About Blackbutterfly Cards



I started making cards for pleasure in 2007, and quickly found my home was becoming swamped by cards everywhere. I decided to put some of them up for sale on a webpage in an effort to recoup some of the costs of my hobby. I called the webpage Blackbutterfly Handcrafted Cards, and it can be found at http://www.blackbutterfly2007.co.uk/

I try to take my cards to a couple of table sales or craft fairs a year, but make my cards mainly for friends and family. I would love the website sales to take off, as I nowhere near cover the costs involved in this all absorbing hobby, but for me the main thing is the pleasure I have in making my cards.
Recently I have decided to expand my blog to cover my other interests too. It's a sort of substitute for going to work and chatting to people, as due to ill health I was unable to work, and since the beginning of 2014 I am officially a pensioner.
Although I'll still show my cards, I'll also be covering my other interests and how I attempt to make ends meet day by day.

In fact anything that crosses my mind will be on here, so be prepared for waffle and a wasted five minutes as you read. Make coffee and settle in, why don't you?



Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Christmas is Coming

I've been busy the last few days sorting out the bits for Christmas, or at least making a list. I've made my Mincemeat, plus 2 or 3 extra small jars for my 'Mini Hampers' I plan to give as presents.
 Today I've prepared my spiced vinegar ready to bottle my pickled onions, some of which will also go into hampers.

 So tonight I'll be peeling the onions and leaving them in a bowl with salt overnight, then tomorrow I can bottle them
I've got some beetroot cooking too, which I will slice & bottle in Jars also for the hampers. I make a raspberry jelly with white vinegar and use that to preserve it. It's an interesting combination and makes a sweeter preserve.

 I'm going to be making some small Christmas cakes to include too, but not for a couple of weeks yet! 

I'm  halfway through making a lap blanket for my Aunt, only the second crochet blanket I've attempted. Then my daughter came home yesterday and told me that she had been to her Nan's, (my ex MIL) and she had answered the door in gloves and  two woollies and thick socks, so "she needs a blanket for Christmas too, Mum". I'd better get going on these! My MIL is 85 and told my daughter she just couldn't get warm. As her house has never had central heating fitted and she has just one electric fire, I'm hardly surprised. We keep trying to get her to move into a nice, warm flat, but for years she wouldn't consider it. Finally we got her to speak to someone about it on the phone. A nice young man who said we could get you a nice little flat on the fourth floor with a lift access. "Fourth floor? " she said, "No THANK you!" and she put the phone down. "I'm staying on the ground with my little garden" she said.

 Here's a few of the squares I've made so far. I'm going to be crocheting until Christmas I think!


I've had my organic veggie box delivered today, I was supposed to get a Romanesco cauliflower which I'd never eaten, and was curious to try, so it was kinda unfortunate that I was sent an orange cauliflower instead, it's another different variety I'm interested to sample, so it's not a major issue.........just a little disappointing.

 I also received my meat delivery from Donald Russell today.  I got eight packs of  beef steak mince, four of the steak & kidney. one each of the lamb, pork and beef joints, a Haggis, and a wild duck. Both of the latter are treats I haven't had for years. The Haggis I will save for New Year's eve, and the Duck may well be my New year's day Dinner. It would make a change, and my daughter has never eaten duck, so a new experience for her! This should make enough meat in the freezer now to carry us through until after Christmas. I like to stock up my cupboards  before Christmas, and then afterwards I like to see how far I can go before I have to do a major shopping trip. Last year I got through to the end of March before I had to buy anything other than fresh veg and milk.

Finally, I've only made one more card this week, and I'm not happy as it doesn't feel finished. I may add some flowers to it, I'll see. I think the problem is, I haven't had time to sit down and concentrate on the design of the card, which means I end up dissatisfied with what I produce. The website has been shockingly neglected. I need to really set to and sort it out for the New Year, I've had no sales at all this year and I think this is reflected in the state of the site. It needs a complete refurbish!
 
My son has just turned up for a visit so I'll finish now, I'll post again soon with pictures of the preserves I've done.
Have a great day!
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1 comment:

  1. Anne17 October 2012 at 17:34

    Hi there it's good to see you back on your blog. Have been reading through your posts. Gosh you've been so busy and sound so organised. I haven't really started anything for Christmas despite promising myself I would be well prepared this year.
    I want to try and cook from scratch a lot more and make enough of some things to freeze some for another time.
    Have been bringing all my craft stuff downstairs from end of small spare bedroom. Decided that now my grandsons are older it would be better for their mum and dad when they come to stay if the boys can both go in smaller of the spare rooms. Already had a single bed in there and am now going to get a sofa chair. Just need to sell my big desk and chair first.
    Hope you have remembered who I am :-) Danma from what was M.A.C. forum. Will look out for you on my blog. Anne x

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