Project Life Tuesday

Managed to complete another week last night.  I have also added a few larger photos in the mix as well.

Mixture of Becky Higgins Clementine, Studio Calico Project Life kits and some Dear Lizzy.

I am linking up with The Mom Creative where you can see many more PL LO's all of which are far more creative than mine.  Have a good week.

Meal Planning Monday

Managed to keep to the meal plan last week but still got way too many veg left over.  Planning on making a soup with it all today for lunch then freezing the left overs.

The plan for this week is to have:

Monday - Roast pork & all the trimmings

Tuesday - Enchiladas

Wednesday - Cottage Pie

Thursday - Brinner

Friday - McD as we are travelling back to the Midlands

Saturday - Off Out

Sunday - Off Out

What are you cooking this week? Don't forget to pop over to Mrs M's Blog to see other meal plans for this week.

Crochet Aspirations

This year I want a project that is different from what I have done before.  I quite like the idea of something like this:

Pattern

I have never crocheted clothes apart from wrist warmers and cowls.  Perhaps something with a more practical use.  

I really like this square:

You can find the details and the tutorial for making the flowers here.

What I had in mind is a crochet bag, something like this:

Pretty certain I could make the daisy flower and then make a hexagon instead of a square but not sure how practical the flower would be on a bag.  However, it would only be a special occasion bag.

Knowing me, I'll end up just making a blanket.  

Another blanket to add to the pile.

Photo Credits

Scrappy Sunday

I have made a few LO's this week but have already blogged 3 of them here, here & here.  Two of them were sketch challenges and the third LO was made for the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog hop.

The only other page I have to show you is this:

Made for this week's UKS challenge which was set by Lesley.  As it was St George's Day this week Lesley challenged us to scrap using the colours of our Country's flag.

Nine Weeks In...

We have been in Wales now for 9 weeks.  It seems much much longer than that solely down to the fact that we are loving it here.  The pace of day to day life is so laid back here.  

So very relaxing.

I love lying in bed at night and falling asleep listening to the sea.  Words can't describe how this aids sleep.  

The fresh sea air helps too.

I really do love living by the sea.  I have been busy setting our new business up; got business premises, started to set the website up and hopefully found a shop.  So exciting.  Nothing as been signed officially yet with the shop as we are waiting for the owner to complete some legal work before we can do that and their Solicitor seems to be dragging things on.  Just hope we can get the keys by the beginning of July so we can be up and running for the Summer.  The website is nearly ready to launch, we are just waiting for the paperwork to go through we the people we will take payments with.  If I don't hear anything this week from them I may sign up with Paypal as a temporary measure.  Personally I'm not a big fan of Paypal but we need to get the website launched and its silly to keep hanging on.  

Please excuse the blatant advertising but you can find us here.  If you'd like to follow us on Facebook or Twitter I would be very grateful.  There is not much showing at the moment on the website but trust me there are lots of goodies 'hidden' behind the scenes.  With one press of a button they will all appear and the items you can see will be available too.

Also working on setting up my other business but believe me when I say its not very exciting; what I did before we came to Wales but this time from the other side of the desk and I'm certain you don't want me to start talking tax with you all.  When its all set up I will be putting a link in the side bar as I will need lots of clients (hint hint, nudge, nudge as they say).  Anyway, enough about that, just writing about it is making me yawn!

Both Children have settled in to school and life here really well.  They are never in the cottage, always off playing and exploring with the friends they have made.  They seem to be taking to speaking Welsh quite well.  Here we are part of a Council that goes up in to North Wales so they are very big on their Welsh in school.  One week everything is taught in English, the next week everything is taught in Welsh.  This is so different to my Nephew who only has a 1/2 welsh lesson each week down in South Wales.  The Boy is spending this term at a local town in the Welsh Unit where they are taught Welsh fast track style.  There are 2 teachers and only 6 pupils.  wish all classes were this size.  The Girl doesn't go until September.

We are off back to the Midlands for the Bank Holiday weekend so I can see how little {much} progress my Father has done is getting my house ready for sale.  On Saturday I'm off the Bromsgrove crop for a day of scrapping.  Really looking forward to that.  Think my next mission is to set up a crop round here.

Sky Watch Friday

View from a house I have just looked at to buy.  

Nr Tywyn, Wales

Pop on over to the Sky Watch blog to take a look at other views from around the world.

My Crochet Colour Palette

The colours I use for crochet all seem to follow a similar theme; bright.

Time and time again my choices are so predictable.

I have been very much influenced by Lucy and Heather in my colour choices.  Bright, bold and in your face colours.  But I think I lent to the bright side anyway.

One of the less bright items was this blanket I made for my nephew when he was born.  The only reason it looks less bright is because of the cream but the bright colours are still there.

I love pastel and a more muted colour scheme but never seem to purchase these colours.  I just love these muted schemes here from Deb:

Also love these colours from Megan: 

And these from Pigtails:

And my next project...well apart from the one looking like this for my Daughter:

...will look something like this:

I promise it will.  

And yes, I know there is a bright pink but I can't eradicate the bright element completely. It just wouldn't be me.

This post is part of Day 4 of Knitting And Crochet Blog week.

Thanks to the people who photos I've used and please clink on the links to take a look at their fabulously inspiring work.

The Story Of A Girl

I have just taken delivery of the bi monthly kit from SJ Crafts and I just had to get crafting with it.  This is my first LO using this lovely pink girly kit:

Thanks for looking.

Counterfeit Kit Challenge April Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to my little blog by the sea in Wales.This month I am joining in with the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog Member's Blog Hop for the first time.  Before I show what I have made using challenge one I need to show you the kit I have put together.  I moved house the middle of February and sadly a large portion of my stash is still in boxes therefore, I was limited to what papers and embellishments I could choose from.  Most of the items in my kit are products that I have brought this year.  Personally, I don't think it matters that much as I am still using up my stash mountain which is what the CKC site is all about.

This months kit was March's kit from Gossamer Blue:

This is my kit:

I've picked out the turquoise, yellow and a splash of red added some enamel dots and tile alphas.  For the first time I have included some 6 x 6 papers in the hope of using these to make my own embellishments.   I've not included mists and stamps as I will use them as and when needed.

Now on to the reason for your visit.  You should have come to me from Lisa E's blog in North Carolina.

For my LO I took inspiration from the colours; green, yellow and blue.  My kit didn't have any green so I used turquoise instead and yellow papers.  The blue is in the photo; the sky.

From here you should make your way over to Australia and Julie.

The full blog hop list is published on the CKC site so if you get lost along the way head over there.

I'd love if you could leave a comment so I know that you were here.  Thanks for visiting and happy hopping.

There Is The Dream and Then There Is The Reality

We all have a dream about what our life should be...

Happy, contented and settled. 

Enjoying the big and especially the little things.  

Being happy in the company of those around us.  

Thankful for what we have and craving nothing else. 

Complete. 

Truly blessed.


My Dream looks something like this:

Time spent, crafting and drinking tea with a little bit of day dreaming thrown in.  Its always good to day dream.  Its healthy for the mind.  

However, for most of us the reality is very different.  My reality looks something like this:

A lot, lot, different.  Suddenly work and housework have appeared and I don't craft or drink tea.  Sleep has disappeared too.  I'm day dreaming more but that because its good for the mind and as you can see other things are dragging my mind down.  Yes, I know we now have an extra category in the reality chart but lets face it, in my dream there would be no annoying kids; no shouting, no squabbles, no fighting, no doors slamming, no screaming, no arguing, no back chat, no hurtful words.  There would be kids of course, I'm not that evil to get shot of them but they would be so angelic that you wouldn't know they were even there.  All I would see and hear is their quiet chatter and little giggles and I would feel their love for each other glowing all around. Oh how blissful.

The reality for me is I am thankful and truly blessed for what I have, but I do still crave that little bit more happiness and tranquility.  To be settled and contented.  To have peace with who I am.  I have a feeling our new life in Wales may very well bring that.

Would love to know how your dream and reality lives match up.  As for me I'm off to day dream, craft and drink tea.  Work and cleaning can wait for another day as I'm too busy chasing that dream.

This post is brought to you as part of Day 3 Knitting And Crochet Blog Week

Cheers

That's the title of this LO I have made for Sketch 10 over on Shimelle's blog.  Shimelle produced a lovely sketch and this is my interpretation:

For the arrow detail  used this stamp set from Amy Tangerine and stamped straight on the cardstock.  I then stamped on to different pp's 3 times and cut up and put on the stamped image on the cardstock.  Love this effect.

Papers are the March/April kit from SJ Crafts.

Project Life Tuesday

I feel I'm on a roll now I have started this years project.  I managed to complete week two's LO this week.  I really need to start doing at least 2 weeks if I am ever to catch up as I am 3 months behind but as I said last time it doesn't really concern me as long as I am living life, taking the photos and trying to keep some notes about what we have done.  Here is 7th to 13th January:

Very clearly I managed to spill some water on one of the photos for page 2 so need to reprint it but it was such a waste to print just one photo now so will come back to fit it in at a later date.  Last year I inserted 6 x 4 and 3x 4 photos only.  So far I have used only small photos.  Quite like that the 2 weeks so far have far more journalling on but not sure if I don't want to include some larger photos at some point.  Will have to see as the weeks go on.

I am linking up with the Mom Creative where you can see many more PL LO's all of which are far more creative than mine.  Have a good week.

Day 2 Knitting & Crochet Blog Week 2013 (4KCBWDAY2)

It didn't take me long yesterday to decide what type of crocheter I am.  I'm most definitely a bee...flitting from one project to the next when something bright and shiny captures my heart.  I really do think I change projects so often because I am a very impatient person by nature too.  I hate waiting around, I like things to happen now.  I take on more than I could ever do and then get disappointed as nothing has been finished.

To be honest a lot of my life is like that.  I look back on a lot of choices I have made and after time I get bored with the progress made and move on as something else has grabbed my heart.  Its something that this year I am going to try and work on.  I really must see things through to completion before my heart is dragged somewhere else but as the list of things in my life that need completing is very long and really deserves a post all of its own we'll more on.

In my crafting I like instant progress.  I hate working for hours, days, weeks, months even years in the case of some of my projects and seeing very little progress.  I just get bored with things then move on.  I see something else that has caught my eye.  If you want proof, take a look at my Ravelry project list.  Just look at all the WIPs and they are by no means all listed there.  I'm too ashamed to put everything on the list.

What I need is a project that is quick to see results.  I love this by Karen at  'Colour In A Simple Life':

Just look at the basket of yarn in the background!  Some of my yarn stash is kept in an old fashioned shopping basket in the lounge on display for all to see and I just love it.  Sadly so do my cats and they are constantly being turfed out.  Just too cosy for them to resist I think, I know I'd curl up in it for a snooze if I could fit in there!

If the truth be known there are a lot of Karen's projects I like, I'll tell you about another one I really love later in the week.  Her designs are 'different' to the typical granny squares that others, myself included are making.  I love her designs, her style and reading her blog.

This project is ideal for me.  Its made with DK, yarn that should be used with a 4mm hook but here you don't use a 4mm you use a 10mm.  Big hook means bigger stitches which means more progress quicker.   

Stitches will be more than double the size... 

Double the progress...

Half the time...  

My sort of project.

Photos taken from Karen's blog at Colour In A Simple Life, a lady who writes a wonderful blog and makes and designs some truly stunning crochet.

Meal Plan Monday

Last week we sort of kept to the meal plan I had set .  We ate all the dishes I had planned however, due to me forgetting I had an appointment at the hospital on Wednesday the meal were switched up a bit and eaten on different days.  Some how I still managed to over buy things and have a fridge full of things we need to eat up.  The veg mountain will be eaten today and tomorrow and then I will make a batch of soup for lunch and freeze some of it in individual portions for the rest of the week.  I am saving a little money on the food shopping bill this week as my Father is coming to visit Wednesday and I have arranged for an on-line shop to be delivered to him which he will drive up to me.

Weather wise here on Saturday was glorious but then Sunday it rained all day.  So typical of UK weather, the sun teases us and makes us think Sprig is finally here and then runs far far away.  Lets hope it comes back soon.

The plan for this week is to have:

Monday - Sunday roast left overs and lots of veg

Tuesday - Cottage pie with lots and lots of veg

Wednesday - Bolognese

Thursday - BBQ Ribs

Friday - looks like we are going out, so a night off for me!

Saturday - Paprika Chicken

Sunday - Roast Pork, all the trimmings and rice pudding.

I did manage to sneak a batch of yummy cinnamon & chop chip pancakes for Sunday lunch:

.

You need:

225g of self raising flour

2 tbsp oft light brown sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp All Spice

Pinch salt

1/4 lemon, zest finely grated

1/2 vanilla pod or couple of drops of vanilla extract

300ml milk

1 egg

Mix the dry ingredients together.

Add lemon zest

Beat egg and mix with milk & vanilla, then add to dry ingredients.

Stir well.  This will give you a very thick batter.

Place one tablespoon in a hot non stick pan with a little oil or butter. Cook for about 1-2 minutes, turn and cook for a further 1 minute.

Serve with creme fraiche, sprinkle of sugar and chocolate powder.  

What are you cooking this week? Don't forget to pop over to Mrs M's Blog to see other meal plans for this week.

Day 1 Knitting & Crochet Blog Week (4KCBWDAY1)

If you have any interest in yarn at all, be it knitting or crochet pop on over to Eskimimi and take a look around the web for lots of posts about knitting and crochet this week.  

The first challenge is to take a look at the 4 different yarn lovers and decide which one you are.  There is also a poll happening to see which is the most popular type.

Well its not exactly a difficult choice for me.  

Without a doubt I am a Bee. 

The House of Bee: Bees are busy and industrious, but can flit from one interesting project to the next as bright and shiny things capture their interest.

Always flitting from project to the next and in the case of me, never finishing anything either!

What type of yarn lover are you?

Scrappy Sunday

Managed to get some free time yesterday to complete some 12 x 12 scrapping:

The second LO was based on a Shimelle sketch.  I love sketches and want to use a few more as inspiration to get my scrapping motivated.  Really have lost my mojo this year and had a goal of 365 LO's this year.  Some how I don't think that will happen but I've listed a tally to keep track at the bottom of the blog.  

Finally, this week, after being a member on UKS I finally joined a team.  Its taken me a while but I look forward to joining in with the various challenges and meeting some like minded ladies.  These 2 LO's get the team some points and I am hoping to find time in the week to make some more LO's as well as progressing with Project Life.