DOLLY DOLLOP

I made something!!

2010-06-08T16:11:00.003+01:00

Made from this book, with stash fabric, for a friends daughter.
Looking forward to making another for my niece (already cut out!!)
Loving making things that somebody can wear, but wishing I had a girl as girls clothes are easier than boys!!!
(the pattern for this dress is in June's Sew magazine )

loving this week..........

2010-06-02T15:07:00.000+01:00

Seeing Patch in Print...we get 2 mentions in this months Sew Hip magazine *insert massive smiles here*
My new ring from eclectic creations and primarni bracelets.

These downloadable invites generously available on the Belle and Boo blog. I love Belle and Boo's work..I love that they do 'boy' prints too....

The latest edition of UK Handmade online magazine, well worth a read..some great articles, tutorials and fab recipes.

I started tweeting last week..and I'm hooked!!(I'm patchfabrics) I love the short but sweet nature of tweets..and I have so far found it to be just as nice a community as blogland!!

my latest book recommendation......I am a quick reader anyway but this kept me hooked and I read it in just over an evening!!!

Sewing!! Well to be more precise...cutting out!!
This is what a pair of little boys pj's look like in the first stages of construction...I think the tracing of, and cutting out of the pattern is the longest part.
Sewing machine will go up tonight.......

(apologies for the list nature of my posts..at the minute I'm so stretched its this or not blogging...normal service should resume soon!!)

loving this week..........

2010-05-26T18:10:00.000+01:00

My veggie bed..we went away for 2 days and came back to this..it actually looks like they could grow into something worth eating now!!
Started and finished in the car at the weekend....... please read this book if you haven't already..was such a well written, beautiful book, I am now not sure I can go see the movie...so so sad :(
Sweet Williams,I think my fave summer flower to have in the house.....

season finale......whaaaaaaaaaaaaattttt!! I really enjoyed it but too many unanswered q's for my liking..I have heard a rumour that answers will be given in the dvd boxset..hmmmmmm!

A new book..having a spare room full of fabric is inspiring if not a little frustrating when I am struggling to find spare time!!! I plan on making the dress on the front for my niece and some pyjama bottoms for my 2 tiddly chaps out of this fabric

Michael Miller's Kids Zoo print - love it!!!
(available here)

CraftTea Creations

2010-05-18T21:48:00.003+01:00

Attention all you East Anglian Bloggers!!
My very good friend Rachel has been a plotting and a planning these past few weeks and CrafTea Creations is born...
Stitch and Bitch comes to Beccles (ish)!
Have a look at her very colourful webpage...found here and if you can make it...please come..Rach makes exceedingly good cake...
I will be there..it will be one morning a month where I definately stitch!
Patch is eating into my crafty time in a big way!!

Polka Dots and Posies

2010-05-13T16:53:00.003+01:00

My lovely friend Mary sent me this fabulous commisioned tshirt......You could have one too from here......
I love it so much, I am a sucker for personalised stuff and with a name like his we don't see much about...actually anything.....I am tempted to frame it so my little minger doesn't make it messy but that is perhaps a little cautious ;)

And how super dooper is this heart?? Full of lavender....
Thank You Mary xx
(those eagle eyed amongst you may spot changes if you read in google reader...edited due to overuse of the word 'lovely'!!!!!!)

A Shopping List

2010-05-12T11:00:00.000+01:00

As seen in the new (scrumptious) Cath magazine....going on my wish list for my visit to Windsor next month...complete with my 15% off coupon that was in this months Easy Living ;)
I don't think I will ever tire of Ms Kidston...but thats not a quote!!! Certainly not while she keeps bringing out lovelies for me to drool over..........

racing car mug..my last CK mug purchase ever!!! (thats what I promised Mr D with my fingers crossed!!)...would I use it (the flask that is!) too pretty perhaps to spoil with hot drinks stuff!!

I love these...and I'm sure I saw a different design in Country Living this month described as Tupperware..are they the real thing..I thought you could only say Tupperware if Tupperware had made them??? In which case £8 seems cheap.....
(blimey how many times can I write Tupperware in one blog post lol!!)
Be rude not too when it matches my china.........
I love these, but it depends on the toe cleavage..they look low cut (iyswim!!) and I HATE toe cleavage!!!
One of my fave prints......
because I am selfless..and small boys feets will look cute!! Although is 5 to big to wear them??? Hope he doesn't refuse!! (R has freaky fat feet that NO shoes fit!! Except special imported things that cost a fortune!! Oh and crocs -thankfully!!)

But one last thing - this next one just made me go whaaattt!!
I know not everybody has access to a fabric stash or scrap box to make ones own but seriously...whhhaaaattttt?!?!?!!
(sneaks out quietly before someone comes along and tells me they bought them!!!)
(in which case - I'll cut you your next lot out for a fiver lol!!!)

I have been sent a cath mag plus have an extra that mother in law gave me from easy living magazine...does anyone need one? Or want one..as I don't think need comes into it!!!
Maybe somebody overseas??? Give me a yell.....

my poor neglected blog!!

2010-05-10T15:30:00.000+01:00

I seriously do not know where time goes...I have things to say but not much to show, life is getting in the way of fitting everything in again.
Things at Patch are ticking along nicely, which is fab but leaves me no crafty time...I have finally finished my nieces Easter quilt even if I haven't posted it off to her yet.... Please excuse the creasy pictures...my excuse is that I will be telling my sis in law to wash and tumble so no point me ironing it *blush*!!!

I didn't quilt it - just tied it in with embroidery thread in a few places...yes Mary P that is THAT fabric and the offer still stands ;) xxx
the binding stitching is well erm rustic but that adds to the handmade charm yes???
On the Patch blog I have talked about the craft fair I did on Saturday. It wasn't a total flop however.....wasn't a massive success either!
I think it was the first one the school PTA lady had organised and there was a wide variety of stalls. The lady doing Tarot did quite well... she was in the same room as myself, my friend selling beautiful jewellry and nappycakes, the Virgin Vie lady, a lady selling cardmaking supplies and another selling..well a bit of everything!!!
I think I would have put the beauty things including the alternative therapies in one room..the Body Shop lady was in the main hall....the readings that the tarot lady was doing weren't very private and the bell she used to cleanse the cards took some getting used to!!!
I made sales, and if I work it out as a percentage of actual browsers versus customers it was a great result..except there just weren't enough bodies through the doors.
Each stallholder said the same..but anyhoo..nothing ventured etc etc!!
One thing we noticed looking at some craft stalls was the ridiculously low prices some people charge..as crafters my friend and I know the work and money that goes into making and we got a little annoyed to see some prices. We felt it was doing fellow crafters a disservice. I like a bargain as much as the next person but I think there is a huge difference between a reasonable price and underpriced!!
I know we all want our products to sell, thats the whole point.....I only had Patch things at the fair so made no difference to me but one other stall was selling beautiful handcrafted things at very reasonable but still sensible prices and we really felt for her as it appeared she was overcharging copmpared to some others....
Am I just not experienced enough in the craft fair department??!!
Does anyone else get irked by this?? I know pricing is always a thorny issue!!!

still here

2010-05-01T12:30:00.000+01:00

Busy Busy Busy!!!
I am manically cutting and folding ribbon for the craft fair I have been offered a table at on Saturday....1 week to go and nowhere near ready....
For you East Anglian bloggers..its at Scole near Diss from 10 -3 on Saturday 8th... details over at Patch...
The only crafting that has happened lately was Lorraines' colour swap......
a magazine and remote tidy for her armchair.....
a patchwork cushion..a real labour of love with those teeny squares!!
some musical themed fabric..some blue buttons...and some buttons I covered myself with blue star fabric
she has blogged here about what I sent too.
This weekend starts by waiting for my husband to get home from work, then we can drop 2 small boys with Grandma and Grandad and go to a child free bbq at friends..so blow those east coast clouds back over the sea..we want the sun back (12noon and still dry so fingers crossed!!)
Tomorrow I shall more than likely be nursing a bit of a sore head and cutting more ribbon..oh and finishing the binding on my poor niece's Easter quilt!!!
Happy BH weekend everyone!!

Red Colour Swap

2010-04-28T16:40:00.000+01:00

Lorraine at the Balancing Kiwi went back to her NZ roots whilst the colour swap took place..and as she really wanted to play, we agreed a later finish date and her and I did a little extra swap.

Yesterday I got a lovely box of goodies from Lorraine, all my chosen colour Red themed....
She has made me a massive and gorgeous tote bag..perfect for the beach, and a tea cup candle which I have already had to wrestle my mum for!!! The candle came with a covered box of matches, which didn't get photographed as I put them out of little fingers reach and forgot to put in the pic!!)
She has also made me an owl, a heart, a hanging bird, a pin cushion , a needle case, a brooch and a fab scented pot mat...you rest your teapot or pan on the wheat filled smelly pad and it releases lovely aroma (that was in case you are as uninformed as I was - I had never seen one before!!!)
I also opened a fold up shopper for my handbag, which is in a personalised case..it tells me that Claire is self assured and calm...my family laughed. A lot!!!
Also a great Keep Calm and Carry On book.

(you should be able to click to enlarge)
I really thought the box was bottomless - the goodies kept coming, Lorraine thank you so much, I love everything you chose for me xxxxxxxx
I have already lost the owl to the little boys (I wish you could hear R say owllllllllll and see him actually, its hilarious, the big boys have him on repeat saying it!!)
I have been offered a table at a craft fair, thankfully its for Patch not me, so I don't have to get sewing, however I do have to measure cut and fold a lot of ribbon!!
I'll be back soon, with more craft fair news and also a link to a great little sewing project that has been brought to my attention. xx

patch fabrics and haberdashery

2010-04-21T19:20:00.000+01:00

*****FABRIC SHOP NOW LIVE*****

After a very traumatic day, I have managed to get the delicious fabric loaded on to the website.

We are all systems go now!!

But let me tell you it wasn't easy...there was a problem with my pics...a problem with my cookies...a problem with the web hosts techy stuff...typical on the day I was child free and excited to do the boring part of the shopkeeping lol!!!

Anyhow..3 phone calls to some techy people, one takeaway tea for my boys, lots of sweary words, very sore fingers from tapping and a headache from screen gazing......I am there!!!

I know I have said before but the site is very much a work in progress, I have more techy stuff to do to make the home page easier to use (some links and pics)

Bear with me!!!

There is more fabric coming soon...some I have made available to order as I know its on its way..and there are new designs coming in June, July, August etc etc!!

I'm off now to lie in a dark room!!!!

Enjoy x

A spotty giveaway!!!

2010-04-20T17:22:00.003+01:00

There is another giveaway over at Patch blog.....
(there will be 2 winners if the followers on the blog or on facebook reach 100!!!)

Spotty ribbon anyone????
I am working through the fabric...I think we are looking at it being the end of the week before its available on the website.
My new cutting table is working well, I'll share some pics of Patch HQ (lol) when lovely husband has finished the flatpacks and put some shelves up at the weekend.
Hopefully I'll have time to craft again soon - and finish the swap I have outstanding...
(apologies lorraine xxxx)
I haven't signed up for any of the fabulous swaps that are in blogland at the moment so I can not get swamped under!!
Ok back to the fabric!!!!

popping in.....

2010-04-17T11:30:00.001+01:00

Thank You so much for all your lovely birthday wishes for Cam...I did pass them on but I think the concept of bloggy friends is a bit much for a 5 year old to be dealing with!!!
He had a great birthday tea....and the cake went down very well!!! I only had 1 slice as I am back doing Slimming World again since my Wii Fit told me how much weight I had put on since I got married 13 months ago (1 stone 4lb if you are interested!!). Although I knew I was larger, the actual figure on screen was enough to shove me back on the diet wagon....
I have been doing a teeny amount of crafting...nearly finished my nieces quilt...
its finished the quilting in no time way..the backing fabric cut out larger and folded over to bind.
(excuse the creases...)

I am a little behind with my final swap of the 4 I signed up for all together (note to self..do not do this again!!), I shall be sending a grovelling email very soon to Lorraine!! But that crafting is allocated to my next bit of free time!!

I have also been getting over excited about fabric. Patch will be stocking some gorgeous fabrics very very soon.......I have had a delivery and am going to be working hard getting photos done and adding the fabric to the shop.

We have company this weekend, so I had already planned to take a weekend off, but ooh very bad timing lol!!! I am eager to put it in the shop for you to see :)

I have had surprise post from this lovely lady...
How did she know my treat tin was empty???

(only 3.5 slimming world syns each lol...yes I checked...but only after I had greedily eaten one as soon as the parcel was opened!!!)
And how did she know that the hanging chicken was exactly the same as my chicken hook thingy?!?!?

Thank You Beki, for everything...especially the brooch to match my cuff xx
Cam has helped me pick the winning name out of the pot...(well 2 actually!!!) over at the Patch blog.
There will be another giveaway next week, aswell as fabric in the shop by the end of the week...yippee!!!

FIVE

2010-04-14T09:43:00.004+01:00

Happy Birthday Cameron!

Our 3rd boy is 5 today...I always think 5 is the absolute end of toddlerhood... :(
The birthday bunting was put up last night - the cake was made by big brother W (the family cake expert) and decorated by everyone........

Cards and pressies have been opened - noise has been made!!!
(the guitar and mic stand were all he wanted so whats a mummy to do!!! They can always 'run out of batteries' later!!)
The handmade element of his gift has been made ...

the sun is sadly not shining, so we are going to play at home today, there are 3 friends coming for tea (no party this year...jaded mum I'm afraid..I just couldn't stomach the organisation!!) and daddy is getting home midweek so we can put candles on the cake and sing Happy Birthday!
(help me tidy up more like!!)
I will be spending the day wondering how on earth 5 years went past so quickly!!!

don't forget the ric rac giveaway over at Patch....

Patch Giveaway

2010-04-12T10:04:00.003+01:00

There is a giveaway over at Patch....details are here....
I am having a couple of 'waiting' giveaways..whilst we wait for that fabric to arrive!!!
This week its ric rac!!See you over there!!!

spring

2010-04-09T10:12:00.000+01:00

It is officially spring today....I am wearing A SKIRT!!!
I'm not going out anywhere as my legs have only had one coat of fake tan so are not fit for public viewing yet but...its a skirt!!!
I am working today...obviously ;)
Mum has 2 teeny boys so I can get on with 'patch' work....I do feel in limbo until the fabric arrives...and I'm getting excited about its arrival!! Not looking forward to writing the mahoosive cheque perhaps..but i may disappear for a day while I lock myself away with it!!! I am still getting the 'office' ready, we ordered from Ikea online for the big bits I need (popping to Ikea for me is a good 5 hour round trip!!) which will get us nearly organised before we can get to the shop in person for the essentials they don't deliver (like tealights and fabric lol!)
Anyway I have some boring paperwork to get through today, so I shall break it up with some nicer things...like.....
rosali bedding!!
Someone very very kindly offered to pop to Ikea to get me a rosali bedding set as I had heard a cheeky rumour the design was back in the UK...

she got me not one but 2 sets a blue and a pink/white :D
I am so smiley...now I don't claim to love rosali as much as this lovely lady...but *sigh* .......I keep looking out of the window at it blowing on the line!!
Now my intention was to cut and make but now its here...not sure I will be able to make that 1st cut!!!
Thank you angel cake for being such a lovely friend xxx
Now I need some green fingered advice..is it too early to plant out sweet pea plants???
I have started them off in loo rolls (better roots by all accounts) on the windowsill....and they are now getting too big....do I need to harden off before whacking them in the ground??
They are healthier looking plants than the ones I have previously bought in the garden centre, but any help for my next move gratefully received!!

swaps

2010-04-07T18:18:00.000+01:00

I was lucky enough to recieve 2 swap parcels today...my colour swap from laura

and I received green goodies like the lampwork bead bracelet on my wrist below and the necklace above, also green fabric, ribbon and buttons and beads. (not forgetting the green choccie eggs that I forgot to put out of sight after photograph taking, so had to share with eagle eyed boys!!!!!!)
don't know who put the old lady hand at the end of my arm :( - note to self ...more handcream!!!

And my flower swap, from anilla..

love the scandanavian folk style fabric at the front..I have just the project to use it for...and the tissue holder is embroidered so beautifully...my pic does not do it justice....there is also a sarong tie, a pretty pink shopping bag, some lavender bags and summer flower seeds , a make up bag and rose scented bubble bath.
Thank You ladies for my great gifts and for being great swap partners.

Thank You also to all of you with well wishes for my easter illness!!
I am now feeling better - I left the house today, apart from a half hour sea wall walk on Sunday, I've been inside!!
On the plus side, I started my nieces easter gift...they are not visiting until next week so have a bit of breathing space...more on that tomorrow (ie I forgot to take pics and now its dull!!)
I also started and finished this book.....

it was fabulous..love love loved it....
Today I saw this movie...

I started sniffling about 5minutes in and didn't really stop lol!! So inspiring and well.... just lovely!!
Tonight I shall be working...patch business so its not horrible work!! More 'patch packs' to be made up. Patch is now on folksy too....at the moment the ribbon packs are listed aswell as thhe velvet ric rac..the patch folksy shop can be found here.

Colour Swap

2010-04-04T10:30:00.000+01:00

My partner for the colour swap (organised by moi!) has received her swap now so time for show and tell!!

I was partnered with Laura , and her colour of choice was purple.

Its not a colour I use much of in crafting however by the time I'd finished..I am fancying myself some purple about the place!!

I made a cushion - log cabin stylee - with denim, which I think worked well with the purple fabric.

I love this purple baby cord fabric...and I made a cafetiere cosy (now need one for me!!)

I also found some purple things, laura said she liked sparkly, so a sparkly bead heart, lip balm in a purple butterfly, a VERY strong smelling purple yankee candle, and some Patch ribbons and cords in purple colours!!

Easter was very accomodating and made a purple chocolate bunny available and I made a bunny from the lovely cord.

I've uploaded the photo's onto the flickr group which you can find here. Have you uploaded yours???

Happy Easter

2010-04-02T14:08:00.004+01:00

Happy Easter!
I am starting the weekend with a very bad cold :(
So a sit down with some fabric and hexagon paper templates is in order for the rest of the day.
So I shall leave you with some of my Easter decorating .............................................

(The tree lives in my front window..but it is VERY hard to photograph!!! I doubt it will be green and leafy for Sunday as I only went to get it on Tuesday...so it will be staying out an extra week I should think!!!)

(I did this last year also...as the easter stock comes into the shops I collect lots of different easter shapes..then mingle them all up and add fluffy chicks and the boys have one or two after dinner..they will last till...oh Sunday if we are lucky!!!)

.....................and wish you all a lovely weekend x

Flower Swap

2010-04-01T14:16:00.000+01:00

I have now sent off my flower swap package to anilla. And as I know she has received safe and sound I can show and tell.....
Now I did promise anilla that I wouldn't overload her with too many flowers, as she isn't as flowery a person as I am!!! But obviously I had to include some!!
The rules of the fabulous swap were to send a FQ of flowery fabric
a packet of favourite flower seeds (sweet peas.....and herbs too as I heard anilla likes to cook!!)
A lavender bag.....
A denim and flowery softie (made from the meet me at mikes book)
Some bunting made from vintage embroidered linen.......

A rose scented candle, a flowery paper lantern, CK flowery tissues, a notebook and a flower ring too.A huge thank you to Sew Scrumptious for organising this fab swap xxx

Surprise Gift..

2010-03-30T21:10:00.000+01:00

On Monday I was handed this pretty parcel at the school gate.....

It was given to me by someone who outed me as dolly dollop back in January!!

(I think it was the bunting in my front window - she lives very nearby!!)

Although I do know this lady from the breastfeeding group we both went to - she wasn't a crazed stalker lol!!!

Penny made this for me because..well just because. A saw this and thought of you gift :)

All the pages inside are this fabulous, with pages for me to write too..ideas and inspiration for my next sewing projects. I love it so much....and for now it will be sitting on a shelf where I can see it and show everyone.

I am in awe of anyone who can take paper and trimmings and produce such wonderful things.

I tried to find you at school this afternoon Penny but I was too late (or you were! -oh ok more likely to be me!!!) so I figured I could thank you and share your handiwork in one go...thank you very very much xx

I was so touched by the thoughtful, generous and gorgeous gift.

As the saying goes crafters are very nice people!!!

(And if that isn't a saying - it should be!!!)

Penny doesn't blog at the minute..but I know she has one waiting to be used ;)...........

Giveaway Winner......

2010-03-29T11:00:00.000+01:00

Thank You to everyone who has entered in my easter Giveaway.
This morning I counted and verified!!!
And asked random.org to deliver me a number between 1 and 45..
(46 actual comments, but 1 not entering!!)

And computer says.............
Number 12 is Crafty Helen.
So can you please send me your address, and I'll pop your box of tricks in the post this afternoon.

I was feeling springlike and even painted my toenails and put fit flops on this morning......then I opened the door..British Summer Time?? Pah!!! Think I'll dig out my easter decorations and see if that cheers things up........

Pamper Swap

2010-03-28T09:00:00.005+01:00

I signed up for the pamper swap over at Michela's blog.....I thought it was a lovely idea and as it involved no makey business, I was all for it!!! 3 makey swaps on the go together are enough for anyone lol!!
You can see the swap 'rules' here...I chose Floral and Spice..with my faves being Rose and Ginger as I couldn't decide on just one...indecisive? me?!!
My swap partner Kelly has sent me the most lovely and generous parcel of pamper goodies......

I absolutely love everything, thank you Kelly, I'm ready to pamper myself after the last few weeks, and what better way?? xx

(Don't forget the giveaway...still time to enter....I'll announce the winner tomorrow xxx)

Thank You's

2010-03-27T10:00:00.000Z

To all of you xxx
Big Thank You's!!!
I was overwhelmed by all your kind and lovely words, offering me lots of good luck with my new venture.
I had a great first day.....thank you to those of you who went to have a peep..and extra thank you's to those of you who placed your orders xxxYour parcels should be with you today, so do let me know what you think...about the important things like, is the colour of my tissue paper nice lol!!!
I got myself an early night last night.....dreaming of ribbon!!!I said the other day that I had been having some giveaway good luck...well I was fortunate to win Mel's giveaway.
It came yesterday...and made me have the biggest smile ever for the rest of my afternoon..
Mel you spoilt me.....CK wrapping - that alone made me smile...and I bet I'm not the only one who would have so so carefully opened the paper (cutting the stickers to minimise damage lol!!) -
Here is what Mel sent me

the fabbest buttons I now own!!!

Ck tissues...love the print....some cute pegs, will use them in my 'office', and a choccy bunny.
Inside my CK wrapping
was a fab handkerchief (I have a plan to turn this into something else....) and a pocket mirror in the new cherry print. Love the cherry print :)I live a gazillion miles from a CK shop, so I have to rely on the catalogue to see what Cath is up to..and we know how long those things take to get to us sometimes!!
Thank you Mel for my lovely card and all my fab pressies!! xxxx

Mel sent me the latest catalogue..and my favourite for a long time..it got my heart racing again...lots of circles will be going in this one!!!
(some pages and things I love)I only bought 2 new mugs in John Lewis last week (to replace the 1 lovely husband broke!!)

but I spied with my beady eye a new design, vintage cars,

...is on the wish list now..the boys in the house need boyish mugs!!!
Floor Tiles............aaaggghh!! Cowboy print. I am still wandering round the house wondering where I can have them....at £40 a square metre somewhere small!! The toilet maybe??? The bathroom???
In fact I love the whole of this boys bedroom....

Thanks to Victoria and Kelly - I also neeeeeed the wine glasses.

Actually if I'm honest I need new wine glasses like a fish needs a bicycle!! But they are so lovely. And reasonably priced...John Lewis had similar glasses when I was there last week and they cost more ....can you spot the spiel I give my husband to justify them lol!!!
More post pressies to show you tomorrow.......

Will you join me???

2010-03-26T07:30:00.003Z

(logo designed by gem, )

Patch Fabric and Haberdashery is a new website which will provide you with a one stop shop for fun fabric and fabulous trimmings.
you can find it here....and the website is open now selling fabulous ribbons and trimmings for all crafting purposes, with a shop full of fun fabrics following in May. Patch will be stocking fabrics by Michael Miller, Clothworks, P&B Fabrics and Red Rooster.
(Here is a teeny peak of some of the fabric....)

So how do I know about this new venture???? Well...Patch is my new baby!!
It was time for me to go back to work....time for me anyway, if not the rest of the family. It has all happened so quickly, the idea is not 'quick' thats been floating around in our conversations for the past couple of years...but I am still spinning a little!
I have stepped back slightly from plan A...which involved a pink painted shop with a huge pine table in amongst the fabric and trimmings, where people could come and chat and craft...but plan B is still a big committment for all of us, financially and time wise, but one I believe is worth it, thankfully my lovely husband thinks its worth it too, as did our bank manager!!!
My 2 eldest boys have agreed to share a bedroom for another year while we see where the business goes so I have an office......come store room!!
I have had a very unenjoyable few weeks choosing stock..purchasing stock...taking delivery of stock...as you can imagine lol!!! Unfortunately, the fabric takes longer to arrive than I anticipated, so I am just going to open for ribbons and trimmings until they arrive...of course you will be the first to hear!!!
But here we are...nearly...ready to rumble.
I have learnt more computer skills in 2 weeks than the last 2 years, I hope my website is straight forward to use.....
I'm going to be blogging over here too. And I would love it if you joined me.
I hope not to neglect DollyDollop too much!!! But bear with me over the next few weeks!! Of course I'll definately be back on Monday to announce the giveaway winner.........
I hope you'll come over to Patch and see what I'm up to...the champagne is on ice lol!!!
xxx

for me.....

2010-03-25T14:20:00.001Z

When my lovely friend and blogshop owner announced that she had made some wrist cuffs, I emailed her 3 times to say I needed one!!
Not just any one...this one....
I did wonder if I was not a little too old for a cuff, but then decided swiftly that of course I wasn't!!! I just love the colours Beki is using at the minute, and cuffs are so easy to wear, she has others listed in her blogshop or in her Folksy shop, aswell as other lovely items made in the same gorgeous neutral shades.
I've been very lucky in the giveaway department lately...today I received a really cute badge from kittyeden,

I was her 175th follower on facebook and won a prize!! The kittyeden website can be found here, where there are more lovely items just like mine...

Tomorrow I'll be letting you all know what I've been up to for the past month or so......

round up...

2010-03-20T19:50:00.003Z

Thank You all so much for your happy birthday wishes. I had a great mothers day/birthday 24 hours!!!This week I have eaten way to much cake...something that will have to stop after my shopping trip on Friday where I discovered I am getting rather too round to where nice clothes!!
I opened more lovely pressies, including one of these from my friend who knows me so well!
I have been sewing....a birthday gift for a friends son's 1st birthday.
I decided that this year part of everyones gifts for birthdays etc will be handmade. I have been 100% successful so far...bunting for a friend of C's...candles for mothers day...this softie for afore mentioned baby!!!(Mum's birthday is next and I am going to make her a bag, and get her a cake stand I think..she was eyeballing one in John Lewis on Friday!!!)I have also made some things for the colour swap and flower swap I signed up for. So can't show those...but looks like I'll be ready to send ON TIME!!! (Be a bit embarrassing if I was late sending my own swap out hehehe!!)I have added a couple of things to the Easter Giveaway parcel...I have made a cute spring/easter tote bag and you can see a wooden chicken on a stick peeping out!!There is still another week before the computer chooses...time to get your name down if you haven't already!!And thats been my week!!
I am still busy working on my new job, I think I will be able to make a grand announcement this week!! But for now I am going to have an early night..read my new magazine (failing on the no mag buying rule I set myself....although only sewing mags are finding their way home with me!!!) and enjoy my 80p reduced roses in my 50p thrifted jug.........

Happy Birthday ....

2010-03-15T11:00:00.000Z

....to me!!

I am having a lovely couple of days, Mothers Day was perfect, breakfast with all my boys, great cards and gifts - both bought and handmade and a nice pottering sort of day....it all happens at once for me....Mothers Day and my birthday are very rarely more than a week apart..it has been known to be on the same day.........I was in such a good mood yesterday I wasn't even mortally wounded by the sentiment on my new mug!!!!On my dresser, aswell as some uncleared up soil from a pot plant, you can see some of my birthday pressies, including the gorgeous wooden erm - planty carrying thing filled with primula's from mum....she suggested that once I have planted out these plants the planty carrying thing would look good filled with herbs...I said bottles of wine at the same time, which as mum said...speaks volumes!!!My new Cath goodies, tins were from son number 2 and the bowls from the babies...though I'm sure daddy helped...and I'm sure sending him off to work with massive circles round the items in the catalogue helped even more!!

lovely perfume (hehehe!!) and the remains of yesterday's chocs.

I also got 2 new cd's chosen by, ordered by and paid for by number 1 son all by himself...even though one of them was given to me with the words..play it when I'm out :D!!! (it was Robbie Williams, nothing that terrible!!!)My 2 favourite birthday cards....and cutest words of the weekend...

Me: thank you for my mothers day present

C: thank you for growing me in your beautiful tummy..................

(I am still smiling xxx)

I'm now off to return the camera I bought the other week...its faulty (hence the dodgy mobile phone pics....) then round to a friends for coffee and cake, then on to mums for birthday tea and more cake, its good to be spoilt once a year!!

Don't forget my giveaway here.....

And how is the colour swap making going??????
I know at least one of you has posted your colour swap out...wow..now I'm really panicking!!!
Don't forget to upload your pics to the flickr group.....
I can't wait to see what everybody has made.

applique

2010-03-13T08:00:00.000Z

a recent make....appliqued and embroidered on a linen backing and then framed....but I'm thinking she would look good on a cushion or a wallhanging......

(I'll add it to the list hehehe!!!)

Easter Giveaway

2010-03-11T16:30:00.000Z

Mothers Day hasn't been and gone yet but Easter is very much in the air (and shops!!!)...its just a few weeks away. And as I missed the momentus occasion when I passed 100 followers, I have put together a little Easter themed giveaway.....There is a lovely Easter bunny mug, a cute tin filled with jellies, some springlike dusters. Eggs to decorate (they are polystyrene..I plan to fabric cover mine...), more bunnies - chocolate and jelly, and a little hanging chicken decoration made by my fair hands.....there could well be another make in the pile if I get my act together ......
So to enter, UK only due to time restraints sorry x , just leave me a comment.

I will get the computer to choose somebody on Monday 29th March, enough time to get a parcel to you before Easter.

xxx

pottering

2010-03-09T22:00:00.001Z

** my apologies to those who have read my written in advance post that got published when my battery died - oops!!! (its not my birthday yet lol)**

You lot are really lovely bloggy friends, thank you all for your anniversary wishes.

We had a lovely night, and got a full nights sleep lol...how sad that a good night is now measured by unbroken sleeps!!! (the little gitbag slept through for Grandma!!!)

And you were right......the other stuff was still waiting when we got back!!

The start of this week has been spent pottering in the house...I am busy busy at the moment working a tiny bit, so not much time for craftiness..I have cut out a few more projects, the non completed project total is now in double figures(actually thats an idea for a blog post..it might spur me on??), I sewed some more hexies whilst watching telly on Sunday night, and I have made another couple of smelly candles.

These are mothers day gifts for the mums! Scented with cinammon buns fragrance and 'fudge' coloured - I love them, I love that they look like a (very weak) cup a tea!!!

I've also rejigged the spare bedroom again...more on that another day, but you can just see the desktop covered in the CK oilcloth I bought back here.

It looks amazing..I want to save up now and put it on the dining room table, and cover it in plastic so it doesn't get ruined by yukky boys!

So very much an all quiet on the eastern front kind of post lol...unless you want to get me started on the arrogant teacher at parents evening at high school tonight - grrrrr!

(amazing how a child can be described as 'lovely' and ' one of the reasons our school is 15th in the country' and 'a joy to teach' etc etc...by 7 teachers, yet 1 tells me he is full of himself and thinks he's a bit special!!!!)

(he was stopped in his tracks by me - I refrained from saying woah woah easy tiger!!! - and a complaint has been made...)

oh how I love parents evening!!!!..for the record..there have been issues with A and this subject, but far from being full of himself he thinks he is rubbish and has no confidence in the subject...grrrrr!!! (again)

(on a happy note my 4 year old is getting on great at full time school...shame really as I'm only one bad report away from home schooling the little ones!!!)

Happy Anniversary

2010-03-06T10:29:00.005Z

Its a year since I got married..how time flies when you are having fun ;)

I told lovely husband that all I wanted was him to book a meal out and sort the sitters out...I'm sure I'm not the only one who tires of doing all the 'thinking' for the family!! So that could be my gift.

Well I take back everything I ever said..tonight a hotel is booked in the city and we are off for a child free break :)

I'm delighted he has done this but I am biting my tongue trying not to say things like but can we afford it...I wanted to sow my sweet pea seeds...I need to do some work online.....I wanted to sew...I needed to iron etc etc!!

(Obviously I'm not good at the being surprised thing..be careful what you wish for lol!!!!)

I was out last night at the cinema to see The Lovely Bones....I'll try not to spoil anything!!!

It was beautiful. The acting was faultless, the photography was stunning, but.....

4 out of the 5 of us who went had read the book and we had niggles!!!

They missed out a few, in my opinion vital bits, and my main problem was the casting of Ray...he was a wonderful actor and delicious eye candy ;) , however he was supposed to be playing a teenager and he looked like a grown man preying on a young girl and I was uneasy with it!

Anyway, let me know what you think!!

I had a lovely surprise package this morning..a while ago I won a giveaway over at Mollycupcakes, I had completely forgotten, so it was a lovely anniversary present! Thank You x

Have a good weekend!

Marching in...

2010-03-03T21:45:00.000Z

The new month that is, I'm creeping in quietly. I have slipped back into bad blogger territory.8 days since my last post, and after I was posting daily too..tut tut!!!

Anyhoo..there hasn't been much to say..the lack of proper daylight and complete boredom with life in general, meant I was so miserable I was not liking my own company, so I doubt anyone else would want to hear about it!!

March is my true start of the year, my birthday is in March, and my wedding anniversary now too which gives something to look forward to, (then April is Spring, May is almost summer, June, July, August - summer..and then September means I can make festive plans..and October and November too..December brings the festivities, so just January and February to be miserable!!!), and I was delighted to see the sun on the 1st day of my year :D

So as I said I haven't been up to much so not much to show and tell.

There are some works in progress.....

also a couple of swap makes started, that can't be shown ;)

little peep of a gift made for someone special.....

some new technology to get to grips with...a new camera - a replacement for the one lovely husband dropped last month whilst under the influence....thank goodness for replacement product insurance :D

No idea what I'm doing with it..I need point and press and its not playing nicely. I need to read the manual I think.

And this...

(I got it so that I didn't have to be a slave to the laptop,...but I think I shall be becoming a slave to the blackberry instead!!! Mine is purple not black..its stunning...and I'm not a gadgety person!!!!)

This week has been a busy one..parents evening with an hours notice - thank you W, letters from school need to be given to mum!! Parents Forum meeting at A's high school and a scary but exciting meeting with the bank manager. I also spent a morning doing some housekeeping on my laptop, someone had downloaded about a trillion games onto it!! Tonight the work is not over, C's school celebrates the event that is World Book Day....please dress up your child..oh joy!!

(jaded mother I'm afraid., this is my 3rd time round, so apologies to any teachers who may be reading..I am all for parental involvement, I listen to my Reception aged child read daily...but making costumes...nooooooooooo thank you!!!!)

I made a bear costume for C to wear tomorrow, but his class is using the Harry and his bucket of dinosaurs books in Maths - I say Maths, he is 4..its counting!!!!, so he wants to wear a 10 year old dinosaur costume from our dress up box!!! (there is always next year!!)

My old time management problems are rearing their ugly head again, but I am hopeful that I can be back in a day or so with more awful pics off the new camera....

Colour Swap Partners

2010-02-23T09:18:00.002Z

Here are your partners ladies for the colour swap. Hopefully the links will work (let me know if not) and you can make contact as soon as you can with your partner, and swap info, addresses etc....
**(sorry I have had to do a bit of jiffling, hope this doesn't cause too many problems x)**

Shannon (RED) swaps with Tammy (PURPLE)
Made with Love (GREEN) and Dotty Daisies (BRIGHT GREEN)
The English Teacup (RED) and Bekimarie (PINK)
Mary Poppins (PINK) and Jozen (PINK and BROWN)
Mrs Yappy Dog (MINT GREEN) and Chez Sophie (PINK)
Groovy Moon Child (PINK) and Miya (GREEN)
The Vintage Gardener (ORANGE) and Crafty Helen (RED)
Ticking Stripes (GREEN) and Lissy Lou (PINK)
Born to Sew (DENIM BLUE) and Lalalibaby (GREEN)
Vintage Vicki (RED, GREEN or PINK) and The Madhouse (GREEN or PINK)
MitMot (RED) and Lemonade Kitty (PINK)
Dawn (PINK) and Della (YELLOW)
Flutter (PINK) and Country Girl (BLUE)
Blingabonga (PURPLE) and JoJoDesigns (GREEN)
Dolly Dollop (GREEN) and Laura Gladwyn (PURPLE)
Mad about Bags (GREEN) and Fairly Girly (GREEN or PURPLE)
Contented (PURPLE)) and A Mermaids Purse (RED)
Little Gem (PINK) and Sew Scrumptious (BLUE)
Kate (PINK) and Lexiloo (PINK OR GREEN)
Little Bear Stories (PALE BLUE) and Vanilla (RED)

And as Seranata is in New Zealand until after the swap ends, I'm going to have an additional swap and we will be partnered for a late finishing colour swap!!
Seranata (BLUE) swaps with Dolly Dollop (RED).

(The list is now closed, however I am waiting to hear if someone still wants to join in, so there may be another pairing later!!)
Quick reminder of "the rules"...

You will send minimum of 5 items to your partner..themed round their fave colour(in brackets next to your partners name)

At least 1 handmade item, the others could be thrifted or bought

Post so that your partner recieves by 31st March 2010.

(any probs with this please let me or your partner know as soon as possible x)

So, in the words of Shania Twain...lets go girls!!!

Happy Swapping xxx

ps I've set up a flickr group here for all the pics of your lovely makes :)

Monday again.

2010-02-22T09:58:00.000Z

Back to school for some of my boys today, thats another half term over and done with. The weather has been truly awful..with the exception of one day in the week. We have had no white stuff here...and Saturday looked a lot like this:Sunday brought lots of rain, which still hasn't stopped so as it was so wet and dark all day, we did some of this:

Stone painting...followed by playdough..new pots of playdough, what a treat!!!..I love that stuff it smells good enough to eat!! (which R tried to do...) I also found some fimo in the back of the craft cupboard, so will try making buttons I think at some stage...

I managed to sew some more hexagons this weekend, and I have been making some embroidered applique pictures - more on those later...so I really must do some chores today to make up for it ;)

Thank you for all your lovely comments about my candles..they were really the easiest thing to make. I bought wax from here (delivered in 2 days) and just melted it in a saucepan on top of another pan of water (my double boiler improvisation!!), I don't have a microwave but I reckon you could melt the wax in one?? Its a mineral wax and literally just wiped out of the pan. I've been burning a teacup candle all weekend, smells gorgeous and we have been wowed by how long and evenly it burns...its so annoying when you have a container candle and it only burns in the middle and leaves wax up the sides!!!

I'm now off to sort out partners for the colour swap..hopefully later today or tomorrow I'll be back with a list.

Also, I am sorry to disappoint anyone but I'm going to have to say that you must have a blog to take part, sorry if I've already been in touch with you. I have a lot of ladies to partner up and having a blog makes it easier for me and for partners to communicate with each other. x

Tea with Mother.....

2010-02-20T19:00:00.000Z

I'm having a great time making crafty at the minute, latest obsession...lovely scented (with Rose fragrance) teacup candles.

I have been burning a candle I made since Friday afternoon on and off - the house smells divine and the wax is still going strong.

I love that the teacups can be wiped out and used again once the candle has burnt away.

Available here.

Nursery Favourites

2010-02-19T20:50:00.001Z

I am hoping that somebody will be able to help me dating a thrifty find.I have googled but its not turning up anything...so anybody remember this (or anyone seen one ever???)

Its a 45rpm plastic flexi record with nursery rhymes on.

Its a promotional item from Heinz Baby Foods..not dated but Susan Baxter was the lady you needed to write to back then at the Baby Foods Advisory Service.

I wonder if its 1960's or 1970's??

Inside it asks if you have the newly revised booklet 'From Milk to Mixed Diet'..

As you can see the baby on the inside photo looks fairly vintage!

I picked it up in a charity shop a while ago..I thought I would frame it as I like the vintage nursery rhyme pictures..but when I found it the other day I decided I would try and find out when it was given out.

I wonder if it came free with Heinz baby milk (devout breastfeeder here so maybe I should boycott it lol!! - these days the milk companies are not allowed to promote in the same ways!!!)

Or were there 'bounty packs' of sorts in the 60's or 70's??

Hmm - maybe I need to ring or email Heinz to find out...only thought of that whilst I was typing duh!!!

Maybe one of you have a copy yourself, I'd love to know how they were issued x

Handbag contents tag...

2010-02-17T21:20:00.007Z

Beki asked me to show the contents of my handbag and although I am notoriously rubbish at taking up tags etc I just had to show you how organised and meticulous I am in my day to day life....

This is my current handbag, I love these CK messenger bag's - they stop me needing a baby bag if I'm only out for half a day or so, the only problem is they are sometimes a bit deep and I look slightly silly and like I am losing my arm trying to get something out :)

(note to self...need a bag organiser...)

This is my bag contents just dolloped out...

And on closer inspection, I spy with my beady eye...

an eco bag.

a pink purse (a gift from my mother in law and although it is Radley and not my cup of cha one bit, it is a great purse with a place for everything)

2 notebooks..one has been in my bag since New York and has the names and addresses of a couple of restaurants written in it and a list of Christmas presents left to buy, the other was made for me by Natasha, and has a list of library books I wanted to order. oh and 4 pens....and a bookmark.

A teeny diary.

a children's purse, a postman pat van, a camper van and a nappy.

2 lipsticks, lip balm, a concealer and a mascara.

pack of tissues and antibacterial hand gel - known as magic soap in this house.

usb memory stick - has photo's on that I need to get processed.

Terms of Endearment DVD free in Tuesday's Daily Mail that Mum gave me.

camera case..made by me last April from vintage CK fabric, still not finished needs a button or something to fasten it!!

manky tissue - yes its used!!,nearly empty packets of painkillers, pack of softmints with 1 sweetie left in..

key to mum's house....who knows where mine are...I won't know til I want to go out and need house and car keys, then I'll yell at everyone til I find them....

Nintendo DS and 2 styluses (????)

and a lovely christmas card bought at the castle museum the other day....

Tipping it out did shame me into sorting it out, and putting the red bag into the wash :)

I take after my Aunt, her handbag always came with a health warning, my mums on the other hand is uber organised and tidy!!!

Wordless Wednesday....

2010-02-17T08:41:00.001Z

Otherwise known as 'What I've made Wednesday'

Patchwork cushion with heart applique for Ginger Pudding.

Small tote bag lined with heart fabric sent to Lissy Lou for her Red for Heart event...

patchwork cushions

2010-02-16T09:46:00.001Z

This weekend was all about making cushions!

The string patch cushion was made from the smaller (because I went wrong) patches from my first attempt!!

I then deliberately cut another couple smaller and made a cushion front (it has a white and multi coloured spot envelope back)

I decided to turn the hexes I had started to sew together into a cushion after all. I figured that if they bugged me now then I probably wouldn't be able to muster up enough enthusiasm to turn it into a big quilt...the big quilt will be more carefully planned.
I backed it with a dress I rescued from the to be ebayed pile.
In the meantime, I am getting organised. I will sew up all the hexagon patches before I arrange them in a 'random' pattern...and I am getting a lot of pleasure from seeing them in my new filing system (shoe box!!) Some of my new favourites, fabric gifted to me by Gem.

Thank you for signing up for the colour swap..if you haven't already...comment on this post by Monday 22nd.....if you are feeling particularly full of mojo, there is another lovely swap here.

Colour Swap

2010-02-15T09:27:00.003Z

*LIST NOW CLOSED *

Well, it was a definate yes to the colour swap.
Thank You for helping me out by voting!!
So...who wants to take part in the.......
Rules...so to speak.....are:

1) Let me know your current favourite colour when you leave a comment to say 'count me in' for the swap.
2) You will send 5 items to your partner..themed round their fave colour.
3) At least 1 handmade item, the others could be thrifted or bought.
4) Post so that your partner recieves by 31st March 2010.
5) Open to oversea's bloggers too, so please also let me know if you are not able to send overseas, so I can work this when sorting partners.
6) Pop the 'colour swap' button on your blog.

Leave me a comment on this post before next Monday, the 22nd, when I'll put your names in a hat and partner you up!!!

Hope everyone who celebrates had a good Valentine's Day. We don't indulge chez dollop, but I did buy a packet of heart shaped jellies which I shared with lovely husband...well I say shared....he had 1 or 2 ;)

It is half term in these here parts of the country, I like to start the week with a pyjama morning, doing not much at all...but it hasn't been too relaxing so far!!! Hope its not going to be a long week!!

I have taxi duties to perform this morning but this afternoon is all about me and my sewing machine, I have a little something to finish for Lissy and more string patches...After laying them out on my large dining table, we discovered that I need 21 more to have enough for a small quilt for the sofa!!! Good job they are quick, fun and addictive to do!!

Time for a Swap?

2010-02-11T14:11:00.000Z

I've been having a few thoughts about swaps. A few of you said you'd be interested in taking part in a swap, and as I have nothing better to do (ha!) I thought maybe I could host my first ever one!!
But indecisive me needs your help...I have a couple of ideas, but I figure that if I'm the only one who likes the idea, it'll be a very boring swap!!!

So there is a poll on the sidebar, to see what you think about

Step into Spring Swap

All things Springlike...spring colours, flowers etc.

Colour Swap

You tell your partner your favourite colour and the swap parcel is themed around that colour, something made, bought, thrifted...

My making mojo is back, so I hope that some of you will want to join in!!! I'll leave the poll open until after the weekend.

Boys Toys?

2010-02-10T15:06:00.001Z

Inspired by this post I decided to dig out the dolls crib of my childhood and make some new bedding, using the fab fabric given to me by Natasha for the Friends swap last summer.

I gave a sneaky peek in my last post......

As I have mentioned before neither mum nor I are great ' keepers of stuff ' but along with the appliqued bed throw, my dolls crib given to me for Christmas '77 or '78, survived our numerous moves. It wasn't new when I got it so I should think its 40 years old....

Mum kept it I expect for my children, and as we are all aware I got blue flavoured children, each pregnancy mum would say perhaps we'll get to have our crib out......

We did get it out for the boys, but I think certain things are programmed by nature and none of them have shown that much interest in it, after the initial novelty of something different being out to play with. My eldest (now 14) showed the most interest when I had just had his brother, now 12...he would put his stuffed teletubby in there to sleep and take Po out to breastfeed him....bless :)

(We do finally have a little pink baby in the family, courtesy of my sister in law -but they are a fan of the shiny new plastic stuff so don't think they will appreciate vintage!! Anyway tis mine!!!hehehe)

It took me a while to get round to finishing it...the patchwork was done last September...the binding last week!!!

tada....(I cut a piece of spotty fleece to make a sheet for the 1970's esque mattress in the crib)

Dolly has been named Harry by C. So he is now round at Grandma's having new pyjama's made for him...boy colours..it makes daddy feel a bit better!!! (not much though..but we are ignoring him!!!)hmm....not sure what daddy will think about me playing with this baby...oh who cares...dolly needs a kiss!!!!

The crib is in the little boys bedroom, I'm hoping they will play with it...but R (pictured above) is a bit rough, he wanted it downstairs the other day and chucked it...and C keeps saying MY dolly(no its mummy's)...so I'm being a bit precious and limiting the time its played with.
I enjoyed making the little quilt..well I say quilt its not actually quilted, it has a plain flannel backing and as I am chuffed with how it turned out I don't want to spoil it by messing upthe stitching!! The handmade binding is far from perfect, but for a first attempt I am very pleased with how it turned out, the mitred corners were easier than I thought...I am learning very quick that if I take my time things work..I know what a revelation!!
I think I am going to make another for my friends baby. Maybe 1 row longer and wider, then it will be just the right size for the moses basket.

magazine swap

2010-02-08T17:04:00.002Z

I was really excited to be taking part in Floss's no strings magazine swap, at the thought of feasting my eyes on a non English magazine...
I was partnered with Juanita, and received a package from her at the weekend.

I love the lovely touch on the envelope - a felt stamp..genius....I love it!!!

And inside, Living &More.....Not a mag thats available in the UK (or if it is I've never clapped eyes on it!!!). I knew from the cover I was going to love it!!

Juanita hoped I would find some inspiration from this magazine....I'll let my favourite pictures answer that one!!!
this is lovely husbands favourite..he's a sucker for a woodburner shot!!!

I am in love with the crochet..the colours are fabulous.

Valentines food..heart shaped eggs or heart shaped courgette and mushroom pastries for tea!!

spring flowers and a crafty idea for displaying spring flowers.

I love this little girls bedroom..the LA wallpaper with hot pink bedding.

sigh* look away now if you are prone to shoe envy...

Thank You Juanita, we have had a lot of pleasure out of looking at the pictures in the mag and I hope my package gets to you soon.

January

2010-02-04T16:26:00.000Z

I'm glad its over!!!

I hate January. Strong words, strong feelings!! Its such a meh kind of month after the exciting month of December and I always feel flat. I say always...last year was different as I was prepping for my wedding and didn't have the time to think about what month it was!!!

So I haven't done a lot this month. I had a self enforced no spend month, which was surprisingly easy. The string patches and hexes helped me use fabric I already had, without making me want new.(yeh right like you could ever stop wanting fabric!!!)

I have only had one trip into town to the charity shops all month...and because I have promised my husband I will find a home/get rid of last years finds before I pick up anymore crap...his words not mine....all I came home with was 2 bits of fabric.

Just over a metre of this one...enough for a new kitchen blind.

Laura Ashley for 60p!!!

Nearly 2 metres of this one for 10p. Its American I believe, but I haven't looked up the company yet.

A small person started full time school at the start of the month..This is another reason I have been out of sorts in January, and to be honest I am still struggling. Now I knew the time would come, I have been here twice before...but I was unprepared for how difficult it would make my life!! Getting out of the house on time..which is 8.20 at the very latest..... is proving to be a challenge. Its not as if I'm not up...R still wakes early, but we are pretty hopeless, I'm well out of practice.

There are daily hissy fits...sometimes even from C!!!

Also C has more homework in Reception than my eldest does for his GCSE's..and that isn't much of an exaggeration!! Reading book, Keywords folder, letter sounds, jolly phonic worksheets....I'm afraid we only do it if he is up to it..full time school is very tiring!!! I expect I'll be on the scummy mummy blacklist, what with my poor timekeeping and non compliance with homework!!!

I've discovered this month that I don't have to bake cake ever again!!

This is one of my 12 year old's.

His sponge is perfect. better than his Grandma's, better than mine!!

I intend to make sure he makes it regularly so he doesn't lose the skill ;)

I've been enjoying spring flowers indoors, whilst dodging the snow outdoors.

(not looking their best, but actually I like tulips when they start to flop!! These ones were delivered, a thank you from my sister in law for hosting Christmas.)

I have been staring at my dismal looking garden, wishing for better weather, and starting to plan what I will grow in my raised bed...

I have been finishing some projects from the list of last October!!!

(sneaky peek...more to follow..but check out my mitred corners...first time mitrer too!!!)

I know in January I was a bad blogger. I hardly posted, and I know I haven't replied to all the comments I got. I apologise. I have got lots of new followers, and I'm sorry that there isn't much for you to see round here at the minute!!!

I am working on the principle less time blogging means more time doing...which is true, but then I get that feeling of having forgot something when I don't blog!!!

Please do keep leaving me comments, I will eventually get round to visiting people...honest!!

Anyway its gone now for another year...no more January...so hopefully the cloud will lift and I can come back and have more to say!!

I'm also thinking about swaps....it seems quiet on the swap front right now (unless I just don't know where to look lol!!), so perhaps I should host one? Is it too soon after Christmas?

Let me know what you think...and I'll try and come up with some ideas!!

xxx

a helping hand

2010-01-31T19:00:00.004Z

As well as the fabulous fabric squares I received from Mary, I have been very lucky this week to have 2 more parcels in the post with a helping hand for my hexy quilt.

2 more fabric stashes for me to be envious of!!

Thank You Beki xxxxx the squares are ready to be turned into a hex and some of yours can also be seen in the string patches I blogged about yesterday!!

Thank You Mary P xxxxx I will be chopping squares later and also some string strips too.

So with the help from my very lovely bloggy friends, I shall be able to make a quilt big enough for a double or king sized bed rather than a cot!!!

I am having a wobble about the hexes stitched together so far. They are not random enough.

I should have pieced all my hexes, then laid them out, but I wanted to start sewing them together and then I made a mistake when I first started stitching and instead of unpicking I changed plans and went for a block of one colour. However I've started thinking that when the quilt is big it will be just that little bit too random and not what I wanted ...after discussion with mum (who was hexing before I was even born!!) she suggested that I add a few more onto the one's I have done and make a cushion and start again with the quilt (*sigh* had I mentioned how slow it is?!?!).

I think she is very probably right..I don't want to put all this effort in and then it bug me as its the wrong sort of random!!!

Does anyone else struggle with 'random' like I do??? Is random really a very calculated well planned thing??

(also did anyone else have to REALLY force themselves to chuck the offcuts from the string patches??? I did stare at them thinking I could reuse, but resisted and got rid!!!)

string patches

2010-01-30T15:55:00.001Z

Friday found me with 2 and a half child free hours. I had prepared for them all week. I made sure I had strips of fabric and I cut squares out of lining fabric.

The sewing machine was dusted off after more than a months rest and brought downstairs.

I set myself up a little ironing station on the dining table next to my machine (saves moving you see!!), remembering why I ended up with new oilcloth in the first place I made sure it was well padded.

I'm not a tidy worker...

And I found them surprisingly easy. You see I am very untrusting! When somebody tells me something is very easy I tend to think - for you maybe!!! But it really was simple.

(thats not to say that a few weren't messed up......)

Once all the strips are sewn on - pre trimming - I have to say I wasn't overly impressed, as I don't have great vision! But once trimmed...

I began to be impressed!

I made extra work for myself by roughly trimming down with scissors first, Then using the cutting mat and rotary..and a new to me metal ruler....I made them all the same size - 6 inch squares .....

Like I said I know I didn't need to trim with scissors first but as I don't have a square template and I needed to see the grid on my cutting board, I found this an easier way of doing it. I'm not very confident with my rotary cutter and mat!!!

It was at this stage that I found a few that hadn't made the grade, I had not used long enough strips in a couple of places and there were gaps and joins......not the end of the world....meet the 5 1/2 inch squares :D

I am very pleased with how they have turned out. Even with the wonkyness of the strips in places (bottom right green paisley for starters!!!). Such a simple process, yet very very effective. Some of my favourites.....

Obviously now I have 2 different sized squares then I will need to find 2 different projects, and as I'm hoping that in round 2 I won't make mistakes, then hopefully all future squares will be 6 inches. The smaller squares I may turn into a bag front or something.....

patchwork

2010-01-25T23:03:00.000Z

My latest ongoing project...my hexy patchwork...taking shape...v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y!!! I love doing it but it does take a while to look like its going anywhere when you are time limited like me.

I have lots of patches made up...I made a decision that no 2 patches on my quilt (yes quilt..I aim high!!) will be the same so I have made a good start cutting squares from my stash....
Some more squares ready to go....I still have a shelf left to snip from....but I have been greatly helped along on the no two patches the same thing by a lovely blogging lady who wanted to do a swap for her string patchwork (you have to scroll past Mary's simply stunning almost finished hexagon quilt to get to the part where you see her simply stunning string patchwork patches!!) I asked Mary if I could swap strips for squares and now I have a pile of fabric squares to play with and deep envy of Mary's fabric stash!!!!!Whilst cutting out strips (even with a rotary...most definately NOT my favourite job, the cutting bit) I decided to cut double and attempt some string patches myself...too late for this challenge...but I plan to make a few!! In the mean time...I found a way to keep a certain someone occupied for a whole half hour. (excuse the yoghurt coated jumper) Laying out the strips of fabric...and I swear I also saw him stroke them as he lined them up!!! I have high hopes for this boy!!

cut and paste

2010-01-14T21:34:00.000Z

As I mentioned before, I have been working my way through a pile of mags to make my own inspiration books. I already had a pile of cuttings from when we went to Featherdown Farm in April last year (I went armed with scissors and mags!) and I already had a half started scrap book.
This scrap book was put in my Christmas stocking when I was 20 and just had my first flat with my (now ex) husband. I started it then, and used to add to it on a monthly basis after reading that months House Beautiful - the only house mag I was really aware of 16+ years ago!! It looks a bit battered but it has moved house with me (counts on fingers.....) 6 times, occasionally looked at, but never added to. I really didn't think it would ever get full!! this was my dream sofa back then....I got it...but in Navy- I bottled the cream as I was nearly 9 months pregnant with my first child, probably a wise move, I had it 9 years..don't suppose the cream would have lasted that long!!)

After glue stick action at the weekend and Tuesday night it is now full......and I have a second book about a third full.

My taste hasn't really altered....you wouldn't guess that there was a 16 year gap in completing by looking, Also it was funny to look at the pictures from years ago and realise that it is only now that I have the kind of house that lends itself to my ideas and tastes!

roll top baths have always been lusted after..we got one with this house but ever the unsatisfied female - its plastic not cast and its not painted on the outside and plastic so don't think I can!!

There aren't enough hours in the day to take and upload photo's of all my favourite pictures...but some of my fave's are in this post.......

*edited to say I managed to upload rather more than I anticipated*

This is what my hallway looks like, except we took our carpet up and some numpty had stripped the tiles and put a chipboard floor down.........our radiator is in exactly the same position..I have Cath wallpaper on the side you can't see but I have asked for a shelf to be fitted just like this one (and now I've got this pic in mind I don't like my mirror so I'm on the look out!!!), my husband and step dad have been informed...
Some outside and flowery images too... and the odd christmassy one..but I have put the Christmas pics in a seperate folder...more on that some other time...... I just love this house..when we win the lottery I will build one just like this..it looks really scandinavian (was in Scotland if I remember correctly??)

I still have a big basket to chop through.....but I have used every last glue stick in this house and mothers...so I shall have to pop to the shops before the weekend....its a great pastime to do whilst watching telly....its also very relaxing when you get to the sticking part!!

a few bloggy homes star in my books too.......(see above)
(and below)

So thats a start off the list...I don't suppose its going to be done anytime quickly..but I'm on my way...

a plan for twenty ten.

2010-01-11T09:17:00.005Z

(picture for Sandie xxxx)

Yay! The white stuff melteth!!

Snow is very pretty to look at but its wet and cold and makes roads dangerous, not to mention schools shut so I'm pretty relieved to see the back of it.

It also brought our weekend to a standstill. Lovely husband didn't get home til gone 8pm on Friday because the snow locally was so bad, I didn't want to take the car out on Saturday, the main roads were clear we discovered later, but our road was ridiculously icy...

(One thing in the snow's favour is that it stops you spending money, especially when combined with your new self imposed less time on the laptop regime!!!)

So our weekend involved lounging about in front of the fire, some of us watched tv, some played with lego and racing cars, and some of us played with glue sticks, merrily filling scrap books until the glue sticks ran out!

So once I ran out of glue, snuggling and joining in the tv watching was in order.

Last night was filled with ironing, belatedly sewing on name labels in C's new school stuff (I won't be winning any organised mum prizes...), finishing something on the list from last year (more on that tomorrow) and making this years (pressure free) list.Its not all crafty stuff. Some of it is practical essential housey stuff. Like losing the spare room and putting one of the big boys in there and sorting out the windows at the front of the house for starters. Oh and the little boys room was one of the 1st we did so needs a freshen up, as does the play room.....

But there is a crafty list..some practical, some frivolous....

make seat pads for dining chairs
make table runner x2 (christmas and all year round)
placemats x2 sets (christmas and all year round)
make little boys blind
make curtains for W's new room
make bunting and cover noticeboard for W's room
make happy birthday bunting to come out for all 6 birthdays
finish inspiration books
keep on hexing to get closer to a quilt
make new cushion covers for lounge sofa's
make arm covers for dining room chair
make own christmas cards
make applique and embroidered pictures using ideas in head!
research candle making kits
make patchwork lampshade cover for dining room lamp
make hot water bottle covers
finish dolls quilt

Well I think that will do for starters! Definately no pressure. No time limits. All this is achievable so hopefully I will have some finished things to post on here this year instead of lots of talk about want to do's!!!

snow day

2010-01-07T20:05:00.007Z

Well the white stuff finally landed on the east coast - whilst the rest of the UK have been snowed in we haven't even had a flake. But today we woke up to about an inch and a half!!
School was still open for W, who set off early to cycle there, and for C whose first day was yesterday, so was raring to go...
A's high school had a boiler failure and I was texted just after I had dragged him out of bed and into the shower - mwah ha ha!!
I decided to walk to the supermarket after dropping off C, about a 3 mile round trip, hard work in the snow - very hard work!!!
I felt like I had had a great gym work out and promptly spoiled it by eating 2 massive bits of cake :(
Diet starts next week..................

So I spent the rest of the day cutting out pics from the pile of magazines in the hallway ready to put in scrapbooks.

This is a picture of ordered piles of cuttings..I have a plan!

This year I plan on being a lot thriftier than I was last year. That means not renewing my magazine subscriptions for starters. As a disclaimer I may subscribe to 1 housey mag later in the year but will use my Tesco clubcard vouchers......

To be honest this decision is not driven by thriftiness totally! I am fed up of Country Living, and I only enjoy 1 copy of Country Homes every now and then so the subscriptions aren't that much of a chore to surrender!!I had lots of other magazines last year on cheapy trial subscriptions..3 for £3 for example and I bought magazines that I saw in the newsagent so the pile is rather high to sort through.

(this lot plus the same again need chopping through!!)

The plan?

I shall make my own house porn/inspiration books...I will buy some cheap A4 hardback books, cover them with pretty wallpaper or fabric and get sticking.

I have started a Christmas one...and I plan to have a house 1 (or 2) and one for crafty tutorials and inspiration for new makes. Oh and 1 for recipes that I cut out of magazines too!!

But it won't be a complete magazine drought here.

I got Cosmo on subscription for Christmas from my sis in law (and bro). It was a real blast from the past to read in the bath on Monday night...how frivolous!! I haven't read since I was twenty something!!!

So I'll still get the pleasure of a mag coming through the door.And by signing up for Floss's no frills magazine swap (click on the button on my sidebar if you fancy it...)

As its my New Years resolution to not put pressure on myself with deadlines...I can't say how soon my books will be done!!!

Happy New Year

2010-01-05T13:22:00.000Z

Well I have had a lovely Christmas holiday. Perfect.

Or more correctly imperfectly perfect!!!!

(I'll spare you the vomit, snot, nut allergy and christmas pudding no show stories!!)

We have had a fabulous Christmas, spent with family. As my mum is now living locally, my brother stayed with her, so we had no house guests...I think this made ours a stress free Christmas. I love having a house full of guests, but somehow the fact that we said goodnight (late some nights) kept it a pleasure....maybe its the fact we had our own space, who knows?? Christmas 2009 was the best one we have had in our 10 year relationship. We are really fortunate that both sets of parents get along..maybe this is normal in the real world, but my ex's mother wouldn't be in the same room as my family so this time round both mum and I appreciate the relationship between the families a lot.

So we shared meals and card games, competed against each other at the local bowling alley (I was rubbish as per!!), drank too much and ate waaa-yy too much.

The one thing we are all agreed on, well I say all, the inlaws were a bit quiet about it, next year we will not be having a turkey Christmas dinner. It is so time consuming. We can have a roast any day of the year. Mum and I really didn't want to eat much after 2 days preparing 8 billion different veg etc, so Christmas 2010 will be celebrated with a pot luck curry dinner!! And if the boys want pizza - they can have it.

The important part is everyone around the table...so you heard it here first!!

Father Christmas really spoiled us all.

We all got some fabulous gifts...

from my wonderful teenage son who says he enjoyed the Cath shop!!

From my friend - its a jug cover, but I don't have a skinny enough jug at the minute!!

(she got it from notmassproduced.com I believe)

The tracked down market stall was very well received.

My mum always does me a stocking of 'bits', this year she did me a trug of bits.

I got tons of goodies off my wish list too. I take back all I said to my sis in law about lovely husband being rubbish at gift buying lol!! I got a lovely new watch, perfectly me that he bought with no guidance!!

I didn't intend to stay away from blogland for so long , but I barely switched on the laptop. So all my internet 'committments' have been neglected!! I have to admit I did have to think twice about returning, I have read several books over the holidays, including 2 new books to inspire me for Christmas 2010, sat and leisurely chatted with my husband and boys, started a new sewing project.

I know I haven't been the only one having a virtual crisis...I read in the Daily Mail that Lily Allen has given up Twitter, FB etc (The only thing me and the lovely Lily have in common..although if I was 2 dress sizes smaller and had a flat stomach I would share her love of quirky fashion too!!)

I don't actually agree with the end bit. Surely giving up totally is not the only way to get 'real life' back. And isn't the internet part of real life anyway?? I agree my online life can occasionally get a bit too much, not an addiction per se but definately an annoying regular habit!! (Just one more check on Facebook before I log out..one more look at blogs... I know I'm not alone!!!)

Anyway, as I can't imagine not blogging at all I have decided to make it a New Years Resolution to get the balance right...so less tedious long posts and more quick update type's are planned, less facebook too (it annoys me anyway, but find myself drawn!!!). And a promise to myself - for housework's sake - that I'll have 2 or 3 laptop free days too!!

I also plan to keep my Christmas relaxed attitude about things, if it doesn't get done, it doesn't matter.

I do still plan on making a list of things I want to achieve this year. Crafty things mainly. But a no pressure kind of list. With no time limits. Although it would be nice to get a Christmas table runner completed before December 25th this year!! The list is in progress - getting longer through reading one of my Christmas gifts!!

So New Year, Fresh Start. Today is the last day I will have 2 preschoolers at home. The big boys went back today and C starts fulltime school tomorrow. He is ready but I'm not. And I am not relishing having to be up dressed and out of the house for 8.20 each day. I have had a very relaxed life since W started a new school that he takes himnself to last September!!

The tree is at the recycling centre, very sad about that...the house looks desperate for a good clean, but I have my priorities right and have put up the new bunting that Beki made me lol!!!

Still undecided if it will stay in the bay...I pass a house on the way to my friends, that has bunting up in the bay window and I have gone from, hmm I wouldn't put it there, to, hmm actually I quite like it!!! So naff or not??

Happy Christmas

2009-12-24T08:00:00.000Z

..to each and every one of my lovely blog readers.

I hope that you all have a fabulous Christmas, and that Father Christmas visits you and brings you something pointless and frivolous that makes you smile!!!

Thank You so much to each of you for reading my ramblings and coping with the disappointment of expecting finished projects that never appear!!

I am pretty rubbish at replying to all your comments, or visiting the blogs of my new followers, so I'd like to say that I really do appreciate your friendship x

I'm ready to sit back now and not be worried about what hasn't been done, but to enjoy my family, I hope you all do the same!!

Have a happy happy Christmas xxxxxxx

A final pause in advent

2009-12-20T22:34:00.001Z

Its the home straight now as far as preparing for Christmas. In fact all I have left to do is brave the supermarket...probably tomorrow. Let the fun and laziness can begin.....My husband works very hard for our family - most weeks he leaves the house at stupid o clock on a Monday morning, not returning until Friday night or Saturday morning. Christmas is the only time that he takes time off to do nothing. I look forward to his week or so off, probably as much as he does!

Sarah at Red Gingham has today talked about time as part of her pause in advent...and time is what is important to our family at Christmas. It is the only school holiday where there is no pressure to fill up the days with activities. The only time all 6 of us are at home together. The only time we feel no guilt at 'wasting' our days in front of the telly and fire in our jarmies...definately the best part for us!!We will plough our way through the sweets and goodies I have been squirrelling away for the past 3 months, not to mention the too many to mention bottles of wine that are in the wine cellar..ha ha.... we also call it the loft!!!

We will read together, play cards, play games - board and electronic....my brother is travelling from the north especially to (I quote) kick my husbands butt at golf on the wii!!!! We will walk together, eat together and very likely bicker together...but its precious time spent with my family, that is usually just snatched or rushed for the rest of the year.

I can't wait for Wednesday night :)

Before then I shall be catching up with friends, going to the panto with 2 of the boys and mum. It'll be C's first time, so very exciting!

All the presents are bought and wrapped, and sitting under the tree....

(I love my tree more this year than I did last year...said the same last year too!!)

This Christmas will not be 'the perfect christmas' , I haven't made all the decorations I planned to. I haven't shopped for new decorations like I planned. I haven't handmade everybody a gift like I planned. I haven't made a fabulous table runner like I planned. I haven't tested new recipes for Christmas meals like I planned. And I certainly haven't lost the stone in weight I planned!!! But I have had a relatively stress free advent. And I will have a very lazy, cozy and enjoyable Christmas - like I planned!!

Christmas Stocking Swap

2009-12-17T13:33:00.000Z

One of the plus points of Royal Mail being busy busy during the festive season is Sunday parcel deliveries!! My parcel from Beki was delivered at the weekend, we were partnered in her Christmas Stocking Swap.
I had been holding out so I could take pictures in good light but as we have had snow and are expecting some more - its practically dark all day!!! So I'm making do and blaming the weather rather than my skillage!!!

The excitement kicked in as soon as the brown paper was torn off.

beautifully wrapped pressies..in MY colours!! With lovely tags that have been reused on my tree!

Except this one - how fabulous is this..its a nail file!!

Love my christmas stocking its now hung on the fireplace.....

lovely scarf...which hasn't been taken off yet!!!sweeties - gone gone gone!!!

snuggly socks

christmassy tissues, candle and lovely pink smellies...

beautiful button heart and cute scented sachet...and fab bunting which will be hung in the bay window in the New Year.

I love love love everything xxx

Thanks Beki for being a great swap partner and a great bloggy friend xxxx

alternative wrapping....

2009-12-15T19:00:00.003Z

I bought a pack of red and white checky tea towels from Tesco to craft with but gave up after cutting out one heart as I didn't like the fabric....(as in its not the easiest to sew!!!)so I have discovered another use...

gift bags -sewn up 2 sides...tied with string...et voila!!!!

I have wrapped up little gifts and popped inside like a mini santa sack for the in laws, but I reckon you could just pop the gift in.....

Nearly there with the wrapping....I have used quite a few different wrappings this year - lots of brown paper though....and I have put lots of things inside cereal etc boxes before wrapping to make life easy for me....

bless the red and white wrapping done by my eldest....next year I shall show him a neater finish lol!!!

I do like it when all my pressies are wrapped...and sat looking lovely under the tree. But I wished I had wrapped as I went along this year, it all got a bit overwhelming..and I have lost a gift somewhere along the line..oh and one of the boys currently is totally unwrapped!! So Father C better get a shift on!!!

Hopefully after tonight I can sit back and enjoy the fact I am all ready?! Just a few to go......

Pause in Advent - Week 3

2009-12-14T08:15:00.000Z

This week I shall be taking the pause in the title literally. We haven't had the greatest of weekends. A weekend that started with such promise, a great night out on Friday, the arranged visit to see Father Christmas on Saturday and carols in the dark at a local Christmas market on Sunday. All, except my night out, was halted by a poorly little boy who couldn't go anywhere, and the extra washing produced by said poorly boy, which needed drying even if it was raining.
Also my big boys face some uncertainty in their life. And, as is the norm, are testing the boundaries with the one constant in their life...that'll be me!!! So yesterday was spent pausing. There was no rushing around and going out, filling our day with Christmas activities. We pottered. I tinkered with the Christmas trimmings, lovely husband and I painted the dresser (finished before Christmas!!), I wrapped some more presents,I opened a lovely parcel - thanks beki xxx, I cooked tea for my parents, I pickled some onions for my dad's christmas present...late I know but he expects them every year and I hadn't got round to it!!
You see one thing my advent calendar cannot plan for is when the boys will be ill, or for other unexpected changes ....but sometimes unexpected changes can be good, even if they are for a not so good reason. And one things certain, Christmas will happen whether we have ticked all the things off the list or not. This is the first year that I have got to the 12th of December and haven't got all the presents wrapped, or cards sent, or finished the house trimming..but also the first year I don't feel stressed. Maybe I am realising that perfection and list ticking off is not what makes Christmas....
This weekends pause in the plans meant that this got made.....

I bought a ready made wreath from the garden centre and wired in the hydrangea's and orange's myself. It is exactly the look I wanted, and I am rather pleased with how it turns out. I know my limitations which is why the wreath itself was pre bought, but it only cost £5 and the hydrangea's were snaffled from my neighbour's garden and the oranges didn't break the bank... I know I would have paid a lot of money for something similar online or locally.
And as mentioned the dresser got painted...its not finished, it needs another coat ideally, though thats not that obvious, but we forgot to paint the door catches and they are bugging me!! And may have to change the hinges - but i got 'the look' when I mentioned this yesterday so won't be bringing that up again before Christmas!
So by last night it was all trimmed up too.....

It has now started to turn chilly in East Anglia, so its definately starting to feel a lot like Christmas....Just 5 more days at school then we can snuggle in and enjoy!!

Handmade Christmas Swap

2009-12-11T19:00:00.001Z

I mentioned yesterday that the postie had brought me a parcel from Pat. Her side of the Handmade Christmas Swap. The rules being send your partner a handmade christmas card, decoration and gift.
You know every swap I take part in I say this but wow! there really are some talented people out there....
First up I opened a package for my boys - Pat had kindly sent them some sweeties, fab christmas lollies and candy canes and footballs. They are very pleased that they were thought of. Chocs for me - that escaped the picture for some reason and they have gone now!!
Next up was a smelly bag (in a very good way), yummy yankee candles and a christmassy bath melt.
When I trimmed up my tree, I had a bit of a cull of decorations and only kept the red white or green ones...that left some gaps...Pat has now filled some gaps..... and here is how they look on my tree.... I love them they are fabulous and will grace my tree for years and years to come..
Also continuing the red and white theme, a lovely heart now hanging in the hallway....
And prepare to be wowed..look at my new bag!!! And the detail...I was speechless..my poor photo's really don't do this beautiful bag justice...and I have to admit very pleased that I had wrapped up Pat's swap and put in the car to take to the Post Office and that I am very short of time otherwise I would have started again with my makes!!!!
It is very very me...thank you so much Pat for a fabulous swap (your 1st x) and I hope you are as pleased as I am x

this week..

2009-12-10T19:10:00.000Z

As well as decorating the Christmas tree...more on that another day, watching Kirsties Handmade Christmas...more on that another day and wrapping up some pressies...more on that another day too, we have been opening our advent calendars and looking forward to our daily instruction card.

I have to say out of all the ideas I come up with this has to have been the best...and when I say I came up with it, I'm sure you understand I don't mean I invented it lol!! I just introduced it to our home....

Apart from a blip last friday where I had written that today we could tidy the toybox ready for Father Christmas, C has been very enthusiastic. It is also making me do something with him everyday..I find it too easy to leave them to play by themselves whilst I cook tea etc etc...but with these activities we have to interact at the kitchen worktop or dining table.

Tuesday saw us making Christmas biscuits using a Nigella recipe. (gold dust cookies from the Nigella's Christmas book)

It was a really good recipe, I shall be making up another batch of dough to make biscuits for the tree as they are a good sturdy biscuit once cooked. (I did add an extra teaspoon of ground ginger and a teaspoon of mixed spice for extra flavour...)

The recipe has an egg in so R cannot partake..if anyone has a gingerbread biscuit recipe that does not need egg please give me a shout!!

Like the card making I let him go freestyle...I just oversaw the flour sprinkling ;)

Wednesday was making a snowman decoration - so easy and earned me tons of fab mummy points!!! C even got unlimited access to my button box... and the ribbon scraps too and made 2 lovely little snowmen that are hanging in the hallway...
Today we collected pinecones ready to make decorations next week - well I collected them in the park over the road while C scooted around, and also having given up on the sad pansies I neglected and failed to plant out, we had a visit to the garden centre and bought some more plants..primroses this time and they were planted as soon as we got back so I couldn't waste more plants!!

The postie turned up whilst I was mid planting and brought me a beautifully wrapped parcel from Pat. We were partnered for the Homemade Christmas Swap. It didn't stay wrapped up under my tree for long.....so I'll be back soon to showcase Pat's talents!! x

Pause in Advent - week 2.

2009-12-06T16:00:00.002Z

As I sit to write this post I am thinking this is a new tradition I would like - the choosing of the tree on the second Sunday in Advent.....we always do have a real tree, but I usually send out lovely husband to get it (with strict instructions obviously!!!) whenever we have a day that he is at home and we have no committments.
I like the idea that we will always know when we are putting up our Christmas Tree. I'm afraid I can't put it up in November. My mother would kill me for starters. Her rule was not before the 12th!!
So today (by sheer fluke that it is the second in advent...) we traipsed into the country to choose our tree. (we all wore wellies!!!!)The farm offered a tractor and trailer ride to the big fields to choose our tree to be chopped down. There were 2 very pleased little boys and a going along with it 12 year old one!! This will become another tradition in our family I think. It made the getting of the tree a much more special event than the usual getting in the car, collecting it, going home thing!!
(hmm this looks a good one...)(but I better check it fulfills mummy's strict height criteria!!)
The decorating of the tree will be done this evening when the small children are in bed. They can 'help' with their tree but not mine. I'm not precious about the tree, I like a rustic, traditional crossed with scandanavian style - ok anything goes!!! And although I lack the gene that allows me to decorate beautifully and with symmetry I don't like the 8 baubles on one branch look.

Here it is in situ after moving the furniture in my not overly big lounge around!! Lovely Husband refused to lug the very heavy chest that normally lives in the bay, upstairs..so its a long coffee table next to his armchair.So its a Christmas movie and mulled wine whilst trimming up the tree night tonight....
And of course the outing to choose a tree, gave me a more exciting activity to put in the calendar....which so far is working really well. A definate keeper for next years calendar!!

stocking up

2009-12-05T10:00:00.000Z

Here is the reason I have been busy busy this week...

Ginger Pudding now stocked at Frippery, Colchester.....

10 Christmas Stockings have been made in shabby chic fabrics and colours and I'm hoping that Royal Mail delivered and these stockings are gracing the shelves today...

I have taken great pleasure in the fact that I have been 'working' this week....though its not been the best week to have been in gainful employment!! Mum has been in Bath at the Christmas markets (and visiting Cath) and my mother in law chose this week to fall during a squash game and break her wrist in 3 places!! (she's made a proper mess of it, needing surgery..she's fine but off babysitting duties for the forseeable ;) )

Cutting out 40 stocking shapes was not the most enjoyable thingbut seeing 10 Christmas stockings stacked up finished was.

I have made some more too- watch this space for listings in the blogshop.

what do you buy the man who has everything??

2009-12-02T18:51:00.002Z

Well more like the man who wants nothing!!!

I always get lovely husband to write me a list but he is so flipping practical, unlike his wife who likes pointless but pretty pressies ;)

We don't go overboard for one another but we do get each other a few little gifts to open and I was browsing here... and found, what I think is, a fab stocking filler...and its far from practical...

(click on the pic for a link to the decription)

pointless... but very cute and very apt following our trip....he'll love it!!

I aim to wrap up everything this weekend. Then next week I can concentrate on posting the swaps I have outstanding (nearly there ladies!!)

This week has been a busy one for me (more on that next time) but we are still taking the time to enjoy the activity the calendar tells us we must be doing today....

yesterday was watching a Christmas dvd -I have treated the boys to some new ones this year, including this...

if you like Madagascar, you'll love this...Happy Julianuary!!!

Today's is reading some new Christmas stories, we have been reading Christmas stories at bedtime all week, but the treasury on the right is new, and will be opened at bedtime tonight :)

The nativity book is great I bought it after W made his Jesus birthday gaff 5 or 6 years ago. He always liked the photographs of children acting out the story..

I have to say C was not particularly thrilled by the last 2 cards he has pulled out, but hey life can't be all about glitter and glue can it???

(wait til he see's tomorrow- tidying the toybox ready for Father Christmas coming ;) - poor boy......they will get better!!)

That List!!

2009-12-02T18:00:00.000Z

Back in October I started a list...

So how far have I got now we are into December???

october's to do list
1) paint a bit more of the dresser......I want it done for Christmas so can't put it off forever!!

well..progress but not completion!! I have enlisted lovely husbands help and we have primed and undercoated and given it a coat of white paint before painting it pale green at the weekend..however, it won't be finished..only superficially finished, the inside and the back are to be carried over into the New Year!!!

2) put the fleecey blanket backing on the applique quilt top....so it can be used in the playroom this winter

- still in the to do basket, needs some stitching on the seams to make it sound for small people to use without wrecking it...it has got a fleecy back now though!!

3) sew the already cut out cushion cover for a 'v' shaped pillow.....fishy fabric, again for the playroom for those VERY early mornings I sometimes have to have with the boys!!- completed!!!

4) make some hot water bottle covers (need to buy more HW bottles too.....), using animal fleecey fabric and also repurpose a wool tank top I have....inspired by this....

- moving on........

5)send fabric etc out for the paper bag swap (after choosing!!), then panic about cutting into my partners fabric lol!!

- completed!!!

- well I shall say completed, as I have thought about it and done some, but haven't had much time to do as much as I'd like...I have lots of fabulous fabric thanks to Sarah :)

7) plant the pretty violets and pansies before they die in their little pots (my usual trick).

- moving on.......

(will have to buy more..I am hopeless!!)

- completed!!!

9) bring the ideas for SCC swap makes to life.....the theme is destash, so anything goes as long as its from what we already have.

- completed!!!

10) do a tutorial for the bird mobile/dream catcher that I have made a few times for various people (as promised over at SCC)

- moving on again.....

11) make the blind for the little boys room (material bought in May...don't actually need the blackout now, its dark when they go to bed... but if I put it off any longer they'll have left home!!)

- and again.....

12) finish the dolls quilt I started on a whim......

- and again.......

13) turn another of my Grandma's embroideries into a cushion or something.

- yep you guessed it!!!

14) cut out favourite housey inspiration pics from the ever growing piles of mags...ignore husbands comments that he would just like the house to be finished :)

- well, this one wasn't important anyway lol!!!

Something tells me that I will be carrying some of these over lol!!! (no kidding!!)

We have a couple of weekends with guests and a weekend away with the boys so its possible that some things get missed...... Aswell as these, I have some necessary house 'to do's'!!
Including making my Christmas Cake (made ...2 actually!!)
So watch this space....I'll be happy to tick off half!!! (ha ha ha!!)

And of course there are additions to that lovely list, 3 fabric buckets cut out ready to sew for mum, completing the swaps I have signed up for, sewing up this lot....that is what 10 Christmas Stockings look like in their raw form!! More on that another day.

Oh and the christmas presents won't wrap themselves ....anyone else drowning???????

Tuesday 1st December

2009-12-01T19:30:00.001Z

Its the most exciting 1st of the month in the year!! Chocs have been eaten....daily activity discovered...

And cards have indeed been made.....

Nothing fancy - pva glue on a saucer, plastic cookie cutters and glitter glitter glitter!!!

I even let them freestyle no mummy taking over, I don't usually do glitter or resisting the urge to take over - it was good just leaving them alone...feel sorry for my big boys now lol!! All those years of no like this - ooh mummy help you ;)

glitter is everywhere....thank goodness for an oilcloth topped table is all I can say!!!

And my family will all hate me when they open these glittery beauties ha ha!! Well so far I love the activity a day idea...and the next couple of days I have kept simple so hopefully it will be enjoyable all the way through.

I have received some parcels through the post recently that I haven't shared yet....aswell as the stitchery made by Hetty I blogged about yesterday, I also won a charity auction over on the forum I frequent.

This very clever lady had made a stunning pegbag, and as this was the pegbag in use at the time, I just knew it was destined to live with me....here's an action shot.... (taken on Monday morning..that blue sky didn't last!!!!)

and a close up....

Mary also sent me some lovely vintage fabric scraps which I shall use for patchwork, all tied up in a vintage lace trimmed hanky...the pieces on the left are conveniently cut into big bunting triangles so I shall be backing them in a plain fabric and making big bunting!!

I also had a bit of retail therapy in a fellow bloggers shop...

a little hanging cottage, which has found its home on my glazed cupboard in the dining room..the detail is fantastic.

Now it is December it is officially Christmas, and although I am holding out on putting up the trees for a few more days , the real one will be chosen on Sunday, I can now bring out some Christmassy bits and trim up slowly slowly. I have sadly realised that all the things I was going to make for this year are still on the fabric shelf..but I'm sure I can get the look I want with the assistance of a few new purchases!!

Hoping to blog more in December - its my favourite month and one which is never short of stuff going on, I am up most mornings way too early with the baby's itchy and scratchy show so I figure I can utilise that time....

Pause in Advent

2009-11-30T10:00:00.001Z

As I rushed around yesterday doing mundane housey chores, bigger painty chores and christmas preparation type chores. I thought of the irony that I am taking part in Floss's Pause for Advent.

My life is full and busy, and I don't use my time sensibly all of the time, so pausing during advent to think about what christmas really means to our family is a good idea. I was hoping that by this stage of the year, my christmas crafting would have been complete, my presents would have been bought and wrapped and that I could be sat back enjoying december with the boys. Obviously that hasn't happened, but I do still plan to take time out to enjoy the boys getting ready for the festivities, for the time we are all off school and work together with nowhere to go, we can relax, welcome guests, take time to enjoy being a family. Instead of the usual weekend cramming in jobs and activities.

After making my advent calendar..heavily influenced by this one...I decided that this year as well as a chocolate treat the boys could have a little note, letting them know how many sleeps are left and details of an activity that we can do each day. The idea taken from here. I am thinking I will include going with daddy to choose a tree, watching big brothers stagecoach panto, making cards, colouring in christmas colouring books, making cookies, going to see Father Christmas...any other ideas gratefully recieved!!

The suggestion was met with mucho eye rolling from Mr 14 year old, though I suspect he will be just as eager to see what the note says each day and will be the first to get stuck in to a painty, gluey, glittery activity!!

As well as the new handmade calendar, the big boys have their shop bought choccy ones, I have a traditional door opening one, we have the advent tree (as blogged about last year), now 14 years old and slightly worse for wear after the baby got hold of it last year...and an advent candle. This was bought for last years advent period and mislaid, the plan is to light it at dinner each evening......

As a family we are not especially religious, but one of our family traditions is to make sure that the boys know that the meaning of christmas extends beyond chocolate calendars and gift lists!!

(We always just assumed they realised until W, when he was about 7 or 8 said isn't Jesus lucky having his birthday on Christmas Day......).

We are already introducing a few christmas story books at bedtime and I will now be reading them The Christmas Story alongside Maisy's Christmas Eve and suchlike...

And this delightful stitchery will be displayed during advent as a reminder to us all....

(picture and stitchery courtesy of Miss Hetty Rosepepper)

Today I need to deliver these advent cards to the mums....we found them on a stall selling Japanese stationary on a Christmas market in New York...really wish I had got one for me too!!

Thankful

2009-11-26T21:20:00.000Z

photo from google

I know we don't celebrate Thanksgiving this side of the pond. But would it not do everybody good to pause and reflect on what we are thankful for?

I am thankful that my boys are healthy and happy, that I have a mostly fabulous husband who works very very hard to provide for us all, and for my wonderful friends - in real life and blogland!

And before you all reach for a bucket ;)

I'm thankful for Yankee candles....fairy lights.....toasty warm ugg boots....gingerbread latte....and Amazon (couldn't have finished my christmas shopping without you!!)

Its nearly the start of advent, THE calendar will get the big reveal at the weekend, and I really need to crack on with my christmas crafting...but first, I have a night in with the girls to cook for and a 12 year old's birthday to belatedly celebrate, school and sharing him with his father has got in the way so we are pausing his birthday and restarting it on Saturday!!!

purling

2009-11-25T13:06:00.006Z

Whilst we were away my lovely husband celebrated his birthday. We marked the occasion by having a leisurely breakfast where nobody spilt anything, then catching the metro to catch the Staten Island Ferry. This would provide us with a marvellous...and free..view of the Statue of Liberty. It was cold, and windy, and wet ...and lovely husband was underwhelmed by her size!!!( I quote...hmmm thought it would be bigger!!!!) But it was lovely. Even lovlier was that after we had got off the ferry, back on, then off again in Manhatten, we caught the metro once more up to SoHo, heading for Sullivan Street. Here. I'll spare you the lousy map reading tales and the walking round in circles ones too and get onto the fabric I bought for myself. Whilst lovely husband stood like a spare part!! Not many men would be prepared to do this for their wives on their birthday lol!!!

It was my turn to be underwhelmed....whilst the little shop was full of beautiful quilting fabrics...there was nothing there apart from a couple of designs that blew me away.

Now in the shops defence, I am most certainly not a quilter and have an untrained eye, but I was just expecting some more 'wow' factor fabrics....like lots of them on this site.

The staff were friendly..left me alone to dither whilst being there to help...and the prices were good. We pay a lot of money for quilting fabric in the UK!! Most of the fabrics were about $9 a yard so half a yard cost the same as a FQ over here.

These photo's were taken in my bay window....no idea why the light is so awful.

From the left the 1st 2 are Aunt Grace Classics - I love the blue and satsuma orange together.

The middle 3 are Aunt Grace Authentics - these will be turned into a hexy patchwork lap quilt...

The next 3 are Amy Butler - from her new Love range.

I also got a yard of this Alexander Henry nursery print...well it said nursery to me...I will save this for making new baby gifts.

Apart from the authentics, I bought because I liked, with no project in mind, which is why my haul is quite restrained. I had no projects in mind and as I said before nothing else totally bowled me over....now if I'd have found other fabric shops the story could be very different!! Next time we go I shall research fabric shops with more care!!

Charity Listing in Blogshop

2009-11-24T22:00:00.000Z

I have just listed a Christmas Stocking in my blogshop...
The fabrics were donated by one of the lovely forum members at SCC who has a textile recycling business. She challenged us to make something saleable out of the items she would randomly send us.....
The proceeds will be donated to the forums adopted charity KIN - which raises funds to give children in Kenya a better life.
I'm enjoying making stockings at the minute....does anyone know where I can get myself an extra 5 hours a day????

paper bag swap

2009-11-20T21:00:00.001Z

I was nervous about this swap after signing up...actually having to take the scissors to somebody elses fabric *yikes*!!!

But I got over it lol...and what I made for Rachel can be seen on her post here.

Yesterday I had another parcel opening session - complete with sighs and oohs and ahs again!!

lots of parcels to opening, very exciting!!

Rachel is a very talented crafter, and I did do some little screams when I opened!!!

I love this patchwork stitchery that I am going to wall mount, and I will be following Rachel's advice hehehe!!

I love the addition of the recipe card and am thinking this is an idea I may adopt, its a great idea to pass on recipes and can't wait to give this choccy brownie recipe a go!! (love the card with the good enough to eat pic on too!!)

Now I embarrassed myself with this beautiful patchwork item...when I opened it I placed it around my neck..and thought what a lovely scarf....then I thought..hmm actually I think its a runner....so placed on my bedroom chest (thinking all the time that it would look lovely on my newly painted dresser...when its done....)

So I email Rachel and say thank you...and guess what!!! Rachel meant it as a scarf *blush* but has graciously told me I can use as I like!! (probably thinking what a numpty lol!!!)

Its gorgeous and if I use as a scarf it will crease!! On my dresser it won't and I can stroke it as I walk by...but if I use it as a scarf I can look at it all the time...hmm decisions!!!!

Some Christmas lovliness, wooden candle holder and a cute robin decoration...Rachel's stitching is perfect.....This pretty brooch is on my pink cardigan already...jellybeans are in my tummy :)

And a fab pincushion sitting next to some bath fizzers that smell of sweeties - yum :)

Thank You so much Rachel, for my fabulous makes and for organising the paper bag swap. Its been fun..once the worry passed, I enjoyed making for somebody with their choice of fabric.

Hoping for a bit of sun tomorrow so I can take pics of my purl purchases....also hoping for some time to use some!!!

The countdown to Christmas starts here for me...I plan to do some wrapping this weekend...I'm usually done by now...and I want to put the boys advent calendar together with chocs and activities.....not many sleeps now!!!

undeserved kindness

2009-11-19T21:40:00.001Z

A while ago I sent a piece of manky old oilcloth off my dining table to Sarah of Red Gingham. Sarah has blogged about it here.

I say manky...it was perfectly fine...once I cut round the iron mark....someone was ironing on the dining table....don't ask!! I was glad that it could be reused as I would have stored it away and never used it.

Returning from holiday I collected some parcels from the sorting office and got a very lovely surprise.

Too lovely. Sarah is very naughty...look what she sent me.....

fabric...and sweeties....(m's and m's as C calls them...they are gone!!!!)

cute kiddy fabric.....christmas fabric...red and white christmas fabric...perfect for me. Just my style. But Sarah knew that. Does anyone else sometimes think their blog friends know them better than their real life ones???!

I am going to have such fun making with these fabrics...now the holiday is over Christmas must begin!! I have some serious crafting to do....

I just love the bird decoration attached to the ribbon...love it!! Such a lovely touch to make a special present even more special...I may steal the idea for Christmas Gifts....

Sarah you are a star...I told you that you made me cry. I was totally overwhelmed. And I hope you get a warm fuzzy feeling knowing you made me very happy :)

Back to Life

2009-11-18T10:49:00.005Z

So we are back.

I am totally in love with New York.....may have to restrict my unnecessary purchases next year so I can save up for another trip quicker.

NY was everything I had hoped it would be. We had a great, busy and very tiring time.....we walked miles and miles, and I have learnt that Ugg boots do not provide adequate foot support if you are walking more than half a day!!! Next time I will wear proper shoes.

We did all the usual touristy things, used the metro, ate VERY well indeed in some very lovely places, celebrated a birthday. Found this shop. Relaxed.

The shopping was underwhelming to be honest. Having been told NYC was THE place to shop, I wonder if its just me!!! We didn't go to shop, but the places we did visit, I can't say anything was any different or any cheaper to anything I could get through careful shopping in the UK.

I have some lovelies to show and tell , of course I did some shopping!!!) but whilst I get my head round the unpacking and washing, I'll bore you to tears with my snapshots!!!

I haven't actually sorted through the pics yet and edited or deleted so these are a bit random but anyway....enough of that.....I'll go and take pics of the fabric I bought....much more interesting!!!

before I go.......

2009-11-10T14:45:00.001Z

Just time to show you my 'stash' - make from what you have swap that Gem sent me......
I love Gem's choice of fabrics, lots of CK ...and I love these CK inspired birdies....they are hung on the very bare wall near my sewinbg table......

Now, I have had to hide these from my mum, she loves them too - fabulous patchwork coasters with the neatest round and round sewing in the world!!!! - They are a perfect match for my spotty tablecloth too.....

A lovely lavender heart...again CK floral with a spotty back.

(photos took after dark in unnatural light last night - apologies!!)

This beautiful hanger is hanging on the side of my wardrobe as I don't want to hide it inside!!! (Its not just me who does this is it???)Bunting greetings cards for me to send to people I like!!!!
A painted canvas - currently in the playroom but waiting for me to sort out the shelf in the hallway I think.....
Gem also kindly gave me some pieces of CK fabrics and gorgeous ribbons, this one is my fave, its alighter weight too, very pretty and will be used in my hexy patchworking - more on that when I get back (had I mentioned I was going on a small vacation hehehe!!!)...

She included some really lovely floral ribbons, and a paisley one too. I love them and they obviously will never be used ;)

I am up to date with swaps before I go.....

this one posted today.....
And the reason for our trip.......

kindly bought by some 'good' friends lol!!!

On Thursday I will be married to a 40 year old man!! I have generously given up some suitcase space to carry his cards so we can have a fabulous birthday. The lighting and singing was done early so that his boys could join in......

Thank You again for all the NYC advice...see you when I get back :)

commission

2009-11-05T10:02:00.005Z

I asked Paula over at Lajoni's Place if she would make me something special and personal for my baby boy.....I am yet to find anything with his name on in the shops!!

I had no idea what she was going to paint for me...I trusted that it would be fabulous after seeing her other work and I only chose the shape of the heart and told her that Reuben liked trains!!!

Isn't it gorgeous???

A proper train not a cartoony Thomas style one!!! The colours are perfect for his room - green and blue, not sure if I told Paula his bedroom colours....if I didn't she really is a genius!!!

On the back.........

wise words......

The heart is currently on the dining table being looked at and ooh'd and ah'd over by anyone who comes in, but will be hung in the boys room at the weekend.

For your own...you can pop here and sweet talk Paula :)

Today is going to be a bit of a catch up day....I have my house back today..more importantly my spare room so I can sew....I am hoping that lovely husband will take pity on the fact I haven't sewed for more than a week and allow me to sew all weekend.......

Only 5 more sleeps until NYC...I have been getting excited with the help of lovely people giving me advice on what to see and do whilst there...thank you all!! (especially you Ellie xxxxx)

I know I am going to miss the boys like mad but shan't let that stop my enjoyment of watching the in flight movies without interruption by a small child...or of sleeping until I wake up - ah bliss!!!

So I am pausing the Christmas preparations til I am back...well mostly after failing to source bakers twine locally, I have purchased some off ebay....its really lovely quality very thick and will tie up brown paper parcels a treat....the seller can be found here.

I have also found an excellent ebay seller of ribbon, I had a late night clicky session (as you do) and now have some lovely ribbon, pale blue tartan, red gingham and pale gold for tying up christmas parcels...haven't taken pics yet but the seller is here in case anyone is interested xxxx

Hopefully I'll post at the weekend...I have a new item for my blogshop...a Christmas Stocking being sold for charity.........back soon xxxx

christmas at ikea purchases

2009-10-30T14:00:00.000Z

Life is chaotic at the minute, family stuff. We have houseguests, our largish house is feeling tiny and never clean, and my big boys are needing a bit extra support with stuff going on in their lives....so blogging keeps having to go to the bottom of the to do list!!!
But I have 5 mins or so to show you my Ikea purchases from the MK trip. (I have no idea if these are any different to previous years designs as I don't think I have ever been to Ikea near Christmas before....)I have no need for these tins but I liked them.....the heart design on the top tin is on a lot of christmassy things at ikea, I don't like it too much, I think it looks broken, but if you do like they have it on glasses and china too.....
They had a few different wreaths, but the red heart one was my fave...can't decide if I should put on my front door or not.
I only bought 1 candle as I am unsure of my christmas candle situation until the decs come out of the loft!!!i love a red and white christmas dec....although I'm too disorganised to have a complete theme, its a bit anything goes (but not black and white, thats not christmassy in my eyes!!) The birds are for the tree and the cones will be strung on the dining room fireplace..I think!!!

And then some foody bits.....gingerbread houses and gingerbread flavoured toffee (this is for a couple of hampers I am putting together), I liked the packaging....
And biscuitty tree decs...I could, and in fact still will, make these myself but these are perfect to ice on as an extra thank you for the kindergarten teachers I thought.

Couldn't resist these paper gift bags, rubbish blurry pic, but cute yet freaky gnome character!!!

They also had really cheap rolls of brown wrapping paper, I didn't like the string or ribbon they had though so have ordered some bakers twine from ebay for my parcels.

Hopefully I can post again soon, I'm feeling christmassy and want to blog about gifts and crafts and decs that I want to buy (don't tell, I did say I wouldn't buy any more this year!!).

We are off to New York on our belated honeymoon/lovely husbands big 40 birthday trip....in only 11 sleeps....I have so much to do for that...sorting out the kids for starters...aswell as having a rough idea of what we want to do whilst there...(silkie sue I will email you x)...if anyone has been in the past few years and knows of a fabric shop/source not to far off the beaten track (no way will I get away with dragging him across town looking for fabric!!!) then please could you let me know....

weekend

2009-10-20T14:15:00.002+01:00

Ours was spent here

The weather was cold but dry, the park didn't disappoint , especially not these two....
Its getting near the end of the season so was quiet enough that they could go in the soft play without getting leapt on and quiet enough to let the baby out of his pushchair to enjoy the freedom (aka wear himself out so he hopefully slept in the hotel room that night....worked too well as he was asleep during our second tour of the road safari!!!)

We stayed in a faultless Premier Inn in Milton Keynes...we usually use this chain as we know that we will be getting a comfy, well equipped room thats not so posh that we have to worry about kids crushing bread sticks on the floor.....it had a lovely restaurant attached which served up the biggest kids meals I have ever seen!!

Thanks to the world of online deals we got the room at half price too, and we also have Mr Tesco to thank for paying for our safari park tickets and a lovely meal on Saturday in Bella Italia (if you still use your vouchers in the shop go here and see what you can treat yourself with, sorry if thats teaching my grandmother to suck eggs!!!)

So that meant a few extra pennies for a bit of retail therapy here....

(even this was an enjoyable experience, we went on Friday night, the boys were very well behaved, the good people of MK had decided to stay at home and not invade Ikea meaning we got round quickly...also we didn't actually need anything so no bickering about drawer sizes etc!!)

I strongly deny that our holidays are organised around Ikea stores ;)

I was very excited that the Christmas department was open, as I have mentioned once or twice, we live on the edge of the earth with no Ikea for miles around...and I mean miles, and last years Ikea Christmas pilgrimage was cancelled due to the worst case of mastitis ever thanks to a feeding babies dirty scratchy fingers!!! (I could post you a pic - yep thats how sad I really am - lovely husband had to get his camera out to record it - but I won't its gross!!). So I now have some lovely red and white scandanavian style decs...my fave..which I can't show you as lovely husband packed them in the loft as soon as we got home on Sunday!!

So I will dig them out to photograph another day.

Our weekend ended with a visit to some friends who have recently moved to MK and a stress free journey home...very stress free for me as I was sewing not driving!!

Just what we needed. I think it was so stress free because we just took the small boys. Although I can do the maths, our 4 boys are actually 2 and 2!!! The big boys have such different needs and wants than the tots and family outings get fraught. Its the first time we have taken a trip with just half the children, but after our French holiday, though lovely, we realised it is too much to expect teens and tots to want to do the same thing. And it causes hissy fits - including mine - when you try and please everyone!! The big boys get lots of age appropriate trips with their dad so I have no reason to feel any guilt, but us mothers are programmed to feel guilty from conception!!

Ok back to the sewing...I have 3 swaps on the go aswell as the gifts and decorations I want to make so I better get moving!!!

how long will it last

2009-10-14T16:20:00.006+01:00

Fabric cupboard finally sorted...so far I have taken a piece out and put it back lovely!! When I was sorting and folding and stacking onto the floor it looked like I had tons but now its been put away it doesn't look so bad :D
Had a rearrange of the shelves too...christmas fabric on the top...definately need more ;)
I started my christmas crafting, I made a stocking..the shape was great but the opening at the top wasn't wide enough to get pressies in and out...it annoyed me that it was a squeeze..so have cut out another pattern for one with a wider top!!
Also I can't remember how I found this fab tutorial..., I posted it over at SCC a while ago but have only just got round to making. Owl garland.
I tried it out a couple of weeks ago with a wool fabric as stated in the tutorial..I think it was my skill rather than the pattern but it looked terrible!! So I have made some today but with quilting weight fabrics...This one I interfaced as the fabric was thin but it was a problem turning. They are time consuming but fun to make. Next time I will maybe just cut once by ironing on the bondaweb to a piece of fabric rather than individual owl bellies.The green owls are not interfaced, when I string them I'll see if the interfacing was necessary. Bit late now mind, but I could spray some startch on..maybe?? please excuse crappy photographs - by the time I took them there was no light at all

The letters are stamped with normal paper ink on unbleached cotton...means I won't be able to wash them - which is a shame as I always wash my Christmas decs lol!!!

They will be finished at the weekend, need to embroider the beaks on and sew buttons for eyes, trouble is I need to buy some small buttons, I don't have enough that are small and matching. I tried beads but they didn't look right..

I could do with some more christmas fabric...and some more ideas for (easy) decorations!!! But at least I made a start.

My post today means I need to put my thinking cap on, I received a package from Rachel for the paper bag swap....love how she has decorated the paper bag, and love the fabrics she has chosen to send to me...

Its quite scary knowing its not your fabric to mess up!!

Rachel has taken a far better pic here and also of the fabric I sent.

No idea what to make as yet but its definately easy on the eye whilst I think!!!

plodding on....

2009-10-12T21:44:00.006+01:00

...with the list

1) paint a bit more of the dresser......I want it done for Christmas so can't put it off forever!!

2) put the fleecey blanket backing on the applique quilt top....so it can be used in the playroom this winter (the heating is NOT going on til it really has too!!) - nearly done, backing on, just a couple of stitchy repairs before I let it loose into the playroom!!!

3) sew the already cut out cushion cover for a 'v' shaped pillow.....fishy fabric, again for the playroom for those VERY early mornings I sometimes have to have with the boys!! - completed and being used, not my finest sewing hour (was done late at night, whilst very tired - not ideal!!)

4) make some hot water bottle covers (need to buy more HW bottles too.....), using animal fleecey fabric and also repurpose a wool tank top I have....inspired by this....

5)send fabric etc out for the paper bag swap (after choosing!!), then panic about cutting into my partners fabric lol!! - will be posted tomorrow....

6)start thinking about christmas crafting......look for some more christmas fabric...some for home, gifts and swaps.I love the scandanavian red and white christmas look..but am in love with the new Ikea fabric as seen on Emma's blog!! Micheal Miller christmas fabric purchased and received, Ikea to be visited at the weekend...christmas crafting thought about, stocking pattern made in anticipation...

7) plant the pretty violets and pansies before they die in their little pots (my usual trick).

8) finish sewing the advent calendar and decide whether or not it needs a backing fabric..I think it might but 13 more pockets to machine stitch first...perhaps a teensy bit more embellishment too.... - 1 more pocket to sew, then it will definately need backing its floppy when you hold it up..think I will interface too. Still not sure about the extra embellishing...think I'll use it this year and see...

9) bring the ideas for SCC swap makes to life.....the theme is destash, so anything goes as long as its from what we already have - destash nearly there, couple of makes to complete then I can post :)

10) do a tutorial for the bird mobile/dream catcher that I have made a few times for various people (as promised over at SCC)

11) make the blind for the little boys room (material bought in May...don't actually need the blackout now, its dark when they go to bed... but if I put it off any longer they'll have left home!!)
12) finish the dolls quilt I started on a whim...... - just need to cut out fabric for binding and iron, and sew obviously!!

13) turn another of my Grandma's embroideries into a cushion or something.

14) cut out favourite housey inspiration pics from the ever growing piles of mags...ignore husbands comments that he would just like the house to be finished :)

hmmmm...lots of nearly dones and not started's!!

I have also been doing this........

green tomato chutney - I got fed up looking at the tomato plants in the garden and waiting for them to turn...so chutney they became!!!

and this....

*sings* 'its beginning to look a lot like christmas'!!! One of the 2 christmas cakes made this weekend......

went walking here, to pick the last of the blackberries to make blackberry vodka.

This is the cycle path on the old railway line close to my house, fantastic for little boys, who were previously reluctant, to practice on their bike!!!

I have done lots of christmas shopping - hoping to be done by the end of the month, give or take a few bits... online shopping doesn't support your local community I know but my town has no decent shops anyway and I can't always be bothered to travel to Norwich in the few hours between school hours, with 2 pre schoolers in tow!! Sometimes I need the city so I make the extra effort!!!

(great service shout out to Early Learning Centre - ordered 11pm Friday, dispatch email sent Sunday pm, delivery expected tomorrow (tuesday) - all with free p&p and 20% off!!)

Breaking my self imposed magazine ban to buy Easy Living - for the free teatowel...

There are 2 to choose from, I'm going to get the other I think as I plan to get 2 white frames from Ikea at the weekend and put them up in the kitchen...we have a blank wall where the new extension was built (over 3 years ago!!) and we decided that bingo! the right pictures have found us...believe me we have been looking!!!

cupcakes from beki

2009-10-09T16:48:00.007+01:00

I was recently lucky enough to win Beki's cupcake giveaway and on Thursday I got a fab parcel of cupcake lovelies :)

Opening up...my favourite flavour yankee candle - vanilla cupccake, some pretty cloths - anything to make the housework less painful!!), lovely cupcake cases, pink silicone ones and fabulous dinosaur ones (never seen any like this before, the boys love them xxx)lovely hummingbird bakery card - they have a recipe on the back - very lovely....
Cupcake socks

Cupcake mug and coaster (the coaster is next to my bed now)

cupcake tea towel (another for the too precious to use pile lol)

Scary sweets for my boys (Beki was very firm about these not being for me!!) I haven't let them eat the chocs yet as how cute are those skellies?!?!!

Thank You so much Beki, for a fabulous generous giveaway. I love it xxxx

october's to do list

2009-10-05T21:38:00.000+01:00

I've been making a mental list this weekend of all that is outstanding on my to do list......

I've come to the conclusion that what I want to do and what I need to do needs to be made clearer in my mind....with the boys demanding so much time and the house taking more cleaning these days ..(the baby has a dust mite allergy as well as foody ones so I can't live in my usual squalor!!!) - there is precious little time left for everything.

So if I list the things I want and need to do perhaps I can tick a few off ....

I had a look through my WIP/ cba to carry on with this project basket.... and this month I shall........

1) paint a bit more of the dresser......I want it done for Christmas so can't put it off forever!!

2) put the fleecey blanket backing on the applique quilt top....so it can be used in the playroom this winter (the heating is NOT going on til it really has too!!)

3) sew the already cut out cushion cover for a 'v' shaped pillow.....fishy fabric, again for the playroom for those VERY early mornings I sometimes have to have with the boys!!

4) make some hot water bottle covers (need to buy more HW bottles too.....), using animal fleecey fabric and also repurpose a wool tank top I have....inspired by this....

5)send fabric etc out for the paper bag swap (after choosing!!), then panic about cutting into my partners fabric lol!!

6)start thinking about christmas crafting......look for some more christmas fabric...some for home, gifts and swaps.

I love the scandanavian red and white christmas look..but am in love with the new Ikea fabric as seen on Emma's blog!! And this Michael Miller one too...

7) plant the pretty violets and pansies before they die in their little pots (my usual trick).

8) finish sewing the advent calendar and decide whether or not it needs a backing fabric..I think it might but 13 more pockets to machine stitch first...perhaps a teensy bit more embellishment too....
9) bring the ideas for SCC swap makes to life.....the theme is destash, so anything goes as long as its from what we already have.

10) do a tutorial for the bird mobile/dream catcher that I have made a few times for various people (as promised over at SCC)

11) make the blind for the little boys room (material bought in May...don't actually need the blackout now, its dark when they go to bed... but if I put it off any longer they'll have left home!!)

12) finish the dolls quilt I started on a whim...... 13) turn another of my Grandma's embroideries into a cushion or something. 14) cut out favourite housey inspiration pics from the ever growing piles of mags...ignore husbands comments that he would just like the house to be finished :)
Something tells me that I will be carrying some of these over lol!!! We have a couple of weekends with guests and a weekend away with the boys so its possible that some things get missed......

Aswell as these, I have some necessary house 'to do's'!!

Including making my Christmas Cake....

So watch this space....I'll be happy to tick off half!!!

(Thank you for all your lovely words about the baby's allergies...I was feeling very sorry for myself and I know that other parents have a lot worse to deal with...we are waiting for another hospital appointment and I'm making lists of what causes reactions.... xx)

pleased to announce.....

2009-09-30T22:25:00.002+01:00

The market stall is mine!!!
Well I'm hoping it will be soon...I have won one on fleabay tonight.
Christmas shopping is well under way :)
I'm thinking they both need grocers pinnies - yes?? And proper brown paper bags to put their produce in.....I'm excited - I shall have a fab Christmas playing shops lol!!

Thank You all for looking out for me and all your ideas...blogland is great x

the end of the month

2009-09-30T14:00:00.001+01:00

Thank You to everyone who has offered to help me in my quest to find the little boys Christmas pressie... I am still a hunting and hopeful ebay will come up with the goods before long!!

I really haven't had the greatest of weeks, lack of sleep and discovering the baby has more food allergies than we first thought means I'm feeling really sorry for myself....so I'm sulking and eating too much, not the best idea when I want to lose a stone before my 'honeymoon' in NY in just a few weeks...about 6 I think?? (I've been preoccupied with Christmas forgetting our trip comes first).

Anyway I won't focus on the crap.....I have a few pics of what I have been up to......

tidying the workroom.....the shelves and drawers anyway, the fabric cupboard will have to wait.....

machine sewing the advent calendar...not quite there but it will be done before Christmas I have shocked myself!!!

Making and gathering some pretties for a charity auction for KIN over at SCC.

Winning a charity auction for KIN (lovingly put together by Mary Poppins) - oh what a delight this parcel was this morning..I wish you could smell it :) Mary's lavender smells more lavendery than mine!!!

Lovely fabrics for me to make lovelies with - my fave Cowboys (Mary also gave me some cowboy ribbon - will be treasured x) and my new fave green paisley.

lovely vintage postcards....need a changearound on my holders I think....

Thank You for a gorgeous and generous lot of pretties. xx

A bit of retail therapy, new boots, a new dress, a couple of cardies (although its been really hot here and so my new autumn winter wardrobe hasn't had much of an outing yet!!).

And this

lovely beach hut - lovingly and expertly made by elaine...who can be found here.....very fitting for my seaside home :)

I have done another swap....Lesley sent me some fab crocheted flowers that I wanted for a project...and I can not crochet :( - lucky for me Lesley can....she has blogged here about the swap.

(I also got a fab crochet brooch that I photographed then deleted somehow....)

I have received the latest Cath catalogue...yes another!!...and have started making my Christmas list lol!!!

love this jumper and as my hair is the same colour I know it will suit me lol!! The £75 price tag exceeds my what I will pay for a jumper limit though!!!!

still love this dress carrier -

and really love the london charm bracelet...I love the cowboy one too......

Also I was thrilled to hear that the new Sew! book will be out at the beginning of October rather than the end...mine has been on pre order and Amazon tell me it is due to despatch on the 2nd...however I have heard that someone (you know who you are....) has got hers today...here's hoping mine comes tomorrow!!!

Back soon with a WIP and to do list...have decided its the only way i'll get anything finished!!!

a request and a suggestion....

2009-09-24T09:21:00.004+01:00

I need a bit of a favour but first of all can I tell you about a fab swap being organised over at Contended, a paper bag swap......all the details are over there but basically, you send 2 FQ's of fabric, trim, thread etc and your partner will make something lovely with it for you.

I'm looking forward to it.

Now the favour...see this.....

I need one!!!!

This is what I want to get the 2 small boys for christmas. And ELC in their 'wisdom' have discontinued it and replaced it with a bit of plastic.......

I lost out on a couple on ebay at the weekend...am watching another but I wondered if any bloggers, or bloggers friends had one that they would be willing to sell....

Also a request that those of you who are regulars at car boots could keep their beady eyes out for me...obviously I would organise delivery/couriers etc and make sure nobody was out of pocket xxxxx

Sorry for a 'wanty' kind of post, but there are only 92 sleeps and I'm getting a bit panicky lol!!!!!

Thank You everybody :)

starting the week

2009-09-21T15:19:00.004+01:00

Last week autumn was well and truly here for us on the east coast, the uggs came out from hibernation, there was a definate nip in the air.....by Friday we were getting caught out - chilly mornings and glorious sun by lunchtime...same today.....so in order to make the most of the sun and to stop small boys destroying the house.... we walked to the post office and came home the pretty way.Its a long time since I shared pics of where I live and I do tend to take it for granted. This pretty church is right next to the primary school where C will go in January, about 3 streets away from home.Below shows the spire from my big boys velux window.....

I have lived in my house for 4 years and only the other week started walking through the churchyard....lovely husband says that many moons ago as a teenager it was THE place to meet of an evening. It is well used and well cared for and I can't believe I haven't been walking this way home before now.Mum is moving in a week or so, and her new house is on the circuit between us and the post office so I can see us using this route more often. In fact there are many pretty walks nearby that I don't take advantage of, perhaps now my house is begin to be whipped into some kind of order I will make the effort to get out there more often.

Hmm....speaking of which!! I have had a good week or so getting organised in the home. The playroom is ready for Christmas, broken or never played with toys have been recycled, I am just about on top of the housework....its not perfect but I no longer circle cleaning companies in the local paper and tell A that the house is too big for me to manage ;)

Except one room....my work - slash - spare room.....It is an out of control tip.

I don't even know what I have anymore.
There is no order, no system and its beginning to drive me mad!!
These drawers contain some cardmaking stuff that mum gave me and I don't like cardmaking, so have decided will keep the blanks I have (I like bondawebbing felt and fabric to make the occasional card!) and get rid of the rest.....

The red case was thrifted and is on the to do list that remains in my head. I actually went upstairs to make a list of started projects, projects that have had special fabric bought to make and potential projects...but couldn't work out where anything was so...that is this weeks job when I get a child free moment....then I can get a list together, and get going!!

One project I have been doing is the advent calendar....here's how far I have got.... I now have to just bondaweb a couple of bits on and machine stitch the pockets to the backing fabric. Its not perfect but I am pleased with it, just hope I can stitch the pockets on without a disaster!!

I think I want to make another now I have recovered from the cutting and ironing of 24

small bits of linen!! But I have lots of other Christmas ideas, not to mention the pressies I want to make.....

So I'll be back once that workroom is straight...see you in a month lol!!

A brooch for a boat...

2009-09-15T17:02:00.001+01:00

Gem and I recently had a little swap, she had her eye on one of my hanging boats and I really needed a brooch for my winter coat.

I left the fabric choice up to Gem and her great taste...and I wasn't disappointed :)

I'm still looking for the perfect winter coat...it has to be grey but the right shade of grey!! But my new brooch looks fabulous on my autumn coat!!!Excuse the poor quality - I took it in the mirror and the light was rubbish in my hallway...

Here's the hanging boat for my side of the swap.

(sorry Lesley hope you got my email xxxx)
I have some more boats cut out waiting to be sewn...but I keep getting sidetracked...really must make a list so I don't have so many half finished projects!!

Bibs 'n' Bunting

2009-09-14T19:49:00.001+01:00

I have made a few more items for ginger pudding.......

Cath Kidston fabric baby and toddler bibs

Non Cath bibs too....... Perhaps a bit too nice for splodges of carrot but great for parties!!!!

Stars and Stripes Bunting for a little boys room

Vintage embroidered bunting....dresser sized!!

Crafty Corner

2009-09-14T08:16:00.005+01:00

Finally we sanded and waxed the old school desk I won on ebay back in May - you may have gathered there is nothing rushed around here :)

I have wanted an old school desk for a long time. Specifically a double one. Last June, I missed out on a beautifully restored double desk that was local to me, when it went for £54.....I was on holiday and this was over my maximum bid.....not by much I have to say.....I did like it a lot...but what was I thinking!!

Since then I have had a saved search in ebay and nothing else came up that was local enough or nice enough. This one was not too far, and had a very low start price......because it was in a bad way...it had been well loved by the ladies 3 children and was full of biro, paint and stickers.....Its not as old as I would have liked probably only 1980's but its a double desk and the eighties are vintage now anyway lol!!

I forgot to take before pics as the sanding was a kind of spur of the moment thing...but trust me it had been very well loved!!

So we gave it a go...we said if it didn't come up well we would paint it (something else on the 'to paint' list so I did cross my fingers!!) and, its not perfect but we are very pleased with it.......

add a shelf we had bought an age ago and forgot about (too small imo but it'll do!!)

a hanging rail and plastic cups from Ikea (also bought in May!!)

and voila - a crafty corner for 2 little boys.

Not bad for £5!!!!

I lined the insides with some polka dot wallpaper - badly as you can see!

And that is phase 1 of sort the playroom complete...phases 2, 3 and 4 to follow, mostly involving toy chucking so has to be done during a child free hour or two!!

The home organising is going well, the house still feels clean and tidy and I am finding just as much time for crafting too...

Speaking of which, another advent calendar update...

Pockets now hemmed at the top and positioned how I want them so just embellishing to do now then stitch them on, which will be done on the machine.I hemmed the pockets with a running stitch in metallic gold thread...its horrible thread to use so doubt I will be using it in the machine, the metallic fibres kind of separated from the thread, meaning I had to start again a few times..

This message was waiting for me when I walked through the dining room last night.....from my eldest son.....Are todays kids really so dense that they ask for permission to do all the things we did behind our parents backs...I'm waiting for the mum I love you can I go binge drinking message lol!!!

Much as I am pleased the blackboards are used for lovely messages and enjoyed getting all those kisses...I still said no!!!

great advice

2009-09-10T11:23:00.004+01:00

Whilst blog hopping aka wasting valuble minutes and hours of my life that could be spent decluttering my home, I found this great website,

As a lot of us are decluttering at the minute - doing the back to school countdown to christmas preparations - the latest post on there is very good advice indeed!!

I have realised that as long as I stay off the computer, stuff gets done. I know - genius - who'd have thought it lol!!

I spent a child free 3 hours yesterday cleaning and my bathroom shines and I no longer have last years pine needles under the rug in the lounge...wow thats a confession is anyone else as minging as me!!!

Advent calendar progress update.....

19 pockets pressed - will to live went at that point so hoping to finish later today!!

I've started reading my Christmas books for crafting/decorating ideas and I have found this calendar in this fab book(available via marketplace too).......well I have 4 boys, they surely need a calendar each??? But considering I didn't get one made last year I'll be very surprised if 2 or even 4 are!!

a good start

2009-09-07T14:13:00.007+01:00

Well I was all inspired by my own post the other day. We have spent the weekend having a good sort out - still a long way to go but feels less chaotic already.....

A has put some of our cd's onto itunes, still a box to go but have 2 boxes to sell and 1 box to store in the loft somewhere. Regretting the deal we made him of 20p per disc...he has made himself £18.40 this weekend!!!

We moved this shelf unit from the dining room into the kitchen and I have sorted out the stuff that had accumulated on it..
I've wanted to have my chilli lights somewhere useable for ages and they are perfect here, we left them on last night and it felt all Christmassy in the kitchen! I've only got 1 shelf of CK china..much as I love it, the rest has gone in the cupboard as all in one place it looks a bit much!! Can you spy a flour dredger?? (middle right!!) It really is lovely and well worth the money..

This is the dresser top I got off ebay last christmas time, I think it only cost me £5...or could have been £20...can't remember...either way it looks perfect in the kitchen, I planned to paint it but glad I got it put up out of the way as living with it has made us keep it in its natural state (its not as orange as the pic!!).

I am never happy with how it looks though..I may put my cookbooks on the bottom shelf..but then I'll have to get rid of the blue and white china I have aquired and I don't really want to!!

So then this freecycled 14months ago dresser came out of its corner in the playroom and into what will be its final resting place in the dining room...lovely husband sanded it yesterday so all I need to do is get the undercoat out...the plan being that whilst it stands all dingy in the already too dark dining room ..it will annoy me and I'll be more inclined to paint it....watch this space!!

Its going to be a pale appley green.

I bougfht this dig for victory metal sign from TK Maxx over a month ago...it cost about £7 and has shamefully just been cluttering up the kitchen worktop ever since, whilst I decided where to put it!! So its now on the shed door...

I even bit the bullet last night and cut out the linen for the advent calendar I planned to make last year....and whilst I was at it, pinned one of the pockets as a trial, which in turn led to me embroidering the numbers and stitching on the heart....1 down 23 to go!!!I'm going to keep it reds and whites on the natural linen, I plan to embroider some motifs and embellish with buttons and bells and perhaps some sequins too!!

I've also found some time for sewing the past few days. Completed a few swap items and made this for myself (he's guarding my wine!!)

The pattern was from Sew Hip - the summer edition.. I enjoyed it as there was a fair bit of hand sewing which can be done in front of the telly box, means I'm sociable when lovely husband is home!!!
Finally, Floss recommended this book when she commented on my last post...it came this morning so I am looking forward to reading it.....if I got this lot done this weekend without, I can't begin to imagine how organised I shall become...................................

Happy New Year!!!

2009-09-03T12:34:00.003+01:00

It seems that there are a lot of us who look upon September as being the start of the New Year. Its full of promises of that elusive thing called 'time' once the little treasures are back at school....
I sent 2 out of 4 boys back to school today.
A starts Year 10. GCSE's start this year. His carefully (aided by parents a little!!) chosen subjects will begin to be taught, he is very excited to be doing graphic design, not on the Year9 curriculum! We have had a chat about the importance of the next 2 years, thankfully all talk of joining the infantry has ended....and he knows that everything is riding on good results in the next 2 years.
(Nothing against the British Army, I have no problem with him joining the forces actually, but I do object to a straight A student going in the infantry to be sent to Afghanistan 16 weeks after signing the papers....)
W started Year 7 today. Now I know in most parts of the country he would be starting senior school but here in darkest Suffolk we still (for the next couple of years anyway) have the 3 tier - primary, middle and high - sysyem of schooling.
He has actually started a new school purely because he was going to an out of catchment school involving 20 miles of travel by car a day. The start times were going to clash with C's new school in January and we had also had several incidents in Year 6 ranging from petty to not so petty that the school totally mishandled. He chose to change schools, so the brave boy went off today as the only Year 7 newbie. I am a bit anxious and looking forward to 3.15.
He will be walking home with his big brother, another 1st for him. Its still out of catchment (my catchment middle is pants to say the least!!) but its walk/bike able!!
I still have C off kindergarten until Tuesday - I refused the school nursery place as his pre school is excellent, more flexible than school, and C is happy - he starts full time after Christmas (yes that was me jumping up and down with joy :)!!!)
So on Tuesday, with just my baby boy at home, my new year will begin.
I love September. Today is proper back to school weather...its windy, a little cold and a little bit rainy - real Autumn :) September means its nearly Christmas and I think we have determined how much I love that ;)
Floss has talked about New Years Resolutions on her blog today (she is having a giveaway over there too)
I have been making mine all through August!!
I shall become more organised.....this will include the making and purchasing of new storage to ensure everything has its own home, and people will be educated in keeping it in its new home!
This will also mean I will sort out the 2 drawers and 2 cupboards in the kitchen that contain all kinds of junk - one drawer is full of cut out recipes - these must be filed or thrown away!
I will utilise my time better. Making sure there is a fair balance of housework, laptop time, play with small children and sewing and crafting.
I will paint the dresser I got off freecycle 14 months ago. Once this is done I will sort out the eclectic mix of pretties I have and be ruthless and get rid of those that do not have a home...well at least put in a box in the loft anyway!!!
I will get all our cd's put on the ipod we bought in April...thinking A may like to earn some money doing this... then I can take the huge cd shelf off the dining room wall.
I will print out the photos on the computer, I think its sad that we have so few printed out to hold in our hands and look at.
I will make sure all the boys get a little quality 1:1 time with me. This will be the biggest challenge.

I think I may also make a list of house and crafting projects I want to do and try and see if writing them down helps them to get done!
I'm hoping I can stick to these resolutions...they are not rocket science and are probably things that a less slovenly housewife achieves all the time.
Here's hoping that by Christmas I have a house that is shipshape and a me that is contented....