Hello again...

It is the last day of the school holiday's today and as a family we had just the best week. No school or nursery runs, no shopping (except nice stuff) no housework, lots of chilling out, country walks and joint crafting time. What is our secret? I have a little bolt hole that I escape to once in a while with the kids and its just fab, best of all there is a swimming pool. So here is a photos of the half term craft box...
Spot the pom poms, they just keep on growing, you need quite a lot to make a scarf look anything part way OK. Lots of goodies got produced.. The weather forecast said snow and as we had once been snowed in here, so I took extra stuff with us, sadly just a splattering of snow and quite a lot of rain. Never mind we still had a great time, lots of wet welly walks and endless mugs of Hot Chocolate and marshmallows to warm our tummies and hands up. Oh off the kids go again...
I took quite a few arty type pictures. I love the textures in this shot.
A team work project to celebrate Valentines day, between us we made lots of hearts. We even decorated heart shaped cookies, this was a particular favourite with my youngest. Due to them all been eaten up rather quickly no photo was taken of them...take it from me...yum yum!
So it was with a heavy heart we said goodbye to our beloved cottage and returned home, to be greeted by a pile of post (only one bill) an invite to my friend's opening of her photography exhibition with a G & T reception, which was happening as we read the invite. So we all jumped in the car and rushed off. It was very good, such a talented person. As an extra treat she had booked a table in a local restaurant to continue the event so all us girls went out. A great time was had by all, back home in time to start my unpacking and washing and continue with the post opening session... More goodies, a selection of FQ's. The heart one was for Valentines day, Mmmm! bit late for that now. The rest I have an Easter project in mind.
Feeling low today as its back to it tomorrow.

School is out

Yippee...school is out and my children are now officially on holiday. The craft box is almost ready. I love to have a box full of craft stuff, colouring books, glue, pom poms etc. that they can dip into to get their creativity flowing. So I am going to have a short blog break, please do come back to me and I promise to show and tell all the projects I have been working on throughout the week, I might even get to finish one or two. This 'Art work' was from the Christmas craft box. Pinch pots, it took a couple of sittings, first they made the pots and coloured in the wooden dolls. Once the pots were dry we painted them them I varnished them. They sit on our kitchen window ledge and the boys often ask for them to be passed down to play with them. I wounder what they will create this week. Have a really good week, craft lots and always have a 'cuppa' on the go.

FINISHED

Here is the coat plus matching mittens and a shy boy... Here is the back, my older child said he looked liked a little pixie!
This is what I finished off last night, another block for my quilt, this was by far my favourite one to do.
This is my half term 'quick knit' project. I bought a pair of these gloves with the mitten bit at Christmas. They started to fall apart and I wanted to prove to myself I could do a better job. I have cheated a bit and bought self striping wool.
The snow is falling today and we have had a weather warning about only going out if we need to!So it looks like more snow is on its way. Better get the sledge out.

Corner of my home

Today I bring you a peek into my work area. We are talking storage jars. Oh my, how I love those little pots, I have them all over the house, different types, different sizes. For today though its just my sewing table, filled with buttons, brooch backs, labels and a small selection of ribbon. To the left of this area are my sewing books, to the right are a few piles of fabric. Next to that at floor level are my two stacker's of patch work fabric. This is the front one, which also holds more ribbon:-)
I am in the middle of redesigning my labels, Here are just a few bits and bobs I have collected to get the ideas flowing.
I guess my last picture of the day is a corner of my home. Its my NEW Momiji, I just love these, so cute, great colours and very tactile.
Oh the mittens are finished and the coat (including mitts) are being worn to Nursery today, so hopefully I should get a picture for you tomorrow. My POM POM pile is getting too large for display now so I need to think about sewing it all together! Have a great day...

Because it 'FELT' like fun

So here is the sweater I got form the charity shop last Friday. I washed it on a 60 wash and and it felted great. I sat last night and cut off the sleeves and dipped into my button collection and just had a bit of fun. (Whilst watching ER!) I drew out some shapes and just played around a bit.
The sofa became my work room and I made a bit of a mess!
But in the words of my youngest child 'Look Mummy you made Flowers'. Today I hope to be able to back them with some felt and a pin...Da Dah...more corsages.
This morning whilst I sat with the children at breakfast I made the string that holds the mittens together. Photographed outside as its yet another sunny (although COLD) morning. The mittens go with a cardi. I have made for my youngest, Oh boy did that seem to take for ever. I need to block it so once done I will show you the result.

Thank you Guys for all your comments I am very touched. You make it worth while putting the effort in. Thanks.

Blue Skies making me H.A.P.P.Y.

The weather here at the moment is just stunning, its cold, frosty and Blue Blue skies. This snap shot was taken on Saturday morning as I parked up in the car park for my course. I had a few minutes spare and as the camera goes with me always. I opened the sunroof of the car and looked up...snap shot. The baking for the PTA party was a success, although a lot of the mixture got nibbled along the way. Lots of people had baked, which was great as normally there is very little, we also have a cake shop owner amongst the committee so that helps! All cakes got munched, the kids all went for the coloured icing and the grown ups went for the slightly more boring ones, OK I admit it I had a selection of every sugary one going! YUMMY.
Now I had an email about how quick I can knit...I have to tell you, this is not so, my last post was not a new picture. As it was Sunday and with little time I just thought I would share with you a snap shot of my child's night-time bear. I did infact make him over a year ago. Its a Debbie Bliss pattern 'Toy Knits' he is meant to be a bear, but as it was the first toy I had ever knitted and on such small needles he did not go quite to plan so I had to improvise a little.

SO as you guess can guess form this post I did NO crafting yesterday, I was out all day with my children and spent a lovely time in the park, we warmed up with Hot Chocolate and muffins in one of our favourite coffee shops. The evening was spent preparing for school and a late supper. Tonight I want to bond with my sewing machine.

Hi, My name is Teddy!

Hi, my name is Teddy, yer I know I do not look like a teddy bear, I am infact a koala. Its just that my owner gets a little confused, I guess that happens when your three. That's OK though because I get lots and lots of cuddles and I am the bear that is needed to be able to go to sleep with at night. Its a bit Kitch but my owner and I even have matching clothes. Our sweaters match, cool hey? I even have my own little bed to sleep in when I am not being cuddled, I am waiting on a pillow though...come on Suzie Sews get busy...

Apples and Pears

First of all I want to say a big thank you to the thoughtful words after yesterdays post. It was just one of those unexpected outpourings.
I also want to say hello to any one just checking me out after the very kind link from Little Cotton Rabbits. Look what came in the post, I have been after this fabric for a while, I am very please with it, I have a special project in mind for this. Hopefully it will turn out better than the photograph.
Today has been a great sewing day. It was my patchwork course. We did two blocks today and I have a little hand sewing to do at home, which once I have made supper I shall be doing.
I returned from a dreadful drive over the moors in fog to excited children as it was our PTA party evening. So loaded up with cakes and other goodies we arrived to a room full of giddy children. Who are now all sleeping...Ahhh time for Mommy to get busy...I shall just go and pop the kettle on.

Roller Coaster (emotional posting)

Its only 10.00am here, I can not believe today has already been filled with so many emotions. I am trying to pretend that I do not have a cold and mornings are quite tough, especially the getting out of bed when my youngest is wide awake at 5.30am. Anyway we made the school run, I was driving home over the hills and just burst into tears. I stoped in a little place with great views over the Moors and the canal, the blue sky made everything look so pretty. I cried some more. I drove home sat on my drive way and cried buckets! It was my Dads birthday last week, he passed away over year ago now and I thought I was doing quite well emotionally. (I sadly watched him die of cancer) I think because I was so busy last week I guiltily pretended to myself that it was not a problem. I wanted to photograph the Moors and my camera is my Dads, he was a photographer and I have his camera's now. I think it just took hold of me and I needed to let it all go. So Happy Birthday Dad, you are very loved and very missed. Oh and I use your camera everyday. I love you.
If anyone is left reading, sorry! This was the activity in the kitchen yesterday. We had a friend pop round for lunch (who is about to open a photograph exhibition, very exciting) Then we got on with our baking for PTA. We are icing the cakes tonight.
Then we had some quality rolling around, Oh my little cherub.
The evening was busy and I only managed about an hour craft time, The stumbling blocks just need to be sewn on to the main baking fabric now.

This is a block that I particularly like. I am amazed I am doing this, it is actually coming together, I have five blocks now.
I have a friend and her children coming over for lunch today so I shall go and tidy up a little. Really looking forward to tomorrow as its my patchwork workshop and in the evening we have the PTA party night. I hope its a great weekend for all.

Books and Badgers

People who make things seem to like old /vintage things. They just seem to go together. So as I like to make things I like vintage stuff to. My youngest is no different. He has SOOOO many books but his favourites are his vintage selection. Actually they are mine, he has managed to claim them for himself the way only little people can. Only this morning I thought he was being quite, we all know that that's a bad sign. I went into the living room and he was sat (as good as gold) with the table light on flicking through his 'Kitten Tales' book.
Such lovely pictures and a picture for every season and calender event.

The reason I bought the books was to add to my badge making obsession. Santa gave my oldest child a badge making kit last Christmas and sadly Mommy is the one who plays with it.
They have been great for adding into gifts for the kids, goody bags, awards etc...

Last night I spent the evening watching Bridgett Jones (part 2) and hand sewing my Quilt Block, not quite finished. I am not a big TV fan but I do watch a few things, I find it so hard to just sit there doing nothing productive so I nearly always have knitting or sewing going on. Anyway I will photograph it when its done as it feels like its taken a lot of time.

This afternoon I will be a Domesticated Goddess. My little helper and I have a number cakes and biscuits to make for a PTA event at the weekend. Oh my which reminds me I have to make a robot costume for my older child's Drama class on Friday, I think I will wait until he comes home and he can join in...Lets get busy, well maybe first a cup of tea...