Mail on Monday

I've been waiting for the sun to show its face today. I wanted to take a photo, of the best bit of mail from last week, and it's finally obliged.

You might remember I made one of these rabbity hares a couple of years ago. I bought a kit from Cool Crafting to make Luna. She was destined for my daughter, but I gifted her to a dear friend of mine, who was having a tough time, instead.

High time I made another then. There is now a book, including patterns for lots of lovely clothes as well as the rabbit. Luna has an extensive wardrobe of dresses, tops, skirts, a warm wool coat and a pair of boots, not to mention some very cute pyjamas. Alternatively you could make Alfie with jeans, shirt and waistcoat.

I made good progress on Saturday evening, while the boys were at the cinema and my girl worked on a story board project. I took the opportunity to catch up on a couple of episodes of Quarry. It's set in the 70s and tells the story of a returning Vietnam veteran. It has a great soundtrack and Damon Herriman is outstanding.

Waving to Sian and the Mondayers while the rain lashes against my window. The sun didn't last long around here. Have a great week.

Mail on Monday

The coffee and a doughnut edition.

Not quite what you were expecting?

The best bit of mail from last week was this second hand Beignet pattern I bought. If you read Alexandra's post last Monday, you'll know that not only is it the name of a button front skirt by Colette, but also a delicious looking deep fried treat, not unlike a doughnut. I'm looking forward to making something a bit more challenging.

Waving to Sian and The Mondayers, while enjoying the last day before the school runs begin again. Have a great week.

Mail on Monday

Sian has given a new spin to her Monday posts. This year she's suggesting we give our readers a peek at any interesting post we might have received during the week.

I've drawn a blank until today.....

.....when this little beauty was delivered into my hands at 7.30 this morning.....

.....and just like that the postal drought came to an end.

In other news, the insurance company finally paid out and I have a new car. The newest I've ever had in fact, at only 8 years old. Still missing my little red Clio, but gradually getting used to her replacement. I'm glad it's Half Term this week and I'm not having to travel the road where the accident happened. A much needed break.

Waving to Sian and the Mondayers on this bright and breezy afternoon.

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #305

No crafting in progress, for you to have a nosy at, today. It’s been in use all morning for either eating, revision or packing parcels. I’m just back from delivering my boy to a nearby village for an afternoon session of D&D with friends. A much needed break for all of them.

There are a few things on the table though. The box at the back is a parcel waiting for courier pick up. I’ve been “destashing” the stamps and ink pads I no longer use and saving the money towards a dressmaking dummy. The good news is I’ve reached my target and she is on her way as of this morning. I’m very excited.

The rest is what came in the post. A gorgeous postcard from Beverly as part of Liberate your Art, the all important Polling Cards and a second hand copy of Cross Stitch. I can’t wait to get stuck into the latter. I’ve been very much enjoying the recent TV adaptation of these books, now that it’s finally made its way onto streaming. Anyone else an Outlander fan?

Finally, the “little something” that I made for my nieces and nephews this year.

Linking up with Julia for the Wednesday desk hopping extravaganza.

Pile of Postcards Exchange

It’s been fun to be part of Sian’s Summer swap. There is something delightful about postcards dropping on the door mat and mine have come from all over the place.

From Sussex and Kent, Northern and Southern Ireland and the United States.

I’ve seen quite a few popping up in my Instagram feed, including one of my own. I know that two have arrived safely at their destinations and hope the rest have too or will do very soon.

I learnt that postcards always go second class, even if you put a 1st Class stamp on them. That it’s safer to put them in an envelope, when posting abroad and confusing to the counter staff in the post Office, when you stamp that envelope to look like a postcard!

Thank you to everyone who sent me a card. With a little bit of detective work, I think I have thanked you all personally, but just in case. And, of course, big thanks to Sian for organising another fun swap.

My Month in Numbers ~ January 2014

So, that was January. Thirty-one days gone in a flash.

I ate twenty-two bowls of soup, including several of this Spicy Sweet Potato with coconut milk. It was just one of the new recipes I tried out this month….

….along with these four and one old favourite thrown in for good measure.

I joined Instagram and posted forty-six photos taken with my new phone….

….I also discovered the #greatukfabricdetash and as a result, received these five parcels through the post, all in one day…..

….containing all this fabulous fabric. Including seven metres of the most beautiful gauzy pale yellow cotton with a lovely watercolour style print, for just twenty pounds. I see a fifties summer dress in my sewing future. First things first though….

….I began making a copy of my favourite White Stuff skirt and was astonished to discover that I needed to cut the size sixteen pattern pieces. There is a vast difference between ready to wear (in which I’m a size ten) or “vanity sizing” as it is known and the sizes on dressmaking patterns. Who knew?

I lost count of how many games of Carcasonne I played with my boy. Here I managed to claim victory by just one point! It has been a saviour this month. He sat five mock exams during three days last week and things have been a little stressful around here as a result.

Now onto a new month, with the possibility of lots more counting along with Julie.

What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday #213

It’s been a very trying couple of days around here, for reasons that I won’t even begin to bore you with. I don’t usually say sorry for not blogging, as I firmly believe that we all should do so without obligation. However, I really must apologise to everyone who entered my giveaway. I will have my glamorous assistant draw the names, out of whatever handy receptacle I happen upon, when she comes home from school. That’s the boring bit out of the way. Now for the workspace.

There’s no crafting happening at the kitchen table right now, but there might be later.

Yesterday brought something even more exciting to my door. A lovely little package all the way from Arizona. Deb had posted about a chocolate cake that her Mom used to make and shared the recipe with her readers. One of the ingredients is not widely available (if at all) in the UK and she kindly offered to post out a packet to two commenters. I was delighted to be one of the recipients.
It’s the Fourth of July tomorrow and that seems like a pretty good day to make this all American cake. It’s also the day that my son was due, sixteen years ago. However, he made us wait another week, in the July heat (yes, we had some that year), before he put in an appearance. I’ll let you know how it goes Deb.
That’s what is in my workspace today. Are you sharing yours? If you’ve been under a rock for the last four years, then pop over to Julia’s place to see what it’s all about.
I aim to be back tomorrow with the winners’ names and maybe even some numbers.

The Great Big Swap of Very Small Things

Just a quick post from me today to share the lovely little package of goodies that plopped onto my door mat earlier this week from Estelle.

A gorgeous selection picked with obvious care, to include lots of my favourite colours, namely purple, teal and turquoise, along with some sea shells and other pretties that reflect the name of my blog. Thank you so much Estelle and many thanks to Sian, of course, for dreaming up this Great Big Swap.

When I was filling my own package, ready to send, I was reminded of something that I did in primary school. After searching through a few boxes, I found what I was thinking of and will share that little story soon. You’ll only have to wait until the first Sunday of next month. Not long to go now.

Have a lovely weekend.

What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday? #153

My workspace this week is the ironing board…..

…..it’s got to come in useful for something.

I bought a book of postcards to send out as Happy Mail, only to find they didn’t fit in a standard envelope. They’ve been sitting on the shelf ever since. My new score board arrived yesterday and with the extra diagonal plate I can now make whatever size I need. It’s brilliant.

Maths is not my strong point so it took me a little while to figure out the measurements I’d need to fit the postcard . A little bit of trial and error and I got there in the end. I knew that DCWV colossal stack, I bought when I first started scrapping, would come in handy one day!

For more desks, kitchen/dining room tables and floors head on over to Julia’s place. I can’t promise there’ll be any more ironing boards, but you never know.

PS If there is a maths genius reading today, who knows a magic formula for working out envelope sizes, please let me know. I’d be eternally grateful.

52 Weeks of {Happy} Mail ~ Starts Today!

The event starts today and this is the envelope I’ve masked, inked and stamped, ready to contain my first piece of happy mail.

A few people have said they like the idea, but couldn’t commit to sending something weekly, which is fair enough. I think it would still be nice to do, even if only on a monthly basis. There’s no need to go to the effort of decorating an envelope, like I have for this week, anything handwritten is acceptable and it doesn’t need to be a handmade card. To me, ‘Happy Mail’ is anything sent with love by a friend.

The Facebook page has reached over 1000 ‘Likes’ now, but there’s still time to add your name.

I’ll be sharing what I’m sending, every week throughout Blogtoberfest, on a Sunday or Monday. I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone else will be mailing out. If you’re joining in, I’d love to hear from you.