Grateful

So, this week I have so much to be grateful for. To start with I was able to enjoy wasting some time with my little sister Nelly. We had an (almost) whole child free day together, which we spent making and doing. It was also her birthday this week - giving me an excuse to play with my favourite things this month - wood, wool and paper (dictionary, naturally). I managed to get my head around Ravelry (yep, know it's not hard....) and find a pattern for crochet wrist warmers, which I ADAPTED!! (Get me!) 

They were part of Nelly's present, but I felt it was important to road test them first. I can confirm that they do work, and keep ones wrists surprisingly warm.

 

And here is her gift wrap and card. I think I might have exhausted the stitching around words options now - need to move on!

 

 I am also extremely grateful for a little package that arrived all the way from Kansas. I can not tell you how beautifully wrapped this gift was....and I can not show you because I was SO desperate to unwrap it that I forgot to photograph it.

Anyway - it's from a blogging friend Renee over at My Vintage Mending, as a swap for some blocks I sent her. I know I've said this a lot recently, but don't you just love blogging?!

 

These three beautifully made vintage fabric storage boxes now sit on the shelf by the front door, collecting keys, purses, phones...all the things I lose on an hourly basis.

Thank you Renee - they are perfect and I LOVE them.

 

I also received a lovely treat from my MIL! Cleggy returned from the NE with 2 carrier bags full of china...how thrilled was I?! Thank you Grandma and Great Grandma - they will be treasured.

I hope I get at least one deserving daughter-in-law to pass them on to!

This one is called 'sweet pea'

perfect for a cup of tea in the Autumn sunshine!

I'm also grateful that my nursery blocks were featured in a magazine for the first time. OK, it's not Molly Makes (SO pleased they've found my clever friend Jane!!) it's the far less cool 'Pregnacy and Birth'....but it's a lovely full page and I'm not complaining!

And while I'm on products - here are some more valentines offerings (available here)

A nice chunky block of wood:

 

Some more dictionary print, which have been very popular. The only thing I have to be careful of is double checking the words that stand out on the blocks. I had to re-make some that included 'victim', 'devient' and 'alcoholic' (not what you want on a love block!)

I found 'beaver' on Nelly's gift - but left that on!

 

 And some smaller blocks that can come with mini initial tags

 

 Lastly my blogging friend Marjan over at Cow Road 'introduced' me to Roos, a fellow blogger who writes with amazing poignancy about the situation she finds herself in. She has 2 very little boys and her husband Kenji is perilously poorly, fighting cancer.

I'm not going to lie - it can be hard to read (I've admitted this to Roos!), not least because it brings back many memories of our own journey when our #2 Kenzie had cancer as a toddler. Roos lives day to day, sometimes hour to hour. Her life is on hold, and incredibly difficult.

Our boy survived, and I long for the day I read some good news for Roos and her family. When Kenzie got better I vowed to be grateful for each and every day. I know that the only thing that matters is that we are well. But I sometimes forget...and let the little things worry me. 

Visiting Roos takes me back, and for this I am grateful that she shares her story.

I took this picture of Cleggy's (beautiful!) shirts sitting in the ironing pile today before I read Roos' post about ironing.  They looked so beautiful sitting there - and I am grateful that my only thought was what I might make with the fabric when he's finished wearing them!

I think of you often Roos - and just FYI, I can't iron either!

fee x