not yet Journalling...

So, back to half term. A little while back, through blogging, I got in touch with friend from school. Our common-found interest these days? ..... Scrapbooking. Lisa's really good - I dabble...

In that "it's a small world" kind of way, it turned out that a scrapbook crop my sister and I were thinking of going to, was run by HER sister. So, tickets were booked, and we were ready to crop - is that the right word??

Before that, though, Lisa and I had our first visit with each other for about ten years. She came to visit me, and brought some lovely presents.


Some spring coloured letters to spell out.... no, that's not right.



Nor that...


That's better, Happy Easter, in German, cos that's where she lives now. She also gave me a gorgeous bunch of tulips to brighten the dining table, and the Easter decorations at the top of the post. So thoughtful, thank you, again, Lisa. We spent a lovely afternoon catching-up, eating cake, and drinking tea. And hopefully it won't be another ten years before we meet up next...

Then, on Saturday, my sister and I packed our bags with scrapping possibilities, and off we went to our first ever crop. We had a lovely time, and came back with (I think) four pages each. We had a little spend on new stash while we were there, and each bought the same kit which we used on the day.

Here's some of my efforts...




The kit was really lovely to work with - just my colours and style, but with plenty in it that I would not have thought to have bought.

I've still got some journalling to do on them, but baby steps here - I actually got some pages done, and put in a scrapbook! I've done another page since, but no photo yet. And there's still loads of stuff in the kit still to use.

I really enjoyed the crop, I met up with Lisa's sisters, one of whom I hadn't seen for about 20 years, eek. And the other I last saw when she was a baby. And her Mom sorted us all out for lunch - really a family affair. The other ladies we met were so friendly to us new girls, and there was much admiring of other's stash and projects. Well, I certainly admired theirs...

Helen and I are planning on going along again - must remember to check when the next one is...

Sarah x

Optimism

Hmmn, long time , no post. And lots has been happening. Think I may have to break it into a few posts.

The main news around here is that Mark has been told he is going to be made redundant.

No real surprise, but still a big shock when it actually happens. At least we have had some time to sort of prepare for this. He's been on a short working week since last November, with extra time laid off over Christmas, so in a way it became sort of inevitable.

We've spent some of that time thinking around our options. It's most unlikely that he will be able to get another job in the same sort of area. But he can move into a slightly different area - possibly.

But we also have other ideas, which may include a house move, perhaps to another part of the country. With new jobs, or perhaps working for ourselves. Who knows?? But, we are certain it will all work out in the end, it always does. Hence the optimism of the post title.

At the moment, he's waiting to hear when he will actually finish. It may not be until November, but more likely to be sooner. So, although we know he will be finishing, we don't know when. Which makes it a little difficult to look for a new job. I'm sure there'll be more in future posts about this...

Sarah x

Snowballs and Birdies

Way back, about last Sunday. The first flakes of snow appeared. Charlie sat, in his waiting to come inside place, showing them off to perfection.

By Monday morning it looked like this. Kids went to school, kids got sent home from school, and lots of sledging, snowballing and snowman building commenced.
This morning the garden still looks like this. We may not have had some of the extreme snow conditions other parts of the country have had. But the snow just has not gone. Bits of road and path appear through the white, only to be swiftly covered by the next snowfall.

Will I ever be able to wear something other than my duvet like coat and walking boots? Soon, please, soon.
But, this morning has brought some sunshine. Time to get the camera out, quick. These snowballs, (ok then, pom poms), were made before Christmas, back when Phoebe, and Mark, were yearning for snow. And very pretty they look, too. And they don't hurt if you throw them!

Pom pom robins were requested, by my Mom, and these were hatched, just before Christmas. They have perched very quietly, waiting for some winter sunshine.
Now, time for some more catch-up pictures. This is Phoebe's decorated egg from last year at school. She made it all herself (ahem, well I had to do a bit of the boring glueing bits), including drawing that sweet face, and making carrots from Fimo. There's also a box of tissue paper cabbages resting under the carrots. The picket fence was made from some "borrowed" or was that" re-cycled" coffee stirrers.
And, may I present Eggwin The Magician. He is even older, from the year before. I think there was a bit of help from Lou that year - but definitely mostly her own work.

I think that the eggs are finally going to have to go. There's an unnerving solid sounding rattle to them now - if you dare to gently shake one (thanks, Lou). But Phoebe and I have planned to take pictures, and then scrapbook them.


And finally, for today. A little brooch I made from felt, a couple of weeks ago. I made two others ( in different colours) to go with birthday presents for my Mom and sister-in-law's birthdays, but I never photographed them before they were posted.

Till the next time,

Sarah x

First Barbecue of the Year

So, Saturday evening saw us off to our first barbecue of the year. That's right, a barbecue, in January. My friend Jayne had decided it would be a good idea to get her husband to cook the food, as she had a houseful of guests. And a good idea it was. We had fabulous food - thanks David and Jayne, some good company and a memorable evening. We set off in pouring rain, through the lanes to where they live. There were bits of tree and branches all over - and I forgot my famous homemade salsa! But, on we went. The plan was to leave the car, so drinks could be drunk, and to get a taxi home. The weather was so awful I did consider drinking tea, and driving home, but the wine and offer of cocktails won out.

Time comes to head for home, so, we're in the taxi, nearly home... and the road is flooded. And on the other side a car is being pulled out onto a recovery truck. So, we turn round, and head for the next lane along. In all we had to turn around three times before we could get through, it's the same stream that crosses all of the roads we needed to get past. A very interesting journey, and the sat nav didn't show any of the smaller lanes we were using, so the very trusting taxi driver believed us when we told him we could get through. The road was still half flooded when we went back to get the car on Sunday afternoon in the wintry sunshine, but you could get through.

Anyway, the picture shows the gingerbread house that we finally got around to making at the weekend. It was a kit with everything included, we just had to put it together with icing and imagination. The dodgy icicles are my doing, not too bad for a first attempt with an icing bag, I think.

Sarah x

Reclaim the Weekend

Hmmn, time really has flown since I last posted. The girls are back at school. I'm back at work, so is Mark, but he's still on a four day week, even after his extended Christmas break. Hopefully there won't be another layoff for him. We're getting used to the lower income (we think) and are definitely getting used to having him at home all weekend, so, we're wondering if we can keep our spending down enough for him not to do overtime when (if!) the work picks up.

I read an article in Country Living, about reclaiming the weekends, and that seems like such a lovely idea. So, last weekend we tried to do just that, it nearly worked. I tried to keep the dreaded housework to a minimum by keeping on top of everything during the week. But Saturday afternoon did see me tackling the ironing basket, before Mark took over, and I got on with having a good sort out in the front room.

Our front room - it's home to two computers, and their desks, all of my crafting stuff (paper crafts, sewing, knitting etc etc), our cds and dvds some books and most of our paperwork - all in a room about 10 by 16 feet. It is also home to school bags, handbags and the air con unit for the conservatory - oh, and it has a large fireplace with an open fire. It's a room that really has to be kept on top of - but I love it. It's bright and airy, and often has at least two of us in here. It's also the favoured place for the cat. On my table, by the radiator.

Anyway, after it was all spick-and-span and a pleasant place to be again, the crafting could begin. So the felt project was finally completed.


Project? It looks like an egg cosy. Well, ok, it is an egg cosy. but, I did have to trawl the depths of my brain to remember how to do blanket stitch. Hang on, he looks a bit like Zebedee perched on that Christmas Cracker egg cup.

There, that's better. Oh, but now he has three legs. But very glamorous legs at that, let's look closer...

He's sat on one of my Three French Egg Cups (there used to be four, but one got broken!) And what seems to be a miniature egg - but no, it's the egg cups that are large. Are French eggs bigger than British eggs? I don't know, do you?


The pattern for the Owl Egg Cosy came from this blog, with a few tweakings by me. It's the same lady that designed the cat that we made in the last posts. Well worth a look if you have time.

In other news, we now have another car. And I think it's all working out beautifully - as I like to say, it will all work out in the end. Ever the optimist...

Sarah x

Felt Cat

So, here's the cat that Phoebe made. Isn't he just so sweet. I like the way they all look so different. I like that she just got on with it, no inhibitions, just bringing it to me occasionally to start off or finish off a thread.

The girls went back to school today, so there will be a bit less making, I think. I've got a felt owl that's nearly finished.... And I want to have another go at the crochet. I found a blogger yesterday who does some fabulous crochet, and if I knew how to link to it I would. One day soon I'll learn, promise. Anyways, my sister lent me two books today, one of them called "Learn to Crochet", so, I think I will.

Off to go and watch the Ann Frank programme, the girls and I saw the first episode last night, I thought it was really good, gave the feeling of being cramped so well. And the mother's face, as she sat at the table, and realised that this was now her world. Her face, and knowing the story just brought me to tears.

Sarah x

Felt

Not much happening this weekend. We took all of the Christmas decorations down yesterday. So the house looks lovely and clean, just a little empty. We did leave up one set of lights, but as we've always got fairy lights somewhere around the house it doesn't count as leaving your decorations up past 12th night.


This is the felt I mentioned yesterday. Aren't the colours gorgeous? The larger pieces came from Gallery Textiles, and the smaller pieces from Hobbycraft. I have got something on the go using some of this, but no pictures yet.

Sarah x