200th Post Giveaway

I will get to the giveaway part shortly but first..........Look what I got!

This very unexciting 'craft paper pack' was £3.49 at Lidl (it's not Scandinavian for value) this morning and to be honest I only bought it for the knife and replacement blades.


But look what else was inside;

Top Left; each of the patterned card comes with matching velum (hearts, roses, sunflowers, leaves and purple flowers). Bottom Left; five sheets of silk paper (you know the kind you can tear and tease out the edges). Top Right; several sheets of velum in assorted colours and patterns (what made me laugh when I read the blurb was that it said 'printed on tracing paper'). Bottom Right; some coloured waxed type paper, quite nice for backing me thinks, really rich colours too. Centre; a trusty knife and a stack of coloured corrugated card that the children will put to very good use (or I may turn them into some of Ruth's boxes). Bargain!

And then on the way to the check out I spied a box of reduced items (they are making room for all the Christmas stuff) and found a huge ball of 'crochet' yarn. It is a light cotton yarn with a silver thread running through it. Nice for beads me thinks;

Down from £6.99 to only £3.75! Bargain (she says again)!

And then, as if that wasn't enough, when I got home there waiting for me behind the door was 22 metres of organza ribbon ready for the beads I knitted last night. And also the stamp I found on eBay and bought yesterday.

Blimey it is a good day even if it is raining and raining and raining..............

Now, 200 posts, my that's quite a few! Probably only about a dozen that have been worth reading though (my Dad always say "Eight years of wedded bliss and in a twenty five year marriage that's not bad!" They have been married much longer than that but it was at their silver wedding anniversary party that I remember him saying it last). Getting back to the point..... in blogland tradition I feel honour bound to celebrate such a milestone by asking you all to leave a comment on this post (yes, even you lurkers) and tell me what your best ever craft bargain was.

I will select a winner (randomly) on Sunday afternoon (it'll get me out of ironing the school uniforms!) and that lucky person will receive; something knitted, something made from felt, something made from paper/card and a Christmas gift for you to either keep or pass on.

Daisie xxx

Quick edit; Lidl (for my US readers) is a cut price super market. It sells groceries and things for the home at low prices. They sell non branded goods and the stock changes regularly, you rarely get the same shop twice. In the UK we also have Aldi and Netto which are much the same.

Some Advice Please

After losing my umph for knitting (I have several unfinished pieces in my knitting bag) a few weeks ago I found it again last night.

I found some super fluffy yarn and made these;


A big knitted bead strung on waxed cotton cord and a twelve bead bracelet (yes there is room for your arm through the middle). The picture really doesn't so them justice, they are so lovely and fluffy and a beautiful green/blue/petrol type colour.

This pic shows them pinned to a cork notice board. I can get two sets to a board without them looking crowded and I plan to have two or three boards on my stall at the craft fair. Need to knit some more beads!!

I want to know;

1; What can this set be called?
I have bubblegum and dolly mixture ones listed in my shops.

2; How much should I be selling them for?
I am currently selling the two pieces separately but have only sold a bracelet for £4. I want to sell them as sets at the fair.

3: Are there any colour combinations you think I really should do?
I have some more 'Dolly Mixture' beads ready knitted waiting to be strung and I thought of adding some black ones to this and calling it 'Liquorice Allsorts' and I have some beautiful white mohair that will be strung on white organza ribbon and called 'Snow Drops', there may also be a 'Lemon Sherbet' set too.

Need to go do some more knitting before the urge leaves me again.

Daisie xxx

A Lovely Day

Well, although everyone woke up far too early for a Saturday it has been a lovely day.

Here are my babies enjoying cheese on toast (a weekend treat) at breakfast;




And I think we made the princess even more princessish (is that even a word?);

She sat very still and was very good at passing clips while I did her hair. It survived the party too and didn't look too terrible when I went to collect her. I am really glad that she chose to wear her 'wedding' dress as there were duplicate Snow Whites and Belles. They all looked very beautiful though. Happy birthday Ella!

While the princesses were partying Elizabeth was partying on the other side of town. I managed to grab some time to sit while everyone was enjoying themselves and made these;

I get lots of strange looks when I arrive at kids parties with a bag of knitting or some sewing to do but I figure it only makes me all the more interesting. No?

Children all very tired now, they have had some fruit after the party and are on their way to bed soon. Simon and I may even order take out, that would be nice! There is a bottle of wine in the fridge too.......

Have a lovely evening!

Daisie xxx

Another Hottie

I have made some more hotties today, wanted to show you this one as I have done the stitching in a deep blue so you can really see it well on these photos;




But they seem slightly ridiculous today as the sun is shining and it's really warm! I hung my washing out in the garden before the school run this morning and it was nearly dry when Nathaniel and I returned after the drop and a quick walk into the town to buy some kirby grips, didn't forget today! It is so hot and lovely that Nathaniel has just 'helped' me repaint my toenails and find my Berkie's. I dug my boots out of the bottom of a box a couple of weeks ago as I was fed up of having cold, wet feet! Now I am fed up of having hot feet. Bloody weather!

Hoping it stays warm tomorrow so Francesca can be the most beautiful princess at the party and not have to wear her coat over the top. Can't wait to do her hair and stuff, she gets so excited that it's quite contagious!

I am rapidly approaching 200 posts, blimey, do I never shut up?! Apparently not, sorry! So will have to do a give away early next week, thinking cap on........ it may be a Christmas themed prize as that it where my crafting brain is at the moment.

Off to collect the girls from school and swing on some swings in the sunshine on the way home!

Daisie xxx

Busy Bee

Well, the things on the list are slowly being ticked off.

Hotties;


I really like the simplicity of this love heart one;

I decided not to put names on these ones but just to make a pile and let the children choose which they wanted to give to their friends. I have three more cut out ready to sew together tomorrow.

I made a few cards with felt pictures on them;

The picture is a bit naff but the cards are good, will be making some more like this.

And the custom order is no more :-( bit naffed off but at least I hadn't started to make it yet. So no time wasted and I am busy at the moment making stuff for the craft fair so not too disappointed.

Forgot to buy kirby grips and glitter spray so will be off shopping again tomorrow. I did, however, manage to buy a huge chicken (free range, corn fed etc) we don't often buy chicken these days as my conscience and purse can't afford it! Anyway, I practically barged people out of the way when I saw this £15 bird reduced to only £3.26! I have roasted it this afternoon as it was near it's sell by (that's was why it was cheap) and carved it all up. Made a big plate full of nicely sliced pieces to have tomorrow with roasted veg and Yorkshire puddings (who says they're only for beef?!), a huge jug of lovely gravy from the pan juices and I made a litre of good stock with the bones. I used some of the stock to make soup for tonight with the meat picked from the bones and whatever veg I could find in the fridge;

Nathaniel scoffed his! Maybe if we're lucky there will be enough for sandwiches on Saturday!

Only a boy card to make now and hair stuff to get for Francecsa, not bad considering I forgot to take the shopping list out with me! Don't know why I make them really, they are never with me when I get to the shops, always on the table or stuck on the fridge.

Daisie xxx

A Big List

I sat down today with a poorly boy who is snotty and tired from coughing all night and made a list of things I need to do before the weekend. It's a big list!

Cards to make; Thomas, Ella, Maisie and Imogen.
Presents to make; 2x mini hotties with names on, 3x flower brooches
Shopping to get; kirby grips and glitter spray (I promised Francesca princess hair for a birthday party on Saturday), blue felt (for a bizarre custom order). Plus the usual veggies and fruit.

And OMG, it's Wednesday already!!

Hopefully be back tomorrow with some pictures of finished projects :-s

Daisie xxx

English Weather

To say we have had no real summer this year isn't really an understatement. It has been cold and wet and thoroughly miserable with maybe one or too fine days thrown in here and there. Ask any UK resident and I'm sure they'll say the same!

This week however it has been beautiful. Not overly warm but dry and sunny. Today I have stomped through fallen leaves with Nathaniel on the way home from playgroup and we even found conkers!! Autumn is coming I think.

So it seemed a little odd making these;



When the sky looks like this;

Christmas crafts are still being made in abundance here at Daisie Towers (that came to me the other day when thinking over something else because I thought we should rename Lynsey's blog Swirly Heights, don't ask why, I don't know!!) ready for my up and coming craft fair, ooh, excitement mounts.......

Off for a meeting at the new children's centre near school to sort out lots of new exciting projects for me to be involved in. I need something more to do to stop me missing the girls now they are back at school.

Hope it is sunny where you are too!

Daisie xxx

I'm A Fire Starter.....

Twisted fire starter.......

It was so sunny we decided to have a barbecue!!


The sepia toned picture isn't meant to be arty, we just accidentally pressed a button on the camera!!

Simon even did some cooking;

The girls had a lovely time, shame it's so late in the summer (?) and we probably won't be doing it again this year.

Nathaniel loves a sausage;

The worried expression is because he thinks someone will take it off him!!

There is some charcoal left so the children and I may wrap up on evening after school later in the year when it's cold and toast marshmallows. I have never done that before, they are so good! I ate them until I felt sick and had to stop!

Daisie xxx

Thomas

Well, after only one full time week at school Francesca was bestowed the biggest gift of all by Miss Sutcliffe. She is the first person who gets to bring home the class mascot, Thomas, for the weekend. He comes with an overnight bag complete with a spare change of clothes and a scrap book in which to record his weekend adventures.

We stopped to put flowers in his hair on the way home on Friday;


And today because it was sunny (I know, couldn't quite believe it either) Francesca showed him her rose bush in the garden;

Hoping for some more sun tomorrow!

Daisie xxx

More Meals From Daisie's Kitchen

At Jenny's request here is another family meal for less than a fiver. She is having a giveaway too so go have a look!

I decided to show you this as Elizabeth came home from school last week with a letter inviting parents into the school kitchen for a course in feeding children. My eyebrows raised instantly! They were offering to teach us how to make; "soup, from scratch" (is there any other?!), "Family Shepherd's Pie" and "A Healthy Pizza" Needless to say, I haven't signed up for this one!!

So here is;

Daisie's Shepherd's Pie

You will need;

Onion, chopped (20p)

400g minced beef (£1.75)

3 sticks of celery (20p)

4 large potatoes (50p)

stock (7p)

butter/milk to mash

To Serve;

1/2 bag of carrots, chopped anyway you like (25p)

a dozen runner beans (free from my Dad's garden)

1/4 bag of frozen peas (27p)

broccoli (63p)

Bit of bisto (other instant type gravies are available), see how precise I am (4p)

I know I used beef so technically this is cottage pie but here anything with mash on top (unless it's red dragons) is Shepherd's it saves a lot of confusion!

Brown mince in a hot pan. Remove mince and drain fat, sit to one side. In the same pan sweat the onion and then add the celery, chopped however you like it, and mince back to the pan. Add a little stock and allow to cook through over a medium heat.

Peel and chop potatoes, boil until tender, remove from heat, drain and mash.

Put mince into an oven proof dish and layer mashed potatoes on the top. I like to fluff my top up and then you get crispy bits;

Peel, and chop other veg as usual and steam while the pie is browning either in a hot oven or under the grill. I tend to make mine during the day so I have more time for reading books and homework and spellings after school so mine goes in an oven to warm through, if it's still hot from cooking just brown.

Bung on a plate, eat and enjoy!

Francesca dressed up especially;

The funny face is because she is trying to smile without showing everyone the food in her mouth, should have waited really but I just couldn't get over the headdress!

All for the grand total of £3.92!

Daisie xxx

Black

My very poorly friend has just let me know that she is being admitted to a large Manchester hospital and will probably be there for a month (at least), I don't have all the details as she had things to pack and two small children to explain to. Feeling very small, insignificant, useless and frightened I uttered the words; "If there's anything I can do....." as we all do when bad things happen to people we love. Her reply was one I was not expecting. She asked me to shout from the roof tops (figured here was as good a place as any to start) and tell everyone that they must be registered here so that more people have the chance of finding a bone marrow match and a chance at survival. I would love all my UK readers to have a look and a think.

I am knitting black beads to match my mood.

Daisie xxx

Gift Boxes

Well, Francesca spent her first whole day at school today and is exhausted. All my babies were asleep before seven tonight leaving me more time for ironing (oh, joy)!

I spent alot of the day catching up on household jobs; changing beds, mopping floors etc but I also made some of these boxes;


Thanks to Ruth for the tutorial on her blog!

They are really easy to make and look really professional, and they didn't take me half as long as Ruth said in her post, about ten minutes a box once I'd gathered all the bits together. And I don't have a bone folder/creaser thingie but find a knitting needle and the Argos catalogue work just as well!! I have made different sizes and have used heavy paper instead of card for some and because they are tied at the top are still quite sturdy.

Will be making more soon, great for Christmas gifts, may be taking some along to my craft fair too to bung things in for people for a few extra pennies.

Daisie xxx

Notecards And Cheap Eats

Well, I spent this morning making six sets of note cards for an (fingers crossed) up and coming craft fair!! V.excited, will let you know all the details when I have them. I made some more Christmas cards too.

And then this afternoon I set out to make a warm and comforting meal as all the children have runny noses and coughs, it was only a matter of time once they went back to school!

I made what we affectionately call 'pasta soup', it's my take on the traditional Italian soup; minestrone.

Daisie's Minestrone.

You will need;

1 large onion, chopped (20p ish)

2 courgettes, sliced (73p)

a few mushrooms, sliced (69p)

3 carrots, chopped (20p ish)

2 red peppers, chopped (45p)

1 tin cannelini beans (27p)

Carton Passata (43p)

Handful of pasta per person (40p)

plus a little olive oil, a pinch of dried herbs and a twist of black pepper

To Serve;

Crusty bread (25p) and grated cheese.

Sweat the onion in a little olive oil until tender, add chopped vegetables and stir. Add passata and about a pint of water, add herbs and pepper, leave to come to the boil. Once boiling add pasta, stir. Once pasta is cooked place in bowls and serve with grated cheese on top.

Serve at the table with crusty bread (this is a lovely little loaf I bought reduced for only 25p, I usually make my own but not even Jamie Oliver could make a loaf of seed bread for 25p!!) and real butter!

We all have lovely warm, full bellies now, all for the grand total of £3.52, and the babies are all snoring in their beds.

Need to iron the school uniforms and then I am off to bed too.

Night, night, Daisie xxx

Felt Lovelies

A quick one this morning as I didn't get around to doing a post last night. I have many planned in my head. Last night was a toss up between a recipe for cheap and yummy chilli (we had it for tea last night) or a post I have about the free things I have in my life, inspired by Swirly as she is having a giveaway, all you have to do is tell her what your best ever freebie was! Easy peasy, as they say, pop on over and have a look.

Anyway, to get back to the point (I have a habit of wondering at the mo) I didn't post because I took a well earned sit down in front of the television and made these;

Christmas preparation is in full swing here at Daisie Towers!

Daisie xxx

Blimey!

I do seem to have stirred something in the blogging population just recently don't I?

Twelve comments on my rant post, phew, that's lots! I think there have been lurkers for some time and they've only just popped by to say hello. Shame they all have the same name though, anonymous! There were four of them when I last looked. I do wish that some people would 'have the courage of their convictions', I can't help but think that if you believe strongly in what you are saying you should be accountable for our opinion. It is only an opinion after all. I don't really care if you agree with me or not. I know very few women who have fed their babies themselves but I have lots of friends. It would be terribly boring if we were all the same.

Can I thank Julie for leaving a wonderful comment pointing out the other pit falls of bottle feeding, it is global, not local and it is a bad, bad thing! And thanks to everyone else, I love to know what people think, even if I'll never know your name.

Perhaps child rearing should be up there with subjects not to be blogged about like religion (don't get me started) and politics but I fear that would make blogland a very dull place!

And if you go back to the original post the rant wasn't really that bad and most of the comments made were in response to anonymous#1's attempt at comparing me to a bovine animal!

Anyhoo, nuff said!

And not wishing to offend anyone else here are some of the cards that Nathaniel and I made yesterday afternoon for Christmas;

Daisie xxx

Squeak Of Delight

I think I may have just made the cutest little Christmas gift.

Little bottles of Christmas cheer;



Tiny glass bottles that I have filled with sequins; stars, cherubs, reindeer, love hearts and beads. I sealed the top like old fashioned homemade jam with a cotton circle and very fine green ribbon.



Everyone will be getting one of these come the festive season! Also available in both my Folksy and Etsy shops (see side bar for buttons).

Daisie xxx

At Ethel's Request!!!

Hello, I wasn't planning to post until later but Ethel left a comment on last night's tea mentioning this amazing programme that I watched last night. Not being one to shy away from cans of worms or cats and pigeons thought I'd share. I have, however, promised Jenny that I would not stand on my soap box again today so will say no more but would love to know what you think, especially 'anonymous'

Daisie xxx


*KaeKeasmum, I must say that maybe termination is a bit extreme for 'bad' milkers, maybe just tar and feathers..........(sorry Jen)*

Dragon Update

Here are the girls' plates this evening;


The eagle eyed among you will notice that the peas were replaced with sweet corn because my freezer was pea less! This increased the cost by 20p so the meal now cost £3.52!

I also made a chocolate cake for the girls after school;

This cost me £1.27 to make taking the grand total of our two course meal for five to..................£4.79. eat your heart out Jamie Oliver!!

While the cake was baking a knock on the door brought me this;

Full of lots of lovely Christmas crafting goodies;

I think I will mostly be making Christmas cards for the foreseeable future!!

Daisie xxx

* A quick comment about my last post. I seem to have ruffled some feathers. I apologise for any upset but that is what I think and I am sticking to it! I have a strong suspicion I know who 'anonymous' is and I'd like them to know that I am a 'good milker' and am proud! (sticks tongue out in a very childish way!)*

Big Rant

Apologies now but have you seen the television advert for this? Could scream at the television (and I think I probably did as Simon muttered something along the lines of; "It can't hear you know?!") Nothing makes me crosser than how we feed our children (well, not me) synthesised crap in plastic bottles! It's the 'done thing' in the western world and it drives me insane! Why do people do it when your body can make it clean, germ free and specifically tailored to your baby for the grand total of nothing!? It only costs patience and perseverance in the first few weeks and then it's always there (in any quantity) when needed.

And while I'm ranting has the whole country gone mad!? Have you seen this? What do they think most of us have been doing for the last million (slight exaggeration on my part there) years!?! Are some people born without brains? Or are some people so rich they forget to use them?

I regularly feed all five of us (often with left overs frozen for Nathaniel's lunches) for less than a fiver. Tonight we are having Red Dragon Pie and I will share with you the secret.......................first, slay one dragon. Only joking!

Red Dragon Pie.

You will need;

1 onion chopped (20p ish, depending on size etc)

2 cans Aduki beans (42p)

tin of chopped tomatoes (19p)

4 potatoes for mashing (50p)

To serve;

Half bag of carrots chopped any way you desire (49p)

Bag of green beans (98p)

1/4 bag of frozen peas (27 1/2p)

Twist of black pepper for bean sauce, splash of oil to sweat onion and a bit of butter or milk for mash (probably about 7p if we're being precise but I'm not!)

Chop onion and sweat in oil until soft, add tomatoes and beans, leave to simmer for a while so sauce will thicken slightly, add black pepper to taste (garlic is nice too). Place beans in an oven proof dish and set aside. Peel and chop potatoes, boil until soft enough to mash. Mash. Layer on top of beans. At this point if you are feeling flush then add grated cheese to the top! Place in oven to brown, I like a crispy top. Steam veg. Put on plate. Eat and enjoy!!

As aduki beans are quite expensive I only used one and used a tin of berlotti beans instead as they were on offer at only 27p a tin. So tonight's meal comes to the grand total of.........drum roll please.............£3.32

I'll update and post some pics of it tonight.

Daisie xxx

The Revolution Has Started!!!

Did anyone else notice that Fiz was wearing a knitted bead necklace (not one of mine I am sad to say) in Coronation Street tonight?!

It is the only three minutes I have seen of Corrie in months, what are the chances? Is it a sign?

Daisie xxx

Shoes!

When uploading the shoes pictures I found this one that Simon must have taken on Saturday night. A baby boy with pringles;



What a morning we have had! Francesca is only at school this afternoon so we went into town after dropping Elizabeth off with the intention of buying Nathaniel his first shoes. He screamed and wriggled and didn't want to play at all! He refused to stand up, he wouldn't walk, nightmare! I must thank the lovely Heather who spent more than an hour with us this morning. She went and found him a car to play with, she left us alone for a while, she came back again, she managed (in fits and starts) to try on and fit two pairs of shoes. Thanks Heather, you really earned your money this morning!!

I said; "show me your new shoes!" (excited Mummy voice) and he did this;

This is the Nathaniel version of f*** off and leave me alone! He is still not a happy boy!

He has worked out that he can undo them and take them off, I will be searching for my staple gun later!

My baby boy is really turning into a big boy now!

Daisie xxx

Sleepover

My baby Francesca stayed away from home for the very first time last night. The girls were parted from me while Nathaniel was in hospital during July but other than that we have not been apart. I have missed her so much. She has just phoned to say that she doesn't want to come home but wants to stay and have her lunch with Granny :-( I would have gone and got her at 7am when I woke, so would Simon if truth be known.

Elizabeth didn't want to go and stay so we let her stay up late and watch 'Enchanted' and eat pringles! Really good fun! When she went to bed Simon and I watched 'King Kong', this link is not the one we watched but I thought it rather funny and surely everyone knows what King Kong is?! For no other reason than it was on when we turned the DVD off, it's so sad, I cried!

I made some more brooches yesterday;


Elizabeth is at a party today so I made this card;

And then added the flower brooch;

This last pic looks better than the others, I think it had just got darker so the flash went off! Will be making more of these!

Off to take Elizabeth to the party and then off to collect Francesca and be careful not to squeeze her so hard that she stops breathing!!

Daisie xxx

Enticed By Cake

Here are two more felt brooches I made last night;



The love heart has been posted to Francesca's friend Ella who recently lost her father to cancer and the chicken is still waiting for me to find her a home.

After school Francesca was full of stories but had missed me and was a bit weepy and clingy so we went in the kitchen and made cake (it is the cure all for every illness of body or mind known to man). While the cake was cooling we made a card for Ella and did some design sketches for more brooches (am really liking making these, they are quick and easy and look fab) the girls have come up with some fabulous ideas for me. Nathaniel had mysteriously disappeared and was quiet, which is usually an indication of being up to no good. I found that he had moved the kitchen step and had climbed up to lick some more from the cake bowl as he had seen Francesca do earlier;

He was not happy when I made him get down!

And I have been given this award by the lovely Pixiedust;

I don't read a huge number of blogs and certainly can't think of seven at the moment (as I am supposed to) so I'll just say have an award if you want one. Haven't read a blog yet that I don't like on some level or other.

Night, Daisie xxx

Hi Ho Hi Ho

....it's off to school we go!

She does look very grown up *sniff* and so beautiful;


Please note the new love heart pin I made for her last night because even when she's at school I love her. She was very pleased to see it this morning when she came down to breakfast.

Elizabeth has her flower on her bag.

I am going to miss them so much.

Still crying from this morning.

This picture is a little out of focus but I had to show you her socks as they are her favourite bit;

My big girl goes up to the junior yard this time, time goes by too quickly;

I get to collect Francesca after lunch as they are only doing half days until the 15th, can't wait to give her a squeeze (even though she'll have that horrible school smell they all get). Back home for a snack and to hear all about her school adventure and then off again to collect Elizabeth.

It is good to be back in a routine but so sad at the same time.

Daisie xxx