27.07.2013

phew - hello summer holidays - how i love you, we've had a great start to the summer {two tea time trips to the beach this last week} my birthday came & went but was spent away for the weekend at the 'gentlemen of the road' lewes stopover, we had a blast, great weather, great music & some rather tasty cider too! i was also spoilt with some lovely thoughtful presents, lucky me, in the rush up to the end of term i did fit in some time to make some small thank you teacher gifts, these 'pencil' cases were quick & easy to come together & such a sweet idea, little O loved choosing some pens/pencils etc to pop in them before we gifted them, the tutorial to make them can be found over here at gwenny penny 

13.07.2013

the mad rush towards the end of term is well under way, i finished yesterday, with mixed emotions, looking forward to the summer break & time with my family & a little sadness at saying goodbye to the children i work with who are moving onto big school in September {from which i received some beautiful gifts} so today is about resting & finding some quiet time in the shade with a small project & making some plans for fun things to do with my two when then break up next week

{also a huge thanks to 'chrissie crafts' for the loan of the belle & book book of craft, it has found it's way onto my bithday wishlist!}

03.07.2013

loved seeing my little nephew at the weekend - just love those tiny toes

30.06.2013

i revisited the lovely 'little miss vivi' pattern recently & knitted up anther one for little O, this time in some grey patons 'cotton rope' aran, i truly love this pattern, it's such a sweet knit for a little tom boy, super cute but it won't get in the way of all the messing about she gets up to! i will knit more, i have it in mind to knit one up for her to wear to school {just need to find the right shade of green first} my ravely details are here & the rainbow wooden buttons were from etsy

20.06.2013

as always i have a number of projects on the go at any one time - this one has been plodding on for a while but it does make me happy looking at all those lovely fabric scraps! 

11.06.2013

afternoon tea anyone? - this delicious recipe for a quick rhubarb cake was found on 'the seaside baker' blog & was very good indeed

09.06.2013

i had planned to make another one of these tunics for such a long time {i made the first one way back in 2010} in that time they have also printed this pattern book in english - having just got the hang of using the japanese version i was happy to stick to that {but i am ever so pleased it looks like we'll be able to get more japanese pattern books with english translation} this was made with some 'ladder dot' in black from denyse schmidts 'chicopee' collection, brought from the lovely 'm is for make' i didn't change much second time around except for missing out the interfacing on the collar & placing the pockets further out, i'm really happy with how it turned out {again} & am sure this will get plenty of wear

03.06.2013

a few weeks back i went along to a lampshade making course a friend had organised for a group of us, it was at the eternal maker in chichester, oh how i love that place, surrounded by so many bolts of beautiful fabric truly was a treat, as well as the chance to spend a few hours with some like minded friends, drinking tea & having a good old chat, i also came home with a lovely lampshade i'd made for little O, then last week i finally found the perfect lamp base for it & so now it's looking lovely in it's new home, she is very pleased with her new lamp & i've picked up a new hobby {having already got my next kit ready & waiting to be made}

oh to be four again!

31.05.2013

a super quick & sweet birthday present for a little girl, made up in some erin mcmorris fabric i'd stashed away a while ago, with a little added pop of orange ribbon & ricrac, makes me want to make some more of these

13.05.2013

last month, with thoughts of summer & warmer weather to come in my mind, i set about making little O a new dress, i'd found some beautiful floral fabric whilst visiting family over Brighton way, which was a perfect compromise for the both of us {flowers for her, vintage feel & minimal pink for me} the original pattern this was based on was the june bug dress pattern from 'craftiness is not optional' i went with a sleeveless version based on this pattern, i just had to re-draft the bodice a little to fit a four year old! it all came together quickly, with minimal fiddly bits {just the button holes - i really dislike putting button holes in but with this one i faced my fear & just got on with it!} we both love how this dress turned out, she asks to wear it a lot & oh how that makes us both smile

12.05.2013

a clean & cleared work space, an inspired crafty weekend & a shiny new blog -  happy to be back!