Rolling in the deep

I can't stop listening to Adele at the moment. I'm a bit behind the times here and got her first album 19 for Christmas from my folks and I am totally in awe. How can such a young woman be so talented, write such beautiful songs (ok I'll let Bob Dylan take some credit for one amazing song on her 19 album!) sing so beautifully and effortlessly AND be completley down to earth. I am desperate for her new album 21 (it would make a wonderful valentine or anniversary present hint hint!) which I believe came out today.

Here is a little taster..I've never posted a video so I hope this works!

I haven't just been listening to Adele though..oh no, I've been busy at my sewing machine whilst listening to her!  Valentines Day always sneaks up on me just after Christmas and the day before I always think, ohh I should have made....but I never seem to get round to it. But not this year! I was determined to be organised and have been getting busy with some felt.

Just a sneaky look at what I have been up to. I did get a bit carried away and made lots of them some of which are destined for Taking the Plunge in Whitstable and a few will be added to my Folksy shop in the next couple of days.

I've also realised that I am nearly at 100 posts, so I might do a little giveaway to celebrate my 100th post, with a personalised one of 'these' up for grabs among a few other bits.
I'll keep you posted!

Secondhand furniture

I fell in love with this little cupboard at a local charity the other week.

It took a few days of persuasion and measuring and suggestions of where it could go before I finally persuaded the other half that we really did need it in our house!

We differ quite a lot on decorating. He grew up in a house full to the brim with antiques, which has turned him the other way and he prefers a more simple, minimalistic modern look (empty!), where as I love a shabby chic style and a mix of old and modern furniture, but not really antiques. I love things to look a bit lived in and have had a bit of life rather than being totally pristine.

I managed to convince him with the cupboard - although we both liked the idea of painting it plain white to give it a more seasidey look. The stencils were a bit to 80's for me! But I did feel a bit mean painting over them as someone obviously spent a lot of time and a lot of love painting it.
But 5 coats of eggshell later (yes, 5!) we had a lovely little cupboard, just right for us.

It was probably meant as a bedside cabinet, but now it has all my sewing bits and pieces (threads, patterns, scissors, pincushions etc) and looks a lot neater than the overflowing baskets I had in the space before.  We had a big clear out the other week and I took 4 big bags of fabric to a few different local charity shops - so if you are in the Whitstable area, there might still be some around!

By the way, I'm not sure if this is just on our computer as we had to reformat it the other week, but since then I have found I am unable to read posts from several of the blogs I regularly used to read (Bubblebay the only one I can think of off the top of my head). It opens up with their header etc, but won't scroll down to display the blog posts? Has anyone else had this problem?

First make of the year

It was D's 5th birthday last friday, and remembering that I had made a cushion for her brother with an F on for his birthday, she had announced a little while ago that wanted one too for her bed. I of course left making this until the night before! But I did get it made and she was very pleased with it (check out the bedhair too, my children suffer from crazy hair in the morning!).

Little D.

However did our clever, gorgeous, girlie, determined, funny, stubborn, mature, hardworking, nutruing, caring, cuddly chatterbox become 5 already? (With a good helping of tantrums, crying, strops and fighting thrown in over those 5 years!).

D's cushion is the only make so far this year, but I have lots of plans over the next few weeks including 2 orders for boy baby quilts due at the beginning of February and some Valentine bits and pieces for Taking the Plunge I have also signed up for 2 more markets at the Horsebridge as the last one was so successful. I'll post with more details soon and hopefully lots of lovely new makes!



Shiny, fresh and new

That is what 2011 feels like to me right now; a shiny new book waiting to be read. The corners of the pages are not yet folded over, the spine is smooth and uncreased and what is going to happen next is anyones guess, the pages are yet to be written.

2010 was a year of change, excitement, trepidation and taking risks in our house. I don't know what 2011 has in store for us but I love the hopeful, positive feeling that a new year brings - enough to make you believe that anything is possible and that everything happens for a reason.

I say aim for the sky, hope that your dreams come true and try your hardest in whatever you do.

We took a little walk in some local woods to welcome in the new year.

It was a bit damp and very muddy but lovely all the same and the perfect way to welcome 2011.  (Although take note from my husband and don't try climbing the same trees that held your weight when you were 13 as he discovered that sadly they don't hold your weight when you are 33!).

I hope that your new year has started well and I would like to say thanks to all the lovely people who followed and left comments over the last year. I hope 2011 is a happy, healthy one for you all.

I will leave you with a quote - I have not idea where I jotted it down from, who wrote it or even if I have posted it before? But I like it and hope you do to :)

Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets,
So, love the people who treat you right and forget about the ones who didn't,
And believe that everything happens for a reason...
If you get a chance - take it;
If it changes your life - let it;
Nobody said it would be easy...
They just promised it would be worth it.