Made Something!

Finally finished something!

One of my favourite blogs is tiny happy and I love the foraging bags Melissa made for her little girl. She completely rocks delicate embroidery and natural-looking style but when I made something similar for Sam I didn't really pull if off (looked a bit rubbish).

Needless to say, despite its randomness, he loves his treasure bag and it is full to the brim with pine cones and feathers and stones and charcoal and crumpled leaves and forlorn flowers and bits of stick and shells and... well, all the things that he has to keep forever and ever.

My design has evolved somewhat to be rather more primary coloured, boxy and appliqued and has become my go-to choice for birthday presents for all small people of my aquaintance. Enough people have been delighted with these gifts (not plastic tat, hooray!) that when a new shop opened near us called 'Look What Mum's Made' I decided to make a few samples and see if they would like to sell my Treasure Bags. Got to be worth a try right?

It's taken rather longer than I expected but I have finally finished 4 bags to take along in the next few days and see if they would like them. Fingers crossed...

mini yumminess

Bought my first mince pies of the season. Love love love mince pies. I don't normally buy them, because J doesn't like raisins and then I have to eat them all and that's never good.

But this year I have two little boys to help share the burden and they definately like them.

November is of course, far too early to be doing such Christmassy things but when they put them right there at the entrance to the shop I simply can't resist.

Cup of tea anyone?

We had a week in Centre Parcs a few weeks ago and had a super lovely time walking in the woods and splashing in the fabulous pool complex.

And we brought back an enormous quantity of pine cones, thinking we'd do something crafty with them (Sam's idea). I had an idea for an autumn wreath but very few things with which to make it - and no intention of buying anything. So I cut the centre out of a raffia-type table mat to make an outer ring and Sam glued (with 'no more nails'!!) pine cones around the edge. It looked a little bare to tell you the truth so I collected the fallen leaves from our Acer (beautiful feathery red) and stuck those on as well.

So it's on the door; could be better, but even when I'm not thrilled with the result, I'm pleased to have done it!

Lots of pine cones left of course, plus more of the gorgeous red leaves so they've been put in a vase. More pleased with this actually!

still here

not a lot of point starting a blog if you don't actually post anything...

i read a lot of blogs and it inspires me hugely; so many things I'd like to make, so many people's lives to take a look at, so many ways in which I would like to be better. But reading is NOT doing. I have a list of sewing jobs to do this evening, which I'm just about to go start doing, but first, a post.

And yet, what to say? On Mondays I look after my friend's little girl, which until a few weeks ago, meant 3 children under 3 (Freya turned 3 in October). We've had this arrangement since Freya and Sam were about 8 months (she has Sam on a Friday) and it has given us a whole day of free childcare to allow us to go to work. I took a break for a couple of months when Jack was born but basically it seems like it has always happened.

Safe to say, Mondays are the hardest day of the week. However, I have to say that today was a delight. There were no tantrums, no fighting, no weeing on my floor, all three children slept for an hour AT THE SAME TIME in the afternoon, and Freya called me Auntie Pam for the first time ever.

Until maybe 2 weeks ago, this little girl has only ever referred to 'Mummy', 'Daddy' and 'Sam' by name; all the other significant people in her life she refused to name. Actually pretty hard for the Grandmas and Grandads, and just a bit hard to discuss what's happening day to day if she won't tell you who she saw etc.

Still, it never really had any impact on me, although I know her mum found it infuriating and even concerning. Anyway, one day she decided to start and will now happily tell me about the hat knitted by Granny, and seeing Auntie Vicky. And today I was Auntie Pam (not really an auntie of course, but I think important adults in your life should have a little formality so we've always referred to ourselves as Auntie Eleanor and Auntie Pam). Can't explain why her saying it for the first time should make me feel so delighted though! It really did make my day.

Right, bags to make and jeans to hem.

Back soon.