Suzie Sews

Moving Home...Changing my life

2010-07-16T03:36:00.000-07:00

Accepting the changes and challenges of my new life... I have moved.

http://dottyred.blogspot.com

I thank each and everyone of your for the beautiful comments that really touched my heart on my last post.

Why do you blog?

2010-01-26T07:03:00.000-08:00

Why do you blog. Recent events have made me ask myself this question. I started reading blogs a number of years ago. I wanted to join in but being insecure and worrying about my dyslexia I believed I couldn't do it. I had a cancer scare, I carried it on my own, I watched three people pass away from this illness and I started to think about my own children, how would they would remember me and all we did together. Soon the urge to join in and feel like I belonged someplace overtook my insecurities and before I knew it I was blogging. Recording all the nice bits in my life, happy times with my children, what we did, a record of our holidays and quality times. Like most of us in blogland we keep away from the rubbish in our lives choosing to record only the positive. I had a place to store my pictures which improved my skills. I became more focused on my creative side and found that people would commission work, I was asked to write for two local magazines. A lot has come out of my blog.

Friendship.

An invaluable record of my time with my children that they are able to look at and enjoy.

Work, commissions and photos sold as art.

General focus in my life.

Keeping in touch with friends and Godparents

Yes indeed its been a fabulous place for me. Yes I know my dyslexic meanderings can be a bit tiresome. I have even received emails pointing me in the direction of correctness. I force no one to read my blog, the choice is yours. Mainly I do it for my children.

Sadly I am forced to end this happy relationship as I watch my blog be used as a tool of manipulation. At present it is not the safe place for me and my boys that it was.

I am still here, I am still in blogland and I hope very much to return soon.

Thank you for all your support, each and every comment, the friendship and creative spirit here is wonderful, if I have inspired just one person I am happy.

Take care my friends, make play, friends and family a focus in your lives and craft on.

2010-01-20T05:36:00.000-08:00

Atishoo...atishoo...sorry a bit snuffly here. I guess that's why a few days of none blogging has just slipped me by. Shhhhhhh don't tell anyone but I quite like being a little off colour. Shhhhhhh!!!! No seriously, obviously I dislike being ill immensely, but when I am still with it but just need to cosy up with hot drinks, vitamin c and a some paracetamol. Well the excuse to stay indoors and not do housework, well it sits well with my creative spirit...Before the 'snots' got a big hold of me I had my day at the crochet work shop with the lovely Sarah (From Rowan). This lady has the patience of a saint and before you knew it a table of learners (after munching into muffins and warming endless cups of coffee) sat with smiles on their faces, well actually a few with tongues poking out of their mouth in pure concentration, all happily hooking away. Yes a fabulous day, and yes I feel able to say that one of my New Years Resolutions to learn to crochet properly can now be ticked off.
So with a poorly house hold I found myself a little corner, put my feet up, put on radio 4, and clicked away for a good few hours.
With the snow starting to melt and the pools of water collating all over the place I am wearing my winter woollies less, but my hat (made last February) has been worn most days on the school walk. So good for bad hair days. When I spotted a lush colour of the same yarn I popped it in my shopping bag and rushed it home to start the process off again, who knows maybe next winter this might be my most worn winter hat!!!
When my babes had been safely ensconced into school I still had the excuse of feeling poorly which again gave me the excuse to venture into my sewing room rather than deal with the mounting laundry. Easy projects though, not complicated as I didn't want to hurt my head. Ermmmmm, that would be cushions then...
Two new cushions for my child's bedroom and a big sloppy cushion for sitting up in bed at night reading or maybe a little knitting.
Now what else is an easy project but with a little more bite to it, Oh yes a couple of PJ bags for my boys. Don't you just hate the way that in the evening you can not find your children's PJs or the book/comic they are reading? Or is this just my babes? Anyway a couple of simple bags that can be slung over the bedsteads and keep their bedtime stuff together in one place, I hope, seemed like a good thing to me.
Not a very flowing post this... in fact I am all over the place, but that's how my passed week has been. A little bit of this and a little bit of that...On the 'little' front my youngest has been asking me for a weeks now to make his bedtime bunny some clothes, I confess, I did not jump to the request...untill...he said he wanted the bunny dressed in girls clothes because she is a pretty girlie bunny.
So as a mother of two boys, blue, green, red and at a push a little pinch of apricot is about as colourful as they get. So to play about with pink...BLISS!!! Maybe I went a little too far, this is for the little boy who thinks he is Indiana Jones.
NO, if your going to do something you must do it as you think is right, What could be more girlie than a ballerina. Out with the tulle and the pretties of my ribbons, beautiful pink yarn...
One little white bunny transformed into a pretty ballerina. Bunny was received with delight, oh but she now sits by his bed. On asking why bunny doesn't get a cuddle anymore, "oh she is much too pretty for that now Mommy." You win some you lose some I guess....

Work in progress...

2010-01-12T03:21:00.000-08:00

So things are getting done around here, quietly and almost organically. Slowly, slowly throughout the day the sewing and knitting and even a little bit of hooking are creeping into all the areas of my day, just a few minutes here and there. Instead of rushing around and worrying about things I have no control over, that time is being replaced by something constructive, tactile and most of all calming... the joy of making things...
The winter warmer jacket is on its way and I am loving the colour of the yarn, its a nice easy knit and quick too. As I sit for a few minutes amongst the chaos of toys and laundry waiting to be done, I cross my legs and knit a couple of rows...
When the chores are done and the children are snuggled up fast asleep at the end of their day, I creep happily into my sewing room with a tray of tea and play...
Felt and buttons, just small happy little object of fun and colour, to chase away the winter blues...
The quilt has now been quilted (folded to show back and front). I whizzed through this in a few hours, methodical and almost hypnotic, straight quilted lines in opposite direction of the jelly roll quilt fabric. Creative Mom Podcast on the ipod to keep me company, how I love this women's voice and her choice of music always sits well with me. If you have not listened to here before I really recommend you do. Little sound bites from here children is a lovely personal touch and remind me of my own two boys.
So today is housework day, laundry, changing the sheets and generally putting stuff in its rightful place...Later this afternoon before the school run, its an hour in the kitchen making another batch of cakes, I have my eye on a banana, chocolate and crystallised ginger cake recipe I would like to try. I even bought old bananas (35p for 10) at the supermarket as bananas don't sit around much in this house, so to make banana cakes sounds like a good idea to me...it also means a chance to warm up in the kitchen, trying not to put the heating on in the day but its sooooooooooo chilly just now.

I love the time when the children come home from school, its a precious time that if you blink its gone, a few minutes when my little family sit around the kitchen table, with milk and cookies or some other homemade treat to keep the babes (and me) going till supper time. Its the time to chat about the day and plan the evening before they rush off to play.

Have a great day what ever you are up to.

Housebound

2010-01-10T05:10:00.000-08:00

Still housebound here, I actually managed to get the car out, only to drive up the road and nearly miss a car swerve into the side of me. So the car has remained a good walk away from the house (I live on a hill and there are no cars driving down my road). I managed a food shop, so the fridge is full and stocked up on cake making goodness and of course extra Hot Chocolate and marshmallows. Keeping me warm in my sewing is is my quilt work, nothing like managing a big quilt to keep the legs warm whilst in my sewing room, its so chilly that it shows your breath as 'dragons breath' as it escapes your warm body into the cold air. I am hunkering down in the kitchen most of the time. My kitchen is a haven of warmth and love, it really is the heart of this family home. Its big enough to hold a big old pine table with a miss match of chairs around it, I religiously change the oil cloth cover monthly, this makes me happy. It has a small sofa in the corner that the children cuddle up on with cushions and quilts to keep them toasty. The floor is big enough for a train track to be laid out on and of course the kitchens the place all the food is prepared...
So my pile of books (see last post) sit on my kitchen table, and slowly I am devouring each book. It would only be right that I sit down with a cup of something warming and some sweet treat to help me in my reading.
Over the last few days I have made various cakes and cookies from the Hummingbird bakery cook book has each one has turned out fabulous and scrumptious...
My favourite so far being the marshmallow cup cakes... delightful
So the view from my kitchen window is still rather white, its so cold here and many layers are needed to keep warm, last night while I sat by the fire, I pulled out from my wool stash the biggest chunkiest yarn I could find and started on a winter warmer jacket on HUGE needles.

I have a big treat next week, I am going on a crochet work shop, now I have been doing a little crochet myself, all self taught, but I fear what I call a treble stitch is not actually what it is, so I thought it would be an excellent way to meet up with some fellow yarn type people after days, no weeks, of not really seeing anyone, and an opportunity to learn a new skill, but the best bit is to spend the Christmas money that is burning a little hole in my pocket with the promise I made to the giver to only spend it on something for myself.

Right time for a cup of tea to warm my fingers up and put the oven on and pull out my knitting, Oh how I love lazy Sundays, by far the best day of the week.

and it just kept snowing...

2010-01-07T04:14:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year.Sad farewell to all the Christmas magic and the sparkling lights...
all boxed away nice and safe...
and yet it just keeps snowing...
So what a better way to accept the cold than to curl up with masses of BOOK inspiration (Thank you Santa, I must have been a very good girl last year)...
with bundles of fabric and lots of other sewing goodness, you will find me in front of my fire, mug of hot Chocolate (and maybe a nip of Brandy in there at bedtime) drooling over my books with a head full of the years sewing plans...

I would like to wish you a creative New Year.

The Suzie Sews HOME at Christmas...

2009-12-29T02:12:00.000-08:00

Wishing you all the very best for the New year celebrations, I hope you find the time to live in the moment, also reflect a little on your year and dream about the hopes of the new decade to come.

A few little moments captured here at my place...It most probably is the last Christmas we will spend in this home, the home I raised my babies in, memories in every corner, history painted into the walls, this place I call my family home. So we relaxed into the Christmas mode and celebrated the season with our loved ones and friends.

Hope you made some great memories this Christmas...

Handmade Christmas...
Family hands...
Bauble Christmas tree...
Sweet Christmas tree (made by my children)...
Christmas morning...
Baby its cold outside...
Snow Balls...
Knitted mittens...
Bunny love...
Getting the Christmas dinner to the home...
Santa's letters...
Decorating the home...
popcorn...
left over decorations put to use...
crochet trees being blocked...
From the Kitchen...
Christmas gifts...
Baking...
Adding sparkle (very Kirstie)!!!
Gifts from my kitchen...

WISHING YOU ONLY THE BEST AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE GOOD TIMES AHEAD.

Back on line....Snowed in.....

2009-12-21T11:13:00.000-08:00

I can not tell you how pleased I am to be back on line, its kinda lonely being a stay at home Mom and the computer is very much a life line for my sanity. So to be without it, no fault of my own, has pushed me a little to the edge...My eldest child is now sharing my Mac computer with me as he is in his final year of primary and has lots of computer work to be doing, sadly the lack of computer has had some repercussions with his school work ... anyway here I am, a few days to Christmas with no posts of all the Christmas making and activities, yes sad I know... Its been a difficult few weeks for various reasons and I thank you for your personal emails. They have meant so much to me and kept me smiling through.

At present I am snowed in, its blue skies and deep snow, its magical...I was at my children's Nativity and the Vicar of the church gave a blessing, talking about forgetting about worries, money, material worth and to let go and enjoy the joy of the season, love, health and sharing our time with those we love in the spirit of the season. The best advise I have heard in a while, so with these words ringing in my ears, the house has that special Christmas atmosphere and there is children's laughter ringing through the rooms, the fire warms our toes and the lights twinkle. Yes indeed a time to let go of worries and just spend time in the moment the moment that is Christmas.

Again I thank you for your support, this creative blogging community of ours is fabulous for that. I hope to post tomorrow about the creative things going on around here... enjoy your Christmas time!

Missing

2009-12-12T06:45:00.000-08:00

JUST A QUICK POP IN TO SAY I AM OFF LINE, BIG PROBLEMS WITH AOL. WAITING, FOR DAYS NOW, TO BE BACK ON LINE. WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST AND HOPE TO BE BACK SOON.

December December full of Christmas Cheer

2009-11-30T14:48:00.000-08:00

The moon is full and there is a nip in the air that can't be ignored. The wonderful smell of wood smoke fills the senses as all the fires start to be lit. The first of December is near.Busy little fingers are making, baking, sewing, knitting and getting busy with a hook, my days play along to the hum of my sewing machine. Yes its that time when this Mommy gets too busy to blog as I am so busy making for the big day. Wanted to pop in and say hello and wish you a Happy December. A lot is going on in the Suzie Sews household, some good and some not so good, but presents and decorations are busy underway, my calender is filling up by the hour, school concerts, appointments and all things BUSY!!! Its the time of year when the house comes alive, people popping in to say hello and being warmed by a glass of mulled wine.

The school fair has been and gone is a flurry of baking a few dozen cakes, its the first time of not being able to help on the day. I have to admit it was nice to go along and support the event with my children, especially meeting Santa.

By the end of each day, the children are asleep, I have plans to settle in my sewing room or stand over my stove to make some more tasty money saving treats...somehow though I only seem to manage to curl up on the sofa in front of the fire with a warming class of rich red wine ...dreaming of all things cosy.

Can you hear it....

2009-11-26T15:11:00.000-08:00

Can you hear it?

Can you feel it?

Its on its way... soon you will have that giddy feeling in your tummy, the winter will take on a romantic slant, it will be all about cosy nights around the fire, quilts over the knees, twinkling lights, hot chocolate with marshmallows or rich warming mulled wine in the local pub after a walk over the moors, all with the soundtrack of carols and Christmas songs from many years each one bringing you memories of time gone by.
OH my word, yes I am feeling Christmassy, it just kinda snuck up on me, suddenly it was November a grey miserable month for me personally, it marks the end of outdoor play, time on the beach and just being outside. November holds some unpleasant memories for me. So one minute I was looking out of my kitchen window to my view over the hills, watching the clouds racing across the sky bringing with them so much rain, feeling sad inside and desperate for brighter days. The next minute I am in my sewing room, going through my Christmas craft books and sewing in red, white and green fabric... MAKING ME SMILE!!!
Today I started the Christmas baking, the rich warming smells of cinnamon and spice, the warmth from the cooker chases away the blues, and the Christmas cake finally gets started...
The fruits steeps in brandy,I treat my boys to Christmas ham for supper (Nigella's Ham in Coke) and of course all the baking calls for the thick, runny jewel coloured delights of syrup and treacle...
Oh yes the tasty treats of Christmas are just warming the heart of my home right now...
Happy Thanksgiving to those of you who celebrate it. I heard on the radio today a debate about the British adopting the day, it was described as Christmas without the stress of presents a day to count your blessings. I believe in our crafty blogging community we have the gift of counting our blessing anyway, but a day to think and share it with those we love, a day with food and tradition...yes Happy Thanksgiving.

A stitch in time...

2009-11-23T01:54:00.000-08:00

First I just wanted to say a very HEARTFELT thanks for your wonderful comments and personal emails on my last post. I feel privileged to be part of this blogging community.I got an email asking me about the bunting on a previous post. So I thought I would share with you the sewing that has been going on here at the 'Suzie Sews Household" indeed my machine has been working quite hard and I am going through needles at a fair rate. Obviously Christmas is nearer than ever and I have been getting a little worked up about the lack of money in the bank and the amount of children to buy for. So I have thinking about the handmade pledge, so when I can retreat into my sewing room I DO at every opportunity.
Looking for fast but effective projects that hopefully will be received with knowledge that they have been made with love. From the choice of design, colour, fabric and how they are packaged.
So I have been making a little selection of child friendly goodies. I can show you this one as it was a birthday gift for a cutie, so no worries about giving the Christmas list away...
The bunting is made using a PLATE pattern, just the same as the bunting flags but using a small (or required size) plate as a template, just draw around half of the plate on the fold of the fabric. All held together with coordinating bias binding. The fabric envelope came from The lovely book - Patchwork Gifts.

Do you worry about your handmade gifts...I do, I know I can sew and the product is of an acceptable standard, I know the design is also acceptable, but when your giving handmade rather than selling it, you know if they buy it they want it. That little bit if insecurity that the recipient is smiling at you but actually thinking "OH NO, not another handmade gift" My insecurity comes from my Mom, she loves me but she does not get me. For years I always handmade her cards...one day it was mentioned that I did not think enough of my friends to go out and BUY a card. It was a harmless comment but it has made me question my gift giving. Now don't get me wrong, I have a couple of friends (yes that's you Kate and Caroline) who I know would actually be upset with me if I bought them a gift, so is it just me or is it just creative insecurity?

Forgive my indulgence here, my guys on the beach, I am so missing the beach, yes even in winter, on a cold blowy day, all wrapped up with your gum boots on, a warming mug of Hot Chocolate to warm up the hands... Yes time on the beach makes this Mommy a Happy Mommy!

Back to the sewing room...

Room with a view...

2009-11-13T13:09:00.000-08:00

In Memory of my Dad

I know I am lucky, I awake every morning and as I pull back my bedroom curtain this is the view I am greeted with...

These hills and moorland bring me a strange comfort, each and every season offers up its own show of colour, the last month I have watched the moors turn from a rich, almost surreal green to a bleak and barren rust. The leaves in my garden have nearly all dropped now except for the evergreens, revealing more of the nearer hills. Yes these hills bring me comfort, this place I call home.

As I type, its early evening, the wind is howling around the house, the rain is lashing on my kitchen window, I have a pot of Earl Grey Tea and a little crochet project to hand, the babes are fast asleep and the house is quite allowing me to listen to the weather beating against my home.

Tonight I sit and think of my Dad, its five years since I sat by his bedside, his last night on earth. I find it hard to believe that the time has flown by and yet if I shut my eyes I am in his hospice room with him, a soft light glows in the corner of the room, the smells and the sound of the the comings and goings going on outside that little room...its carved into my memory, its so vivid. I lost my Dad to cancer over a period of six weeks he went from being a strong and creative man to a shell of himself, I watched his body fail him and painfully shut down, I had to listen hard as his speech slurred towards the end, I spent the night by his bedside, scared, unsure of my ability to care for his needs and praying for his peace. Its a night I reflect on with contrasting emotions.

I paced his room when he was conscious, I talked about the moon, a full moon on a clear night, knowing that he will never see such a sight again. As the night wore on and I curled up in the chair next to him, stirring at every movement and sound, we would make eye contact and through his pain he would 'wink' at me. Its a night I want forget, I don't want to, it was a privilege to have spent such a personal time with him.

The following day with his immediate family around his bed he passed away, he fought it all the way. Its the worst experience of my life, watching someone you love pass away. Watching someone you love go through more pain than you could imagine. Its also the most intimate experience, those hours with my Dad and the weeks before, when everyone had gone home I would sneak in and see my Dad on my own, we talked, we laughed we shared information about our lives that we never knew about. It was special. I feel blessed that I was able to say everything I wanted to, we argued over silly things, we laughed about previous upsets and silly things that go on within a family.

My Dad and I often rowed, not big rows we just disagreed a lot. It took his passing to see that my Dad and I were so similar. I type with sadness in my heart, however I also feel great affection, I remember the hours we spent talking about photography, he gave me his beloved camera whilst he went into hospital, I would take pictures and then take them into show him, he would tell me if they were good or bad, how I should have thought about the light, the background etc... he passed on something special to me, he gave me a gift above the materal. With every click of his camera it was as if his hand was over mine...'Do it like this Suzie' 'Look at the light Suzie' 'No No its all wrong' 'Perfect Suzie' I could hear him guide me. My Mom wanted the camera back after his passing as she also understood his love for his camera. I gave it up with a heavy heart. You now though, if I really listen, if I look at the moon when it shines in its fullness, I don't need his camera, his voice is all around...

I love you Dad, I miss you like nothing else, my boys are doing fabulously and oh how you would love them. Rest in peace and may you feel the wings of the angels around you. I love you.

Getting my groove back.... it must be near Christmas

2009-11-10T15:17:00.001-08:00

I lost it there for a while, that need, every day having to make something, anything, as long as I made it with my hands... I have tinkered, its not been a passion more of a habit this past year. BUT... Its back, its been working its way back to me for a few weeks now and finally it 'HIT ME' at Autumn half term.
All those ideas and colours kept popping in my mind, no time, finding time has been difficult of late... but with a week without housework or appointments and the general stress of usual living on hold for a week, well I GOT MY GROOVE BACK.
The ideas flooded my mind so much so I pulled out my note book and drew and made notes of the ideas in my head, ready to put those ideas into reality...
There was a lot of playing, some failures and some successes. Most of all it was fun and made me smile... before I knew it those little piles of goodies started to grow. Little bits of silliness to brighten up a winters day.
I was asked to have a stand at a craft stall, the shock when I realised I had NO stock. To be fair this year, the run up to Christmas and the craft fairs will have to go without my little goodies, too much to juggle, transport, childcare and initial cost of the stand...all obstacles...

BUT its given me a nudge, no its given me a big push... to get my act together and start doing what I like, start making my stock a little healthier than just the odd corsage... yes my GROOVE IS BACK.

Autumn break catchup

2009-11-04T01:28:00.000-08:00

So my gypsy travelling is now over for another year, I spend most of my Spring and Summer weekends heading out to the beach. With the last half term holiday of the year I headed out one last time to stand on a deserted beach, feel the sea breeze through my hair, take in the sights, sounds and smells of this special place, this place that makes me feel at peace with the world no matter what is going on in my life. Yes indeed, I have said it before and I will say it again, the beach is a special place for my the soul...
At this time of year it offers a place of solitude and empowerment, its vast expanse of sand and never ending sea makes me happy to be alive. So the children and I spent as much time as possible here, we set up camp near the sand dunes, a little camping stove to make a bowl of pasta and pesto to keep the chills away.
Whilst the babes played in the sand and ran their little legs off I snuggled up under a blanket and pulled out my yarn, yes many things have been knitted and hooked on the beach this year.
We stayed each day until the warmth from the sun dissipated and the light started to fade...
Of course time on the beach would not be complete without a paddle in the sea...
But it is Autumn break and this means lots of walks through woods, the simple pleasure of kicking up leaves and listening to the children giggle as they lose themselves in the piles of fallen leaves, collecting token gifts from the season, rich blood red leaves and acorn cups...
Yes the delights of the season we enjoyed to the full. It was a difficult time for me personally, this holiday marks the first anniversary to the devastating changes that have gone on in my life, this time last year my life was in a different place and I was indeed a different person, it fills my heart with sadness at the loss and pain. Then I look at the year I have been through and I gain strength through all I have achieved on my own, I am ME, if anything I am now a better ME as I am indeed happier. The people I spend time with now want to be with me, like me for who I am and allow my creative spirit to shine.
I am a Mom and my creativity is a huge part of who I am and why I mother the way I do. I have learnt a lot this year, I still have some learning to do. BUT... my children are the absolute centre of my world, the gift that they are fills me with awesomeness. Indeed my life my be different, with worries, uncertainty and instability BUT... it is filled with love, riches beyond the material world and full of existing opportunities...
When the going gets tough this family gets the paint out, finds a creative space and we do 'our thing' until our soul is settled again.
So the week drew to an end the leaves are now nearly all on the ground, the land is snuggling up under the earth to rest, ready to flourish and bloom again next spring...

I hope your week was filled with memories to warm you through the coming months, its that time when the nights draw in, getting cosy under quilts, watching movies, eating pop corn, red wine, deep baths with candles and fluffy white towels, flickering fires to warm your toes up on, beautiful wool yarn and creative evenings and wet weekends splashing in puddles...

Enjoy

Today, this day...I am a city girl!

2009-10-23T13:56:00.000-07:00

I swap my boots and pull on my posh shoes, throw my handbag over my shoulder and meet up with a friend and head for the city. A country girl, that's me, not a big fan of city living and not really a good shopper, but on this beautiful sunny autumnal day with the leaves falling like confetti I swapped my usual day to day routine for a trip into the city...

As you would expect the day included drinking and people watching in funky little cafes...
A little bit of retail therapy, topping up on my bead stash...
Looking around for views the city could entice me with...
A stroll around the Craft Village and a fabric shop, yes all in all, this was my kinda day in the city, no chain stores, no being elbowed by grumpy shoppers. A gentle stroll around the best the city can over in the way of crafty goodness, retro magic and vintage chic. Oh and followed by a long and lazy lunch, a treat indeed.
After all this retail therapy I am taking my head full of ideas of things to make, a box of felt n thread, a bag of yarn and of course my two most favourite people in the world and we are heading to the beach for the half term break. A crafty box is all made up for the children for the days when the weather keeps us indoors, our wellies are packed and our winter coats, hats and gloves are all ready for us to head off for a few days.

I wish you a fabulous week, what ever you are doing... now how much felt do you think I can use in a week.......................................................

Watching the seasons pass by...

2009-10-20T04:52:00.000-07:00

Is it an age thing, that suddenly the time is going by too quickly? Is it that I see my children growing too fast? Is it the end of another summer, time to hunker down for the worst of the British weather...

I am aware of each and every passing season this year, more so than usual, the changes, the smells and mostly the colours that each season brings with its own particular time.
The way the light changes, the warmth or lack of it from the sun, the colours of the moors around me, what the farmers are doing with their crops and what animals are snaffling around.
The seasons are also marked by my hands, what I desire in my hands changes with the passing of the seasons, cooling cottons in the summer and rich warm wool in the winter, I sew more in the summer and I knit more in the winter. The food I cook changes also, my cookery books lay out before me as I try and look for economical heart warming dishes and I think about getting the slow cooker out for another stint of 'stew' cooking...
So as it gets darker and the weather chills the heart of the home, a new 'hottie' cover is made to keep me snug at night...
I love this spotty fabric, I love spots, but I bought this years ago and have used many meters of the fabric, it always makes me smile, especially when I look at my youngest babe and I remember I made fleece nappy covers with this happy fabric, hard to imagine now as my youngest runs into school with mischief in his eyes... Yes the passing of time features daily for me at the moment. Lots of thoughts of this time last year, so much is the same and equally so much is so different.

Whatever you are up to as the last days of Autumn pass us by I wish you happiness and good health. Half term here next week, I am busy sorting out crafty things for the children and I to do as we run off for our last week to our little place by the sea and bid it a heartfelt sad goodbye.

Chasing away the blues...

2009-10-11T10:42:00.000-07:00

As another evening brings the weekend to a close, I sit here at my kitchen table while my babes sleep peacefully, a glass of rich red wine in hand to send a glow to my cheeks, I reflect on the last few days. The coughs and colds have dragged us down a little and halted our usual play. Not one to miss an opportunity though I did snuggle up under the quilts with my wee ones and start to sew together my blanket...I am so loving the colors and the peaceful therapy the repetitive action this project brings to me.
Its also been a time for catching up on a few unfinished projects, including the knitted cupcakes, usually finished off with a cherry I thought a change was in order and I used the lovely personable 'Little Cotton Rabbits' free pattern for a cupcake flower, rather pleased with the results too.
There is only so much of 'staying in' my boys and I can cope with... so when the calpol had kicked in we escaped for the weekend by the beach, only we never got to the beach, we relished the gifts of Autumn and went on a little nature walk in its place.
With the trees showing off their own fireworks, the chill in the air and the beautiful light that filters through the late afternoon air, it was a perfect day for a walk through the woods. The children running through the fields and splashing in the stream...
...yes if only Autumn did not mark the end of the summer I could truly enjoy this season...

I hope your weekend was bathed in the rays of the Autumnal sun and your time was spent with loved ones...

Bag it...

2009-10-07T09:41:00.000-07:00

We have been hit by swine flu... well a bad cold or what ever seems to be the thing that's going around. Its meant time not leaving the home for many days. With lots of cuddles and calpol!!!Nights spent checking temperatures and days changing bedding. But with a few hours of children spent curled up on the sofa covered in quilts sipping juice, I actually sat down and got my sewing head on...
Its Autumn, which means a new season which in turn equals a new bag...
So taking my inspiration from the colours of the season I played about with some scraps and put this little number together...
A bag that makes me smile!!!
Amazing what a little bundle of felt can inspire....

Accepting Autumn...

2009-09-27T08:28:00.000-07:00

Autumn is a funny time for me, I appreciate the beautiful colours I even look forward to the warm cosy evenings snuggling up in front of the fire with beautiful wool to knit with or cosy cord to sew. Spending time in my kitchen in the day cooking up hearty meals and of course getting my slow cooker out for all those warming stews and casseroles. But... I am a summer girl and of course Autumn marks the end of those long lovely days out in the fresh air, time spent on beaches and swimming in the sea, eating food outside and BBQs, flowing easy dressing, make up free thanks to the freckles the sun has blessed me with. Yes its a time of sadness for me. However with so much change going on in my life I am more accepting even welcoming this year of the visible changes on the land that mark the passing of time.
Yes, accepting... enjoying the dew kissed grass in the early mornings as I let the animals out to play for the day, the change in clothes as I pull out all my beautiful knitted tops which wrap around me like a second skin, re heeling my favourite boots and sorting out my socks and funky tights ready for the cooler days.
Of course if your a blog reader you can not helped but have noticed the many posts about the seasonal fruits, sadly my pair tree has a nasty disease and the pears are inedible this year, but the apples (not from my own garden but a welcome gift) are a treat this year, so on a cooler, wetter day whilst the babes worked hard at school, this Mommy peeled chopped and baked...
Topping up the larder and the freezer, little bags of apple sauce ready for a winters worth of roast dinners and of course Christmas Dinner with homemade apple sauce and pies for those times when you need a treat of a pudding... did I really say Christmas then?
Yes I accept the changes around me and this year I even embrace it, without even realising it I have noticed my selection of colours has changed from bright to darker earthy tones in what I wear and indeed what I sew.....

I wish you a wonderful week as day by day the leaves on the trees change and the grass needs mowing less...

Happy Hooker

2009-09-22T02:25:00.000-07:00

Back in my kitchen after a couple of glorious days on the beach, it felt like the last few days of summer and as the seasons are changing I wanted to get out there and make the most of the warm rays of sunshine on my skin before I pull on the long sleeves and boots! SO forgive my absence but I was doing what I do best and spending time on the beach.
When not on the beach this past week, I was sitting in my rather overgrown garden (due to being away at the beach all summer) trying to teach myself to crochet, you may remember I tried this a couple of years ago and I just got frustrated by all the ends to sew in. A little wiser now and with the desire to make a ripple crochet blanket with stash, (my yarn diet lasted 9 weeks, then I needed to finish a project and had to buy a couple of balls). The desire outweighs my capabilities and as I poked around blogland I saw I was not the only one with this desire, must be the thought of the cooler and darker evenings. The lovely MOOGSMUM directed me to ATTICA24. A delight of a blog, and with the news of a new baby, I poured through the many pages of this informative and beautifully put together blog.
SO I sat with my laptop and my knitting bag and worked through one of her tutorials. Within a couple of days I was one Happy Hooker...
But what about the sewing? Well my thoughts have returned to my sewing and its just time that is keeping me away from my sewing room. So it was a delight of an opportunity to go and spend a day with friends doing a little hand sewing using the fabric that I had dyed earlier in the year. (See this post).
After selecting my design, I light boxed the pattern on to the fabric, layered up with wadding and backing muslin, with the 'rocking technique' I sewed little stitches all the way around the pattern. Therapy for the soul indeed, I felt calm, relaxed and happy as I sipped my tea and eating too many bickies, chatting and catching up with what my friends had got up to in the summer, yes a pleasant way to spend the day indeed.

Back home...

2009-09-08T06:54:00.000-07:00

We return to normality, if you can call my home life normality. The summer holidays are over and both children reluctantly went into school. The summer holiday was a huge success, a feeling of 'I done it' fills my heart. My first year as a single Mom, seven weeks on my own with (in my opinion) the best two children in the world. It had its challenges, but we tackled them head on and came out smiling.So after weeks of living out of ikea bags I am now spending a few days being intimate with my washing machine!!!

The family home feels empty, unloved, and kinda soulless so I am moving from room to room removing dust and plumping up cushions. Attacking the post pile and paying the bills. Making phone calls and cleaning up the mess.

Every so often I pop into my sewing room and I get that tingle in my fingers, itching for some free time to spend creatively. Ahhh my beautiful sewing machine, give me a day or so and I will be with you.

So as I get in to my rhythm, after the cleaning, food shopping and baking are done I will be resuming normal Suzie Sews 'STUFF'...

I reluctantly welcome in September and all that Autumn brings us.

gypsy...

2009-08-30T02:31:00.000-07:00

My heart lifts in the summer, it fills me with the desire to travel. To spend time with friends and to eat lots of yummy food in the sunshine. Yes endless picnics, hearing friends laughter and finding sand in places that, well, sand just should not be!!!My Mom has always called me a gypsy, as a young adult I always moved around and never really laid roots down, If I was unhappy at work I would up sticks and move someplace else. A year was the average time for me to stay still. Then I hit thirty, it was a life changing time for me. I got married, I started to save money, I made a home and I grew a little baby within my tummy. Yes for the first time in my life I put roots down. My little family was added too. Two children, rabbits and other small little animals I made a little nest and felt complete. The desire to travel and experience life left me, I no longer had the need to to live out of a suitcase or always be looking at what I could do or be next.
But you know, life is a funny old thing and things change. You just do not know what is around the corner ready to shake you up and change your whole view on the world. I do not feel 'nesty'and secure anymore, the need to move and experience life is getting back in my soul. It scares me, it also excites me. This summer I have hardly been at home and to be honest I have not missed it, OK I confess my sewing room has a pull on me. So this seven weeks of time with my children, we have hardly been at home except for a day here and a day there to wash our clothes and pack for the next trip or fulfill a commitment. I have spent hours sitting on my veranda at my beach house (caravan;) !) sipping fresh coffee and knitting whilst my children run around in the sunshine. Sharing good times with my children and friends.
Days spent on beaches, each beach offering a different view, a different memory from East to West of the United Kingdom, yes this summer we have so enjoyed our beach time despite the intermittent rain.
The children laughed and played and I believe they have grown flippers instead of feet...
For years, I dreamed about having my own camper van, and this summer I have in fact lived the dream. Making camp by the beach for a few days or just making a Hot Chocolate to warm us up on a wet windy day, or using it as a dressing room after a dip in the cold sea, yes my little camper has been a treat.

Life changes and sometimes its not pretty, I guess this time next year the camper and the caravan will no longer be ours, someone else will be enjoying the life we love so much. For my children I think this is the part I find so sad, BUT I will not let this take the fun out of the moment and as we approach the last week of the holidays I am off again for a week by the sea, the animals are being looked after and bags are packed, this week I am even taking my sewing machine with me...

SO before the autumnal days crisp up, before the nights close in, just give me one more week of living for the moment, a week by the beach, some sun and most of all... my children.

Normal craft blogging will resume in September... until then let me make the most of the last days of summer.

Be happy...

Beauty all around...

2009-08-14T02:43:00.000-07:00

It never stops to amaze me that no matter what is going on in your life, how ever sad or confused you might feel, if you take the time to open your eyes there is so much beauty all around us. Now I admit I am more optimistic than most, it has been commented on that I live in a bubble gum world, but you know there is so much sad and bad things going on in the world I don't consider this a negative remark. What can I say, its the British Summer time, yes the rain continues to fall and the days can be grey but when the sun comes out and you feel the warmth on your skin, how can you not look around and smile... especially with your children..The writing is a little slow, to be fair it is pretty much none existent, I apologise, the children are with me and we are making the most of every moment. When we have a little spare change in our pockets we treat ourselves to afternoon tea with scones and cakes...
If we are a little short then its a little pic nic on the beach.
Whilst Mommy keeps up with her knitting...
The children wade off on sea adventures. (My sons leg is now healing well, I thank you for all your comments of support, fabulous scar though!!!)
We play on a beach that has a never ending supply of natural clay... Mmmm I am getting quite a few dried out little 'makes' around the house and my holiday cottage by the sea, which is of course my caravan ;)

I am home for a few days, longing to get back to the beach. Whilst home I am spending the evening in my sewing room, the vibe is starting to come back and whilst I know September brings many changes into my families life, I think the sewing groove will see me through, my head is so full of ideas and how can I not be inspired when I sit in my little room, surrounded by fabrics, rows of books filled with inspiration and my much loved sewing machine...

Happy days to you and yours...

LOVING IT!!!

2009-07-31T13:22:00.000-07:00

Its my favourite time of year, no time table to follow, no place to be, no need to clock watch, just time to take it easy and do the things I love best. Which of course means time at the beach with my guys...Eating yummy ice cream...
Taking time to appreciate the things that surround us...
time for creative play...
and of course some knitting and sewing time for Mommy...
What ever you are doing at this time of year I wish you love, peace, health, contentment and good company.

Yes these summer months are a time to treasure with loved ones and friends.

time to escape....

2009-07-14T09:27:00.000-07:00

The sun is shining and its the best reason to escape the kitchen, turn your head away from the mess that quickly mounts up from running in and making a sandwich or a bowl of pasta, yes when the sun is shinning its time to head outside...Simple food cooked in a simple way and just enjoying the fun of running around outside and not having to worry about messing up the floor, the birds and squirrels will clean that up later.
The amazing colours of food that just lifts up your spirits, an array of reds and green. Yes we are enjoying the best this season can offer us.
As we play the sound of tinkling water fills the air from our family pond ... OK , ok , our big bucket filled with water, sadly no frogs this year unless they are hiding in the depths of the bucket!!!
Ending the day with milk and cookies as we warm our hands over the dying embers of the barbie. (Pistachio cookies... recipe by Bill Granger)
I thank you for the warming comments and emails about my child and his poorly leg, sadly its still not healing and with no swimming or boarding for a week or so, he is most unhappy. The comments cheered him up. Thank you.

What ever you are doing in the sunshine I wish you happiness.

just a note....

2009-07-09T10:43:00.000-07:00

Just a note to say my child is still off school, his leg is not healing well enough. So I am spending my time being Mom. Lots of movies being watched, games being played and drawings being painted. Be back with you soon.

Birthday break......

2009-06-30T08:14:00.000-07:00

Its that time of year, strawberries and cream, champagne and tennis. Which to me means its my birthday, half way through the year, June, the sun is shinning, the air is warm and its time to take stock. Yes there is something about birthdays that makes me want to think about things. The place I am at, how I got here and what I want to do in the future, its often quite emotional as I go through this process, but its a positive experience a time to make changes and plans for the future.Yes its a 'Daisy' moment. My love of the simple daisy and all that it inspires in me, simplicity and purity. This little daisy was my birthday present from my youngest child, could you wish for a better gift?
So I took a few days off, the children and I headed to the beach. It was all a little last minute (sorry I never dropped in to say goodbye) and as these things often turn out, It was a lovely birthday, sitting on the beach all day until the sun lost all its strength and I pulled a sweater over my shoulders whilst watching my children play in the water, listening to their laughter and the sound of the waves whilst sipping Hot Chocolate and eating birthday cake. I had free time to think, to dream and to plan...
Of course I took my knitting with me and I picked up a project I started a while ago and never got into, another pair of socks, well just one so far. I turned the heel on the beach and settled in for the evening with a bottle of fizz and some nibbles and just let the yarn flow through my fingers whilst I relaxed to the sound of my babes snoring gently after a day in the surf.
The next day we headed inland, walking along the cliffs and sitting in fields of clover and watching the wildlife (thanks Spring Watch).
Sadly the birthday break ended in a trip to A & E with my eldest child cutting his leg rather badly, nine stitches later and a bandage from his ankle to his thigh, it was not how we planned to spend our last few hours away, it had been a lovely lazy, sunny Sunday afternoon. A brave boy indeed and with a week off school I am pleased to have the company at home.

I hope your weekend was a good one and the hot weather is suiting you.

Hearts all around....

2009-06-19T04:40:00.000-07:00

Well I first want to say a HUGE thank you to one of our fellow blogging friends for sending me this adorable heart in the post, and this was before she knew I collected hearts (see previous post). Anne , you are a very thoughtful and kind individual, I thank you for your words of support in your card also. How lucky we all are to be part of this community of creativeand caring people.Once again the weekend is upon us, the weeks are just blending into one at the moment, I am eagerly awaiting the start of the summer holidays when time becomes irrelevant and its just me, my guys and hopefully a beach. In the meantime though I am spring cleaning, to be honest though I am sure I will still be spring cleaning in winter, the brain is willing but the body is kinda lacking, especially when the sun is shinning. Housework has never been one of my better assets!!!
However on the crafting front I have been working on a little project, using the palest of pink yummy 4ply cotton yarn, I love the way this feels through my fingers as I knit each stitch. I know the pattern now off by 'heart' so its starting to come together now. So a little peek just to show and tell...so this will be keeping me busy this weekend.

I wish you a good weekend filled with love, peace and hopefully laughter.

Music I am listening to: CLICK HERE. Dancing around my kitchen to this one on a daily basis.

Childs Play....

2009-06-16T01:55:00.000-07:00

Oh yes, child's play, what is it about the beach that without a word gives you permission to be a child? Being on the beach, or by the English Seaside is a magical place. It does not matter if its beautiful stretches of empty breathtaking beach scapes or the seaside strip full of people, donkeys and the bells and whistles of the arcade, there is just something that invites you play, to take your shoes off and dip your toes in the cold water, to sit on the sand and feel the tiny grains of sand cling to your skin, to turn your face into the breeze and feel transported to a special place. Yes for me the beach is a place of fun, it helps me focus, rebalanced myself and indeed feed my very soul. So indulge me if you will in a few pictures from the weekend. The sun was shinning, the outdoors was the place to be...Tagged, yes another tag that I never got round to doing. I kinda like this one, its not deep and yet has made me think about 'the here and now' feel free to join in...

WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE COLOUR?

Green

WHATS IS YOUR FAVOURITE ITEM OF CLOTHING IN YOUR WARDROBE?

Oh just one... that's tricky... An old battered sweatshirt from Fat face, I bought it when I started camping with my family, its served me well. Its baggy, faded and has many memories ground into it (literally) a few BBQ marks, suncream and I swear I can smell a camp fire on it. I love it its like giving myself a hug at that time of evening on the beach when the sun loses its strength but your not ready to go indoors yet.

WHATS YOUR DREAM JOB?

Being a full time Mommy, oh that's what I am doing, living the dream then!!!

WHATS THE LAST THING YOU BOUGHT?

A jade Tee from a charity shop for 75p

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?

Radio 4, women's hour, the play is on soon....

WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE ICE CREAM?

Rum and Raisin.

WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE FRUIT?

Cherries

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

Life does.. Corney I know but so many things inspire me, I believe with all my heart we live too fast, I watch people push so much into their lives in the pretence of success and happiness. I want to shout...slow down and take time to smell the coffee, ITS GOOD I PROMISE!!! Yes its the little things that inspire me, colour, texture, smell. Daisies, yes daisies a wild flower you could even argue its a weed, its perfect, small and sweet it holds its face to the sun and folds itself up in the dark... yes simple little daisies...they inspire me.

WHATS ON THE WALL OF YOUR BEDROOM?

Oh quite a lot, I like pictures and I do over utilise the wall space. The focal point though is a print of a basic pencil drawing of a naked women, a real women with curves, it has a splash of colour that takes the print to a different level. My children think its me, this makes me smile I think its good children get a good body image and embrace imperfections as its what makes us unique.

WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE DESIGNER?

I am not into labels of any sort really, I like what I like I am not really swayed that's its a good designer. OK I do like certain clothes shops (Boden, Fatface, Coast, Jigsaw) but as for designers...well my wedding dress was designed by Jeff Banks, it was beautiful, hand stitched bead work bodice and the most beautiful Satin Skirt, it was priced over three times what my engagement ring cost...MADNESS. I am inspire by Westwood, I adore her eccentricity but the clothes just don't suit me, I am the wrong shape to carry them off.

DO YOU ADMIRE ANY ONES STYLE?

Yes, I think there are some great women out there with cool style. Sadly there are also a lot of pretentious people who's style I feel is a poor role model for our children especially girls. I love Kirstie from Relocation Relocation but we do have a similar shape and I like her kookiness. Whilst I might have mixed feeling about Madonna, I love her boldness, her ever changing look, I just need to watch her perform and I want to get the exercise mat out, her energy is amazing.

WHAT LANGUAGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK?

I worked in Europe for a few years and I learnt a splattering of a few languages, Greek being the main one, I love listening to radio when I travel, the flow of a language is what I enjoy. I attended Spanish Classes, sadly I was rubbish at it, I just do not have an aptitude for languages. I would like to speak French, my NIA teacher (Nia is an exercise class, awesome bare foot dancing, click link) She is french and as its a senses based form of exercise I think its great to listen to her voice. It is a very sensuous language.

WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE QUOTE?

Its Character building. I was brought up with this quote, I believe it.
WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE MAGAZINE?

Country Living

IF YOU HAD A £100 WHAT WOULD YOU SPEND IT ON?

A book, a few fat quarters of fabric some wool and maybe a pot of cream from LUSH...happy happy happy!!!

WHATS YOUR CURRENT OBSESSION?

Being in my kitchen, I am trying to watch the pennies at the moment so I am getting a kick out of cooking on a budget, I am trying to get the children to broaden their taste range also. I also love being in my kitchen, my music on, I have a sofa at one end with a view of the hills when the kitchen door is open, I sit here and talk on the phone, read, knit or hand sew. Its also a great place to cuddle the children, yes being in the kitchen is my obsession at the moment.

WHAT ARE YOU WEARING TODAY?

Grey linen pinstriped, wide leg trousers and a white granddad shirt finished of with sparkly between the toe sandals.
WHATS FOR DINNER?

Left overs...Spaghetti Bol. and a salad with sticky toffee pud for dessert (waste not want not)

WHAT WOULD YOU EAT FOR YOUR LAST MEAL?

Tapas

IF YOU COULD HAVE A HOUSE PAID AND FURNISHED ANYPLACE IN THE WORLD WERE WOULD IT BE?

A Greek island, a tumbling down white house by the side of the sea (Think Captain Corelli's Mandolin or Mamma Mia)

IF YOU COULD GO ANYPLACE IN THE NEXT HOUR WERE IN THE WORLD WOULD IT BE.

The company would be more important than the place but, yes it has to be a beach in the warm sunshine, yes maybe a Greek Island again.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO AFTER THIS?

Get out in the garden.

WHATS YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK?

Again a hard one, I have two Fav. ones but as its just one it would have to be Bram Stokers Dracula, a unique love story.

DO YOU COLLECT SOMETHING?

Yes too much stuff. I do have a little thing for heart shaped objects, there all over my home.

WHATS YOUR MOST IMPORTANT RULE IN LIFE?

My children come first.

Still reading, wow your a star. I thank you. OK the sun is shinning, I have housework to do but I have to get out there and enjoy it... go on take time to smell the coffee, I dare you!

Jumping around...

2009-06-10T06:25:00.000-07:00

Spring watch has a big impact on my little family of three. It opens my children's eyes to all the wonderful riches around us. The beauty of nature at this time of year just takes my breath away. Please forgive my lack of posting and I thank you personally for the caring emails I have received. Its been a busy couple of weeks, a school holiday, which of course involved some beach time and a fabulous camping trip with friends. Nothing beats curling up under a quilt in the great outdoors around a real fire toasting a couple of marshmallows with good friends...

My creative vibe and even my photography are somewhat at a standstill. I feel I am drowning in responsibility at present as I adjust and indeed sort out my life as a single parent. Its not easy and indeed its not very pleasant. The bonds that tie my boys and me together are stronger than ever, I get cuddles from them all the time, its as if the tighter we hold each other the safer we will be.

My head is so full of ideas and the frustration of lack of time is something I think we can all identify with. So whilst I find a balance in my life that I am comfortable with I ask you to forgive the lack of correspondence from the 'Suzie Sews Household'. I am still here, I am still being a Mom, still cooking, sewing and knitting...just not as much as I would like as I get lost in paperwork, meetings, financial worries and solicitors!!!

Making things is what calms my soul, it is a part of who I am, I know it want be long till I slip back into the comforting flow that is my 'creative spirit'.

Tinkering...

2009-05-20T05:53:00.000-07:00

OK I confess, I have an inability to concentrate at the moment, tick tick tick...I find I am just watching time passing me by a second at a time. Some days I awake and I am in 'full on' action mode, the washing gets done, the house gets cleaned and I even manage some time sewing. Then there are those other days I struggle to get out of bed in the morning and the day just sort of gets lost... I have noticed I am am having more of the latter than I find acceptable, despite the present situation I find my little family in. So I am trying to take action. Whats a crafty girl going to do when the going gets tough??? Well get crafting of course... now inspired by some yarn and a knitting book I bought a while ago I finally got round to some chicken knitting. I had planned to knit these a while ago and when I saw .....Periwinkle Park..... (8th May 09) results I was inspired to pick up the pins. Something that needed shaping, a little concentration even but, quick results...
So I sat there on Saturday night in front of the fire with a quilt over my knee and watching a tear jerker of a film with a good glass of wine for company I got clacking (or should that be clucking) away.
Ahhhhhhhh I am now on to the crochet bits, as I do not crochet very well this could be challenging...

I have been really good this year on my book buying and only actually bought a couple of books. Recently though I have had a desire to hold some new inspirational books in my hands. So I took a peek through blogland and noted down the books recommended and made some purchases. As the books arrived the guilt of buying myself something kicked in. It disturbed me a little, I looked back on last years 'May' postings and I discovered I had bought a pile of books at just the same time. SO I am guessing its a season thing with me, after the bleakness of winter passing and the promise of sunny days, the in between stage of rainy days and gloriously sunny days, it aspires me to get lost in the beautiful pages and the wonderful photographs of these books...
I am slowly working my way through them, devouring each book with passion, my head is spinning with ideas and my design pad is getting scribbled in daily. My guilt in these purchases is still there, but I justify them against the price of a meal out or of a few drinks in a county pub on a Sunday afternoon, things I just do not do anymore, and I feel that taking that into account, these books are good value, and what is more they will last me for years to come. I am especially enjoying the Homemade book, to be fair its nothing none of us will find new, but the photography is superb and I adore the feel of the matt pages, not shiny and glossy but a lovely smooth papery texture...just beautiful. Should you buy a book for beauty alone...I should think so!!!
Its also that time of year when the food I feed my family changes. The heavy warming stews cooked in the slow cooker and the thick creamy soups of winter are now not being made. I sift through my cookery book shelf looking for brighter, lighter summery dishes. So once again fresh inspiration is required... with books like these, Voluptuous delights, Family cooking and the wonderful Bill Granger's Feed me... well there will be some goodness being put out on the dinner table this summer that's for sure. My favourite cooks are the fabulous Jamie Oliver who's energy and zest for living really speaks to me. The other favourite is Bill Granger, his books are always so beautifully photographed and the lifestyle he puts over is incredibly appealing to me (OK I give in I also find him very attractive)...
The opening words from his cookery book...I really don't think we can underestimate the importance of good food in our lives. Providing nutritious and delicious meals for loved ones-and taking time to eat together-is one of life's prime sources of satisfaction. It is also fundamental to good health and happiness. But, in today's world, where the pace of life seems to be ever increasing, and we are all juggling competing priorities, time for preparing and sharing meals can easily be compromised. But it needn't be... and should not be.

Well I could not have said it better myself if I tried...The book is filled with family orientated food, with excellent (and available) ingredients, all laid out in easy to follow chapters with stunning pictures. Yes maybe its a lifestyle kinda thing but his books are the most inspiring for me and if you get a chance to watch his cookery programmes, pull on your shades, imagine the sand between your toes and the salty sea spray as you enjoy outdoor eating!

Music I am listening to... Nelly Furtado In Gods Hands

A beautiful person with a stunning voice, a song that rips through my heart about love lost, trust and sadness.

Show and tell...

2009-05-16T07:04:00.000-07:00

The therapy that sewing and knitting offers should never be overlooked, the repetitive action of knitting allows me to clear my head and relax my body, as I watch my fingers instinctively work with rhythm and flow creating the fabric, a process that actually involves little thought (unless its a complicated piece) it feels natural and soothing like time has just slowed down. Sewing a quilt offers me a similar meditative state...I have been working on my summer quilt, a simple jelly roll quilt, as I sewed the pieces together enjoying the colour combinations I allowed my thoughts to flow, worries and anxieties slowly through the process of sewing and concentrating on that quarter of an inch seam got replaced with happy thoughts and making plans for the coming summer months.
The top and the bottom of the quilt are now pieced together and the sandwich is all layered up and pinned together ready for the quilting and then the binding. I went to the shop to buy the edging fabric and I had taken my quilt top with me, it was greatly admired, I blushed through my smiles, I got talking to a group of women about the Kirsty Allsops programme. Now this serious has actually had poor reviews, bur personally I have loved it... One of the ladies I was talking to in the fabric store went and bought herself some fabric to make a quilt having being inspired by the show and being able to handle my quilt... sometimes you just have to touch something to understand its beauty and secrets.
If you have missed the series you can catch it on the computer catch up for another 20 or so days. Kirsties Homemade Home.

Its a fascinating look at the skills people have, that you can use or even learn to do yourself, full of inspiration. I loved the quilting, sewing and knitting parts, I watched with my boys who commented on its what I do with some pride in their voices. I was also really interested in the Blacksmith, wow this was stunning to watch someone work in such a traditional way and produce such great results. Now its not practical for most of us to do our homes out with handcrafted expertise, when maybe you could just nip to Ikea and pick up some cheap fabric to make curtains or a chair for your child's room, but I see no harm in doing a little of both. To salvage, ebay, skip hunt and use crafts people to make your home, a home with history, is appealing to me, what I had not thought of was how much I love my belongings to have this history but the thought that they would also be passed on to someone else, with my little bit of history added in.
Indeed a programme that inspired me and has made me look at my home with fresh eyes. OK I also have to admit here I am a Kirsty fan, I love her humor, her voice and as for her dress sense, yes I like her style. She visited the home of Kaffe Fassett

I remember reading a book, well looking at the stunning riot of colour blooming from the pictures, when I was a teenager, I fell in love with his beautiful cabbage leaves and mosaic walls and I have followed his work ever since. On the show he said this 'Find your voice with colour, be a slob for a few years. Once you get it right and you know what you want to say, you will then clean up your act' You will have found your voice with colour.
I have enjoyed the series and have loved watching the derelict house become a home to be filled with life, love and the chaos of family living, whilst retaining beauty and style. Oh and the opening shots of Kirsty knitting and those fabulous stockings she is wearing, I have to get myself a pair of them...

On my homemade front, things are picking up around here, I have completed an order for knitted flowers, my cardigan is now back to being worked on and I am also enjoying some baking time in my kitchen. So its the weekend and my children are at parties at the moment,

early evening the plan is to make some popcorn and settle down to watch a family movie, and tomorrow we are going to a dogs home, the kids are very excited at the possibility of having a dog. IT is just a possibility mind!!!

Have a great weekend whatever you are doing.

Listening to GoldFrapp in particular my favourite track live at the Eden Project. WOW that would be one fab night out.

Let them eat cake...

2009-05-13T08:18:00.000-07:00

We had a little celebration in the 'Suzie Sews Household' a little birthday party. Which was just the excuse I needed to pull out my favourite table linen and use my brand new muffin tray. (Bought from the Pampered Chief at a PTA fund raising event).
Now I am not a big fan of gadgets and despite one of my favourite places within my home being my kitchen and I love baking, I actually have very little on the gadget front. Now do not get me wrong, I guess if I thought about it I could easily go out and buy all sorts of goodies, I particularly lust after the beautiful food mixers that are indeed a piece of art in their appearance alone, oh and Santa if your reading this I would like it in red!!! But the thing is it costs £300.00 and I use a hand blender that I bought many years ago and cost under £20.00. It takes up less space so means I have more space for my ever increasing obsession with plates and crockery.
No, my kitchen is no show kitchen, it is the heart of my family, its the place we start the day and its the place most of our family time takes place in. Its busy, its messy, usually noisy and quite frankly could be a lot cleaner. The kitchen table is the centre of the kitchen, it is always cluttered with my latest knitting or sewing project, papers to sort through, the children's homework, a glass of wine in the evening, and of course we also eat at it. Yes the table to me is more important than the gadgets I could have. My table itself has history as does the miss matching chairs, there is love, tears, joy and sadness polished into the wood of the everyday trails and tribulations of family life. Shiny and new it is not!
But saying all of this I was particularly excited about my NEW muffin tray, I fell for all the talk of perfectly cooked moist cakes and the perfect Yorkshire puddings. SO I thought I would have a play and I was not disappointed. Later that evening we sung Happy Birthday before eager hands reached out for cakes...
Yes my kitchen is a welcoming place, as long as you like the 'homely' look. Minimalist and designer are not words used to describe any place within my home. Sometimes I lust after a simpler less cluttered area, that was easy to clean, but then I know my lifestyle would have to be different. Personally when my children come home from school and they walk through the door, the smell of baking greets them and they squeal 'Mmmmmmmm Mommy's been baking' and they rush to the kitchen to see what after school snack awaits them, I smile, surly this is better than having a clean, tidy and trendy home, well almost!

Show and tell next, I have been busy...

Dying for some fun....

2009-05-08T02:05:00.000-07:00

Dye...I love it, the thought that you have some control on the colour of your fabric is a fact I find quite exciting. Colour is something that plays a big part in my life. I remember things in colour. For some its sounds, smell or even texture, for me it is colour. From the sepia tinted photograph post cards of my grandparents time to the bright gordy colours of children's toys, colour is usually the first thing I remember when recalling a memory.So I guess its no wounder that I like colour, it touches every part of my life. I believe colour has the ability to have control over your mood and actions. Its a powerful medium for sure. Now of course black and white are colours and I am not afraid to use them. I remember quite clearly, many years ago when I was a working girl in the city, being called into see my boss, my work had slid a little and I was not bringing in the top results, the comment that stuck with me however was the fact that my boss had noticed my change in dress style, I was wearing black, I looked smart, super tailored suites, matching dress, trousers, pencil skirts all finished off with a jacket... but all black.
I went home and realised that this simple observation was about to change my life. I had always wanted the big job in the city, were my pay cheque covered easily my cost of living and living I was doing. I believed I was successful, that I could hold my head high and say... look what I did with my life. So why was I wearing black, I looked like everyone else in the city, my individuality had gone, I was no longer Suzie. I followed the crowd and I believed I was happy as surly this is what people imagine you do to be successful. Only I was not happy, in fact I was sad and despite the amount of people around me and all the nights out I had I was lonely.

It was a huge step, but I gave up my job and expensive lifestyle, I moved back into a more rural area and I took a considerably lower paid job in a creative field. It was not long until the tailored business suits were no longer being worn, replaced with the colourful and sometimes slightly eccentric clothing that I am now known for. I made some lasting friendships and I lived in a tiny little flat overlooking the local park.
Yes colour has influenced ever part of my life. So the delight to have control over colour is indeed something that holds my attention. A day spent playing with fabric dye, a whole day, with no other duties but to play was indeed a good day. I loved all the pots of powder dye, the fun of mixing up the solutions and preparing the fabric in many different ways to see the different effects that could be achieved. Cotton, linen, silk, various trimming and even paper were used. Dipping, sprinkling, painting, knotting and lots of mess, I was happy.
I now have an whole pile of my very own fabric, waiting to be ironed and used in projects, some pretty, exciting and useable pieces others drab and dull, but I learnt a lot about the process, I had fun and I still have my projects to make. Indeed if your dying for some fun, its surly the way to go.

I wish you a good weekend and I hope you find some time to be creative. I am working on my summer quilt and spending the Sunday with family. Take care...

A place of peace...

2009-05-06T00:59:00.000-07:00

When life gets the 'Suzie Sews family' down we head off to the beach. This weekends was the first time this year it felt like summer. There is something about days like these, there is a smell, a sensation an excitement that words just can not describe. So after a morning of an alfresco breakfast under a tree (our family tree called Leafco, yes we really do name our tress), we packed up the car with windbreak, buckets and spades, yummy food and the essential flask of Hot Chocolate.We set up camp on our favourite beach, the children made sand castles, because your never to cool or too old to make sand castles. A rather nice person helped me with my windbreak, juggling two children and all the beach stuff I am unable to carry a mallet for the windbreak so I rather clumsily dig holes and post in my windbreak, this exhibition of silliness usually takes a good 15 minutes and takes all three of us to complete. Apparently it was causing a family some delight and eventually my 'Knight in shining armour' came over, mallet in hand, and within moments I had the best windbreak up on the beach, come gales this thing was not going to blow over, 'I thank you kind Sir, who ever you are...'

So whilst the children played I pulled out my sock knitting, yes its beach season and the socks will once again be knitted, each one will have a memory knitted in to it of warm days, ice cream smeared faces and sandy toes. So when I pull on my socks in the winter the memories of better and brighter days will always be with me.

Just a short post today, mostly to thank you for the lovely thoughtful comments about my present situation. I thank you for your words and support, each comment is held in my heart. Its not easy to show your failings in life, yes my blog is a happy place but it is also a real place for me so it was important for me to share it with you. Thank you...

PS Very excited to be finally working on my summer quilt, its good to sit in my sewing room and watch it come together under my hands.

Some head space.....

2009-04-29T03:57:00.000-07:00

I know I know, I am failing miserably in my blogging. Life is really just getting in the way. Adjusting to lots of new things going on around here and I am trying to go with the flow. Most days this happens, however every so often life just flaws me. I think you are aware that my life took a change in direction at the end of last year. So its a time for healing, adjusting and making changes. I have always viewed change as a good thing, so I assure myself in the long term all will be good. So as I cope with my life as a single Mom there are days when I just need a little head space to accept the past, present and future. I take comfort in my children, my creativity and my friends. Please forgive my sporadic posting whilst I get back my groove...

Let them eat cake...

2009-04-21T09:22:00.000-07:00

How quick the time goes... two weeks over with just like that. I have to confess to it all being a little hectic and possibly not really the weather I was hoping for. Yes I know the sun shone on most of England this past two weeks but sadly I seemed to have followed the clouds.It was all a bit mad, as it is when your with your children, managing play dates, cooking, serious crafty time and even getting some sleep in. Our little break away by the sea was filled with lots of wellie walks and the usual Blyton-ess adventures. Eating lots of yummy food and of course lots of chocolate eggs.
As for the Suzie Sews creativity, well that was a little slow on happening. Some stuff was made including some summer sewing and of course I knitted whist sheltering from the rain, this helped keep the clouds from dampening my spirits.
I spent time in the company of good friends and the children giggled their way through the days. A special visit to a friend to attend the Christening of her special little girl, and it was a real honour to become a Godmother to her. What a treat to be welcomed into the family and made to feel part of the gang.
So the children returned to school and to beat the post holiday blues I have been baking...raspberry and lime cake which came from the lovely Vintage Heaven. A little time spent pottering around in my kitchen without the endless juice runs, can I have something to eat, can you come in the garden and play etc... so suddenly the house is quite and as I sat with my afternoon tea the silence was deafening...
The children returned home in a whirl of excitement, chatting away and up to mischief. As they sat at the kitchen table and tell me the stories of their day I throw us a little supper together before they sleepily climb the stairs. Once again the balance is restored...

Time for some serious time in my sewing room...............................................................

Pictures 1 Break for afternoon tea 2 raspberry and lime cake 3 in the mix 4 tea in the sunshine 5 supper

Happy easter

2009-04-05T07:40:00.001-07:00

Wishing you a very Happy Easter, yes spring has sprung, there is new life every place you look... its more than just budding its positively blooming... So the holidays are with us and its that time when I say Goodbye for a few days whilst I spend some quality time with my children. We have lots planned, as you would expect we are heading off towards the beach, the windbreak, buckets and BBQs are packed along with our woolly jumpers, because you just never know what the weather might bring us at this time of year.

So I take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for a special time of year. A time of joy and sadness for all that Easter means.I leave you with joy in my heart, bags full of crafty things to do and of course my camera as me and my guys venture into the great outdoors...

Have a wonderful week...

I just wanted to say a personal thank you for all your messages of support on my last post...I so appreciate your words.

Friends and neighbours ...

2009-04-01T03:40:00.000-07:00

Friends and neighbours ... how blessed I am to have them both and without them these last couple of days would have been very difficult. Its been rather an exciting and nail biting time, so if your sitting comfortably I will tell you a story to explain why the promised pictures of what is getting made at the Suzie Sews household are just not appearing... So it was the end of a busy day, the usual goings on here, school run, school assembly, swimming, lunch, housework, coffee with friends, school run, play dates then making supper for my family... As we all pottered around the kitchen I noticed a haze in the hall way, I went and opened the door to the smallest room in the house, I was greeted with a huge plume of smoke which overwhelmed me! I shou ted the boys to come quick and we did our little fire escape route and met up on the front lawn. I rushed over to my 'more than capable neighbour' and in true Knight in Shining armour he rushed over and investigated the situation for us. Our Fuse box had gone up in smoke.

So with the smoke under control and the electrics turned off it was a case of sorting things out. This is when the fun begins and if anyone could have seen the behaviour that followed they would have wondered what was going on. Two sets of neighbours helped me unload my just stocked up fridge and freezer (having spent two afternoons last week cooking to stock up the freezer for meals to take away with us over the coming weeks) So in and out of each others homes we went as we distributed the food in to all available spaces. Next overnight bags got packed and then it was a choice of who to stay with as everyone was so willing to help and put us up. Then the boys and I eat our supper on the front lawn in the failing light with the neighbours children joining in and us Moms chatting, it looked liked a scene from the Clampits!!!

The emergency people came and did what could be done and then we spent the last couple of days having it all sorted including new plastering.

So No crafting has been done, the electric is now back on and tonight we will all be in our own beds. I have made the best of the situation, including defrosting my freezer, cleaning, sorting my insurance...etc. I just need to get all my food back...now who had the lamb chops? SO with decorating plans in my head and most of the house back to normal except for a faint smell of melted plastic all is OK as if nothing had happened. I did lie awake the first night and run through the scenario of if we had gone up in smoke three hours later and we were all in bed... I just do not want to go there...

So forgive me my absence and the rather of topic chat. Normal Suzie Sews blogging will resume soon...

How lucky we are when our neighbours are also our friends. Thanks you guys you are all stars!!!

Hurrah... British summer time....

2009-03-29T15:19:00.000-07:00

Its finally here, hurrah it feels like its been a long long winter filled with greyness, cold and some snow, well a lot of of snow actually. The weekend was fitting indeed for the time of year... it started off with more grey skies, gales and lashing rain. My mood fitted the weather just fine, everything seemed wrong everything seemed to hurt and well just not quite fit...I weathered out the storm with a heavy heart. I curled up in bed and listened to the wind whipping around my home and the rain tapping on my window as it denied me my sleep. I pulled up my homemade quilt a little higher and I dipped my head under the covers in search of some peace... I finally fell into a disturbed sleep... I awoke today with the light pouring in through the window replacing the greyness, instead of the gales blowing I could hear birdsong and as I threw back the quilt I felt no chill in the air... The timing was perfect as if nature itself was marking this day a day that fills me with promise and hope of all things outdoorsy... The start of British summer time....
So its best foot forward, stiff upper a lip and time to embrace all that nature has in store for us. The daffodils shine their golden trumpets and the blossom in the trees lifts up my weary heart. Yes its a time for fresh starts, new beginnings and a happy and healthier season... So I welcome in this time with open arms and I make a few promises to myself...

What could be more fitting for this day than a picnic on the the beach, a paddle in the sea and a cup of Hot Chocolate from the flask to chase the chill away...

As my little family close our eyes tonight we smile as we know the best is yet to come... I hope you had a special day to mark this time, blue skies all round and everything bursting into life...

boys will be boys...

2009-03-25T05:24:00.000-07:00

With all the talk recently about mothers it has made me think a lot about my little family. I am a Mom to two active boys. Now there is nothing unusual about that you might think... but being a bit of a girlie girl I really notice how boyish my guys are... All around my home their personality creeps in...The girliest room in my home has to be my sewing room, all the pretty fabric and thread, lots of floral fabrics and many textures and textiles... but as I sit at my sewing machine I look up to my cupboard and there is the boys pirate flag left over from a weekend play date when my gorgeous sewing room was transported by imagination in to a pirate ship landing on a island to find buried treasure...
I sat this morning to write my post and there on my Mac book is a little interpretation of Indiana Jones as if he was saying 'Go on Mom...if you think your hard enough'
The children being close means buying things for my guys is easy, usually what one wants the other one does to, so its usually safer to buy things in pairs...
Being of the beach liking kinda family our beach equipment is usually all over the place, even in the winter, a pile of wetsuits waiting to be tossed into the back of the car for a day playing in the sea...
I am not trying to stereotype here, my boys are creative little souls and they both lean in different directions when it comes to what they like and dis like, It has been known for the boys to sit at my sewing machine and produce their own little bits of art, of course drawing is a daily occurrence in the house, we have pots of pens and paper in most of the rooms. Of course we have the musical side to... with guitar and violin lessons weekly and practice through the week it can get quite loud some days.
Some days its so easy to be with my boys, they love a disco in the evening, only they are not swishy or swirly like me and they do not sing in to a microphone. No they leap off the the sofa or chairs swaying their heads rather violently from side to side and up and down with air guitar in hand. But some days I get a little lost as my female ways are completely lost on them...I smile at the way they think burping and farting are just the funniest things in the world, how no matter how many times I ask them not to play rough they always end up playing Cow Boys and Indians, with one of them playing dead in the most dramatic and gory way possible. How when we go into the garden they want to dig it all up rather than plant pretty flowers.
When they say 'Mommy will you play a game' I have an idea of nice things not Star Wars or Ben Ten...How their favourite toy LEGO is all over the house, from the proudly built trucks that sit like ornaments around the house to the Lego man that falls into my candle lite bath in the evening, or the bit I crunch under foot as we rush out the door for the school run...
The mess that seems to lie in the wake of these two little people never stops amazing me... the bedside desk with ever possible need catered for, a midnight snack or a mammoth night reading under the covers with your head torch to the all important trading cards ready for swapping with play dates.
The endless piles of stuff I pick up every day, the toilets that need to be flushed, the plates hidden under the sofa...
Is this the reality of little boys, is this really my poor mothering techniques... what ever it is, I could not be more proud of these little characters and all their quirky ways... So if you have boys or girls or may be your blessed with both... do you scream at them to tidy up, put away, keep clean, do this do not do that.... or do you look at the house when they have gone and enjoy the feeling that they played, they left their mark and tomorrow if your lucky it will happen all over again...

Show and Tell on the crafting front for my next post...

Being Mom

2009-03-19T07:32:00.000-07:00

Mommy...the word itself conjures up so much emotion, everyone of us has had or has a Mom, possibly even are a Mom, planning on being or simply just enjoying the gift of life our Moms gave to us. Its that time here in the UK when we remember our Mommy's. For some it might be mothers not with us anymore so it might be a time of sadness, it could be a time of forgiveness or even anger. For some it could be their fist Mothering Sunday as a Mommy themselves. What ever your situation the word 'Mother' is a powerful word capable of stirring up immense feelings. So as I wrap up my Mothers Day gifts and bake my Mom a cake I mull over the meaning of the world 'Mother' and all it means to me...
I have two Mommies and I am a Mommy to two fabulous (if not a little cheeky) children. I am adopted, I have previously mentioned this before, usually around Mothering Sunday and my Birthday. I am a lucky girl, I was adopted as a little baby. However the emotions that I have carried around with me all my life have had a big impact on who I am and how I do things. Before I had my own children I was deeply sad about the fact that I was an unwanted child, I was angry and felt rejected and somewhat lost in life. I am ashamed to say I took this out sometimes on my adopted Mommy, I always felt I was second choice, second best, better than nothing. I went through my life seeking approval, it seemed important to be part of a group BUT somehow I never fitted in.
If I thought I would get rejected I would run away before someone had a chance to hurt me, I could not face the familiar feeling of rejection. It sounds depressing and all rather pathetic. It changed, so completely when I became pregnant with my own child, as I felt my own baby move within me, a life I had created and I wanted with all my heart, a child no matter what, I could never give up. It made me realise a very important fact...My birth Mommy gave me the greatest gift of all, she gave me my life, she set me free and placed me in the arms of a family that raised me and loved me, kept me warm, healthy and taught me to be a good person. The anger turned into compassion and love, I no longer wanted or needed to do everything on my own I actually wanted to find this person and tell them how thankful I was for the the precious gift they selflessly gave to me.
As for my adopted Mom, my Mom, well we are not all perfect and we all do things differently, and the roles are starting to turn around now, its my turn to look after my Mom. We mother very differently, my Mom often disagrees with my ways and is not afraid to say so. I know she says all this out of love, I am a little too kooky for her, a little too involved in my community and I am a little too affectionate for her to be completely comfortable around me. However when I remind her she raised me, she is who I learnt from, how she would sit in the evening and brush my hair for hours, she smiles at me, its a special smile a smile between a mother and a daughter who despite the fact that we do not share the same blood, we have a bond that ties us together. A life time of history between us.
Once I took all these facts on board, I realised that who I was and what I did was not the result of my past but a learning curve that will probably never stop. When I look at my children and think of how I mother, I too smile, I think life and its gifts are amazing. My children ground me, they love me without question, there is a look in their eyes a special something that tells me without doubt that they love me, they accept me for who I am, faults and failings included, a look that I have never seen in any ones eyes before. It amazes me, it takes my breath away and I know these little people are MY CHILDREN.
So now I accept who I am, I do not feel a need to be involved or accepted, especially if it means I have to compromise on being 'me', I don't really care if I am a little kooky, a little different, because that is who I am. I am a creative soul, I believe in what we put into our lives is what we get out of them, and this is the best thing I feel I can teach my children as a Mother. Yes the rejection theory still stays me. I know its an adoptive thing and it will stay with me till my grave, but I do not run away now, I try not let it stop me in my life. I have a beautiful family, I have two Mommies, I am loved. Yes being a Mom conjures up so many emotions and I thank my Mommies with all my heart for all they have done for me. As for my Mom I just want to say (even though she does not read my blog) I LOVE YOU thank you for picking me............................................... So if you can make a Mom feel better this weekend, go right ahead and do it, you might be surprised how good it makes you feel.

Thank you for all the thoughtful birthday comments and emails, the children and I read each and every one of them and I thank you from my heart. We had a beautiful fun filled few days with many happy memories, especially time shared on the beach. (see last photograph). Thank you

Happy Birthday

2009-03-11T14:14:00.000-07:00

SO I am taking a couple of days away from blog land. Official days because I am aware I have not been as regular in my posting as I would like... sometimes life just takes over...It's that time of year, the time of year I think about the best gift in the world to me, becoming a mother, not once but twice. My children's birthdays are a day and two minutes apart, oh yes and a few years.....Its an exciting time, lots of giddiness in the home, and counting down the sleeps to the birthday celebrations....Hiding parcels, pretty paper for wrapping, baking and sewing up a storm....
It is also a time of great reflection, a bitter sweet time as I mark the passing of the years as I watch my babies grow up in their own individual ways. How blessed I am to have such great guys that really are the best of friends and long may it continue.

Its right that I mention my children in my blog for if it was not for these two little people this creative side of mine would not have been revealed. They are my inspiration, the very reason I get up in the morning, they fill my heart with such joy, the overwhelming feeling of love for them just takes my breath away. I made these two little people, I grew them within my body, I gave birth to them in to this world of ours, I nurtured them with my milk, I taught them to walk and talk. They are individuals with distinct characters of there own. Yes birthdays are a time for reflection, connection and awe inspiring amazement....

Happy Birthday my guys... in my humble opinion you are the BEST!!!

getting stuff done...

2009-03-06T03:25:00.000-08:00

So you know how it is, something needs to be finished and you look at it day in day out until finally you say 'enough is enough'. Less than an hour later of this thought the dress that had been started before Christmas and sat waiting for nearly three months to be finished... well it got finished...This is my second attempt at the JANE AUSTIN dress designed by the fabulous Mason and Dixon girls. Its just the prettiest girlie dress. Knitting and sewing combined, just my kinda thing. With no girlie's of my own, what am I to do? Its a good job I know some pretty special little girls... and this will be winging its way to one of them later this week...
Its a swishy swirly dress, ideal for dressing up play, party wear or even wearing over a tee and jeans for a more trendy look...
Now often its hard to get a child to wear something that has been handmade, my usual trick, especially for the boys, is to add in a pocket and put something in it... for the dress maybe a little knitted heart to match the outfit perhaps, for the boys its usually a bit of Lego...
So with this project finally getting finished and parcelled up I have had time to get on with 'my' new project, my tweed yarn is slowly being knitted up in to the most gorgeous tactile fabric...
Feeling a little under the weather at the moment, I have lost my voice, anyone that knows me will know how serious I think this is, others may see it as a nice rest for their ears!!! So I am sat sitting in silence, its amazing how much more I get done when I am not out being social or chatting on the phone.

Hopefully, all being well, we are off beachwards this weekend, its starting to happen, the promise of brighter things to come, was it really three months ago I sat in front of the fire, thick snow on the ground longing for the summer, complaining that it seemed so far away and now it feels like a real possibility.

Have a great weekend, keep well and enjoy what you do. Just made myself a cup of coffee and the pattern on the top is a beautiful perfect little heart... like the Starbucks ones... surly is a good sign...

Getting my groove back....

2009-02-28T14:42:00.000-08:00

Hurrah, its started to to happen, I am getting my groove back. After what feels like months of losing touch with my creative spirit, a time when I felt kind of lost and not in touch with who I am. It gives me great pleasure to type this post. Indeed my groove is finally returning. Over the two weeks I have found that 'need' to make things has been quite overwhelming. Was it the holiday? Time to recapture my child like spirit as I played with my children, is it the fact that each day brings more light as we slowly move through the last few weeks of this season? Is it the promise of all things warm and outdoorsy or is it just that need? The need that 'non making' people think is a form of insanity.... Whatever it is, all around me I see beauty and the need to connect with it. My week away brought evenings curled up in front of the fire, the children sleeping off their busy days, peace and quite was all around, so I would pull out my knitting and dream of the warmer days to come whilst I toasted my toes after a day of walking in the cold and splashing in puddles.

Since returning home the usual post holiday blues has kicked in, I cried when I dropped my guys off into school after the break. How I miss them. I have a list far to long to feel comfortable with, filled with things to do, calls to make and places to be. I gave myself a weeks grace and in that time I have slowly caught up on things and allowed myself the time I needed to get myself into a better place. My better place being my sewing room, Its the end of the day now, a Saturday and I feel contented... my finished sewing pile is finally bigger than the pile of 'to do'!

All that is left is to iron the sewing, tidy up the threads that have carelessly been left on the floor, turn off the light and head up stairs, yes contented after a days sewing, a reward of a movie and a big pot of tea...

Yes I feel my groove is back...

Hope your weekend is filled with all that you love...

Do you have a place....

2009-02-23T06:00:00.001-08:00

Do you have a place? A place in your mind, a place that you can easily slip off to. A place that nurtures your soul when times are hard, a place you can go to when the world gets a little too much, a happy place filled with warmth, or simply a place that your mind drifts off to when fall asleep.My happy place for the last decade has been a moment in my life, a happy moment, I remember actually picking the place, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of that moment. I knew it would stay with me for a while.

I was sat late on a summers afternoon (September 1996), just before the evening drew near, I could feel the suns rays kissing my skin, my feet dipping and swishing in the cooling swimming pool water, I was sat under a palm tree, the sound of the sea right behind me filled the air, I looked at a beautiful old plantation styled house, no one else was around me except for a fellow traveller reading quietly under the protective shade of a tree... yes this was my place and over the last decade I have visited it in my head many many times.

NOT ANYMORE... I have a new place and maybe after over ten years its time for a change. My week away with the children was amazing, it was filled with laughter, walks, seaside, sharing food, long conversations and swimming, but most of all just relaxing with the two most important people in the world to me... my guys. One early evening we were driving back from a day of 'doing and seeing' we diverted off the track a little to check out a pretty place... we watched the sky change right there before our eyes. We abandoned the car on a dirt track and ran up the hill... three pairs of eyes watched in silence as the sky played out its mystery to us. Never in my life have I seen such a sight, this marshmallow sky put on such a display of colour it touched our very souls. I looked at my children's faces and I knew they shared this moment with me.

Yes I have a place, a special place filled with the beauty of nature, a place to remind me of 'The Big Picture' and no matter were I am in life or what I am doing or feeling, there is beauty and love all around...

Winter time on the beach...

2009-02-11T06:54:00.000-08:00

Its been two months now since my last visit to the beach and with all the snow we have had I have been pretty accepting of the fact that beach weather it is not. The time has come however when I feel that little place in my soul is crying out for the wind in my hair, the sand beneath my feet and the breathtaking awesomeness of the sea...So me and my guys are going to take a little trip to the seaside this half term, we have our waterproofs and wellies already put aside, the flask is ready and the hot chocolate and marshmallows have been bought in readyness to take with us our little adventure.

With this in mind I have been backing some fabric with an old piece of oil cloth that I no longer use, its not perfect but it will keep the cold and wet off our bottoms as we sit and take in the fresh air and drink our warming chocolate... Its as easy as four seams and cutting all around the edge with pinking sheers so it does not fray... if it works OK I might give some thought to a more professional looking one with bias bound edges when I return as I have an unhealthy collection of oilcloth and plastic table covers that I have collected over the years ever since children came into my life...

I have a gift for my older child this holiday, a new camera, a much better one than his previous one and I am looking forward to spending some one to one time with him and our camera's as I try to train his eye and get him used to the feel of his new toy. A gift that I hope he will hold to his heart and will always carry with him through his life, not the camera but the skill. I hope as my Dad inspired me I hope to inspire my child with the same love of pictures, capturing a moment in time, a memory, something to trigger off the senses, smells, sounds and taste's of that moment...

Just a few days of school left now then its some quality time with my babies and all the things we love... Time together, time outdoors, creating, eating, walking, chilling and time on the beach...

OF TOPIC... Check out this song, Yael Naim New Soul (Click on to the coloured words for link). Its a beautiful and very simple song, I love everything about it, the video especially makes me smile... such a wonderful HAPPY little song...

Saturday Night in...

2009-02-07T15:11:00.000-08:00

Saturday night...its funny how Saturday night always feels like a special night, a night throughout my life that has always been the night to do the things I like best. As a child it was being allowed to stay up late and watch telly with my Mommy, my head resting on her knees as she would wind my hair around her hand. As a teenager it was the night I was allowed out, to meet up with friends and listen to music and talk about boys. As a young women it was a night for going out dancing after spending an obscene amount of time getting ready...Then as a married women it was the evening for dinner parties...then came along the babies and it was kind of lost in the blurr that is nursing and nappies. Suddenly this time passes without you even being aware of it, your babies are old enough now that they do not need you for their every move. SO I am back to making Saturday evening a nice night, if not indeed special. So after lots of cuddles and silly stories at bedtime with my children, I wait till they are both asleep and I take a moment to watch their beautiful faces relax and they enter a deep state of sleep, my Angels... The house is quiet, its just me... after a tidy up and a couple of chores I pour myself a glass of nice wine, I potter in the kitchen and put some food on for supper and whilst that simmers away I sit on the side of the kitchen unit and pick up my knitting...
Scarf knitting, easy, mindless knitting whilst listening to good music and just relaxing in my home. Its warm in my kitchen and with the snow freezing on the road and hills outside I feel cosy and safe. The gentle aroma from my burning candles fills the air with the smell of spring.
I settle down to eat my supper, my company being the latest Country Living magazine, which when it pops through my letter box I still get that thrill... Lately though I have been a little disappointed with the contents, not so this month, thankfully it was not filled with red roses and hearts, there are only so many of these I can handle, no it was page after page of goodness...an article on working from the home with pictures to inspire, beautiful photographs of Acers (my favourite outdoor plants) Vintage fashion...every single item of clothing I would wear, fabulous pictures of the Cotswold's a place I spent a lot of time in when I lived in Oxfordshire... and of course lovely homes to poke around in. I am also really enjoying the month by month account with Elisabeth Luard, when I first read about this lady I was slightly disappointed as it just did not interest me, how wrong I was, I have loved following her lifestyle and the amazing food she cooks and her whole ethos of bringing the family in on every part. If I am lucky enough to be a grandmother one day I hope I am like her...

Talking of food, well I cooked Mushroom Stroganoff, out of a need to use up too many mushrooms that seem to have accumulated unused in my fridge.. it hit the spot nicely...
Once the dishes were cleared away I sat at the table and looked at my children art work, flicked through my sons Marvel comic and thought... I can draw like that... OK I had ago and maybe I need to admit defeat or practice a little more... It was a nice treat to sit and draw something without a purpose and to use my children's NEW pens...
So the evening is getting on now, I move into my livingroom, a room I only really use in the late evening, I am a kitchen kind of girl, I settle myself down and I cast on a my new project...
Whilst I snuggle down to watch a couple of movies...This movie is a favourite of mine, I have lost count of the times I have watched it, yes it is very loosely based on the book, you do have to look hard for the similarities, its a beautiful film with a most superb soundtrack...At times it just takes my breath away with its sadness...

SO the bewitching hour is close at hand and its time to close the house down and retire to bed... yes Saturday nights are special, they change with each year of my life... for now though I am happy with the free time it gives me to potter around my home, cooking, knitting, sewing, drawing and watching movies... yes its a peaceful evening... I wish you an enjoyable weekend and an even better week to come...

Music I am listening to... She's only Happy in the Sun by Ben Harper

Music my children are enjoying...Fake Tales of San Fransisco by Artic Monkeys

Both tracks came by a very special couple as a gift to me, a couple who love music as much as me, I asked if they would mind putting some tracks together for me for my ipod and I got 4 fabulous Cd's of very beautiful music that so suits my present mood and these two tracks in particular have caught our imagination...

Sunrise on a new month....

2009-02-02T07:11:00.000-08:00

What can I say... I watched the sun rise, an awesome sunrise at that, on the start of a new month. I can not tell you how relieved I am that January is over. Now I know we still have a while of winter left, this is OK, this month holds the promise of a half term holiday with my children and possibly if we are really lucky... a few signs to lift my weary soul that spring is finally on its way...The weekend brought many things to the 'Suzie Sews' household... Time with friends and family, sharing all things good in life. Projects got finished...
... another winter hat
... fabric was drooled over, you know that great time whilst you are planning your next project and you try different colours together and different textures... yes lots of ideas going around my head, all with the summer season in mind, thoughts of outdoor eating and time spent on beaches and under trees... picnic rugs and place mates that hold cutlery etc... yes lots of ideas...
The next BIG knitting project was decided upon. I love the easy shape to this jacket, its meant to be knitted in the Eco wool, but as a colourful person I do not think I could do this amount of knitting in such a neural, although beautiful, colour... so I have opted for...
...GREEN!!!

So with the new month upon us and I am managing to get on top of things now, I hopefully will be back to blogging on a regular basis, I thank you for the comments and emails whilst I have been some what lacking in this department... I do have a week off line later in the month, in the meantime I am trying to get back into my little blog world and starting to catch up with some of my favourite blogs...

Thank you for bearing with me... OK on with 'making'... what are you up to?

Duvet Days....

2009-01-27T10:35:00.000-08:00

Duvet days... yes I am all in favour of these, pull the covers over your head and ignore the fact that the world is turning and right outside the very heart of your home life carriers on... whilst you snuggle up and stay in your PJs all day...Yes... of late I have been a typical cancerian and retreated into my shell... is it the month? the grey winter days? is it my mood? is it that I seem to have lost my place in my own world? Possibly a mixture of them all, so when the littlest family member is poorly and he needs to stay at home and be looked after... Well I have peace in my heart and we hunker down for a day of cuddles, crafting and general niceness... Snuggling in our big bed, surrounded by all the things we like to do... quilts for keeping us cosy, teddies for company, books for reading, knitting for Mommy and of course some snacks to keep the hunger at bay...
To be fair eventually you have to get up so after some serious splashing around, its on with a fresh pair of PJs and down to the kitchen...
...various crafty goodness keeps us going for a happy hour or two... new pens in yummy colours, lots pictures to be turned into thank you cards from the children are made, even a little bit of youtube time whilst Mommy sorts out the next project...
A little sewing, bean bags (or in this case, adukie bags) a fun little project that even a five year old can do with supervision... little squares of fabric (any size) a little felt and some Mommy and babe time at the sewing machine...
As the illness seems to be hanging around and we are all generally a little under the weather, lots of healthy food is getting served to keep our vitamin c levels up... which all helps to keep us happy and playful...
Yes a nice day... a much needed day to reconnect with the very core of family life, just moving through the day slowly, peacefully and with love...
Yes I lost my groove and I am indeed working hard to regain it, as I take the odd peek into blogland I see I am not alone, I guess with all the outside influences it is actually a hard month for many, credit crunch, poor weather and coughs and colds... I personally feel I need to really spend some quality time with my babies and I have a half term to look forward to... I am already starting to put the craft box together so we can hunker down and spend quality time just chilling out, lots of outdoor walks, wellies on and of course camera in hand... just a few more days now and this month will be over. I walked to school in the sunshine yesterday and for the first time in what seems like a life time ago, I felt the warmth from the sun, blueish skies and I heard bird song... not long to go now until the season changes...

Show and Tell...

2009-01-17T13:41:00.000-08:00

I can only apologise for my unintentional blog break... I lost my groove there for a while, the snowy days and blue skies changed into grey wet and generally damp January days, I missed the children and generally felt a bit like the weather... GREY!!!So in order to chase the 'greys' away I have been reconnecting with the creative need and finally getting some stuff done. So I picked up my knitting bag and I got a little busy whilst curling up in the evenings with a glass of rich red wine, the fire on and clacked away my needles in time to my music...
As usual I am unable to stay faithful to one item of knitting, so in the knitting bag I have a few projects on the go, a beautiful easy knit sweater for my littlest one...
A little hat to match my RED winter coat...
and a completed hat, the same as mine but a little smaller, for a special little person...
Its always a good feeling when you complete something.
As my name suggested I am Suzie Sews, so with a birthday of one of my friends coming up and pennies being a little short after the Christmas madness I made my friend a gift, a totally useless but rather cute little fabric book and a matching pincushion in adorable Amy Butler and Moda Fabric...
My children and I are doing a little baking together after school, to get them started you just can not go wrong with pizza... so after binding the ingredients together...
we split up the dough and kneaded it for a good fifteen minutes...
We each choose our own toppings and then once cooked we sat down to enjoy the goodness of our efforts...
Comforting food to chase away the misery of the month...

On a personal note, I am sticking to new years resolutions and along with everyone else my looking after myself better in 2009 resolution is actually coming along quite well. With my swimming two to three times a week, and walking to school I have just joined a Nia class, I was a little unsure it would suit me, a friend of mine was taking the class so along with a couple of other friends I went along, I have to say it was great fun and very addictive... if you like dance and yoga I would definitely suggest you give it ago, if your a little self conscious, stand at the back of you class until you feel comfortable.

Have a great weekend and once again I apologise for my little blog break, but as you can see, 'stuff' is getting done...

The Sewing Room...

2009-01-10T12:58:00.000-08:00

So is it just me or is January just whipping by? Not that I am complaining, I have found this month hard of recent years, but with the snowy days and the bright blue skies I am finding my new rhythm quite easily... I miss my children now they are back in school, those lazy morning, all three of us having cuddles in the morning in our big bed, with books and sketch pads all within easy reach and of course the breakfast crumbs... yes you only find them when you pull the covers over your head the next evening ready to snuggle down to snooze only to have to leap out of bed and brush the crumbs away... or is this just my family?So I thought a New Years Resolution to tidy up my sewing room was a good thing to do... and true to my word, I accomplished it...
OK I was rather inspired by my new cupboard to store my fabric in, it has meant that I lost my comfy sofa but it does provide me with a lot of eye candy and for that I will not complain, no in fact I am positively in love with my new cupboard...
I thought it only fair to share with you the whole picture... In typical sewing room fashion, storage is the key, lots of baskets filled with yarns, fabric and a bookshelf that groans under the weight of the books filled with inspiration...
...a little silliness on the window ledge, (can you see the January snow through the window)? something to make you smile when its raining outside and you need every help you can find to brighten up the grey winter days...
... and of course the sewing table itself... a right angled set up of two tables to enable cutting out and sewing to be accomplished with ease...
...all around the room are corners filled with jars and all things pretty...
...not to mention little handmade goodies from my fellow blogging friends...
...and talking of handmade, I had to share with you the most thoughtful Christmas present of 2008. From my very good friend, my fellow sewer and of course knitter... no ordinary knitter... this is the girl that taught me to knit... my cave dwelling, scuba diving, white water rafting friend who knits to relax... yer she is cool...
OK I was naughty, I actually opened it before Christmas and it filled me with joy and felt like a warm hug from a special person... when someone knows you this well...
... you know you have a true friend.

So with such a nice place to sit and work... I am sure 2009 will be full of creativity... I have made a good start and I will 'show and tell' soon... Have a great weekend...

Please note.... if you click on to any of the pictures they will enlarge for greater detail...

Music I am listening to... Sharlreen Spiteri Melody such a good album I bought it last week and have played it back to back... singing all the words at the top of my voice in the car ... STOP and It was you ...yes a super CD every track a winner. Every song takes me back to a little club I used to go to pre children... cool live music, small cramped dance floor, so smoky you could not see the other side of the room... Yes a good CD indeed.

The Gingerbread house...

2009-01-06T14:01:00.000-08:00

Happy New year and may I take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for 2009 and may it be filled with lots of love, peace, health, happiness and of course creativity...So the New Years Resolutions are still just jotted down notes in my journal and will soon be an actual list. I checked up on last years resolutions and I had a success rate of about 75%. If I may say so myself I thought I did pretty well. Some will be carried forward, some are no longer appropriate for me anymore and some... well... just unrealistic.
Two years ago one of my resolutions was to start my Suzie Sews blog and maintain it for a year, so on to year three and here I still am, still wittering, still taking pictures of everything and still sewing and knitting up a storm. I however do not feel still, no life moves and changes, it shifts in all sorts of directions and the ability to move and grow with it are an ever demanding part of life. Each day that passes I am grateful for so much, I love the things that life teaches me and I love the creativity of my spirit. I draw inspiration and strength from my ability to use my hands creatively.
So dare we imagine what the New Year holds for us all. One of the things I believe in is to enjoy the moment. Motherhood has taught me to slow down, stop the rushing and just open my eyes and see the beauty around me and take joy in the simple pleasures that surround me on a day to day basis.
Its fabulous when we make an effort and we do something out of the ordinary, but what about the ordinary, why should it be so dull? If you promise yourself one thing this New Year, try and see the goodness in your everyday life. The sun coming up in the morning, the first show of spring, the delicious food you eat, a successful sewing project... a smile from a stranger... the list is endless... one of those special moments for me was the last day of the holidays...
The children and I had been invited to a friends for dinner, our kitchen cupboards needed to be restocked after the holiday period so we had no food to take... after a rummage through the kitchen I remembered that we had not done the Gingerbread House... so two excited children and I have to admit.. me too... got sticky and messy and spent a very happy couple of hours putting together our master piece of a house to take along with us as a Hostess Gift... the best part... watching four giddy children smash it to pieces at the end of their meal and eat it all up...

So after a rather sparse time on the making front, I feel inspired, the sewing room is all tidy (with a gorgeous new cupboard to store my fabric in) and ready to spring into action and that is the place I am going to right now... Wishing you all the very best for the 2009...

Today I bring you the colour GREEN...

2008-12-31T09:46:00.001-08:00

So the Christmas cheer is all over and the newness of another year is about to begin... This time of year brings with it great thoughtfulness, thinking about the past year and looking forward to the new... A time for reflection, New Years Resolutions to be made (and broken) plus making fresh plans for the future...I am grateful for many things and I feel blessed to have two very special little people to share the future with. How lucky are we...
This Christmas has been so different from previous years, dealing with the changes within our household which have rocked it to its very core, but with love in our hearts and hope in our dreams we will march forward into this New Year... I do not know what it will hold and there is anticipation and a kind of nervous excitement about it...
Green is my favourite colour and as I look at the last weeks photographs this colour keeps popping up... to me green says... New, Hope, Spring, Beauty, Freshness and most of all Simplicity... I guess that's why I like it and its no surprise then I am drawn to take pictures subconsciously of this colour...
From the food I eat, the colour I paint my toenails and snap shots from a New Years Eve Walk with my children through the woods... yes green is everywhere... even in the depths of winter...
I will reflect and I will plan... but for the meantime I wish you and the people you love a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR. May it be filled with Love, Peace, happiness and Good Health.

I thank each and everyone of you who have taken the time to read my blog, or simply pop in and out to look at the pictures, to those that have taken trouble to leave a comment or two and to those who I am pleased to say through my blog have become my friends. I thank you from my heart.

It was the night before Christmas...

2008-12-25T05:41:00.000-08:00

It was the night before Christmas and all the little people are asleep dreaming of the day to come...This is my moment, I sit in a quite house after all the noise and excitement of friends and family who called to say hello at this special time of year... I sit (2.00am) in the house, the lights twinkling, a glass of champagne in hand, a time for reflection and a time to look forward to the promise of all to come and to think of friends I can not be with... The Santa snow is by the fire, the mince pie has been eaten as is the carrot for the reindeer and the glass of milk is half empty now... the shinning glitter and oats are scattered by the front door... the tree is pretty with all its kitch shimmer and history...
...yes its a special moment, a time to think of the true meaning of Christmas, people in situations beyond their control, wars, famine and all things not right with the world, a time for me to count my blessing and welcome the Christmas Day in to my home with open arms...
The morning brings with it chaos, excitement and the biggest of smiles on beautiful little faces, yes its a special time, a time for family and all that we love and cherish... so I send out to you good wishes, blessings and a moment to be caught up in the magic that is Christmas...

Have a great day and all that it holds may it be filled with love and much cherished memories for the future...

Happy happy Christmas from the Suzie Sews household...

A baby is born....

2008-12-21T08:23:00.000-08:00

Yes there is nothing like the birth of a baby to remind us what this time of year is all about.Welcome to the world little one... may you be safe, happy, loved and healthy. My friend delivered her baby in to the very heart of the family home, a quick and easy birth surrounded by love and peace. Three little sisters happy and eager to have another girl to join in their play times. Mommy doing well and baby nursing happily... All is good.
...yes a baby at this time of year is a special thing... with both my pregnancies I loved being HUGE at Christmas, attending nativity plays and singing songs about a baby in a manger would have me with my hand on my belly and smiling away feeling fabulous...

Oh and not that you can see much off it, I knitted the little pink cardigan... oh to knit in pink and something just so small... ADORABLE!!!

Its the Winter Solstice today... May it mark the prospect of lighter, warmer days and time spent outside with our loved ones...

Listening to... James Morrison (this man is so beautiful) click on to his name for link

The Pieces don't fit anymore/Wonderful world/ Broken Strings

The blurr that is Christmas....

2008-12-17T01:23:00.000-08:00

One week to go... its all a blurr... I am so not in the Christmas vibe this year. All around me are the beautiful colours of the season, rich variegated green and lush shades of cherry red, my home is scented with evocative smells of cinnamon and spices, mulled wines simmers in the pan and children's laughter fills the house... It can only be Christmas...Caught up in the whirlwind of shows, concerts, parties and time spent with special friends, singing carols in the cold wintry air with dragon breath escaping from my mouth as I snuggle up to my little ones to keep warm, twinkling lights everywhere and at the end of the day curling up in front of the fire and waking up a couple of hours later... yes it is Christmas...
The tree is decked out in all its 'kitch' glory, years and years worth of Christmas history and some new trinkets in the making... a mish mash of colour and every bit of it put together with the help of excited children.
Its a time for comfort food and baking, stews and casseroles to warm the soul and endless cakes and cookies for the children's party activities...
So much baking has been done this Christmas and every tray of delight has been received by happy faces...
But something has to give, its not all perfect, with things in the process of change here, I have had to give up the many hours I would normally spend in my sewing room, it makes me a little sad I admit, but I give myself a break and know there is always next year... so to fulfill the creative daily need to make something with my hands... I have been doing little projects. Sometimes with the children and sometimes just for me. The button wreaths have made a comeback this year, and I have been using all my red and green gingham buttons... many little gifts of this nature have been made... the shopping is now done and the wrapping may begin...

What ever the stage you are at with your Christmas plans I wish you peace, health and happiness... and a bit more time!!!

A child after my own heart....

2008-12-10T03:59:00.000-08:00

Wondering around our blogging community I see lots of plans getting made, lots of excitement and everyone blogging a little less as their busy lives, at this time of year, take us away from what we do...There is a lot happening at the Suzie Sews Household, and some days its good and others not so good, on the not so good days we will be found pulling on our woolly jumpers, scarf, hat and mitts as we head outside and at the moment the 'outside' is just breath taking...
I feel very lucky to live in the place I call HOME, going for walks right from the front door and so much history in the area it seeps out of the brick work of the houses. Walking through the woods, past ponds and lakes you can really feel the passing of time and a true sense of belonging and worth...
Yes there has been a lot of walking of late, blowing away the cob webs, feeling the chill on your skin, enjoying the light despite there being no power from the suns rays, all day it stays white, crisp, white, clean and FRESH...
Mean while back in the cosy warmth... we are going through a lot of our things at the moment and we are all finding things that take us back to a different time. I captured this moment... a special moment for Mommy... A child after my own heart. As my son found my Dads camera, an old one, not a digital... it was played with for hours, with comments from him that showed his joy of holding a camera with weight, that clicks and moulds into your hands... Yes I could relate to this moment, a time when I used to steel moments looking at my dads camera's, holding them and enjoying the gentle joy that taking pictures holds for me now...

SO this afternoon is the Nativity play, always a special moment in the season, and tonight the Christmas tree and all the lights and shiny 'kitchness' of our Christmas unfolds....

OK off to make another button wreath...going through glue sticks at an alarming rate...

I wish you the joy of the season...

Paper chains......

2008-12-07T14:28:00.000-08:00

So its here, the Christmas music is singing out, people are smiling and saying hello, its a happy time (for most) and the season of good will is up on us... All around me the plans and preparation of the season are in full flow...
With the recent snow, we have spent a lot of time at home due to the village school being closed and when we were not out enjoying all the delights the snow has to offer, well we spent some time warming up our frozen fingers and toes sitting around the kitchen table. We are on the count down now to Christmas, we have three advent calenders on the go ranging from bought-put it together yourself and of course a hand made one... The dark Christmas mornings are forming a pattern, we all snuggle down under the quilts in a sleepy haze, then we get up to open the advent calenders, breakfast is the time we discuss the day ahead before its full swing into action to start the day... Its a comfortable groove and I kinda like these dark cosy mornings...
So with all this special time together we have been creating a good old fashioned mess in the kitchen...from making our own decorations to baking some delicious yummy treats...
of course the time at the table would not be complete without the traditional jug of Hot Chocolate to really warm us up...
...sitting amongst the mess of activity...
Yes its been a time to be together, to enjoy each others company and just chill...before the craziness of Christmas takes over and we start to run all over the place with nativities, choir, music shows, parties and sharing our time with special people...

Take a moment to enjoy this time, slow it down a little and hug your loved ones...

A winters tale...

2008-12-03T01:52:00.000-08:00

Baby its cold outside...I was pulled out of bed yesterday by my two very excited little people...Mommy its snowed...So before it was 7.30am we pulled our boots and mittens on over our PJs and in the dark a snow man was built... We rushed around to get ready for school, as the car was snowed in, it was a crunchy, chilly walk to school.I remembered to throw my point and shot camera in my pocket so took a few snaps whilst I tried to miss being hit by snowballs. So this was our walk to school and back again as school was closed...So it was a day spent playing in the snow with warm up breaks of Hot Chocolate and marshmallows another play and then settling down to a movie with some popcorn, the blinds shut as we pretended to be at the pictures...One last play in the snow before bedtime then a deep hot bubbly bath to warm up our bodies before we curled up for a bedtime story. Happy children!
So a distinct lack of blogging from me at present, I thank you for the personal emails, a lot is changing around here at the moment, it is a huge transitional period for my family, I thank you for staying around and I apologise for the infrequent posting... with this change I find myself reflecting, listening to a whole different selection of music, and having good and not so good days. I guess I am changing also, maybe its just the next stage in life...I have a lot of planning and thinking and re thinking to do. The most important thing to me through it all is stability... My children ground me, they keep life flowing, moving on and seeing things through their eyes makes the world we live in an amazing place...So today at breakfast I was reading through a few story books for them and I came across this poem that I had squirrelled away in one of the books a while ago...it moved me to tears...I shall share it with you...
Before I was a Mom. I made hot meals. I had unstained clothing. I had quite conversations on the phone.

Before I was a Mom. I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got out of bed. I brushed my hair and teeth everyday.

Before I was a Mom. I cleaned my house everyday. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to lullabies. Before I was a Mom. I didn't worry whether the plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom. I had never been puked on, pooped on, sat on, chewed on, peed on or pinched by tiny fingers.

Before I was a Mom. I had complete control of my mind, my thoughts, my body,and my life. I slept at night.
Before I was a Mom. I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried so hard. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a child sleeping.

Before I was a Mom. I never held a baby sleeping just because I did not want to put them down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could effect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone this much.

I never knew I would LOVE being a MOM.
Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between Mother and Child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom. I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every ten minutes to make sure all was OK. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the fulfilment and satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a MOM.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I just have the poem, I do not even know who wrote it or how I came to have kept it... But it sums up my emotions about being a MOM. I promise some usual 'Suzie Sews' stuff soon, its a work in process at the moment...

Photographs.... various pictures of snow and children throughout the snowy day, and of course Archie the bunny who loved the company of the children playing...

Let them eat cake...

2008-11-28T09:39:00.000-08:00

Can you feel it? Are you getting that tinkling feeling? Can you hear the sounds? Its so close now... Yes, as I am caught up in the preparation for the Christmas season, all around me are the signs that its now just days away. I hear carols in the shops, I can smell Mulled Wine in the village pub, there is glitter stuck under my nails, glue on my skirt and sugar icing on my nose...Yes it is a busy time indeed, and a less intense time in our blogging community as all the preparation gets done ready to sit back, kick your shoes off and enjoy the delights of the season and share in the show and tell. Lots of preparing for the various events taking place in the village and school, an opportunity to be involved in your little peoples world. Cake baking, cutting, colouring and generally making a mess is all on the cards for today and indeed this weekend...
Some time spent in the company of people we love, and in the 'Suzie Sews Household' that usually means sharing food...
Warm, cosy, heart warming meals to chase the chills away...
So what ever you are doing this weekend, the weekend before it all begins... I wish you peace and some creative time, taking in all the colours, sounds and smells of the coming season.
Next week, I will be settling down to some serious Christmas making.... buttons and glue sticks at the ready...

Have a good weekend...

Car Portraits and stashing up...

2008-11-24T08:52:00.000-08:00

When I first started to read blogs about three years ago, there was a real pattern to the way our community would blog, I liked it, it was a routine, it became familiar and each day I would look forward to the different theme of that particular time. One of the photographic inspirational headings was 'Car Portraits' various snaps taken in the car, now if you have little ones you will understand this heading, because a lot of time is spent in the car when your babes are young. It might be taking them to the park, or a play date. Maybe your just driving around in desperation of getting your baby to sleep, yer I guess most of us have done that, I used to take my knitting with me and a flask, I would pull up in a nice spot once babe was asleep and have some creative time. The thought of taking pictures and portraits of those snatched moments in the car when your rushing, not thinking about taking pictures, well I found it appealing. So I have been doing this, but not of me, of the babes, which is why I have not shared it before. Today though I was sitting in the car, having had my morning swim and I was just flicking through the pictures on my camera from the weekend... Click... One self portrait...
The power of a picture is quite amazing. It was the Harrogate Twisted Thread show this weekend and for the last five years I have attended, this year was the first year that I was recognised. So that little square inch of a picture of me really must look like me if someone I have never met can say "Are you Suzie Sews?" It was nice, I had that 'community' feel, a group of people who would never normally meet say "Hi" and open up a whole new friendship, yes it was nice...

So as this was a stocking up stashing event for me, I knew what I needed and I went straight for the goodies. Buttons...
Some fun Japanese fabric...
Stocking up on Boden fabric from my favorite fabric supplier...
Being the Boden girl that I am!
I bought the new Knitting kit that's just hitting the UK market... its a present so I can not share to much more at this stage...
Of course I bought some sock yarn, and within an hour of getting home I got it on the needles...
So with all this shopping, selling and chatting... my little feet needed a rest and what could be better than a moment or two with a pair of the most beautiful feet in the world...

I hope you all had a good weekend and I look forward to catching up with some of my favorite blogs in the coming week, I think its a busy time all round with the plans of Thanks Giving and Christmas getting in full swing, I peeked back to this time last year on my blog and I wrote about it being a quite time then, funny how these patterns are formed...

A mixed bag....

2008-11-19T08:24:00.000-08:00

Its a mixed bag today and what could be nicer than starting off the day with a little thank you gift, a wonderful bag of beautiful chunky yarn, how lucky am I? Mmmmmm just lovely 100% wool and a gorgeous shade of baby blue...I am thinking a nice cosy throw knitted on great big needles to cuddle up with over the Christmas holidays.Now that is my plan of what to knit and I actually promised you completed projects, so on with some silly knitting... cute little felted hearts... a free pattern from the talented Mochimochiland, yes free! You just print it off and knit, I made them over breakfast with my little ones chatting away about their day to come... The eyes are optional, but kind of make me smile!
Talking of hearts a little knitted mobile for a new baby... I had no heart pattern at this stage and I was trying my hand at designing my own pattern, it needs a little work, but the end result is rustic and that's the look I wanted...
So on to sewing... I am being inspired by this new party skirt, just far to pretty to hang in the darkness of a wardrobe, it is in my sewing room, it is just the most beautiful fabric, it makes a wonderful swishing sound when you move in it and it is guaranteed to make any girl feel like a princess...
I seem to be making more clothes now than bags, maybe its seasonal? Funny how these patterns of creating go. With all the rain we have at present a fabric bag is far from practical. Whilst I am limiting my fabric buying at present (saving up for a blow out at the Harrogate show) I have made a small purchase... I went to IKEA for a new table cloth, I was uninspired by the selection but spotted this fabric, I think it will jolly up breakfast time a treat and with a clear plastic cover over it, I can relax around the children and their creative endeavours.
I have been playing about with some Christmas gift ideas, I am planning on backing a couple of journals for some friends that will appreciate this kind of gift... this tree idea is appealing, its not perfected yet but its fun playing with the idea... seasonal trees...
Summer Tree... Autumnal Tree... (click on to picture for greater detail)
Ideally a silk painted landscape for the backing fabric would be stunning, in reality time will not allow this.
A couple more blocks for the quilt have been finished, some applique and a block which involved a protractor... I have not used one of these since my school days and even then I had no idea what to do with it, suddenly it all comes together...
Its also a chance to raid the button stash. The green Amy Butler fabric is by far one of my favorite designs, the colour is perfect, its my favourite colour!
A mixed bag of things today and no flow at all, I have yet to find my Winter groove and I am so not feeling it yet... I am trying, maybe trying just too hard... the cooking is no longer summer foods, its been replaced with stews, chunky crusty bread, soups and for the children they seem to want warm rich flavours.
With the onset of the dark evenings, the outdoor play is no more after school, instead we are having to think about what we want to do, some nights we just chill out and others we...well, make a mess!!!
But with some smile inducing results...
Ah I have always had a secret passion for play dough, the colour, texture and smell...
SO how to escape this winter funk that I find myself in, looking around the house and my garden I am reminded that summer is a long time off, how I long to stand on the beach, to listen to the movement and power of the sea, to feel the grains of sand scratching at my skin, the wind making my eyes stream with tears and the smell of fire burning in the evening light... this is what I do when I need inner strength. BUT, with the sea so far away and prospect of cold wet winter days ahead, whats a girl to do?
Time to move on, and look at the positive. The rich, lush shades of red that mark the coming of the holiday season, its that in between time, Winter is here and the festivities are just around the corner, right now however they all seem so far away. I received my first Christmas card today, the calender already has a few parties dated in and I am well and truly involved in the Christmas planning at school, but just now the only bit of this promise is a room in my home, a room every spring I want to paint yellow and every winter I am pleased I have not... I love the reflection of the light in the glass of the picture and you can just make out the horizon of hills that can be viewed from the window. Yes it feels like a transitional period... a time of change, in a short period of time Christmas cheer will be all around us...

Fear and Light...

2008-11-15T13:49:00.000-08:00

SO after a week on being at home with my poorly babes I was kind of suffering from cabin fever, its been a week filled with lots of issues and at times I have felt a little overwhelmed and sometimes that I was positively 'not in control' of the situation... without any free time to knit or sew, my ways to a) have some form of work b) to relax and sooth the soul. Well things felt a little claustrophobic. I needed to get out...Well I took things in hand and went for the old 'feel alive' technique. All my life I have had a fear of dams, I know how I got it so its a real fear. Today I confronted that fear head on... well maybe not quite as bravely as that sounds. On a windy and somewhat chilly day a walk was taken and instead of just passing the dam as I have done many times, I walked over it. Not only that... when I got to the bit in the middle, the place the water rushes under you and then down the long drop of concrete, I tried three times until I stood and looked over... No I leaned over... The heart raced, the chill was taken over by a burning feeling, my breath quickened, my chest heaved with anxiety, I felt nauseous.. BUT I DID IT!!! Hurrah!
Today (I am usually away on Saturday so its all out of routine at present) on going through this months batch of pictures I noticed a lot of them centred around the light, that special light you only get at this time of year, I have talked about it before, its soft, mellow and it shines with it all those little sparkly particles of dust...
So one day I was cutting out a pattern and the light was blazing down on my work area Click...

I look down and see my feet pressed together as I maneuver around the floor trying to cut out the pattern, basking in the sunlight with my homemade socks on for warmth Click...
I move around the house with the camera in hand wondering from room to room, each room offering a different intensity of light... My clothes rail, a rail of clothes waiting to be put away. Click...
My favourite necklace of the moment and my trusty thumb ring. Sitting in the place I had taken them off the day before. I am not in to gold or diamonds and I do not wear rings much, instead I love bold 'kookie' jewelery and for rings, well its my thumb ring or a large chunky dress ring and its a sign of the return of good weather when I get my toe ring back on. Click... (I am so loving the shadow).

So before the light fades into winter greyness, take a moment, look around and see if you can see the special rays and may they shine on you and not show up your dust!

Its a quieter week in the house, so I have been listening to Razorlight...Wire (The lead singer looks like someone I know and I could sure look in his eyes all day) and Cold Play...Violet Hill (I have clear memories of when I first heard this song)

The children have been dancing to Kanye West Love Lock Down-on those moments when the Calpol has had an effect.

We have all enjoyed a bop to Madonna Give it to me-I have grown up with this women.

If you can not link direct, they are all on YouTube.

We have all been watching the trailer for Oktapodi

OK enough pondering on life. Back to show and tell (WIP) next week.

The Dawn of a NEW day..

2008-11-12T00:31:00.000-08:00

The Dawn of a New Day, after all the rain and grey grey days of late today I was greeted by the sun rising over the hills that surround my home. Today is different, its fitting that the sun rises so tear inducingly (is there such a word?) beautifully.

We still have a poorly household, both the wee ones are curled up sleeping off temperatures. So very little time has been spent in my sewing room, actually none! I have not even picked up my knitting...although for some reason I have been picking up a pencil and doodling, not done that for a while. Reading, yes reading is what I am doing now whilst being Nurse Suzie rather than Suzie Sews.

So with little on the 'making' front to show and tell I am sharing with you the photo selection from the Kitchen Poetry group. Inspired by the ever creative Simple Sparrow. Her inspiration being that so much of life takes place in the kitchen, family life, cooking, sharing spending time with friends... sounds familiar so as the kitchen table really is the nerve centre to this home I thought I would join in. Go check out Toni's work her photography is astounding as is her sons, I often think of how proud she must be of her son...I wonder did she inspire his photography or did he inspire hers? Not that it matters as the results from both are so wonderful on the eye...

(This picture was taken this morning, and I mean in the morning, something silly like 4-5am, it is part of the Kitchen Poetry as I have a lovely cosy sofa in the corner of my kitchen the same one that my little one is fast asleep on right now)
So whilst there are lots of pictures in this post, lets have some words...Periwinkle gave me a blogging award and a tag called 7 things...So in answer to the questions here are my replies...
Things I would like to do before I die...

Well as I want find a cure for cancer or stop a war happening so I guess I need to think a little smaller...

... Watch my children grow up in to happy healthy well balanced people

... Improve my education

... Go and spend time with my friend in Australia

... Live by the sea, in a house overlooking the sea with a balcony to watch the sunrise and sunset

... Scuba dive

... learn the guitar or piano

... find the confidence again that I had in my twenties

7 Things I do now

... Mothering

... Take photographs

... Being creative with various mediums

... Spending to much time on my computer

... I think way to much about things

... Work in the community and support a Charity with my time

... Cook, or does No 3 come under that title? OK in that case I dance around the kitchen, seriously... when I am on my own or with the kids the music is turned up and I dance like no one is watching...
7 Things I can not do

... I can not play a musical instrument

... I can not sing, this fact does not stop me singing.

... Organize, no just no good at it, I was once super efficient, I then had babies and that place in my brain that does the sorting just ceased to exist

... I can not whistle with my fingers, this never stops being impressive to me when I see someone do this

... Ride a bike

... Cook rice... it always ends up like pudding!

... Park the car

7 Things that attract me to the opposite sex-Oh thats a personal one!!!

... HANDS... I do not have to even think about this one. Hands say so much about a person, hands show love, kindness, lifestyle and even anger. The gentle soft touch of your child's hand in your hand, the sensual touch of your lover, hands that heal and hands that nurture. (I look at my own hands as I type this, my hands say I am an outdoors kind of girl, they have worked hard, they are caring hands, I have scars on my left hand, nails I wish I had the time and inclination to look after) Yes hands say so much and are extremely attractive to me.

... Laughter, someone that can laugh in the face of most things is someone that can cope with life.

... Height, it says strength, power and oh so much more.

... Sensitivity, I have yet to find this in the opposite sex.

... Ability to cook.

... Smell, sounds kind of weird but we all have our own smell, not out of a bottle-our own smell, I believe its one of the things that draws us subconsciously to a person. It has to be a clean smell mind!!!

... They look a bit different. Character, people I find attractive.... Christopher Eccleston, he makes my toes curl I can watch any film with him in it. Luca from ER. Con O'Neil. Jamie Oliver. Jack Black his humour and kind eyes. Bill Granger, its a lifestyle kinda thing.
7 Things I say

... I love you (I say this to my children over and over again)

... OK Hun

... Can I get you something to eat... I have a need to feed people when they visit me

... numpty dumpty

... OH Man

... cool

... hey Guys

The last three make me sound like I am a hippy!
7 Celebrates that I admire

... Jamie Oliver, I love his enthusiasm

... I am not really into celebs so this is a hard one!!!
7 Favourite foods

... avocados

... pistachio nuts

... chocolate (Thornton's cheap Coffee creams above all)

... fish and chips on a cold windy day at the sea side

... homemade pancakes with the children on a Sunday morning

... Crem Brulee

... Baklava

... an extra one as its not strictly food...A Margarita with a salted glass, it has to be a salted glass... I have so many funny stories around this drink!

And that is the lot, now I should pass this on to seven people , I am late doing this and quite a few people have already done it, if you have not and want a go, please feel free to consider yourself tagged by me.

So after all that thought and typing, time for a coffee oh and maybe a Bagel.

It all stops...

2008-11-09T13:33:00.000-08:00

No matter how busy you are or what you have on the list to do, they all STOP when one of the babes are poorly.On Saturday I had my sewing course, I left the house with my sewing machine and all my textiles with a bounce in my step, although I have to admit that I still feel a little guilty about doing something for myself. I said goodbye to my wee ones with big kisses and hugs all round, they had their swimmers on as they were off to a trip to the swimming pool later that day then a run in the park ... So off I went t0 the once a month bit of 'ME' time, the time I am me, with no other title, no one else to look after and think about except what I am going to be working on, five hours with nothing to think about except my sewing...
It was a great day and very productive, I worked on four different blocks all with pleasing results. I had that feeling, that little flicker that something was not right...I guess its a mother's instinct, I returned to a poorly little chap and a grumpy older child because swimming had not taken place. I was cross I had not been called home especially when I was told when my poorly babe was in the throws of a high temperature he called out for me, heart breaking stuff... So the sewing remains in the place it was dropped when I came through the door, no blogging, no emails looked at or replied to, in fact very little was done including very little sleep. Curling up on the sofa under quilts and reading stories are what we are about today. So forgive me my absence but the babes come first and I will be back as soon as we are all back to being healthy...

Giveaway winner is....

2008-11-05T09:38:00.000-08:00

The winner of the Autumn Break Giveaway is...The lovely Beverly who pens the beautiful Blog, Tea Time and Roses. Well done Beverly, if you email direct with your address I will pop them in the post to you.
So I mentioned in my holiday post that I wanted to share with you a little shop I found whilst away. I took a couple of snaps so I could share with you the interior and you too can go Ahhhh and Ohhhh.
I actually spent most of my holiday pennies in this shop, even my babes enjoyed poking around the shop. The really good thing was you could browse without interruption, you know what its like, you go into a lovely shop and you feel eyes on you and just do not feel comfortable enough to shop... which is what your there for! Not here you could browse and shop away...
The funny thing about this shop is I have been to the town previously on other weekends away and gone into the building but had no idea that this haven was there. Its in the beautiful Yorkshire Market town of Pickering, just a short walk away from our cottage, its actually a Newsagents shop. I nipped in hopping the 'now available on the high street' Yarn Forward Magazine would be sold here...
When I was looking around a door caught my eye with a lovely wreath on it...so I ventured through the door and found all this loveliness... Its a great little shop and with an Internet shop too I feel I will never struggle to buy gifts either for my friends or myself...Go check it out and say Hi from me... Made And Found Market Place, Pickering.

So just a quick post today, off to my knitting group and I also need to take my photo for Kitchen Poetry which is being hosted by the lovely Simple Sparrow...I am running mine through my Suzie Sews Flickr account.

Playing catchup and giveaway update

2008-11-03T04:31:00.000-08:00

Time flies when your having fun and despite a few coughs and sneezes along the way my little family had a great week... We took off for the week and stayed in this sweet little cottage in the beautiful Yorkshire town of Pickering. Its not our usual style of cottage, we normally go for a cottage in the middle of some hills and nothing else, so it was a nice change to be able to go out for breakfast and eat out in an evening and walk home to the cosy fire and snuggle up on the sofa with a good read or my knitting...
Of course as you would expect a lot of outdoor time was had, we really enjoyed all our Autumnal walks...
the first snow of the season caught us off guard... chilly chilly chilly...
We went to visit lots of interesting places...
Stunning views to be had at the top of Whitby Abbey. You really can see and feel why the book Dracula was inspired by this place. A book I must mention in its true form is a treat to read, a pure love story rather than a horror tale.
With all this fresh air and running around I did have very sleepy little people at the end of the day. However Autumn Watch was a problem. My oldest child loves Autumn and Spring watch when its on the telly, he watches it with wide eyes and asks lots of questions when each programme finishes. It is on at eight o'clock which is actually past bedtime, but whilst away and the little one was all tucked up in his nest, we would snuggle on the sofa (lots of snuggling took place) with our hot chocolate and we would enjoy the delights of this program.
One day we ventured into the city (York) and we shopped till we dropped... as you would expect the children found every toy shop in all the out of the way places and I enjoyed a poke around Sheepish the wool shop situated in the beautiful part of York called the Shambles we also spent too much time in book shops. To keep us going we had a few breaks to enjoy the coffee culture and ended up in our favourite family restaurant chain... we watched the sun go down over the river and then with full tummies we explored the city all over again in dark evening light with all the twinkling lights...
A holiday without a trip to the Sea, well that just would not do, so covered in waterproofs, sweaters and our wellies on with a basket of snacks and flask of Hot Chocolate we headed off to the beach...
and guess what...we were the only ones on the beach that day and we had so much fun...
Yes some special days... the weather was different on each morning and we made the most of it all... and on the days we felt a little poorly we would just walk to the end of the road and feed the ducks...
Do not let me disappoint you, all the while I was knitting, sewing, cutting and sticking... it will all be revealed on the run up to Christmas... YES Christmas, it feels like its on its way, and that's a good feeling...

I will announce the winner of the giveaway on Wednesday when I have had a chance to unpack... Oh I have so many new goodies to unpack and a beautiful shop I would like to share with you...see you soon.

Autumn Break Giveaway...

2008-10-22T05:43:00.001-07:00

Its coming up to Autumn Break, the babes and I are planning some time together so we can really appreciate the riches on offer at this time of year. Walks in the wood with all the beautiful orange shades in the trees, we will be pulling our wellies on and going for a splash in the sea. The craft box is all ready with lots of creative goodness to keep us occupied if we need to hunker down in front of the fire if... when... the weather changes. Who knows we may even see some bats flying from the trees. We love bats here, we even have a few that lap around the house as the evening light draws in.

You can imagine my delight when I was over at the lovely Queen of the Froggers blog and spied here latest creation...I had to get my hands on that there pattern;-)
The pattern comes from the wonderful knitting designer over at Mochimochiland , you must go and check the work out, not so sure about the the munching snake though, mind you I bet the children would love it!!!

The needles got clicking...as you can guess, the children adore their new Batty friends and they have lots of adventures planned for them next week...they fit so perfectly into their hands and its great for the wee babe to get to grips with doing the button to open up the bat wings...'Looking Mommy he is flying'...

So following on from my last post I thank you so much for your precious words, they mean a lot. Its a good time I think to take a break, just over a week, to spend time with my own little family. My camera, knitting and some sewing are all on the list of things to do so I am sure I will have lots to report on. I am planning a trip to the city as I have some craft related books I am after, so lots of ideas will be getting logged in the notebook for the wintery months ahead...
So I leave you with a little giveaway, a few 'Suzie Sews' handmade goodies...a sturdy pin- cushion, Yoyo and vintage button hair pin, a little corsage to wear on your winter coat to cheer up a grey day and a few fabric badges (using moda, vintage Laura Ashsley and sweet owls fabric)...
So if you fancy being in with a chance of the postman bringing these to your door one cold morning to cheer you up, please just leave a message on this post and on my return I will pick the winner...I wish you a very happy week...

Thinking of my Dad...

2008-10-20T05:40:00.000-07:00

I have just spent over an hour writing an emotional post about feeling low and realising it was because I am coming up to the anniversary of my Dads passing... I wrote the post with honesty and all from the heart, I cried and wrote things I have never shared with another person... events of the run up to the sad day and how knitting through it all kept me sane, about the almost comic way people acted and behaved around this time. Most of all though I wrote about the pain of missing my Dad and how my Mom has never actually acknowledged that I lost my Dad... The funny thing was the post never saved and I am just not able to write it all again without more tears... So I will accept that things beyond my control for what ever reason choose for this post not to go out there and normal Suzie Sews show and tell will resume on my next post.

The weather today is...

2008-10-16T03:01:00.000-07:00

The weather today is...Cloudy with some sunny spells ending in a bright Autumnal evening...
Perfect weather for cooking up some of the autumnal offerings from the garden...a fruity curry as we return to the comfort foods of warmth and spice after all the fresh crispy salads of the summer...
The dark evenings are a time to settle down and finish off projects...(Front and back of the Jane Austin dress)
and to start on a fresh project (does it look familiar?)...
... whilst the children return to their indoor play and rediscover the much loved and treasured wooden train set that seem to find its way all over the house..."Please Mommy leave it out so we can play with it later"
Which means this track has taken over the living room, the hall, poked into my sewing room, the downstairs loo and is now heading towards the kitchen...CHOO CHOO!!!

My children love being outdoors and I always worry how they will cope when they have to stay indoors, after all you can only cope with being wet from the rain for so long...you know they always surprise me with their 'play' I am blessed that they love being in each others company and despite their age difference they manage to find a harmonious level at which to play together...long may it continue...

I wish you a fantastic, happy and healthy weekend...

Accepting Autumn...

2008-10-14T05:33:00.000-07:00

Accepting Autumn...

... Yes I have finally given in and actually admitted that the summer is at an end. Whilst this saddens me it also gives me the freedom to go ahead and enjoy the next season...I look around me with a different view point now, just how could I have denied all the lovely things that Autumn brings us. So with a weekend away we spent our time outside...the smell of the last mowed grass of the season...
The clear air and the special light that seems to be around at this time of year...
Walking through orchards, the crisp fallen leaves crunching under foot...
The final stages of harvesting just before the bales get all wrapped up like big sweeties for the winter feed...
Even the time on the beach this weekend felt different, the air was milky and without the warmth from the sun we pulled on our sweaters and walked for miles along the sea edge...
Splashing in the streams leading out to the sea...
Yes the beach had a whole different feeling to it, gone are the long days nesting in our little pod with sun cream and ice cream, the boys in the sea waiting till the tourist had all gone home so we could light a fire and watch the the evening light change. No this time we just walked and walked, a little beach combing and some egg searching...
Egg searching...

Seriously...

The boys favorite story of this year was the Water Horse, so now inspired by this story and film we have a fine collection of eggs that need to be looked after with care...
and if we are lucky we might have a little sea creature of our own...
Or as my eldest one hopes... our very own dinosaur... May be I should curb their imagination and remove the stones (I mean eggs) from under their pillows so they keep warm, then again would you not love to have that time again when your imagination really does cross over into reality and everything is possible...

Yes Autumn is here and I have to admit that I am enjoying the season...