Counting The Sleeps...

...until our holidays! (21)

We usually take our family holiday in May so this one feels like it's been a long time coming. I can't wait.

In the meantime there are commissions to finish and plenty of things on 'the list'.

Boys wise its all about end of year performances and making do (not mending) the rags they call uniform!

We went to our first speech night - where #1 made the speech on behalf of year 7. It was held at The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester - and I have to admit I was feeling pretty nervous. Not because I thought he would mess up (he's a natural on the stage - not a trait he gets from my side of the family!) but more that he would be buoyed by an initial laugh and veer from the script! (he didn't. Phew)

Meanwhile Kenzie is playing The Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz this week. Scares me how much he looks like me with that make up (maybe I'm overdoing the foundation!!)

  Here are my latest commissions:

Some 'funky eclectic' blocks for a naming ceremony. They aren't colours I normally use - but I really liked them

some more Ladybird blocks (can't ever get enough of these!)

A big block for a special friend (front and back view):

and some more knit blocks (hope you like them Avril!)

 That's it for me...back to the list! fee x

Things To Report...

Thanks so much for all the brilliant comments on my last post. I can't believe that Cleggy actually wrote something - all it took was a photo of himself in (girls) dungarees!

And it was a week largely lacking in laughs. Until the boys reports appeared today...

We thought Alfie's Primary ones were good 

(From reception:  'Alfie needs to learn that sometimes there's just no room for compromise'. A lesson he still hasn't learnt by the way.)

But I think GB beat that this year with the following comment, from the wonderful Mr Downes:

'Geordie often entertains the whole class with his stories and vocal talents. Although he sometimes needs to be reminded to wait for his turn to speak, he always has something interesting (and sometimes even relevant) to share with the class. 

Indeed  "it's not really about that, but...."  has become his catchphrase'

Brilliant! (he went on to say he wouldn't change him....hmmmmmm, I wonder)

The other nice bit was a cheering up cup of tea in the shed with my BF Jane, and a trip to the church 'good as new' with Amanda, Emily AND my little sister Nelly, along with the two little M's. What a treat. I found the most adorable china tea set  - which I'll be sharing when I've taken some decent pictures, as well as sharing my giveaway booty. The weather has been rubbish for photo taking of late.

Meanwhile here are a couple of this weeks commissions:

 These ladybird blocks are for a lovely and (very) regular customer Diane, for her new kitchen.

 I tried to persuade her that she wouldn't like them and that I should keep them (really) and even went as far as to photograph them on MY kitchen shelf so she could see how nice they looked....

 She was having NONE of it...so I reluctantly posted them today.

(if you change your mind Diane I'll always have them back!)

The next one is a sign for Helen (see her lovely shop here) for her friend who has opened a children's boutique and vintage tea shop in West Horsham (here's their facebook page link, looks right up my street)

I have more makes to share but I want to wait until the recipients have received them, just in case!

Hoping to pop over to my favourite blogging places over the weekend...

Wishing you a happy weekend

fee x

Where does the time go?

I can't believe it's a year since my last anniversary post...

how does that happen?

So 19 years ago today we made those special vows...

(don't worry, I didn't say 'obey') 

and to celebrate this year we I decided on a country house hotel/spa for our obligatory cheeky night away.

I had planned on a picnic in the gardens, lounging in the sunshine doing nothing but cloud watching. 

 Clearly that was never going to happen this summer. 

However, neither was I expecting a Brit to be in the Wimbledon final, so being inside wasn't so bad!

We took cream tea in our room and I have never been so pleased to find a TV in the bathroom!!

 We did manage a walk around the grounds in between showers - 

pretty and wonderfully green

The grave stones belong to family pets from the time when the property was privately owned.  Apparently the building has 2 ghosts, one a maid who took a fatal tumble hanging curtains in the main hall, and another boy who still walks the grounds looking for his lost dog (buried above)!

 Overall it was a lovely treat - good service, posh dinner, wellies and croquet widely available and time with my favourite person.

Unfortunately for my gorgeous husband, taking a job 300 miles away  means this is our first anniversary APART. 

Yes, we agreed to celebrate a couple of days early, but I couldn't let it pass without some sort of forfeit.

Since I posted a couple of wedding pictures last year I thought I'd share some of our honeymoon, just for a chuckle. (for me, obviously)

We spent our honeymoon in Santorini - which is SO beautiful I can't believe we haven't been back. 

HOW young we both look...

(Sorry for blurry pictures, it was years before the beauty of digital cameras and these are photos of photos)

Here's Cleggy in stripy dungarees!!!

What the???? (he hee)

 and the last night...we REALLY didn't want to come home!

Check out Cleggy's brown neck!

(I loved that Swatch watch)

I hope you are laughing along lovely husband...

I'm thinking you need to make it up to me by planning something super special for our 20th anniversary this time next year.

(New York?)

fee x

Show And Tell: Latest Commissions

Here's a whistle stop tour of some of the commissions I've made in May and June. The first is a set of Ladybird blocks for Charlie - a gift for a little girls birthday. I hadn't seen this particular book before and it was a real treat! 

The set features 4 full pages, which means there are complete pictures down the sides too. 

I then used other key bits of the book for the tops and bottoms - including the date, publisher, book blurb and a message for Matilda. I was going to say it is one of my favourites....but I always think that!

These signs were for friends of my sister Nelly, both having babies within days of each other. 

I love their names! (Monty Milton!)

 I always seem to have a knit block on the go somewhere...this one was for lovely Liz - who also ordered a christening block for her granddaughter Daisy...Liz gave me free reign with colours...(thanks Liz)

The next set was for a long time regular customer who, after much moving heartache, has finally moved house. Cathie requested a family set with some larger blocks to make it more substantial. Her colour scheme is neutrals with a hint of teal and fuchsia (sounds nice huh?)

The next ones were for Annie - some for her sister's engagement (remit:  Clarice Clift inspired colours with a hint of an acorn!) and some double sided Home/Love blocks in neutrals for her daughter's first house:

This next one is a new home gift for another Chipper regular, Paula, who requested Cath Kidston paper:

This large set of boy blocks were for a collective gift to celebrate the arrival of a long awaited little boy called Drew! Jacqui was able to tell me the exact colour of the nursery paint...a huge help in choosing colours for the papers

 Some larger christening blocks for Mary-Jane,  who also handed over full design choice!

 And finally some wedding blocks for our old pal Lisa...

That's it for my show and tell. I've been lucky enough to win 2 giveaways recently so will be showing off my booty next post...hopefully on a new laptop so I can type properly once more....fee x

Happy 4th July....

...to my lovely friends in the USA!

fee x

3 x Winners!

Grrrrr, I'm having really annoying laptop problems this week (the charger only works when I hold it in at a VERY specific angle, then have to type one handed with my lefty!) so I've been a little absent...and late in announcing my giveaway winners... and this is going to be brief!

THANK YOU SOoooo much for entering (if you did!) and for all the lovely comments - I tried to reply to all but know I will have missed someone. 

I've made lots more new blogging friends, found more lovely distractions and made some new FB pals too - so win win from my point of view.

Speaking of winners... here they are

I'm off to let these lovely ladies know...

...and notice that I'm scarily close to 300 followers...which can only mean one thing - 

another giveaway!!! 

To keep with my literary theme it will be some kind of block covered in pages type thing like the first 2.

 I was thinking I might chop into my 

(extensive) Topsy and Tim collection 

(check out the T + T special I made for Jo recently here)? 

Jane Austin? 

Helen earlier suggested an annual theme....Bunty? Twinkle?

Any other ideas?

Look forward to hearing what you think...fee x

Winners:

Penelope 

Rosa Lily

Emma