Sunday snippets

 

It's been a lovely week of bright, bright sunshine interspersed with great big plops of rain.  That's what makes Britain Britain! 

Sunday snippets

~ I'm loving the longer, warmer evenings and enjoying a quick half pint in a pub beer garden after work every now and then

~ The first bike ride of the year - it felt good to blow away some cobwebs

~ The annual ritual of making elderflower cordial has begun!  It was a bumper crop this year which should see us through the year

~ THIS cake!  I made it for my Sister's birthday from a recipe on Pinterest.  A hazelnut cake with a nutella filling to die for!  

~ An early morning dog walk by the river

Personalised papercuts

Remember my Liberty fabric backed papercuts I posted about a few weeks ago?  Well I was contacted a little while ago by a lovely lady that is getting married this summer and wanted to commission me to make some personalised papercuts for her to gift to her three bridesmaids.  What a lovely idea eh?!  

It's got my mind whirring with new ideas... bride and groom names, children's names to hang in a nursery... watch this space!  I love working on commissions and knowing that my papercuts are a little part of someone's special day!

Jo

Little signs

Sadly, we lost my lovely Nana two weeks ago and said our final goodbyes to her on Thursday last week. 
She lived a very full life of 95 years, was a remarkably strong and loving woman and I loved her dearly.  
One of the things I will always remember about her was her love of roses.  Her garden was always full of them and during summer visits to her we would always leave with a bunch of beautifully scented homegrown blooms to take home with us.  

She would have loved her send off on Thursday.  Plenty of sunshine, a room full of those she loved most, our memories of her being discussed with smiles on our faces and warmth in our hearts.

When we arrived home late afternoon, I took a stroll round our little garden and noticed that the first bud on our climbing rose had bloomed that day!  It's the little signs that remind us our loved ones are forever in our hearts. 

Sunday snippets

A little snapshot of my week

 

 

~ Planting up some free Wahaca chilli seeds.  Grow little ones! 

~ Pretty beach huts on a windswept day

~ Carnations still going strong after three weeks.  They are so under rated and I love that for a few pounds you can fill several vases for many weeks! 

~ Literally can't stop eating these at the moment!  I guess there are worse addictions...

~ A lovely commission for a special little boy's christening

Books lately

I don't think you could find three more different books than my most recent three reads!

Do the birds still sing in hell is the remarkable true story of Horace Greasley who escaped a Polish prisoner of war camp during World War 2 over two hundred times to see his sweetheart.  Very rude and crass in places, so not for the easily offended, but an amazing story of triumph over adversity in the most horrific of times. 

Apple tree yard had me gripped throughout.  I loved the way little seeds of information were planted in every chapter, keeping you guessing throughout.  It wasn't until after I finished the book that I realised I didn't particularly like any of the characters but it didn't really seem to matter! 

Paper towns was my first young adult read in a long time.  It's the first of John Green's books that I have read but it won't be the last.  I have just picked up The fault in our stars to read very soon.  Read this if you want to remember what it's like to be an awkward teenager and I defy you not to fall just a little bit in love with Quentin, Radar and Ben!  

What have you been reading lately?  I always love a recommendation....

Hexagon patchwork

A few photos of my latest stitchy project.  

This started as a way to use up a few scraps of fabric.  I merrily stitched away with no real purpose, just enjoying the little lovelies taking shape.  

Then the idea formed for them to become a picnic blanket.  They could easily have become a bag or a cushion but no, a picnic blanket they will be!  
I have worked out that I will need 1200 of these little 1 inch hexagons to make a decent sized blanket so this is very much a long term project!  

 I love the way they mount up when you have a few spare moments to stitch away....

However it may be summer 2015 before they resemble a blanket!  

A small break and some new Liberty print papercuts

Well hello there.... 
Deary me, it's been a while!  If you follow me on Instagram, you will see me pop up regularly on there but this little corner of the internet has been sadly neglected of late. 

Here is a little snapshot of what I have been up to and I promise I will be back blogging here more regularly in the future!  I've missed you and it feels nice to be back!  


New postcard sized papercuts that are backed with delicious Liberty Lawn cotton. 
These are available in my Etsy shop.

My crochet has taken a back seat this year and has given way to a new hexagonal patchwork project.  More on that in my next post....