Thursday Round Up

I have spent a few days at my mothers house going through some of me and my brother's childhood things and then Mister M came with the car and we stuffed it to the brim...

When we got home I did a second look through most of the stuff and threw away things that were broken and put some in the donate-pile, which have been growing around here lately. I have looked through my books and the ones I will never read again was put in the donate-pile and before we knew it we had filled the car to the brim and went to the thrift shop and skip with it.

Mister M's dad asked if the car curtain thing should stay home and Mister M claimed he was only going to my mother to pick up a few boxes because he had heard me saying I had halved the children's books I owned but little did he know about the rest. Like my four boxes of teddies or the two boxes of old baby clothes. Then there is all my craft supplies from school I need to go through and works I did in school, I have thrown some away, but since our storage is full more throwing out is in order....

And I found my Barbie stuff, but since we couldn't fit all my childhood things in the car I haven't gone through that yet...

But I will keep my mother's doll cradle, maybe I can put yarn in it? But I do think it might need a coat of paint, it is looking a bit shabby in places, I will ask my mom if she thinks I can pick a new colour or if we should paint it again with the same colour. And I did keep my mother's doll and mine, Jonas and Johannes, I just put them in a plastic bin and sat them in the storage. But I will not keep everything, my goal is to half everything either by donating, gifting or throwing away because I can' keep everything, I must be strict, I will not become a hoarder.

In crafting news I picked back up my kitties in a row afghan, yes I am crocheting a blanket in wool in  25 degrees, I am a little crazy but I thought you knew that already? I have doubled it in size since last time I left it and it now weighs 504 grams and I am on my 20th repeat. And I think I have made about a third of the needed size. But it does look good in my grandmother chair next to Mimle? I was a bit scared to put Valmin in it, I might not find him again as the colours are a lot like his. Speaking of the colours Mister M commented the palette was not at all like me, all neutral with lots of browns, but I did say it was kitty colours and kitties are rarely pink, purple or blue are they? So I had no choice in the matter and it did help all the colours were on sale that time. So there.

A-Z challenge V

V is for Vintage

 I am lucky enough that I have some pieces my mother and grandmother made that I treasure. Vintage is very much in style at the moment, but I think all these pieces are timeless and should be worn and loved and used. And when I use them I think about all the work and love that has been poured into the garments. Vintage is a treasure, sometimes only for sentimental value but sometimes can be important to take care of it for the next generation.

We couldn't find a photo of my grandmother knitting, but here she is busy sewing. I adored my grandmother and I do feel a bit sad that she died before we could share knitting or sewing together, but at least I can crochet with my mother and aunt which we try to do at their cabin.

Here is my mother crocheting in her 

nurses uniform when she did nightshifts 

I think before I was born. But I know she 

and my aunt did a lot of sewing too so

I come from a crafty family and those

that did not work with yarn worked

with wood or metal and things like 

that...

So there is no wonder I love all hand-crafting. 

Here is a "kofte" jacket which is all the style at the moment in Norway, everyone is knitting one, but they are very warm and classic and I can remember my grandmother wearing this so it has been quite durable. My mother is pretty sure my grandmother knited this, but we do know she knitted the red sweater below that my mother wore when she was twelve-ish so that sweater has lived for quite some time.

And then there is the scarf in a mermaid pattern according to my mother which my grandmother knitted to my mother, I love the pattern, it is the same pattern my doll got her dress in that my grandmother knitted for me when I was a kid, that doll is in the attic so we didn't have time to find her and show off, but I thought that dress was the most beautiful dress ever when I was a child and I still cherish it. I hope to be able to knit something like that one day.  

I think clothes that are more than 25 years old and up to almost 50 years old surely must count as vintage?

When is something vintage and do you own any vintage heirlooms?

Flea market thrifting

This weekend I met up with my mother and stayed the night, On the way to the bus it snowed! 

We had planned to go out to a flea-market early the next day by her house as is tradition, we have found lots of gems there every time we have gone so it is something I look forward too! This year my mother had to work evening shift but we had time to make a brief visit to the stalls. And there was lots to see, since both of us sort have a buying stop policy we did mostly look, but we did fins some gems.

I found a lantern and more green glasses and bowl that we own so now we have a spare and some small plates I want to have my tea-bags on when I have visitors. Mum bought a tea-box, two knitted lace doilies, one hardanger table cloth and some woven table clots. Most in good shape and very cheap. But the best thing we found were a new storage and sitting pouff for my mother and the plan is to throw away the two worn out ones she have that don't have storage and a chair for me.

Can you tell, it is just like my grandmothers chair, only in red! I L O V E it! I never asked Mister M for permission, I just bought it, because I thought it wasn't for sale and when it was and I heard the price I just could not walk away from it....

Since I had to take the bus home it is sitting in my old room at my mums until she can drive it here.

We splurged and bought waffles too, but can you believe we spent about 300 and 150  Norwegian Krones each? The pouff was 60 and the chair 250 which is a steal, you would be hard pressed to find a new one for that price even and I love the chair. It is comfy for small people like me and it is just so gorgeous!

Then mum went to work and I met Mister M for a date and we had sushi and went home to watch a bad movie, this time it was Twins.

But I had fun! Let us do it again soon. There is a fall flea-market too you know?

Fjerde Desember

I awoke before the alarm bell with stiff and hurting hands, I put them under the duvet and tried to sleep more. I failed, so I sat in bed with my iPad and soon M awoke and we could eat breakfast finally. Very Christmassy today, yoghurt with liquorice and yoghurt with caramel. Tine makes such peculiar seasonal yoghurts that actually fit the seasons! 

And today's tea was black tea with ginger, cloves, star anise with masala chai, peppermint, and anise, I really liked this one, it fit nicely with my liquorice yoghurt. 

Then I went on another tradition that started when I moved out, my mother and mine pre-Christmas shopping trip. A whole day with different chores and lots of items checked off the lists. My mum is almost done with her list (I helped), I even gave her some friendly tips on gifts for me ^^

Then we had lunch, shopped some more and went home and had dinner.

M was home sick and vacuumed, I could tell for a short while, then I gave the little trolls new toys. They got one each of the same toy, since they can't share.

But apparently one was much better and they fought each other for it and ate it all up. Now our rug looks less vacuumed. But they had fun.

I _almost_ finished another hat, but I have no idea how it is supposed to be finished off, I am going to take another look at it with fresh eyes tomorrow I think...

But for now I am going to bed.

While we wait

Advent is here.

Today we light the first candle.

We opted for LED candles this year, but it is cozy none the less.

I've spent some days at my mothers house in preparation for her birthday party we did some de-cluttering and decorating and in the process found a chest full of table cloths but also a lot of half finished projects, my mother gifted me some of them so that I could finish. I got three cross-stitch kits, one almost half done, and one two thirds of a knitted sock and some yarn.

I finished the sock, she even had knitted all the way down past the tricky heel.

I hope she will feel inspired and finish some of the projects still in her chest.

 I know I shouldn't be on my high horse since I still haven't finished sock number two, but mine is progressing a bit, I am at the start of the heel;)

I finished the socks!

I should finish some of my things first.... but I am cross stitching the lady and her cat. >.<

But December is not even here yet, so I have loads of time still?