A summer isn't complete without a country show....

Yesterday we were all out and about, Andy and Jamie went to London to visit the Science Museum and Poppy and I went to Heckington village show, with my parents. 

Poppy loves animals and to see so many, including many rare breeds, all in one place was very exciting.  The atmosphere was so happy, people of all ages just wandering around and enjoying what was on show.  There were lots of hands on opportunities to engage both children and adults alike and masses of things to look at and admire from vintage tractors, heritage crafts, competitions, to beautiful stalls full of lovely things to buy.  I think this combination is what makes this village show such a success.   Of course a country show has to have a competition tent and there were some excellent entries.  Poppy's favourite was the 'make an alien out of fruit and veg'.  Mum loved the 'minature' floral displays and the 'garden on a plate'.  My personal favourite was the needlework competition, how stunning was the winning entry, it must have taken hours.

A great day was had by all and I can not wait for next years show, we've already decided to buy a two day pass!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star .....

 

Finally, I hear you shout, I have finished the 'Twinkle Twinkle' embroidery pattern.  I wanted to keep this one nice and simple, with the focus being on the little rhyme itself.  I do however love the addition of the little star border, I hope you do too.

As you will remember I stitched up the first version of the design a couple of weeks ago and turned it in to a scrappy hoop, which is now on the wall in Poppy's bedroom.  This was very easy to do if you wanted to re-create your very own version.   After stitching the wording, I took four offcuts of fabric from my stash.  You'll need to ensure that the offcuts are big enough, so that once sewn in place the finished piece is larger than the hoop you wish to frame it in.  With right sides to right sides starting across the bottom and then working to the right, the top and finally the left hand side (red stars) I machine sewed the off cuts in place framing the rhyme. 

As a decorative finish I then added some stitching over the seam lines, four little wooden star buttons at the corners and some lace and ribbon tied at the top.  

Talking of fabric, did you spot the lovely mini star fabric and ribbon in the first picture?  I just love blue and white, it's probably my most favourite and used colour combination throughout our house.  I would have taken photo's, however seeing as we are three days in to the school holidays, my poor house is looking somewhat messy.  However so that you can get the feel, here's a little snippet of our everyday china that I have been using and adding to over the last 20 years or so that sits in our kitchen, which is blue with off white units, that is next to our hallway, which has white walls, which is next to our living room, which has off white walls with duck egg blue curtains and blinds...do you see what I mean.

It is no surprise then, that the following new arrivals will at some point be making their way in to my house...I'm thinking a lap quilt to snuggle under in the Autumn.

As always, I've been busy sketching... I love this rhyme...

Enough of my ramblings for now, I am a women on a mission and I must not get distracted this week.   I have lot of WIPs to finish, we have some reps coming to show us some new fabrics, children to entertain and it is nearly holiday time....hooray!!

'Twinkle Twinkle' is available HERE and HERE and as always if you have any questions, please do ask away.

Have a lovely weekend!

Busy Busy Busy.....

Saturday morning, it is fair to say was not good, it should have been, Andy came home.  The children having hardly seen him for 3 weeks, due to night shifts, airshows, golf, detachments argued constantly trying to grab his attention.  I was caught up dealing with a work issue that needed my immediate attention, tempers were fraying, it was hot, there were tears...you get the picture!!  A change of scenery was required and in the afternoon, we headed out in to the fields, it's amazing how just getting outside can change things.  The children ran and ran, laughed, enjoyed each others company and held hands...... all was well again.



On a stitching note, I finished this little piece which I sketched last weekend.  At the moment I haven't quite decided what to stitch along the bottom, something pretty and sentimental, I think.

I've also been working on a commision for 'You are my Sunshine' .

Some gorgeous new Tilda fabrics arrived for Pretty Fabrics and Trims, are they not just the prettiest.  I'm imaging Poppy wearing a dress in this one already!

Finally, I wanted to share this picture.  I gathered the petals off the back lawn from the wild rose that grows in the hedgerow at the bottom of the garden.  I never cease to find it amazing how nature can provide the most wonderful inspiration.......

Quiet times .....

   

 

 

 

 

We've had a quiet weekend.  Andy left early Saturday morning to go on exercise for a week and apart from a few hours on Saturday when Jamie was taking part in a Cub event, the rest of us have stayed at home attempting to keep cool in the glorious sunshine.  Oh how I hope it lasts all summer, well at least until we've had our summer break in Norfolk.  On a sad note, Poppy is struggling with Andy being away, I think although we are counting down the sleeps, she believes that he has gone away on detachment again.  She told the man on checkout in the supermarket, 'My Daddy has to go away alot and I do not not like it'  it's so hard.  He has probably been away for at least a third of her short little life, but that is the reality of being a forces family and one that we have to just get on with.   On a positive, he has been promoted and we hope that this will mean that he will see out his last full year in service, sat behind a desk and coming home to us every day, fingers crossed!

The garden has been alive with bees and butterflies and this week it has provided us with salad leaves, rhubarb and the most delicious strawberries.   We also picked a small handful of raspberries and I can see lots more coming.  It's amazing how, in such a small space, you can fit a little something special and although the harvest is small, we all appreciate the little tastes it provides.

We were all busy being creative, Jamie finished his current Airfix model, he was so proud and Poppy as always, drew a hundred pictures.  I stitched up a scrappy hoop for Poppy's room, I love this little rhyme.  The floral border is a mix of pretty Tilda fabrics, the benefits of owning a supplies shop is that you end up with lots of little off cuts and I am always thinking of projects to use them up.  I did contemplate adding lace and ribbon to the design, but in the end I went for a mix of stitches over the seam lines and I was really happy with the end result.   I also did a little floral sketch which I couldn't resist starting to stitch.  I quite fancy introducing some felt into this piece, but I am just going to go with the flow and see how it progresses over the next few days.

Finally,  I can not tell you how much I am loving living the Grand Plan,  the impact on both my home life and creative journey is huge and I am so very grateful for all your support and orders.  Whilst I am still working hard, I feel healthier than I have done in a long time and as a family we are so much happier, which in reality is what it is all about.

Thank you!!