Monday 3 March 2014

A Quiet Week and 2 Shades of Pink


After a busy week last week involving recovery vehicles, cars, garages, oil boiler repairs, coffee dates, dog walks, dentists, and shopping, I am having a quiet week this week.

I am making no dates, seeing no friends, and except for vital dog walks and food shopping, I am going to be a total recluse.

This is because I have so much I want to do on the home front, from putting new stock in my Etsy shop and finishing the baby blanket, to putting up some spring hanging baskets and sowing some seeds, and the only way I can do that is to hole up without any distractions, and answer neither door nor phone ( I don't really mean that of course but it sounds like I mean business!).




The pink popcorn blanket has reached a crucial turning point! 

Plan A ( all pale pink flowers), finally decided upon after much pondering and inviting input from you, my lovely blogging friends, has had to be abandoned in favour of Plan B (different shades of pinks), due to circumstances beyond my control - namely, the bloomin' pink yarn I ordered (the local shop had run out where i bought the first ball) being too different a shade from the original yarn.

The yarn on the left is the original, the one in the middle is the new colder pink.



Instead of the warm, pale peachy pink of the first ball of pink, it is a much colder, more lilacy pink.
I made up a handful of squares, but which ever way I arranged them it looked totally naff, and the original plan of all over pale pink has sadly been abandoned.



So on, most rapidly as time is running short, with Plan B, which to be honest most of you preferred anyway and I really liked, but I had really wanted that simplicity of the one pink shade.

And, of course, that is what you get for not planning a project at all, but just going on a whim to make something without a pattern, without knowing how much yarn I would need, and without thinking the shop might run out.



Some new ready cut patchwork scraps arrived for a little project I have in mind for when the baby blanket is finished, and it is well on the way now but I have bored you with enough pink popcorn squares in the last few posts to show you more of the same here - next time you see it I'm hoping it will be finished or almost there.


And a new (second hand) book Zakka Style with a few interesting projects to inspire ........


............and a bunch of second-hand novels to while away the evenings when not crocheting.............I have never read any Barbara Pym, and these novels were mostly written in the 50s before she had a revival in popularity in the late 70s when she was chosen by Philip Larkin as one of the most underrated novelists of the century. Following on from this her novel Quartet in Autumn was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

I'm currently reading Jane and Prudence and really enjoying it so far - an insight into life in the 50s!.


Early Friday morning last week I squeezed in a quick visit to the Flea Market, and came away, literally, with a basket of goodies!

A large and wide basket perfect for storing balls of yarn..................


which I filled with linen and lace and other lovely vintage bits and bobs from Heather's stall... yards of a delicate pale peachy pink thick linen fabric.......some fabric with yellow roses....lots of lace and crochet pieces...............






old crochet hooks...............




some with such tiny tiny hooks, and with delicate patterns.........


all hooks for £1


and this ethnic linen traditional costume from foreign lands, with beautiful bright embroidery......Bella couldn't resist trying it on for size........it was pretty large!


I love the different coloured jewel-bright centres in the red diamond design, and it all looks hand-embroidered.......so much work

I have no idea yet what I will do with it, and it seems a shame to cut it up, but the linen is good and thick and coarse, and if I could re-use some of the lovely embroidery and give it new life.......so into the pile awaiting a revival.


beautiful crochet doilies and lace, presumably made with such tiny hooks as those I found










I came away with a filled basket, all for £12 including the basket - not a bad haul!



I meant to share the Blueberry Muffin recipe in my last post but didn't have time, so here it is. 

The muffins are yummy and moist, and usually erupt with fruit out of the top making them look quite impressive, but as I used some frozen blackberries without thawing (shock, gasp of horror!) in addition to the blueberries they sunk this time - but the cinnamony and fruity berry taste was as good as ever!


The recipe is from this favourite and reliable book - I have doubled the quantities here.

Blueberry Muffins
.....
Makes 16 - 18
8 oz plain flour
2 tbsps baking powder
5 oz soft light brown sugar
2 eggs
12 fl oz milk
6 tbsps vegetable oil
4 tsp ground cinnamon
10 oz fresh or thawed blueberries or blackberries
.....

Pre-heat oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5
Grease or line muffin tins with cases
With an electric mixer in a large bowl, beat together all ingredients except fruit until smooth.
Fold in blueberries or blackberries until evenly combined.
Spoon into prepared tins filling them about 2/3rds full.
Bake approx, 25 minutes or until golden brown.





Thank you for all your comments on my last post, and welcome to my new followers!

Have a good week!

18 comments:

  1. You do find some treasures Gill, I love the crochet hooks!!
    I'm sure your baby blanket will be wonderful, whatever shade of pink you use!
    Happy quiet new week,
    V xxx

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  2. A quiet reclusive week sounds like heaven! Love all your finds, especially coveting the yellow roses fabric. Sally x

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  3. What a amazing bargain basket of gorgeousness!
    Hope your week as a hermit will be a happy and productive one!! I think I need to do the same myself!
    M x

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  4. Your blanket will look fab......gosh what a bargain and delicious fabric too, can't wait to see what you make! :) x

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  5. A post chock full of fun! Love your basket full of wonderful goodies...and thanks for the recipe...the patchwork looks lovely...and you must get philosophical about the flowers and know that Life has Other Plans in store for that blanket, The Powers That Be demand a mixed pink palette ;-} - ya gotta think about it this way or you'll just be grumpy that they didn't have the right shade of pink! Enjoy your quiet week, I think I'll have to order up one of those soon...Chrissie x

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  6. Quite a big colour difference in the yarn considering it was supposed to be the same? The baby blanket will turn out to be lovely, I just know it! Pretty fabric squares, look forward to seeing whatever they are going to be. Another great haul from the flea market - those crochet hooks look well worn and much loved. Have a lovely reclusive week.
    Jane xx

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  7. I'm so glad you're able to have a quieter week. The fabric is so pretty! I can't wait to see what you do with it. Those crochet hooks are so interesting. Thank you for sharing your finds.

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  8. Oh how jealous i am gilly, your fleamarket treasures are awsome!!!!!!!!!

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  9. Those tiny crochet hooks are very sweet - lovely lace too. The muffins look yummy - a simple recipe too; I'll probably make those tomorrow:). X

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  10. A quite week is always good lots of lovely lace.
    Merle.............

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  11. Oh that basket is wonderful, I do so love a basket full of treasures. A shame about the pink wool, but I know the blanket is going to be beautiful anyway. Hoping you have a good week, last week sounds utterly manic and slightly painful. CJ xx

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  12. Ok. I think on my next days off, I will be found at the local thrift shop. Love the thrill of the hunt : )
    Beautiful treasures!

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  13. What a wonderful basket of goodies, I can't wait to see what you create from it. That's such a shame about the wool. I find that sometimes with cross stitching, threads of the same number that look completely different. I'm sure the finished baby blanket will look wonderful :) Do let us know what you think of the books, I've never heard of Barbara Pym before either.
    Best wishes to you.

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  14. What great buys! Your ethnic print garment looks cool I would have tried it on too hehe. The crochet is looking fab x

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  15. Love watching the progress of your projects! Barbara Pym is one of my favorite authors!!!

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  16. Wonder treasure. The laces are gorgeous. I hope you enjoyed your seclusion and was very productive..A very lovely posting. hugs Judy

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  17. So many gorgeous things, you can never have too much pink !
    Lovely post, I really enjoyed it,
    Kate x

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  18. Wow amazing finds and those muffins look delish!! Xx

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Thanks for visiting and for taking the time to leave a comment - I love to read them!
Gill x