Every girl needs a bit of bling....

On Thursday we had the best craft club yet.  The girls who came brought a top with them to 'bling up' with hot fix crystals.  You draw a design on paper, place some transparent stuck stuff over the top and add your crystal design.

 Then it's off to the iron to make it last forever :D  Some colours took a little longer to stick than others, butt his is what they came up with.....

A rather blooming marvelous time was had by all :D

And for those of you with beady eyes..yes. that is our bling nativity still stuck up on the window in the conservatory...it has been there for about 18 months now...and I'm not ashamed to say it  ;)

On another note entirely, it has long been my suspicion that Mr Chops and Mr B think that the 2 words/phrases 'wardrobe' and 'laundry basket' are interchangeable...and this week I have conducted extensive research on the matter.  They share a laundry basket and, despite the fact that I washed like a demented washer woman last week, by Wednesday is was overflowing!!  On inspection of the top foot or so (it probably looks like sedement when cross sectioned) I discovered that at least 3/4 of the stuff was not even dirty!!  Grr....we even had a sign up at one point, above it, saying 'Dirty clothes only!'...I think it will have to be reinstated.  The other language difficulty that they have is thinking when I say 'Put it away' that what I actually mean is 'Please do just leave it where it falls, I like nothing more than spending my time picking up your CLEAN clothes off the floor.

Hey ho!

Ridiculous......

It's raining...again...and it's August!!! I even had to put my winter slippers and jumper on the other morning...this is not right.  And it is also bad weather to take photos :(


Let's see what we can find.......

                                                     

Oh well....at least the garden is happy!

The wanderer returneth...

Mr Chops is back from camp and rather tired.  He's used to being entertained from 8 in the morning until 10 at night...I feel a few tantrums coming on...on his part...as he adjusts to life back in the real world.  They are both making dinosaurs at the moment so are gainfully employed.

This afternoon I have a couple of girls coming over to make cards...the mahoosive box from Ginge will be squealed over with delight.


Had time to make a couple of quick cards......

This one is from the July Scrapagogo kit.  

Tjis one had some elements from the same kit but I also used Craftwork Cards bloom and card candy.  The stem was made form button twine from The Ribbon Girl.  Check out their blog where they are having a giveaway. I twisted the twine and then let it twist on itself.

And now I really have to go and update my Etsy shop.  Everything is photographed I just have to upload it all...thats the hardest part!!!

Father Christmas came early.....

but she doesn't have a beard!!! My lovely friend, Ginge, sent a huge, and I mean mahoosive, box of goodies for me to use with the boys and my little craft club.  Well, only Mr B is hear and he was beside himself with joy sorting everything out with me.  He was particularly taken wtho the jollees stickers and set about making a series of people from them.  He was busy for a least an hour making these...

He did about 5 more but it would take agaes to post them all.

And we did get to the allotment.  Picked windfalls and blackberries from Judiths garden and made this.....

which made this delicious pudding.....

Sorry, had eaten most of it before I remembered to take a piccie :D

More rain....

And we are over to see Judith in Girton this morning so no trip up to see her allotment :(

I (actually Mr C) have/has been busy photographing things for my shop...here's a sneak peak

These are both hair clips.  Just need a pic of the back and then they will be up on the site.  The brown one is my most favouritist!  Can you tell what I had to learn to do yesterday??  Not sure if I prefer the layer on the left one or the right.  Have also been working on the banner and this is what Mr C came up with

it's not the best camera shot but I should have a bette one later today.

Right...off to brave the rain, after I have persuaded Mr B to finish his banana and brush his teeth.

Hurray....for sunshine...

I have had some towels on the line for 2 days now but they keep getting rained on...but sunshine today means that they can come in and be put away :D

Mr Chops is having a great time at camp and we have spoken on the phone to him everyday.  Mr B is really missing him :(  We took him to see Toy Story 3 yesterday...COOL FILM!!!!  I think the best of the lot. And today he is out with Grandma and Grandad having lots of fun.  I have been tidying and trying not to sew but after the ironing is done I am getting my needle and thread out :D

Mr C has been spending much time making a better Etsy banner for my shop which is looking good.  We are having trouble resizing though :(  He has taken some better photos with a camera we have borrowed from next door but we won't be able to upload those til later.  This is what he has come up with so far...

It's not the bestest photo ever but I should have the good ones later :D  This is for the banner and he has done this one for compliment slips....

It's getting there...just the beginning.

A Challenge...I like it!

I am determined to enter some card challenges and this is my first card for a couple of them...

I just have to work out how to do the linky thing from the challenge blog to this post!!  So I entered into these challenges -

Papertake Weekly Challenge - White and Bright
Cute Card Thursday - Whateva!
Allsorts - Primary Colours


The card is for Mr Chops who is at camp this week, hence the ginger hair :D  He loves using the dymo so I have used that for the text.  The image is from Elzybells and I have used a Nestie label die.  Bazzill cardstock...of course!

Right ...off to see if I can make the links work and then to bed.....I made my fist sale on Etsy today (thankyou!!) so I am all excited out!!

Gulp.....

now I've gone and done it !!!!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TallulahLu

Yesterday....

Mr Chops went to camp for the first time!!!!  One whole week without him...it's kind of quiet around here and Mr B does not know what to do with himself...no partner-in-crime to get up to mischief with.  Instead he is refining his range of accents (don't ask!).  Today it is  "The worta (no 't'), in m'yorca, don't taste lie what it ore-a"...something like that.  He's quite good at it and put a smile on the face of a guy we passed on the way to church this morning while he was practicing so at least it has it's purposes!

Mr Oscar, out 12 year old, is also feeling sorry for himself and has reacquainted himself with the vets again...I think I will retrain to be a vet as they now have quite a lot of our money and we still do not know what is wrong with him.  Here he is in his handsomer days...he's lost quite a lot of weight recently.....

A couple of cards....

I was going to enter these into the Friday Sketchers challenge but was too late.

Paper from a Scrapagogo kit (can't remember!) and then stamps from SU!, I coloured them with promarkers.

Paper from American Crafts and a very old Hero Arts stamp...old French writing or something like that.  I always take my stamps off the wooden blocks and then forget to write down all the details. Main card is bazzill bling.

Oh, and here, thanks to Jackie, are my multitude of mini loaves. Our TKMaxx only had one set so Jackie got me some more :D

Mr Chops is off to camp for a week tomorrow so we are having the tea of his choice...Sausages and Beans!!!  There may well be some veg as well though ;)

This is what happens....

when you get distracted by sewing.......

...only half the washing gets put out!!! I guess the garden would look a lot tidier too if I didn't spend so much time with a needle and thread in my hand but I simply cannot resist!!!

But then I wouldn't have made these.......

and that would have been a shame!!!!

And then look what turned up in the garden!!!  I don't think Oscar cat will be too please ;)

It's raining...

It's not quite pouring and the old man isn't snoring (for now) but it is not a nice day :(  So I shall post a cheery picture.....

Inspired by a pattern in this book...I made 2, each with 6 different coloured birds and they hang in the hallway...really need to make another to be the magic 3.

Hmmm....

What to do with all of these :D....

And then this arrived in the post this morning for my sister...I won't tell you how old she is as she appears to be in denial ;)

It is from here and I absolutely love it...thanks Jaq :D  Of course I couldn't help but get something for myself...orange blossom bodycream and I could be happy soap.  Have a look at Jaq's soapy blog...I know you will not be able to resist!!

We love to craft....

This holiday friends of mine have been sending their children over to use up my ever growing mountain of stuff that just has to be used and dealt with.  So far we have made bracelets, cards, clay and paper monsters, and candle holders.  One of the sessions was a birthday present to a friend's daughter's friend(!!).  Because it was a birthday occasion we got the cake stand out and had french fancies and cupcakes.  We also got out the posh tea set and had a very civilised tea party...lots of fun!  as you can imagine, the monster making session was a bit more rowdy and involved the trampoline at one point (don't ask!).  On thursday we will be scrapbooking :D

  

Making cards!

They all chose blue!!  I thought we would have some girlies pink (I am a household of boys, apart from me)....just goes to show what I know!!

Oh...Not all boys, I lied...here's Jess

To say she is a moody mare would be an understatement of the biggest proportions...can't you just see the look on her face...'Come near me and I will growl!!!'  But we love her anyway and so does Barley, her beau!

I am a sucker for 'miniatures',,,

and so I couldn't resist these when I saw them in TKMaxx on Friday.... (the tins that is, not the bread...I made that myself :D ) 'Scuse the burnt bit...they stuck to the top of the grill in the oven.

Even Indie managed to get in on the act! Although he doesn't look very pleased about it :) He's just there to show you how small the loaf is but Mr C said he might just be a huge lego mini figure. The loaf was a bout 3" high and the boys loved the novelty of eating a 'whole loaf'...mind you, given half the chance, Mr Chops would eat a whole normal sized loaf anyway.

And I am not alone in my industriousness.....Mr Chops and Mr C (Mr B may well have helped too) spent Friday afternoon making this.......

End of term.....

And here is a rainbow to cheer us all up. Mr B's teacher is leaving and she will be greatly missed. As an appreciator of all things felty...this is for you, Whitey :D

I am a disgrace....

but I do have some very lovely photos to upload which I shall do today or tomorrow...and I have made a decision...I am opening an ETSY shop so I have to get myself in gear about all this.

Here's a pic of something I made for now.......

Just some brooches I am working on. Photos courtesy of the lovely Lottie next door :D

Hair clips...

If I don't upload a photo now it will get lost and I will forget what they look like.....

They are a present for one of Mr B's friends...his oldest friend :D

Hooray, hooray, it's a holi-holiday!!

well, half term anyway but that is good enough for me. And the week is packed and bursting at the seams. The Kazebo's this morning and a lovely time was had by all (are you reading this? ;) ). Managed to look at lots of yummy website and, oops, bought this.....

Fa la la la felt

Looking 'for lorne'...

in the doldrums...have you seen her????

Whhooo hoo... a page...

Okay, it is never going to set the design world of scrapping on fire but I don't much care...Mr Chops loves it and that is all that is important. I shall try to scan so I have a record.

I've also made a couple of cards so maybe this is the start of being on the up. Sewing wise I have finished more felt fruit (just what I needed!). On the knitting front Mr C now has one sock and Mrs C Jnr nearly had the start of a hat but it was far too small.

Note to self (as this all is!) make a dentist appointment for Mr B.

Where did the week go....

Well, I have been poorly this week. No teaching on Monday - I spelt all day and then took the rest of the week to recover. Mr Chops had a school trip to the river (what joy shall fill my heart....) on Thursday and was disgusted that I couldn't go but, really, walking to the river with 60 Year 4s was not top of my agenda!

And yesterday I summoned up the strength to switch round some furniture. The lounge is now not a walk through and the office has lost a door. Really, it was too much - three doors in such a small room and it is so much nicer now. The lounge feels cosier and the office is more practical...and I like it. Plus, it all got a seriously good hoover.

So not much making happened yesterday but I did manage to find tutorials for 2 new cards..here and here. This is a great blog. I also hopped around looking for pro marker tutorials because I wanted to find out which ones people recommend going together but not much luck...have to keep looking.

Must find some more piccies to put on here. I am planning to back a quilt tomorrow so am hoping to record my progress and notes for future reference :D

Friday.....is my day

Right, Mr B ill in bed with a tummy upset, 26 mins done on the Wii, off to have coffee and pray then going to make this scrummy cake!!! Last weeks carrot cake went down well. I was a bit confused with it though as it had bananas in as well. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE banana bread, and I love carrot cake but this was more of a carana cake...but still seriously yummy :D

And here is a picture...

Well, there is a picture, up there...where ever it feels like going!!!

Earthquake appeal.......

Lots of very talented and generous people are donating handmade and crafty things on Etsy with the money going to the earthquake appeal. I know no one reads this blog but someone may stumble upon it by accident and then see this link for Craft Hope and make a donation while getting something lovely in return...you never know :D

You can also donate at Christian Aid. I am sure that everything helps in such a desperate situation.

Marmalade.....

to make from scratch or not to make from scratch???

I have always bought the tin of pre pulped oranges before now, but my Veg Box people were doing a marmalade kits and I love making it so I thought I'd give it a try. I have spent an hour juicing, pithing and slicing oranges...if it tastes better it WILL be worth it...but if it doesn't I will be back to me tins :D

And I still have this Carrot Cake to make from Debbie and also the soup. Think I might get both done today as I was going to sew but my machine is skipping stitches left, right and centre and I cannot fix it. Done everything in the trouble shooting section so phoned the shop and they are getting back to me about collecting and servicing it :D

The boys made a video (stills shots really) with my camera over the weekend and it hasn't worked since. It is probably just the batteries but I cannot be bothered to check it at the moment so no photos of simmering servilles!

Chasing my tail.....

is what I seem to be doing recently. the weather has been terrible. So much snow that even the boys are fed up of it. And now it has actually gone it has not stopped raining all day :( But at least the drip has stopped in the kitchen and our heating has not proken or our pipes frozen....it could be worse.

So I made a hat for Mrs C junior for her birthday and promptly forgot to photography it :9 V annoyed as the whole point of this blog for me, apart from rambling on, is that I record the things I have made. But I have half finished a pair of socks for me and and approaching the heel on Mr C's and tomorrow I am hoping to make mushroom soup and carrot cake:D

Oh no...LEAK!!!

Getting some cereal out of the cupboard yesterday I notice that the box was wet...not a good sign. then I saw that there was a drip down the back of the cupboard.....and above the cupboard and, indeed, dripping down from there the ceiling meets the wall. Hoorah...something else broken :(. So, brief panic ensued, phone and could not get hold of Mr C, who couldn't have done anything anyway. Phoned MIL who told me not to panic even though she would agree she would have done, and then phoned Mr Amazing Fix It Man who comes and fixes everything. Thank the Lord he was able to come straight away. In the mean time I checked it was not dripping down from the bathroom celling as well and then ventured out onto the flat roof, as you do, because my immediate thought was that this would be where it was coming from and the entire roof would need replacing and we would have to sell kidneys to pay for it and then the whole roof would come down (I know Mr Chops is a drama queen but I cannot think where he gets it from ;) ). Oh, and up in the loft too to see if it was the house roof and nothing to do with the extension. Anyway, Mr Fix It arrives, turns off the bath tap, that had been left on a fraction, we are talking the tiniest amount possible and, Bob's your uncle, or in my case Pete, 'twas fixed! The people who had put the bath in had not sealed the taps so the drip was going down the base of the tap, down the pipes and through the celling. So today, armed with my trusty silicone glue (I told Mr C that my craft stuff would be useful for all eventualities) I am going to seal the tape and , ta-da, all will be lovely again. Amongst other things because I now have the kitchen to put back together (throwing and freecycling lots of things as I go), the boys audible CD's to burn onto disc and many other things to do.

And then sometime we are forecast SNOW!!!!!! We had loads on the last day of term but nothing since. Of course it is forecast for 3pm, when it usually rains anyway, so maybe we will be lucky...wait and see.

Oh lookie...a new challenge...

Scrapdolly is having a challenge class type thing this year an, as I haven't scrapped properly for well over a year, I thought I would take part. Linkie in the sidebar. I am determined to be more organised ( ha, ha!!) this year so feel I really should try and do this.

Also, I have been reading this book and it is completely fascinating (to me anyway) to read about everyday life in Britain in a different era. I love social history anyway but thought I should keep up this blog as a kind of diary. As I am not expecting it to be read apart from me then I can be as boring as I like and it won't matter. The only thing that bothers me is how long with all this blog malarky last? If I write it here will I still be able to read it in, say, 30 years? I kind of doubt it and so maybe pen paper would be better. But then I spend a lot of time in cyberworld so I would be more likely to keep it up. Who knows...we shall see.

So today...1st January 2010...the start of yet another new era. 10 years ago Mr C and I were in Southwold (or probably on out way back by now), footloose and fancy free. I cannot believe how much our lives have changed since children. And then I realised that most of the people I spend an awful lot of time with now are people I did not even know 10 years ago!

Anyway...I have to make pizza for Mr Chops and Mr B so had better go.......

and here is a picture..just because I can!...

A card made for one of Mr B's friend's birthdays. I think the paper was from Nitwits.

What a pain!!

I lost my header for this blog and then I tried to add it back in but some of it was missing so I have changed it entirely. This is a quilt that I have made but haven't managed to back yet. Designed by Buttonberry and I love it...maybe this will shame me into finishing it!

It wouldn't be Christmas without.......

Turkey Soup...I LOVE IT!!!!

And now it has all been eaten and I have had to make more :D

Knitting socks at the mo so will put some piccies up as soon as. That was I will remember which ones I did when.

I'd like to be...a busy busy bee.......

...and I have been. A week ago today I was making apple and mint chutney, and a few other things and Mr C has kindly photographed them and here they are....

whiskey marmalade, brandy marmalade,
hazelnut and cherry fudge, marzipan and chocolate covered hazelnuts and run truffles (which aren't in the picture.

Then I made some Christmas tree decorations (only one here)

and some napkins for Mr and Mrs C Junior....

These were too gorgeous and I didn't want to give them away but Mr C informs me that this is the best way with presents - only give something that you would like to have yourself! Not sure that that applies to buying presents for 6 year old boys...which will be the next thing on the list when it is Mr BB's birthday in a few weeks.

And this coming year (2010 already!!!!) I have challenged myself to knit a pair of socks every month. Am already starting some for Mr C but also have a pair to finish for myself. Plus I have 3, oh the shame, quilt tops to quilt and edge and then I cannot tell you how many BOM's to finish (errr...start!!!) With the cat being on special medication and prescription food this coming year will be the year to USE rather than ACQUIRE and STROKE. Watch this space...............

Oooohhhh...

Snowflakes...maybe we will get some real ones soon.

Christmas is fast approaching and I do not think I am ready. Things to make...lots of things...and not much spare time but I shall persevere.

Off to IKEA tomorrow for some annual Christmas retail therapy that will probably just involve buying tea-lights and meatballs but I shall enjoy looking at all the little perfectly formed rooms.

And then on Thursday and Friday I had better settle down to some serious sorting out before Christmas and try and get all the washing done. Which reminds me, I have to get Mr C's shirts ironed or he will look a disgrace.

Now....today check out Paper and String LOTS of seriously lovely stuff :D

Check out....

this blog Art Tutorial , is it amazing!!

For Sarah.....

If you ever happen to find this....told you it wasn't interesting :D

Tonight I have 8 members of the PTA coming over for a well earned Christmas dinner. The table is set, the food is ready to cook...I just need to sort the boys hopefully Uncle Steve is coming to help me put them to bed as Dan is out rehearsing), sort myself, sort my husband....and then sort the mulled wine :D

Here's a bit of eye-candy for you Sarah, as a reward for finding me!!!

A picture!

My photo bucket account had gone inactive...a word I am familiar with .

So here is a picture of a quilt top I have made but not yet quilted (I have another couple in exactly the same state!)

Oh my life....

and that is why it is called that.

Since half term- Dan has broken his foot, the cat has gone blind with high blood pressure from bad kidneys or bad kidney from high blood pressure resulting in detached retinas and blindness which has now been somewhat rectified with rather expensive food and tablets every day....pause...the heating broke down, the boiler had to be service, the shock absorbers went on the car.......erm...is that all? I think so!

I have also nearly made 100 Christmas cards, baked muchos bread and fruity bread, changed all the bedroom around, worked, learnt the ukulele (seriously loving it), caused a stunned silence in my bible study, fixed many holes in jumpers, made cards, started (another) a quilt, looked at the other 2 quilts to be backed, organised a craft for a kids craft party, and I am sure many other things...oh yes going to Duxford dressed as a 1940's housewife alarming noticing that I was wearing my own clothes!!!!!!

I do admire those wartime housewives though...they put up with a LOT!

Right, off to have my tea...Dan is at a rehearsal so I am on my tod with the boys