A MIXED BAG!

WARNING this post is photo heavy and off a scrapbook nature so look away if you are not into paper!

Firstly we had lots of fun the other week when the kids had a few days of school because of the lovely white stuff. We headed out into the field opposite with some friends to build ourselves a snowman. Well anatomically speaking it was a snow woman with perfectly formed bosoms. It brought a smile to lots of peoples faces as they drove by and realised it was slightly more special than the usual snowman at the side of the road.

Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be the same for all people. We went to bed with an intact snowlady only to wake up to find it completely smashed up. Our lady had been assaulted! Ah I keep forgetting I am no longer living on an Airbase but a small sometimes small minded village. It would seem our lady caused offense! Well nothing new here then, me causing a rucas in the village again :)

Last week Ness and I got together to make some cakes for her boys 6th birthday and for J's 30 something birthday. The boys were having an outdoor forest party and for J a rugby ball was called for. I did contemplate putting English colours on it but thought my marriage might not survive if I did!

I have decided that I might start doing cakes for local people if requested. A lot of people ask me if I make them and I usually decline but I could desperately do with making a bit of dosh at the moment as the marketing is rather quiet and difficult. I am in the process of looking into food hygiene and see where that takes me. So if you are in the Wiltshire area and would like a novel birthday cake give me a call!

Next up is cookery club. Three girls and myself started this last month. We get together once a month to cook together. The idea is that we take turns in picking recipes we would like to do - are scared of doing! and then cook them together. This month is was noodles for starters and then lemon curd sponge puddings for desert. I forgot to take a picture of the pudding but they were both fantastic dishes. In March we have a pasta dish on the menu with possibly Key Lime Pie for desert. Anyone have a good recipe for either?

Felt Hearts was also in order the other night in front of the tv. I have been wanting to make one of these for a while now but just never seemed to get the time. Sod it I thought the other night and got out my mess and started creating. I was rather pleased with the result so made another to give to a friend as a thank you as she had given me a rather nice cupcake book.

Well that is about it for the news front. Here follows the scrapbook weight. I have still been trying to get caught up with the girls 2008 books. Only around another 40 pictures to go :0

Jessica Spraque is offering a great giveaway Thursday through Friday for a chance to win a place on her Digital Course. You have to post your favourite picture and explain why - mine is above I so love the look of fun and carefree play in my kids faces with these pictures. I had such fun just shooting photo after photo that day.

Be back soon with some more photos from half term love to all Helen

Scrapbooking and furniture

Over the last month I am slowly making in roads in getting caught up with things. Well I say caught up but really I mean actually just starting to attempt to catch up. Scrapbooking is one of the things i really enjoy but unfortunately it is one of those that always takes a back burner when life gets busy. I have recently been trying to get the kids 2008 albums up to date. Euan's is the first to be completed, I only have December and this January to go and 2008 is all done. I have printed Maddie's pictures and Ellie's are picked just not printed! A few layouts below that were completed last month.

Legoland
Hill Walking with J

New Teeth

One of my favourite pictures of last year these were taken at Slimbridge Wildfowl Trust in their Wellyboot Land, it was such a gorgeous day.

Euan's Birthday and his go carting party.

A very tired looking Mum and Euan

A night of Bat Watching with a bit of Deer spotting at the local farm.

School Play

I finally persuaded John that I needed a bookcase in what was meant to be the snug. Um Yes sorry love I have finally taken it over as my workroom :) Fantastic Ikea but boy can it hold some stuff. I have moved all my craft books out of the Livingroom bookcase now and have a place to put all my scrapbooks. I spent the day a few weekends ago, building the bookcase and clearing the room. Walls were retouched, skirtings washed and three bags sent to the rubbish. Gosh it felt good. I had a real purge to see what I had and what I really didn't need. I would still like to get rid of the basket on the floor but it holds all my wrapping paper, bags and puffy envelopes et cetera.

I can finally see my desk! Still a few boxes stacked underneath but I am working on them. I will take a photo of the computer area soon, I have put a few shelves up there now. What I want to do now is start to bring out and make some crafty bits to put into the space. I still have a mosaic that I started when I was pregnant with Maddie and have yet to finish. Poor John you don't stand a chance.

Right I am going to head back to bed. Not sleeping well at the moment. I think the kids might have a snow day off school today. As I type the snowplow is passing by and it is still snowing YEAHHHHH!!!!

Love to all Hx

Just before I go a before and after picture of Ellie's desk that I picked up from a friend for £20. It is very red but I love it and so does Ellie which is great. I just need to sort out a chair for her now and she will have somewhere to sit and draw.

work in progress


Finished.

It looked really nice and clear but then Ellie got home and added her bits and pieces, she is definitely the queen of tat!

Bedroom Makeover

Can't you always tell it is about time to move house when I am just about finished decorating all the rooms? I only have the hall left in this house and I have been through and decorated each room at least once!

Last week was spent making new pillow covers for my bed. I decorated the room with the help of a friend back at the beginning of September but hadn't really moved on from there. John wasn't sure about the grey on the walls when I did a test patch, I believe his quote was "it looks like the F...ing inside of a tank" to be precise. I knew that it would be really quite warm and restful and I should really learn not to put colours up on the wall and expect him to understand what I want to do with them! Still bless him he said I could go ahead but if he hated it I would have to repaint. Umm yes okay love :) The colour is a Little Green paint which I absolutely love to use on the walls as it covers really well and doesn't drip everywhere.

Next I repainted my £15 cupboard find which we have had since Leeming. If you remember it was once a really warm cream colour with a toffee coloured fabric behind the wire. Not to self next time remove wire to begin with before trying to repaint with satin finish as I got myself into a big mess. The fabric behind the wire is a Cath Kidston print, I think it is called faded rose or something like that. I also put up to metal hook racks to hang all my jewellry on as I was getting fed up of tangled necklaces.

Curtains were next.Well about five months later. I painted the pine curtain pole white which was a bitch of a job. The curtains are made out of a Cath Kidston duvet cover and some brushed heavier weight white cotton. I have interlined them as our bedroom is north facing and gets quite cold. In theory the curtains are great but unfortunately Fergus's favourite spot is to lie up against them and the radiator. My lovely white curtains now have a ginger fuzz all across the bottom!

Fed up with digging around in drawers and bags for makeup and cream, I found a lovely grey wire cake stand in a local shop I love, Old Mother Hubbard in Nailsworth. Although everything is on display and some might think it messy, I absolutely love it as everything is to hand instantly.

I plan to put a picture wall up behind the bed head of black and white pictures. I have been slowly collecting frames and I just need to get around to picking or taking pictures to go in them.

Grey Spot Pillow made of wool and the white brushed cotton of the curtains.

Cath Kidston print pillow with pink pearl buttons.

Pink Fleece Spot cushion rejigged from a blanket from Asda Home.

Patchwork Pillow from a mix of all the above fabrics.

Small heart pillow from the white brushed cotton and the grey wool fabric.

I still have a rocking chair I wish to repaint white to go in the bedroom. I have made two other pillows out of a fushia pink fleece and also left over grey spot from the duvet.

I would love to get built in wardrobes in this room along with new bedside tables. The MFI furniture we bought when we moved in was a really bad buy.

So there you have it. I have been active the last month. I have rejigged my office which I will show you soon and I have also been doing a lot of scrapbooking and other sewing.

Hope all are well that read this and I shall TRY to update again soon.