Midsummer's Night Dreaming!

Good morning all,  hope your weekend is off to a good start.  Mine has now started - I was up at 6 marking coursework, which is now done yay!!!!!  So now in weekend mode at long last.

Well folks, as you know my good friend Sue and I organised a swap based on the theme of a Midsummer Night's Dream.  I was paired up with the lovely Rae.  It was her first ever swap and my goodness, did she make a terrific job of it!!!!

First to pop out of my parcel was this lovely little lady - so beautifully made and absolutely sweet!

Then gorgeous crafty things, ribbon, threads and yarn - all will be put to excellent use I can assure you...

Lovely candle in a votive holder and fabric - just ideal therapy for beyond-stressed teachers...

Chocolate and a pretty card (the card will last longer than the chocolate methinks....)

Just look at this lovely pin cushion in the mini bonne mama jar - I think this teacher will use that idea...just sharing best practice dont you know (aka nicking good ideas)

And get ready to gasp....

Needle felting par excellence - a gorgeous necklace all for me!  In some of my fave colours!!

Rae, you have spoiled me so much - you have sent things I love in the colours I love!

Thank you so very very much - and for those of you paired up with Rae in the future you sure are in for a treat!

I had a lovely midsummer's night at Sue's house where we celebrated the 22nd birthday of her eldest - can he really be that age already?  Seems only a year or two ago since I was holding a tiny little bundle in my arms, scared to move in case I woke him up!  It was a lot of fun (we laughed until we cried) with yummy food (Sue is the most terrific cook) so a great time was had by all.

Have  a lovely day, whatever it is you get up to!

Helenxx

Crochet therapy

Recently it has been beyond hectic at work, thank goodness for the the calming properties of crochet!  These are some of the charming little things that have been helping me out as a stress busting strategy...

 Pot holder - pattern is taken from a recent crochet and knitting craft magazine, together with an different border.  I have backed it with felt to protect the user's hands.

 Another one, all of these are made with the wool samples given away as freebies with various craft magazines, the quality is ideal for this type of project.  I know some folks also use these as dish cloths, but I think I would cringe every time I scrubbed a dirty dish with them!  Far prefer to have them hanging on a hook near the cooker, decorative and functional - just the way things should be in my humble opinion!

A little flower brooch, in lovely summery colours.  My daughter has her eye on this one....

I have so loved making these, they dont take too long but I was quite pleased with the results.  I have been making other things too but cant show them yet (as they are for the swaps Im involved with at the mo!!  Shhhhh!!)  and have started another bigger crochet project which will be revealed soon!

Have a lovely day, whatever it is you get up to!!

Helenxx