Bloomin' Myrtle

I am still here !!!

2012-02-03T17:08:00.005Z

Hello Everyone,

So sorry that I've been away for so long,
life as a habit of streaming by me if I don't keep hold,
and my blog has suffered because I didn't hold tight enough.

But, for now at least, I am back,
and it's already February !!!

Aside from packing away Christmas
(which took ages)
January was spent crocheting.
I decided I need to use up more spare yarn,
and maybe start another couple of projects.

I sorted through the yarn, but then decided that
we need another blanket, so I bought just
a few 100gms more......

And the granny squares got bigger,
then I added some straight rows to the edges...

And it's turned into this

Not quite finished yet, I need just 4 more squares

then I'll add some straight rows around the edge to finish off

Hopefully, we'll have a nice new snuggly blanket
before it gets too warm to need it :o)

With love & blessings in Christ
Elaine
xx♥xx♥xx

ps. If you like the blanket, here's what I used.

I'm not really sure how much yarn it's taken (I'll weigh it when it's finished)
But it's all done in various brands of Double Knitting weight,
using a 4.00 crochet hook.
I found that some cheaper (as in £shop) yarns
aren't quite as thick as branded yarn,
so I avoided those, but most are between
£1.25 and £1.75 for a 100gm ball.

Each square is started with a 4-chain, joined.
the first round is 4 x 3-triple crochet.
I only use an extra chain at the corners
as I find the squares keep their shape better that way.

There's 20 rows of triples for each straight row square,
2 of each colour, 30 stitches long
(1 in each triple of the Granny Squares)

Hope it all makes sense
xxxxx

To Shabby or Not to Shabby

2011-06-29T10:22:00.005+01:00

For the last few years, I've been wondering about
all this painted furniture lark.
Do we, don't we? What if we do and regret it?
What if we do and it all goes wrong????
Well, our 80's dresser has long since seen better days,
and as the shop just a few minutes walk away
has some fab Craig & Rose heritage paints
at just £2.99 a tin,
it would have been rude not to give it a go,
wouldn't it???

So the dresser went from this

to this!!!!

Not that I did it, I just directed ;o)

Lovely Hubbly did the deed, after practising on a
tallboy cupboard bought from a charity shop.
(more about that in another post)

I'm so pleased now it's done.
It makes the room look so fresh & bright.
Now all the pine furniture is going to have the same makeover.

Just a bit at a time, over the summer.

Oh, and what do you think to my new
doorstopweightytypethingies?

I found a great little book in The Works
and got a bit inspired.
The patterns aren't a direct copy as such
(greatly increase in size and tweaked somewhat)
but they are very similar.

I'm just loving doorstopweightytypethingies at the moment,
especially as they all smell so good with my
special doorstopweightytypethingy
mix of rice & oils
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

with love & blessings
Elaine
xxx♥xxx♥xxx♥xxx

Springtime Loveliness

2011-04-16T16:34:00.005+01:00

Hello again, isn't it lovely out there today.
Well, it is in sunny South Derbyshire!!!
I've been beavering away trying to
finish a new litter of Bunnykins,

it's been hard as I was hit with flu midweek
but I got stuck in this morning,
hoping to be able to take photos
while the sun was still shining.

It did go a little overcast,
but hopefully the photos are passable.

I couldn't resist showing off our Rhubarb again,
we've been pulling fresh for over a month,
and I've already made some jam.
Looks like I'll have to make more soon too.

Of course Cyril wanted to get in on the act,
and so did our 2 feathered visitors.

The new fruit bushes are doing well too,
not bad for little sticks just a couple of months ago.

With love and blessing in Christ
Elaine
xxxxx♥xxxxx

Don't Faint !!!!!!!

2011-03-29T12:15:00.004+01:00

Look at this, yet another new post.
I know, I know, I should slow down LOL

I love looking at lots of photos
so I should really post them too
and yesterday the weather was
so lovely & sunny
that I managed to get lots of
new pics done.

Of course both Mr. Bumpkin and Martha-Moo
thought I was outside for their benefit !!!!
(please excuse the rather rude gnome)

Now I can load up my blogshop too,
so please hop over and take a peek.

If there is something you'd like for
Mother's day or Easter
I'll do my very best to get them to you in time.

With love & blessings in Christ
Elaine
xxx♥xxx

Spring is Springing

2011-03-11T12:49:00.004Z

Hello Blogland !!!!!!!
Bet you all thought I'd disappeared didn't you???
Well, it feels like my blog went into hibernation for the winter.
I did poke my head out in the worst weather,
but missed the best photo opportunities
so I stayed where I was LOL.

Everything in the Bloomin' Myrtle household
is pretty much the same, but I have been making
a few new goodies for the Spring Craft Fair
at the end of March, so at least
I have photos to show.

Hopefully my blog will stay awake for a while now.

With love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
xxxxx♥xxxxx

Nearly the end of November? !!!

2010-11-24T22:39:00.004Z

Oh my, I really can't believe it's been so long since I updated my blog
(looks very shame-faced)
This year has seemed so busy, full of
hospital appointments and a sudden rush
of craft fairs in November which are quickly
running into December too.

I've also really caught the Facebook bug!!!
It so quick & easy to keep up with people.
I do twitter too, but find updates soon get lost,
where as with FB I get my notifications
so I can keep abreast with what's happening.

There's a great community of crafters on there too,
and I'm really enjoying that side of it.

I've added just a few pics, just so you all know
I've not just been on FB all the time LOL

With love & blessings in Christ
Elaine
xxxxxxxxx

Randomness

2010-08-10T19:22:00.004+01:00

It's been so long since I last posted
I thought I'd just post random photos
from the last month or so

And finally............................ Ta-da !!!!!

I finished Claudia's Quilt in time for her Birthday
YAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
xxxxxxxxx

Bags of Bags

2010-06-27T13:41:00.004+01:00

Hello Everyone !!!

I've decided it's time for new stock
both for craft fairs and my blogshop

So I've reduced some of my prices
on my own design bags

It will be a short sale, so get in quick
if you see something you like.

As I sell each bag I'll remove it
to make room for more

So keep watching !!!!

With love and blessings in Christ

Elaine
xxxxxxxxxxxx

Crafty times

2010-06-21T10:34:00.009+01:00

Hello everyone!!!

The year is still going way too fast for me.
Can't believe DH has been out of work for 6 months now,
only 1 interview in all that time too,
I hope things start picking up after the budget.

Since my last post we've had birthdays & Father's day
and in a few weeks it's Claudia's birthday.
Her BF is in hospital atm, they are having problems
trying to find the cause of his constant sickness.
I'm finally being sent to see specialists with my ailments,
with appointments in August.

And last Saturday (19th) we held our
Summer Craft Fair.
It was the first anniversary,
a whole year since we started organising craft fairs!!!

Looking back it's no wonder this
year has gone so fast!!

Anyway, as I've said nothing to do with the title
(apart from the craft fair)
I'll now point you all in the way of my blogshop.

I thought I'd try to sell a few more bits
to help with finances
(by which I mean replace the money
I've spent of fabric *blush*)

I'll be putting bits and pieces on there
most of this week.
Some new products and
some will be *old favourites*

Enjoy
xxxxxxxx

Love and blessings in Christ

Elaine
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mystified & Mushified

2010-05-24T12:11:00.004+01:00

Just a quick post so you all know I'm still here.

Not sure where the time flies to, but it
doesn't come anywhere near me,
it only ever seems to fly away!!!

I've been trying to catch up with
some work, but failing.
Everytime I do any ironing, the pile seems to grow
(What's that about ???)

I'm trying to get some sewing done too,
bit of a slog with my treatment still ongoing,
but we have a craft fair in less
than 4 weeks, so I need to make something
or I'll have nothing new to sell.

I have managed to make a few bits & bobs
as you can see from the photos
dotted around.

Hopefully I'll have something witty
and absorbing to say in my next post,
but today my brain is mushified ;O)

With love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
xxxxxxxxxxxx

A Cuddle of Cushions

2010-04-23T21:11:00.006+01:00

Hello everyone !!!
Long time no post, sorry about that.
Life has sort-of got in the way of blogging recently.
I have been keeping up with most blogs,
just not logging in to be able to comment.
So please don't think I've been ignoring you all.

I'm slowly trying to sort out the house,
starting with the loft, and my craft stock.
I've made some cushions a while back,
for craft fairs, but have decided I need to rotate
my stock more, so I'm putting some
for sale in my blogshop.

Hopefully I can get back into sewing soon,
life has got in the way of that too :(

This is what my husband made for me
for Easter

Isn't it lovely!!!!

Now I need to persuade him to make
more goodies for our craft fairs too.

Hopefully my next post won't be
so long in coming.

With love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
xxxxxxxxxxxx

Prototypes & Martha

2010-02-13T17:50:00.003Z

It's taken ages but at last
I have a new photo of Martha!!!
Usually as soon as she hears the camera
she's awake and trying to catch the strap.
Notice all the lovely pawprints everywhere??
That's Martha too.
I've never known a cat with such mucky paws!!!
At the moment we could be cleaning
the bath twice a day at least,
as she loves playing with the taps then
then walking all over it!!!
But she is so cute, she can get away
with almost anything .... awwww

I spotted this gorgeous handmade
quilt cover in one of my favourite
charity shops at the beginning of the week.
As we're trying to be frugal at the moment
I didn't buy it, but then I started to worry
about it being sold, so my hubby
went to get it for me the next day.
When I took it apart, I found the
Laura Ashley printed label on the edge,
then after ages researching
I found out it's called "Cressida"
I don't think it's sold here in the UK
(though I could be wrong)
except as ready-made items.

It's so pretty I couldn't resist making
this prototype with it

Now I just need to find the energy
to make some more while we still
have some cold weather !!!

With love and blessings in Christ

Elaine
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Random Winter Warmer

2010-01-30T15:20:00.006Z

I can highly recommend one of these
to keep you warm on
chilly winter days!
It's so snuggly to have over my knees
while I work on it.
The only problem is I have
almost used up all my bits of DK yarn now.

I don't like to use from whole balls
but I have cheated a little bit,
especially for the brighter colours.
As you can see, it's almost large enough
for my bed now

(thankfully I don't have a king-sized one!)

Cyril has found his own way to keep warm
(aside from cuddling up on the bed)

The basket is a shopping size one,
so you can guess how big he is now
when he's not curled in a ball.

I haven't managed to get a decent photo
of Martha Bumpkin for ages,
she's such a whirlwind and starts
jumping around everytime the
camera comes out.

As I said, Cyril is allowed on our bed now
And the lovely bargain quilted throw
I got from ebay last November
is a firm favourite.
We don't get little
*wet patches* anymore,
Now we just get paw prints!!!

You've just got to love the
little dears though :-)

Love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

You might be forgiven..........

2010-01-06T13:46:00.009Z

................... For thinking I missed Christmas
and the beginning of the year,
actually you wouldn't be far wrong if you did.
Due to (yet another) trapped nerve,
Christmas and New Years Eve were
both very subdued events.

We did manage to go to the family carol service
on Christmas Eve,
and to the morning Service on
Christmas Day,
and the usual trip to Mam's for
a lovely Turkey dinner followed by 90mins
of present opening.

When I say "opening presents"
what I actually mean is passing presents to either
Husband or Daughter to open for me
as both Mam and Bro are rather fond of
Sellotape !!!!!

As today is the "official" end of our Christmas period,
and tomorrow lots of my Latvian family
will be celebrating theirs,
I thought it might not be too late
to show a few glimpses of our
Christmas.

With Love and Blessings in Christ
for a special 2010
Elaine
xxxxxxxxxxx

ps. I forgot to photograph my new slippers *doh*

And the winner is............................

2009-12-12T10:10:00.003Z

TWINNY

Well done Twinny,
sorry to everyone who didn't get picked out.

It's good to give some good news first,
yesterday was such a mixed bag.
We organised our first Christmas Market,
which was really good.
The weather was awful for driving
so we were pleased with the turn out.
If anyone who came is reading this,
thank you so much, we really do appreciate
people supporting us, stall holders,
helpers and customers.

Now I need to load some new goodies onto
my blogshop.
I was chuffed with the response to my stars,
one lady stall holder, who makes beautiful quilts,
bought a star and had to ask where I'd joined the seam.
She couldn't see the join!!!
Anyway, some stars are going on, along with
some snowy people and bunting.
And I'll do my very best to
post any purchases asap.

The down side of yesterday is that my husband
will be finishing work at Christmas,
and as he's the sole earner things
will be tough for a while.
I can't say it was totally unexpected,
though it's never good to hear.
So it looks like I am going to have to work
through my stash and spend less *doh*

With love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
xxxxxxxxxxx

It was on a Starry Night.......

2009-12-04T21:10:00.005Z

Not long now ..... and am I ready ???
Am I eck as like !!!!!
Been busy trying to get some bedpost bags done,
managed 7 so far, 5 for pressies, 2 to sell.

Only another 12-ish to go
(maybe more.....big family )
These are for my little great-nephews
the older ones are having more individual themes.

The Christmas craft fair went so well,
the best part was my mate Shabby Angel
coming up for the weekend.
She is so wonderful, spoilt me rotten she did.
Bless you sweetest (((Angel)))

Been trying to make more Christmassy things
for the Christmas Market we're holding
next Friday evening.

Stars are quite quick so made loads !!!
As usual, they smell.......... but in a nice way :-)

I'll be announcing the winner of my give-away next week
so if anyone still wants to enter, do it soon!!!

With love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
XXXXXXXX

Bunting Around !!!

2009-10-31T15:46:00.004Z

Hello lovely blogsters !!!
I'm afraid this year has got me stumped.
I'm sure we've skipped some days, weeks
or even months somewhere.
Or the Month fairies have stolen some
(pesky lil creatures)
See, I posted in September,
blinked twice
and it's the end of October!!!!

Anyway, I promised a give-away for
my second bloggerversary,
Where has that 2 years gone!!!!
And why haven't my writing or
photography skills got any better !!!

Now, to be very honest, I'm not entirely sure
what the give-away will be.
There will definitely be some Christmas bunting,
but other than that all I can say is
that anything else will most likely
(but not definitely)
be Christmassy.

So there you go, leave a comment here,
or on SCC if you are a member but have
no google account.

I'll be drawing the winner in around
a month's time-ish.

Good Luck !!!

With love and blessing in Christ
Elaine
xxxxxxxxxxxxx

My O My, How time flies.....

2009-09-21T11:27:00.005+01:00

I have been so slack with my blogging just recently,
time has flown by this last couple of months.
It's beyond the middle of September
and I've nowhere near caught up with July and August yet!
Part of the reason is this little bundle of fun.

Meet Martha Bumpkin!
this was her just under 2 weeks ago,
unlike Cyril, it's very hard to get
a decent photo of her being active,
she loves the camera so much
that each time it's pointed at her
this happens !!!!

Martha is so tiny compared to Cyril,
it's hard to believe there is only
5 weeks between them.

The first 4 days of having them together
Martha spent hissing and spitting,
but now they love each other to bits,
and cause havoc around the house.
I'll try to get some better photos soon,
Cyril has grown so much, and is turning
into the biggest, soppiest,
Mummy's boy ever!

I've been trying to catch up with some sewing
(hard with 2 manic kittens around LOL)
so here are a few pics of recent makes
and our latest Craft Fair.

With love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
xxxxxxxxxxxx

ps. Watch out for my 2nd blogaversary
giveaway soon !!!

Introducing Mr Cyril Bumpkin

2009-08-08T18:26:00.004+01:00

He is very pretty (for a boy)

He is very much the Gardener

And loves pruning!

Yummy grass ?!?
Of course, he simply must learn to sew!!!

And after a hard day, he loves to cuddle with Mum

Awwwwwww

Love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Fabricitus Nonsewenufus !!!

2009-07-18T11:06:00.007+01:00

This week has been a strange one,
Last Saturday we (Claudia & me) did our first
out door event.
It was a local fund-raiser for a community project.
Usually I have *feelings* (normally wrong) about
these things, whether good or not,
but this time I didn't know what to think.
Would it be good or not??
The weather report was awful, but we had
our brand new gazebo
(didn't even know how big it would be)
so off we set.

It turned out to be a lovely day,
the gazebo was really spacious
(we could have fitted loads more in it)
and very good quality, and best of all
really easy to put up, sturdy and beautiful!!!
The table you can see is a large pasting table.
We could easily have fit at least 2,
And in the centre the height is at least 8'!!!

At one point we had several kids, 5 adults
and a large pushchair inside, and still room to spare.
Well done Argos, and all for £48-ish.

These photos were taken at the end of the day,
thankfully we were the only stall selling handmade
goods, and though we didn't make our first
million we did have brilliant time,
and made new friends and fans!!!
(and a couple of contacts too)

From Monday onwards I've felt pretty rough,
some sort of bug giving me mega sneezes
(around 1000 on Monday, I kid you not!)
sore throat, sickliness, and
not being able to face meals
(though ice cream was fine ;))

But I was cheered by an unexpected parcel!
I thought I'd ordered from Alcatrazz in my
poorliness and forgotten,
but is was the most gorgeous Mitty.
Look at all this wonderful fabric!

And more!!

And more!!!!

And even more!!!!!!!!

Thank you so much Mitty, it's all so lovely
(even if I did catch Fabricitus Nonsewinufus LOL)

With love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

My lovely Goodies

2009-07-10T22:29:00.005+01:00

I have been so blessed over the last few days.

2 of my lovely friends over at Shabby Chic Cafe
have sent me beautiful, though undeserved, gifts.
Yesterday I got in from a whirlwind trip around Mozzers
(that's Morrisons Supermarket to normal peeps)
to find that Mr.Postie had left me an
unexpected parcel!

Me being me
(I'm in the *rip 'em open quick* club)
I never thought about the camera.
Off came the wrapper and inside was a
gorgeous collection on yumminess.
Claire, AKA Dolly Dollop
had drawn me in her Give-away.
Well, I knew I had a lovely teacup picture coming
(though I sort of forgot.... which is good because
it means a surprise)
but I wasn't expecting all the other goodies too.
Not only the fabulous picture
(which I hope others get the chance to own too
when Claire finally opens her shop)
but a pretty little blackboard,
with the tiniest gingham bows

And one of Claire's sweet little UJ broaches
(which was pinned on me cardi as fast as lightening
and did the rounds in Burton even before the photos!)
And some scrummy black bias with bright pink pindots.

There is also a pillowcase,
but I'm keeping that back a while *wink*
Thank you so much Claire *mwah*

Then today, another bump at the door, and Mr.Postie
hands over another parcel to Mr.Myrtle
(I was still in me Jimjams)
Again, I rip it open, faster than a
Maccy's worker says "do you want fries with that"
and inside is the loveliest, sweetest printed fabrics,
2 pieces of lovely fine prints
and 2 pieces of stunning broadcloth!
All from the lovely Mary Poppins.

Thank you so much Mary,
you are a little treasure *mwah*

While I was out showing off my new broach yesterday
I popped into Homus Bargainous
and look at what I found!
Now how could I resist something so
obviously made just for me!

With love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Lace and buttons and ribbons and stuff!

2009-06-24T20:37:00.007+01:00

Hello again.
Firstly, a big thank you to all of you who
wished us well for the Craft Fair.
It was really lovely, and very well
attended for our first attempt too.
For anyone struggling to find Craft Fairs close to you
I would really recommend trying to do you own.

I have been trying to get back into the
swing of things, catching up with sewing etc.
I started last week by making
myself some fabric boxes to keep
my ever-growing stash of trim in.
( I'll do photos for another post)
But this week didn't go to plan.
Sadly, my lovely Poppy dog took poorly,
and yesterday morning she was taken to
the vets for the last time.
She was getting old (14&half)
and what we thought was simple old age problems
was actually much worse.
She was so poorly bless her,
but, thank God, she went down hill very fast
so she didn't suffer too long.

So today I threw myself into making broaches
with my new lace stash.
I've been saving covered buttons for sometime too
so put together with a few other bits
and this is what I came up with.

I'm thinking of putting a few in my blogshop
but mostly they are for the festival
my daughter is doing in a few weeks,
and a fete we're doing a week later.

I've been making these too

Well not actually "making" as such,
but covering them, so spending
far too much time on my derry air
doing the cross stitch ;)

And I have been catching up with swaps etc,
just not posted them yet *doh*
And I have an award from the lovely Mitmot,
but I'll sort that in my next post too.
Hopefully by then I'll be a little bit
more with it!!!

With love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
xxxxxxxxxxxx

It seems a long time........................

2009-06-11T22:28:00.006+01:00

It seems a very long time ago since
we started holding open days to
sell our makes from home,
sometimes I quite miss those days.
I don't "miss" the cleaning LOL
but I do miss having the house
clean and tidy (ish)
because at least it got a
good going over once a month.

As I said in my last post, this Saturday (13th)
is the first Craft Fair we've hosted.
We've gone from making and selling
at home occasionally, to selling party style
in other peoples homes
while having monthly sales.
Then to taking the sales to the
Church hall every 2-3 months,
and now to hosting Craft Fairs.

We've also bought a "shop" in the
form of a gazebo
(did I already tell you this???)
Anyway, our old one died a while back,
so now we have a gorgeous
elongated hexagonal one
(sounds posh don't it *wink*)
which means we can do outdoors again too.

Funny though, I kind of miss our
little home sales.
Sometimes I could sit here all day
and see no one at all,
but I was always content that I wouldn't
need to clean for at least 3 weeks LOL

BTW, I've got my stock in a muddle
so I'm hiding my blogshop for a few days,
just until after the Craft Fair,
so I don't unwittingly sell
something twice!!!

Love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Craft Fair Delights

2009-06-02T13:59:00.006+01:00

Just a week and a few days away,
we are hosting our first Craft Fair.
It's getting very close, very quickly,
and it seems like there is still so much to do.
In between printing posters, letters, leaflets,
running to the pooter shop for yet more ink,
trying to rent out the tables...................
I've been trying to make some new goodies too.

I've had the patterns for these aprons for some time.
Actually there is a bit of of saga attached,
I might have blogged about it ??? not sure ??

Anyway, I bought them.............
and they promptly went missing for about a year!!!
Eventually they turned up but still sat in their packets
for a further year *blush*

Then I found some wonderfully
bargainous bias binding from Alcatrazzzz
(actually it's Abakhan, but the place
holds me prisoner until I pay a ransom)
So out came the patterns at last!!

The Globaltex "Sweetie" fabric came from Alcatrazzz too,
it's looks so yummy with the blue gingham binding.

This apron tells a tale too.

The main fabric is a gorgeous reproduction from RJR fabrics,
part of a limited addition range.
I got this piece about 2 years ago,
and always planned to make something kitcheny with it.
It's part of the Mama's Feedsack range,
this (obviously) being the blue teacups.
It's so pretty, I've tried to get more
but can't, sadly :(

I've teamed it with some lovely fresh gingham,
sent to me by Heather, bless her.
And the binding is another Alcatrazzz one,
sweet tiny red flowers,
the odd tiny blue flower and little creamy-biege butterflies.

The apron is put together by
completing the outer side panels first,
and then work inward, the centre being last.
Imagine my disappointment when
I got to the centre panel I was
about 10" short of bias!!!!!!!!
Then I thought "get a grip gal",
and "invented" the little fold-over panel at the top,
finished off with a little appliqued teacup.

I really like it now, problem is I made it up as I went along
so could I do it again !!LOL
Love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Birdhouse in your Soul

2009-05-23T17:31:00.003+01:00

Can anyone remember the song of my title???
It just popped in my head when I loaded the photo,
but I can't remember who did it ??!!???
Just a quick update to let everyone know
I've not forgotten, swaps, PiFs etc.
They will be done soon (I hope)

Thought I'd show you all the pretty little bird feeder
I found in the local £shop, so pretty,
but as I was taking the photo the birds
in the tree were telling me off,
They love it already and wanted
me gone so they could feed !!!

Not sure why we have this sign next to our pond,
we don't have any fish !!!
Just a little bit of urban wildlife.
Croak!!!

Love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
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Bags of Bags

2009-05-19T19:17:00.004+01:00

I have my bag-making head on at the moment.
Shopping bags, tote bags,
foldable bags in their own little pouches,
but today I made my favourite bag.
It's my favourite because it's MINE!
I just love this Globaltex fabric,
but the bags on my blogshop are
aren't suitable for me (as much as I like them)
I needed a bag that is comfortable to wear
across my body rather than on my shoulder.
I've many shoulder bags I'm no longer able to use,
most of them are lovely, some have lots of buttons
(which I adore) but my poorly neck/upper back
means I can't use them.
Hence the need to design a bag that is both
functional and scrumptious.
And this is it!!!!

Very roomy, not too heavy,
wide comfy strap, that's adjustable.
And 6 pockets inside !!!!!!!

Room enough for the most avid junk collector *blush*
It will have it's first outing on Thursday.
TBH, I have already made 2 prototypes,
one I've already trialed, and one
for a friend to trial. Both have done good.
So I've stepped up the mark,
redesigned a few bits,
And added Pompoms.

Pompoms are my new love,
almost as good as buttons.
Now I'm off to make another, for the blogshop.

Oh, and this little beauty I made 2 weeks ago.
Well, not quite so little beauty,
it's actually quite a large tote.
I love the way the gingham bow turned out.

But this one is for selling, not for me.

Love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
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Pay it Forward

2009-05-06T16:10:00.004+01:00

Aren't these just gorgeous!!!
The lovely Sharon at Clover Cottage sent me
these lovely hand made gifts just for
commenting on her blog I received
a beautiful needle case
and a scrummy note book!!!!
Thank you so much Sharon *mwah*
Sorry the photos aren't up to scratch,
I made a right bodge-job of them, and
deleted the wrong ones (mega blush)

Thank you also to Mel at A Country Dream
for a lovely award.

I have to pass it on to 10 other lovely people
so here goes

Raspberry Grace
Shabby Angel
Clover Cottage
Painting New memories
Fifties Girl
Dolly Dollop
Jellies Jams Dolls
Biker Boots and Chicken Feet
Country Hearts and Home
Sew Hot Mitmot

Of course there are many other lovely people
I'd like to award, I think some have the award already

and I know the others soon will have.

But I'd love to be able to award you all
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With love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
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Buttons as rare as Hen's teeth!

2009-04-24T15:25:00.004+01:00

Look at these lovely buttons, aren't they just exquisite????
They have been hand-painted for me by the
wonderfully talented Paula at
Painting New Memories
I'm afraid the picture does them no real justice at all,
they are so detailed, yet quite small.
It's amazing how she does it! Wonderful!
Paula also sent me 2 tiny china trinket boxes.
She asked a while ago if anyone had those initials, and no one had,
but my Mother-in-law does, so Paula kindly sent them to me
to pass on to her.
Also Paula read that I like geese, so she sent me
the cutest little goose, with freshly painted bill and feet.
Isn't it just so sweet
Thank you so much Paula, I love everything!
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I thought I'd give you a quick squizz at a couple of
teacosies I've been working on.
Another Elaine at Shabby Chic Cafe
asked me a few weeks ago if I would have a go at
making her a hen or cockerel teacosy
and these are what I came up with.
Elaine chose the sage and lemon one
and I've put the other one in
my blogshop.
Thank you for asking me to make them Elaine
I really enjoyed designing them.

Love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
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OOooo Lush !!!

2009-04-23T09:31:00.003+01:00

Just a quickie for now,
but I wanted to show off the latest addition to my stash.
How gorgeous is new fabric!!!

Oh, and a sneaky peek at some bits
I've been making this week

Love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
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A gift for you..........

2009-04-15T10:03:00.004+01:00

...............if you are one of the first 3 to leave a comment!
Such a sweet idea, thank you to
The Crafty Trundler at
Clover Cottage for including me.

So the first 3 people to leave a comment
will receive a handmade gift from me
though I'm not sure what that might be yet!!??!!
I know they won't be huge or heavy gifts which
means I'll be able to post them anywhere!
(so if your in the US or Oz,
or Timbucktoo, still join in)
And then, if you wish to join in you can
do the same too.

Such a lovely idea.
Another good idea is The Toy Society.
This involves making a small gift toy
(or thrifting one) to leave anywhere
for someone to keep.
Whoever finds the toy is the owner,
just a lovely simple way of spreading smiles.

Love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
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This Glorious Morn

2009-04-12T08:19:00.003+01:00

Good Morning!
Such a wonderful day, the promise of sunshine
and full of hope for a bright new beginning.
We shall be off to church later
(after opening the chocolate of course)
and then a lovely family afternoon at
my Mam's.
I've baked and whisked
(though still have the custard to do)
and we have a nice piece of lamb to go
in the oven ready for dinner
(or lunch if your not from the north LOL)
MMmmm Lamb, roasties and mint sauce,
it's got to be one of my favourite meals.

But of course there is a message in all this,
the hope we have is not just in the weather
or in our own determination to start afresh,
but there is a greater, better, and
more stead fast hope,
The sure and certain hope that the
resurrection brings.

Matthew 28v5-6
The angel said to the women,
"Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus,
who was crucified.
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.
Come and see the place where he lay".

Happy Easter, Happy Spring,
and most of all
Happy Resurrection Sunday!
He is Risen indeed, Allelujah!!!

With love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
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Good Friday

2009-04-10T08:01:00.003+01:00

For many of us, today heralds the start of
the Easter celebrations proper.
Yesterday churches all over the world
celebrated Maundy Thursday,
for the Jewish community, they have been
celebrating passover.
This is a wonderful time, very joyful,
and it's a pity that many Christians forget the origins,
that Maundy Thursday actually comes
out of Passover.

Today, in our little town, we have an
outdoor service marking the importance of
Good Friday.
It involves most churches in the area,
we have a worship team that has been
gathered from many churches,
meeting for the last 2 months,
to try to get everything just right.
I am part of that team (a very nervous part!)
And my start to the morning has been to
laminate all the words of the songs
for the singers (rain forecast)

Sometimes, the preparations can
take over, nerves, practices, typing,
PA systems,............
all things things need to be done, and more.

But, for Christians, all this is as nought.
The important thing is remembering the
amazing sacrifice that has been done for us.
Today's verses from Bible Gateway,
is a timely reminder for us all from
Romans 5 v 6-8

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

With love and blessings in Christ

Elaine
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2009-04-08T13:42:00.005+01:00

Today I'm loving the spring, such a wonderful time of renewal.
I love this photo, it's right at the bottom of the
Weigela in the garden.
By next month it will be a mass of green,
and shortly after be full
of the most luscious cerise flowers,
but for now it is still almost bare.
Yet, tucked away at the bottom is the signs of new life.
Sweet little Grape Hyacinths
promising that new life can, and does,
spring up even in the most unlikely places.
(Btw, the little fellow you can see is Peter,
a very reliable little chap)

The spring season helps me so much,
reminding me that we have life,
and can have it in abundance,
even when the times seems dark.
Today's verse from Bible Gateway,
is a reminder of that too.
Whatever we do, whatever we go through,
we can still have
the hope of new life.

“For if, when we were God's enemies,
we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son,
how much more, having been reconciled,
shall we be saved through his life!”

We have been doing our monthly swap at Shabby Chic Cafe,
and this month the theme is Spring/Easter.
And it was my turn to have gifts from the very talented Mitmot.

I really have been blessed,
so many lovely goodies,
I couldn't possible choose a favourite.
A lovely handmade card,
with such inspiring words.
2 gorgeous china mugs,
a beautiful fabric heart and broach
that have been cleverly turned into chickens,
a stunning fabric bucket
(that is already full of my smaller bits of fabric)
Beautiful painted and lacquered eggs,
and delicate hanging eggs,
and Galaxy chocolate eggs (mmmmm)
Cute chick napkins, and Easter stickers
and the scrummiest tote bag!

Everything is so pretty and spring-like, the bag will definitely be
coming shopping with me this week!
Thank you again Mitty,
(you can see more of Mitmots lovely work
at her blog, Etsy and Folksy)

With love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
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Tis the week for reflection ...........

2009-04-07T13:15:00.006+01:00

In the Christian calendar we use this week as a time of relection, a time of putting thing in order spiritually.
I'm not very good at order I'm afraid, usually I live in clutter and chaos, but at the very least I can try to reflect on my faith, and get right with God.

I love this verse (the verse for today from Bible Gateway) from Galatians 2 v20 (NIV)
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
For today I want to be able to reflect on this verse, absorb it, and live it.

The photo at the top and the one above were taken a few days ago.
We don't have a very nice garden at the moment (but I won't bore you with that LOL)
but we do have a few nice little shrubs.
Except the Flowering Currant is no longer little eeekkk!!!
It is HUGE
It's even managed to self-set a few yards away!
I think it might be time (well in a few months) to get the garden back into some sort of order.

Would anyone like a Flowering currant ??? LOL

With love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
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Palm Sunday

2009-04-05T13:58:00.004+01:00

Ride on, ride on in Majesty................

Love and blessing in Christ
Elaine
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Chopsticks and Fabric

2009-04-03T09:12:00.005+01:00

If anyone has been reading Shabby Chic Cafe recently,

or seen me around Facebook,
you will know by now I have been painting chopsticks,
I've even speckled my chopsticks!!!
(actually the should have been spotty
but speckles were easier)
So just for those who have been wondering,
here are the chopsticks,
painted and speckled!

And this is what I need them for!

I shall put some of these lovelies in my blogshop soon.

On Wednesday I received a lovely parcel through the post,
not a complete surprise, but very, very welcome.
It was from Little Gem.
We had organised for her to get me
some lovely gingham fabric,
but Gem, bless her heart, has gone the extra mile
and sent me some extra too.

Thank you sweetie xxx

So today I am a happy bunny
(even though my hand/wrist is bandaged.....that's another story! Let's just say washing up is dangerous even when I don't get cut or scalded!!!)

With love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
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Look at my lovely "Mystery"

2009-03-20T16:51:00.004Z

Last week I was lucky enough to be picked out of the hat for a mystery give-away.
It was MrD who picked my name (thank you kind sir)
and "mystery" because the giver wasn't really sure what I would get!!!
But I am really chuffed!!! REALLY chuffed!!!
I got a little book on composting, which will be passed to DH
(been trying to convince him we need to compost for ages)
and a postcard full of beautiful photographs of the "giver's" home town.
And the very best bit, 2 wonderfully hand-knitted cloths.

I am so chuffed, they are so scrummy,
but I'm not going to use the cloths just yet,
I want to enjoy them as they are for a while.
So I want to say a really big "THANK YOU" to Sandie at
Dancing on a Blade of Grass

(and you'll be pleased to know you've given me the KUTB I needed
and I've bought some cotton yarn)

Love and Blessings in Christ
Elaine
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Stocked the blogshop!!!!!!!!

2009-03-18T15:55:00.002Z

I have a few goodies in my blogshop at last YAY!!!

Hope you enjoy looking at them.

Love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
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Cockadoodledooo!!!!!!!!!

2009-03-15T07:49:00.006Z

Hello Blogland !!!

OK, so that's a hen not a cockeral but as you might be able to tell,
I'm quite upbeat this morning.
The sun is shining again and it looks like it's going to be another lovely day.
We had a sale at the church hall yesterday, and it was brill!
We opened for 3 hours and there was someone there for every minute.
We didn't make loadsamoney, it's obvious that people are
really feeling the pinch, but the atmosphere was really good,
very friendly and we did sell some of our newer stuff.

We decided we needed to make things that are lower cost
(because of the credit crunch) and it worked.
Claudia made a whole batch of new earrings to sell for under £3 (most under 2) and sold 14 pairs!!!!!!

My DH has been beavering away making wooden items for us,
and he was chuffed when I told him we sold something of his.
And I sold a chicken!!! Not even one of the brighter ones either,
and a set of scissors, so together with all the other little bits and bobs
we were quite busy.
Thankfully, we still have lots of goodies left which means
I'll be able to stock the blogshop soon.

We're doing a coffee morning next Saturday, just one table, much easier,
and we're looking forward to that.
And in the meantime I have an order for cards too.
So all in all lots to be positive about and thankful for.

For our next "big" sale we've decided to ask the church if
we can run a full craft fair.
The church will get the rent from the tables, and probably have the usual cakes stall etc. And this is where my lovely blog friends come in.
I have organised several fetes etc, but never a craft fair.
Can anyone offer any advice please? Obviously there will be the usual advertising, but I'm wondering how widely I should advertise?
What sort of radius? 5miles? 10? How far would people travel for a craft fair?
And what about hired stalls? Should I stick to just handmade?
Or would vintage work too?
I don't really want just jumble-type stalls, I've been to those and where there's jumble people want to pay jumble prices for the crafts too.
Should I ask what people make and aim for a variety?
or just take the rent and not worry?

I know, so many questions so early in the morning, so I'll stop there. But seriously, I will appreciate any advice, so get your thinking caps on, please.

With love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
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Bright and Breezy

2009-03-08T08:44:00.003Z

The title sums up how I'm feeling today, and possibly the weather too.

At the moment the sun is shining and the day is looking good.

I'm hopeful that I'm on course for finishing most of the new goodies
I planned to make before next Saturday.
It's our first Sale this year, hopefully the first of many.
There's just a couple of new things I want to try,
but the designs are still in my head atm,
and some cards to make.
Not many cards though, there's seems to be so many card makers out there,
really lovely cards, so I'm concentrating more on my sewing.

I thought I'd give you a sneeky-peek at some of the things
that will be appearing on my other blog soon,
then I'll have to dash off.
Hair to dry, teeth to brush, etc.
A woman's work is never done :D

With love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
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Crochet, cushions and chickens

2009-02-25T11:35:00.004Z

Hello there, I thought it was time I posted some new photos.

The light still isn't good indoors so forgive the quality
(not that I'm that good anyway LOL)
But at least you get to see my new blanket.
I love it.
It is so snuggly and warm on a chilly night.
I'm not to keen on the edging, a bit of a quick bodge job,
but the nice thing with crochet is that at least
it's easy to undo when I have the time
(and inclination *blush*) to redo it.
I got around to doing some new cushion covers too,
and now I'm on the lookout for more fabric for some larger ones.
The green check fabric was a real bargain,
75p for 4 napkins from a charity shop,
and I've made 3 covers from them
by adding some stash fabric (that was free!)
I made 2 small cushions from teatowels,
they were a snip from home bargains,
part of a pack working out at 75p each.
The other fabrics were a little bit more,
bought by the metre, but still came out
very cost effective, so I'm well pleased.

Over the last few days I've been making other goodies too,
like these lovelies from the Springtime crafting book.More to come too. They are lovely to make,
though I did change a few things
here and there to make them "mine".
Hopefully, within the next few weeks I'll be putting
some of my new makes in my blogshop.

I'll post a link when I have. I've been thorough spoilt this week, receiving 2 swap parcels.
The first is from Debbie, for the January swap at the
Shabby Chic Cafe. Lots of loveliness and yumminess,
especially her famous bunting.
It's wonderfully well made.
And, I believe, it's available for sale.
If you pop along to her blog
I'm sure there's a link where you can buy some.

The next parcel I got was from Elliweb,
for the February swap.
Again such generosity.Lots of lovely goodies,
including a beautifully handmade fabric bowl.
I love receiving and sending swaps,
it's such a "feel good" moment in life.

So there we have it. My photos. Enjoy.
With love and blessings in Christ,
Elaine
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Happy Valentines Day

2009-02-14T12:41:00.002Z

Wishing all my readers have a lovely day today.
I haven't been able to get good indoor photos just lately
but as soon as I can I will post one of my
finished blanket
YES!!!!!
I actually finished my blanket!!
But just to keep you going I thought a couple of lovely
Vintage Valentine images would be appropriate
Have a lovely day everyone.

With love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
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How Cool !

2009-02-05T15:21:00.004Z

More lovely, glorious snow!!!!!!!
I love it.
I've been out (proper) for the first time today (a health thing) and the weather was perfect.
Crisp air, but not too cold, so Claudia and me went to do a bit of shopping, and I actually remembered the camera!

First stop (after the charity shops) was the supermarket, where this jolly fellow greeted us.
Then a walk home through the local park.
What struck us was the cheerfulness of everybody. It seems the weather has brought out the best in people. And there was a definite air of community spirit, a oneness with each other, and I say "Thank God for it."

with love and blessings in Christ,
Elaine
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There's snow place like Gnome

2009-02-02T16:22:00.003Z

(Sorry, I just couldn't resist that title.)
Our garden looks quite nice today. There's still plenty of stuff lying around that shouldn't be, but under this lovely thick white blanket it's hard to tell the buckets from the planters LOL

This photo was taken around 3.30pm. My foot print is about 3"-4" deep,
but there is another couple of inches compacted below too.
Poppy the dog loves it too, but the photo of her is too blurry to use,
not quite sure if she was moving too fast or I was shivering too much.

I love the look of the shrubs too
(hope my neighbour doesn't mind her house being on show oooppss),

but not the look of the fence after a car crashed through it.
Still, I suppose these things happen, and this certainly did!
........................................

On another note, my blanket is coming along nicely. I've started joining the squares.
Not a job I love but it has to be done.
After I've joined 81, I shall decide exactly how I want it to look,
whether I need more squares, how to edge it, etc. But so far I'm quite pleased with it.
........................................

Thank you to my lovely, beautiful friend Angel for another award.
Bless her, not only is she helping to raise lots of much needed money for a children's project in Nakuru, Kenya
(Kids in Need is about building a home for orphaned children who's lives were devastated in the awful troubles there last year).
not only that, but she has taken it upon herself to keep the manufacturers of certain ladies product in business during the recession.
How good is that!!!!!!!!
Actually, on that subject, I must say thank you to Debbie at Shabby Chic Cafe for making the KiN project the charity of the year.
If anyone would like to know more, please pop along to the Cafe
or leave a comment on Shabby Angel's blog.

With love and blessings in Christ Elaine xxxxxxxxxxxxx

I'm so honoured

2009-01-25T23:53:00.003Z

I truly am honoured by the lovely award given to me by the lovely Mary Poppins.
Taken from Mary's blog this is what the award is all about

"The authors say that blogs who receive this award are exceedingly charming. This blog invests in proximity in space, time and relationships. These kind bloggers aim to find and be new friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandisement. Our hope is that when ribbons of these awards are cut, even more friendships will be propagated. Please give your kind attention to these writers."

And these words make this a very special award, thank you for thinking of me Mary.

And now I have to think of 8 other bloggers to pass this award on to.

Raspberry Grace

Shabby Angel

Biker Boots and Chicken Feet

DollyDollop

Anglesey Allsorts

Lace Hearts

Dancing on a Blade of Grass

What Kelly did next

So there you go my lovely friends, you are all so deserving of this award, and there are many more people that deserve this award too, so please pass this on to another 8 bloggers and include the text above too.

Love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
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Pink and Green and Cream

2009-01-24T11:55:00.003Z

Is January the month to get sorted do you think???
I decided to use up some old yarn but how come everytime I decide to use what I already have
I then end up buying more to go with it??
I thought it would be good to crochet a new sofa blanket to match the new decor, so I set about sorting some yarn but do I have enough in the right colours for a whole blanket ??? Do I eck as like!
Thankfully I'm not fussy about the type of yarn so I set about using what I had, all the bits of pink and green and cream but some greens and pinks just aren't the right shades. It can't be to vivid, no racing green for this blanket, so off to the local wool shop I go. They had a bin full of lovely oddments at £1 a ball and I found another ball of each colour I need,
and so far I have managed to complete 22 squares.

I'm not sure how many I will eventually do, I'm thinking 100, but I don't want to get bored, and I want it finished much sooner than I usually do, so maybe 49 might be more achievable LOL.

I have also started another random blanket like this one but again I don't want it to take as long as the last one (over 20 years *blush*) I've made quite a good start (last year) but this week I've doubled the size and at least this blanket will genuinely use every little scrap of any double knit I have. My Mam has got her knitting head on at the moment too, so I shall be after her little scraps too.

Anyway, I'm off to do some more sorting out so I can actually open the cubby hole door and who knows what yarn I'll find lurking in the back of there !!

Love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
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Time to Sew.... and stuff

2009-01-10T12:03:00.004Z

Oh dear oh dear. I've allowed myself to become very lazy this last month *blush*

The sewing has been at a complete stand still for 3 weeks now, and even the pictures I printed for our 2009 calendars are still sitting on top of the printer waiting to be cut out.
And I'm blaming the weather LOL.

It's perfect weather for curling up on the sofa
and letting the world (and time) pass by.

So, today I really must make a January "to do" list that
is sensible and achievable.
I need to do a little shopping,
and take a New Baby card to my Goddaughter.
Then try to tackle some of my "to do" list.

Here's hoping (eeekkkkkkk!!!!!)

Love and blessings in Christ

Elaine xxxxxxxxxxx

ps. This picture is how I'd like to think I look, but unfortunately I don't !!!
though the top pic is pretty close to how I looked
40-odd years ago !

2009-01-02T12:40:00.002Z

I must be honest and say I'm not usually one to revel in a New Year-New Start type of thing. Usually I'm pretty laid back about what has happened through the year and I don't expect things to be much different as the old year passes.
But I am glad to see the back of last year. Don't get me wrong, there was much good in it, but so much stress that it knocked me for 6.
But, I know God would not give me more than I could handle, so even though the rough patches carried on right upto Christmas, I made it through the year, hanging on to the rim of it by my battered nails LOL.

The doggy, Poppy, was back at the vets today to have her stitches removed from the operation she had on the 22nd of December, and has been given as clean a bill of health as any 14 year old dog could have.
Having lost our beloved Dizzy (cat) back in November the thought of losing Poppy too was too much to even think of.
But she's so bouncy for her age, and constantly thinking of her next meal, or the snacks in between, you would never think that on the 20th December we had to seriously consider not having her around for Christmas.

And so, we start the New Year with 2 very large vet bills to pay, (Thank God we have very understanding vets) but having my beautiful Poppy is worth it all.

My prayer for you all is that you have a wonderfully peace-filled, joy-filled, love-filled 2009, and that you all will have the happiest year, yet have the strength to cope with whatever it throws at you too.

Love and Blessings
Elaine
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Christmas 2008

2008-12-30T13:32:00.007Z

Welcome to our world.

For the most part it looks quite sedate,
but there is a little undercurrent of a tiny bit of mayhem LOL

This is how my nephew, Neil, greeted us Christmas morning, he'd just visited his nephews and nieces before work (he's a chef, and a very good one too!) the youngest now thinks that Uncle Neil is SANTA !!!

It was my sister's birthday on Sunday so I made her some of her favourite sweets.

She's not one for sweets much (haven't a clue who she takes after???)
but she does like marzipan covered walnuts.
I'd already given her her present before Christmas,
but everyone needs something to open on their birthday, don't they ?
(BTW, these are the ones that wouldn't fit in the box)

Last night (29th) she and her husband came for their annual meal too.
I don't get chance to do posh often, so I like to make the most of it,
and laid the table,
lit the candles and placed the crackers

After, we always play some game or other, and last nights game was cards.
Take 2 was the main game. we play for chocolate money,
and after exchanges of coins
(some legal, some not)
Bro-in-Law decided that the very last game
(after midnight) should be a winner-takes-all pot.

And I Won

And to finish, just a few more pics of my tree.
Did I say I love my tree???

Love and blessings
Elaine xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Happy Christmas Blessings

2008-12-25T23:51:00.004Z

As I write this it's still just about Christmas Day here in Blighty, and what a wonderful day it's been.

I've been so spoiled with wonderful gifts (may take pics soon). It's been a fairly quiet day with some noisy moments, but quiet is good as I'm still getting over the nasty flu lurgy that's doing the rounds.

I thought I'd just post a few pics of my home to be going on with
This is the view I have from my dining table, and I can call it a dining table at the moment. For 50 weeks of the year it's a sewing table, but I'm having a break LOL
This is one of my dressers, I love my little bits and pieces on it, most of them I've had for years.
This fireplace is at the back of the room,
.....................................and this one is at the front.

May you all have the most blessed and peaceful holiday.

Love and blessings
Elaine
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How come it's December the 17th already !!!

2008-12-17T18:17:00.004Z

Sorry I've been away from my blog for so long, life has been a bit of a pain lately, but I had to post about my lovely Shabby Chic swap that arrived today from the lovely (and over generous)
Shabby Angel.

The theme is Christmas, but neither the wrapping or the box inside was giving anything away
Then I opened the box to be met with a sea of white tissue each bit containing lots of sparkley doves and stars and pretty little crosses

And each little (and large) tissue-wrapped parcel held it's own delight.
There was lots of Christmas decorations....................
And some scrummy chocolates
The most gorgeous Christmas table runners
Then I found the most delicious Laura Ashley place mats and napkins
And the loveliest of hand made aprons with it's own matching potholder, absolutely beautifully made, and a sweet little chiffon scarf, so pretty.

All of this packed neatly into a felted magazine caddy !!!!
And to top it all off I got my lovely wooden tea caddy, I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So thank you so much Shabby Angel, you really are the sweetest angel ever xxxxxxxxxxx

With Love and Blessings in Christ
Elaine
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My brilliant day out

2008-10-31T17:13:00.007Z

Now, I know I might sound a tad of a saddo in this post, but I really don't care LOL

It's my birthday soon, you know the kind when people expect a big party. Now personally I can't see the point. I celebrated being 21, and if I am working at the time, I can see the point of celebrating retirement (though how does one retire from working at home ????)
Anyway, if other people want to party, I will gladly wish them well, and even help them, but it's not for me.

So my lovely daughter came up with another way of celebrating.

All year I have (partly) jokingly said that all I want is a donkey, adopting a donkey would do fine. So my daughter arranged for my nephew to take me to a donkey sanctuary for the day.

It was brilliant. I felt like a child again, having gained a love of donkeys at the age of 10 while learning the poem by Walter de la Mare, Nicholas Nye.
When we were small, we didn't do donkey rides, I was 8 before I saw the sea, and that was a cold wet day. Of course I'd seen donkeys, but that poem just sparked something inside me.

Don't get me wrong, I don't go mad and have everything donkey around me. I do have a couple of ornaments, but the real thing is better. And today I got to cuddle and scratch lots of donkeys.
(Donkeys love to be scratched really hard, almost as much as eating!)

Anyway, here are a few pics of the most gorgeous donkeys, all of them rescued.

I love geese too, and this lovely fellow I could have bundled up and brought home, such a character!

I hope you can see him in the middle of the photo, he is very big!!!

So, that's been my day. Wonderful. Thank you Claudia xxxx

Love and blessings in Christ
Elaine

Sorry it's been so long

2008-10-20T14:40:00.004+01:00

The last few weeks have been such a pain, I haven't bothered with blogging at all, I'm so sorry everyone. But I'm here now and the problems, unfortunately, are still here too.
Never mind.

I haven't sewn much over the last few weeks either, the decorating was a night mare, plaster falling off the walls and everything, and I still need to make new curtains too, but I needed somewhere to keep my small collection of buttons, so I have made these over the last few days. Hopefully they will fit my new dresser.

I did measure the gap for them, but I haven't tried them yet. I made 2, well because the shelf will take 2, but I didn't realise just how big they would be, so all my little boxes fit in one fabric box. Now the other is housing my huge rolls of ribbon with lots of room to spare.
The floral fabric I have had for years and I'm really pleased I finally have a use for it (it might even end up on the sofas as cushion covers too), and the lovely pink check fabric was part of a parcel from the very lovely Heather.

Even though I haven't posted for a while, I still haven't got much news without moaning on about what's been happening, so I won't bore you all with that.

Love and blessings in Christ
Elaine xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

And the winner is...................................

2008-09-29T14:06:00.005+01:00

I wrote the names and cut them out...............
I put them in a lovely box.................

On went the lid and I shook them around........
And drew out the winning name......................

ANNIE-C !!!!!!

Congratulations Annie.

Thank you all for the lovely comments over the last week, and I'm sorry not everyone could win.

I'm also sorry that I didn't post the winner on Saturday as promised but we've had a nightmare weekend regarding the decorating. I won't bore you all with the details, but I will say that we have (I hope) turned a corner now.
If I have my way the bulk will be done by the weekend, but then again nothing has really gone to plan so far eeekkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll be in touch with Annie via the Shabby Chic Cafe (I opened the draw there too for people without google accounts.

I must say it has been fun running the draw, so I might not wait a year for the next one so Watch This Space.

With love and blessings in Christ
Elaine xxxxxxxxxxxx

Happy Blog-a-versary to me!!!!!!

2008-09-20T08:09:00.005+01:00

I can hardly believe it's been just over a year since I started my blog, it's gone so fast. I almost missed my Blog-a-versary we've been in such a tiz this last week, so I thought I'd wait until the weekend before I made this post.

I remember when I started I really didn't know what I'd say, or if I'd have anything to say, but here I am still plodding on a year later.

The last week has been a bit of a trial, nothing really by worldly standards, but trying for us never the less. I won't bore you with all the details, I'll just say we're decorating the living room and it hasn't all gone to plan (I'm sure many of you know that feeling!)

So, just to say thank you to all my readers for being there for me, and putting up with my ramblings, I'm having a give-away to celebrate the last year.

And here it is!

I designed the bag a month or so ago (probably more like 2) and this is (so far) just 1 of 4. Each has its own little quirk, (this one has a different button to it's sister) so there is only 1 just like this.
This one is made from a beautifully pattern baby cord and faux suede outside, and has long straps to fit on your shoulder nice and secure for shopping.
It's got a ribbon draw string, and 2 pockets inside, a large zipped 1 and a little phone pocket too.
It's quite roomy inside and fully lined (even the pockets!)
And so far none are "owned" (not even by me) so the winner will be the first to have this design.

If you'd like a chance to own the bag, just leave a comment and I'll pull a name from the hat next Saturday (27th September) and announce the winner here.

I'd also just like to say a big thank you to everyone who has left comments over the last year,
it really does mean alot to know others are out there, and I am humbled by the comments left, especially on my last post. Thank you all xxxx

Love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
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Tea and Friendship.......

2008-09-06T21:50:00.003+01:00

................... What a lovely combination (or maybe coffee or herbal for those who don't do tea)

Just how precious can friendship be? To me it's very precious. And to think I now have wonderful people who are my friends and all because of the WWW.
If anyone told me just a few years ago that I could have become such good and close friends with people I had never met I would have told them they were, quite frankly, barmy!!!!!!!!!
After all, how could I, who knew nothing at all about computers, possibly have friends because I use a computer. Just unheard of.

I thank God for the day my daughter decided to get an internet connection, over the past few years it has been a lifeline sometimes. I have found inspiration, conversation, ways of spending money I'd never dreamed of (oooppppsss) but the bestest thing, and the biggest blessing, has been the wonderful friendships formed.

So I'd like to share this lovely award from Lacey
with all of you out there, the wonderful people who share the one thing we all have in common.
Internet friendship and companionship.

Of course I am supposed to pass on this award, so the first thing I'll say is
"right back at you Lacey" xxx
I have to include my lovely friends Angel and Rasp, and all my very first internet friends from the now de-funct RTV forum, some of whom I'm still in regular contact with after all this time.
(to name a few...Anne, HG, Pip, Janie, Nige, Doug, Paul)
I'd love to include my newest friend Martha, and all my lovely friends at the Shabby Chic Cafe.

I should think I've waffled enough now so I'll just say a big "THANK YOU" to you all.

With love and blessings in Christ,
Elaine xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Green is the colour

2008-09-02T14:00:00.002+01:00

August's swap at Shabby Chic Cafe was "Green", so I decided to set myself a challenge.
How much could I make from one thrifted pillow case? It was just an ordinary, average sized pillow case, and this is what I come up with.

Firstly a simple peg bag

Next came these napkin rings

I added paper napkins

Then I made the pillow

I had a little bit of fabric left so I made a small scented heart. I haven't loaded that picture on because it was dire, but you can see the heart dangling from the peg bag in the top photo.

So here's my challenge to you.
How much can you make from a pillow case?
Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.

Love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
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Habakkuk

2008-08-24T20:47:00.000+01:00

I know I don't usually do difficult posts, so many are much better at evangelism that me, and it's also a little bit scary. I run the risk of alienating my non-Christian readers, but here goes.
In the links list, on my side bar, are 2 links to places that are really special to me and my family, one is the Mustard Seed Gift Shop, the other is called Habakkuk.
And it's Habakkuk I want to talk about.

Sometimes it's difficult to know if we are doing what God is directing us to do, when things take longer than we think they should it's hard to remember that God's timing is not the same as ours. I constantly question if I am in God's will, sometimes it's obvious that I am (or not as the case may be) but at other times it's hard to tell. Last week, again I questioned if we are in God's will regarding the "Habakkuk" side of what we do.
After much prayer, I didn't seem to have an answer, then, while watching a Christian programme on GenesisTV, the answer came.
Habakkuk is a little used book of the bible, one of the "minor" prophets, it isn't often used in preaching or teaching (in my experience) yet the answer came directly from that very book.

Habakkuk 2:2,And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may [be able to] read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by. (3)For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day.
(from the Amplified Bible)

My heart lifted. What a Gracious God we serve. On the leaflets we hand out to promote what we do to ministers etc we have this section;

The Vision
1Peter 4v.10 Each one of us should use whatever gifts he has received to serve other, faithfully administering God's grace in it's various forms.

The Vision is to have a place that would support evangelism and outreach in South Derbyshire, particularly Swadlincote and surrounding areas. A place where God is at the centre.

A place of contact between Christians and non-Christians, with a biblical, evangelical heart without the traditions and doctrine of man.

A place where the body of Christ can be seen and accepted as part of the community.

A place to provide friendly, non-threatening outreach, an place where contact between the church and people is easily obtainable, providing details of services, events, community projects etc.

A place where information of Christian organisations (Y.M.C.A., Y.F.C., etc) is easily available.

So now I have done just as Habakkuk was directed by God. I have made the vision God gave us easily available, so that everyone who passes through here will be able to see it.
Now I need to do the same elsewhere, but at least I've made a start. Thank you for being patient with me.

Love and blessings in Christ,
Elaine xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The New Batch

2008-08-21T14:35:00.000+01:00

Here are the new members of the family. I've been working on these for a few weeks (with lots of interruptions) and I'm really pleased with the results. Several of them are already ordered, but some will be making their debut on the website soon.
It always seems a little bit sad when I come to the end of another batch, especially as I know I can't get some of the fabrics again, and some I will choose not to use again, not because they aren't pretty enough, but because I like to keep everything as unique as possible. Even the rabbits that look alike have their differences, maybe just a different colour or type of ribbon, maybe different bloomers, whatever it is, they each have their own quirks.

I have received another award from the lovely, and very talented Martha,
It's so gracious of her to think of me, she has such a wonderful way of making Annies, simply gorgeous, just pop along to her blog to take a look.

Now I have to think of others to pass this award to. This is a difficult task as there are so many talented people out there.

Firstly I'll say Raspberry Grace, she has a lovely blog, such a expressive way of writing, and photos of her lovely home are so inspiring.

Next I'll say Shabby Angel. She will claim she is not creative, but I dare you to read her blog without laughing. Angel also sews, though she'll say she's not good enough to show her work, but I know she is.

Then I'll say Nine Fruits Pie. Not only is she my daughter, but an extremely talented Jewellery maker too. She works mostly with silver, gemstones and pearls, and creates some stunning designs.

I have to include Lace Hearts. Lacey claims to be quite new to sewing, but you'd never know. There is a wonderful tutorial for a tote bag on her blog. Lovely.

Last but not least I'll say Trish at Trixie's Trinkets. Trish can do all kinds of things, and has some lovely, inspiring ideas.

Sorry to anyone I have missed, there are so many lovely, talented people out there, you all deserve an award MWAH.

Love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
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A little reminder of the time of year.

2008-08-10T23:40:00.000+01:00

I can't believe how fast the year is going, and as a little reminder of just that thought, I bought another Christmas present on Friday. A car boot tidy for my brother-in-law, I plan to put 2 huge rolls of paper towels in it, as my sister is rapidly running out of teatowels (he just grabs whatever is closest to hand)

I haven't taken many photos recently, though I have several new goodies on the go, but here is a bag I made last week

I went to Dunelms and found the lush printed taffeta fabric and a metre just popped into the shopping trolley LOL

I thought I share some older photos of things I've made over the years
(excuse the quality, it's a very old scanned photo)

This lovely pair were made several years ago, probably at least 10 years, my how time flies.

And these are Christmas Annies I made a couple of years back, my sister actually bought them for her Granddaughters, but I still have Joy, she has become our mascot and her picture has pride of place on the website.Unfortunately this photo was taken before I learned to use the camera, not that I'm much better now !

I have loved dolls since forever really, and making them helps feed my habit, just a little bit.

With love and blessings in Christ
Elaine xxxxxxxxxxx

Summer is a comming in....................

2008-07-28T13:12:00.000+01:00

At last it seems summer has arrived. I love the drying weather, but not the heat (unless I was on some beach paddling), but I shouldn't complain, we've had yukky weather long enough now.

It's been a while since my last post and since then I've received an award

Thank you to the lovely Lace Threads, I don't get many of these and it's lovely of you to think of me. I think I have to nominate more blogs for the award now,
so I need to think.
Of course I have to say my beautiful daughter at Nine Fruits Pie,
and the lovely Raspberry Grace.
The Fabulously Funny blog of Shabby Angel.
Fifties Girl too, a lovely fresh look at vintage through young eyes,
I can't think of anymore that haven't been nominated yet, though some of these may have been.
If I do I'll come back and post more.

We spent a lovely few hours going through old photos at my mam's yesterday, so many wonderful memories. I've brought most of the albums home to re-do them, lots of the photos are getting tatty, some, sadly, may be beyond repair. The plan is to make a scrap book for her 8oth birthday later this year, it will be my first so I hope I do a good job.

This is one of my favourite photos of me, aged about 2 and a half.

I loved that pushchair, It was blue with creamy-white vinyl seat and back. The "baby" is Debbie, and she's wearing a pink wool knitted outfit my mam made for her, She was, and is, my first big baby doll, and very much loved. She sits in my bedroom now, and looks a little worse for wear, but I still love her.

This is my beloved dad

He is in his early 20's here, about 10 years before I was born. He died in 1985, just an hour after my birthday ended. I still miss him so much.

Anyway, enough of me waffling, now I have to inform all those lovely people they have an award too.

Love and Blessings in Christ
Elaine xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

July Sunshine

2008-07-05T13:23:00.000+01:00

This lovely photo of the penstemon in our garden actually belies 2 facts.

While it looks lovely and sunny, it has been raining and we are promised more over the next few days, in fact if you see anyone walking around looking nicely tanned just take a closer look, it's probably rust!

The other lie is that we have a garden. We do have a space outside, indeed space may not even describe it. The "space" is around 11' wide by 80' long. Some may call that a garden, but it's not really anything at the moment. We have a border that just a few years ago sported some beautiful plants, but now only has a few (though thankfully the penstemon is very big and hides the emptiness well).

We have a patio of sorts, but has so much junk dotted around it's unusable.

We have a rockery area that has been in the making for 2 years, but not quite made it yet.

We have a shed, with a mini-tip in front of it. It might even be a second patio one day, when it grows up.

Behind the shed was a lovely paved area that has sprouted more junk, mostly wood. and beyond that we have a mini woodland. The birds love this area which is just as well because we can't use it (too over grown).

Why so much space yet so little you might ask? Husband. He's the answer.
I used to be the gardener until I damaged my neck a few years back, now I have to rely on DH. But DH has other ideas. So if anyone has any (clean) suggestions as how I can get my garden back please let me know. Thank you.

On a lighter note, here is my bargains from last week.

DH actually pointed out this lovely tea set in the Heart Foundation, and I was pleasantly surprised at the price. There are 4 cups and saucers and a little sugar bowl, but sadly no milk jug or teapot.

and these lovely glass candlesticks came from the local hospice shop.

I did get a few more goodies too, but I'm saving those for another rainy day!

Love and blessings in Christ,

Elaine
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Long summer days...........................

2008-06-18T19:14:00.000+01:00

Where are they? It's almost midsummer's day, the longest day of the year. Where?

So far I haven't really even noticed the lighter nights. And, so far, I can almost count the t-shirt days on the fingers of 2 hands. I suppose once July and August get here the weather may pick up.

I don't like very hot weather, I'm just not built for it, but I do love the smell of washing fresh from the line. Yesterday was a good drying day, quite warm and windy, but today is miserable, and according to the weather reports things are not looking good for the weekend.

Unless I'm on a beach, splashing around, the best thing about fine weather is hanging out the washing and being able to walk places without getting wet. I'm not a sun-seeker, hate wearing dark glasses, but I do like a straw hat. I get some funny looks when I wear my straw hat, but I like it.
It has seen better days mind, it's looking a bit tatty, but I love it.

We aren't having a holiday this year, but our plan is to strip the living/dining room of the yukky paper that's been on for years, then re-line and paint the walls. It won't be easy but it has to be done. I'm hoping to persuade my other half to refresh the kitchen and bathroom too, but shhh it's a secret. I've sort of approached the subject of the kitchen, but I haven't mentioned the bathroom at all yet. I thought I'd surprise him LOL.

I made some more Smelly Cats last week but only just got around to taking photos of them.

I love the beige one with the blue trims. The colours go much better than I thought they would. Now I have to crack on with more, and bunnies too, thanks to my lovely, dear friend Angel.

So, for now, I bid you all a fond farewell, while I go off a-sewing.

Love and blessings in Christ

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How long !!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-06-05T22:41:00.000+01:00

Just a quick reminder........................ It's now less than 6 months until I put my Christmas decs up!

Hope that's cheered everyone up!

Love and Blessings in Christ
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Say "Cheese"

2008-05-27T21:48:00.000+01:00

Hope you like the new family photo. Everyone has gathered for baby Moll's Christening, even the family's dog are included!

Love and Blessings
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Me !!!!!!!!! Tagged ????????

2008-05-23T12:24:00.000+01:00

I've just been told by my lovely friend Raspberry Grace that I've been tagged!
I can't see any tags........................ oh Bloggie-type Tag (doh!)

Ooo dear, now lots of questions, I'm no good at questions, can I have multiple choice? no? oh well here goes.

I have to answer 6 questions about myself, then tag 6 more people, right?

Question 1; What was I doing 10 years ago?

Ooo, eerrrmmmm, I'm not sure. I no I certainly wasn't on the internet, no blogs back then.
I lived in the same house with the same people (scratches head trying to come up with something) I suppose, in my personal life a few things have changed. Back then I was deeply involved in my local church. I sang with the music group, worked with the children on Sundays and in the week, cleaned the church hall, was involved with the PCC (elected governing body).
I don't do any of those things now, but I am involved in other things.

Question 2; 5 things on my "to do" list for today.

Well that has changed several times today already. I was going to go shopping, but decided to wait until my other half came home from work.

I decided to wash my hair, but that went out the window as the tester-blokes came to check the gas fires.

I decided to do a bit of sewing, but haven't yet because the tester-blokes were here so long.

I decided to look through my stash (that's still waiting to be re-housed in the cubbyhole) for fabric for my rabbits (you'll know what I'm talking about in a few days) but haven't yet because I had to move stuff for the testers-blokes.

I decided to do the washing up, and I have.............well almost.

I decided that making "to do" lists are just a waste of time in this house LOL

Question 3; What snacks do I enjoy?

That's easy. FOOD hehehe

Question 4; What would I do if I were a millionaire?

First, I would have a house where I could have a spare bedroom, and a craft room.

Next, I would open a real Mustard Seed Gift Shop (but actually pay someone to run it while I made things)

Then, of course give some money to my favourite charities and ministries.

Of course, while I was so busy doing all this my fabric stash would have run so low I would have to buy lots more lovely fabric !

Question 5; Places I have lived?

That's easy too. I'm a local girl and have never moved around much. I have only ever lived in 5 different houses, all within a 10 miles radius, so basically boring but I like it and have never been bothered by it.

Question 6; Ermmmmmmmmm Is there a question 6?

Tag 6 other people? That's probably the hardest of all

Shabby Angel?, no she's been done.

Lace threads?, no she's been done too.

Raspberry Grace? no, she tagged me!

Now this is one I am going to give some thought to....................hey I have a new "to do" for my list LOL

Love and Blessings
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It's finished !

2008-05-21T12:57:00.000+01:00

After almost 20 years (at a rough guess) I have finished my blanket!

Well, I say mine but originally it was supposed to be bedspread size for my daughters bed, and she is 23 soon (I know, I know, you're all wondering how I managed to do it so quickly LOL)

It was started as a way of using up even the smallest bits of yarn, I sort of made it up as I went along but basically settled for a square (ish) middle, then 7 rows on each side, so each time I completed a side it grew quite quickly.

That was the theory. It grew quickly for a few months, then less quickly for a couple of years, then hardly at all for at least 10 years, but I have been having a major sort out last weekend (still doing it too) (why does sorting out make so much mess ???), anyway I found it in the cubbyhole, decided to complete the side in progress and wash it. And here it is;

I was a bit worried that after so long it might have dropped into holes (yes I know crochet has holes anyway but I mean bigger ones (slaps forehead)) But it washed fine, and I'm quite pleased with it. I think it will live over the back of the sofa now, but be used wherever it is needed, especially useful for those little afternoon snoozes.

With love and Blessings in Christ

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I've been shopping !

2008-05-16T20:29:00.000+01:00

Well, nothing unusual there LOL, but 2 posts in 2 days, now that really is something !!!

I thought I'd share my bargains with you, especially my beautiful new comfy sandals. Now I realise that they look like an odd pair (who knows if I can't make up my mind I might even wear them that way) but I thought showing one of each is a tad easier. So here they are.................

.................aren't they lovely!, maybe not everyones cup of tea, but I'm built for comfort not speed, and these will probably see me through the next few summers, proper shopping desert wellies.
But I've not told you the best bit yet..................... just £5 a pair, yep 5 bloomin' quid !!! I couldn't believe it !!!

I've been on the look out for something like them for a while but nothing seemed quite right, until I saw these (and the price)
For me, they'll do just fine

Then, after that lovely find I went to Dunhelms where I found this lovely stash. Can a day get any better ? well maybe, but not often.
The assistants told me some time ago that they wouldn't be stocking much Homespun fabric any more, so I was stunned to find a whole new batch with colours they've not had before.
All of the colours are mixed with pale cream/off white, from left to right they are Shocking pink, Black, Red, Beige and Blue, next is some lovely shocking pink sheeting fabric (although it looks red in the photo, it is almost an exact match for the homespun) and next to that is some batting, a lovely soft fabric I use in quilting or for lining some of my makes such as the dogs and cats.

Anyway, that's my evening sorted, I'm off to do some cutting out .................... happy days !

Love and Blessings in Christ

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May..................be it's time for another post (hehe)

2008-05-15T13:28:00.000+01:00

Hello peeps out there in Blogland.

I've been reading so many lovely blogs recently I've totally (well almost) ignored my own.
(and I still haven't made any pegbags doh)

I'm off to look for something worth photographing so you don't have to just listen to my ramblings, you'll be able to watch them too LOL!

Here's just one to keep you going

I need to get my head around some new links for here too, especially for the (fairly) new Shabby Chic forum, I just love that place! even if it is addictive.

Love and Blessings

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Where have the months gone?

2008-04-28T12:47:00.000+01:00

I can't believe how fast this year is going, I'm pretty sure each time I blink another week passes. And to top it off ever since the problems I told you about in my last post my memory has been replaced by a mushy mass of gobbledigook !

(as an example this is my 2nd attempt at posting, the first came out in said gobbledigook LOL)

I don't seemed to be making as much as I'd like. We had a sale last Saturday and I'd completely forgotten that I'd sold out of pegbags (smacks forehead ! ),
(note to self, remember to make a list and read it!)

I did make this little chap though, isn't he so sweet?

And I did remember to take some new photos of older makes, I love this Annie, she's actually quite large, but very snuggly

All in all it's been a strange month, but here's hoping for a memory-filled May !

Love and Blessings in Christ

Elaine xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Phew !!!!

2008-04-06T19:53:00.000+01:00

Well, what a week !?!

As I posted last Monday, it started so well. I didn't quite manage to do as much as I would have like to, but the day went ok. I got to my appointment at the surgery 10 minutes early, but the doctor was running 30 minutes late (hmf) but, I sat patiently (no pun intended) and went in at 5.30. I was checked over, no chest infection but still a course of antibiotics for an ongoing nasally-sinussy type problem. I had to book another appointment for Wednesday for routine stuff ( I was only allowed to do this because the doctor gave me a paper requesting the appointment, otherwise it would've been back to the phone queue the next morning).
By the time I got out it was too late to go to the chemist, so my daughter went for me the next day. I took the first of my tablets at 4pm-ish, by 5 I was in pain, by 6pm a rash had started and I had pain when I swallowed, like a lump in my gullet. By this time I was alone. I phoned the emergency number given out by the surgery.

Thankfully, I spoke to a lovely nurse. With house phone in one hand, I called Tim (at work) from my mobile for him to come home. It was all quite scary. The nurse talked me through everything, and by the grace of God, I didn't need to go into hospital.

I'd never had a reaction to antibiotics before so it was quite a shock, and knocked my system around for a few days.
All better now, but I have to start a course of different antibiotics tomorrow eeekkk !!!!

All in all it's been a funny week, but I did get some light relief on Thursday when I ordered a kit from QVC, just to cheer myself up you understand LOL. I hope it doesn't take too long to come.

This is what we woke up to this morning..............

.......................beautiful white winter wonderland! This is the Weigela in the garden. It's hard to think that in a few weeks it will be full of buds, maybe even some flowers, yet this morning it was white as..........well, snow!

Love and Blessings

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Climb every mountain.................

2008-03-31T08:35:00.000+01:00

Good Morning Blogland!

I have a feeling of achievement today.

Firstly, I needed an appointment at the docs, and I got one !!!! Now that might not seem like a huge achievement, but because of the new system it can take days to see the doctor of choice, but today it only took 15 minutes of constant redial to get through (starting as soon as the surgery opens that is)
I thought, what else can I do while I'm on a roll?

So I took pics of a few things I've been meaning to for a while. I had to take them under the dining room window as DH is still in bed, enjoying a lie-in for a change (he's on an afternoon shift and I often take photos in our bedroom as the light is better there)
And here they are..................

............................ this is the lovely find from our local St.Giles charity shop I bought a while back. It was put on a high shelf, waiting for Easter, and I finally got it down and filled it with yummy chocolates that I have been enjoying each day since! They are such pretty geese. Next is my Heart Foundation find..............

The lid actually says "Tea for Mother" and I couldn't resist her as I love my tea and I am a mother!

I hope I can achieve more today, like actually using some of my stash to make something. I have more fabric that Dunhelms atm, (or so it seems) and I really need to use some because I've seen even more that I like!

So today needs to be a "making" day, rather than a "dreaming-of-lovely-new-fabric" day !

Here's hoping (and praying)................

Love and blessings
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Wedded Bliss

2008-03-04T16:46:00.000Z

We went to a wedding on Saturday, and although the couple had asked for vouchers or money I couldn't resist this keepsake when I found it in a local charity shop (we did give vouchers too)

Firstly sorry about the poor quality of the photos, I'm sure as I get older I get worse.
The album came beautifully boxed (above) and contains lots of lovely pages for photos and memorabilia.

And imagine my delight when I looked through and found a picture that matched some wrapping paper in the same shop

And I just had to have both.................

.............................shame I couldn't have kept the album though !!!

Love and Blessings in Christ

Elaine
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I still haven't done any climbing....................

2008-02-22T00:07:00.000Z

...........So I haven't taken photos of my finds yet (oopppsss) but I have been busy over the last 4 weeks, with the proof below

I had been given some lovely Laura Ashley vintage samples. Genuine vintage (well, ish) not repro. The lady who gave them to me bought them well over 20 years ago but never got around to using them. I've had them several months before daring to cut into them, but as I have very little room left in the house I had to start somewhere!

First I made lots of pillow and heart bowl fillers. I scented them with a concoction of oils I have collected and the closest thing I can say they smell like is Aqua Manda (can anyone out there remember Aqua Manda?)

Next I made the patchwork hangy-thingies (???!!???) The squares and hearts are Laura Ashley, the border is American Homespun, and the words are cross-stitched by my own fair hand (doesn't happen often!)

Then I made these lovelies, I think I might call them "Smelly Cats"!

The smaller one is made from American homespun, and the larger one is made of printed cotton.
The base has about 2" of a lentil and split pea mix, scented with oils, to make them stand firmly.
They smell of spices and perfume, mostly sandalwood, hence the name Smelly Cats!

These, and all the other goodies I've been making, are for our sale on Saturday. If anyone reading lives close by you're most welcome to come along. It's at Emmanuel Church Hall, Church Street, Swadlincote, this Saturday (23rd) from 11am til 3pm.

Anyway, it's past midnight here now, and I still have some bits to do (do you think it's too late to bake ???)

Love and Blessings

Elaine
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Yukky Dark Days

2008-01-28T22:14:00.000Z

Hello everyone, it seems so long since Christmas, much longer than 5 weeks, but then again it's 4 weeks since my last post here. Sorry (said with a shamed face)

We still haven't had any snow since the end of November, so that is what I am blaming for my general lack of enthusiasm. Yukky Dark Days !

At least with a bit of snow around the air is fresher and cleaner, and everything looks so much brighter. But my enthusiasm is a match for the weather. Dark, damp and barely lukewarm.

I haven't even took any new photos this year, though I will try soon. I bought a lovely trinket (for want of a better word) from the charity shop last week, which my husband put on a high shelf before I had chance to photograph it. So now I either have to climb with camera in hand, then balance while I snap away, or climb to get the trinket down from the shelf ! Either way I'll probably loose my balance (humf)

Anyway, by way of having something to look at, here are a couple of pictures of the Mustard Seed Gift Shop Christmas Fair, held in our church hall last year (boy it seems like such a long time ago)

Our vicar has given permission for us to hold more sales in the hall this year, the first of which takes place on the 23rd February. It's good to have a date to work to, now I might just get some of my enthusiasm back!!!!

With Love and Blessings in Christ,
Elaine
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Happy.................

2008-01-01T10:40:00.000Z

...................New Year to one and all !!!!

We had a quiet night in this New Years Eve. Not that we've had a rough year or anything like that, but it has been tiring, and quietly seeing in 2008 flicking the TV between Jools Holland and Take That suited us fine.

Lots of the family had had flu viruses over Christmas, or got flu just in time for New Year anyway, so no-one was up for much celebration, just chillin'.

I have started my Christmas 2008 campaign already, having wrapped and labelled several presents I've bought in the sales. I was so far behind with everything last year and I don't want to be that far behind again this year. It probably wont last, I'll get stuck for ideas, or can't find what I want, but at least I have 17 presents all ready to go!!!!

Anyway, that aside, may I give you my love, and pray for you all to have a Peace-filled, Joy-filled, Love-filled 2008.

With Love and Blessings in Christ
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Merry Christmas

2007-12-24T11:14:00.000Z

Well it's Christmas eve for certain !!!!

Everyone is so excited here. Claudia (at 22 years old) hasn't slept for the last 2 nights !
We got up early to change the sheets, just have to have clean sheets for Christmas, and do the last minute tidying. Actually it's more like 4 hours tidying, but who cares it's Christmas!!!

The cards are hung, and the candles are lit...............

....................The dresser is looking lovely

This is one of a set of 4 ladders. I can't remember where I bought them from, I've had them years, but they are so lovely they have to come out every year.

I usually make mince pies on Christmas eve, but I had to make some for the carol service yesterday so I made mine then too.

After the last clear up I shall sit for a while this afternoon with tea and mince pies watching Muppets Christmas Carol, and later, after the Christingle service, will probably watch White Christmas, maybe followed by Holiday Inn and Miracle on 34th Street.

The carol service last night was lovely. A simple service of 9 readings and carols with a short message toward the end. Although the message was short, it was very good and full of truth.

And the truth is Jesus is the reason for the season, Jesus is the Light of the world, and we need Him more than ever.

I'll finish with the blessing we had last night.

May you be filled with the humility of the Shepherds, the faith of the Wise Men, the praise the Angels sang of, and the Peace of Lord and Saviour. Amen !!!!

With love and Blessings in Christ,

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Less than ........................

2007-12-19T11:56:00.000Z

................a week to go, and I'm all ready !!!! Only joking !!! I'm nowhere near ready, so this is a quick post, just so you know I haven't emigrated or anything.

I did get all of my cards written and posted yesterday, just a few to deliver by hand now.

And just a smidgen sewing left to do (about 2 hours worth, I hope)

Then it's the cleaning (yuk) and shopping, and making mince pies. I volunteered to make some for Sunday's "Carols by Candlelight" service, just hope I don't have to buy them instead (that just wouldn't do.............or would it..mmmmmm???)

Anyway, hopefully I'll have more pics before the big day, so I won't say "merry Christmas" just yet.

Thank you for the lovely comments, my 100 set of lights gave up last week. I think they need jiggling, but I'm not about to do that (not after last years fiasco hehehe) and I still have 320 lights working.

Love and blessings in Christ

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The Christmas Tree

2007-12-07T23:39:00.001Z

As I have been challenged by my friend Raspberry Grace I thought I'd best get some photos on here ASAP. Her tree is so pretty, it had me oooooo-ing and ahhh-ing for ages. You can see her tree and other decorations on her blog.
This is our tree at 5pm on Friday, 7th December. My OH thought I was bonkers taking a picture before it was decorated, but as you'll see from the others, it's probably the best one (hides face with embarrassment!)

420 lights, 1 angel and 2 and a half hours later.......................................

........................ this is a close up of the angel. She is about 20 years old now (or at least that's how long she's been an angel) She was originally a doll given to Claudia by my niece. Each year I think about making her a new dress, but she still looks very pretty (even with her taped wings ) and below is a rather fuzzy full view (embarrassed again !)

Below is a close-up of some of my favourite tree-nkets

I'll try to get some better pics of them, but the baubles that have been hand painted with snowy cottages were a real find. I saw them in a window of a small charity shop in our town and thought I just had to have them but I couldn't see a price. I went into the shop and asked (always a worthwhile thing to do, doh is me) and guess how much? Go on have a guess. OK I'll tell you. Get ready for it ..........................£1.95 for 4 !!!!!!!!! What a bargain !!!!!
I saw some similar on TV tonight and (although a bit bigger) they were £6 each !

In the above picture is 1 of a set of 4 angels we've had for years too, they are made from crimped paper with wooden heads and hands, each holding a different stringed instrument. To the left is a glass bauble. Originally it was 1 of 6, but over the years 1 got broken. They are hand-painted too, and another bargain, even though I've had them at least 10 years I found them in a small £1shop.

To the right of the angel is Claudia's bells. She made them at playschool when she was 3 and the tree just wouldn't be the same without them.

Underneath the tree we put all the little Christmas cuddly toys we've had bought us over the years, but this year they have been relegated to the sides because of these.........

.............................. they usually sit on the window sill and get hidden by the tree, but because we have our nice new stand instead of a bucket they fit very nicely at the front !

Hope you've enjoyed the little tour around my tree. Now all I have to do is put out the ornaments, make the mince pies, finish (or should I say start) my cards, do some sewing,..........

With love and blessings in Christ

Elaine

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Oh Christmas Tree

2007-12-05T21:20:00.000Z

We went to the garden centre today to buy this years Christmas tree.

It's such a lovely place to be especially this time of year, it's a shame I never think to take the camera. There are robins that bob around quite happily among the trees (all under cover) and even inside the building part. It's as if they like to check that we're buying the right one.

This is last years tree

............................and without flash

(sorry about the quality, they were taken before I learned to work the camera!)

Unfortunately, just 1 hour after these were taken the tree was flat on the floor !!!
It was too front heavy, and toppled out of the bay window. We had to strip it bare and take it back out side. There was water all over the carpet, and very wet lights (of which we have about 400!)
The lights had to go into the airing cupboard for 2 days before we dared try to use them again.

Thankfully all was well the second time around, and this year Claudia has bought us a sturdy, heavy metal tree holder so we're hopeful that we shan't be having a repeat performance.

I'll post some photos of this years tree asap, and I know how to use the camera now.

Blessings

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Dec the Halls........tra la la la la

2007-11-30T11:05:00.000Z

Good morning Blogland

Well Argos delivered on time, and the Christmas fair has been and gone.
It wasn't as well attended as we would have liked, the weather was awful, but we had fun. We gave away a few bibles and booklets, and all of the kids goody bags went (they had a nativity booklet, lolly, candy cane and stickers in them, really sweet). We're praying that all those who received any literature, will read it and have their eyes and hearts opened.

I am supposed to be cleaning and tidying right now ready for our sales at home tomorrow and Monday (definition of tidying; putting all the bags of fabric and paper out of public view!), It will get done eventually (hehehe)

We put our "ceiling" decorations up over the last 2 days. I haven't put out all the ornaments and candle holders yet, I don't want anyone to think they are for sale.!!??!!, but we'll do those as soon as the sales are finished.

I'm still waiting for Claudia to load the photos of the Christmas Fair onto the pooter, as soon as she does I'll post some. I didn't take my camera, should know better really.

Blessings

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Waiting for Argos

2007-11-21T11:55:00.000Z

Hello and greetings to everyone in blogland !!!

I've been a bit on the busy side this last couple of weeks, getting things ready for the Christmas Fair this Saturday (and I still have lots to do) and doing Christmas card orders.
Here's a small selection of some of the cards that are part of an order of 100 (phew!!!)

They are a mixture of printed and stamped and this one.............

....................is one of my very favourite stamps. I have used it for myself so often that I'm in danger of sending people the same card year on year, so it was lovely to have the chance to use it for someone else. It's stamped onto gold pearlescent card and dusted with burgundy powdered food colour, then finished with a little matching chalk to set the powder. The food colour gives it a lovely, silky feel.

The last few days I've been decorating gift bags............

These are lovely paper bags, made from either recycled or sustainable sources. I can't be doing with the faff of making the bags from scratch, but buy them blank then decorate them with whatever takes my fancy. So there's ricrac, organza ribbon, lace, gingham and grosgrain ribbon, buttons, flowers, and a partridge in a pear tree (well maybe not but you get the idea).
I've tried to make them suitable for any occasion though there are a few that are Christmassy.

I'm sorry about the quality of the pics, they aren't as clear as I'd like. My camera is best used without the flash but the light wasn't as good as I hoped. The best place to take pics in my house is my bedroom, and I was constantly looking over my shoulder through the window.

I'm waiting for an Argos delivery, they say anytime between 7am and 6pm. It's not here yet.
I'll keep you informed, but I can't say what I've ordered, it's a secret sshhhhhh!!!!!!

Love and blessings

Elaine

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Memory Loss

2007-11-07T00:27:00.001Z

Doesn't time fly !!! I hadn't realised I had neglected my blog for so long. Sometimes I just forget I've got a blog. Rubbish excuse I know, but I'd forget my head too if it wasn't attached !!!

The next few weeks are going to be sooooo busy too. Our lovely vicar is allowing us to hold the "Mustard Seed Gift Shop Christmas Craft Fair" in the church hall on the 24th November. I shall be working like mad replacing stock, and making new stock too. Thankfully I already have some Christmas goodies like these lovely pair

And other nice bits too, like this

So now it's a case of catching up with all the other things I need to make. I'm sure we'll be ready in time, but it's good to keep on my toes about these things.
Infact I tend to work much better with a deadline ahead of me.

So if I forget I have a blog again you know where I'll be........................

Blessings

Elaine xxx

ps. If anyone wants details of any goodies or where the craft fair is, just leave a comment and I'll get back to you.

Another quick one

2007-10-23T11:33:00.000+01:00

Not much to tell over the past week. I haven't been able to do much work, so I thought I'd knit some mittens. WRONG. Could I find my pattern? No is the simple answer. I'm sure I've seen it somewhere recently, but when I actually want it, it's nowhere.

How many things actually disappear into Nowhere?

If anyone can tell me where Nowhere is I'd be very grateful. I'm sure lots of people would be grateful.

Infact, I'd go as far as to say, that whoever is the first person to find out where Nowhere is they'd make alot of money.

Anyway, yesterday I bought a new pattern. It's not as comprehensive as my old one, but it will have to do for now.

Now then, where are my short knitting needles...............................................

Love and Hugs in Christ,

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New places

2007-10-18T13:44:00.000+01:00

Just a quick post for now.

We've had a bit of a stressful week this week and I haven't been able to knuckled down to work, so I've been "surfing" instead.

I found (through various places and links) Joanna Sheen's online shop.

WOW. It's not a big place but it's well worth a visit. I have a couple of Joanna's CDRoms, which I love, so I had to give it a whirl and last night I placed an order.

I've put a link in "Places I'd like to be" because I know I'll be visiting often.

Love & blessings

Elaine xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx