10 things I have learned this week...

They say you learn something everyday... well, you certainly do! It may not be earth-shattering, or highly intricate or academic - but KNOWLEDGE IS POWER !! I'm not quite sure how empowered I am feeling by these realisations though...

1.  You may follow knitting patterns to the stitch, but they won't necessarily turn out like the picture on the front.

2.  Using plain flour instead of self-raising flour, and forgetting to add any baking powder, will definitely lead to a flat stodgy sponge - but the dog WILL still eat it.

3.  There are dishonest sellers on Ebay that go bonkers when you point out their deceptions - but you CAN embarrass them into a partial refund, especially when their feedback score depends upon it.

4.  Not all hospital procedures are necessarily as painful as you think they are going to be - so there really is no need to be scared.

5. I really can kill a houseplant without even trying.

6.  The world does not stop if you don't Tweet for 24 hours.

7.  My cat does NOT like trout?! Or yoghurt.

8.  Palm wax is truly beautiful - and is absolutely the way to go.

9.  Apparently elephants are the only mammal with 4 knees... yes, really.

10. Strangely, I have realised that I have a strong desire to become an Estate Agent.


I am taking active steps to realise this last revelation - but I'm not entirely sure how useful I will find the previous 9 !!

Folksy Friday - My Handmade Christmas Wishlist

Last week I gave you a gorgeous selection of Christmas decorations to get you in the Handmade festive mood.

This week I reveal My Handmade Christmas Wishlist - a selection of beautiful gifts from the wonderfully talented hand-crafting Folksy people that I would just LOVE to receive for myself... And hopefully, if you are having trouble deciding what to get for that extra gift this year, this will give you some added inspiration!

Click on the item name under each picture to find out more about each lovely gift...

Beaded Coil Bracelet

Bird Cage Neclace

Olive Ash Wooden Bowl

Vintage Look Beadwork Brooch

Hand Felted Corsage

Ship's Cat Door Stop

Chicken Egg Cosies & Egg Cup Set

Green Felted Bag

Wooden Love Sign

Flower Mosaic Mirror

Fingerless Mittens

Oreo and Milk Soap Set

PIN cushion

Winter Sunshine Sock Bunny

Vintage Style Union Jack Cushion

Spotted Strawberry Quilted Bag

Aren't they all gorgeous? And, of course, if anyone is feeling particularly generous...  ?? ;-)

Folksy Friday - P...P...P...Pick up a Penguin...!

Friday has rolled around again, and I have had so much fun putting together my Folksy Friday collection this week.  As you have probably guessed it is all about penguins!  I just love penguins - gorgeous little cheeky chappies, they just can't help but make you smile!
I was concerned at first that I had chosen a theme that may not have many items in the Folksy shops - but I was overwhelmed when my search results brought up such a wealth of beautiful finds.  I had quite a hard job whittling down to a reasonable number; but here are my 20 (yes, TWENTY!) Fab Folksy Friday Finds...

(click on the name below each item to find out more about the seller and be taken to their Folksy shop...)

Fishing Penguin

Wooden Penguin Bunting

Phyllis the Penguin

Big Fat Penguin of Determination Painting

It's Chilly - Penguin Badge

Penguin Charm Necklace with Swarovski Elements

Penguin & Snowflake Bag Charm

Little Penguin T-shirt

Penguin Fleece Cushion

Percy Penguin Christmas Greetings Card

Penguin Bookmark

Patient Penguin Stud Earrings

Penguin Pillow Box with Matching Tag

Penguin Christmas Tree Decoration

Penguin iPhone Cosy

Penguin Suncatcher

Penguins Walking Signed Print

Glass Penguin Keyring

Penguin Christmas Ornament Kit

Penguin Pendant Necklace

So, if you love these little fellows as much as I do - p...p...p...pick up one today!

Folksy Friday - Bring Me Sunshine...

Here's one I prepared earlier...
I am currently away on holiday, enjoying a bit of late summer sunshine, but I wanted you all to know that I haven't forgotten you - and I am sending you a little sunshine of your own.

As I was making my Folksy choices for this blog selection, I couldn't help humming that great song - immortalised by Eric & Ernie - so I hope that you will be singing along as you take a look at these gorgeous sunny finds...

(Click on the link below the picture to be taken to the folksy sellers shop to find more about each item...)

Sunshine Yellow Felted Bag

Sunshine Charm Bracelet 

Happy Sun Greetings Card 

Glass Nugget Daisy Sun Catcher 

Happy Sun Charm 

Sun Earrings 

Sun Rays Pendant 

"Reeds in the Sun" 

Sun Cloud Shelf 

 Washday Sunshine Soap Slice

Sunshine Textile Embroidery

Sunshine Corsage

I may be on holiday, but my shops on Folksy and Etsy are still open...

...all orders placed will be dispatched Monday 25th October.

All together now... "Bring Me Sunshine...!"

Folksy Friday - Eco Chic (& all that rubbish!)

Just what would you do with an old bicycle tyre, a juice carton, bottle tops, train tickets, sweet wrappers, old CD's, children's story books or broken crockery?
Most of us would probably just throw them away...
... but not these ingenious people who have provided me with excellent examples for this week's Folksy Friday blog selection.  Each and every item is made from something that you and I would not think twice about chucking out - and yet each has been cleverly and lovingly turned into something new and lovely.  Ultimate recycling!

(Click on the item name to be taken to the seller's Folksy shop - where you can learn more about how all these fascinating things are made.)

Mills & Boon Confetti

Drinks Can Shark

Bottle Top Magnet

Magazine Rolled Paper Mirror

Cadbury "Twisted" Earings

Snapple Iced Tea Keyring

Vinyl Records Wine Rack

Recycled CD Candle

Bicycle Tyre Belt

Recycled & Hand Dyed Flower Brooch

Eco Wallet

Eco Daisies

Cotton Rag Bowls

Jack and the Beanstalk Envelopes

Train Ticket Gift Tags

Bike Chain Charm Bracelet

Ceramic Brooch

Copper Spiral Ring

Flower Rag Rug

Glass Bottle Candle

Aren't they ALL just totally brilliant!  So, that should make us all think again about what we throw away...!!

Sorry, but there won't be a Folksy Friday from me next week - I am off for a few celebratory days in beautiful sunny Barcelona - but I will be thinking up some exciting new selections to search out when I am back... so please be patient, and see you in a couple of weeks!