Happy December everyone!!!

Hello,

So alot seems to have happened in a week, not to mention the fact that it has now officially turned into December!

Here is Ol getting in on the Christmas action!  So pleased to have her back after her 12 hour adventure where she was off goodness knows where... worrying times (maybe a GPS cat collar should be on her Christmas list!)

Anyways, following on from my last blog, I was successful in finding a lovely tea set in one of our local charity shops (in fact I have bought 3 this week, got a little carried away) it only cost £5.99... bargain!

So now I have been able to crack on with making teacup candles for this years Christmas gifts.  I have also been making a dried fruit wreath but this is taking a little longer than anticipated so, pictures to follow on another blog.

As they say on Blue Peter, here's one I made I made earlier!!

I think these will look lovely in my sisters living room so here's hoping she likes them!

This week I have also discovered 2 new favourite places in Leeds; Country Baskets and Swiss Cottage :) As well as rediscovering 2 old favourites; Wheatfields Hospice sale and St Gemma's Hospice vintage fair.

Country Baskets was Mondays adventure, I went there to pick up some craft supplies having recently received my membership through the post.  That place is brilliant its like a Costco of the crafting world!  However, my excitement is probably going to be a bit short lived if they don't allow me back after my smashed vase incident.  Yes I probably should mention, I knocked over a rather large box in which was a large martini glass vase that shattered into a million pieces, causing everyone to stare :( That also meant that I couldn't just scuttle away and pretend it wasn't me!

Tuesday, I revisited an old haunt, Wheatfields Hospice sales days.  I used to work at Wheatfields when I was at University and always loved the sales days.  Unfortunately they are on at random times (Tues afternoon and Friday morning) so I rarely get to go now.  If you get chance though, there are some bargains to be had. They sel furniture, clothes, bric a brac and have a book cabin that sells paperbacks for 50p and hardbacks for £1.  When we were students we even managed to get an almost new armchair for £5.

Continuing with supporting my local hospices I also popped into St Gemma's this weekend for their vintage fair, I managed to pick up my other two tea sets and a rather lovely old copy of Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens (complete with an old London transport ticket someone had used as a bookmark) for 50p!

Later that day...

Just when I thought that Country Baskets was the best place to hang out in Leeds, my lovely housemate Kerry took me to somewhere (dare I say it) even better.  Swiss Cottage is awesome its like a big warehouse with room after room of well loved antiques and nic nacks.  I cant explain how excited I was when I arrived, its like my dream place.  The only downside I could find, was that because it has the label 'antique' you would be hard pushed to find a bargain, though there are some lovely things. 

 A couple of things caught my eye, including; a Mason and Cash mixing bowl and a large glass decanter in a beautiful teal colour.  I managed to refrain from buying anything as I feel I should wait till I have bought all my Christmas presents.  So we left with the only thing either of us bought (Kerry - there is no way I would admit to having bought it) a framed picture of Princess Diana for £2!!

As soon as Christmas is done I'm heading straight back there!!!

Finally, to round off a lovely week - a lovely weekend with my family and Mikey down at the German Christmas Markets.  Lots of mulled wine, marshmallows and German sausages :) Plus a new mug to add to my collection

Happy December everyone!