Thinking about Spring

Thank you for the lovely comments about my long eared bunnies in my last post, I'm glad the inside out tutorial was useful.

It's wet and windy here today, so after catching up with the house jobs, I think it'll be time to settle down with my book. Imogen isn't due home until 7.30 this evening as she's gone on a school trip to see Blood Brothers in Sheffield. Just a couple of baked potatoes for me and Andy tonight, Imogen has a pack up with her, though I'm sure she'll fancy a nice hot chocolate with marshmallows and cream when she gets in and tells us all about her trip.

I missed a parcel delivery yesterday so Andy went to pick it up for me this afternoon.

As you can see, I opened it straight away! I'd ordered a few little bits and bobs from Hobbycraft, a bit early for Easter, but I'm so looking forward to Spring. I've already seen so many little green shoots from bulbs poking through and it almost feels as though the anticipation for Spring is in the air. It's been a very mild winter really, so I feel I shouldn't complain, but it will be nice to say goodbye to the grey days and welcome the sunshine back.

It's always exciting to open a parcel, even if you know what's going to be inside it already. Some little eggs, I really like the speckled ones.

I'm very excited about these paper mache eggs. I have a couple of different things I'm planning to use them for

So I thought it best to get 5...

Pretty little daisies, white ones and coloured ones.

I felt a bit naughty buying the grassy bunny, I thought I should just decoupage my own, but it's just so cute I couldn't resist it and I think it'll be a lovely addition to my Spring and Easter decorations.

Can you see why I couldn't resist him, so sweet!

Take care
xxx

Fancy Eggs and New Taps!

I bought some polystyrene eggs a couple of weeks ago so I could hang them on my little tree. So over the weekend, lovely daughter and I pulled our tables out and I glued and snipped papers while Imogen spent time painting.

It was more time consuming than I realised and I think I lost an easy couple of hours just cutting little squares and gluing them while a chicken was roasting in the oven. I used a couple of lumps of Plasticine with dressmaker pins to mount my eggs while I glued them. Obviously I still managed to be covered with a second skin of glue by the time I finished!

I just need to put little cotton or ribbon loops on top of them so they can hang from the branches, but I still have quite a few eggs to play with yet and I really fancy felting a few of the tiny ones. I persuaded my beautiful model to sit with the eggs while I photographed them, though she had a slight problem balancing them, but we managed between us.

I like that the eggs are white, the decoupage papers look so much nicer stuck on a white background, it shows the colours in the papers off much nicer than when darker colours are underneath them.

It feels like it's been an expensive week and not because we spent money on anything frivolous! I noticed a puddle in the kitchen in front of the sink (by noticed, I mean stood in) when I was preparing some potatoes. I suppose it was lucky that I was there and noticed so it wasn't left over night. Apparently a pipe had rusted through with wear and tear from some badly done plumbing when we had our new kitchen fiasco a few years ago. We called a plumber with no call out fee who proceeded to charge rather a lot of money to turn a screw to isolate the water supply so we could still have water in other parts of the house. He suggested we buy some new taps and he'd fit them the following afternoon. Luckily hubby is rather handy and fitted them himself saving us from laying out more money... he just watched a You Tube video... what can't you learn from You Tube!

I did a bit of charity shopping during the week too. We were actually looking for a dressing table, but no luck this week. I know in my head what I'd like, space in the middle to put my legs and drawers on either side. I need to be able to tuck my legs in so I can lean forward towards my mirror because when I take my glasses off I need to be very close to apply my make up to my myopic eyes! It's one of those things, we may stumble across one next week, or it may take us months, but I'd rather wait until I know it's 'the one'.

I didn't leave the charity shop empty handed (that would just be rude wouldn't it?), hubby bought a couple of LPs and I found a variety of books to work my way through.

It seems like a good selection, and at 25p or 50p a book, I really don't mind if I don't like them and they'll all end up back on the charity shop's shelves again when I've read them.

The one I'm most looking forward to reading is 'The Last Concubine', it sounds really interesting. I'll let you know how it goes.

Take care
xxx

Crochet Hooks and Daffodils

Doesn't time fly, Easter and school holidays are just around the corner already! Spring is definitely in the air and the vases of Daffodils around the house are a reminder that warmer weather is on it's way.

We seem to have quite busy recently and I haven't spent much time crafting as other things have taken over. Imogen has just had her trip down to Wembley to sing with the Voice in a Million choir. It meant picking her up at 3.30 in the morning, so we had a very tired day the next day (I fell asleep in front of the TV the following evening).

We've also been having some work done in the garden. The patio needed resin between the cracks to stop those pesky weeds from coming through and we had a planter built from some old railway sleepers. I'm hoping to get an opportunity to spend some time in the garden over the weekend

have a bit of a tidy up and sort out last years tubs ready for this year and hopefully take a few photos. The weather has been very changeable so that will probably be the deciding factor in whether or not the pictures get taken!

Found my self a little bargain the other day that other crochet peeps may like to know about. I popped into The Range and found this set of 4 crochet hooks

It doesn't say on the pack, but the sizes are 1, 1 1/2, 2 and 3 and it only costs £1.

While I was there I picked up some polystyrene eggs to decoupage so I can hang them on my little tree, I thought I may felt the tiny ones.

I'm hoping to decorate my tree for each season... I have such a long to do list!

Happy Mother's Day on Sunday to all the mums out there.

Take care
xxx

My Trolley Folly?

Firstly let me send you my heartfelt thank you for your lovely, kind comments on my last post. We miss our dogs so very much, and it's good to know that so many people understand this.

I thought I'd share with you all my trolley addiction. Here is just a glimpse... there are more trollies stashed in the house waiting for me to love them.

That was a bright sunny day, just right for tea in the garden.

I love the colours on this one. Lick of paint and wax and pretty decoupatch.

I'm wondering if my next one should have a Christmas theme... yes I said it... Christmas... OK, maybe next month.

Take care you lovely people
xxx

Time for tea

Phew it's a hot one today, maybe the title should have said iced tea.

I've done most of my chores so now have plans to sit in the garden under some shade with a pile of cotton yarn and a crochet hook... and a nice cold drink!

I mentioned in a previous post that I'm picking up the decopatch habit. As well as the chairs I recently showed you, my other addiction is hostess trollies.

Perfect for for serving a nice cup of tea or perhaps a cocktail or two!

I have another one in progress at the moment too, I love them. Perfect for serving from, but I also have one with my ongoing projects stacked on, sewing box, books etc. So is it just me or are there other trolley fans out there?

Imogen has been busy too. Hot weather calls for light summer desserts. Jelly, strawberries and cream topping,

with lots of sprinkles on top.

My sweet daughter had her plaster removed yesterday, so is now hoping her white leg will soon tan to match the other :)

gratuitous puppy pic

Have a wonderful weekend where ever you are

Take care
xxx

May I decopatch you? and some green goodness.

I think it's taking over, and it's thanks to the inspiration from Ladybird Diaries. I have an old chair (or two) that have seen much better days, so decided to have a go with some decopatch papers and paint...

I'm so pleased with it, I think it's so pretty. It was so easy to do, but is so effective :)

It was my first attempt and it hasn't stopped there... but I'll save that for another post.

Andy's been working so hard on our garden, laying some new patio slabs and gravel. It's looking so nice, just needs some more colour, but my flowers have been a bit neglected this year. Here is some of the garden goodness...

I think Fuchsias are so pretty

Lots of flowers budding

A row of Sunflowers

I love these baskets, the pale pinks are so delicate

We do have a very delicate girl at home. My poor baby Imogen dislocated her knee at school the other day. Her leg has been put in a brace (rather than plaster cast) so she can't bend it, and it's taking a bit of getting used to

Hopefully she'll be back to running and swimming again soon, even taking a shower right now sounds like a dream to her, bless her.

Take care
xxx