Pink Green

Half Term

Although I have already had a week without having to go to school, Half Term has come at a great time for us all. We seem to have been getting wearier and wearier, and a week of lie ins, mornings in PJs and a bit of a rest is what has been needed. As Andy is working this week and can't take any time off, the girls and I have headed up to sunny Leicestershire for a few days at my parent's house.

We've had a few country walks,

a trip to my favourite shops and gallery at Staunton Harold (which I have talked about in the past, here),

marvelled at the peculiar fish,

and had fun just chatting and chilling with family and friends.

 

When I get home I have more gorgeous fabric to play with,

and more of these to make and then turn into jewellery.

Life is good.

New Year's Resolutions

I know, I know, it is ages until New Year - there is the whole matter of the 'C' word to contend with first, plus the small matter of November and December, but today I have made my New Year's Resolutions.

Birthday flowers.

Yesterday was my 38th birthday. Having surrounded myself with a husband and friends who are for the most part the other side of 40 to me, I am aware that I am not that old yet (nor do I feel it!). However, quite a few changes have all come at once for us and it feels like the end of one part of my life and the start of another. Friday was my very last day at school (having done the emotional farewell in July it was a low key trip to the pub with friends after work), and although I am sure I will be back for the odd trip, art day, even some supply work, this is really it now.

More birthday flowers.

I have mixed emotions about leaving school- I loved my job, my work friends, the children (some of whom I worked with in at least 4 different classes and years) and the very short trip around the corner to work every day. However, today is the first day of my new life - I am self employed, working from home, and don't really know where to start!

Playing around with some fabric to make these mirrors was therapeutic and got me cracking in the right direction this morning.

Andy started his new job yesterday too, so we will have to get used to him working normal office hours, having worked shifts for over 4 years. I am looking forward to having the house to myself during the week and having normal weekends where we can do things as a family again. It's very quiet here today - no Radio 6 Music coming from the kitchen to drown out my Radio 4, no children, even the dog is subdued and has barely wagged his tail. Still, the sun is shining now, after the torrential downpours of the last few days, so I am sure he will be happy to accompany me on a stroll around the block to get some fresh air and meet Ruth from the school bus.

My New Year's resolutions have always been the same - to lose some weight and to start driving. Having passed my test 13 years ago and not driving since it had become a bit of a 'thing' for me. However, I have now been driving (relatively successfully) for 6 months, and am building up my confidence to go it alone. I have also lost a small amount of weight, and I am confident that without the cakes and donuts on the staffroom table I will be able to keep that up too.

So, as this is the start of a new year in my life I thought I would come up with a few resolutions to replace my old ones and to reflect the fresh start I am feel began with my birthday yesterday. If I write them here I will be reminded of them and I may actually stick to them this year!!

1) Cook well and eat healthily all week.

2) Make lists and stick to them.

3) Buy a pedometer and see how far I walk each day. Then increase it.

4) Go to bed earlier and read more, without falling asleep with the book on my face.

5) See friends more, and have fun.

Happy New Year!

 

Happy Days

I am super excited today! One of my necklaces has been featured on October Etsy Picks over on the gorgeous Lobster and Swan blog - a blog I have followed and loved for many years. I am so thrilled that something I have made has been featured somewhere I have looked to for inspiration myself.

That's me at No. 6! (Photo from Lobster & Swan Blog) There is a link to my Etsy shop in my sidebar, just in case you were interested!!

It has come at a perfect time too. I have had a little wobble recently about whether I am doing the right thing - giving up a job that I have really enjoyed at school to work for myself. I've been worried I might be lonely, poor and misguided.

After a good telling off from my sister, and remembering the comments of an acquaintance who was so encouraging - saying that he admired me because as adults we don't often experience that excited fear of the 'new' that we experience as children because we rarely put ourselves in the position of the unknown - I am feeling positive again. It's true - I am scared, but in a good way. It will be hard work and I may be a tad cash poor for a while, but it will be worth it if I can be my own boss and be creative. I can show my girls that they can choose whatever they want to do in life if they work hard. Exciting times ahead!!

 

Where did September go?

I can't quite believe that today is the last day of September. Time is whizzing by, probably because I am trying to squeeze so much into it. Life is such a juggling act - children, husband, dog, housework, my job at school, running an Etsy and Folksy shop, trying to maintain a social life, cook and eat well, shop...I'm sure you are all the same. Most women are very good at juggling it seems. It's very easy to compare myself to friends who seem to have it all under control, although I secretly suspect they are all paddling like fury underneath while calm as a duck above the water. I hope so anyway, because that's how I feel, but without the calm bit!

1930s Vintage Fabric Pocket Mirrors

I have been trying to be more proactive in getting myself organised. I am very aware that in a few weeks my job at school will finally finish (although hopefully I will still do the odd bit of supply), and I will have more time to devote to my new enterprises. Still, time is ticking on and Christmas is in sight (almost), so I have been making, photographing and listing loads new lines on Folksy. Please tell all your friends! These are just a few of the new bits and bobs available, with many more to follow soon.

1930s Vintage Fabric Button Necklace

Italian Paper and Vintage Button Necklace

1930s Fabric Button Magnets

Italian Paper and Glass Earrings

At the moment I have kept Etsy for the vintage items and Folksy for the handmade. Does anyone have any advice or ideas about this strategy? It seems quite complicated to get a second Etsy shop, although I may go down this route when I have more time. I'd be interested to hear about your experiences with both/ either and how it is working for you.

Thanks for dropping by,

Cathy XX

 

The Best Laid Plans...

Hello! It's been a while! Life really has the habit of taking over and making me busy, sadly leaving very little time for blogging at the mo.

We had a lovely Summer - spent with family, friends, then just us. We had fun in Leicestershire, Gloucestershire and Devon, with the highlight being a week in Dartmouth. Bodie discovered his sea legs, and we discovered the delights of the beach, the fish and chip shops, the boats and steam trains.

The main farmhouse - we were in the barn.

Dartmouth

The view of Dittisham from Greenways - Agatha Christie's holiday home.

Bodie fancied a swim, but eventually used the rope as a pillow for most of the journey.

So, back to reality - schools are back in full force. Ruthie has taken to Secondary school like a duck to water - she's made tons of new friends, kept some old ones, got the service bus every day, and even mastered the homework (sort of!). Gracie has started the term off well with an award for attainment which was presented at Gloucester Cathedral last week, along with her first performance with the senior orchestra. There have been lots of proud mummy moments in the last few weeks.

Aside from that, my plans for becoming business woman of the year have been put on hold slightly by being asked to go back to school for 3 days a week to work in Year 6 until a replacement can be found. It's fun, and I even dressed up in 1940s gear for a trip to the Swindon Steam Museum evacuee experience last week,  but it does mean that life is crazy with me trying to fit everything else in that I had planned to do. Hopefully it will be until half term at the latest.

I don't usually post photos of myself, but I was quite proud of the Victory Rolls (which stayed in all day!)

I have found time to update my Folksy shop though, and my Etsy shop has been ticking over very nicely. I'm also selling lots of jewellery in a new and fabulous shop in town called By the Yard. I am very proud to have my bits and bobs alongside some amazingly talented artists and crafters. I'm hoping to expand to other shops soon too, a bit further afield.

I'm still finding the time for cooking and crochet though. Our latest favourite Sunday pud (with leftovers for a Monday!) is a Frangipane Tart. I've been making it with plums, pears, apples, and this week was Pear and Blackberry. It's so easy, but looks like you've slaved (which is always a bonus in my book!)

Pear and Blackberry Frangipane Tart

This is before it went into the oven - it didn't hang around long enough for a post-cooking photo!

Ingredients

Basic shortcrust pastry (I often use Jusrol when short on time.)

1-2 Pears

A handful of blackberries

For the Frangipane:

100g butter

100g caster sugar

1 egg

100g ground almonds

1. Line a tart tin with pastry.

2. Beat together butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg then stir in ground almonds.

3. Spread frangipane mixture over pastry.

4. Peel and slice the pears - I get 3 slices out of each quarter if they are large ones. Arrange over the tart in a pretty pattern. Scatter over the blackberries. I usually sprinkle it with demerara sugar before it goes in the oven.

5. Bake in the oven for about 25 mins at 200^oC.

6. Serve warm with pouring cream. It is also pretty scrummy the next day cold with a cuppa.

Well, thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you again soon. XX

Scary times...

Big, scary changes are afoot chez Pink Green. I have taken the plunge and have handed in my notice at school and I'm going to be running Pink Green as a proper business full time from the end of July. I have been involved with the school for 9 years and employed for 7, so it is a huge change, but with my not-so-little Ruthie heading off to big school in September, and not being there for the walk to school every morning, it seemed the right time. I've loved my time as a Teaching Assistant, and I will really miss the children and the daily chatter with the staff, who I am lucky to class as friends as well as colleagues, but the time has come to be brave!

 

So, with that in mind, I had a launch party last Friday to celebrate my new career. I had my trustee sidekick (or should that be arse-kicker?!) - my beautiful sister, Rachel - on hand to help, and we served tea, cake and Pimms to about 50 friends in my little house, and sold lots of jewellery and vintage treasures to start me off on my new journey. It was a fantastic start to things, and I was very touched by how enthusiastic everyone was, and how supportive. Several friends had made cakes to bring, others did the washing up, some helped with the setting up, one friend went above and beyond and housed Bodie for the day. I feel really buoyed up and positive - I really want this to be a success, both for me and for my family.

My fabulous sister in waitress mode!

The next three weeks are going to be weird. I've had my last school trip, my last class photo, my last Summer concert and my last sports day. I've got quite a few lasts still to come  - but I'm thinking about all the firsts that are to come too. I will be focussing on Etsy and on supplying more shops, plus Folksy, Facebook, and I will have more to blog about too (I hope!). So, watch this space!

Randomness

I wanted to write a post, but didn't know what to write about, so here are a few things from the last week ...

A tin of vintage haberdashery goodies - ready for sorting and putting in my Etsy shop.

The table set for a celebratory "Woohoo, SATs are over" tea for Ruthie.

A close up of the tablecloth - it is all made up of tiny-tiny cross stitches, and is my favourite tablecloth. It was a special tea indeed!

My poor, long-suffering, cushion of a dog.

Tulips in the sunshine.

One of my bunting necklaces - some of these are destined for a new shop (more on that another day).

My small but perfectly formed garden (well, the left side at least - the bit you can't see looks like a scene from the blitz - we are waiting for a new shed and a bit of a tidy)

Healthy basil and geraniums (best not to get them mixed up)

We are off for a few days in Cornwall over half term to celebrate my father-in-law's 70th birthday. Let's hope the sun decides to appear - he does a mean barbecue, and I feel the need to sit on a beach without a fleece or wellies.

Happy Half Term to anyone who is celebrating.

Cathy X

PS I am now on Instagram (I'm not quite a Luddite when it comes to these things, but a 10 year old had to show me how to use it!). You can find me at pinkgreen1 - come and say hello and point me in the direction of pretty things!!

Was that Spring?

Please tell me that those few days of glorious sunshine weren't the only truly Spring-like days we are going to see. My garden is beginning to bloom, I put my boots away, dug out my Summer wardrobe, made salads and drank g&ts (well, ok, I know I do that all year round, but this was in the garden!) I'm not ready for more rain and chilly nights.

So, yet again, this blog has been seriously neglected. I love blogging - I love the writing and recording, and then reading it back a while later and remembering things I would usually have forgotten. I also love reading other peoples' blogs, and I still manage to read my old favourites and find some new ones, but as for commenting... I read them on my phone usually while drying my hair, waiting for the spuds to boil etc, so never manage to leave comments. I'm still there in spirit though. I'm hoping to pick it up in the next few months and I have changes a-coming, which will mean that I will hopefully have more to blog about, and more time to comment on yours (if anyone is still reading!). More on that another day...

I'm out of the way of taking photos for my blog, so I don't have photos to show you of the clothes I've been making (including my first dress, complete with lining and a zip), the jewellery I've been creating, the patchwork I've been doing or the crochet I've grown weary of, but I did remember to take photos of the food I've been cooking.

Salmon with Honey, Mustard & Dill marinade.

Swedish style potato salad with radishes (and dill). These recipes were both taken from last month's Sainsbury's Magazine, and are a huge hit with us all - largely because anything with dill in it reminds us of the fabulous Summer we had in Sweden a few years ago. This is comfort food Scandi-style for us!

Pear Frangipane tart. This is soooo easy to make and is fantastic for entertaining with some chantilly cream, or warm from the oven with a cuppa. You can either make a basic shortcrust pastry, buy some Jusrol, or even buy a ready made case, fill it with a basic frangipane recipe (of which there are hundreds online - I tend to make it up as I go along, but it has approxiately 75g butter and sugar creamed together, then 1 egg, a few grams of plain flour, and 100g or so of ground almonds mixed in until it looks like cake mixture), and then peel and slice some pears and plonk them on the top. Sprinkle with demerera sugar and pop in the oven for about 20 mins - or until it looks done. It's also pretty scrummy with plums instead of pears, or raspberry jam on the bottom. Sorry for the total lack of professional recipe, but it really is that easy.

We've been growing our own food, too. Unfortunately as it is pouring with rain you can only see the indoor produce, which consists of 2 of these gorgeous little houses with a freshly seeded lawn - which hopefully will be lush and verdant in only a few days. Cress is a wonderful little sprout!

Talking of little sprouts (did you see what I did there?!), my not-so-little-anymore sprout is about to take her pesky SATs (controversial tests in Maths, English and Science at the end of Primary school for those not in the know), and will be leaving Primary School forever in a few weeks time. Here she is in school uniform making jam tarts, complete with 'helper', who is hopeful of bits of pastry dough making their way under the table. As I'm typing this my even bigger sprout is in the kitchen making biscuits. Dieting is pretty hard in a house where there are 4 bakers (Andy makes a mean banana loaf on his days off!).

Well, fingers crossed for more sunshine, sandals, ice lollies and barbecues. I've got blue tits nesting in my little bird house, and a lilac tree just about to flower - I hope they don't get blown away by the stormy weather.

See you soon...!

 

Happy Easter!

Eggcups available here.

This is the 11th Easter these eggs have brightened up our house!

Double Daffs - £1 a bunch from M&S...

...so I bought 3 bunches!

No Easter is complete without a trifle...

...or a chocolate bunny!

Hope you've had a lovely Easter. Spring is nearly here!

It's Nearly March...

Well, February has nearly passed us by, thank goodness. I am longing for some sunshine, a cup of tea on the bench in my garden, opening the windows and the doors and generally not feeling quite so cold and grey. I don't usually feel the cold but it has been the sort that gets into your bones. The fire and blankets have been working overtime, and we've taken to allowing Bodie on the sofa occasionally just for his warmth (which he is quite happy to provide in return for a cuddle).

We had a fabulous half term week in a cottage near Chichester. It was right on the beach, and we had a lovely time exploring places we had never been before.

This was the beach that was a 30 second walk from our front door.

This is a really pretty florists shop in Arundel, and it serves to remind me that the sun did shine while we were there!

West Dean Gardens were my favourite discovery. Even in the depths of Winter there were signs of life everywhere. 

The fruit trees were all trained in the most perfect manner around metal supports. It must be breathtaking when the blossom is out.

I managed to squeeze in a visit to Clothkits in Chichester, which was a fantastic sanctuary from the blizzard outside. I took a couple of sneaky photos on my phone, but as I was with children and men I was only allowed a few minutes to browse. I came home with some little bits of fabric and lots of ideas!

One good thing about the weather is that I have been reading, knitting and crocheting much more than usual. I knitted a hat from this book, which has been keeping me warm, and I am currently working on a cowl from a pattern cobbled together from various sources in gorgeous mustard coloured wool. I will be taking this with me to tomorrow nights' Craft Night In at Cafe Moochoo, which is a lovely way to spend a couple of hours with friends (and cake).

Well, I had better go and start tidying. I've got friends coming round for wine and gossip tonight as Andy is working, and as always I've put off the tidying up until the last minute. In my defence it does get messy very quickly so the later I leave it the more chance there is that it will still look ok at 8pm!