~Enjoy the festive season!~

I thought I might share some Christmas simple pleasures...

As well as the vintage baubles, I love these glass robins I bought this year.

Lovely berry-laden holly from mature trees at work *ahem* with a precious inherited wooden box that was my Home Economics teacher's sewing box...

I love the fragrance of this 'Silent Night' reed diffuser from Next...

...and finally marzipan fruits! I love them, they remind me of my Nana, the1970s and Christmases full of advocaat Snowballs ...   Both me and daughter L find all things almond and marzipan the pinnacle of indulgence, so these will be savoured! 

These lovely ones were from the gorgeous sweet shop Florence Wren on Bootham in York.

Happy Christmas everyone x

~Christmas Decs~

Maybe we're all keen to be cheered up by twinkly lights and shiny things...that must be why everyone in our street was busy up ladders today putting their outside lights up.  I am tight and don't go in for outside stuff however I did wash my windows and front door and put a new wreath on my door. I've made the kitchen dresser look festive using the wool felt bunting I made last year.

I've also put my tree up, again using my growing collection of old glass baubles plus some modern kitschy glass robins, birds and snowmen. 

I love it - though daughter L would prefer a tree that was more tasteful and less (in her own words) *bat shit crazy* :)

~Vintage Bauble Loveliness~

Here's some vintage bauble loveliness! I've had a few lucky vintage glass bauble finds via my local charity shop and the car boot sale earlier in the year. I love finding them and marvel that they've survived intact.
The tree's up early as I'm having an Open House shopping event on Thursday.  I've decided to go for the full-on (bad taste?) Christmas tree from my 70s childhood because it makes me feel nostalgic and happy.  The tree is of course fake, for kitsch-ness reasons , as well because I am unwilling to spend another New Year extracting hundreds of pine needles from the carpet with tweezers.
Here are some of my favourite baubles...

The glass birdies with feather tails were bought as a set from

Sugar Pie Lemon Drop a couple of years ago.

and the full tree with coloured lights...

17 year old daughter L says it's 'Soooo Garish' and wishes we had a normal tree.  Well I don't do normal, so there!

I've made some wool felt bunting for the fireplace, and found this little tree in the charity shop...

So pleased I found it as I'd coveted Thea's little red tinsel tree at Hearts and Bluebells...

 In this part of the world we call this festive prettification  'trimming up' - what a fab phrase.

What do you call getting the house ready for Christmas? 

~To Cath or not to Cath Part 2~

Back in May 2011, I wrote about looky-likey Cath Kidston floral wallpaper and how after much deliberation I decided to spend the extra pounds on the real thing. 
So here is 'To Cath or not to Cath'  dilemma no.2 ; I absolutely love Cath Kidston pyjamas... 

Image from www.cathkidston.co.uk

...and would dearly love to own a pair if money were no object. Gorgeous they may be, but I would feel poorly spending £50 on some PJs, it just wouldn't seem right to me- a bit too self-indulgent (and I'd probably spill red wine down them or wash them accidentally with a black sock or something)

I've spotted these looky-likey floral PJs in Sainsburys Christmas magazine...

 ...for the reasonable price of £14.  Pleased to say the OH took the (heavy) hint and has bought me them for Christmas!

~It's a Cracker!~

I can't abide spending my money on things like Christmas Crackers, though the kids would fall out with me if I *bah humbug* didn't buy any.  Frugal solution follows...
Buy Tesco Value Crackers - 10 for the sum of 96p.  I couldn't buy the cardboard for that, so I thought I would use them as a starting point.

I bought 2 packs of cute chocolate Christmas puds from Co Op for £2  (I had more than enough so ate these ones that were left)

I carefully dismantled the cracker - they'd glued the cracker-snappy thing to the card so I snipped it and reglued it after generously filling the cracker with choccies...

I dispensed with the nasty plastic toy...

Added some vintage eiderdown fabric scraps, gingham ribbon and hearts...

Thrify crackers total cost £2.96

~Forthcoming Event~

Please forgive me if you live nowhere near me, but I just wanted to publicise this local event next week where I will be having a Lavender Attic stall of Christmas handmade lovelies, chutneys, Zesty Soaps and St Eval candles.  It is a fantastic oppotunity to do a bit of Christmas shopping or treating yourself.  My friend Donna at Sugar Pie Lemon Drop will also have a stall.   
Thursday 22nd November 6-8pm at:
South Milford Community Primary School,
Sand Lane,
South Milford,
Leeds.
LS25 5AU

Hope to see you there!

~Car Boot Sale thrifting~

What a glorious Sunday morning to get up early and indulge in mine (and my Mum's) favourite pastime - the Car Boot Sale! As I've mentioned before; this local car boot is a good one, moderately-sized and held monthly between April - September, run by the Rotary Club. Look at the lovely blue sky at 8am!

There were about 10 rows of sellers - it's held on a grass field next to a plant nursery about a mile from my house.
This morning's finds include these very old glass baubles for my kitsch Christmas tree.  The little vintage elves are apparently Swedish...

Sorry to mention the 'C' word in late Summer, but they were a good find for £1.

Also I bought these 1970s stacking cake tins, which I remember being a fixture in my

 early 1970s childhood kitchen...

Originally there would have been 3 of them, but they are in good condition ( and Made in England!) Another good buy for £1.

I must away into the kitchen and attend to my pickles and preserves...

Enjoy your Sunday! xx

~Last Post of 2011 and Last of The Turkey~

We're just finishing picking over the last of the turkey tonight, and for the second time this week we're having a curry.  This recipe is adapted from Gary Rhodes' quick chicken curry in his 1997 book Short Cut Rhodes, it's a quick and easy way to use up any leftover meat (even chicken or pheasant too.)
Ingredients
Chopped leftover cooked turkey
3 tbsp cold-pressed Rapeseed Oil
2 onions chopped
2 garlic cloves chopped
Medium curry powder/ garam masala to taste
I can Carnation evaporated milk
Handful of sultanas
Dash of milk
Salt & Pepper
Method
Soften onions in the oil until transluscent, then add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the curry powder and cook for a couple more minutes.  Season the chopped meat and add to the onions.  Keep stirring to prevent burning.  Add a dash of water to deglaze the pan, then add the can of evaporated milk and the sultanas (optional).  Simmer for about 10-15 mins, add a drop of milk to prevent sticking, if needed.

~It's Nearly Over For Another Year!~

Well, it's nearly New Year and all over again for another year!  Time to think ahead to 2012 and the joys and challenges it will bring. I need to really have a concerted effort to get back into my cycling and circuit training (cheap exercise, no need for expensive gym membership) as I've not exercised for a few weeks now due to my back  - and also not wanting to venture out of hibernation. 
We've had a busy family Christmas, very enjoyable with lovely get-togethers, food and drink; but now I need to *step away* from the Fox's biscuits, Christmas cake, cheese, Prosecco and sloe gin and consider my expanding waistline.
We've had more shopping in York, with time for China Rose Petal tea at Betty's...


Little Betty's in Stonegate, York

I've had a clearout of my wardrobe and drawers (destined for the Sue Ryder shop) and done a little bit -very minimal amount-  of sales shopping as I am not a big fan of malls/shopping centres and the bad-tempered crush that they bring.
Crafting wise, I am still knitting wristwarmers...the ones for my brother's partner were only finished late on Boxing Day prior to her visiting on the 27th.  How rubbish am I?
My current project is these lovely ones...


I'll show them when they're finished.
All that wishes is to say Happy New Year to you all and see you soon on the other side in 2012! I'm going to have a think as well about resolutions - I want to make some changes this year and am determined to be determined!

~Winding down for Christmas~

Catching up with reading lovely blogs and their beautiful seasonal photos just now makes me feel very cosy, smiley and festive - and a little guilty that I haven't done much in the way of festive posting.  To be honest, I haven't had much time spare due to work and home/family day-to-day stuff, but I finish work on Thursday for the Christmas break! Hurrah!
 I'm admiring nostalgic decorations on other blogs (especially at Beyond the Nook today).  My kitsch mini-kitchen tree is home to my thifted vintage baubles...

 ... unfortunately they're not family heirlooms; I only wish I had kept my Nana's Christmas stuff.

(Excuse the overflowing drinks trolley, by the way!)

My mantlepiece has been jollied up with a garland I've made by stringing together handmade vintage wooden decorations on garden twine.  My Mum gave me them this week to take care of...

I just need to do some hedgerow greenery-snipping this week and add the holly and ivy.
Fairy lights are everywhere, on mirrors, pictures, even in the downstairs loo!
I get them from Lights4Fun, a Yorkshire company based in Harrogate.
And I bought 2 tins of this gorgeous stuff...

Peppermint Bark...yum! Half price in M&S at £4.   Julie at Little Cotton Rabbits blogged about this last December and has a recipe for the homemade version here .  Yes, I really should have made it myself, but coveted the lovely reusable red tin it came in, which will be used to store my ribbons and buttons.

Have a lovely week everyone - I'm looking forward to Thursday evening when J will be singing at the Primary School carol service in the beautiful village church.

~Christmas Wreath~

The Christmas wreaths I fancy for the door are always too expensive.  If I spent a lot of money I'm afraid I'd be too worried it might get half-inched (sad but true).
So I've done what I've done before....
I bought the cheapest wreath of fresh greenery from the local greengrocers (£7.50), then removed the unwanted paper bow and fake poinsettias (yuk). Added a gingham fabric bow (last year's recycled ribbon). I then used craft wire to add 3 fresh red chillis plus greenery and berries from the garden.  I've used orange pyracanthus berries, variegated holly and fatsia japonica flower heads.

I wonder if people will think of their fuel bills and the credit crunch this year and think twice about putting their outdoor decorations and fairy lights up? I've just strung some battery operated LED lights on the box trees outside the front door, whereas in years past we would have had icicle lights and illuminated snowflakes a-plenty.  

~Christmas Giveaway Link~

Find some time over the weekend to pop across to Marmalade and Catmint to enter the free giveaway to win some lovely Christmas goodies.

For 3 chances to enter all you have to do is...

1. Leave a comment on Marmalade and Catmint's blog asking to be entered into the draw.
2. Become a follower of Marmalade and Catmint.
3. Link back to the post on your blog about the giveaway.

~Fairy Nuff~

The Christmas Fair at J's school was a real success. There was a fantastic high standard of stalls, with something for everyone...jewellery, scarves,  fair trade clothes and accessories,( my lovely friend Donna at Sugar Pie Lemon Drop)  2 card stalls, a Phoenix trader, gorgeous French-style brocante and vintage goodies, cupcakes, handmade cushions, painted signs, doorstops, bunting and Christmas decorations. Then there was me...Lavender Attic, with my chutney and bits and bobs. I always feel a bit amateur, but enthusiastic nonetheless, as I don't do selling,  and don't exhibit regularly at craft fairs. However, the chutney flew off the stall and there were tense negotiations over the last 2 jars...eeek! Calm down ladies and gents; it's only pickle! The lavender hearts didn't sell, but the mini-bunting did, and the vintage 1950s, 1960s and 1970s knitting patterns went down well.
I'll share some of my purchases with you too...

These cards are made by a clever lady called Pat from Leeds...very different and great attention to detail. This owl card was available in purple (above) green and this yellow/orange colourway (below) too (£2).

and then when I saw this lovely Christmas Fairy I knew I had to have her...

Wearing her heart on her sleeve and with her hand over her mouth in an oops-did-I-really-say-that way, she is perfect to watch over me! She has a label saying...

"Granting Wishes is really tough...

so please be patient...Fairy Nuff"

Her hair, made from braided and plaited baker's twine, is exquisite.

If you'd like your own fairy get in touch with Lisa and Jane at Yorkshire-based company Twisted Vintage. Very shortly they are opening a shop in Whitwood, Castleford where you'll be able to buy their eclectic mix of handmade country style as well as vintage home accessories and gifts.

I think she looks very much at home. 

Enjoy the weekend x