Julie's blog
Monthly Archives: January 2015
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New Year’s resolutions
Posted at 10:35 am , on January 12, 2015
Nearly a fortnight into January and I’m actually sticking to my New Year’s resolutions. This is a first. I usually abandon them all within a few days and then focus on Chinese New Year (I’m a Monkey) giving me a second opportunity to lose weight, drink more water and get rid of my clutter (yep – same old, same old…)
This year though, I am determined to shed both the pounds and my clutter (I’ve been giving something to the charity shop on a daily basis) and also to create my own crafts room, as I’m driving my poor husband Patrick bonkers by constantly hogging the kitchen table. BTW if anyone reading this has their own crafts room/workshop, please send a photo to www.craftybeggars.tv and we’ll display it in our gallery as a source of inspiration!
And talking of inspiration, I can’t believe how many crafts, sewing, knitting and baking mags there are these days. I popped into WHSmith recently to check if the new copy of ‘Simply Homemade’ is out yet (Wendy and I have had a double page spread for the last few months) and the shelves were awash with magazines packed with ideas and free gifts – it’s just a shame they’re so expensive!
December was very much about amassing ideas as I was in Panto all month. With two shows a day I didn’t have much time for crafting, although I did enjoy making tin can tealights, like these three, which are upcycled old baked bean tins. The secret is to fill them with water and pop them in the freezer before you try hammering any designs onto them – it’s crucial for the tin to be rock solid with ice, otherwise a nail won’t go through it and the can will just buckle. If you want to use your finished can as a lantern, make sure you hammer out two holes into opposite sides at the top (again whilst the can is still filled with ice) and then you can thread through some thin wire to hang it (the wire looks lovely with some beads threaded onto it too).
When you want to hammer out a design, use as long and thick a nail as possible (it’s easier that way) and it’s also a good idea to draw the image on a piece of paper first, which is then sellotaped onto the frozen can (and it does stick, strangely enough!) You can then use that as a template and when you’ve finished, peel it off, immerse the can in boiling water (to melt the ice quickly) and paint if desired.
The final step is to have some fun glueing on ribbons, buttons, decals or whatever you fancy – and then just drop in a tealight. Use an extra-long match for safety and let your new lantern light up your new year!
P.S. Just in case, Chinese New Year 2015 falls on Feb 19th and it’s the Year of the Sheep. Now I’m going to pour myself a big glass of water…
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Panto – and Digs with a Difference
Posted at 10:20 am , on January 12, 2015
This December I did Panto in my home town of Grimsby, playing the Queen of Merrydale in Jack and the Beanstalk. Last year I was the Good Fairy in Sleeping Beauty and I enjoyed it so much I was keen to return. As you can see from the attached photo, the character was a tiny bit bonkers – and I loved playing her!
I stayed in a Bailey caravan on the excellent Hunger Hill site (a couple of miles from the Grimsby Auditorium) and I found I loved that too. If you’re interested in knowing more, my ‘Caravan Capers’ blog can be found on the Caravan Club website http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/community/your-stories/Julie-Peasgood/Day-Three/rb/1029511/
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St. Andrew’s Hospice
Posted at 10:14 am , on January 12, 2015
For many years I have been a supporter of St Andrew’s Hospice in Grimsby. It is the only round-the-clock facility for adults and children with life-limiting illnesses from Northern Lincolnshire, Hull and the East Riding, providing free care for anyone with such an illness, whatever their diagnosis. The aim is to make each day count, and I was very grateful to St. Andrew’s for the kindness and care they gave my mum and dad, Pearl and Syd, in their final months and days.
My daughter Kate and I appeared on ‘Celebrity Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ to raise money for the hospice, and we managed to win £16,000 – not bad, though I still wish we’d been able to win the million for them!
A new hospice is now being built (the biggest project since the charity was established about 30 years ago) to increase patient capacity and create a health and wellbeing centre. To support St Andrew’s – or to learn more about the invaluable work that they do – please visit www.standrewshospice.com
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