Rodent

You know the old woman who lived in a shoe?
And had so many children she didn't know what to do?
I think if she lived in a little shoe-house--
That little old woman was surely a mouse!

-Beatrix Potter

Can you believe it, Miss Mouse is less than 3 inches tall? She is absolutely beautiful, with the tiniest most perfect little stitches, leather paws and tail and filament whiskers. The effort and attention to detail take my breath away.

Thank you so so much Louise. Go see the other wonderful things in her etsy store.

Beach huts

For Blair, who has a thing for English beach huts.

This is a painting by Amanda Fisk, an artist based in Whitstable. She used to be a set designer which explains why this is so huge - that's a King sized bed.

Crafty rut

Maybe it's the countdown to the beginning of the summer holidays, but I've been feeling very antsy of late and not at all inspired to do much in the way of craft. Part of it has been lack of time, but I also think that crafting (and blogging) is a habit. When I get out of the swing of doing either, it's quite hard to begin again.

But today I decided to give myself a bit of a shove. I had a make something moment, anything, but it had to be quick, because between chores and collecting Johnny from school, there was only three quarters of an hour and I wanted a coffee too. So I whipped out my rubber stamp carving stuff and made a little envelope stamp. My return addresses will be so much cuter for it.

And d'you know what? It worked.Because over Johnny's veg-in-front-of-the-box hour (my answer for over a year to no nap) I made a little tote too.

Tasha sent me this fabric a while ago now, and it was beginning to look at me in an accusing fashion. The bag pattern was from Eco-bag - a Japanese craft book I have been trying a couple of patterns from. I quite like this style, but the pink fabric is linen and is a bit too floppy to be a truly successful tote. It does feel nice though. And I made French Seams. Fancy.

Sarah Raven's Garden Cookbook

I've been a big fan of Sarah Raven ever since I began gardening - I own her book 'The Cutting Garden' which sets out to help you plan a space which provides you with plenty of cut flowers (and greenery) for your house, without your borders looking pillaged.

In my personal fantasy future, I spend a great deal of time wafting around my walled garden, collecting blooms in a suitably vintage trug and arranging them with casual elegance. Reality involves more yelling of 'Keep your truck out of my flowerbed', but hey, I can dream.

I've noticed that a lot of gardeners are foodies. It makes me trust them more. Personally, I can't see the point in growing a swede as big as a boulder if it's inedible. I feel the same about growing onions - why? When they are dirt cheap at the greengrocers and don't taste any better for being freshly harvested.

So I was very intrigued to see this offering on the bookshop shelves.



Now, I've only had a twenty second flip through this, but it's already it's on my wish list. The recipes are arranged according to a central ingredient that you've harvested from your garden (or at least bought in season from the supermarket!). That struck me as hugely sensible - 20 things to do with rhubarb, because it's coming out of your ears at the moment, but you want to make the most of it being in season.

Now all I need to do is make some space on my overloaded cookbook shelf. I find parting with cookbooks difficult. There's something about the patina of food splashes which makes them very personal. No draconian uncluttering advice for me!

Corners of my home

Every so often, I fall out of love with the house. It's usually when I've fallen behind with the housework, the weather is grim, I'm feeling a bit bored and I've OD on too many Homes and Gardens magazines. I have to remind myself that the house is full of things I do love.

So I roamed around and took some photos of them.

I call it, "small elements of my home that I do not detest and that I have photographed so as to eliminate all traces of dirt and detritus". Do you think it could catch on?

Tagged

Caught again - by Monique.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No - it was my Dad's last minute choice - I was meant to be called Leslie or Robyn (December birthday - very original!).
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Parent teacher conference on Monday - forgot to take the magic water.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING It seems to do the job.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LUNCH MEAT? Salami
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? 2 boys
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Oh yes, but I'd piss me off from time to time.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Mark asked me the other day - 'Do you really mean it Mummy or is it just that funny thing you do with your voice?' so I guess that's a yes.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS Yes - unless someone stole them without me knowing.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Over some stunning canyon in New Zealand, perhaps. From a crane on an industrial park - why?
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE CEREAL? Muslei
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Nope.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Physically? Emotionally? Smelling?
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ICE CREAM? Choc chip
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Are they genuine.
15. RED OR PINK? Red
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVOURITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? PMT
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST The cast of Thirtysomething. God I loved that show.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Er, no.
19. WHAT COLOUR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Grey PJs and my crocs.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Chocolate truffle - yeah, you're jealous now aren't you?
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Silence - I love late nights
22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOUR WOULD YOU BE? What? Who cares!
23. FAVOURITE SMELLS? Cooking, Radian B
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Hubby
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? I do.
26. FAVOURITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Anything at the Olympics. I cry at every medal ceremony. Oh look, the guy from Azerbaijan won the bantam class weightlifting, sob, sniff.
27. HAIR COLOUR? Boring brown
28. EYE COLOUR? Ditto
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? I used to, but when I was pregnant, they popped out when I laughed, so now it's specs.
30. FAVOURITE FOOD? Yes, food is a firm favourite. I find it helps me not to fall over from starvation.
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? I don't like scary movies at all - even the trailers give me the willies.
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? At the cinema? Casino Royale.
33. WHAT COLOUR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Orange
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Either
35. HUGS OR KISSES? Cuddles.
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? What?
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND That's not even a question.
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? I'm reading these silly questions - I'm getting bored too. You?
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?The periodic table of the elements. I am a nerd.
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? Nothing - it was pottery class.
42. FAVOURITE SOUND? "I'm home!"
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Home moves where we go.
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Er - no. I feel really un-special now. Bummer.
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Bermuda.
47. WHAT SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU LIKE? Stretchy arms - Imagine never having to scurry about fetching things ever again.

Now the passing on of the tag... Oh the responsibility. I hate not being tagged almost as much as being tagged. You just can't win. So how about the newest 5 blogs I've discovered. I don't even really know you folks. So I'm either a) really friendly or b) hugely presumptuous. You decide.

Claudia at Chest of Drawers
Paula at Jupiter Buttons
Sarah at A Stitch in Time
Cosy at Comfy and Cosy
Veronique at Little Elephants

So hey, even if you hate reading memes, at least you have some new blogs to check out! Go see, go on, it's more fun than sticking around here....

Munch crunch

At the weekend, we often try to eat dinner with the kids - family bonding and all that. But eating early leaves me with the 9 o'clock munchies. Luckily, at Waitrose I discovered a solution.

They're really really good. It's a good thing my hands are often otherwise occupied in the evenings, or I'd be the size of a house.

This week's efforts include a bag for a present I couldn't manage to wrap in paper. I'm not too keen on the fabric, but hopefully the little girl in question won't mind it.

What do you do with the stuff from your stash that you don't really like?

Stop that train...

Do you ever just want to step off for a moment? If I had a real job, I would definitely be throwing a sickie.

But I'm sure if I had one of these super duper organizing stations like Linda's, or like this one, everything would be much better. Yes, much.

Told you I was in the shopping danger zone.

Stitchy

One of the highlights of last week was the arrival of a parcel from Alice of Raspberry.



I won a copy of Craft Magazine in her give-away, and when she sent it she included some trim and these rolls of measuring tape packing tape. Aren't they fab!

I am being drawn to sewing motifs at the moment - not least of all, these beautiful ceramics, and these rubber stamps and even my new shoes.

Oh yeah, new shoes - my 'not-buying-it' kick seems to have come to an abrupt end. I'm all, spend-it, have it, you're worth it at the moment - very very dangerous. Shopping anyone?

Father's Day Golf-fest

Hubby's idea of a treat is a round of golf, so we were happy to oblige for Father's Day. First, from Mark, who made him this at Beavers. Cunning mint/golf ball combination..... seems I'm not the only crafty one in this household!

And then a boys bonding session over crazy golf.

Happy Fathers Day - you're the best (even if you shouldn't be let loose to buy shorts without supervision)!

Lotta backpack

A chum of mine has the big four-oh coming up in a week or two. She cycles a lot and I have never seen her with a handbag - instead she puts her stuff in a kids' nylon backpack - functional, but not beautiful!

So when I saw the little backpack pattern in Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing, I thought it would be right up her street. She's not into anything too fancy or girlie, so I chose an Amy Butler print, with a solid green background.

The instructions were easy to follow, but if I make it again, I want to add a lining for a slightly more polished look inside. Lotta seems a bit needlessly anti-lining to me. Perhaps she just wanted the patterns to be as simple as possible.

Anyway, I hope Kate likes it. I might even push the boat out and make her a matching tissue holder to go in it. Because show me a mother that doesn't travel with a wad of tissues at various stages of disintegration churning around in the depths of her bag. Time to share... what's the most shameful thing in your bag right now?

Things I learned today

• If you drink a ton of water in an effort to stay calm and in control, you will need to pee - probably more than once.
• The predictive text option on my phone does not recognize the word 'Aspergers'.
• Strawberry ice cream is the ultimate medicine.
• You give amazing advice and support and good wishes and at a time when otherwise we might feel somewhat alone, I know that we are in extremely good company. Thank you.

A great mail day

Some days the postman just brings a smile in an envelope.

From Monica, because she knows I would SO wear a chicken brooch.


And from Samantha - isn't this little Pinocchio tape the cutest? Both before and after telling his porkie pies.




Thank you so much for your kind thoughts and sage advice on tomorrow's appointment. I have a batch of homemade ice-cream in the freezer for afterwards, so one way or another, it's going to be a mighty fine day.

Sneezing, sewing and stewing

One advantage to being holed away indoors for most of this weekend trying to avoid the pollen was that I got some sewing done. I had a go at the Lotta Jansdotter Everyday Tote, using denim and some Alexander Henry fabric Tasha sent me ages ago.

I am fairly pleased with it, but I wish I had listened to Caroline's advice and added some interfacing to the denim to make it a touch stiffer.

I think iteration 2 will also involve some shopping for bag bottom mesh and possibly doing slightly wider straps. They seem to pull the top of the bag out of shape a little bit as they are.

All this activity is a ruse to distract myself from the fact that I'm feeling decidedly stressed at the thought of Wednesday. We have the first appointment for Mark with the community pediatrician. I hope this is the beginning of finding out whether or not he has an Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

I have told him that he is helping the doctors to understand how children's minds work. Not so far from the truth - I haven't known what else to say. I just want to make it through without crying. It just takes some professional to be sympathetic and understanding and I'm a blubbering mess. Most unlike me and not very helpful. Anyone know where to get hold of some 'calm and in control' elixir?

The Surprise

Take one sheep, one special friend and a top secret project.

This beautiful book, by Sylvia van Ommen, a Dutch author/illustrator tells the story without words. It's a theme played out over and over again here in crafty blogland and when I saw the book, it made me want to cry. If you see it on a shelf near you, pick it up. You won't be sorry.

Random 7

I can ignore a nagging conscience about being tagged once, but twice and guilt gets the better of me. So seven random things with 7 photos:

1. I have signed the Official Secrets Act. For real. Sorry, can't tell you why. Classified...

2. Currently, I'm reading 'Special Topics in Calamity Physics' by Marisha Pessl. It's not about Physics at all. I'm a geek, but not that kind of geek.

3. For the duration of my first pregnancy I couldn't bear babies. They frightened me. Even now, I view newborns with the same trepidation as unexploded bombs. And I've had two of them!

4. I wear extraordinarily skanky pyjamas. Two years ago, our neighbour's house burned down. It was a huge fire and we had to evacuate with the kids. The most lasting trauma from the event was the comment from another neighbour who said to me "Global Hypercolor t-shirt? I haven't seen one of those since the 1980's"

5. My family call me Alilou (my middle name is Louise).

6. I like gnawing bones - ribs, the knuckle part of chicken drumsticks, lamb chops - mmmmm (sorry vegans).

7. I am drawn to people with flaws. I'm highly suspicious of anyone whose life appears too perfect. They're probably swigging vodka in a coffee cup on the way to school pick-up. Everyone has a skeleton somewhere!


The photos are seven elements of a wonderful package sent to me by the lovely Megan, who recently got back from a trip to Japan. Oh I was whooping and laughing as I opened this one! Even the paper bags were wonderful Thank you so much Megan. And to think she sent all this, just because I gave her some Tokyo shopping advice!

And speaking of lucky people, Alicia, you've won the June edition of Charlie and Lola! Quick, e-mail me your address.

Pink Milk anyone?

******* Stop! The draw has been done now and the lucky winner is Alicia. ********

Yup - here it is, the new Charlie and Lola crafts magazine! Plenty of stamping, pink milk and Pirates this month!

I promised another give-away, so if you'd like to win this copy, leave me a comment and I'll draw a lucky name in a couple of days.

******* Stop! The draw has been done now and the lucky winner is Alicia. ********

DIY beauty treatments

Hubby is back from his trip to the USA tomorrow and not a moment too soon. I sent the boys downstairs after baths while I tidied up and changed bedlinen upstairs. I should have smelled a rat when I heard happy play and giggling. What am I? A rookie?

When they re-appeared. they had painted one another's finger and toe nails with pink and lime green felt tips. Oh, and added a few strategic tattoos. Tattooed foreheads are all the rage in Oxfordshire dontcha know.

Did I mention this was AFTER bath time?


And I just discovered my favourite keep calm and carry on poster is now available as a tea towel!

Going, going, gone

Mark's wobbly tooth arrived home from school in an envelope today.

It says (in his own spelling!): Mark Hudson tooth handel with care! Exiting

The Exiting really cracks me up, as does his new smile.

But how fast he is growing up all of a sudden.

Cabo Halter

I'm on a bit of an Amy Butler kick at the moment. The Cabo Halter is not a style I may have chosen a year ago, but one of the pieces of advice from the wardrobe overhaul session I had, was to wear more feminine tops. And this seems to fit the bill.


Unfortunately, the pattern did not fit me without some adjustment (small bust, big arse) which meant sewing the zipper no less than 4 times. But it's all good practice! I also changed the halter neck into straps, because it seemed a little less beachy that way.

The fabric came from my local fabric shop, Masons. It was less than £5 a metre, so I wasn't going to cry if it didn't go according to plan. But I had to go to John Lewis to find the right length invisible zipper. While I was there, I saw the same fabric on sale there for £12 a metre!! How's that for a mark up? Support your independents I say.