored and I'll blog some pics later in the week.

Thanks again honey

love

Twiggy xx

I'm in meltdown !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so very excited because I popped into my favourite charity shop - we haven't been in for a month - you won't believe what I found for a bargainous price, thought I'd died and gone to heaven...........................................
Ha ha I'm not going to tell yet - mean Twiggy.

Look at those lovely tomatoes at the top of the page, they are from Grandma Twiggys massive harvest I'm managing about 4 red cherry toms a day, which Twiglet scoffs straight from the bush! Anyhoo, take scrummy differing coloured toms (much more interesting than supermarket conformity) add an onion from mates allotment, basil from my greenhouse, chuck some other bits in and hmmmm twas a very tasty spag bol, without nasty additives and very cheap to boot.

Also made more pizza dough and managed to make deluxe Pizza Express style pizzas for £1 each!

Had another busy week, wee Twiglet is still loving nursery which is great. however he's not very forthcoming about his time there.

Here's a typical conversation.

He came home at 11.30am, me being very observant noticed at 2pm he had a different t.shirt on. So Twiglet, why did you change your t.shirt poppet? Can't remember Mummy. Where is it ? Can't remember Mummy. Rang nursery, turns out it's drying out on the radiator as it got wet during a painting session and they forgot to give it to me, not to worry.

Did you enjoy the painting Twiglet? I haven't been painting Mummy. Why have you got paint in your hair and on the back of t.shirt and jeans then?

Because I've been painting at nursery Mummy :) Miss Marple hasn't got my ace skills of deduction.

My sewing muse is away with the sunshine I think, however my card making muse is back. Here's what I've been working on for my mother in law, not my usual style (well the oriental and vintage ones are) but she wanted generic birthday cards, some are still WIPs. I'm also doing a few for my Etsy or Folksy shop which I'll add later this weekend for your comments - be nice :)

Here's a piccy of a vintage Christmas card I've made for a Papercrafters Challenge.We had a lovely day out with our bestest buddies on Thursday - dashed out as it wasn't raining. We visited out local open farm and spent hours there, the boys didn't want to come home we had a terrific time. (The cafe also does tiptop homemade cakes) Anyhoo, they have a MASSIVE playground with very tall scarey ropewalks, slides etc, here's my boy. Doesn't he realise he's only 3 and I'm of a nervous disposition. He had a great time, the highlight had to be an escapee baby goat trying to walk up the slide :)
After our trip out we visited the lovely ladies in our teeny local library and they gave Twiglet

a Bookstart Treasure Chest complete with fantastic books, great stickers and pretty Crayola pencils, what a great end to a grand day out. I LOVE libraries !!!!!!!! (PS If you have a littlie in the UK have you collected their Bookstart packs yet? type in Bookstart to your PC and have a look).

I wanted to be a librarian when I was a Twiglet but decided I'm too noisy and erm.... rather disorganised, but books are the most fabulous thing aren't they? Introducing Twiglet to favourite books and discovering new ones with him - (My ahem, of course I mean our current favourite has to be Night Monkey/Day Monkey) - is magic!!

How great are Autumn TV schedules, don't watch much TV at the moment, but I'm looking forward to Tess of the D'Ubervilles (remember it was one of my Twiggys self improvement programme set texts) Strictly Come Dancing - wahey, the sequins, the glamour, the music, the lights, sorry getting carried away there. I also enjoy The Restaurant, I love the serious (I'm trying to build tension) face Raymond Blanc pulls when he's pondering who to close down, always makes me smile.

Here's a piccy of the fabric I bought recently, as you'll see big Ikea influence with a smidgen of tractors, as they'd say on The Restaurant , it's fusion :)

Oh I nearly forgot, here are my FANTABULOUS purchases and guess how much they cost? 50p per tube of buttons and 20p each for the needles. I showed great restraint and didn't buy all the buttons, if Mr Twigs hadn't been hovering, I may well have done!

Have a great week. I'm starting my new job, next week so wish me luck and you'll be pleased to know I'll probably be tired so will type much shorter posts.

Take care

Twiggy x

All Change................

Well I said I wouldn't be away that long. Above is a photo of one of our jolly red sunflowers, it's a beauty around 8 foot tall!!! I forgot when I planted the seeds that it was red, so it was a nice surprise.
Twiglet started nursery this week, his key worker came to visit us at home and the following day we took him in. Well his lady as we call her :) said Hi would you like to help me build this train track? We said Bye Darling, he shouted Bye Mummy, Bye Daddy and didn't even turn round!!! Hey none taken, young man :)

To be honest was v.relieved. Thankfully I have yet another cold - what a germ infested old gimmer I am - however this was a good thing as 1, I slept like a zombie the night before he started and 2. any redness around my eyes and nose was passed off as cold related :)

I mentioned in my last post about my sisters Mother In Laws, sadly one of them passed away this morning and the other lady has gone into a hospice now. The nice thing (if that sounds weird, sorry) is that the hospice is very near her home so my sisters Father In Law can spend all day, every day with her in comfort.

Here are the lovely hugs cards that my fantastic friends over at Papercraftersunited have sent over to me during the past two weeks,

On to happier things, well I've received a commission from my Mother In Law to make 6 cards - however, my crafting mojo is lying dormant until I've shifted this cold so will keep you posted.

However, I did manage to make this 3D lady for a cardmaking friend.

Now, I do have some rather exciting news. it's all change at Twiggy Towers (this is the other stuff I had to deal with). I had an interview this week and was offered the job, unfortunately I had to turn it down as I couldn't fit the hours around Twiglet. Well blow me, they came back to me asked what hours I'd like to work, I told them, had a chit chat with Grandma and Nana Twiggy and blimey, I'm starting work the week after next!!! it's only a temporary contract until Christmas, but every little helps as like a lot of you, we're really feeling the pinch at the moment.

Here's an action shot of Twiglet finger painting, he had to have a shower and a bath when he'd finished :)

Further adventures with the breadmaker, I made my first ever pizza dough this week and made Twiglet a pizza Teddy for dinner!I've been going mad on Etsy recently and have spent a modest amount on vintage downloads and fabric, so I'm hoping these will get my creative juices flowing. Also bought some lovely fabric from Ikea this week, so I'll blog them next time.

Righto, that's me for now, so have a great weekend and thanks for all the very kind and lovely comments you left on my last post.

Twiggy x