Getting Ready

Much of the last few weeks has looked like this...

   

We are now days away from having the keys to our own house and a week today is moving day! We're taking our time over it. Because we can. And also because realistically, unless we go back to renting again, this is the only time we'll be able to take a leisurely stroll over a mad rush into a new home. I cannot wait to share with you our new home in this space but with Sam away (in Holland on business, what timing!) and likely no internet access over the weekend at least I can't guarantee when I'll have the chance. It's certainly going to be a mad couple of weeks - the last intake of new children at school, a new teaching student, a course to go on, a cat to sort out and...what was the other thing? Oh yes, an entire house to move, all in one week. A challenge it will surely be, but a good one. An exciting one. And one we are ready for.

The Easter break has not all been cardboard boxes and tape mind you, and with lovely weather and friends to catch up with there has been plenty of relaxation, a spot of culture and a little crafting too (of course!)

Wishing you well as we approach another sunny weekend.
S. x

Welcome to the clan!

A few photos from a most wonderful weekend celebrating marriage number two this year... my 'little' brother and his gorgeous wife Jessica! Welcome to the Neville-Taylor clan!

 It really was a beautiful event in a fabulous place. Enjoy your honeymoon lovely folks!

 S. x

Oh crumbs, it's nearly march!

Well, it's nearly been two months since my last post, only a little crafting has taken place due to the usual post-Christmas pressure at work (does this happen to all of us teachers or is it just our school?) and a very exciting decision which has mean a fair bit of sorting and paperwork reading ... we're buying our first house!
A big change from renting and a move away from Leicestershire which brings with it the need to find a new job (but not until this academic year is up - I'm going to have a long commute for the summer term!) but oh my it is lovely to plan and dream about our new home! Everything is going very smoothly with the purchase (a very short chain and a good credit rating seems to help), we are very close to signing and hoping to be in before Easter. A busy and exciting time indeed!

The crafting that did take place? Well it was varied, some rushed and some very slow and my first foray into dress making! It's not perfect but it fits well and I like it.

 

 

Two cards - one for my brother's belated (as usual!) birthday and another for the wedding of a dear friend that took place this weekend; a 'Princess and the Pea' set for school and of course my first dress.

Hopefully it won't be so long until my next post and not much longer until I'm crafting in our very own house.

S. x

New Year Productivity

Happy 2015 everyone! Our New Years Eve celebrations consisted of eating roast chicken, sitting by the log stove and watching Lord of the Ring...such party animals we are!

As the snow melted away yesterday morning we started the new year very productively. Rice pudding for breakfast (I use a variation of this very simple and tasty recipe - half the milk and half the sugar, everything else the same - and for all those nay-sayers who would never consider using basmati rice to make pudding, don't knock it 'til you've tried it!)

The last few finishing touches were added to this little blanket that I've been making for I don't know how long. It's small but perfect for putting on your lap on a cold day when you're trying not to put the heating on before dark - super warm!

My littles' Learning Journeys are as up to date as it is possible for them to be, washing is done, studio tidied, fire set, tea prepped... all those little every day things that sometimes it's just so satisfying to get done and dusted. A lovely, clean start to what promises to be an event filled and exciting year - weddings of friends and family coming up in the next few months, the prospect of really getting stuck into our house hunt and hopefully buying within the next 6 months and everything else that comes with a move away - job hunting anyone?! 

But alongside all of these big, life changing happenings, I hope to have many small moments of happiness and peace (and crafting!) in between. These small, reflective moments are, after all, the things that make the world keep spinning and remind us of what it really is to be alive in this world of ours. Thanks for letting me remember this here in this little online space. Wishing you the very happiest and most hopeful start to the year.

S. x

Christmas in Norham

I'm making up for the quiet spot in September and October (too much work and not enough crafting = only one blog post a month!) by posting two days in a row! But with festive spirit in the air and a most beautiful walk this morning on the beach who can blame me for wanting to share in this space?

Ma's gorgeous Christmas cake, advent windows in the village, classic games (Rail Baron - at least two evening's worth of game and very good fun), an old and lovable dog, a beautiful frost this morning and a lovely stroll on a very misty beach!

Looking forward to cracking on with a few old and new crafty projects when I get home in a couple of days!
S. x

Reveal...

Happy Christmas everyone!

A quick whizz through photos of crafty gifts given this year...

 

Much quilting and patchwork and applique took place this year - so much fun! Like collage with fabric. I'll definitely be doing more in the future.

More details to follow for most projects but from top to bottom the photos show:
:: Mini-quilts - one for Ma and one for my sister Emily
:: Stockings! One for each of the smalls - initialed for clarity and filled with the same thing (to avoid arguments!)
:: A quilted peg bag for Ma (and no, I didn't forget the whole, it's on the other side!)
:: Cards - I made two sets of these, one each for Sam's Mum and Gran
:: Embroidered Benjamin - for Annie, Sam's sister, who drew this lovely little chap and several other cartoons.

(There was also chocolate, another quilt and a few other bits and bobs which somehow escaped the camera)

Hope you're all having a wonderful day!
S. x