French Knots

Creating

While 'he whose tummy is always empty' had a quick nap between feeds I rustled up some thank you gifts for friends who had kindly passed on some nursery furniture.

It was Pebbledash who posted about recycled Toast and it lodged in my brain. In the wee small hours as my mind drifted during feeding I came up with an idea that was quick to make but, hopefully, touching to receive.

I stamped some wooden pegs, backed some pleasing images from the aforementioned Toast brochure and chose some of my sweet hearts - lavender filled sachets made from recycled fabric. I stiched the hearts inside brown paper parcels instead of wrapping them in the usual way. Once the notecard was pegged to the parcel I was pretty pleased with result.

 

If I get time I'm going to make some more for the end of school year teacher's presents from the big children as they have 5 teachers between the 2 of them I need a simple solution. Though Mr L might not appreciate a lavender sachet.....!

Small bit of love

The world is such a small place, connecting with people half way round the world via our blogs has made it smaller still. The horrifying news about the bushfires in Australia,all the people affected are in our thoughts. I looked at my children and imagined for a moment how they would fare without their beloved cuddlies. 

If enough of us send a small bit of love perhaps it will help a little.

    

Just needs stuffing then will be ready to post to The Toy Society.

You can also help with donations and packages at

 Rainbow comfort packs   

Handmade Help

Red Cross  (UK)

Sew Christmassy

In line with my cheerful frugality approach to life these days I decided I would try and make as many Christmas presents as possible using what I already have. This is no hardship as I have boxes full of fabric, jars of ribbon and buttons and using what I have is more satisfying than just going out and buying more stuff.

So repurposing began, unused pillowcases - 70s perhaps?- bought at the jumble became peg bags

 

An old sheet in a funky flower pattern became a bed pocket, with the addition of an embroidery I saw on someone's blog - I can't remember where so if it is you please let me know so I can credit you properly (and it's a little present for my niece so I hope you don't mind me copying your sweet bedtime picture)

 

The bed pocket has a long flap to go under the matress and the pocket can hang by the pillow to hold a book, a torch or other special treasures.

Unlike the government I don't believe that borrowing and spending is the answer when times are tough financially, I would rather save my money and be a bit more inventive and creative when coming up with Christmas presents.

A rummage through my embarrasingly large fabric stash came up with a super selection of fabrics to make a Wee Wonderfuls robot, I've had the pattern for a couple of years so it was time it saw the light of day.

   

I had almost forgotten the lovely fabric I bought bought earlier in the year with a patchwork cushion in mind. I added a little pocket and made a matching neckerchief for the bear, perfect for cuddles

 

Sew ( yes I'm enjoying that pun, sorry!) my Christmas list has shrunk to just a couple of things, including an embroidered stocking that I started before last Christmas and I'll be really pleased if it's finished for next Christmas! 

Busy, Busy

Goodness how did I ever find time to go to work!? I love the bustle of this time of year but find I'm flagging by mid afternoon, which is a great deal better than a few weeks ago. Last week got off to a shaky start as the Doctor sent me to hospital worried that I might be loosing amniotic fluid, happily 6 hours later (!) I was home again safe in the knowledge that I was not but having leant that Tena Lady may well figure in the future and also to avoid sneezing!! Nearly halfway now, 18 weeks today.

The week took an upturn from there as I had been invited to sit on the Citizens Jury for Midwifery run by our local Primary Care Trust. It was a facinating three days, we heard evidence from midwives, obstretricians, staticians, finance experts and had some heated discussion amongst ourselves. It focussed on the fact that my local area is loosing it's maternity unit ( something to do with bringing services ' closer to home' - yeah right) and we were assessing the need for a Midwife Led Unit to serve low risk women in this area. Without that, the only place to give birth would be at home or by travelling outside the area to a big maternity unit at a hospital where it is already hard to park and people feel they are on a conveyor belt. Possibly I am biased, given my current condidtion, but I voted in favour of it and a report will be sent to the jurors in a couple of weeks before it is presented to the PCT. It was great to use my brain a bit more than usual, ok so I've been learning spellings and times tables with The Big Sister but that's not the same! It's an aspect of my working life I had not realised I missed, analysing information, questioning, probing, assessing - the lunches were pretty good too!

I've made some progress on my list of Christmas presents - how are you doing?  

 

A little quilt for a certain someone, the first I've made.Well more of a patchwork blanket reallyas I didn't actually quilt it, perhaps next time.

My Christmas Swap has arrived with Tracey my partner and hers is here too.........of course we couldn't wait to open them

 

This is what I sent, hopefully she is an apron person,the soft trees were all over blogland a couple of years ago and I decided to make mini yo yos for the baubles 

I really enjoyed the hand sewing and, time permitting will make one or two to add to my Christmas decorations.

Tracey really spoilt me

   

She is a talented needle woman, the bag is wonderfully made, so neat and absolutley perfect and the decoration is really sweet with it's embroidery. Thank you Tracey for being my partner, I hope everyone else is as happy with their swap surprises.

Coming up roses

How scrumptious are these? After getting soggy feet at the school fete the other week I decided some wellies were need, pretty ones naturally seemed best and a quick browse on Ebay found a shop selling these cheerful boots.

And so appropriate as I want them in case it is chucking it down on Thursday next week when I'm going to The RHS Show at Tatton. A group of us are going and I'm looking forward to the show gardens, courtyard gardens, back to back gardens, ogling the £10,000 playhouses for the palatial back garden I don't have, coveting the entire contents of the Country Living Pavilion and lugging home lots of luscious new plants. So even if it rains I'm going to have a super day.

Thank you for all the allotment advice! I think I'm going to make some raised beds if only to break up the huge expanse of plot and will be taking my journal with me to Tatton to note down ideas too. The children are keen to get things growing - My Little Helper wants to grow potatoes so he can make chips!

A little sewing done too, a laundry bag obviously but only for clothes that are not too grubby as it's too pretty for anything mucky! I recycled an old heavy cotton sheet and a sweet little embroidered mat, with a bit of thread that matched the original hand embroidery quite nicely, it was soon done. I get so much satisfaction from repurposing old things into something new, in fact my husband has a new shirt that I've got my eye on, once it's worn out of course, it will make lovely patchwork or bunting.

And for a friend who gets married soon  

 her 'something blue', the nicest garter around!

Off to try out my wellies whilst laying carpet on the allotment......if I'm standing on the carpet they wont get dirty!

That's better

Lovely new sock yarn, soft and such gorgeous colours. Now I have it I don't feel that I have to start the next pair straight away but I had to go and buy it!Thank you for all the sock love, I'm delighted with them.

A Wedding Shadow Box order that I made this week when I bribed the children to leave me in peace for an hour, they got to watch the terrible Power Rangers and I got to fiddle with glue and feathers. Everyone was happy!

We're off to Devon for a week tomorrow so keep your fingers crossed for some sunshine. I can't seem to shake the sore throat and now have a stinky cold too, I'd really like a week sitting by the sea with a good book or six, no interruptions, nobody to cook for and a size 10 bikini body! In the absence of all that we'll have a super time in Devon I'm sure.