~Monday's Thrifty Find~

I'm sorry I haven't been posting as regularly as usual, but like many people I find June and July extremely busy, both at work and with family and home commitments.  Thankfully it's nearly the summer holidays - I am sooooo lucky to work term-time - I can't wait to go to the seaside in the caravan, Chateau H.
We had a family party on Saturday evening, which thanks to the heavy showers had a squelchy and muddy festival feel to it.  Gorgeous sun one minute, and huge raindrops the next! I am still cleaning up now! Daughter L was 17 last Wednesday as well as this week being the birthdays of Small Dog and OH.

My clever Auntie J kindly made the cake for L as a surprise, as well as lots of lovely cupcakes.

I had today as a day off to catch up with myself and popped into

 Tadcaster this morning to go to the butchers with locally sourced meat

Devine Meats. Butchers. 10 Bridge Street, Town Centre, Tadcaster, LS24 9AL

I indulged in 20 minutes of thrifting in the Yorkshire Cancer Research charity shop and as well as some old pearls and beads, and some Johnson's pastel crockery, I found this gorgeous black dress which I think is vintage 1980s ...

It wasn't priced and I guessed at the size (as it has no size label) - but it fits brilliantly.  The photo doesn't do it justice - the sleeves are really puffy and are lined with stiff organza. The price of my new LBD was £5!

I love a good thrifting find to cheer me up!

~Stall Photos from Rivers Meet Market~

Stacy @Sostacysews and Lexie @secretthimble and I have had a lovely day at Rivers Meet Market in May. We were pretty quick at setting up our 3-in-1 pop-up shop - all ready with 30 minutes to spare for our flasks of coffee and jubilee chocolate brownies...
I aimed for a red, white and blue theme including some jubilee union jack bunting on the gazebo.

Best-sellers of the day for me were candles, vintage fabric, brooches, vintage knitting patterns and bric-a-brac. Unfortunately my tea cosy, mug warmers, pincushion and bunny didn't sell...

Below - some of Lexie's cushions made from repurposed coffee sacks and embroidery hoops - available on www.etsy.com/shop/secretthimble

Some of Stacy's lovely bags (right of photo) and she had lots of cross-stitched badges and cards that will shortly be for sale at Vintage Rose in Selby, North Yorkshire       http://www.vintageroseselby.co.uk/

It's a shame the warm sun didn't show it's face but thankfully it didn't rain!

~Vintage Fair at Rivers Meet Craft Cafe~

Bbbrrr, it's been a cold weekend here in Yorkshire, the snow has lingered due to the low temperatures.  It was minus 5 on my garden thermometer yesterday morning - and I have to confess I stayed in my PJs and watched a dramatisation of Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca starring Charles Dance & Emilia Fox.  I hardly ever do that, so it was a nice treat.
 I loved the feathery ice pattern on the conservatory window on Saturday morning...

Today I went along with Anne from Marmalade & Catmint, and my lovely Mum,  to a Valentine Craft & Vintage Fair here...

Rivers Meet Craft Cafe in Methley, near Leeds.   I remember this building as a pub a few years ago - it was given a new lease of life as a craft and foodie haven when it was reopened by Joanne and Richard as Rivers Meet in Autumn 2011.  It's open 7 days a week for food, and the in-house craft shop has some fantastic fabrics and beads too. There are also sewing, quilting and other craft classes, along with a book group. See other blogs here and here for foodie reviews and more lovely photos of this unique place, which, judging by today's busy cafe, is obviously a very popular hub of the community.

I caught up with Margaret again from Ready Planted  (@MaggyAnne on Twitter) whose stall looked very pretty and Spring-like.  I bought some Hellebores and Mum treated me to my first daffodils of the year at 50p a bunch.

Margaret's son paints the bespoke signs, they really are the nicest I've come across - his contact details are on the sign on the right under 'For Quotes and Orders' ...I'm looking forward to welcoming Margaret to my March afternoon tea event too.

A cup of tea and a slice of cake on pretty vintage china in the cafe ...

Now to more purchases...

Some East of India ribbon and labels from Chicken Shed Gifts who also have an online shop. 

  Some more ribbons and a handmade ditsy corsage from Twisted Vintage, who open their shop in Whitwood, Castleford, next month.

This cute wooden mini bunting from Twisted Vintage...

A couple of fat quarters of this pretty faux patchwork cotton lawn.  I might recover my piano (sewing) stool with this during half-term...Anne bought some fat quarters too, I'm sure she will post about them too - we both had cameras in-hand to take some snaps!

I may be back there for a half-term breakfast treat with the kids this week!

~Tin Duck SupperClub~

Firstly I shall apologise that my camera never came out of my bag.  Very remiss of me, but I was too sidetracked by the good company and excellent food. What a rubbish reporter I would make. Easily distracted...



Image from Tin Duck Supper Club website

 We arrived at the Tin Duck Supper Club at 7.45pm having received an email with details of it's York location a few days before.  The other guests were already uncorking their vino (BYO) and we were welcomed in by Rob who made us feel at ease.  Rob & Kirsty's period house is comfortable and cosy with a lovely woodburning stove in the through lounge/dining room.
Starter - Aubergine Parmigiana with homemade Pesto
I loved this...an individual (generous) layered stack of gorgeousness! The aubergine was substantial and meaty, if you know what I mean; the pesto was delicious and dotted around the tower of aubergine and tomato layers.
Main - Beef Shin Ragu with homemade Papardelle
Generous portion of ragu and papardelle - the beef had been slow-cooked until it shredded and fell of the bone.  Well seasoned with a rich peppery aftertaste. Delicious robust pasta. Served with a side plate of warm caramelised onion bread.  We were all stuffed after we'd cleared our plates, so had a break from the food and were joined by the hosts Kirsty and Rob before we had our dessert. Main topic of chat was food and wine and shopping locally. We recommended various York and North Yorkshire foodie places to each other, which was informative.
Dessert - Plum & Almond Tart with Vanilla Mascarpone cream
I'm a pudding-girl and a lover of all things almond; so this was heaven for me.  Rob had made a fantastic job of the pastry - crisp and very short, made with butter.  Very jealous of the pastry! The plums were sweet and tart, and I loved the soft almond layer underneath. 
Overall, great inventive menu, great tasting food and chatty interesting company.  Relaxed homely atmosphere.  Kirsty & Rob have an obvious passion and interest in food, wine and travel and are keen to source local Yorkshire ingredients, including their own allotment produce. Their events usually seat 6 and have a minimal donation of approximately £20. I would highly recommend a trip to this supperclub... The Tin Duck SupperClub website is here with details of menus and how to book. 

~Thrifty weekend & joining a knitting circle~

I've really tried to cut down on my food shopping bill - which is hard with a hungry OH and 2 growing children-  but I do try to take on board all the fab advice from frugal and thrifty blogs.  I'm not brand-loyal or supermarket-loyal; for a big stock-up shop I just go where's convenient at any one time, or as I see special offers.  However, for the last month I've had Sainsbury's vouchers for £8 off a £40 shop each week.  I've used the voucher every Saturday and have concentrated on spending as near to £40 as possible, on some fresh items, staples such as tins of beans and tomatoes and also Christmas food & wine that has been on offer. I've used the local Sainsbury's in Tadcaster, which is only small but costs me less in petrol.
On the Christmas pressie front, I've used my Boots Advantage card points to pay for aftershave to give as a present. I'm still on with my knitting too...if I know you and you're female, then you're either getting a homemade teacosy...



Another Christmas Pud cosy made from leftover wool, machine sewn felt holly leaves and felted holly berries.
On a vintage thrifted teapot.

 ... or wristwarmers (I've made a few pairs now).  Also this weekend in the supermarket frozen raspberries were 3 packs for £5, 1.2kg in weight. With a 1kg bag of jam sugar and 300ml of port, I've made lovely festive jam, by the method I've blogged about before,  in the microwave - quick and easy.    It made 6 and a half small jars which will be presents too.

I also resisted the temptation to shop, albeit at a Vintage Fair in Leeds.  Even though I love this particular fair I stopped myself by thinking about the cost of petrol, frosty roads, needless spending on stuff etc. 
Instead I did something good for the soul and went along to a knitting circle whilst I was in Tadcaster, at Needlecase . I'd chanced across this lovely wool and craft shop last month...

Needlecase is run by Jean and Judith, who are mother and daughter, and are passionate about knitting and needlework.  They also offer crochet and knitting workshops see here.

 Lots of lovely yarns and patterns, plus haberdashery, kits and craft supplies, and some ready knitted items to buy...

I had a lovely chat, cake and cup of tea and did a fair bit of knitting (only went wrong once because I was nattering) and will definitely go again.

Needlecase Limited,
22 Kirkgate, Tadcaster LS24 9AD
01937 830 422 
Open 9.30 - 3.30.  Closed Wed and Sun.

~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.