just a note....

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......

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....

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....

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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.