Flowers Galore

This is going to be a very flowery post after Louise @ Home is Where the Heart Is requested more pics of the garden. We spent most of the weekend and the beginning of the week in the garden, thankfully, as all we can see of the lovely view today is a few murky outlines and lots of low cloud, it's like Brigadoon up here today.

Twiglet got a new paddling pool as his old one had burst and spent 4 hours in it on Sunday afternoon, so money well spent.
Now here's the gardening section, are you looking Louise:) The above pic is some Livingstone Daisies grown by Grandma Twiggy. I love these and used to call them jelly tot flowers when I was little, just look at the centre of them.This Dahlia is a beauty also grown by Grandma Twiggy.Beautiful scented rose that I insisted on bringing with us when we moved 2 and a bit years ago, it smells heavenly.My lovely daisies, I have a huge clump and they are very tall.
Some out of focus Sweetpeas that smell lush, I grew them from seed and they are lovely, just look at those colours.
I love Sweetpeas they are my favourite flower along with Lilies and Poppies.

This is what Twiglet and I made for dinner, Toad in The Hole, yes I know not very Summery but it's like Autumn here today :)

My boy did his first bit of sewing today at the age of 3, I'm very proud, we are making a tiny sock monkey together :)
Remember I asked you to guess what I was making for my mate, well here it is, it is a Bando and I was so taken with it as was Grandma Twiggy, I've made one for Grandma Twiggy and I'm going to put some in my Etsy shop.
Please excuse terrible photos and Marge Simpson hair, it was at the end of a very long, hot day and it is jolly difficult to take a photo of your own head. Mr Twigs tried and it wasn't pretty, I looked like I was about to go potato picking or something.
Here it is as a hairband.Here it is opened out as a scarf, nifty or what? and all hand sewn - ohhh get me :)
Here are some more bits I'm about to pop in my Etsy shop, which has been very neglected recently.
The cakes are a mini cushion and a small pin cushion, the cocktail glass is a little brooch.

How funny is this, for my pal? it's supposed to be beans on toast and is also a brooch, it's a little joke between us which she'll find hilarious but you probably just think I'm nuts - good point ;)

Righto, that's me for now, don't forget to pop back tomorrow night to see if you've won the Giveaway. However, don't worry if you're not lucky this time as I intend to do a Pay It Forward soon, I think I owe 2?

Cheerio

Twiggy x

All Kinds of Everything, Trains, Post & A Giveaway !!!

Here's a photo I've just taken from our garden, the farmers are very busy at the moment with lots of tractors coming and going especially in the evening - they look great with their big headlights shining. Wish I could capture the sun on the golden field and old farm buildings it looks lovely (if you look very closely can you see the campers, bottom right!)

Guess where we went this morning in the stifling heat, here is a little clue..................Oooo it's young Master Twiglet and Mavis, we had another day out with Thomas it was hot and lots of fun, loads of VERY excited little boys (and a few girls) running around like loons, Twiglet was one excited young man, we all came home and had to have an afternoon nap!!! I've said this before but if you ever get the opportunity to visit Kirklees Light Railway (they have a website) do so, it's a great place and the people who own it are terrific.

Apart from the usual baking and playing with the new breadmaker ( a small loaf a day gulp - I must show more restraint or I'll become Piggypeasticks) as I've not been driving this week we've spent tons of time in the garden yay!!!! or buying things on the internet - oops!

I've given quite a lot of stuff away on Freecycle recently and sold a few bits on Ebay and look what I bought with some of my cash.

I've coveted these books for ages.....................I've not had chance to have a good look at them yet, but the Doodle Stitching book looks great and I heart Jenny Hart (can you see what I did there:) I already have Sublime Stitching which is fab.A bundle of scrummy fabric.And a gorgeous writing set for my Sister In Laws birthday from the Etsy seller Charliemotel, isn't it pretty?

I seem to have got my crafting mojo back, I'm pretty pants at knitting but would like to improve and bought this little book a while ago, it's fab for basic knitters like me. I'm currently making a pressie for my friend, bet you can't guess what it is (please don't strain your necks trying to look at it, as I've added a sideways photo again:)Talking of knitting, did you see this in The Guardian today it is a good incentive for me to improve my pathetic skills as there is some fabby stuff in there. Lots of great projects by a fantastic lady called Mazz (the one who made the excellent Dr Who aliens last year).I've also taken inspiration (stolen) Marmadaisys idea of Crifting (being crafty in a thrifty manner). Here are a pair of shorts made from a cut down pair of Twiglets old jeans complete with patches from an outgrown t.shirt of his. I think they look pretty crifty and nifty myself!My pal (mentioned previously) is going to the Cropredy Festival soon - 3 nights without the children - woohoo you go girl !! note to self stop watching Gok Wan). Anyhoo, I'm going to attempt to make her a gift with these items, any guesses? I will show you the end result, but please note the word ATTEMPT!!!

I've won a Brilliant blog Award from Jan @ Daylily Lane, thank you so much, I've already been lucky enough to be given this one so I won't pass it on again. Apart from to say award it to yourselves lovely readers and pass it on at will!!

Righto, I've been tagged by lovely Jennie @ Falling Down the Rabbit Hole - thank you kindly lady. You know, I'm sure I've done this before, so for once I'll keep it short and to the point, yeah, yeah first time for everything I know :)

(Rules stolen from Jennies blog).

Link to the person who “tagged” you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.6. Let the tagger know your entry is up.

You know as I constantly tell you I'm too lazy/stupid to do links so I'll names names at the end, ok? they're in my list of faves!

Random facts:-

1. I'm VERY allergic to cats.

2. I DON'T like my beans or soggy food to touch my chips and I don't dunk biscuits - urgh, Mr Twigs says I'm weird - harumph!

3. I love beetroot and eat loads - hang on, I am weird!
4. I'm left-handed.

5. My hair is naturally curly (frizzy - think Crystal Tips - if you're old enough).

6. My secret hero is George Formby

Ok, I pass this to.

Jo - Blissed Out

Josie - SykesSillySite

Maxs Craft Creations

Daisie - Daisie Days

Vicky - Angelsey Allsorts

Lizzie Jane.
Phew, nearly there. I've finally posted out my Cupcake Swap but won't post a piccy until I know it's arrived safely with Cathy in Australia, hope you like it Cathy.

As I said previously I intended to have a Giveaway for my 50th post and completely forgot, so Please leave a comment and let me know which classic book I should read next. I'll ask Twiglet to draw a name out of one of his lurid Ikea bowls next Friday and announce the winner. Haven't decided what the prize is, as I'm going to tailor it to the winners likes/dislikes. (Ha ha cop out by Twiggy).

Have a great week

Twiggy x

PS The Woman in White is VERY gripping so far!

Hop - a - long Twiggy !

Here's a photo of a lovely marigold that I grew from seed, isn't it fluffy?
Well my doctor says that I've sprained the ligaments in my knee area ! That'll explain the pain then and how did I do it? getting out of the car, what an old biddy! Anyhoo, I haven't done too much crafting this week as sitting for any length of time is a problem - ho hum.

However, we were quite busy over the past week considering.

A nice trip to a park we haven't been to before, last weekend was a big hit with young Master Twiglet.

Mr Twigs had a bit of time off this week so we went to lovely Filey and of course visited Sterchis choccy shop, I would have shown you the rose and violet creams and the chocolate owls but we've eaten them - well they were very scrummy.

Blimey I finished reading Tess last week, I enjoyed it but have had enough of Thomas Hardy and death and turnips for a while so now I'm reading The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (if anyone tells me that turnips are involved I won't be happy :) Another unputdownable classic - hooray they do exist after all, or perhaps I'm just turning into an old fuddy duddy - don't agree please :)

Here's some of Twiglets artwork for your delectation, all the tiny bears have names you know!

Art in the kitchen too, what a talent!

My completed cupcake swap. As you can see it truly represents the sort of cupcake I would produce - a bit uneven in places, I've some bits to add to my finished parcel so will show you next time.

I've kept myself busy doing a bit of embroidery (excuse rubbish photo) can you tell I have cake on my mind?A piccy of the other cute items we bought for baby Jemima from a lovely Etsy seller. Wish I could get that hat in my size, although I don't think I'd be able to squish my big hair into it!
Other exciting news (I don't get out much) we have a bread maker from a lovely Freecycler it's ace, will pop a photo of it on here next week, Mr Twigs is currently using it, he is a top baker when it comes to bread!

I've given away a ton of stuff on Freecycle recently and sold a few bits on Ebay and with the proceeds I've bought some lovely additions to my fabric stash and a couple of fab books, when they arrive I'll show them to you.

Have a lovely week and hopefully I'll have more crafting goodies to show you next time as my knee gets better. I was going to show you some pics of the garden but I bet you're exhausted by now, so bye for now.

Twiggy x

PS I was going to have a bit of a giveaway for my 50th post - but have realised that was a few posts back, so will spring it on you in the next few weeks so keep your eyes peeled!

Rain,Rain go away and an award.............

Blimey will it EVER stop raining. From our window I can see a farm with a small campsite across the valley and those poor campers in their tents and caravans - bleurgh!
I don't know what's got into me but I'm having a major declutter at the moment, I cleared out my porch last weekend - massive job and put a load of stuff on Freecycle and a bit on Ebay so have had a stream of callers!
Next job Twiglets 3 toy boxes! will have to be when he's in bed though as he isn't willing to part with anything!
The potty training is going well so he's earning lots of stickers and Thomas books :)

Anyhoo, we have got rid of the lurgi but I have now hurt my knee!! old croc or what? so Twiglet and I had a mummy and Twiglet day today. It started with air drying clay, honestly I'm sure this is the messiest (is that a word?) invention ever, I had to hose Twiglet down afterwards!!!

Next up Playdoh, I LOVE Playdoh, love the smell it reminds me of my 1970s childhood like nothing else. I got some for Christmas one year and made my extremely hung over (much older I hasten to add) sister sniff it until she was sick - ha ha, evil little Twiggy :) The lovely likenesses are from left to right. Grandma Twiggy, Twiggy (love my Gok Wan style quiff), Twiglet and Mr Twiggy, who HAD to have glasses!!!!Not forgetting buttons, start `em young - that's what I say!I've been fairly industrious this week finally finishing Grandma Twiggys birthday cross stitch 3 days late, which she loved.Also whistled off this little one for Mr Twigs cousins new baby Jemima (isn't that such a gorgeous name ?) Check out these gorgeous little shoes that I purchased from a fellow etsy lady for Jemima. I've ordered some other stuff too from America which hasn't arrived yet, so will blog it next time.And here are some Artist Trading Cards I've made for the July swap on Papercraftersunited. The first ones are entitled the colour blue, the second set are butterflies.My charity shop finds this week are all book related. In a bid to read more classics and less erm... lightweight stuff I thought righto after my hols I'll get stuck in (secretly it's to enable me to answer more questions when watching University Challenge than Mr Twigs, he's such a swotty pants, I'm good at literature and art, he's good at maths, science, geography.................... oh blimmin everything - pah!). I had to read a fair amount of `classic lit' at school and college and it put me off for a while . Anyhoo we were checking out my fave charity shop this week and I bought a bundle of books at a princely 30p each. I've just read The Mayor of Casterbridge and couldn't put it down and next I'm onto Tess (see above) aren't the books pretty?
I received a lovely award from the very lovely Daisie of Daisie Days fame, thank you lady, I love reading your blog too, so right back at you Mrs. I've also been lucky enough to receive this from Tullavilla @ Edwinas Random Ramblings, thank you so much. both of these lovely ladies details are in my favourite blog list.

Here are the rules for this award:
1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.
2. Link to the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs you've nominated.
6. Wear a posh frock if you like, lots of bling and make a speech, but - sorry - no red carpet

As ever, I've stolen the rules from Daisies blog and I'm too lazy erm stupid erm lazy to set up links so I'd like to pass it onto the following peeps and their blogs are on my favourites list.

Jennie @Falling Down the Rabbit Hole -

Jo @ Home is Where the Heart Is

Sal @ Sals Snippets

Mary-Kate @ La Vie Est Belle

Vicky @ Anglesey Allsorts

Jo @ Blissed Out

LizzieJane@LizzieJane

Ok, I'm going to watch some stuff we recorded last night, ending with Still Game, I can't recommend this enough, it has me in stitches, on BBC2, Thursday nights at 10pm, about a group of old blokes in Scotland (one of them reminds me of my Dad - you'll have to see if you can guess which one!) the eagle eyed ones among you will recognise Granny Murray from Me Too in there - that's assuming you're brainwashed by CBeebies on a daily basis of course!

Bye for now and here's hoping the rain will stop soon!!!!

TGI Friday !

(Above arty beach type pic from our hols!)

What a week I still haven't caught up with myself from my hols and have an inexplicable decluttering mania going on??? Managed to get rid of one of Mr Twigs grotty old cars - yay !!!We're also doing potty training, I chant do you need to use your potty repeatedly, to the extent that Twiglet shouted, NO MUMMY, STOP ASKING THAT QUESTION !!!!!

Anyhoo, no time whatsoever for crafting so it looks like Grandma Twiggy will be receiving her handmade gift post birthday, but, she's happy as we bought her a mini greenhouse and a mega bag of compost last week, my mum is a very practical lady :)

We collected Mr Twigs from the train station this evening and went to a classic car show at the local park. It was great Twiglet had a marvellous time, he had a go on the mini steam train, the fire engine, carousel, had a good look at the old cars and his favourite tractors and I was that busy remembering to take his potty, I forgot the camera - doh!!!!!

Here are some photos of lovely stuff instead. Remember I told you that I had a parcel waiting for me at the post office when we returned from our hols? Well a lovely lady called Kristy from the Papercraftersunited forum had read my blog and had seen some of my cross stitch , she asked me if I'd like a few bits as she was having a clear out and I said, ohhhh yes please. I was expecting a little envelope of goodies, when our postmaster said oh this box is yours, I asked, are you sure? Here's what it contained!!!!!!!

not only that but also.................................

How generous is that? Kristy has sent me all these wonderful goodies from the USA, I'm overwhelmed. It will certainly all be used and I won't have to buy any aida supplies for ages. Thank you so so much, lovely lady.

Talking of lovely ladies, I also received a Random Act of Kindness from the lovely Glitzy from the Crafts Beautiful forum, totally unexpected and a real treat.4 beautiful ATCs and a bundle of ATC goodies to get my creative juices flowing, thank you so much what a kind thing to do.

Blimey I'm on a kindness roll this week, I was lucky enough to win a few items on my local Freecycle website this week, Mr Twigs and I journeyed over to collect them and met a super couple who have retired, sold up everything and intend to travel in a camper van for the next few years. Starting with spending Christmas in Sicily, how fab is that? They have freecycled 30 years worth of their life and I told them I will really treasure the items they were kind enough to give me and I will.

Two beautiful plates for my kitchen (apologies for sideways photo)......................................and a simply lovely little sewing box.........................................Here's a pic of some basil that I've grown from seed in what I think is a very cute container. I've had this tin in my cupboard for a year or so just because I like it !! The jug is a charity shop find, I deliberated about buying it, didn't and regretted it so good old Mr Twigs went back to the shop for me and asked one of the lovely old ladies who work there to get it out of the window for me - bless him, I think it's gorgeous.

Daisie, I promise I'll blog my award from you next week, ok?

Now here's a bit of lurve to warm the cockles of your heart. Being a cheeky, bluff northerner I ahem (going red in the face, stuttering a bit) don't say things like this very often. However, Mr Twigs and I will have been married for 12 years on Sunday and together for 19 years on Sunday!!!! I'd just like to say thank you for putting up with me Mr Twigs, thank you for 19 years of laughter and I love you.

Now just to stop your little hearts a fluttering on the wings of love, I want to tell you someting about Doctor Who - it's a Twiggy spoiler........... David Tennant is going to regenerate into.........

MY HUSBAND - WOOHOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a fabtastic weekend

Twiggy x