Mwuuuuahhhahaaha!

This time last year I was putting the finishing touches to my tree outfit and looking for birds nest hair accessories. This year I had one invite to a party.... no two actually! They were both invites to kids parties... where I was invited to run the party games! Yes my life is just getting less and less cool and more and more sad hehe.
I dressed as a spider (and a lame one at that) but the first party was actually kind of fun. Unfortunately the diet stopped me from eating all the left over cupcakes I made. The next party is on Saturday and maybe I will take a pic of my wannabe spider outfit. Bring on the bobbing apples!

Duff, Duff, Duff, Duff, Duff, Da, Da, Duff (In the tune of Eastenders)

I keep going back to this Eastenders Poster that Lazy Oaf have on sale but I just can't justify it. If it was a bit cheaper and maybe a Corrie Print (Sorry but Corrie beats Eastenders any day) it would be mine.

Hmm I think my future house is going to be full of the most random art :-/ Visitors beware.

I might just write a novel.... and in 30 days!!!

I read a post about the National Novel Writing Month aka NaNoWriMo earlier and I can't stop saying "Na Nu Na Nu" it's a more "Na No Na No" but that sounds a bit too much like the apple mp3 player.
I have never heard of this before but I am soo glad I stumbled upon it, I might even try it! Hmmm do I have time for this, do I even have a story? Probrably not but I will give it some thought.
It begins in November, and you have 30 days and nights to produce a 50,000-word/175 page novel. No one reads it, it isn't graded, it doesn't cost you anything and it will not make you famous but you will have a novel at the end of it!
Mine will probrably be a load of rubbish, with poor grammar, a load of cliches and a ropey storyline but what an achievement whether you succeed or fail - because .... at least you tried (yup that old chestnut)

So I encourage you! Sign up, join in and write, write and write some more!


Poster by Jason Munn

Hmm maybe this is where the "November In Manchester" project I blogged about earlier got the idea from and what a great way to get together a plot- Food for thought that is.

October Book Club Meeting

O.K so I was a bit disapointed by this months book- Sweet Mandarin by Helen Tse- I don't know whether I had high expectations or whether the book just wasn't that good. It was interesting - especially at the start and it was great that it was based in Manchester but I'm afraid it took a big dip at about the half way point (no maybe it was before then) and never quite made it back. I guess it's worth a read... one of the members said that it had lots of good reviews on Amazon. It wasn't the worst book ever but I think it was a bit of a marketing tool for the restaurant they were opening by the same name.

But on the positive side I am loving the book club and it's members - more of whom I met today. It's o.k that I am the dumbest there and that I don't know much (or anything) about the political and historical events that we weave in and out of. They are all soo friendly and smart and interesting and OMG Bobby Bacala from the Soprano's is in Ugly Betty and a huge Spider just ran across my floor so this has got to be the end of this post.

Next months book is Netherland By Joseph O'Neil.

Thank You Jenny Stitcher Scribbler!

Look what I got!

A lovely Brooch sent to me in the post from the fabulous Jenny - who you must pop and see if you haven't already.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You,

What a lovely present to return to - Soo very sweet of you!

I'm Back!

I went to Portugal for a few days and it was a great little break. Amazing weather, great company, lovely surroundings but AWFUL food and dodgy hotel (The rooms were huge and clean and the complex was nice but it was sooo very 80's and a bit errrm Benidorm!

It was a girlie holiday and as the group were all "Foodies"we were counting down to juicy Piri Piri /Peri Peri chicken and fresh, fruity cocktails - How wrong were we! They mixed cocktails with straight cordial essh and the cheap alcohol was like paint stripper. The veg was hard, often frozen and a crinkle cut mess! and the safest think to eat was bread (if you got to the semi fresh rolls.)

But we wondered around lots, we chilled lots, we laughed lots and took lots of silly photo's. Thank goodness for snacks!

Gosh Just finished reading all the updates on my reader, maybe I need to cut down on the blogs I follow?.......

Naaaaa

I'm Not In Town This Weekend (Mancy Town that is)....

But if i was ...

I'd start the Friday celebrating this...



I would be oooing, ahhing and shopping at the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair...


I'd hope to laugh a little at this guy at the Town Hall Tavern...


Pic Found from Flickr right about... here

The World With A Little More Fun....

I think I love these stairs... Now if I had them in my house would I just run up and down them so I would have thighs of Steel!


And don't tell me that recycling wouldn't be more fun if the bottle bank was like this one...


Visit the Fun Theory website to find out more, it's all about changing things (public or private) to make them better! :-)

Trying to Make a Better Entrance...

find this pic here
My newly decorated workspace is in need of some decoration at the moment but that lived in/lovely look takes time to build me thinks. I have started on a lil piece for the entrance/door way. There is a space above the door that needs some love. Hopefully I will finish and take some pictures tomorrow it's soo kitsch and slightly tacky but I kinda love it.

What a "Sweet" Way to Propose....

Imagine you are on your reader.... scrolling, ooohing and laughing at your favourite blogs and you see this......

HOW CUTE!

Not tooo soppy, not too public, not too predictable... just lovely!

You gotta love Bakerella's work she brings cake and people together (which i think is a lovely thing) and now lovers too!

Gotta check back see if the lucky lady said yes!

Upcycle Christmas

So it goes like this .....

You register at Folksy

Download a voucher that allows you to get a free bag of clothes from your local Sue Ryder Care Charity shop.

Use your creativity and crafty skills to make an original hand crafted christmas gift that has such gorgeous appeal it can be auctioned off to the public.
It must be something you'd give as a gift - anything you like and anything you'd actually use - Accessories, homeware, fashion, furniture.
The only rules are that the items you use must be second-hand and only one bag of Sue Ryder Care donated stock can be used per entrant. .

A celebrity panel judges your work on your

• Creative use of materials
• Craft skills used
• Quality of work
• Appeal

The winners' works will feature in Sue Ryder Care’s flagship store in Camden in the New Year.
And an additional prize will be awarded to the object voted for by the Folksy community.

November In Manchester

Pic Found here

November In Manchester is a New Social Media Love Story. That starts in... errr November and is based in err Manchester.

The Blurb:

James and Persephone are just two small souls in a big Northern city. A chance meeting will bring them together and over four weeks in November, they will begin a whirlwind romance in the capital of the North.

James, Persephone, and six other characters will share their lives with the city. The four weeks will take our heroes to places and locations right across Manchester. They will share news and photographs on Twitter. They will blog about revelations and rendezvous. They will tweet their wanderings and wonderings. And you can follow the story as it happens in real time.

How to take Part:

Take photos of your favourite Manchester sights and attractions on your mobile. Snap pictures of your secret getaways, perfect places and hidden gems. Record videos of locations and sights which interest and inspire you.

Email them to ilove@novemberinmanchester.com and they could appear in this Manchester romance.

___________________________________________

I love a good Love story and the social inclusive input of this project so I hope it all turns out well. I have been meaning to take more pictures of Manchester as I recently brought some outdated awful Postcards that don't show the city in it's glory at all. Manchester is not my favourite city in the world by far But quite frankly - I was robbed hehe.

Hmmm I hope you don't have to follow on Twitter, Facebook and through the blog that could be a little bit tooo much. Lucking forward to seeing beautiful pictures of Manchester though - you can live in a city for soo long and not really appreciate it or even like it and I hope this inspires me to love Manncy Town a little bit more.

Laters Fatty Bum Bum... I'm bringing Sexy Back!

Joined a slimming club today ho hum! So Tuesdays are now "Fatty Weigh Days" Hopefully I won't talk too much about it on my blog and posts soon after will have a positive and lighter feel because I've lost a few pounds. If am grouchy and having a rant that means I got fatter and I am therefore hating the world. :-)

Have Fun Booshk!

Pic my rasmus juul

My Boy Bestie is off to Japan for a few months today to take lots of photos! Buh Bye, Have a great time and miss me lots!
P.S Don't forget to come back with some extra cute stuff for me.

Buh Bye Central Library - See You In a Few Years

Photo from Dismith on Flickr

Manchester Central Library is closing for refurbishment for approximately three years at the end of this year. This is one of my favorite libraries, it is soo grand and beautiful yet very homely. I used to go here to study as a teenager all the time and stop for sale shopping breaks. The heating was always on so it felt nice and toasty and I love the staircase and walk ways around it.

Hmm I haven't really read this anywhere since a library member of staff told me, I would have thought there would be more announcements? But fair well my library love to other branches I go.

Lovely Photo of the walk way by Clivester
Lovely Photo of the side by Matt Murtagh

Ok I Want a Bookcase on the Stairs

Saw this on a post earlier today...What a great design and storage idea...I Love it! I have a simple wish of having enough shelf space for my books and this could be it... Got have the right kinda staircase though I think.
I did want a bookcase in the loo at one stage but I think a magazine rack would do :-)

Little Cotton Rabbits In Alphabet Jumpers

I love these cute initial jumpers and now you can make your own with these free pattern downloads. If you haven't visited the generous Little Cotton Rabbits blog do stop by, her knitted bunnies are adorable, it's a good read and she seems lovely! (I know we are allowed to read other peoples blogs but sometimes I feel like I am stalking people - especially when I don't know them personally). Anyways I can't wait till I am able to knit one of these up - yay!

I Love a Good Cardi

All Cardi's from ASOS

Yup it's definately getting colder and I am just recovering from a cold. (hence the lack of blogging over the last few days) I catch colds soo easily but I guess being in the rain the other day didn't help- ho hum.
One of the plus sides to the autumn/winter season is Cardigans. I love a good Cardi. This is a selection of my faves available at the moment. The more over sized and snuggly the better!
Yes some of them are a little Pat Butcher but colour and prints aren't exclusively for summer. As long as I don't go too far I think I'll be alright!

Have You Tried.....

Photo courtesy of Food Stuff Finds
...The new walkers Jamaican Jerk Chicken flavour crisps? - (Cassan you know this post is for you)
They don't actually taste like Jerk Chicken but they are pretty tasty - Kind of tangy with a little kick - They are trying to give the Nando's crisps a run for their money but I think the Nando's ones are more chickeny LOL

I ♥ Trashy TV

I will miss you Real House Wives - Trashy Tv at it's best. It was hillarious viewing last night
I can't quite believe that these are peoples actual lives - The fight scene in the restaurant was too much - I notice Danielle was not in this picture hehehe

It's ok though It's winter and there is more juicy stuff on TV to tempt me to stay in bed with snacks yay!

Dear pretty flower - you intrigue me.

We love this little plant in our house - It is a gorgeous pink and the flowers that blossom from it are such a vibrant purple - we never even expected it to flower! It seems to have a mind of it's own and I think it knows we love it - Yesterday it lost a flower so I thought let me pull the dead one off and take a picture of the only surviving flower incase it never flowers again. I told it I thought it was pretty and I liked it's flower as I did this and this morning - A new one appeared! - ok maybe that was coincidental. We don't know it's name though? I'm sure it was only from Ikea I will have to go back and look at the label. (Any excuse for meatballs, hot dog and cheap ice cream will do me)

Nonsense post really - but this pretty little thing makes me smile - The photo does not do it justice.

Being A Coat Is A Big Job

My coat keeps me warm, it protects me from the rain, it get's up close and personal with me so surely it needs a lovely home when I come in? Like on one of these coat hooks.. And I might as well co - ordinate things with these lovely knobs. Just need some furniture to put them on .. and a house perhaps....

Crafty Supplies

Pic from Nie Nie Dialogues

I am still yet to find a beautiful haberdashery or wool shop in Manncy town that I can fall in love with like Mood or BJ's in NY infact the whole garment district was inspirational. I used to run there on my lunch break to get my button fix - oooo I do love me some buttons. I also loved my china town stores with their chaotic madness and bargains, I actually went there most of the time and often came back with tonnes of stuff I was never looking for - as you do. The wool shops were amazing too there was that knitting shop on 14th street on the eastside and the one near union square and or the Lion Brand shop, the shop in Brooklyn where I took classes, the one in Greenwich and I forgot there was even a nice one in my building * big dreamy sigh* They were all so pretty and I loved the fact you could sit down and have a knit and have a cup of tea or coffee in some of them. I had the best coffee in my life from that 14th street one and it was free - that was also the shop where I was told about the internet site for fatties but I won't go into that one right now.

Point is I am on the hunt for my Manchester equivalent. A nice fabric shop (got to stop saying store) and a gorgeous friendly wool shop that has the variety and inspiration.

When I hear of any new sources I will let have to jot them down on here but these are the ones I have been to or know of so far.

Leon's Fabric Superstore - Chorlton, Manchester (One of the most local and I guess one of the biggest supplies - I like it but it's not Love)
Abakhan- (Maybe my closest actually - O.K supplies wise and ok on price too)
Hobby Craft - Stockport went and looked at the wool section this weekend actually was pleasantly surprised, It ain't Michaels though - that U.S Craft shop was great for a bargain.
Bambers - I know they sell and fix sewing machines and they have some workshops but I think they might sell fabrics too I am yet to go and see.
John Lewis I think they sell fabric in both stores but the Cheadle one is the better one- or is that classed as Hanforth Dean?
Sew In - I remember them having some nice wool but I didn't get to look the last time I went in because I was in a rush and the lady was sooo frosty with me I was really put off. I will try again tho- everybody has their off days.
There is one I visited in Hyde the other day I want to say it is called the Sewing Box but I think I could be lying so will double check.

Then there are some that are listed and I don't know even know if they exist... The recession has put a lot of small businesses out. (If and when I find out they are non existent I will take them off the list... it would be a lot easier if they all had websites ho hum)
Craft World - The Lowry Outlet is supposed to have a wool section.
Busy Hands - Old Street Ashton Under Lyne
The Craft Shop - Audenshaw Rd- Audenshaw
Wool n Stuff - Wood street, Middleton
Janet's - Bolton Rd, Pendlebury

Whilst I was at the knitting doo daa on Sunday I was also told that around Bury Market there are some great wool shops and stalls on the market. I kinda love a nosey round the market so I am hoping and me and me ma can take a trip down there this week (why waste time eh)

Ohh and just found another in Salford - called "Razzle Dazzle’em" sounds like a Bobby dazzler!

The Big Knit

Today I will send off my collection of hats for the Big Knit Project - You still have a bit of time if you want to join in. Some people went all out with some amazing lil' creations.
I really enjoyed doing these - they were nice and small so I could knit them in car journeys when I was a passenger listening to my friend chat away or when watching trashy shows that require little of my concentration. They turned out really cute and they gave me a chance to try out lots of different types of yarn. I used lots of different little scraps I was given and some I found from my mums old stash. I got a bit carried away in the end but it was for charity and once you get all gooey over the first one or two you kind of get hooked. It's hard for them to look bad I maybe should not have gone with the the chunky mixed brown ones I did but I did so many in the end that they are balanced out :-)

My Favourite must be the hat below - Just because that yarn was AMAZING to knit with and I just had enough to knit one hat - with no pom pom (hence why the pom pop pom on it is white) It was kind of like cotton threads rather than twisty yarn - I am sure some professional could tell me it's proper name and make up but I will be definitely trying to get more of it - It felt lovely in my hands and knits up a treat!

I told myself I was going to bed early tonight...

It didn't quite work... I need to write a to do list as I have lots of thing spinning around but I am getting nothing done :-/

I have a list of things to mail out, work stuff to sort and things to actually transfer into my diary instead of waking up thinking "What did I miss? - When am I there?" One day I am gonna be soo organised and shock myself into a stupor. I think it is my work issues that have thrown me off course - I was all sorted until bad red tape threw a spanner in the works and now I am very confused- well I know what I need to do I'm just lacking motivation. Oooh but these Badges are lovely and apt hehe.

Badges from The Angry Robot's Etsy shop