M is for... mum

It's my mum's birthday soon so I thought I'd send her birthday love from me, Ben and Toby x
This photo is from our wedding (what do you mean, you'd figured that one out?!) - the champagne was flowing and I was dancing my little socks off (in fact, I was barefoot by this point) with my Mum.

I was watching something earlier about whether we turn into our mums. I don't know if this is something that becomes more evident once we're mothers ourselves - we'll have to wait a while to find that out - but there are early signs already! Which is no bad thing - for a start I think I get my kindness from my mum.

What did you get from your mum?

L is for... love

Ten things I love:

1) ben of course.

2) and Toby.

3) my friends and family.

4) my sewing machine.

5) pink.

6) paper.

7) flowers.

8) skiing.

9) cake.

10) making things.


What do you love?

K is for... kindness

You know those tests which ask you how your friends would describe you? Well I'd like to think mine would say that I'm kind. It's something that is important to me - I strive to be kind to others (and myself) every day. I'm not a saint - of course I bitch and moan sometimes ummm quite a lot - but I try to live up to what I hope my friends think of me.

So I get sad when I see that other people aren't so kind. People don't give up seats any more, or hold doors open enough, or just smile at someone. Everyone is in such a rush all the time.

So, slow down and smile. And let's all be more kind. x

J is for... jars and jugs

I think jars and jugs are my most used items in my home. I fill them with flowers - from big fake gerberas and pretty fresh narcissi to delicate grape hyacinths and chrysanthemums.

Or I fill them with pretty threads...

Are you a jar & jug addict too?

I is for... island paradise

A few years ago we went on an amazing holiday to the Caribbean - two weeks of sailing to desserted islands around Bonaire, Curaco and Venezuala. This photo is of just one of the beautiful places we visited. It's also where I learnt to snorkel, saw dolphins, a turtle and ate fresh tuna (straight from a fisherman).

'I' could also be for ice cream (white Magnum please), Internet (I spend too much time on it), ironing (I avoid where possible), ipod (I have an old-fashioned pink classic), iris (I have three outside my kitchen window) or indigo (one of my favourite colours).

H is for... husband

My surprise

I was going to do H is for Home but I decided on Husband. Yesterday he surprised me with a trip to London to see a West End musical that I've been wanting to see for five years: Billy Elliot. It's been a standing joke that every birthday and Christmas I've been making very strong hints about going to see it yet we never have. So yesterday we got in the car and set off to destination unknown. I will admit, I had an inkling of what the surprise was but I didn't dare say in case I was wrong. By the time we were on the train London-bound I was pretty certain I was right. Of course if was all confirmed when we left Victoria tube station and I saw the theatre.

I've seen quite a few musicals but Billy Elliot is now up there with my favourites (Phantom, Joseph & Hairspray) - it was really funny (loved the topical jokes after the interval during the miners Christmas party); it was tear-jerking (the letter from Billy's mum); the music was fabulous; and the dancing was spectacular.

The only problem is, I want to go again!

THANK YOU BEN! x

G is for... green

1. Living wall in Anthropologie, 2. Chillies, 3. Peas, 4. Just to Say, 5. Succulents on my windowsill, 6. Green buttons brooch, 7. Green shrub & new fence, 8. Four Green Buttons Pin, 9. Nigel Slater broccoli & bacon soup

F is for... feet

I realise I'm running the risk of attracting the wrong kind of attention here but when I was looking through my photostream the other night I spotted quite a few feet photos...

All different seasons and footwear are featured here, giving you a snapshot into some aspects of my life!

Skiing - I'm a relatively new skier - I've been going for five years now. I've really missed not going this year. We do have a trip planned for next season though and I can't wait.
Gardening - I'm not very good at gardening but I do have some gardening boots - and some pretty flowers.
Toby - he has a foot fetish (uh-oh I really will get some attention now!) and one of his best tricks is to do 'high-five' with our feet.
Summer - I love summer, the next two shots are me out and about in the countryside enjoying the sun.
Walking for charity - in the last photo my feet are a blur as I reach the 26-mile mark in the Playtex MoonWalk a couple of years ago.

E is for... elephant

Just one of the hundreds of safari photos

I realise I haven't said much about our honeymoon or shared any photos. How remiss of me. We stayed at an amazing safari camp in a private game reserve for the first half of our honeymoon. We saw elephants in the watering hole right outside our "tent" (tent is in inverted commas as quite frankly, the canvas roof and sides was as close as this luxury accommodation got to an actual tent). And there were warthogs, cheetahs, leopards, lions, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, hippos, *pauses for breath*, hyenas (who broke our toilet - a story for another day), impalas and eagles.

It was an amazing week - I think we need to get saving so we can go back one day (maybe for special anniversary - one is special, right?).

D is for... daffodils or dammit already done dog!

Yellow daffodils

Ummm can I have dog again? No? Okay, how about daffodils? They've all gone now but I have this pretty photo to remind me of their beautiful sunshine-yellow happiness that make me instantly think of Spring.

C is for... crafty of course!

Well what else could C be for really?

Here are a few of my crafty endeavours from the year... seems to be have been mainly sewing & paper related so far.

What have you made this year?

B is for... busy busy busy

Busy bee

I do hope you'll forgive me for the short post today - I've been down to Watford for work and I'm a very tired bunny. It's been a busy busy busy day!

Hopefully I'll be a bit more chirpy and cheery for C tomorrow!

A is for... a funny dog

A funny dog

I was running out of ideas for daily blog posts when inspiration struck: the alphabet! That'll give me 26 blog posts and added to the last week, it will mean I've completed another one of my 101 in 1001 goals.

So A is for... A funny dog. I found this little scoundrel sitting in my trough - luckily I haven't planted anything in it yet although it is earmarked for some seeds - probably beetroot and chantenay carrots.

He was enjoying sunbathing so I let him be. He has form for sitting in plant pots - seems to be one of his little doggy quirks. 

Working on the list

Cooking Boeuf Bourguignon

Shortening a skirt

Like a good girl, I've been working through my to-do list. So far today I've put the boeuf bourguignon in the oven and I've started shortening a skirt. I haven't made a start on the binding - so I'd better get on. Happy Saturday!

Weekend to-do list

Photo by ~ezs

As I reported on twitter, I completed my to-do list last Sunday - this was a bit of a first and I want to keep up the success rate so I thought I'd post this weekend's to-do list on here and then report back my success. Who wants to join in?

My list:

1. Make the binding for the baby quilt
2. Make boeuf bourguignon - Julia Child stylee
3. Pack away winter jumpers
4. Mend or alter one item of clothing.

Quite a short list as we're busy on Sunday but hopefully I can get it all done!

UPDATE: I only managed two of the four! I must do better.

Kitchen love

On my windowsill

I love my kitchen - mainly for the south-facing views over open countryside. The sun is always shining in (as long as it's actually not grey and tipping down with rain of course) and bathing the room with warmth. Toby loves to sit in the sun as it warms up the tiles.

It's also where I like to put pretty flowers in almost-as-pretty jugs so I can admire them as I cook and bake and make a mess!

The mixing bowl is from Mason Cash and I love it - perfect for brownie mixing, batter whisking and concocting other foodie delights. The white enamel jug was an ebay bargain and is currently full of bicarbonate of soda for keeping the kitchen clean (ish). The jug is a sister to the one I posted the other day - I got it in a antiques shop for a few pounds and it's so bright and cheerful. I'd love to find some more to match.

What's on your windowsill?

Weekly 101 in 1001 update

I made a skirt!

I've decided I need to write weekly update posts to keep me focussed on my 101 in 1001 goals otherwise I can see me leaving it all to the last minute (so unlike me!).

So this week I can report that my first quilt is in progress (see yesterday's post) and I've made a skirt!

Not too bad at all but there's lots more to be done. Which goal should I tackle next?

Baby quilt in progress

Baby quilt in progress

Another baby craft to go with the blanket I made a while ago. I've never made a quilt before so I thought I'd start with a crib sized one. So far I've completed the top. The fabulous animal fabric is by Michael Miller and is called Zoology.

Next step, making the binding and, of course, quilting it. I'll show more photos when I get further along. I have a few weeks before my niece or nephew is due to arrive so I'm hoping to get it finished in time!

I see your true colours...

Pretty colours

...and that's why I love you.

Yes I've been listening to the Glee soundtrack way too much. But I am in love with colour at the moment - it's Spring so it's time to throw of the winter browns (comfy Ugg boots) and greys (snuggly woolly cardigans) and embrace the colours of Spring.

I bought all these yummy threads to welcome Spring (and because they were on special offer!). I think they look gorgeous and match my pretty vintage Romanian jug perfectly.

Now, what to sew?

Before and after...

Before

After

Busy morning of Sunday cleaning. Okay that's a lie. All I did was clear the dining table. But quite an improvement don't you think?

P.S talking of improvements, I'm trying to streamline my tags and I've added categories over there on the right to make finding things easier, like all my wedding posts.

Sunday five faves

Pretty primroses

Join in the five faves fun at Meet me at Mikes. Here are my five faves for this week:

1) Anything colourful from spools of thread to pretty primroses in the garden.

Did you know I like pink?

2) My pink notebook from lovely Lu Summers

3) And my gorgeous papercut by The Time Is Now.

4) Flicking through quilting inspiration by Kaffe Fassett

5) I've enjoyed reading this blog this week: Nothing but Bonfires.

A few of my favourite things

A few of my favourite things

Twitter followers will know I had a short spell in hospital yesterday - don't worry, it was a planned procedure and all I needed was a little sedation so I was home in time for Indian takeaway for dinner.

But today I've been taking it easy so I decided to play a bit with my camera (I can legitimately call it mine now: the husband bought himself a new Canon so I have claimed his old one).

This little vignette contains lots of my favourite things: pretty blue flowers from the garden in an empty jam jar (I have a cupboard full); a vintage doily; and one of my vintage tea cups.

What would be in a photo of your favourite things?

It looks like it's going to be a sunny weekend so all being well we'll spend some time out and about - if nothing else we've got to go carpet hunting as we've nearly finished decorating (I say we: I haven't actually contributed a whole lot to the work other than choosing paint). I'm also hoping to do a few crafty things, some baking and watch my new DVD.

Hope you have a lovely sun-filled and Spring-like weekend whatever you're getting up to.