Stitching vs Housework...........

Hello girls, how's your week been?

Things are slowing down on the crafting front here and getting busy on the packing side of things......

I haven't been able to pack away my sewing machine yet as ideas still need to be explored to keep the creative me happy before I go.

I finished another little stitchery this week and was happy with the outcome.

A friend had asked me (quite some time ago)if I would stitch a tree for her. 

She wasn't specific and just said

 'whatever you come up with will be fine'

I find that's the hardest thing to do actually, as I worry what I have in my mind won't match up with theirs. Soooooo, I put it off and occasionally asked if she had any ideas......nope.

Ok, so I put it off some more as I do and put it in the too hard basket.

She wasn't in a rush it, was just one of those

 'when you've got time' orders and as it was something different for me (at the time)I didn't intend to ask for payment.

Ok, long story short here it is......

I hope she likes it. I love the texture, there's even a wee heart carved into it with a teeny tiny M & S in it.

Can you spot it?

I really love this saying by Ralph Waldo Emerson and I particularly like the way the yellow thread I used to indicate the last of fallen leaves actually has a golden glow to it.

You know I'm kind of glad I waited so long to make it as my sewing is constantly changing and evolving and I'm really happy with the finished piece.

We now have 7 calves in the paddock with only 2 more to be born.

Their antics are wonderful to watch and they are such good mates.

This little black fella is being very inquisitive and brave.

One little calf  (not in pic) has a white heart on it's forehead very sweet indeed......can't help but fall in love with them.

Something else I had been putting off was cleaning out Cluckingham Palace.

Our chook house isn't one of those cute little houses that you could sweep with a glance.

On no, this requires a wheelbarrow, rake and brooms.

Anyway, the girls must've read my mind and in appreciation of my impending efforts had laid an egg.

Now this may not sound very auspicious, BUT,dear reader considering they went off the lay around December this is quite a big event here.

One, perfectly formed, brown shelled egg lay in a mound of straw.

I glanced at it, looked at the girls in disbelief, then looked at the Magpie out in the yard, shook my head again then thanked them......

Thankfully, the job took less time than I thought and within the hour there was a lovely, cleanish chook house.

Now whilst I hoiked feathers and straw out, this Magpie was going around picking up beak fulls to line it's nest with.

It was fun watching it pick them up then put them down. Was it looking for a particular colour, degree of softness? 

It was quite a business and I was thrilled to witness this little nest making venture....

The first Daffodil has bloomed.

This season I ordered and planted some different varieties. so I'm looking forward to seeing them when I return from holidays.

Our adopted stray Mrs. Kafups likes to find little hidey holes around the house....makes it interesting when trying to put her outside!

Can you see her?

How she managed to squeeze in to that small space without sending DVD's flying?!!

 With her Winter coat on she's quite a substantial feline.....

 The Japonica (Flowering Quince)is putting on a show......

And another little nest that's been discovered.

 This time in the Wintersweet, not sure who it belongs to whether it's a blue wren or not.....

So there you have some snippets from my week......the day to day things that I've been up to.

I've also been busy posting purchases around the world which has been very exciting.

 Seeing little Sweet Birdy Love items finding new homes in different countries.

Thanks to everyone who made a purchase.

 I will have a few extra pennies in my pocket to take on holiday.

I've been making lists of things I have to do and organise before I go away.

Must remember to put Mrs Kafups out if I can find her!!

My boys have been keeping me up to date with what's been happening and I have to say I'm really excited about heading over to Canada.

Thanks to everyone who left a suggestion on my last post.

Oh, that reminds me if you'd like to participate in a swap.......songbird Mezz over at Mezz Makes Stuff is hosting a swap, so pop over and check it out and say 'hi'.

Righto, I better go and do some tidying up, cuppa first though!!.......

Thanks for visiting girls and taking time to say 'hi'

Have a fab week everyone,

Claire X

Hooked on Bowls...........

What's a girl meant to do when all yarn is 40% off at your local Spotlight?

Obviously........buy some is the correct answer.............

So I did and I have been busy crocheting up this little bowl, using the wonderful tutorial Jacquie posted over at Bunny Mummy.

She's having a giveaway of some of her crocheted bowls, so if you'd like to enter, the giveaway is open till the end of September.

This is the smallest size and is 4 inches across and just over 2 inches high, but you can fit quite a bit in it.

I decided to add a bobble edge to it for a bit of interest, but you could do anything, the options are endless..........

Next time I might add a flower or two.

Almost forgot to upload this photo, so it's out of order but anyhoo.........

This little Joey (baby kangaroo) was the companion of my neighbour Erin at the Bright market last Saturday.

She's a wildlife carer, when you find injured animals you give Erin a call and she'll come and rescue them, nurse them back to health and then release them back into their environment.

These people are very dedicated, not only did Erin have this little Joey but also a baby possum, both of which need four hourly feeds!!

Righto, where were we?

Talking about yarny, hooky exploits.

This is the cotton yarn I bought on sale, gorgeous colours . They tumbled off the shelf and into my shopping basket before I could say a word and as I was in a bit of a hurry I just didn't have time to put them back ............

The little flower is from a pattern in the latest Mollie Makes...........

Well, this is the latest edition to arrive in our newsagents.

Remember, we get UK magazines weeks after UK residents.

So, I have to read all about it on blogs before I can get my mitts on my own copy.

I have finally got myself a snakeshead Fritillary, which I picked up at the market on Saturday.

A cake stall held by a local church also had a few plants and as we were all in the process of setting up our stalls I spied this and nearly had palpitations.

I have seen pics of these in English Country Living mag for many, many years, but this is the first I have ever seen in person.

It may not be the best specimen ever, but I just love the little chequerboard pattern on the flower.

It really is very interesting and intriguing.

I was assured they are very easy to grow and will withstand heavy frosts so I will find a special place in the garden and hope that it thrives.

So the market got off to an interesting start..........

I had spent money before I even set my stall up, lol...........

Once again it was a beautiful day for the market, lots of stall, lots of people, wonderful live music supplied by one of my favourite musos of the moment......Tom Tuena.

But, unfortunately I didn't sell very much at all and this is the second market in a row.

I know for a fact it's not the product but more a sign of the economic times.

I came home feeling very deflated and flat and it took quite a while to shake off this feeling.

I am booked in to the Bright markets till December and I do love my day up there, it's very social and lots of fun.

Anyway, I shall look at my options and think about how I do things, whilst keeping any eye on where everything is going and see what I come up with.

This week has been such a mixed bag of weather......no surprise there.

Would you believe it was 28 deg. on Monday, I spent the day out in the garden, working up a sweat, whipper snipping, weeding, digging, raking and doing all sorts of jobs. It was just lovely and No. 1 was my partner in all things gardening and we whipped the lawn (green stuff) into shape and it looks a picture, but definitely not perfect.

Monday night it was doona on, doona off until I couldn't stand it any longer and got rid of the doona altogether and grabbed a blanket...........

Tuesday, the warmth had disappeared and it was down to 15deg. and four seasons in one day.

So the doona reappeared with the blanket as well............

Today is chilly, sunny, overcast all at once and about 14deg.

I am feeling alot cheerier today and have been surprised how my emotions chopped and changed like the weather yesterday.

It always helps if you have a ..................

----------FRIEND---------

These two little fellas have become firm friends.

The little white faced calf has been the only calf about for a few weeks and all he wanted was someone his age to play with.

I would seem him run up to some of the older beasts looking to play, but they would always ignore him and keep on eating. I felt so sorry for him, all he wanted was to have some fun. Life seemed so boring for a little fella full of energy and mischief

Then a month ago the second calf was born and it's so lovely to see them running around together.

Calf No. 2 was having 'brekky' the other morning and Calf No. 1 was patiently standing there waiting for brekky to be over, so they could go and play...........

It reminded me of when you were kids and a friend would turn up and have to wait till you had finished your jobs or whatever, before you could go off and have fun.

Well this is just a snippet of the last few days.

I have another little crochet bowl on the go, I think I have caught the bug...........

There will be more sewing taking place a couple of orders to fill and when the weather warms up more gardening too.

Thanks for popping by to say "hi" and to new followers "Welcome, nice to meet you".

I hope the last few days have been creative in some way or another for you and that the weather is kind whichever hemisphere you live in.

I have to say I am loving reading about Autumn in the UK at the moment..........

So, till next time, take care,

Claire X