May oh my

My oh my I can't believe just how fast this year is going.  I think it's due to the fact that I'm now working full time  (well almost - I do 4 and a half days a week) and the weekends just aren't long enough to do all the household chores, crafting, decorating, gardening etc.  I feel as if I'm constantly chasing my tail.  That said, I do have a wonderfully supportive husband that's happy to do grocery shopping, cooking and gardening so I really shouldn't complain. It's just that I sometimes wish I had a little more time for my crafting.

I found this, long forgotten, paper chain pack and decided to use the pretty paper to do some decoupage.  I'm going to cover a tissue box holder.

I made a start (still not finished) decoupaging an old lamp with tissue paper.  Not very artistic but it may revamp the lamp and help it live a little longer!

and while I had my sewing machine out I made lots of cushions for MissG's bedroom.

The rest of my free time this month has been taken up with my new friend Thelma - I think it's about time that I introduced her to you.  I think she deserves a post of her own!

December Days

Doesn't December fly by?  There's always so much to do.  

Very little time for blogging - here's a quick December summary!

I enjoyed a quiet moment with a mug of tea before the mayhem began..

I made a few Christmas cards, and wrote a few Christmas cards and posted a few Christmas cards and delivered a few Christmas cards!

I stopped for refreshments - a tasty snack while out Christmas shopping

I admired the Christmas lights in Carlisle

and the  spectacular sunset on the way home

I decorated the house - decorations everywhere

I hung up my cards - I love to receive cards but never know how to display them

I made this advent calendar - with pockets for sweet treats

I gave my dresser some Christmas treatment too

I draped fairy lights

I decorated the tree - I'm definitely going to have a real tree next year

I collected these pine cones in the park while out walking the dog

I made a Christmas wreath 

I wrapped lots of presents

all ready to open

I think MissG was very happy on Christmas morning

and I was too - didn't I do well?

I (as usual) left the cooking of the Christmas meal to MrG - he made a fabulous feast

I cleared the table - it's at times like this that you wish you'd asked Santa for a dishwasher!

I surveyed the Christmas bottles of booze

I chose a cheeky wee Babycham - did you know that you can still buy Babycham?  I didn't!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas too.

♥ 52 Weeks of Happy (42/52) ♥

Oh boy what a week.  I feel shattered.  I have been feeling as if I have a cold coming on over this last week and I've had a sore throat, headaches, achy neck and shoulders.

Apart from going in to the office a couple of days I have tried to stay cosy in the house all week.  I have been keeping myself busy with some craft projects though.

It only took a couple of evenings to make myself this hot water bottle cover and I am so pleased with it that I may attempt to make a couple of colourful covers for Christmas presents.  I have threatened my family that they will all receive a crocheted item for Christmas!

I also had a go at making Christmas cards - they are so home-made looking that I may not actually send them!  The thing is I love cards and I'm sure to see some that I just have to send instead.

On Friday I had to go out to attend a course.  *Big Confession *  I had to attend a speed awareness course after being caught speeding.  Naughty me!  I have no excuses for doing 34 in a 30 zone but I would just like to say that I was on a straight open road approaching the village and hadn't reached the houses where I would of course have slowed right down.  I am such a cautious driver and have driven for 30 years without any offences so I was quite upset.  My son, who hasn't passed is test but is currently taking driving lessons said there are no excuses and said "it's 30 for a reason", which is true of course.  Slapped wrist for me.

It just so happens that the hotel where I attended the course was right next door to Hobby Craft so I met my sister and we enjoyed some retail therapy.  Today, she came round with her felt and we made the Needle-felt Robin from Kirstie Allsopps Craft book.  I am really, really pleased with my little Robin.

On my drive too and from work I pass a lady's house that has a little stall at the roadside with plants, cut flowers, jams and chutneys for sale.  Last week I pulled over for the first time to take a look.  It was the bright orange lanterns (Physalis) that caught my eye.  A bargain I think at £2.50 so I popped the coins into her honesty box and came home to play with them.  I say play because I spent quite some time deciding what to do with them.  I tried hanging them along the beam in my dining room, then I tried arranging them in 3 different shaped vases until I finally found one to keep them upright.  They have been in my kitchen/dining room for over a week and I have enjoyed the bright cheery colour.  Today I decided to have another play with them and arranged the lanterns around a hoop and made this wreath for my front door.  

♥ 52 Weeks of Happy (9/52) ♥

We've had some lovely sunny days this week - it was so nice to feel a little warmth in the air.

Hey-hey, I think Spring is on it's way.  This week I spotted the first daffodils and the first spring lamb.  

On the school run on Thursday afternoon I noticed that the temperature gauge in the car had risen to 13˚.  I drove past a guy fixing a dry stone wall with his top off - I'm not sure if it was that warm!  The chap in the petrol station said how much cheerier customers have been this week.  A little sunshine goes a long way to brightening everyones mood.

We've had a busy, busy week.  Son2 had his very first driving lesson on Thursday - he was quite anxious about it but thoroughly enjoyed it and is now looking forward to his next one (1 a week at £33 a pop - ahh!).  We took MissG up to Penrith on Tuesday and Thursday to attend two 6th form Open Evenings - she now needs to decide which subjects to study at A'level.    Plus all the usual stuff, work-work, house-work, home-work, grocery shopping, school-runs etc.  Oh yes, and I sneaked in a couple of hours in the garden centre cafe with my friend Helen - tea and cake and a good chat - just what I needed.

My 'happy moments' this week include -

1.  Teaching myself to crochet!  At long last.

2.  Receiving my utility bills and 'whooping' with relief to find that both my gas and electricity bills are in credit!  I have had the central heating on much more than usual because I've been working from home.  I know it's not exactly news worthy but it did put a smile on my face!

3.  Buying a pair of burgundy Converse All Stars.

4.  A little trip to Penrith Crafts shop for a few little goodies. 

  

♥ 52 Weeks of Happy (7/52) ♥

1.  I would love to be able to crochet.  I see so many beautiful crocheted items on blogs I follow and I am so envious.  Especially the ripple blankets that Lucy at attic24 and Heather at LittleTinBird make - I'd love to be able to make myself a beautiful, colourful, ripple blanket. This year I'm hoping to learn to crochet.  I have watched a few YouTube tutorials, bought myself a book, a hook and this magazine (which came with theses pretty coloured wools).  I have also found a local lady, Stella Adams Scholfield, who does craft workshops so I will sign myself up for the next crochet workshop in April if I haven't put myself off and got totally frustrated and defeated by then!  

2.  Pretty rabbit bunting at the Rheged Centre.  A bit early for Easter bunnies but pretty never the less.

3.  Pancake day, what can I say?  Yum-yum.  Sugar, lemon and a wee dod of ice-cream.  

4.  We woke on Wednesday to a covering of fresh white snow.  These snow covered leaves looked like love hearts (not quite captured on my camera!).  A huge bank of snowy love hearts - they looked lovely and made me smile.

getting side tracked

I got my sewing machine out tonight to take in some trousers (ready for the Book Club Christmas 'do' next week) but ended up using it as a drying rack for these little birds.  I bought blank wooden birds from ebay and used gift wrap to decoupage them.  I then added some glass beads.  Once dry I will give them a coat of varnish then they'll be good to go.  I plan to pop some in with Christmas presents and keep a couple to hang on my dresser.

cuttlebug cards

I met my sister in Penrith again today.  This time 'shopping' wasn't on the agenda.  A couple of weeks ago we booked ourselves onto a card making workshop and today was the day.

The craft shop holds various workshops throughout the year.  Today, the lovely Samantha took us through numerous techniques using the Cuttlebug to emboss and cut shapes in card. 



We were shown how to use distress inks, glitter, chalks, ribbons and buttons to decorate our cards.



The workshop was really well planned and we whizzed through loads of cards.  Samantha was full of ideas and gave us lots of handy tips.



The day flew by as we were all totally engrossed - it was great fun.

If you live near Penrith and fancy going to one of the workshops send Samantha a message via her blog http://penrithcrafts.blogspot.co.uk I will definitely do another workshop after Christmas so maybe I'll see you there!












 

Heart Handmade UK: Giveaway!

I'm feeling a lot better today, just a bit weak and wobbly.

I've been taking it nice and easy and just pottering around the house.  

I've also been catching up with my blog reading - there are some lovely blogs out there.

Heart Handmade UK is a favourite of mine - full of inspiring ideas.  Today I entered Claire's Giveaway to win a Cath Kidston Christmas felt decoration book and now I have to keep my fingers crossed until the 30th November!

Follow this link if you want to a chance to win too - Heart Handmade UK: Giveaway! Cath Kidston Felt Decorations Christmas Book and Falalala Felt

shopping with sis

Today I met my sister for a spot of shopping in Penrith, the Gateway to the Lakes.

We live an hours drive away from each other so Penrith is a handy little town for us to meet as it's about half way (well, 40 mins for me and 20 for her).  

There are some nice little independent shops which are especially pretty at this time of the year, all decorated with their Christmas stock.

There's quite a good selection of eateries.  We had tasty panini's in The Bewick this time but the food is great at No.15 too.

There is a small craft shop where they stock a wide variety of crafty things.  Samantha, gave us a demonstration on a Cuttlebug machine.  I hadn't heard of a Cuttlebug before but I happened to mention how much I liked the intricately cut paper samples that were hanging up and Samantha explained that they had been created using a Cuttlebug. 

It is a small portable machine used for cutting and embossing.  It's quite a pricey piece of kit but it creates a really professional look and I'm sure both MissG and I could make all sorts with it!  My sister and I have signed up for a workshop to learn how to use a Cuttlebug to make Christmas cards and we will hopefully learn a few tricks of the trade.  We may even ask Father Christmas for our very own Cuttlebugs.