Golden Postbox

We have a golden postbox near to the school after Ollie Hynd won a gold medal in the Paralympics. It was already painted when we returned from the trip last night, although we did go and take a photo straight after.  I had promised her after school today she could get a nice daytime photo with the golden postbox.

Here is the one I took last night, the paint was still tacky as it had only just been posted that morning.

Paralympic Village Visit

We went with school to the Paralympic Games and what an amazing experience it was.  It's something that will never be forgotten. 

Mandeville - Paralympic Games Mascot

Her Majesty the Queen's floatilla

Women's Goalball China and Finland

Wheelchair Rugby

Chatsworth House

Every since we watched the programme about A Year at Chatsworth, Marion has wanted to go. So we went today and had a wonderful time. Most of the pictures have been taken by the budding photographer, so I will leave you to browse the photos if you wish.

Hand stitched tapestry chairs, wonderful works of art.

 Marion and Granny

Stitched Sentiments

Someone asked me if I would stitch them some happy birthday and best wishes to make into toppers for their own cards.  I did and now she's decided she doesn't want them.  That's really annoying when that happens.  I probably won't use them myself.

We're off out tomorrow so long as the weather is good, to Chatsworth House.  Marion really wants to go and see inside the house, she loves history and after the series called Chatsworth a few months ago, she's been desperate to go and visit.

Happy Birthday Grandad, I hope you and Granny are having a wonderful time together up there, we miss you so much.

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 :)