Putting shelves to good use

Following our recent push on putting up our alcoves of shelving we found we had capacity issues. Some of them were looking a little empty and a bit forlorn, oh what a lovely problem to have! It won't last.

In lieu of ever having again a house big enough to have my own craft room (only occasionally do I miss those pre-children days when space was so much less of an issue) ... I now have some craft shelves :)



Mmm, that'll do!

I also have recently made myself a craft storage box. The green spotty thing on the right.



The pattern comes from this book and overall it was really nice and simple to make. Unfortunately, I managed to buy the wrong type of interfacing - it was really expensive and good and stiff, but it was non fusible. Grrrrr! This made the construction a little tricky in places and the end result isn't quite as stable as I would like it to be, but it looks darn pretty up there. I think I'll give another one a go some time, when I've got hold of the proper fusible stuff that is.

I'm very proud of my little pair of crafty shelves. I can't decide whether to make a cover for my sewing machine or not. It kind of needs the blast of colour up there, but I also like seeing the shape of the machine on show. One to ponder.

I came home the other day to see that a small array of lego spaceships had been added to my little patch of creativity. Is it wrong that I immediately removed them from said shelves and found alternative homes elsewhere? Gerrof your Mum's shelves small people!

Toodle pip
J
x

Easter round up

Our Easter hols have started to fly by, only a few days left to go before it will be back to work for me .... boo :(

We seem to have achieved quite a lot and have had a very busy week so far.

On Good Friday we packed the car to the gills, steeled ourselves for five hours of driving fun, and headed back to the hills for a few days in order to visit Grandma and Grandad. The weather was freezing but at least the sun shone. We managed a brisk walk along a bit of the seafront at Aberystwyth ...

And the boys enjoyed zooming around the castle re-enacting star wars and pirate battles ...

When the wind got too cold we retreated back indoors so I managed to get quite a bit of crafting done. Paper squares are currently being taped into 864 of these lovelies ready for the next wedding quilt ...



And I finished a last minute knitting project for me, inspired by the chilly spring weather we seem to be stuck with ...





Planning for the next house projects also started today, complete with two trips to the timber merchant to stock up on more wood. Most of it the right size - eventually! So while the tiddlers go to Nana's for a sleep over on Saturday its shelves for him and curtains for me. Here is a sneaky peak of my project ...



Very excited indeed to be finally doing these :)

Today was a chill out day in the main so I even managed to dust off my griddle and whip up some goodies inspired by our trip to Wales ...



Twenty one of these sugar coated Welsh Cake yummies were produced at tea time, but only nine were left by the time I found the camera. As quick as they came off the griddle they were getting snaffled up. Ah well, at least they were appreciated.

Toodle pip
J
x

Big boy bed

Our baby is growing up fast.



Getting your big boy bed is a very exciting event and calls for much jumping and giggling :)

Thankfully, he has settled to sleeping in it like a pro and the old cot will be heading to ebay shortly. His big brother is impressed by the new sharing arrangements too, apparently now Caleb sleeps in the room with him Reuben will no longer get lonely at night. Awww!

Toodle pip
J
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On the shelf

We're making slow progress with house renovations, mainly because the pennies have had to be seriously watched over recent months. However, in the last few weeks we've finished the first part of the mammoth shelving job for our lounge and dining room.

We have four alcoves to fill, three of which are destined to be shelved. The final one will, fingers crossed, house a mini sideboard or cupboard.

We started with the empty corner ...



And the piles of supplies ...





The artiste got to work ...



Miles of batons went up ...



And they look darn fine ...





Books make such nice ornaments :)
Toodle pip
J
x

Ooh-arrr me hearties!

My two knitted pirate dolls are finally finished ...



These were darn fiddly things to make but I'm pleased with the result, they sort of look like they should - never a guaranteed outcome with my knitting! Making up is my least favourite part of the process so these blighters about drove me mad - so many bits to sew together, especially doing two simultaneously so both peapods can have one :)

The boys are pleased with them and in an unsurprising bout of 'anything my brother does I do too' both have been christened 'Captain Jack Sparrow'. You can guess the current obsession at our house. oooh arr!

Toodle pip
J
x

Mothers Day goodies

There was much excitement among the little peapods at the patch this year in relation to Mothers Day. Friday evening after school saw several whispered exchanges between munchkins and Dad - plus nods, winks and a few under bed 'hiding' missions all the while mentioning that it was all a great big SECRET. Bless!

By the time Sunday arrived it was anticipated with almost as much excitement that a birthday normally generates.

Pressies were:

A homemade card ...



Complete with a beautiful display of Reu's fast improving writing skills ...



A Betty's bun (only the box survives, contents were devoured before the camera came out, but it is such a pretty box I can't bear to throw it away yet) ...




And a pin board ...



This last one is an old thing of my Dads that was rescued from the garage a few months back. Dave saw its potential, acquired it (much gratitude from Mum who is always looking to get rid of the remaining piles of garage tat) and has secretly renovated it for me, all with Caleb's help - he apparently pitched in with the sanding! It is now duly mounted and waiting to display the daily deliveries of artwork and stories that arrive home from school.

Toodle pip
J
x

One wedding quilt - done!

ok, so it has been a while again. Once more life kinda got in the way of coming on here to record the mundane and the creative. Then I remembered a couple of photos lurking on the pen drive which I never sorted out and the spark re-ignited. I've at least got to add the completed wedding quilt project.

So I'm proud to present ...


Mr & Mrs Lewis 2012 Wedding Gift Bed Quilt



I managed to get it done well within my self imposed deadline of one year - months in advance of their first anniversary in fact. It came together lovely and quickly once I got started and it was a very enjoyable one to do.

A bit more of a close up, unfortunately my snaps still don't show some of the lovely detail in the prints we found (there are plenty of chickens in there!). It looked so lovely and at home on our bed it was quite a wrench sending it off to its new owners.



Well the quilt has gone off to a very happy home and I understand it has been doing sterling work keeping the newly weds toes toasty over these winter months. Next up is youngest sister, she gets married in October this year and has also requested a quilt for their gift. The aim this time is to get it done before the wedding, wish me luck! First fabric shopping trip coming up on Monday :)

Toodle pip
J
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