Half term crafting

A week off leads to much fun crafting, my first ever trip to Hobby Craft and another visit to The Range. With a full day and a bit at my good friend Jo's and plenty of time at home to complete (and start) various projects I feel well and truly in the groove, such a shame it's back to work tomorrow!

Along with a few projects still in production the completed crafts for the week were more bunnies (just because), gifts for babes yet to be born, including a stuffed elephant made with no pattern (very proud of this) and a chores board in an attempt to be more organised... we'll see how well it works!

Wishing you a lovely week ahead.
S. x

Sewing for home

On a night full of hissing wind through yellowing leaves, close encounters with muntjac deer under a bright moon and stars that seem to grow in confidence the longer you look up at them I feel content and a little tired as we near the end of this busy half-term. I've just driven back from a crafting session with my big sister who asked for a sewing machine for her birthday. A quick tutorial (it's the same machine as mine, save the colour, in Em's case, of course it's hot pink!) and we set about making hearts for her new home.

Many hearts make a home.
Hoping you all enjoy the rest of the week. Happy crafting!
S. x

Party preparation

Earlier this week I went to help my good friend and colleague Chris prepare for her parent's 60th wedding anniversary. A pub tea, plenty of chatter and giggles helped us along as we cut firewood, made and boxed truffles and printed and hung family photos all through the bunting strewn house.

(Apologies for the date stamps on the photos, they were taken with my work camera)

I hear the party went very well, despite the awfully wet weather we've had over the weekend. We often joke about giving up this teaching lark and setting up a crafting or party planning business as we enjoy the creative side of life so much but after a week of den building and woodland play I think I would miss being in school too.

Hoping you have a lovely week ahead.
S. x

A Fair!

A few weekends ago my crafty friend Jo needed a little help at the MySight Vintage Fair in Nottingham. While I'm not exactly a vintage crafter I thought I'd have a go at selling, even if it wasn't my own stuff. After whipping up a few cards, label printing and practicing our set up the evening before we had a good day, if a little quiet, selling a few of their Red Bobbin creations - lovely refurbished and re-purposed frames, mirrors and other bits and bobs.

Selling at a fair is exactly what I thought it would be... a little crafting behind  the stall, chatting with friends and fellow stall owners and the occasional sale. Not a bad way to spend a day with a friend I see far too little of. Perhaps it's is not so scary after all.

Enjoy the rest of the week everyone.
S. x

Peaks

Yesterday I met up with one of my very oldest friends Helen and her lovely gang of collies for a walk up at Stanage Edge in the Peak District. With a poorly Sam and plenty of housework to keep me occupied today, no crafting has been achieved I'm afraid but here are some snaps from yesterday at the very least.

A little hazy and breezy but beautiful as ever.
Wishing you all a great start to a new week.
S. x

Gathering

As is becoming a bit of a habit, I put off the inevitable task of planning for the coming week with a walk and now a blog post - procrastination should be my middle name! Not that the walk on this beautiful sunny Sunday didn't provide some inspiration for things to do with my littles as the season slowly changes.


A rarely trodden path for me today. Longer and equally busier and quieter in turns as I met many a dog (and owner), muddy cyclists and myriad fat ponies (with riders) before disappearing into the woods and seeing no one at all until the Cani-X gang at the bottom carpark... perhaps that explains the bottles of water and dog bowls I spotted on the path through the woods.

Nothing quite like a little gathering to get the planning session started and the ideas flowing. Now laminated to hopefully preserve the colours my leaves and a few other bits and pieces are ready to go into school for the children to investigate.
Enjoy the sunshine all!
S. x

Gratitude over desire

More and more lately I have found myself wanting. Wanting a house of our own, wanting a job that gives me more free time, wanting a family, wanting more of this, wanting a little of that. And I know that all of this will come in time, with a little patience (and then a little more). So today I reminded myself to be grateful for what I have now. So here we go...

Right now I am grateful for...
::: Sam, every little moment, word and touch. I do love him so.
::: friends and shared hobbies, conversations, interests.
::: crafting - fiber in hand, peddle under foot, iron heating up, you name it, I love it.
::: my camera, now nearly eight years old and still able  to capture moments so beautifully with so little effort.
::: a job, the bulk of which I love. Spending my days in the company of many young and creative minds is such an inspiration.
::: family, although not seen very often, always in my heart and mind and always there when needed.
::: woods and walks, animals wild and tame, the natural world in general - so essential to me now I think I could never live in a city or town again. I feel I always need to be able to see the sky.

Hoping you enjoy the rest of your weekend.
S. x