A Little Make....

Normally I'm a creator in fabric & wool
this & last year however has been a little
different creatively speaking....

wood, paint & tiles have primarily been my creative outlet,
more out of necessity then choice if I'm honest.
The excitement of having finally made something in tweed
& denim this year, I guess is my justification of this
rather photo heavy post for a little cushion cover.

Most of my ideas swirl around forever in my head

before I get round to making them but then again there

are a few that just can't wait. 

Looking over at the wing-chair the other day

it just called out to me for a new cushion cover

that has a more Autumn feel about it.

With plenty of tweed scraps & denim in my stash

the fabric choice was easy.

As this cushion is right next to the hexagon blanket

it is important that the two work well together.

 I have always been someone that enjoys the design journey

(playing around with ideas & fabric)

 almost more then the making of it,

by the time I actually make (sew or crochet)

my project I have already mentally moved on to the next one. 

  

I LoVe deliberating over my design concepts

with a hot cuppa & sweet treat they are always

very helpful in finalizing my decision.

 

Once I have made a final decision on the layout, it's all go.

I don't like zips in cushion covers therefore I always make
mine without instead opting for a very generous overlap opening.

 However this piece of tweed unfortunately was barley

enoughe to cover the back cushion making the overlap

a little smaller then I like so I may add a pretty

button at a later stage.   

I chose to make mitered corners.
They are a little more fiddly especially with fabric
that is naturally quite bulky & stretchy like denim.

But I feel it's well worth the extra "straggle"

for a beautiful finish.

     

As Autumn winds are swishing outside

& rain hits the window

I looked over at my wing-chair this afternoon....

feeling HaPpY....
VERY HAPPY....

I'm in LoVe....

Oh sOoOo in LOVE!

Wishing you all a beautiful week!

XOXO

Happy Watching....

With this season of Cold Feet coming to an end yesterday,

my evening TV drought especially on weekends has started.

I'm no "soaps" connoisseur, nor am I a lover of "talent" shows, 

so the run up to Christmas on TV 

is mostly a rather dull & boring affair for me.

Thank goodness for DVDs!

Thinking I may not be the only one out there who

finds telly a little uninspiring during the hibernation months,

I thought it'd be fun to share with you

ever so often one of my favorite films.

These posts are not reviews.... I'm no wannabe film critic.

You also won't find a long detailed synopsis about
the films highlighted on here either.

I see these posts more like a good host at a party, making the

introductions but the rest is up to you, nevertheless like a good host
I'm always very interested to hear your thoughts on it after.

Like everything else about me I don't fit neatly into one

specific film category box. There is however no point in denying

I'm very much a vintage & quirky movie girl at heart.

And therefor I'm starting off this "happy watching" series, with a film

that is vintage, quirky and has a real Autumn feel about it.

I LoVe murder mysteries & I like Hitchcock

but I definitely don't do gory blood & guts on screen,

I know to some that may seem a little contradictory....  

   "The Trouble with Harry"
however is perfect for exactly that contradiction. 
 Probably not the best known of Hitchcock's films,
it is the story of a small village during a beautiful
Vermont Autumn where the discovery of a newly dead body
in the woods creates more then a few problems
for some of the quirkier residents in the village.
A great black humored romantic comedy with stunning

scenery and unbelievable calmness even in the panic,

a real joy to watch!

The introduction is made,

 now I would LoVe to hear what you think?!?

HaPpY WaTcHiNg

More Rejigging....

What is it about this time of year that makes me what
to rearrange.... organize.... sort?
 After the other day's rejigging of the backyard,
today's rejigging focus was firmly on my wardrobe.

 I'm a real girly girl when it comes to my choice of tops
with blush pinks & creams topping the list
all year round but during the
Autumn & Winter months my colour
focus changes a little to more
dark, rich greens & beige browns with a splash of red.

 Looking at this excuse of a shelf with clothes rail attached

calling itself a built-in-wardrobe, only reinforces

my longing for one of those all singing & dancing wardrobe

from that four letter Swedish Furniture store.  

All in white with glass fronted draws and lights that go on

as if by magic when you open doors & draws.

OH a girl can but dream.... 

well there is always next year of course.

In the meantime I'm trying to make the best with what I have.
I like the idea of being organised with my clothes,
everything being neat & tidy, with a "Summer & Winter" wardrobe
gives me less stress in my already much to rushed mornings.
As "Summer" has sad goodbye months ago
I finally moved my summer clothes to one side today.
Now when I open the wardrobe doors I see & have everything

that makes me feel warm & cosy during the damp cold months

right in front of me.

 

 When it comes to scarves I'm sorry but size does matter....
 the longer the better!
I LoVe wrapping them round & round & round,
creating a little cocoon around me.
I'm after all a hibernator at heart.

 

Tweed is another must have in my wardrobe,
right around this time of year, teamed up with flannel shirts.
What's not to LoVe especially when the flannel is red plaid!
Denim is a style institution.... a classic....
I wouldn't want to be without ever.

I'm all about layering....

two, three, four layers all warmly wrapped up 

with a woolly cardigan or jumper!

It has been fun rejigging my wardrobe for the Autumn & Winter chill
but looking at this photo

I have been left wondering is there a
"Hello my name is Anna & I'm a elbow patches addicted "
 support group out there?

Autumn Backyard Rejig....

I bought a few Autumn flowers & spring bulbs the other day,

so today was a day for rearranging, sorting

& planting in my back yard.

This space has changed so much over this past summer,

that I'm still having to regularly pinch myself to believe what

Mr Mc & I have achieved here.

We are by no means finished but with the daylight getting

much shorter and weather worsening we have to call it a day

at least for now on our remodeling plans.

In the mean time I'm enjoying what we have already created here.

 

I'm in LoVe.... 

besotted LoVe.... 

from here to the Moon & back again LoVe!

This beautiful old whisky barrel is a wonderful gift from my Dad,

it looks perfect in this space

& serves the practical function of collecting the rainwater.   

Our back yard is fast becoming a wonderful mix of new & old!

Chipped & cracked crockery from our house

finds a new home in the garden.

With a little Anna treatment....

 a few coats of HaPpY blue paint

& a personalized logo,

this little new pot ladder from a discount supermarket

has been a great addition to our ongoing backyard project.

Allowing throughout the building work of new fences & sheds

for a small but pretty & colourful flower display

which could easily be moved around when needed.  

As the time spent out here for now is becoming less & less

I really cherish every minute I have in this
already very pretty little yard.

 I really feel so blessed to have an outside space

that I can call my own! 

Memories in a Jar....

Not having to rush off to work and with the house

in utter silence this morning,

I took time to really enjoy my breakfast.

 A perfect Autumn breakfast.

Flickering candle, steaming fluffy latte

and the taste of summer on my bagel!

 

In August when my Dad came to visit for a few weeks we took

a little trip to a self-pick fruit farm to get a few strawberries

for a tart I was planing on making for dessert that evening....

 

a couple hours of.... one in my tummy two in the basket, 

or possibly the other way round.... who is counting !?!

we ended up returning home with mountains of yummy fruit.

Easily done, when you're having fun!

 

 

That evening I made not one, not two but three tarts.

Once finished the fruit mountain had barely been touched

so Mr Mc dug out our preserve jars and I got busy making Rote Grütze.

For those of you not so familiar with it, 

Rote Grütze (Rødgrød) is a red fruit pudding very popular in Germany & Denmark

during the summer months, mostly eaten with a vanilla sauce or ice-cream.

Mr Mc, myself & Teen Paperdoll are no huge fans of it

but Baby Paperdoll & my Dad absolutely LoVe it! 

Two 1kg jars filled to the brim later (sorry for the lack of photos

the jars got emptied just as fast as I had filled them)

we still had masses of fruit left over.

The only solution....

JAM!

Making jam.... lots & lots of jam!

Strawberry & raspberry jam mix with a hint of vanilla.

The taste of the very best of summer in a jar.

 

 For me each jar is also filled with the

 much cherished memories of that beautiful day,

making it the perfect start to my day all year round!