Dubai - a city of sun & shopping

I've been to Dubai before - that time it rained the whole trip and I was struggling with sciatica so it wasn't the best experience. So when the opportunity came up to go again I decided to give it another try. I'm so glad I did as this time I loved it.

I loved the sun.

The sights.

The shopping.

There was one shop I particularly loved - Kinokuniya Dubai is the biggest bookshop in UAE and contains more than half a million books. Book heaven! It's a Japanese-owned shop so as well as all the usual books you'd expect they have a section I know you'd all love: Japanese craft books! You have no idea how excited I was to find this gem. I somehow only bought two books but look at them all:

Sigh. I wish could go back again.


I'll write more about the two books I bought soon - maybe "making a dress from a Japanese craft book" could be a future 52 crafts project?

I whipped up a guest post

Hello to everyone who has found me via Whipup.net. Thank you for asking me Kathreen - I really enjoyed writing my guest post.
I hope you found it interesting and maybe you've been inspired to try your own crafting challenge - let me know if you have.

Latest 52 crafts projects...

I'm now on week 17 of 52 crafts in 52 weeks - doesn't time fly? My last two projects have featured tutorials on making jewellery and clocks.

If you want to know about my latest projects as they happen, keep an eye on my 52 crafts 52 weeks blog, follow me on Twitter or "like" my Facebook page.

year one

this is the love that will always be true.

Blog of the week...

Well  I can't promise this will actually be weekly ( I have enough of a weekly challenge on the go as it is) but here's this week's blog of the week (a blog I've literally just stumbled across...)

yes and yes - because yes in more fun than no

I've been reading it all evening - so inspiring. Sarah Von is about to embark on a 7-month trip (not her first adventure) and I can't wait to read all about it. Some of my favourite posts (so far) are: 101 Ways To Cheer Yourself Up: Part 1 (and part 2) and 31 Things I've Learned in 31 Years but I'm pretty sure I'm going to find more. Go, read, and enjoy!

Pretty cushion (my latest 52 crafts project)

I'm very pleased with my latest 52 crafts project...

I just love the colours - the fabric is by the wonderful designer,  Anna Maria Horner.

I'm now on week 15 - isn't time flying?

A lovely Cornish holiday

I spent last week in beautiful Cornwall on a much-needed break. I haven't spent time down in that part of the country since I was a lot younger and on a family holiday in our caravan so it was great to go back as an adult.

We stayed in a beautiful cottage near Bude which had the added bonus (for Ben) of fishing lakes and lovely views over the farmland.

We went to loads of places: Bude, Boscastle, Newquay, Looe, Padstow, Polperro and the Eden Project (when we had torrential rain). I took loads of photos so I'll just bore you with a few....

Tintagel

Knitting by the lake

Boat at Polperro

We had fish and chips in Padstow

Sunshine in Newquay

I only wish we'd gone for longer as a week just wasn't long enough. Cornwall is definitely one of my favourite places to go in the UK now. Where's yours?

Ooooooh teacup crafts...

You may have noticed I love teacups. So I can't resist sharing with you this month of teacup crafts {via whipup}

Photo: week 8 of 52 crafts in 52 weeks.

Weeks 10 & 11

Wow can you believe I'm now starting week 12 of my 52 crafts in 52 weeks challenge? Only 40 to go...

{week 10} was all about fabric - I tried out paper piecing which was really easy and effective. I see many more of these little squares in my future...



{week 11} was knitting. This week wasn't as successful as previous weeks in that I didn't actually manage to make a finished object. I gave it a bloody good try but I just couldn't do it. I will keep persevering though.



I've got week 14 planned already (hopefully) but haven't decided what to do over the next couple of weeks yet. Any ideas? I'm up for anything as long as it doesn't involve knitting!

Weeks 7, 8 & 9

I'm still going strong with my 52 crafts in 52 weeks project. You can keep up to date with it by following the blog, my twitter or facebook page.


{week 7} book binding

{week 8} origami

{week 9} porcelain beads