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 !!