Pay it forward received....

Wow what a wonderful week I am having this week,
Mr Postie popped my "pay it forward gift" through the door today and I grabbed my camera so that I can show you what Beki (ramblings of an everyday mummy) sent me ...

I love my handmade vintage postcard...

I think I am going to have to make a bigger pin board...

Inside the tissue paper was a beautiful pink button heart... so far I have hung it on my fabric picture from Marmalade rose... and on the mirror and now it is residing on a suction hook on my window... I love the way the light shows up the colours of the pearly buttons...

I also received a fabulous hand stitched bookmark... just perfect for marking my place in my new tilda books...

How cute is this Heart!

I am such a lucky lady and thank you Beki, I love all three items and I love the way my house is becoming adorned with such wonderful little treasures from all my blogland friends

I will be posting my Pay it forward items on Monday...

Take care everyone
Thank you
Alex
x

Silkie Sue swap items....

Nicola (smilernpb) and I have been chatting via email ever since we were partnered up, it was strange at first to talk to someone you have never met before but now I really do think I have made a really good friend, so I must thank Silkie Sue for organising this swap and for pairing me up with such a lovely lady...
its really surprising how much we have in common...
We decided to post our swaps on the same day so that they arrived at the same time and they did indeed....
I returned from the office to find Mr postie had been really kind and left my parcel tucked away by the front door.. otherwise I would have had to go into town and collect it from the sorting office...
After fetching the camera I set about unwrapping!

As I started to unwrap the parcel it was wafting beautiful scents, inside were 3 tissue paper covered parcels...
One parcel had an instruction to open last... which I giggled about and put to one side!

Inside the first parcel was...

There was a beautiful card with a cross stitched letter A, and a lovely little note inside... this will have pride of place in the lounge on my side table where I sit and crochet of an evening...

there was a fabulous toiletries bag with an assortment of body shop goodies... I can't remember the last time I bought white musk and strawberry bubbles and oils... I was probably at college... I was so excited I was shaking and I could have cried at the thought that had gone into my gifts...
plus there was more yet!

I unwrapped my second parcel to find some yummy Guylian shells... one of my favourites that I very rarely get these days... some lovely buttons, a post card of Durham... which I think I have driven through on my way to Losimouth with Mr P many moons ago... and a fab note pad...

The last item was well worth the wait and I am so over the moon with it...

Nicola has cross stitched a little picture for me and I love it so much... she has even written a little bit on the back so that I will always know when I got it and from whom!
I am going for a seaside theme in my lounge this summer, and it will have pride of place on my side table so I can sit and marvel at the love, time and effort that went into it...

Thank you soo much Nicola and we will definitely stay in touch...

take care everyone
(Especially you Mr P)

hugs and love
Alex
x

Creative splurges!

Well happy Friday to you all and thank you for popping along to see what caught my eye at the stitch and craft exhibition at Shepton Mallet today, Helen, Daniel and myself arrived at about 10:30 and as I had purchased tickets on line we were able to skip the queue!

I had a spare ticket in the end as Joanne wasn't able to make it , so I gave it to the last lady in the queue, she looked totally stunned!
I have decided that as giving gifts makes me really happy (and it has been proven that "giving" releases endorphins which cause happiness) I am going to self medicate by giving whenever possible ....


So first I gave myself some cash and went to purchase some colourful heaven!

I bought 2 Christmas Tilda books and the lovely lady is going to let me know when the new Summer Style book becomes available, I bought some mixed bags of thin ribbon(£1 a bag, buy 5 get one free) , pink and blue tissue paper (£1 a pack) , a feather embossing stencil (£4) and a whole rainbow of felt.... (£4) 4 rolls of ribbon (£1 each) one has little pink beads sewn onto it...

The wide ribbon is double sided which should work really well on my rag doll clothes...

I had seen the Christmas gifts book as Joanne has a copy but I picked up a copy of Sew pretty Christmas Home style and it has loads of loveliness that I can't wait to have a go at...

This was the free gift for booking on line... I haven't looked at it yet and I am not sure whether to keep it or put it in my gift box... (its always handy to have a stash of gifts for that unexpected birthday, yes I know they are never unexpected the word I should have used is forgotten! lol)

and no trip out would have been complete without purchasing some wool.... its only Paton's but its 30% Alpaca and 70% wool I am not sure if it was cheap or not but I bought 16 balls at £2 each... I know that's £32 but its so soft! I think I had better keep the afghan blanket I make with it, I don't think Mr P would be best pleased if I gifted this one! tee hee!

I bought this with a sea shade ripple blanket in mind... I love the cool colours and I think I might start changing the colours scheme in my lounge with the seasons, well probably just winter and summer.
Blues and sea colours for the summer and warm reds and browns for the winter...

That's all I have to show for my day out, I met up with several people I hadn't seen in a while and Danny was a very good boy even though it has got to be a 3 year olds worst idea of fun...

but as he was such a good boy we will be heading off on Sunday afternoon to go Dunster Castle to hunt for Dragons hopefully the weather will be good and we will have our 3rd family outing in a row before Mr P heads off to the states for potentially 5 weeks... this is all dependant on whether Congress cancels the order... here's hoping they do and he can come home! lol

Tomorrow is going to be hectic, packing his bags, getting his money changed... he's off for a hair cut and then we need to get all his travel documents sorted...
so its going to be a bit of a mad day...
Mum is having the children Saturday night so if we are not completely pooped we might go the cinema.. (we haven't been in years) otherwise we might just wander down the pub for a meal... plus I can have a lie in Sunday morning... Yay!

Well I hope you all have a wonderful weekend...
I can hear a cup of tea and a couple of Tilda books calling to me...

take care
Alex
X

Happy St George's Day!

As per usual my St Georges day decorations did not go to plan,
its a real shame but I dare say most people in this village
don't even know that it is St Georges day today...

Its really sad!

I planted up my pots regardless of the superstitions that red and white signify death, I wonder if that was a superstition that evolved to put fear into the heart of our enemy's when they saw the English flag on the battle field...?

I wanted to put a 12 foot planter along my front fence on the kerb side, but I felt such guilt at spending that much money on a big cattle trough, the soil to fill it and the flowers and shrubs to go in it and for the most of the day I wouldn't even be able to see it, so I resorted to replanting some pots I already had and placed them on my driveway....

The bunting fell by the wayside too... I feel such a let down...

This week has so far been manic, with Daniel starting pre-school, Jamie becoming a woman at the grand old age of 11, and Mr P's computer system failing on Monday which completely screwed up the invoicing for Monday...

Yesterday I dropped Danny at pre-school and then headed for school to put up metres of bunting as the TV and papers would be attending the re-opening of the school that afternoon... I then headed back to pre-school picked up Danny and headed home to let the dog out freshen up and get back to school to help do the refreshments....

By the time I got home my head was either going to split or I was going to rip it off and throw it in the bin as it was of no use to me at all...

Les was in Scunthorpe picking up his latest eBay purchase, (his new bike) and I was lying on the settee with a hot flannel on my head...

Danny luckily went to bed without a story, and Jamie bless her was washing up... did her own tea and headed for bed .... I unfortunately had to wait up for Mr P to return so as to keep the dog from waking up the the whole house when he came in.... so at 12:30am I was sat watching nothing of interest on the telly wishing I was in bed...

needless to say I am not to keen to race around today for fear of another head ache

So I would like to wish you all a lovely day
and I will be back soon to chat
Take care
Alex
x

I feel sooo old...

This is a silk screen print I did 17 years ago
when I was a lowly art student, wow that makes me feel old!
its 2ft 9" wide and 4ft 9" tall, it was done using procion dyes
that were painted onto a screen and then using this clear
gloopy stuff you used a huge squeegee and transferred
it onto the silk that was pinned to the printing table...

It was really exciting to do as you had no idea what you had already painted as the colours all dried to a very similar shade of colour so when you eventually transferred it to the silk all the colour sprang to life

This piece was for my final show, which was based on Gauguin...
I really miss the studio atmosphere with 14 like minded and very enthusiastic girls all working to produce something amazing ... I also miss the space and the facilities available while at college..
I made a frame from some battening and stretched and stapled it onto it
My tropical waterfall has been hung in 4 different houses and survived many moves...

If I can dig out my portfolio I will show you some more...
Due to lack of space it was stored in the shed,
so hopefully it hasn't gotten damp and damaged

Hope you are all having a good Monday
Take care
Alex
x

Car bootiful...

Hello to all my blog land friends...
I have a few pic's of the bits and bobs I bought at the car boot today...
I must apologise but I didn't take my camera, I know I should have it with me at all times but Mr P doesn't like me taking pictures all the time for my blog...

he thinks I am addicted....!
ME... Addicted!
what complete nonsense ;)

Well getting there was a nightmare, as we sat on Henford Hill, a particularly nasty hill and not made any better by having to constantly stop and start all the way up it in the hot sun...

well the car in front of us overheated and the radiator threw all its water all over the road... it didn't sound healthy and the poor lady driving it looked first embarrassed then annoyed and then resigned to the fact that she was going to have to do a U turn and head for the garage down the road... very brave I thought as most would have just put the handbrake on and left it there jamming the whole place up but she coasted down the hill and out of sight!

After crawling up the hill for 25 minutes we made it to the top and eventually to the show ground, we paid our 50p and bumped our way across the slightly rutted field

Daniel unfortunately thought that every selection of toys was there just for him to sit on the grass and play with... after about 45 minutes of stopping and starting and after purchasing him a lorry, a crane and 2 flatbed trucks Mr P decided it would be a good idea for them to go back to the car so that he could play...

What a fab idea, my little Mitzi has a sliding side door and the rear seats can be slid right back to make loads of floor space, an ideal play room for Danny's new vehicles
Plus Mr P was not really interested in looking around

Jamie and I carried on, me looking for fabric and small china nic nacs and Jamie the magpie was attracted to anything shiny!

I spotted a couple of crochet hooks for 50p (you can never have enough), a lovely Royal Winton, Grimwades crescent plate, it has spring onions, peas, parsnips and beetroot all over it...for £4

I bought a roll of white broderie anglaise fabric (about 3 meters) for £1 and a big roll of Vilene soft iron on for £1

A little "fallen fairy" for 50p she has a dented wing bless her, but she looks sweet sat on my wine rack and a tin of bits, bobs and buttons for £1

I found a lovely sparkly buckle for £3, not sure what I will do with it but it appealed to me

The tin of bits and bobs has some interesting buttons and to be honest the tin although a little faded on top is quite nice for storing ... well .... Buttons!

The sun shone, and we had ice cream and Daniel and Jamie got some fresh air and we actually did something as a family for the second weekend in a row!

Next weekend I think will be just for Mr P and myself, mum is having the children for the weekend (hopefully, I still need to ask her) and I think we might go out for a meal and spend some quality time together before he heads off to the states for 5 weeks... he will have to do his own laundry too... so I may have to show him what a washing machine looks like and how the iron works... and pack clothes that say they are crease resistant... I banned him from using any kitchen machines when I cought him trying to put engine parts in the dishwasher!


Well I had better head off, the little ones asleep, Jamie is on the phone to her cousin and I have a bottle of wine to drink and some supper to eat

Thanks for popping by and I love reading your comments

Take care
Alex
x

Creative crochet and impulse buys

Good afternoon guys and gals...
I hope you are all well and enjoying your weekend
I have been busy learning to ripple as only Lucy from Attic 24 knows how... and I did it!
I started this little test piece (as suggested by Lucy) and it came good... I started it Tuesday afternoon and had it finished by Wednesday night and I have a lovely little bag just big enough for a notebook, phone and wallet... perfect for my trip to the garden center cafe for a morning cup of tea with mum and her friend plus my two.

Back at the beginning of the month I finished crocheting a beech bag and lined it so I thought I would show you a couple of pics of that too!

Not sure what to do with it now though!



I am really pleased with the lining and it was a real pain in the arse to do but it came good in the end...I used a mixture of King Cole cashmere and Rowan cashmere its is really quite soft but sturdy, it was all done in double crochet and took ages!


Out and about
Thursday is usually village cafe morning, but it has been stopped for the time being as the village hall has raised enough money to start renovations, last week we popped to the house of a lady we met at the cafe and she has a beautiful house that was apparently designed by Edwin Lutchyens and the garden was designed by Gertrude Jekyll, this week we plumped for a visit to a local garden center, not as grand as the week before but lots of fun...

After our cup of tea at the garden center we thought it rude not to pop around and have a look, which is a really big mistake as I love shopping for plants, well I ended up buying some herbs, some peas plants and a selection of flowers for my St Georges day display... now I have had many ladies in the village telling me I can't plant up pots with just red and white flowers as it signifies death.... but I am not sure if I am a believer in this superstition .... but am I brave enough to go against it...?

Who knows, you'll have to wait till next weekend to find out! lol

After filling the boots of our cars we popped back to the garden center for a spot of lunch, it was very yummy and best of all mums treat!

Yay for mums! lol

This little tin of dolly mixture was in the farm shop, and I am real sucker for pretty tins... it could have contained chocolate covered spiders and I would still have bought it!

needless to say the little man was quite happy about its contents...

This tin was also in the shop... it has a handle on the top and Danny thinks its his lunch tin...

It has the poem of the owl and the pussy cat on the side of the tin too!


The green chicken plate is Jamie's and the yellow plate is Daniel's, Nanny bought them for late Easter presents... thank you mum!

All I have to do now is plant up my pots and get my peas sorted but I think that might have to wait till tomorrow morning now as its time for a spot to eat and then bedtime for Danny

I am planning a trip to the local car boot tomorrow, but I haven't told Mr P yet, he's gone over to his mums to do a few chores and then taking her into Dorchester hospital to visit his dad...
He has had an ongoing problem for a few weeks now, well its been going on for a year but the silly old goat didn't tell anyone...

He apparently has a blockage in his lower intestine and they are monitoring him till Monday when they will make a decision about the next course of action to take... from what they can tell from the scans his lower intestine is a bit of a mess, fingers crossed they can do something...

I think he's still nil by mouth but because they have sucked a lot of yucky stuff out from the top and bottom he's now feeling hungry, and he is a very heavy smoker and no-one left any cigarette's in hospital with him so I assume the nurses are getting a hard time of it!

I am just thankful I stayed home! lol

Well I had better get a move on I am in the middle of creating pay it forward items and freestyle swap items so lots to do...

Take care
Alex
x

A wonderful weekend...

My Easter cactus flowered this year... he didn't do too well last year but I think I have found a spot he likes....

and if you are not sick to death of Easter weekend pictures then read on, I wanted to post them earlier but I had no means of getting to my pictures until today... I had to go to the office and pick up my memory card reader as my laptop doesn't have a slot for it!

The day started with a bit of xbox gaming in sis's bedroom while the Easter bunny did his thang!

then he very kindly phoned to let us know that he had been, very accommodating that fluffy bunny!

We then had to scramble out of the back door as one very excited Daniel told us to hurry as the bunny had been!

The bunny decided that there was no real need of lots of Eggs and chocolate and that some bargain DVDs and a book and Lego would be much better from Asda, I think he gets discount you know!


Well after a lot of giggling and laughter, most of which was at Jamie as she couldn't find anything the presents were tracked down and the eggs collected...


Anything wrapped in silver paper was Jamie's and anything brightly striped was Daniels...

Daniel was a very happy boy...

and being his first Easter that he would really remember, I think he was stunned at how much Chocolate he and Jamie had to share!

Now does that look like one happy man or what.... Jamie had legged it into the lounge with a whole egg... Daniel was quite happy to have a half...

I was busy prepping the veg for our roast dinner... which was a pork joint for Les and myself and chicken breast for the kids

After dinner had been cleared washed up and packed away we piled into the car and headed for Seatown on the Jurassic coast in Dorset...

Our first stop was a visit to the Ice cream shop next to the pub and then finding a spot to sit and eat while we watched the waves lapping onto the pebbly beach...

Then we headed for a stroll down the beach, looking for fossils and a quick game of wave chicken... there's always a chance that someone will trip and get soaked so its well worth having your camera ready...

Even though the pub looked very inviting it was still packed at 7pm so we headed along the coast to West Bay

As the sun was setting we had burger and chips, and more Ice cream...
well its gotta be done every now and again...

Am I that bad?

I am not sure whether I should take this personally but I only have one taker for my pay it forward....!

I am only kidding, I realise everyone has a heck of a lot on, and I know that Sarah from the blueberry patch has gotten 3 comments so I think I will send her 3 items instead of to 3 different peeps! lol

Hey its moving forward but I am not helping it to grow (what does that say about me, hehe) , but you can't win them all...

If you would like to join let me know by Sunday and I will add you to my list ...
and make sure you post the pay it forward on your blog and carry on the giving by sending gifts to your first 3 comments...

1 place left guys and gals!

The lovely Jan from Snippity Gibbet has signed up and there is only one place left... go on be a devil join the giving.... please leave a comment saying you would like to take part and I will contact you to verify your inclusion!


Roll up for a hand made gift....

X
Alex

Our first Easter

Well this year we have decided that the past 11 years of traditions regarding Easter have been fun but we are going to make some traditions of our own as a family
Mr P's family have no expectations of an on mass gathering and my family seem to see these occasions as the only time they group, which gets a little much at times.
This is the year that we will make some traditions of our own... and its really exciting

I have noticed a lot of beautiful Easter decorations on the blogs and I decided to make some of my own, I was hoping Jamie would help me but alas she went to stay with mum and dad and attend Easter bingo and then on the Friday go to a Yeovil football match so I was left to my own devises....

I popped around to my mum and dads yesterday to drop off her Flowers and card and collect Jamie and while I was there I snipped a little yellow scrummyness from her garden to hang my egg creations on

The Kerria (Jews Mallow) is beautiful and I think I might add some of this to my garden as it is so fluffy and pretty

and then I added my six decorated eggs

I have had a lovely relaxed morning, Jamie and Danny are playing upstairs and I even got a lie in till 8am, I have had time to jot down a quick word to all of my blogland friends and now I had better get on, I have veg to prepare for our roast dinner, and Mr P needs to don his fluffy tail and get out in the garden to hide some eggs and Easter gifts that we have bought for Jamie and Daniel

This afternoon we are off to West Bay for a stroll along the beach and a little picnic on the seafront wall....

Easter Blessings to you all
and I hope your days are as chilled out and enjoyable as you wish them to be

Take care
Alex
x