New toy, new case

It seems amazing to me that this blog has been going for nearly two years now. Perhaps even more amazing is the fact that I've kept it up! I do like sharing crafts (and life) in this space and I hope you enjoy reading it too.

Just a quick post today as a bit of gift crafting will have to wait until it's gifted just in case. Last week I replaced my trusty (now slow and glitchy) netbook...so, new PC means new cover.

A quick bit of patchwork and a first attempt at free hand quilting, a magnetic clasp and hey-presto, some of my favourite fabrics taking good care of my gadget of choice.

I expect to catch up on some much needed crafting in just a few day, three to be precise! Summer holidays are here at last, hooray!

Have a good week all.
S. x

Summer. Evening. Walks.

It's been far too long since my last post, three weeks or there abouts. We are so close, us teachers and Nursery Nursers and TAs and general school working/school going folks to the blissful emptiness and freedom of The Summer Holiday. So far I have very few set-in-stone plans for my six week break but I'm sure they'll fill up and fly by as they always do.

Before then however we have so much to do at work - school trips, sports days, transition days, final assessments, settling our last (and enormous) intake of the year and ticking those last few boxes to make sure all of the children are ready for their next stage (or as ready as they can be) not to mention the dreaded learning journeys (I am so far behind now that I don't know where to start!).

But then there are things like this...

So, for now, on my evening wanders I am content to let the madness and mind-melting business of life in school take a back seat while I find the greatest pleasure in the simple feelings of sunlight. And the gentle breeze and the subtle changes in temperature as I move from roadside to footpath to shaded woodland. Here my mind is allowed to leave the classroom and my computer screen behind. And my body loosens up and my heart pumps a little faster as I climb that steep slope or break into a run through this field just for the sheer joy of movement and space and air.

And when I return home I am more productive, more motivated and more energised to do those jobs that need doing - to wash those pots, to type that letter - mundane as they may be.

Let me never forget this feeling. Or how easy it is to reignite inside me. All I need is a little time and the wide open sky.

Happy. Summer. Evening. Everyone.
S. x

Catch-up Crafting

On Tuesday evening this week Chris, Beth and I finally did something we've talked about for a while now. We got together, ate fish and chips, chatted on into the wee small hours and, oh yes, crafted.

 

An introduction to collage cards, an almost finished bear (with a very important first birthday deadline this weekend!) and far too much talking which meant that we didn't actually get an awful lot done but we certainly enjoyed ourselves and already have a plan for our next session.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.
S. x

Spring walks

Ah late spring how I love you. Not too hot, long evenings and light mornings, so lovely and such a great help with the long working hours being put in at work (and at home) as we head into moderation and summative assessment season, though I won't bore you too much with that now!

When almost everyone else seems to be settling themselves in for the night, as the heat of the day melts away to cooler evening and twilight lingers for such a long time we head out up the hill and wander. Along paths, through woods, up hill and down dale we walk without purpose or destination, just for the sheer joy of movement and space and air.

Wishing you all a wonderful start to your week.
S. x

Sound bags for school

Phew! What a speedy week it has been, with a visit from OfSTED to round it off (we don't officially know the verdict yet so I suppose I shouldn't say but I will admit it went far better than the previous one!). I thought I'd just post a quick entry to show you a little school crafting that took place over the Easter break.

I've been meaning to make some 'Sound sacks' for school for ages to keep resources for teaching Letters and Sounds and have finally got round to it! Now all we need to do is stock them up!
Enjoy the sunshine on this Bank Holiday weekend everyone.
S. x

A weekend away and a birthday gift

Last weekend we headed North to spend the Easter bank holidays with my parents. A long weekend filled with wanderings around the village and Edinburgh, far too much traffic (that's bank holidays for you) and a bit of crafting thrown in too.

Following on from the house-themed cards from a few weeks ago I had a go at making a totally fabric collage card for my Mum's birthday card. I think it worked quite well and will definitely give it another go.

And...

... Pyrographed labels for her roses - completed whilst there, sitting in the sunny bedroom and listening to our ageing dog barking in the garden below.

Happy weekending all.

S. x

House Warming

A few weeks ago now (has it really been that long!) we warmed the home of our dear friend and colleague Chris. A few games of hide and seek (perhaps more like "hide and scare" really!), a fish and chip supper by an open fire and a very late night followed. But after a fraught move and many other difficult happenings along the way I am so glad she is now settled into her lovely new house and is happy there.

I'd already made and given a card (see previous post below) but had an urge to craft something a little more permanent as a house warming gift. With very little time, a stack of paper and a box frame I bought ages ago with no real plan for it, I came up with this...

...A garden full of flowers for a wonderful friend who loves her gardening.

Oh, moving house is always so hard, especially when buying, but the rewards are surely worth all that hassle - a home to call your own. We hope to be doing that very thing quite soon ourselves.
Happy Easter weekend all.
S. x