Chick-Bass Knit-Knacks

Blog Neglect

2011-12-05T10:38:00.001Z

Yes, there's been a lot of blog neglect recently. Feeling a bit flat and uninspired hence not many posts of an inspirational crafty nature.

Been doing my nails, Christmas decorations and not much else besides some 'health research' which is the bane of my life.

Apologies.

I could stay here...

2011-12-02T12:45:00.001Z

... well I have actually stayed at this hotel many years ago, wish they had had this room back then!

Full article here in the Daily Mail.

The Hotel Pelirocco is a 'trendy' Brighton hotel with themed rooms - I remember they had an excellent cooked breakfast and the staff were really friendly, we stayed up until about 4am at their bar.

Those were the days!

Inspiration for the day is hearing that CCSVI treatment has suddenly taken a leap forward in the UK. Interesting and exciting times.

New Project

2011-11-08T13:50:00.000Z

Started a new project recently after I bought some lovely linen on Etsy. It has inspired me to try a few felted pieces in a slightly different style to my usual one.

Inspiration for the day is coming out of a 3 day migraine. It's not completely gone but it's easing. Phew.

Handmade Papers

2011-11-05T17:05:00.001Z

I ventured out into the World last week, went for lunch with my parents and managed to stay pretty much on the straight and narrow path of FODMAP friendly foods.

Had a small stroll around after lunch until I got worn out - thankfully I found these gorgeous handmade and printed papers before I got too pooped. Lovely colours and threads.

Not sure what I am going to make with them just yet, but they're lovely to look at.

Inspiration for the day is lots of dinners made and all lined up in the freezer. So organised.

Me Berfdee

2011-11-03T19:42:00.001Z

I forgot to show you some bits from my thirty*ahem* birthday a couple of weeks ago didn't I?

Lovely homemade cake, FODMAP free and very, very yummy

FODMAP free roast dinner, damn fine! The Yorkshire puddings didn't rise quite so well but tasted good

A couple of cheeky little pressies :)

Snap! Snap! Snap!

Inspiration for the day is some new purchases for my wardrobe, it's about time,

women never have anything to wear!

Winter Blues

2011-11-03T19:37:00.000Z

They've kicked in a bit early this year, think it must be the dramatic change in the weather.

I've been cooking a lot of FODMAP friendly foods to keep myself busy and take my mind off of my health problems... a yummy fish pie ...

I've also started using my lovely new yarn after spending a while sitting staring at it, deciding what to do

I really, really, REALLY need my craft room updating because it easily turns into a tip in there because I can't get it organised well. Plus the carpet is the stuff of nightmares - just need a small lottery win

Some very naughty but extremely tasty dairy free fudge to cheer me up

Made a pretty delicious lamb lasagne this week - gluten free, garlic and onion free, lactose free ... still full of flavour if you know which tricks to play!

Hope you had a Happy Halloween?

No trick or treaters again this year... hmm, what WILL we do with all the sweets ?

Inspiration for the day is getting a new felting project under way. Photos to follow.

Squeeeee!

2011-10-27T17:46:00.000+01:00

The yarn from America that my good friend picked up for me arrived today!! So exciting!

Ooooh....

.... ahhhhh!

Look at those colours. And fancy buttons too.

And even a little extra Scottish bonus from her time at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival.

I'm not sure what to say about these socks - they are simply too fabulous. I was sorely tempted to keep them all but only kept a couple of pairs, the rest are gifts.

Inspiration for the day - phase 2 of the current plan for health.

America Yarn Rules!

2011-10-13T12:25:00.001+01:00

A good friend of mine has been lucky enough to spend a few weeks in the US. She's been scouting out lovely yarns and buttons for me - it's so exciting!

This bag of goodies is all for MEEE!!!

Inspiration for the day is moving slowly forward...

This sums up a lot of it

2011-10-07T12:17:00.000+01:00

This website is really quite good at describing some of the symptoms of MS. On a bad day I get a lot like this.

My vision is a lot like the descriptions here all the time, yet on an eye test I have apparently 'normal vision' - I believe there's a problem with my brain and how it sees, rather than a problem with my eyes.

http://havingms.com/simulation

Inspiration for the day is getting Christmas underway - I like to be organised!

Made a Leap

2011-10-05T13:05:00.000+01:00

Across to Folksy, the Uk's version of Etsy. I've been registered with them for a while now but never listed anything on there.

I find my items get a little 'swallowed up' on Etsy these days, there's so many sellers on there that unless you spend a lot of money promoting yourself you never stand out from the crowd.

So here is my Folksy Shop, click this link.

Inspiration for the day is having one of my crochet throws featured over on 'Uniquely Yours' blog :)

Hotter than October

2011-10-03T16:35:00.001+01:00

Can you believe the weather we're having? Or should I say had, as it's due to change by tomorrow. Mustn't grumble, it's been fortunate to get that cheeky weekend full of sunshine.

Ah, here's the 'door knocker' from my old shed - a tiny part of me misses that shed. A really teeny, tiny, small part. Because I really REALLY love my new shed :)

Managed to get out to a National Trust property this weekend to a Green Fair - bought these nice looking bottles while there from Womersleys Foods. Nice flavoured vinegars and dressings to add some zing and zest to cooking, salads, drinks and gravies etc.

Got bought this cheeky little chappy by my mum while we were there - feels weird thinking about Christmas when it's so hot.

This lady was spinning her own yarns and selling lovely hand knitted items. I was quite jealous of her 'spinning Jenny'!

Nice to see the bees out and about making the most of the prolonged sunshine and therefore prolonged flowering on all the plants.

Inspiration for the day was seeing a lovely lady at the Green Fair, selling her wares - here's her blog, Sew Recycled!

The FODMAPers secrets

2011-10-01T16:03:00.000+01:00

Always be prepared: with things such as vegetable stock, by storing things in the freezer.

Work out some handy tricks to keep food fresher for longer like this handy terracotta square: soak it in water for 15 minutes, pat dry and place in a container with bread to keep it moist.

Be creative with what you have: gluten free muffins make excellent burger buns but they're equally nice with a fried egg and pancetta for brunch!

Make the most of the things you can have: If you can indulge in some fruit once or twice a day, make sure it's good quality stuff. Look at these local raspberries. Huge!

Inspiration for the day is of course the FABULOUS weather. Well ok, it's been a little *too* hot for me really but I can manage it better with my trusty straw hat.

I aspire to quilting

2011-09-27T13:32:00.000+01:00

Not something I think I can (currently) turn my hand to, as I don't think I can keep 'within the lines' and make it all nice and straight.

Ordered this lovely quilt and cushion cover combination along with a matching dressing table runner for my parent's spare bedroom from a lovely lady on Etsy recently.

Becky, over at My Cute Idea is quite the quilting whizz. She took my request and whizzed it up into the finished article within a couple of weeks.

I stayed with my parents for one night recently and this cheeky chap was sitting in my bed when I got there!

Inspiration for the day is the GORGEOUS new greenhouse / shed combination we now have installed in the garden. Photos soon :)

FODMAPing across the universe!

2011-09-23T11:30:00.000+01:00

*sang to the theme tune of Star Trekkin' by The Firm*

(and if you remember that song, you're showing your age!)

FODMAP friendly stew I made for dinner yesterday, I was extremely pleased with it as I wasn't sure it would taste as good as a 'normal' stew. Gluten free dumplings, homemade vegetable stock and a dollop of tomato puree, couple of teaspoons of Marmite and anchovy paste and it had a really comforting, meaty gravy.

Pure comfort food... and enough left for lunch today :)

Inspiration for the day is getting to grips very well with this 'diet'. Week 3 and it's helping a lot, feels more like a lifestyle change than a diet.

A few things

2011-09-21T13:25:00.000+01:00

Just a little catch up with a few things...

Bagged ourselves a bargain in a sale at Steamer Trading last week, during our visit from the in-laws -

at last a stew pot that's just the right size!

Order some gorgeous linen from an Etsy shop Vilenda Linen - it came all the way from Belarus. A really good quality piece of fabric, I look forward to embroidering it.

I bought this gorgeous pressed tile at a craft and plant show in Sussex, I spotted it early on and then decided to go back for it as I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Mmm, really tasty FODMAP safe homemade pizza! Gluten free, homemade tomato sauce, lactose free cheese, olives, ham and rocket. Very tasty indeed.

Sigh. New 'tupperware' - actually it's from Ikea, looking forward to filling it all full with handy things!

Inspiration for the day is getting out and about a little more lately - wonder if the FODMAP diet is helping?

Blankey-blank

2011-09-13T18:16:00.000+01:00

Got another blanket finished off and put into my Etsy shop recently, it suddenly seemed to come together after being in pieces for quite a while. I got the bit between my teeth and got it done.

Inspiration for the day is the shed FINALLY arriving and getting a few very special early birthday presents... :)

Flurry of Activity

2011-09-11T19:50:00.000+01:00

I got out my big bag of crochet odds and ends this week and decided it was time to use up some yarn and get a few things finished so top of my list, birdy decorations!

These cheeky chaps are up for sale on my Etsy shop - click here to have a look!

Unfortunately it now means my shoulders and neck have locked up into a bad spasm - how ironic that this crazy illness prevents me from doing what I love. Very frustrating.

Heated wheatbag for me I think....

Inspiration for the day is going to a plants and craft sale last week, making a few lovely purchases ;-)

The National Trust

2011-09-04T21:38:00.000+01:00

Managed to get out and visit a National Trust property this week with the family.

Here's a selection of photos I took - photo-heavy post today!

Inspiration for the day is getting out to a plant and craft fair today. Really nice, if a little drizzly!

What a mug!

2011-08-31T11:54:00.001+01:00

Or should I say what a collection of mugs! Got given some very lovely presents by my parents this week:

One for me:

One for hubby:

And these two are for both of us but I think they might be too lovely to use....

Inspiration for the day is getting a bit more organised.

FODMAP

2011-08-28T17:10:00.000+01:00

And FODMAP to you too you may well think!

Fermentable Oligo-, Di- and Mono-saccharides, and Polyols!

I'm embarking on another type of diet (groans) - this time though it feels a bit more focused to my needs as it's for IBS.

The doctor that recommended it also linked together the fact I have hypermobility of my joints with my IBS. Apparently there's a correlation, who knew?

This diet is based around the fact that consuming certain foods can cause bloating, gas and *ahem* other such horrid bowel problems because these foods sit in the intestine and ferment as they break down, causing the symptoms described.

The theory also goes that eating foods with varying levels can produce bad symptoms, whereas perhaps eating them on their own might be ok. Seems like a good theory for me and makes more sense that other diets I've trialled because I've never really been able to pin down exactly what causes the problem.

I've had suspicions about certain foods (beans, large amounts of garlic, wheat-based foods) but never really managed to get a clear answer and this may be why.

Tons more information here about it.

So once I've been on the diet a couple of weeks I am to introduce supplements to get my stomach back in good shape... ready for the next phase *taps side of nose*

I must say I know already I am going to miss onions and garlic A LOT but they are not friends of mine.

Sorry for the lack of photos in this post - haven't been out much and the garden has been quite a washout recently.

Inspiration for the day is a new top from NEXT. Loving it.

Garden Snaps

2011-08-20T21:35:00.000+01:00

Things in the garden are really starting to take shape. We're beginning to feel like it's actually our garden and not a hand-me-down from the previous owner. The patio has made a huge difference to how we can use the outside space.

Can't wait for the shed to arrive.

Some of our herbs and the fig tree which has managed to survive being outside for a couple of years.

Ah, the Bishop of Llandaff - look at that colour!

Some cheeky wee tomatoes, growing away - very tasty.

Inspiration for the day is finally getting a lovely set of patio furniture. My first one!

New listing in my Etsy shop

2011-08-14T13:16:00.000+01:00

A recent labour of love, I am pretty fond of this blanket and won't be too sad if it doesn't sell, as I shall happily keep it!

What do you think?

Inspiration for the day is a new appointment with a cartoon character...

Rubbish to Ravishing

2011-08-10T13:04:00.000+01:00

Here's a little sneaky preview of how the patio is coming along.

From tired, knackered old slabs...

... to gorgeous Indian sandstone.

Will post more once the shed arrives and is assembled.

Inspiration for the day is a few days without the dreaded dizziness. It's amazing what you can get done when you're not in bed 24/7.

Tasty Treats

2011-08-06T12:35:00.000+01:00

Hubby brought back some totally yummy chocolate shortbread cookies from France after his big cycle ride. I have to say they really didn't last long. Not too sweet with a slightly savoury edge, utterly scrummy.

He's also on a 'cooking mission' again currently, which involves pulling all the cookery books out and planning a new meal we've never had before each night for dinner.

Must say the Moroccan spread he made from Jamie Oliver's 30 minute meals last week was awesome!

Funnily enough when looking through the big, heavy cookbooks he found a few pages of 'Lambs's Tongue' leaves, pressed between kitchen towel. I had totally forgotten about them - I remember pressing them last year but I can't remember what I had intended them for so will have to come up with something now!

Inspiration for the day is that the patio is finished! Yay! Still waiting for the shed at the moment though... photos to follow.

Before migraines stopped play

2011-07-24T13:29:00.000+01:00

I made a couple of cards for special occassions. I realised I have become really, really rusty at making things. It used to be like second nature to me but I guess I am out of practise lately.

Help! I think I am addicted to shower gel. It's such a small pleasure but I love it! Got myself a little Orla Kiely bargain on eBay and am probably going to stare at it for months before I use it.

Subversive Cross Stitch always makes me giggle.

Inspiration for the day is FINALLY getting the garden patio and new shed under way. Been waiting forever for this.