Spring is coming. Well I hope it is.

Isn't it great to wake up to some lovely sunshine? Isaac my 5 year old asked me a few mornings ago after looking out of his window - Does that mean its not winter any more? I wish the answer had been yes! Later that day I took the boys out for a ride around on their bikes. I was standing with my head tilted upwards and my eyes closed enjoying the sun on my face. I opened my eyes to find a guy looking at me as if I was a weirdo!


Above is a lovely Spring inspired treasury from A Second Life who makes some fantastic polymer clay magnets. I likes these lacey ones


and these rocky ones

and there is 25% off your order at the mo. Great!

B x

Oh what a lucky girl I am!

Ok so this week i'm gonna share some of the fantastic presents I received for my bday. I was so lucky to get so many lovely things.

Its very hard to choose but I think this is my fav, a giant button pincushion. Belinda said she'd been looking for that perfect gift and then she saw this.

My older brother Leon (the artist also known as LAKart) gave me this canvas plus another. I am commissioning him to do a pop arty family portrait. You know like one big square, split in to four, a drawing of each of us, one in each corner painted in four different colours..... I will share that with you when its finished. Just need to decide on colours. Am thinking Teal and Olive green to go with my plans for the dining room.

I also received 3 bags! Which is fab as you can never have to many. I'm sure when I told Dan he saw secretly rolling his eyes and thinking "more bags!" This ones from Lozzie my sister in law. (technically shes my other halves sister). I love it!

These oh so cute measuring spoons are from Pippa and Linds. Think some one may have been reading my blog. I have stacking measuring cup in the same design. They clubbed together and got me lots of lovely bits and bobs. Thanks girls, love them all x

Oh and the dress! I have been eyeing this up for months for my mums wedding. I just kept thinking i can't or rather I shouldn't. In the end I didn't have to as Dan and the boys got me it. Now all I need are some shoes.

My Inlaws (or outlaws as my friend likes to call hers) got me two books that have been on my wishlist for a while. The first is called Hand Job which isn't as rude as it sounds. its a book on hand type. Which is basically hand drawn lettering/font Remember bubble writng and doodling on school books?

The other is Print and Pattern by Bowie Style(check out the blog) which is a must have for any one who likes pattern. I could sit and look at it for hours! I know they will give me so much inspiration over the coming months and years.

Last week I made this for Emma and Chris's beautiful new baby daughter Florence. They are moving soon and Emma said they are thinking of basing her room decoration on my embroidery. Matching bunting may be?

This week I have been making a few gifts for a friend, wont say who in case she is reading. Well they are in the post so will have to share what I made her next week as don't want to spoil the surprise. Shhhh! "

I don't think I have mentioned that I got a bread maker for Christmas. It is fabulous, I don't buy bread any more and I know whats in it. This book was another bday pressie, yesterday I made blueberry cake. Today as I type I have some onion and garlic bread on the go. Thinking I might start a recipe sharing post every Monday. Might call it Monday Manger or Monday Munchies. What d'ya think?

Lastly this was breakfast!! Yes I had the cheddar's (two packets) too!!

See ya next week,

B xxx

Babushka Love

It is pretty clear that I love them.......

.......but so does B-side Metalworks.

1. Englishpreserves
2. SewnNatural
3. MemiThe Rainbow
4. Autena
5. Beaky
6. TheRusticOwlB-side Metalworks
7. RegalCottage
8. HummingBoxStudios
9. TulipMade
10. Hootandeye
11. Broid
12. SavageArtworks

Which is your favourite? I think mine has to be the twilight owls.

Thanks for the treasury!!

B-side makes some beautiful personalised jewellery and some fantastic wire work -

Perfect for your valentine

❤

See you again tomorrow ,

B xxx

The new coat

So I have been searching for a really warm coat for months and had to resort to borrowing my pregnant friend Lucys coat. Well she wasn't going to fit in it! Heres the coat -

Available @ YESSTYLE.com

... and heres a slightly blurry photo of me in the coat. Its so lovely and cuddly the boys keep knicking it and using it as a blanket.

That was the day a few weeks ago when I asked Isaac

"What would you like to do today?"

Isaac "Have a picnic"

"OK!"

Well the sun was out who cares if it January, a picnic at the park we had. It was great fun until I split my trousers trying to get on the death slide!! Note to self - Skinny jeans and fun at the park do Not mix. Luckily my coat covered it!

This is the hat that I made Scarlet. Yes you guessed it Lucys (FOURTH!!!!!!!!) baby has now arrived and she is beautiful. Lucy got her coat back just in time.

Til next Thurs - I want to share a few new products with you.

B xxx

Bunting for boys!

 As people said they liked the idea, would stock it in their shop and my eldest said he would like some for his room. Here it is! It is so bright and cheerful - look how well it goes with the boys room.

When I showed it to Isaac my 2 year old he said "Wow!". I think that means he likes it. Whats not to like? Robots, lightning flashes, red, turquoise......

I have listed it in the Etsy shop already and will pop it in the Folksy shop later today.

I'll write again in a few days, I have some fab Easter photos of the boys to share with you. Thank you so much for all your lovely comments, I love reading them and hearing what you guys think. Wishing you all a wonderful and chocolate filled Easter.

B x

Babushka bunting

This idea just popped in to my head the other day. I can't believe I didn't think of it before! Most of my ideas get written down and can take ages for me to get around to. It alreday available to buy here.

I just couldn't wait with this one and made it on Thursday night while Dan was at the pub. I should have been making some of my crocheted bunting for a special order but I figured I can make that on Sunday evening.

I machine appliqued the dolls,  well I thought it was about time I used some of the many functions on my embroidery machine. I have only really used it for straight and zigzag stitch.

Hmmmmm, I wonder if the boys will let me hang some of this around the house. Probably - if I can make some with robots on it instead (thats another idea to add to the list).

Oh, and I wanted to show you this too. My little cupcake number! I made this for my friends daughter who was two on Thursday. I plan to make more after she has test ran it for me. I also bought her a Fifi backpack which she has decided she wants to take everywhere with her.

Also I forgot to say in my last blog that my trip to London with the girls was lots and lots of fun. It was so great catching up and having a whole weekend together. I will post some piccies from my trip soon.

B x

I have written my first pattern!

My Sir Lucas knight hat pattern is finally ready and for sale. It has taken a lot longer than I expected, I thought I could just type up my notes but I wanted to make sure it was just right. I have to admit I have had a little help with it from Emma Lamb. Who very kindly checked the pattern and gave me some very helpful suggestions.

I only emailed her the pattern last Wednesday and I got an email back on Monday to say she had finished it. The photograph below shows how she got on - brilliantly! I also love the fact that the hat is black very Darth Vader-esque. I may have to make a black one for my shop.

Talking of shops here are some photos from my Charity shop - shopping spree last week.

Such a cute hat with sparkles running throught it, just £2 and brand new. 

Buttons on shoes!!! Again brand new and only £3.

Two pairs of curtains and 2 vintage pillow cases - £2.50

A Sterling silver bracelet for only £1.25

Lastly how could I leave this Spiderman suit when it was only £3? Definitely worth it, look how happy he is.

Back to my patterns, I am now working on writing up my Molly hat pattern. Oh, and I have a fab bunting idea that I want to try out too. I'll show you the results of that soon.

B x

For me, a Fair, Five, Fun, Food and Flashdance!

Last week was dominated by the letter F!! Here is the blanket I am making FOR ME, its not very often I make something for myself. I bought lots of this Rowan cotton rope a few weeks ago as it was reduced from £4.49 per 50g ball to just 99p. I just had to buy some - 18 balls to be precise. Most of those will be used for this project.

I love the wave stitch and the rainbow of colours and can't wait to finish it so I can start using it.

This is how my stall looked on Saturday at the Mothers Day craft FAIR I did. I was opposite the entrance which was fab as everyone saw me first. I had a really good day and met some lovely people.

Lucas was FIVE last week, I can't believe it. Where did the time go?  I am so proud of him. He has just been with Dan to spend his £45 birthday money and come back with a set of Ben 10 figures, and a tranformer for himself and a Thomas train for his little bro Isaac. It was all his own idea he said this morning I want to buy Isaac a Thomas train so he doesn't cry. I nearly cried! 

FUN - Three birthday parties including Lucas's and a Gymnastics Party. How much fun do those foam chips look? I really, really wanted to have a go - I had to keep reminding myself I am a grown up.

FUN - Ten pin bowling

Not so much FUN - Isaac has just let go of his balloon, he insisted he didn't need it tying around his wrist.

FOOD - Mountains of party food, birthday cake and a Pizza hut.

Oh and I won two tickets for FLASHDANCE and a preshow meal. I'm not much of a Theatre goer and have only been to one show before. Saying that Dan and I really enjoyed it and will definitely go and see another show soon. 

B x 
 

A badge in a little crocheted jacket!

Yay! I have finally got around to making some of these. I had this idea a little while ago and have been meaning to try it out. They came out better than I thought they would.

These are great fun to make, choosing colour combinations to using buttons. Most of these will be one of a kind as I love using vintage buttons and coming up with different designs. This is one of my favourites -

There will be a selection of these available at The Gift Tree and both my Etsy and Folksy shops.

The cards are made from some fab postcards I found, I am a sucker for stationary. When I bought them I didn't know what I would use them for. Now that I do I wish I had bought more.

I'm sure I will be making more of these soon, after I have made a few of my new crocheted flower brooches. Another idea I have been toying with for a while. I will blog about these soon.

B x

Oh such cute brooches

How cute are these brooches? I ordered them for a craft fair I am doing for Mothers day from Sophie Isobel Designs. She has a lovely shop on etsy and an equally lovely blog. Until Feb 23rd  all proceeds from sales in her shop will go to the Red Cross for the Victorian Bushfire Appeal in Australia. What a generous thing to do.

They came nicely wrapped and tied with ribbon. Sorry I didn't get photos of that as I was so excited that I ripped them open with out thinking. But they still look like this!

Every one is handmade and one of a kind.

 I asked Sophie to make one especially for me, but when they arrived I changed my mind.This is one of my favourites.

But this is the one I decided to keep and it is now on my new spring jacket. 

Well the weather is starting to get warmer, isn't it? Oh and the craft fair is at Burbage Millennium Hall, Leicestershire on Sat 7th March in case you are interested.

B x