 |
| Sunday in Snape |
Sunday, 16 January 2011
Saturday, 15 January 2011
Review of 2010 {part 2}
Here's part 2 of my review of 2010 - part 1 is here.
It was my birthday! I celebrated by making a pretty dress, getting spoilt with lovely presents and had a little party with family and friends. And Mr. Bunny made his début. Oh and I had a think about why I make stuff.
In August I attempted to learn to knit, had a look around some lovely studios and cooked up some Mexican food.
Cornwall greeted us in September and we had a fabulous time in the towns, on the beaches and in the restaurants. And of course I kept crafting, including a yummy cushion.
In October we celebrated our first wedding anniversary, wrote a guest post for whipup.net and went to lovely hot Dubai.
In November the crafting fun continued, including a visit to a ceramics cafe and I made a pretty Kanzashi flower.
And finally, December. Of course we had lots more crafting, Christmas and a trip to somewhere snowy.
It was a busy year! And I'm looking forward to what 2011 brings.
 |
| July |
It was my birthday! I celebrated by making a pretty dress, getting spoilt with lovely presents and had a little party with family and friends. And Mr. Bunny made his début. Oh and I had a think about why I make stuff.
 |
| August |
In August I attempted to learn to knit, had a look around some lovely studios and cooked up some Mexican food.
 |
| September |
 |
| October |
In October we celebrated our first wedding anniversary, wrote a guest post for whipup.net and went to lovely hot Dubai.
 |
| November |
In November the crafting fun continued, including a visit to a ceramics cafe and I made a pretty Kanzashi flower.
 |
| December |
It was a busy year! And I'm looking forward to what 2011 brings.
Friday, 7 January 2011
The new 101 in 1001 list
I've been revisiting the list - what better time than at the beginning of a new year? - and I've updated it with some new and amended challenges (some of the ambitious targets have reduced such as the number of handmade presents). The new ones are coloured pink - if you have any suggestions to help me achieve them let me know in the comments. Hope you enjoy the new list and get inspired by it.
Start date: 30 August 2009
Finish date: 27 May 2012
1. Research family tree
2. After doing family history, visit some of the places my family lived
3.Make my first quilt
4. Build a website from scratch
5.Get married!
6. Have a go at geocaching
7. Write a book
8. Write menu plans- seasonal and cheap- every week for a month (0/4)
9.Grow potatoes
10. Join a screenprinting class
11.Go on safari
12. Read a book in a day
13.Do something creative every day for a week (7/7)
14. Take a book (maybe the one in no.12) to a coffee shop and spend the afternoon there on my own
15. Record a craft video tutorial
16. Eat 5 things I've never tried before (4/5)
17. Cook 5 things I've never cooked before (4/5)
18. Make a photo book with my favourite photos
19. Get a piece of freelance writing published - and get paid for it
20. Make a scrapbook of a big event (eg wedding, holiday etc.)
21. Try waxing (at a salon, not eyebrows)
22. Write a routine for cleaning/house management
23. Go to opera for the first time
24.Go to the ballet again
25. Donate blood
26. Go to a cookery school for the day
27.Make & write thank you cards for Amanda & Kate
28. Perform 20 random acts of kindness (1/20)
29. Read 10 books that I haven't already from this list (3/10)
30. Participate in a craft fair
31.Blog daily for a week (7/7)
32.Blog daily for a month (30/30)
33. Finish my Emily Peacock cushion kit
34. Make a zine
35.Learn to make clip frame purses
36.Learn to knit
37. Learn to crochet granny squares
38. Organise and tidy craft room
39. Go to an auction
40. Find the perfect trousers
41.Get a promotion
42. Climb Snowdonia
43. Have another horse riding lesson
44.Select and take part in a “big” charity event like the Moonwalk
45.Take part in a beach cleaning event
46.Get up at 7am every day for a week (7/7)
47. Complete Edinburgh MoonWalk in less than 8 hours
48.Learn another craft I haven't already done
49. Set up a craft night/afternoon
50. Set up a water butt
51. And a compost bin
52. Make my own duvet cover and matching pillow cases
53.Visit a farmers' market or farm shop once a month-
54.Continue to run the Christmas giving tree at work every year (2/2)
55. Visit an art gallery
56. Go to pilates once a week for a month (0/4)
57. Make lunch to take to work every day for a week (0/5)
58. Visit an outdoor market in London
59. Have a pedicure
60. Cook a ten-course meal (I have no idea what would be in a ten-course meal but why not?!)
61.Go on a picnic
62. Buy an original piece of art
63.Update my blog template
64. Make a skirt
65.Make a dress
66. Go to a classical music concert
67. Do a furniture makeover (find a piece of old furniture, make it over and document it)
68. Buy a Diane von Furstenberg dress
69. Buy a vintage dress
70.Donate something to freecycle, or a charity shop, once a month, on average-
71. Make sourdough bread
72. Make some reusable shopping bags to fit in my handbag
73. Visit five countries (4/5) - USA, South Africa, Mauritius and Dubai
74. Write a letter to myself to be opened on my 35th birthday
75.Find a photo of myself that I like and frame it
76.Make a cake for Ben's 36th birthday
77. Have a session with a personal shopper
78. Learn about a historical period
79. Read 10 biographies/non-fiction books (1/10)
80.Have a boudoir photo session
81. Make something from each of my craft books- donate to charity any books I don't make anything from
82. Finish working through the book, “ The Creative License: Giving Yourself Permission to be the Artist You Truly Are”
83.At least once a month, go to sleep without reading first
84.Buy new glasses
85. Go to New York again (with Ben)
86. Re-stock etsy shop
87. Write 10 letters to loved ones
88.Get my hair cut every 8 weeks
89. Meet an internet friend in real life
90. Eat a piece of fruit every day for a month (0/30)
91. Learn to make something in my new tagine pot
92. Make something and give it to a friend for no reason
93. Make 50 handmade presents (14/50)
94. Plant a tree
95. Have a spa day
96. Give snowboarding another try
97. Watch 20 of the Times top 100 films (1/20)
98. Read a newspaper every day for a week (0/7)
99.Learn how to use my mac (I really need to learn the shortcuts I'm so used to with Windows!)
100. Start an art journal
101.Sleep outside
Start date: 30 August 2009
Finish date: 27 May 2012
1. Research family tree
2. After doing family history, visit some of the places my family lived
3.
4. Build a website from scratch
5.
6. Have a go at geocaching
7. Write a book
8. Write menu plans- seasonal and cheap- every week for a month (0/4)
9.
10. Join a screenprinting class
11.
12. Read a book in a day
13.
14. Take a book (maybe the one in no.12) to a coffee shop and spend the afternoon there on my own
15. Record a craft video tutorial
16. Eat 5 things I've never tried before (4/5)
17. Cook 5 things I've never cooked before (4/5)
18. Make a photo book with my favourite photos
19. Get a piece of freelance writing published - and get paid for it
20. Make a scrapbook of a big event (eg wedding, holiday etc.)
21. Try waxing (at a salon, not eyebrows)
22. Write a routine for cleaning/house management
23. Go to opera for the first time
24.
25. Donate blood
26. Go to a cookery school for the day
27.
28. Perform 20 random acts of kindness (1/20)
29. Read 10 books that I haven't already from this list (3/10)
30. Participate in a craft fair
31.
32.
33. Finish my Emily Peacock cushion kit
34. Make a zine
35.
36.
37. Learn to crochet granny squares
38. Organise and tidy craft room
39. Go to an auction
40. Find the perfect trousers
41.
42. Climb Snowdonia
43. Have another horse riding lesson
44.
45.
46.
47. Complete Edinburgh MoonWalk in less than 8 hours
48.
49. Set up a craft night/afternoon
50. Set up a water butt
51. And a compost bin
52. Make my own duvet cover and matching pillow cases
53.
54.
55. Visit an art gallery
56. Go to pilates once a week for a month (0/4)
57. Make lunch to take to work every day for a week (0/5)
58. Visit an outdoor market in London
59. Have a pedicure
60. Cook a ten-course meal (I have no idea what would be in a ten-course meal but why not?!)
61.
62. Buy an original piece of art
63.
64.
65.
66. Go to a classical music concert
67. Do a furniture makeover (find a piece of old furniture, make it over and document it)
68. Buy a Diane von Furstenberg dress
69. Buy a vintage dress
70.
71. Make sourdough bread
72. Make some reusable shopping bags to fit in my handbag
73. Visit five countries (4/5) - USA, South Africa, Mauritius and Dubai
74. Write a letter to myself to be opened on my 35th birthday
75.
76.
77. Have a session with a personal shopper
78. Learn about a historical period
79. Read 10 biographies/non-fiction books (1/10)
80.
81. Make something from each of my craft books- donate to charity any books I don't make anything from
82. Finish working through the book, “ The Creative License: Giving Yourself Permission to be the Artist You Truly Are”
83.
84.
85. Go to New York again (with Ben)
86. Re-stock etsy shop
87. Write 10 letters to loved ones
88.
89. Meet an internet friend in real life
90. Eat a piece of fruit every day for a month (0/30)
91. Learn to make something in my new tagine pot
92. Make something and give it to a friend for no reason
93. Make 50 handmade presents (14/50)
94. Plant a tree
95. Have a spa day
96. Give snowboarding another try
97. Watch 20 of the Times top 100 films (1/20)
98. Read a newspaper every day for a week (0/7)
99.
100. Start an art journal
101.
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Review of 2010 {part 1}
I thought I'd do a review of 2010 as the year seemed to fly by. It's good to take a while to look back and see what I did...
Snow-covered fields behind my house at the start of January after a quiet New Years Eve at home. The snow meant I did lots of baking and I got a lovely surprise, a new sewing machine.
In February I made a snuggly baby blanket and wrote a tutorial for a cute Valentine's card.
In March I hung out in London with my best friend, wrote about choosing wedding suppliers and made quick and easy Mother's day cards.
In April I had a procedure on my poorly back, experimented with pretty photographs, made a skirt and started reciting the alphabet! Oh and had a surprise trip to London to see Billy Elliot.
In May I almost got stranded in Belfast, bought my iphone, had a think about whether labels matter and had surgery on my back. And we welcomed baby Emrys to the family.
In June I went back to work after four weeks off and enjoyed being pain-free at last. Plus I finished my new nephew's baby quilt and came up with a crazy idea.
Come back soon for the review of the second half of 2010. What did you get up to last year?
 |
| January |
 |
| February |
 |
| March |
In March I hung out in London with my best friend, wrote about choosing wedding suppliers and made quick and easy Mother's day cards.
 |
| April |
In April I had a procedure on my poorly back, experimented with pretty photographs, made a skirt and started reciting the alphabet! Oh and had a surprise trip to London to see Billy Elliot.
 |
| May |
In May I almost got stranded in Belfast, bought my iphone, had a think about whether labels matter and had surgery on my back. And we welcomed baby Emrys to the family.
 |
| June |
In June I went back to work after four weeks off and enjoyed being pain-free at last. Plus I finished my new nephew's baby quilt and came up with a crazy idea.
Come back soon for the review of the second half of 2010. What did you get up to last year?
Blog of the week...
Well clearly this isn't a weekly occurrence as it's only the second blog I've chosen so far. But I just came across it whilst googling for ideas for my very-soon-to-be-updated 101 in 1001 list.
Brooke's blog is fun, colourful and full of ideas and inspiration - go take a look now! Have you come across any great new (to you) blogs lately?
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
101 in 1001 update
Oh dear, I haven't updated this since May! This doesn't bode well...
Start date: 30 August 2009
Finish date: 27 May 2012
1. Research family tree - I've done some more of my tree but not much, I need to write it all up properly so that will be the aim for the rest of the challenge
2. After doing family history, visit some of the places my family lived
3.Make my first quilt - all done. I'd like to make a single-bed size one next
4. Build a website from scratch
5.Get married!
6. Have a go at geocaching
7. Write a book
8. Write menu plans- seasonal and cheap- every week for a month (0/4)
9.Grow potatoes
10. Join a screenprinting class
11.Go on safari
12. Move house
13.Do something creative every day for a week (7/7)
14. Do something creative every day for a month (0/30)
15. Run 5K (run the whole thing)
16. Eat 5 things I've never tried before (4/5)
17. Cook 5 things I've never cooked before (4/5)- Rabbit, liver, rice pudding and Christmas pudding
18. Make a scrapbook of my 30th birthday
19. Make a scrapbook of my hen do
20. Make a scrapbook of our wedding
21. Try waxing (at a salon, not eyebrows)
22. Write a routine for cleaning/house management
23. Go to opera for the first time
24.Go to the ballet again
25. Donate blood
26. Volunteer 101 hours (6/101)
27.Make & write thank you cards for Amanda & Kate
28. Perform 101 random acts of kindness (1/101)
29. Read the ones I haven't already from this list - ( only 3 so far: Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy & To kill a mockingbird, The Great Gatsby)
30. Participate in a craft fair
31.Blog daily for a week (7/7)
32.Blog daily for a month (30/30)
33. Finish the charity shop quilt I bought
34. Make a zine
35.Learn to make clip frame purses - did as part of 52 crafts in 52 weeks
36.Learn to knit- another one I did as part of 52 crafts
37. Learn to crochet granny squares
38. Organise and tidy craft room
39. Go to an auction
40. Document my tea cup collection
41.Get a promotion
42. Climb Snowdonia
43. Have another horse riding lesson
44.Select & take part in a “big” charity event like the Moonwalk - yes, doing the Edinburgh MoonWalk in June
45.Take part in a beach cleaning event
46.Get up at 7am every day for a week (7/7)
47. Get up at 7am every day for a month (0/30)
48.Learn another craft I haven't already done - yep I think I've achieved this one!
49. Set up bi-monthly craft nights/afternoons
50. Set up a water butt
51. And a compost bin
52. Take part in illustration friday, once a week for a month (0/4)
53.Visit a farmers' market or farm shop once a month-
54.Continue to run the Christmas giving tree at work every year (2/2)
55. Treat myself to a 'treatment', either in a salon or DIY, once a month
56. Go to yoga once a week for a month (0/4)
57. Make lunch to take to work every day for a week (0/5)
58. Make lunch to take to work every day for a month (0/20)
59. Write a love letter to Ben every month (6/33)
60. Start a new collection- perfume bottles? Vintage clothes?
61.Go on a picnic
62. Visit a local attraction once a month e.g. beach, park, museum etc. (3/33)
63.Update my blog template
64. Make a skirt
65. Make a dress - yes, the maxi dress I made for my birthday
66. Go to a classical music concert
67. Polish up my French before next holiday in France
68. Buy a Diane von Furstenberg dress
69. Buy a vintage dress
70.Donate something to freecycle, or a charity shop, once a month, on average-
71. Turn down plastic bags for a month (0/30)
72. Make some reusable shopping bags to fit in my handbag
73. Visit five countries (4/5) - USA, South Africa, Mauritius and Dubai
74. Write a letter to myself to be opened on my 35th birthday
75.Find a photo of myself that I like and frame it
76.Make a cake for Ben's 36th birthday
77. Have a session with a personal shopper
78. Learn about a historical period (Tudors?)
79. Read 10 biographies (1/10) Read Julia Child's
80.Have a boudoir photo session
81. Make something from each of my craft books- donate to charity any books I don't make anything from
82. Finish working through the book, “ The Creative License: Giving Yourself Permission to be the Artist You Truly Are”
83.At least once a month, go to sleep without reading first
84.Buy new glasses
85. Go to New York again (with Ben)
86. Re-stock etsy shop
87. Find a new band/singer every month and listen to their album (4/33)
88.Get my hair cut every 8 weeks
89. Go to motocross or fishing with Ben once every 2 months without complaining (on average, season permitting!) (0/17)
90. Eat a piece of fruit every day for a month (0/30)
91. Pay my naughty library fine and don't get any more fines!
92. Make something and give it to a friend for no reason
93. Make 100 handmade presents (14/100)
94. Plant a tree
95. Have a spa day, just because
96. Give snowboarding another try
97. Watch 20 of the Times top 100 films (1/20)
98. Read a newspaper every day for a week (0/7)
99.Learn how to use my mac (I really need to learn the shortcuts I'm so used to with Windows!)
100. Start an art journal
101.Sleep outside
I think it's time to update the list - there are too many that are similar, unachievable or that I'm just not interested in any more. I'll return soon with an updated plan.
Start date: 30 August 2009
Finish date: 27 May 2012
1. Research family tree - I've done some more of my tree but not much, I need to write it all up properly so that will be the aim for the rest of the challenge
2. After doing family history, visit some of the places my family lived
3.
4. Build a website from scratch
5.
6. Have a go at geocaching
7. Write a book
8. Write menu plans- seasonal and cheap- every week for a month (0/4)
9.
10. Join a screenprinting class
11.
12. Move house
13.
14. Do something creative every day for a month (0/30)
15. Run 5K (run the whole thing)
16. Eat 5 things I've never tried before (4/5)
17. Cook 5 things I've never cooked before (4/5)- Rabbit, liver, rice pudding and Christmas pudding
18. Make a scrapbook of my 30th birthday
19. Make a scrapbook of my hen do
20. Make a scrapbook of our wedding
21. Try waxing (at a salon, not eyebrows)
22. Write a routine for cleaning/house management
23. Go to opera for the first time
24.
25. Donate blood
26. Volunteer 101 hours (6/101)
27.
28. Perform 101 random acts of kindness (1/101)
29. Read the ones I haven't already from this list - ( only 3 so far: Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy & To kill a mockingbird, The Great Gatsby)
30. Participate in a craft fair
31.
32.
33. Finish the charity shop quilt I bought
34. Make a zine
35.
36.
37. Learn to crochet granny squares
38. Organise and tidy craft room
39. Go to an auction
40. Document my tea cup collection
41.
42. Climb Snowdonia
43. Have another horse riding lesson
44.
45.
46.
47. Get up at 7am every day for a month (0/30)
48.
49. Set up bi-monthly craft nights/afternoons
50. Set up a water butt
51. And a compost bin
52. Take part in illustration friday, once a week for a month (0/4)
53.
54.
55. Treat myself to a 'treatment', either in a salon or DIY, once a month
56. Go to yoga once a week for a month (0/4)
57. Make lunch to take to work every day for a week (0/5)
58. Make lunch to take to work every day for a month (0/20)
59. Write a love letter to Ben every month (6/33)
60. Start a new collection- perfume bottles? Vintage clothes?
61.
62. Visit a local attraction once a month e.g. beach, park, museum etc. (3/33)
63.
64.
65. Make a dress - yes, the maxi dress I made for my birthday
66. Go to a classical music concert
67. Polish up my French before next holiday in France
68. Buy a Diane von Furstenberg dress
69. Buy a vintage dress
70.
71. Turn down plastic bags for a month (0/30)
72. Make some reusable shopping bags to fit in my handbag
73. Visit five countries (4/5) - USA, South Africa, Mauritius and Dubai
74. Write a letter to myself to be opened on my 35th birthday
75.
76.
77. Have a session with a personal shopper
78. Learn about a historical period (Tudors?)
79. Read 10 biographies (1/10) Read Julia Child's
80.
81. Make something from each of my craft books- donate to charity any books I don't make anything from
82. Finish working through the book, “ The Creative License: Giving Yourself Permission to be the Artist You Truly Are”
83.
84.
85. Go to New York again (with Ben)
86. Re-stock etsy shop
87. Find a new band/singer every month and listen to their album (4/33)
88.
89. Go to motocross or fishing with Ben once every 2 months without complaining (on average, season permitting!) (0/17)
90. Eat a piece of fruit every day for a month (0/30)
91. Pay my naughty library fine and don't get any more fines!
92. Make something and give it to a friend for no reason
93. Make 100 handmade presents (14/100)
94. Plant a tree
95. Have a spa day, just because
96. Give snowboarding another try
97. Watch 20 of the Times top 100 films (1/20)
98. Read a newspaper every day for a week (0/7)
99.
100. Start an art journal
101.
I think it's time to update the list - there are too many that are similar, unachievable or that I'm just not interested in any more. I'll return soon with an updated plan.
Monday, 3 January 2011
Happy new year!
I spent Christmas and new year in the beautiful Breckenridge mountains in Colorado.
It was strange not being at home with the turkey, tree and family but it was a great place to spend 10 days. The skiing was brilliant and I think I looked rather fab in my new pink helmet and goggles!
(photo effects thanks to instagram on the iphone.)
I'll be back soon with more about my holiday and the crafting delights I found in the town. And I'll be looking at my 101 in 1001 list and updating it (I dread to think how many I haven't done).
It was strange not being at home with the turkey, tree and family but it was a great place to spend 10 days. The skiing was brilliant and I think I looked rather fab in my new pink helmet and goggles!
(photo effects thanks to instagram on the iphone.)
I'll be back soon with more about my holiday and the crafting delights I found in the town. And I'll be looking at my 101 in 1001 list and updating it (I dread to think how many I haven't done).
Friday, 10 December 2010
Tell me isn't so
15 October! 15th? That's shocking - it can't be true! Blogger must be fibbing. I have no excuse for being silent for nearly two months - well I have one excuse - my (not so) little project takes up all my blogging time at the moment.
It's now half-way through 52 crafts in 52 weeks and I hope you're finding it inspiring and interesting. I've been featured on blogs and in a magazine which was very exciting. I don't know what the next 26 weeks have in store but it should be fun and I hope you join me.
My current favourite project is last week's:
I've been using the clay hearts and stars on all my Christmas wrapping and very pretty I think it looks too.
I hope you're having a fabulous December and enjoying the run up to Christmas - it hardly seems possible that it's only 2 weeks away now. I really plan not to leave you for two months again.
It's now half-way through 52 crafts in 52 weeks and I hope you're finding it inspiring and interesting. I've been featured on blogs and in a magazine which was very exciting. I don't know what the next 26 weeks have in store but it should be fun and I hope you join me.
My current favourite project is last week's:
I've been using the clay hearts and stars on all my Christmas wrapping and very pretty I think it looks too.
I hope you're having a fabulous December and enjoying the run up to Christmas - it hardly seems possible that it's only 2 weeks away now. I really plan not to leave you for two months again.
Friday, 15 October 2010
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 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.
I hope you found it interesting and maybe you've been inspired to try your own crafting challenge - let me know if you have.
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