Mee

Whoops!

2009-07-02T09:16:00.001-07:00

That was an unexpected break!

I really had no intention of taking a blogging break but life with the kids has just taken over really and in a nice way too.

Because of this I haven't even been crafting!

The sewing machine has got some dust on it, the hinges of my craft trunk are all squeaky and I'm at a loss as to what to do next.

Well I tell a small lie, I made a bracelet yesterday. A very quick smokey quartz and silver bead bracelet which was a retirement gift.

I am still crocheting too. I've been making lots of hexagons for blanket but typically I have run out of wool for the outer part of the hexagon and now I can't seem to source anymore!

It will just have to be a multicolour hexagon blanket instead.

I'll try and be a bit better on the blogging side of things again. I bet I have missed some good swaps and other crafty goodness, so I'll be checking in with all my favourite blogs over the next few days.

Bye for now!

I'm lucky I can type

2009-04-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

Its been a while since I last posted but I have good excuses.
Too busy making stuff and thats the best excuse I think.

The crocheting has been coming on leaps and bounds. I've now made a small blanket for M's teddy, one for E's stinky bunny and one for a friends little girl.

Here

The one above was done in 3 days. My friend said I should make something for her little girl rather than buy, so in my stupid wisdom I thought I would do a blanket.

My wrists and fingers are now paying the price. They ache, as do my shoulders and neck. Don't get me wrong, I loved making it and I am really enjoying this whole crochet lark, its a great way to wind down at the end of the day but doing something like this in such a small timeframe makes it a hellish nightmare.

I do love it though.

Other than that its just been normal half term madness here and I am so ready for them to go back on Tuesday. Theres only so much entertaining you can do for 3 kids under 5!

I'm now starting on another blanket for M. She picked the colours she wanted, not only that, she picked the most expensive wool there was in the shop. Not happy with the DK selection at £1.09 a ball, no we had to have the £3 balls.

So the next blog post will hopefully be an update of how its going or even a completed blanket! Right I am going now because my hands can't type anymore.

Bye for now!

Mee on Etsy too!

2009-03-28T13:04:00.000-07:00

Why mess about?

Next week I'll be taking over the world.

Mee has landed on Folksy

2009-03-27T05:18:00.000-07:00

Finally

Mee is on Folksy!

These are all vintage pendants and you can find them here

http://www.folksy.com/shops/MeeCrafts

Coming along nicely

2009-03-21T06:22:00.001-07:00

I've decided that I work much better actually being shown how to do something rather than reading about it.

I've also just realised why I probably did so badly at school.

Never mind.

I managed to do this flower just watching a youtube video.

It took me a few attempts. I got the general gist of it but there were a couple of bits where you couldn't see where you had to go next etc.

But I am pleased I've finally cracked it. Now I just want to know how to make a bigger version. I'd like to layer them and possibly make some brooches or corsages with them. I've tried doubling the amount of stitches but it doesn't seem to work out.

I will keep trying though!

I was very lucky to have been sent this crochet book (along with some Green and Blacks but I've no evidence of that anymore).

Its by Coats so there are some great little and big projects in there.

I'd like to have a go at the baby blanket but I can't get my head around the pattern instructions. I know the lingo and theres even a reference if I get stuck but its the amount of stitches that confuse me.

Is it possible to just be able to dive into a project like that as a new crocheter? I know the stitches now but even so, it doesnt make it any easier.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

I also have another trick up my sleeve. I'm awaiting the arrival of some lurrrvely brass vintage pendants and charms. The plan is to make a variety of necklaces, maybe even bracelets.

I've been wanting to do this for a while now but I've never got round to it, plus vintage pieces are so so popular its hard to get hold of them. Just have a look on ebay. Once upon a time you could grab a job lot of charms and pendants for next to nothing, now your lucky if yor paying under £50.

But I have sourced a marvellous website which has the most fantastic items. I spent ages looking through the whole shop! I didn't leave a page unturned. Its rather addictive.

If you have a look to the right hand side on my list of blogs, the shops blog is on there. They are called "My Vintage Charms".

On the downside of things, my mum was admitted to hospital yesterday. She has been unwell for over a year now, suffering terribly with Rhumetoid Arthritis. The last two days she has been having palpatations so as a result she is now laying in a smelly hospital on a monitor and is thoroughly miserable.

I feel bad because I'm stuck 30 miles away but I am hoping its nothing and just a case of them altering her medication.

Hopefully they will get the readings they need and she will be back at home by Monday with their mad cat.

In the meantime I am off to enjoy the sun and spend a mad evening with the mad mums from school.

Have a great weekend folks!

Other peoples tricks

2009-03-05T05:50:00.000-08:00

My crochet blanket is here!

I have been sooooo looking forward to this, bearing in mind I trusted the colours with my dear old Nan. I asked for pinks and purples

and this is what I got.........

god

I have crochet envy

Can you believe that this was made by an 86 year old lady who suffers terribly with arthritis!Apparently crocheting actually helps her joints. So with any luck her making this for me has made her feel alot better!

I've had a visit from my mum aswell today and she has taught me something new

Look!

Better than a triangle isn't it! The only thing is that my mum started it off and I continued it once she showed me what I was doing. So I have to now try and start it myself and see if I can get the same result.

Just out of interest for those who crochet, do you do it loosely or quite tight? I'd not realised that I do mine pretty tight and if you look on the picture, you will see that my crocheting is more to the right side and my mums to the left. I was using a plastic hook and different wool so it might have something to do with that, but I had never even thought about how I was actually crocheting.

I'm off to experiment!

Owl swap

2009-03-03T00:08:00.001-08:00

I can now show you what I sent for the Owl swap.

Silly arse over here forgot to take pictures but Hannah my swap buddy has recieved it and blogged it now so I've pinched the photo (hope you don't mind Hannah!)

I loved making that Owl. You know when you have an idea in your head but your not sure whether its going to come out as you intended? Well this did.

I'd like to make some more but with different colours.

Alex commented on my last post and asked how the crocheting was going.

Well I am still doing the chain stitch and turning but once again I have found what I thought was a straight piece, turning into another triangle! And whats worse is that I can't figure out what I am doing wrong. I need someone to show me in person what I am doing and how to rectify the mistakes. I decided then to try and have a go at making a flower. I have watched dozens of you tube clips and thought I had it pretty much sussed in my head. How wrong was I.

In the end I had something that could have been a finger part off a glove. I suppose I should be pleased with that but a flower it was not.

I have my mum coming on Thursday and hopefully she's going to show me some tricks and I might crack the triangle problem!

Something to keep your treats in

2009-03-01T04:29:00.000-08:00

One for the boys that is.

I think boys get the short straw with alot of things.

I find that a huge percentage of the marketplace caters for girls rather than boys.

Maybe I notice it more having 2 of the creatures but I do find it an easy job finding and buying for M than I do for the boys.

Speaking of boy creatures, here is the youngest one on Pancake day.

Can you tell he liked the Cherries?

Its amazing how quickly that stuff sets!

Owl swap

2009-02-23T05:35:00.000-08:00

Silly laptop and silly blogger.

Between them they had plotted and I could not upload any pictures. When I did all my desktop icons were stolen and I was left with an empty laptop!

Any ideas as to why something as annoying as that would happen?

Grrrrr

Anyway...

Owl swap

Last week I recieved my box of goodies from Hannah and was I looking forward to getting it. Just have a look at her blog and you will see why!

I was not disappointed.

Meet Margie

How cool is she!

And her hat comes off!

I love her. She now resides on a shelf watching the rest of the house and small children whinging and whining to get her down.

I can tell you now, it will not be happening!

Hannah also sent me these little goodies too

A lovely owl brooch which M has been wearing on her tops, some handmade owl buttons, some little white plastic owl buttons, crocheted flowers and a 5 pack of Bountys! I was very happy. Sadly the Bountys couldn't be photographed because....... well ahem... the dog ate them!

Honest guv, he did it.
;o)

So Hannah, thank you very much. I am very happy with my gifts. You were a great swap buddy.

Now usually I would show the gifts I had sent but silly arse over here forgot to take pictures. Doh!

Hannah has said she is going to take some though and if its ok with her I will upload them to Meridian Ariels Flickr group.

And a big thank you to Apryl for organising this swap. Its been great and I've really enjoyed doing it.

Todays offering is.....

2009-02-17T08:01:00.000-08:00

That was the best pose I was going to get from her!

M modelling my little childrens tote bag.

The fabric is a lovely mix between linen and cotton and it was a steal from Laura Ashley. £3.50 for a meter!

Didn't I say this fabric would make a lining! It works really well. Far too thin to use it for anything else really.

Tonight I'm going to try and cook up a boys version. I have some lovely fabric in mind for it. As of tomorrow I will have to take a short break for a few days. L is off so we have plans to completely wear the kids out. I don't care if its letting them run around a field all day, so long as they burn some energy off! Then Thursday and Friday M has some of her friends coming to play.

So my attention will be spread all over! I will however continue with the crocheting. Its a fab little hobby to have, just to be able to get it out of the cupboard and sit and do a few lines while I'm waiting for the dinner to cook or half watching a tv show. Its great, I'm really enjoying it.

Next on the to do list is a doll or two and a couple of door stops.

I also sent my Owl swap gift yesterday but silly me forgot to take a picture of it so hopefully Hannah will show you all when it arrives.

Commision and crochet update

2009-02-16T01:00:00.000-08:00

Cupcakes, done

I'm really pleased with them. The colours are great and I bought the felt from a different shop than I usually do and it feels alot softer which is nice.

Sooo this crocheting business. Thanks to the comments in my last post, I read them very slowly and I managed to rectify the decreasing of stitches.

I felt quite happy with the whole chain stitch and turning, so with alot of nagging from my daughter, I have started to make her a small blanket for her Wall-e and Eve toy.

I should say that I have had to start it 3 times because I did it too tight but I'm on a roll now, fingers crossed that the dreaded triangle doesn't appear again.

I'd like to have a go at making the little squares next. If any of you know of a good you tube tutorial, give me a shout.

A photo tag

2009-02-11T03:19:00.000-08:00

Margy at Hmm Designs tagged me for a photo show off.

You have to show the 4th photo from your fourth folder on your computer.

So..... this is mine

My two hell raisers last summer.

Now I'm supposed to tag 4 other people but at the moment I have 3 children under 2 in my house so if your reading this, consider yourself tagged.

And I'm off!

2009-02-09T06:23:00.000-08:00

I said I wanted to learn to Crochet.

Well.......

I did!

And all by myself... well just a little help required from some youtube videos.

So I now know how to start from my slip knot, do a chain stitch and turn back.

I was going to make a scarf. A nice simple start but as you can see from my picture, its getting shorter and shorter at the end. I don't know why thats happening. Can anyone shed any light?

But other than that I am very happy with my first shot at Crocheting.

I am awaiting an arrival of a huge crocheted blanket, courtesy of my Nan's 86 yr old friend! Shes a mean crocheter and works like nobodys business. I can't wait to get it and when I do I'll be showing it off on here.

A cupcake, an Owl and some fabric

2009-01-31T03:29:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in my last post, I have been asked to make some Cupcake decorations.
I'd done other cupcake stuff before but not hanging decorations.

So I thought I'd have a play around before doing the real thing and this is what I came up with

I'm quite pleased with it, especially for a first attempt. After I've done this order, I plan to make a few more of these.

Then on to the next big thing..... Owls!

He's looking a bit scrunched up due to being hugged to death by middle child. I quite like him too. I've started on a pink and purple one but I can't decide if it looks a bit urm..... odd shall we say.

Now I need to pick some bones with a certain lady.

Mrs Katy from I'm a Ginger Monkey. I wish she would stop linking fabric shops. My poor purse cannot take it anymore! I gave in to one of the links, a shop online called Fabric rehab (there really should be a fabric rehab) and I bought these little bits

I think this fabric will turn into doorstops. I love the pink and green combo.

This I have no idea what I'm going to do with but it was an absolute bargain. Its lovely because its quite thick.

And as for this, well it seems most people with a fabric problem has caved and bought this fabric. It is gorgeous. The only problem is that its rather thin and see through, so I'm not entirely sure what I will do with it. I guess it would make a good lining for a bag but then it seems a bit wrong to hide it that way.

I'm sure I'll find some use for it!

I'm going to post my Owl Swap gifts next week so I'll be able to show my little creation when its arrived at its destination!

Just a teensy weency look and a PIF

2009-01-26T04:55:00.001-08:00

I was very excited last night.

The children were in bed by 6:15pm, I wanted to tidy up and be ready for 9pm.

I wanted peace, I wanted chocolate and more importantly I wanted a good view of the tele.

Why?

LOST of course!

Yes, this mad but brilliant show is back after a long year off. And I have been looking forward to it so much.

I don't think I've enjoyed any tv show as much as this. The actors are fantastic and even when you tell a non Lost watcher about the story line and it sounds a bit far fetched and silly, it really isn't.

I don't know what I'll do when it finishes. All these other American tv shows like 24, CSI, Bones, House and the likes just don't do it for me.

I'll just have to pray they bring Friends back ;)

what I actually came here for

Here's a sneaky look at my owl swap gift. I thought last night that I would make a start on it but to my suprise, I actually finished it! Not like me at all. I absolutely love it and I'm going to make some more for Folksy I think, but not until my swap partner receives this.

I've also been commisioned (I never like using that word) to make some Cupcake hanging decorations. I swear, the world is going cupcake crazy. They are everywhere. Them and Owls!

I'd originally left this post here but I completely forgot about the PIF I have signed up for!

Anna from Sew What has started a PIF that I have put my name down for. Now I have to admit I was a bit dim about PIF's. I didn't really know what they were about but after a couple of emails with Anna, I now know what I'm doing.

So basically, in PIF style I need to PIF 3 other people and in turn, so do they. I think Anna is PIFing 9 people in all, 3 in Singapore, 3 in Austrailia and 3 internationally (I think thats right, Anna if your reading and its wrong please let me know). Now I am not going to do that, purely because I just don't have the time. But I will PIF 3 other people. I will do it like Anna, so one in the UK, someone else in Europe (not UK though) and the last anywhere else in the world.

We have 365 days to PIF so lots and lots of time but the condition is that you PIF too, oh and also you have a blog. Anna made this point in her PIF and I think its a good one.

So if you'd like to sign up to the PIF, email me on MeeCrafts at googlemail dot com. I have also pinched Anna's PIF badge. I haven't a clue how to do it as a button so if anyone could enlighten me I'd really appreciate it!

I think thats it for now. Happy PIF ing!

Snow report

2009-01-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

I thought I would share some of L and M's holiday pictures and at the end I'll show a sneak peek of my Folksy stock.

This is part (for goodness sake) of the 50ft cliff L fell from. When describing it, he said he was hanging from a young tree at one point, a'la Indiana Jones and the tree snapped. I'm not surpised holding his weight!

Here is M all kitted out

And a view shot. Not bad is it?

They both enjoyed it, depsite the drama of the "scary mountain" (named by M) and other events.

Did I mention that M lost her first tooth while they were there too. Well the first night actually! She has a nice little gap right at the bottom now.

So, onto the Folksy stuff. I'm not as far on as I'd like to be at this point, but I've made a start and thats given me some motivation to keep going. You know what its like when you lose a bit of crafting mojo.

This is one of the hanging decorations I'll be selling. I have some other hearts, all different, animals and other decorations.

I have plans to do some door stops and little softies, although I'm still a little unsure about selling softies. The issues that are happening in the US with handmade items are worrying me a little. Until it is dealt with, like other handmade sellers, I will unfortunately not be able to sell those kind of things to US peeps. Its very sad. There are so many unbelievably talented crafters out there.

I'll stop going on now. You all know about it.

I have no idea when I will get this Folksy shop up and running, but I hope it is very soon. I've been talking about it for far too long now and not doing anything about it.

This week I shall aim to blog another item for the shop. That will give me something to work against and I have to make a start on the Meridian Ariels Owl swap! I'm looking forward to this one. I have so many ideas in my head, I just don't know which one to pick.

Actually, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth

2009-01-19T14:23:00.000-08:00

although you would think so.

Our disc drive went kapput on the laptop so its had to have a trip back to Sony to be repaired.

BUT

not before a system restore which meant backing up everything.

Enviromental issues must all come from our house. That great big gap in the ozone layer, well we probably doubled the size of it last week.

Backing everything up took 3 solid days. Yes thats right folks thats 72 hours of the laptop being on, day and night.

I actually thought the laptop would melt at one point it was that hot.

Anyway it is back now and all is well and I have internet connection.

Hurrah!

I've also spent a few days in York at my parents with the boys as L and M jetted off to a very cold Austria again for fun and frolics in the snow.

We had drama the week before when I trapped M's finger in our gate, resulting in a trip to A&E, a suspected small break and bandaged fingers, a day of vomiting, missing school and thats not to

mention middle child losing his beloved stinky bunny.

And just when we thought all had calmed for L and M's trip I get a phone call from L the first night they were there to say that he had fallen 50ft off a cliff.

We like to be boring in this family. Can you tell.

By some miracle he hasn't managed to break a single bone and only came out of it with a brusied shin but he was stuck at the bottom of this cliff for almost 2 hours. Not even the rescue team could find him. They were just about to send out the helicopters to come and find him when some shouted that they could see him and alerted the rescue people.

Nightmare.

Oh and I have just had a phone call to say that they have landed, all the bags have been collected but another drama unfolded today on the slopes. M had her rental skis stolen so L has had to cough up almost £80. Thats a nice end to your holiday isnt it.

So I have had what you may call an eventful fortnight. However this will end now and life will resume its normal dullness.

I will also resume sewing at some point as I'm not really on track with my Folksy plan (suprise suprise).

I would like to ask you a little favour though.

I could really do with an excellent tutorial on binding.

Now when I say excellent what I actually mean is simple with big pictures and clear instructions. Theres too much fluff in my head to deal with fiddly, long tutes.

I've been doing a bit of binding and to be quite honest its not very good.

Well in all honesty its utter crap. I should think my dog could do a better job.

So thats my favour.

If you know of a good tute, throw me a link over and I will be forever grateful.

I'll hopefully post again on Wednesday with some dramatic photography of the 50ft cliff and some other bits and bats.

The giveaway prize

2009-01-03T06:09:00.001-08:00

I forgot to show you what I sent to Jill for winning my giveaway.

There was also a runner up prize but that hasn't been sent yet so I'll show that one later. So if your reading Jennyflower, its on its way very soon. I haven't forgot about you!

I made a smaller more square version of the soft storage box. They are so useful.

Then a little (well its not that little actually) felt corsage. Now I found a link to the pattern for this on Whip Up but at the moment I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the blog (apologies blog and pattern owner) and Whip Up isnt working either.

And finally I also sent some nice shiny metallicy coloured thread. I know Jill likes her silks and shiny things.

Ok, I'm off to get some work done.

New Year, new look

2009-01-02T02:29:00.000-08:00

Happy new year to you all.

Heres to fantastic 2009!

Did you celebrate, have a party or just a quiet night in?

Living next to the local pub, we had to endure 5 hours of a not so great singer belting out some cheesy tunes and killing some very great tunes.

She successfully woke up middle child with her screeching so it was nearing 2am when we finally got to sleep.

At least I saw the new year in. Personally I'd have prefered to see it in watching the back of my eyelids, but never mind.

So, any resolutions?

I never make them and if I did they would be broke in no time. Just call me Mrs zero willpower!

I am however going to be stocking up ready to open up a Folksy shop.

I will do this. Last year was too hectic but hopefully with middle child increasing his preschool days and small fry getting a bit bigger, I will have more time to get things done.

Thats the plan anyway.

Oh and thats not to mention a possible mum and toddler group that I may be opening with another mum!

Gluten

for

punishment.

Happy new year!

Mee wish you a Merry Christmas

2008-12-24T01:00:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-14T00:02:00.000-08:00

(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.........

2008-12-09T01:27:00.000-08:00

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

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

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

2008-12-07T06:55:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-12-04T02:07:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-12-01T02:08:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-29T05:06:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-27T04:11:00.000-08:00

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.

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

2008-11-25T00:23:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-11-23T04:15:00.000-08:00

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......

2008-11-14T01:28:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-11T05:50:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-11-09T01:19:00.000-08:00

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.

2008-10-30T08:44:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-10-22T06:13:00.001-07:00

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"

2008-10-20T04:44:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-10-15T00:50:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-28T02:40:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-23T11:16:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-15T07:05:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-13T01:55:00.001-07:00

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!

2008-09-04T01:37:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-02T06:14:00.000-07:00

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.

A birthday celebration and more......

2008-08-24T01:14:00.000-07:00

My first born son was 2 on Saturday.

The big 2!
I cannot believe how quickly 2 years has passed. I still remember this little tiny pukey baby that fell asleep on my shoulders. Now I have a strapping, full of life 2 year old thats into everything.

We started the morning opening presents, although it was slightly overwhelming for him. I think most of the presents were of a train or car variety, but he was very happy with them.
Later we caught a train to York and took the kids to the National Railway Museum. I havent been for years so could barely remember what it was like. L however goes quite frequently with the children he works with, so he knows the place like the back of his hand.

Now if you like trains and history of trains and transport, then the NRM would definately be your cup of tea. However I have admit (as bad as it sounds) I wanted to poke my eyes out half way through :o

E is Thomas the tank engine mad so we knew he would love it.
M quite enjoyed it too. She used to love Thomas when she was a little bit younger and I still see her playing with trains, even though trains are for boys and she only likes pink and princesses. Apparently!

Of course, the York eye is there too. We would have gone on but we would have needed a small bank loan to pay for it. Well £17.50 actually, but even so! Not as expensive as the London eye though.

But I think overall, he enjoyed his big day, even though he wasnt fully aware of the fact he was 2.

So a lovely day was had, or was it?

Kids were in bed after a great day, chocolate was being consumed whilst giggling at The Simpsons movie on sky and L was chatting to his brother on the phone. He had said something that made me turn to look at him and as I did, I noticed a rash just below his shoulder and it didnt look like a normal pinky red rash. It was purple and very different looking. Of course, the first thing I did was get a glass to do "the test".

It didn't fade.

L was trying to fob it off at this point saying it was nothing. I nagged and nagged him to call the out of hours doctor and eventually he did. After a ten minute phone call, they decided that it was probably meningitis and they wanted to send an ambulance.

Cue me going into complete panic stations. I havent felt so sick and anxious for a while I can tell you! But L insisted that he felt very well in himself and wasnt showing any other symptoms. The out of hours centre decided to let another doctor call back to get another opinion. They rang back almost straight away (good job really as by this point L was reading allsorts thanks to google) and she diagnosed Shingles.

PHEWWWWWWW.

But then not phewww because small fry hasn't had Chicken Pox yet! I didnt fancy another baby with it. E had CP when he was 4 months old and it was hell I can tell you. Plus we had plans to stay at my brother in laws during the week as we're going to a theme park and I'm taking M to see Girls Aloud (oh the shame).

So all this was put on the back burner until we knew exactly what was going on.

The next morning L went straight down to the out of hours clinic only to be diagnosed with........................

nothing.

Thats right, nothing.

All that panic and worry for rashus nothingnus.

It was a relief I can tell you. I felt so frightened when that rash wasnt fading, but thank goodness it was nothing. I was very impressed by the NHS services. They certainly don't mess about when it comes to it and I'm very grateful to the people L spoke to. They did their jobs very well.

So now we're just chilling out in West Yorkshire. In fact we're very near the famous Katy of I'm a Ginger Monkey (why didnt I schedule a visit?) . We've got a busy week ahead and it begins with a shopping trip today.

So I will log off now, get ready and give my nagging child a drink!

How do you get the balance right?

2008-08-16T06:13:00.000-07:00

I will admit that my house is a mess.

Yes, I do have 3 young children and 2 dogs but there is mess everywhere. Even in places where the children don't even go!

I read other peoples blogs to see what they've made or been doing and I'll come across a photo of their beautiful home, and its all shiny and clean!

Now maybe they just rammed everything into a cupboard to take the photo or maybe they actually have a tidy home.

So how do you all do it?

How do manage the balance of looking after young children with crafts, blog updating and having a tidy home?

Answers on a postcard please!

Kid swap pressie!

2008-08-15T07:24:00.000-07:00

For the kid swap, I was paired up with Helen from Little Geckos.
Poor Helen had sent me some emails worrying about what to make for middle child and one even said that she didnt think it would be very good!

Well today the mystery package arrived.

Isnt it brilliant! The second E saw it, he started screaming "choo choo" and kept shoving it at mine and L's head making us go to sleep. Helen has hand stitched the lot of it and I cannot tell you how perfect and neat it is. It is just perfect. E had a nap after his lunch today and when I went in to wake him up, he had thrown his pillow on the floor and slept on his new cushion! There were even dribble marks on it and I class dribble marks as a sign of good sleep. Even now he is wandering around the room cuddling it! So thank you very very much Helen. You have made my little boy very happy today. I have yet to finish my swap gift but I am starting from scratch again.

I'll leave you with a picture of our Hydranger which I took yesterday. I just love the colour of it.

In the big smoke

2008-08-13T05:59:00.001-07:00

So L and I were very lucky to have won a weekend stay at a 5 star luxury hotel in the centre of London.

My lovely brother in law and sister in law said they would look after the children so we could get away, and I am so glad we did. As much as you love your children, you can't beat having some peace and being able to do what you want without having to stop for nappy changes, arguments, dinner times and bottles.

And just when you think your starting to miss them, we get a knock on the door with a bottle of Champagne being sent to our room on the house!

Thats not to mention the Champagne afternoon tea with the most amazing cupcakes, cakes and sandwiches, oh and the out of this world breakfast.

Jealous yet?

This was the front of the hotel we stayed in.

It was just as amazing inside as it was outside.

L and I all glammed up.

Makes a change from house clothes covered in snot and puke.

Then the next day we were lucky to get a sudden change in weather and got lots of sun, so we headed down to Spitalfields Market. It was like heaven for me and I could have spent an age wandering round and buying lots of gorgeous stuff, but when you can hear your other half huffing and puffing behind you, its time to leave!

We were expecting a downpour but as the good weather continued we decided to ditch our tube cards and walk the scenic route back to the coach station. We didn't do too bad either. First we saw Leicester Square, followed by Trafalgar.

Here is Mr Nelson

We then grabbed some lunch, although I'm not telling you where. It may offend any foodies reading this ;)

Then continued down towards St James Park
Buckingham Palace from St James Park

The Mall

Then Buckingham Palace was our final stop

We had a great time and I would love to make it a yearly thing for me and L, especially if we get to stay in the same hotel.

I've been to London so many times before but when your young, you dont take the sights in properly and really appreciate your surroundings. Well I certainly didnt anyway.

Having grown up time rocks.

But once again, I have been brough back down to earth with an almighty bang. I didn't get chance to report last weeks disaster, but one of my dogs (I wont name names but he smells and looks like a Beagle) stole and ripped to shreds my kids swap gift.

It took me two full days to calm down properly and I think I can safely say that the said dog will not go anywhere near my stuff anymore. Grrrrrrrrrr. So this week I have to remake the swap gift which makes it late and make a start on Apryls Fairy tale swap. I already know what I'm making for that so I am organised a little bit.

So for now, I will go and do my bit of blog reading and catch up with everyone elses crafty goodness.

I am so daft at times

2008-08-03T07:03:00.000-07:00

Over the last few days I have had a surge of creativeness and as a result I ahve made 2 Japanese Knot bags (see previous post for more info), 5 Lavender Hearts and a new doll made out of my lurrvely new Australian wool blanketing material.

But me being me, I didnt take any photos and I am so cross with myself. The bags turned out so well and the doll looked great.

In my defence they were all gifts and last minute gifts at that so I was in a bit of a rush to get them wrapped up and posted but still, it is rather annoying.

I will be making more of the bags though because they really are wonderful. If your at a bit of a loose end, give them a go. I think they took me just over an hour to complete.

Back to the wool blanketing.

I had been seaching for some flanneling or wool type material for my dolls and I was having no joy in finding anywhere in the UK that sold such stuff. The next best thing was to buy bed sheets!

But then I suddenly remembered that Jodie who makes absolutely brilliant dolls at Ric Rac, used a fabric which looked like the stuff I was after. So I emailed her and it turned out that the material she used is Doctors Flannel. Easy to get hold of in her part of the world but not so in the UK. Not to mention the price!

Sooooo after a bit more research I found a shop in York called the Viking Loom who sold the Australian wool blanketing. Very useful for me as all my family are in York so I can just send them in for it but as I was feeling quite inpatient after months of searching, I just ordered online.

Well the stuff is fab. Its lovely to sew with and the end results look amazing.

I have to say that I was lucky and managed to get the smaller cut piece in the sale for £9.99 but usually its about £20 for a 20" by 30" piece!

Me thinks that buying this will be for treats only!

Not much going on here

2008-07-29T04:38:00.000-07:00

So the summer holidays have descended on us.

What joy.

I predict that I shall be bald by the end of August through tearing my hair out
The weather is on and off and just cant make its mind up which doesnt help matters. You get your shorts and tshirts on ready to go out and then just as your walking out the door a grey cloud appears and you go back in for your wellies and mac.

Thats Great British weather for you I guess.

So because of the holidays I have got just about nothing done craft wise. All I have done is a couple of little bits for the kids swap but the main parts need doing more importantly. Last night I started to make a Japenese Knot bag as a present for my Auntie. Leah from Sewtobed sent me a link to the bag at Show me your workings.

I did completely bodge it up by ignoring one crucial part of the instructions. This has led me to unpicking all the stitching and starting again.

Grrrrrrrr

But that aside, it is a lovely lovely bag and a quick project to knock together.Tonight I plan to finish it off and make another with some different fabric. I think they'll make good christmas gifts too.

We met this little cutie last week on a trip to Scarborough. L and I have fond memories of there and we spent alot of days there together pre children. Alot of it still has its cheesy amusements, (arcades for the US readers) with the old ladies doing the bingo and children flocking around the grabber machines screaming at their parents wildly to win them a toy, but all that aside it has its lovely points like the Spa, the beautiful buildings, the castle remains, lovely beach and some nice little shops in the town.

I apologise if there is a huge blank space above this but there should be a picture of the Spa. At the moment I cannot see it but it wont let me take it off!

After Scarborough we took a detour to see my parents. I hadn't seen them for a month as they had a 2 week holiday and my mum is too unwell to come and visit. I think shes on the verge of being diagnosed with Rhuemtoid Arthritus so she's in alot of pain.

But we wanted to visit because they have a new kitten.

Misty was quite shy and shes still getting used to living with my mum and dad, so having 2 new adults and 3 very loud small children would have scared the hell out of her (they're enough to scare the hell out of me sometimes). She spent the majority of our visit under some drawers.

I bet your thinking shes a funny looking Cat arent you? Well she's a Devonshire Rex. My parents had another Devon Rex called Willow. They got her from the RSPCA. She was very badly treated in her old home and as a result, was a very very timid cat. She never left the house, wouldnt be picked up and hid under blankets all day. But she trusted my parents 100% and had a lovely life with them.

Sadly she died back in April. But because of her nature and the fact that she was such a lovely cat my parents wanted another and were lucky to find an excellent breeder in the same county. And finally they have another.

Anyway, enough jibber jabber. I must get on with housework so I have craft time tonight!

Have a great day and good luck to fellow school holidayers!

I DID IT I DID IT I DID IT!!!!

2008-07-20T03:08:00.000-07:00

Finally!
I have managed to make an item of clothing for a doll!

HURAAAAAAAHHHH!

Ahhhhh the wonders of elastic.

Its not perfect by any means. Making an A line skirt on the bias with elastic maybe wasnt the best option to go for but I know where I have gone wrong so I can perfect it next time. But otherwise I am tres happy.

I thought I'd picture the doll with my just about to flower Hydranger. Its nice to see some colour in our little courtyard now. I have some fab pink lillies which every year seem to double, but this year they came out very quickly and were quite pale in colour. So I was a bit disappointed. My mother in law has had the same problem with hers too. Could it be some weirdy climate thing?

My Lavender on the other hand has done very well.

Its been completely attacked by hoards of Bees. I'd love to taste some of the honey they have made with it.

I've also signed up for another swap. Its being organised by Apryl at Meridian Ariel. You have till the end of August to get it done so theres plenty of time if your busy. The only thing is that you have to mention your favourite Fairy tale. I couldnt think of one. I dont think I ever had a favourite as a child.

Whats your favourite fairy tale?

She didn't turn out that bad

2008-07-13T01:59:00.001-07:00

I re-stuffed her and I think that was the problem.

Far too much stuffing in there which was making her bulge all over.

I'm quite pleased with her actually. She turned out as I pictured her in my head (which makes a change!) and because shes only a small doll, it doesn't take all that long to make.

Plus I actually managed to make a dress!!!

HURAAAAAAHHHHHH!

I am not known for my dress making skills to say the least, even though the time I did spend at Fashion collage was all focused on sewing and dress making, but although the dress is simple, its a dress and it actually looks like one too!

Yey!

I've got myself some elastic and I plan to experiment with expandable waist bands next.

Oh the excitement in this house. Its just unbearable at times.

Yesterday I had a big clear out of all my craft stuff and there are things that I need to get rid of to make some room.

So tomorrow I'm going to list some items that I want to sell. Theres a few pieces of jewellery, 3 bracelets, 2 necklaces, 2 pairs of earrings and 4 rings and then there are quite a few pairs of knitted slippers for babies and children.

I'm only going to sell them at cost price so there will be bargains to be had.

Come back and have a look tomorrow. Get yourself some early christmas presents ;)

Russian Doll swap gift and a WIP

2008-07-11T12:32:00.001-07:00

Ok Claire, if you are reading, look away now otherwise it will spoil your suprise!

I posted the swap gift today so Royal Mail efficiency permitting, it should arrive tomorrow anyway.

Sooooo here they are!and if your wondering why Master russian doll is looking a bit mischievous..........

Heres why. The cheeky monkey stole the last lollipop!

I really enjoyed making these. I plan to do more when I stop signing up for swaps and I do actually have time.

Next is my WIP.

I had planned to get this all perfected by today as I wanted to get one made for one of M's friends birthdays, but its prooving to be a little awkward to say the least.

The seams in certain places all crinkle up when its sewn together and I cant figure out why, which is most annoying.

I have made two last night, the second being slightly different to try and eliminate the crinkles but noooooooo its still not playing.

I have till lunchtime to get it cracked and I do have to do it because I have no present to give otherwise.

Why is it the things that you think will be easy, quick and simple, always turn out to be long, difficult and down right awkward?

But on a little good note, well it is for me anyway, here is the young un (as L calls him) yesterday.

Its a big hurrah from me as he is actually enjoying eating.

Middle child suffered with horrendous reflux for a long time and basically didnt start weaning until he was almost 1. So its only now he's nearly 2 that he's starting to put some weight on and look like his age. We get alot of people asking if young un and middle child are the same age!

Errr no actually theres 15 months between them.

Right, I must go and figure this bloomin doll out!

Ooooh oooh ooooh, my russian doll swap pressie is here!!!

2008-07-09T01:43:00.000-07:00

Giddy giddy giddy!

I got up this morning and I have to say I'm not feeling too good. I feel a bit drunk and really off balance. But I sorted the kids out with breakfast and stuck the laptop on, went into my email and there was a message from Claire at Payne Design to say that she had posted my swap gift.

Half an hour later I got a little package through the door

I didn't want to open it, it was wrapped so nicely.

But I'm not that restrained.

Look at all this!!!!

And how blinkin fab are they!

For the record, I know they are hand puppets but they are all MINE!

I have agreed to supervised play for short amounts of time but that is all.

They are now hidden in the bag that Sara made and sent me last week.

I may let the russian dolly brooch perch on one of M's jackets but we'll have to see about that one.

I'm not going to give loads away but my swap gift has a few similarties to Claires.

Children and odd weird drunkeness permitting, hopefully I will have it finished and posted by Friday.

Partners have been chosen!

2008-07-08T06:21:00.000-07:00

So I was majorly lazy and I used a random number thing again.

But the pairs are done now so I hope your ready!

so we have the first loving couple

Leah at Sewtobed and Katy from I'magingermonkey

Margy from Hmm designs and Nita at Neet designs

Suzanne at Chickadee cards and Kath from Juicyfig

Myself and Helen at Little Geckos

Apryl from Meridian Ariel and Cassandra at Snailblazer (what a cool name)

Jill from Life with Nature Girl and Ali at Craft Matters

and finally

Jennie who doesnt have a blog but a lovely little Etsy shop called Frivolous Ferret (try saying that after a drink or two) and Anna from Sew What

So there you have it.

I really truly am looking forward to this one.

When you recieve your swap gifts, if you could take photos of the recipient opening their present, that would be fab.

Hopefully we'll have a group of happy kids at the end of it.

I do know that some of you have listed more than one child but what I thought is that once this swap has finished, we could do it again but for other siblings so that no one is missing out and swap partners too.

Let me know what you think.

Anyway, I'm off to email you all now.

Just one day left for sign ups

2008-07-07T05:39:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I will be drawing names for the kiddio swap.

It will probably be afternoon when I do it, so if you would like to join please send me your details, name address, blog and your childs details, likes and dislikes, age, name if you want to. Email all that to meecrafts at googlemail dot com.

Keep an eye on your emails tomorrow afternoon and I will also post on here.

2008-07-05T00:42:00.000-07:00

I think this was the best part of our very miniture mini break.

All I will say is that I wont be going to a Pontins ever again in my lifetime!

But I will say that Southport is a very lovely place and such a shame that they inflicted such a bad bad place on them.

I did however have a lovely suprise waiting by the door when we got back.

My lovely doll from Sara for the doll swap.

She came with a gorgeous little mini quilt, some dark purple vintage buttons, a lovely little bag which is what they're all laid on and a toadstool brooch. I also got a couple of postcards, one of Chatsworth house and another of a pink VW Camper, oh and a badge!

How lucky was I!

Well I thought I was until M grabbed the lot and ran up to her bedroom.

I had to grab what I could to take a photo before it was too late.

I tried to hide the doll but we ended up with screaming ab dabs at bedtime because she wanted the "new doll".

I was going to give her the brooch aswell but since she has taken my toadstools and now the doll, the brooch is all mine!

And I've definately decided that middle child will be the recipient for the kid swap.

This weekend I just need to finish off one more doll and I can post out the two commissions, then I need to finish the russian doll swap and hopefully make another birthday present for a little girl at M's school.

Oh and then it will be the kid swap.

I may breath after that.

Have a good weekend.

Just going on a little break

2008-06-30T02:02:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that I'll be away till Friday of this week, so if your signing up to the swap and you dont hear anything from me, dont worry!

I'll close sign ups a week tomorrow so theres still plenty of time.

Have a good week

Lets hear it for the kiddio's swap!

2008-06-24T05:17:00.000-07:00

Now lets all be very honest.

When you join up for a swap, you think "oooh, I cant wait to get my swap gift" right?

It could be absolutely anything but you still look forward to it dont you.

Well this swap is not about us. Oh no.

Now pick yourself up off the floor and read on.

This is all about the kids.

Of course we will be doing the crafting but what your making is for someone elses child.

So this is what I propose, if you want to sign up, email me at meecrafts at googlemail dot com with the following details;

name

address

email address

blog

age of child

boy or girl

likes and dislikes

name is to your discretion

If you dont have children, what about nieces or nephews, friends children, god children, grandchildren?

I originally thought up doing a swap for boys as there is alot of "girly" crafts out there but when I saw how disappointed middle child was when M got the toadstools this morning, I thought why not do one for all children.

So who's up for it?

I think I will leave a fortnight for sign ups as theres alot of swap activity going on at the moment and then when I email you your swap partner, you'll have a month to then complete the swap.

Plenty of time!

I'm in!

Toadstool mania!

2008-06-24T00:24:00.001-07:00

Well here they are! And arent they blinkin well fantastic! Mellisa at What Knot, I am very happy. Thank you very much.

Honestly, I woke up this morning all moody and tired and a big knock at the door revealed the postie with a little box.

L immeadiately asked what it was that I had been buying from America (says alot about me) and when I opened the box he was most suprised.

But they have put a huge smile on my face.

Look at the detailing on this little beauty. Its all kind of patched together like a teeny tiny quilt!

Absolutely fab.

I do have to say though that the little snail, now known as Mr Snail, has been claimed by middle child and M loves the Toadstool so they will be residing upstairs.

Its great really as we have just swapped all the kids bedrooms around and M has a little fairy woodland cottage type theme going on and not only that, she has a very bare old cast iron fireplace begging to be decorated, so these will fit the bill perfectly.

Now for my embarrasing admission. I am posting mine this afternoon!

I am so so bad but I promise Mellisa that your Toadstool is already packaged up and waiting to go.

In fact I'm going to print the postage myself right now.

(Slaps back of hand)

Just before I do though, I have come up with another swap.

I might post it later today if I get chance, if not it will be tomorrow.

I'm going to leave a couple of weeks for sign ups and a month for the project I think as there is alot going off in the way of swap at the minute, but this I think will be a really lovely swap so pop back!

My first Etsy item!!!

2008-06-22T02:43:00.000-07:00

Hehehehehehehehehehehe!

I am so so excited.

I decided to put on a listing for customised childrens pictures like M and I did for my dad.

I know myself that we have so many pictures that M has drawn that we love, have stuck on the fridge and now they're a bit disheveled and worse for wear.

Doing something like this will keep the picture forever. Not only that I think they're fab gifts for grandparents. My dad absolutely loves his and is getting it framed.

So if you fancy a little look

here it is

I've got 2 little awards. Well they're big to me.

2008-06-21T03:31:00.001-07:00

Arent I lucky!

They came from Hana at Hand of light and creation and Nosh of Love.

Hana has had what seems like a fabulous holiday in Cyprus with her gorgeous family and I am very jealous!

If you like good food then go and have a look at her Nosh of Love blog. She shares the blog with her husband and my god do they know there stuff when it comes to food.

Warning, if use a laptop, cover the keyboard up as you will dribble alot!

So thank you Hana.

I'm going to pass these on to all the Mumsnet Crafters.

Laurie at 23Beechill, Suzanne at Chickadee Cards, Adele at Dillydallydingle, Katy at I'magingermonkey, Amy at Lucykate crafts, Megan at Maximum Rabbit Designs, Apryl at Meridian Ariel, Annie at Overmilkwood, Jill at Miaou crafts (who reminds me of Miranda from SATC), Leah at Sewtobed, Shirley at Ramblings of a Yarn Junkie , Caroline at World of Whizzz and Jacqui at Vintagekittykat.

There are a couple of others but I havent got their blogs to hand and I'm currently typing one handed, but you know who you are so consider yourself included too.

All these ladies are exceptionaly gifted and make the most amazing things, not only that though, they listen and help everyone out in anyway they can so everyone of you, you deserve these awards.

A joint effort

2008-06-11T05:06:00.000-07:00

Fathers day is a real pain in the bum for me.

Trying to find a gift for the two most difficult people in the whole family. Well them and my husband that is, although I ahve been lucky and struck gold with a gift for him this year.

I thought and thought and thought for days on what to get them. Now my father in law is a big chocolate fan, so I went straight to Montezuma's. I was very lucky that on my birthday last year a friend bought me a gift box from there and their chocolate is divine. not only that but their prices are quite reasonable too comapred to some other foodie websites.

So father in law gift, tick.

Now my dad.

Him and my mum are very strict with what they have in the house. They get rid of any junk they dont want. Nothing is kept. No "oh we'll keep it just in case", nothing. They are both very strict vegans and look at ingreadiants of most foods they buy, so sweets and such like were out the window. My dad has his allotment and his beloved pond with his precious Koi Carp and little hut and apart from his very strong political beliefs and art course I was totally and utterly stumpted.

His birthday was only last week too and I just managed to buy him the book "Young Stalin" by Simon Sebag-Montefiore, and that was only because my mum had seen it reviewed in the paper.

So whilst blog hopping, as you do, I came across a book cover tutorial and I thought thats it! I will make a cover to go over his sketch book for collage.

My mum sent me the measurements but I just could not get my head round how to do it. I think if I had the actual book in front of me it would have been easier.

Anyway by that point I had resigned myself to the fact that I would have to make him something.

Cue M wandering up to me saying she never made Grandad a picture for his birthday.

Ah haaaaaaa!!!!!

So this is what we came up with

and I have to say, I'm pretty pleased with the results and my mum loved it.

I got M to draw a picture on some Calico and I embroidered over the top. I was going to let her sew it herself but she really struggled with the needle, so it really was a joint effort. M picked all the colours and told me where to put what, so its her picture really.

I just hope my dad likes it!

We're being taken over!!!!!

2008-06-08T08:53:00.001-07:00

We are swamped. They are taking over us and eating everything in their path!

Look what they are doing to my lovely little tree!

And they are very rude, because last year they did the same thing and didnt even so much as grow their cocoons here.

So to summarise. They eat my little lovely drooping tree, naff off and we dont even get a sniff of a Butterfly.

M loves them though and they've provided alot of entertainment. So I guess I am grateful for that.

1 down, 3 to go......

2008-06-07T00:16:00.000-07:00

So I have finally managed to get my head down and make a start on my commisions.

This week has been a bit hectic. L has been off for 3 days and you know what its like when the other half is at home, things just dont get done and your normal routine seems to go out the window.

But yesterday I decided to crack on and get these dolls done.

I was asked by one of my "customers" (oooh get me!) to embroider her daughters names or initials on each doll. I was going to just the initial but what the hell, lets go whole hog and get the lot on it. Plus Chloe is a damn fine name if you ask me ;)

The next doll will be pretty similar apart from the fabric and the hair will be "blonde". I'll add a couple of other touches to it as the brief is for it to be girly.

Last week I also finished my toadstool for Lucykates swap. There are two other pieces to go with it but it would be impossble to take a photo of them and you not know what they are. So just in case my swap partner Melissa is reading, you only get a sneaky look.

I dont think this gives too much away. Well I hope it doesnt!

This will be winging its way over the Atlantic to the US of A next week.

My contribution to the doll swap

2008-05-31T00:12:00.000-07:00

I thought that I would do something different.

I had been meaning to have a play around with different designs for a while so the doll swap was a perfect opportunity to do it.

Really you've seen the design in my last post with M's friends dolly, but this is the one I made for

Sara.....

Certain parts were a bit fiddly, particularly the hair and the neck joints but I changed things slightly in the second doll to avoid any annoying stitching.

I do have to make a confession though. Not all of the doll is made by me! Shock horror! The little shoes are actually knitted by my dear old Nan. She makes hoards of them and gives them to the great grandchildren, friends and to a charity shop. Even I have some! She made some tiny baby ones and because I had given the doll big mahooosive feet I thought that the bootees would fit perfectly. And they did!

So handmade, yes they are, by me, errrrrrr no. I can't even cast on, so to make something like them would be a miracle.

Back to the swap, there are only a few swappers left now that are to finish. I have opened a Flickr account and uploaded all the finished photos to it. When all the dolls are done I will somehow figure out how to put a little Flickr thing on here.

Note, Mr Flickr if your reading this, can you please make that website easier to use. It doesn't make much sense to me and it leaves me wanting to cry after I have been on it.

Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to show sneaky pics of my toadstool for the swap. It could still be WIP but I hope it will be complete.

New dolly

2008-05-30T07:45:00.000-07:00

Meet the doll with no name.

She is a present for M's friend. This Sunday she is going to her Princess party and her mum informed me that like alot of 4 year old girls, her favourite colours are pink and purple.

Now at the time I was a bit short on fabric so I did a combination of pale blue with flowers and the same fabric for the arms but in pink. I had to add some kind of floaty skirt too and a crown. No princess would be complete without those 2 key items would they.

Yesterday was a lovely day too.

We took the kids to Preston Park at Stockton and took them round Butterfly world (really it was a mini Eden project and I swear I must have a lost a stone when I came out from all the sweating). I stupidly forgot the camera. I could have kicked myself because the colours in there were amazing. There was one particular butterfly which took a fancy to our pushchair, in its defense though its a tandem pushchair and its bright red and green (think christmas elves), but the colours on it were unbeliveable. Inside its wings was a bright aqua colour that seemed pearlesant. It followed us right around which was quite funny.

We then got to see a huge Python, a Chameleon, some hairy spiders and Meerkats.

After the kids had a run about outside in the glorious weather, we had lunch and then I did a bit of shopping.

Later L and I went to see Sex and the City.

L was mortifed as it was full of groups of women. I thought it was hilarious. He did say that it smelt nice in there though!

If you watched the series then you have to go and see this film and even if you didnt, you owe it to yourself to go and see it, although if you are offended by scenes of nudity, DONT GO!

I laughed, I cried and in one particular scene I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach, it was very odd but I guess it was the power of that scene.

Oh and the shoooooooooooes were to die for!

I am sure I felt myself dribbling slightly.

And the winner is...............

2008-05-28T02:51:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Tintocktap (great name by the way).

You have won a little bag of goodies, well actually it will be a biggish bag really.

I used a random number generator which threw out number 12. I was going to save it to put a picture on here just to prove there was no funny business going on but my laptop decided it didnt like it, so you'll just have to take my word for it.

So Mrs TTT can you email me with your details at Meecrafts at googlemail dot com and I will post your prize out on Friday.

I can do it tomorrow because

ITS MY BIRTHDAY!

Although why I'm celebrating being a year older I dont know.

But L is taking me shopping with the kids and then my parents will be babysitting so I can go and see Sex and The City.

Soooooooo excited about this film.

Anyway, have a lovely day everyone.

Giveaway reminder

2008-05-27T03:13:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to remind you all that my giveaway ends tomorrow.

I'll be drawing a name in the afternoon so you have till tomorrow morning.

You've got to be in it to win it!

Panic panic panic, but good panic!

2008-05-26T11:55:00.000-07:00

Only the other day I was thinking how nice it is that I have no deadlines to meet and I was looking forward to making a start on the Toadstool swap and making another new doll for M's friends party next Saturday.

I'd finished the doll for the swap and that will be winging its way to Sara at allabouteden tomorrow. I was planning some new projects.

Then last weekend my eldest son E decided to pull the wallpaper off his bedroom wall when he woke from his nap, revealing a nice sized hole with a pipe behind it and also just how much the previous owners enjoyed wallpapering, as we found 4 layers of wallpaper, 2 of them woodchip!

So another task to do, decorate E's bedroom but not before a major stripping session went on (and I dont mean the saucy kind!).

Ok I thought, it needed it and I do enjoy decorating, its just we thought we would have a bit of break from doing up the house for a while. As L says though, all things happen for a reason (insert sceptical look here).

Then yesterday, one of the lovely mums from Mumsnet left me a message saying she had seen one of my dolls and that she would like 2 for her daughters.

Great I thought. Receiving commisions is great. I'm not really bothered about the money side, I just enjoy making the items and its lovely that you get recognition that people like what you do.

So I checked my email last night to get all the details and specifications for the dolls, only to find another email from another mumsnetter who also wants 2 dolls!

My first thought was WOW, how lovely and I got all excited thinking about what fabrics to use and planning in my head what they would look like, as you do.

Then this morning it hit me how much I have to do now!

5 dolls, one of which has to be done by Saturday and the Toadstool swap.

Not to mention my family.

Yikes!

I have to say I feel a little bit overwhelmed but excited and very pleased.

And I have had a little splurge and bought some yummy fabrics for said dolls.

Tomorrow I am going to pick up a bag of fabric from a local ladywho has offered them to me.

I put a wanted post on a great site called Freecycle for any fabric remenants that people didnt want or were surplus to them.

The basic philosophy of Freecycle is basically to keep things out of landfill by recycling them to other people for free. Its a very good site, very popular and helpful.

Anyway, about 2 hours after my post went on, I had an email from this lady who said that she collected fabrics but they were taking over her home so I would be welcome to some.

Result!

I'll soon be drowning in fabric!

I'll post some WIP pictures when I do actaully get started.

Wish me luck!

Tagged again.....

2008-05-21T05:37:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Chickadee for this tag.
Its made me get my thinking cap on!

1) What was I doing 10 years ago.
This really shocked me actually. 10 Years ago I was doing my GCSE's. I'd left school so was just going back at certain times and days to do my exams.
The rest of the time was spent with friends shopping, relaxing at a place called the Museum Gardens in York and doing some extra hours at a shoe shop I worked at. Exams aside, it was a great time in my life.

2) 5 things on my to do list for today.
A load of washing
Tidy my bedroom as there are clothes all over
Tidy M's room
Mop the kitchen and family room
School run

3) Snacks I enjoy.
I love little savoury bits, indian snacky things like Samosa's and Bhajis, Chocolate and I have a thing at the minute for little slices of parmesan cheese and pickled Gherkins together.
Yummmmmmmmmmmm.

4) Things I would do if I were a Billionaire.
This is really hard.
Well firstly ensure that all my family were well looked after and secure for the rest of their lives.
Buy a big Yacht and travel.
Buy a place in Canada near the slopes
Buy one of those new Grand Voyager cars with the spinning front passenger seat
Learn how to make shoes and have my own shoe empire
Then give a hefty amount to chairty but I wouldnt have a clue where to start. Probably Macmillan Cancer Research and an animal chairty.

5) Places I have lived
York
Wakefield
Barnsley
Northallerton

6) Bloggers I want to know about
Ooooooh right then

Hana at Hand of light and Creation and Nosh of love
Icods blog
Lucy Locket Recycled her Pocket
The Vintage Magpie
And a bit of a cheat as there are more than one contributer but still, Mumsnet Crafters

Fun days and a giveaway!

2008-05-21T01:02:00.000-07:00

Oooh hello!

Thats better.
We are very lucky in that our local park is amoungst lots of fields, a farm and a another field where a family own some Donkeys. This horse comes from the farm though. He was very friendly but I had to insist he didnt eat my camera, or my top!

Then yesterday we took advantage of the lovely weather and went to a little place called Osmotherley. If your ever in North Yorkshire and you want somewhere nice to go for the day but just to chill out, Osmotherley is perfect. It has a little village with mainly just one street lined with very old cottages and a couple of pubs so you can sit out with a nice drink. Then further up you go into the country at the bottom of some hills.

A shallow stream runs through it and there are lots of flat grass patches to set out your picnic and just basically relax. The kids can paddle in and out of the water, which they love and its so open they can run about like looneys.

Father and son inspecting something in the water.

Then a race to get to the top!

Back to the grindstone again today. What joy!

But wait, there is a giveaway!

I'm giving away one of my old style dolls and some other little bits and bobs.

All you need to do is leave a comment but I'd like you to tell me whats been your best day recently. What did you do? I have had such a lovely couple of days so it would be nice to hear what the rest of you have been up to.

I'll draw a name a week today.

Good luck!

And I forgot, I have been tagged!

2008-05-15T01:46:00.000-07:00

My little southern pal Hana has tagged me.

Its a page 161 meme. Basically you have to quote a sentance from page 161 of the book you are currently reading.

So at the moment I am reading a light hearted funny book called Can you keep a secret by Sophie Kinsella, which incidently Hana actually gave to me!

So here goes;

"As I walk along the corridors my stomach is churning, and I feel all prickly and self-concious, as though everyone in the building must know what I'm doing. Theres a lift waiting to go up, but I head for the stairs, firstly so I won't have to talk to anyone and secondly because my heart's beating so fast, I feel like I need to use up a bit of nervous energy."

Thats spoilt the whole story now.

;)

Soooooo like all tags I have to choose someone else.

Katy your it!

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside.......

2008-05-15T00:35:00.000-07:00

Having a game of catch me with the tide

This is the habour at Cala D'Or.

I would have loved to have got all of it in a picture but it was massive.

There were some unbelieveable boats there. Definately some moneys worth!

Just Chilling on the beach with my mummy

But it sometimes just gets too much.

Happy family full of Tapas

It certainly was!

Its strange how you get pulled back down to earth with an almighty bump when you come back off holiday. You spend a week away in a beautiful place and then all of a sudden your back at home washing, hoovering, cooking and school runs again.

Hey ho!

Now back to crafting. This week I plan to put some finishing touches to Sara's doll for the swap. I thought I had finished it before we went away but as we were coming home I had a few little brainstorms and I think it will finish the doll off well. I'm not giving any clues away though! I cant wait to see everyone elses.

I have an idea for a follow up to this swap but I will have to see pictures of the finished products first to see if it will work.

Intrigued?

You should be!

Home at last

2008-05-14T06:37:00.001-07:00

We're back!

This is just a quick post because I have a mountain of washing as one would expect after a beach holiday with 3 children but also we had a bubble bath explosion in one of the cases so I have more than normal!

We had a lovely time. The weather was a bit on and off with a few rainy days but I couldnt complain. I feel very relaxed now and it was great to see the kids enjoying themselves. Give them a beach, a bucket and spade and they are happy.

I'll post some more pictures tomorrow hopefully.

Toadstool

2008-05-02T06:46:00.000-07:00

It didnt take that long!

Go on, make one.

Have a look at LucyKate Crafts for the tutorial.

So how are you getting on?

2008-05-02T02:14:00.000-07:00

As you may or may not know, I will be away from Tuesday next week and the running up till then is busy busy busy so I may not get chance to get to the laptop.

So all I wanted to know was how you are all getting on with your dolls?

I have one little last finishing touch for Sara's and I was hoping to send it before I went away but it looks unlikely now, so I'm very sorry Sara but I will post it as soon as I return.

Its amazing what new things you learn when you make something a bit different to what you usually do. Yes I like to make dolls but this one I have done for the swap is different to my usual "style" and I have to say I have really enjoyed making it and picking up new things along the way.

Obviously I cant say too much but when Sara recieves it I will tell all.

Today I'm going to have a go at making a Toadstool from this tutorial from LucyKate crafts. Because she posts on Mumsnet she had mentioned that she had done the tutorial and I thought it was very sweet but then thought, why would I make this? What would it do?

Anyway after I was rummaging in my little craft cupboard, also known as under the stairs, I found a whole new sheet of untouched fabric which I bought from Nuno plus weeks and weeks ago and a whole meters worth of felt, again untouched!

How they managed to slip through my fingers I dont know but today they will be hacked to pieces to make a little sweet toadstool and a little something to sit with it.

I am not saying anymore than that!

So if I dont get back, happy doll making and I cant wait to see everyones pieces.

Dont fret though, you have until the end of the month!

More love

2008-04-30T05:04:00.000-07:00

So along with the fabby merrylegs, I decided to make some little hearts for my friends daughter and put her initials on them.

They didnt take long to make really and it was just a little extra something for her. I really should make some for M.

A little torment

2008-04-26T04:18:00.000-07:00

Here's a sneaky peek at the doll for the swap.

She needs some finishing touches but she's almost done.

Don't mind me

2008-04-26T01:42:00.000-07:00

I'm just having a play with blogger at the minute so things will look a bit different.

I cant make my mind up how I like things and what colours look good but I'm getting there.

Merry merry merrylegs

2008-04-25T03:36:00.000-07:00

My friend who I've come to know through my husband, had her first baby last week.

A little girl called Katy.

So rather than go for the usual set of clothes or a traditional teddy, I decided to opt for a Merrylegs made by another Katy from I'magingermonkey.

And here she is

Isnt she fab!

Katy also popped in a little pressie for myself

This gorgeous brooch which is going to look fab with some of my holiday outfits.

I have to admit that I have a bit of a thing for Corsages. Big Corsages that is. I think it came from watching too much Sex and The City.

Hopefully I will have some pictures of things I have done soon.

I want to make a start on the doll for the swap today if I can. I have all my templates cut out, designs all on paper and my ideas firmly in my head. I get a bit nervous starting on something new. I think I have everything in place ready to go and then I usually forget something crucial and it buggers up the whole thing.

Fingers crossed this time I will have covered everything.

Keep your eyes peeled and I'll post sneeky peeks of the WIP.

And the swapees are.....................

2008-04-20T00:14:00.000-07:00

I used this hat because my swap picker was still in bed!

So I had to improvise a little bit.

Anyway the swap partners are as follows, in no particular order;

Sara from AllaboutEden and Me!

Michele from Calico Daisy and Jacqui from Vintage KittyKat

Katy from I'm a Ginger Monkey and Lindsey from Ethel and Ednas Tearoom

Margy from Hmm Designs and Jill from Miaou

Kath from Juicy Fig and Megan from Maximum Rabbit designs

Camilla from MadebyMilla and Leah from Sewtobed

and last but by no means least

Emily at Ravenhill and Annie from Overmilkwood

I have emailed you all anyway with your swap partners details and from today we have a month to complete and post them out. Obviously there will be issues with posting as some of you are not in the UK. Just keep in touch with your partner and let them know whats happening if your delayed or even if you finish in the next few days ;)

Could I also ask that you all take photos of your finished pieces and send them to me so that I can blog them please.

So I hope this is all ok. Any problems you have, please just get in touch.

Happy doll making

Doll Swap update number 2!

2008-04-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

Okey doke
Theres just one day left to sign up. Well truth be told, you have up until Sunday lunchtime and thats when I'll get everyones details together and I plan on using the very complicated way of determining partners via a bowl, names on a hat and a daughter.

Theres been a great response so far, well about 14 people but thats great considering this is my first swap that I've organised.
Thank you everyone for posting about it on your blogs as it seems to have reached alot of people.

So watch this space!
I will email you all with your partners but I will also post on here too.

Doll swap

2008-04-15T05:43:00.000-07:00

What an exciting title.

Basically I just want to get this known to as many people as possible to make it a really successful swap.
Give it a mention on your own blog and hopefully someone else may pick up on it.
I always wonder how many other craft blogs are out there that I havent read or seen before.

There are 6 people participating already and even now there is such a variety in designs and styles.
If you would like to join email me on meecrafts at googlemail dot com with your address and also favourite likes dislikes such as colours etc and also your address so that this can be passed on to your swap partner.
The closing date for this is Saturday and hopefully I will send out everyones swap partners details by Sunday evening, children permitting that is.

To a little Cupcake, with love xxx

2008-04-12T11:54:00.000-07:00

To Hana, for your beautiful Cupcake.

I hope you like it.

xxxx

My first swap!!

2008-04-11T07:38:00.000-07:00

Ooooh how exciting!
I absolutely love looking at other peoples craft blogs.
Its amazing what people achieve with their crafts and seeing their fascinating designs.
But just recently I have been in awe of peoples doll making skills from Prairie Mouse to Miaou's little Arigumi dolls (spelling check!) and from The Black Apple to I'maGingerMonkey.
And thats not all. I've seen loads of different dolls and they are all fantastic. So I thought my first swap could be......... wait for it............

dolls! Now obviously I haven't had my blog all that long so I guess that the amount of people who will know about it will be limited, so if you fancy it spread the word!
What I am thinking is giving it a week from tomorrow for people to sign up so the last day will be Saturday 19th April.
If you email me on meecrafts at googlemail dot com with your details and I will sort through them all, stick names in a hat and hopefully let you all know your swap partners by the Sunday evening.
I think if we stick to a £5 budget or if any of our overseas friends from the US are joining us that will be about $10 to you, but obviously if you want to spend more thats entirely up to you.

Ok I think thats covered everything. I cant wait to get started.
I hope you join in!

The Craft fair. Or was it????

2008-04-10T07:25:00.000-07:00

Oh well, another lesson learnt in the rollercoaster that is life.
Money means more.

The craft fair was a bit of a disaster. I didnt even cover half of the cost of the table but if I am totally honest that side of it doesnt really bother me.
It was my very first fair and really I am only at the start of my craft venture.

The fair itself was pleasant, the people that came in were lovely an I talked to some lovely lovely people. In particular one lady who bought a doll for her gorgeous little baby girl and had the most fantastic pushchair (it had an ipod docking station and speakers in the hood, swoooooooooon) but I digress, I dont think it could have been called an arts and crafts fair at all.

There were 4 exhibitors includng myself selling handmade items which to me is what a fair is about. Its showing and selling your art or craft.
The rest of the exhibitors were selling shop bought or mass produced items. I do have to let off the lady who was next to me though because she bought vases and fake flowers and made the most gorgeous displays so really she did have an art, plus she was very funny.

As you walked in, you were met by a 12ft table all covered in jewellery. I find out later that it is in actual fact a franchise of mass produced jewellery.
The other lady next to me was selling all her handmade jewellery and she was bloomin well good at it.
I sat and watched her make some bracelets and the time and thought that was put into them was amazing but did she do well?
Err no not really. I think I heard her say she covered her table cost and that was it.
How are arts and crafts people ever supposed to continue to do fairs if they have to put up with that?

Anyway I have expressed my point of view to the gentleman that actually runs these fairs. Whether or not its taken on board is another thing but there you go.

However my lovely friend who helped me out yesterday has informed me that there is a proper arts and crafts fair every fortnight or so in her village.
A real fair with old ladies selling cakes and buns, kids running riot and husbands being dragged around.
Thats the kind of fair I need and want to be at.
Even if I dont make anything its nice just for people to look sometimes and comment on what you do.

Anyway rant over.
I'm now debating whether to list what I have left on Etsy or hang on for another fair.
Decisions decisions...........

They're back!

2008-04-07T05:21:00.000-07:00

After a week in Alpendorf, Austria, they're back!

This was the first skiing holiday for M and she absolutely loved it. She has come back with a shiny medal, a certificate and a big big smile on her face.

Sigh

Maybe next year I'll be able to get my snowboard gear back on.

But while they were away I got some bits done.

Here are some hanging decorations.

I'm going to get some more done today and tomorrow ready for the fair on Wednesday (gulp!).

And another doll who needs a name

This craft fair has taught me quite alot and I havent even done it yet.

I'm so so disorganised and unprepared. I have so much to do before Wednesday and I have no idea how I'm going to do it but it will be done!

Luckily my friend is helping me out as the fair is all day 9-5!

I think we'll have to treat ourselves to cream cakes!

However when it is out of the way I can concentrate on getting my Etsy shop up and running and I will also do a giveaway as promised.

Anyway wish me luck!

Oh and before I forget...........

This will be my new workstation soon!

I love it.

My dad found it in an antique shop and since they already have one which their friend converted to a garden table, its only fair I get one too.

So hubby will be attatching a lovely piece of wood to it for me and I'll have my own little space.

I just need a place for it to live........

I've been tagged. A Meme...

2008-04-02T01:44:00.000-07:00

Annie at Overmilkwood has tagged me for the Meme that seems to be doing the rounds on most blogs at the moment.

So here goes!

4 jobs I have had;
Sandwich maker - When I was 14 I used to work in a little unit near my dads design studio making sandwiches for a local company. They also had a little shop in the centre of York and I occasionaly worked in there too.
Its a suprisingly messy job!
Sales advisor - This was for a jewellers. I loved this job so much. All the pretty jewellery, meeting lovely people and working for a good firm.
Sadly there was alot of bullying going on in the shop I worked in and it got a bit too much.
Last but not least, Store Manager - This was for Clarks shoes. I started off as a Suprvisor and then jumped for a chance at my on store and got it. This was my last job before I had M.
Then my final job was an Escort and not that kind before you start thinking it!
Basically I worked with young people who were in care. It could be escorting them to court, transporting them from one secure unit to another, taking them on visits/appointments or even picking them up from a police station if they had been arrested.
Its a very sad job and you see and hear lots of horrid things. It can also be quite dangerous at times but luckily I worked with my father in law and my man at the time so I was well protected.
Think Dog the Bounty Hunter but with kids lol.

4 favourite films;
Yikes this is hard
When Harry Met Sally, don't all women love this?
3 Men and a Baby
All the Harry Potter films
And finally man and I love to watch Die Hard films when we're having a lazy day.

4 places I've been;
Jamaica - Gorgeous country, full of amazing people and very friendly locals who love music. We also went to Bob Marleys house which was a bit of an eye opener!
Caymen Islands - Again gorgeous place. It has the most unbeliveable clear waters and clean beaches.
Havana, Cuba - Amazing City, amazing architecture, amazing history. What more can I say.
Greece - Now I've been all over in Greece and I cant say one place is better than any other but I do love it there.

4 places I've lived;
This isnt as exciting as I havent gone anywhere out of Yorkshire.
I've lived in York, Wakefield, Barnsley and now Northallerton.

4 favourite tv shows;
Easy
Sex and The City (lovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvve this show)
Lost
Friends
Absolutely Fabulous

4 favourite radio programs;
Now you can call me what you want but I'll be honest, I dont really listen to the radio.
Music I love listening to but it annoys me listening to people talking.
If I do listen to radio its always Radio 1.

4 favourite foods;
This is not easy. Theres so many!
I love a good chicken salad with good dressing and crunchy veg
Chocolate obviously
Pasta
And I love dips espeially Tzasiki

4 places I'd rather be;
I've never been but New York at christmas
York, my home town
A lovely place near here called Osmotherly which has a lovely little stream that the children can play in and is surrounded by countryside.
My bed

Ok heres my 4.
I nominate Flossie Teacakes, Cupackes For Clara, Chickadee Cards and World of Whizzz

Pheeeeeew

I need a little time

2008-03-30T01:35:00.000-07:00

Well last week was very hectic. Man and daughter have gone to Austria for Snowboarding and Skiing so I've been busy washing, ironing, packing, washing some more and packing more.
So I'm at home minus a husband, daughter and 2 dogs. Left with 2 little boys. The plus side is that they nap.
I haven't got any craft done at all and now is the time I need to get cracking. The fair is only 10 days away.
I'm also without a camera because that has been taken to Austria as well.

But today I have plans to make some earrings and there is also another challenge on the mn crafters blog.
Its an inspirational challenge. I have some ideas in my head but whether they come out in a decent fashion is another thing.
I wont go into the disfigured Robot that was made the other night!

My little treat

2008-03-24T05:55:00.000-07:00

One of the other MN crafters has started to make some beaded jewellery.

I think cards were her main passion but she made the silly mistake of picking a bead up and stringing it and lets be honest the second you do that your addicted.
She made a lovely lariat necklace using green and pink seed beads with some lovely leaf beads at the ends.
I have to admit I'm not normally a fan of what I call "normal" beads I love gems too much, but this piece was just lovely and I had to have one.

And this is it.

I love it and it will go perfectly with a grey and green cardigan I have.

Since she's made this shes also made some other brilliant pieces and I have to stop looking otherwise I will spend too much money!

This is her blog, Chickadee cards. Go and have a look and treat yourself too.

Something old, something new

2008-03-23T07:13:00.000-07:00

A little online craft friend Meridian Ariel started up a vintage swap. I was lucky to get a lovely lady called Whizzz who said she had a thing for purple and green at the minute.

Sooooo after a bit of researching I stumbled upon a great picture of an old 1920's style necklace.

I found some more images and found that alot of the jewellery in that era used Bicone beads and usually an interesting focal pendant.

Heres what I came up with

The picture doesnt really show off the colours well but they are Swarowski crystal beads in "Amethyst" and "Peridot" with little silver beads between each one. The pendant is again Swarowski crystal but its clear and it was called the Avant Garde pendant. I love it so I hope you do too Whizzz!

Next I was asked by M to make her a little cat from a drawing she did. I ahve to say I was very impressed by her efforts to draw one. For a 4 year old she really does capture things well and has an eye for detail.

Obviously this is the first one and its gone wrong in a few places but that might have had something to do with the little scrap me and the sewing machine had. But I was thinking about making a few of these for the craft fair and selling them cheaply or maybe not bothering at all.

And here is my payment for a haircut. I thought it was a fair deal. Make a doll for my friends little girl and I get a free cut. Sounds good to me!

Felt headband

2008-03-21T09:05:00.000-07:00

After making the bag from the tutorial on Betz White, I had a few scrap pieces left, so I decided to make a headband from the bottom part of the jumper.

I've also got the cuff parts left and some bits from another poor jumper that I hacked to bits a while ago.

So the next project is to trasform them.

Giveaway heads up

2008-03-18T02:27:00.000-07:00

It seems at the moment lots of crafty bloggers are getting in to the giveaway "thang", sooooooo I thought I may as well join in.

No yet though.
I'm going to make the little something especially for it and when its done I'll start the giveaway.

Go forthwith, NOW!

2008-03-17T08:51:00.000-07:00

Thanks to annie at Overmilkwood for the heads up on the giveaway at Old Red Barn .
Now if you mention that you heard about it from here, I get extra entries and if you put the giveway graphic in your sidebar you get even more.

Do it now, you'd be daft not to!

Prettys

2008-03-17T08:09:00.000-07:00

After looking gormless at a piece of fabric for an hour yesterday, I decided to get my jewellery bits out and have a play with them instead.
I have neglected it for a while. I dont know why because I really enjoy it when I start.

So I made a Smokey Quartz and citrine bracelet, which is on the left, and an olive pearl necklace and bracelet, on the right.

I love the Smokey Quartz one and I'm actually quite tempted to keep it.

Back up and running!

2008-03-15T07:14:00.001-07:00

Finally!

I can now update with all the little bits I've been getting on with.

Its amazing how reliant you become on a pc. Also just as amazing is how much you can get done when you dont have one.

So I now have a lurrvey new Sony Vaio sat on my knee. With its lushcious curved edges, smooth keyboard and shiny bright screen (I promise I dont secretly work for Sony).

Anyway, here are the dolls I've got done over the last 3 weeks.

I'm really pleased with all of them. I made a bit of a mistake with the one on the left. She turned out a bit bigger than normal and took up nearly a full bag of stuffing but she still looks sweet. My favourite though has to be the cheeky chap on the right who I've called Ralph.

I had a go at making one of those crayon purse things. I've seen them all over now and I think they're a lovely idea. I was at a bit of a loss one night so I decided to give it a go and it only took me an hour to do.

This is what it looks like closed

Then it opens up into this

Then one day Madison and I were having a blog gawp, as I like to call it, and came across Flossie Teacakes blog (I would link at this point but for some reason it just wont do it) and we got the recipe for some Peppermint Hearts. They turned out really well and Madison devoured most of them in a few minutes.

My next project which I had to get finished were some hanging hearts for my friends little girl. She has just decorated her bedroom in the most gorgeous pink and purple colours and I promised I would get them done for her.

I embroidered her initials on the top, middle and bottom hearts and decorated all of them with different buttons. They are now hung in her room and look very pretty.

Then the fab Lucykate Crafts put a link onto Mumsnet about a felt bag from http://blog.betzwhite.com/2008/03/girls-spring-mini-tote-tutorial.html Betz White (must must sort out these links).

So I found an old Gap jumper in a size 8 (shock horror) and because there was more chance of me taking over the world than fitting into that again, it got thrown in the washing machine and endured a 95 wash.

I've never ever felted anything before, well not intentionally anyway, but I really really enjoyed it and the tutorial was really easy to use (must have been for me to use it). I've had a good old rummage through some of my old clothes and bits which were on the way to the charity shops and I found a 100% cashmere cardi. That also got the 95 treastment but amazingly it hasnt felted, or it doesnt feel like it has. So I'm not so sure what I have done there.

Then finally I have been thinking about redecorating Ellis' bedroom as its been untouched since we moved in. Well I say untouched, I did remove the hideous Scooby Doo border but other than that its still displaying lovely artex.

So I've ordered some gorgeous fabric from Nuno which has some trains and cars on and that may be used to make some tab top curtains or a playmat. Not so sure yet. But also I thought I could brighten the walls up with some pictures. Ellis has a bit of an obession with cars and trains and in particular an old train of L's that a landscape gardner found in his parents garden. It sits on top of our piano out of the way because I love it too much for it to be played with and destroyed but I thought it may look good in the form of a photo on his walls.

I've taken another shot of it facing the other way too so hopefully they'll enlarge with no problems and the frame man on our local market can set me up with a fab frame for it.

So thats it really.

I'm off for a cup of hot chocolate and to try and figure out how to do a link without seeing numbers, slashes, dots and all ther things.

No laptop no posts

2008-03-08T12:20:00.000-08:00

Sadly our laptop has passed away.
Its also taken 2 years worth of photos with it, thanks to a ruined hard drive.
I'm absolutely broken about it. We have fortunately salvaged an old disc which has some photos of my first son Ellis as a newborn and up until he was about 4 months old but nothing after that.
Theres so many memories that we have captured and now they've all gone. So a word of wisdom to you, go and back up all your photos. Go on, do it NOW!

At the moment I'm using a 10 year old pc that is normally used by Madison for playing games or the paint program.
Its that old it doesnt support the program for our camera so I can't upload any photos of the work I've done.
But hopefully the man will be buying a new laptop on Monday.

The doll count is increasing ready for the craft fair that is quickly looming upon me. I've also done a few more jewellery pieces.
Not that you can see any of it!

Also I have an Etsy shop ready and waiting for me! I'm very excited about it but I'm going to be sensible and open it end of April/May time when I will have more stock made.
Or maybe I wont need to make anymore, depending on how successful the craft fair is!

Say it in a yorkshire accent.............. MONKEY!

2008-02-22T12:54:00.000-08:00

Completely inspired by the fabric.

Little dollie present

2008-02-21T06:45:00.001-08:00

I made this little lady last night with the fabric I got from a shop I had totally forgotten about (thanks to my hubby for reminding me).

Madison has a party on Saturday so its a present for the little girl. I just hope she likes it just as much I enjoyed making her.

Frost and a whole lot more

2008-02-20T01:37:00.001-08:00

This is part of the view from our front room. We live oppossite the village green and yesterday and this morning it looks like its been snowing, the frost is that thick.Its very pretty to look at.

I had another lovely suprise yesterday too. My swap present arrived from the Mumsnet crafter easter swap.

This is what I got

There was a beautiful handmade card, an easter egg decoration made from beautiful mother of pearl buttons and a red coral bracelet.

These were all made by the lovely http://meridianariel.blogspot.com/.

And this is what I made for her

Well a sneaky peek anyway.

My first beading experience

2008-02-17T01:31:00.001-08:00

As well as being scared of sewing machines and dolls legs I was also a bit wary of beading wire and prefered to stick to chains.
I did a bit of research and then spent spent spent.
So far this is what I've done.......

The bracelet is Smokey Quartz and silver and the necklace is Garnet and Carnelian. Its actually really relaxing to do. All I need now is for someone to volunteer to take the mini beasts for the day so I can spend some real time doing it.

I've also submitted the photo I took of the candy cables to the Guardian newspaper. They're doing a section called "In pictures" and they change the theme of it. The next theme they have asked for is "symmetry". I think the prize is some sort of camera. So fingers crossed!