Favourite little sayings...

As I seem to have been rather short on crafting time and very few if any projects worked on let alone completed,  I thought I would share a couple of thoughts with you....

I bought this birthday card for a close friend but it was only when I got home that I read the little sticker on the cellophane saying 'Don't forget to pick up your envelope!'  Thanks Asda for that bit it was really to my own gain - this card has been on my kitchen cupboard for the the past few years and never fails to make me smile.  I just love the feeling of freedom and friendship and complete abandon - I quite often have this thought in mind particularly now with a young child in tow.  You find that you view things from a whole different perspective - you certainly feel happier and take more enjoyment from the small things in life.

 



This is a more recent little ditty that I have seen and I love it - I love Roald Dahl and his work and I also think that there are many people nowadays that could do with bearing this, and the previous motto, in mind.  When did everyone get so serious and self-absorbed and also so very British...its worth bearing in mind that it takes more facial muscles to frown than it does to smile.  In my book this translates as more smiling = less wrinkles!



Have you got any little mottos, ditties or witticisms that you love or live by?  If so, please share them and let me know .... 

Lazy days and birthdays

The end of the holidays is now looming and the eagerly awaited highlight arrived - mini Fuzzyfingers 5th birthday party!! After many years of patience, trials and heartache, our baby arrived slap bang on my husband's birthday! What are the chances....Fate has a funny old way of working...

August 25th has and never will be the same again. As the years have gone by, it has sunk in more and more with me the extra special-ness of this. There is going to be one heck of a joint 50th and 18th birthday party!!

Despite the odd shower, we had a great time with a bouncy castle, party food, pass the parcel and good old fashioned playing and colouring with a small group of children. A perfect 5 year old's party and completely simple, age appropriate fun. I keep trying to puzzle out parents' desire to outdo one another with parties, themes and number of children invited and also why there seems to be such an urgency and rush for kiddies to grow up....maybe I'm lucky in that my little one is more interested in Sylvanian Family figures, ponies, Polly Pockets and only a mild interest in        computers and techno gadgets. Long may that continue!

The summer holidays seem to have flown by despite our rather testing weather conditions.  There seems to have been barely two consecutive days that have been alike which makes planning activities a bit more tricky but we have made the most of the sunny spells.

With swimming, cycling, picnics, trips to the park mxed with craft sessions, colouring, painting, watching films and good old imaginative play, we've filled our days and made the most of relaxing.

 

Having had the opportunity to be a full time stay at home mum, I have absolutely loved the hols and treasured the time spent with my daughter after her Reception year at primary school.  I had however forgotten quite how much energy they consume..

Despite the fact that my crafting and output has been shockingly poor and my blog sadly neglected (apologies!), I have loved our summer and family time.  My creative mind hasn't taken a break however and I have various sheets of paper scattered liberally throughout the house with inspired thoughts and ideas and pattern schematics that are crying out for attention.

Here's to the last days of summer, back to routine and back to getting creative...

Oh and I have to show you this gorgeous cushion crocheted by my talented teenage niece that she lovingly made for her cousin.  She has well and truly been hooked by the crochet and craft bug and has even started her own blog.   Thankyou little Nimble Mouse!

Productive patch...

Things have been a little quiet on the blogging front recently, mainly because the school holidays are in full swing.  However, I seemed to have had a bit of a productive flurry with several projects finishing at once.

I've been meaning to make this tunic for some time now and decided to use this lovely spring green cotton ribbon yarn as I imagined the drape would be perfect and the stitches nicely defined.  I made it a couple of inches longer by working three whole extra pattern repeats on the lower portions before beginning the shaping.  It's safe to say that on the vast majority of patterns I do this to cater for my slightly longer body length.  I loved the way the bust pieces are worked and the clever construction makes for a well fitting tunic.










 Would I make it again?  Definitely...and I have the perfect lot of vintage Sirdar Shemara cotton in turqouise that has been languishing in my stash for the perfect project.

I've also been experimenting again with the Colette Sorbetto pattern again (get it here).  this time I made a slightly longer length tunic version with a self-drafted Peter Pan collar in a lovely, if a little bit sheer, denim blue slub polycotton.

 Successful?  I think so although I would just slim down the collar to fit the shoulder straps better.  I made a half collar to sit on front half of the tunic and attached it from the shoulder seams and the neck.  As the main fabric was far more sheer than I thought when I bought it from an ebay shop (the downside of internet shopping - isn't it disapponting sometimes?), I lined it with some navy polycotton and used interfacing for the collar. 

I love the way the collar (so on trend at the moment) smartens the whole look of the top, making it versatile - smart enough for work, cute with jeans, work it any which way you like.

And finally, after the rain came a little precious summer sunshine for the UK.  At last , some splashes of colour are making an appearance as flowers bloom and the bees are butterflies are braving the gardens.  Perfect for boosting the growth of my rather pathetic looking runner bean plants...so much so I have had several bumper crops!  From plant to plate in less than ten minutes...you can't get much fresher or tastier knowing it's from your own hardwork.

one happy customer...



Is there anything you are proud to have produced yourself - let me know as I would love to hear...