It's Oh So Quiet........

I've just realised that this blog title could mean two different things, it was supposed to mean that the house is so quiet today for the first time in nearly four weeks as Tomas has gone back to school after a long Easter break but it could also represent my silence over the past four weeks as well.

I never seem to be able to keep up with my blog reading and posting during the holidays and despite this break being a truly relaxing one there still hasn't been much time for sewing and blogging. 

So what have we been up to then?

There have been lazy mornings (and afternoons), days out and days in, mooching and pottering and generally just...well being. We have managed to do quite a bit of gardening, tackling some of the unruly parts of the garden. Tomas has been a super helper, carrying bucket after bucket of branches, twigs and leaves down to the bonfire which he enjoys just as much as his Dad and older brother. What is it about boys and fires or is it just my boys? Although I have to say I do love a good burn up too. 

Fast forward to yesterday and despite knowing four weeks ago I needed to sew labels into Tomas' new hat and blazer I still only remembered at 10pm last night! Please tell me it's not just me who does that? 

Do you think us crafty types are the same as when you have a builder in the family, we do everyone else jobs and never get round to our own.

Today I have enjoyed playing with fabric and a couple of hours sewing. I also had two fabric parcels drop through the letterbox which is always a great way to get your creative juices flowing. I recently read a blog post about how to buy fabric (not that I need any help in that department) and it was saying about thinking about your purchases and only buying what you need (so you don't end up with huge stash -oops too late for me!) and making sure the fabrics matched or could be matched with what you already have. As you can see my first delivery was a rather eclectic mix! The only fabric I did NEED in this pile was the flamingo fabric and I did buy a bit more than I needed. The others were just because....

The second fabric delivery was more in keeping with what the blogger was talking about. 

These were bought to make an apron as part of a swap. 

Are you good when it comes to fabric and yarn or are you like me and find it a bit of a struggle not to add a few more FQ's (or metres) into your shopping basket? 

Let The Sunshine In...

We have definitely been letting the sunshine in this weekend. I can't believe how much blue skies and sunshine can lift the spirit. I'd really lost my photography mojo these past few months and I really didn't think there was anything to photograph in the garden but a half hour wander round the garden and I found these beauties.

These remind me of pinwheels

The shadows cast by the sun made a welcome change.

Apart from getting reacquainted with my camera I have spent the weekend tidying my workroom (it really needed it - again!!) and as a family we have enjoyed spending time in the garden. 

I think Tomas was out there all day today, 

sunglasses were the order of the day!

digging for treasure, 

bouncing on the trampoline, playing hockey, rugby and rounders and zooming about in his go-kart. 

Meanwhile I enjoyed a spot of gardening, well just collecting fallen branches and twigs and thinking about what I would like to do in the garden this year. 

The bigger boys stayed in to watch the rugby but unfortunately it wasn't to be and Wales lost against England. 

I really feel that spring is really on it's way and although it is a bit grey today I realise that the sun is there waiting to pop out and shine for us again.

February Makes

I obviously didn't give myself a hard enough kick up the bum as its been over a week since my last post so its time to get the steel toe capped boots out!!

Although I haven't been blogging I have been busy making, some of which I can show you and some of it I can't as it is for swaps which haven't been received yet.....

Half term for us last week was a quite affair lots of lazy days, staying snuggly and warm inside, with the occasional day out. Rachel had the busiest week with a trip to the zoo and a meal out for a friends birthday and this is what I made as presents for the birthday girl...

A drawstring wash bag

A make up pouch with showerproof lining

 I was really pleased with how this turned out as I made it up as I went along using the very last bits of this fabric that I have..

 Rachel and her friend have a bit of a joke thing going on with Iggle Piggle so I made this lavender hanger with some In The Night Garden curtain fabric that I have, it's kind of cute isn't it...

I'm going to put these in for the February Makes on Annie's Monthly Make Challenge and must remember to add them to the flickr page this months makes are being hosted by Natalie over at the Hungry Hippie

I've also been getting on with my crochet, which needed another trip to the wool shop so that I can finish Rachel's ripple blanket and also to start another one for Tomas. It was Tomas (aged nearly 4) who on the second day of half term asked if we could go to the wool shop so that he could choose the wool for his blanket, so off we trundled on the park and ride bus and into the wool shop we went where we picked up the extra supplies for Rachel's blanket and bought lots of lovely wool in blues, greens, browns, creams, a little berry red, a little tangerine and a little yellow. He choose these colours because he has a favourite cardigan which is cream, blue, green, orange and beige, so I'm hoping that the other colours will brighten it a little, it all sounds a bit gaudy in the list but I will take a photo tomorrow to show you all. I am also going to try random stripes (says the person who doesn't do random!!) we shall see how that goes or doesn't go as the case may be....

We left the shop much with a huge bag of wool and he even let me go into two charity shops before getting completely bored and saying "you go in and I'll wait out here" that's men and shopping for you, needless to say we left the charity shops rather sharpish and headed for the bus stop taking the long journey home for added bus riding excitement!!

Sunday was by far the sunniest day of the half term holidays and we enjoyed a day in the garden (sorry no photos as I was far too busy) clearing leaves, branches and twigs which Paul put on the bonfire, what is it with men and bonfires, ours seems to be permanently alight. The garden is now looking a lot tidier but there's still lots to do now that the weather is starting to get a bit nicer.

So far this week I have been able to spend some quality time sewing and I have been busy making for swaps so once they have been received I will post some pictures.

Okay I think that's enough for tonight if you have managed to get this far then thank you and enjoy the rest of you week.

A quick Catch Up...

Probably like many of you we have had some very changable weather these past few days....
last weekend we had the most amazing hot sunny days which resulted in lots of outdoor activities including a spot of gardening for me and bubbles for Tompom


Needless to say this beautiful weather and all that playing took its toll on Tompom and this was the result on Sunday afternoon!!!

Paul came home from the garden centre with a few new trees and shrubs which I planted up (forgot to take photos though) and I moved some of the existing plants to new homes to see if they would thrive. The photo below shows the area outside the outhouse which we revamped last year. I left the original shrubs in place as they have been there for many years. Tompom and I moved lots of topsoil to build up this area and then I added the pot and the clematis, hopefully as this site is more sunny than it's last home I'm hoping that the clematis should be a bit happier.

Monday was a strange day as Rachel was off on a school trip to Austria (music concert tour) and as she wasn't leaving until 3pm it felt like the longest day ever!!! We've had several updates from her, the coach broke down in Calais, someone was sick, the driver was given the wrong postcode for the hostel and the journey took 27 hours instead of 20!!! It's snowing and she seems to be having lots of fun and spending all her money!!!

Tuesday was chilly to say the least and we met up with friends in the park with us adults huddled under a blanket to keep warm and the kids running around to keep warm.

In the evening my friend Ruth came over as we have started getting together once a week to craft as we both just don't have the time during the day, the first time we met up we did more chatting than crafting but this time we both managed to complete what we started, Ruth made these gorgeous felt hearts on sticks and I made a plastic carrier bag holder for the kitchen.( I shall take a photo and add it later).

Wednesday was another chilly day and Paul and Jack went off with one of Jack's friends to Tilbury Fort, unfortunately we didn't check the opening times and it was closed!!?? so they had a walk along the Thames before heading off to Coalhouse Fort, but this too was closed for restoration works but the park was open and they had a great time on the death slide before coming home to play on the playstation, Jack is back into Pirates of the Caribbean as the new film is out next month and he can't wait to see it.

With the big boys out for the day Tompom and I headed out into the garden where we had lots of fun telling the time with dandelion clocks...

I carried on where I had left off at the weekend moving logs from one part of the garden to another.....

This is the tree

we had taken down over 2 years ago the logs have been piled beside the outhouse since then and I got stuck in moving some of them and burning all the small pieces.

And this is what I created for the kids (it's not quite finished yet!) not sure if it's a fairy ring/pixie ring or a campfire circle but all I do know is that I was in bed by 9.30pm completely exhausted and aching all over after my day in the garden!!!

Today we're off to see my Nan so should be a little more relaxing....

I hope you're all having a lovely time over the Easter break and that the weather is not putting too much of a dampener on things for you!!!