Week 2 - There's so much we can do.

savingholmes

hi ruby - sorry you are so tired...

hope you have a better week... perhaps you need to work out what you need to say no to so you can say yes to the things you want to!

RubySewSew

Ha ha Mrs Robinson! I have a husband to which is why I value my boyfriend so much! Just to clarify, I'm not some kind of hussy, the husband is ex (well nearly, d.i.v.o.r.c.e pending and imminent) and settled in his new life with partner and baby. Unfortunately, he (the boyfriend I'm talking about now) is also grumpy with me because my time and energy is being taken up with MSE activities. I'm not sure this is entirely fair as his attention is elsewhere (mainly on a cold that he is in the middle of and I am just getting). I'm also not sure it's fair as from the creative point of view I have been really stimulated by actually getting down and dirty and making stuff! And making Ruby is happy Ruby! I am also delighted that it has motivated me to frame up some lovely bits of paraphernalia not only to sell but to adorn my own walls. That said, he has just spent half an hour researching how much my beautiful Brexton Picnic set is worth (with Barker bros Fiesta tea set - stunning, go and look it up!).

So, last night, stayed in had wine and chilli and a dvd. Luckily, the boyfriend sprung for all the above because the chilli ingredients came to £20. I ask you! I don't know how he does it. We had it for tea tonight to but still! Had eye test today and ordered new glasses. This is a bit aesthetic and a bit necessary. I was prompted by finding some gorgeous handmade frames in the sale and deciding to do something about the fact that my eyes are finding it increasingly hard to cope. The optician concluded that my meagre prescription could be adjusted but I should also accept that it is ok to be tired!

Whilst in town had a good old poke around the big old junk shop market place thing in the Laines for those of you who know Brighton. So many lovely things! I was looking with a specific eye for vintage finds that I could add value to and sell on but unfortunately everything was already priced at top end. Found a beautiful 1950's teapot (actually it was a coffee pot) and thought I might spring for it as my little treat. However, on further enquiry discovered it was £200! £200! How can I have such expensive taste? In a junk shop! It is a homemaker coffee pot - go and look it up, utterly stunning, classic 1950's pottery but was sold en masse in Woolworths! So, didn't buy anything. Except hair dye. Looked at fabric but couldn't bring myself to pay out for what I wanted. Oh well.

So now to the really good news... I sold the bed! It's gone. I can walk freely through my living room again and I got £85! Whoop! Whoop! So what will tomorrow bring? Have my picnic set, a few vintage crocks, some framed pics and lots of cards to sell. Come find me on Worthing Pier. And keep everything crossed for still, dry weather! Will have my 1950's frock and lippy on at Memory Girl's suggestion!

RubySewSew

PS Saving Holmes, will go through my diary and see what I can clear...

RubySewSew

Well it was a good news bad news kind of a day.

Good news:
beautiful sunny sunshine all day!
Worthing Pier is a beautiful art deco pier and it was packed!
Had an excuse to dress up in vintage dress and victory rolls
Finished the day with a lovely pub roast.

Bad news:
I only sold 1 picture
And 2 cards but that was to my fellow stallholders
So took £13 but after supplies, petrol and tea that is very definitely a loss
Not to mention my time
Have given up my last 2 Sunday's for the sum of a mere £50 (most of which has been absorbed into childrearing costs)
I have a cold
Missed the train so got a cab home
Got an offer from a shop/agency to take my cards but for much less than I could sell them for

What next:
List vintage picnic set on ebay along with crocks
Take cards around Brighton shops to look at possibility of supply and demand
Stash cash from bed so I don't fritter it!

I have had a looong day so I am over and out. Keep Calm and Carry On...

savingholmes

Great news on the bed... Sorry the craft sale didn't work out... have you checked out the special occasions board for their ideas on what to sell? They are really good... Going up to xmas you can sell reindeer food (porridge oats and glitter) the ball of life pots of gold and reindeer snowmen the world's your oyster... These can be cheap ideas but really effective... and get sales

RubySewSew

Saving Holmes you are a constant source of information!

RubySewSew

Full of cold! Bleugh! My morning session was rearranged, I was too groggy to clean and my evening session was cancelled. So no money but as I didn't have it in the first place I was actually really glad to have the day at home. And I mega cleaned my house. Well bathroom and kitchen but they are sparkly and clean and I'm not ashamed or miserable any more!

Picked up DS3 from school and he was really grumpy. Also noticed a cluster of blisters on his ear. Uh oh! Took him straight to the doc's who confirmed that he's got herpes. Bum. So he needs the week off. I've actually managed to arrange childcare for every day except tomorrow and it actually suits me to have tomorrow off with him as my face feels like it has been rammed full of sawdust and I would have been too scared to call in sick on my 2nd week. Benefit to working in the school my children are at!

Trip to doctor's delayed dinner so thought I'd buy chips. Then thought that through and delved into my emergency tea store. Pasta pesto to the rescue! Was going to do a shop but couldn't work out what money I have available so decided to make do. Just bought bread and milk. And small triumph DS1 ate smoked mackerel with his pasta. Protein actually passed his lips not to mention the omega 3's!

DS1 was reassessed today and his literacy teacher has recommended a specialist eye assessment. Have been planning to do this for a while but wasn't sure if I was being neurotic and pushy. So I'm not being neurotic or pushy but I will have to pay to have it done privately.

Did check bank accounts today but got so confused - I hate the mid month budget! Also noticed that A&L are charging me because last months charges took me overdrawn. Grrrr. Will have to gather my energy and put a stop to this nonsense!

I'm going to make every effort to stay up for the repeat of This is England but not sure this cold is going to let me...

trixiepix

Hey Ruby,

Just thought i would bob in and say hi, i can relate to so much of what you've written in your diary!!!!!

Hope your cold and DS is better soon!

Keep up the amazingly tiring but super productive good work.

xx

savingholmes

hi ruby - hope your little one and you are better soon!

When I first joined I joined the finished baskets thread which is where everyone posted pictures of hampers they had done... Virtually everyone got hampers that year - and I managed to make my mother in law happy with her pressies for one of the first times ever!!! Now she can't wait to see what we've done for her....

RubySewSew

Oooh, fab idea. We're having a blow the budget day today. I plan to buy cake and hot chocolate for medicinal purposes, a new book for DS3 about a cow who laid an egg to cheer him up (he LOVES cows) and get some blackout curtains for the boys bedroom - they were awake at 6am today. Urgh.

Poor little sole has blisters on top of blisters

Will update you later...