oooo so very excited!

I am desperately trying to get on with my friends baby blankie as the little chap made an early appearance however, I am super excited about some new purchases.....unfortunately I can not go into too many details as they are for one very special bested friend....well the items themselves are not but the super fun shabby upcycled/homemade with love creation will be...means no pics until after her B-day but I just had to get this out before I popped! Now back to this blanket quick so I can give out the pattern. All booked and ready for my trip to Birmingham next month....lots of work on but I feel good things are on the way :-D Kids all tucked up early, now just need the hubby to come home before the middle of the night for a change!

mmmm Sunday at last!

Wow! Weekends really kill me. Ok, ok  they are worse for the poor hubby who crammes in 30 hours of work over 2 days but with the worry for him, the maniac children...who quite simply do not know how to be quiet (quite frankly, they shouldn't really have to be at their age) but I also can not sleep when he's not here :-(

On the positive side I do complete lots of started crafty projects in the wee small hours of Saturday and Sunday mornings. Just take a look at the new blanket for Master T.....

Very upcycled! Master T had grown out of some of his very favourite T-shirts, so worth the use of the newly fixed sewing machine I ran them all together for this rather colourful cosy blankie...best for Sunday morning lazy tv sessions. I'm not so happy with the corners, think I may fashion some felt shapes to cover the poor stitching!

Well as I managed to get this started I thought I might as well add some pics of recent creations..... You see I am a terrible cook, so to make life homely (and too a budget) I am being as crafty as possible. (In so many ways!)

The cute little material jar covers. The pictures and words were printed on injet printer material but I didn't think it was that great...the cotton you can iron on is much better. I then found some sticky back plastic in the red gingham pattern and made some further label ones....also fab for cover baby formula tins to make storage pots!

Here's the matching recipe book, very shabby and possibly a little scary with the black! I love cutting out fav recipies from magazines and now they can be stored in this little A5 folder :-)

The pretty little crochet flowers really don't show up well in the photo. The patterns for both types came from Attic24

Handmade storage at the back door! There's the carrier bag holder, the very useful bib bag and my very first crochet creation, the drawstring bag was my only sanity during the many months little miss was sick in the hospital. Oh, and only one cat at the bottom is handmade....the other kitty snuck into shot!

I have just started a new crochet project...a cute little baby blanket for a friend....I am loving the fabulous stitch and will add a tutorial or at least the pattern as soon as time and energy allow.

I have also started the Christmas list....who is having what, made in what and how....and the all important list of supplies! I apologise in advance for any of you who receive homemade gifts this year...just remember they were made with love!

Well, better get on....the dinning room has been covered in blankets, mats and cushions and there are little people and kittens causing all manner of chaos...think kittens with dinky cars, babies with giant building blocks and Master T flying aeroplanes above the lot of them....its just a matter of time before there are collision tears!

Just to keep you smiling...some kissing kittens!

What a place to begin...Our Summer hols!

Well I say summer Hols... really it was just one day...but what a glorious day it was. We get very little time as a family so a whole day is magical in itself! The day started lazy but we  still managed to get organised and all of us out of the house in good time...the sun was shining (obviously knew what a special occasion this was) Squashed into the tiny car with snacks and blankets we headed west...off to Salcombe. Called by the sea...and the the most delicious ice cream you could ever taste!

After a brief wonder round the the town and Quay (the boys were not interested in the beautiful shops and boutiques) we stopped by the harbour for real 'Devonian' pasties and chips. Little miss sploshed home-made vegetable medley into her stunning Spanish sun dress and the the boys argued over chips! Next up was the ice cream! Cones of any flavour you desire of the most creamy luxurious fresh ice cream. We had come prepared with ice packs and freezers bags but the journey was way too long to risk transporting a large tub home. Master T managed to stop his excited talking to scoff his strawberry & cream cone and little miss had several slurps of everyone's..... silence fell as we enjoyed the moment.

Back in the car we followed an incredible twisting, turning lane down to the sea and a beautiful little cove. The tide was just going out so there was long stretches of sand to run and jump and bounce but there was also little rock pools and slippery stones. Master T loved it and went racing off to find treasures.

This is where I admitted that with all the days excitement I totally forgot to take photos! Here are the few we managed.

Including Master T rock pooling and little miss standing in the sea for her very first time!

The setting was just wonderful. We chilled and snoozed, read papers and books...I even got a little hooky time in with the huge shawl that is taking me forever. When time was drawing a close on our parking ticket we re-located up to a big grass field. Us girls nibbled on cakes and biscuits while the boys dashed around with a football. Perfect.

Of course we all napped on the way home too!

It is a shame we do not get to enjoy more family days like this but at least we can cherish the times that we do. Hopefully work commitments won't rule forever and we can do more random car journeys to fantastic sites.

A bit about my concerns ...

I have led a fairly nomadic life. My mother managed to move us on every few years, I think I must have some of her listless blood. I do bore easily which is why life as a dancer suited me so perfectly, I could be focused and dedicated but easily flit between contracts. Of cause the eminent town we were about to locate to will always hold a dear place in my heart - it is where I met the love of my life - my husband. However, I know from experience, you should never go back. You will always remember a place and time through rose tinted glasses. It is never the same, circumstances and people have changed or unfortunately sometimes they haven't. My father-in-law has generally been one to elaborate his achievements but at the time it never crossed my mind that his heart was not in the right place ... and hay, the promise he would help us get that all important foot on the property ladder was just too alluring. (Oh, did I mention....he still doesn't know we're married....I will get to that part of the story soon!)

With the wheels set in motion ....

With the wheels set in motion, my husband has the family business signed over into his name. (We later understand that this was the only way the company could continue trading as the father in law has legally be disbarred, at the time we believed this just to be grand gesture!) Moreover, arrangements made to embark on our new life in the country. Many people spend years dreaming of a better life, of fresh air, the ‘green green grass’ and plentiful quality family time. I suppose I should have felt far more grateful but saying goodbye to my home, my friends, my family, my new career and my lifestyle not to mention the dread of moving to a town I never really liked, left me dubious and fretful of up coming events. My husband really was taking a huge gamble – he was successful, earnt good money and was next inline for promotion. He just wanted to provide more for his family; a home of our own not to mention essentially he is a country boy at heart. He is a fantastic incredibly logical practical man, entirely opposite to myself. Unfortunately, the judgements of others are out of our hands...

Ok, so right at the very beginning...

Ok, so right at the very beginning... This story commenced even before the economic disasters of 2008, back when housing prices were still in full bloom. My husband, son, and I re-located back to his hometown in the country. My partner is a particularly loyal man, so when his father began to have difficulties with the family business and asked for his assistance, he just could not refuse. Being a city girl and happiest in busy crowded environments I took a little convincing. However, I could see the obvious benefits for our son, growing up in a friendlier society, surrounded by family (even if they were in-laws!) Neither of us could possibly have imagined or foreseen that a member of our own family could betray and so maliciously sell their own flesh and blood out....

And so 2009 begins...

So... I start 2009 in a Western European sweat shop - that is my sofa. No not stuffing envelopes but sticking cheap 'made in China' toys to the front of equally cheap kids magazines. We call it a night at 1.20am after realising we have run out of front covers... only 2 boxes left to fill. Hay the 20 quid for the 11 hours work (between 2 of us)will at least pay our Pizza Hut bill of the other night. Yes, I may have a graduate degree, a house, a husband, a child but the last few months have thrown me into a regression reminicent of my early student days. (abeit, slightly fatter and greyer.) I think 2008 had a similar affect on many to varying degrees. However, this is my story. How we came to be in this position on the brink of the yet another recession, and hopefully how we will manage to pull our selves through it. (Oh, did I mention... also trying to potty train the fore-mentioned child!)