Making the most of the light

The days feel so short at this time of year. It's dark when I get out of bed, and dark by about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. So when the weather's dry and there's a beautiful blue sky I can't help lacing up my walking boots and setting off for a wander. This is a view across the RSPB reserve near me. It was so peaceful. Just the occasional dog walkers and fellow wanderers out enjoying the fresh air too.

Back home I carried on with crafty odds and ends. I'm making embroidered name tags to attach to Christmas presents, trying to go for a folksy vintage-y kind of look to them. I'll show you them when I've finished and you can see if I've succeeded.

I've also been adding to my Jessie Chorley style 'doodle cloth'. Learning how to sew a wrapped chain stitch - in red and white it makes a perfect candy cane - and not taking it all too seriously.

I had to nip down to the High Street to collect a prescription and - of course - couldn't resist a quick nose around the charity shop. A wise move on my behalf as I bought some goodies. This 100% lambswool jumper by Fat Face for only £4.50. It's part of their menswear range, but that doesn't matter, I'll wear it anyway, the baggier the better.

It was a quid for the three books. The crochet one will be given to my niece as she crochets and I don't. I was really pleased with the felt book as the author's Corine Lapierre and I like her designs. Plus, there's a handsome hardback by Philippa Gregory to add to my ever expanding To-Be-Read pile.

I'd actually gone into the charity shop hoping to find a white or cream cotton shirt or skirt to cut up for the fabric. But look what I found instead! Six pristine white cotton napkins for £2.00 and this massive cream coloured piece of material for £3.00. It's a heavy, very smooth cotton - perhaps a tablecloth?, I'm not sure - but it's 54 inches x 100 inches and there's only one small mark on it. There was another set of napkins in the shop that I didn't buy, but maybe if they're still unsold in a few days time I'll go back and buy them.

Hope your day's been as pleasing as mine, and that the skies were blue too.

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