It's holiday time . . .

"All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go . . . "

                                              - John Denver {Leaving on a Jet Plane}

I'm off on a wee holiday for a few days,  so it's the usual mad rush to get everything organized and packed. 

But before I go, here's a wee bit more about my adventures with Annie last weekend . . .

Firstly,  invite artistic & fellow creative friend around for the day {with promise of roast lamb for dinner, and reciprocal assurance that she would in turn bring yummy pudding},  then cover kitchen table and spread dust sheet over floor {the initial plan was to work outside, but the morning rain foiled that one} and then at last,  let the fun commence . . .

 

Take a bunch of various old bits of charity shop finds . . .

 and some other bits & pieces . . . 

 

. . .  add some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in a variety of oh-so-pretty colours . . .

and let the painting begin : - )

 

Oh this is sooo much fun . .
As a few of you predicted, I think I am addicted !  I keep looking around the house and mentally ticking off all the things I could paint . . .
Ok, so I know these pics look like we just used "Original", but I assure you there was "Old Ochre", "French Linen" and "Antoinette" involved too.

The two most-adorable-pups-in-the-world initially watched with interest, but soon the idea of a nap in the sunny spot proved more alluring.

Watching paint dry really is sooo boring . . . ZZzzz

But I'm afraid you'll have to wait 'til I return from my hols before I can show you the end results, as I'm not quite finished yet.  Still some sanding and waxing to do.  So that's a table, a mirror, and a cake stand added to my WIP list . . .

Arrivederci for now,

catch up when I get back.

'til then, take care and be happy . . .

xoxo

Something for the Weekend: the Winners . . .

Good morning, and I hope you've had a lovely weekend . . .

Thanks to everyone who entered my holiday weekend giveaway, I've just popped all the names in a box {the usual hat has been packed away with my winter things} and drawn out the two lucky winners.

First up was the Crochet winner, then out came those wee bits of paper and into the box went the names for the Blog book. 

And the winners are . . . 

Hazel

Which one? I hear you ask.

Well . . . BOTH of them ; - )

I kid you not !!  How spooky is that ?

So, congrats to Hazel at Hazel's Crochet and Hazel at Cupcakery.   I'll email you both shortly to get your details and pop your prizes in the post a.s.a.p.  I hope you enjoy them : - )
And if you don't already know their blogs, do pop over and say hello - they are guaranteed to inspire you !

* * * * * *

Oh, and a wee sneak peek of just one of the things I got up to at the weekend . . .

More about that soon, but right now I need to dash around and run some errands.

Having an extra day at the weekend is lovely, but it does tend to throw the rest of the week out of kilter, don't you think ?

 

Back soon,

have a happy day

xoxo

Something for the weekend . . .

It's Friday {and the start of a long weekend here in the UK},

 the sun is shining,

 the birds are chirping, 

 the temps are on the way up, 

 and my little blog has reached the 200 followers milestone . . .

. . . just the perfect excuse for a wee giveaway, don't you think ? 

Firstly a BIG thanks to all you lovely peeps who follow along on my little crafty adventures.  

Your sweet comments delight and encourage me, and in turn, all your lovely blogs inspire me to greater crafty heights : -)

Right, so, how would you like to add one of these lovely books* to your shelf ?

First up,

one for all you crocheters out there . . .

Hip Crochet

by Natalie Clegg

 ". . .includes fun crochet projects to give your home a touch of colour, with patterns to suit all tastes and levels of ability. "

 and

a little crocheted hook holder 
 {just like this one that I posted about here } which I'll make especially for the lucky winner in the colour of your choice.

This book is filled with some really fun & fab projects . . .

OR

if you're not much into crochet, then how about this lot ?

Blogging for Bliss 
- Crafting Your Own Online Journal

{ A Guide for Crafters, Artists & Creatives of All Kinds }

by Tara Frey

It's full of lots of hints & tips and all sorts of bloggy ideas & inspiration, and showcases some beautiful pics and lovely blogs.

". . . offers encouraging advice and solid how-to information on creating an inventive blog that reflects your unique style."

and two fun little WI books that offer all sorts of practical know-how regarding the wardrobe and the garden.  At the very least they will give you a giggle : -)

* * * * * * *

So, if you'd like to participate in my little holiday weekend giveaway, all you need to do is:

• already be a follower, or follow my blog, either with GFC or Bloglovin' {both links are to be found in the column to the right}; and
•  leave me a comment on this post, and mention which one of the giveaways you'd like - crochet or blog book. 

It's that simple  !

Entries will close after the Bank Holiday weekend, let's say 08h00 {GMT} on Tuesday morning,
 7th May 2013, and I'll announce the lucky winners a.s.a.p thereafter.

Good luck . . . and I hope you have a happy, sunshiney weekend.

xoxo

* This is not a sponsored giveaway, nor have I been asked to review any of the books. 

Oh-sew-much-fun . . .

If you caught this post from last week, you'll know that I was taking part in an all-day workshop at the lovely Sew Me Something Emporium in Stratford-upon-Avon, to learn how to make a Reversible Skirt.

ooh, & there's a fab little vintage shop right next door too . . .

So, we spent the day pinning & cutting & sewing & pressing & nattering & learning all sorts of new things 

{like how to make not just one, but two skirts, and how to pin and cut them both out at the same time, and how to make a bias binding, and how to make a button placket . . .

for example !}.

Needless to say there was a wee bit of unpicking / seam-ripping / frogging . . . call it what you may, either way it's still most annoying. 

But that didn't distract from the fun, one little bit.

And gradually our lovely skirts took shape . . .

how about that button placket, eh ?

 We had all chosen different fabrics so it was fab to see how unique each of our skirts looked.  I must confess to a tad wee bit of fabric envy here - they're all so lovely, don't you think?

I didn't quite finish mine by the end of the day . . . did I mention there was nattering, tea, yummy biscuits and lunch inbetween too?  Oh and the sweetest choccie Lab to be fussed & cuddled . . .

 Jules' rescue dog, and the new Sew Me Something's mascot, Shadow, kept a look out from his bed - every now & again having a wee wander around the studio to check on our progress.

 I've still got to make the button holes, sew on the buttons and take up the hem, but I am so chuffed with my skirt and can't wait to make another one : - )

And that's the workshop that was . . . another well-spent creative day.

BIG thanks to the ever-so-patient Jules for her guidance & inspiration, and to Sarah, Jayne, Carolyn, June & Samantha for keeping me company. 

xoxo

What a lovely way to spend a morning . . .

Yesterday my friend Heather & I took ourselves off to the Grand Opening of Guthrie & Ghani - which for those peeps who're not in the know, is the new haberdashery shop owned by Lauren of The Great British Sewing Bee fame.

the store front

I'd popped the address into the SatNav to ensure we found our way, but as we neared the shop, the long queue of happy, excited people lead us straight to the {pretty pink} front door.  So we parked up and joined the nattering crowd . . . and then the heavens opened and a hail storm arrived, but up went the brollies {this is England in Spring . . no one actually leaves home without a brolly, do they ?} so neither our selves nor spirits were dampened.

Despite the rain, Lauren's dad - who, by the way was just lovely - was doing some PR, wandering up & down the queue, chatting away, making us laugh (with an infectious Scottish sense of humour), and ensuring that everyone {and I quote}: "has a credit card and can remember your pin code" {unquote}

Lauren's dad

Then Stuart - who, by the way, is just equally as lovely - popped outside and joined in the banter, happily chatting away with us and posing for pics . . .

Stuart & Heather
{yes, I was on his other side, but was for some reason pulling a strange face, so I used my Ed's discretion and cropped me out ! }

. . . until we reached the front of the queue and it was our turn to head inside.

There was cake . . .

. . . there was Lauren & Tilly . . .

. . . there were pretty displays . . .

 

. . .  and a beautiful chandelier hanging from some impressive beams . . .

. . . and there was Julie & the winner of GBSB, Ann.

The lovely Julie blogs over at Mack & Mabel {do pop over and visit}, and on discovering we were both attending the Opening, plans were made to rendezvous.  It was great to finally meet and spend a wee while chatting, and plans are afoot for another get-together soon.

All in all, a perfectly lovely way to spend a morning . . .

I hope you've had a lovely weekend too ?  My Friday was really fab as well, so I'll be back soon to tell you all about it.

And last, but most certainly not least - a BIG welcome to my newest followers.
 Thanks for popping in, and WOW, 200-up
 : -)

  I'm humbled, and happy and thankful to everyone who visits my little blog.
Methinks this calls for another Giveaway very soon so watch this space . . .

xoxo

ps. oh and yes, of course I bought some pretty cotton yarn and a pattern . . . and I'm planning to go back again very soon ;-)

Sew me something . . .

Just packing my basket and getting all my bits & bobs together, because tomorrow I'm off to spend the WHOLE day at the lovely Sew Me Something Emporium in the beautiful Stratford-upon-Avon to do their  "Sew me a Reversible Skirt"  workshop.  

 

 That's the fabrics I've chosen for the two sides of the skirt, they're lovely Amy Butler cottons.

 

Note: the essential inclusion of McVities new DOUBLE choc digestives for extra sustenance 

and energy   ; - )

 

 I'm sew looking forward to it . . .

{the workshop, that is . . . although I am looking forward to the biscuits too)

Wishing you a happy Friday ,

xoxo