Treasure Box

Hi everyone

Thanks everyone for all your comments on my last post, much appreciated!

And the crochet squares are indeed, as Little Blue Mouse suggested, destined to be made into a box - to hold a square box of tissues.  Something pretty with a nod to usefulness!  I only have one square left to do.  Will post some pics when it is done.

In and amongst my rather chaotic life I sometimes get time for a little browse around our local Flea Market, which is held each Friday in our market place.

And as I was browsing I happened to come across this

I don't know the technical name for it but to me it is a folding workbox.  And it is so spacious inside, lots of room for buttons...

 Fabric...

 and threads...

Here it is fully opened (excuse the kitchen paraphernalia in the background!)

I love the fact that it is so nice to look at, but also very pleasing to use.  And it was very cheap too - bonus!!

What has been your most recent thrifty treasure?  I would love to hear about it!

Helenxx

A Birthday, a Bloggiversary and 52 Weeks of Happy 3/52 :)

Good morning everyone, and what a chilly one it is too!  Just an icing-sugar type dusting of snow on the roofs and gardens around here.  But the sky looks very very foreboding, so a bit more of the white stuff might make its presence felt later...time will tell...

Well, what a busy time it has been!  Back to work with a vengeance on Monday, boy was I shattered by Friday night!  So on to the happy things...
I had a lovely late afternoon early evening shopping trip out with my bestest friend Sue on Friday, as a lead in to yesterday which was my birthday!

I had a lovely day being totally spoiled at home.  Lots of lovely presents including a new all singing all dancing top of the range MP3 player to replace the old one which got stolen from my desk at work this week.  Luckily I have most of the music backed up on various hard drives etc so spent an hour yesterday loading up the new one. 

So linking in to 52 weeks of happy etc let me present the lovely cake my wonderful daughter made for me

It was so light and fluffy and so darn chocolatey!!

This is what is left this morning...

Yum!!  That's elevenses sorted then...

Another thing that has made me happy is this lovely cheerful daffodil on my kitchen windowsill

I bought a pot on my first day back at work, the flowers were in tight bud but came out in time for my birthday!

And here we go with yet more happy...Sue from @home bought me a lovely bag of goodies for my birthday, and look at these beauties which were included...

5, yes 5 fat quarters and a charm pack of the loveliest fabric you ever did see, all in my favourite autumnal colours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This lovely friend is going to help me put these, together with a charm pack I treated myself to, into a quilt.  We will do this on our regular Monday craft evening get-togethers.  I haven't had the sewing machine out since before Christmas so had better give it a bit of a dusting I think!!!!

So plenty to make me happy this week...

And today is my second bloggiversary!  I started this little blog 2 years ago today, Sue encouraged me to do this and I'm so glad she did!  I have loved having a space to log what goes on in my life, it is so good to look back upon...to remember the little, but oh so special things that make up my life.  And it has been wonderful to "meet" so many talented and thoughtful people out there in blogland. 

Well, I guess I had better go and tidy up a bit, the house got a bit messy yesterday what with all the celebrating!!

Have a lovely day and, to quote a line from Home Alone 2 (Lost in New York) "do bundle up, its awfully cold out there"!

Helenxx

Autumn Views Challenge week 9 and some creative chaos...

Morning everyone! 

Well, Autumn really is slip-sliding into Winter, here is my Autumn Views photo for this week:

Most of the leaves have well and truly drifted away.  We have had cold, windy and very wet weather for most of this week so not really unexpected.  I will post my final photo next week when the challenge will come to an end - well it will be the end of November after all!  I have loved doing this challenge, thanks so so much to those of you who joined me.  Im already eyeing up views for the challenge next year!!

Well, this morning my DH has nipped over to IKEA with my brother - they are getting a display cabinet for my darling Mum.  No room in the car for extra passengers, so I have taken over the dining room table with a bit of creative chaos:

I love using felt



 

 

I fell in love with this fabric when I "spotted" it in our local craft supplies shop!

 

Lots of snippets of left over fabric, I will keep them though, I often find a good use for the scraps left over from projects

So I suppose I had better make a start on sewing up some of this lot!  I am just planning a quiet day of sewing and chilling out with the family - such a treat after a some very manic weeks at work.  It is often the simple things that bring the most pleasure don't you think?

Have a great weekend!

Helenxx





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

Pincushion swap - look what I got!!

Hello everyone, hope your week has got off to a good start.

What seems like ages ago I joined in the pincushion swap organised by Hilde and Hilde, and was partnered with the lovely Claudia all the way from Germany!

And just look what lucky, lucky me received: (of course the chocolate didnt last long!!)

Dont you just love the fabric:

Both destined for some hand-sewing time very soon!

The pincushion is just too amazing for words:

The skill and the patience taken to create this little beauty amazes me..

Each side is different:

The skill and generousity out there in blogland is truly humbling.
Thank you so much Claudia for your lovely swap gifts, you are a very talented lady!

Helenxx