Well, ...

I did warn you that something like this may happen when I cleared my desk a bit ;o)

This weekend I've had the chance to do a bit of scrapbooking.  I decided I wanted to do layouts for Alice's album the traditional way - ie. with photos and paper :o) .  I certainly have enough photos of Alice but rather than trying to choose which ones to use, I've gone for starting at the beginning with her birth day.

The little owl on here was made using a Tando Creative chipboard owl which I then traced round on card and cut out by hand. I then punched circles for the eyes and cut out a triangular beak. It certainly makes me smile when I look at the layout!

The second page had been going to be a stand alone page but once I started playing around with it, it made sense to make this a double layout instead.

Now to decide on the next photos to use!
xx

PS. Although you wouldn't believe it from these photos, the pink of the journalling boxes is the same colour as the pink in the gingham paper!

Finally ....

Finally ... finished Alice's cot quilt. This has been on the go for a little while but it was finally finished yesterday afternoon.

 Front

 Back (red gingham)

Close up of some of the materials 

.

Finally ... means I've been able to put away my sewing machine which has left my desk fairly tidy

It's been a long time since you could actually see desk!  Who knows, perhaps one day soon there could even be some scrapbook pages made here!

.

Finally ... getting round to posting some photos from last week!

 Jon made the most of the lovely weather when he was home last weekend. The grass was cut and we were able to sit outside until late afternoon.

 Jon's sister Deb, and her husband Dave, came round on Saturday afternoon with their puppy Beth. Emily was quite happy to look after Beth and I think Beth was quite happy sitting on Emily's lap.

 Cloud wasn't 100% sure what to make of another dog in the house but we reassured her that we weren't replacing her.

Great Aunty Debbie got to have cuddles with Alice.

 This particular afternoon Alice spent some time sitting on Mummy's lap chewing Mummy's finger

We're trying to encourage her with her sitting ;o)

.

Finally ... starting on my log cabin quilt. 

I've been wanting to make one for some time and last week went round to see a friend who showed me how to sew them so that you quilt and back the squares as you go and then join the squares together at the end. I'm hand sewing this quilt and using all the scraps of material I have in my stash. Although it all looks a total mismatch at the moment, it doesn't seem to matter once the quilt is complete and sewn together.  I like the idea of hand sewing it as it then becomes portable - I can sit at the kitchen table to sew, or in the lounge watching TV or even in bed in the evening if I want to. I'm not sure how long it's going to take me but I'm looking forward the challenge.

And finally ... I think that's it for this post. No special plans for this weekend so hopefully I'll get some sewing or scrapbooking done. Check back soon to see if I make anything ;o)
xx

Making the most of the weather

By the time we were on our way home from the weekly grocery shop at Sainsburys and our coffee in Starbucks, the sun had come out and it was lovely and warm in the car. Once back at the house, Claire changed Alice out of her warm clothes and put her in a little dress.

 Uncle Hugh got to have cuddles and play with her while Claire and I unpacked the shopping.

 After a little bounce in her chair

  and thinking that Grandma is so silly when she makes faces at her

 we headed outside for Alice to get her first taste of sitting on the grass

 She wasn't 100% sure what she thought of it but was happy to have cuddles with Mummy

Unfortunately, a breeze started blowing and it turned the air quite chilly again so we headed inside.

I'm so looking forward to lots more sunny Spring and Summer days - washing on the line and lunch out on the patio. Can't wait!

xx

Isn't technology wonderful!

A few weeks ago Deb asked some fellow bloggers if we'd be interested in having an online crop via Skype. Today was the day and at 3pm (UK time) we all got to see each other and chat. Through reading others blogs you feel like you know them, so getting the chance to talk in person feels natural - like chatting to a good friend. Today was the start of those chats and I, for one, am looking forward to more. 

Our Skype chat L - R and top - bottom: Carrie, Deb, Mel, The Girl, Karen, Denise, Deb, Ruth and myself.

After the call finished (nearly 2 hours later) I couldn't help but think how wonderful technology is. When my parents first moved to South Africa from Scotland all those years ago, none of this existed. How much easier it would have been if we could have gone on to Skype to talk to the relatives back in the UK instead of having to rely on writing letters! I wonder what new technology we'll have in years to come.

Back to today though.  Still buzzing from the Skype call, it was time to come back to reality and get dinner on the go.  It may have been slightly later than planned - but no one complained ;o)

Thanks everyone who took part for a fun afternoon.

xx