Make it easy on yourself ...

Good morning my lovelies!

It's a bit of a blustery day here on my little island, nothing on the calendar, so a stay-at-home sort of day I think ... if I've got nothing planned I don't mind this kind of day, now and again of course ... all the time would be a bit tedious. I've been moving furniture round and sprucing it up, as you know what they say "a change is as good as a rest" and I feel like I've decorated or done something really drastic as it all looks fresh and .... different.

The cupboard above was a lovely find from Freegle,  (I already had the top cabinet) ... a new coat of paint, a swish of wax and some careful shabbying, and voila! ... a complete new look for ... well, nothing!

I've been pondering about simplifying chores (to free up time to do more pleasurable activities, like pottering about with phrases and needles and reels of Sylko) and I'd like to share my top tips with you for making life just that bit easier.  My husband thinks I have chronic OCD, and that may not be far from the truth, but hey, if it makes me more organised with very little effort, that can only be a good thing, can't it? I have mentioned some of these tips before, so if you've already seen them, I apologise!

Top Tips

• ALWAYS have a 1 litre spray bottle, filled with plain tap water and 2 tsps of bicarbonate of soda handy.  This mixture is invaluable for cleaning your oven  as mentioned here, but also works on any burnt on spills (old or new) on the hob.  Just spray on and leave a few seconds. Wipe off and it will completely disappear.

• ALWAYS have a 1 litre spray bottle, filled 2/3 with tap water, the remainder with white vinegar, and a tiny drop of washing up liquid.  This concoction is marvellous for cleaning bathrooms, but gives brilliant results on windows and mirrors too ... spray on, wipe off and then polish with scrunched up newspaper ... dazzling results!

• When filling the dishwasher, try to put like with like as you go, ie, plates of same size, mugs, bowls, etc ... then all you need to do is pick them out in one fell swoop and put in cupboard, without having to sort through them.  The same goes for cutlery ... if you put just forks in one compartment of the cutlery basket, they can just all be put straight into drawer.  The same goes for knives, spoons, etc.  More hygienic too ... especially if the children are helping!

• While you're doing the 'big' shop, try to put similar items together into the shopping trolley. Place tins together (preferably at the bottom), bread, fridge stuff, frozen items, etc.  Load them onto the belt in this way and then when  you pack them at the other end they will be in this order.  Bag them up separately, ie, tins in one bag (careful, it's heavy!), fridge stuff in another, toiletries in another, etc. When you get home the chore of putting away is a lot easier and this is were you can delegate ... bag of toiletries in the bathroom, veg in the rack, freezer stuff straight into the freezer, without having to sort through every item and making unnecessary journeys. It might sound complicated, but trust me, it will soon become second nature.

• After you've washed your bedding, keep one pillowcase aside and fold the duvet cover, remaining pillowcases and sheets and place inside the saved pillowcase.  This way you always have a complete matching set to hand ... no more turning the airing cupboard upside down looking for a matching pillowcase! They stack into neat piles too ...

• Staying with the 'laundry' theme, when you go on holiday, take some bin bags or large carrier bags with you and sort laundry each day.  This saves the mammoth task of turning 6 suitcases onto the kitchen floor and sifting through 2 weeks of smelly washing.  I did this once, and vowed never again! All you need to do, when you get back, is take each bag out at a time and it's not such a big deal.

• If you're having a 'big' celebration meal, such as Christmas Dinner, or even just a family get-together Sunday roast, about an hour before it's due to be served, place the plates and serving dishes in the dishwasher and put on a quick wash.  Don't open the door until ready to serve and everything will be piping hot and saves space in your oven.  Put your gravy in a teapot, much less dribblesome, and keeps warmer longer too! (And looks very pretty, especially if dressed in a vintage cosy).

• If you break a glass or china object, after you've picked up the big pieces, take a piece of fresh bread and wipe over the surface ... the bread will pick up the little splinters that you may otherwise miss.

• If you drop a raw egg, rather than try to pick it up and risk spreading the mess, just give it a blast with a hairdryer ... this will cook the egg making it easy to pick up and dispose of ... or give to the dog so not wasted ...

I didn't think I'd be able to do ten, but I've racked my brains, and here's top tip number 10 ...

• If fussy visitors are coming at very short notice, say an hour, there isn't time to spring clean, so just get a carrier bag, put everything in it that's cluttering the place, plump up the cushions, tidy papers and magazines, and pick a big bunch of flowers from the garden and light candles.  They'll be so taken with the welcoming ambience that they won't notice the dustballs under the sofa ...

After all that hard work, put your feet up, pick up your favourite magazine ... and relax with a treat.  Enjoy! You deserve it ...

Hope you all have a Wonderful Wednesday ...

Love Claire xxx

My crazy busy life ...

Phew, what a week that was! I'm a bit glad it's over and done with, I couldn't cope with all that malarkey for very long, I don't think ... I got the keys for my little shop, Thriftwood Vintage, 11 days ago ... and opened 7 days later! That week was spent lugging furniture, stock and all manner of things to the shop at the crack of dawn (before the hairdressers below started work, because I didn't want to be jeopardising their customers) and after tea, late into the night. But I did it ...

I bought a bright orange pine plate rack from a furniture warehouse, and after we had been delayed by half a day by a very inconvenient power cut, Steve drilled it to the wall for me ... and that was my starting point.  I then painted it very quickly with Annie Sloan Country Grey, and filled it with vintage loveliness and fairy lights.  The decor in Thriftwood Vintage is a bit gloomy, and with no time to paint I decided that 'mood' lighting was a must! So lamps and fairy lights have made a big appearance ... my home is looking very sparse now!

 

A Christmas corner has been created, complete with tree, ice skates, stockings and a pile of vintage toys and games under the tree.

I have had to be inventive in maximising display opportunities ...

The green garden bench has also been giving a new home for the time being! 

Mince pies, carrots and a message for Santa ...

But best of all were all the lovely customers, friends and family, who dropped in to say hello ... thank you so much for all your good wishes, they mean so much to me!  Everything happened so quickly that I didn't have time to think and now my old friend Doubt is creeping in ... I know I've done the right thing because this chance will never happen again, and I would have always had regrets if I hadn't taken the plunge and forever wondered "what if?", but I wouldn't be me if I didn't worry ... really I have nothing to lose at this stage, and if I do decide it isn't working, I can just pack it all up again ...  I really hope that doesn't happen though.

As if that wasn't enough excitement for one week, me and Millie set off on Friday to Harrogate to The Country Living Fair.  I have a new phone that I haven't quite got the gist of yet, so am just using it for Facebook on the run, and taking photos ... I think I've managed to download one so for now that's all you're getting, my lovelies!

Rachelle & Tracy

For the second time I met blogging royalty Rachelle from Ted & Agnes blog and Tracy from Olive and Harry blog (combined, their stall was called Olive and Agnes).  We had arrived there too late to book onto their Liberty wreath making session, but when they'd finished we found their delightful stall, full of their unique bits and pieces. We had a lovely chat about crocheting, sewing, dogs,  my new shop (Rachelle had seen me mention it on Facebook!) Rachelle's new book, and of course, her last book ...

Thank you Amazon! 

It really was like chatting to old friends, they were so lovely, even though I was a little starstruck and giddy, and when we walked away, Millie said "that's made your day hasn't it?" and do you know, I think it had ...

I really need to get back to earth with a big bump, and start sorting out Christmas ... I hope you all have a quiet, peaceful week, and don't forget, if you're in the area, there'll always be a big welcome at Thriftwood Vintage!

Thriftwood Vintage

221 Rawlinson Street

(above Hairport)

Barrow-in-Furness

Cumbria LA14 1DW

Opening Times

WEDNESDAY 9.30-3PM

FRIDAY 10-4.30PM

SATURDAY 10-4.30PM

Have a wonderful, peaceful week, my lovelies ... looking forward to catching up with you all!

Love, Claire xxx

All the leaves are brown, and the sky is grey ...

Well, that's September done and dusted for another year! It's funny,  the melancholia has just lifted ... it's like this every year ... all the changes have happened, not without a bit of drama, admittedly, but all sorted now, as far as we are able, and everyone's getting on with their new routines.

For the first time in it seems like ages, me and Steve got up early on Sunday morning, with the intention of calling in at a car boot sale at Ulverston, on the way to Windermere, where we were heading to pick up some much-needed Annie Sloan paint.  Just as I was approaching Ulverston, I saw a sign advertising my favourite car boot sale, which I hadn't realised was on.  I bought the lovely little English Bull Terrier dog there ... to think I almost missed him!

When we got back I set to with my tins of paint and started upcycling.  I forgot to photograph the mirror above and the table/side cupboard below before their makeover ... just believe me, they were in a very dire state!

This is a lovely sewing chest which I upcycled a while ago ... the outside was absolutely appalling, filthy, cracked vinyl ... when you opened it, it was lined with the most beautiful, vintage fabric!

I have a fair few Vintage events coming up, so the paintbrush is always out! My evenings are spent making crochet brooches and embroidered pictures, as my stall needs stocking up for the big 'C' (spoken in a whisper) events ...

Just a quick post today, my lovelies, I promise to be back soon, but my lunch is calling ... Butternut Squash and Peanut soup ... recipe below if you'd like it ... just the ticket for days when there's a chill in the air ...

Butternut Squash & Peanut Soup

2 large Onions

1 large Butternut Squash

Carrots

Peppers

2 tins chopped tomatoes

(any other red, yellow, orange veg you want to add!)

Finely chopped chillis, ginger and garlic

2 chicken or veg stock cubes

Smooth Peanut Butter

Sweat the onions in olive oil until cooked, add the chillis, ginger and garlic and continue to cook for a few minutes ... then add all the rest of the ingredients (chopped or diced) and bring to the boil.  Simmer for up to 40 minutes, then cool.  Blend until smooth and add a dollop of peanut butter, and heat through to melt.  Serve with a swirl of cream and lots of crusty bread and butter.

I've been quite loose with the quantities, but this does make a lot ... I decant it into takeaway boxes and freeze it so I have it handy in the right portion size.  I haven't met anyone who doesn't like this ... you can just leave the peanut butter out if someone has a peanut allergy, and it could be added separately to individual bowls and stirred in. It's actually very versatile, curry powder can be added, it can be topped with croutons or grated cheese ... the possibilities are endless!

Bon Appettit!

Oh yes, before I forget, me and Millie are a bit excited ... have booked tickets on a coach to Harrogate for the Country Living Fair at the end of November ... oooh, we're madly saving up for afternoon tea at Betty's!!

Have a lovely week, won't you?

Love, Claire xxx

All I want is a room somewhere ....

Oh, what a beautiful morning! Today, as I approached 'my' beach, I had one of those heart-swelling moments of happiness, that this is on my doorstep, free to enjoy whenever I like ... how lucky am I?

 I don't know about you, but I could sit for hours, sifting through pebbles, at first glance they look alike, but up close and personal, there are so many different colours, shapes and sizes ... I wish they could talk, what tales they could tell ...

There seems to be a lot of yellow around at the moment too ... a very welcome antidote to the greyness we've been experiencing lately! The gorse is in full bloom, and I spotted lots of sunny dandelions, wild daffodils and celandines too.

Something else that I always welcome, is my Country Living magazine popping through the front door! Always a lovely read, it never disappoints and provides me with lots of inspiration.

A lovely friend treated me to Molly Makes and Steve got me the new Reloved magazine, as I had been dropping hints.  It is a lovely magazine, very aesthetically pleasing, but when I sat down to read it properly was quite disappointed to find that a lot of the projects had already appeared elsewhere, so I have them in books which I have already paid good money for.  Felt a bit cheated, really! However, there are other ideas which were new, but I don't think I'll be a regular customer. What do you all think?

I couldn't resist this Pippi Longstocking book, when I spied it whilst out treasure hunting.  I devoured Pippi books as a child, and Pippi in the South Seas was a favourite.

This cheeky chap appealed to me too, I think I might keep him! Eyeing up the girls while dragging on a fag ... probably a Gauloise, as it definitely has a French feel to it ...

These ladies caught my eye too, as they looked so cheerful! Must say though that inflation has reached an all-time high, as when this was published pre-decimalisation, it was priced as 6d, which is 2.5p in new money.  I was charged a whole ten bob (50p ... for you youngsters who don't know what I'm blathering on about) ... I could have bought 20 patterns for that in the old days (correct me if I'm wrong ... Maths never was my strong point).

Remember my workroom renovations ... I'm ready for the big reveal! I found a roll of wallpaper which was just enough to cover one wall (it looks a bit much, but it's over the workbench, so only half a wall really).

It features all my favourite flowers in one go! Roses, tulips, hyacinths, primroses and lots of other UFO's (unidentified flower others)

The focal point as you entered the room was a radiator, so decided I needed a radiator cover ... the one I wanted was £75!! I wasn't paying that, being thrifty (not tight, thrifty) but on closer inspection, if I bought an identical, unpainted one, it was £24! That was more like it, as I was painting it anyway.

On my travels I found this very old, warped, broken and splintered cupboard, but I knew it would be perfect to go over the radiator ... for £10, including delivery, I couldn't not, could I?

This is a rubbish picture as the sun was so bright, but this is another cupboard which was filthy and had been there for over a year ... £20!

This is the cupboard and radiator, after painting with Annie Sloan Antoinette ...

and lined with my favourite 'vintage' London wallpaper!

The corner cupboard is painted in AS Country Grey, and again lined with the London paper. I'm very pleased with how they've turned out ...

A home for some of my craft books ....

 I had great fun 'titivating' with all my sewing bits and bobs.  I really need to learn to sew ... I can't even thread a needle, but I'm determined and hoping to start lessons soon.

Old Sylkos ... reminds me of my lovely Mam, who sat at her sewing machine ever day, making curtains for a department store ...

Packets of press studs and hooks and eyes.

My little window, with a table to sit at and gaze at the view! I'm really pleased with my workroom, especially as it has cost less than £50, because everything other than the furniture, I already had.

Need to love you and leave you now my lovelies, just going treasure hunting for a high stool to sit at my bench, and a cupboard for my fabric stash and wool! 

Whatever you do this week, have fun!

Love Claire xxx

Read all about it ...

Hello my lovelies! Now that all the fuss and kerfuffle of Christmas and New Year's over (and hopefully the coughs, cold and sickness that goes hand in hand with it!) I thought I'd share some of the lovely books I received for Christmas.

The first book, Junk Genius, may be familiar to some of you, as it was reviewed by Anna, and her review completely sold it to me!

It is written by Juliette Goggin and Stacy Sirk.  Juliette features in Super Scrimpers, one of my favourite tv programmes, and the book is full of practical ways of upcycling just about everything! It's full of beautiful pictures, has a very vintage vibe to it, and is just fabulous!

I don't want to show you too much or I'll spoil it for you ...

There are 80 projects and ideas, some very easy and quick, others a bigger project and more time-consuming.

The next book on my coffee table is Wartime Farm, as seen on BBC at the end of last year.  I loved this programme and my friend Kath turned up with the book last week (not even for Christmas, an unexpected present in January!) and said "I saw this and thought of you"

I wonder what it was that made her say that?

It is jam-packed with hints and tips about making something out of practically nothing ... around the home and in the kitchen and garden, but I think I may give the home-made shampoo a miss!

The photographs are extremely authentic with an amazing attention to detail.  The Baked Potato Pudding sounds very strange, but hey, don't knock something until you've tried it!

Times were really hard and a great deal of effort had to be given to use what was available and the inventiveness of the use of food was amazing to produce meals which were edible and tasty.

 This brings me on to another wartime book, The Diaries of Nella Last.  A film was made for TV of the diaries, called Housewife, 49, with Victoria Wood in the starring role.  Nella lived in my home town, where I've lived all my life, and the diaries are written from her home in Ilkley Road, which was the next street from the one where I grew up. I loved the film but am enjoying the book much more as it so detailed, and we are reading it as it actually happened to Nella. Her worries and fears, joys and triumphs are all chronicled in detail. Nella comes across as a very intelligent woman, quite opinionated, who has a great 'make do and mend' ethos, and is fiercely loyal and devoted to her family and home A great read, highly recommended!

 The last book is one that I hadn't heard about before I received it on Christmas Day from my eldest son, Oliver.  He was a bit worried that I wouldn't like it because it was sub-titled 'The Essential Guide to Modern Day Homemaking' .  It was the word 'modern' that caused his concern! He needn't have worried, because as all of us vintage-loving ladies know, vintage is the new modern! Not that being 'on trend' bothers me at all ...

It's written by Clare Nolan, the Lifestyle Editor of You Magazine (Mail on Sunday), and I always enjoy her articles as they are very aesthetically pleasing.  The book did not disappoint at all, and is full of beautiful photographs, very vintage inspired!

It mixes old with new, which is the most practical way of achieving a 'modern vintage' look, as I don't think I could live in a completely authentic vintage home ... although I admire those that are so dedicated to vintage, that it is a way of life to them ... I like my modern day comforts too much!

 A lovely, informative, coffee table book, to be dipped into time and time again for ideas and inspiration.

 So that's it my lovelies, book review over! I'd love you to share what you're reading at the moment, and what books you got for Christmas, as I have a birthday coming up in a few weeks ... Amazon's going to be very busy!

Have a lovely week, and stay warm!

Love, Claire xxx