tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88499396583368021312024-03-11T07:25:59.227+00:00Mad About BagsTracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.comBlogger503125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-82455389529595647132017-01-29T14:54:00.001+00:002017-01-30T23:29:02.792+00:00January Round Up<div style="text-align: center;">
I can't believe January is almost at an end, it's taken a while for us to get back into the swing of things and just as I was getting used to the routine it's all change again as Miss Madaboutbags has now gone back to university after being home on school placement for a month. It has been a fun but exhausting time for her with lesson planning, homework to mark and assessments. I was able to help out a little with lesson props and we put my Cricut cutting machine to good use and saved our hands from all that cutting out. I think that a machine of her own will come in very handy when she qualifies and the list of 'things she needs' is getting longer. These include a laminator, cutter, staple guns, lots of pens and so much more. If any of you lovely teachers out there can think of things that she might need or that I could make for her then please let me know. </div>
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Giant Master Madaboutbags is also keeping me busy with talk of university visits and car driving, I'm not going to call them lessons, he has those with his instructor and as I have probably forgotten more than I know about driving and I don't want to pass on any of my bad habits so we shall call it driving practice instead. As for the university visits, it only seems like yesterday that we were doing the same thing with Miss Madaboutbags but this time we are venturing slightly further afield with Cardiff our first stop. </div>
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January has been a quiet month for Mini Master Madaboutbags neither of us are really enjoying the dark cold mornings or the fact that by the time we get home in the evening it too dark for anything else but food, TV, homework and a bit of Minecraft. Although since becoming a cat family there is always time for kitty cat cuddles. Our new addition to the family has settled in really well, she was very skinny when she arrived but in the two weeks since she has been here she has put on weight but we do think she had been without enough food for a while as she likes to hang around the kitchen whilst I'm cooking dinner, luckily she hasn't pinched any food yet. </div>
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We are finding having a cat very different from the dogs we are used to, as much as she enjoys cuddles and fuss she is more aloof than a dog and will happily ignore you if she isn't in the mood for company, because of this she is the cat with the every changing name with each of us calling her something different, hopefully she/we can decide on a permanent name soon, although I'm not convinced it will make much difference to her. </div>
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I'm making headway with my #organisedsewingspace (organised by <a href="http://stephjacobson.blogspot.co.uk/">Steph</a>) the first area to tidy was your sewing table, which had become a bit of a dumping ground for unfinished projects,</div>
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it's now all nice and tidy and I'm happy to report it has stayed that way too.</div>
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The second area to tidy was your cutting table<br />
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and ironing space.<br />
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This is a work in progress as there was a lot of stuff dumped on my cutting table, but new homes have been found for lots of things and I've hung up my swap gifts and made use of pieces that were no longer needed indoors, as well as making some fabric covered cork notice boards from some ikea round cork boards.</div>
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I finally finished my #tobminiquiltswap, the idea was to make a mini quilt in any shape other than a square or rectangle, I chose to make a coffin shape for my swap partner and I'm really pleased with how it turned out, even the quilting worked out after a false start. </div>
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I've also been working on a sewing challenge set by another crafter on Instagram, a NES controller table topper. I had to look up what a NES controller was and after chatting to Bionca about colours I set about creating the topper. These type of makes just seem to evolve, I start off with an idea and it grows from there, knowing when to stop can be a problem though. I'm on the home strait now with just the binding to add. </div>
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I'm sure lots of you are well on your way with your send a little love swap makes and I can't wait to see what you all send to each other. I'm still brainstorming over some ideas for my partner and will finalise my makes this week. </div>
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I'm not a great lover of the cold weather and I definitely go into hibernation mode during the winter months so there hasn't been much activity happening outside as I'm happy to stay cosy and warm indoors drinking tea and keeping the cat company. Although last week I did go for a long dog walk with a friend and we are hoping to making this a weekly event. I have also found a Pilates class to go to, I was doing Yoga last year but the class ended and I couldn't find another one that suited me but after a chat in the playground and a try out last Friday I'm looking forward to starting My Pilates journey. </div>
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January has also been the month of gadgets, I used the crock pot for the first time and was really pleased with how our regular lamb curry recipe turned out and I'm looking forward to trying out some other recipes in the coming months, and I would appreciate any recommendations. </div>
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My boys bought me an egg boiler for Christmas, don't laugh, it was sort of a joke present, </div>
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but I'm also aware that there are only so many over cooked eggs that can't be dunked and undercooked eggs that have to be finished in the microwave (and yes they do explode if you ping them to long!) that one small boy can eat. This gadget really does work, no more guess work, just measure out the water, prick a hole in the eggs (handy spike on the bottom of the measuring cup) and add the water and the eggs to the eggboiler and wait. Perfect eggs every time. </div>
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I also treated myself to a soup maker in the sales and have been making some delicious soups like carrot and coriander and vegetable, although today's leek and potato didn't go down well, it was a bit bland and watery. So I think I still need a bit more practice.<br />
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Phew! What a long post that was, if you managed to reach the bottom, thank you!<br />
I'm looking forward to seeing what February brings my way, do you have any plans for the month of love?</div>
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com77tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-27043567836276979912017-01-19T13:16:00.000+00:002017-01-19T16:10:20.205+00:00Send Us your Christmas Swap - Part 2<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm still playing catch up on my posts, I don't know about you but these dark, cold nights are just making me want to hibernate, I've even being going to bed early, 10pm which is early for me! Which means by the time Master Madaboutbags is in bed all i want to do is relax on the sofa and before I know it, it's bedtime.</div>
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I'm not sewing today as after spending the morning doing household jobs there just isn't enough time to get stuck into anything before we head out into this sunny but chilly afternoon to watch Master Madaboutbags play rugby. There is enough time though to catch up on answering emails, blogging and the such.</div>
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So over Christmas I shared with you <a href="http://madaboutbagsuk.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/send-us-your-christmas-swap.html">here</a> what Jackie sent me in the Send Us Your Christmas Swap organised by Kimberley over at <a href="http://creativechaosnz.blogspot.co.uk/">Creative Chaos</a>, and this is the parcel I put together for Jackie, it would seem in my eagerness to get her parcel out (I was running late as usual) I didn't take that many photos but here is a little collage. If I remember rightly I think I added so wool too, I do remember it was a bit of a tight squeeze to get everything in the box.</div>
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I was given the Tui bird fabric in another swap and thought it would be good to use it in a swap that was heading back to New Zealand. Jackie is a keen knitter so the knitting themed brooch was an ideal gift, and as Jackie is recuperating after an operation I thought maybe a cross stitch kit might keep her busy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was a great swap, thank you to Jackie for being a fabulous swap partner and thank you to Kimberley for organising. </div>
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-90926432345439942112017-01-14T17:00:00.000+00:002017-01-19T12:31:04.698+00:00Santa Sack Swap 2016 - Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So I have shared with you all the wonderful gifts that I received from <a href="http://trundlingthroughlife.blogspot.co.uk/">Mary</a> in the <a href="http://santasackswap.blogspot.co.uk/">Santa Sack Swap</a> and this post is all about what I made and sent to her in return. </div>
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After reading Mary's blog about her love of nativity sets I wanted some of her gifts to have that theme. I found a lovely nativity themed fabric on eBay which then sat in my sewing room whilst I decided what I would I make. Part of the swap is to make either a sack, a stocking or a bag. As Christmas is a busy time for Mary I thought a bag might be more useful so I made a nice roomy tote, which Mary has told me fits perfectly on her mobility scooter so she is going to use it all year round. For some reason I didn't a photo of the bag but you can see it in the last picture showing all the gifts I made Mary. I still had a little bit of the nativity fabric left over so I decided to make a cushion.</div>
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I added a little sparkle to the cushion with some stars sequins, </div>
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and used red beads to pick out the berries. </div>
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I really liked the words on this fabric and used a red embroidery hoop from my stash to make a hanging ornament. </div>
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I tend to get a bit carried away with themes and this swap was no different, so continuing with the nativity theme I used my Cricut cutting machine to make this nativity vinyl decal and popped it on this glass jar. </div>
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I added a ceramic star tag to bring a little Joy. </div>
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The next part of the swap had me stumped for a while, I know Mary likes to craft from the comfort of her armchair so I decided to make an armchair caddy and a project bag,</div>
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but what colour to make and what fabric to use? After a little more stalking on Mary's blog I managed to find out that dusky pink might just be okay. </div>
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Here are all the gifts that I made for Mary</div>
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This is a super swap to take part in so if you fancy joining in this year pop over to <a href="http://santasackswap.blogspot.co.uk/">Cheryll's Santa Sack Swap</a> blog for more details. </div>
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-39945636512931353862017-01-14T12:30:00.000+00:002017-01-19T12:26:30.160+00:00Santa Sack Swap 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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I don't think I've quite mastered the getting more organsied thing yet which means I'm a bit behind with my blog posts, also being adopted by a cat has meant that my evenings have become kitty cuddle time and there isn't enough room on my lap for the cat and the iPad.</div>
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Tonight the cat has chosen the arm of the sofa instead of my lap so I'm able catch up on a little blogging time.</div>
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Towards the end of last year I took part in some super swaps, one of which was the <a href="http://santasackswap.blogspot.co.uk/">Santa Sack Swap</a> organised by Cheryll<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> over at <a href="https://stitchingcubbyhole.blogspot.co.uk/">Gone Stitchin' in my cubbyhole</a> and I was partnered with Mary from <a href="http://trundlingthroughlife.blogspot.co.uk/">Trundling Through Life</a>, Mary's blog was new to me and I really enjoyed getting to know her more through our emails and her blog. </span></div>
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This is what Mary sent to me, a beautiful patchwork stocking in my favourite Christmas colours of red, green and gold. <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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I hung the stocking crammed full of prettily wrapped parcels on the door to my orangery and it was really difficult not to have a little squidge every time I went past. </div>
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I left opening my swap gifts until after lunch as I wanted to be able to take my time opening them, so whilst everyone else was relaxing in front of the TV, or playing on a gadget or two I sat myself down on the floor in the orangery and started unwrapping.</div>
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Mary made me a lovely Christmas card and there was a sugar mouse, which Rachel thought was a candle, I didn't tell her otherwise until after I had eaten it. </div>
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In her emails Mary had told me about her trips to Brussells and the delicious chocolates made by Mary, chocolatiers to the Belgium royal family, so you can imagine how pleased I was when I saw my very own box of Mary chocolates. These were absolutely delicious and I was very good as I shared the chocolates coins with the children! </div>
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My first package revealed this pretty hanging flower which will look fabulous in my sewing room.</div>
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Next there was this lovely scissors keeper, how cute is that button! </div>
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Inside were the most perfect spotty scissors in my favourite turquoise blue.<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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Last year I used a notebook to record all my makes during 2016 and I was looking for a notebook to do the same in 2017. Mary made me a covered notebook which means I can use it again and again.</div>
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Although I sew and have made several zippered pouches I never seem to get around to making myself one, so it's alway lovely to receive one as part of a swap. </div>
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I love the yo-yo embellishments and the heart quilting.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRiIQ9dbK_qXJ5zoaaQdVFJG7iiJ0-F39NWP1HsthsajeMxPT4Whv4mMa3Au5tfcwpXQ13D4YvHlNoSfXjvmfieoMl7s9qPIF04JJJQmgY4mysAjP38XZImBQ58oDzxRH1QKo9aSBUM68/s640/blogger-image-1158227918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRiIQ9dbK_qXJ5zoaaQdVFJG7iiJ0-F39NWP1HsthsajeMxPT4Whv4mMa3Au5tfcwpXQ13D4YvHlNoSfXjvmfieoMl7s9qPIF04JJJQmgY4mysAjP38XZImBQ58oDzxRH1QKo9aSBUM68/s640/blogger-image-1158227918.jpg" /></a></div>
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Finally, the last package contained this gorgeous purple fluffy scarf, ideal for the colder days. I do love a scarf so I'm looking forward to wearing this one.</div>
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Here are all my gifts, together with my stocking.</div>
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Thank you Mary, I've really enjoyed getting to know you over the past few months and look forward to our continued friendship, and thank you Cheryll for organising, this is one of my favourite swaps of the year. </div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-1094830799445428902017-01-11T12:29:00.005+00:002017-01-11T12:29:50.789+00:00Swapper needed<div style="text-align: center;">
Thank you Sue C </div>
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please could you email me at madaboutbags@hotmail.co.uk </div>
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Thank you </div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-5607906504237872082017-01-10T10:58:00.001+00:002017-01-10T10:58:37.412+00:00Swapper neededI knew I'd forget someone in the swap!<div><br></div><div>Sorry Glenda, so much for being more organised!!! <br><div><br></div><div>Is there anyone who would like to join in with the Send A Little Love Swap and would be willing to post to New Zealand.</div><div><br></div><div>Glenda doesn't have a blog but has taken part in several of my swaps in the past. </div><div><br></div><div>Please leave a comment below if you would like to help me out! </div><div> </div></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-21054642833215878102017-01-09T09:20:00.003+00:002017-01-09T19:24:02.223+00:00Send A Little Love Swap Partners<div style="text-align: center;">
Does anyone else seem to have a problem with comment notifications? It seems that when some of you comment I get an email notification but on others I don't. I've double checked my settings and tried googling but I haven't got very far so I do apologise if I haven't replied to your comment, but now I know there is a problem I will be checking each blog post to make sure I don't miss anything. </div>
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Anyhow, I'm sorry I didn't post the swap partners yesterday, I'm still not back into a proper routine yet as Master Madaboutbags isn't back in school until tomorrow and with our new feline addition I've been a little busy enjoying kitty cuddles and I also needed to be on the main computer to add the links as it's much quicker. So here are the partners for the Send A Little Love Swap</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqLZARJKcrGsFT0DkIBRaVW7IANBS99Ka5Xb5XIlue2OYpDt_NX1F609LF1c2o0prW4algwWOh99FHLg7vM0Gs3uit-mbOuBrua9r8UVPBf3n8qtPdjwuaxkANXLUruplPBvAn5nD_hKk/s640/blogger-image-1899012771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqLZARJKcrGsFT0DkIBRaVW7IANBS99Ka5Xb5XIlue2OYpDt_NX1F609LF1c2o0prW4algwWOh99FHLg7vM0Gs3uit-mbOuBrua9r8UVPBf3n8qtPdjwuaxkANXLUruplPBvAn5nD_hKk/s640/blogger-image-1899012771.jpg"></a></div>
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<a href="http://creativechaosnz.blogspot.co.uk/">Kimberley</a> and Montse V (email)</div>
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<a href="http://feltabulous.blogspot.co.uk/">Ellie</a> and <a href="https://cenefasdeflores.com/">Cerato</a></div>
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Linny(email) and <a href="http://crossblackcountry.blogspot.co.uk/">Maggie</a></div>
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<a href="http://patspatch.weebly.com/blog/">Pat's Patch</a> and <a href="https://www.theyorkshiresewist.uk/">The Yorkshire Sewist</a></div>
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<a href="http://nanagogoblogs.blogspot.co.uk/">Nana GoGo</a> and <a href="http://jillecymraeg.blogspot.co.uk/">Jille</a></div>
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Kimberley and Maggie I will email you shortly with the details of your swap partner. </div><div>Here is a quick recap of the swap</div><div><br></div><div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The idea of this swap is to send 5 things to include :</span></div><span style="line-height: 30px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div style="text-align: start;">Some sewing or yarny notions that have a love theme</div></span></div><div class="" style="text-align: start; clear: both; line-height: 30px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Something heart shaped or themed</span></div><div class="" style="text-align: start; clear: both; line-height: 30px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Something deliciously edible</span></div><div class="" style="text-align: start; clear: both; line-height: 30px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Something handmade</span></div><div class="" style="text-align: start; clear: both; line-height: 30px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Something red </span></div></div><div class="" style="text-align: start; clear: both; line-height: 30px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If I have missed anyone, or forgotten anything please let me know and any questions or problems just ask. </span></div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-60345941532097308112017-01-08T22:31:00.001+00:002017-01-08T22:31:07.463+00:00Cute Cat PostThere will be a slight delay in posting the Send A Little Love Swap partners as this cute bundle of fluff arrived today so I have been enjoying kitty cuddles. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-d_2e7UAo0qi5TmQczGE3OILo9ORRbK2w1VEKtU6ZcmV8-0WlFAz5rjrkshyG440npuBL6CD4qI77K7WmPmCqEI9hDbSMTo4xGEkja0ClruWL2Sg0YetblwC1BMESsLs64zABx2rq9CR/s640/blogger-image-1862042345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz-d_2e7UAo0qi5TmQczGE3OILo9ORRbK2w1VEKtU6ZcmV8-0WlFAz5rjrkshyG440npuBL6CD4qI77K7WmPmCqEI9hDbSMTo4xGEkja0ClruWL2Sg0YetblwC1BMESsLs64zABx2rq9CR/s640/blogger-image-1862042345.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-48093188591696847392017-01-02T09:33:00.000+00:002017-01-02T09:38:47.274+00:00Send A Little Love Swap 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The holidays are coming to an end and the house will soon feel bare when all the decorations and lights are taken down and safely stored in their boxes for another year and with a few more wintery months ahead of us here in the UK who fancies kicking off 2017 with a love swap.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCR7Xb-0Uw46f3-lJrHQson25HWgS5mW0OD9at-5w-o5JQ5A_WbMDg8M_ihEHE6QfK7HtrF7SwHmeSozixxOtMu70ry-WLe2vbz0ncHuBAg06_4q8r5xDZvkawwAtmNUNkm7NZYICzmunI/s1600/send+a+little+love+swap+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCR7Xb-0Uw46f3-lJrHQson25HWgS5mW0OD9at-5w-o5JQ5A_WbMDg8M_ihEHE6QfK7HtrF7SwHmeSozixxOtMu70ry-WLe2vbz0ncHuBAg06_4q8r5xDZvkawwAtmNUNkm7NZYICzmunI/s400/send+a+little+love+swap+2017.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 30px;">The idea of this swap is to send 5 things to include :</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 30px;">Some sewing or yarny notions that have a love theme</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Something heart shaped or themed</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Something deliciously edible</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Something handmade</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Something red</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you would like to see what I received and sent last year just click on the link below</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://madaboutbagsuk.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/send-little-love-swap.html">Send A Little Love Swap 2016</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This swap is open to both UK and overseas bloggers/Instagramers and readers of my blog</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">(you just need to have an email contact). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I will be pairing bloggers with bloggers and Instagramers with Instgramers</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you would like to take part then please leave a comment on this post or on my Instagram post, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">letting me know if you wish to post UK, Europe or worldwide</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sign up by the Friday 6th January 2017</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Swap partners will be posted on my blog/IG on Sunday 8th January 2017</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then it's up to you to make contact with your partner and get to know each other a little better, swap details and arrange a timescale.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Swap parcels need to arrive at their destination no later than Monday 13th February 2017 with an opening date of Tuesday 14th February 2017</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't like the idea of rules for swaps so here are some handy guidelines ;-)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Swaps are supposed to be fun and a great way to use items/supplies you already have at home. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Handmade is open to interpretation everyone's skills are different don't ever think that you can't because the chances are you can, as long as something has been made with love then I'm sure it will be appreciated by your partner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't like to put a price limit on swaps but with postage costs at an all time high we can all appreciate a bit of thrifty spending.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Life sometimes has a habit of getting in the way of things, if for whatever reason (and you don't have to say why) you can't continue or need to delay sending out your swap then just let me or your swap partner know.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So that's the boring bit out of the way, if I have forgotten anything then please </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">l</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">et me know and if you need any inspiration then there's always Pinterest!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As always I'll be pinning like crazy, I also have a secret swaps board so that I can keep some of my ideas hidden just in case my swap partner is peeping!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Please feel free to use the Send A Little Love Swap button and the link below </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">to share the swap on your blogs/IG. Any questions just ask.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-51413875650420000512017-01-01T19:20:00.001+00:002017-01-01T19:20:12.746+00:00Happy New Year<div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Happy New Year everyone, as I look forward to the year ahead I like to think of a word that will help me make the most of the coming days and months. My word for 2017 is</span></div>
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I have already signed up for the #organisedsewingspace2017 which is being run by Stephanie over at <a href="http://stephjacobson.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">StephJacobson</a>, the first challenge is up on her blog and it is to tidy your sewing table. I'm hoping to get in my sewing room in the next few days and make a start. There are lots of opportunities to share before and after photos, get inspired by other people's sewing room and even win some prizes. So i<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">f you would like to join in just pop over to <a href="http://stephjacobson.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Stephanie's blog</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/stephkucera/?ref=badge" target="_blank">IG feed.</a> </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My sewing room isn't the only place I would like to get organised this year, we have lots of decorating to do as we had some building work done a few years ago and probably like many of you we never quite finished off all the small jobs and some things need proper homes rather than me just moving them around from place to place! </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'm also hoping to organise my time more efficiently, I'm easily distracted by Pinterest and social media and since Mr Madaboutbags took early retirement I don't have quite the same routine as before. Our days have become more relaxed and whilst this is good in lots of ways I do have a tendency to put things off until tomorrow, especially when it comes to housework! </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'm looking forward to trying out time blocking and have found a printable over on Pinterest that I am going to use from <a href="http://justagirlandherblog.com/productivity-and-time-blocking/" target="_blank">Just A Girl And Her Blog</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">and I've also printed off a free 2017 calendar from <a href="http://www.landeeseelandeedo.com/?s=2017">landeelu.com</a> and will transfer all the important dates across tonight. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In an effort to organise my time more efficiently today I closed my Facebook page as I want to do more sewing for us as a family and for swaps. As much as I love the challenge of custom makes they can take up a lot of time and I'm not very good at making lots of the same things. I also felt that running the page is just another social media distraction and rather than spread myself too thinly I want to concentrate on my blog and IG.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Finally I want to organise and take part in more swaps this year, I took part in some super ones in 2016, (lots more posts to come about these yet) they really take me out of my comfort zone when it comes to my sewing and I have also received some beautiful and amazing goodies from around the globe. I designed myself a swap organiser a few months ago which will help me keep track of all the swaps I'm involved in. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So who wants to start the new year off with a swap? This is usually the time of year that I organise the Send A Little Love Swap so keep an eye out for my next post if you would like to take part. </span></div>
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-53266143791850217152016-12-31T09:47:00.000+00:002016-12-31T09:47:08.145+00:00Stitching Santa Swap - Part 2<div style="text-align: center;">
When I sign up for a swap I like to do a little stalking of blogs/IG and a lot of pinning on Pinterest, sometimes this is a good technique and sometimes it just leaves me more confused than when I started. My partner for the <a href="https://sewchet.com/" target="_blank">Stitching Santa Swap</a> was Sally from <a href="https://www.theyorkshiresewist.uk/" target="_blank">Sew Sweet Sally</a></div>
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Now Sally sews the most amazing clothes and is one of the Minvera bloggers so I was a little daunted when I saw her name pop up in my swap partner email.</div>
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So I stalked a little, pinned a lot, chatted about it with my Sewing Box buddies and then generally did what I normally do - procrastinated until it was nearly time to panic!</div>
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It was during this time of procrastinating that I realised Sally had changed the name of her blog and IG feed to <a href="https://www.theyorkshiresewist.uk/" target="_blank">The Yorkshire Sewist</a> and bingo, the perfect idea popped into my head. </div>
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An embroidery hoop with pockets</div>
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yo-yo's and buttons</div>
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and some free motion embroidery </div>
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Probably like most of you, I'm not very good at getting around to making things that might help with my sewing and I thought that Sally might be the same so I added a tailors ham, a large pincushion (I'm always losing pins) and a scissor fob. </div>
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I love that with this fabric I could pick out the sewing notions that I wanted.</div>
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I also included so pins (did I tell you I'm always losing pins) a jar of buttons, sewing themed ribbons and some extra fabric in case there was anything that Sally might need to make.</div>
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I've had these cute wooden spools in my sewing room for a while and hadn't though about using them for ribbons.</div>
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I had some button themed goodies in my swap gifts stash which i bought would be great for little extras.</div>
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And as Sally is a dressmaker I thought the book of the film The Dressmaker with Kate Winslet would be the ideal read</div>
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I really enjoyed putting this parcel together for Sally once I had got over my initial panic it all sort of fell into place.</div>
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Thank you to <a href="https://sewchet.com/" target="_blank">Sheila</a> for organising the swap, it was great fun. </div>
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-18342625466698783882016-12-28T10:53:00.001+00:002016-12-28T15:05:31.963+00:00Stitching Santa Swap - Part 1<div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Now that the Christmas festivities are over I thought I would share with you some of the beautiful gifts I received and sent in the Christmas swaps I took part in.</span></div>
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This is the second year that I have taken part in the <a href="https://sewchet.com/2016/10/01/stitchingsanta-2016/" target="_blank">Stitching Santa Swap</a> organised by Sheila over at <a href="https://sewchet.com/" target="_blank">Sewchet</a>. This is a secret swap, so you don't know who has put together your parcel until you open your gifts, although with a little detective work on Instagram I did work out that it was Shirley from <a href="http://squirrelsknittingconquests.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">squirrelsknittingconquest</a> when my parcel arrived.</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Look at all these packages, I couldn't wait to open them.</span></div>
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Shirley had been very good at stalking my blog and Instagram feed.</div>
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I love the lobster fabric Shirley used for the triangular pouch, and Shirley explained that the leaf mug rug was a last minute make to add to my parcel, I so glad that she decided to add it as I love the colours and the shape, and as for the cottage pincushion, what's not to love, with all those french knots, tiny stitches and a teeny heart on the door.</div>
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Shirley also included lots of crafting goodies to kick start my projects for 2017, embroidery threads, pins (these were on my shopping lists as like socks in the washing I seem to lose pins in my sewing room), fabric squares, scissors and an embroidery kit.</div>
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Then there was a super triangular crammed full of colouring pencils, which I'm claiming as 'adult only' pencils, a flowers colouring book and an owl notebook, which I am going to have to hide as Miss Madaboutbags apparently needs it for herself!</div>
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Swap parcels are usually complete without some sort of tasty treat and Shirley treated me to some delicious Scottish shortbread, another to clue to where my swap partner was from. <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Finally, I opened the card, with instructions to be opened last, so as not to give away her identity. Shirley had written a lovely note and her last gift confirmed her identity.</span></div>
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Thank you Shirley I loved all my gifts and felt thoroughly spoilt on Christmas morning as I think I had the more gifts to open than the children!</div>
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Another super Stitching Santa Swap Sheila, thank you for organising it again this year, I know the mammoth task involved in pairing up all the swapees.</div>
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-25871131754183716312016-12-25T00:02:00.001+00:002016-12-28T15:05:48.790+00:00Send Us Your Christmas Swap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Back at the end of October I signed up for the Send Us your Christmas Swap over on Kimberley's blog Creative Chaos. I was lucky to be partnered with Kimberley's cousin, Jackie. Kimberley and Jackie have sent each other an advent calendar of gifts this year and if you would like to see what they have sent each other pop over to Kimberley's blog. </span></div>
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My parcel from Jackie arrived the other day and the idea of the swap was to fill a plastic tub full of goodies and send it to your parcel. This is what Jackie sent me....</div>
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And inside......</div>
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What super wrapping paper. </div>
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Jackie is a fantastic knitter just like Kimberley and she made me this beautifully textured dishcloth. Is it just me who likes to just enjoy having a pretty new dishcloth before finally deciding a few weeks later that I am actually supposed to use it!! </div>
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I love the colour of the yarn used to make this little bird and the ceramic leaf is lovely and apparently if I sprinkle over some essential oil and leave it on the windowsill in the sun it will smell amazing. I definitely going to try this. </div>
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Some New Zealand themed fabric and a wooden heart. </div>
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Some delicious chocolate, this didn't last very long. </div>
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A colourful tea towel. </div>
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And here are all my gifts together</div>
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I wasn't quite as organised as Jackie and although I had started putting together her parcel I hadn't sent it off by the time hers arrived. So I cheated a little a reused the tub that she had sent me, just changing the paper on the top. Hopefully it arrive in New Zealand very soon. </div>
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Thank you Jackie for all my wonderful gifts and for being such a lovely swap partner, I hope you enjoy your parcel as much as I have enjoyed mine, and thank you Kimberley for organising this swap again. </div>
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-7382346642022432492016-12-24T17:14:00.001+00:002016-12-25T00:02:13.364+00:00Advent Day 19 - 23<div style="text-align: center;">
My blogging seems to have suffered a slight domino effect, I missed posting my advent calendar photo on the 19th and then the others just followed, so I'm playing catch up again whilst enjoying a breather during our Christmas Eve preparations. So joining in with <a href="http://kcscourt.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Julie's Scrapbook Advent Calendar. </a></div>
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Day 19 - I've been wanting to buy this star lamp for a while having seen it on the <a href="http://www.westbarninteriors.co.uk/" target="_blank">West Barn</a> IG feed. It adds a beautiful glow to our conservatory and my sparkly reindeer seem to like it. </div>
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Day 20 - This year I signed up again for <a href="http://lovemademyhome.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/christmas-card-swap-2016.html" target="_blank">Amy's Christmas Card Swap</a> over at <a href="http://lovemademyhome.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Love Made My Home</a> and I was partnered with Lisa over at <a href="http://jumbleandjelly.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Jumble and Jelly</a>. After emailing back and forth we came to the conclusion we had been swap partners before but neither of us could remember when or what the swap was! (another Brenda moment as Mr Madaboutbags would say). Lisa sent me this lovely card and funnily enough it was our very first Christmas card of the year too. I completely forgot to take a photo of the card I sent Lisa but if you pop over to <a href="http://lovemademyhome.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/christmas-card-swap-2016.html" target="_blank">Amy's blog</a> she has a little linky party going on where you can see all the cards sent and received. Thank you Amy this was a lot of fun again and a lovely way to find new blogs. </div>
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Day 21 - I think there is an elf in my living room! Master Madaboutbags feeling festive and watching TV. </div>
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Day 22 - Thursday was unseasonably warm and sunny, the perfect weather for a romp in the woods. For the past couple of years our local VisitParks rangers have organised The Big Winter Feed at Danbury Lakes. They hang stockings throughout the woods which the children fill with wild bird seed. This is then collected up by the rangers and used during the colder months to feed the birds and squirrels. Along the route there were also bird related cracker jokes, wild bird information posters and a bird tracker trail. Unfortunately I didn't take many photos as my phone battery died about 15 mins after we arrived. We finished off our walk with a hot chocolate around the camp fire before heading home. </div>
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Day 23 - Usually I am up late on Christmas Eve frantically wrapping presents but this year I decided to be a bit more organised and started wrapping earlier. This also means it's harder for Miss Madaboutbags to find out what her presents are! I found this super Santa stamp wrapping paper in M and S, half price too </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ufy1rJrVXNjXv4aH08JjG_PXQE39lH048FXImsaGu2Ji4yIwbGaxqFG7eKsBXc4teBs6WHohVlVYtXQyjZNylEo9Lpjfrcor3B6QphQKVbsf0LZ_pK-_yOa9l0z6f2rox7N-Xzh-_Ueo/s640/blogger-image--163386825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ufy1rJrVXNjXv4aH08JjG_PXQE39lH048FXImsaGu2Ji4yIwbGaxqFG7eKsBXc4teBs6WHohVlVYtXQyjZNylEo9Lpjfrcor3B6QphQKVbsf0LZ_pK-_yOa9l0z6f2rox7N-Xzh-_Ueo/s640/blogger-image--163386825.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">and I have a few left to do tonight and some ribbons to add but this will have to wait until Mini Master Madaboutbags is fast asleep. It could be another late one but I'm hoping that the excitement for tomorrow will wear him out! </div>
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-22011067269663199072016-12-19T08:55:00.001+00:002016-12-24T20:39:47.971+00:00Cracker Swap 2016<div style="text-align: center;">
I know some of you have already received your crackers and again I'm amazed at how much you have all managed to squeeze inside this kitchen rolls. I had two swap partners in the cracker swap and their parcels are flying their way across the water and should be arriving in America very soon. </div>
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My cracker from Melissa (Iluvmybaronie over on Instagram) arrived on Friday. Melissa described the cracker as a physics defying burrito and she wasn't wrong. </div>
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It was a tug of war to get the fabric rolled parcel out of the tube. </div>
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Inside was some try grid interfacing which I can't wait to use and a cute spool quilt block pattern. </div>
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It was like my very own game of "pass the parcel" as there was another layer of fabric and inside was this gem of a Christmas tree mini quilt. </div>
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Isn't it fab!! </div>
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When I mentioned to Melissa about pass the parcel she hadn't heard of it and had to look it up on google so my question to you American ladies is, do you know what pass the parcel is and did you play it at parties? As Melissa said she wasn't sure if it was a popular game or just that she didn't go to many parties!!! </div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-49893157787155314822016-12-18T00:10:00.001+00:002016-12-24T20:40:55.409+00:00Advent Day 17<div style="text-align: center;">
Boy, it's been foggy out there today, poor Mr Madaboutbags had to conquer the M25 early this morning to collect Miss Madaboutbags (and all her washing) from university. He said it was like pea soup and despite a slight delay on the way back they were home by 10.30am.</div>
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This afternoon Master Madaboutbags and I went off to one of the local village halls to watch the Beauty and the Beast </div>
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Pantomime put on my the amateur dramatic group. We also dropped off the Giant Master Madaboutbags at the sports field opposite as he wanted some fresh air and to kick his rugby ball about. This is what it was like when we arrived!!!</div>
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He seemed happy enough despite the fog do we left him to it and headed off to the village hall to watch the pantomime. </div>
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The ladies that run the village always put on a lucky dip and when we arrived one of the ladies mentioned the fact that I only had Master Madaboyrbags with me this year, and it got me thinking that we've probably been coming to the pantomime here for about 9 years when the Giant Master Madaboutbags wasn't so giant and Miss Madaboutbags was part of the chorus line. After several go's on the lucky dip, we took our seats and the Pantomime began. We had lots of fun booing the wicked witch and shouting 'poodle power' for the French poodle narrator when needed. There was even the obligatory audience singalong and a lovely happy ending. I managed a couple of quick snapshots at the end of the show so my photo for Day 17 of <a href="http://kcscourt.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Julie's Scrapbook Advent Calendar</a> is...</div>
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Not only was it still foggy outside but it was also pitch black and I think Giant Master Madaboutbags was glad to get home in the warm, hasn't put him off though as he wants to go again!! </div>
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-68067079468486150762016-12-16T22:15:00.001+00:002016-12-24T20:41:17.997+00:00Advent Day 16<div style="text-align: center;">
With Mr Madaboutbags and Master Madaboutbags out at the cinema this morning I was able to catch up on some last minute sewing my final swaps of 2016. I was having trouble deciding what to make for one of them and after thrashing out some ideas with my sewing box buddies on Tuesday night I had a few ideas on the table, but then this morning I had an ephinany moment and knew exactly what I wanted to make and I'm glad to say I really pleased with how it turned out. Anyone else work better under pressure? With too much time I tend to faff around, Pinterest has a lot to answer for when it comes to procrastinating!! </div>
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I still have one last thing to finish tomorrow and then I'll be closing the door on my sewing room until the new year. My Christmas bunting never made it to the cutting table but there is always next year. </div>
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Anyhow my photo today to join in with <a href="http://kcscourt.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Julie's Scrapbook Advent Calendar</a> is ....</div>
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Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a box of Quality Street, although the tins are definitely smaller than I remember as a child and because they are now in the shops from September we have usually polished off at least one box before Christmas Day has arrived. My favourites were always the purples ones with the hazelnut in caramel but I have been favouring the pink fudges and the blue coconut ones this year. There are always the ones left that no one eats, these used to be the round gold toffee ones but this year Master Madaboutbags has decided these are his favourites so I think between us all there won't be any sorry looking chocolates lingering in the bottom of the box and then we can start on the tin of Roses!!! </div>
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Do you have a favourite?? </div>
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-44867663236310169652016-12-15T22:37:00.001+00:002016-12-24T20:42:20.583+00:00Advent Day 10 - 15<div style="text-align: center;">
Hopefully this will be my last catch up post (famous last words) for the Advent Calendar. I will try (really hard) to post each day. So joining in with <a href="http://kcscourt.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Julie's Scrapbook Advent.</a> </div>
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Day 10</div>
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The decorations are all now up in the conservatory so I have been adding a little Christmas cheer to the stairs, this was an in progress shot, I just liked the way the lights looked and now I've added the rest of the baubles it really cheers up the hallway. </div>
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Day 11</div>
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Today it was the turn of the living room to get a Christmas make over. I'm still working on Mr Madaboutbags to buy another Christmas Tree but he isn't convinced!! I picked up this nativity set last year in a charity shop and it fits perfectly on the mantelpiece. </div>
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Day 12</div>
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I bought three of these metal signs last year, all with different sayings. Last year I hung them on the wall but this year I decided to add them to the tree. They look much better there. </div>
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Day 13</div>
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I meet up once a month with some friends for a evening of craft and lovely conversation. We don't always get much crafting done but we do have some great conversations. This month everyone came to me and we have a fabulous evening of laughter, there was a very small amount of crafting! I picked up this bottle of ginger beer at the local farm shop and it definitely had a fiery bite and although it was non alcoholic I think the full bodied part went straight to our heads!!! </div>
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Day 14</div>
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Chocolate oranges have always been a part of my Christmas for as long as I can remember. Mr Madaboutbags bought this little lot home recently, I'm not sure if they will last until Christmas Day! </div>
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Day 15</div>
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Today is Mr Madaboutbags' birthday, he isn't a great one for birthdays, but he will look forward to his all day breakfast on Sunday when Miss Madaboutbags is home from Uni. I have to say I'm glad I don't have a December birthday and do feel for those that do. This afternoon I spent a lovely few hours making a Christmas wreath. It's something I've always wanted to try and this year Miss Madaboutbags' church was running a workshop. I really enjoyed making the wreath and will definitely try some different themed ones throughout the year. </div>
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Yay! I back up to date, now I'm off to bed as I've been a bit of a night owl recently and need to catch up on some sleep. See you all tomorrow X </div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-83743096793814277012016-12-15T07:38:00.000+00:002016-12-15T07:43:57.004+00:00Advent Days 6 - 9<div style="text-align: center;">
Firstly I wanted to say thank to <a href="http://kerenzaallin-garner.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Kezzie</a> as I received a lovely message from her checking if everything was okay because I'd stopped posting my Advent Day photos. Sorry I couldn't reply to you Kezzie as when I checked you are a no reply blogger, so you have a very public thank you. It's one of the things I love about the blogging community and it's always nice to know you have been missed.</div>
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Luckily there was nothing really wrong just a very manic week and a half of school events, family life and a severe lack of energy at the end of the day! </div>
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So this is one of my catch up posts...</div>
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Day 6</div>
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Today, I helped out on the school trip to Colchester Zoo, after a late night at the School Carol Concert, I did think it was going to be a tough day but the children were super and the zoo staff gave an interesting talk and tour on endangered species. Master Madaboutbags wanted to use my phone to take some photos and he did a really good job. As you can see the animals were really getting into the Christmas spirit. </div>
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Day 7</div>
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I recently took part in a wonderful swap over on Instagram that was star themed and today I received the most amazing parcel in the post. One of the handmade goodies was this star mini quilt. I was really drawn to night sky quilts when I was posting ideas for my partner and my swap partner didn't disappoint, I absolutely love it. You can see what else I received and what I sent over on my IG feed. </div>
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Day 8</div>
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Today I received another swap parcel in the post, this one is from Mary and is part of the Santa Sack Swap. A gorgeous quilted stocking full of intriguing packages that I'm trying really hard not to squish and squeeze! </div>
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Day 9</div>
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Today I finished off my two cracker swap parcels ready for posting to America. I'm starting to see lots of lovely posts both here and on Instagram of all your cracking crackers (sorry I couldn't resist!) and I shall pop a linky post up over the Christmas break for you all to share your posts. If you don't have a blog or Instagram please feel free to send me some pics of your crackers and I'll share them on my blog.</div>
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Phew! That took longer than I thought and now my bed is calling so I'll post another catch up post tomorrow. Joining in with <a href="http://kcscourt.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Julie's Advent Calendar</a>. </div>
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-68443077480043127492016-12-14T22:54:00.001+00:002016-12-15T07:40:45.783+00:00Advent Day 5<div style="text-align: center;">
***Edited to say not sure why but this didn't publish when I posted it last week***</div>
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Day 5</div>
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We are hitting the ground running this week as we have so much to squeeze in. </div>
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I'm not sure if I will be fit for anything by Friday!</div>
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Tonight was Master Madaboutbags' school Carol Concert at Chelmsford Cathedral. </div>
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It was an evening of singing, instrument playing and a rather enthusiastic organ player! </div>
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We were all rather tired by the time we arrived home so after a warming cup of tea and a festive bakewell it was time for bed as we have another busy day tomorrow. </div>
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Joining in with <a href="http://kcscourt.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Julie's Scrapbook Advent Calendar</a> </div>
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-80699120201175500992016-12-04T23:51:00.001+00:002016-12-15T07:41:30.181+00:00Advent Day 4<div>
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A relaxing day was in order after our busy night yesterday, so after a quick swimming lesson for Master Madaboutbags, followed by a scrumptious sausage sandwich made by Mr Madaboutbags it was time to tackle the job of putting up the Christmas tree. Well that was the plan but I think we were all feeling a little lazy today so after several cups of tea (me) and several games of Minecraft (Master Madaboutbags) we started delving into the numerous boxes that house all our Christmas decorations for the other 11 months of the year! </div>
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I'd forgotten how many super handmade decorations I've acquired over the years, and it was a little like Christmas morning when you realise you bought some new decorations last year in the sales. So after much oohing and ahhing we got down to business and put out some of the room decorations. </div>
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The tree is always my job, we have a lovely artificial one that we bought about 15 years ago and every year I forget how long it takes to fan out all the branches and add the lights. </div>
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Master Madaboutbags got a little bored at this stage and went off to watch more Minecraft videos and build a fire station! </div>
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I was also losing the will to live as the orangery looked like an explosion in a Christmas factory with boxes and decorations everywhere, including the table, which we needed to clear so that we could eat the delicious roast dinner that Mr Madaboutbags had cooked. Sufficiently sated, <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Tomas was keen to get back to finishing off the tree, and as I was busy sorting through boxes and faffing with my twig tree, I let him have free reign with the tree. In retrospect I'm not sure this was a wholly wise idea as I feel that there may be just a little bit of rearranging to be done!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Master Madaboutbags then found the box of Christmas puzzles and felt that right now would be a good time to start one of them, calling me in to help. Needless to say the orangery still looks like an explosion in a Christmas Factory and I'm not sure what Mr Madaboutbags is going to think when he comes down in the morning but this was not quite the photo I thought I would be posting today. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">So joining in with <a href="http://kcscourt.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Julie's Scrapbook advent calendar </a>is my #reallifehome Day 4 not quite finished tree, with my too many boxes of decorations, and oh my! what a mess, just close the door and worry about it tomorrow photo. </span></div>
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-25698633198908346522016-12-04T00:15:00.001+00:002016-12-15T07:43:00.264+00:00Advent Day 3<div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Tonight I spent a wonderful evening getting festive at not one, but two, Christmassy events. </span></div>
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First it was the lighting up of the Christmas tree at our local church. A few days ago I joined other members of my WI and decorated the tree outside the church, overlooking the village green and then tonight we joined lots of other people from the village to sing (out of time and definitely out of tune) a few Christmas carols and to switch on the tree lights. </div>
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Then we all went inside the church to enjoy a warming cup of tea and some delicious cake as well as buy some gifts from some of the stall holders.</div>
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There were some beautiful wooden figures on sale carved from olive wood from Bethlehem. Master Madaboutbags took a liking to a nativity bell decoration and a camel. </div>
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We also bought a Christmas gift Miss Madaboutbags and Master Madaboutbags had a go at cake decorating. </div>
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We also saw Father Christmas himself, so this is my Advent Day 3 photo, joining in with <a href="http://kcscourt.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Julie's Scrapbook Advent Calendar. </a></div>
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He was very jolly and handed out candy canes to all the children. </div>
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Then is was time to head off to the next village and watch a Christmas show at the church that Miss Madaboutbags goes to. </div>
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The play was called Twas The Night Before Christmas and was by The Saltmine Theatre group.</div>
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All the parts were played by just four people and it was funny, moving, poignant and with just the right amount of religiousness. The underlying story was to be thankful for what you have and not to catch stuffishness, and it does make you realise that there is more to Christmas than stuff, stuff, and more stuff. </div>
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It was a wonderful way to spend an evening especially as it was shared with good friends too so I'm feeling all warm, nostalgic and thankful. </div>
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-12587230597312520722016-12-02T22:01:00.001+00:002016-12-15T07:43:17.960+00:00Advent - Day 2<div style="text-align: center;">
Joining in with Julie's Advent Calendar over at <a href="http://kcscourt.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Julie's Scrapbook</a> by posting a photo every day throughout Advent.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFpRQetLnt_bpvYsUdtjkFdQGZSMXWvWGguKxQQRmz37p98uIDPEgj43Ih8QiXTwKd8mBauaBN2K2ZkY5UG8WSWHvgmosuo2dI0jcJzXkekHHSoyo5U-lJZRCdkXdldFbNTijulxgyual/s1600/FullSizeRender+12.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFpRQetLnt_bpvYsUdtjkFdQGZSMXWvWGguKxQQRmz37p98uIDPEgj43Ih8QiXTwKd8mBauaBN2K2ZkY5UG8WSWHvgmosuo2dI0jcJzXkekHHSoyo5U-lJZRCdkXdldFbNTijulxgyual/s320/FullSizeRender+12.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
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Day 2<br />
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For the past few years I've been collecting Christmas and Winter themed books and during Advent I wrap 24 of them and Master Madaboutbags gets to choose one each day which we share at bedtime. Some are old favourites and some are new charity shop buys, I even picked up four more this afternoon so we have some new ones for next year. </div>
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I'm not sure how much longer Master Madaboutbags will want to do this (I'm hoping that I have at least another year) but I think this will be a family tradition to pass down, so after Christmas the books will be carefully stored away until next year. </div>
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Do you have any Christmas family traditions?</div>
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If you would like to join in with <a href="http://kcscourt.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Julie's Advent Calendar</a> then pop over to her <a href="http://kcscourt.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">blog</a> for more details. </div>
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-69880147727839960892016-12-01T21:55:00.003+00:002016-12-01T21:55:43.035+00:00Advent - Day 1<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm joining in with Julie over at</div>
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<a href="http://kcscourt.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Julie's Scrapbook</a></div>
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and posting a photo a day during advent. </div>
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My first photo is of Master Madaboutbags' advent calendar, not only does it contain chocolate but it lights up too.</div>
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I miss the simplicity of the calendars from the 70's with their pretty Christmas pictures, does anyone know if you can still get them? </div>
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If you would like to join in then pop over to Julie's <a href="http://kcscourt.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">blog</a> for more information. </div>
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8849939658336802131.post-62104034236350016762016-11-18T22:25:00.001+00:002016-11-18T22:28:48.254+00:00Puddings and pies and little white lies......<div style="text-align: center;">
Hopefully you are all in touch with your swap partners for the cracker swap, if you are having any problems getting in touch let me know but remember we are getting into a busy time of the year so you may not get a reply straight away. </div>
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it's been a busy few weeks and I can't believe it's Friday again already!</div>
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Master Madaboutbags was back at school last, last week after a 2 week half term holiday, and my first week was a busy one full of fun things and a few blunders. </div>
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Monday I enjoyed a day of sewing, playing catch up on my projects for some of the swaps I'm taking part in and attempting free motion embroidery on a mini quilt for the first time. It was a lot harder than it looked and I don't think I have concentrated that much in a while. Initially I wasn't that happy with the finish and I hope my swap partner will realise that I did try my very best. <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">The mini quilt is now pressed and the binding has been added and I'm feeling much happier with the finished project. </span></div>
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I've now also made some extras from the left over fabric and my parcel is in the post on it's way to my swap partner. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">On Tuesday I spent a lovely afternoon at a friends for lunch and a crafternoon. Lunch was delicious and I was amazed at how much sewing/crafting was actually achieved. I was too busy chatting, crafting and eating to take any photos! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">In the evening I went along to my daughter's church to make my Christmas pudding. </span></div>
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There were over a hundred of us, just look at all those eggs!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">it was a wonderful evening, </span>of great company and conversation </div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">and we even had a roaring fire too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">This year I had my own special pudding stirring spoon made by Lauren at Rockery Cottage. I'm hoping this year's pudding is as tasty as last years.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bZdP44nr75qgThcCGpglKEdRU86GvgAMETNVSucIOqSc-tjtJPHg1S52qPAp8rRFk_RRaWrj3QPRMhEX1iPgYziYfZs5dKSiLj3FSQBwGJBRvgqk1UENDU6jJP91P6hLPKKHN6i6ZomU/s1600/FullSizeRender+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bZdP44nr75qgThcCGpglKEdRU86GvgAMETNVSucIOqSc-tjtJPHg1S52qPAp8rRFk_RRaWrj3QPRMhEX1iPgYziYfZs5dKSiLj3FSQBwGJBRvgqk1UENDU6jJP91P6hLPKKHN6i6ZomU/s640/FullSizeRender+3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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The finished puddings looked fabulous all lined up on the table.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRok2kZJ1yFK-Yk1_Wh9DFT0sz7az99HsDhnb_gWbKBe0y6M0k7IXswbbjdKTWBPBX88u0CMXWjpoyMaNQmgs8IuqUofrwlPFk-2V_tzIEG0ruHCBnaMLtvOvEcirwss6sYThPgebkRc_/s1600/IMG_6794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRok2kZJ1yFK-Yk1_Wh9DFT0sz7az99HsDhnb_gWbKBe0y6M0k7IXswbbjdKTWBPBX88u0CMXWjpoyMaNQmgs8IuqUofrwlPFk-2V_tzIEG0ruHCBnaMLtvOvEcirwss6sYThPgebkRc_/s640/IMG_6794.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">My pudding is now steamed and hiding in the back of the cupboard until Christmas Day, </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLUILdhyphenhyphenGfmDjCilMgKY5tA1OP81GSN_SmP3lL4I-qhTkP3Dp2RTfiSIG1vPbtjChKFEcb4F4XKsXz_K6pNptqlb1hNJ1jN14-qyX6lbwHW-uh-wzTDEGU7BgdNsaV6o15i_8JQyzGqXrf/s1600/IMG_6797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLUILdhyphenhyphenGfmDjCilMgKY5tA1OP81GSN_SmP3lL4I-qhTkP3Dp2RTfiSIG1vPbtjChKFEcb4F4XKsXz_K6pNptqlb1hNJ1jN14-qyX6lbwHW-uh-wzTDEGU7BgdNsaV6o15i_8JQyzGqXrf/s640/IMG_6797.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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and it's funny because I'm the only one who really likes Christmas pudding and I used to buy and individual one just for me but since I've started making my own Christmas pudding everyone wants some so I'm having to share.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Wednesday was another sewing today, one of my daughter's friends came over with her gorgeous baby daughter to make a draft excluder whilst I enjoyed a few cuddles. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Thursday was WI day and my job was to pop into town and collect 27 pie and mash lunches, with the help of Mr Madaboutbags too as he was doing the driving. They were made for us by the wonderful family that run The Little Cafe in Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, so if you are ever over this way and fancy pie and mash (amongst other delicious meals) pop in and enjoy. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWpmo6eTEisy5ha3RvhRVr6cbclcc10h1QjyMopw-tKRyfXwtoZawD0ITDl7U5cECf9sM1x7Ps_zmHeolKvb3sdzDskdkM6VBlkmssssghkv7hhne6Cnqv3DiSW7mk8iDLLBHRdIfYLOR/s1600/DSC_0138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWpmo6eTEisy5ha3RvhRVr6cbclcc10h1QjyMopw-tKRyfXwtoZawD0ITDl7U5cECf9sM1x7Ps_zmHeolKvb3sdzDskdkM6VBlkmssssghkv7hhne6Cnqv3DiSW7mk8iDLLBHRdIfYLOR/s640/DSC_0138.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was from the slide show and shows one of the original pie and mash shops in the East End</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">With the lunches safely delivered and served onto plates it was time to sit down and enjoy our food, with many of the ladies trying liquor (parsley sauce) and chilli vinegar for the first time. There were lots of worries that the parsley sauce was made from eel juices but our speaker for the afternoon, Sharon Gould, explained that that myth came about because they sometimes used the water from the boiled eels to make the parsley sauce and it had natural gelatine in it. After lunch Sharon shared with us her experiences of growing up in the East End of London, she had many of us nodding and laughing away as she told us her childhood memories, of school, shared houses, outside toilets, cockle picking and what seemed like weapons of torture which masqueraded as beauty products. </span></div>
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Sharon also bought along jellied eels and pickled herrings for us to try, now I do remember going to weddings and parties as a child in the East End and there was always jellied eels and cockles but I don't remember ever trying the jellied eels as I don't like the jelly, but I did have a try on Thursday and they weren't as bad as I thought they would be, I did only eat the eel not the jelly though.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2skHR7lTeXe6m_eWKl3g4i_yq0B7oAWhygXZmtAk_Z7JNk89cpTbM5OiIjkEaBFzPwWEOYFAbjnYgXSjH-H1ZNqrweB1TlZXf1I58rGwWr4qi7VrPJ0IswxK5LOP_vsvN02j44axasMx/s1600/DSC_0164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2skHR7lTeXe6m_eWKl3g4i_yq0B7oAWhygXZmtAk_Z7JNk89cpTbM5OiIjkEaBFzPwWEOYFAbjnYgXSjH-H1ZNqrweB1TlZXf1I58rGwWr4qi7VrPJ0IswxK5LOP_vsvN02j44axasMx/s640/DSC_0164.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> Now we have covered the puddings and the pies and I bet you are wondering where the little white lies comes into my week, well.......</span></div>
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as I explained Mr Madaboutbags helped me to collect the pies from the cafe and dropped me off at the village hall for my WI lunch and meeting. So that I could collect our eldest son from school when the meeting was finished I drove my car to the village hall and Mr Madaboutbagscollected me from there and we drove into town to collect the pies. Once they were collected we drove back to the village hall where Mr Madaboutbags dropped my and the pies off and then went home. I had a wonderful afternoon and then it was time to go home, so i helped clear away and then just as I was about to leave I couldn't find my cars keys, I searched my pockets, bags and even the car but they weren't anywhere and then it dawned on me........I'd left the in the passenger door of Mr Madaboutbags car!!! Oh NO!!! Now my memory has been getting pretty bad of late and Mr Madaboutbags has been ribbing me a <strike>little</strike> lot about it so I couldn't possibly phone him up and get him to bring me the keys could I, so knowing that the car was on the drive and then he wouldn't see me from the house I asked one of the WI ladies to take me home and I snuck in the gates and grabbed the keys from the door of the car and then she very kindly dropped me back at the village hall. Mr Madaboutbags was none the wiser, safely tucked up on the sofa watching TV and I picked up our song and drove home. The WI ladies and I had a chat in the car about whether it was really lying if I didn't tell Mr Madaboutbags about the keys but as we tell each other everything I couldn't keep it a secret and blurted it out as soon as I got home!!! He just rolled his eyes and seems resigned to the fact that this is how it is going to be from now on!!!! I would like to say this was a one off but that would be telling even more lies as this week there were even more blunders!!! I am now being referred to as Brenda the blunder woman and my head is so woolly I could knit my own jumper!!!! </div>
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00038320794655536591noreply@blogger.com4