Spring in my step

I'm usually an Autumn girl but I am finding this Spring to be beautiful.  Perhaps it is living here in Worcestershire with the Malvern Hills creating the backdrop of our little jaunts that has me eager to be outdoors or perhaps it is that there have been less April showers than our previous North West location.  Either way, here are a few pics which reflect a little of the loveliness I have seen around me.

I went out with the girls and took my camera, pencils, notebooks and a Readers Digest guide to wild flowers and plants.  We stopped to sketch the flowers we saw, took pictures and tried to find them in the book.  They are still quite young at 3 and 5 but it made the park become something more to them than the path to the slides and apparatus.  Lydia now loves to tell me when she sees Daffodils and ' tree Possums' *blossoms.

I have also re-covered my 6 dining chairs as my darling children aren't neat when it comes to eating and cream upholstery  isn't practical.  I will upload pics of my endeavours onto the 'What Katie Did' page which has been neglected for a little while.  Also, I finished my skirt which I shall have to get pics of me wearing it to upload too...this week she says) I will try!

Ooops! Lost in the Ether

My last post was drastically shorter than it was supposed to be.  There was lots more added beyond the pictures but somehow it was lost in the Ether.  I have since tried to find it to no avail so I will try to remember all that I had added.  I shared about how I have had a post Christmas drought Craft Wise and I have noted a pattern over the years that this often happens.  I think it is a mourning period that sadly, Christmas is over.  I have found a remedy I think in scrapbooks!

I started compiling pictures, cards and tags etc. from the girls Christmas’ in order to create a scrapbook but only began this year.  My sister came over with my niece and we had a happy few hours letting the kids do the arranging and sticking of their Christmas memories with some embellishments.  I then went through my boxes of mementos that I had kept of theirs and have added over the last couple of months. 

 I have also fuelled my recovery by picking up some bargains in anticipation of the festivities for 2014.  I bought more stationary for the kids to complete next year during the holidays which may well make their way into their scrapbooks.   I picked up some baking things and this beautiful tea towel which I don't expect will dry any dishes!  I hope to use it as some festive art in the kitchen next year as it ties in with the colours and themes I have been gathering together.

I may have got a little carried away with the extent of my baking equipment but have decided I will have to have a Christmas kids party and I’m sure I will be contributing to PTA events for years to come so an Investment really… honest!

I have been watching the Great British Sewing Bee and have been inspired lots.  It’s always hard to find time for a hobby when you are a mum to little ones and my life is no exception!  I have been slowly making some skirts for myself over the last 2 weeks and have approached them very relaxed i.e.. giving myself 30 mins to cut, press and pin a waistband and then walked away.  Another day I may have just inserted the zip.  It’s not my chosen way of working- I think I would prefer the Sewing bee conditions of the focused beginning to end process but it is just as satisfying now to have nearly finished 2 skirts.  One needs to be hemmed and the other needs a zip.  I don’t feel guilty that I have neglected housework to make something for myself as it hasn't been time consuming or demanding.  I will take some pics of me wearing them when they’re ready!

Hobbycraft Stitch and Fashion Exhibition at the NEC

I had hoped to have been able to write more on the exhibition before now but what a week! Job interview on Monday and then a few days of waiting to hear back, to hearing I didn't get the position although the feedback was great.  I am happy to stay at home with my little ones for an extra year perhaps but then the eldest has had a sickness bug and baby is teething so it has been an up and down week.  Today was my niece's birthday so all my family are visiting (well minus my eldest nephew) but a lovely day with all the little ones playing together.  So these images now seem like a long time ago!  These are the 4 Seasons although the fantasy section was also fantastic with faeries, dragons, unicorns and all other mythical creatures.

Tumbleweed

I haven't written in over a month.  For a girl with my Irish talkative genes, that is unusual and I can't account the lack of blogging to any one thing but a series of lots of little things going on.  I am applying for jobs again and have an interview next week but the applications are very time consuming.  My lecturing has been taking up precious time in the evenings and my little man is crawling which bring his destruction ability to an all new level.  We've had lots of Dr's appointments including nasty injections fr  my 3 year old and physio for my back. I also have sticky keyboard on this computer and so typing is taking double the time with having to go back and add extra letters for many many typo's (apologies if I miss any).This post is just a quick one to say I shall be renewing my efforts next week and hope to be back sharing my creative makes and finds.  I am going to the NEC this Saturday for the creative stitch and hobbycraft event.  I'm SO excited and will be snappy happy.  I am sure I will be bursting with pictures to share and perhaps a few purchases (hopefully some freebies!)  I have my interview Monday though so it may be midweek before I post again.  But I have a few projects on the go which I will get some more pics of to also share. One day soon, I will have a real blogger day  of trying t make this site bit more snazzy with links to previous makes/ finds and begin a links section to my favourite blogs and of course, pinterest.  I am LOVING 'Great British Sewing Bee' and have it recorded and saved to go back to- I particularly want to make a wrap around dress an have the Jersey cotton ready and also dungarees for my lil Man- I say little but he's enormous!  (10 months and almost in 18-24 month clothes- had a height/weigh check last week and his length is well above the 100% centile line)  This is a crafty blog however so no more on my wonderful bairns!  I'll sign off with a picture I took a few weeks back of a Rainbow taken while I was locked out of the flat with the 3 kids in tow

Fun in February (despite floods)

My husband's birthday falls in February which calls for some cake, yay!  I admit I did not bake the biscuits but found them in the sale isle of a supermarket for 25p a pack (Christmas stock) with icing pens, red balls and ribbons making this an easy make.  The cake was a very simple Victoria sponge but by far the best I've ever made, despite using the exact same recipe and utensils/ cooker etc.  It was a big hit with the Birthday Boy

There has been so much rain here as many will have seen on the news.  It's difficult to keep younger children occupied in doors so I was pleased when the rain ceased for a day.  Out came the chalks, hats and coats and the girls played outside for over an hour, happily drawing pictures, playing hop scotch and I had a quiet cup of tea.

No arguments or pestering; just giggles, hops and jumps that certainly made the tea taste better.

On the rainy days, I have been taking the girls to the library (which we can almost see from our drive- very close indeed).  Fiona is just learning to read  and really enjoys an hour there exploring her growing awareness of words while Lydia likes the new books and also the putting them away again.  There are pictures and pencils for when she gets bored and of course, there are grown up's books too (for when we get bored).

I borrowed these 2 books which I love for different reasons.  Living in a rented flat has made me think about the home differently.  The items we're buying are usually 2nd hand and so not always to our desired taste as function and cost are the deciding factors.  The Pearl Lowe 'Vintage Craft' has been inspiring as she encourages you  to upcycle in simple but effective ways.  There are loads of books doing the same but I particularly like her style and she gives a little intro to the chapters which I've loved reading.

The other book is also amazing!  It's called 'Crochet at Play' by Kay Golding which I picked it up and saw a few projects and decided I wanted to take it home.  On getting it home, I discovered there were several projects which had been featured in Mollie Makes which I had earmarked and even posted to Facebook.  I've since seen it in 'The Works' for £5 and will most definitely be purchasing a copy.  There are hats, cardigan's, toys, novelty items and interior  bits- nearly all of which I really want to try.  I even bought some cotton yarn to attempt the star shaped rug for Michael's room which is slowly coming together,

So, despite the floods here in Worcestershire, we're having fun and half term hasn't started yet!

Getting Organised

I posted pics a while back of a cabinet I was working on for my craft room.  Well my 'sewing space' has been very cold and damp which meant I couldn't spend much time down there and then it was messy and I couldn't justify sorting it out until the rest of the flat was sorted.  A visit from the Landlord resulted in lots of new heaters, windows and painting being done thus I have finally started getting myself organised.  We are not all completely well so the process is still a little slower than I would like and it is amidst weaning the little man and going back to work.  However, progress I have made and here are some pics!

The said £20 cabinet/cupboard.

My choice of paint- possibly not the best paint as it was gloss and I would have preferred a chalk finish but it did the job (4 coats though!)

I admit I began to panic at this point as the paint looked very thin.  But 3 more coats and I was happier.  I decided to add some gold painted detail around the window panes for a little lift and am contemplating some stencilled golden birds and foliage up the sides in true Victorian fashion.

It's current place in my sewing room filled with fabric (what is left of my stash after a huge ruthless clear out)

This is yet to be properly organised but the box in the middle has my collection of Mollie Makes gifts which I will eventually get round to making up.  They're so pretty that I haven't wanted to attempt them but end up ruining them.  I also have my dressmaking patterns in my mum's old sewing basket (right) and the pink box contains my ribbons which are too nice to remain under a lid (left).

How my sewing room looks today.  More pics to come when I finish decorating it (and tidying!)

stationary state

Another bout of illness, in the form of tonsillitis has induced me into a stationary state, again. Booooo I am really missing crafting which I suppose is why I am enjoying others' craftiness at the moment, specifically photography.  Social Media alerted me to the work of this creative genius;
 http://www.viralnovelty.com/photos-will-blow-mind-one-look-youll-see-mean/

This is one of my favourite shots!

Another photographer I was made aware of was from this link:
 www.boredpanda.com/animal-children-photography-elena-shumilova/?fb_action_ids=10152146145870280&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582

I couldn't pick between these pics so I've uploaded both.  The first I love as the little boy reminds me of my own sweet Mikey with similar coloured hair with curls, and I also love ducks.

 
This 2nd picture encompasses an emotion within my own children and one I remember myself which the mother has captured so beautifully (even if the picture has been edited, I don't really care because I think it's beautiful!)

Being ill straight after Christmas definitely leads to sentimental melancholy and thus I have looked over all my own pictures over the last year, categorising which ones I should send off to be printed and which should grace the walls, enter scrapbooks etc.  Here are a few of my own favourites from last year.