Holidays and home

A week off work for skiing with friends new and old in the Alps, book ended by far too many hours in the car, leads to a rather flat start to the week, especially with the arrival of 6 nearly 3 year olds new to school for the very first time.

The saving grace this week has been the light; waking up in the pre-dawn light (and not having to put on the landing light for fear of standing on the cat) coupled with leaving work as the sun sets has been a blessing indeed during a week filled with a computer screen as we crunch numbers and reorganise data, something that seems to happen every year at about this time for one reason or another.

So all in all, a tricky week to start the new half term but with memories of a fabulous ski trip and lovely natural light it has been a fast one. Here's hoping the next will be a little less screen heavy!

I'll leave you with a few instagram shots from the past two weeks.

Hoping the light is brighting your days too.
S. x

Sew Sisters

On a wet and windy evening this week I made the short journey to my sister's house and with little ones upstairs in bed we set up our machines and sewed together (for only the second time - for shame!)

Em's first attempt (as far as I know) at making a cushion cover since her GCSE textiles. And a very good job she made of it too I reckon. And for me? Something I've been meaning to make for a long while now but it's been put to the bottom of the 'to do' list again and again. A nail care pouch to replace the plastic one that came with the scissors, clippers and files all those years ago and has been held together with a pin for half its life after the flap tore off.

I'm quite happy with it's quirkiness - the odd mix of fabrics and bias (a beautiful Liberty print from the wonderful people at Clothkits) and the less that systematic way in which I constructed it - huh-hum, better planning of made up things needed on my part for sure! It may not be the neatest thing ever created but it's far prettier the old one and fits its purpose very well.

Now all we need to do is plan another crafty session together...sooner rather than later! (Next time I'll try to remember my camera rather than relying on my not-so-super phone for photos!)

Happy crafting one and all.

 S. x

Twenty-nine

My sister Emily holding baby me.

Today I turn 29, a slightly daunting age as I'll very soon no longer be a 'twenty-something'. And yet, as with every birthday nothing really changes, life goes on as normal and that's perfectly fine by me.

So here, in this space, I'll take a few moments to pay gratitude for all the good things in my life at the moment...
::: Sam. While away with work a fair bit of the time he is still a constant source of comfort and joy and I love him so.
::: Family. Spread far and wide as we are I feel we are as close as we ever have been, especially my wonderful Mama over these last few years.
::: Friends. Both those I see regularly and those I see only once or twice a year (or even less!), we are always able to pick up a conversation as if only minutes had passed since we last spoke. To me, this is a sure sign of a good relationship and I am very grateful for this.
::: Work. Hard as it is at times (Ok, most of the time) I love the school I work in, the people I work with and the children who fill our classrooms, even after rowdy days like today.
::: Home. This house, our home for three (or is it four?) years now fits us perfectly in many ways; its location in the beautiful Charnwood Forest, it's layout and space - enough room for a large studio for me, outdoor workshop for Sam and plenty of comfortable spaces for everyday living, and the lovely feeling a warm cat on my leg (she always favours the left), candles and wood stove lit and crochet in hand after a long wintry week at work.We love it.

It is with great joy and peace on my birthday that I think of these things that make life so wonderful right now. Thank you all for being a part of it.
Happy days and many thanks to you all.
S. x

Utility

Sam is a big fan of utility - so am I really and I often feel more motivated if a crafty job has a purpose, though I also enjoy making 'pretty' things just for the sake of it. All of the creations I make for Sam are purposeful, sometimes at the expense of looking nice. So, this time, when tasked with 'wash bag no.2' (the previous having been very utilitarian (huh-hmm 'ugly') and accidentally left at a B&B quite a while ago now) I decided to make it both practical and aesthetically pleasing.

A tool roll style wash bag for the man who is never far away from a screw driver or a rip-saw. With plenty of space to store extra bits and bobs and an elastic and velcro fastening it should serve him well. Here's hoping this one is put away after every use! The fabric, for those who are interested is acrylic coated cotton giving it a high level of water resistance and its pretty sturdy too. I'm fairly certain I got it from here.

In other crafty news, the crochet squares are pretty much done, just being joined together now. I'm thinking of felting it a little before backing it and using it as a hearth rug to cover up the actual hearth rug which is, umm, well used (as you can probably see the burn marks in the photo below). But, we'll see.

I do love the colours and may just yet order another stash of the same to make it twice as big and use it as a blanket on the spare bed. Decisions decisions!

There have been other crafty things going on this weekend too but as they are to be gifted, they'll remain hidden just a little while longer.

Wishing you well for the week ahead,
S. x

PS: for those who do likewise, I'm now on 'instagram'.

Gifted

Two garlands and plenty of crochet. Just a few of the hand mades gifted over Christmas along with hampers, home made chocolate, cards and a few other pits and bobs here and there. The two scarves/shawls went to my soon-to-be sister in law Jess and Sam's mum Elaine, the slippers to my own Mama - although she knew they were coming this year - and the garlands? One to Sam's Gran Betty and the other over the water to Bob (my brother) and Jess in Guernsey.

And what about this year's crafting so far?

A large stack of granny squares (I used this tutorial to get me started) that will, eventually, turned into a blanket for the sofa on cold evenings.

I'll sign off this weekend with a few pictures of beautiful January - cold and dark and wet it may be most of the time but certainly beautiful too.

Happy Sunday everyone.
S. x

An ending...

A lovely stay up north with my parents and few quiet days at home with Sam is just the perfect way to see out the whirlwind year that 2013 has been - family illness, separation, inspections at work and a long absence abroad have made it an interesting and difficult year to say the least. But there have been good times woven in with the difficult ones and I think many people I know will look back on this funny year with a mix of emotions and memories as their 'unlucky-for-some' year has been a little rocky too.

We have no plans for elaborate celebrations to welcome the new year this evening but whatever you all choose to do, I hope you enjoy it and I wish you the happiest start for 2014.

S. x

Happy Christmas

 

  

The last of the wrapping is done, the journey North complete, cards and decorations everywhere and Pa's railway is evoking 'Ooo's and 'Ahh's from passing folk. A dog dozing by the fire, the 'ting-ting' candles lit and the cake and the games have been started. It's officially Christmas everyone.
Wishing you a lovely time with family and friends this festive season.
Love S. x