Glastonbury

Glastonbury tickets arrived last week and caused a flurry of excitement through the household.

After breathing a sigh of relief at the discovery of showers on site (albeit it with a three minute time restriction to save water), my thoughts turned to the practicalities of our four day festival break. Wellingtons or flip flops? (both) Sun hat or umbrella? (both)  Sunscreen or woolies? (both)

Camping in a muddy field isn't something I've done for a while ever done but the music makes it all worthwhile! The Who, Lionel Richie, Foo Fighters, Pharrell...  Utter bliss.

Meet Chuck

Let me introduce you to Chuck the blackbird chick. Noisy, plump, cheeky, always hungry and utterly gorgeous.

Dad getting a full feed into his mouth ready for Chuck

Are you looking at me?

What a glorious end to the day.

A gift for a new friend

A recent trip to Germany resulted in some lovely new friendships. One particular lady gave up large amounts of her time to show a group of us around some sights in Bavaria. 

This was my little thank you- a case for her sunnies.

I used the Gigi font, which I love and will use again. Obviously linen and some Liberty print!
I also made a matching lavender scented keyring that I managed to forget to photograph

Hope she likes it. Thank you Ilse x

Missing Oscar

It's been two weeks since we lost our much adored cat Oscar. I miss him more than words can say and still can't write about him yet. Picking the last of the bluebells to place where he lays with his brother Charlie, I cut a few for the table. They brought a smile to my face.

We shared our lives for 17 years and my heart aches for you.

Home Sweet Home completed!

I've taken part in the ATC swap this Spring organised by Ali and once again thoroughly enjoyed it.

The theme for the swap was Home Sweet Home and it set my mind on a long wander on what makes a home so special.

This is the card I received from Beryl - an absolutely gorgeous piece of art with a bird house - how clever! It came prettily packaged with a lovely card :)

All so beautifully stitched in some of my favourite colours! I adore it and it sits alongside a previous card I received - I look at them every day and they truly make me smile as I start my day.

The partner I was sending to is a very talented lady. Ali sent me a link to her Flickr page and she is amazing! All this adds greatly to the nerves - what do you create for someone who is so very clever with a needle?

As she lives in the US, I thought that perhaps a taste of what my home here is like might work. I decided to (in part!) try and recreate our cottage and although it didn't quite turn out as planned, it was my very best effort!!

It all started with a mind map and then a basic plan -

The sun never made it to the final card as I realised I already had smoke coming from the chimney - a reflection of my muddled mind!

I blanket stitched around the outside of the cottage and then crocheted my interpretation of a Cotswold stone wall

Added some roses around the door and some smoke coming from the chimney with the words 'love' and 'laughter' mixed in - for me, two words that come to mind when thinking of home. Our houses may change, we may move, but so long as you have those things then it's on its way to being home.

Sewing it all together. This step took quite a lot longer than anticipated! A trip out into the sunshine was required.

The finished card!

I stamped out and then stitched Home Sweet Home on the back

All wrapped up and ready to go - 

I so enjoyed creating it for my partner and was thrilled when she e-mailed to say she loved it. 

Roll on the next swap :)

The Clan reunites!

The Clan reunites!! said an excited text from one of my sons on Good Friday. 

There are often times when our little family is spread over the globe. The long Easter weekend is one of those wonderful times when we all get together for a few precious days...

Woohoo!

A few lazy days spent enjoying each other's company - flying planes (or quadcopters I'm reliably informed), eating chocolates (a treat from À la Mère de Famille) and an Easter Egg Hunt - with meticulously mapped chocolates, lest one of the dogs should find them. 

A delicious snooze in the garden - the first of the year - with the sound of bees buzzing, and butterflies fluttering past. 

The dogs enjoying the warmth of the sunshine, and Oscar fast asleep on a cushion. 

And then it's trains to be caught and the boys departing in different directions again. Until the next time. 

A Few of my Favourite Things

Art thou the bird whom Man loves best, 
The pious bird with the scarlet breast, 
Our little English Robin

William Wordsworth
The Redbreast Chasing The Butterfly

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What's making me smile this week...

So lovely to be revisiting patchwork - haven't done this for so long. Loved making a quilted mini basket and glasses case. I feel a quilt coming on.

My favourite dressing gown with cute ears - always makes me smile :)

My polka dot blouse is nearly finished, just waiting for the buttons I ordered to arrive - can't wait to wear it. 

Finding some watercolours that I painted years ago - I had a real thing about painting insects - in this case an aphid!

The highlight of the week has to be one of the gorgeous robins in our garden landing on my hand. Patience rewarded. Such a wonderful experience - the feel of those little feet on your hand.

Have a good week wherever you are.

ps - can you tell that I definitely have a thing for polka dots and gingham?!