Of late!

Heres what I have been up to since I last blogged! Propagating this beautiful  pilea plant from my fellow blogger Claudia. http://wide-eyed-tree.blogspot.co.uk/Its grown so big now and as several babies of its own

Saving french marigold seeds from my garden its very satisfying collecting seeds. I really loved seeing this plant in my garden and it gave me colour right into winter which was nice.

making more Hats for my mother and using up my yarn stash and making other things so I can go yarn shopping,  heaven!!

I  still have my horrid rash, in fact we do here! I have a itchy baby, and teenager we are experimenting with dream cream from lush and skin salvation. Definitely stopping the itching  for a little relief but not clearing up the eczema!

Thinking of new year resolutions, what can I do bigger and better next year thats realistic to continue.

Trying to keep on top of house work and fighting a losing battle.I hate mess and chaos, but sometimes to live another day with a baby you have to leave be till next time.

Thats around up what have you been up to? Did you all have a nice Christmas? Well Im wishing you all a early happy new year, and bye for this year catch you in the next ♥

Hi

So im back, I did not expect to stay away for quite so long, hope you all are all well. So what have I been up to? Well its been a busy time for me for me for almost 15months I have been having 4-5 hours of broken sleep a night with my baby because of her eczema, as you can imagine this would take its toll on your body. I too now am suffering with some kind of possible stress related  allergy I have a itchy rash and its driving me crazy.

  Things have improved with the sleep situation now, so not all doom and gloom and she now is mostly sleeping up to twelve hours at night which is marvellous! One milestone and then another she is also walking which is lovely to see. Hopefully she will outgrow her eczema soon!!

I have been able to indulge in a bit of crafting and have been enjoying making hats I made this one for Holly has the ones in the shop don't fit her head properly. I made it with my luxury merino wool stash. I brought this wool with a few other balls in the sale at John Lewis.

This beautiful shiny yarn this is going to hopefully be turned into something nice for my snail mail buddies. I finally sent all my snail mail, which was posted late due to me feeling blah at the moment

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Lastly I won a giveaway which made my day. I won these beautiful earrings from the beautiful Sandra at San D blog spothttp://sandradunn.blogspot.co.uk/

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So you’re all up to speed with what I have up to, what have you been up to? Let me know. Hope you all had a nice week and hope to catch you all soon ♥

snail mail

Thought I would stop by and let you all know what I have been up to. I have been able to get out into the garden. I have planted up my raised beds with random things. I planted cucumbers, strawberries, tomatoes, rosemary beetroot and spring onions. I later planted the edging of French marigolds which I love.

Last time I blogged I wanted to show you some cool projects and others that I want to have a go at in Prima makes magazine. The Fair Isle bunting I got try. I might convert the chart to crochet.

I have wanted to show you this book called "Snail mail" by Michele Mackintosh. We live in age when everything is computer based such as  emails and texts; however I feel the written word is beautiful.  I love receiving letters and sending cute handmade gifts. Here are some of the cute gifts and beautiful cards and letters I have received over the years from my friends "lily" at  the Red note book  blog spot http://lisbethsnotes.blogspot.co.uk/   and  "Claudia" at  Wideeyedtree http://wide-eyed-tree.blogspot.co.uk/

 I am always open to new snail mail buddies. Do you guys  snail mail? If so this book is a lovely book to own. Did I mention at the back of the book it has cute stickers to add to your letters?

Hope you have enjoyed hearing what I have been up to, till next time then!!!

its been a while

It most definitely been a while since I last blogged, I hope you all haven't forgot me!! In fact a whole year has passed to day since I had my baby girl.  I know it has gone quick right? It’s been a turbulent year; it’s had its up and downs. Mostly struggling with a baby with eczema, which really has impacted on every aspect of family life? I have been managing on mostly four hours of broken sleep a night. Things are improving slowly and my knowledge on the subject has improved significantly. I have read so many medical journals on the subject to find what will help to alleviate or cure her for good.

I have just come back off holiday. We had a little break at a seaside resort and the children enjoyed the beach, and I enjoyed our daily walks to new places. We had so many things to pack for the journey. With not much time with a baby and teenager to do it, I forgot to bring any crafting materials. I did buy a really good craft magazine while holidaying, full of lots of projects I would like to try which has definitely wet my appetite. I want to get stuck back into crafting again, as I have not made much since baby has been born. Here are some of the things I made while pregnant and hopefully I will have more makes to show you soon!

Garden

What I have been up to a little gardening

Using my new watering can i got for my birthday

Admiring me lady

Happy gardening to you all 

P.S checkout out my new blog http://joyabbott.blogspot.co.uk/

Time to blog

Its been a long time since I blogged. I have been desperate the past few weeks to put up a post on my blog, but each time I have tried im either tired or very busy. I so love to blog and I love  reading your blogs.These days its taking extra effort to blog, but I dont care I love this little oulet and I feel I need it more than ever now!

Holly turned 9 months the other day, and her first tooth is on the way. She loves bitting my finger with it. My other daughter turned 15  a couple months back, I made her a very special cake for her birthday and the only one i have attempted to make one for a birthday. She wanted a cake she saw on one of her Japanese shows. This child is obsessed with the Japanese culture, so much so, she as been teaching her self  how to read and speak Japanese. Im so very proud of my big child and she is doing amazingly at school. So the cake she wanted is called strawberry short cake. Its a popular occasion cake in japan for birthdays and such special events. It was seriously yummy.

I have been trying to get on top of the eczema they both suffer with I have been trying various creams but finding what is working a best for them. silk undergarments on Holly. I noticed cotton clothing drank the emollient and then any moisture out of her body leaving her skin like parchment paper, whereas the silk does the opposite. A cream my friend sent me from America is very good for Rebecca. The silk clothes do not come cheap and I believe I can get them on prescription.  I have made a few garments my self to keep down the costs and they work just fine.

 I do not like the hospitals approach to treating eczema its seems they wear blinkers and all they are interested in are steroids. I dont condone them totally when things are very bad. I believe in natural herbal and therapeutic ways to in treating these skin problem too. So far the cream that has helped most is a hemp based cream, I have been refused it on prescription so pay nearly £20,00 a pot for it. I have been told of cheaper hemp based creams so am checking them out.

So you can see why I am so busy and being back at work with a scratchy baby is hard work but not has hard as some mothers day to day struggle.  My friend penny highlighted me to a situation where this child as got this abnormal growth on her head, read the story here.http://snapthatpenny.blogspot.co.uk/ We are trying to raise funds for her to get an operation.  So far certain funds have been raised but not enough yet,  so if you can help let Penny know by visitors her blog please! I am hoping to get a little on line haberdashery up and running,  all proceeds will go to help this poor child get this life saving operation.

Any way will love and leave you all till next time x

spring bedding

When I saw this bed set at ikea I knew I had to have it for my bed. Its been such a long time since I have brought new bedding. I have lots of quilt covers and pillowcases and various bits, but its nice to have a change. I really love how it brightens up my bedroom, and little one loves a good roll on it. She loves to look at the pattern.My bigger child  is like a lazy cat, she likes to lie on my bed too.These days I either find squeaky toys  in the bed or some kind of DS accessory thats babies and teenagers for you!!
Have a good weekend everybody x

update

I hate leaving  pauses between posts but things have been so busy in my household. New baby, a teenager and a husband to look after!! I have one week left of maternity leave, then back to work. Things are about to get a whole lot crazier around here!

I am in know way ready to return ready to work. Im struggling to keep on top of the house work and have been having a mad declutter. Im thinking without out so much clutter things should be easier thope keep clean right? Im humming and rrrrring as to  whether or not to throw out my country living mags. I have about 100 or so. I love to flick through them when I get a minute. Not any more I have hardly looked at one in months. I have been so busy with my little baby.

Holly suffers from very bad eczema and as to watched like an hawk, as she tries to scratch  her self all the time. We have been through tons of emollients and much to my reluctance and a sanity am trialing a steroid baseds cream on the hospitals advice. We also after months of asking now have a dietician, and are trying Holly on a hydrolyzed formula. Early days at the moment but we will have to wait and see. I have a back up plan in case it fails I have ordered skin salvation which is a natural cream to treat eczema and as good reviews

Any way time for an update on those who read the story about the lady in Kenya and responded (see previous posts) Im happy to report she as been home from the hospital now several weeks ago. Sorry for slow update!! I was over the moon when I heard the news from Penny  http://snapthatpenny.blogspot.co.uk/thank you for bringing this to our attention and thank you to all those who donated without your help im sure she would still be in that hospital

The craft swap I organised was such fun to do. I received some serious goodies in the mail. These absolutely beautiful and functional dishcloths knitted by Penny are the best I have ever used and lovely tea which I have now drank. This is what I got from my second give swap buddy.  Her name is Regina and also was the giveaway winner of the yarn and knitting book. Lots of lots of fabric she had left over from a quilit she was making lots of delicious tea to drink, a lovely hand quilted mat for my tea cup, a little orange snail gadget to sit on the side of your cup to wrap the teabag string on, a pair tweezers for doing delicate quilting, a couple of badges good quality thread, and a cute shaped case to put them in. Lastly she so kindly sent me a cream to try on my daughters ezcema. How kind indeed that really touched me was not expecting that!! Thank you both so much you really spoilt me rotten. I hope to do more to help more people in Kenya, I hope to set up an online haberdashery so I can sell little vintage items. The idea is to start a fund so that the money can go where its needed the most to help. More about that another time! Wishing you all a very happy Easter xxx

Trying to be spring!

Its so nice to see the beginnings of spring. New buds forming on my hydrangeas. My little growing collection of house plants all in flower. I have never really been a fan of houseplants I always gotten my plant fix straight from the garden, but since having a baby this has changed. Not being able to frequent the garden as often as I like, and to sit in the garden at my leisure.

I recently brought these little beauty's how cute are the illustrations on the pots, I think they are super!!  Inspired by the there colours, here is a little bunting to brighten up even further the my little porch area which they entertain.

What ever your doing this week enjoy a little creativity xxx

P.S look out for my vintage craft item sale coming soon to raise money for Kenya. Some really good bargains to be had !!

Giving

Hi there, hows it going? I hope you have had a good week. Thank goodness its the weekend   time for a slower pace if life. Things have been a little exhausting lately, but im getting there. More about this another time, we have more pressing matters!

My last posts have been about raising awareness and funds to help a young lady in Kenya. I posted an update on the situation for all those who missed that.

So the moment you all been waiting for the results of the giveaway. I  want to thank all those people who have taken part and those who took an interest. Im sure I speak for Penny too, when i say with out your your help we would not even be close to paying of this bill. So thank you so much indeed!!!

I will continue to provide regular updates on my blog regarding the situation, has it develops, and hope she will be home real soon.

The never fail method of choosing a winner straight from the hat by my eldest daughter. Drum roll............The winner is Regina . Well done to you I will be in touch soon to get your goodies off to you in the post XXX

update

Just wanted to stop by and thank those who took part in my give a craft, give a donation. For those who said they wanted to donate,  its not to late.  My friend penny updated me regarding the situation with the lady in Kenya. If you missed my last post her is a link read the story here. http://snapthatpenny.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-sad-story.html

The situation is to date is that part of  her bill is paid thanks to your donations  but not cleared. This means for the lady in question she is not allowed leave the hospital untill the bill is fully cleared.  The amount roughly and dont quote untill I speak to Penny is just over £200.00. This amount is keeping this lady from going home to her family and her other child at home.

 I dont know about you, but if you ever been away from your child its very hard. When I had a misscarige being away from home was hard, but my husband was able to visit. The emotional side to losing a child never goes away you always grieve. The family were able to to with help a bit of help, able to organise a  funeral for the baby, the sad part the mother was not allowed to attend because of this hospital bill situation, how sad indeed. If you want to donate please do so by contacting Penny for details  kerichojoy@gmail.com

I will be sending again soon another  donation from my own pocket I feel I must do everything I can do to help. Lastly the giveaway winner will be announced next week Friday. if you are quick you might still be able to enter to win these goodies. Good luck xxx

Give a craft give a donation

This blog post is a little different to all my other posts . This one is to highlight the plight of a  pregnant lady in Kenya who was rushed to hospital with complications she sadly lost her baby, she was 31 weeks along. Since then she as been stuck in hospital unable to leave until her hospital bill is paid


A fellow blogger, and where I read this story is trying to raise funds to help this woman. Read her story here. http://snapthatpenny.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/a-sad-story.html The situation of her circumstances and the reason im setting up this appeal is to help this lady pay her bill so she can go home, to grieve for her lost child. This lady must be so fed up and depressed.


I would like to raise some cash to do this and I need your help me and  Penny have donated but we need more funds and your help. so im organising "give a craft give a donation" I want people to send some thing for fun and donate a little to (PLEAiSE NOTE ITEMS CAN BE SENT UP TO TWO WEEKS AFTER THE 20TH OR LATER ) Here's how it works; check out the cool poster my daughter designed  below for details.

Have access to a PayPal account to make a donation ( this can be sent directly) by emailing penny at kerichojoy@gmail.com ( please note donations are voluntary)

Lastly there will be a giveaway. All people who participate  will go in to a draw to win this knitting book and this bag of yarn and patten book.This will be announced at a later date.

Deadline to enter  for the "give a  craft" will be 20th feb this is so I can let every one know which blogger they are to be paired with ( the quicker everyone is paired, the quicker the  crafts can be sent.


If you would like to take part and I really need has many people as possible leave a comment below indicating this. And lastly thank you ever so much ♡♥♡

Joy x

PS DEADLINE IS NOW THE 20TH OF FEB

2015

 Finally my first post of 2015, and a happy new year to you all. Even though my life is a lttle crazier  Im still finding some time for crafting and sketching  two of my favourite past times.

 I have not wanted to give up my  love of crafts and all things creative so have been finding ways to combine them with a baby hard but possible.

I have been following  a blog by a woman called  Alisa Burkes for a while now and this lady's talents are outstanding. She became a mother not to long back and as never looked back she still creates fantastic art. http://alisaburke.blogspot.co.uk/


Crocheting with a little one is hard but doable, she loves grabbing hold of the work, but them plays with her other toys!! At the moment i am working on a ribbed beanie  for my mum. Im so loving this project and can see me finishing this project real soon.This hat idea came from a blog called all about Ami.

lastly  I wanted to show you my little work space I set up. There is my ribbon notice board I posted last year with lots of wonderful cards I have received.  The pink unit is from ikea has are the boxes. This is my little area and right across the room my daughtet as her own area where she creates brilliant manga drawings. We call the room our studio and I love the fact I now have a creative buddy.


Hope you all have a lovely weekend ♡