Miss Sew n Sew

Easter fun

2009-04-15T14:25:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a lovely Easter we've been very busy here the best part of Good Friday and bank holiday Monday were spent working on the garden digging up the old path and building a vegetable plot poor Steven has not stopped! Every spare bit of time we have is spent trying to finish what we have started at least we'll be able to enjoy our efforts this summer. We did take a break on Easter Sunday and had a nice day spent with family.

These baskets are what I did with the children from playgroup this one is Emilys they made the baskets and then decorated a cupcake to take home.

Heres Emilys Easter bonnet she really did do most of it herself apart from the daffs I just stuck on lots of doubled up sellotape and let her with help from Elliot stick on what they wanted from the bag of Easter bits.
As you can see she really enjoyed wearing it.
These are Emilys latest colouring in by numbers pictures she's got through a whole book of pictures in one week I just had to put them on here I'm really impressed with how shes coming on. I'll have to look out for another book for her.

Easter Sunday after dinner we had a egg hunt around the house, lots excitement and chocolate was eaten.

I got some more egg decorations this year so I'm quite pleased with how my Easter tree looks.
This cute little bunny was 99p from the charity shop.

Can't believe that the end of term break is nearly over it seems to have flown by so going to make the most of the last few days we have . Hope you enjoy whats left of it if your children are off.

Lucky me!

2009-04-01T14:16:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful sunny day in Derbyshire yesterday and my day just got better when the postman knocked at my door with my heart swap goodies from Molly Cupcakes who also organised the heart swap. Just look at all this Miss Cupcakes has spoilt me rotten with not 6 but 13 beautifully wrapped parcels well I could barely contain my excitement!!!!

There was lots of oohing and awing going on believe me whilst opening this lot! Here's what I got a handmade pincushion you can't see in the photo it has the teenyest tiniest cutest buttons pinned loose on that you ever did see! I love the heart tumbler can't wait to start using that! A vintage cotton reel with heart ribbon and card with a lovely message inside from Catherine.
Look at this lot, by this time I was really excited everything is just so pretty can't wait to start putting things here and there around the house..... Above is a handmade picture with painted frame. A Mollycupcakes wooden spoon which I LOVE! It had the recipe for the heart dessert wrapped around it and a lovely heart card which I will be keeping for one self far too nice to giveaway me thinks!

And there's more!!!!! I was dancing a little jig at this point! A painted polka dot heart photo frame, a painted peg for notes will be very handy that! Heart stickers and heart cinnamon flavoured biscuits baked by Catherine decorated with hundred and thousands which taste yummy!

No that's not it! Look at these all handmade, a hanging heart, a heart brooch and two wooden heart gift tags is there no end to this girls talents?!!

Everything is sooooooo gorgeous it's like you know me just the sort of thing I love THANK YOU SO MUCH Catherine I really appreciate all the love and effort you put into making my swap and everything will be treasured and much loved. I really hope you liked mine!

And also thank you for organising this heart swap I think you've done a superb job of it all and I've really enjoyed taking part this being the first swap I've done! Looking forward to seeing everyone elses swaps!

7 things I love and an award

2009-03-27T13:02:00.000-07:00

I 've been given this award from 4 different blogs this week:-

Catherine at Molly Cupcakes

Happy at Happy Loves Rosie

Jackie at Button Tree Crafts

Gem at Deravelled

Thank you ladies it's nice to know that you enjoy my blog and think I deserve an award there are so many fabulous blogs out there and sometimes I think I am a bit critical of mine. I'd love to have more time to blog much more regularly but being given a award now and again reminds me that I'm doing ok and it's alright to blog only when I have time and have something to say. I blog for me and hopefully it will be something that my children will enjoy reading when their older and it's a huge bonus and compliment that anyone else enjoys it.

The rules of the award are to link the people who gave you the award and then you have to name 7 things you love then pass the award on to 7 other blogs that you love to read.

So here are 7 things that I love in no particular order!

1. My beautiful children Emily and Elliott

2.My Home

3. My husband Steven

4. Spring

5. My Mum and Dad

6. Staying in beautiful cottages

7. Greengate

And the list could go on and on forever there are countless things that I love in my life!

Now for 7 blogs that I love to read there are also countless blogs out there that I love to read I could go on and on with that one too so if your not in my list it doesn't mean I don't love your blog!

In no particular order!

Lesley at Notes From My Days

Surfer Rosa

Lou at Ludabelle

Lissy Lou at LissyLou and the two little boys

Dev at The Fairy Glade

Mel at Country In The Town

Beki Marie The Ramblings Of An Every Day Mummy

Have a great Sunday everyone!

My new little job, Mothers Day and a Heart Swap.

2009-03-25T03:28:00.000-07:00

Been feeling so busy lately as if life is running ahead of me do you ever feel like that? Looking forward to the Easter break so that we can slow down a bit, no playgroups, no nursery just me and my two at home doing as we please sigh bliss.

As if I wasn't busy enough at the moment I've gone and volunteered my self to organise the craft activity each week, at the playgroup I take Elliot to on a Tuesday.

Here are my first two efforts Mothers Day cards - Elliot made the one above and Spring bunting below.

This involved cutting 120 diamond shapes and punching out I don't know how many various coloured flower shapes. All this organising is very time consuming and takes place on a Monday night down my little house. I am quite enjoying my new responsibility though after all the effort it's so nice to see the looks on their proud little faces when they toddle back to their mums with their latest creation. Also Emilys loving the fact that I have suddenly got all this craft stuff around the house and ready to make projects on command after shes finished pre - school.

I had a lovely day on Mothers Day it was spent with Stevens mum and my very pregnant sister law who laid on some lovely food for us all. I didn't see my mum as she is away on a cruise hopefully having a wonderful time we all miss you and I want to thank you on here for everything you do for us all love you mum!

Look at my gorgeous Mother's day card below it is actually the card I had last year from Emily. Elliot sent me the same card in a different design last year too. Theyve been sat in a drawer all year I think their so beautiful that I wanted to do something special with them so I've decided that instead of buying me a card each year they can give me these same two cards every year so that I can treasure their handwriting as it changes each year and enjoy their little messages. Who knows maybe they will be sending me the same card in 20 years time!

I also got the present I wanted this Emma Bridgewater heart mug. I did give a little bit of assistence there in the choosing of my gift !

Yesterday I posted off this parcel to MollyCupcakes for the heart swap organised by MollyCupcakes! I've really enjoyed putting this parcel together it's the first swap I've done I just love anything with hearts on so this was a good one for me to do.

Hope she likes the contents and hope the postman doesn't take to long delivering it.

Thanks for all your nice comments on our new path we did get it finished. Tommorrow we are hoping for sunshine so that we can make a start on the back of the garden and the water feature oo exciting stuff eh theres no pics as theres nothing very exciting to show but when weve done some more I will put some pics on.

I'm late I'm late for a very important date!

2009-03-19T14:03:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it I've missed my blogs 1st birthday by nearly 3 weeks what a plonker I kind of knew it was coming up but hadn't checked the date my first post was on the 6th of March last year and had my mothers day cards on it so I was thinking it was near Mothers Day this year oh dear how wrong was I. Anyway enough of that embarrassing talk of how unorganised I truly am.

I was hoping you would join me in my own mini celebration of my blogerversary with me I put together the above mosaic especially for the occasion, some Miss Sew n Sew pics of the last year and I will be hosting a blogerversary give away when I get my act together at a very fashionable month late on the 6ths April!! I am organised with that and have started putting some lovely goodies for this just a few more makes to add so please don't miss out come back for my giveaway I do so love to read your comments and your blogs and this will be my way of saying thank you to each and every one of you who have stopped by and visited my blog. Lots more about my blogging love on the 6th!

I have a new thing in my house for spring bulbs look aren't they wonderful I have 3 hyacinths on the go at the moment there so reasonably priced and they last a lot longer than cut flowers and just smell so gorgeous. My local garden centre were selling these off at just a pound each because they were very dry but after a soaking in a bucket of water they have been fine and are giving me so much enjoyment I just love catching glimpses of fresh flowers around the house. Oh dear I must clean my kitchen window!

I've had my man at home this week and look what we've been up too! A new path is being laid down to my little house and shed. The old bricks were left from an outbuilding taken down by the previous owner so we've made use of them to edge the path.

The weathers been great this week and given us the chance to get on with it yes I've been digging and getting my hands dirty too! All day in the garden has been back braking work but I know it will be worth it and I'm really liking the results of the different materials bricks,gravel and wood.

This is our first proper garden our first house didn't really have much garden so were excited

about changing ours and making it our own. As you can see we have lot's more to do, the path will continue to our shed and then if all goes to plan we want to put a seat around tree and the messy soil area will will be filled with different shades of gravels may be a water feature and grasses and ferns planted amongst the gravel I have it all planned out in my head!

In front of my little house were going to have decking for a seating area and then also we want to make a vegetable garden out of some timber we have left over from the path so not much to do then hey!

The house is looking a tip with mummy and daddy both working our asses off in the garden Emily and Elliott have been entertaining them selves which has meant all though my attempts to tell them to take their wellies off when they go inside lot's of messy little footprints on Mummy carpet arrrgh!!

Today's game has been who can collect the most worms in their bowls, then counting their worms then running to their chalk board to draw number of worms on it!

Will be back next week with our progress thank you for all your comments about my little house I'd love top have you all round, one at a time of course for some crafting, coffee and cake! I really enjoyed reading them your all so lovely!

Hope all you mums out there have a great Mothers Day this weekend!

My little house!

2009-03-08T14:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a good tidy up of my little house down the garden and took some pics so finally I can share my finished studio with you all I'm sorry it's taken me forever to put these on here I hadn't forgotten but it has taken a lot more time than I expected transferring all my stuff from the house and finding homes for it all in here as it is quite small but perfectly formed and it is rarely this tidy being away from the house only I see the mess! If you follow my blog you will know that we purchased my summerhouse in bits at the end of August last year, you can read about it here and here to see the before pics. An enormous thank you goes out to my husband Steven, my dad and my mum for the team effort in getting it finished and making my dream of my own space a reality.So this is my desk the table was £20 off good old ebay and was a nasty orangey pine colour so we sanded it down and painted the legs there was a window on this wall which I decided to block up as I wanted the shelves above my desk which works really well for storage and some favorite bit's and pieces on there - my faithful Roberts radio and favorite Greengate tins.

Steven spent hours cladding the whole of the inside in tongue and groove which I love, he insulated the walls behind the tongue and groove which works a treat I have a electric heater and it gets lovely and cosy it was really important to me that I could use it all year round with it being small it heats up really well. The bunting I made myself a few years back.
I wanted a comfy chair in there I picked this tub chair up from a junk shop for £10 and I made the slip cover for it out of Greengate fabric.

The floor lamp base was from freecycle which I've painted blue and the wonky shade was 50p from a car boot! I have my home magazines on the rack on the door.
Steven has fitted me spotlights in the ceiling and I have a handy shelf which runs across the roof space up there I have my baskets of fabric scraps.

You might of noticed that not a lot of sewing has been going on around here that's down to two reasons 1. lack of time 2. I have been without a working sewing machine for 6 months or so which has been very frustrating. The one you see on the table has just been repaired but my gorgeous vintage blue singer one ( brought for looks alone!) is beyond repair so instead of looking pretty on my desk it is going to the tip boo hoo!
I have just started sewing again and have two projects on the go at the moment some cushions for my mum and something I can't say what for the heart swap over at Mollycupcakes and lots more planned after that.

I love gift wrapping and like to keep a good selection of gift wrap in my bucket!

So that's it hope you enjoyed my tour of my little studio and that it was worth waiting for.

You might of noticed I have a new look to my blog I haven't posted on here for quite some time as I have a new hobby playing around with photo shop! I'm really pleased with how it looks I've used my favourite combination of Greengate inspired colours red, green, white and blue hope you like it!

Lovely Pretty Things

2009-02-18T13:41:00.000-08:00

A pink parcel landed on my doormat last week. What's this I thought it can only be something from one of you wonderful ladies in blog land. As it happened it was addressed to Emily, straight away I realised what it must be. I impatiently wait for 2 hrs and stop myself from having a peek inside and save it for Emily to open after pre school. She is just as excited as me to open her parcel and she ripped open the pink bag and tissue paper to find this............

a gorgeous mini quilt that I won in Sara's giveaway! I love Sara's work she makes all sorts of lovely things which you can find here at her blog All About Eden just look at the beautiful detail on her name and the pretty fabrics! Thank you Sara Emily love's it and so do I it has been all over the place in Emily's bedroom looking for the right spot to display it and we've settled for the wall above her bed.

These are my beautiful roses that Steven surprised my with on Valentines day I really wasn't expecting anything so they meant even more.

On Monday our back garden was awash with sunshine it felt wonderful it was warm enough for the kid's to play outside in the garden with no coat's and me and Steven sat and had our lunch outside, it felt good, really good, it gave us a taste of what's to come roll on Spring can't wait Just look at our first snowdrops so dainty and pretty. Keep catching a glimpse of them just outside the window don't you just love snowdrops?!

I've finally got my copy of this months Country Living I always see it first on blogs at those of who subscribe and think 'ooh that front cover does look good' and then I have to impatiently wait for my copy to appear on the shop shelf I really should get it on subscription as I have it every month anyway. I'm lovin this months copy mostly because of the article about having a home studio if you follow my blog you'll know that I've just completed mine down the garden and love the glimpse into Caroline Zoobs work space article.

Sorry the above photo is blurred the pink mug warmer is from another very talented lady at Pink- Petal-Designs I think she still sells them in her shop if you fancy one. I love mine it's only takes about 20 seconds to get from the house back door down to my garden studio but when it's freezing outside having my hands wrapped around my mug warmer with a mug of hot chocolate makes it much less of a bind!

The chocolate chip cookies I made this are from a recipe at the ever fabulous blog Attic 24 thanks you Lucy you said my family would thank you wholeheartedly for them and we do they are delicious and were very popular in our household made mine with some white chocolate chunks I had in. Tempted? Their seriously good! You can find the recipe here.

It is coming up to my blog being 1 yrs old in March so do pop back as I will be putting some goodies together and having a giveaway.

Emily's Birthday

2009-02-07T12:44:00.000-08:00

I'm glad to say that the 4th birthday party that we had on Friday for Emily went really well. Emily went to pre school in the morning whilst me and my mum got everything ready I have to say we were running around to get it all done in time as everything was a bit last minute as I had to fill and decorate the cake in the morning due to a baking disaster with the cake the night before!! The cake you see in the picture was the 3rd attempt! The first wasn't big enough, the 2nd was burnt and the 3rd turned out just right! Oh dear I'd not baked a cake for a long time and thought it would be easy, I now have a good recipe that I will stick to never mind I get there in the end!

The table looked really pretty. Let me point out the details!! Each child had a party popper and bottle of bubbles. The girls had a little rings attached to their name tags and the boys had a badge. See those butterfly mobiles, and straws that me and my niece sat cutting out from Laura Ashley wallpaper do you?!! Do you?!!

We had a bit of an Angelina Ballerina theme going, as Emily LOVES Angelina Ballerina since our special day together here she has been hooked.

This lovely picture of Angelina was put together by my two helpers drawn by my niece Jade and painted by my mum I think it's so nice that I'm going to put it on the wall in Emily's bedroom. We used it for pin the bow on Angelina.

My rushed cake! Which I was pleasantly surprised with that it actually tasted very nice! the pink cake stand was a bargain at just £2 marked down because the little cake stand that should be on top was missing.

All the girls had a butterfly slide for their hair.

Were having fun!

The birthday girl enjoyed herself!

After all the party games each child decorated a cup cake which I boxed up in a marshmallow bottomed box for them to take home as a favour inside their goodie bags. I forgot to take photos of this but we had a tray full of about 8 different cake decorations glitter,smarties,pink and white hearts that sort of thing and a piping bag of icing. This is one I had left and had for supper. surprisingly I have no problems baking cupcakes!

The children really seemed to enjoy themselves and having just five children was just right there was lot's of dancing and excitement but most importantly Emily's face was beaming throughout and loved it.

I can't put it into words how much mummy and daddy love you we can't believe you four where has all that time gone? You are beautiful in every way and you haven't stopped saying thank you for everything which is so sweet. Yesterday we had a mummy and daughter day one to one which was wonderful to enjoy each others company we had lunch at Little Frankie's and tried on all the dresses in the Disney Store then you picked one to buy with you money from Auntie Xana.

Happy birthday Emilyxxxx

A winter wonderland - what fun!!!!!

2009-02-06T12:47:00.000-08:00

Well what a week it's been. Monday morning we awoke to this view out our bedroom window outside our lane looked like Narnia! We had about six inches of snow the most snow that I can remember since being very little. It all melted away by Tuesday and we were a bit miffed and sad that it had come and gone so quickly but yesterday (Thursday) we were rewarded with another heavy covering of snow. Yippee!!!!!!!! What fun our walk to pre school was wrapped up all cosy and warm, crunching snow under our feet kicking it along as we go and a good work out for me it can be quite difficult trying to push a pushchair along in thick snow whilst trying to control a overly excited three yr old along the side and trying not to fall over all at the same time!! :)

Also I couldn't stop taking photo's so here's what I took.
our lane

Mr snowman that Grandad helped build as Mummies

attempt wasn't very good!!!!!!! Our House

The walk to school
This is the park we pass on our walk to school.

Our back garden

View from our landing window

View from our bedroom window

Little words just photo's today as I'm shattered, it was Emily's 4th birthday party today and I'm all partied out. Thank you for all your best wishes for the party I'm pleased to say it went down a treat and all my hard work payed off, the birthday girl had a whale of a time!

I'll be posting lot's of pics soon, it's her actual birthday tomorrow so I'm looking forward to having a girly day together. Hope you've all enjoyed the snow I think most places have had some? I've been so busy this week there's been little time to blog but had to sneak these photo's in. I never want to forget the week it snowed! Sarahx

Party preparations

2009-01-31T12:56:00.000-08:00

It was the last day of January today and it was a beautiful sunny day here in Derbyshire we woke up to a gorgeous sunset casting a pink glow into Emily and Elliot's room. Well January has been a month of organising in the Miss sew n sew household and I am relieved to say that everywhere is now tip top tidy including my studio which was done today so now I can concentrate on other things.

First thing on my to do list will be organising a birthday party for Emily who turns four next Saturday. She is having a little tea party the day before on the Friday I am making the most of being able to do a traditional style party at home with pass the parcel and musical chairs etc.................... I have to admit that unlike some mum's who dread organising children's parties I do actually quite enjoy organising it all although last year I did actually feel quite stressed during the event as I invited 13 children way to many for our little cottage! Having learnt from last years mistake this year she's having just having just 3 of her closest friends yes I know it sounds a bit mean just 3 but if you count Emily and Elliot that's 5 kids then there's the mums and friends and family so that's plenty. I was hoping that this will be much more manageable and less work for me! After planning to keep it small and simple I've ended up getting quite carried and have now got ton's to do!

My mum thought of me and picked this book up for me on her visit to the library kid's parties by Lisa Atwood I can really recommend this book if you need some inspiration for a children's party it has gorgeous pictures and lots of different themed party idea's for girls and boys. I was really taken by this idea a cupcake decorating tea party how cute?

Each child gets to decorate their own cupcake which you box up in a pretty box for them to take home with them we'll be doing ours after the food and games once their filled up with jelly and ice cream and party food hopefully that will avoid any protests of I want to eat mine now!!!

My niece Jade comes round most Fridays for a tea and a chat so I've had a little helper cutting out these butterflies, I knew that extra roll of Laura Ashley wallpaper would come in handy for something. Thursday we'll be decorating the room ready for Emily's big day I hope it all goes to plan I've tried not to mention the 'party' word as she gets so excited but it hasn't worked at all you just can' hide anything from her she soon cottons on that mummy's up to something and she's been counting the sleeps down now for the past week!

Oh well wish me luck I now have a long list of bit's and pieces to make to pretty up the room, a Angelina Ballerina birthday cake to bake and decorate, cupcakes to bake I really haven't perfected the art or the perfect cupcake's mine come out domed shaped like little Mount Everest's any hint's and tips on baking nice flat cupcakes gratefully accepted!! Goodie bags to make decorate and fill! I no! I no!! I'm probably making lots and lots of unnecessary work for myself and I annoy myself sometimes once I get an idea in my head I have to go full out and finish every last detail I tell myself to keep things simple and I can never stick to it. I'll keep you posted on how it all goes next week. Finally a big thank you to Lou at Ludabelle for choosing me for this award. It's so nice to think that somebody actually reads and enjoys this little blog of mine thank you sooo much you brightened up my day!

I'm going to be lazy and take the easy route and not pass on this award, there's so many fabulous blogs out there that I love to read that I just can't choose! Hope you all have had a good week I have some catching up to do in between the preparations for princess tea party central!
Sarahx

Corner of my home and heart love

2009-01-25T11:46:00.000-08:00

Hello folks thank you for popping back to visit this little blog of mine I do hope you all had a good week it's been a bit dismal here weather wise cold, wet and windy and I've been full of a cold most of the week it has been a bind dragging myself out for the pre-school run every morning but thankfully I'm feeling a lot better now.

I'm still in the midst of de cluttering our home I can tick off the bathroom, living room, under stairs cupboard and yesterday I did our bedroom so over half way through the house I'd say. Thank you for all your comments about my bedroom I thought I'd show you another corner of it today. I'm am very lucky that my Steven lets me decorate our home as I like and that I have a very pretty feminine bedroom when I go out and buy things I don't have to consult him first as he lets me do what I like and I suppose I am very fortunate in that respect it would drive me crazy having to have anything slightly manly! This is my gorgeous dressing table which has had a good tidy up. The drawers were jammed full of stuff and tangled jewellery look at them now!

I do so love this piece of furniture I bought it from the shop I used to work at before I had the children it used to stand a the centre of a beautiful display and after staring at it every day for about a year dreaming of owning it the kind lady I worked with let me have it as at a reduced price with it being ex display it had a few scratches but I didn't care just adds to it's shabby chicness!

During the process I sorted out Emily's stash of accessories blimey she's not doing bad considering she's two weeks off four year's old she has more accessories than me!
I spent a little while displaying my favourite bit's and pieces on the shelf that's my wedding tiara that I had hidden away in a box and I'm really enjoying seeing it out and admiring it's glittery flowers a keepsake of a special day.

So that's my dressing table sorted I confess I had stopped using it for what it's for as it had become a bit of a dumping ground so this morning it was lovely to have somewhere to sit and do my hair and makeup in my girly corner. Hurray for tidiness slapped hands for letting it get in such a mess!

I'm after some hooks now to put on the wall next to it to hang my jewellery on I went to Laura Ashley today but they didn't have anything but I did see on someones blog can't remember which one that they had picked up some gorgeous flower ones up for £2.99 in the BHS sale so I'll have to try my luck there.

I've been admiring your hearts posts on various blogs this week so thought I would join in and show you mine I do love hearts of course! They are so pretty and feminine and find myself drawn to them so Ill leave you with some of my hearts I have around our home these are just a few of them I have a lot of hearts! My favourite being this first one picked up for just 30p recently at a table top sale.

Hope you enjoyed them! Right off to make a cuppa now and catch up with some of my favourite blogs! Oh also I haven't forgotten about showing some pics of my new shed/studio whilst I've been having a clear out I've been finding lot's of things that have needed re homing in my studio as I had all my craft/sewing paraphernalia stuffed all over the house so there's lots of things being dumped down there at the moment believe me it is in no fit state to be photographed but when I get it all organised (it's taking a lot longer than I expected) I will show and tell! Sorry about that!

Sarahx

January planning and shopping

2009-01-17T11:38:00.000-08:00

We are 17 days into 2009 and I do believe I am a little late in wishing everyone who visits my blog a Happy New Year, I really appreciate every comment that is left on here they so brighten up my days so to everyone who has visited my blog I wish you all the most wonderful 2009!

I do like the start of the year, all those empty boxes on the calender waiting ready to be filled with what you choose. I like to take time in January to plan what I want to get out of the year and what a would like to achieve. It's all buzzing around in my head at the moment but I am planning to make lists and write it all down in my dream book there's all sorts I want to do this year including a lot of sewing. I intend to be a slimmer me in 2009 as the weight really has crept on in 2008, the diet hasn't started yet but it will do soon I like to plan what I'm going to cook prepare and myself and get in the right frame of mind first!

I've also felt an enormous urge to de clutter our house this month. So every cupboard, box, drawer in the house is being tidied things we no longer need being recycled. We seem to of accumulated I huge amount of stuff for 2 adults and 2 little people, it's giving me great satisfaction this organising. I do believe that in a small house it is good to have a place for everything and to keep possessions to a minimal so I'm being ruthless and getting rid of quite a bit of stuff that never sees the light of day that we have no use for.

I have also been shopping when I'm in the old part of town I always have to pop in my favourite shop. Now usually I visit this shop just to browse not really to spend anything I just love to eye up all their wonderful stock and sometimes buy a card or something small. I wonder upstairs as it's upstairs where I especially love their lovely displays of Emma Bridgewater, Suzie Watson and Greengate. But on this particular visit their large display of Greengate is all half price or more as they are not stocking it anymore. Oh wow I LOVE GREENGATE I'm excited and would love to make lots and lots of purchases but it's January and I have little money after Christmas but I can't resist these tins for only £2.50 each yes just £2.50 and this lovely cushion. I am sad that their not going to have it anymore such a shame the shop assistant said it was due to it being hard to get being a Danish company.

My lovely mum and dad gave me my birthday money early, my birthday is not until May!!!!!! So I went back to buy myself a Greengate jug, candlestick, salt and pepper set, tube of pretty pencils and mug which is all wrapped up in tissue paper at my mums waiting for my birthday in May!!!!!!! Oooh I can hardly wait!

After my little splurge I had no intention of spending anymore money this month but when I came across this bedspread in Dunelm I had to have it. I've been looking for the perfect bedspread or eiderdown for our bed for quite a while.

I wanted something that would go well with these pictures above my bed and this faded red and cream toil bedspread fits the bill perfectly at £30 I think it's really good value it's king size and has ticking on the back I have seen a similar one before and been tempted but it was £80.

I'm really pleased with it and it's french style goes really well with our french style furniture. It's making me want to paint those awful peach walls a grey/blue and looking at our pine bed I think that is going to have a makeover and be painted cream to blend in with our other furniture another couple of jobs to add to my dream book! Our bedside tables are not usually that bare I've just nicked the lamps for the side table downstairs!

As I type the wind is howling around our house and the rain pelting against our windows they have given 80 mile an hour winds out tonight I'm a bit worried about the dead tree across the lane lets hope it's still there in the morning!!

Now you are two!

2009-01-04T13:01:00.000-08:00

Gosh that was quick can't believe Christmas is over and were heading into 2009 hope you all had a fab Christmas I've been looking around blog land and everyone seems pretty quiet I suppose were all easing ourselves back into the swing of things after all the Chrimbo madness. Well we had a lovely Christmas the kids were happy and overwhelmed with all their presents Christmas morning we had my parents and Grandma over for breakfast and we had our pork pie and poachers pickle a tradition in our family that we have always done do you know anyone else you does this? Then we went over to my sister-in-laws for dinner which was fabulous to not to have to cook and just enjoy the day. Then Boxing Day Elliot turned 2 yes it was his birthday so we did presents all over again and had family over for drinks and birthday cake! Our baby is growing into a little boy and a gorgeous boy we are so proud of you, you are changing every day and a lot at the moment as you are starting to put sentences together and doing lots of talking. I can remember wondering what sort of personality you would have when we had you and you have turned out to be so loving your always there for a kiss and a cuddle, your a proper boy and a cheeky mischievous one too and you never fail to make me and everyone around you laugh. Although sometimes I can be pulling my hair out at times when your up to no good like the number of time's I've caught you kneeling on top of the tv unit licking and putting your hands all over our plasma tv or when you've helped your self to the 4th yogurt in a row from the fridge and spilt it all over the floor and many other no no's too many to mention but on the other hand I will be smiling and laughing in the next moment with your charming ways.
You are a pleasure to look after and I feel like I have the best job in the world being your mummy. We had an awful year the year I found out I was pregnant as Steven also found out he had thyroid cancer and had to have two operations. So it was a year of worry and stress but we were told that Steven was going to be ok and he longed for you to be a boy. So it was the bestest news and most wonderful blessing that we had a boy after everything we had been through.

Emily is so happy to have a little brother it melts my heart to see you play nicely together I hope you will always be this close that's why we had you close together. Of course you argue but I don't know any brother and sister that doesn't I can imagine when your older being quite protective over your sister. As your quite bashful and stand up for yourself now where as Emily is more gentle and quiet.

Happy Birthday Elliot mummy and daddy are so looking forward to every moment and experience with you in 2009 now you are two. x x

Our Christmas home and a parcel in the post.

2008-12-23T13:17:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning I received my giveaway from Julia at Vintage Heaven now I knew that this parcel was on it's way to me as as Julia had pre warned me to look out for Mr Postie. So when he knocked at the door I knew that the parcel was for me! I was so excited that I ripped off the lovely gold tissue paper and red ribbon that my goodies were wrapped in before remembering to take a photo and look what was inside! Christmas has come early for lucky old me thank you so much Julia I absolutely love all your handmade goodies. Here's what I got 3 white and red spotty Christmas tree decs , 2 of the cutest miniature stockings filled with chocolates for Emily and Elliott, a gorgeous lavender filled heart made with vintage fabric, a fantastic stocking handmade with lovely lovely fabrics, a Christmas card all handmade by Julia, and the American December issue of Country Living yippee!

Missing from the photo is a really sweet lavender filled bird with dankly legs which I've just spent half an hour looking for grrrrrr I think what has happened Emily ( my 3 year old) has this annoying habit of moving things around the house I have lots of hanging hearts and I find that she moves them around onto different door knobs, hooks, drawer handles I suppose she's just playing house like mummy but it does drive me mad and I think she was quite fond of little birdie and has probably claimed it for her bedroom so I will photo it when it turns up. Anyway thank you Julia I am overwhelmed with your kindness and had a spring in my step all day yesterday because of your parcel.

Anyway I haven't forgotten to show you lot's of photo's of the inside of my cottage and all my Christmas decorations here is our much loved snowman who the children adore we've had him for 3 yrs now and it causes much excitement when we get him out his dusty box each year!

Not many words now as times a ticking by and I've got a few jobs to get done tonight with only 1 day to go! Hope you enjoy the pics! Love my new stocking on the wall! Can you spot my dove garland I bought from the CL fair?!

This is a shop bought stocking which I've personalised with some embroidery and applique for Emily.

Don't Julia's trees look good on my dresser just the right colours!

And the miniature stockings so cute on my mantelpiece.

Christmas is extra special for us as Elliott's birthday is on Boxing day he will be two so there will be double the present opening and excitement! Hope all you fellow bloggers have a wonderful time and I look forward to catching up with you all what you've been up to over Christmas will probably be a bit quiet on here till the New Year, going to pour my self a glass of Baileys now so cheers 'Merry Christmas!' Sarahx

Christmas houses

2008-12-16T14:36:00.000-08:00

Well I can't believe Christmas is nearly here, I feel quite organised this year all the presents are finished and wrapped and I've posted my Christmas cards today, do you like them I love these house designs.

It's been a busy day today Elliot has had two Christmas parties at different playgroups and has another in the morning. Then Emily had a party at pre school this morning and afterwards she went to see the pantomime 'Snow White' with Grandma and Grandad which she loved.

Over the last week we've had lot's of exciting car journeys the kid's love spotting the Christmas lights decorating peoples houses screaming LIGHTS! LIGHTS! LIGHTS! We don't really go mad on lights but we always have a wreath on the front door next to the bay tree which we decorate both with fairy lights. The picture doesn't capture the lights well at all, just imagine them covered in lots of twinkling lights and you get the picture!

I have a running joke at Christmas I always take the mickey out of Steven calling him the light man (he does the lights and I do the decorating) he always spends a ridiculous amount of time faffing with the lights they have to look just right or he's not a happy chappy!

Mmm I can see a house theme forming in this post I even have house Christmas decorations! I did have another house to show you but it got eaten before I got chance to photograph it. I had a kit to make a gingerbread house which I made last week. Emily and Elliot had lot's of fun decorating it with Smarties. I left it sitting pretty on the sideboard amongst my Christmas display then came down one morning only to catch them red handed both standing on chairs picking off and eating all the Smarties! After that I let them demolish it, I should of known better and known it would be to tempting for them.

I also spent some time one evening baking biscuits for the tree I had to try out my new snowflake cutter didn't I!

I know, I know, there's no pics of my garden room in this post and I did promise it didn't I? I had all good intentions of moving the Christmas presents and photographing it. But there really is ALOT of Christmas presents in my little Santa's Grotto! So I'm going to leave it till the New Year ohh I am sorry feel like I've led you all up the garden path a bit hope it's worth the wait!

Tomorrow were off to Chatsworth for a festive family day out which I'm really looking forward to .

Now you've seen the outside of my house I'd like to invite you inside so you can see my decorations. Strange I've never really shown my house much on my blog probably because it never seems tidy enough, two under fours you see, toys everywhere it's rarely tidy though I'm forever picking things up. But my home does mean the world to me and I love all things house related so it's about time I blogged about it so back very soon with lots of housey pic's and that's a promise!

Let it Snow!

2008-12-02T11:14:00.000-08:00

This morning we woke up to no power in the house it was hard work getting 2 under 4's ready in the darkness! There is no leisurely lie in bed and waking up slowly in this house it doesn't exist! We are woken by two wide awake little people, first thing that comes into Emily's head is 'cereal mummy' and Elliott's first words are 'downstairs' so off we trotted for Weatabix in darkness lighted by tea lights! Then it started to snow really heavily outside which caused much excitement as they rushed up to the window and pressed their noses up to the glass to watch the wintry scene creating before us.

The above picture is the lane that we live on, I love to watch the changing of the seasons on our little lane unfortunately this isn't the best pic as I've had to cut off the left side as every ones bins was out. I'd of loved to of stayed in all morning in the cosiness of the house and enjoy the view from our window but I did have to venture out in it to take Emily to pre school and then take Elliott to playgroup I was absolutely freeeeeezing. It was nice to see some snow especially with all the candles lit in the house it really did feel quite festive.

Here is my collection of festive house magazines my addiction to house magazines goes stupid at this time of year I can't resist those Christmas front covers there's more than this pile I have a few other ones put away too.
I bought them all last month in hast so I'm looking forward to sitting down and having a proper read through them all this month.

I love this time of year especially the run up to Christmas I have just finished all my Christmas shopping so this month will be spent doing nice festive activity's we always go to Chatsworth for the day everywhere is decorated so beautifully there they even decorate the farmyard. We'll be taking the children to see Santa and this weekend I'm going to bake some snowflake biscuits for the tree.

I love decorating the house in fact I'm a bit obsessed with Christmas decorations having worked selling Christmas decorations in a wonderful old fashioned department store I have built up quite a stash of Victorian style decs. But this year I've bought all new in Scandinavian style better suited to our decor so I can't wait to put them all up.
I'm sorry all there's no pics of the garden room I will be doing a post with lot's of pics soon I promise! It's turning into a bit of a Santa's workshop in there it's a great place to hide all the Christmas presents! But to give you a taste of something that's in there this is my comfy chair that I have covered in lovely Greengate fabric.

Underneath is a yellow tub chair bought for £10 from the junk shop. This picture was taken half way through making the cover for it, it's finished now. I'd never covered a chair before so it was quite a challenge but I'd got a great book a making loose chair covers from the charity shop which really helped me and I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

Back soon with a garden room post have a good week all whatever your up to!

Sarahx

A trip to London...................

2008-11-18T12:31:00.000-08:00

On Saturday the day arrived that I had really been looking forward to for months I went to London for a day trip of shopping and visiting The Christmas Country Living Fair. I was up bright and early to catch the 7.00am train to London I packed my sleepy little family into the car still in their pj's and I kissed them goodbye. I remember many fond farewells like this, when I was 18 ( 15 years ago I lived in London for 3 years whilst at stage school that's another story I'll tell you another day, I was seeing Steven at the time my now husband) so it felt quite surreal visiting London again after all these years. I arrive in London at 9.00am to find that Kings Cross has changed very much no longer is there just one grotty cafe now there's posh glass fronted shops and cafes including a Paperchase and a mini Hamley's.

I hop on the tube and head for Portobello Road market I really enjoy the hustle and the bustle of the market exploring the quirky stalls selling a vast array of clothes antiques and bric a brac I hover over a Bakerlite phone I've been wanting one for ages but decide to save my pennies for something else. I'm excited about the rest of the day and there's so much I want to pack in to my day it feels wonderful to have a break from my day to day routine and do something different that's just for me. Next stop I head for Stanley Street to the Cabbages and Roses shop how I love this wonderful company as I make my way there I have a pleasant walk through South Kensington admiring the wonderful white 4 storey houses nosing through their windows and admiring the perfectly trimmed topiary trees placed outside every door and the pretty wrought iron railings how the other half live eh! I arrive at Stanley Street to find a perfectly formed immaculate but very little shop this was not what I had imagined I was expecting I large shop with beautiful rooms adorned with Cabbages and Roses covered furniture and wallpaper like this so I'm a little disappointed I browse through the shop ohhing and arr hing at the small but perfectly displayed items.

Next stop Cath Kidston a short walk away on King Road I'm spoilt for choice in there I have to buy something I spend ages looking at every item I can't decide what to buy eventually I buy this sticker book which contains over 200 adorable stickers for home , office and everywhere in between.

Times a ticking by but I love the Kings Road I've never been here before the shops are great Graham And Green, Designers Guild and lot's of gorgeous individual shops I keep thinking I must be on my way to the Country Living Fair but I cant walk past these shops every one is tempting me inside with their beautiful window displays. After tearing myself away from Kings Road I eventually arrive at the fair at 2.00pm, I am shattered but oh so eager to explore I get some rest bite in the cafe and then head for the stalls I circle each level not to miss out on anything I marvel at it all. All my kind shops under one roof I'm excited to look at the stalls Caroline Zoob, Jan Constantine and Susie Watson whose Internet shops I love to browse and do pretend shops at! I spend a stupid amount of time staring at the Suzie Watson stall but again I don't buy the trouble is if I had bottomless pockets I would go mad but I don't.

From Caroline Zoob I buy one of these a kind of vintage looking mail holders I love it it's going to end up by the front door no more post and paperwork will be cluttering up my dresser! From Dot Com Gift Shop I buy these,

this
and this

Some polka dot paper napkins, a snowflake cookie cutter, a dotty beaker which I'm using as a desk tidy and a wonderful dove shaped paper garland which a noticed in cl magazines Christmas issue last year which I'm so pleased I got my hands on , see the smallest things make me happy! From two other stalls I also buy this twig heart for my garden room

and this Greengate table cloth which I've folded to use as a runner for the bargain price of £10 I absolutely love it it matches my colours perfectly in my through room it's my favourite purchase of the day.

Another purchase were these two candle votives sorry for the dodgy photo there so pretty when their lit. I also buy a Christmas present for Emily a pretty dress for a dolly. I stay till the end 6.00pm I am dead on my feet I browse the posh shop's at the station and head home on the 7.00 train I am so grateful for the sit down on the train and I'm eager to get home to my home and family who I'm starting to miss it has been such a fab day and I can't help feeling that it is something I would love to repeat year after year.

Ps The garden room is finished so my next post I'll give you a tour!

Sarahx

Sew Fabulous Fabric

2008-10-22T01:58:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I received this gorgeous book I won from http://theflourloft.blogspot.com/ the girls had recently had this book published and were giving away 3 books to celebrate their book being hot off the press which they co wrote together. Ginny and Alice had their own company making all sorts of items using vintage and found fabrics they were approached at the Country Living Fair and asked if they would like to write a book and that's how Fabulous Fabric came about. Guess who was the lucky winner of one of their books? Me that's who!! It felt like winning Willy Wonka's golden ticket out of over 50 comments I was one of the lucky 3! Yes I am feeling very smug about it how lucky I am I? I was completely delighted and could not wait for it to arrive. When it did land on my doorstep I was not disappointed not only did they send me their book I got a beautifully wrapped parcel which inside contained this starter kit containing 8 different beautifully patterned fabrics, felt, denim, some tweedy woolly type fabric, some cards and envelopes for making handmade cards and some corsage pins.

They have written a little message inside the book for me and also sent a stunning handmade card sorry there's no photo I have misplaced where I have put it this morning (what a narna!) I've put it a little too safely away as I want to frame it for my summerhouse, den, studio, office oh dear I don't know what to call it now autumns here summerhouse just doesn't sound right!

The book is separated into 4 sections Home Making, Out and About, Let's Celebrate and Lasting Memories at the back of the book there are patterns for the 20 projects in the book. It also has a fabric focus tip for each project recommending what fabrics work well .

What I love about the book is that it focuses on using recycled fabrics it has a really good section of sourcing fabrics. I love the idea of reusing fabric I have saved a lot of Emily and Elliotts baby clothes so that I can use the pretty patterns again in a cushion or picture so that I can keep them and enjoy them everyday. I now have something new to hunt for in the charity shops usually I head straight for the bric a brac but reading this book has inspired me to take a closer look at the clothes so I can add to my growing collection of fabrics.
The 20 projects in the book are all ones I'd like to have a go at, there are ideas for using every last scrap of fabric and scope for putting your own personal take on each project. Here are a few of the pages I have photographed. The photographs really are beautiful it is a really pretty book that would make a lovely gift for someone who is creative or maybe a treat for one self ?

Above a cosy draft excluder using found tweed, woollens and boucles.

A patchwork floral fairy cushion

Child's artwork made into a picture

Flower Corsages

Handmade Cards

I'm really looking forward to rummaging through my fabrics and having ago at one of the projects but what to start first I like them all? I have some nice tweedy fabric in my stash from a pair of Emily's old trousers think I'm going to have a go at a winter style corsage for myself. A special thankyou goes out to Ginny and Alice for sending me your book I am going to get lot's of enjoyment from it and it's just the inspiration I need to get sewing again.

Embracing Autumn

2008-10-13T02:30:00.000-07:00

Hi all yes I'm still here, I know I'm a useless blogger I'm just finding it really difficult at the moment to find time to blog which really annoys me. Smack my hands must try harder to update my blog and I have lots of catching up to do with everyone apoligies all!!

Well were well into autumn now and I'm really enjoying the new season. I'm enjoying the cosiness in the house, snuggling up under a throw on the sofa having the lamps on. Putting the heating on which feels like a real indulgence and lighting a few candles! I wish we had a real fire though I'd love that were going to convert ours when we have our extension I'm very jealous of those of you who have one I'll just have to be patient and wait. Also covering up my lilly white legs and wearing cosy clothes is a real bonus I really don't like getting my legs out and the more covered up I am the better!

So it was a beautiful warm day yesterday here in Derbyshire so off we went for a walk in the woods. We headed for Ambergate the village where I grew up and for shining cliff woods and off we went on our little adventure. We made our way through crunchy leaf paths and some very soggy muddy paths. We did a circular walk we just followed our noses I got a bit worried at some parts as there were different paths and we were just guessing at which direction to take and felt a bit lost, being stuck in the middle of the woods with a 1 and 3 yr old would not be a good situation to be in would it? But we did take the right route and was ok! We saw lots of squirrels, acorns and chestnuts and even a few mushrooms! The sun was creating a dappled effect shining rays through the towering trees just stunning. Every so often we would see a drift of leaves falling from the trees onto the wood floor which was covered in a carpet of orange red and gold leaves. Halfway through our walk we were rewarded with the sight and sounds of this brook running down through the wood and on our way back we stumbled upon about six houses that are actually in the woods what a fascinating and very private way to live it must be very spooky at night though. Not my cup of tea I've watched Blair Witch too many times!

Emily managed to walk most of the way and Elliott travelled in style in the backpack after doing a bit walking too. At one point Steven was carrying both of them with Emily on his shoulders! It was great to get out and enjoy the great outdoors hopefully depending on the weather we will do something similar this weekend. Sorry for the dodgy photo the next one is better I love the photo of the tree.

Looking towards the end of the month I'm starting to think about Halloween and giving the pumpkins a go in the CL magazine also I've got my ticket for the Country Living Christmas Fair next month how excited am I . I've never been to one before so I'm really looking forward to it.

Hopefully I will be here more often from now on, the summerhouse is coming on well and will hopefully be finished soon Steven and my dad have been working flat out on it so will be posting some pics of that. I've also been the very lucky winner of Ginny and Alice's book 'Fabulous fabric' which deserves a post of it's own so thanks girls I LOVE your book!

Have a good week all!

Sarahx

Our girly treat!

2008-09-18T02:12:00.000-07:00

I mentioned a couple of posts back that I was going to take my daughter somewhere special as I'm very aware that this will be my last year having her at home with me before she starts school full time and I just thought she deserved a nice treat. I also feel that she has very little one to one time with me as Elliott will have that when Emily starts school. She's just started at a new nursery too and has been doing very well and taking it in her stride I was worried we were going to have tears but she's excited every morning to go and her teachers are very pleased with her and say what a lovely little girl she is this week I collected her one morning to see her clutching this

The teacher had given her star pupil for sitting nicely at story time and gave her a ring and a wand how lovely is that? As you can imagine I'm so pleased that she seems to be settling in well it is a lovely little nursery attached to the school I think she will be fine there.

So her special treat was to go and see The English National Ballet perform Angelina Ballerina!

I love the embroidery on these shoes she wore I bought them for £5 Monsoon sale a year ago and I've been willing her feet to grow into them and they finally fit!

Before the show we has a little bit of girly shopping we went to all of Emily's favourite shops including this one her absolute favourite The Disney store so she's already shown me lots of things she wants from Santa which includes the entire Disney Store oh dear!!

Then we stopped off at the Thornton's Cafe for some delicious chocolate mouse cake and headed for the theatre.

This was Emily's first time to a theatre and didn't really know what a ballet was until last night. There were lots of other little girls all dressed up in pretty dresses chattering away in anticipation of seeing Angelina!
The Ballet was gorgeous it was an hour long with a 15 minute interval adapted from the Angelina Ballerina story books, Angelina is putting on her own show of Sleeping Beauty, act 1 is the rehearsals and act 2 is the actual performance. It was a cast of nine dancers the costumes and sets were amazing and it really brought the story to life I kept having a sneaky peek at Emily's face and she was smiling away and mesmerised by it all!

To round the night off we had a ride on this an enormous big wheel which was outside the theatre.

I was quite nervous as to whether Emily would be ok on it but she pestered the life out of me to go on it and insisted she was not scared so after checking that 3yr olds were allowed on it we hopped on. We has a lovely time cuddled up together staring out over the night sky and city lights Emily loved it it was one of those happy moments that I'll never forget.

I am so lucky to have a beautiful caring 3 year old and I'm really loving the little lady she's growing into. This morning we woke up to beautiful clear blue skies on our walk to nursery she nattered all the way about Angelina and hasn't shut up about it all day so I think she really enjoyed her treat and hope she will remember it I certainly enjoyed spending some mummy and daughter time one to one and doing some really girly stuff.

It went ok!

2008-09-12T12:59:00.000-07:00

With a sigh of relief I'm happy to say Emily started pre school this morning and it all went well. It felt funny to be up at the crack of dawn feed organise and dress them both to be out the door for 8.30 for our 10min walk to school usually mornings at our house go at a very slow pace Emily is always up at around 6.30 anyway but there is no rush to go anywhere so we are used to lazy mornings in our pjs. Not anymore! I have this school run for the next 16 years gone are our leisurely mornings Arrgh!!!! None the less I had everything ready they both had their porridge and there was no crazy dashing around and I even managed to wash the pots before I left. She was not keen to put her uniform on I already had guessed that this was going to be a problem as she's so used to wearing pink and likes to choose her clothes! So I got a little present for her to open ONLY when she had put her uniform on!

This worked to a certain extent she hurriedly got dressed very quickly to open her pressie then announced that she was going to get undressed and put some proper clothes on aarrgh after lots of wining I managed to distract her with a jigsaw! After that things went smoothly she told me she was a big girl and was not going to cry! We got to the nursery she took off her coat and hung it on her elephant coat hook and I sat her down at a computer to play a game ( she loves playing on computers and amazes me with what she can pick up)I told her I was going to talk to the teacher and said bye to her and she was fine didn't even turn around to watch me go she was just happily sat playing a game.

I just hope things will continue this way with no blips but you never no only time will tell but for now at least I can remember her first day with a proud smile.

Our summer is over and a new start

2008-09-08T07:02:00.000-07:00

So it seems our summer is officially over and so the weather is trying to tell us too. This is the horrendous weather our back garden suffered last week, non stop heavy rain followed by thunder and lightening and then huge hailstones!Lovely! Emily starts at a new nursery on Friday she's doing mornings at the primary school nursery where she will attend in a years time. So uniform and new shoes are ready waiting.I just hope that she will settle in well and be happy there. I have everything crossed for no tears and upset. It should be good for her they try and include the nursery as much as they can with the school so hopefully when she starts school it won't be such a huge experience for her. I have been reading about everyone's little people starting at school in blog land and I'm very aware that this will be me next year so I plan to treasure every moment of my last year with her at home. That's why I have a very special surprise for her next week were having a mummy and daughter night out so will blog about that soon!

Looking back at our summer holidays we've all enjoyed each others company most of the time. Of course there's been tears and tantrums and pulling my hair out moments but all in all we've kept ourselves very busy and the summer has passed us by very quickly.

We've had jigsaws,games,building blocks dancing,singing,reading,biking,paddling pool fun,baking,playing with friends,painting,drawing,chalking on the patio,donkey rides, swimming picnics and lots more.

Daddy's had a bit of time off so we've enjoyed some fun days out to the Sea life Centre and Alton Towers. Also walks in the peak district this is Dovedale about 30 min's drive from our house it's a very beautiful valley with a river running through it. The fun bit is crossing the stepping stones. It was very busy so unfortunately there are lots of people on the photos.

I've also won a award. thank you so much to Jane from the blog http://jane-petticoatlane.blogspot.com/ Jane is quite new to blog land and her blog is a great read and she never fails to tickle me go check her lovely blog out.
I'm a bit late with this award and I think it's been passed on quite alot so I'm going to pass this on to everyone who reads my blog as you all really make my day.

Quick update on the summerhouse sorry no photos I don't think pictures of soil and wires would please you! We have been plodding on with the electrical side so I won't bore you with that. I have picked up a junk shop chair for it which I am making a loose cover for so will keep you updated when I have something to show.

That's all for now be back soon with news of our girly night out!

Sarah x

Painting, painting and more painting................

2008-08-17T13:03:00.000-07:00

Thank you for all your lovely comments about my summerhouse and garden it has just reminded me of what a lucky lucky girl I am to have a space of my own and has really motivated me to crack on with the painting. We have a fab garden but to honest it really has to look after itself this year and it really is looking a bit dull and unkept. We were very lucky to inherit lot's of mature plants and trees when we moved here I do have high hopes for my garden when the children are a bit older I hope to devote more time to it.

This week I've started the painting and what a mammoth job it is! I've been painting every evening after I've put the little one's to bed and have painted until dark in all weathers sheltering under the veranda in the rain! I do enjoy painting and find it quite relaxing I love to see the end transformation but this is going on and on and some nights I've had to force myself to do it. Anyway enough of the waffle here's some pics what do you think?

Less posh shed more nice summerhouse me thinks!
I love the little veranda I'm looking forward to taking a break on here with a cuppa and a magazine!

this shows the side of the summerhouse where there is another window.There's still I reckon another weeks work of painting to get the outside completely finished. Then we can crack on with the inside. My minds been buzzing with what we are going to do with the inside. Here's what the inside looks like at the moment. It's really hard to photograph as it's quite small! Oh dear not very inviting is it there's a huge amount of work to do in here were going to insulate everywhere to make it warm and line the walls in tongue and grove. It's all going to be done on a shoestring budget so I will be searching ebay and freecycle for furniture. I've managed to pick up a heater on freecycle so far. I'd like an old comfy chair to reupholster and I'm after an old table to use as my desk, there is a handy shelf in the roof space where a plan to stack my material out of reach of little hands!

As for the decor I've decided to go out of my safe zone of pastel colours and go for bright bold colours . I've been really inspired by colour since starting blogging especially by two of my favourite blogs http://attic24.typepad.com/ and http://lavenderhouse.typepad.com/ who both use colour so beautifully in there homes. I'm hoping to inject some real fun colours into my summerhouse the tongue and groove will be white but all my accessories bright colours. Here's some pages from magazines that have inspired me.I love the chair in the above pic and have searched everywhere for something similar but nothings turned up. I've also picked up these folders I love them they were great value to from Asda. I have heaps of paperwork to sort out so these will be ideal.Hope you all had a good week the weather has been miserable hasn't it but I hear that it's going to clear up and we will see some sunshine this weekend I'm keeping my fingers crossed! Hope whatever your up to this bank holiday weekend it's a good one!
Sarahx

Weve just bought a ...................

2008-08-11T15:52:00.001-07:00

Yeah I'm so excited about it I've been wanting one for ages I don't know what it is but there's something so appealing to me about a tiny house a little hideaway to escape to. It's going to be my sewing room/office a place for all my paraphernalia all my piles of material, craft stuff, paper work that I have stuffed away in drawers and cupboards. The computer will be going in there too. I'd like to call it my studio but at what point do you call it a studio? Probably when you earn money from it that's something I would love to do in the future when I have more time on my hands. Hopefully it will be a little retreat somewhere to be quiet and be creative away from the chaos of the house and a place to blog till my hearts content!

We bought it off Ebay we were looking for a used one then stumbled across this one never been erected they were selling it as they were moving house. My poor husband begrudgingly drove all the way to Manchester a 4hr drive there and back as we got lost twice! When we got there we had to prize the top off it as it would not fit in the van don't ask!

This is what some of it looked like when we got it home-

So here's what we have done so far our old shed was on the slabs in this picture below

We have laid another base in the other corner of our garden and moved our old shed to here I did want to get rid of this shed all together as I thought it would look a eye sore but I'm really pleased it's quite hidden here and you can't see it at all, from the top of the garden. We desperately need it for all our tools and garden stuff anyway.

On Sunday Steven and my dad spent the whole day putting it up mum came to help with the kids and I made cups of tea, fed everyone and did bits to help. At the end of the day it looked like this:-

What do you think? In this picture it looks very shed like I need to transform it now into pretty summerhouse. It's quite small there's enough room for a desk, plenty of shelves and a comfy chair I really like the little veranda I'm thinking of putting a bench on there the view from the veranda looks back on our cottage:-

And from the top of our garden looking back at the summerhouse :-My job is the painting which I have started on an evening it's going to be Farrow and Ball Pigeon Green which is the same colour as our front door and gates. The paint in the picture is just an undercoat.

I'm going to bore you with a list of what's left to do! It's got to be cosy in the winter so there's lot's to do:

Get electricity down there,
insulate it,
line it with tongue and grove ooh I love tongue and groove!
put some flooring down.

I'll be back soon with an update and my ideas for the inside that's the bit I'm looking forward too.Here's what it should look like when it's finished!

Gosh I've a lot of painting to do!

Have a good week all!

Sarahx

Kitchen dreams and holiday fun

2008-08-09T02:52:00.000-07:00

Here are my new kitchen shelves which I painted a few weeks back. Although I love my house I really dislike my kitchen it's tiny two people in there and it feels overcrowded! We plan to have an extension at some point with a large kitchen and an extra bedroom. I was desperate for a clear out so that's where the shelves idea came in on a unused wall. My food cupboard was unbearable to the point of a was scared to open the doors as often a tin of beans would come crashing down on my head! So urgent action was needed and I bought some cheap shelves from B&Q and set to work on painting them and in listed the help of my dad who is a retired joiner (very handy!) to put them up on the wall.I was surprised at how many storage jars I had being unused so now they are all filled up with various food and ingredients and have freed up an enormous amount of space on my cupboards. So I am now really enjoying this little area of my kitchen believe me it is a lot prettier then the orange pine cupboards behind it! My ideal kitchen would have an aga enough room for my pine farmhouse table and chairs and my old pine dresser (which are in my dining room) lots of shelves to display collected kitchenalia a pantry style tall store cupboard and would be part conservatory overlooking the garden I don't want for much do I! Oh maybe one day but until then I will have to dream!

Well it's been a while since I last posted and I have been enjoying having my Emily around in the house more. (she normally has 2hrs nursery in the afternoons). We have seen various friends and their children more often than we usually would and it's lovely to see little friendships forming. We have been to the swimming baths regularly and Emily's confidence has grown enormously and she no longer wants us to hold her and is happy to go by herself and Elliott has gone from being very scared and crying a lot to giggling and splashing around and really enjoying himself too!

This is when we had a really hot day a few weeks back and we had homemade lollies which made a right mess dribbling down their chins and clothes but the enjoyment on their faces made it all worthwhile and they both managed to finish them so more are in the freezer waiting for another hot day!

This is another day when we made Angel delight much enjoyment came from licking the spoons and I let Elliott feed himself his face was a picture so the camera came out again! More mess but it was fun.
I will leave you with a few purchases I've be meaning to put on here for a while

A posy of china flowers a pound from a charity shop.

My new umbrella it's cream with black spots

A garden lantern from the Laura Ashley sale.

Back in a few days with something special to show you that I'm soooo excited about!!

Have a good weekend!

Sarahx

My first award and the holidays begin!

2008-07-24T12:41:00.000-07:00

I have been awarded the brilliant weblog award from Carol at 'Katherines Dream' it is awarded for text and photos. Thanks Carol for choosing me it is my first award and I was very excited to receive it! Carols blog http://katherinesdream.blogspot.com/ is lovely do visit her blog I always look forward to her posts.

The rules are I now need to pass this on to seven other blogs, so here's who I have chosen:

Natalie @http://summerbythesea.blogspot.com/ lives 5 mins from the sea has a interiors shop and enjoys knitting and sewing.

Vannesa@http://justoriginal.blogspot.com/has her own online shop which sells beautiful handmade home accessories and gifts all made by herself.

Sara @http://all-about-eden-saraeden.blogspot.com/ also loves to sew and has a wonderful online shop selling her handmade items, she loves Cornwall and enjoys photography.

Lisa @Periwinke http://periwinklepark.blogspot.com/ blogs about home life with her gorgeous boys and enjoys sewing and cooking.

http://lavenderhouse.typepad.com/ inspiring beautiful photo's lives by the sea with her family, I love her colourful creative style.

Anne @http://fabricandbags.typepad.com/ about her start up business designing and creating fabulous bags.

Faye @Country Chic http://thechiccountryhome.blogspot.com/ has her own online store which sells gorgeous french,country shabby chic style home accessories.

Sorry if any of you have already received this award!

Emily finished nursery on Tues and all the playgroups we regulary go to have stopped so were in full on holiday mode pj's on till dinner time ssshh don't tell!! In September she will start at the nursery where she will be going to school. She calls it BIG nursery !

While Elliott was having his mid morning sleep today Emily did some painting. Here she is getting stuck in.

This is her favourite activity stick a paint brush in her hand and she'll sit quietly for ages. She did ask me to join in and then said that mummy likes to paint walls and fences!!!! (I'm painting the picket fence in our front garden at the moment!) Then she said mummy can I paint the wall like you?!! Bless I love the little things she comes out with I did explain to her that this was a mummy only job with special paint out of a big tin not for little girls! I think I will let her have a go next time I do a bit of painting.

Weve had the 3rd barbecue of the year this evening it was lovely to sit in the garden on our deckchairs with a glass on wine!

Hope your all enjoying this warm spell of weather hope it lasts through the weekend for us all!

Sarahx

Bags of style

2008-07-18T14:42:00.000-07:00

Look what arrived for me today a new bag I'd been eyeing this bag up for a while from here http://jojomamambebe.co.uk/

Isn't it lovely I think it's very Cath Kidston I just love the red with white polka dot's. I love red it's such a happy, vibrant. bold make a statement colour. Although my favourite colour is blue I think red is a close second. Anyway back to the bag it was a very reasonable £5 with free postage it's huge and has a zip. I'm going to use it as a laundry bag as my old pop up net thingy ma jig is broken. Or you could use it for storage or for your supermarket shopping. Just thought I'd share some bag love with you.

My other new love is this

Yes I've fallen head over heels in love with http://joulesclothing.com/ clothing. For ages their little catalogue kept arriving on my doormat and I would flick through it admiring their gorgeous clothes and put it to one side I never spend a lot on clothes if I spend it's always something for the house.

Whilst on holiday in St Ives I came across a boutique selling Joules clothes well I had to try some on and temptation got the better of me and I brought this dress for a just £30 I was surprised at the price thought it was quite reasonable.

Isn't it pretty I just love those seaside stripes and it's so flattering on. It's the same dress on the front of their catalogue I'd love the yellow cardie but I already have got a pink cardie that looks nice with it.

Back from hols I had a big sort out of my wardrobe and realised that I don't actually like any of my clothes. I don't know about you but I'm actually rubbish at clothes shopping I'm always on the lookout for pretty little tops but can never find what I'm after so end up buying something that is totally not me. Usually it's is from the supermarket as this is the easy convenient place to shop for clothes with the little ones. It's usually something that's in one season out the next, throw away fashion! That's exactly what I've done with some of my clothes they have either gone off to the charity shop or gone on EBay to raise fund's for more Joules clothes!

I since purchased another three tops from the little catalogue and it's left me wanting more I just feel so much better wearing these clothes I have a smile on my face deciding which to wear instead of just grabbing some t-shirt. I just love their attention to detail little different coloured buttons, some embroidery here a bow there. Pretty tea dresses and lot's of 50's inspired clothes I love that style and their descriptions in the catalogue. For my Jo Jo dress ' you'll look perfect in this dress as you don the bunting out around the village green'! I know I won't be exactly doing that more like pegging the washing out on the line with Elliott tugging at my dress! But it's the lifestyle concept that they paint that's so appealing! Even the labels are nice!

Yes I am smitten I've never been interested in clothes shopping much I don't know what's come over me but I think it's worth spending a little bit extra on something that is going to last a lot longer in the long run and they have a 50% sale on at the moment if your tempted! Go on go look I know you want too!

Sarahx

Driving lessons, days out and antiques in the park

2008-07-13T15:52:00.000-07:00

Finally I've got round to updating my blog. It's been on my mind- must do a post but time's been passing me by. Lots of things have been happening here since I last posted, amongst them the most positive thing that's happened is I'm now officially a learner driver and I've had 3 driving lessons to date! I've been putting it off for ages and it feels really good to have started and get over that initial fear. I'm determined to see this through to the end now. I did have a few lessons when I was 18 but that was 16 years ago so it's like starting from scratch. It really will change my life for the better being able to take the kids out wherever whenever instead of being stuck at home. I'll be able to go somewhere different instead of our usual walk to the village round the same old shops and back and this is a BIG incentive. I'll be able to zoom off to those car boots at the crack of dawn without feeling guilty for dragging Steven out of bed on his only proper day off!!

Other things that have happened are playgroup outings as we approach the summer hols, the playgroups all have a little outing before they break up for 6 weeks. Oh no what are we going to do with ourselves for six weeks? I like the usual routine of our get togethers I like to keep busy I'm going to have to find some other activities for us. We've just started swimming with them so that's a start. So far we've had a trip to the Monkey Forest this is the only place in Britain where you can walk amongst 140 barbary macaques roaming free in 70 acres of beautiful forest.

It was quite worrying at first to have a bunch of overly excited 3 yr olds to have monkeys come right up to them but luckily the monkeys were very laid back and not at all bothered by our presence and the whole place is overlooked by keepers to make sure there's no monkey business going on!

The second trip was to Happy Hens. We've been there a few times and Emily and Elliott love it there. It's a child friendly farm- they had a tractor trailer ride and fed the animals. This week I'm meeting with another group for a picnic in the park weather permitting!

On the thrifting front I spent a lovely morning at Kedleston Hall Antiques in the park this is a large antiques fair held in the grounds of the hall. I could have filled a car full with all the things I wanted but lots of things were quite expensive. I just got a few things including a wooden trug for the garden, some vintage wooden cotton reels with pretty labels. This £3 tray, I really like the decorative handles.

It's now been painted in Farrow and Ball Parma Grey. The tea towel was £3.50 in the Cath Kidston sale.

Some blue and white china, I love it's almost faded pattern the dish was £4 and the little jug a pricey £8 but I thought it was worth it as it's so pretty.

Two deckchairs one £5 from the fair and one £2 off ebay the following week, modelled by Emily and Elliott! I ordered some lovely deckchair canvas from Ian Mankin and set to work on painting them.

Mmm notice a bit of a blue theme going on with my purchases can you tell it's my fav colour! I've not quite got used to the deckchairs yet I keep gingerly sitting down thinking they're going to collapse on me, but they seem to be very sturdy I'm sure I'll get used to them if I ever get the chance to sit outside for more than five minutes without it raining!!

I've also been busy painting shelves for my kitchen but they're not quite finished yet. Not a lot of sewing going on in fact zero but I have lots of plans of things I want to make for an etsy shop so hopefully I'll be making a start on them soon when I put down my paintbrush! Bye for now,

Sarahx

Midsummer Fairy Party

2008-06-23T07:13:00.001-07:00

For as long as I can remember I've always had a thing about fairies. When I was little we lived in a bungalow. It a had a fantastic big garden that led from the bungalow up a hill. As you made your way up the garden, you passed three lawned areas with various beds and borders. At the top there was a little gate that led into the woods. From the woods there was a natural stream that ran down the side of our garden. As you can imagine this was my playground and to me a quite magical place where fairies lived! I had hours of fun being away with the fairies! I also loved the Flower Fairy Stories with the beautiful illustrations by Cicely Mary Barker. I managed to pick this book up for Emily for just 50p at a NCT sale which I'm looking forward to sharing with Emily. She has a great little imagination and I'm all for anything that encourages it.I also have a few Fairy ornaments. This one, 'The sewing Fairy' is my favourite. It was given to me by a friend, the cotton reels look so real! Sorry it's a bit blurred think my hands shook when I took it.

When I was handed a leaflet from Emily's nursery saying 'Midsummer Fairy Party' supporting the Wish Upon A Star Charity I decided to take her.

So last Saturday we had a lovely girly time getting dressed up, she even had her nails painted pink like mummies which she's been wanting for ages! This is the best picture, trying to get a three year old to sit still is a hard task believe me so this was taken whilst watching the tv! The tiara is mine which I wore on my wedding day! Better to have some use than being stuck in a dusty box.

So all excited we arrived to find lots and lots and lots of little girls dressed as fairies and adults too it was a lovely sight to see! We even came across some goblins too!

Unfortunately it drizzled the whole time which was a shame as the organisers had put so much effort into it. Luckily I had Emily's pink wellies but lots of little girls had pretty dainty shoes on that got wet poor things! It was cold too so Emily's wings didn't last long as she wanted her coat on!! As we made our way round in the fairy meadow was a marquee full of fun and games another marquee of craft stalls, a fairy post office, bouncy castle and fun fair ride we even met a real unicorn!

After having lots of fairy fun having goes on all the games and getting wet feet on the bouncy castle we were grateful for some warmth so off we went inside for a fairy banquet in the banquet hall. You can just see Emily 4th on the right! Afterwards all the children screamed and laughed out loud at chuckle chops the clown.

Emily really enjoyed herself despite the awful weather and it was a great way to spend the afternoon with her.

Thought I'd show you what I brought back from our holiday in St Ives before I end this post. I got some more bits and pieces for my seaside shelves in my bathroom. The little beach hut, the boat painted onto a piece of driftwood which was made by a St Ives artist, some shells and the mini lobster basket also got a big one for the floor in my bathroom (not pictured).

These are tea towels! I'm quite pleased with how they've turned out all I've done is just pin them up with drawing pins and then rolled them up and tied some ribbon round them took about 5 min's!
They're from a lovely shop on the harbour in St Ives specialising in French home interiors I could have gone mad in there but it was very expensive and my budget only stretched to tea towels £3.99 each.

Finally this picture was a bargain we went into St Ives early on the last day for a full English breakfast overlooking the harbour and I spotted this in a shop window for just £5.00. It's actually a print of Padstow should have been £20 but was reduced because of a tiny mark on the frame.

My bathroom now looks complete with it's seaside look and I'm really pleased with how it looks it just needed a few more bits and it really reminds me of happy days in Cornwall.

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside......

2008-06-16T13:57:00.001-07:00

Well we're back from our holiday in St Ives that we were so looking forward to - and we had a fantastic week we were so lucky with the weather we woke up to blue skies every morning and didn't see a drop of rain. We went with my mum and dad which was great as they got to spend some time with Emily and Elliott which gave us a break.We went to St Ives last year and going back has confirmed that we truly love it there it's a true English seaside town full of character, lovely beaches and the hustle and bustle atmosphere of the town.This is the chalet we stayed in I picked it because the inside was decorated really nice with seaside colours and accessories, there was a big stretch of grass in front of it which was great as the children could play while we sat on the decking watching and then sand dunes to the right.

Mum and dad took Emily and Elliott to Paradise Park so we had a child free day which was bliss we spent the morning here in Mousehole such a picturesque place with hidden alley ways and beautiful cottages on every corner.

I could easily have my own little cottage here. We wandered round picking which one we liked best!

This is me at the harbour, Mousehole has some lovely shops selling local artist's work. We had lunch in a restaurant overlooking the harbour, it was very nice to spend some proper time as a couple.

This is just one of the many pretty cottages in Mousehole.

Look who's coming to St Ives I was gutted it wasn't open probably a good job as I would have spent all my pennies in there! Not a lot of pics of St Ives they're all on my mum's camera sorry!!

Flying a kite outside the chalet Emily and Elliott were fascinated!

Happy Days! Elliott had his first proper paddle and got over his fear of the sand when he ran after a ball and forgot himself! Emily loved going in the sea, last year she was a bit scared this year she paddled right in not a care in the world and really surprised us!

So that's it back to normality we were sad to leave but I'm sure we will return another year.

For those of you interested in what the inside of the chalet looks like you can find it here http://cornishchalet.com just click on chalet in the header bar and the photos will come up.

I'm still here and pretty cushions galore!

2008-06-03T05:44:00.000-07:00

I am still here! Elliotts had chicken pox so I've been in full on mummy mode and not been near the computer at all so sorry I've not been leaving comments like I usually do and have alot of catching up to do,when he's better. Bless didn't think he'd escape it poor boy's covered in awful itchy spots so all in all it's been a miserable month with Emily having it as well.

Just wanted to squeeze in this quick post to show you my pretty cushions that the lovely Abby made me from 'The English Home' aren't they gorgeous the backs of the cushions are natural linen fastened with covered buttons in the same material used on the front. I have two different ones that are on my bed will show you these another time when I do a bedroom post. I'm soo pleased with them trouble is I want more,more ,more our sofa could accommodate afew more of these I'm even considering sticking to these colours throughout the house I love the grey muted blue colour on them! Go take at look at Abby's shop (in my sidebar) I really recommend her she has a lovely selection of fabrics she works with. Doing something special next week that I'm really looking forward to all will be revealed in my next post!

Sarahx

I've been tagged.......

2008-05-24T03:14:00.000-07:00

It was nice to find out I've been tagged twice this week first be Anne at Fabric and Bags and secondly by Vannessa at Just Original thankyou ladies! Ok let's give it a go:
The rules are:-
I have to answer 6 questions about myself. At the end of the post I then get to tag 6 other people and post their names, then go to their blogs and leave them a comment, letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read my blog. Then let the person know who tagged me know I've posted my answers.
1) What was I doing ten years ago?
I was 23 and had been seeing Steven for 5 years. I was working away from home as a dancer believe it or not in a show which was touring all over the country doing theatres,hotels,weddings,business conferences etc..we covered everything from the musicals to what was in the charts!
2)What are 5 things in your to do list today?
Today I have a child free day so will be doing-
-cleaning the house which looks like a bombsite and restoring some calm and order!
-potting up some plants in the garden
- having a coffee break and reading some of my Country Living Magazine
-Buying some fabric off ebay with knights and princesses on which I'm going to make cushions out of for the twosomes castle themed room!
- make pasta for tea
3)Snacks I enjoy
I love chocolate Im into twix's and Dairy Milk bars the bigger the better at the moment
Marmite and butter on toast
Dorset cereal with natural yogurt and honey drizzled on top really nice you should try it!
4)Things I would do if I was a billionaire
Pay off the mortgage and extend this house adding a big kitchen with a aga and an extra bedroom and keep it for Emily or Elliott.
Buy a house for the other one and make sure they both had a comfortable future and good schooling.
Buy a beautiful old house with views in the countryside and one by the sea probably in Cornwall and have lot's of fun decorating them spending huge amounts of money at Cath kidston, green gate and Kate forman!
Give some money to friends and family making sure they were comfortable.
Give some money to a charity.
We'd own our own gift shop/cafe selling beautiful country inspired handmade items from our blogging friends including me!
Buy a VW Campervan and Steven would no doubt buy a couple of top of the range cars
5)Places I have lived
I grew up in Ambergate a small villiage in Derbyshire I've also lived in London and the Isle Of Wight and but mostly Derby.
6) Six peeps I want to know more about:-
Suzie Sews
My life and other beads
Periwinkle
Katherines Dream
Sarah's House
Lucykate Crafts
Sorry bloggers doing that dodgy gap thing to me again how annoying!! I'm off to clean the house now BORRING oh well have a good Saturday everyone.
Sarahx

Birthday treats!

2008-05-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

I wanted to post this much earlier in the week but I've been to busy doing mummy jobs, Emily has chicken pox and the itchiness has been driving her mad at night and she has hardly slept I was up with her watching Mickey Mouse's clubhouse downstairs at 3.00am last night and having to cover her in calamine lotion to ease the itching bless her. Oh the joys of being a mother! I didn't think it would effect her to badly as it's supposed to be kinder to younger children but she's been in a pretty bad way with it. It will be Elliotts turn next I'm sure!

This week I've won another giveaway I could quite get used to this! It was a very pleasant surprise. This time I've won this lovely eco bag the one in the middle with the heart on from Sian at Diary Of A Tinyholder thank you Sian I love it it's very pretty. It will be used on a regular basis as you can see I have a little collection of bags hanging up opposite the front door they all have their uses. My fav Cath Kidston bag, a CK eco bag and a nice plain jute bag behind. It will be very useful to have two eco bags as I find that one is often not enough and then I end up using a carrier bag anyway which spoils the point.
For my birthday outing last week I went to this place http://www.thebottlekiln.co.uk/ It's my fav place to shop around here it has a gorgeous home accessories shop that sells Greengate, Emma Bridgewater,Susie Watson and lots more. It also has a really nice cafe and a beautiful Japanese tea garden which Emily and Elliott ran round with mum and dad while I spent! To our horror we didn't notice the sign till 30 mins later that said 'no children, please help to keep this garden peaceful' whoops! Their must of been some harsh looks and tutting from the people sitting there drinking their tea!
Here's what I spent my birthday money on from my Steven's brother and my sister in law. A Susie Watson jug, a pretty button heart and a East of India hanging sign. Thank you if your reading this!!x I also treated myself to these bit's and pieces for my bathroom shelf's.

For my main present from Steven and my mum and dad I'm having some cushion covers commissioned fromhttp://www.stores.ebay.co.uk/theenglishhome . We've recently won a second hand white corner sofa off ebay and my old cushions just didn't look right. I know I could probably make them myself but I need seven of them and they would take me forever to make with the lack of time I have at the moment I can only manage small projects. Anyway I'm very impatient and want the instant look it's my birthday treat!!

I went to visit Abby to choose the materials. I was overwhelmed with the choice of fabrics, her studio shelf's were stacked from floor to ceiling in the most gorgeous 'Kate Forman', 'Cabbages and Roses' and another company I had not heard of 'Ernest and Matilda' (all in my side bar). It took me ages to make my mind up as I loved them all Steven kept popping his head round the door voicing his opinion and saying no pom pom trim what a meany!!! Mind you I did squeeze in some pleated frills without him knowing! I shouldn't complain he is very open about my style of decorating and says yes to nearly everything. But he does like to voice his opinion on everything at least he's interested I suppose! Elliott would probably pull the pom poms off anyway. In the end I went for some beautiful Ernest and Matilda and Kate Forman fabrics in blues and pinks!

I don't know what I'm doing wrong but I keep getting big gaps appear between text and photos, so I've closed the gaps and now have a big gap at the bottom of my post it's driving me mad is it blogger or me?!

Posh nosh and picnics

2008-05-10T12:14:00.000-07:00

I've finally finished these napkin rings I've been making I'm quite pleased with how they've turned out.The leaves are made from a charity shop jumper that I felted I've never tried it before and was curious to see how it worked the results gave a great texture I'm well impressed that's another thing to thrift for woolly jumpers! To felt a jumper take an old or thrifted jumper must be at least 80 per cent wool and wash at a high temperature to shrink it and voila you have felted wool.

I had to see what they looked like on my table I'm one of those people who can't just throw some knives and forks on the table I have to faff around and make it look pretty. So one night this week we had posh fajitas alfresco style!

What glorious weather we have been having it actually feels like summer has arrived. Emily and Elliott have been enjoying playing outside in the garden we have retrieved the garden toys out of the loft and dusted them down. Elliott absolutely loves being in the garden I don't see him he's either picking daisies, hiding in his tent, kicking the football or pushing his toy pushchair round the garden through the house and back again and again...... I've designated a little area for Emily to have her own small patch of garden to look after so we can plant some little plants there in the next few weeks.

Here they are tucking into their picnic tea! I've also celebrated my birthday yesterday yes I am now 33! I had a birthday outing to my favourite shop around here which sells the most gorgeous things and spent my birthday money so more about that and my other pressies in my next post! Thankyou for all your nice comments on my beanbags it's given me the confidence I needed as I wasn't sure about them. I was going to put them on Ebay but I find Ebay a bit hit and miss and then theres the hassle of packaging them up due to their size so what I've decided to do is save them. I have plans to have my own stall sometime in the future at a craft show when I have built up my stock of various things all shabby chic of course!

Tomorrow were having a barbie for mine and my mums birthday which is next week hope your all enjoying the weekend whatever your up to!

Sarahx

2008-05-03T03:49:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to ask you what you think to these. Their beanbags I made them a while ago with the intention of selling them. You could use them for spare seating, footstools or for a kiddies room. The cover has a zip fastening at the bottom and is completely removable for machine wash. The polysterene balls are sewn inside a inner cube so don't all fly everywhere when you remove the cover! Their made with a mix of Laura Ashley and Cath Kidston fabrics.

I was thinking about trying them on Etsy but I have no idea whether I could list something like this on there.

Anyway I need your feedback be it good or bad I'm open to your opinions. please don't think you will offend me all opinions are good!!

Do you like them?

What price would you be happy to pay for one?

Do you think I should try them on Etsy?

Do you think I should change them in any way?

Or maybe there a no no and I should just keep them for myself!

Elliotts better!

2008-04-28T14:21:00.000-07:00

Hurray Elliott's much better and I'm glad to say back to his usual self. We did have a set back last week he had another infection but with the antibiotics he's been taking it seems to have sorted that out. Thankyou for all your messages wishing him better. Grandma wanted to treat him so off we went to measure him up for his first pair of shoes! Here he is in the shoe shop in his new cute brown leather shoes! Thanks mum!

It seems like the end of an era seeing him walking although it's wonderful seeing him toddling around its also tinged with sadness. To me he's still my baby but I know that in six months time he will be a little boy and will of lost all his babyness. He is my last baby you see (we haven't the space,money or patience for any more!) and I'm trying to treasure all those baby moments. Emily is three and although it was only two years ago her baby days seem like a faded memory. I know I have so much to look forward to with them both on life's journey but sometimes I just wish I could bottle up those special moments so that I could come back to them whenever I wished!

Also thankyou to Sarah at Pink- Petal- Designs who sent me this lovely wrapped parcel I was the lucky winner of her giveaway. I won this....................

..............some lovely knitted mini bunting!

Sarah suggested some knitted flowers in between the flags but slight problem I can't knit, but she did suggest some letters to form a word. I enjoy applique so I'm going to applique the word 'home' on it.

It's a nice small project the smaller the better these days should just about manage that!

Honestly I've been having second thoughts about calling my blog Miss Sew n Sew when theres so many sewing blogs out there full of projects and mines looking rather bare on the sewing front. But I really like the name so I think I'm going to keep it and sew n sew is a good description of me as I can be one quite alot as Steven would tell you!

I love bunting in all shapes colours and forms but this mini knitted bunting will look just great in my hall when I've finished it. Sarah sells lot's of other nice pretty things that she makes in her shop her blog is in my favourites.

Have a good week bloggers!

Sarahx

Not a nice week

2008-04-19T07:34:00.000-07:00

It's been a hectic week here last week and one that I was glad to see the back of. Our baby boy Elliott had an operation last Tuesday I don't want to go into to much detail on here as to what he's had done but it was a general procedure and nothing serious. We've known he had to have an operation since his 6wk check when he was born. He came home the same day and was bright as a button the nurses told me not to let him walk as he had a caudal block and it would take around 6 hrs to get all feeling back from the waist down. Try telling that to a 15mth boy! Well there was no stopping him he was off so me and my mum spent all afternoon doubled up following him round holding the back of his pjs to make sure he didn't fall and do himself an injury!

The next few days he went down hill and has been quite poorly with a fever and been quite weak. He's also had an infection on his wound so is on antibiotics which should sort that out. It is awful to see him distressed and at times all we could do is offer him lots of love and cuddles. We've done a lot of hugs on the sofa and cbeebies watching as he's not wanted to be put down. Above you can see he's thinking move out the way mummy I'm trying to watch the tv!! Emily' been really good seen as her brothers been getting all the attention she's really growing up and it touches me to think how she has this lovely bond with her brother and really cares about him. Hopefully this week he will be much better and things can start to get back to normal around here.

Last weekend I found this shelf unit in a Charity shop it was natural pine I've deleted the before shot off my camera silly me. So here's the after. I've painted it white and lined the back with some ck blue and white polka dot wrapping paper. It goes well in my bathroom trying to do a beach hut type theme in here. I did a makeover on the bathroom last year. When we moved in the walls and window frame were dark green with dark green carpet we couldn't live with it so it had to go! We ripped up the carpet and painted the floorboards white and the walls cream. The good thing about the bathroom was the panelling which we painted blue. The previous owner was a joiner and made this lovely panelling and the window in keeping with the style of the rest of the house.

I couldn't resist this little boat by East Of India when I saw it. Amazingly it has my daughters name printed on it!

No sewing has got done but here's a sneaky peek at what I've been up to and will post pictures of what they are when their finished.

Below is our magnolia tree in our garden it's a picture at this time of year this was taken a few weeks ago it's not looking so good now as it's taken a battering from the rain we've had.

Going to have a nice cuppa now and try to read my country living magazine which lasts all of about 20 seconds before Emily pulls it off me and says let me look Mummy!x

I love a bargain

2008-04-08T13:16:00.000-07:00

Here's the new addition to our dining room I can't tell you how excited I was with my new find! After a trip to the dentist last week whilst waiting for my lift from my lovely dad (I don't drive, having lessons soon). I had a nose in a shop I don't normally frequent in. It usually has really tacky stuff in there, it's a catalogue discount store. In the window was this farmhouse chest from The Cotswolds Company I rushed in and couldn't believe the price £45!!!!! I paid for it right away dad kindly managed to squeeze it in the back of the car and hubbie came home to find a new piece of furniture in the house! I think he thinks I'm mad of late he keeps coming home to find new things appearing in the house I knew he would like it though. Had a look on thw website it sells at £260 yippee what a bargain have no idea why it was so cheap we already have the matching tv unit in the through room so it goes really well.

The knob still hasn't turned up for my radio at least it still works. Going to ring Roberts for a replacement. Been doing a bit of sewing last week so will post some pics of that soon also got a few other finds to show you. The ladies in the charity shops will know me by name soon!

Can you spot whats missing from my Roberts radio?

2008-03-31T15:30:00.000-07:00

I'm very lucky that my mum and dad have Emily and Elliott for the day on a Saturday, unfortunately poor Steven has to work so we don't get much of a family weekend and try to pack everything into Sunday! On a Saturday the house turns into an oasis of calm and I stick on my Roberts radio and busy myself cleaning the house. Then hopefully I get a little me time, check my computer, read some blogs, take a long bath, read a magazine utter bliss! However to my horror this week I went to switch it on and found that a knob was missing arrrh!! and nowhere to be found. I was not a happy bunny!
I think Mr Elliott is the guilty one he's taken to climbing in a big way recently and I've caught him afew times climbing over the sofa onto the side table where it sits and pressing the buttons goodness knows where he's put it. It's not in any of the obvious places, it's not unusual to find things in the fridge, posted inside his toy garage or down the loo! Arrrh it's driving me nuts I'm sure it will turn up in the most ridiculous of places he's also managed to take the batteries out of the remote and hide them too! Cheeky monkey!

Sunday morning we was up bright and early to find lovely clear blue skies so we decided to go to the car boot we had a quick breakfast and took the half hour drive there. I was all eager in the anticipation of what goodies might be there only to find it was not on I was so disappointed. I did however find this vintage canteen set of cutlery in my local charity shop earlier in the week so I suppose this makes up for it. I've been after some cutlery for a while I just love the cream handles on the knives.

On the way back from the car boot we decided to stop off at Calke Abbey. We put Elliott in the new backpack and had a lovely walk by the river. It was so nice to walk somewhere where we couldn't normally get to. Your so restricted to where you can go with pushchairs. Emily really enjoyed it climbing over the stiles by herself and she managed to walk quite along way. We saw canada geese and deer which were fenced off, we were really surprised when one deer came right up to the edge of the fence to say hello. It's so beautiful there and I could of kicked myself for not having my camera with me. The sun shone all day and it really did feel like the first day of spring. I think it's probably my favourite season I just love to see all the trees come into blossom and flowers and plants awakening in such abundance. Heres the magnolia tree in our garden just coming into flower.

Thought I'd better show you some sewing now seen as this blogs called Miss Sew n Sew and not a stitch in sight yet! Here's an applique and embroidered castle I made for Miss Emily sorry about the rubbish photo. It's either going to end up framed or on a cushion not made my mind up yet. I'm starting to get very frustrated on the creativity front. Lately I seem to have very little time to get going on things and spend alot of time thinking about ideas and very little time doing. So sorry if my projects on here are few and far between. I've decided I'm going to try and manage the little time I do have more effectively and spend at least one evening a week being creative!

Here's Miss Emily in the garden looking all cute in the tutu I managed to snap up in The White Company sale. I am so looking forward to more sunny spring days and being able to get out in the garden with the little ones instead of being couped up in the house.
Roll on spring! Hope you all had a lovely weekend whatever you did!

Sarah x

Seem to have a huge gap here and don't know how to get rid of it whoops!

Easter and a parcel in the post!

2008-03-25T06:56:00.000-07:00

I'd like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone whose made the effort to leave me a comment on my blog it's really nice to read your comments and I hope you all re visit my blog soon. I hope you all had a really Happy Easter!

Before I went on holiday I entered Jessica's jug giveaway and to my delight when I got home there was a message waiting, I'd won! I haven't won anything for donkeys years so I was really chuffed! Look what the postman brought me this week the cutest jug you ever did see all beautifully wrapped in pink!

Jessica also put in some extra goodies these pastel mini egg decorations some pom pom decorations and some really pretty lace trim and ribbon. (not pictured) It was so nice to receive something from a fellow blogger I've been admiring her blog for a while The White Verandah it's in my favourites list do go visit it's lovely.

Thanks to Jessica I had enough eggs to do an Easter tree it's a bit bare I've seen far better ones on here but at least I made the effort hey I shall have to look out for some reduced decorations for next year.

We had the family round for Easter dinner Stevens parents and my Brother and Sister In Law and guess what we had?......... Turkey! I know not very Easterery! We had a turkey left over from Christmas don't ask it's a long story. Anyway after tossing several saucepans around my tiny kitchen whilst attending to the needs of my two young children and turning my kitchen into what looked like a bomb site it turned out very well! It even snowed outside while we were eating just to add more Christmas to the occasion anyway it was nice to all get together and we now have loads of turkey leftover! So it's turkey for tea, supper and Stevens pack up!

Holiday snaps

2008-03-16T15:59:00.000-07:00

Were back from our break and despite picking the worst week for weather rain and gale force winds we did enjoy ourselves! Above is the cottage where we stayed. http://slatters-cottage.co.uk/ Its in a village called Bourton-on-the hill I highly recommend it to anyone thinking of staying in the Cotswolds it was a little gem. Emily called it her fairytale cottage. Below my little Elliott looks a bit cheeky in this pic playing with his sis.

This is the pretty kitchen on the opposite side of the room is a huge inglenook fireplace where we enjoyed log fires on the stove in the evenings. This was Emily's room. This is a village called Lower Slaughter it was so peaceful the sun was shining with just the sound of the ducks quacking and splashing around.Also visited the villages Stow, Chipping Camden, Broadway, Bourton On The Water, Burford and fitted in a farm with activity playground and Warwick Castle. The Cotswolds was just as I had imagined very picturesque and full of character the villages were full of antique shops but after struggling through what seems like a obstacle course with a pushchair and a three year old who's like a bull in a china shop I gave up. We did have plenty of cream teas though there were pretty little tearooms everywhere like this one we visited.

Here's my little Emily eating a very large bun with raspberry spread! Its inside the Sally Lunn tearooms the oldest house in Bath which was once a bakery to Sally Lunn. They still bake buns to the exact same recipe today.
The day out to Bath went a bit wrong as it was 1hr 20 Min's drive from our cottage and it wasn't till we got there that we realised we had forgotten to put the pushchair back in the car after drying it off from the rain the day before! So after a few crossed words we ended up searching for a shop and buying this back pack. Mind you it's ended up being one of the best things we've bought its so much more easier to get around on days out. This pic is the roman baths which were amazing well worth a visit. After the Baths we went in search for the Cath Kidston shop all bit shattered at this point supplied Emily with a bag of sweeties to keep her happy. Never been to a Cath kidston shop before there was eye candy everywhere I looked. I treated myself to the glass tumblers also got a pink spot oilcloth gadget case for the new digital camera I'm planning for my birthday!
The toaster is from a shop called Octopus can you beleive we've not had a toaster for 6 yrs as we've always wanted to save for a Dualit one enoughs enough no more waiting for ages with the grill. Its very funky and brightens up my dismal kitchen (yes I don't like my kitchen it's a case of having to make do for now).

Bath had so many really good shops could of shopped till we dropped but it had been a very long day so we headed off back to the cottage.

Stevens back off to work tomorrow for a rest! The children are very full on when he's around because they love to play with Daddy and I'm back to my usual routine my house looks like a Chinese laundry at the moment honestly the amount of washing we get through is ridiculous I just look at it all in despair!

Hello welcome to my very first post!

2008-03-06T03:40:00.000-08:00

I didn't even know what a blog was 6 month's ago until I read an article in a magazine about blogs and thought how strange it was for other people to read all about your life. Anyway I decided to explore since then I've been addicted I've stumbled upon people who have the same interests as me a love of interiors, scouring charity shops and car boot sales for vintage finds, lots of people with amazing creativity making beautiful things and mums just like me enjoying the ups and downs thrills and spills of looking after their children.

I've always thought I was a bit weird being in my thirties and liking the things that wouldn't look out of place in my Grandmas house! My brother in law always jokes that I should of been born in another era! But its nice to know that I am not alone.

I thought it was about time I did my own blog seen as I while away many an hour nosing at your gorgeous homes! Ours is not so gorgeous we live in a Edwardian cottage on a quiet lane it has lots of potential we'd like to add a 3rd bedroom in the loft and add a Edwardian timber conservatory kitchen extension on the back and redecorate throughout not much hey! I do love our little cottage and know that when its finished it will be just perfect for us.

The photo is of my mothers day cards one from my 3 yr old daughter Emily and one from my 14 mth old son Elliott. Daddy chose them obviously! He has very good taste don't you think?

I hope I've not rambled on too much it's very nerve racking doing this first post.Will anyone really be interested in little old me?!

Were off on our hols on Saturday to the Cots wolds should be right up my street lots of beautiful old villages to explore and plentiful gift and antique shops to visit! Will put lots of pics on my next post!