Contented

Fabric show and tell

Hello!  How are you all today?  Good, I hope!  Well, I promised to be back with some scrummy fabric to show off, so here we go!  I had two orders arrive over the last few days, the first to arrive was this little bunch from Fabric Rehab:

 

Some cute owls, sweet Alexander Henry birdies and, in the middle, some Saffron Craig pink dandelions, which I am super excited about, it's so lovely!  And also from Fabric Rehab came these two:

Fabulous Parisienne ladies! 

And then on Monday, another parcel arrived, this time from Pink Chalk Fabrics, who had a sale on.

 

Some really lovely blue Olive Rose and then a bit of Heather Bailey Freshcut - I've had this before (I think it was actually one of the first fabrics I bought when I started sewing!) and I also think this is the first time I've gone back to buy more of a design.  I'd used up all I had and didn't even have a scrap big enough for my coin collection, so when I saw this on sale I just had to get some!

 

I also snapped up these two - pink woodgrain effect, which is rather funky, and another very cute Alexander Henry print called Petite Granville.  All this lovely new fabric has, as usual, got me itching to start making something!  It feels like I haven't sewn anything for ages, in fact, I actually cleared away all the fabric lying all over the place and put away my sewing machine at the start of the hols, but I think it might have to come out of it's hiding place sooner, rather than later!

Today I also finished the scarf I started, I really enjoyed this stitch, it needed a much lower level of concentration which suited me perfectly!!

 

 

What else was I going to talk about?  Oh, yes,  a film review.  On Sunday William and I went to see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.  It was ... well, okay.  I should point out that William really enjoyed it but I felt a bit lukewarm about it.  I will admit that, out of the seven books, this was probably my least favourite, and it probably didn't help that I re-read it just before we went to see it, so I was all too aware of all the stuff that was missed out - stuff that I personally thought was quite important to the plot - like the fact that the locket was supposed to be Slytherin's, what Dumbledore suspected the other horcruxes were, and the big battle at Hogwarts near the end - all missed out!  I thought it had quite a different feel to the other films too, the music was very different and it didn't seem to be quite as action-packed as some of them either.  (And ending on such a sad note kind of puts a downer on things too!)  

Also on the subject of films, I was quite excited to see a trailer for The Time Traveller's Wife, a book that I really, really loved - although, perhaps excited is the wrong word - just watching the trailer made me cry!  Imagine what I'd be like watching the whole film!!  I think I might have to wait until it's out on DVD and I can watch it on my own and boo my eyes out without getting embarrassed! 

Finally, I promised some news about my secret project!  Well, it's going to be a new blog, set up by myself and my lovely blog friend Emma, and it will be launching next Wednesday, the 5th August!  We are both really excited about it and hope that lots of you will want to join in too.  I can't spill any more beans just yet, but stay tuned, and don't forget to come back next week for the big launch!

R x

Weekend catch up

Well, there's lots to talk about today, so go and get yourself a cup of tea or coffee and a biscuit and make yourselves comfortable - this may be quite a long one!

 

Some beautiful sweet peas, given to me by my mother-in-law when she babysat Joe on Tuesday evening.  They smelt amazing!

Tuesday evening we went to Willam's leavers service.  It was absolutely lovely but, man it was emotional!  One by one it seemed, all the girls started crying (and a few of the boys) and I think most of us mums joined in too!  I can't believe that seven years could go by so quickly.  William, of course, was completely laid back about the whole thing - I think he just can't wait to get to secondary school - and didn't quite understand what all the fuss was about!  All the children were given a special leavers book which has their pictures from reception and year 6 in, poems that the children had written, messages from all the kids and staff and lots of pages to fill in with their favourite memories, clubs they participated in etc.  A lovely reminder of the fabulous time he's had there. 

 

On Wednesday I went with Joe on his first ever school trip, to Hastings.  As it was their first trip the kids were extremely excited, and very, very loud on the bus but, luckily, I'd brought an MP3 player with me so Joe and I listened to music all the way there - I think it helped cancel out some of the noise from the other children so Joe was very quiet and calm.  Once there we went to the Underwater World aquarium.  Joe really likes this kind of thing, so we had a nice time looking at all the different fish, crabs, and even some poisonous tree frogs!  There was a little talk given, and Joe even answered a couple of questions - I think he felt very proud that he knew stuff the others didn't!  We then went out onto the beach for lunch.  As you can probably tell from the above photo, it was rather grey and blustery, but at least it didn't rain and we didn't get attacked by seagulls!  One of Joe's front teeth, which has been hanging on for dear life all week, decided to fall out on the pebbles but, luckily, we managed to find it.  (He now has a VERY gappy smile, with both top front incisors missing - it looks so cute!)  I think it was quite a successful trip - nobody threw up on the bus, nobody misbehaved and I didn't come home with a migraine (like I did the last time I went on a trip with Will in year 5!)

 

A scarf I've been working on this week.  Some of you may recognise this yarn from here (scroll down, it's at the bottom of the post) - I originally started the My So Called Scarf pattern but, whilst I really liked the pattern, and it was fairly straightforward, I did find that I had to really concentrate on what I was doing and just found it really slow going.  I admit that I got bored and frogged it.  Then I saw this lovely scarf on Ali's blog and decided to check it out.  It's a very easy pattern and is knitting up much faster too.  The perfect project for working on in front of the telly!

And then this gorgeous package arrived in the post this morning!

 

Beautiful hand dyed sock yarn from this Etsy shop.  Asti had a giveaway on her blog recently and I knew that if I didn't win (I didn't - boo!) I would definitely be making a purchase!  The colour is called Prize Fuchsia, and my photos really don't do it justice, the colours are much richer and jewel-like in real life!

 

I can't wait to start knitting with this!

A quick reminder that the Seaside Swap deadline is the 31st of July.  It's been lovely to start seeing photos popping up in blogland as parcels are received.  I sent my two off this week, I know one of them has been received but I'm going to wait until I know the other one has arrived safely before I show you any pics.

I've also started working on a little colaborative project with a bloggy friend - but I'm not going to tell you any more just yet - ooh, the suspense!  Hopefully, we'll be able to let you in on it all very soon.

In the meantime, have a great weekend all!

R x

What's in a bloggy name?

 

Tamara at 1/4 of an inchhas asked the question "how did we all come up with our blog names?"  So I thought I'd tell you my little story.  (By the way, you'll notice that I don't have the above badge in the sidebar - I did try following my notes, and it kind of worked but the badge came out too big - so I obviously haven't completely got the hang of it!)  Anyway, here's my story:

When I first discovered craft blogs I had been thinking about buying a sewing machine for some time, and it kind of spurred me into action - I really wanted to join in with this amazing world I had discovered.  When it came to thinking of a name for my blog I didn't want to use my own name, and I also didn't want to name it after any particular kind of craft. I was only just starting out sewing and so didn't really know what I would end up doing - would it turn into a business?  would I end up making something other than bags or quilts?  There were lots of blogs that used, flowers or colours in their names but I wanted a kind of abstract word, one that didn't say anything about what the blog might be about but a word that would mean something to me - so I thought to myself "what word would you use to describe yourself, right now?" and contented is the word that popped straight into my head.  I did think about it for a while, and tried to come up with some alternatives, but that word stuck, and so Contented it was.

How did you come up with your name?

R x

New look

I've been playing around with my blog's theme again. (If you're reading this in a feed reader, why not click over and take a look?).  I only have the basic Typepad package, so can't have a customised banner, and have changed the theme several times over the course of the last year - Typepad provide quite a wide range of different templates to choose from -  but never really been 100% happy with how it looked.  So I've gone for something very clean and simple instead.  And, actually, this time I think I really like it.  There are still a few things I'd like to tweak (and I really, really want to work out how to add pictures to the sidebar!) but, for now, I'm happy. (How long this will last is anyone's guess - I may well change my mind again next month!) But I'd be interested to know what you think though.

Today has been quite busy.  First thing this morning, we went into school to view the sex education video that they'll be showing to year 6 in a few weeks.  (This was more out of curiousity than anything else - we're fairly open and honest at home and William know most of the basics already!)  It was hideously out of date (made in the '80's) and pretty hilarious!  After that, I just had time to go home, hang out some washing and have a quick cup of tea before it was back to school for another meeting about Joe.  This was with a specialist teacher in communication & interaction (who actually used to work at our school  a year or so ago) and went really well.  He was very enthusiastic and keen to work with both us at home and with school to try and work out the best strategies for Joe.  Quite keen to think "outside the box" too, and willing to try things that might be viewed as quite unconventional (like maybe letting Joe listen to an MP3 player in order to avoid being distracted by the normal noise of the classroom).  I came away feeling very positive.  Joe seems to have settled back into school ok after half term, and things seem to be fairly stable at the mo - no tantrums recently - we've found a kind of rhythm at home and now know how to avoid things that might trigger him off.  I hope we can make some more progress in this last 6 weeks of school before the summer.

Ooh, and before I forget, just a quick update re the seaside swap - I maybe didn't make it clear that you need to click on the link to your partners blog and contact them that way by leaving a comment - I know, it's very lazy of me, but I've taken part in several swaps that did it that way and it always worked ok - I hope that's ok and that everyone has managed to make contact with their partner.   Any problems, just give me a shout.

R x

Quick Catch Up

Once again, it seems to have gotten to Wednesday and I have loads I was going to tell you, but didn't yet get around to it.  The seaside swap has been taking up a lot of space in my head!  So I'm just going to do a quick update instead, and then hopefully get back to normal, regular blogging again asap.

* Williams' school drama club production of Bugsy Malone was fantastic!  The kids had a total ball, William got "pied" and we all got squirted with silly string and water during the big fight scene at the end.  (And Joe was as good as gold for my dad - he can definitely babysit again!)

* I made the "prop" for Will's French themed costume (be warned, it is really corny, you will groan!)

 

It's a conker.  William the "Conkerer"!!  I know, I know, really bad joke but hopefully it might make the teachers smile!

* Sunday (wow, what a gorgeous day that was!) we were up at the in-laws and spent a really nice day with Peter's side of the family.

* Monday was spent just mooching about at home.  And although I have a million other things to be done first, I  actually spent some time working on a prototype of an idea I had for the swap.  You know when you get an idea in your head and it just won't stop bugging you until you act on it?  Yeah, it was like that, I'd had this idea and just couldn't rest until I'd had a go at turning it into reality.

And you know what?  It turned out really well.  So very happy me!

* Today, Joe got walloped by the Wii remote, when William was playing golf and took a swing when Joe was stood right behind him.  Got him right in the eye, which now has a lovely bruise, but thankfully seems otherwise ok.  And the moral of this story?  If you have the little rubber jackets for your Wii remotes then, FOR GOODNESS SAKE, USE THEM!  (Ours had been removed when playing Guitar Hero and never put back on again - they're back on now, we have learnt our lesson!)

I'm sure there was some other stuff but I can't remember (I should really start writing blog ideas in my to-do book!)  If you're on half term, then enjoy the rest of the break!

R x

One year old

Good morning!  Hold on, it's actually good afternoon already, how time flies!  So today, as you all by now have gathered, is my blog's first birthday!  I can't quite believe it's been a whole year.  365 days, 160 posts, 541 comments, 8110 views(!!!), 3 quilts, 5 pairs of socks, 7 swaps, and too many bags, scarves and felty things to number!  My life has honestly changed so much in this last year - and it's quite wonderful.  I could get all gushy at this point and tell you all how much the whole blogging thing means to me but, to be honest, it's all been said before (and probably much better than I could ever say it), and you guys know already. So I just want to say thank you to you all, for reading my ramblings, leaving me little messages, giving me loads of inspiration and for generally being wonderful friends!  I wish I could have you all over for a cup of tea and a piece of cake!

 

So, to the fun stuff!  As is blogging tradition, I have a giveaway for you.  There are not one but two prizes and I hope you'll like them:

 

- a little soft fabric storage basket, made from that super cute teatowel I showed you the other week,

 

- and another Buttercup bag, made with a button and loop closure this time.  There will be some other little goodies thrown in as well, and I may even pick a couple of runners up too!  You know the drill - leave me a comment on this post and I'll pick names out of the hat next Friday morning (10th).   I will post internationally so my overseas bloggy pals can enter too.  Good luck everyone!   And thanks for sticking with me!

R x

Cartoon capers and an award

On Saturday, William and I attended a cartoon drawing workshop held at one of our local secondary schools.  I had been hoping that Peter would go with him as a) he is much better at drawing than me and b) it would be a nice "father/son" thing for them to do.  Unfortunately, he had some work to catch up on at home so I went instead.  I will admit that I was slightly apprehensive - I have never thought I was any good at drawing - but as this was mainly for Will's benefit I was willing to give it a go.  The chap teaching us was an illustrator - very good at drawing but I didn't think he was particularly good at the "teaching" aspect, but we learnt about the proportions of a face and body, how to draw expressions, how to show movement etc.  And then we all had to think up a story and draw a cartoon.  Here is Will's:-

 

And this is mine:

 

I think I've said before that I'm really not very good at coming up with original ideas (I'm the kind of person who can never think of anything witty to write in a card, for example) so I just went with something really simple and mundane, but somehow managed to turn it into quite a sweet little story.  The tutor was really complimentary and even Peter said that I'm much better at drawing than I think I am!  So I was actually quite proud of myself in the end.  This is probably about the limit of my capabilities though, so don't expect to see any masterpieces anytime soon!  William really enjoyed the session too and gave it 10 out of 10. 

Last week (or it could have been the week before) Jackie at Buttontreecrafts tagged me with this award:

Thank you Jackie!  Now I'm supposed to list 5 addictions so here goes:

1. Chocolate (duh!)

2. Blogging (I don't want to admit to how many times a day I check my inbox and blog feeds!)

3. Interiors magazines (I don't buy that many but I hoard them and then go through and cut out all the pictures that I like and store them in a folder - every now and then I go through it and dream about what my house would be like if we won the lottery!)

4. My kids and hubby (natch!)

5. Umm, can I say chocolate again?

If you want to play along, consider yourself tagged!

R x

12/28 - Taking a break

Firstly, thank you so much for all your thoughtful comments yesterday.  I really do appreciate it.  I woke up this morning feeling much more "together" but then at the school gates, talking to Joe's T.A., the floodgates opened.  This was the first time I've cried since our appointment so I needed to get it out of my system.  She was so, so lovely, taking me into the medical room and talking to me and giving me tissues!  She's a real gem, Joe is so lucky to have her.   Anyway, my posting every day project is going to be put on hold, certainly for the weekend, as there are just too many things buzzing round my head right now.   I may get back into it, or I may decide that 12 days was enough and go back to normal posting.  We'll see.  But for now, thanks again and see you next week.

R x

3/28 - Tuesday

* Took the kids to school  (yes, it was business as usual)

* Cups of tea with friends

* Home for a little Wii Fit time

* A bit of sewing (it's for a birthday present so can't show it yet)

* A bit of knitting

 

* Quite a lot of blog reading!

* Noticed with some surprise that my comments had hit 400!! Thank you to everyone who has left me comments so far - I really appreciate them.  No. 400 was Jackie!  (If you let me have your address I'll send you a little something).

How was your Tuesday?

R x

About a whole bunch of stuff

 

(Sorry for the incredibly unimaginitive title - it's the end of the week and my brain is too tired!)

Our new toy arrived today and I wasted no time in trying it out.  This was a joint Christmas present from my parents - it had been impossible to find one before now!  I think we're going to have a lot of fun with it and maybe, it just might help me to shape up and lose a little weight too!  Let's hope so anyway.  I have set myself a weight loss goal (but I'm not going to share it here as I have notoriously little willpower and am much too keen on the sweeties!!), but I might let you know if it goes well.

I have made a start on Joe's quilt.  I decided to ask Joe for some input in the design and he completely shot down my idea of stripes and, instead, was absolutely adamant that it should look like this:

 

So that is what I did:

 

It needs another border to make it the right size - I'm thinking pale blue (like the rockets) and then maybe some red (or stripes) for the binding.  I have enough of these three fabrics to include in the backing, so it will end up kind of reversible too.

My bloggy friend Moogsmum is going on a stash-buying diet during February.  Now, my stash isn't very big, but I'm going to attempt to join in, more for the money-saving aspect.   Whilst I am fairly careful with my spending, I am rather aware of the fact that I wait for the credit card statement date to come around and then think "oh great, I can buy something else now and it'll be on next months bill!"  I will allow myself one exception - the additional fabric needed to finish off the above quilt (I already have the batting), but that's it - no more fabric (or wool) during Feb.  Wish me luck!

And talking of February, after seeing similar ideas on other people's blogs in the past, I've decided to set myself the challenge of a post a day for 28 days.  Hopefully, it might help me to think of things other than "what I've made" or "what I've bought".  It may very well be that, on some days I shall only post a photo, but we'll just see where it takes me.  Anyone fancy joining me?

R x