AWOL

As you can tell from this post title I have been AWOL again from my blog, the school holidays started very early for us this year with my eldest two finishing as soon as their last exams were over and my youngest finishing on the 9th of July!

My problems with Lightroom are still ongoing which has made uploading photos to the blog from my camera a big problem, I need a quiet day to sit in front of the computer to see what's going on but I'm not sure that is going to happen during the holidays.

I'm way behind with my sewing/crochet projects for the strawberry swap, but I have let my swap partners know and Mr Mad About Bags took our youngest to the cinema yesterday so I was able to catch up a little. If you have sent or received your Strawberry Swap Parcel then let me know and I can share some of your pics on my blog.

I am finding that I'm posting more on Instagram at the moment just because it's quick and easy, I really don't want to stop blogging as I know some of you aren't on Instagram and I enjoy catching up on your news when I can but does anyone else find that there just isn't enough time for everything or do I just need to manage my time more productively (think I may have answered my own question there!)

We've been busy in the garden this year, tackling some old jobs and creating new ones, I have lots of photos to share of our progress and I will try and blog about those soon.

Anyone else find they lose track of days during the holidays? With us all being at home the days just seem to roll into each other and with the older ones doing more of their own thing this year we seem to have become a family of three, which does feel strange sometimes but is a sign of things to come. I usually use my blog as a way of keeping track of what we have been up to during the long summer break but that hasn't happened this year which is a shame so I need to sort that out too.

Well, that's it from me this morning, just a quick post, no pics, and the Lakeland catalogue has just arrived in the post so I'm going to grab a cup of tea and enjoy half and hour browsing through it instead of tidying the conservatory....oh I'm so easily distracted!!!!

Strawberry Swap Update

Okay I think I have contacted everyone on the swap partners list (Birdie and Dot I'm just about to message you!) apart from Susan Brehm, Susan please could you contact me and leave your email address so that I can pass it on to your swap partner, thank you. I've also messaged via google.

Happy swapping everyone and any problems just let me know 

Strawberry Swap Partners List

Thank you to everyone that has signed up for the Strawberry Swap both here and on Instagram, sorry I'm a little late posting the partners list but it is Father's Day here in the Uk so we have been pampering Mr Mad About Bags with a hearty full english breakfast and I have also been making the most of the sunshine by painting the outside of my sewing room. I realise I still haven't shown you my new room yet so I must remedy that at some point. Right enough of my waffling, you have kept me on my toes this evening as we have had lots of new swappers join in for this swap, so i have been trying to marry up instagram and emails etc and working out posting preferences But I think I've sorted it.

If you do find that I have missed someone, something or somewhere then just let me know.

Strawberry Swap Partners List

Glenda and Linny both email swappers so I'll send you both a message.

Jille @ Love To Craft  and Sally @ Sew Sweet Sally

MilliCrea and Andrea @ Indigo Blue

Beth @ Stitched by Betty and Maria @ Dotty's Daughter

Jayne @ Picksie33 and Debi @ Busy little Chicken

Michelle @ MichellesKreations and Melanie @ The Patchwork Robin

Mel @ MellieMakes and Kimberley @ Creative Chaos

Laura @ Beads, Buttons and Birds and Lynn (email)

Montse (email) and Edit @ Edige

Glenna @ Glenna's Life on the Farm and Debbie 

Kim @ Wisdom with Needle and Thread and Debbie @ Fairy Bluebell's Craft Adventure

Robyn @ Robynlhop and Susan Brehm (email)

Tracy @ Mad About Bags and Birdie and Dot

Here is a little reminder of the swap details

Send 5 items with a strawberry theme, to include:

One handmade item - you could sew, knit, crochet, paint or use paper

One strawberry shaped item - this could be anything strawberry shaped 

One strawberry flavoured item - this could be food, a candle or something else scented with strawberries

The last two are entirely up to you as long as they are strawberry themed.

I realised that I didn't post a mailing date for the swap before but I was thinking that your parcels could be on their way by the 31st July. It won't be a strict timeline as we are heading into the school holidays here in the UK but you can arrange to post out earlier or later if need be. So get to know your partner, talk about your likes and dislikes etc and any problems just let me know.

Happy Swapping 

Strawberry Swap

Don't forget today is the last day to sign up for the 

Strawberry Swap

We have lots of lovely new people taking part, the swap is open to bloggers, Instagramers and non bloggers just so long as I have a contact email. Please leave a comment below if you would like to take part.

Swap partners will be posted on Sunday

xxxxx 

Tuesday Treasures

I'm still having a few problems with uploading photos so I'm using my trusty iPhone at the moment. Today I popped into one of my local charity shops and picked up this super book on Appliqué Art. I'm still very much a novice when it comes to free hand embroidery so this should come in very handy. 

This is a short and sweet post as I'm now sitting down with a cup of tea and enjoying my guilty pleasure of watching Big Brother. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea but as a big people watcher I just can't resist. I have some new makes to share with you soon. And don't forget there is still time so sign up for the Strawberry Swap. 

Strawberry Swap

I've been having a few technical problems with photos so all my good intentions of blogging at the beginning of June went out the window. I'm still trying to work out what the problems is but in the meantime....

anyone fancy a swap?

I've been trying to think of some ideas for swaps and was looking back over some of the swaps that I have taken part in since I started blogging back in 2009!

There have been colour swaps, cupcake and food swaps, season and country swaps to name just a few. As we are  heading into summer and with Wimbledon just around the corner how does a Strawberry Swap sound?

The idea would be to send 5 items with a strawberry theme, to include:

One handmade item - you could sew, knit, crochet, paint or use paper

One strawberry shaped item - this could be anything strawberry shaped 

One strawberry flavoured item - this could be food, a candle or something else scented with strawberries

The last two are entirely up to you as long as they are strawberry themed.

Here's what I sent way back in 2010

So who's in then?

Just leave me a comment before Friday 17th of June and I'll announce partners on Sunday 19th June. Please let me know if you are happy to post overseas.
This swap is open to bloggers, instagrammers and non bloggers as long as I have a contact email.

I've made this pic to pop on your blogs and please feel free to share the swap on your blogs too. 

Christmas in July Swap

Just dashing in to say I've signed up for the

Christmas in July Swap 

This swap is organised by Cheryl at Gone Stitching' if you are in New Zealand and Australia and Kim over at Wisdom with a Needle and Thread if you are in the rest of the world.

You'll have to be quick though as the sign up closes tomorrow (14th May)