Crochet crazy and frugal crafting

Good Morning Lovely Readers


Whilst I have been busy sorting frugal menus and cooking, I haven't neglected my crafting. I have finished my first scarf (took me 5 days) and I am thrilled with it - really thrilled - I am going to have to go for a walk in the snow today just so that I can wear it. It is crocheted using the 100% wool I told you about that was on offer in Lidl a while ago. It cost me £1 per ball and the scarf took 5 x 50gram balls, so the total cost was £5. The pattern is from Cute and Easy Crochet by Nicki Trench (same as the cushion and the cafetiere warmer). There are so many lovely patterns in her book. Please do tell me what you think..... I only learnt to crochet about a month ago and this scarf has double treble stitch (UK) in it, so now I have mastered that. The pattern calls for 7 x 50gram balls, but it was plenty long enough after 5, so I stopped. So, here is my very own ta da moment......

Cuddling with awesome cushion

Ready to go

In detail

So come on all you awesome crocheters, tell me how I'm doing

And now for a very different craft.

Take one T-Shirt costing £1.29 from Approved Foods (I swear they don't give me commission).

Cat to watch proceedings not essential.

Go to This Mama Makes blog and find pattern for turning T-Shirt into new-born gown.

http://thismamamakesstuff.com/

Tutorial here:

http://thismamamakesstuff.com/2008/08/tutorial-t-shirt-to-newborn-gown/

And then start sewing...... 

This Mama Makes Stuff gives you the 

pattern as a pdf file which can be 

printed off easily.

This is my first go, and I am not over happy with the neckline, but This Mama Makes Stuff

says this is the most difficult bit .. so I'll keep practising it.

Don't you just love the fact that the song lyrics are on the back?

I still need to thread elastic through the bottom to finish the gown. This  garment is so quick and easy to make and so cheap too. I have already stashed all the boys old T-Shirts away ready to be adapted. 

The only alteration I made was to sew all the seams wrong side first and then the right side, so that there are no open seams on the inside of the garment to rub against baby's skin. The other lovely thing about T-Shirts is that they are usually 100% cotton. I only ever use Fairy Non-Bio to wash our clothes and so even used ones won't have been subjected to harsh chemicals. If you are using old T-Shirts and have washed in biological detergents, I would put the garments though the machine without detergent and then run the rinse cycle 2 or 3 times to get rid of detergent residues.

Have a lovely day - I will - it's half-term xxx

Frugal menus

Good Morning Lovely Readers,

We awoke this morning to another fresh coating of snow and here are some pictures of what I feel thankful for:

I am sure you can guess where Zena has placed herself!

Here is this week's menu plan. As you can see, some of the meals are repeats from last week, but that's us! Creatures of habit.

What you might like to know:
Brioche sounds exotic doesn't it? 25p in the bargain bit at Morrisons.
Pancakes - ditto - 9p
Smoothies - 4 for £1 from Approved Foods (AF) and their suet mix comes in a huge bag for £1 too.
Lasagne sheets - organic - was on offer at AF - 4 for £1 - you have to look at their site regularly because bargains like this go quickly. I used quorn mince and passata for the "meat" sauce and white, creamy pasta sauce on top - 19p from Morrisions (bargains again). Grated cheese to go on top was 19p a bag.
The stilton for the soup was left over from Christmas.
The pizza mix - from AF - £1 for a huge bag.
Rye bread - 4 for £1 from AF
Banana malt loaf - 3 for £1 from AF
Scone mix - £1 - huge bag from AF
Potatoes, onions, eggs and quorn all left from last week.
Tuna was on offer at AF - 5 tins for £1. (No 3 took a load back to uni).


Soups are all made and ready to freeze/chill in portion sizes.

Menu planner week beginning: 11.2.2012
DAY	BREAKFAST	LUNCH	SUPPER
Saturday	Pineapple + mango smoothie	Broccoli + stilton soup +  soda bread	Homemade mushroom pizza Green salad
Sunday	Brioche Pancakes for #4 Yogurt	Vegetable lasagne Green salad Mango + pineapple crumble + soya cream	Watercress soup Rye bread   Banana malt loaf
Monday	Porridge or granola	Watercress soup + Cheese scones	Left-over lasagne Side salad
Tuesday	Strawberry smoothie Cereal bars	Spanish potato omelette Tomato salad	Veggie sausages, mash + peas Caramelised onion chutney
Wednesday	Poached  eggs + toast	Vegetable soup + bread	Spanish quorn casserole + dumplings
Thursday	Porridge or granola	Vegetable soup + bread	Tuna pasta bake Green salad
Friday	Porridge or granola	Hummus + oat cakes	Vegetarian chilli + rice Cheese + tortilla chips

Versatlile Blogger Award

Ooohhhh. Sft at http://sftandthe101challenge.blogspot.com/   just made my day by giving me the Versatile Blogger Award - I am thrilled to bits - thank you so much. My very first award and I am only just over a month old!

The rules of the prize are:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award
2. Link back that person
3. Select blogs that you've recently discovered (and think deserve it!) and nominate them
4. Tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself

The blogs I would like to nominate are:

http://frugalfreesiahandmadeandhomemade.blogspot.com/

http://myblog-nannysplace.blogspot.com/

http://halfdozendaily.typepad.com/my-half-dozen-daily/

http://fostermummy.blogspot.com/

http://thequiethome.blogspot.com/

http://slowlivinginafastlife.blogspot.com/

http://ournewlifeinthecountry.blogspot.com/

Now then, 7 things to tell Sft:

1. I am sitting typing, wearing a lovely Kaffe Fassett cardigan that I knitted 25 years ago when I was expecting Number 1. It is so warm and the colours are just gorgeous.

2. I lost a substantial amount of hearing in my 30s and 40s through Meniere's Disease, but I still teach languages, wear hearing aids, and lip read pretty well... students know that can't swear when I am around! I am a reasonable signer and am currently doing my level 3 (BSL). 

3. I love genealogy and have traced my paternal line back to 1600s Norfolk to a farmer, buried in Roughton. My maternal line is Irish and contains (deceased) archdeacons, priests and nuns - including a Mother Superior at the Ursuline convent in Blackrock, Ireland.

4. My grandmother taught me to knit when I was 7, but I only learnt to crochet 3 weeks ago and I am loving it.

5. The most amazing place I have visited is Petra in Jordan.

6. I have been with Mr Thrifty for 28 years - since university days.

7. My lovely grandfather started his working life at the age of 12 on the Aquitania, the sister ship of the Titanic, and sailed into the Baltic Sea to witness refugees fleeing the Russian revolution and drank milkshakes in milk bars in New York during prohibition.

Again, thank you Sft for the nomination - I feel very honoured xx

Good Evening Lovely Readers

I have been tagged at Nanny's Place and have to answer the following questions. Nanny has been having a good old tidy up if you want to go and have a look:  http://myblog-nannysplace.blogspot.com Anyway, so here are the rules:

#1 - Post these rules.

#2 - Answer the 11 questions from the person who tagged you. 

#3 - Create 11 new questions for the people you tag.

#4 - Tag 11 people and link them to your post.

#5 - Let them know that you tagged them.



1.When did you start blogging and why?
In the New Year- I made resolutions about clearing clutter, being frugal, saving and trying to find more energy for my creative tasks and blogging seemed a good way to share this.

2.What was the last thing that you bought that you wish you didn't?
The house we live in now. Other half loved it but it's not practical, costs a fortune to run because it is not energy efficient and we have a huge mortgage. It is currently on the market.

3.What is your most precious childhood memory?
Spending time with my Nanny who was utterly divine and her teaching me to knit.

4. What is your favorite color and why?
Blue - I grew up by the sea and still live close and I love it. I am a Piscean so guess that accounts for my love of water.

5. What was your best date with your significant other?
I'll come back to that one...

6.What do you consider your biggest achievement in life?
Giving birth to 4 amazing children and breastfeeding them all for ages.

7.Are you a loner or would you rather be in a crowd?
Bit of a loner, but quite happy in a group too, especially when I know people.

8.What was the best meal you've ever had?
The veggie sausages, mash and peas that Mr Thrifty just cooked for me!

9.If you were granted 3 wishes from a genie, what would you ask for?
I would start by wishing for a genie in a jar who would grant me unlimited wishes! Then I'd go for being slim, peace,  ( I know it should be the other way round., but I am being honest), an end to exploitation in all its forms... Then I would wish for a moneyless world - people would have to trade skills and goods to get what they needed. Oh, and I would introduce schools along the lines of the one started by Satish Kumar in Devon which teaches kids about ecology and how to live, rather than a load of stuff they will never use (spoken as a teacher!!!).

10.If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
To see the Northern Lights and stay in the Ice Hotel.

11. Who is your best friend?
My hearing dog Zena. (How sad is that?).


So these are the people I am tagging:     ... they are wonderful blogs so do go and have a look for yourself!
http://frugalfritha.blogspot.com/
http://frugaldom.blogspot.com/
http://sftandthe101challenge.blogspot.com/
http://frugalinnorfolk.blogspot.com/
http://frugalfreesiahandmadeandhomemade.blogspot.com/
http://crystalrainbow-sparkleandshine.blogspot.com/
http://fostermummy.blogspot.com/
http://landcuckoo.blogspot.com/
http://homespunliving.blogspot.com/
http://mumssimplylivingblogat.blogspot.com/
http://stocki.blogspot.com/

And here are the questions:


1.When did you start blogging and why?
2.What was the last thing that you bought that you wish you didn't?
3.What is your most precious childhood memory?
4. What is your favorite colour and why?
5. What do you like about other blogs?
6.What do you consider your biggest achievement in life?
7.If you were cast adrift on a desert island, which 3 possessions would you choose to have?
8.What could you not live without?
9.If you were granted 3 wishes from a genie, what would you ask for?
10.If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
11. Who is your best friend?

Frugal shopping - saving money

Good Evening lovely people and a warm welcome to my new followers - thank you for joining.

Stopped by Morrisons this evening to get some milk and also picked up these bargains:

Much of this will find its way into the freezer as reserves, but I thought you would like to see such bargains. Do you ever ask yourself how much supermarkets make in order to be able to mark down produce to such an extent? Here are the items with prices:

1 pack rolls 1.00 reduced to 19p

2 brioche loaves @ 1.64 = 3.28 reduced to 25p each

2 garlic mushrooms in white wine sauce @ 2.49 = 4.98 reduced to 25p each

1 chicken satay (for Number 4) 1.00 reduced to 19p

crumpets 75p to 9p

muesli + raisin bread 1.99 to 29p

mini pancakes 75p to 15p

large pancakes 1.35 to 19p

soda bread 1.20 to 19p

French pave bread 1.49 to 29p

2 honeydew melon quarters @ 50p = 1.00

3 cantaloupe halves @ 1.00 = 3.00 to 5p each

3 tubs creamy pasta sauce @ 1.99 = 5.97 to 15p each

sandwich thins 1.00 to 19p

2 muller corner yogurts @ 61p = 122 to 9p each

3 chicken fajita mini crispbakes (also for Number 4) @ 1.39 = 4.17 to 15p each

yeo valley natural yogurt 55p to 5p

fruit fool 55p to 5p

raisin loaf 1.20 to 19p

honey and sunflower star bread 1.49 to 29p.

Cost of shopping £4.74

Cost of shopping if bought at full prices £36.30

LOOK FOR THE YELLOW LABELS!

Now if you are feeling really brave go and visit this blog and look at what the rest of the world is eating - it is an inspiring blog - thank you Halfrida -  http://frugalfritha.blogspot.com/2012/02/hungry-planet-wheres-food.html

Have a great evening xx

The World of Blog

 Just home from school - late night because I had my signing class this evening and so stayed at school to mark some books in between. I have started a new cushion based on Angie's pattern 'circles of joy'. You can find it at http://www.lemondedesucrette.com/ I can't wait to see how it turns out and I have done 7 circles already. Angie's work is truly awe-inspiring. Been over to visit my friend SFT http://sftandthe101challenge.blogspot.com/  this evening and read her blog about their near mortgage freedom. What an inspirational woman she is - I didn't even imagine that such a thing was possible and now Mr Thrifty and I are plotting our cunning plans! So tonight I want to say another thank you to all the people who read my blog and all the blogs out there that have given me such inspiration. My dreams are becoming my reality and crochet, which I only ever admired from  a distance has become a love. we have one life (we think) and we have to live it to the full. So, again, thank you to all those of you who help me to trust my dreams.......

I wish you all love, light and a blessed evening xxx

Rules for keeping warm

My beautiful friend Zena loves the snow and the cold. I, on the other hand, like my pal, Gomez, adore being warm. 

An enormous welcome to my new readers - wonderful to welcome you. 

Here are my - tongue-in-cheek rules for staying warm.

1. Don't allow boiler to break down
2. Take out boiler cover
3. Get boiler serviced annually
4. Try to organise weather
OR
4. When boiler breaks down and you haven't got cover go into major panic. Wait a day and discuss with partner (or whoever you have around).
5. Choose coldest time of year and sit and watch snow falling.
6. Find thermal underwear and under no circumstances remove.
7. Wear gloves and scarves in house.
8. Carry hot water bottles or wheaties around with you.
9. If you have open fire, keep it going and count blessings.
10. Do a lot of housework/cooking to keep warm.
11. Finally ring local engineer who is unable to do job.
12. Ring boiler manufacturer and pay a lot of money to get one of their engineers to call.
13. Wait in for engineer.
14. 5 days after break down, defrost numb body parts and sign insurance documents!
15. Enjoy heat!

Our boiler is a Glow Worm and that got me thinking about these....

My kids had one of these when they were little. You put batteries in and it lit up.
This also got me thinking about vintage toys. When Number 1 was little we found one of these at a jumble sale. It cost us 50 pence in 1987. She loved it and for me it was pure nostalgia.

We also bought ones of these hammer and peg toys, but I don't remember where it came from.
These were toys that I had enjoyed as a child and they brought back happy memories. What about you? Which toys do you link with your childhood?

I have vivid memories of my older brother building a go-cart using old pushchair wheels and only telling me there were no brakes when we were half way down the hill that led straight into the village centre. We seemed to have a lot of freedom. We grew up in a village by the sea and roamed for hours at weekends and holidays. We played in the pill boxes that had been left on the cliffs and the beaches after the 2nd World War.

We had such fun, even though they were dark and terrifying. Of course, eventually they were demolished. Many areas of the cliffs and even the beaches were out of bounds in the 60s and the army bomb disposal worked tirelessly to remove the mines from the area. Apparently the maps showing the location of the mines had been lost. 26 men were killed during the removal of the mines and a  memorial to them has been created.

There were no Play Stations or X-boxes. You had to stand up to change channel on the television. We walked to school, didn't feel the cold and, I am sure, were quite healthy as a result. When were "snacks" invented? I only ever remember getting ill with the things that everyone got back then; measles, chicken pox and mumps. Vaccinations came later on. I certainly didn't have colds or coughs. AND OUR HOUSE HAD NO HEATING, except for a couple of gas fires on the ground floor. I had 5 brothers and sisters and it was a 6 bedroomed house. It must have been really cold!

Tell me, what are your memories of growing up?