Time flies and a thoughtful gift

Is it just me, or is time moving at a ridiculous rate at the moment?!

I worked on Saturday and yesterday was such a grotty day weather wise that I didn't leave the house. So what did I get done? Well, ehrm...good question! Very little - no craft, no baking, no watching Dave on Strictly - I did manage to devote a couple of hours to organising our next fair as I'd sort of let things slip a little! Oh, and I did read some of my book but that's about it!

Talking about reading and books, I must share with you this gorgeous bookmark made (and designed) especially for me by Chrissie. It's such a thoughtful gift - Chrissie knows I love crochet but can't crochet myself, and chose my favourite colour for the design. I am in awe of those teeny tiny and neat crochet stitches - thank you Chrissie.

 

 

 
The bookmark is right up there with my favourite, made for me by Youngest Boy several years ago - can you read what it says? "It's lovely to get away from the children to read my book" Aaah!


For those of you that can crochet, Chrissie has generously shared the pattern here.

 

I do think a pretty bookmark deserves a pretty book which is why I chose to photograph it in Lucy Worsley's fabulous book (we are big Lucy fans here in the Bramble household, we went to a talk she gave at our local theatre a few weeks ago and she is an excellent speaker - very entertaining) rather than the novel I'm currently reading!

 

Thanks for visiting

xXx

Weekend

Hello..

How are you?

Have you been watching Strictly Come Dancing if you are in the UK? I have to say I've not watched much of the previous couple of series, mainly just dipping in at the end. However, this series will be different and all because of this hairy man

Hairy Biker Dave Myers

I am a huge fan of the HBs. They both seem like such lovely chappies and are very funny (and their cooking's pretty good too!) I didn't watch Dave's first appearance but I believe it was something else. Nor did I watch the results show last night but was relieved, but not surprised with that personality, to find he is still around.

Who do you watch it for?

Or maybe you just watch it for the dancing?!

 

Friday found me coming home from work early feeling poorly and I've been pretty much the same all weekend (there are a lot of bugs around at the moment, aren't there?). Disappointing, as I had big plans for things to make for the upcoming craft fair.

I did do a bit of hand sewing and made this

What do you think of it? I'm not 100% sure, if I'm honest...

(Youngest Boy, whose opinion I always seek likes it) 

I made this a couple of weeks ago, and yesterday just sewed the buttons on.

As always happens to me in the run up to a craft fair, I am losing confidence in my makes. Silly really, because the worst that will happen is that I won't sell anything and that really will not be the end of the world!

Have a wonderful week

(Aren't we having fab weather in the UK?)

Thanks for visiting

xXx

Naughty...

..or Nice?

 

Couldn't resist this whilst browsing last night...

so funny!

 

And while I was ordering it a couple more stamps jumped into my (online) basket

Naughty and nice, me thinks!!

Can you spot a theme or two?!

 

Thanks for visiting

Suzanne

xXx

Weekend Makes

Hello...

how was your weekend?

 

I worked on Saturday and on Sunday felt like having a day at home. Mr B took himself off to an exhibition, Youngest Boy was staying at his cousins and Eldest Boy was sleeping a party off (!!) which meant I was able to indulge myself by spending the day making things.

And I was in a festive mood by the time I'd finished, because this is what I made for selling at the craft fair on the 16th November (yikes!!).

Badges, good for stocking fillers I thought!

 

Christmas cards with badge

 

Christmas card with brooch

 

 

Christmas spice scented sachets

 

and 

 I made these last week but didn't get around to photographing them,

lavender bags.

 I actually like these much more than I thought I would, which is just as well as I made a silly mistake on one (twisted ribbon) so I'm more than happy to keep it!

 

On Friday evening I made a cover for my Christmas cushion cover!!

The trouble with the Christmas one is that it's too early to put out but I have nowhere to store it until Christmas.

Some time ago I bought this fabric (I have a passion for anything with deer on as well as birds) with the intention of making a cushion cover but just didn't get around to it. I have masses of it left and am now thinking of making myself a bag with it too!

(Excuse all the pins, everything is waiting to be finished by hand.)

 

Have you started your Christmas making yet?

 

And finally for those of you who, like me, love magazines and Christmas, the Ideal Home Christmas magazine is out on Wednesday - yippee!

 

Have a fab week and thanks for visiting, and welcome to my new followers.

Suzanne

xXx





New books

The postman brought me two new books today, both pre orders from that big online book (& everything else) store. I am seriously limiting my book buying but I really can't resist a Christmas craft or cookery book!

The Mary Berry one has some terrific recipes in it and is beautifully photographed. It's quite likely this will be my first make from the book

and I don't think I'll be waiting until Christmas!

Once I'd got past the fact that the Kirstie Allsopp book has a very dated (retro) look, which I personally am not keen on, I found it has some good projects. Nothing new in it if you've been crafting for a while but good for flicking through for inspiration.

I also borrowed the book below from the library, good projects and pictures.

 

While I'm on the subject of books, is it just me or is this pointless?

Why not just have a bookcase?!

Look at this great notebook that comes free with Ideal Home magazine this month. I love notebooks and I'm rather taken with this design.

Thanks for visiting

xXx

A bit of fun and a Christmas make

visualphilosophy

I found this great print whilst browsing on Etsy - love the colours and the words (Mr B's comment when I showed it to him was "you don't even do it every 6 months" - RUDE!). I may have to purchase!!

Stop reading now if you're not ready for Christmas projects.

I made this patchwork cushion cover as a prototype for a possible craft fair make. Unfortunately, it won't be cost effective to make for the price I could sell it for. I'll probably have to keep it for myself. Shame, that....

It's Tuesday, it's 8 o'clock  & time for the Great British Bake Off - Mr B should be back from his guitar lesson any minute having stopped off on his way home to buy our dessert - yum!

Thanks for visiting

xXx



This week I have been...

 listening to...

 

reading

 

watching

 and

 

making

and

(still need filling with lavender & sewing up!)

 

indulging

(Thank you Debbie!)

 

experimenting

 

designing

 

 

and thinking about

(Sorry!!!)

 

What have you been up to this week?

 

Thanks for visiting

xXx

Playing Catch-up

Well... my laptop only went and died on me, didn't it?

I missed it very much to start with but once I got used to being without it I got a lot more done, and so I've decided to limit my daily use of it now that it has been repaired (let's see how long that lasts, shall we?!).

I'm currently enjoying catching up with everyone's news.

Here are some key rings I made to sell at the next craft fair

whilst I was laptopless

 

I made 20 all together - let's hope they sell!

(I always think there is something so appealing about the same designs stacked together, don't you?)

Thanks for visiting

xXx

Home

This is where I have been for the past week
(click on the image to enlarge)

Pictures 1, 2 & 3 - the approach to the cottage

 4 - the cottage

 5 - the view from the back door

 6 - the view of the cottage from the other side of the beck

 7 & 9 - daily visitor

 8 - part of our daily walk with the dogs.

The most beautiful, peaceful and relaxing place I have ever stayed - I think I left a piece of me there.

I hope you are all well, I shall be catching up with all your news over the next few days.

 

xXx



That Holiday Feeling

Mr B and myself are currently on our annual two weeks summer holiday from work, we've been very lucky with the weather this week.

We started our week off with this holiday treat

We last saw it when I was pregnant with Youngest Boy, so 16 years ago. We always planned to see it again but we didn't expect to have to wait this long! The boys have grown up listening to the soundtrack and thoroughly enjoyed it too. A very special (and rare) family day out.

Tuesday I met a friend for breakfast and was the lucky recipient of this lovely lot

the cushion and the bunting were handmade especially for me in my favourite colours and I am totally smitten with it all. Lucky me...

Mr B had to go into work for a meeting on Tuesday so Youngest Boy and I went over to Chichester with him, primarily to get school uniform for YB with no success. I resisted a visit to the Eternal Maker but only because I knew I was going to be visiting here later in the week.

A fab new fabric shop in my home town. They've been selling online for a couple of years but have only just opened the shop. It's full of gorgeous fabric and ribbon. Here are my purchases

I am so chuffed that I got the paint by numbers fabric. It was originally released a couple of years ago in a slightly different colour way. I wanted it so badly! I couldn't find it any where so I ended up buying this

just so that I could have a piece of it!

I know I've been wittering on about my 'big' birthday for what seems like forever but it's almost here now and yesterday I was treated to lunch by a friend and last week was given this (totally unexpected) gift from my colleagues at the big library - how lovely that they thought of me, I am very touched.

Today this was delivered

 a gift from my sister-in-law and her husband. What a treat! I have been totally spoilt and it's still not actually my birthday (although it is very close now). I suspect most of you would think the same as Mr B and I did - the box is going to make a great container for craft materials!

Despite being on leave this week I seem to have had less time for blogland, I think I managed to catch up with most of your news yesterday.

I have a blog post planned about some projects a couple of members of our meet and make group have recently completed but now I have to go and prepare for the next bit of our holiday.

Enjoy the gorgeous weather and have a fab BH weekend if you are in the UK and a fab weekend anyway, if you're not!