Blog Award - Thank you Ali

It has been quite a long time since I was given a blog award.  Some do not like these, I do not have a problem with them at all.  They brighten up your blog, links people together and I like the fact that someone says on the Internet that they like what I am doing.

Part of it is to post 11 random facts about yourself.  Now I have done this before but life does change and you remember things that you have not said before so hopefully some of the below are new to readers.

1. I am left handed but I use scissors in my right hand.  I also knit and crochet with my right hand.  Mainly due to growing up in an all righthanded family.

2. I have lived in Germany, Kent, Cambridgeshire, Hampshire, Dorset, and finally Cornwall.  Much of this due to work re-location or various college courses.

3. I have been married for just over 15 years.

4. Love cheesecake!!!

5. I am a strawberry blonde and I get very annoyed if this called ginger.  There is a massive difference and should be observed as such.

6. I had my appendix removed when I was 12 and have spent the next 32 years explaining to every doctor or nurse what the scar is.

7. I love reading and  need to have a book on the go all the time.

8. I like the Pirates of the Caribbean Films.........good fun all the way.

9. I am self taught in crochet but desperately need help to move this beyond the Grannie square stage.

10. I have a real problem with remembering numbers or sequences of numbers, so reg plates, mobile numbers etc just forget it because I will.

11. Love a making challenge, whether it is swap or a custom order, it is just the thrill of making something with a specific person or criteria in mind.

There are then some questions to answer as well.  I may find it hard to come up with any useful answers but I will try.

1.What is your all time favourite craft?

Due to my job I love them all.  It would be easier to say which one I hate and that would be Quilling.

2. Where is the strangest place you have ever crafted?

Not the strangest but the most rewarding was in a school in Kenya about 1 hour outside of Nairobi.

3. What is your favourite craft time snack?

Nothing, as the aim is to keep the hands busy and away from the biscuit jar!

4.Do you prefer the radio, TV, music or other when crafting.

I have a job which is often noisy  so I actually prefer silence or in front of the TV in the evening.

5. What is your proudest achievement?

My daughter Sophie.

6. What is your biggest crafting 'dream'?

Have a workshop to run classes and publish  a crafting book.

7. Who is your inspiration?

I would like to change this slightly - Any aid worker who has gone unarmed to some of the most dangerous places on the planet.  

8. Is there a craft that you have yet to try that you would like to have a go at?

Tatting has always looked very delicate and would look lovely on garments.

9. How often do you craft (everyday, every weekend, twice a week)

Nearly every day but it is split between personal projects and samples for my lessons.

10. Are you a messy or neat crafter?

Neat, or I lose things so I have to be quite strict with myself, but every now and then I lapse and you can not see the surface of the kitchen table.

11. What or who got you started in crafting?

Not sure really although when I was at primary school we used to have a crafting session at least once or twice a week in the afternoon.  Not so sure they have the time to do quite so much today.  Primary students still love to make though, I have taught groups over the years but there is always something deemed more important to learn I suppose.  I was encouraged at home with family giving me oddments of wool and my Mum taught me to knit so I think home and school combined.

Well, if you are still awake and with me thank you as that was a long post!

I am now supposed to pass this on to 11 blogs.  I will name them here but no pressure to actually accept it - it is only a bit of fun.  You an accept, post, link to here but skip the rest if you wish.

1. Tatyana - Mouse House

2. Lynne - Textile Treasury 

3. Recycled Daze

4. Blueberry Heart

5.Stitchuchess Crazy & Sane Quilting World

6. Krafty Panda

7. Jennibellie Studio

8.Cozy in Texas

9. Knitsofacto

10.Chookyblue

11.Happy in Quilting

Phew!  I think a cup of tea is now in order.

xx

Cupcakes All Round

After the unpleasantness of having my emails hacked yesterday it is good to look at something much nicer.

This is the Super Sweet Blogging Award kindly given to me by Ali over at Ali Bee Creations.

I have had to enlarge the image and so some of the text has gone very fuzzy.

It originally came from Christmas Pie Crafts and Ali was nominated by The lilac Butterfly.  I hope that makes sense.

Now, I know that some people can not stand blog awards at all, but I look at it this way, if someone who I have never met likes my blog enough to take the time to sit and include me in their blog post and say nice things about my blog then I will graciously accept.  There has not really been much of this type of thing going on for some time and I would like to add some new things to my blog layout.

There are five simple questions to answer:

1). Cookies or Cake?

My Mother-in-laws Christmas Cake!!  I do not like Christmas cake but whatever my MIL does to hers is a winner with me.

2).Vanilla or chocolate?  

Hmmmm, not easy this one as it can depend but I will go with vanilla this time.

3).What is your favourite sweet treat?

Easy peasey .......Chocolate Belgium Waffles!!

4). When do you crave sweet things the most?

When any kind of deadline is looming.

5). If you had a sweet nickname what would it be?

Cupcake -  as it does not imply anything too odd, but some would say Waffle!

Now for my bakers dozen of lovely blogs:

* Smile at the flowers - Carol

*Little Red Hen

*Sykessillysite

*Knitsofacto

*Little Cottage Comforts - Pomona
*Dottycookie
*Tatkis
*Happy in Quilting - Peg
*GardenLyn
*Brynwood Needleworks
*Clares Craftroom
*Jennibellie Studio
*Krafty Panda

There is no obligation to accept this at all but I really do love looking at these blogs and many many others.
If you do wish to accept then you might want to get the original badge from one of the above links rather than the version here.
Have a good day and I am off to have a go at some marking.  I also have a crafty post to write.
Take care and thank you for your understanding about the email issue.
xx

Versatile Blogger......

Well it has been quite a while since an award has flown in my direction and I know that many people do not like them but I do not mind at all.  They are a harmless way of highlighting that you like what someone else is doing, they can put you in touch with new bloggers, and they make your blog look nice!

So it was nice to hear from Smile at the Flowers late last week with the above brightly coloured award.
Click HERE  for additional details.
Many thanks for this award.
I have exceeded my Picassa picture upload so at the moment I can not put anything in my side bar. I think I need to sort through and delete some files.
Off to Exeter Westpoint Area tomorrow for the Craft 4 Crafters show, so should have some pictures to post.  I am looking for some fabric for another magazine project and some Sizzix Dies, plus see if I can find some potential stock for the website I want to set up.
As seasoned crafters, what would you like to see in a developing website?  I would be really interested in any other ideas/requests that I could add to my web plan.
xx 

Proud moment....

I have often mentioned here of proud moments with Sophie, but this time I am proud of some of my students.

After a nail biting week of application letters which needed my endorsement, a few days waiting for selections to be made. Followed by interview letters being issued, interviews taking place and then 24 hours of waiting for the outcome........

My classroom door opened at 2.30pm today whilst I was doing some lesson planning and three of my students were stood there with big grins on their faces!

The reason?

Out of 90 application letters(some were after Prefect jobs) they landed 3 out of 6 jobs to be deputy head boys x 2 and deputy head girl. To have clinched three jobs when the field of applicants was not only large, 18 letters from my tutor group alone, but also very strong, is an achievement.

To have three from one group is very lucky indeed. There are, of course many disappointed youngsters, within our own group as well as other groups, but if the cheering and clapping that one of the boys got when he walked back into his lesson is anything to go by, they were popular choices as they asked about the others as well.

This may not seem very important in the scheme of things but for these 15 year olds it was. They had very little time to sort out their letter, they were very well written, their English teachers would have been very pleased, and they took it seriously but with a maturity that showed that they are now indeed ready to move on to their final year in school.

I have some cards for the lads, thought we could have given them out this morning but the result was delayed. Plus a little gift to mark the occasion. The group signed them but luckily due to absences and a Drama exam I decided to hold off which is just as well as a third student was added to the list. Off to find something for her tomorrow.

I really am pleased with this outcome and very much deserved there are, of course, some students whose confidence has taken a bit of a knock and next week will be spent making sure that it is put back.

Have a good weekend everyone.

xx

Stylish.....

Well, I actually wrote this post, posted it then it vanished from my Blog. So it is in fact Sunday 15th May today not what is says above. I which I knew where it had gone, oh well It took me ages as well. So I shall do it again but it may not be as long as the first attempt.

People feel differently about awards but I think that if someone who lives on the other side of the world has thought to include me then I shall be gracious enough to say thanks you.

Now, I will be honest as say that this was given to me a while ago, I said thank you at the time but other things got in the way of posting it such as losing the picture!

It was given to me by Molly. Molly makes lovely crochet items among other things so do pop over and take a look.

Molly also included some info about herself. I have done this before but it was ages ago and there are some new followers to this blog so some of it may be of interest. So....

1. I am left handed but I have to use scissors right handed.

2. Following on from that I knit and crochet right handed too.

3. I used to do archery and still have all of the equipment but not the time. Pity.

4. I teach textiles/sewing and I am carrying out a crusade to keep these skills alive, but it ain't easy!

5. I have an eight year old daughter and her best quote to date has been "Mummy I am the best thing that you have ever made!" Cute, eh?

6. I love to read and wish I could fit this in more often and I have a book mountain by my bed to work through gradually.

7. We have started our second year of growing our own and so far things have gone well. We planted lots of cabbages expecting most to die and guess what......they have all grown so we are giving them away and swapping for other veg.

8. We have two lovely cats that are a constant source of amusement which is possibly due to their vast age gap. The young whipper snapper and the grumpy old man.

9. I love baking and decorating cakes, mainly cupcakes as they are manageable and not too expensive to make.

10. I enjoy watching Desperate Housewives, harmless fun which does address a few of those annoying traits that you find in people.

Well it a again a lovely sunny day here in Cornwall so off to the garden centre for a couple of daisy plants I think.

xx

Award Time........

This lovely award has been given to me by Twiggy.

Many thanks Twiggy, a lovely surprise.

I now need to pass this on to 10 other beautiful bloggers. Not easy this and as you may know I do try to spread these out a bit each time I am lucky enough to get and award. So here goes.

Julia @ Primrose Corner
Maria @ Wonderwoman
Angela @ Fenland Textiles Studio

Molly @ Crochet my Worsted

Barbara@ Moore Whimsies

Peg @ Happy in Quilting

Julia @ House of Marmalade
Clare @ Clare's Craftroom

Sadie @ Summersadie

Tatyana @ Mouse House

Many thanks to many other people who visit here as well. I shall spread another award around, should I ever get another that is.

I now need to go and send a few emails.

Bye

xx

Sunshine Award for you.

I was given this a couple of weeks ago and it has taken a while to get all of the links together to
put on this post. (It did not help when I lost the bit of paper that I had written them on). I would like to thank Twiggypeasticks for passing it on to me. it is a very lovely and bright button and would look very good on any blog.

However, after the chilly nip that was in the air today I am notso sure that spring is quite here yet, and the possibility of snow at the end of the week?
I am meant to pass the award on so here is the list. I have included some of my new found followers and blog friends here too:
Julia B: Marmaladekiss
Maria: Wonderwomen
Angela: Fenland Textiles
Molly: Crocheting my Worsted
Barbara: Moore whimsies
Tatyana: Mouse House
Julia: Primrose Corner

Please accept the above eye-catching button with my good wishes and all the best to all of my visitors, both those who comment and those who pass through.
Take care all
xx

Blog Award Folks....

I have been given an award by Julia at Primrosecorner.

Julia talks about blog friends that she has not had a chance to meet. I know that some have met up but sadly I was working on that day and was not able to go , but maybe one day.

Now, I would like to pass this onto to the following:

Darling Petunia

Wonderwoman

Jenny Flower Blue

Pink Penguin

Some of these blogs are new to me and some are blogs that I have visited for some time now.

Busy this week but "I will be back" as Arnie would say.

xx

We're Back and two Awards passed on..

Due to Hubby being self employed now (and work is going ok at the moment), he decided that seeing as work was a little quiet that we would have a few days in Chesterfield to visit his Aunt and some friends. it was a bit of a whirlwind visit but we came back today. Tiger has been fetched from the cattery, Sop0hie is playing up in the attic, hubby is finding something for dinner at Tesco and I am contemplating the washing! We visited Chatsworth and Bakewell, had a good drive round and the skies were very blue and the sun shone, a little nippy but then it is April. We were fed and made welcome and it was brilliant. We have had instructions not to leave it another 8 years before we go back again! Everyone now has children of the own and it was quite manic with all of them running around as they are all 7 or under and I lost count how many the final total was. Should now at a glance being a teacher but my Child counting radar is turned off for the next two weeks!

I did not do any sewing at all, did buy a few bits but nothing to get excited about and now I have come home with renewed vigour to make Sophie's new curtains and finish my latest swap entry. I did manage to do some reading back at the hotel which was a nice change. I will update you all with crafty stuff before the weekend. I was naughty and did not take any photos while we were away but sometimes you just don't feel like it do you?

I am a bad blogger because Kitty gave me this award ages ago and it got lost in all the pictures in my file, sorry Kitty!
I can not remember the rules for this either, detention for me.

So I am going to make up my own....

I would like to give it to the following as I would like to say thank you for your kind words about my ramblings on this blog:

Summersadie
MelMel

Bagladee

Inkberry Blue

Twiggpeasticks

Picciolo

Lesleys Creations

Nannybird

Primrose Corner

April - Cakes Makes the world go round.

Bliss Country Life

Marmaladekiss

They are all have very different blogs and their links are in the sidebar because linking here at the moment often causes problems with blogger and I then lose the whole post which is very annoying.

I was also lucky enough to be even this one from JoJo just before I went away. So I am going to pick 7 bloggers who I value popping by and saying Hello :

Silverpebble

Tiny White Daisies

Wonderwoman

Cathy's Crochet Cabin

Pink Penguin

The Chocolate Cat

I hope that some or all of these will be accepted, it is only a bit of fun. I am now off to tuck Sophie in bed and do some sewing.

Take care

x

Ooopps, Sorry I forgot

I was sorting out my pictures when this jumped out at me and shouted "You forgot about me!!" I had and I am sorry Julia at Primrose Corner.

I often collect items in my pictures for use later on as I forget where I saw things etc. Not much use if I then forget them when they are in my pictures file. To be fair it had slipped down passed my line of view. Anyway I have seen this little one around other blogs so if I name you and you already have it never mind I missed the boat with it. if not then do take it with you. I will confess now that I do have another award and a tag in the queue as well. I think that I need my wrist slapping I have been a bad blogger this past few weeks!

There are some rules ( I prefer guidelines or suggestion for awarding)

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these kind writers. When you pass the award along

I think that this must have been written by the original sender. 8 is a lot to come up with so I shall leave it up to you.

So I would like to pass this on to some new and current blog friends (notice I avoided the 'old' bit).
1). Jenny Flower for organising a great mug swap and fellow EG member.
2) Tiny white Daisies for spoiling me in the mug swap and I hope will keep in touch.
3) Marmaladekiss for her interesting posts and fellow love of garment making. (I must do some more of this myself)
4) Summersadie For seemingly having very similar likes, hobbies etc to myself and great quilting.
5) Twiggypeasticks for posts that make me laugh.
6) Nannybird for the speed at which she knits, crochets, recycles and the many funny moments that she shares. A real tonic if you need to cure a bad day. You come way smiling and feeling better.
7)Picciolo for her lovely use of denim and colour. (My first blog giveaway winner too).
8)Tall Grass Prairie Studio for a friendly way and jaw dropping good quilts.

There done it! It is at this point that I discover that my links do not work!! They are all in the side bar if not. Crafting has been very thin on the ground this week although I have just been out to buy some gingham today as I feel all gingham as I think spring is around the corner and this always reminds of summer dresses etc.
Mr Tickle is being assembled today and painted tomorrow so I will take some pictures. This had been our main activity all week and he is starting to look good. The quilt and knitting has not really been touched this week but I have had a headache that has literally lasted all week, I even woke up with it this morning. Been to ballet to day and they had their first tap lesson which did not do my head much good either, but whilst writing this it seems to have gone!! Yipppeee. So I am off to make Mr Tickles blue Hat.
Take Care
xx

Spread the LOVE.....

Seeing as I have a bit of a Valentine theme to my posts at the moment I thought I would add an award that was very kindly given to me by Kitty the other day. I think it is one of the prettiest that I have seen.

The last award I gave to all my visitors but this time I would like to nominate some. Then please take it or not as you feel.

* Gina @ Fan my Flame for having the Wiggly Bag idea which my students liked making and I may have some further news on that in the next few days.
*Nan@ Nannybird for her unending patience when her swap from me did not turn up! Then her lovely post when it did.
*Julia @ Primrose Corner for her lovely swap and help with my odd questions.
*Lise @ The Chocolate Cat for her lovely posts but her kindness in sending me a Christmas parcel out of the blue partly as a thank you for organising a swap. Lovely.
*Joanna @ Summersadie for writing posts that are so close to what I think it is often spooky. Plus our joint love of Cath Kidston fabric.
*Wonder Woman (Sorry not sure of your name) for her lovely comments and I admire anyone who can knit or make anything from wool.
*Lesley @ Lesleys Creations who has always been very interested in my sketch books and whose work brings back memories of my own City and Guilds/degree work.
*Bliss Country Life as I feel she deserves it after all the Christmas sewing and creating that was achieved, quite unbelievable really!

*Julia@ Marmaladekiss whose swap parcel never arrived despite being promised it would! Yet was very sporting about it. (I am still having a bit of a hissy fit over it I am afraid.)

Links to all of the above are in the margin.


Of course there are many more blogs, website etc and I have added to my list and have yet more to add. Then there are visitors who come by and might not comment, so I do not know who you are, sob, sob, so if you would like this award for the Valentine season and you visit here then please do add it to your blog, a link to this blog would be nice but not compulsory.


I would like to also thank Kitty for an act of kindness which I have only ever found since starting my blog, it was this:

This cute handmade card thanking me for the contents of a giveaway I had that Kitty won. You are very welcome Kitty and I did finish my pillow case bag I just haven't blogged about it yet.

Thank you for the ideas for gaining more time, and not sleep has been thought of but I get away with the least I can as it is. So I will have to settle for as much time as I can to create things. I have finished by cardigan (fanfares and flags please) I just need to do the fastening bit then get my dear hubby to take decent photo of me wearing it. He needs to earn the brownie points because he has just broken my ceramic spoon rest that I had painted at ceramics class and it cost a small fortune! Anyway, enough of that I have something to type up for work then it is time for bed. Tomorrow I see Year 10 and hope to impress them with my scarf bag. Got another posher versions to show you over the weekend too.

Bye

xx

1

Tagged and Awarded.....

Many thanks to April for tagging and awarding me at the same time. This is a bit of a mammoth one and I hope that I do not bore you to tears!

7 Things to do before I die..
*See Sophie grow up and be safe and happy.
*To see more of the world.
*To take up the flute again.
*To study for a City and Guilds in Machine embroidery.
*To grow old disgracefully with hubby by my side.
*To have grandchildren.
*To learn to dance (maybe).

7 Things I do now.
*Sew.
*Knit (sort of)
*Work (too b****y hard).
*Reading
*Designing
*Make my own patterns to recycle items.
*Make things for my little Sophie.

7 Things I can't do.
* Maths!
*Drive an automatic car.
*Crochet (I am trying to do something about this one).
*Speak in front of a large audience.
*Climb a ladder without getting scared of how high I am.
*Whistle properly.
*Use a traditional tin opener( I found this out recently when my usual tin opener decided to break!)

7 Things I find attractive in the opposite Sex.
*Tall
*Easy to talk to.
*Is actually interested in you.
*Long brown eye lashes (hubby has those!)
*A sense of humour.
*To like you for who you are and not what they would like you to be.
*Polite and sincere.

7 Things I say most often.
*Yes love?
*Come on it's time to get up Sophie.
*Gosh I'm tired.
*Where are my car keys/ glasses/ handbag etc.
*I will be there in a minute...
*Can I have a squeezey cuddle?
*Can you all stop talking and listen please? (work related this one).

7 Celebrities/ famous that I admire.
*Daniel Craig (Does his own stunts)
*Tina Turner (Difficult life in the early years)
*Mother Teresa and the work she did.
*Kylie Minogue.
*I will have to come back to this section later....
*
*
*
I have changed the title to this slightly to widen the field.

7 Favourite Foods
*Most fruit *Chocolate
*Pasta *Roast vegetables
*Shepherds Pie *Cheesecake
*Crisps

7 people to carry this on...
I do not always have much success with this bit as I nominate people and only half ever take me up on it. So I am going to suggest that if you have your birthday in December (same as me) then please accept this award and tag. Please leave me a comment if you have a birthday in December and if it is the 23rd then I would love to hear from you!
Hope I have not bored you too much and I will be back tomorrow.
Many thanks for the lovely comments about my compact collection and I confess that I have two more on their way to me courtesy of Ebay. Naughty me! Will show them to you when they arrive.
Take care.xx
P.S I have added a comment about feelings towards tagging and awards that I have seen recently.

Hi to my 20 followers have this award......

This lovely award was very kindly given to me by Kitty Wrinkle.

I would like to pass this award onto all of the bloggers who have recently added me to their follower list. Some are new to Indigo Blue and I would like to show my appreciation that they found me. I would appreiciate a link back to here if that is not being too cheeky, thank you. There are also my lovely regulars who have been with me since the very beginning. Due to there being 20 people I am not going to do their links here but they are listed in the sidebar so pop over and say Hi to them.

My Day off, I hope, has done the trick, my husband went to Exeter to visit a client today so it has been just me and the cat. I have really enjoyed reading the comments that have been coming in today, so thank you all very much indeed!

I have made some bread, done some washing, cleaned the living room, written a list of last minute things for Sophie's birthday party and tried to photograph my Quiltie entry. They seem rather over exposed to me but I shall upload them and see what happens tomorrow.

Tomorrow after I have taken Sophie to her ballet lesson I have about 46 of these to make and decorate, with some help from a certain excited little girl as they are going to form her birthday cake and she has insisted that she wants to be a part of this rather than have it as a surprise.

We both had so much fun making these a few weeks ago that a Cupcake Birthday Cake was 'cooked' up. (Sorry, could not resist). Should be fun and messy!

Enjoy the rest of the evening XX

An award for everyone!... Thanks Nan...

No one is really sure where this started, there appears to be no rules and Nan at Nannybird Crafts has received this award and emailed me to tell me about it.

So I have collected it and posted it now I would like to scatter it everywhere like confetti across blogland... (sorry getting carried away, it has been one of those days). There have been many new bloggers leaving comments here over the last month or two. If you have come back again for another visit then take this with you. Simply copy and paste into your pictures on your computer and then upload it when posting or adding a gadget on the margin. Saying 'Hi' would be fun too. Lets see how far it could go, I say this because it fascinates me that on my craftyblogs stats I can see that I have had visitors recently from China, India, Vietnam, Japan and Russia!! It amazes me but really it should not because the Internet has in a way shrunk the world and blogging enables us to have friends in countries we may never have a chance to visit. This makes us XXtraordinary Bloggers !

Two years ago I did take part in a teacher exchange to Kenya, I went to a town outside Kisumu. I had a visit from someone in Kenya a few weeks ago and it brought back some lovely memories of my visit. Mmmmm, a topic for a future post perhaps?

Yippee I have photo printer paper at last, hopefully a recycled tote will follow soon.

Take care and don't forget to take the award with you when you go.

XX

An Award...Thank you Primrose Corner...

Been so busy with emailling half the world for the Christmas swap that sewing etc has taken a back seat. I have nearly finished my camper van swap and I am pleased with it. I have never 'made' a vehicle before and it is really hard. I just hope my swap partner likes it. Then I must start my Forrest Quilites swap with Creative Challenges and of course my Christmas Decoration.
In the meantime I am really pleased to receive an award from Primrose Corner and isn't it nice and shiny!!

The rules for this (there are always rules aren't there?) to pass it on to four regular followers of your blog plus one blogger from another country. Well this is actually quite hard as my readership can vary from month to month and can depend on what I am featuring. Also people drift in and out depending on home and family commitments.

My abroad blogger is Nannybird who has visited and helped me from day one. I also receive lovely emails.

My other nominees are as follows...

1).Kitty because her posts make me really laugh out loud and she hits on very topical themes which must go on in just about every house in the UK.

2).Lesley who is studying for a City and Guilds, so we have a mutual interest there and has been a regular visitor for a while. I am getting that book title for you by the way Lesley.

3). Bliss Country Life I recently found out that Yvonne only lives about 10 miles away!

4).Garden Lynn Who has a very interesting blog which I bet would smell lovely if that was possible due to all of the pot pourri and soaps that she makes.

It s always very difficult to choose like this and to be honest, seeing as we are soon to embark on the season of goodwill if you do visit her but maybe do not comment then have this award as well. Just leave a comment to say who you are and link back to me.

So lets spread the shininess around!

Camper Van swap is nearly done as i really need to finish so that I can actually start the item for my own swap!! Will post photos asap.

Take care

XX

Award...Thank you!

I really need my wrist slapped for how long it has taken me to post this. I started to write it up then the trees etc took over so I deleted it and started again now.

IT was given to be by the lovely Louise at

The Home is where the Heart is...

Many thanks Louise as it is always fun and nice to receive these little pictures to put on your blog and the thought that some else likes what you do.

The rules are..

1. To cut and paste the award on to your blog.

2. To say who gave you the award and put a link to their blog.

3.Let the award giver now that you have posted the award.

4. Nominate 6/7 other blogs. Put links to their blogs.

5. Leave a comment to let them now that they have been nominated.
Now some of the above is a bit tricky as so many people have already got this award and last time I nominated 6 blogs and only three actually got back to me.

So I thought that this time because there are many who visit here if you would like this award on your blog them please accept it with my blessing just leave a short comment to say that you would like it. I thought it would be a chance to meet some new blogs that I have not yet found. How does that sound. If you are a regular visitor that I know and you have not received this one pleeeeease accept it. I am going for blow out and want to give it to loads of blogs. You can then pass it on again.

After Garden fever had calmed down on Monday I thought that we deserved a scrummy dessert for dinner..

So I made this up as I went along..

A cornet with a bit of double choc ice cream then filled with chopped strawberries and blueberries. Then a large spoonful of blueberries, strawberries and a few blackberries from the garden. Then a dollop of Cornish clotted cream.

YUM YUM!

We have ordered the new fence panels yesterday, so guess what I am doing at the weekend?

The poll is coming along well. Have you voted at the top of the blog?

Crafting pics tomorrow, baskets and pincushion(s).

Enjoy the day.

(No rain yet today)

So much to say and show...

Well, we got home yesterday at about 9pm, unloaded the car and then waded through a pile of post. There is so much to catch up on that I will need to spread it over a few days otherwise it will be too long to read in one go.

I will start with the award I was given nearly two weeks ago. I could not copy and paste the award while I was away but today with two clicks I had it...

It was given to me by Jennie at 'Down the Rabbit Hole, many thanks and sorry that it has taken so long to put up.

These are the rules:

1).Paste the award logo onto your blog.

2)Add a link to the person who nominated you.

3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs ( a bit tricky this bit).

4)Put links to your nominees.

5)Leave a message to your nominees about the award.

I have decided to give this award to the following blogs for a wide number of reasons but alot of time a effort goes into their blogs, they are very informative and keep making me want to visit over and over again. Could have listed everyone in my margin plus some I have written down but not yet added.

Award nominees are......

1)Paper and string
2)I wanna new bag

3)The Chocolate Cat (who was my cupcake swap partner and my parcel arrived today and is fantastic, but more on that later)

4)U-Handbag

5) Nannybird

6)Inkberry Blue

7)Molly Chicken

The rest of today has been spent cleaning and tidying the kitchen. I did check my emails and found my largest Etsy order so far had been made which was very exciting. I am nearly out of purses now with just a few on my website. So I stopped the cleaning ( oh what a shame!) and processed the order and went to the postoffice. I can now make some more which I was thinking about for Christmas Parties etc.

There was also another reason for cleaning as Sophie and I want to use this book which I bought in Lewes when we were away, by the way the weather was fantasic, .lovely sun everyday, lotion needed too hot to sleep etc brilliant. I have now come back to Cornwall and RAIN!

Anyway I digress, the book

ISBN: 10 1-905695-63-2

http://www.ivy-group.co.uk/ (the publishers)
Sophie and I saw this both at the same time and we have decided what we are going to tackle first..

Followed by this..

Yum Yummmmm.

Now this links in well with the parcel which was waiting for collection at my neighbours house from my Cupcake Swap partner who lives in Australia. I had to wait over-night as she had gone to bed by the time I got back yesterday. I opened it today and gasped! It is brilliant, but my photos are not. The day has been so dull and the pictures did not do her work justice so I am going again tomorrow and with my cooking. There is a clue there as I will be able to use the swap item? It was a delight to open it and Sophie could not believe that it had been handmade.

I have also completed a book cover commission and recieved my Blue and Brown swap from America but more on that this week.

Back tomorrow hopefully with better pictures and some cupcake goodies.

Take care

XX

Thoughtful!!

I need to struggle with my laptop tonight and try to transfer documents to someone else's memory stick. Now I use memory sticks, computers etc alot at work but you what life is like when someone wants something done like yesterday! My laptop did not like the stick, then I got it to work but half of what was needed was on another stick so needed to tranfer that first...... I think you get the idea. so I have brought it home to sort out in peace so on to something much nicer.

Many thanks to Inkberry Blue for this..

I regularly visit this blog as her crocheting is to drool over. In one of the posts Inkberry blue has crocheted a lovely tea cosy that so wish that I could make. I have never been taught crochet and none of my family really do this craft. We can do some of the basics but never taken it any further. her blog also covers many other aspects of craft and artist which she visits in her home country of Australia.

Since starting my blog last September I have been surprised at how links spread, just how big the craft community is and I have gained alot if inspiration from others. As for my internet skills and being able to set up a blog has increased my confidence that I am not a complete thicky when it comes to this type of area.

I will learn how to crochet, tackle more quilt blocks and set up a website all of which I would not thought achieveable 6 months ago.

I have uploaded my bag entry on the U-handbag flickr pool and the deadline is the 17th so I shall wait and see. Hopfully more photos can be taken this weekend inbetween sorting out the attic!

Just a short post today.

Take care.

Bye

Art Award!!

Nan at Nannybird crafts has very kindly passed this Art Award onto me. I have been visiting Nan's blog regularly since entering her 100th post recycling challenge. Her posts are varied, original and often very funny, the latest is about de-cluttering the house!
Nannybird Crafts



I now need to pass this award onto 5 other blogs that I enjoy visiting and inspire me. Now I am fairly new to blogging and I hope that the small range that I visit regularly will like recieving this Art Award.

The Award originally came fromArte Y Pico's Blog at,
http://artepico.blogspot.com/

It was passed onto Nan via Fazendo Arte from America who speaks Portuguese but her blog can be translated into broken english.
(I still can't put links properly into posts here so sorry that the whole blog address is showing. I have been trying and I will get there in the end.)
The Award rules are:
* Post the award on your own blog.(Post who gave it to you)
*Indicate its original link and link to that site. (Arte Y Pico from Uruguay)
*Give the ward to 5 other blogs that you enjoy, find creative and inspire you.

So I would like to give the award to:
Picciolo: For reguarly visiting my blog, leaving nice comments and creating such clever and stylish designs.

Inkberry Blue: For showing such a wide variety of crafts on her blog and being a pretty skilled at crocheting and a good sense of humour.

Joanna: For her fun blogs and lovely bag making, do take a look at her blog and website.

Paper and String: Who has a very individual style and the faces that she creates are so cute using felt and brads amongst other things.

And finally Cindy at My recycled bags: For her very clever use of plastic bags, amongst other things, to create lovely bags and other useful items. Plus the range of tutorials that she posts.

Crikey, well I think I have got all the info correct.