Cambridge Made It Market - Save the date!

I am really excited that Martha & Me will be having a stall at: 

In preparation I have started to make Christmas cards......

.......and a large delivery of lampshade parts have arrived so I need to get super busy making lots of things to sell. 

Hope to see you there!  

My top 5 tips to save money without scrimping!

As you may have guessed by now, I love up-cycling, charity shops and generally finding a good bargain. The savings you can make with simple changes and thrifty decisions is amazing. Thinking about these things encourages me to think more creatively about what I already own and how I spend. I aim to be a good steward of my money and the following tips are some of the ways I try and watch my pennies.......I don't see them as rules rather ideas and sometimes even challenges.

My 5 simple top tips for saving money and being thrifty :
1) Be prepared to up-cycle furniture you already own. I often find with even minimal effort you can transform furniture and furnishings and give them a new lease of life. For example try updating a tired sofa by recovering your cushion covers or adding a coordinating throw. A quick lick of paint can transform a piece of furniture; consider adding a panel of patterned wallpaper or decoupage detail. Changing handles on a chest of drawers or recovering chairs can also make a huge differences 

2) If you shop for your children's clothes in charity shops why not plan ahead and buy things when you see them; get an under-bed storage box or similar and stock pile your finds, buy when you find a bargain even if it won't fit the child for several months/years! However be sure to check back regularly so you don't forget what sizes you have in stock! Buying in advance will mean you are prepared and don't find yourself suddenly needing clothes and having to buy new. You can often find bulk bags of clothes on gumtree, free-cycle at car boots and from ebay, these can be a real bargain. I think I have saved loads on Martha's clothes by doing this. 

3) Christmas and Birthday presents can be so expensive so don't be afraid to buy in advance when you see things in sales. You often spend so much more when you buy in a hurry. Have a present and card drawer so you won't be caught out and not have enough time to find a bargain. The January sales are the best time to buy Christmas cards, decorations and crackers. I would also recommend planning ahead and making presents. There are lots of great books out there with fantastic homemade gift ideas. I always love receiving homemade gifts like sweet treats, preserves, jewellery and homewares.  

4) It sounds obvious but before you buy compare the price. The internet has made this really easy for us to do, a simple search will usually give you an idea of what you should be paying. There also specific money saving and price comparioson Apps to help. The variation of prices for the same product can be huge so make sure you have checked! 

5) I am no money expert but I have been living off a fairly tight budget for a number of years. I hate budgeting but have found it really helpful to have a separate account for 'spending money'. Once the account is empty that's it, no more coffees out or impulsive purchases till the next month.....


SO in summary...... shop second hand, make use of what you already have, try making presents, check the price, buy in advance and set a budget! Simple! 

Dinner time

I have a lot of cookbooks (hmmm probably too many) I love reading them and I really enjoy trying (and of course eating) new recipes.

My usual motivation for picking up a recipe book is when I know that we are having guests around for food or I am baking for one of the many college events (there is a lot of cake eating at vicar school so this is a regular occurrence!).

Recently I thought I would go through my cookbook shelves and hunt for recipes that are 'everyday meals'. For me this means they are fairly cost effective and quick to put together. Ultimately I want recipes that could become a regular on the Robson table and that after a few tries I could remember the recipe without having to read it step by step. The Philadelphia cookbook and Nigella Express have been brilliant for this as they have loads of simple yet yummy dishes.

This week I have been looking at the Avoca Cafe Cookbook and tonight I made the Chard, Spinach, Ricotta and Pancetta (my own addition as I have a veggie-phobic husband!) Cannelloni. It was delicious and fairly simple to make. I was really pleased that Martha (now 21months old) also ate the whole portion as its not typical toddler food. We would definitely recommend this recipe and I am looking forward to trying the Avoca cookbook fish cakes tomorrow night.

Sunny September

It is a beautiful sunny day in Cambridge and I am making the most of my little craft studio whilst Martha naps. Today I am making a selection of greetings cards for Mia Bella Casa.  Mia Bella Casa is a lovely gift and homeware shop in the seaside village of Ferring, West Sussex. They sell a wide range of locally made gifts and also stock Nkuku one of my favourite fairtrade brands.
The cards I make for the shop are all different and mostly involve machine appliqué with embellishments such as beads and buttons. I have been using lots of different fabrics and love trying out different combinations of colours and patterns.

Hen Party

This weekend Martha and Me were busy leading a hen party workshop in Cambridge. Craft parties are perfect for such occasion and so much fun! More details about my party workshops (delivered at your chosen location) will be available on my new website which is coming soon.....  

Chocolate cheesecake with handmade chocolate buttons!

I love Lorraine Pascale's cook books. Everything I have tried from 'Baking Made Easy' and 'Home Cooking Made Easy' has been delicious and as it claims they have been truly 'easy' to make!

Tomorrow I am hosting a pudding party for Spice (the group for the spouses of trainee vicars at Ridley) so I looked through all my books for something I could bake in advance as tomorrow is a rather busy day. I settled on Lorraine's chocolate cheesecake. The only draw back was that the recipe takes 400g chocolate and a huge 800g of soft cheese. Which makes the recipe not exactly healthy and rather expensive to make. I'm not too fussed about the health factor (hopefully I won't be eating it all myself) but the cost is a bit off putting. I decided to go to the bargain supermarket Aldi to try and reduce the cost of the pudding and it worked the total ingredient cost was a mere£4.06 compared to the £10+ it would have cost at my corner shop!

I decorated the cheesecake with some white chocolate buttons which were made using a cute button mould that i was given as a birthday present (thank you Anna B you know me so well!)

Martha's busy summer

Like many bloggers over the summer months my blog has been somewhat neglected. Martha and I have been off on our summer holidays enjoying the English sun and rain. These are some photos of Martha's highlights.We stayed we my parents on the South Coast for about a month so Nanny, the cat and their garden feature heavily!

I enjoyed many of the trips and days out we had. Whilst most people were heading up to London for the olympics we went to Tate Modern for the day and visited Damien Hirst's exhibition. I was thankful that some of the concepts in the exhibition went right over martha's head, i did get some funny looks whilst showing her the animals cut in half. For Martha though it was no different to seeing a jigsaw of an animal split into many pieces! My favourite work was the montage of blue butterflies arranged to look like a cathedral rose window called 'Sympathy in White Major - Absolution 11'.

Now we are back in Cambridge and ready for crafting! 

My derelict Dolls house

I am a huge fan of Gumtree (if you haven't come across it before it is best described as an online Friday Ad!) I scour the pages on a daily basis for items that I usually don't really need for the chance that I may stumble upon an amazing bargain or something j actually need. And so the other week I found this unloved but rather charming dolls house. It is in serious need of what estate agents would call modernisation. It has 2 bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen and a large lounge/dinning room all in a bad state! I am approaching this project with as much thought and interest as you would with a real house and i have been looking at home magazines and websites with great interest! Perhaps it is with the thought of us living in rented property for the foreseeable future and therefore unable to make my mark on a property that I am projecting my array of interior design ideas onto this project....

Martha's car

This weekend (sorry this was actually written in may!)I have been particulary overwhlemed by the generosity and kindness of both strangers and friends. Perhaps it's the good spirit of the bank holidays combined with the joy of celebrating the jubilee that has made people really community minded.
Our church organised a big lunch and I was amazed at all the people that came from the neighbourhood. It was wonderful to talk to neighbours from all faiths and backgrounds; the world is so much better when people show interest and concern for each other. 
Then some close friends out of the blue offered to babysit, so my husband and I got a much needed evening out. It was lovely for someone to offer and made me feel really cared for. 
The third 'happy' incident was That i got talking to a neighbour who offered Martha a little tikes toy car for the garden. Martha loves these so much but I hadn't been able to find one cheaply so it was such a blessing to be given one for free! Martha was a bit upset when she realised it has to live outside so perhaps we can make her a mini garage. I wonder if she can start building up a no claims bonus for her car insurance!

My Cambridge Charity Shopping Guide

Martha & Me:Cambridge 

Top 5 Tips for charity shoppers

1)Emmaus 

They are situated just off the A10 about 4 miles north of Cambridge. This HUGE charity shop is an Aladdin's cave full of treasures! Books are a bargain. At the moment they are 5 paperbacks for £2! They sell:

• Books
• Bric a brac
• Electrical items, including cookers, fridges, washing machines, televisions and hi-fis
• Furniture
• Music (records, cds cassettes) and dvds 
• Soft furnishings including bedding, curtains, towels
• Coffee Shop selling drinks, cakes, sandwiches and soup

They also have a brilliant home delivery service. I have used this a number of times when i have realised the futon or wardrobe i have just purchased will definitely not fit in the car! The charge for the service is very reasonable and they are helpful and efficient.

2) Burleigh Street

Burleigh Street in Cambridge (runs alongside Grafton Centre) is THE place to go for charity shops in Cambridge. At my last count there were 7 within about 100m! 

1. 10 Burleigh Street City Centre, Cambridge 01223 368 865

   British Heart Foundation

   
   

2. 20 Burleigh Street City Centre, Cambridge 01223 329 841

   Oxfam

   
   
   

3. 38 Burleigh Street City Centre, Cambridge 01223 302 926

   Mind

   
   

4. 26 Burleigh Street City Centre, Cambridge 01223 301426

   British Red Cross shop

   
   

5. 33 Burleigh Street City Centre, Cambridge 01223 360 205

   Scope

   
   

6. 52 Burleigh Street Cambridge 01223 464189

   Cancer Research UK

   
   

7. 61 Burleigh Street City Centre, Cambridge 01223 312 802

   Rspca Cambridge

   
   

The only down side for me is that because they are fairly small shops most of them (especially oxfam where there is no lift) are not great for buggies or wheelchair access. 

3) Mill Road

Mill Road has a good selection of charity shops. They tend to be cheaper than the Burleigh Street shops. The Cats Protection charity shop have a bucket of kids clothes which are 3 items for £1. I once found a next hat, gap all in one suit and jumper in the bucket - a pound well spent. At the top of Mill Road you will find the Romsey Mill shop this is great if you like 'old fashioned' charity shops; it is not as glossy and as sweet smelling as the the chain charity shops but you can certainly find a bargain! The other notable shop on Mill Road is Sally Ann's which has amazingly cheap furniture and plentiful 'bric a brac'.   

4) Ely and Saffron Walden

For a change of scene and for 'up market' charity shops we visit Ely and Saffron Walden. You will find labels such a Monsoon, White Stuff and Boden on nearly every rail! Yesterday in Ely Oxfam I found Martha a Ralph Lauren jumper for £2 and i got myself a Fat Face dress for £4!

5) Patience 

Last but certainly not least is the need for patience. Wherever you may be shopping you can never guarantee or predict what you may find. It can take a lot of time and energy to find that perfect item and sometimes you do just have to walk away empty handed. Not everyone is cut out for it or can be bothered to sieve through (what is essentially) other peoples junk! But if you have the determination and patience I am sure over time you will be rewarded with awesome bargains and a great sense of satisfaction! 

Happy Shopping!

XX

June Charity Shop finds

I can't resist sharing my recent amazing charity shop finds. I am so pleased with this table runner and quilt, they are beautiful! I have a huge weakness for charity shops. I love the thrill of finding a bargain and giving a new home to unwanted items. By shopping in charity shops i can buy things that would be out of my league if they had been new; my daughter would certainly not be wearing beautiful Joules cardigans and pretty White Company t-shirts if they weren't second hand! I also love the quality you often find with older furniture and vintage household items. Frequently you can find things that are the same price if not cheaper than the basic Ikea or supermarket equivalent. Don't get me wrong i buy stuff from Ikea and supermarkets all the time the convenience and cheapness of it is great but i do often regret my impulse purchases as they so often don't stand the test of time. My charity shop finds however often become treasured heirlooms and favourite possessions.

& a Ralph Lauren hoodie for Martha £2! bargain

Knitting novice!

I have always wanted to knit. My granny was an amazing knitter, as children we had beautiful handmade jumpers, dolls clothes, mittens, hats and scarves. I even remember a slightly odd balaclava in the same colour as our school uniform. I have tried to knit many times; several patient friends and my granny did all try to teach me but I was really bad and just could not get it! Then recently my friend Cath and her mum in law convinced me to give it another go. Cath turned out to be a very good teacher and I finally got it! Hurahhh! I am by no stretch of the imagination an expert; i can't follow a pattern and have to really concentrate to keep track of what i am knitting! I have been putting my new skills to use making phone covers using stocking stitch. I know they are basic but I am rather proud of myself as I really thought it was something I couldn't do!

Father's day handprints

Spice

Whilst my husband is training to be a vicar there is a group i can go to at college called Spice (no one is sure where the name originates or what it means) One thought is that it is an acronym  for; Supporting Partners In Continuing Education or it may be a play on the word Spouse. Anyway whatever the name it is a group of about 30 people who have moved to Cambridge whilst their partners study. We meet for bible studies, socials, speakers, book club, craft group and discussions. This week has been very emotional as we have said goodbye to this years leavers. This also means that we now only have 1 year left in Cambridge. The friends I have made at Spice are brilliant and i truly hope many of them will become lifelong friends. I am also fortunate that may of the other wives share a love of craft, baking and charity shops! 

Below is a photo of our lovely new notice board that Esther and I made...

Yes we do tend to drink quite a lot of tea and eat cake 

Recent shades

& another type of 'shades'........

Peg Bag

This weekend my brother and sister in law came to visit us in Cambridge. As an early birthday present I made Katie (sister in law) a new peg bag. For some reason my brother thought he would make a good peg bag model so please excuse the photo and George's trade mark cheesy grin! 

How to..........

To make the bag i used a child size wooden hanger. I drew around the hanger onto the fabric to get the correct size and cut out the two sides of the bag with the floral fabric. One side i cut in half and then sewed it back up again to make the bag opening. I then sewed these together (right sides in), pressed seams and then turned it out. I then embellished the bag opening with lace and added a decorative button. Remember to leave a  opening at the top so you can insert the hanger!

Rocking chair revamp

I used a fat quarter of Amy Butler Soul Blossoms Buttercup Spearmint Fabric to cover the top section of my wooden rocking chair. I purchased the rocking chair shortly after Martha was born from a furniture charity shop in Cambridge called Emmaus.

 I used Decopatch glue to varnish the fabric and I was really impressed with the quality of the  glue. It was actually much better than pva and is water resistant so definitely worth the extra money.  In the past I have always assumed it was the same as PVA but in a pretty tub and therefor basically bit of a con but I can assure the sceptics it is not!  The fabric has really uplifted the  chair and it looks lovely in Martha's room. I think when we move I would actually like it in my bedroom!

Life in May

Drum shades

I have just made these lovely large (45cm x 25cm) drum lampshades. These are certainly the largest I have attempted to make and I am so pleased that I took the plunge as I think they look great! They are really eye catching and could make a room  look really special. I source the fabric from a variety of locations; locally from small independent shops and if I particularly like a design I will be tempted to buy from the mainstream retailers and superstores. The spotty fabric was from a stall at Cambridge city market, the beautiful facade fabric is from CallyCo in Cambridge and the green baroque pattern is Amy Butler at Hobbycraft. My struggle is often finding fabric wide enough to wrap around the 150cm circumference of the drum frame but creates a good challenge! The shades will sell for between £30-40 and p&p if needed is £6 per shade. Price differences between shades are to reflect the varying costs of the fabrics used and size of frame. I can also make shades with your choice of fabric.

Fabric: IKEA STOCKHOLM BLAD  (blue) Shade size:  45cm Diameter  25cm Height

Most of these (pictured above) will be on sale at my craft stall in Lode, nr cambridge next Friday  (25th May) 

Craft Party

I am busy getting ready for the following event kindly hosted by the lovely Rach (a poem a day blog)

I will be selling lampshades, cards and jewellery. Other sellers include friends Erin & Lizzie. For a taster of Erin's beautiful crafts visit her Etsty shop.