First white Christmas

Hello again hope you are all well and enjoing the seasonal cheer! This is my baby's first Christmas, and surprisingly the first white one we have had in many years. I just wanted to say to all my readers you are amazing!! Thank you so much for following my blog and taking such an interest. I have made some really lovely friends over the years. Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy new year xxx

Im back

Hi, I managed to get back. It has been so long since my last post. I am just so busy in the day, and  so tired at nignt. Motherhood can be challenging indeed!

 I wanted to share with you mail I received the other day. It was from the team at simply crochet magazine.

I sent them a few of my gift tags. This impromptu gesture was  because I love the magazine so, so much. They were really  pleased and sent me this gift. Lots of balls of sugar and cream wool, and a little book of patterns.

 

I wanted to thank them for this lovely sursrise mail. They mentioned when they replied they were moving premises. Does any one know where there new HQ is located so I could thank them? Not sure what I will make with this beautiful wool. I am waiting for a real good idea to pop into my head so I can get hooking.


Catch you all again soon ♡

missed you

Hello my dears, Its been a while and feels like forever since I have blogged. I have been desperately been trying to find a minute to do so. It is so very hard with a new baby, when some days I cannot get out of my PJs.

I love being a mum, and sometimes it feels like a dream that I have this beautiful perfect baby. I am really lucky, but it is hard work. What i am trying to do is establish a routine. The quicker i get to know my babys needs the quicker this will happen.

I have not done much crafting has you would expect, but feel its important to me to have some level of creativity. When I can I squeeze in a little crochet, or a little drawing here and there.

I wanted to quickly show some of the bits I made while I was pregnant. These are for the christmas craft stall im doing in late November. Hopefully I got time to make a few more things.

Hope you have all had a good weekend, and I hope to be back soon ♡♥♡

Oh baby

Hi there everyone. Just a quick visit to let you know I have had my baby.I have a beautiful little girl. She weighed in at 8 pounds 5 ounces and is doing great.

My self and husband are slowly being reminded after fourteen years what it's like to have a baby. The sleeplessnes nights have begun and are relentless. Days are rolling  into one,  and sometimes I dont know what day of the week it is.


Im glad my baby is here, and healthy. Glad the worry about giving birth is over and done with. Grateful im feeling better than expected, and have the energy to cope.

I want to thank you all for all your best wishes, and for the presents that some of you have lovely made for my baby. Thank you Joy at http://joyjinkscreations.blogspot.com/ and Lily at http://lisbethsnotes.blogspot.com/ These gifts are truely beautiful and very much appreciated; and will be treasured forever.

Hopefully I will be back soon, with lots of cute stories and photos to show you. In the meantime I got a lot of your blog reading to catch up on. May be I do this when im not so tired zzZZZZ.

Busy baby

Hi there everyone, thought I would drop in to let you all know what I have been up to. Im still with child, no movements here. I have been feeling frustrated and I really want done now. I am still not getting much sleep, and have lots on my mind mostly about going into hospital. My hips are still giving me jip at night which does not help!

On the plus side my house is super clean well mostly; may be its the nesting thing. House work is definitely harder to do because of my big belly, and I get out of breath quicker. Yet there is no slowing me down. if something is out of place I need to sort it, organise it, or clean it.

My crafting stamina is on a all time high; I have never made so my things. As you know I have been making things for my craft stall  in November. Lots of little bits and bobs have been made, and I will show you these closer the time.

I finished a scarf inspired by  http://ladybirddiaries.blogspot.co.uk/. How ever I still love hers more than mine because of the yarn she used. I had no pattern just kind of winged it by looking closely at hers.

 I have been on the sewing machine too. We recently brought a lovely wicker chair from ikea that needed a cushion, so I made a scrappy patchwork cushion. The fabrics I used were bits and bobs, and some liberty prints I brought years ago from https://folksy.com/shops/veryberryfabrics. Its not very good patchwork. but, I like having a go all the same.

Lastly I must show you a little craft haul from http:/www.prettyfabricsandtrims.co.uk/ When I saw the fox in socks fabric it made smile. My daughter who normally takes no interest in sewing loves this print, so I will be making her a new pencil case out of  it  for September. The Christmas fabric will be used for my craft stall, and the binding tape (who knows there just gorgeous)

Well that's all for now. Hopefully I will have baby news when I return next. Until then happy crafting every one  hugs x

sweet

Thought I would pop in again to show you what else I have been up to. I have been doing a lot of baking, even though i don't normally have a sweet tooth. In fact I have spent more than half my life watching my sugar consumption.

When I was younger about 14 years of age, I felt really poorley and run down all the time. I was prone to getting lots of colds and sore throats. This was the time when doctors would give antibiotics out like sweets. Wondering why this approach was not working I stopped going to the doctors.

The Same week I bumped in to a friend, and mentioned my dilemma. She began to educate me on why I have been so poorly. She mentioned another friend with simalar symptons who had something callled Candida Albicans.

She explained my immune systems was under attack and that there was an imbalance  in my body. Usually in a healthy persons body there gut consists of good and bad bacteria, but a equal mix. This perfect balance can be undone through overuse of antibiotics- which lead,s to food intolerances.

I  had a food intolerance test done and found that sugar, dairy and yeasty foods are not my friends. When I eat less of these food's I have energy, and no problems. I do eat from these food groups but in moderation. I mean i really like chocolate, what woman could live with out chocolate!!

So what have i been baking? Short bread, and I really love these Scottish buiscuits . Making my own means I can control the amount of sugar that is added.

Lastly I made a plum tart, and I really have have a thing for plums at the moment, may be it's a pregnancy craving or something, as I was not that fussed about them before.

I found the recipe for a plum tart in Country living magazine. This magazine has some really good  food dishes, and takes note on what fruit or veg is currently in season. Food editor Alison Walker puts together amazing recipes. Her deep plum and almond tart is a joy to the taste buds!!

This recipe can be found in the August  2012 issue. If you would like the recipe email me, and I can foward that too you. Last but not least, here is my attempt, not as good as Alison's but yummy all the same x

Hope you all have a good weekend and, and lots of relaxing is involved x

Ups and downs, but mostly ups!!

Feels like forever and a day that I last blogged. So I'm glad to be able to come for a natter.Hope you are keeping well. What have you all been up to then?

I have been having good days and bad days; this is because I am not getting much sleep, l keep waking up with hip and pelvic pain and its very hard to get comfortable.

The baby has settled down quite a lot with its kicking all night. My belly is huge. This was taken months ago I am a lot bigger now!

I think it is a space issue for the baby. The more it grows the less space it has, so no more somersaults from this one.

So all in all I am checking my kick counts. I get less at night time, and more in the day. There is hope now; I might have a baby who sleeps through the night!!

I have already packed my bags for the hospital. I’ve have got this feeling little one might arrive early.

In my garden I have been checking on the progress of my vegetables. If you remember I planted potatoes, corn, radishes, onions, beetroot and cauliflower.

I cannot do much in the garden these days as I cannot bend down so have only have been able to watering. I did have a little check on progress only to find my radishes with little bite marks. My cauliflowers been lovingly visited by the cabbage white butterfly not!!

So I will not be eating the radishes, and I had to painstakingly remove the little eggs the butterfly had laid eggs on my cauliflower leaves. Luckily there was not that many of them it seems I just caught it in time.

I have now completely covered the bed with garden netting. I sewed pieces of net together. I should see no more problems now. The rest of my veg is doing well, yeah!

Lastly I keep harping on about wanting to do a craft stall. I have booked a table for the end of November at a Christmas fair. I should have lots of time to prepare. Here are some of the things I have made so far, I will be selling some of the other things you have seen me make on my blog. I am so excited. 

Hope you all have a beautiful weekend x

summer bunting

Here is a little something I made over a few evening using up odds and ends. I really enjoyed making each flower and trying out different colour combinations.

My inspiration came from a very creative blog. http://ak-at-home.blogspot.co.uk/. She designed some really pretty flowers which I thought would make gourgeous bunting.

I followed her pattern by looking at her clear photos of each stage in creating the flower.I tweaked her pattern slightly but not much.

I have never written a pattern before, but will try to write one if any one is interested in making one ♡

No pain, no gain!!

So what have you all been up to? My week has been various appointments. My first was a dreaded dentist appointment. A month and a half ago a routine check up showed I had a hairline crack on one of my teeth.

The dentist was pretty sure it was going to need to come out eventually. I was not to happy about this seeing I had no real pain and did not want any major treatment being quite pregnant. I cancelled the very next appointment she scheduled to have a better look at the tooth.

 A whole month later everything was just fine, and I was managing to eat on the other side and avoiding any thing to upset the tooth. But being greedy me I forgot one day to be careful and bit down hard on the tooth and it proper cracked, that all I needed.

So the next week the tooth had to come out. It was not pleasant, but I promise I wont go in to detail, no one likes to hear dentist horrors.

I am doing fine. Surprisingly I have not even had to take one paracetamol for the pain which I'm totally baffled about. I must have a high pain threshold or something.

My second appointment was much more straight forward an whooping vaccination to protect baby at birth. The vaccine crosses the placenta to protect baby. I was a bit sceptical but seeing the complications that can arise for a new-born, who would not get this vaccine until two months old.

My arm aches like a thousand bee stings, but I'm glad I had it done for baby's sake.

Despite my week of pain, I have been working on my granny squares blanket. I have working on since the dawn of time; In fact since I started my maternity leave. I have been a force to reckon with regards crochet. Every unfinished project is getting my attention and new stuff is being started.

I finished the baby things. I showed you some booties and a blanket I made a while back. I have since made a  little hat to go with them and I finished it off with a little scalloped edge.

I also made this little fellow, thought it would be nice for the baby, but my other baby who is 14 loved it so much, it stays with the other pile of toys at the bottom of her bed. Teenagers hey!!

Next time, if I have any plants left due to slugs and foes. I will show you my vegetable patch. We shall see....♡

liebster part 2

11 random facts about me:

 1) I  used to teach art classes.
 2) I drink hot tea far to quick.
 3) I love thunder.
 4) Im very clumsy.
 5) im very helpful.
 6) I am a book illustrater, my work is published.
 7) Im the youngest of 6 siblings.
 8) When I was born I had to go in intensive care for two weeks.
 9) Im a determined person.
10) I like milk in mint tea, weird I know!
11) Im terrible at swimming.

Here are 11 questions for my nominees:

1) what is your favourite colour?
2) What makes you laugh?
3) If you were in power what would you do?
4) What is your idea of a perfect day?
5) How did you choose your blogs name?
6)What craft would you like to learn?
7)Whats your Favourite season?
8)What makes you mad?
9)Who inspires you?
10) Are you good at cooking?
11) Whats your happiest memory?


Here are my nominees:



http://whimsycate.blogspot.co.uk/
http://crochetbrio.blogspot.com
http://suzannebramble.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.frenchbydesignblog.com
http://blog.annabelaartistry.net/

http://obancottage.blogspot.com/
http://ak-at-home.blogspot.com/
http://alladagarsomgick.blogspot.com/
http://foundandsewn.blogspot.com/
http://www.bloglovin.com/sumona

Liebster award

I am excited to announce that I have been nominated for a liebster award  by the lovely http://mywoolvalley.blogspot.co.uk/ How this works I have to answer 11 questions set by My wool valley and then tell you 11 random facts about me. So here goes:


1) What gave you the taste to write a blog?

One day by chance I came across a site called blogger. I loved seeing all the things you guys were making. I felt I would like to contribute to this site as I have always loved doing crafts. I decided to start my own blog.

2) How did you learn to craft?

I have always been a creative person and love to make things. I just follow tutorials or just make things up as I go along.

3) What is your favourite writer?

Nicci French books, love them.

4) What are your favourite accessories?

Earrings

5) What is your next craft project?

I am finishing of a granny square blanket

6) Where do you want to live if you had to quit your country?

America looks amazing.

7) What do you think is the hardest thing about blogging?

Sometimes time is an issue, I do not like leaving long gaps between posts.

8) What is your favourite colour to knit or crochet or use to craft?

I love rose pink colours.

9)What is your favourite flower?

I could not just pick one as I love to many types

.

10) What would you do if you were rich?

I would make sure friends and family were ok financially, then I would set up charities to help vulnerable  people.

11) How do you find inspiration for your craft work?

Nature, pinterest, blogger  absolutely any where.

Oh so tired

  I have been  enjoying reading your blogs. I have mostly been reading them the early hours morning because I cannot sleep.  I seem to have a very active baby who likes to kick all night long and most of the day. Hope this is not a taste of things to come when the baby arrives.

  Im taking things a lot easier at the moment. Normaly im very active but due to being pregnant im sitting down a bit more than usual. So what to do? Well theres my unfinished crochet pile, which I have been working through.

 Do you remember this? I started this project yonks ago, it was either going to to be a cushion cover or a bag, or something

.

  I decided to turn it into a cushion and big granny square for the back of the cushion and a generous button hole for a toggle peg button.

   Now I got  more time im hoping to work through a bit more of the pile, and use up all my smaller balls of wool.This way I can move onto my recent yarn purchases and make new things.

  Hopefuly I can do that craft stall one day im always talking about!!

Lastly look at these beautiful  pink roses my hubby brought me, he is so very thoughtful and I love him to bits x

   

Scorcher

Its a sweltering Saturday in England. The temperature is  nearly in the 70s and has been predicted to be in the 80s tomorrow.  I have been in the garden tending to my plants. In fact its so hot I have taken to indoors until it cools down a tad.

   A few weeks ago I planted some vegetables.

I planted corn, red kidney beans, potatoes and cauliflower. little by little, I have seen signs of life emerging. I always find planting things fascinating.

When I was a child my dad was an excellent vegetable grower. When he would go out into the garden I would always follow him. I showed such keen interest. He eventually gave me my own patch to plant what I wanted. Even though he is not here any more, my love of gardening has been sown and has growing ever since.

  I am also enjoying the flowers in my garden, the colours I am seeing are really beautiful. When we moved to our house nearly 3yrs ago we inherited a lot of the last owners plants. The first year I left everything were it was, this gave me an idea of what plants were perennial annuals evergreens etc. The next year lots of moving or simply taking out plants that were not my taste. My mum and  my sister benefited and appreciated from the plants I no longer needed. I miss my garden from my last house, but not the work it was far to big to maintain. This garden is a lovely size and a happy family space.

 
  I have been so doing so many crafts at the moment, due to me having to take things easy what with being pregnant. I fancied a little sewing, I do not do much has I am not that confident. What inspired me to get the sewing machine out was a pink floral bag I brought from a charity shop. looks like it was made by someone at home. I loved the simplicity of the design yet its so strong for carrying my groceries.

  I hate a cupboard full of  plastic carrier bags and So thought I would have a go at copying the bag,  so now i got two nice strong bags and am being good to to the environment bonus!

 Hope you all are have had a good week, and enjoying the weekend. Make it a crafty one, i love seeing what you all been making xx

P.S before I go does anyone know what this shrub is please ?

Super spring day

What a beautiful hot Saturday its been today unfortunately I had to work today. The rest of us got to stay at home (hubby and daughter) So I came in from work and tried to make a crafty bacon sandwich. My hubby was upstairs putting down some laminate flooring and my girl was outside playing. No sooner had I made it there doggy noses caught  a whiff  so they put in there requests for not only bacon but eggs on a sandwich they did enjoy them. Kept them quiet any way.
  Any way a while back I told you all I had a little news, something I have been dying to tell you all. Well my news is.......I am pregnant.
 It been hard news to contain but news I felt was best told when was sure all was well. This was not the case back in June 2013 when I had lost my second child at 8 weeks unknowingly. It was not until my 12 week scan I realised this had happened. What followed after the news nearly claimed my life. I had a life threatening miscarriage and nearly died. Several months elapsed and me and my hubby decided to try a again for our third child. All my scans have been ok. I now feel  I can relax and enjoy being pregnant and am looking forward to my maternity leave.
  So I will be making some little bits and bobs for baby. I am not sure what I am having yet so made an attempt at these little green booties.

I want to crochet some cute bibs next  and what ever else we shall see!
  Hope you all have a good weekend and bank holiday. Right I am off to soak up the last of the sunshine in the garden and relax with a ice lolly, usually would have been a vodka and orange. Not any more!!
 Next time I will show you my garden and what cool stuff I have been up to xxx

Easy Easter

Hi there, hope your enjoying your Easter weekend . I cannot believe how quick the months are flying by, and we have nearly done with April. It was my birthday on the 15th.What a lovely day I had. My hubby and daughter took me for a lovely picnic to celebrate. I really enjoyed my self, but not the getting older part of course!
 In fact we all have had a lovely week Me and my hubby have booked some time off from our jobs so we could all be off with our daughter what with the school holidays.
 The weather has been quite pleasant so we have been on walks to parks to woods and lastly to the beach .We have hung out in the garden, watched films and pretty much any thing we want. It,s been lovely having no time constraints. Time for a spot of baking...... a little crochet too.

 

I  learned a new stitch I have been wanting to have a go at loop stich for a while, thought it looked hard but is quite easy to do.

   Any way hope you all have a nice time getting together with family.Not too many easter eggs mind!!!