I cannot believe that lolly of lolly chops loves my flowers.  They are based on her tutorial here.  I hope she does not mind me linking back to her site.  They are so easy to do and look fab as an embellishment.  Well I took some more photos of my bags.  Yes there are two now.  Soon to be four.  Well I have another two on the go.  I feel an addiction coming on.  The second bag has a bow.  Tutorial coming soon.  Please comment if you pass by. 

And in the light of day

my bag looks like this:

Bag it up

For the last two days I have been working on this little beaut. Well I love it. She is going to be mine. I just need some pink shoes to go with.

My printer is here

It is still in the box and won't be coming out until I have the little one in bed. He is at that age where if he is around when it is being installed well, let's just say it is better to wait. I am very excited,I cannot wait to break the seal and play but,wait I must.

This is what I was up to last night. When I switched the computer on this morning the old printer decided to work. It is still plugged in so I could upload the following images.

Random image of inspiration.

I pop around. I check out other people's blogs to see what they are up to. Today I found this:





How random is that. I am going to challenge myself to make something inspired by this madness.

Just in time.

That is the arrival of my printer tomorrow as the one that I have had for the last five or so years has finally given up the ghost.

This is my new baby:

I cannot wait to get my hands on it. Boy have I missed printing my own images. resizing them e.c.t. I have my dad to thank for this impromptu purchase. Thanks pops you are the best. XXX

I do have somethings to share will upload tomorrow.

Today is the first day of the rest of my life

Because today I begin to let my little man go. No more boo boo. That is what he calls breast milk. It is already lunch time and he hasn't had any. Whoopee.

New for 2010

If transforming the way I look was as easy as revamping my blog. Well I know which bits of me I would drag and drop. Which bits I'd copy and paste and which bits I'd send straight to the recycle bin. Oh the life of the rich and famous not so much the click of a mouse but the sweep of a blade. Hmm.

I have been sorting out my computer (a little housekeeping was indeed in order)hence the long awaited blog banner. It did not take long and is fitting for today. I might want to change it later though.

Like a lot of people I craft on a budget but I want to stay up to date and enjoy expressing myself to the fullest. I have found two pieces of software in the last few days that will increase my creativity intensely. I am really grateful that a whole lot of technology is available for free via the web. In our recent age of make do and mend I am truly grateful.

If you don't have office try open office
If you don't have photoshop, corel draw and the like try Netpaint

They are working for me and they could work for you too.

The spirit of the internet lives on in freeware.

Keeping Busy.

This week seems to have moved forward at full speed. I hardly know what day it is. I haven't had much time to craft. I have been organizing my craft space and planning some new projects so watch this space.

I have been sorting out personal problems too. This week seems to have been productive.

I love that cosy feeling.

I went to town last week shopping for clothes for the boys. To be fair, the sales were a bit rubbish but what the hey. I did get them togged out so I achieved what I'd set out to. Anyway Manchester is great for bargain hunting. I always check out the poundland store and my find this week was an ugly hot water bottle. Needless to say it is not ugly now. After a busy Sunday last evening I sat down and played a little with some fabric I've been stroking for ages. The result is as follows:

This image does not do it justice. IMHO this is the finest cover I have ever seen. (I love it, I really love it).

Inspired by Poppy Treffry

I love all things craft.  People who know me know this.  I really do like to experiment with different crafts and techniques.  My sewing machine has been my best crafting buddy for a while.  I really haven't shared much of what I have made but I am trying to address that now by blogging often.

I like to browse Amazon for the latest books on crafts new and old to me. One of my latest finds was Poppy Treffry's title 'Free and Easy Stitch Style'. 

I have many craft books but I have to admit that I have been disappointed by the content in a few of them. This is not the case I am happy to admit with my newest acquisition. 

I don't own this book yet, and what I have found useful in creating my own craft library is to loan books from the public library before I purchasing.  This one has been added to my wishlist. 

It has easy to follow instructions, lots of pictures which I really appreciate and templates for projects.  It is published by David and Charles. My only complaint which is often the case with books like this, is that the templates need to be enlarged before being really useful. I suppose this is a small deviation before the crafting can begin.

So my adventures in free hand embroidery which is the topic of this book began a few days ago and my progress goes a little like this:

Yesterday

Today

I am having a really proud mother moment.
Marcus has asked me each evening this week to pick him up from school. He is eleven, we live not five minutes from school and he doesn't have to cross a road so he makes his own way there and back.  I no longer do the school run.   He also added that his teacher wanted to 'have a word'.  Based on past experience, this phrase  was not welcome. I have had to have words many times in school and they have not been for favourable reasons. He did insist that it was not bad; but when a child says this you cannot be sure, so I go to school and meet with his teacher who is seems excited.  I wasn't sure what was going on at first but I have been reliably informed that my son is gifted and talented.  Oh my days!  I am in shock.  He is doing exceptionally well in literacy and art and has been selected from his group to be added to the gifted and talented register.  I am thrilled as is he. 

Whoop whoop marcus well done.  :)

He has been working really hard and deserves the credit.  This is just the incentive he needs to maintain his efforts, he goes to high school in September and now rather than being really worried I am really excited for him.

I feel like a new person

After an extra week off from school, Marcus finally returned on Monday.  I have loved the extra time together, but isn't if funny how the change in routine uproots everything!  This week we are going back to our normal regime. 

I have started on a long over due diet and exercise programme which I hope will have me slimmer and fitter by the summer.

The year's anniversary of my giving up smoking has passed and I really feel like a new person so I need the body to match :lol:  The giving up smoking thing was really hard and I relied entirely upon God for help which has totally worked.  Forget stop smoking aids and just pray.

I need to embellish my boat but there are some chores I need to attend to first so once I am done the work will recommence and I hope to post piccies of a completed work later.

Why have I been sew scarce?

The primary reason is because I hate blogging without photos. I am forgetful to say the least. We went to John's parent's in August and I unpacked my camera a few weeks ago. That's because I had not a clue where it was. Like I said I am forgetful. I know my faults. What more do you want. :P

Ships ahoy



This boat is for Angelo. I am going to make another one for a friend who has recently had a son too.

So why I have I been scarce, life just got in the way. Hope to improve for 2010.

My inspiration for this creation was found here