The chocolate fest is over

Easter. What a fab time of the year. At last we have signs of spring... flowers in the flower beds and sunshine in the sky. It's amazing how these two simple things lift everyones spirits. And with that thought, and a few days off looming, it was time to get some flowers in the house. A gorgeous bunch from the local greengrocer graced our tables over easter. Cait and I wondered at the papery leaves, how they fitted around, in and out of each other. So very delicate.





All that without even mentioning chocolate!

Anyway, a few days off to recharge the batteries is very welcome especially with everything that we have going on at the moment. It seems that our house purchase is moving in the right direction and all of the conversations with the builder and planners are really quite exciting. It's a home that I hope we'll stay in for a while so to be able to shape it a little feels good. To create something that we can enjoy living in is a treat that I shall make the most of. We work hard and enjoy the sanctuary of a nice home... and the best bit is that it even looks like I'll get to have my own space.... A space for my clutter or my creativity... depends how you want to look at it...they are so closely linked! Mind, lots of people say clutter stifles creativity.

Creativity has been in the air though as I finally cut out the rest of the Toadstool doorstep and enjoyed a few evenings of hand sewing on the sofa to create this.



I half filled with stuffing and filled some of the canopy and all of the stalk with rice. It's worked better than I thought it was going to and makes a great doorstop... though almost wasted to be down so low on the ground out of sight. Think it might have to live on a shelf in my workroom!

I've also been working on a tunic top for myself. It's an Amy Butler pattern but I've not made clothes for a while and thought I'd refresh my skills. Cait has got the clothes making bug at the moment which I think is where I've got it from. She made a fabulous skirt using a pattern she created in her head and did it all herself. It was a six panel skirt but she had worked out how to shape and measure the panels so that it would fit her waist and she had a zip run the entire length which I thought was really clever. She has a creativity at her age that I didn't and has so many wonderful ideas. I took her off to one of our local fabric shops over Easter and we've both got some fabric to make a halter neck top for the summer.

In a couple of spare moments I did make up a mobile phone sleeve and a tote bag with some felt applique. Sometimes you need a little project to lift the spirits.



I made the inside really neat and tidy by finishing with some cute cotton ribbon I had.



They might also be good prototypes for a stall at a fair that Cait and I are hoping to do together. Cait wants to raise some funds for a big spend she's planning and I've been meaning to do one for ages. It's shortly after our planned move but I'm sure if I put my mind to it, and do a few late nights if needed, I can get enough merchandise together. Cait's already spent a day making some things that she wants to sell so there's no way I want to let her down.

Time passes so quickly

It's really beginning to dawn on me how quickly time passes, and in the world of blogging it seems to pass even faster than normal. It feels like only yesterday I thought about making the large toadstool and yet it's almost three weeks! Well I have made the top and cut out the stem but I've yet to add the cottage character so no piccies of that yet. And no, the girls scrapbooks are no further forward!

Still I've not been idle... maybe that's' my problem I start something and then get distracted!!! Anyway I haven't been idle and I made this lovely card for mothers day which I was really pleased with.

If ever I pass a craft shop when I am out and about I always have to pop in, and I always end up buying something. There's always something that you've never seen before and fearful that you might never spot it again you succumb! Sometimes those things stay stashed for ages and other times you find the perfect use within days. Well this was one of those finds that got used straight away! The button at the centre came from a knitting shop in Hove and matched perfectly with the design style which I'd recently spotted on promotional leaflet. It looked a bit flat with just the one red flower so I layered a couple more. And the best bit... is that they probably still have the buttons in stock so I can go and get some more!

I've also been busy making an organiser for the car now that Niamhy seems to accumulate so much clutter. I'm due to get a new car soon and, just like a new years resolution, I am determined to try and keep it tidy! I made it from an old denim dress from a charity shop and some lovely old curtains that I'd found ages ago at a car boot. I love the blue and white print fabric and have been so reluctant to cut it up but sometimes you just have to take the plunge.



It's worked well and there are slots for pencils when she wants to draw but it dangles near her feet at the moment and she's not keen. I think I need to attach some ribbon and tie it round the passenger chair.



We've also made progress on the house we like and it looks like it could be a really exciting project. It's not a wreck or anything like that, in fact it was not that long ago extended, but we've got some great ideas and having had a builder around it looks like their feasible. I'll say no more for now but could be boring you with it in the months to come! It's funny how life works out as well because my dear friend, affectionately known as Boatlady, is going to be undergoing some works on her house at about the same time. There'll be someone to understand when I can't cope with the mess and want my tranquility back, and vice versa!

And what of the owl doorstep? Well I'm told the photo shoot went well and that he'll be staring in the May edition of Sew Hip due out at the end of April. I'm really excited to see how it looks and how the pattern reads in print. It'll be even more exciting if a reader sends in a photo of one they've made!

Doorstops continued

Suddenly occurred to me last night that I wonder what one of the toadstools might look like as a larger version and a doorstop.... the wondering got to me so I've started one! Will keep you posted. I am sure that there are more important things that I should be doing!

I've also promised myself that I really must sort out the scrapbooks that I started on the girls. They've each got a scrap book that I started when they were babies. It contains a few photos and pictures, hand made cards etc from each year of their life. I've got all the bits to go in them.. the shameful bit is that I've not properly updated them for about two or three years now! So this is my attempt to embarrass myself into it. If I've gone public then I've got not excuse not to get them sorted!

Daydreaming

Well it's been a bit of a week really.

We've been house hunting for some time, but it looks like we might have finally found somewhere. We've been in rented since last summer and whilst its a nice house it's not like living in your own, especially when you are a creative cafty sort of person. I won't say more than that for fear of jinxing us but when things start moving I'll spill.

I also decided to write to one of my favourite mags and see if they might be interested in printing a pattern for my owl doorstop. I was so chuffed when I heard on Friday that they are. Have got to package one up and send it off for a photo shoot and I've no idea when it will be published but the whole thing is quite exciting. It's got my head buzzing about all sorts of ideas.

So between thinking about a new house and crafting I am probably spending a little too much time day dreaming right now, especially when I've got 5 major birthdays and mothers day to think about this month! Still sometimes when you're busy everything begins to drop into place that bit easier.... I think its called momentum. I am also determined to try and finish the stock I have been making for a new etsy shop and I'll keep you posted on that too.

But in all the excitement and day dreaming I did manage to finish the mushroom that I'd started last week so here's a pic of it with Caits toadstool. We're both really pleased with them.

Angel

I took these photos earlier and want to share them. I think they're great. I made the dress for Niamhs christmas show, which due to the weather they only performed once and it was the performance I couldn't make! As there weren't any performance shots to keep for the future I persuaded her to dress up this afternoon. I'm glad I did, she was in a lovely looning mood.

Owl No.2

Thought I'd have another go at making an owl. This time out of an old sweater and felts. What do you think? I'm wondering if I might make this in to my first tutorial. I always think it's lovely when you find a tutorial to inspire you.



Cait and I are working on felt toadstools and mushrooms at the moment. They are quite fun and I'll let you see them when they are finished.

I've had a few days off this week what with it being half term, and with typical half term weather there were plenty of excuses to do some crafting. Cait made a skirt out of an old jumper which turned out really well and we made necklaces, brooches and hairclips! Girly Girly Girly. Niamh helped choose the buttons which was great and they were dead simple with a little help from a glue gun.



So we've all had a lovely week, Mr BB had time off too, and from tomorrow it's back to the normal routine. Still, I've got a few projects on the go to keep me busy in the evenings and after being introduced to Six Feet Under (you may have seen it on Channel 4 a few years back) there's even something to unwind to - now that I've bought the five series box set! Not normally a telly monster but sometimes I do enjoy a bit of sofa loving. Oh and we're house hunting with fresh impetus so I don't think I'm likely to be bored.

Ta da!

Well I finally got myself organised to buy the cushion pad and then I had no excuse not to finish it. It didn't take too long to make up, once I'd decided what fastening I was going to do and I found the perfect button in my button stash!




I have also decided that I may try to perfect the owl doorstop and have another on the go... will keep you posted on the progress... this time I'm using an old jumper and some felt. May even do a tutorial.

And speaking of felt I bought some lovely scraps at a craft fair at the Brighton Centre last weekend. Lovely shades of blue and green... So I got busy and made a new home card for my in laws who have just moved up north. I can't seem to work out how to rotate the piccie and the card's been sent so you'll have to see it sideways! I've never had much success with french knots but this time they seemed to work for me so there's a white rose growing up the outside.




And as mummy was busy with the camera Niamh felt the need to be too so I'm pleased to introduce Butterfly the white cat and Mittens the grey kitten!!!



And this is Niamh the fairy making herself very helpful in the kitchen!