Things That Make My Heart Sing

Life is pretty good for me at the moment. In recent years we have had a fair few downs, so I know that this is most definitely very good. As any parent with young children, I do have days when my mission is one of basic survival. If we're all still breathing at the end of the day and the house is still standing, then it's been a successful day. But mostly we enjoy life, dancing on the way.

There are a few things that make my life go from living to loving. Here are some of them.

Great Super Dooper Friends

When we moved house a little over a year ago, I left a few really good friendships behind. We moved back to Cheshire (Well, I did. My husband is a southern boy) and I knew that whilst I had friends here, the friendships wouldn't be the same as they were 5 years previously. To a certain degree I was right, but I didn't count on making and meeting some new super dooper friends too. Certain individuals have danced into my life and I am SO glad :) Seeing them is sure to brighten up any day and I count myself extremely blessed to know some really cool people.

A Little Bit Of Sunshine

Now, I know that we are not really able to change the weather but a few rays of sunshine on your face is likely to raise your mood by 97%*.

* I completely made that statistic up but believe it to be correct.

A Few of Lifes Luxuries

Whatever it is you like, have a little bit of. For me, it is proper coffee. Luxury doesn't have to mean expensive necessarily, but sometimes it's spending your time doing something that isn't strictly necessary. So taking 20 minutes out of your day to relax with a freshly brewed pot of coffee, when there are probably a billion-and-one things you could be doing, instantly chills me out. It doesn't matter that it's likely that I'll be sat enjoying my coffee in a room full of lego blocks, baby wipes and pink panther biscuit crumbs. It's the principal of taking time for yourself.

Baking

I learnt to bake because I love to eat. It's as simple as that. I read somewhere that people are usually great bakers or great cooks. You can be both of couse, but usually people have a preference. I can cook and I do enjoy it but my passion lies with baking. It doesn't matter what it is I could be making, but taking 5 or so ingredients, mixing them up and bunging them in the oven for a while and ending up with a cake or something is just magical. And a bit of science. But mostly magic.

Be The Child You Were

One of my friends recently said that how we can feel like a child trapped in a grown ups body. I feel like that a lot of the time! Seriously though, I think it's important to remember who we were before we had the stresses of adults. Some days when my house is a mess, I have ten loads of washing to do and I'm tired I imagine that really I'm a princess who is really just pretending to be a servant girl. It's the sort of game I might have played when I was 9 but doing it as an adult can make all sorts of things bareable!

So, go on, I dare you. Be your inner princess.

This Kind Of Map Reading I Can Do...

This is my new little sideline, Love Maps. Customised and totally personal to you. This design consists of 4 heart mini maps of locations of your choice. This is one we have hanging in our home. The maps are of where my husband and I first lived, London as we have had lots of dates and days out here, Rye where we spent our honeymoon and Cornwall where we had a lovely little family holiday last year. It's totally personal to us and encaptures so many memories. 

The box frame shown is 10x10 and £12 + p&p. I have other size frames and price differs, I also have different designs. Please contact me on mrs.cole@hotmail.co.uk if you would like to order. I

The Best Thing I Ever Made

I am ever so very sorry. I have once again neglected you, my poor bloggy wog. I've been very busy making something that I adore...

He's just super and melts my heart. We've also had a house move and bit of a relocation. I've just been caught up in life and in a little bubble of baby bliss. With my eldest son I suffered from post-natal depression for 4 years, luckily I have been happier than ever this time so I really feel able to enjoy the baby stuff this time around. I've still been making though, just not blogging!

Appliqued Cards

I'd wanted to try to make an appliqued card for a while but for some reason had always put it to the back of my 'project to do list'. I think I'd overcomplicated it in my mind. I made this card rather by accident I must admit. Having completed sewing a bag for a friend's birthday I realised I hadn't  actually got a card for her! As I had my sewing machine out and a selection of fabrics I quickly whipped up this.

When I said I quickly made this, I mean less than five minutes. And that is from the first thought to the finished product. I just used the regular foot on my machine, possibly not as easy as a free hand foot but I don't have one of those..yet. 

Going back to my favourite nature theme I cut out a random petal heart shape for the flower and just made it up as I went along. I think sometimes the most simplistic images, which are a little rough round the edges are the most effective. One thing I did find really helpful was a little pritt stick for the fabric to just hold it in place whilst I sewed along the edges, a wet glue would have soaked through, I just needed to tack it.  The little bee adds a cutesy touch. I did colour some stripes on the bee with a gold pen.

Now I know how simple it is I will be making lots more of these! I'm thinking maybe collections of cards. Different flowers, seasons, even insects?! I used this as a birthday card but it could be used for any occasion. Has anybody else in blogworld tried this charming past time?

The Queen's Jubilee

So, ever since Wills & Kate got hitched last year I have been a massive fan of our royal family. Living in a small English village in the middle of the countryside I have realised the importance of community. Also, living 30 minutes away from London, I do feel rather attached to The City. Together with some close neighbours we are holding a jubilee street party, only as you can only close side streets and culdesac, we are holding the party in our front garden which is huge and has views of our 900 year old church. Quite astmospheric.

Planning is already under way since it's only about 6 weeks away. I thought I would show you some jubilee inspiration that I have found around the web as I did my own party research. Are you celebrating the jubilee?

 

 

I'm thinking vintage garden party with the odd union jack themed accessory! Keeping it tasteful rather than garish! The picture on the bottom is the road I live on. If you look closely you will see the house beyond the tudor houses with a brick wall, that's mine! All photo credits are listed below. I'd love to hear if and how you will be spending the jubilee weekend!


Picture credits: http://vintageamethyst.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/royal-wedding-decor-ideas.html, http://roomenvy.wordpress.com/2010/04/06/garden-ideas-pretty-pastels/, http://www.teacupsandtiaras.co.uk/littlevintageteaparty.html, http://zinawright.typepad.com/messyart/party-ideas/page/2/, http://www.dovetail-design.co.uk/vintage_tea_party,http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1281365

Ribbons, Trims and Projects on the Go

So I've generally been a bit caught up in life recently - who hasn't?! I've been busy buying, planning and making though so not all has been lost! I seem to have a little issue though with buying ribbons and trims. I buy them because I love them but yet nothing much seems to happen with them and I take them out only to admire them! It's a good job the husband is neither interested or even pretends to care at my shopping habits! Hooray for that.

I just thought I'd show you a selection of my favourite bits. Some jubilee themed from my Lovely Mama, some sparkley and some just because. If anybody has any suggestions on what I could do with them, I'd love to hear them! I've also started Quilt Number Two.

Just thought you could see a work in progress. I've sewn roughly half the rows for the quilt. I did have the other half neatly arranged in order to be sewn but my darling child thought it would be fun to have a sort of confetti-throwing-but-really-using-quilting-squares play session. Still, at least he felt involved. Or something.

I've mentioned before that something which always inspired me is nature. I love bring the outdoors, in. A couple of summers ago I found some flat pebbles at the beach. They were fairly unremarkable as far as pebbles go but they stacked on top of each other really nicely. I carefully selected a few that decreased in size and took them home. I thought it would be a bit lovely to pretty them up a little so I decopatched them!

 It's a lovely activity to do with children too and toddlers love to stack them up different ways.

So, that's a little bit of what I've been doing just quietly getting on with.

Trees That Hold Hands

I absolutely love it when trees grow over and touch each other creating a tunnel. Since I was a child I had imagined that they were actually holding hands. When the sun shines it looks so magical but after dusk it changes dramatically and looks kind of eery. The second from bottom image is a tree tunnel shaped by trains in Ukraine! Apparently it's called The Tunnel of Love there...