Monday, Monday!

What a busy day!  Spent the first half in A&E getting my daughter checked over - all ok, but the bad day was forgiven when I got home to find some of my materials had arrived!

I spent some of the afternoon starting my new project and then this evening I made this:

It turned out fab, which is good because there are plenty more pom poms to play around with here!

I bought a new knitting magazine today and haven't had the chance to have a proper look though it yet.  Time for feet up, I think......

Thank crunchie it's Sunday!

A day of rest - supposedly!  I was planning on getting out in the garden today but the weather is turning as I type so it looks like an afternoon of playing with felt and my new toy - A GLUE GUN!!!  I have wanted one for ages and finally got round to ordering one.  It is brilliant - makes crafting so easy and I can stick anything together.  Wow, a whole realm of possibilities are in front of me.  Here are today's testers:

I also popped out to pick up some groceries and happened to fall in to TKMaxx.  I really wish that would stop happening because I ended up buying this:

It is lovely!  So my plans for the afternoon have changed.  I will pick up the knitting needles and endeavour to complete my tea cosy.

Here are some latest pictures of the garden including new plants I bought on Friday with my gardening vouchers and the brand new veggie patch!

I've been to the garden centre!

Always lethal for me to walk through the garden centre but in my defence, I had been given gardening vouchers for my birthday.  Yes, I did indeed spend them!  Have bought some lovely additions for the garden as well as the most lush 'Fresh Apples' tin bucket that I am now using as a planter.

I will add some pictures later.

I must now go and sit and make some more felt flowers - so many designs that I want to try, so little time!

This afternoon's creations:

Flower Power!

This afternoon I finally sat down and crafted.  Today's new craft was felt flowers and I've really enjoyed making them.  They were the test to see if I could create my secret craft (all will be revealed in due course).  I am just waiting for the materials to arrive and I cannot wait to start.

In the meantime, here are my creations today:

Phew!

Well what a whirlwind of a couple of days.  Wednesday was my birthday and despite the nightmare that we've been through, my husband made sure I had a lovely day.  I was greeted with this from the children:

The picture does not do it justice - it is simply stunning!

And my dad gave me this (something I had spotted and wanted very much):

Then we went shopping where I got a lovely new top from Monsoon, new trousers to match from M&S, another top from Gap and some lush flipflops from Accessorize.  It's lethal going in to Accessorize - I want, want, want!

My husband then did a lovely BBQ in the evening and I didn't have to lift a finger.  I felt thoroughly spoilt, especially when it came to devouring a really lovely chocolate birthday cake.

Coming down to earth with a bump - today I have such a bad back that I've had to reach for my crutches again.  I hate it when this happens - just the smallest spot of gardening and my back cannot cope.

On to happier things - here is a photograph of the blind I made for the kitchen.  It is a Michael Miller 50s fabric and was so nice I just had to have it!  It was made very quickly because I was desperate to dress the window and make the kitchen feel more 'homely'.  I will endeavour to make a more substantial one in due course.

Grow your own!

After a very difficult and eventful few weeks due to two of my children being hospitalised with Pneumonia, today we had some time out and went to the garden centre.  I am now revamping the back garden and included in the new layout will be a vegetable patch, or Holly's vegetable patch to be more precise.  Wow, have we bought lots to grow!

• Potatoes
• Cucumbers 
• Strawberries (called 'Alice' so my daughter Alice will be delighted!)
• Celery
• Lettuce
• Radishes
• Mint
• Beans
• Peas
• Cabbage
• Tomatoes
• Carrots
• Peppers
• Sweetcorn 

I think that's all!  I cannot wait to taste test the results.  Homegrown always has so much more flavour.

I also finally managed to buy a new pot for my Mother's Day gift - a little standard lavender tree.  The terracotta pot has the words 'Cottage Garden' around the rim.  Lush!   I have also potted up the two lovely little conifers in their pretty pots.

More Christmas craft ideas.....

OK, I know it's May but there is so much to catch up on and ideas to share!  Another item I made at Christmas was a Christmas garland.  Unfortunately I never got to photograph it before it was taken down for another year, but trust me - it looks good.  I sourced a cheap pompom covered Christmas long string decoration and added extras on to it, including felt items I had made and others I had purchased.  It was so cheap to make but looked so effective and eye-catching.

Some of the items that were included:

You'll have to wait until the new festive season is upon us to see the finished item, but if you scour Ebay for felt and shabby-chic style small Christmas decorations you will get them at an even better price this time of year.

Christmas Crafts

I admit that these days I am not a lover of Christmas.  Having lost my mum not so long ago, to me Christmas has lost its sparkle.  To try and revitalise my passion and enthusiasm I decided to do Christmas crafts last year.  As well as the cards and hampers I made (see blog), I also made 'Pots of Gold', 'Snowman Poop' and 'Penguin Patties'.  Unfortunately I didn't find time to photograph them which is a shame as they turned out really well!

I also made little jars of 'Reindeer Food'.  The kids loved them and I was able to make enough to hand out to others too.

Christmas Eve Hampers

I created my first ever hampers last Christmas and was absolutely delighted with the results.

This one was a gardening hamper for my Mother-in-law.  I followed a green and orange theme and included some hard-to-get seeds that I know she loves, a lovely vintage garden sign and some wooden plant sticks.  All finished with handmade felt flowers.

And the wrapped product, finished with a red gingham bow!

And this one was a Christmas Night-In pamper hamper for my sister.  I followed a black and white theme (to match her bathroom) and included lots of smellies, nail varnish, choccies, wine and a White Christmas DVD.

I didn't leave out the children!  They all received Christmas Eve hampers.  Normally on Christmas Eve they are beyond excited and find it hard to focus on anything so I decided to put together a box of goodies to keep them entertainined.  Each one had slightly different contents but they all included a Christmas activity book, some printed activity sheets, handmade snowman poo and pots of gold as well as books.

The kids absolutely loved them!

It's a beautiful day!

Sun is shining, housework is done (and it's only 10am) and it's coffee o'clock!  Only downside is three poorly children.

I need to sort out the back garden urgently.  We want to create a barked play area for the children on the right side of the garden, sweeping turf down the middle and create a patio on the left.  Lots to do and so little time as Holly is desperate for her own vegetable patch so I really need to make a start.  The question is, can my back hold out today?  And more importantly,can I resist temptation from buying lots of bedding plants and focus attention and money on landscaping?

I also have a second shoe to knit and am on the hunt for some pretty little buttons as decoration.  Time to hit Ebay.......

And talking of knitting, I have just discovered the prettiest needles!

Glitter needles by Pony.  Absolutely gorgeous!

OK, it's been a while....

I wouldn't even know where to begin to try and explain my absence.  Over a whole year has passed and it seems unbelievable.  Life has been so busy but in amongst all the angst and rushing around I have rekindled my passion for knitting.  I am working on the most beautiful pair of baby shoes for a friend at the moment using a lovely merino silk wool from Sublime in the prettiest pink.  Pictures will follow when they are complete!

That's not to say I haven't been creating, far from it.  I made all my own Christmas cards and was really pleased with them.  Time for some of the best examples: