Don't they look pretty?

Sat there on the shelf in Daphne's room, my Enid Blyton books look vintage-tastic with their chalky colours and retro illustrations, but they do make me a little uneasy.

I read Blyton extensively as a child, from the Famous Five through the school books to the fairytales. Famous Five (and the Secret Seven) held a ploddy, bread-and-butter place in my reading. I'm sure I enjoyed them at the time but they never set my world alight. The school books, Mallory Towers for example, may as well have been labelled fairytales, so far removed were they from the life I led. I enjoyed these more, though as a class-aware adult who cringes at anything 'posher' than a Waitrose carrier bag, their appeal is much more limited these days.

It's for these reasons that the shelves hold mainly the fairy stories. The Faraway Tree, The Wishing Chair and the collections of short stories about brownies, fairies and goblins which were always my favourites.

But I have a dilemma.

It's well known that Blyton's work is less than PC to say the least. I've never accepted that just because something was 'of it's time' it excuses continued exposure to very offensive material. And some of this stuff could be considered very offensive. Racist,and with questionable attitudes about child discipline. But nostalgia draws me to them. Do I read them to my children? No (although in honesty I tried once, but the antiquated language and subject matter rendered them incomprehensible to my audience). I have to accept that whilst they are on the shelf, they may be read by the little people. I guess I will offer some sort of precursory explanation whilst they are small, but what shall I say?

I have no point to make here, am genuinely a bit torn. But I do know I would be sorry to lose these from the shelves if it ever came to it.

Two-whit Too-woo!

So, aaaages ago I knitted the legendary OWL jumper in Sirdar Peru, a lovely phased yarn I got on the cheap from Kemps Wool Shop. I learnt the hard way not to knit a jumper during winter in a darkened room, as the colour phase yarn wasn't exactly, well, phased.

It was a bit too unfortunately stripy for me to wear, shame as it fitted like a dream. I bought some FabDye, an acid dye good for dying wool. This is when I learned lesson #2: an unwatched dye pot will boil over and dye your dresser purple. Gah.
Hot water does funny things to wool. It came out a brown/purple marl which I could live with, but the arms are now fit for Mr Tickle. Still I can always roll them up.

34 buttons later (yes, that's THIRTY FOUR) and we're good to go. What do you think?

Jelly!

Blackcurrant. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

A Retr-Oh moment

I pop into my very-local charity shop almost daily. Like all these things it's more hit than miss. Today, this cheeky little chap was sat on the shelf just waiting for me. It's Brixham pottery, a history of which is apparently difficult to track down, so I've no idea of age, but it looks Seventies-tastic to me!

I love these acid-type greens, they compliment the strange blue-toned purple of my living room walls so well, and that teaky-brown looks almost woodgrain to match my beloved G-plan coffee table.

I paid £3. No money in it, as The Duke would say, but this one's going to live with me a while, and bring me lots of viewing pleasure, making it cheap as chips................

Creative Open Workshops (or COW to me and you)

Last weekend was my dear friend Clare's hen do, and being a crafty type she wanted to do something different during the day. She discovered the marvellous Creative Open Workshop studio at The Custard Factory, and we went along to make our own tote bags.

Now, I'm still a little nervous when it comes to the old sewing thing. I have a machine but we've yet to fall in love. I was hoping that this workshop would help me with my reservations, and as it turns out I could have taken my own machine in order to learn how to work it. Instead, I used their (rather fabulous) ones and knocked up a bag to be proud of in a couple of hours!

Our hostess Francine was lovely; very patient, friendly and helpful. There was jasmine tea (in fancy vintage teacups nonetheless) and cakes to help us keep our sewing energy up, and the choice of fabric was dizzying! Everything was very step by step and simple, thankfully, and I would recommend this type of thing for newbie and experienced crafters alike.

It cost just £15 including materials. Bargainous.

Me and my bag

All the hens

The place wot I live in

I feel very lucky to live in the historic village of Kings Norton, about 5 miles south of Birmingham city centre.

I'm a stone's throw from the village green, home to some of the most beautiful old buildings the city has to offer. St Nicholas church is a 13th century building, although documents prove there has been a church on the same spot since at least the 11th century.


Within the church grounds stands the Old Grammar School, which is one of the oldest educational buildings in the country, believed to have been built in the 15th century.



Together with The Saracen's Head, a medieval building turned coaching inn, The Grammar school won £3m from the BBC Restoration project back in 2004. The money was used to fully refurbish the school and create St Nicholas place on the site of the old pub. This tourist and community centre is a great place to visit for a coffee when in the area.


All this history aside, I'm down at 'The Green' most days, it has everything I need. A Spar, post office, bank, charity shop and a fantastic greasy cafe. My top two favourite shops though, at The Natural Health Centre, fantastic for massage, and the Fabulous Fabric shop.

I've met people in the past who have been..........well a bit sniffy about Birmingham. Well, I'm born and bred and I love it, particularly this little corner away from the urban sprawl.

To Upcycle or Recycle?

I bought this mirror in a local charity shop for £5. Apart from being a bit grubby (maybe I should have cleaned it before snapping it) it's in perfect condition.

I love these mirrors painted in vibrant hues, I love blanket colour showing off relief work, and was going to paint this teal to hang in my hallway. However, something about that faux goldiness is drawing me in. It's SO not my thing, but would it be a shame to paint it up?

Answers on a postcard.....