Fabric shopping

I have been off today buying more fabric as stocks are getting low, the above fabrics are from Cath Kidston and the one on the far right is a real find as it is now discontinued, I managed to stop myself hugging it inthe shop, I did get very excited!

And I have been playing with these Laura Ashley ginghams this afternoon for a customer who wants some western cowboy themed cushions! YeeeeHaaaaa!

Rainy Day Play

I found these this box of snap cards this morning in the local charity shop. it's more like a game of pairs really, but I just love the style of the illustrations. Some of the items would be quite odd to a child nowadays, like the horn and the roly poly man!

Bluebell Wood

Last week turned into complete chaos here, with one thing piling in after another and having to cover for the manager of a local pre school, all of my planned activities went out of the window. very little sewing, no allotment work done and definitely no quiet visit to the bluebell woods.

However come Sunday morning we did get to the woods and the last weeks stresses faded away.
We live right on the edge of the Chilterns and this wood is rated one of the best in the country for bluebells. This is not patches of bluebells, you have to believe me the floor of the wood is a comlpete carpet of them. With one main path through the middle and smaller ones made by deer tracking around in various directions.

The scent is heady, it being a slightly damp morning as the sun comes through the new beech leaves the perfume is released. In clearing at the edges of the wood the owner has constructed these wigwams from fallen branches for children to play in.

Blue as far as the eye can see.

The green of the beech leaves makes a stunning combination.

And so I am revived.......I did make it to the allotment too but without my camera. Today it is raining and so I can do catch up on the housework and make up some orders. Hopefully I will get more blogging done this week

Louise x

Chair makeover

Now I know that to get the full effect I should have a before picture. but when I undertake a project like this I get all carried away and just get stuck in. So you will have to imagine this chair in its previous incarnation, dark wood and a dark red stretch cover over the original lumpy but sprung cushions, it was grim but it was only a fiver! and it was in the Cancer Research Shop which is my No.1 charity. I sanded and painted the wood and then had to open up the original covers to reposition the inners.

Laura and I then covered it in a new layer of wadding on Sunday morning, we had to hand stitch it all on and I was so pleased to have her helping and she did a perfect job! I then made up the green linen covers, bargain fabric from my stash, and voila perfect for our bedroom and it is so comfy.

Total cost = under £20 eat your heart out Kirsty!!

Busy, busy!

I have had lots of orders for my doorstops come in over the weekend, which I think must be because of the gorgeous weather, and so had a super busy morning packing, posting and restocking!
Luckily the sun was still around this afternoon and so we were able to spend a very lazy (swingball tournament excepted!) time in the garden enjoying the sun. I am hoping to go to the local woods to see this years bluebells this week, will definitely take my camera!!

Lucky me!

The last few days have been so busy spending time with the girls, but I remebered to take a couple of photos of presents to show you! This jug was such a surprise. It is by Ken Eardley and I have lusted after his work for some time. I love the stem print design on this one and the blue colour. I keep moving it from room to room I can't decide where I like it best!

As a wearer of glasses, this was very much appreciated as I am forever putting them down and then I can't see to find them again, do you think she chose bright red on purpose?!

And I am a fan of spots so this makes watering my baby veg plants all the more pleasureable. I know, look at them going all leggy I really need to get them potted on this weekend. I received lots of lovely presents inluding pocket money from my mum, I will show you some of the things I bought in London soon, promise! Some of it will go towards more wool for my crochet blanket which has really grown over the holiday.

Have a lovely weekend

Louise x

PS I forgot to mention the fab programme last night Kirsty's Homemade Home on Channel 4. If you missed it I recommend you tune in next Thursday at 8pm. Full of crafts, homemaking and domesticity and I so loved the knitted titles!! It also had a sneak peek into Cath Kidstons kitchen not what you'd expect but stunning! You can find out more here I cannot wait for next week!!

I don't want to go home!

We're back! but we'd rather still be here on the Hampshire coast. So today we are a bit restless having spent easter weekend with family. These pictures were taken early in the morning and the sea mist was still hanging low in the sky as the sun rose and burned off the top layers making for this slightly eerie view across to the Isle of Wight.

can you smell the sea? and feel the warmth of that sun?

The sea was so flat calm it was quite magical.

I will take some photos of my birthday presents to show you later. We had a lovely family dinner at a restaurant looking out across the Solent, just perfect.

Have a lovely easter!

We are off to the coast tomorrow to celebrate my birthday and easter with my mum and family. The sun hopefully will continue to shine over the holiday weekend and I hope you all have a lovely time too! Apparently you are never too old to make these easter nests, as my girls 12 and 15 proved yesterday.

We saved some for you! Enjoy

Louise x

Crochet

Some of you had asked how my crochet blanket was progressing, so here are a couple of shots I took last week, (it has grown since quite considerably!) It is a slow process, but I love that. So much of my days are spent watching the clock and ticking jobs off lists that a bit of slowtime is an absolute treat! I love the rich mix of colours but will need to top up my wool stock so any good suppliers of Debbie Bliss Cotton DK or Rowan Cotton DK that you know of would be welcome!

We will be taking a short holiday to the sea at Easter and my crochet will be coming with me, I am so excited! This morning I am off to help at Pre school where I do supply work, hoping I can get on the Easter craft table! wish me luck :)

Conjuring up the sun....

This morning was so grey and foggy....after yesterdays sunshine it was rather hard to bear so I decided to brighten my day with some colours! My box of zippers make me smile everytime I open it, is that a little odd?..... probably. However they do make such a great finish to the purses and today I decided to go for some zingy colours.

And I had to show you these! Geeky easter chicks complete with glasses.

Well my plan worked and the sun is shining now so I'm off outside before it disappears again!

Time out

I spent an hour today at a local nature reserve just getting a bit of space, fresh air and a change of scenery.

It is located in an old quarry which has been flooded and makes a peaceful circular walk easily do-able in under an hour.

Tomorrow I will hopefully have the results of the printing to show you, but I must go finish fixing it now that I feel refreshed!