TEN Today

On the 30th August 2002 my life changed forever, my darling baby was born.  It turned out to be a girl and she had an immediate name, Marion, named after her Great Granny. Today that tiny little baby is ten years old and 4ft 6inches tall.

Each year she chooses what she wants to go and this year she wanted to go on a riverboat along the River Medway. She could either choose the paddle steamer or the long boat and she chose the long boat. So off we went to The Malta Inn at Maidstone and then we got onboard, as she was the birthday girl she was on first :) 

It was a lovely leisurely trip and we saw some lovely narrow boats along the way and we had an excellent view of Maidstone Crown Court, which you will have seen on many a crime drama.  The boat stops just a bit further along from the court and you can get off to go shopping or stay on and go back.  She decided she was hungry and wanted to go back to the Malta Inn so she could eat.

All in all the trip was an hour long.  It was so peaceful that it didn't feel like an hour.

After our meal we went back home to my parents house for a nice cuppa but no birthday cake 'I don't want it ruined' she said!!!

She made the madeira cake herself with Mum and had said she wanted blue icing, so that's what she got.  She designed it all herself, cut out the penguins and seahorses herself. 

First you have Everest at the back with a penguin climbing it and then you have the ice floats.

Smiling away happily at finally becoming a ten year old :)

Happy Birthday darling, with all our love Mummy, Granny and Grandad xx

Country Cottage Card

I absolutely loved making this card, simple but very elegant.

I'm getting there with the tidying, the bathroom is spotless from top to bottom.  Her bedroom is almost done, I've cleaned the windows and mirrors and I've dusted the shelves.  I still need to check down one side of the bed and hoover it all, but by then my back was sore so I decided to give up for the day.

Black & White Vintage

Pure vintage elegance.  You can't quite see in the photo, but she has a pearl necklace too.  One of my favourite cards I've made just recently.

Again I'm getting there with the clearing up, I've not finished her room yet and I really should, it would be another room out the way and then I can get onto mine.  Mine isn't that bad, it's just got stuff on the floor I put there when I brought some craft things down out of the loft and I haven't moved them since.

I also have no clue what to get her for her birthday next week.  I've asked several times, but the brick wall has been more helpful with that - only because she doesn't really know herself what she wants.  

Happy Christmas

I wanted to stitch something quick that wasn't too taxing on the brain, mainly because I was extremely tired but just didn't want to fall asleep in my chair.

This was in one of the magazines, I changed it a little bit and it's stitched with SanMan Strands.  I wonder if she still does them, it was lovely to work with.

Instead of thinking about stitching, I really should get on and tidy the house, my little lady will be back from her holiday in the next few days and it needs to be tidy (ready for her to trash in a matter of days!!) and I need to clear her junk that I'm so desperate to see gone.

Christmas Card Made by Sara Davies

Last week I was watching Create and Craft, Sara Davies from Crafter's Companion was on with her Moorhead cd. I have the cd, but haven't looked at it yet so thought I'd get some inspiration and I decided to email in. My email didn't get read out, but it was pulled from the cup and this is the beautiful card Sara signed and sent :)

My Godson's Christening

Yesterday was my Godson's christening and what a wonderful day it was. I wanted to make a special card for the occassion and this is what it turned out like. This is the box.

This is the card I made for him and I also write the verse inside:

Today, my Godson, is your special day,

filled with love in every way,

In church for your Christening with family and friends

where love and happiness never ends

 

My daughter with her cousin, it was his baby brother's day. Doesn't she look so grown up here.

It was such a hot day and he decided to throw up by the font, so I waited for a photo with my godson. We'd all changed into cooler clothes.

Christmas Cards

While we were at my parents last week Mum and I went through a box of craft stuff and we found quite a few things that we need to use up to make some general and Christmas cards.

We gave Marion a load of pieces to do with what she wanted.  These are two of the cards she made.  She's got more to make, but she's got to help Mum this week with a Christening cake for my Godson.

Pirate Girl Card

I'm full of a head cold and it's driving me nuts. I can't seem to think straight, I can't sleep when I go to bed and this morning I just wanted to go back to bed when the alarm went off.  I feel so drained and the buzzing in my ears is ten times worse than it normally is (I have tinnitus) and I'm finding it much harder to hear.

We did this card in class a few weeks ago, but I didn't have time to colour her in so I asked Mum to do it last week.  She loves colouring, I've always hated it.

Butterfly

Believe it or not this piece gave me a headache and took about 6 hours to stitch.  It's not difficult, it's only two colours.

They do say that the simplest of pieces give the biggest headache.

Now armed with a large tub of magnolia paint (my choice for a short term finish), gloss paint, polyfilla and the yellow paint I intend spending this week painting the hall, my bedroom and the living room.  At Christmas I asked my daughter to put two drawing pins into the existing holes in the wall in the hall and now it resembles a pincushion, so fill the holes and repaint yellow.  Then re-gloss the skirting boards (in the US you call them baseboards I believe) and the inside of the front door.

I also intend on painting the outside of my front door and the garage door in the same colour, watch out neighbours I'm brightening the place up!!!

Brown & Pink Tshirt Card

This is another stylish, simple card which can be used for any occassion.  I love the colour of the ribbon and the pink and chocolate just goes together so well.

Mouse with Stocking

And yes I got it finished :)

I'm on a roll with stitching at the moment.  I know it's all Christmas stuff, but the next piece won't be.  It might be halloween lol

Again this will be made into a card at some stage.

Children Easle Card

I loved making this card, it's so elegant.

I have also started another piece of stitching and I'm hoping to get it finished tonight.  Will post a photo tomorrow if I do and that will be my third piece in a week. 

Santa & List

Look another piece of stitching!!!  Another simple piece and not too taxing on the brain, but it's stitching nonetheless.

I will make this into a card when I go up into the loft and get the blank cards out the box.