Mega-post!!

I haven't got round to showing you any of my crafty things these last few weeks so here goes ;0). Above are a couple of birthday cards for the June birthdays, although I forgot to photograph the last one.

Crocheted brooch with button.

Love these - embroidered phone charms made with felt hearts/stars.

A couple of bracelets for myself.

A crocheted bangle for the shop.

A crocheted cuff/bracelet with button.

More tins.

And last, but by no means least, nine beetle keyrings.

I'm also drying some wild rose buds for use with Christmas gifts or just for pot pourri, but I forgot to take a piccie. Also, trying to get a load of bags cut out ready for a mammonth sewing machine session, plus I've got some felt noughts and crosses made already, just need to make the little bags to put them in. And before you think 'blimey, how has she managed all that' ( ;0) ), the house looks a state, and the veg patch has rather too many weeds!!! Crafting is much more fun. Beach tomorrow.

The good and the bad, part 2

Lets get the bad over with shall we. My second batch of wild rose petal jam! I had to strain the petals out as they wouldn't dissolve again and then, once it had set it crystallised again. I'm going to have to find a different recipe as this one clearly doesn't work.

A bottle of my rhubarb, elderberry and blackcurrant cordial exploded in my food cupboard!!! Not only did I lose the cordial and the jar, but also some food as well.

It's been an odd week altogether really - my brother and his girlfriend, and my brother-in-law and his wife are separating (none of us are really surprised by either); my Nan had to go for a mammogram as there were concerns, but everything is ok thank goodness; and then there was another incident with my Dad (I wish he would go to bereavement counselling but you can't force someone to go can you!) which has resulted in him and my brother not talking to each other! It's exhausting!! There was some good last week though:-

My finished season swap for the Green Parent Forum. An embroidered sunflower and I found a sunflower poem to go with it.

My brother was taking this to the tip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It used to be my Mum's (not sure where she got it from) so I'm sooooo pleased that we rescued it. It runs quite smoothly when you turn the handle but I'm going to have it serviced when I have a bit of spare cash. I did a bit of research on the internet as it still has it's number on it - it was made in 1893.

The other good bit of last week was the Green Day concert at Wembley on Saturday night. It was absolutely amazing. We have seen them before, but to see them at Wembley was something else. They were on stage for nearly 3 hours!! Hubby and I stayed in a hotel then went into the centre of London on the Sunday morning. I'd never been to Trafalgar Square before, so we went there, and then had a look round the National Gallery. Also went to Covent Garden and Leicester Square.

-o-

A very exhausting week, full of good and bad. Hopefully things will be better this week. The sun is shining for the solstice, let's hope it lasts for a while longer. Solstice Blessings to everyone.

The good and the bad

Three birthday cards down, three to go!

Foraged chamomile.

One more tin for the shop.

-0-

And the bad...wild rose petal jam. The petals wouldn't dissolve, I stupidly added a bit more sugar when I shouldn't have so it's crystalised, so a bit of a disaster really. It did smell lovely while it was cooking though ;-)

-o-O-o-

I'm currently making some more elderflower cordial and the green parent summer season swap, plus three more cards to make before the weekend, and more stock for the shop. Off to see Green Day this weekend, I'm so excited!!!!!!!

The month of birthdays

First batch of elderflower cordial bottled.

June is a month of family birthdays - my brother and sister share the same day although they are 2 years apart, Nathan (my middle boy), my FIL, my SIL, my nephew on hubbies side and finally my nephew on my side - so I have to be quite organised with regards the cards and things. My sister didn't want a physical gift this year she wanted a room painted in her house so that's what I've been doing today. I also took her some bath salts - just so she had something just for her on her birthday.

Headbands

Three crocheted headbands for the shop. Got another on the hook at the minute too :o).

Had a fabulous day at a VW show yesterday in Skegness - the sun was shining, the kids played merrily on the beach, loads of dubs to look at - perfect. I managed to find enough elderflowers to start the season of elderflower cordial too. Will be ready to bottle on Monday. My last batch of soap is also ready (olive oil and cedarwood). I have to be honest and say I don't really like the smell but until you've tried these things you never know do you!

Lastly, go take a look at Away with the Faeries new Folksy shop - good luck Charlotte :o).

Erm!

Couldn't think of a title today! I made my first decent muffins yesterday, with rhubarb in them. They are scrummy. I found the recipe on Channel 4 website

225g SR flour (I substituted half with spelt flour)

1 tsp baking powder

75g melted butter

175ml milk

1 egg

approx 200g fresh fruit or veg chopped

for fruit muffins add 100g soft brown sugar

Pre-heat oven to 200C Gas mark 6

Place all the ingredients in a bowl and mix to get rid of most of the lumps.

Mix in the fruit/veg (I part cooked the rhubarb), then place in your muffin tin and bake for 15-20 mins until golden brown.

Enjoy :-)

More vinegar with lemons in it - I use this as the rinse aid in the dishwasher.

3 phone (whatever you want) charms made with wooden beads.

2 necklaces made with wooden beads.

Shop things

No, I haven't been buying things again! Fabric picked out to match the bags.....

........all lined and ready to go in the shop/craft fair. Plus a couple of cards to go in too.

Blissfully exhausted...

....after a fair few hours in the garden. Wild garlic soup with a chunk of buttered bread followed by lots of tidying and weeding. The strawberries have lovely green strawberries on them and the raspberries that came from my Nan's have just got some flower buds on too.

JJ trying out a more natural sunscreen!

The lawnmowers working at full pelt ;-).

I've got the doilies sewn onto the front of the bags and I've got a couple of cards half made. Lots of tidying up done in the house too! Hope everyone else is enjoying themselves xx

Thank You Pippa

I received a beautiful blogger award from the lovely Pippa a couple of days ago - thank you so much, it made my day. I love Pippa's blog and find her a true inspiration so to receive this award from her is just wonderful. I now have to pick 10 blogs that I would want to give this award to and then right 10 things about myself. The blog bit was extremely difficult as I read far too many ;-), so I asked myself which ones I wouldn't want to be without. Here goes:-

A Handmade Life

Attic24

Away with the faeries

Carried Family

Earth Mama

paper-and-string

Raising Seedlings

Soulemama

The Interrupted Gardener

When I get the time

Some are inspiring crafts, some are inspiring mothering, some are honest, all are beautiful (and one has a workshop that I lust after!)

Now 10 things about myself. Hmmm....

As a child I always wanted to be a twin.

I'm not one to follow patterns - I like to do my own thing.

I hoard things.

I married my school sweetheart and still get butterflies over 20 years later.

I always thought I would have 3 children - all 3 were planned too. (I also kept up the family tradition by being pregnant when I got married).

I dislike dusting and cleaning the bathroom - these were the jobs I had as a child.

I wish I could sing.

.......struggling now.......

I bite my nails.

I over compensate for having not much as a child to having too much stuff now!

I am just starting my spiritual path.

Heck, that was hard work ;-). Hope everyone has a lovely bank holiday weekend and that the sun shines for you all. xx

Having a great time

Very busy at the minute but in a lovely way (even enjoying some housework, sshhh). The stress of having the builders in was far greater than I realised, but they are gone now and everything else is great. The above are the two snugglies I had an order for. All posted now.

I made these felt tin covers last night - just need another tin for the green one!

After a quick look in a charity shop today I came away with these three doilies for 50p - fabulous. This is what they look like now......

Definitely enjoying getting ready for this craft fair - far more than I thought I would. June is a month of birthdays, so I need to be fairly organised (hehehe) so I'm not making cards at the last minute because of stocking up on pieces for the fair. I can live in hope ;-).

Oooo, I recieved a beautiful blogger award from the lovely Pippa so I shall post about that tomorrow hopefully - got to think of 10 things about myself and whittle my blog list down to just 10 beautiful blogs!!!!