getting there ...

I feel like we're getting somewhere on the allotment now. The last week or so has been too hot to go there most days, except for watering in the evenings, but we spent a few hours picking fruits and weeding at the weekend.

We've had blackcurrents, gooseberries, rhubarb, more peas and a couple of redcurrents that the birds had missed.

I also managed to get some chard and kale in that a friend gave me this week. It's looking good, everything seems to have had a growth spurt and I'm thrilled that it's all still alive!

The friend that gave us the plants has an allotment, though on a different site and this week we got to go and have a nose around, they've had it for a couple of years and it was very inspiring and I picked up plenty of tips. 
I love the community spirit that comes with an allotment, everyone is so generous with their plants, advise, crops and encouragement - it's great to get to know a different group of people.

I'm pleased to say that mission 'tax returns' is complete, phew. But this next week is going to be busy, Missy Big is going to be 5 very soon and I have a butterflies and pirates party to launch. She has been planning this since last August, so I mustn't disappoint.

Hello and welcome to my new followers and thank you all for the lovely comments, I do love it when you leave me a message!

Well I'm off to plan a treasure hunt, make a treasure chest, make bunting, sew a party dress, wrap the pass the parcel etc. etc. have a good week x

flea market finds

I don't dare go into the charity shops too often, there's always far too much to tempt me, and I have a weakness for odd bits of crockery, which is gradually replacing all my boring white plates and chipped bowls.

If only I could listen in on the conversations these teacups have heard.  (5 of them, with side plates - heavenly)

textile bits and bobs, another weekness

I had to leave, before I bought even more.

For more flea market finds pop over to Her Library Adventures.

my creative space

I'm feeling a little smug. Last week I finished the dress I was making for Little Missy and she has worn it a couple of times this week and she has received lots of lovely comments, so I'm beaming inside. 

I'm quite pleased with how it turned out, it's not quite as sickly as I thought it would be. The shape is pretty good, though on the next dress I will lower the neckline a little. I think the pocket has been the biggest winner, it's been filled with freshly picked peas, play money, fairy dust and stones.

Can't wait to get going on some new ones, though I have tax returns to do so they will have to stay in my head for a little longer.

See more creative spaces at Kootoyoo.

Happy sewing x

a pocket full of peas

Little Missy helped pick our first veg from the allotment, after we tasted a delicious few we picked the rest. Little Missy filled her pocket and skipped with excitement.

This is the dress I finally finished, I'll show you more tomorrow...


hooray for doing it ourselves x 

local talent

This weekend we've visited the open studios of local artists, we've been to the local ethical market, my Mum and step Dad have been visiting, it was Fathers Day and my wedding anniversary (7 years) I'm exhausted, inspired, glad to have spent some fun time with my family and enjoying some peace while little miss is napping.

 

the duck pond market is full of locally made arts and crafts, locally grown produce and ethical goods

I came away with some a new union jack bag (a birthday present from my Mum 3 months early) and some more fabric for clothes for the girls - these ladies are the only people who seem to sell fabric outside of the west end, they are very lovely, this is where I got the pink dotty fabric for little missy's duvet cover, I may have to stalk them. 

Mum brought some fabrics for me too - the ones on the left, there is definitely a red moment coming on.

We ate everything else we bought.

We also have some home grown yummies, (more red)fresh strawberries from the garden and radishes that a fellow allotmenter gave to us - delicious, I think it will be all worth the hard work.

 

 my little helpers heading home

I also made a lemon drizzle cake - looks good but was a bit dry - do you have a good recipe or any tips? I will save you a slice!

The open studios was very inspiring though I got no photos, it made me want to have a go at painting (not usually my thing) and to start a new sketch book, which is something I haven't done for far too long, I don't seem to just draw anymore (except for cats and pink bunnies for little missy)I think I miss it.

I'm a bit behind with reading what you've all been up to, hello to my new followers and thank you all for the lovely comments you leave I love to read them all, I'll be catching up this week with blog world.

happy local life x

simple pleasures

These weeks are going by far too quickly, but we have made time for some simple fun.

we picked some flowers from the garden

we made a den in the garden and had a tea party

and poor chester developed a hole in his paw,

he was very brave

 

 before surgery * pink bun kept him company during the op * recovery

 

 when Missy Big came home from school she nursed him better

 

happy days x

my creative space

Oooh la la I finished a dress, well almost - just a little bit of hand stitching to do.

This is the first dress I've made for my girls, sorry it's taken so long Missy's! x

The shirt was my husbands, the pattern was adapted from one my Mum used to make dresses for me as a tiddler, the applique flower is from our girls day out at the V&A a few weeks back.

It is completely made with love and I feel a little piece of all of is in this dress.

These aren't colours I normally work with, I prefer stronger jewel like colours but I'm just using up what I have around the house.

I added the pink in to keep Missy Big happy 

"Mummy I just like pink - not blue"

Let's hope she approves. 

I cut out the fabric for little Missy's dress, again not colours I really like, I don't know why I bought this fabric,(I went shopping when first born was very young - clearly the hormones messed with my vision) it's a little sickly for my tastes, but it'll be fine for playing around at the allotment.

I can't wait to see them in these creations.

Add your creative space at Kootoyoo.

happy sewing x

signs of produce

We have been busy digging and planting on the allotment and we are starting to see some rewards for our hard work.

Some peas are starting to show themselves.

Some of the fruit bushes my father in law gave us. He gave us lots and has planted us loads of seeds too - need to dig out those beds a bit quicker....

I'm really pleased with what we have achieved so far this year - it's more than we had really planned to do. We are falling behind on the weeding though - oops. Sorry the pictures aren't great I took them on my phone as I forgot the camera again, also forgot to take pics of the veg!

I'm also very miffed with the council, they told me on the phone when we took on the plots that we could put up a shed, now I'm told we can't. I'm having to bring everything from home every time, which is time consuming and heavy. 

It also annoys little missy and causes her to throw a strop as I can't hold her hand because I'm laden down with spades, seedlings, hose, toys, snacks - you name it I'm probably carrying it. Sorry for the moan but I don't think a small shed is an unreasonable request, especially as some other people have them.

Anyhow, we are having great fun on our plots and the girls are learning so much, they are even getting brave when they see a worm so things are looking up.

Happy growing x

my creative space

This week, despite it being half term I have tried to snatch a few minutes here and there to try and make the girls a dress each, it's a slow process. 

 I began this project last week, here's Mr's old shirt, with a hole, but I couldn't just throw it away, so it joined my stash to become something another time... it's time has come...
 

I've spent a week adapting an old pattern that my Mum used to make dresses for me into 2 new patterns for each sized girl. 

I miss my pattern cutting table (it's unassembled under our bed, sigh)- I've been doing this on our tiny kitchen table and it's driven me slightly bonkers.

but today we got somewhere, I cut the first dress out and started to sew it up. It may look a little uninspired at the moment, but give me a little more time and hopefully it'll be lovely.  Missy big is thrilled (despite it being blue and not pink).

I may add some of these crochet flowers, or some applique and embroidery. I'll keep you posted.

 

for more creative spaces go to Kootoyoo

This week we found a pink heart full of sparkly beads in a charity shop - how could we resist? Bought me some peace whilst I cooked dinner.

happy creating x

elephants and the enchanting tree

Yesterday we continued our elephant hunt, we headed off to Green Park and found a happy herd and a few more dotted through the park. The place was jam packed with families and photographers enjoying the fun.

Some of the elephants from the elephant parade.

We then trotted over to Hyde Park and found even more.

On our way out of the park we found this enchanting tree, inside it was huge - there are lots of low branches which made perfect swings and every branch was covered with engraved graffiti.

We looked for fairies in the holes at the bottom of the trunk, but they must have been hiding...


happy hunting x