Handmade Gifts

Just a few piccies of some of the gifts I've made this year

I like to make a christmas tree decoration for members of the family, just as a little stocking filler.

Lavender sachets for the ladies, I've also made lots of corsages.As usual I've ran out of time and I've still got two cushions to make and a baby jumper to finish knitting! Next year I 'll have to start my handmade gifts in February I think! Back to my wrapping now.

Rachel x

It's Been A Long Time

In fact, it's been tooooo long, I think I lost my blogging mojo for a while there but now I'm back!

I have been keeping up with you all though.Isn't it wonderful news about Mollycupcakes,I'm so pleased for her.I've enjoyed reading about the Vintage and handmade Fayre and looking at all your lovely photo's. I would love to have gone but I was working on that day.Never mind, next time.I treated myself to this lovely spotty tin from Laura Ashley in the sale.I have discovered Dunhelm mill recently too.It's got some gorgeous stuff there.we treated ourselves to this pretty chandelier for the dining room.I say we, but the rest of the family arent convinced yet

I've been loving seeing all the gorgeous Chrismas pictures on everyones blogs, I havent finished writing my cards yet and I'm only halfway through wrapping the pressies. I've made quite a few this year, Ill show them to you on Friday.

Rachel x

Phew it's hot!

Not that I'm complaining.I do love the sun and we don't see it that often, but I've just been pulling out some weeds and some of that sticky stuff that makes my arms itch and it's thirsty work!I've come indoors for a cold drink and a quick post. I've been making lots of these and I shall be popping them on my website tomorrow

I think I'm becoming addicted to making the things!

I think I'm going to have a go at fabric covered books next.Thank you for all your advice on Etsy,I think I might give it a go in the next few weeks ,Kim from http//raggedroses.blogspot.com/ dared me to!

Enjoy the sun everyone, back to the gardening now.

Rachel x

My recent makes

My fingers are a little bit sore at the moment from the amount of hand sewing I've been doing.But I absolutely love it, so relaxing and you can do it while watching the TV! Here's what I've been making.

Tiny fleecy hearts with pretty rosebuds and gingham loops.I thought these would look pretty attached to gifts or just as decorations.

I really enjoyed making the Russian Dolls, especially embroidering their little faces.
I made some bigger ones too!
I've been having some thoughts on whether to open an Etsy shop, I do have a website but people who like to buy handmade things like to browse Etsy.What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter.

Hope you all have a good weekend whatever you're doing

Rachel x

Blenheim and Burford

Hi all,

hope you're all enjoying this gorgeous sunny weather.We took a trip to Blenheim 2 weekends ago and had a lovely day.Just me and my 2 best boys!We have put off this visit for years as we kept thinking when we have family to stay they'll want to do Blenheim but it just never happened.We live quite locally so it's only 15 minutes away.

Hubby and son were chuffed to bits as it was also the Ferrari spring picnic!

We had a picnic lunch overlooking the lake.We had a tour of the untold story and also the palace, it's absolutely beautiful!The china collection alone is fantastic,cabinets full of Meisson.Believe it or not Winston Churchill was a very good looking young man!

The pleasure grounds are lovely too!

This is the Maze.

The butterfly house was lovely, lots of varietiesWe finished the day with some refreshing ice creams and a long walk up to the monument.

This weekend I will be having a stall at the Warwick hall in Burford Saturday, Sunday and Monday.I'm really looking forward to it as I'll be selling lots of Vintage jewellery amongst my handcrafted items.There will be lots of lovely stalls there, so if you can make it it would be lovely to see you!

Just a few piccies from Burford

Vintage china,linens and some handmade brooch cushions.
Handmade shopping bags with fabric rose brooch attached.
Vintage section of my friend Karen's stall, isn't it gorgeous!

Beautiful Vintage jewellery.

I'm off into the garden today to enjoy the sun!Hope you all have a great day!

Flippin computers!

I just don't get them.My trouble is I have learnt simple operations like how to resize photos and put them on my website but I still can't work out what's gone wrong if it does!I have put some new products on my website but it won't' click here to enlarge' Never mind, I'll have to get hubby on to it.Although that's my trouble, he works in the 'scary computer world' so he usually sorts it out for me.It took me nearly a year to master my mobile phone and I've now eventually made my way up to an ipod!I know my limits, I'm just not technical!

This is the image I was trying to enlarge, isn't she lovely! Anyway she's over at http://rubyredcrafts.co.uk/ along with my other Vintage items. I'll be putting some more stuff on tomorrow,I've got a lovely 1950's crystal necklace with a sparkly sterling silver clasp that I can't wait to show you, I'd love to keep it myself,but I'm saving for next years holiday so it has to go!

Thankyou for all your lovely comments, I really appreciate that people take the time to leave one,TTFN

Rachel x

How Lucky Am I!

VERY! Look what my lovely friend Andrea sent me,apparently when sorting her stash she discovered that she had 2 and so she posted the spare one to me!

Andrea and I were, at college together the 80's, yeah I know, a long time ago now.We lost touch for a long time, after she moved to London.She then contacted me years later and we try to meet up, usually only about once a year, but when we do we have LOADS to chat about,You see Andrea was the only friend that crafted and decorated and all that stuff so we'd chat for hours about all our ideas.Obviously now I've found Blogland, I am in heaven as there are loads of like minded people here!Anyway if you happen to be reading this Andrea THANK YOU,I love ya loads! Here are some piccies from this gorgeous book, I can't wait to get started!

In other news I have put some Vintage items on my website.This cute little chap and his little friend Aren't they sweet!
I'm off to make some stuff now, have a great day!

Still doin Brooches

I'm still busy making lots of brooches for my wesite and for Eve(the shop in Witney)I've been working on these made from a mohair mix and finished with tiny buttons and pearl beads.I've made some lovely Jaeger Alpaca ones too but I'll be saving these until the Autumn as they're brown.I shouldn't really be writing this post as I'm still in my pj's and I've got an order for 12 Easter cards.

See you soon x

Hey,I'm back!

I honestly didn't intend to be away from my blog for this long.I've been on holiday and had a fantastic time.We've never been away in February before but I can highly recommend it.We were all very excited to be going to Barbados and meeting some friends who were already there.We all had a wonderful time,ate too much drank lots of lovely cocktails and raced canoes with our families .My son perfecting his surfing technique!
This is where we stayed, Sandy lane hotel..HA HA not really, we stayed at Sandy Bay and our beach was much better than theirs!We did visit on a catamaran.
Anyway don't want to bore you so onto other news, I will be updating my website in the next week with lots of new makes.I'm also going to introduce a Vintage section as my friend Karen has got lots of lovely things to show you, brooches, beaded bags, mohair bears to name a few.This section will probably open in the next 3 weeks so do check out the website if you're interested.

I have been busy making these brooches for a local 'French style Boutique' which has kept me very busy
I'll be back tomorrow to show you the rest as I've got an event tonight and I haven't packed my goodies yet! TTFN!

Cheerful v Cross

I started the day feeling so cheerful.Beautiful blue skies were waiting fo me when I opened the curtains.I had lots to do on my list including popping into town.First I had to get a grumpy teenager off to school.A grumpy teen who hadn't measured out all of his cooking ingredients.After much shouting and stamping of feet(that was me by the way) he finally left and I could get on.

I forgot how busy it is in town on a Monday morning, spent most of the morning in queues, the bank, the post office, the supermarket.I only needed eggs and toilet rolls (see what a glamourous life I lead) I eventually arrived home to find a cheque from the inland revenue which I was very pleased about!Yay, new books and fabric here I come! After lunch I thought I would put some new makes on my website but I'm having great difficulty and I'm developing a headache from clamping my jaw together tightly!I've resized the photos but cant upload the product, arrrgh!Also I can't show you pictures of my tidy loft(tidyish) as the bulb has gone and I can't get the duff one out (will have to wait for hubby)The photos are the ones that should be going on my website .soon.

Hope you all have a great week and accomplish lots.

Rachel x

Back again!

I know 2 posts in one day ,what's going on ?Well Blogger wouldn't save my post earlier so I just published a little bit.Anyway lots to tell and all that so I'm back.

I have given this little chap a face as he couldn't see where he was going

I am also working on a bunny garland.

At the weekend we went up to Birmingham to celebrate my mums 60th Birthday. All the family met up for a lovely Chinese at lunch time.We then went back to my parents house for Champagne and Birthday cake.Here's the Birthday girl on my sons PSP for the first time.

See you're never too old to learn a new skill.A lovely time was had by all.She'll kill me for showing this photo!

Now let me give you an update on the loft situation remember I was meant to show you an After photo last Friday, well I failed.I have made progress, but it seems it's a much bigger job than I first thought.I also had to fulfill a few orders that came in and just didn't get around to finishing the loft.But I will be finishing it for THIS Friday.Then I've got to start on my spare room which isn't very spare at all but is an overflow for the rest of the house!

And the winner is....

Monkee-maker, Congratulations!You guessed the nearest to Peanuts age, you guessed 15 but he is actually 19 and will be 20 in August, hopefully!Could you let me know your address and I'll pop a little gift in the post for you

Russian Dolls, my Peanut and a Rosy Pig

Let me introduce you to my cat Peanut.Here he is enjoying the rays of sun we were lucky enough to get today.He thinks this is his space on top of the sofa and he stays here for most of the day.Have a guess how old he is and leave a comment and if you guess correctly I'll send you a little gift.I'll check on Tuesday to see if there's a winner.If not it will be the person who's picked the closest number to his age.

As it's light for once I thought I'd take a photo of my little Russian dolls to show you.My hubby bought them in St Petersberg last year while he was working out there.These are 3 separate sets.Lucky me!

I forgot to take a picture of my little pig money box before.I bought him from the car boot last summer for just 50 p .I love his sweet little face and couldn't resist him.He holds all my loose change.

Knitted Bunnies

Hi all

This week I have been mainly knitting and making lots of these(from the stash of yarn in my loft) see I am working on sorting it. I knitted them as I watched a beautiful film called The Notebook.My daughter hired it from Blockbusters and we all watched it last night, I got a headache from trying not to cry(this always happened when I was a little girl too!) Anyway I highly recommend it.Must give these little chaps some faces now!

Sorry, I forgot to iron the tea towel background!

Organisation

Well I've made a decision to be organised this year, oh yes it's gonna be a new me( hubby sniggering in back ground).Well, he has heard it so many times before ,but I REALLY mean it this time!My cunning plan is to have before and after photo's on my blog and this will shame me into getting my act together.I have stashes of stuff everywhere fabrics, yarns,card making supplies, all waiting to be made into lovely items but at the moment it takes me to long to find all the pieces I need for each project.So it starts here today.This is going to be a new me, oh yes!

I've started with the loft, we found an old wasps nest that has been up there since the summer!Anyway here is the Before picture

I know, it's very bad, but by next Friday you won't believe the difference.Gulp!

I've been in the pink this week, making lots of new things for my website.I have made 4 of these

and a few of these from an Ikea fleece throw.I have also enjoyed catching up on all your lovely blogs after Christmas.Spose I'd better start on the loft then,Ta Ta for now X X