~Vintage Knitting Book Giveaway & Birthday Time~

This weekend has seen me turn 44, which is a bit of a shock, but a nicer more symmetrical number than 43...

Laura bought me these lovely flowers.
Remember the Beginner's Crochet on 1st Feb at Me and Mrs Fisher in York? The lovely Hannah and Liz mentioned me and my blog on their Facebook page here.  So, I did also attend the Improver's Crochet the following week and I did manage to understand and complete the different projects, but I was very slow!  My colleague from work came along too (she was accomplished and speedy), and she made me this for my birthday.  Clever lady.  Just the shade of blue I like...

I am giving away this lovely booklet of vintage inspired knitting projects, by the talented Sarah Hatton.

http://www.knitrowan.com/designs-and-patterns/books/sarah-hatton-knits-vintage-inspired-projects

 There are some lovely garments and photographs...I like the brooch on the belt of the dress below...

If you would like to win this lovely pattern book, just leave me a comment and I will randomly draw a winner at 6pm Monday 24th February. Good luck x

~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

~Birthday Weekend~

Well, I turned 43 on Friday, which is a shocker, though I'm assured by 11 year old J that his mates think I'm waaaay younger looking than that!!  It's half-term, so for us lucky term-time workers that means a week off which I will use for Spring Cleaning, a bit of wallpapering and a lot of tea and cake and catching up with people.
I got some really thoughtful and great presents from friends and family...Do you think it's lovely that my little brother knows me so well?!?

I also received some lovely soap and bath truffles from The Yorkshire Soap Company in York, which smell divine and I've took them out of their pretty handbag-shaped boxes to display them in the bathroom on a glass cake stand...

The soap in the middle smells of violets which is one of my favourite scents, up there at the top of my fragrance top 10 with rosemary and geranium.

www.theyorkshiresoapcompany.co.uk
Twitter @ysoap
10 Blake Street
York YO1 8QG
Open 10.30-5.30 Mon-Sat, 10 - 5 Sun

Back tomorrow with a crafty book giveaway.
Sally x

~Keeping Fit and trying new things~

I'm glad it's Friday and the weekend is stretching out ahead, snow or not.  I'm nearly back to normal physically today as Tuesday's induction to Kettlercise left me in lactic-acid muscle agony - and I thought I was relatively fit. After 1 day I needed help to be rolled out of bed, and by day 2 I was making loud involuntary noises when moving, even sitting down on the loo was acutely painful! Despite my poor achey thighs and bum, I am returning for another dose next week!  To burn some calories I have been to work on the train this week, as I've been office-based in York and not needed my car.  A return ticket was £5.20 which was cheaper than petrol and actually quicker than by car. It's been bright and cold while I walked the 15 minutes to work, 15 minutes back to the station and another 15 minutes from the village station to my house. Apart from the fitness aspect who can argue with this as a view when you're walking to work?  I love crossing Lendal Bridge to see the Minster looming, especially on a bright day.

Image courtesy of www.yorkshirewalks.org

The only downside was sitting next to 2 men loudly and lovingly compare the intricacies of their smartphones contract and battery capacity.  I do like my peace and quiet, but it was better than driving in rush-hour traffic. I read my (real) book on the train, but it's not the norm now. As usual I am outdated; but I see that as a good thing!

~Charity Shop Find and Tea!~

I know all us thrifty types have had a moan about charity shops that have had a retail make-over (usually involves installation of laminate flooring and a dubious 'vintage' rail) with their bizarre pricing structure and lack of real bargains.  However, in my usual *glass half full* way, I don't believe they're all the same; I have discovered the best finds are found in independent, local charity shops.  My latest thrifty find was from one such place, which I will share so long as you keep it quiet!
'It's Donated' is an independent charity shop that is absolutely packed full of treasures and well worth a visit if you're in York.  It's in 'The Groves' a residential area near St. John's Uni and the Hospital.  I think it's closed on Wednesdays.

Image from www.192.com

It's Donated, Lowther Street, York, North Yorkshire YO31 7NB

  01904 689689 

 I bought a book, a vintage piece of children's fabric and this  Bodum Assam Tea Press, in great condition, £2...I'm so pleased as new ones cost £24.

At my Macmillan event my friend S bought me this loose leaf tea from a gorgeous shop in London...
So tonight I'll try my  lovely Earl Grey Blue Flower tea from Camellia Sinensis www.camelliasteahouse.com which is a tea room and retail shop off Carnaby Street.
S is a very accomplished lace-maker, crocheter (is that a word?) and knitter.  Here is one of two tea cosies she donated to my Macmillan raffle...

Tea cosy expertly knitted by friend S. which was a raffle prize at my
Macmillan coffee morning - sadly I didn't win *sob*

(Oooh and another couple of good charity shops in York are the RSPCA one in Gillygate and the Salvation Army one on the corner of Gillygate, opposite Lord Mayor's walk...)
Back soon hopefully, as life is a bit manic,
Take care x

~York Minster Trip~

As part of her A level Textiles, daughter L is currently looking at the 800 celebrations in York (1212 - 2012) and has chosen to explore stained glass patterns, so on a (very) rainy Saturday morning we tootled off into York. Not living more than 45 minutes from York for all of my 42 years,  I am ashamed to admit I have never been in the Minster before, so I was quite excited...
  An entry fee has been payable for the last few years (although free to York residents).  This caused a bit of a hoo-ha when it was introduced as previously it was free to look around.  After visiting you do realise the enormous amount of renovation and upkeep that is ongoing (currently the Great East Window is removed for years of releading and cleaning) and I think £9 to visit the Minster and Chapter House was more than worth it.  We took advantage of one of the free guided tours, in a small group of 6, with one of the knowlegeable volunteer Minster guides.  This was brilliant for L, with lots of history, facts, figures and explanations about the stained glass windows...

                                           

                                                     The Great West Window known as 'Heart of Yorkshire'
                                       with the Semaphore Saints below

The Rose Window above the South Door
commemorating the union of York and Lancaster
and the start of the Tudor dynasty

Our 2 hour visit was also accompanied by the beautiful rehearsal of a choir and concert orchestra as there was  a Jubilee concert on Saturday night.

What a fantastic experience and very calming and uplifting it was too!

When we were soaked and in need of a hot chocolate we visited a little cafe behind the Minster on College Street; The Vanilla Cafe, where you can sit outside in Summer (haha if only) The sideways rain forced us inside - it's one of those places where you walk in and think 'oooh I wish this shop was mine!'

Illy coffee and Crystal teabags, homemade food and cakes, homemade cards, bunting and gifts...

Gorgeously decorated with floral wallpapers and green paint...

Vintage china for sale...

Even the loo had my favourite Cath Kidston wallpaper!

Good prices for a City Centre cafe too- there are a couple of additional rooms upstairs too with a sofa and lovely vintage floral pictures on the walls. Very nicely done. I will be back!

The Vanilla Cafe

Open every day from 10am

12 College Street

York YO1 7JF