Sunday 9 May 2010

Handbags, shoes and ..................veggies!

Hello there! Hope you've had a good week. It's been a busy one in the JK household, and I was glad when the weekend arrrived! Yesterday was horrid - wet and cold. It was the perfect day to sit in front of the woodburner and do something yarny! Which I duly did. Now I know that last week I told you that I wasn't going to start anything else until I'd finished some of my rather long-standing projects. Well............. things didn't go exactly to plan! I've had this little summer bag for several years. I think it came from Tesco, and it's starting to look a little bit tatty.

crocheted bag

When we were in Poland earlier in the year, I bought some cotton yarn, with a summery bag in mind. Over at Attic24, Lucy blogged about a bag that she'd started, and I'm basing my bag on her design. I wasn't too sure about the size, and by the time I decided that I'd made it too big, I'd got quite a lot of cut ends, so instead of my stripes going horizontally, they go vertically. I still have the handle to make, edging to do, and then I'm going to line it and prettify it! At the moment I'm not quite loving it - I think that horizontal stripes would probably have been better, but I'll stick with it! Take a look.

crocheted bag WIP (3)

The strap will go right the way round the bag, giving it some depth, and will fasten with a button and loop. I'll try and get it all finished to show you next week.
I was sooooooooo excited this week, I can't tell you! I got some new shoes! And they fit! I have big, wide feet, and shoe shopping has always been a nightmare. I can remember only too well the visits to the shoe shop as a child, only to be offered one style of flat lace-up shoe. I hated it! I've had the same size feet (UK 9, European 43) since I was 11 years old, and have for the last few years, lived in Birkenstocks in the summer, and slip-on suede trainers (mens) in the winter! So imagine my delight when I discovered the Tall Girls website. I don't do heels (I can't walk in them, and as I'm already just over 6 ft tall, I don't especially want to add to my inches!) so was thrilled to find a huge choice of flatties! These are what I chose (I painted my toenails especially in celebration!)

New shooses!

I can even get a pair of hand-knitted socks on with the shoes! Yippee!

Despite the somewhat chilly weather, the garden and greenhouse are looking great. The bluebells are flowering along the fence in the front garden.

spring garden (2)

The bleeding heart has gone completely mad, and is taking over the entire border! I love the flowers on this plant. It always amazes me just how suddenly it appears. Four weeks ago, it was barely peeping through the soil, and look at it now!

spring garden (8)

Here's a close-up of those beautiful flowers.

spring garden (15)

The forget-me-nots are blooming too. I especially love these as they come from my parents' garden, so I always think of my dear Mum and Dad when I look at them.

spring garden (11)

Mr Josiekitten has been really busy in the greenhouse, and it looks fantastic! There are flowers on the tomato plants already! We need some hot sun now to really get things going. I've lost count of the number of veggies that he is growing, but here's a list of those I can remember - peas, French beans, mangetout, courgettes, peppers, red cabbage, green cabbage, cauliflower, swede, carrots, leeks, onions, garlic, potatoes, red and white onions, shallots, aubergines, celery, pak choi, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots and rocket..........here's hoping for a self-sufficient summer!

Veggies

Fingers crossed for some sunshine this week. Hope you have a good one!

14 comments:

snoopydogknits said...

Hooray for some luverly new shoes and flower shots! They look fab!!!! Like the little bag too;very pretty summer colours. Mr J has been very busy! Lots of srummy veg to look forward too. Glad you've had a good weekend. Speak soon. Ros XX

melissa said...

what fun new shoes!! and how lucky to find such a fabulous tall girls' shop!!

all your flowers & veggies are looking fantastic too!!

Lynne said...

Your shoes are gorgeous! I know how you feel about shoe shopping, but I'm at the opposite end of things. I take a UK size 1, and am on the short size height-wise. I don't do flats, and there's no heel that's too high! Have you tried Barretts? They do a size 9 in their "Tall and Small" range.

Helsie said...

Oh there's nothing like an Englisg spring. Love all the pretty flowers.
Now about the shoes - they are great. I especially love the fawny coloured ones - very smart and I'm sure you will use them Summer and Winter.
Can't wait to see all those veges
Cheers
Helen

knittingsandwich said...

what fun spring colors and wonderful spring projects! (and the perfect shoes for the whole shebang!)

Jennyff said...

Gosh, I think you are into summer already with your lovely bag, painted toe nails and flowery garden. Lets hope so though it was cold here today and dare I say it a tiny tiny bit of snow came down. Hope you get to wear those great sandals very soon, and not with socks.

Aussie Maria said...

I love the uppy-downy striped bag, the colours are so springy
Congrats on finding shoes just for you

Susan McShannon-Monteith said...

I think the bag is delightful... full of the colours that fill your garden.
And one can never have too many bags.
The garden is beautiful.
Susan

M.E. Greene said...

The bag is coming out lovely! I am jealous of those beautiful flowers...the snow has put a damper on ours here in the Midwest US. :(

Anonymous said...

Such lovely flower pics! Is that your cat you have as your blog pic? She/he looks very like one of ours!

Clicky Needles said...

I have just got rid of the very same bag JK !!!!!!!! mine was looking much the same. Went to a charity shop so hopefully someone will make use of it. Garden looking good!

Sue Pinner said...

oh wow fun sandals luv the patterned ones gorgeous colours and they go with the bag
Garden is looking fabulous

African flower..thought l was slow takes me about half an hour to do one motif!
Ooops does that tell you how much time l've spent on my bum playing hooky? hehe

Stadtwaldvogel said...

Your garden looks amazing! I miss summer so much these days!
Greetings from Julia

Sue Pinner said...

Hi Josie
Thanks the AF is a lovely pattern isn't it?
Tiles are only photographs but look like real tiles when l've played with them hehe..cheat hey?

Yarn is ColourMart 100% DK Merino and now we have moved house it's within walking distance dangerous very dangerous hehe
Hugs x