The Charming Pattern Shop Is Open

'Noon

So, how you diddling?

Big news day. You may well know about my knitting pattern collection and the amount of room it takes up, well Ma has nagged me for a long time to do something about it. We compromised on the idea of me selling copies... That was about 3 years ago, well, after a request for a few patterns the other day I finally decided that's now's the time.

However, Sally Scanner wouldn't talk to Larry Laptop, so I thought about doing some photocopies. It was a Saturday. Many of you may be aware that in many small towns out this way, shops are closed on Saturdays, at least in the afternoons. So the printing place was closed and I was feeling glum. So I decided to just go and get a new scanner, so off to one of those big retail places that I hate so much as they're ruining the high street.

I came home with a Scanner/Printer/Copier which was almost half price and after setting it up - Less than an hour! - I was good to go.

I've now been spending all my free time scanning patterns and PDF-ing them. I've bearly touched the mountain, but I'm having fun with my new toy.

So should you wish to purchase a PDF of one of my many patterns, I have a "shop" page at the top of this blog (under the banner). That just a few patterns in, but I'll be adding to the page and also setting up a proper shop, maybe Etsy?

But in the meantime, if there's anything you're looking for, do say and I'll get my mountaineering equipment on and go off and take a look for you.

Anyway, to new adventures!

Jennie xxx

How Many Inches Did You Get Over The Weekend?

A proper Good Morning, I'm now feeling bright and breezy thanks to Lucy... Thank you!

So now I'm getting to grips with Picasa Web Albums - Yet another thing I will struggle to use and will probably forget how to by next week! But never the less, let us enjoy this blog, it's been in the pipeline since Friday, and it's such a relief to be writing it and knowing that the chances of adding snaps is very high!

So... A bit of the white stuff (snow!) of Wednesday evening just to remind us what it looked like, then I awake not-very-bright and early (7am, I ask you!) on Friday to discover we were snowed it - Glorious stuff!

Charlie was not best pleased, but at least he was warm in front of the Rayburn!

It's just started snowing again, just as it looked like it was melting away - When do I call Ma to inform her to get back home? I'll leave it a bit, it's still light and not sticking. Anyway, Friday morning, there were a few inches, about five or six, and then it continued!

This was about 8am on Friday, just before the farmer down the lane called on us to make sure we were alright - Bless.

The weekend as a whole was wonderful though. Hunkered down in front of the woodburner watch Pride & Prejudice (with Colin Firth thank you very much, the only version worth watching!) and also North & South, with the delectable Richard Armitage, swoon! That accent gets me every time, by 'eck it does!

And as a thank you to dear Lucy, who saved this blog and my sanity, here's some knitty news:

I've been knitting a 1937 something, it's day 14 today and I'm loving the pattern, the instructions are easy to follow and the wool is lovely - But it feels so slow! I've completed the back, and I'm half way up the left front - Bet you don't know what it is! But I'll add one more thing, I had to knit in a pocket, which provides me with endless joy (yes, really!). But I'm not even half way done, there's loads to knit and a few more balls of wool to buy.

But here's a picture of the pattern. The colour is gorgeous on the photo, but it's not true! It's actually a claret (between a deep red and brown), not the purple it appears to be. But nice detail?

So that's me done for the day, I'll be finishing up my hot chocolate and hoping for enough snow to keep me indoors with Middlemarch, Emma or Wuthering Heights - Decisions!

Keep warm and take care

Jennie xxx

Let The Obscenities Commence

'Ello Duckettes,

I've been trying to post since Friday but have run into an issue... When I try to upload a picture (onto the blogglette), the button flashes away as soon as the box opens, and I have no way to upload snaps!
I've tried Flickr, but it won't work either and I can't very well use a webcam (don't have one), nor a phone (don't have one).

Please come to my rescue someone, I'm sure the answer is obvious and I'm just being a bit of a plum!

Yours Faithfully

Jennie Charm G.C.S.E.

The Airman, The Mugs And The Soldiers

'Ello Ducklings!

Five months since my last post, but I'm back now, and I'm excited to get going again.

We'll start off today with a little round-up of Christmas. It was a quiet-ish affair, but I did get some lovely things, including a yard of Jaffa Cakes! They do count as one of your five-a-day, along with Jammie Dodgers...

I knew I was receiving the next two pieces as I hinted towards them, then imagine my surprise when I unwrapped them!

One more for the collection?

And this... I was really excited about this one as I've yet to see another one, even though they obviously do exist - It'll turn out that all you lot own one!

Awarded to me for services to vintage!

Then it was on to New Year's Eve - I spent mine with Mama, Auntie J., Uncle B. and their friend, G. We spent a few hours chatting and have a gay old time, before hopping into the car to head off to the free fireworks display in Saundersfoot - I really can't believe that they wouldn't charge for a such a good display... Though I'm not complaining!

We got into the car to return at about 12.15 ish, as it was getting a bit rowdy (screaming drunk teenagers... charming) and this was on the radio, much to our delight - Sing along now!

We came back here for tea, and more chat, then I finally made it to bed around 2.30am! Before I donned me jim-jams, I had a really good chat with Uncle B. about The South Wales Borderers in connection to some "tat" I own - There's more discussion to be had, but there will be a dedicated post on all this... Watch this space!

Then, yesterday, it was my Burpday - Again, many hints led to a wonderful present:



At last!

 This may shock you, but I've never seen the first series - I wasn't allowed to watch it on the telly-box! I'm four episodes in.... Naughty Lady Mary, such a straight character, but what a story! Safe to say, this should keep me quiet for a few hours!

Also, before I forget, and whilst I'm rounding up everything... I was at the last of the antique fleas the other weekend and picked up a few goodies, less than last time though. The time before I found myself eleven handbags, this time, just three! Plus skirts, a Christmas card (which led to the South Wales Borderers discussion) and plenty more.

Anyway, this past time, I picked up these:

Maybe one more then!

This was in a £1 basket... £1! Could I really walk away at that price? Then I found this beauty:

1918 Peace Mug

And the back:



Presented in Cardiff!

 I've also paid a visit to one of my favourite antiques shop - I was talked into some sales, but I had to leave so much as his prices are bit high. But I picked up these two lovelies:

WW1 postcards

The one on the left is dated Jan. 31st 1918 - I'm having a spot of trouble reading it, so I'll have to get back to you, but it does mention their boy, Stanley (I think).

Oh, back to the flea, this photo caught my eye, as did the soldier in the bottom left - What a smile!

Bottom left - Swoon!

And back, once again, to the antiques shop - I realise I couldn't just edited this all, but I'm lazy today! What do you think of my new young man?

What's the word I'm looking for, dashing?

I fell for him months ago, but I really prefer to have my pictures ready-framed... I gave in and he agreed to come home with me - Should I re-phrase that?

I should've snapped the back for you. It's stamped with 'V.G. Studios - 9, Kendoa Rd. - Clapham. S.W.4.' and written on is 'D. Brown - Tanned slightly - Air Force' - It's a good size snap too, with the board around it - Just need a frame!

So, I think that's me done for the day. In the next month or so we'll have a chat about the South Wales Borderers, Christmas cards, soldiers, museums and a dream about Rorke's Drift (I kid you not!).

Anyway, I've had a lovely time, I hope you're still awake!

See you soon

Jennie xx

In The Oh So Charming Kitchen - Wartime Chocolate Biscuits

It's finally here! I'd intended to write this before lunch, but then soup-making got me distracted (red pepper, tomato and kidney bean - yum).

I don't know what to call this feature... Suggestions on a postcard to: Jennie Charm, c/o Charming Towers, Charmsville - I wonder what the Post Office would do with that?

Anyways, I am getting awfully distracted again, today I have the attention span of a... Ooh, look, a fox!

I'm a firm believer in having something baked for the weekend, and in these "tough times", an economical recipe is just the ticket.

I've adjusted this recipe as the original just didn't work, and that's not fair when you're desperate for biscuits!
These make spongy biscuits, a little cakey even, but so simple, and so lovely with a cuppa.

Recipe:

2 oz Margarine
1 oz Cocoa
4 oz Plain Flour (plus extra for dusting)
2 oz Sugar (plus extra for dusting)
1 Tablespoon Golden Syrup
1 1/2 Tablespoon Milk
1/4 Teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Essence

Pre-heat your oven to about Gas Mark 6 (200 c), line some baking trays with baking parchment and dust a clean surface with flour.

Melt the margarine and golden syrup, turn off the heat then add in the other ingredients and stir until a glossy dough is formed. If it's too sticky, add more flour - Too dry and crumbly, add more milk.

Turn out onto your floured surface and roll out to about 1/2 cm thick and cut into rectangles (or squares, circles...) and place them onto your lined trays. Prick the tops with a fork and dust with a little sugar (optional).

Bake for about 15 minutes, until they are firm, but the tops are still a little springy.

Once cool, then can be sandwiched together with chocolate spread or jam, or maybe even a little whipped cream!

They can, of course, be eaten as they are. They make excellent dunkers.

I'm afraid I don't know how long they last in storage, as they're usually grabbed straight off the tray!

I hope you enjoy. I'll try and think of what to make for next week's installment... Ideas?

I hope you all have a lovely weekend, I had a plan, but it involves an early morning... We'll see!

I'm off to grab another biscuit before my tea's gone

Jennie xx

The Queen And The Daisy Clutch

Hello!

I'm taking a bit of a break from the knitting (ta very much), a 3 2 rib frazzles me brain somewhat, especially when I'm not concentrating...
I did finish the collar last night, and have made a good start on the front. Though I'll still need to order some more wool, but I will have a lovely new jumper for the Autumn, which will go with a multitude of skirts and slacks - Yipee!

Last week, Friday I think, I was wandering around town waiting for my lift home when I decided to pop into a usually overpriced charity shop and found this little number, which was promptly picked up and hurried over to the counter - Though I don't think there was too much of a riot to buy it!

Love at first sight... Yes, more tat! I won't repeat what Ma said when she saw it, no taste!

Then I popped over to a shop that sells a bit of vintage on occasion and it was heaving, but I  fought my way through and found a little basket filled with bags, mainly stuff which doesn't interest me (too modern) and found this beauty!

I know, I know, a Summer bag... It may be used one day!
Just look inside...

Oh, how in love am I?

That's about it for my finds, I have picked up a few DVDs cheap, but nothing exciting.

Anyway, break over, back to work!

Have yourself a lovely day

Jennie x

P.S. How do you like my temporary banner? I'll get round to making a proper one some day!

Two Balls More

A Sunday post? Why yes me dearies, I find myself with a weekend completely free following the confusion over the weather. Had we been expecting good weather, I would have been out today for sure, and possibly yesterday, but the fine weather rather caught me out!

So I've been sorting through my knitting, and rushing myself to finally get that middy jacket finished so I can wear it - But I ran out of wool (again), so I once again picked up a 1938 number which I last worked on last year.

I ran out of wool and so ordered two balls more, but they were a different shade. The shade I had been working with is no longer available. I'm on the second sleeve, I really don't want to un-run it all and start again with the new shade. So I started knitting with the new shade, just to see how noticeable it would be, I'll let the picture speak for itself!

Why's this come out on it's side? Bah, one of those days!

Do I go round with a "faded" sleeve or re-knit? There is also a collar to knit, my knitting advisers, this one's up to you!

On the subject of not enough wool, I also ran out of wool on a 1936 cardigan, again, on the second sleeve! So I'm just going to ask, does anybody happen to have two balls of Wendy Kintyre (aran) in green? The code on the wool sleeve is 161 6678

Although, if I'm going to ask for wool (which I would, of course, pay for), the original brown wool I was using was Patons Diploma Gold 4-ply, colour 04218 - Which is available, but in a lighter shade (as shown), the one I was using originally, has a reddish hue to it, and little flecks of chestnut running through it. It also goes much better with the orange I'm using for the motif.

In my defence, I did weight both lots of wool before I started knitting, but it still wasn't enough, sigh.
So, just to reassure me, do tell me you have also come across this "not enough wool" problem.

So that's my story for the day, I'm planning on a spot of baking later in the week, chocolate biscuits alright with you?

So I bid you a relaxing Sunday afternoon, and wish you well for the coming week. I do have some outings planned for next week, and their indoors, so no worries about the weather!

Pip-pip

Jennie x