Pinch, Punch, First of the Month.....

....and no returns

(I did start writing this post at about 9am this morning but have only just got around to finishing it off! So apologies for it being past the midday cutoff)

November is here!

I love the beginning of the month, it heralds a fresh start, new beginnings

and, as we start counting down towards December, this month is going to be super busy.

I feel a list coming on!

I have blog swaps to start and finish,  as well as a few makes that I would like to start just for me. I also take part in craft swaps over on Facebook, trading talents with others, it's a great way to add handmade gifts that you don't make yourself to your Christmas Lists or, as I do, to decorate our home.

If any of you would ever like to trade talents with me then just let me know as I think I love swapping more than I do selling my makes!

I'll be posting the Cracker Swap partners tomorrow so there is still a little time to join in, 

please feel free to add the button below to your blog and share the swap amongst your friends.

We are back to school tomorrow and our week and a bit of the half term break has been a mix of lazy days and family fun.

We have enjoyed a trip to the Sealife Centre in  London.

Pumpkin Carving in our local country park.

Building a Lancaster Bomber!

 Finishing off the week with a Light Party at our daughter's church.

As well as watching movies, playing board games and some much needed rest and relaxation.

Phew! I'm exhausted after all that lot but I am also excited for what the month of November is going to bring.

Happy Halloween

We've been enjoying the most glorious weather for October here in Essex today and apparently it has been the warmest Halloween on record. We didn't go Trick or Treating this year as Tomas went to Rachel's church Light Party, where he had a lot of fun bobbing for apples, playing games and collecting sweets! We did carve pumpkins though 

Tomas worked really hard scraping all the gloop and seeds out of his pumpkin.

I also had my own little pumpkin to empty 

It was soon time to get carving and Tomas did an amazing job of carving his pumpkin face

just look at the concentration on his face!

I couldn't resist this picture showing off that dimple!

We also decided to decorate a little corner of the orangery with some spooky halloween bits and pieces.

 I wanted to shout out "he's behind you!" to this little ghost. 

It all looked rather spooky in the dark

and as for our pumpkins, Tomas decided that his one was the best

because mine didn't have a nose!

Autumn Makes

I thought I would just share with you a few of my autumnal makes......

Last year I made these pumpkins using curtain and upholstery fabrics, I posted them on facebook again this year and some of them found new homes.

I was then asked if I could make some teeny weeny hanging ones to decorate a twig tree 

and around a doorway and this is what I came up with. 

I can't wait to see them in their new homes.

As part of the Autumn Swap I made a french inspired autumnal bunting for my swap partner AnneMarie. I was given a charm pack of fabric squares as part of a swap a couple of years ago and had wondered what I could make with them and they turned out to be ideal for this project as Anne Marie likes blue.

I also made her this cute mini pumpkin from a autumnal fabric which I love and just can't remember where I got it from to buy some more!

I'm always trying to think of new ways to send buttons and make them look pretty so I turned these orange buttons into pumpkins to add to AnneMarie's parcel.

and finally this isn't one of my makes but an ebay buy, my new gas heater for my workroom. I can't believe how toasty it makes my room, so much so I have to keep turning it off!!!

A Feast of Pumpkins!!

Although I have been very quiet on the blogging front, my fingers haven't been too idle, they have been beavering away making scrumptious, soft and squishy pumpkins.

Ages ago I was given some old curtain samples, you know the ones that hang on the rails and I never found the right creation for them until now....

 My little tables and chairs cut out from an old tree taken down in our garden seemed just the right spot to photograph more of my pumpkins.

I made myself this trio of pumpkins as I just loved the colours and the textures!

i think every home should have a pumpkin or three this year and several of mine have now gone to new homes (oh and a couple found their way into school for the harvest table) if you would like to own a pumpkin (or three) for yourself then head over to my facebook page for more details.