Kat got the cream

Wearing thermals

2012-02-28T12:06:00.000Z

I am one of those people who always seems to feel the cold. I've blogged before about this and how I like to layer my outfits (yes, even summer ones) with a sneaky thermal vest or top to keep out the chill.

So during the recent cold snap we had, I was very grateful to Damart for sending me some thermals to try out. It was perfect timing as they arrived the morning we set off to spend a few days in a forest log cabin when there was still snow on the ground, so I popped them in the suitcase and off we went.

They certainly did the trick on those cold windy days by the coast or during the odd forest walk. But I had guessed they would be fairly cosy - that's what thermals do right? I have to say though, these took thermals to the next level. I think it's something to do with Damart's special Thermolactyl design. I don't know how it works but the underside of the garment shows that it's made from a fine, lightweight fleecy type material, which is super warm.

But what genuinely surprised me was how pretty, soft and comfortable they were. To be honest, I always associate the name Damart with function rather than fashion, but the matching set I was sent is a lovely pale heather colour and has a subtle all-over pattern, with really pretty, quality detailing. The leggings were well-fitting and didn't end up bagging and sagging at the knee/bum like many do, while the top was so cute, it deserved to be shown off too. I also very much liked the way it was nice and long, fitting well over my expanding bump so there were no gaps to let in nasty draughts (very important!).

As you can imagine, I was quite happy lolling around a log cabin in what I considered to be 'loungewear' aka posh pyjamas, pretending I was Swedish and chic. But how did I wear them at home? Well, I would still happily stay in my PJs all day, given half the chance, and I'm sure I would still have been snuggly warm (even though we've had builders in and the house is freezing).

However, I've found the thermal top and leggings are really easy to mix and match with my other clothes to help keep out the chill. So here's how I've been wearing them this week.

Outfit: cardigan: M&S via charity shop; thermal top: c/o Damart; skirt: Tesco via Ebay; leggings: White Stuff; shoes: charity shop.

Outfit: Tank top: vintage via charity shop; top (worn underneath): c/o Damart; skirt: Tesco via Ebay; leggings: c/o Damart; shoes: charity shop; hat: Joules.

Warm, comfy and cute; thermals really are a (cold) girl's best friend.

What do you think? Are you a thermals girl?

Disclosure: I was not paid to write this review, Damart sent me a complimentary set of thermals to try out.

The price of happiness

2012-02-26T12:30:00.002Z

It really doesn't take much to make me happy. I'm fairly easily pleased (most of the time).

Sometimes it's simply a case of finding a pretty little jug in the charity shop for £4, as I did the other day. If I then find a bunch of daffodils going for half price in the supermarket too, even better. So, for me, the price of happiness is around a fiver. Bargain!!!

What makes you happy?

Linking up to Magpie Monday here

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Three Jelly Moulds and a Wardrobe

2012-02-24T12:05:00.000Z

I love thrifting and finding second-hand treasures myself by frequenting my favourite charity shops and rummaging around in car boots. But sometimes you can't always find just what you're looking for (or in truth you don't always manage to drag your lazy body out of bed in time to scoop the good loot at the car boot). So, it's always good to find independent, online sellers who make it a bit easier.

Introducing Three Jelly Moulds and a Wardrobe!!

This new online shop (I love the name) has been set up by the lovely (and impressively entrepreneurial) Elizabeth who you may already know as the author of the fab Rosalilium blog. I'm really excited for Elizabeth, who has used her keen thrifting eye to find all sorts of retro and vintage knick-knacks, which she is now selling in her very own shop. This is the culmination of a year's work and while the collection is starting off small (yet beautiful), new products will be added weekly.

Here's Elizabeth in her own words:

"Rummaging through the provinces of England is one of my favourite past times and I have amassed a bit of a collection. My aim with Three Jelly Moulds and a Wardrobe is to share my enjoyment for interesting and attractive lifestyle items from days gone by. With a carefully curated collection I seek to create a shopping experience that is easy and enjoyable for vintage-lovers and those who want to fill their homes with lovely objects."

There are some great finds in the shop; here are my favourite picks:

If you fancy a little look yourself, you can find out more here www.jellyvintage.com

A skirt trick

2012-02-21T12:11:00.000Z

When is a skirt not a skirt?

When it's a maternity top - ta -dahhh!!!!!

I've had this summery skirt for a couple of years now and it's great on a hot, still day when there's not a lick of breeze and you can flounce around in the sunshine. But unfortunately that's not what the weather's doing right now. *Quick check out of the window* No, it is most definitely NOT like that outside. So I decided it would make the perfect top for the bump, if I wore it over a long-sleeved top. What do you reckon?

I'm now 5 and a half months' pregnant and I've been struggling a bit in the maternity-wear way recently and have become a little too obsessed with elasticated waistbands. I finally caved yesterday and bought these navy blue trousers from H&M's maternity range, which have a comfy yet flattering waistband (ie I don't resemble Humpty Dumpty or one of those old men you see who insist on fastening their trousers just under their nipples).

But anyway back to skirts that moonlight as tops. This is a bit of a revelation to me and I'm now looking at elasticated skirts in a whole new way (yes, really). Key to this look is the elasticated bit that stretches over the boobage area so you don't look completely tent-like. Otherwise you could take a skinny belt and fasten it underneath the bust to draw in the skirt and create an empire-line effect. I think this might be the way forward for me and the bump but I don't think you have to be preggers to try it (or pull it off).

Let me know what you think. How do you (mis)use your clothes to make new outfits?

P.S. Am still very touched by all your lovely comments on my last post. Thanks and onwards and upwards, as they say (albeit with an increasingly waddling and rolling gait now).

Outfit: Long-sleeved top: Gap; skirt worn as top: H&M; plastic beads: charity shop; trousers: H&M maternity; shoes: charity shop.

Really

2012-02-19T17:07:00.001Z

A while ago someone told me that their friend had read my blog and asked the question, "So is she really like that in real life?".

It's a question that has troubled me a bit ever since, just because I would hate for anyone to misinterpret me or this blog. I try to make sure that my blog is a fairly happy, positive place both for myself and anyone who reads it. So yes, I suppose I do edit out a lot of the bad, sad or just plain banal (maybe not enough of the latter sometimes). But I don't want anyone to think that I'm trying to pass off my life as some picture perfect, rose-tinted existence where everything is wonderful (especially when refracted through the filter of Instagram).

So, in the interests of transparency, just for the record and because, well because today I'm not feeling so chipper, I thought I'd share some of the other stuff with you. If you're not in that kind of mood, feel free to move onto another post.

Things you might not know about me:

1) I can’t remember when I last had a totally undisturbed night’s sleep: official knackerment.

2) I've suffered with varying degrees of acne since I was 12 and I still do now at the age of 36. Sometimes it's okay and sometimes it really gets to me. To add insult to injury I'm now getting wrinkles to accompany the spots.

3) I am quite worried that having a third child might be the straw that breaks the camel's back but I hope not.

4) Many a time I just throw on the same clothes I had on the day before because it's easy/I'm cold/they fit/I can't be bothered to make an effort.

5) I've taken a course of anti-depressants in the past. They were good, I'd highly recommend them. I have a feeling most people have suffered, do suffer or will suffer from depression at some point in their lives.

6) I am quite a lazy, disorganised person when it comes to my personal life. I'm constantly beating myself up for it. But I do work hard in other ways.

7) I’ll never be a great housewife. I’ve accepted that.

8) Like a lot of people, I wish I had better legs. But I am grateful that I have legs and they work and that's brilliant.

9) I give a good impersonation of being confident when I have to be but I am inherently shy.

10) I love my kids but they also drive me mad and that's when I switch on CBeebies and hide in the bathroom with my iPhone.

11) Fear holds me back sometimes. I worry far too much about what might happen. For example, I hate driving on the motorway and will avoid it at all costs.

12) Sometimes I really do wonder "what's the point?" (about life, the universe, this blog etc).

13) I know my life is a bed of roses in comparison to a lot of people's and I try to count my blessings, I really do. I have absolutely no reason to feel sorry for myself but occasionally I do and that's just life I guess.

I could go on but I think I'll stop there. Don't worry, normal blogging will resume soon.

Now, here's a pretty picture of a cupcake to make you all feel better/sick/bored.

image via

A log cabin holiday

2012-02-17T12:08:00.001Z

Hello everyone. I've just returned from a few days' holiday with the mister and the kids. We went to stay in a log cabin in Keldy Forest, near Pickering. So I was secretly glad that there was still snow on the ground to add to the Alpine (ish) experience. It turns out that wooden houses suit me. They are seriously warm and cosy!

As well as walks through the forest (yes, I did tell the kids that the Gruffalo lives there) looking at interesting flora and fauna (hilarious mushrooms aka fungi, Badger sets and erm gnomes) we were also a stone's throw from the coast so we got a bit of sea air too. Oh and I also happened upon a flea market so it seemed rude not to.

The week was greatly assisted by cheese (though sadly not a proper fondue), my lovely snuggly Damart thermals and the new Lana Del Rey album.

We didn't forget Valentine's day either, though I was convinced it really should be Pancake day, by rights. At least that's something to look forward to (*stocks up on lemons and syrup and starts dribbling now).

Hope you've had a good week too my dears. After a week sans internet I'm looking forward to a big catch up on all my favourite blogs.

Bye for now,

Kat x

Here's the week in pix:

Second-hand talk

2012-02-12T17:38:00.000Z

As regular readers of this blog will probably know, I'm lucky enough to be part of the Oxfam Fashion blogging team, contributing monthly posts to the Oxfam fashion blog on finding and wearing second-hand outfits, customisation and what not. This small team of bloggers is based all around the UK with varying takes on ethical clothing, thrifting and DIY fashion. So it was really great when the Oxfam Fashion team organised a meet-up last weekend where we could all get together in person and discuss the future direction of the charity's blog.

Bloggers love a good meet-up don't you know and any excuse to talk thrifting with like-minded charity shop addicts is not an opportunity to be missed so I high-tailed it down to that there London.

Discussing the various merits of social media, what works and doesn't (and crucially why) is also of real interest to me now so it was equally great to hear lots of useful opinions from the team.

Suffice it to say that exciting plans are afoot and the Oxfam Fashion blog (as well as the Oxfam website generally) will soon be better than ever! This will hopefully mean that even more people will read the blog, take an interest in second-hand clothing and spend more money in Oxfam and other charity shops: huzzah!

I think Oxfam is one of the most forward-thinking and inspirational charities when it comes to leveraging fashion as a means of raising funds. Just a quick peek at its latest look-book gives some great ideas on how you can create fabulous outfits from second-hand clothing and makes me want to rush out and pillage the charity shops more than ever (especially when the actual clothes from the shoot were hanging nearby on a rail, taunting me!).

Oxfam also has some brilliant ideas up its sleeve, which will see a new range of haberdashery and DIY kits added to its product range plus a new DIY/customisation concession that is to be trialled soon in the Exeter store (and hopefully rolled out to other stores around the country).

And at the end of a fab day, we even had chance to do a bit of customising too!

Hopefully you're (nearly) as excited as I am about this and if so, watch out for the new and improved Oxfam Fashion blog when it goes live. I'll keep you posted. In the meantime you can read all the latest posts here

Tea towel love

2012-02-08T10:01:00.001Z

I can't resist a good tea towel. Pretty ones, witty ones, quirky ones, cool ones; they all gladden the heart. But like men, a good tea towel can be hard to find (though not as hard as a man willing to use that tea towel of course). That's why it was rather good when a website called www.all-tea-towels.co.uk got in touch and asked me to review a couple of theirs.

As the name suggests, this place is a bit of an online destination point for tea towels and presumably a mecca for tea towel lovers. I'll warn you now, there's quite a choice people. In the end I plumped for the following two designs to try out:

Biscuits and bunnies - the obvious choice really, although I was tempted by a few other designs including:

Yes, I could probably go on and I'll wager there's a tea towel just for you too. And they're not just lovely to look at. The Nice biscuit tea towel is made from 100% unbleached organic cotton and has washed really well, becoming even softer amd more absorbent afterwards.

I have to admit that I love the colours and print of the thick linen rabbit tea towel so much that I can't bring myself to use it. I think it would look ace pinned to the kitchen wall as decoration though. So that's just what I'll do.

Disclosure: I was not paid to write this post but I was sent two complimentary teatowels to review.

The best charity shop in the world (probably)

2012-02-04T17:47:00.000Z

On Friday I jumped in the car and took a beautiful drive across the North Yorkshire moors to nearby Skipton to meet up with one of my lovely twitter mates, Sarah of Ditsy Bird Design. I've always loved Skipton, it's a great old Northern market town and I know it well since my mum and dad used to drag me there as a kid to attend dog shows at the old town hall (yes, really).

Anyway, I've been meaning to visit for a while because I wanted to check out a new shop that opened there in October last year, called Birdcage Vintage. If you think this place sounds like a lovely little boutique selling vintage and handmade treasures, then you'd be absolutely right. And that in itself would be enough reason to patronise the place, in my book. But then what if I told you that all the second-hand stock is donated and proceeds from all sales (including a percentage of the handmade products) goes to charity?

Yes, indeedy, this gorgeous little shop is in fact a charity shop! Had you fooled there eh? The charity in question is Behind Closed Doors, which helps those whose lives have been affected by domestic violence. Committed to a revival of make do and mend traditions, re-using, recycling and customising pre-loved fashion and objects, there are also weekly craft drop-in sessions run at the back of the shop where you can meet new people and learn new skills. Yes, it is pretty much my idea of heaven. If they could rustle up a nice cup of tea and a slice of cake too (served on vintage china of course) then it would be perfection itself.

If you get the chance, go!!

12 High Street, Skipton, North yorkshire, BD23 1JZ

Spot the two happy snappers in the mirror!

Smile food

2012-02-02T09:00:00.001Z

Feeling brassed off or just plain old brassic? (see what I did there?). Well, my mood was vastly improved the other day by making this: onion soup.

Okay, I know it doesn't sound anything fancy but it is, for me, one of the ultimate comfort foods and costs literally pennies to make. Plus we had a gazillion onions that needed using up and not much else for tea.

Of course I bullied the mister into chopping all the onions for me (hateful job) but if you're missing a willing assistant then you could slip on some chemistry goggles or you know do that thing with a spoon in your mouth. After that it's simple. There are loads of recipes for this classic soup but here's the one I used and it turned out pretty darn well. I served it with cheese on toast because a) we didn't have any French bread or Gruyere cheese and b) I'm from Yorkshire anyway.

So, if you're feeling a bit down in the mouth and life gives you a load of onions, first have a little cry (you'll probably feel better and you won't have any choice if you're chopping onions) and then make onion soup!

Onion soup (serves 8)

Ingredients:

6 large onions, sliced

60g butter

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2.5 litres beef stock

3 tablespoons flour

Sugar to taste

Brandy, optional

salt and pepper

Method:

Soften the sliced onion in the butter and oil on a low heat. Now add a sprinkle of sugar and continue cooking until the onions are golden brown, then add the four and then the stock. Simmer for about an hour. Taste for seasoning.

Inspired

2012-01-31T09:00:00.001Z

Oh there are some clever crafty people out there aren't there? I mean crafty as in creative, of course! I'm always inspired by the wonderful things that other people make, although it's often with the knowledge that I must admire from afar as their skill level is way beyond mine. However, there have been a couple of brilliant projects I've seen during my blog-reading seshs that have made me think (probably with misguided self-confidence), 'Ooh I could do that!'

First up is a 'how to' from the home of fab fashion tutorials, A Beautiful Mess blog, which shows you how to sew a simple cotton top. Not only does this look infinitely do-able, it's the sort of top that would work for the bump, especially when I'm big and round come summer (better get going now then).

And, how genius is this idea from the brilliant Her Library Adventures blog? Who doesn't want to make a chalkboard handbag? This is an excuse to run out and raid the charity shops for a leather granny bag, if I ever I saw one.

I've also fallen in love with this little embroidered marmalade jar top, which I spied on the lovely After all the world is a beautiful Place blog. And there's a yummy-sounding recipe for making the marmalade too.

I'm determined to find the time to attempt at least one of these in the coming months.

Have you been struck with any crafty inspiration of late? Please feel free to share any links in the comments section.

Photos taken from blogs as credited, with thanks.

On Saturday....

2012-01-29T12:41:00.001Z

....I went to the Vintage Bazaar in Ilkley, West Yorkshire. And here's what I saw.

This is a regular event and one of my favourite haunts as I love a trip to this gorgeous town (which also has great charity shops and cafes) and a mooch around the church hall, looking for pretties. If you want to visit the next event, have a look at the facebook page for more details.

What did you get up to this weekend?

An oversized jumper

2012-01-25T09:00:00.001Z

Those who follow me on twitter /Instagram might have clocked that I bagged a couple of thrifted bargains at the weekend including an oversized, 100% cashmere sweater.

There's a lot to be said for a good quality, snuggly jumper for less than a fiver (£3 to be precise). There's even more to be said for a 100% cashmere jumper in perfect condition and a colour that makes you smile. And if it's big enough to fit over a growing baby bump, well you might just sing.

Being warm and comfy in winter (and while pregnant) is surely enough reason to start wearing leggings (it's all downhill from here) and my new favourite things; my red wellies (I am so attached to them I have been wearing them indoors).

But it's okay, I'm accessorising it all with a vintage granny brooch and a winning smile so I reckon I've just about got away with it.

If you haven't already got one, I urge you to go get yourself a BIG jumper because snugness = smugness. Try it!

Outfit: jumper: Edinburgh Woollen Mill via charity shop; thermal vest: Sainsbury's; brooch: charity shop; leggings: M&S; wellies: Clarks.

P.S. Yes, I have been messing around on Picnik. Smell the flowers while you still can.

Finders Keepers: a toy kitchen

2012-01-23T09:00:00.004Z

I know this is meant to be a month of austerity but I have to admit to buying quite a few things recently. This is partly due to the fact I wasn't doing much thrifting before Christmas and wasn't striking it lucky even when I did pop my head in a charity shop. Maybe I've just got my mojo back now I'm feeling better (oh dear bank balance).

Anyway, I've always coveted those cute, retro wooden kitchens you see in the pricier toy shops and had also hummed and harred over the Ikea version. But I'm really glad I held out because I found this little gem in my local charity shop last week for £20.

I'd seen it earlier in the week and resisted my usual instinct of "grab it before it goes" because it seemed a bit ridiculous to be buying the kids another toy when they've just had lots of new things for Christmas. But it was still there a few days later (I guess anyone who was going to buy a toy kitchen would have done so in December) so it continued to call to me. In the end I just deferred to the mister and sent him to "just take a look at it and tell me what you think". When he came back he'd already bought it and carried it home.

Now, the question is, do I customise? The more I look at it, I realise it has been lovingly handmade and is in great condition. All it needed was a wipe down. But there is a part of me that's itching to get the white paint out. What do you think?

Linking up to Magpie Monday here

Surviving January

2012-01-19T13:59:00.001Z

Poor January, it must be everyone's least favourite month (apologies to anyone with a birthday this month and many happy returns of course). But really, it's bleak, cold, dark and uninspiring. The only vaguely exciting thing on the horizon is Shrove Tuesday (these days, the excuse to eat pancakes for a main meal ranks far higher on my list than all that Valentine's Day nonsense). Indeed, for me, January is just a month to be endured. So here's what has been getting me through it.

Bulbs

When the garden looks miserable and barren, you need something cheerful to look at. My friend gave me these tulip bulbs before Christmas as she knows they're my favourite flowers. Now their little green heads are poking through, it's a reminder that Spring is on its way and I can't wait to see what colour they will be in full bloom. Cut flowers do the same job.

Hot chocolate...

and Croque Monsieur...need I explain why?

My new radio

The mister gave this to me for Christmas to keep me company when I'm sitting up in our little office. Along with fingerless gloves (and twitter of course) the radio is a freelancer's friend. It's mainly tuned to BBC Six Music but I've also been getting into The Archers lately. My gran and my mum have both been keen listeners to this long-running radio soap and it also counts Stephen Fry and Kirstie Allsopp as fans. I try to catch it every day if possible or if not, have a lovely long catch up over breakfast on sunday morning when they play the full omnibus repeat. If you're not sure what the 'eck I'm on about then take a look/listen to Stephen Fry's introduction here which will give you all the low down on the rural village of Ambridge where The Archers is set.

My new red wellies

I had a pair of red shoes when I was four and they are one of my earliest memories. I've loved red shoes ever since. I've been hankering after a new pair of wellies for years (ever since I panic-bought a dull black pair at Glastonbury '05 that are a size too big and have been making do with) so I treated myself. These wellies make me feel happy, fit properly and even make me wish for rain (just kidding).

The slow cooker

This was a Christmas present from the mister's parents and so far it has been a bit of a godsend. Those who already have a slow cooker will know what I'm talking about. Just a bit of prep in the morning means you have an instant, delicious, wholesome meal waiting for you at the end of the day. It really comes into its own on busy days when I'm out and about or at the weekend when we all head off for a long walk and come home cold and ravenous. I love opening the door to lovely tasty smells filling the house, like the cooking fairies have been at work while we've been out. So far we've made tangy pork with ginger and rice, sweet paprika chicken with crusty bread and sausage and onion casserole with potatos - all yummy. If anyone has any good slow cooker recipes please send them my way.

Knitting

As some of you may know, my mum is the demon knitter in my family so I've always left that to her and instead tried to get to grips with sewing instead. But during the winter I haven't wanted to sit in the office with my sewing machine. And now I know why those who knit/crochet love it so much. You can snuggle up warm in bed or under a blanket in front of the telly and still knit. So I've started knitting a very basic baby blanket for number 3, that will comprise squares of green, pink, blue and red wool. I can only knit or purl in straight lines so this is my limit but for now I'm finding the simple, methodical action of knitting really calming and comforting. I'll let you know how this project progresses - I've got 5 months to finish it so surely???

What have you been up to lately and how do you survive January?

Bye for now,

Kat x

Dressing the bump!

2012-01-13T11:10:00.001Z

I'm now four months' pregnant and feeling a lot better - yippee! Thankfully I got my appetite back just in time for Christmas and testament to this is my slowly expanding belly. It's still in that in-between stage where, depending on what I'm wearing, I can just look like I've had a few too many pies (which I have). I've had to relegate my waisted skirts and shorts to the under bed storage and elasticated waistbands are now my friends (sigh).

I've also realised that in a fit of efficiency/stupidity, I think I must have thrown out my old maternity jeans. So, I've decided I'm going to try and make it through this pregnancy without. After all, that's what empire lines and Lycra were made for (sort of).

I did however make a recent purchase, which I've been wearing constantly since. I bought this shift dress in the Cath Kidston sale (which made it a whole lot more affordable for me). It's the sort of dress that looks better worn than on the hanger I think and many might find the fabric a little too 'dinner lady tabard' but I love it. It's soft, comfortable and has plenty of room to accommodate the growing bump. Plus, I know I'll still love it after the pregnancy so it felt like a good investment. What do you think?

P.S. the bobble hat is clearly not essential to this outfit (unless of course you're stupidly standing around in the cold without a coat having your photo taken!).

Outfit: dress: Cath Kidston, waistcoat: vintage, brooch: flea market, boots: second-hand (unbranded), bobble hat: handmade.

The Shepherd's Purse in Whitby

2012-01-08T21:56:00.002Z

One of my favourite shops, in one of my favourite places, is The Shepherd's Purse in Whitby.

It's the sort of place you'd expect to find in some quiet village or tucked down a side street somewhere like Islington or off Portobello Road in London. But actually it has staked a place amongst the Whitby jet and fudge shops since it was established in 1973 by Rosie McHugh and Peter Budd.

I love shops and businesses with a real sense of heritage and this has it in spades.

Rosie and Pete started next door to the Board Inn on Church Street in an old fisherman's cottage, making patchwork dresses in their living room for other businesses. On Good Friday 1973, they opened the door of their home to the public and completely sold out!

With this they decided to stop selling to other businesses and open their own shop: The Shepherd's Purse.

They ventured to parts of the world such as India and Afghanistan to study fabric printing and brought home shoes from Kandahar and tribal dresses from India. They opened selling their wools and knitwear – then went on to expand into 95 Church Street to sell whole foods.

The business has now been passed onto Michelle, Sophie and Kim, their three children, who now run The Shepherd's Purse retaining all their parents’ style and beliefs.

I just love this place because it's a really unique mini emporium. The wonderful smells of freshly ground coffee and herbs and spices hit you as soon as you enter. Walls are filled with different varieties of loose tea and you can sink your hands into tubs of fresh produce.

And then when your foodie side is satisfied, the back of the shop is devoted to beautiful vintage style clothes and accessories. It's one of those places where i just go in and gawp at everything (having abandoned the mister and the kids outside).

It's a great place to pick up some homemade goodies as souvenirs, ogle some beautiful sparkly and diaphanous stuff by Avoca and treat yourself to a proper take away coffee as you continue roaming the cobbled streets.

Regulars to Whitby will know this place, I'm sure but if you've never been, be sure to take a look.

I'll stop now before I use cliches such as treasure trove or Aladdin's cave but you get the picture.

www.theshepherdspurse.com

So that was Christmas...

2012-01-03T23:07:00.000Z

Hello, happy new year and all that. Did you all have a great Christmas? Ours was a quiet but cosy one, mainly tucked up at home, trying to keep warm and dry.

This was much helped by my new pyjamas and slippers (essential presents).

These are what I wore as often as possible, while eating another piece of Rocky Road/cheese/my sister's lovely homemade fruit cake in front of the telly. Apart from Downton and Great Expectations, this year's Christmas telly was a bit rubbish if you ask me though I did stumble upon Bedknobs and Broomsticks one day, which neither me or the kids have seen before.

I have to say, you find fashion inspiration in the most unlikeliest of places but Angela Lansbury rocks a leather satchel, Fair Isle sweater and lilac beret in this and the kids loved it too. Me and the mister also enjoyed the line, pronounced by young boy in fine Cockney twang: "Wot's that gotta do wiv my knob?".

Lansbury: fashion icon

That said, I did have to dip into my stash of Miss Marple dvds by new year (I know there was a new Poirot on but I'm definitely camp Marple!). The thing with watching Miss Marble as my five year old calls her, is it gives me a massive craving for Damson Gin (which we haven't made this year and am not supposed to be drinking anyway due to pregnancy #3).

Thankfully the rubbish tv and weather provided plenty of opportunity for more of my chief occupations: wallowing in baths and writing in notebooks.

This gorgeous notebook was gifted to me by the lovely Molly of Molly and the Princess. She has started covering notebooks with Liberty fabrics as a bit of a sideline and they are beautifully made by her. I will treasure mine and save it for writing only the nicest and bestest things. Thank you Moll!

We did prise ourselves off the sofa a couple of times to walk around in the rain including a wet, windy but wonderful day at Whitby on the last day of the year. We went over to meet up with the lovely Beka from Owls and Pears - one of my favourite bloggers and all round, general ace person. I've got to know Beka over the last year so it was great to finally meet up in person for lunch and have a natter about blogs, freelancing and bubbas. In fact it was a great way to round off a year that has been really memorable for me because of all the great people I've met through my blog and am now chuffed to call friends.

So here's to 2012. Wishing you all the best for a happy and healthy one folks x

P.S. I haven't made any resolutions this year but I made a 'Life List' last year that is still vaguely relevant (I managed some things but definitely not all!). It's here if you fancy a read.

Christmas Rocky Road

2011-12-23T19:04:00.002Z

Okay, forget fudge, forget mince pies (well you don't have to as they are rather nice too) BUT if you ask me, the best homemade sweet treat to make at Christmas is Rocky Road. I'm not talking about the usual, plain old Rocky Road - this one is special. It's had magic dust waved over it by the Fairy Godmother of baking Nigella and it is AMAZING!

So, instead of Rich Tea biscuits you use Amaretti biscuits plus Brazil nuts. You mix dark chocolate in with the milk. Glace cherries become Rudolf noses and the icing sugar is a lovely snow drift. It tastes really luxurious and makes the BEST gift for friends and family EVER (they will love you for it).

Here's how you make it:

250 g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids)

150g milk chocolate

175g soft unsalted butter

4 x tblsp golden syrup

200g amaretti biscuits (the crunchy ones)

150g shelled brazil nuts

150g red glace cherries

125g mini marshmallows

Icing sugar to dust - edible glitter optional

Method:

Break up both kinds of chocolate into pieces and put into a heavy-based pan to melt with the butter and syrup over a gentle heat.
Put the biscuits into a freezer bag and bash them with a rolling pin to get big and little sized crumbs; you want some pieces to crunch and some sandy rubble.
Put the brazil nuts into another freezer bag and also bash them so you get different sized nut rubble.
Take the pan off the heat and add the crushed biscuits and nuts, whole glace cherries and marshmallows. Turn carefully to coat everything with syrupy chocolate.
Tip into a foil tray, smoothing the top as best you can, although it will look bumpy.
Refrigerate until firm enough to cut, which will take 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Then take the set block of rocky road out of the foil tray ready to cut.
Dust the top with icing sugar. You can also add edible glitter to add to that festive kitsch look.
With the long side in front of you, cut it into 6 slices down and 4 across, so that you have 24 pieces.

I've been making batches of this and wrapping them up for friends and family for a few years now and it has firmly become part of my Christmas tradition. Make sure you save some for yourself too - it goes down well with coffee or hot chocolate laced with booze.

What's your favourite treat to make at Christmas time?

Xmas idea #2

2011-12-20T13:04:00.001Z

I'm sure I'm not the only one out there that does this but one of my favourite traditions is using up all the previous year's Christmas cards to make gift tags. First up, if you're a sentimental sausage (and time-waster extraordinaire) like me, you'll relish the opportunity to re-read the cards and messages from friends and family.

Secondly, it's an easy crafty thing to do in front of the telly, saves money and recycles, equalling a quite decent smug factor. But the real bonus is the fact it gives me an excuse to wield a pair of pinking shears! I borrowed a fancy pair from my mum this year but the good old fashioned zig-zaggy type give just as good an effect. The only other bits you'll need are a hole-punch and some nice ribbony stuff.

It's all about the cards you use. Sometimes the really smart, serious, modern cards don't work for me because I like all things retro and kitsch. So when it comes to choosing which cards to chop up, think shmaltz, think cheese, think those cards with hand-painted scenes of snowy cottages, robins and Santa. And if it's topped off with a drizzle of glitter, all the better. These cards do tend to be sent by the older crowd, so I ask my mum to save all of her cards so I get some granny-tastic designs - et voila:

I think these kitsch designs allow for the homemade naffness to shine through and add to the overall charm. Hopefully they complement my bargain candy cane stripe paper quite well too. What do you think?

P.S. I appreciate this isn't such a useful idea if you haven't got some cards saved from last year, but it's one to store up for next Christmas. In the meantime, if you still want to give it a try, look for some cheapy, kitsch cards in a pound shop or similar that you can get chopping. Often you can get several tags from one card so it's still worth the money.

Xmas idea #1

2011-12-20T12:30:00.000Z

I found this little set of old school wooden Christmas decorations in a charity shop the other day for £1.50. There was no way, no how they were not coming home with me. These particular kind of tree ornaments speak to me of Christmases past when I was a kid, the Seventies in all its kitschness and a time when I had a bowl cut and dungarees.

But what to do with them? Our tree is already trimmed with gold and silver ornaments (a collection donated by my mum and added to by me over the years). Likewise, Charlie our 5 year old already has his little tree in his bedroom, with all his homemade stuff on it.

So I decided to make a simple garland to go on a sparse wall in our kitchen. A bit of ribbon and some drawing pins and Bob's your uncle. I love how they are imperfect. The paintwork is a bit chipped and features a little skew-whif in places but if you stand back the overall effect is alright (a bit like me!).

Button wreath giveaway - result

2011-12-14T11:51:00.000Z

There's always room for one more Christmas decoration, especially a handmade one using buttons!!. So who's the lucky winner?

The name drawn from my Mollie Makes style handful was......

Congratulations, I will be in touch for your address details so your prize can be with you in time for Christmas.

Thanks to everyone who took part.

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Three

2011-12-13T12:20:00.000Z

It's funny isn't it? Some people say three's the magic number but then others think three's a crowd.

via

Personally, I think Andy Warhol had it right...

And that's why we're having another baby. Just thought I'd let you know. I'm three months' pregnant, with our third child, and we couldn't be happier.

Candid Camera #4

2011-12-08T16:29:00.001Z

Well November was a bit of a poor show - you know you just don't want to take that many photos when you're feeling poo!? Who'd have thunk it? But apart from feeling yuck I have been mainly doing the following:

Rediscovering the joy that is a toffee apple. Perhaps all fruit should be made this way?

Going to London to see the Queen. Actually just walking around Liberty's in a ravenous slather, wanting to buy everything. Instead I bought these covered buttons and had tea with friends. Wouldn't want to overdo it!

Trying on my new Chie Mihara shoes. They are bee-u-tiful! They feel so comfortable and smell of leather and make me feel like a little fashion elf when I wear them.

Making Christmas lists. Mine includes Cath Kidston slippers, a retro DAB radio, a Liberty print watch and these chocolates by Rococco (they were kind of meant for me non?)

My 5 year old's is as follows (yes, that does say remote controlled lobster!!?)

We have finally put the Christmas decorations up, fuelled by mulled wine in my favourite Christmas mugs,

and made a Christingle candle (the 5 year old's handiwork again)

And now I can sit down, biro at the ready, to indulge one of my fave traditions: circling everything I want to watch in the Radio Times Xmas issue. How nice is the illustration on the front this year? (nerdy I know).

P.S. I've also written another guest post for the Oxfam fashion blog. This time I'm updating second-hand trainers and a cardi, et voila. If you'd like to read the post it's here

Button Christmas wreath giveaway

2011-12-07T11:45:00.003Z

If, like me, you're the sort of person who can never have too many Christmas decorations BUT you like your baubles unique and handmade, then this giveaway is for you.

How would you like to win this adorable little button wreath, which has been hand made by Rosie Scott-Massie. Rosie is a talented designer-maker and tutor who has recently started selling her wares in her new Etsy shop. She specialises in making jewellery from up-cycled pieces including vintage buttons, dominoes, stamps and beads she makes from old maps.

This unique Christmas decoration is made from vintage buttons woven with silver-plated wire and finished with a felt back and white hanging ribbon. It's so pretty, I'd be tempted to leave it hanging up all year round.

To enter this giveaway, please have a shufti at Rosie's shop here and leave a comment to let me know which is your favourite piece and why.

If you'd like an extra entry, then tweet the phrase "I'd like to win a handmade button Xmas wreath with @katgotthecream http://tinyurl.com/cozbuyg"

This giveaway ends at midnight GMT on Tuesday 13th December and is only open to UK residents. A winner will be chosen by random and announced on the blog and the prize will be sent out in time for Christmas!

Good luck!

Finally, a sheepskin coat.

2011-12-05T13:06:00.001Z

As you may remember, I've been on a bit of a mission to find a second-hand sheepskin coat. After a few false starts (including a slightly regrettable decision to leave a lovely vintage one in a Northumbrian charity shop while on holiday), I have found The One!

This is proof positive (if you need it) that if you wait and bide your time, the charity shop gods will eventually answer you. It ticks all my boxes: dark brown, 3/4 length, proper buttons, vintage(y) age but in excellent condition and only £15!!! At the time I bought it, we were having unseasonably mild weather in Harrogate but I decided to wear it rather than carry it as it has that authentic weight of a real sheepskin coat. I must have looked a bit overdressed. Now that the colder weather has arrived (we even had a little flurry of snow this morning) I'm sitting pretty I hope. Now I just need to avoid getting toddler slime on the shoulder and all will be fine.

Buttons that remind me of Minstrels - mmm!

Reassuringly old/vintagey label but no clue as to the actual maker.

It is soooo lovely and warm, I tell ye. So now I'm all set, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Blogging for Laura Ashley

2011-12-05T12:38:00.000Z

Have I mentioned that I rather like the new Laura Ashley blog? It has some lovely, inspirational reads on things to do, make and see as well as fashion and home eye candy. So I was really excited when they asked me to do a guest post. In it, I've chosen an outfit for me and my daughter Flo that will work for the Christmas party season as well as everyday - clever eh? Well, I hope so.

Here's the link if you'd like to read on McDuff. (Watch out though, there is an extreme close-up of me and Flo - yikes!).

Emma Bridgewater stationery giveaway - Result

2011-12-01T14:57:00.000Z

Thanks to everyone who took part in the giveaway. As you know there are two prizes up for grabs!

First up is the recipe organiser and the first name drawn out of the box by the mister was....

Congratulations to Molly & the Princess.

Secondly, the polka dot notebook and the next name drawn was...

Well done Tra Wright Knox!

I will be in touch shortly for your address details and your prizes will be with you soon.

Bad luck to those who missed out but stay tooned for another giveaway launching soon!

How to do Xmas without spending money

2011-11-29T11:03:00.000Z

..well, sort of.

I'm a bit of an ostrich when it comes to Christmas. I contradict all the good advice and rather than squirelling money away into a Christmas fund and spreading the cost, I usually leave it to the last minute and panic buy. Mind you, it's still not too late to start putting a bit away into a savings fund to offset the cost and see us through January (the bleakest, skintest month of the year for most).

But there's a couple of other ideas I've had, which should hopefully help too. Key to this cunning plan is the use of plastic! I don't mean the credit card but those other plastic cards you might have in your purse. The biggie for me is my Boots Advantage card. I don't know how I manage to rack up so many points on this (it has nothing to do with buying Batiste or baby wipes in bulk I'm sure). Between myself and the mister we have about £50 of points to redeem (yes he has one too - I made him get one when I realised all the meal deals and shaving stuff he buys in his lunch hour meant we were missing out on muchos points).

So, unashamedly, I intend to buy some Christmas presents using these points especially as I can get toys for my nieces and nephews plus toiletries and electricals for older members of the family too.

The other bit of plastic you might have languishing in your wallet is a gift card, perhaps for a store where you haven't immediately been able to find something to buy for yourself (ie anywhere but Topshop). You could simply re-gift the gift card (now’t wrong with that) or, even better, make it stretch further and buy several presents for others. The money you've freed up could be used elsewhere on essentials you can't easily make yourself. For example, I was given an M&S giftcard for my birthday but I don’t really need any new clothes or stuff so have decided to spend it on a turkey from the food hall, which we can all enjoy come Christmas day.

Use whatever discount you have at your disposal from an NUS card to a staff discount. It's all about getting the most for your money so look out for BOGOF or 3 for 2 deals in bookshops or supermarkets.

If you think this sounds a tad impersonal then never fear as I will also be making as many gifts as possible such as homemade toiletries like this or a handmade dress for my niece like this plus treats such as chutney and fudge for neighbours and friends.

P.S. I also keep my out for new or special items in the charity shop if I think they are the perfect present for someone. There's nothing wrong with giving second-hand items as a gift as long as you know the recipient well, choose wisely and ensure the item is 'BNWT' or excellent condition / ‘vintage’.

Have you got any other tips for spreading the cost of Christmas?

This is a sponsored post.

Born to...thrift?

2011-11-25T14:40:00.000Z

Do you like my t-shirt? I ordered it from Save the Children a little while ago and thought I'd share it as it occurred to me it could make a nice, charitable Christmas gift idea for some of you. (By the way, please ignore how rough I look in the photos, I'm not well and besides it's not about me it's about charidee, right?).

You might have heard about Save the Children's Born to...campaign, which continues to raise awareness of the plight of children across the world with the very pertinent message that no child, whatever their circumstances, should be born to die. One of the charity's fundraising products is their Born to.. t-shirt, which allows you to create a personalised top, that declares your passion, whatever it may be.

I love quirky and personal t-shirts and have a collection from the last 15 years. I wear them for sleeping and slobbing in and occasionally when I go to the gym. So the idea of a personalised tee that also donates money to charity really appealed to me. And I love that your t-shirt really can be as individual as you are. I decided to go for the phrase Born to Thrift because my love of charity shopping really does date back as long as I've had money of my own to spend and it seemed appropriate.

What would you have written on yours? Can you think of a phrase that would be good for one of your family or friends? Why not treat them to one as a jokey present that will make them smile as well as give you an extra warm and fuzzy feeling this Christmas?

Here are some of my suggestions:

Born to...

shop, dance, talk, craft, drink, game, run, bake, chat, laugh, love, sing, gossip, knit, eat, sew, moan, blog, scoff, crochet, loaf...erm I could probably go on but you get the idea.

If you fancy ordering one, you can do so here

This is NOT a sponsored post, Save the Children did not ask me to write it and I did, of course, buy my t-shirt myself.

Emma Bridgewater stationery giveaway

2011-11-23T11:36:00.001Z

Now I'm starting to get into the swing of Christmas I think it's about time for a giveaway. This one comes courtesy of WH Smiths, which as you know, is always pretty handy when it comes to stationery and what not.

I could buy stationery any time of the year (you can never have too many notebooks) but at Christmas time I think it's an easy win when it comes to finding pretty but practical presents for friends and relatives. So how do you fancy winning one of these lovely pieces from the Emma Bridgewater stationery range?

No, I didn't realise the lovely teapot designer had started doing stationery either but I think her unmistakeable heart and polka dot motifs translate perfectly, so if you love hearts or are dotty about spots (see what I did there?), then this is for you.

There are two prizes up for grabs. First is the heart motif recipe organiser, which is a really cute but useful addition to the kitchen especially for cooks who like things organised.

Second, is the classic polka dot print notebook, which is blank so it can be used as a diary, scrapbook or (if you're like me) just for scribbling down 'to do' lists and general nonsense.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply follow my blog and leave a comment with a means of contact. For an extra entry, tweet the phrase: "I've entered the Emma Bridgewater stationery giveaway @katgotthecream - so can you: http://tinyurl.com/cd8wqmf "

I will draw a first and second prize-winning name out of a hat at random and announce on the blog.

The giveaway is only open to UK residents and will close at midnight on Wednesday 30th November.

Good luck!

P.S. I was not paid to write this post, however WH Smiths did provide the products for review and giveaway.

Bah humbug!

2011-11-22T14:44:00.000Z

I haven't really been feeling Christmas yet this year. I'm always fairly late with the ho ho hos, mainly because I don't believe in peaking too early but this year I've found it hard to contemplate the big day so far. However I'm getting there.

There are certain things that mean Christmas to different people. For some it's those festive red cups from Starbucks or the John Lewis ad but for me it's when the coloured tree lights on the Harrogate Stray get switched on. This tree-lined expanse of common land is one of my home town's landmarks and each tree has a different set of lights, all one colour. At night they look beautiful; blue, pink, yellow, green, purple, red like individual Quality Street sweets. They're not brash or flashy but quite simple and every time I see them they make me smile.

The other milestone for me is my first mince pie of the season. Again, I can't rush into this too early or come the big day I'm sick of the sight of them. I had hoped to indulge in one from somewhere special like Betty's but in the end it was a hastily scoffed Mr Kipling by my mum and dad's fireside (and it still tasted blummin' lovely).

Yesterday I even started buying Christmas stuff so I think I'm finally out of the traps. That said, I'm still feeling a bit poorly so my judgement may not be sound. I picked up a couple of presents for the mister in TK Maxx and while there I felt the overwhelming urge to buy this fella:

I do so love the Nutcracker and this kinda spoke to me. I only buy one or two new decorations each year and they're usually of the trad wooden/glass variety. I've named him Klaus and he's staying! Like I said to the mister, at least I'm getting Christmassy - don't knock it! I think he'll look great in our hallway, ready to greet any well wishers come Christmas day (or alternatively scare the kids away).

I also got talked into this humungous roll of Xmas wrap for the bargain price of £3. Yes I know it's hardly hand-woven from recycled Scots pine trees (fear not I will be doing some specially wrapped gifts for friends) but this will definitely do the job for us and the kids. I kind of like its crazy candy cane stripe and there will be a nice retro look going on under the tree I hope.

And speaking of retro, I can't wait for December 1st just so my son can open the first door on this lovely advent calender my mum bought for him. It's so old-school and just like the ones I had as a kid (is there a little factory outside Heidelberg that just keeps churning them out?- I'd like to think so). And no, there isn't any sickly brown stuff behind it. But the kids are allowed gold coins - that's the tradition!

I am hoping to get my craft on a bit this Christmas and leafing through this festive issue of Mollie Makes has certainly helped get my creative juices flowing.

I'm thinking lavender-filled birdies and button-shaped hearts would make nice stocking fillers?

Of course it won't really be Christmas until I've sung a carol or two but I'll have to wait until Christmas Eve.

Are you all feeling Christmas yet? What usually gets you in the festive spirit?

P.S. Just to prove I'm not a complete Scrooge, I've got a couple of great giveaways lined up so come back soon!

Lovely Laura

2011-11-16T06:30:00.001Z

Firstly, sorry for the slight lapse in blogging lately. It's all been a bit topsy turvy here (in a good way) and I've also been out and about in that there London for a couple of days. I had a great time, looking at Christmas lights and windows, drinking tea with a couple of lovely bloggers and I also dropped into the Laura Ashley SS12 press event.

I've been feeling quite under the weather of late so, bizarre though it may be, looking at fresh, pretty, summery things was a good antidote to my winter fug. Of course I'll have to wait a while until I'm able to sit on a picnic blanket in a cute summer dress, sipping homemade lemonade but once the excitement of Christmas is long gone, that's what will be sustaining me through Jan/Feb.

Here are my favourite picks from the Home and Fashion ranges (is it too early to say roll on Spring?).

This dress could almost pass for vintage...?

Great hat:

Cute cherries:

Cool alternative to jeans?

How I'd do nautical, with a denim jacket and Converse.

The perfect white dress...(maybe minus the necklace).

Basket weave bags.

But my heart really belongs to these: archive print buckle and saddle bags.

I'm a sucker for a nice bobbly cardi:

Dragonfly scarf (love the polka dots)

On the home front there were lots of beautiful room sets but my favourite was the Darling Buds range, which has a lovely floral, almost chintzy feel to it.

Like I said, roll on picnic weather so I could use this beautiful pitcher and glasses (looks totally vintage no?)

And how kitsch are these tulip candles???

Meanwhile, if you like more graphic prints (Orla Kiehly stylee) then you'll probably love the Off the Wall range:

I also liked the Glasshouse range, with its muted colour palette and THESE gorgeous notebooks:

And finally, please, please, please can I have this fabulous lamp:

P.S. Have you checked out the newly launched Laura Ashley blog yet? It's properly nice with inspirational features - I particularly like the Go See and Make & Do sections. Go have a read!

Blogging for Oxfam

2011-11-09T13:33:00.000Z

A little while ago you might have seen me tweeting about being chosen to be one of the new fashion bloggers for the Oxfam fashion blog. As you know, I do like my thrifted outfits, so I'm really chuffed to be able to ~~wang on about it all~~ share my enthusiasm with even more people and hopefully inspire one or two of them to shop in Oxfam. My first post is all about whether you can really buy your clothes from a charity shop and be 'on-trend' and I've included my favourite pieces currently available from the Oxfam shop. So please take a look and let me know what you think. You can read the post here

On my radar

2011-11-08T11:45:00.000Z

Last month I was hankering after sheepskin coats and cable knit cardis, wooden bureaus and magazine racks. Well, let me tell you, I've tried on about five sheepskin coats in different charity shops. A bit like Goldilocks' porridge, some were too big, some were the wrong colour, some had scary permed sheep hair style collars (yuck) and then one that was just right but I was too tight to pay £20 for it. Not sure if that was the right decision...what do you think, is £20 a fair price for a mid-length sheepskin coat?

Anyway, luckily I'm a fickle flippity gibbet (or is it flibbertigibbet?) and have moved on to pastures new. This is currently what I'm keeping my eye out for.

I'd quite happily take everything in this photo including the honey coloured skin and watering can but actually it's the desert boots I'm really interested in. I've been after a pair for a while and then I saw them beautifully modelled on the lovely Junkaholique blog and I was smitten. I've spied a likely pair on the White Stuff website too so I might bide my time and see if they're in the sale one day.

Similarly, I didn't realise quite how much my life was incomplete until I saw this old school waste paper basket on A Thrifty Mrs blog. There is currently no bin in my office/sewing room/junk place so I'm forever carrying handfuls of paper, rubbish, loose threads and scraps of fabric about until I can dispose of them properly (hardly a major deal on the scale of world problems I know but...). Anyway, a bin like this would be just the ticket.

Thanks to the weekly deluge of emails I still receive from Johnny Boden (must have a big unsubscribe session), I couldn't help noticing that they're making a big hoo-har about some tweedy jacket they've launched in loads of different colours.

I admit it's quite nice but I reckon I could find one just as good in a charity shop if I looked hard enough - they are usually heaving with tweedy/checked/tartany stuff aren't they?

Finally, I haven't worn a watch for over ten years now. Not sure why really. I lost my last really good one on a beach in Kos and that was that. Although I get by checking the TV/PC/phone, it has occurred to me that I would quite like one now, especially if I could happen upon one as ace as this, which Emily from EmilyDivine.com found in a charity shop. I love it!

What's on your wish list this month? What are you scouring the high street / charity shops / car boots for?

Keep your eyes peeled bargain hunters and good luck!

The best book shop in the world (probably)

2011-11-06T10:33:00.000Z

Whenever we go to Northumberland, as we did last weekend, one of the 'must do' places, always on my list when I visit this part of the country is Barter Books.

This place is simply wonderful. Situated in an old Victorian railway in Alnwick, this second hand book shop is full of rare and unusual books and the setting is fab. It's a great place to visit on a cold or wet day especially as the original coal fires are burning and you can cosy up for as long as you want with a hot drink and a good book. You can also sit down for a light meal in the Station Buffet, which is the old converted waiting room from bygone years.

I just like to wander round, reading all the old literary quotes dotted around the place and looking at the beautiful and sometimes hilarious books. There's even a children's section, with toys and rides to keep them entertained. So if you're ever up in that neck of the woods and you're fond of books, I highly recommend it. Here's a 'few' pix - sorry, I got a bit snap happy!!!

I feel sorry for the dog, he's clearly not in the 'circle of truth'

Hmmm wise words???

Sugar and spice and all things nice

2011-11-03T17:10:00.000Z

It was my birthday at the weekend and I thought I'd share a few of my treats. We headed up to Bamburgh in Northumberland to a cosy cottage near the sea. It was just what I needed - lots of windswept walks by the coast and excuses to drink hot chocolate and eat cake. You already know about the cardigan my mum made for me (please see previous post) but here's a peek at some other stuff that made turning a year old a little bit sweeter.

Lovely parcels tied up with string (thanks Lisa x)

Cafe hopping (do you like the crocheted scarf? - my sister made it for me)

Real fires

My favourite perfume (thanks to the mister x)

A cute little birdie for the wall

The best castle in the world. The end.

A french-style apricot tart instead of birthday cake (ooh-lala)

Hugs...

...and kisses.

Gingery treats (mmm love ginger!)

To be beside the seaside...

Rose and Violet creams - my favourite and my best

A steam rain ride

Local honey comb - divine!

Happy birthday to me (and thanks to everyone who made it so lovely).

A hand-knitted cardigan

2011-11-01T12:05:00.001Z

Those who follow me on twitter may recall me going on about buying some wool a while back, in the hope I could persuade my mum to knit me a cute Arran style cardi. I've seen some lovely ones round and about the high street including this one by Brora (but sadly I don't have a spare £339!).

So I chose some wool from my local shop (Sirdar Supersoft Arran in Camouflage if you're interested) and asked my mum if we could have a look through her stash of patterns. In the end we settled on a really retro one from the seventies, which she scaled up in size. Apparently the first time she knitted this for me I was about four years old and she did matching ones for me and my sister!

Anyway, what do you think? Do I look like a 70s throwback (I hope so!)

Outfit: cardi : handmade; top: Primark; skirt: St. Michael via charity shop; tights: M&S; loafers: Aerogreen via charity shop.

I spent £20 on the wool (the wooden toggles were also from my mum's stash) but I think the value of having a handmade garment is priceless. My mum knitted super fast to have it ready in time to take away for my birthday weekend (more on that in a later post). And, an added bonus was this matching bobble hat and mittens, which she knitted to finish off the remaining wool.

How cute are they? (although I am aware I do resemble a knitting pattern cover when I wear them all together). I wish, wish, wish I could knit like my mum but I'm more into my sewing machine (maybe I just don't like counting) and when you've got a knitter in the family, you kind of leave it to them. Needless to say I will treasure it for ever.

P.S. I can't go without bragging about the loafers pictured above. I found them in Oxfam in Alnwick, Northumberland while we were away. Brand new, unworn, perfect condition suede loafers and they fit like a glove: £6.99!

Candid Camera #3

2011-10-28T09:00:00.001+01:00

So October went a little bit like this...

Buying more bird plates (but can you blame me at £2 a pop?)

Dreaming of a camper van...

Also dreaming of new shoes (Jigsaw)

Stealing my son's tank top...

Admiring lampshades in Joules

Surviving half term..

Can't beat a bit of Charlie & Lola...

Knitted dinosaurs (made by my mum of course)

More dinosaur fun

This:

Going on a trip to Hebden Bridge (I knew I was nearly there when I saw ramblers)

Finding a vintage dress in Oxfam, Hebbers

Halloween treats in Betty's window

The biggest pumpkin in the whole world...

That's all folks, 'til next month.

Why don't you...?

2011-10-27T12:29:00.001+01:00

Run out of ideas to entertain the kids/cousins/brothers/sisters/any other little person who is inexplicably in your care???

Here's a quick make, which I did with my five year old Charlie over half term (shamelessly cribbed from Beebies' finest craftster Mister Maker).

How to make a quick, easy, cheap Firefly:

You will need:

1) An empty plastic bottle (cleaned and dried). A coloured one works best, preferably green (ie Sprite cough, cough) as it looks more insect-like.

2) Some string

3) sticky tape

4) Black or white card

5) Pens/pencils/chalk to decorate

6) A glow-stick (I found a pack of 15 for 99p in The Works)

Here's what to do:

Cut a length of string, about an arm's length is fine. Carefully make a small hole in the middle of the bottle using a skewer or scissors (best to get a grown-up to help you with this bit). Pass the string through the hole and out through the bottle neck, tie a good knot in the end and then pull back through.

Next, cut some wing shapes and eyes out of your card, drawing on any detail you wish, and fix them to the bottle with sticky tape where the string is attached (ie on the firefly's back).

Then all you have to do is take a glow stick (crack it so it releases its florescent liquid) and pop it inside the bottle, replacing the bottle top. The firefly will glow in dim light / the dark and makes a great night light too.

Ta-daaa!

Baby's got a brand new dress

2011-10-25T10:13:00.000+01:00

Every time I make a new dress for my daughter Florence, I feel like a kid myself who has made something at school and proudly rushes home to show it off to everyone. Admittedly it is a foolproof pattern and every time I make it there is slightly less gnashing of teeth and swearing, which means I must be getting slightly better and quicker.

I learned how to make this dress at a workshop given by Manda McGrory of Treefall Design. The simple, peasant style with drawstring neckline is easy to make and comfy to wear, with loads of room for growth, so a dress can eventually be worn as a top when the child grows.

Slowly but surely I'm beginning to 'get' my sewing machine (or maybe it's starting to understand me). I love the feeling of satisfaction when I'm sewing a seam (relatively) straight. If Flo's around when I'm sewing she starts to dance to the sound of the machine's rat a tat tat. I know it all sounds very Maria von Trapp but trust me I don't think I will be running up a set of dear little outfits from an old curtain any time soon.

Actually it's choosing the print that really gets me going. I've started to appreciate what all the fabric addicts are on about, when you see something in a shop and envisage it as a garment - it's wonderful to see it come to life. In fact I think that's what gets you through the blood, sweat and tears of sewing.

This is the fifth piece I've made for Flo, and I think my favourite, as the colours really suit her and the fabric just makes me smile when I look at it. One day I might graduate onto something more complicated but for now this is one of my proudest achievements this year.

Look, look everyone, look what I made!!!!

The right trousers

2011-10-24T11:35:00.000+01:00

A pair of nice, black, slouchy trousers has been on my wish list for some time now. You know the sort of mannish trousers that Katherine Hepburn used to rock oh so well? In particular, I wanted them to be warm, comfy and with a vintage style so preferably with a high waist and tapering gently to the ankle. And if they were made from wool rather than polyester, that too would be a bonus. Given this list of requirements it's not surprising I haven't found a pair on the high street or in the charity shops.

But, if in doubt, ask a woman who knows! So I tweeted the lovely second-hand style maven Victoria from The Owl & The Accordian, who I remember wears such trousers very well. I asked her if she had come across any in her recent charity shop trawls that she might be selling in her eBay shop. Back came the reply everyone likes to hear: "No but you can have my vintage Escada ones if you like?" So after agreeing on a fee, and with the help of magical PayPal, I had just the right trousers. Ta daaa!

Outfit: blouse: Topshop; vest: M&S; trousers: Escada via friend via charity shop; shoes: M&S.

P.S. Am starting to think this may be the way forward: rather than spending hours perusing eBay, just harangue your friends instead and get into the habit of outfit sharing. Alex from Odd Socks and Pretty Frocks mentioned this idea recently, whereby you and a friend can go halves on the cost and share the spoils - everyone's a winner!

Figgy pudding

2011-10-23T14:32:00.002+01:00

Let's get one thing clear: I'm not the greatest cook, though I do love eating and making stuff. My efforts in the kitchen are often functional and fuel-providing rather than alchemic, gastronomical feats.

That said, I do love a recipe that is quick, easy and requires minimal skill. And if it gives impressive results that belie its simplicity, even better! On the off-chance I come across such a recipe I do feel the need to share it (for all the equally lazy cooks out there, like me).

I made this on Saturday night as a quick but delicious pud. The only skill required is the ability to chop/grate fruit - my kind of cooking! But trust me when I say it tastes ambrosial and therefore impressive enough even for a dinner party dessert. Oh and it has honey in it (king of foods) so there's no more to say really.

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C / gas mark 6 Butter a medium ovenproof dish and place the figs, cut lengthways, in it. Place a dot of butter in the middle of each fig half, then scatter with the sugar.

2. In a small bowl, mix the honey, orange juice and half the orange zest, then drizzle over the figs. Place the figs in the oven and bake them for 15 minutes until sticky and soft.

3. Meanwhile, in a bowl, lightly whip the cream (you can add a teaspoon of vanilla extract if you wish) then sprinkle with the remaining orange zest.

4. Divide the figs and syrup among serving bowls and serve while warm with a generous dollop of cream. Decorate with toasted flaked almonds if you wish.

Social butterfly

2011-10-21T14:15:00.000+01:00

Autumn is normally the time I begin to go into hibernation mode. This means I partake in more hot baths, blanketry, generally being in my pyjamas and cosy socks by 8pm and snuggling down on the sofa to watch non-taxing TV presenters like Kirstie Allsopp and Sarah Beeney.

My plans DO NOT normally include rushing to get the kids ready for bed, bolting my tea, putting lipstick on and getting back in the car once it's dark outside and usually blowing a hooly. But I recently signed myself up to a few social commitments that will mean just that.

Firstly, my sister has introduced me to the Alpha course, where I hope to explore how I feel about Christianity and discuss the whole meaning of life thing. Sounds heavy I know but three weeks into the ten week course and I'm really enjoying it. Every session starts with a hearty meal cooked by volunteers (last week sausage casserole followed by apple crumble and ice cream - 'nuff said) so the food is worth going for alone! Okay I'm kidding but it's very relaxed and I'm having some good chats with people and I feel like I'm actually THINKING about stuff rather than letting it all wash over me.

Secondly, I've been in such a reading drought of late that I decided I needed some real impetus so me and a couple of friends finally put our thoughts into action and formed a book club. Having heard horror stories of other rather serious local groups (one in particular where you go along for a first meet and the other members then get to choose whether you're allowed in!!!) we felt it was time we just got on with our own. So we spread the word, gathered together one night to discuss the details ie agree on our first book, plus a time we were all available to meet each month and then ate, drank and nattered - easy peasy! I know about a quarter of the members already, the rest are all new faces, which is important I think. Our first book is The Help by Kathryn Stockett, which I'm enjoying so far and what's more I now have a deadline, which will force me to find time to read and finish it soon.

Thirdly, I am planning to join the newly-established Women's Institute in Harrogate. About a year ago I wondered about forming a local WI (inspired by the ace Buns & Roses Leeds WI) but with a young baby and a lack of drive (I am quite lazy y'know) I never got round to it. Thankfully someone else has had the gumption and I can now just go along. Hopefully noone will be giving a talk on their tea towel collection (although I wonder if anyone's interested in seeing my burgeoning bird plate collection...;-)

All of these capers are forcing me out during the weekday evenings to spend time with friends, make new ones and hopefully expand my grey matter a bit. And surely that's got to be better than watching re-runs of Grand Designs and raiding the kids' sweetie jar (hmmm, tempting as that thought still is). But most of these pursuits only require a once a month commitment so I'm hardly signing my life away.

Do you feel the need to extract yourself from the sofa / remote and go out and do something more interesting instead (Why Don't You? stylee)? Well here are a few more suggestions:

- Find or start a craft club. Settle on a venue (social club/pub/church hall) that will let you use its premises for a couple of hours and then spread the word to anyone who fancies a sociable crafting get-together.

- Hold a swishing party and invite friends to bring say ten items of unwanted clothing to swap. Missie Lizzie has details of a nationwide initiative called The Big Clothes Swap you can take part in, over on her blog

- Find a local pub quiz and invite your friends to make up a team. You could make it a regular event so you're exercising your elbow as well as your brain.

- Form a supper club with your friends, where each month you meet at someone's house and you each bring a dish of your choice; less hassle/cost for everyone and you get to try different foods while you catch up.

Anybody got any other ideas on how to crowbar yourself off the sofa this winter?

A cunning necklace

2011-10-20T21:19:00.000+01:00

Regular readers of this blog may be aware that I've gone a bit doolally for beads recently. I am also not immune to the charms of a nice Peter Pan collar although I would normally expect to find it on a dress. So when handmade jewellery label Stall 21 tweeted about a new necklace design they had come up (inspired by said collar trend), I had to take a peek.

How simply genius is this?

I love the shape and its prim prettiness but the black haematite beads ensure it's kind of girlie but with an edge. I love the idea of wearing it over the top of any item to give the outline or 'ghost' of a collar and while it looks great with a dress I also think it would look fab worn over a simple white t-shirt with some black trousers or jeans.

This necklace is definitely on my birthday list but there are many more lovely things on the Stall 21 website, so if you like your jewellery with a feminine edge, go take a look. And, if you're tempted, there's a delicious discount for all readers of this blog. Enter KATGOTTHECREAM at the checkout to get 17% off plus free shipping on everything in the shop.

www.stall21.com

P.S. I wasn't paid a bean to write this, I just really liked that necklace and thought you might too!

A thrifting trip to Hebden Bridge

2011-10-19T20:01:00.000+01:00

I had a lovely day in Hebden Bridge on Tuesday, made so by the fact that I met up with the really rather wonderful Lisa from Mathilde heart Manech for a spot of tea, scoff, goss and, of course, some charity shopping!

It was a bit nippy and drizzly so I dressed for the occasion by layering up with my thermal vest, woolly dress, knitted waistcoat and new wrist warmers (phew, taking no chances!)

I also took a hat (essential for any day trip on a blustery day) and a waterproof shopper filled with other travelling essentials (and just in case I happened to snag a few bargains too).

Outfit: dress: Primark; waistcoat: vintage via charity shop; wrist-warmers: White Stuff; tights: M&S; hat: Kangol via car boot sale; bag: Past Times.

I love Hebden Bridge. For anyone not familiar, it's a beautiful old market town in West Yorkshire with a textiles history and nowadays it is home to a thriving creative community and also has the most concentrated number of independent retailers for its size in the UK. Oh and it has one or two good charity shops too!

Having missed breakfast, Lisa took me straight to a cafe for coffee, croissants and a catch up. It was great to sit in two big comfy bottle green Chesterton chairs while the rain poured down outside and we had an overdue natter.

I also loved how this cafe used treacle tins for sugar bowls...

Obligatory bit of cake porn...

Though the weather gods weren't really smiling on us, the charity shop ones were as we both picked up some interesting things. I'm sure Lisa will be sharing her bargains soon over on her blog (including an amazing mustard velour cushion), but here's what I managed to find.

A vintage, paisley shirt dress (it looks better on as Lisa assured me), some wooden beads, two of the smallest bird plates in the world (who'dda thunk they came this small?) and some knitted mittens (stocking fillers for my niece/daughter).

The mittens came in lots of designs and were only a £1 a pair. I thought these weather themed ones were so cute and rather apt for a lovely day shower-dodging and cafe-hopping with a friend. To be honest, rain could never spoil a day like this and when I was on my train home (which seemed to come around all too soon) I spotted this rainbow through my raindrop-stained window, which summed up exactly how I felt.

Thanks for a great day Lisa xx

Wearing shorts (in your thirties)

2011-10-18T06:00:00.021+01:00

I have a birthday looming. At the end of the month I will be 36 (though clearly I still feel about twenty something in my head). Until I recently started doing outfit posts on this blog, I hadn't really thought too much about how I look. Well, I mean of course I look in the mirror and hope to look nice but I'd never really thought about how others perceive me. And I also realised I wear shorts quite a lot. Which made me start to wonder, for the first time in my life, if I am dressing too young for my age.

At what age is it wrong to wear shorts, even with tights (which I always do, by the by)?

If it's okay now, will it still be okay when I hit 40 or even 50? What is the definition of 'mutton dressed as lamb' as isn't the whole problem that you don't realise you are? I'd like to think it's all about confidence and that feeling good equals looking good but is this strictly true (really)? I hope my shorts-wearing days won't be behind me soon but maybe one day I'll have to hang them up (not while I have my strength!!)

What do you think?

Outfit: shirt: Gap via charity shop; top: Matalan; shorts: George at Asda via charity shop; tights: Bhs; shoes: vintage.

Finders Keepers: I heart Pyrex

2011-10-17T06:30:00.005+01:00

You know when you see something at a car boot/charity shop/jumble and it immediately gives you a jolt from the past. Sometimes you don't even know exactly why but you know that it is something from the fabric of your youth, deeply ingrained in your childhood pysche.

Well my mum had a set of Pyrex dishes just like this one.

I've been trying to be firm with myself recently and only buy stuff that definitely answers yes to the questions "Do you really like it?", "Is it very special?", "Is it a real bargain?" and "Will you actually use it?". This dish was a big fat affirmative to all of those so I had to have it.

In fact it was so familiar to me yet I realised I didn't really know anything about it. So I decided to find out a bit more. Here comes the history bit. Apparently a company called J A Jobling produced these patterned Pyrex casserole dishes in the 1960s and they represented a departure from the clear cookware the company had previously made. The pattern illustrated, comprising different vegetables, was known as 'Harvest'.

More importantly, this dish has brought back memories of the meals my mum used to cook for us as a family such as hearty stews with dumplings and comforting fish or shepherd's pie. I can see her now, using a fork to make a swirly pattern in the mashed potato topping and when it came out of the oven, the pattern was pronounced in browned, crispy mash. I'd like to think my kids will find that lovely design of vegetables as interesting as I did.

And the cost of this lovely dish?

...but the memories it has revived are priceless.

What pieces of bric-a-brac bring back memories of your childhood?

Linking up to Magpie Monday here

On my radar

2011-10-14T13:59:00.000+01:00

How do you keep track of your wishes, wants, desires and needs? It could be as practical as writing down a Christmas shopping list or chalking up essentials on your kitchen blackboard. A lot of us now use the magic of Pinterest to form a scrapbook of our must-haves or mood boards to keep our pipedreams afloat. And of course, well, blogs. They are an endless source of inspiration to me and most of you I reckon.

So rather than stumbling haphazardly around the shops or getting rather waylaid on the interweb, I've decided to start my own little clipboard of ideas right here. And it shall be named: On my Radar!

I hope both you and I find it useful in some way. This is what I'm currently 'keeping my eye out' for:

Some wrist warmers! My hands get really cold, even at home when I'm working, so a pair of these will keep me warm and allow me to type. While we're at it, I like this mannish trousers and short-sleeved top combo. Repeat after me: layering, layering, layering.

I have stacks of magazines everywhere; by my bed, in the office, beside the bath so I'm after pretty, old-style magazine racks but not at a vintage price. I'm keeping a look out for old wooden ones in the charity shop that I could paint and do up cheaply.

When I saw this sheepskin coat in the Cath Kidston brochure my heart skipped a beat: stylish and warm and how many have I seen going chirpy cheap at the charity shop over the years? So I'm now scanning the rails for a nice one (that's not at the jaw-dropping retail price of £500 ahem!)

I love cable knits and Arran style jumpers, both for me and the kids. You can get some half decent ones on the high street but instead I decided to buy some lovely olive green wool and asked my mum to knit me one. Can't wait to see the result!

We have a space in our lounge that is just right for an old wooden bureau which could double as a desk for the laptop and storage for other bits and bobs. When I find one, I might even paint it like this one I saw recently.

What's on your radar right now?

Maxi skirt challenge

2011-10-11T13:44:00.000+01:00

I don't really do long skirts apart from on my wedding day. But I'm starting to think they may have their uses; warmth in winter, no need to shave your legs in summer. I'm alllll about convenience and comfort, me. That said, when I found this Laura Ashley skirt in the charity shop it still took a leap of faith; they just seem so shapeless and toga-like. But I did like the print, sort of a cross between Liberty and Cath Kidston I thought.

They're also a bit difficult to wear; heels look too formal and odd for starters. That's good though as I am all about flats too, so I teamed it with my faithful old Converse.

Outfit: Denim jacket: Diesel; grey thermal vest: Sainsbury's; jumper: F&F via charity shop; skirt: Laura Ashley via Charity shop; shoes: Converse.

Oh and don't try running up stairs (as if you would) or carrying anything downstairs, you're bound to trip. Which makes me wonder (not for the first time) how Victorian women didn't go bonkers wearing this kind of stuff.

On that note, the other use for maxi skirts is perhaps as a dressing up prop. Grab a prim blouse and a corset and you could wander around the house when noone's in, pretending to be Lady Mary from Downton Abbey, calling "Carson, Carson where are you? I have letters to post."*

*It's the little things that get me through these long, winter days.

Public service announcement

2011-10-11T13:04:00.000+01:00

Are these lovely cotton knickers from Joules? No, though I too thought that the fabric was quite Joule-esque.

Are they from Brora and priced at the same amount as a weekly supermarket shop? Noooooo, though they are just as pretty, I wager!

Are they from some fancy range by a supermodel turned designer? Bugger off!

Are they 'eckers like.

They're from Matalan! Oh and there's only a 3 for £6 deal on too. That's £2 per pair my friends. You probably couldn't get them that cheap in a charity shop (except that we never, ever buy underwear from there do we? - yuck).

Over and out x

Liberty book of home sewing giveaway: Result!

2011-10-10T14:21:00.000+01:00

Which one of you Liberty lovers is going to get your mitts on this fab book then?

As per usual, all the entries (that complied with my instructions) were written down and went into a receptacle of my choice - this time the vintage cigarette tin, et voila!

Give it a little shake about...

Open it up and blindly scrabble about for a bit...

...until I picked out....

Missie Lizzie!! Congrats to you my dear, the book will be with you soon.

Thanks again to all who entered and took the time to share your favourite Liberty prints and memories, they made for really lovely reading!

Decisions, decisions

2011-10-10T13:24:00.001+01:00

I know I am calling down a deluge of shoe envy upon my head with this post, and really I am almost embarrassed by how jammy I have been of late BUT I only went and won a blog comp yesterday (thanks again to South Molton St Style blog) and the prize was my choice of a pair of shoes from the autumn/winter 11/12 collection of Chie Mihara.

*Slight pause while I shrug apologetically*

I have already had some tempting offers from twitter friends to donate the shoes to them in order to quell this embarrassment (so thoughtful of them) and one interesting proposition that we 'timeshare' the shoes.

There are so many amazing shoes in this collection, I am really and truly spoiled for choice. I mean these are beautifully crafted shoes, though a bit beyond my price range, and I have to make the right decision. Oh the pressure, the agony of choice, how will I bear it? *ducks*

To be fair, I have been an admirer of this Spanish footwear label but the only pair I have ever owned (I kid you not) was a pair of white leather ballet pumps that I predictably found in the Oxfam off the King's Road in London. Yes, only in such a postcode could one find a pair of new designer shoes going for a song.

Anyway, I have narrowed the choice down to these beauties (believe me that was hard) and now I have to make a decision. I need them to be wearable as well as fabulous. That said, this is a rare opportunity to have a pair of wonderful and slightly bonkers shoes - you see my dilemma?

Please help: which ones do you think would suit me best?