The 'C' word!

I know I said no Christmas posts until November but I'm only a couple of days early so surely that's OK!?

Mr B has the week off, I'm off for a couple of days and of course Youngest Boy in on his half term holiday so we decided to visit a couple of Garden Centres to look at Christmas decorations - as you do. I was quite restrained and bought this lovely owl decoration

to add to my others hanging from the light fitting in the living room.

(I'm struggling to get a good photograph!)

I have to confess to having had these up since last Christmas, I just couldn't bear to take them down I loved them so much.

I also bought these metal decorations for a garden project that I'll reveal later!

I couldn't leave without this gorgeous Emma Bridgewater mug.

I'm off now to do more making for the craft fair as the boys are going to see the new James Bond film, there's less than three weeks to go now and I'm getting a bit panicky about how little I have made!

 

Have a great week and thanks for visiting.

xXx

 

 

WOYWW 177 (and a Giveaway)

Yes, this really is the state of my desk!

I'm not a tidy crafter as you can see, I have so many ideas buzzing around I can't possibly waste time tidying as I go!! I'm off to the Meet and Make evening session later so will be taking some of this lot with me.

And as you can see here I've spilled over on to the chair with my mess

The rest of the room is pretty bad too but there's a limit to how much mess I can show in one post!

If you're wondering why I'm showing you my very messy desk then pop over here and all will become clear.

 

I am having a giveaway to celebrate my 100th post (which was actually 8 posts ago), if you'd like to enter click  here.

Thanks for visiting,

 and thanks to everyone who visited my desk last week. Apologies for the late visits to some of your desks.

xXx

 

My Weekend

My weekend was spent working and then cutting, stamping and sewing.

I've decided the only way I can be organised enough to get everything ready in time for the craft fair is to concentrate on one 'product' at a time. This weeks project is brooches. Here they are in the green box ready to have the brooch pins attatched and then backed. I'll probably do this at the Meet and Make evening session on Wednesday.

I've had this gorgeous stamp set for a few weeks now and have been itching to use it. I thought I'd indulge myself and make something for me. Isn't that stag a handsome beast?

See here for a christmassy giveaway.

 

Thanks for visiting.

xXx

 

Fancy a Giveaway?! NOW CLOSED

I planned to celebrate my 100th post with a giveaway and collected some bits together. Then, as it often does 'real life' got in the way and here we are at my 106th post! Due to the contents, I either had to do the giveaway anyway or wait until next year. I didn't ever think I'd get to 100 posts for sure, and there have been times when I had no inspiration or motivation to blog.

But, I can't tell you how much I love getting your comments and knowing that people actually choose to read my blog!

So here it is my 106th post celebration!

There will be more, some surprises and some things that I forgot to add to the photo shoot. As this giveaway is to celebrate my blog and show how much I appreciate you all I'd like you to be a follower to join in, but I'm happy for you to become a follower so that you can join in - in fact, I'd love to have you!

Just leave me a comment to enter and I will choose a winner on the 1st November.

Thanks for visiting.

Have a great week.

 

xXx

 



WOYWW 176

It was such fun joining in with WOYWW again last week, don't know why I stayed away so long!

 

I rather liked the look of this all together - very Christmassy!

My desk is a little tidier this week. I'm off to a crafty evening with my friend Mrs Snippet (I have the lemon shortbread Mrs S!) later and as I'm working this afternoon I thought I'd get ready in advance (not like me at all!). I am going to be finishing the Christmas decorations I'm making for the craft fair, they started out as brooches but as they seemed rather large I decided they'd sell better as hanging decorations rather than as brooches for giants!

 

 I stamped on fabric (I love the effect), sewed the fabric to the felt and then embellished and sewed on the ribbon. Now I just need to back them with more felt - my job for this eve.

Here's a close-up of the only finished decoration so far. What do you think?! I'm still intending to make some brooches using the same technique but with smaller images.

 

I'm off to have a snoop around the WOYWW desks before leaving for work. Want to join me in having a snoop? Click the link - you won't regret it!

Thanks for visiting.

xXx

 

 

And the Book Buying Continues!

Today my pre-order of Kirstie Allsop's new book arrived.

On first glance I like what I see, I'm looking forward to having a proper read of it over the weekend.

Whilst blog hopping this evening I came across this book

and couldn't resist ordering it from Amazon. I don't think it's written in English but the pictures look stunning.

Really must stop buying books, if for no reason other than I don't have anymore space on my bookshelves!

Of course, I do have a few pre ordered books still to look forward to!

 

 Thanks for visiting

xXx

 

 



WOYWW 175 (and swap goodies)

I seem to have taken an unintentional break from WOYWW, I last joined in many weeks ago. I have stopped by to have a nosey at your desks, and of course I follow some of you WOYWWers too so kept in touch that way.

Today, when I walked past my very messy desk I was reminded how much I enjoyed taking part - I wasn't very creative over the (alledged) summer and therefore didn't really have much to show. As I'm now creating to sell at my first craft fair on the 17th November the desk is in use again - it seemed like a good time to come back!

I have to confess my desk has been exactly like this since Sunday due to me feeling poorly. Sadly, I missed a crafting evening on Monday with

Mrs Snippet (who rather shockingly has not blogged since the 5th July!) and Seaside Girl. Last weeks get together was a great opportunity to enjoy excellent company, biscuits and lots of tea whilst being productive!

Well, I'm happy to be back - if you've not yet discovered WOYWW pop over here to have a look - you'll be hooked! Thank you Julia for organising it all.

 

 Whilst I am here I must show you the goodies I received this week from my All Things British (organised by the lovely Lynda) swap partner, thank you Trayci.

 

Thanks for visiting, and to all those who sympathised both verbally and via the blog over Eldest Boys attack - he's doing well but it still seems likely he'll lose his teeth.

 

xXx

 



She is too fond of books...

..and it has turned her brain.

(Louisa M Alcott)

What do you do to cheer yourself up when you're feeling a bit low?

I have realised that I buy books!
(I know, I work in a library...!)

In the last week or so I have bought

I love this one - beautiful styling.

 

I have to say this book didn't inspire me AT ALL. I struggled to find something I wanted to make. As always, great styling and pictures but that's about it as far as I'm concerned!

This was a lucky find, lots of great pics and is full to the brim with ideas

 
This is quite an old book. I bought it for a ridiculous price from one of the Amazon Marketplace sellers. Great pics.

 

Not overly impressed with this one, full of things I've seen in magazines and books already.

Some I am happier with than others as you can tell.

 

And, I couldn't resist this!

Sadly, I also eat chocolate and cakes and buy even more magazines than usual, rather a lot too

(or should that be Happily, I also...).

 

Thanks for visiting

xXx

 

For Carly, edited to include mini reviews of the books. Thanks for your comment Carly XX