Weekend bits and bobs

It's been a bit of a week around here. Little F came down with a yucky tummy bug a week ago and it's laid him low most of last week. To top things off he woke on Wednesday morning with conjunctivitis too! Poor little lamb. We've all been feeling just a tad fed up I can tell you. 

So in defiance of all this sickiness and the snow as well I got out the Easter decorations on Friday, braved the cold outside to cut some branches from our Elder tree and made an Easter display. I can't believe it's Easter at the end of the week. It just doesn't seem like it could be. We didn't have too much snow here but what we have had is hanging around and the forecast says we'll be getting more towards the end of the week. Where is Spring?

Because of the cold and the poorly boy we had a cosy weekend inside. There was lots of playing and snuggling and book reading. 

I love these little wooden fruits that my Sis bought Little F for his Birthday. He loves to give us all different fruits to pretend eating. Another favourite of mine are these cute wooden houses. Maybe it's because they remind me of this favourite place. I do like wooden toys best. 

Yesterday Lovely S made us a yummy roast chicken. It's been a struggle getting Little F to start eating again after the bug but Daddy's roast dinner and especially the roast potatoes are always a winner. I'm very lucky that Lovely S always cooks the roast on a Sunday. I think it is my favourite meal of the week. Just not having to cook myself makes it taste so much better! Of course we had to indulge in some chocolate treats as well. 

There was more stitching too to cheer myself up. I love to get my little tin of current projects out in the evenings once the boys are in bed. 

I'm obsessed with making these birds at the moment. I've got a number of them now to pop into my shop. 

I think I might add some to my Easter tree as well. 

We're having a very lazy start to Monday morning. I'm pottering doing jobs and housework but I have to admit that we're all still in PJs! We're not going anywhere. We don't have the car today and it's way to cold and snowy to be pushing the pram anywhere. So we'll take it easy. Keep warm and cosy whatever you're doing. See you soon. 

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This and That

It's been a nice weekend despite the chilly weather. Lots of pottering and lots of cosiness in the house. Doing some stitching and eating a yummy Sunday lunch cooked by lovely S for us and my Mum and Dad. The boys have learnt already that the way to Mummy's heart is via chocolate and home made cards. I have a huge box of yummy Lindt chocs that I'm trying to make last but the reality is that with this miserable weather, they'll probably be finished by the end of the week! I'm still really enjoying stitching tiny things for my shop. I'm loving little birds and there will be a number of them fluttering into the shop in time for Easter decorations.  There are also more little brooches in the pipeline. A little Spring colour in this miserable weather. 

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I'm trying to be organised...

So I got myself a lovely new diary. There's something I love about the new year and having a pretty new diary to fill. Makes me feel like I'm going to be a super organised person who remembers every Birthday, Anniversary, appointment etc rather than the slightly dizzy person I actually am these days! 

I had some John Lewis vouchers for Christmas so decided to splurge some of it on a rather lovely Country Living Diary this year. It's a really good size so there's plenty of room for writing everything in, and every double page contains a week, plus a beautiful image taken from the pages of CL mag. I thought I'd share some of my favourites with you.......

In case you're wondering how I'm managing to faff around taking photos of the pages of a diary, both the munchkins are currently asleep. Bliss. I know I could be catching up on the laundry but I'd much rather be taking pretty pictures instead. 

I've also been photographing some more felt brooches I made before Little H arrived which I'm planning to put in my etsy shop when I get a chance. What do you think?

So the smallest munchkin is starting to squeak. Feeding time again! Back again soon. 

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Bright and Cheerful

Hello. Ok, so I just couldn't resist. I know I said I was going to wait until after baby arrives but I changed my mind.

I've popped all the new items I've stitched recently into myEtsy Shop. 

I've been loving making some little felt and button brooches and I had an idea to make some felt tissue holders. It is tissue time of year after all and something pretty is nicer than the plastic wrapper they come in. 

I've got some more things on the go in the making tin and I'm also going to list a few of my older items over the next few days. 

Today we're mostly hanging out on the sofa as little F has some sort of bug. Occasionally being sick and just not really himself. Luckily Fireman Sam helps to make my little boy feel better. That and lots of snuggles from Mummy. Hopefully see you later in the week. 

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We're ready Baby

Morning! I finally managed to take some photos in baby's room this morning although the light is not exactly brilliant. Above is the little nursing chair that used to belong to my Grandma. I made a loose cover for it when I lived in Kew. It's a green denim and isn't what I want on it long term but it kind of works for now. Actually, when I had this chair in Little F's room I had his patchwork throw over it which looked really nice. I'd like to do something similar in this room but will wait until we know what baby is. Above is a lovely picture that my extremely talented Sister made for me a few years ago. She's a textile designer and like me makes accessories and pictures for the home. She makes some really beautiful things, mainly to order sold locally through friends. I keep telling her she should open a shop on line to share her prettiness with everyone. She currently is a child minder so does the making in her spare time but when her youngest starts School next year she's planning on dropping the child minding and going back to the designing full time. I'll keep you posted if she opens an on line shop as you'd love her work. 

Here are the pictures I was making a month or so ago. I'm afraid I didn't get round to filling the fourth frame yet. I will definitely do it, just can't quite decide on the design yet. These are above and to the side of the changing table so will give baby something bright to look at. 

Here's a close up of the little nursing chair. I've popped a cushion on it that I made ages ago. I used to sell this design in my shop but had a couple left. It's a tiny red polkadot with some little floral hearts appliqued down the centre. The two little softies have been around for a while. The cute little bear was purchased from this cute shop on Folksy before I even became a Mummy just because I kind of fell in love with him. The little rabbit was originally bought for Little F but he never really became attached to it. He already has so many favourite softies. So I thought they'd look cute in baby's room instead. 

Here's a better look at that cute heart picture from my Sis and the bunting I've made. The curtains were bought for Little F originally and were from Mothercare. They're just a simple polka dot in multi colours. I've tried to pick out some of those colours in everything I've made and added to the room as they are fairly unisex for now. They also match the linings of the Moses basket which will spend some time in here although for now it is in our room where baby will sleep to start with. 

We moved the cot into here the other day which is earlier than expected as we won't need it for a while. We were planning on buying Little F a 'big boy's bed' after Christmas so he could go into it a month or two before baby needed the cot, but while we were Christmas shopping in John Lewis last week be happened to see a perfect bed for him at a fab price so we bought it then and there. It was delivered on Monday and thanks to my lovely Daddy is now up in his room. We weren't sure if it was all a bit early as he only just turned two but he's taken to it like a duck to water. Suddenly such a big boy. I have to admit to having a little cry on the first night after he'd snuggled down. I'm not very good with these milestones. 

I hope you liked the little look at the nursery. Sorry they are so dull. Would have been better on a sunny day but they're in short supply around here at the moment. 

So I'll leave you with some brightness. A sneaky peek on some of the things I've been working on the last few evenings. I'm gathering quite a collection of new designs for the shop. I really want to get them in the Etsy shop but I'm thinking it might be easier to wait until after baby is here in case I make any sales and can't get them posted due to be in labour! I'll let you know when they're available. 

Have a great weekend. 

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Decision Made

Thank you for your responses to my previous post. Having thought about it I have finally made some decisions about my shop. Firstly, I have opened up my little blog shop again. You can find the link to it at the top of the screen just under my banner. I will be adding items to it as and when I have the time for the time being with the not too distant arrival of baby. I've added paypal buttons to all the items so purchase is simple and you can leave me a comment if you want any further information about something of if you would prefer to pay for an item by cheque. It seemed from what people were saying, etsy is more popular than Folksy which I have long suspected. So I am slowly running down my stocks in Folksy as items expire or are sold and I will be concentrating on Etsy in the New Year. Given that my time is going to be very limited until Christmas I don't want to revamp the Etsy shop until the New Year as I want to do it properly. And as I have my little blogshop my shock can go in there for now so it is still available. I'll let you know when the Etsy shop is open again though. So that's that. Decision made. Thanks for your advice. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Early morning stitching

A peaceful start to the day today which was much needed as little F has kindly passed his cold germs to me. The rain was tipping down so we put on a lamp and lit a candle at the breakfast table. As little F munched his toast and marmite and chatted away to me (we're getting some 3 word sentences now!) I took out the hand stitching I started last night in front of the TV.

 

This morning we've had fun with a visit from a new friend and her little boy. He's 3 and a bit so older than little F but a very sweet boy so they played happily together and enjoyed vanilla fairy cakes that I baked last night. Luckily the rain stopped for just a little while so we hurriedly put on coats and boots(is it really June?) and headed round the corner to our local park for some much needed fresh air.

 

The sun had finally come out and I'm now enjoying a bit of peace and quiet while little F naps. The cold has really kicked in now but I'm having to suffer it as I don't like to take even paracetamol while pregnant. Lemon and hot water is good though. Time for some blog browsing now and perhaps one of those vanilla cakes? 'Feed a cold'! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

Dotty lavender bag available here.