With the start of school just round the corner thoughts of preping
my kids come to surface.

How my mum and dad managed to get us all to read and write before we started

our schooling is beyond me but with less than a year to go

I thought I better start.

I went through all the old childrens books we have round the house and made a set of alphbet cards .

I plan to tackle a letter a day till fin grasps the basics.

With two weeks off we have also been on lots of small trips out.

We took a short trip to windsor and saw the change or guard outside the castle and checked out lego land.

Can I just say how fantastic lego is, I love the stuff.

Camping Cooking Crafting

Camping is great fun, I am so lucky to have such great friends.
We went to Bude for the weekend on a last min holiday and it

was actually quite relaxing and a laugh.

Merryns first time in a tent and she was brill, a natural camper I hope.

New Shoes! here are the shoes I have been stitching whilst on

the beach camping . I have put them in my shop to

see how they do, may do more not sure.

I also made merryn another dress with an old shirt

my friend gave me. to my great de-stress the shirt was too tight

for me but made a great sun dress for merry.

Just a quick blog to share with you a few pictures
from the garden last week.
Spent a day planting and digging a new bed for the front.
Finley kept himself and merry entertained
making a shoe race with his toys
and stone collage.


On the craft front, not much happening as i have been making a prom outfit
for a customer. However Started some cute felt shoes for merry and made her a duck
motif dress.
I'll post them on the next blog.

sun sea and market stalls

What great weather we have been having lets hope

it stays all summer. Been a bit busy hence the late posting but after weeks

of frantic sewing for my wedding and my first market stall

I finally got a week free to enjoy the sun and my fantastic family.

we have been on the beach with my dad, and to Cardiff

to visit friends. The market was a success making a good profit which wasn't expected

on my first stall.

This is a quick snap shot of the goods left which I have

just finished putting on my etsy shop. From nettle and onion dye baby grows to toys

and hats there was a good variety.

Snow and Quilts

just when I thought spring was on its way we were hit

like a snow ball to the face with this fantastic snow, brought by

a sudden cold snap.

I became ten again and with grin on face and uncontrollable giggles,

went sledging with friends.
This was Finley's first encounter with snow, bless him he thought

we had gone to the north pole, i didn't
have the heart to tell him it was only Dartmoor.

I feel I should mention these fantastic Quilts.

I have been looking at these Photos from the 2009 Tokyo quilt festival

they have given me the inspiration to do something with my stash of fabrics.

My guiltiest pleasure, all those scraps of fabric too small to make anything substantial from but too big to class as scrap.

I plan to make some quilted baby sleeping bags, aren't they fab, or am i just a bit sad.

Its a scary craft.

I could be venturing into the all be it skilled but still uncool craft of the grannies.

Tis the season to be jolly

Twinkle little stars !

After several days of rain a break in the weather was warmly welcomed

and a trip out to Holdon forest seemed like the perfect place to appreciate
the fantastic colours that autumn brings.

Unfortunately as I was stuck round

the car park with crying cold baby my vision of an artful day

capturing autumnal scenes on camera was fast disappearing.

However Finley and his little friend Oliver had a fantastic day

and after discovering this musical device created from a fallen tree

peace soon reined, warm hot chocolates and crepes in hand a good day was had by all.