Mee wish you a Merry Christmas

Its Christmas Eve!

Yipeeeeeeeee!

Are you excited?

I know I am!

No crafting has taken place here over the last few days. We've had so much to do and what seems like little time to do it in.

My big plan is to get some items made ready for a Folksy shop in the new year but some thinking and planning needs to go into that, oh and also time which I seem to not have very much of.

I wonder if someone bought me some time for Christmas?

Anyway, enough babbling.

All I came here for was to say I hope you all have a lovely Christmas and marvellous new year.

xxx

Up and away

(please excuse the mark on my picture. Tis the children. I'll blame it on them)

I was asked just over a week ago to make 10 of these Robin decorations.

As usual with these things, making them doesn't take long at all, its the all the cutting out thats time consuming.

But give me an hour long episode of Emmerdale, 3 kids in bed and some chocolate and I can get anything done!

Yes thats right, I like to watch Emmerdale.

Its escapism after a long day talking gobbledigook. I could make excuses all day about it but I don't care. I am proud to come out of the soap closit.

So yes, Robins, they are done now and they will fly away on Monday morning who I believe is distributing them as christmas gifts which is nice.

Are you all ready for the big day?

Got your decorations up, wrapped your presents, sent your cards?

Well we've got the decorations up, I've wrapped most of the kids presents but haven't wrapped anyone elses but I have sent my cards, well except family ones. I still have'nt bought them.

Here is our tree. Our real tree that L and M went and picked yesterday. Its had to have a little pruning done to it as its was a bit wonky to start with but its perfect.

I love how the top 3 sticks/stems/bits all curl up. They remind me of antlers. Sadly the picture doesn't show up our lovely little twinkly lights.

I ended up decorating it myself as M announced it was boring! As if! And the boys wanted to bicker over cars.

Sigh

But I enjoyed myself with a bit of Dean Martin playing in the background. Lovely.

Da da da da da da daaaaaaaaaaaaa, AND THE WINNER IS.........

Its lovely weather isn't it

hahahahaha

Only joking.

Now I promise I have used a random number generator online to pick the winner but not the usual one because for some reason it just will not work!

So I used a different one (if you google random number generator, it was the 6th result and it has a column down the left side of the screen) and it picked the numbeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

2

Which is

MIAOU!

And just because I am feeling very festive and lovely, I will do a runner up prize

and the random number machine picked numbeeerrrrrrrrrrrrr

5

And this is Jennyflower!

So yey for both of you two. Can you both email me with your addresses and I will send them out as soon as I can get my bum to the post office.

A Christmas meme

There is a little Christmas meme doing the rounds via email at the moment. I'm not sure if it originated from a blog or not but I've had a few from other crafty friends which I have to say I've enjoyed reading because I'm a bit of a Christmas freak.

It does say at the top of the meme that you have to fill it in and not be a scrooge and a scrooge I am not. However Googlemail is being very awkward and won't let me select more than one recipient for composing an email, which is rather annoying because about 6 people have emailed me their memes and if I were to reply, I would have to do more than one and it would take ages.

Soooo I will save that time for wrapping presents and eating chocolate and just do my meme on here.

Here goes.......

1. Wrapping Paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper and bags for us. Aren't we posh and non eco friendly!

2. Real tree or Artificial tree? We have both. Without sounding poncey and up my own behind, we do have quite a big house and lots of rooms so it would be rude not to decorate them all

. 3. When do you put up the tree? 1st December without fail. Well the artificial trees and other decorations go up on the 1st, this year the real tree is coming a bit later so it lasts longer.

4. When do you take the tree down? I like to string it out for as long as possible but its usually the 5th or 6th January.

5. Do you like eggnog? I've never had it! How un-christmas like!

6. Favourite gift received as a child? I cannot actually remember what my favourite gift was but 2 that stick in my mind are a dressing table and a pretend post office set up. They were great.

7. Hardest person to buy for? L and my father in law.

8. Easiest person to buy for? M without a doubt because she wants everything and my parents because they life laundry their house all the time and ask for very simple and cheap gifts that they know they will use or need.

9. Do you have a Nativity Scene? No. I dont like them.

10. Post or E-mail Christmas cards? Post of course. Emailing Christmas cards would be wrong.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I have to say I don't remember getting any bad presents.

12. Favourite Christmas Movie? Home Alone 1 and 2. Cheesy and pathetic you may think but I always feel christmassy when I see these films.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? As early as possible. The last 2 years years I have started in October. I plan to start even earlier for Christmas 2009 by getting some bargains in the sales.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No never but I know my parents have lol.

15. Favourite thing to eat at Christmas? Christmas dinner with a glass of Bucks Fizz. I also like to nibble on all the cold leftovers at tea time.

16. Lights on the tree? Of course. I've always been a little white fairy light kind of gal but last year L bought the most gorgeous tiny little coloured lights which do a whole host of things.

17. Favourite Christmas songs? I love the cheesy Christmas ones by Slade, Elton John etc. In fact we have just put a load onto the Ipod and have been listening to them. Not that we get to listen to them alot because M has taken a shine to Boney M's classic "Marys boy child" and we've had that on repeat for the last 3 days. It would be ok except she insists that its not Jesus Christ, its Jesus Price.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We used to travel but when middle child arrived, we decided to stay at home so that the kids can enjoy their presents. My family live 30 miles away and L's live 70 miles away so it wouldn't be fair to drag them out in the car leaving all their gifts at home. However this year, the in laws are coming to us for christmas dinner. Thats me cooking for 6 adults and 3 kids! Eeeek!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? I'll have a go. Dasher, Dancer, Comet, Blitzen, Cupid?, Rudolph, Donna/Donnah???

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? We have a silver sparkly star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning. I remember L letting M open a little present on Christmas Eve once and I went spare!

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? I don't think there is one single thing that I dislike about it. Its all great to me.

23. Favourite ornament theme or colour? We have a bit of a colour theme going on with purples, mauves and gold with odd collected ornament thrown in.

24. Favourite for Christmas dinner? Turkey of course. L's family always have starters too so if we have dinner with them its usually some mushroom thing for me and prawn for the others. This year though it will be homemade vegetable soup for starters.

25. What do you want for Christmas? Nothing particular but I do love a good suprise!

Merry Christmas and a Happy 2009 to you all!

(Oh and remember, you have until midnight tomorrow to enter the giveaway. Just add a comment onto the post below)

Its a snowy 100th post so therefore there should be a snowy giveaway!

Wooooohooooooo!

What a downfall of snow we have.

I can honestly say that I haven't seen this much snow since I was a child. Its just amazing.

M's school has been shut so I we have already been outside and built a snowman.

A bit of a funny looking snowman I'll admit but he's a bigun! I had to do his head all on my own because by that point M had walked off announcing it was too cold and middle child was screaming his head off and showing me his wet gloved hands as if to say "oh my god they are going to fall off".

So I quickly finished him off and now we're sat in our nice cosy room with duvets and tv. Fab.

So today, according to my blogger dashboard, I am now on my 100th post! Pretty good going for me considering I don't normally stick at things for very long. But this whole blogging thing I find really enjoyable. The people I have chatted to, the blogs I visit, the swaps I've taken part in and organised, its all been great.

I'll stop babbling now. So 100 posts equals a giveaway. I'm not telling what you'll win because its a suprise but it will be good I do promise that. So lovely bloggers, leave me a comment, anything, something totally random if you wish, leave me a piece of strange knowledge or a fact and teach me something new.

Comments will close on Monday at midnight and I'll announce the winner on Tuesday. I would do it before but littlest boy turns one on Saturday and we're having a big family gathering here so as of midnight tonight I'll turn into this wild vicious monster frantically sorting the house out. Its all a bit Jekyll and Hyde. Not nice but at least I'll have a tidy house at the end of it.

Big fish, little fish, fabric box!

Did any of you ever do that dance?

You know the one where you flap your arms around like a mad person.

LOL!

Maybe it was just me then.

Last night I decided I wanted to make a little storage box. I've seen a few on other peoples blogs but they were all round or basket shaped with handles. Lovely as they all are, I wanted square and rectangular shaped boxes.

So I set out last night and made this

I apologise for the dire photo but the box would not play and pose for me.

I also apologise for the creases in the fabric. That is due to M playing with it this morning and then the middle child sitting on it.

But aside from its non posing and creases, its come out really well. I have lined it with 4oz wadding, so its really soft. It holds it shape well and it would make a good little storage box for crafty bits. Maybe wool, thread or just keep your little bits and bobs in. I think it would be also good for a nappy/diaper holder. I think they're a bigger hit in the US than here in the UK though.

Time and sick child (yes thats M who has caught yet another sickness bug) permitting, I'm hopefully going to make another one today and take photos whilst I'm doing it, then I can do my very first tutorial! Look at me, getting big for my boots! (you watch, the next one will go horribly wrong)

Did anyone sign up for Soozs Happy CD swap? I have found out who my partners are today so I'm off for a blog nosey!

Have a good day folks.

Another party gift

M has yet another party today, so this week I've been working on this present for the birthday girl.

This is a Molly Monkey pattern from mmm crafts (if you scroll down to the right hand side there is a clickable link for you you download the pattern).

I had to admit when I read the intructions and it said to leave openings in all the limbs and and body to stuff, I thought oh god what a nightmare. When I've made my dolls and other softies, I stick all the limbs in the body, sew round and just leave an opening in the head to stuff but I have to say doing it the mmm crafts way was much easier and sewing up the openings took just a few minutes. If I was doing it my way I would have spent more time swearing and cursing.

I'm very pleased with her. I hope the birthday girl is too!

And thank you mmm crafts for sharing your lovely pattern.

A fun little swap

I thought I should post about this fun little swap I've joined in before christmas.

I promised myself that I wouldn't do anymore until the new year but this one is a little different.

Soozs is having a Happy cd swap. Basically you have to make 3 compilation cd's with your favourite happy songs on.

I think this a lovely idea for a swap and its not too much hard work to burn a few discs off is it?

You can send more than 3 if you want but no less.

Sign up closes tomorrow at midday (aussie time) so you need to be quick.

I've also noticed today that I'm almost up to 100 posts and I've nearly had this blog for a year now!

AND

My littlest one will be 1 in 9 days time!

My word that went quickly.

Sooooo in the styleee of other bloggers around the globe a giveaway is in order!

I'm going to have a good think about it and will of course post when its my bloggisversary.

Now where did I put my thinking hat??????

A little sad post

I don't why I feel the need to put this on here really.

But I know that some other fellow bloggers have gone through this recently.

Yesterday my parent in laws dog was put to sleep. He had been walking a little bit funny on his back leg so he was taken to the vets.

They said that it could just be a simple sprain or worst case something to do with his ligaments and he would need an operation. My in laws were fearing that part because he is a big Rotweiller and he is 2 weeks off his 8th birthday.

He was given a weeks worth of antibiotics and told to rest.

It wasn't getting better so they had to take him back for sedation so he could be xrayed and see what was happening.

Sadly they found that his leg was completely riddled with cancer and there was nothing they could do :(

My father in law had to make the decision not to go back and see him come round and just put him straight to sleep.

We are just utterly gutted. It was such a shock and not expected at all.

They got him just as L and I started going out together and then we bought Oliver who is only 3 months younger.

My parent in laws have looked after Oliver for us alot over the years and both him and their dog were the best of friends. They played for hours together and they knew each other so well, when the other wanted some space, sleep, play or just cuddles.

He was such an affectionate dog.

I know Rotweillers are known for being vicious creatures but I believe they are very sadly misjudged.

He wanted to cuddle you and be with you all the time. He was full of love and was an absolute darling with our children.

Even during all my pregnancies, all the jumping up and being boisterous stopped. He carried on with other people but left me alone and when I sat down, he would come and lay beside me or sit by my legs. He obviously knew and wanted to keep me safe.

So RIP Mr Benson.

We love you very much and miss you alot already.

xxx

Gifts galore!

Its that time of year again.

CHRISTMAS!

And anyone who knows me, knows that I love christmas.

In fact, as I type, I have the Santa Clause 3 movie on Sky Premiere.

I am desperate to get the decorations up but L won't let me. We have to wait till the 1st! The 1st! Can you imagine. Thats 1 whole week to wait!

But to cheer myself up,

I made these....

I should say that I had big plans to take a photo of these outside, because this morning we woke up to snow everywhere (this also added to my christmas excitement) but it was far too cold and the snow was starting to melt.

So anyway, these little hanging decorations are for M's teachers. I figured that it seems to be the done thing to give the teachers a present before the kids break up from school and no doubt they will be drowning in boxes and tins of saturated fat, so why not go for something more festive and that won't give them saddlebags.

Next on my xmas gift wish list, was a bed for our dogs. I'm not sure if I have mentioned them on here before but we have 2 little dogs. A Beagle called Oliver. He's nearly 8 years old now and turning into a grumpy old man. Then we have Freya the little Chihuahua. She is only 2 and just grown out of the puppy phase, however she is Oliver's boss. If Oliver gets all grumpy, she snaps at him, if he dares drink out of the bowl before her, she snaps at him, in fact if he dare do anything out of line, he gets it. This also applies to the marital dog bed.

We did buy them 2 beds. Oliver has a larger bed because he is a bigger dog. Freya has a smaller bed, for obvious reasons. However, this is not good enough for Freya. The bigger bed is far superior and therefore it is hers.

L and I now go to bed everynight to hear poor Oliver being snapped at for daring to get into his nice warm bed by the radiator. So the solution? To make one nice big comfy bed for them both

See, even here Oliver is getting the filthy looks. The poor boy even sat watching me make it! I think if you click on it you will still see the pins in the binding. Thats because I haven't quite finished it, not because I like to torture my pets before any calls are made to the RSPCA.

So hopefully this will eliminate any arguments between the two!

Then finally for the gifts, I was a runner up in Rachel's giveaway and yesterday I recieved this

Its a very cute little brooch.

I had the perfect thing to put it on and then a pair of beady little eyes caught sight of it and it was gone! Still, it will look nice on M's clothes and I might even put it on her school bag so that its a bit more identifiable.

I did also mention in my last post about another pattern that I was doing. Well I had every intention of blogging it but its not come out exactly to plan (much to my annoyance). So I may try and rectify it and blog it orrrr I may just put it on the pile of not finished projects.

We shall see!

I have become addicted......

to the Whip Up blog.

This is not good for ones time.

I have spent hours trawling through the blog, clicking on links, looking at tutorials and generally getting far too many ideas and wanting lots of things.

God I love that website!

I found a little link to a tutorial for these little babies from Odd Dotty Dollymaker.

They are so cute I can tell you. So I made one last night.

I apologise for the dark photo but I had to take it very quickly this morning because M snatched it to take to school for show and tell!

They really are the cutest little things and sit right in the palm of your hand. Oooh I love em!

So today, well until lunch time as I'm going out for coffee, I will be making some more to go along with my other little project which I hope to finish tonight and show tomorrow.

Something that went right for a change

I think I mentioned in one of my earlier posts that I was making a bracelet for someone.
Well I am happy to report that it didn't go horribly wrong like the last item I made

The lady that wanted it had seen some bracelets like this on a website but with prices starting from £80 to £100! Very silly prices considering they were just multi-stranded leather cords with the odd silver ball beads on here and there.

I am very pleased with it considering I made it up as I went along, although there wasn't much to it. Had it been more complicated, it would have had a sorry end like the bag.

I am also happy to report that I have made something else, following a pattern and its come out beautifully. It just needs a few finishing touches which I hope to do later today and then I will show you my proud results. I'll also have to link the pattern because I think its an absolutely wonderful gift item for both boys and girls.

Hope your all having a great week!

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Why do simple things not go as they should?

Hmmm

Why?

Why why?

I saw a link on I'm a Gingermonkeys blog for this tutorial to make a patchwork drawstring bag. Great, I thought. M has a party today and its a perfect present. I could fill it with a couple of other bits. Marvellous.

Or so I thought.

Not so bad from the front is it, but the horror unfolds....

The ends that were too short and don't meet

and the bit were my sewing machine decided to change the tension all on its own.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

It was such an easy thing to make and it just went so so wrong. Even the tutorial I thought was very good. Good clear pictures and clear instructions. It was foolproof! Well fool proof but not Chloe proof.

Needless to say, there is now a book wrapped up for the birthday girl.

I am now going to reclaim my sanity. I think I dropped it in the bag.

So I'm nicking Sole Monday. Better make that Sole Thursday.

Well I'm just pinching it for today. I hope you don't mind Katy!

I had to show you them as they are too gorgeous to sit in a box.

They are by a designer called Katia Lombardo and they are utterly divine.

I got them last week and I've lost count how many times I've just sat and stroked them! The smoothness of the patent leather and the way they curve. Ooooooooh lurrrvely. I wore them to M's parents evening last week as L was taking me out for a meal afterwards. I must have looked rather odd tip toeing across the playground but I had no choice because I couldn't walk in them! They are soooo high! But its ok, I will practice, I will.

There done now. Its out of my system, showing them that it. I can't promise I won't stop stroking them.

Now onto the craft side of things. I've got a few bits I'm doing at the moment, a WIP bracelet which is looking good, a drawstring bag, a new doll and I am hopefully going to attempt to make a padded liner for a dog crate/cage. Very exciting.

And for those of you who are looking forward to tomorrow

Happy Halloween!

Stop that door!

Here is my very first door stop!

I am so pleased with it too!

I had plans to make one for my parents as a christmas present, so I trawled the web trying to find a pattern. I don't do improvisation with things like this.

Luckily I found one that my simple brain could decipher and I tweaked it here and there, made it slightly smaller and I didn't add a zip.

I weighed it down with beans and then stuffed it to fill it out.

I'd like to make some more of them and possibly sell them on either Etsy or Folksy, if I dare open a shop there too. Having said that, Folksy sellers seem to be doing very well.

Next up I've been asked to make a bracelet for a fellow Mumsnetter and some simple hanging hearts for my Nan which I plan to add some lavender too. I'd also like to have a go at making a little cosmetic bag. Do any of you know where I could get a good tutorial for that?

"Ribbit Ribbit"

I am addicted to making these frogs.

They are just so easy to do and look a treat when they're finished.

This one is M's. Ever since I made one for the Fairy Tale swap, she had been nagging for me to make her one so this is the one I did for her birthday. They are made so that you can fill them with rice or beans which makes them all floppy and they sit up but this one I stuffed because M likes to have all her dolls and things in bed with her.

I want to make some more but god knows where I'd put them.

If you fancy a go, you can find the pattern here at The Purl Bee.

The party!

My word.

How frantic it was last week!

M's party was looming and I had yet to finish all the dolls off for her party.

The dresses were made, the wigs were done, sparkly bits and glue were purchased but dolls needed to be made and stuffed.

Thats not to mention preparing the house for twelve 4 and 5 year old girls, blow up balloons, wrap pass the parcel presents and bake muffins.

But I finally stitched the last dolls head about 8pm and went to bed somewhere near midnight.

And I cannot believe that of all the effort that went into it all, this is the only picture I managed to get of the dolls!

But here they are (well some of them) drying and waiting to be taken to their new home.

I've had reports that they are very loved and have all been officially named by their new owners.

A big sigh of relief from me that they actually all enjoyed it.

And here is the birthday girl, blowing out her candles on her requested pink mini muffins. (Note all the childrens coats behind us, just to prove I wasn't making up the numbers)

So that is the reason why I have neglected this poor blog for a wee while but I'm back now and I've got a few other things that I want to do now, like a doorstop and some hanging decorations.

And I'll leave you with a picture of this little cheeky lady that was watching me sew!

I thought that its a bit late for ladybirds at this time of year. She was a very sweet little thing though and was quite happy having a leisurely strole along my tape measure.

What a life hey.

My swap offerings

I finally got my swap gifts sent out last week.

They were late going but I just felt like there was alot going on and I didn't get the chance to catch up with anything.

After lots of bouts of sickness, we discovered that M had a Urine infection. So we had to go through one lot of antibiotics only for them to have no effect, so we went back to the Dr's and she was given a different type, which thankfully worked.

So now M is back to normal. No complaints of poorly tummys, feeling sick, being sick and she's even found an appetite and eating like a horse! Very odd for M.

I digress.

Here we have my little pressie for the kiddie swap

I had all these big plans for this dolly. I had even started making some little things for her, but I realised that the little girl who was receiving it was only 3 and I am so wary of little ones putting little things in their little mouths, so I just didnt dare do anything too fussy. I know myself that M was an angel for things like that. She never put things in her mouth, ate things she shouldn't etc. Middle child on the other hand, is a totally different kettle of fish. All kids are different, so I had to be very careful.
But I have since had a report back from Helen (mum) and the gift was well received.

Phewwwww.

Next was the Fairy Tale swap. You saw my abundance of loveliness that I recieved last week (I am still shocked about it all!).

Here is what I sent my partner Alex.

(Apologies for the terrible photos)
Alex said her favourite fairy tales were The Frog Prince and Beauty and the Beast. I quite fancied making a frog and after a little googling, I found this tutorial from the Purl Bee. I then made a little lily pad for Mr frog to sit on.

I was very pleased with him and M has requested her very own.

Go and have a look at the tutorial. They are very easy to make and don't take long at all. I think they could be this seasons new Matroyoshka's as I've seen a few frogs cropping up on crafty blogland.

Alex seems pleased with him which is great. I should mention that Alex also has her own blog now. She's only just started it but do go and have a look. She is one talented lady.

Alexandra Mason.

I'm now very seriously cracking on with all the dolls for M's party, which is in less that 2 weeks now. Its all the cutting out thats taking so long. I hate that part so much. If a little imp would come in through the night and do all my cutting for me, it would make things ten times easier. But I don't think it will happen. I've cut out 6 and actually made one. Just 4 more to do, then making the wigs/hair and dresses.

Why did I think this was a good idea?

My new little present

I think I mentioned a while ago about having a ring custom made from a seller on Etsy, or maybe I didn't. Anyway, you know now.
I wanted something really personal and I decided that I would like the childrens birthstones on a band and their initials stamped on the side on the band, rather than inside.

Well this lovely lady called Jennie came to the rescue and said that she could make what I was wanting and not only that, she could source the stones fairly close to where she lived in the US.

This is it!

Each stone is the children's birth stones, Opal, Peridot and Turquoise. Then on the side.....

are the childrens initials.

Now you know where MEE comes from!

I absolutely love it to bits and its just what I wanted. I haven't taken it off since it arrived.

Jennie makes lovely jewellery and obviously she does custom orders. This is her shop on Etsy, Frivolous Ferret.

As for me and crafts, well I haven't produced very much, just some dolls for M's party which is in 2 weeks! Eeeeeek.

But I also have some very good news. Well for me anyway (that sounds really self centred doesn't it). I have won a competition to spend £1000 at this website, My Wardrobe!

I cannot tell you how giddy I was on Sunday when I found out. Theres so many shoes that I want. I'll be like a kid in a sweet shop!!!

I am speechless........well not totally

Firstly Alex, if you are reading this, another mahooosive thank you to you.
For those of you thinking "what?" then I shall show you.

This is what greeted me this morning from the Postman!
L answered this door this morning and brought it through with a puzzled look on his face. The box was huge and it had FRAGILE written across the top, so he carried it very gently to me. L doesn't really know about what craft stuff I do and the swaps I am involved in so he was looking slightly bemused this am.

I got the kids ready as quickly as possible so I could open it up and this is what I saw

Look at it all!!!!!
I was so giddy and couldn't wait to open them all!

I never really stated what my favourite fairy tale was. There isn't really any to dislike is there. So Alex chose The Little Mermaid, and did she go to town with it!

First off there was this little bowl. It looks like theres waves in it doesnt it! I have emailed Alex after this morning to thank her and I asked what the bowl was made from. She said it was a mix of clay and other bits she throws in to give it a delicate finish. Then she puts it in the kiln and glazes it 3 or 4 times! Just think all the work that has gone into that.

Next was this.

Alex has used a box frame and made a gorgeous mermaid picture to go in it. Apologies for the poor picture but I just couldn't get the light right today. But as you'll probably see, there are some shells at the bottom and some very sweet hanging silver starfish, fish and shells. I'm going to put this up in M's room as shes very much into The Little Mermaid and even has her own figure in the bath! She's also been nagging me for weeks, probably months now to make her a mermaid fin. I have no idea where to start with that so if you hve any ideas, please let me know!

Anyway onto the next item...

A lovely notebook which has been decorated beautifully. I love the mermaid shape on it. Its very mystical, and the colours are lovely. Notebooks come in very handy with me!

Then this....

A very yummy wool scarf, which is so long , it almost goes down to my knees. And as for cosyness, well I think the next picture somes it up quite well

I'm not finished yet!!!!

Some crafty goodness, which when I opened the packet, was full of allsorts!

And then finally, if that wasn't enough....

Alex sent some books and stickers for the children. There was a sweet little colouring set that M ran off with and then begged to take to school but I had to make her leave it at home otherwise we wouldn't have seen it again.

So how lucky was I?!!! I feel very lucky and very overwhelmed by all these amazing gifts. They really are wonderful. Thank you.

I have told Alex that she must get herself a blog. Her talents spread far and wide I can tell you. There is nothing this woman cannot do!

I just hope you like your gifts Alex! I have taken photos this afternoon of them and I will put them on here as soon as they are recieved. Along with my kid swap gift which very very late!

2 little gifts

A few weeks ago I was lucky to have been chosen for a giveaway from Margy at Hmm Designs.

I was a bit gobsmacked at the time as Margy had just give birth to her third son, who is absolutely adorable, and I thought, how does she have the time! I always check in on her blog and she is constantly rolling out great handmade crafty goodness.

So on Thursday we had a knock at the door from the postman and I got all excited when I saw the dutch packet.

And this is what was inside

How sweet is she!
Margy said that its a wee wonderfuls design and it is pretty wee and wonderful.

It couldn't have come at a better time too. Poor M has had a couple of bouts of sickness since last week. She was sent home from school on Friday after puking in PE, poor lamb. She spent the day feeling a bit grim but then perked up at bedtime. Then we had a repeat performance in the early hours of Wednesday morning! So school policy being what it is, she had to take 2 days off from school. Only a week and a half into school and already she has a glistening attendance record!

I digress, so the little Butterfly cheered her up no end and it hasn't left her side since.

Thank you very much Margy.

The second little gift is my little creation for Apryl's Fairy Tale swap. I was teamed up with a lady called Alex. She doesn't have a blog and for me that's made it all the more exciting. I haven't been able to see what she does or get any ideas to what she really likes. Alex did state at the start that her favourite fairy tales are The Frog Prince and Beauty and the Beast.

Oooh I wonder what it could be............?

All will be revealed next week!

First day!

The day finally came.

The day that my first born, the little teeny tiny baby girl that I was holding what only seemed like yesterday, the day she starts her adventure at school and the day I make a complete fool of myself.

She was very excited about it all. Especially about her new school shoes. She takes just after her mother.

See, look at the shiny shoes. I would have given up my sweets for them when I was little.

She then got carried away with all the photos and got a bit too excited.

We got to the playground and the excitement was still there. Then finally the headmaster blew his whistle to let the children know to get in their lines ready to go in.

I stood in the line with her, as did all the other mums. M wanted to give her teacher her dinner money envelope but then when she finally approached her, she became a bit starstruck and stopped. The teacher ushered her in and all was well.

Well with M anyway. I lost it. I saw a little boy who didn't want to go in and was upsetting his mum. That just did it for me. I tried my best to keep it back as other parents were acknowledging us leaving the playground. As we got onto the road I said to L, "I think I'm going to have a little cry whe whe whe waaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh".

Cue sobs of uncontrollable tears and an embarrased husband.

I am really going to have to learn to get my hard hat on with this parenting lark. I am not cut out for this kind of thing at all. Happy, fun things I can do emotional bits I cannot. I dread to think what I'll be like when they all move out.

I hope all of you whose little ones started school this week have had a good experience and that they enjoyed it.

Back to some craftiness

It seems a long time since I have actually done some sewing and yet I feel like I have alot to do.

Firstly I need to complete my kid swap gift again and make a start on the fairy tale swap. The kid swap is almost done, it just needs a few finishing touches and I know exactly what I'm doing for the fairy tale swap. In fact I'm quite looking forward to making that one.

So here is a sneaky peek at the kid swap gift

And here is my new stash of fabrics that I bought from an Etsy shop called Freshly Squeezed Fabrics. Its a great shop and very good prices too.

I had to really sit on my hands looking through that shop. There was so much I wanted but in the end I went for this lot.

I've got plans for some of it already.

After I've completed the swaps, which really needs to be for the end of this week, I'm making a start on a batch of dolls. M has decided she would like a princess party (try and define what that means!) and wants to make dolls. Ok I say, that can be done.

Eeeeeeek! Luckily she only wants girls there and luckily there are only 8 girls in her new class at school so not that many dolls. So the plan is to do a party a'la Prairie Mouse.

I emailed the lovely Louise to get some tips from her and she very kindly sent me a pattern to cut out to make the dresses for the dolls. I want to keep it as simple as possible, otherwise I think I'll be pulling my hair out even before the party starts! I've also taken it upon myself to make my own invites. Glutten for punishment I am!

I've got a good long list of christmas presents that I want to make too. I'm going to have to make a start on them now otherwise I just wont get them done. It was only at the begining of the year that I said I would stock up an Etsy shop for April.

What month is it now?!!!

Tomorrow is M's very first day at "big" school. I actually feel quite sick at the thought of it now. Weird because I was saying how much I am looking forward to her going for such a long time and now I'm not so sure. Plus middle child starts pre-school on Monday too! Only monday mornings, but still.

No more lazy days and going out when we feel like it. It will be up early and to school for 9am Monday to Friday everyweek.

I wonder if it will turn me into a super organised mum or just an even more disorganised mum.

The latter me thinks.