tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52759147268936127622024-03-05T18:59:17.645+00:00Thisel and BeanKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.comBlogger177125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-58593406839243372802016-09-27T10:03:00.001+01:002016-09-27T10:03:33.450+01:00All about the detail<div style="text-align: center; padding: 5px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgwFIkkhMaJ9puHkRdYUiV2GLl_jRKEJzPWRe5Bw6oP4VsB7a2wLxilGqbpaWhQc5JbFe98p4RfqGEOp8nahEJ0HdpgbiKf4w1rF_wrYBpcqorYzi7K1sb08t-1ZAWwk3d9Z9y_rvpLE/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgwFIkkhMaJ9puHkRdYUiV2GLl_jRKEJzPWRe5Bw6oP4VsB7a2wLxilGqbpaWhQc5JbFe98p4RfqGEOp8nahEJ0HdpgbiKf4w1rF_wrYBpcqorYzi7K1sb08t-1ZAWwk3d9Z9y_rvpLE/ cursor: pointer;" width="320px" style="border: 1px solid; border-radius: 2px;padding: 5px; max-width: 320px " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; padding: 5px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBXIlmcbGK2Df6MA-IrguBAOaNHOnu1tTUzudAcBpHAE8dhVUnHta4Tsv2g6FRnPWgjDwc3Dw6FJDm-sL4sRwKsMKGvqaBBGqUNHR2Dbw0SlAUlkp-gy7mYXF4vCRsKHftCeP3hodUxQ/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBXIlmcbGK2Df6MA-IrguBAOaNHOnu1tTUzudAcBpHAE8dhVUnHta4Tsv2g6FRnPWgjDwc3Dw6FJDm-sL4sRwKsMKGvqaBBGqUNHR2Dbw0SlAUlkp-gy7mYXF4vCRsKHftCeP3hodUxQ/ cursor: pointer;" width="320px" style="border: 1px solid; border-radius: 2px;padding: 5px; max-width: 320px " /></a></div><div class="blogaway-section"><p>I've used Instagram now for a number of years, but mainly as a quick and easy editing/ 'share with a few friends' kind of a platform, never as anything more wide reaching. Recently though, a fellow crafter (the lovely Liz at Baytree Boutique, go check out <u>her</u> IG feed it's lush) started posting some really stunning pictures of what she makes and has started getting some great feedback and sales even. <br/>
<br/>It's such a simple platform to use that I thought I may as well have a go for Thisel & Bean so I created my own published IG feed. So far it has been a fantastic experience, not just for the comments that people have posted or the sales (and yes I have noticed a pick up in that), but for the fact that I have started finding joy in the little details again!<br/>
</p></div><br/><div style="text-align: center; padding: 5px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeMw54o1NiZG1Rgp1NCVskHxez3xwMdDErkJIyOV3EOMwDRCFJurD6KWOLbNnYrsOclNYHE9NW2QbRMOWY0veB0peKgZ9nCfefjpp2NLHHlWsnhCBe8OgyE_4IiWs35ZQF9LAOkAK9VQ/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeMw54o1NiZG1Rgp1NCVskHxez3xwMdDErkJIyOV3EOMwDRCFJurD6KWOLbNnYrsOclNYHE9NW2QbRMOWY0veB0peKgZ9nCfefjpp2NLHHlWsnhCBe8OgyE_4IiWs35ZQF9LAOkAK9VQ/ cursor: pointer;" width="320px" style="border: 1px solid; border-radius: 2px;padding: 5px; max-width: 320px " /></a></div><div class="blogaway-section"><p><br/>
When I started blogging it wasn't about selling, it was about the enjoyment of making and the thrill of finding something pretty/unexpected that I would be inspired by, be it a vintage leather button (a post about which I even found on Pinterest today and gets huge amounts of traffic!?!) or a beautiful fabric or a great color combination. Don't get me wrong, I am really happy that I have been able to share what I make and make a small amount of pocket money for myself, but the simple joy I used to get from buttons, bows and colours has gone a little in recent years. <br/>
<br/>Enter Instagram...which from where I am sitting is all about the picture. Now I don't churn out enough crowns to be posting a new crown daily, but what I do <u>have</u> a ton of is all of those little bits that make the crowns special. So that's what I have been focusing on and sharing. And it has brought me a whole new level of happiness and excitement!</p></div><br/>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com3Sarratt, United Kingdom51.6946099 -0.4449357tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-45856758002259719592016-09-02T13:32:00.000+01:002016-09-02T13:32:00.123+01:00I could get used to this!So as it turns out, sitting in a field, with your stall full of special things you have crafted, watching the world go by as you do a bit of sewing and a bit of selling is a pretty pleasant way to spend your day! Taking aside the stress of singlehandedly setting up a stall outside for the first time, with gusty winds blowing your carefully planned stall set up over so many times that you simplify madly of course!<br />
<br />
But it was lovely! I would highly recommend the Tribal Hearts Festival if you have a young family as it was a setting full of magic and adventure for children and had a beautifully chilled out vibe all day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQfdlLTe8Xuw1xXh9mJpqBFKbTBMppSX6Sv81QjQF6SGwLBe5MXTjKnfCeRkgcy4vm5pP_mIgM9AUZvfVbzCP5tLQxiQY0j3Xhol221IJASbP8WYFzkcHj-2eRdi0jOgEwhRHv5p-mYw/s1600/IMG_20160813_110328525_TOP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQfdlLTe8Xuw1xXh9mJpqBFKbTBMppSX6Sv81QjQF6SGwLBe5MXTjKnfCeRkgcy4vm5pP_mIgM9AUZvfVbzCP5tLQxiQY0j3Xhol221IJASbP8WYFzkcHj-2eRdi0jOgEwhRHv5p-mYw/s400/IMG_20160813_110328525_TOP.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbagG1cCxAgvkQkYO6phKJEeCsym9CpOKkhC9Zg99b9ISZabUxaXF9iIrJh8cbTF671goGo9x5JlU6Y8SGg1z8rnck0QkFfBd7Zvg1r4t8eCsvHRjGAF-frtWMC1WHxSZswl21hSEmXU/s1600/IMG_20160813_155009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbagG1cCxAgvkQkYO6phKJEeCsym9CpOKkhC9Zg99b9ISZabUxaXF9iIrJh8cbTF671goGo9x5JlU6Y8SGg1z8rnck0QkFfBd7Zvg1r4t8eCsvHRjGAF-frtWMC1WHxSZswl21hSEmXU/s400/IMG_20160813_155009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWr1ztdfEufwgCJOKek6nx88vihT5SXB2LXEixak0csNS3-Sp_7t3bcXPbl-jx4Pxs85uz_fhl6hDOT3sH-nfX8OjQtmJj8wnZYQWjFfngBAk9XY40xyewUx58PpgPF0L4t4XR-NNFESI/s1600/IMG_20160813_155209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWr1ztdfEufwgCJOKek6nx88vihT5SXB2LXEixak0csNS3-Sp_7t3bcXPbl-jx4Pxs85uz_fhl6hDOT3sH-nfX8OjQtmJj8wnZYQWjFfngBAk9XY40xyewUx58PpgPF0L4t4XR-NNFESI/s400/IMG_20160813_155209.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-90740279450131394012016-08-31T19:30:00.000+01:002016-08-31T19:30:24.270+01:00Tribal HeartsSince child #2 has come along, unsurprisingly, I've had even less time to craft! Shes very snuggly and pretty good fun though, so I don't feel too bereft...most of the time! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pJlTjmerbcNQsfIAcvm0wu3Byk5f6_qpeN5eNL5fPMpzh8vzvdgaYqdl_Ax-qJLWKpMOusNEK5KZ9DeFYZDO_6AWBPIedipwVHaNsnlKL7rxCqoOMPtboxq3y9smG9l8T41pNe-yaxw/s1600/IMG_20160516_224544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pJlTjmerbcNQsfIAcvm0wu3Byk5f6_qpeN5eNL5fPMpzh8vzvdgaYqdl_Ax-qJLWKpMOusNEK5KZ9DeFYZDO_6AWBPIedipwVHaNsnlKL7rxCqoOMPtboxq3y9smG9l8T41pNe-yaxw/s400/IMG_20160516_224544.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
As shes about 18 months now (the eldest is 4.5 yrs and off to school next week! Eeek, where did THAT time go!) I began feeling like I should make a <i>bit</i> of an effort to get back into the swing of things...cue the wonderful <a href="http://tribalheartsfestival.co.uk/" target="_blank">Tribal Hearts Festival</a><br />
<br />
It was a LOT of fun to prepare for but also A LOT of hard work of trying to figure out from scratch what on earth I should be taking for the stall, how to deal with the stall if it was sunny, rainy, worst of all- windy, and what people might want to buy at a festival!?!<br />
<br />
I ended up plumping for woodland items...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cNbcHtlRxmOyslffYOf0OVJpNlT1tM3XZBIZ973ZDwcMDs8_NOZYJZc85WH4jKhhi4KYZ0z4jPwCl-3ifzTm-3eB63d9bnPWI7S_JduhdCmNZNCvc7zHTZB_ke3gh21O5rd6PeXZTPk/s1600/IMG_20160802_135103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cNbcHtlRxmOyslffYOf0OVJpNlT1tM3XZBIZ973ZDwcMDs8_NOZYJZc85WH4jKhhi4KYZ0z4jPwCl-3ifzTm-3eB63d9bnPWI7S_JduhdCmNZNCvc7zHTZB_ke3gh21O5rd6PeXZTPk/s400/IMG_20160802_135103.jpg" width="398" /></a></div>
<br />
feathered items...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXnxgQ0d6S-MCrWq7sssIRY0MA-h7YFz-sm49pxl0L3Of6DWUMbZbZR86YZnJylKi2YmXAzUSpErbINPLI-KOhh0QOD67gigwvV3XSXNDx4kzF0yZ2lRWu00Ux6FWXHLABHQ8DMuiBqE/s1600/IMG_20160807_141344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXnxgQ0d6S-MCrWq7sssIRY0MA-h7YFz-sm49pxl0L3Of6DWUMbZbZR86YZnJylKi2YmXAzUSpErbINPLI-KOhh0QOD67gigwvV3XSXNDx4kzF0yZ2lRWu00Ux6FWXHLABHQ8DMuiBqE/s400/IMG_20160807_141344.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
and summery folksy items...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucy4UWeVCwyrKZEcuZPBVeBn163O-SXaRyO7LDJ4iYxQ-W3pLiOv3U-hcqC8nALJQLOWBeiX_tbOmhcoWZd6q3pot0rKsIeFJCxjmkVPPz4neVaR5nCoMk7tbD0qU_GGHZInmpttq3jo/s1600/IMG_20160716_144045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucy4UWeVCwyrKZEcuZPBVeBn163O-SXaRyO7LDJ4iYxQ-W3pLiOv3U-hcqC8nALJQLOWBeiX_tbOmhcoWZd6q3pot0rKsIeFJCxjmkVPPz4neVaR5nCoMk7tbD0qU_GGHZInmpttq3jo/s400/IMG_20160716_144045.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
In typical 'last minute makery' fashion I didn't have time to photograph many things that ended up selling on the day. Doh! The upside being that I kept seeing children darting about across fields and woodland wearing Thisel & Bean crowns which was <i>incredibl</i>y heart warming!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-58778642932308718962016-02-22T22:36:00.001+00:002016-02-22T22:36:37.872+00:00Experimentation<div style="text-align: center; padding: 5px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqbS24E2P_qMDf2-Sd8BBxYqm2NJxv3Kq375fevBITW9z7ZGkhmH9NpZxTHbfTy4tmd6SJcz8JwhxPxk9ghrOb-sP3d1iMGnjHGsXMalAaoLmqthcJzan4bhFRy_W2XbG3OLMKS-IWzU/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqbS24E2P_qMDf2-Sd8BBxYqm2NJxv3Kq375fevBITW9z7ZGkhmH9NpZxTHbfTy4tmd6SJcz8JwhxPxk9ghrOb-sP3d1iMGnjHGsXMalAaoLmqthcJzan4bhFRy_W2XbG3OLMKS-IWzU/ cursor: pointer;" width="320px" style="border: 1px solid; border-radius: 2px;padding: 5px; max-width: 320px " /></a></div><div class="blogaway-section"><p>I'm always a bit sporadic with my use of social media, so have been trying to work out how to get a bit better. <br/>
<br/>If this has worked, it's a photo edited via Instagram that i have used for an Etsy shop update and shared to here, Twitter and Facebook! Ta da! :-) </p></div><br/>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com1Leighton Buzzard, United Kingdom51.9271027 -0.6528719tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-66712565174439535332015-12-14T19:30:00.000+00:002016-01-25T14:19:28.250+00:00Dinosaurs This week has been all about dinosaurs (well in crafting land anyway)! This week in 'real life' has been jobs, stress about jobs, lots of work, cleaning, Christmas decorating, more thinking about jobs, woodland walks, more cleaning and more Christmas decorating. Its been nice in places but mainly just bit exhausting, so I've been very pleased to spend time in my crafting corner later at night working away on my final few pre-Christmas makes...and <i>that </i>has been all about dinosaurs.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzzMpVqdlH1AK1mSqukc7ikHDaV18lZ7297Y2rG9jEzb9K3RQ7bNimtkALzfOg-QCBQfIx-UkrgFWZN6sej0n4_0W4XzrMooOeJ8SbX2RCt8n1cJ808IJ7QHJjD3ttB_lVGfHOfVGIgw/s1600/IMG_20151214_091153_wm.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzzMpVqdlH1AK1mSqukc7ikHDaV18lZ7297Y2rG9jEzb9K3RQ7bNimtkALzfOg-QCBQfIx-UkrgFWZN6sej0n4_0W4XzrMooOeJ8SbX2RCt8n1cJ808IJ7QHJjD3ttB_lVGfHOfVGIgw/s400/IMG_20151214_091153_wm.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
This custom made crown is on its way to its owner today and several sets of dino bunting will be making their way this week too. :-)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXq_424r3ckBIH7udhYTPSeLLIVW-767Vs9NV-cn-vRidOQNWwV-hwPdSQvJia88c9fMwS3WAkHGyEDbRI_fNEQa-A_jK2Nbw-fwgxrdj8mR2ReX33DIzJPCC4gr4Oxtq9zpQB1CJARxQ/s1600/IMG_20151214_114019_wm.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXq_424r3ckBIH7udhYTPSeLLIVW-767Vs9NV-cn-vRidOQNWwV-hwPdSQvJia88c9fMwS3WAkHGyEDbRI_fNEQa-A_jK2Nbw-fwgxrdj8mR2ReX33DIzJPCC4gr4Oxtq9zpQB1CJARxQ/s320/IMG_20151214_114019_wm.jpg" width="306" /></a><br />
<br />
I have to admit I find it really gratifying when I have a design that people really like (to a point anyway). The dinosaur crown gets a good few likes <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/211741377/bright-green-dinosaur-felt-birthday?ref=shop_home_active_1" target="_blank">on Thisel & Bean' etsy</a> store and after selling a set of the dinosaur bunting recently, I had a run of other people wanting it too which has been awesome! Hilariously (well actually not hilarious at all) someone liked the design that much that they copied a photo of the bunting and posted on their Facebook page as their own work! Grrrrr! They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but I cant say I'd ever imagined someone actually trying to copy my work! Anyway, that has managed to take the shine off the dinosaurs for me a bit. It also means that I am having to think a bit more about how I present my photos online. I have a watermark that if I remember to I'm going to try to use. It annoys me a bit to be honest as it makes me feel a bit suspicious about peoples intentions when I know that a lot of the online crafting community is lovely and friendly and wanting to help each other out rather than anything else.<br />
<br />
Speaking of lovely communities I'm linking for the first time in a very long time with <a href="http://www.lucyblossomcrafts.co.uk/blog/handmade-monday-44-the-last-of-2015" target="_blank">Handmade Monday held on Lucy Blossom Crafts</a>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-2929660243450086042015-11-16T20:00:00.000+00:002015-11-16T20:00:03.203+00:00TLC<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Oh my poor neglected blog! </div>
<br />
If I could wrap it up with a nice bright Fairisle scarf, a hot water bottle and a mug of hot chocolate to let it know I haven't forgotten about it I would! But I cant...as its a blog. So instead instead I wrote a little ditty! :-)<br />
<br />
There once was a girl called Katie<br />
Who tried to maintain a blog<br />
Full of colour and craft<br />
but she felt quite daft<br />
as it ended up being a slog!<br />
<br />
But the girl called Katie loved blogging<br />
She knew the love would come back<br />
When she had more time<br />
It would all become fine<br />
So she decided to take a new tack...<br />
<br />
For now posts would become short and snappy<br />
Not the meandering posts of old<br />
She would post when she could<br />
and she certainly would<br />
as blogging can feel like pure gold!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8gW0K1_ryyNmmB2oUVXiVA2QF0_FmEYh8dxCjVDP2aHs4JhJ2PB_2mFNbF2QTDoF0RcmQrdKOs1Sk18tucaf5w-fQAxnxtoeJil1idsLFQXikwPc-H2Cx-EenJaGK1nPkWXtJKsbPG8/s1600/thisel1new1015+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8gW0K1_ryyNmmB2oUVXiVA2QF0_FmEYh8dxCjVDP2aHs4JhJ2PB_2mFNbF2QTDoF0RcmQrdKOs1Sk18tucaf5w-fQAxnxtoeJil1idsLFQXikwPc-H2Cx-EenJaGK1nPkWXtJKsbPG8/s400/thisel1new1015+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-52563462068286821652014-11-25T12:00:00.000+00:002014-11-25T12:00:02.927+00:00Diggers<div class="Textbody">
One of my recent favourites orders has been this crown and bunting
order. The little boy this was made for was turning 3 and <i>loves</i> vehicles (especially diggers) and bright colours…</div>
<div class="Textbody">
<br /></div>
<div class="Textbody">
So
vehicles and bright colours it was…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8-cOKYoImU9Y9lBlE3P_ZR2UfIkpzSQssLR99C0xSnnfcJgxhIAC6Fk_pct6GrexrLULGFAILAHspYDWNH1s5axaonILoWr7GkBf88Lm-cDY5nLipcs9wccnpruJiICAnfCKITLsuzA/s1600/IMG_20141013_193951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8-cOKYoImU9Y9lBlE3P_ZR2UfIkpzSQssLR99C0xSnnfcJgxhIAC6Fk_pct6GrexrLULGFAILAHspYDWNH1s5axaonILoWr7GkBf88Lm-cDY5nLipcs9wccnpruJiICAnfCKITLsuzA/s1600/IMG_20141013_193951.jpg" height="242" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSpuSTePyJsFaUNYD_OASfK5781WchyS_aHl_mJI-inBgd0mxTWBF_H9J2mqNVxKyxdGcsstaBmtXPLpMEnBqLGxDDnMxKPSUn3sAOtHuYh7qaT815JHDEweks3VcWZweoLMql3F_I_A/s1600/IMG_20141013_194046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSpuSTePyJsFaUNYD_OASfK5781WchyS_aHl_mJI-inBgd0mxTWBF_H9J2mqNVxKyxdGcsstaBmtXPLpMEnBqLGxDDnMxKPSUn3sAOtHuYh7qaT815JHDEweks3VcWZweoLMql3F_I_A/s1600/IMG_20141013_194046.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsRJxeetF3jln0JVgdYUCgmioHLLhQ-RTAEPZEVyfrXLCum-DGivAxW7jy8EKNUyddQrshArLrrc2MW4YiHMfj0ox5bV8YAFCaRpwzQhoj2EYl-1yo67CcsFi5ihSEg7xfBcZG7-lFDU/s1600/IMG_20141013_194135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsRJxeetF3jln0JVgdYUCgmioHLLhQ-RTAEPZEVyfrXLCum-DGivAxW7jy8EKNUyddQrshArLrrc2MW4YiHMfj0ox5bV8YAFCaRpwzQhoj2EYl-1yo67CcsFi5ihSEg7xfBcZG7-lFDU/s1600/IMG_20141013_194135.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8mVqFy66ZSrDUHvIctN28fY5nRH8olUd5n-KE00Cakx5WIj0WLmROUt3YkoDvLwzYdkaJx5AAthx0Am6o66NxH4Lqh5mgGsugHsPyjsm0vHCgXS_TlBhqq7R5JmmPIMebb644WV7R1U/s1600/IMG_20141013_194408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8mVqFy66ZSrDUHvIctN28fY5nRH8olUd5n-KE00Cakx5WIj0WLmROUt3YkoDvLwzYdkaJx5AAthx0Am6o66NxH4Lqh5mgGsugHsPyjsm0vHCgXS_TlBhqq7R5JmmPIMebb644WV7R1U/s1600/IMG_20141013_194408.jpg" height="236" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBk_Ti1T-JuvPhRIczW_9_9c3yifS8oI68SSklx_QKmqF7BGsafv1TxG8I2ceawwpbjYozvbB4HKxwUCkqCClC51SuJK2EFpa_x_mNC1sq7qXDSD41CScabRamQcvCgNpCgvkaImAmv2Y/s1600/IMG_20141013_194645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBk_Ti1T-JuvPhRIczW_9_9c3yifS8oI68SSklx_QKmqF7BGsafv1TxG8I2ceawwpbjYozvbB4HKxwUCkqCClC51SuJK2EFpa_x_mNC1sq7qXDSD41CScabRamQcvCgNpCgvkaImAmv2Y/s1600/IMG_20141013_194645.jpg" height="320" width="237" /></a></div>
<div class="Textbody">
<br /></div>
<div class="Textbody">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="Textbody">
I have to say it was pretty hard to give away, as there was a little boy in this house who would have loved this crown and bunting too! <o:p></o:p></div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-55106392690234218662014-11-23T13:00:00.000+00:002014-11-23T13:00:04.661+00:00Woodland Photo ShootAm sitting in the car outside of my house with child #1 asleep in the back and child #2 making my stomach leap so wildly that the laptop (which is precariously balanced between my baby bump and the steering wheel) is increasingly hard to type on. But one has to get things done as and when one can, so on this dismal drizzly day, in my hours worth of compulsory confinement, I figured I’d post a bit on my long neglected blog. I've been meaning to post for an AGE about the little woodland photo shoot I did during the summer...<br />
<br />
I’d been wanting to take photos of children enjoying the crowns for a while to use on here, in any promotional bits I might create etc, but hadn't managed to get round to organising anything. Then I was talking to a friend who runs a<a href="http://www.foxcubsplaygroup.co.uk/" target="_blank"> woodland playgroup</a> who suggested I went along with the crowns to get some pictures at one of their sessions. So I did and it was perfect! Here's a selection of my favourite shots...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsycsq2DtX31vrxaNT3AQN-0_s0iwzT321k5nfPNn4z8gbUSKo8QorSpU-y1LFq2JM4cgq7aBsnfP3097SuCgycXkg44rBWFcp_vEfBokvU2Fg9QAa_Y3Nif_A0o6utfQaj-kjVsQmXb8/s1600/IMG_20140802_174616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsycsq2DtX31vrxaNT3AQN-0_s0iwzT321k5nfPNn4z8gbUSKo8QorSpU-y1LFq2JM4cgq7aBsnfP3097SuCgycXkg44rBWFcp_vEfBokvU2Fg9QAa_Y3Nif_A0o6utfQaj-kjVsQmXb8/s1600/IMG_20140802_174616.jpg" height="292" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOToZE3NipBFJ3qyH6h968iyhiOHUmsMuEykzxSWG61k1VFgOmyzT9E0XllFz0G_Kgg0iJwZCHfVBw3Fy5QFvjXa4BZ2CVSsJPFXmKQRt4Rpqi1Zx3aEvR6XKc4YBTlQcvux1nn9W2CR8/s1600/IMG_20140802_174050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOToZE3NipBFJ3qyH6h968iyhiOHUmsMuEykzxSWG61k1VFgOmyzT9E0XllFz0G_Kgg0iJwZCHfVBw3Fy5QFvjXa4BZ2CVSsJPFXmKQRt4Rpqi1Zx3aEvR6XKc4YBTlQcvux1nn9W2CR8/s1600/IMG_20140802_174050.jpg" height="400" width="231" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVmvYTOnspkwNDNo-hKorBXSKHwJq5kif2dPq5ce7ERuJMFXL8Y0aYIeMu2Bv1Nrb_jDsSOpyMgLPgB_38KcwHW_PSCJW1y6RfnEPUpQ5xCiMNq_zV3_jYzMh0vjflg-bVoKuf67v1vw/s1600/IMG_20140802_174331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVmvYTOnspkwNDNo-hKorBXSKHwJq5kif2dPq5ce7ERuJMFXL8Y0aYIeMu2Bv1Nrb_jDsSOpyMgLPgB_38KcwHW_PSCJW1y6RfnEPUpQ5xCiMNq_zV3_jYzMh0vjflg-bVoKuf67v1vw/s1600/IMG_20140802_174331.jpg" height="400" width="257" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WLiyGgsVtt2yb6tWLc5zKtdv-c3g3nsY43rE20vLqAiTczOdH4OmVC-PrcImrEB0fctuwazbb3SbcQZinw2mbAK3vDvU4RNCzVSvNu5UBOgghZ-rjfoLQKaHXwhC3fVhs6L_KIIS42o/s1600/IMG_20140802_173603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WLiyGgsVtt2yb6tWLc5zKtdv-c3g3nsY43rE20vLqAiTczOdH4OmVC-PrcImrEB0fctuwazbb3SbcQZinw2mbAK3vDvU4RNCzVSvNu5UBOgghZ-rjfoLQKaHXwhC3fVhs6L_KIIS42o/s1600/IMG_20140802_173603.jpg" height="400" width="285" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpst3e6ZfT0LhBjgxuui9IhDYRrO2NV5TmpoMX3iggV8MZufXtjZigWQdQ_wiR9HxYA3E-qwDQ5wgO8blHDSXwiUFrikjStJgYUJub4mWLkY5_AX_nsiKuSYwg7zz2x7a9QfYKgtA8jg/s1600/IMG_20140802_175428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpst3e6ZfT0LhBjgxuui9IhDYRrO2NV5TmpoMX3iggV8MZufXtjZigWQdQ_wiR9HxYA3E-qwDQ5wgO8blHDSXwiUFrikjStJgYUJub4mWLkY5_AX_nsiKuSYwg7zz2x7a9QfYKgtA8jg/s1600/IMG_20140802_175428.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzelCCTQSr3THYgPjCESqXftkyOcOjoenX_yfCeQjJP5B7AjTiZgYQktsPso0wITiHlrU_f64USKqbH-zLEOFTWE02-qvtakRawnQwfnuv68mry16q4y64P4lv2srJrsIjKQgia6oJu0/s1600/IMG_20140802_174307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzelCCTQSr3THYgPjCESqXftkyOcOjoenX_yfCeQjJP5B7AjTiZgYQktsPso0wITiHlrU_f64USKqbH-zLEOFTWE02-qvtakRawnQwfnuv68mry16q4y64P4lv2srJrsIjKQgia6oJu0/s1600/IMG_20140802_174307.jpg" height="400" width="277" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hYuDM16C-02O7tu2oxA3w4KXTrutSwoRx2CZ0DgJesO6egBxvKcnDuy5PwdzX_uh4F249uLHYnnevl8pUFyhvBe_4t0TERFN2LG5VITQLhmwtlnHzKjinEvTGyYqVLKxGNaqdL_zF_w/s1600/IMG_20140802_174528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hYuDM16C-02O7tu2oxA3w4KXTrutSwoRx2CZ0DgJesO6egBxvKcnDuy5PwdzX_uh4F249uLHYnnevl8pUFyhvBe_4t0TERFN2LG5VITQLhmwtlnHzKjinEvTGyYqVLKxGNaqdL_zF_w/s1600/IMG_20140802_174528.jpg" height="400" width="257" /></a></div>
<br />
The woods were a lovely backdrop for the photos and the children just got to carry on as normal whilst I chased them with the camera. It was actually really fun. I didn’t worry too much about the pictures I was getting at the time and kept clicking away until everyone got bored but I was really pleased with the final results.<br />
<br />
What do you think? I used a few of them at a craft fair I did the other day and they fitted in beautifully.<br />
<br />
Joining in with <a href="http://handmadeharbour.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Handmade Monday</a>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-64435384739177998042014-09-20T21:23:00.000+01:002014-09-20T21:23:48.537+01:00Planning<div dir="ltr">
For some reason rather than hunkering down, resting, nesting and winding down on the possible craft business front ready for baby #2, I seem to have done the complete opposite: </div>
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
<ul>
<li>I have applied and been selected for a local show (hurrah!)</li>
<li>I finally got insurances sorted out</li>
<li>I have looked into CE testing (and yes I have to do it - boo - but am ready to start getting that sorted)</li>
<li>I have taken some promotional photos of children actually using my products for marketing (post on that soon)</li>
<li>And have finally ( after many months of ummming, ahhhhing and <strike>online stalking</strike> following several logo designers) have finally commissioned a fellow Etsy seller to design my branding!</li>
</ul>
Phew! I'm exhausted from even looking at that list! Added to which I managed to wangle 5 half days this month of child care for Owen that I could devote ENTIRELY to Thisel & Bean business. SUCH a luxury! I have loved every second of the time spent planning and making (mainly factory line style making for Christmas), making and planning. I have such a sense of achievement about it all at the moment but still have a way to go...<br />
<div dir="ltr">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNREPOaa5dqeW_-rAq2i7wqkmQnHpIFs1Tw5fieZzlJsVN03Zy-ykfqCA6VhSyjcu0dpBOanXm-wxfjcp94V97iAK_K42O7laV_RJyuME4cUx0Baixw2QTyj1Ez1XyHudcu0DUBbWI9Ug/s1600/IMG_20140902_115921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNREPOaa5dqeW_-rAq2i7wqkmQnHpIFs1Tw5fieZzlJsVN03Zy-ykfqCA6VhSyjcu0dpBOanXm-wxfjcp94V97iAK_K42O7laV_RJyuME4cUx0Baixw2QTyj1Ez1XyHudcu0DUBbWI9Ug/s1600/IMG_20140902_115921.jpg" height="400" width="301" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
My master plan (if you could call it anything so grand), is to have myself in a position that from a legal and marketing point of view I am ready to ramp up my selling. I'm aiming to have everything in place for my first proper big fair on November 8th (more about that soon), where I'll also be promoting my Christmas wares properly for the first time. Then as my maternity leave kicks in and we (hopefully) adjust splendidly to life with to live with 2 children, that if I have the opportunity, I can use the base I have already built to start making and selling more!</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<cue daydream="" music=""> </cue><br />
How lovely it would be to get to the end of my maternity leave knowing that I could maybe pay for myself to work one day a week or something on Thisel & Bean!<br />
<br />
<br />
Chances are admittedly slim, but a girl can dream! Wish me luck!<br />
</div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com1Leighton Buzzard, United Kingdom51.9270613 -0.6527609tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-90305667151326950732014-07-28T22:16:00.002+01:002014-07-28T22:33:05.849+01:00Its been a while<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I probably have about five posts with a similar name as I seem to be either fully 'on' or the complete opposite with my crafting/ blogging/ tweeting in recent years. My most recent excuse is pregnancy...again!<br />
<br />
The happy news is that all being well, we are expecting baby Thiselton #2 at the end of December (stellar timing eh!). The not so happy news is that I've been feeling sick as a dog (where does that expression come from? I've never even seen a dog being sick!?!) and therefore totally un-inclined to craft, write or even read about crafting. I have unopened copies of Molly Makes sitting on my desk still in their cellophane :-o<br />
<br />
Its also been a bit of a concious choice to stay away from both craft and keyboard for a while as last time I was pregnant, I made a few things/wrote a few posts and even now, feel nauseous when I look at them: a weird pavlovian response that I didn't want to re-create this time.<br />
<br />
All that being said, I'm actually starting to feel more human (hurrah!). This morning I was awake from 5am and couldn't stop thinking about new crowns to make and whether I should be planning for a Christmas stall. So I guess I'm somewhat back for a while...fingers crossed!<br />
<br />
In the meantime I have had the odd order or two through the shop. One of which was to create some coordinated felt bunting for a dinosaur duvet cover for a little boys room. This was what I made...<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5275914726893612762" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTU_kL2xGZ_xWEHFKilxrF_Cbc7FdD5HBn-iqNz78yc8cxnuHVUy0NNKk7AVS2YFBblP60_VRchpthhZLbtNLElLg82seQXT0fsYm9mH_yWPxQHHDAw8oPlEmsBeP3x6Ul36GaoGTudM/s1600/IMG_20140711_130713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrTU_kL2xGZ_xWEHFKilxrF_Cbc7FdD5HBn-iqNz78yc8cxnuHVUy0NNKk7AVS2YFBblP60_VRchpthhZLbtNLElLg82seQXT0fsYm9mH_yWPxQHHDAw8oPlEmsBeP3x6Ul36GaoGTudM/s1600/IMG_20140711_130713.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
and this was the inspiration...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNpEtyY6gMLqxO90pPjiObfsXzR0hSV8f-04ugJSXz673ej-R8d4X-aP87j6RDOaQqvUqd03B_glyEaG8Oq377_lFtTw2MjmJ0cJRK4gwvlJQ623HwmE0RIfQb5632SUL4gwIO3uHVb0/s1600/9133428_R_Z001A_UC1440563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNpEtyY6gMLqxO90pPjiObfsXzR0hSV8f-04ugJSXz673ej-R8d4X-aP87j6RDOaQqvUqd03B_glyEaG8Oq377_lFtTw2MjmJ0cJRK4gwvlJQ623HwmE0RIfQb5632SUL4gwIO3uHVb0/s1600/9133428_R_Z001A_UC1440563.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
I was rather pleased with the result. By all accounts he was too! :-)<br />
<br />
Joining in with <a href="http://handmadeharbour.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/handmade-monday-178.html" target="_blank">Handmade Monday</a> - yay!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-20515180188086446032014-05-11T19:38:00.001+01:002014-05-11T19:40:18.495+01:00Twitter and a #springclean challenge<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've only very recently <i>'got'</i> Twitter. I'd tried using it a few times in the past, but could never find anyone to follow that I really wanted to hear much from...</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
That changed a few months ago when I suddenly discovered how many British crafters and crafty bloggers there were on Twitter! What a revelation! I am now following loads of people that I really enjoy hearing from, have tuned into new blogs and conversation hours that I had no idea existed and have been part of two craft swaps!</span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
The first swap was hosted by Emma Berry (@frugallypeachy) as part of #craftblogclub. It was their #springcleancraftswap challenge. The aim (in Emma's words) '<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">Create and send a gift to a fellow #CraftBlogClub-ee, using only what you have lying around at home. I don’t know about you, I’ve had a real urge to have a good clear out recently, so I thought we could all channel our creativity and send a big load of ‘Happy Mail’ too!'.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">My #craftblogclub-ee was Andrea (@forestflower23). It was such a treat to know that someone was making something for you...and then I received this 'happy mail' in the post.</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8FTGDNXECC8GzDCN-o8gzkfi3VI_Uyo7UoW7MtxbSNoyaCJOcC_mE_Oq3Ik48H3jV_NmH589NPP7BNGIGTpyvVAMAUgjml642_14yWX3IX_zaANOBhr8H_QtDJlpeO7ZyNmuVM0Gy28/s1600/IMG_20140425_155542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8FTGDNXECC8GzDCN-o8gzkfi3VI_Uyo7UoW7MtxbSNoyaCJOcC_mE_Oq3Ik48H3jV_NmH589NPP7BNGIGTpyvVAMAUgjml642_14yWX3IX_zaANOBhr8H_QtDJlpeO7ZyNmuVM0Gy28/s1600/IMG_20140425_155542.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">This is what I found inside... Aren't they cute! P</span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">erfect for me right now. I'm going through a ton of tea! :-)</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppXN4aTZ2o3U9P6NpclRgvHLv-2BACKFIP9x8DpJRt9vGw7zQfQU6urC22y0UtsZx5p8IZ6AHf7zp369PKYH8947BMzAwGut-f6Da59Llt2ut2AgxINZCwGP5H_6fdFONcjfuId4aBQI/s1600/1398626384485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppXN4aTZ2o3U9P6NpclRgvHLv-2BACKFIP9x8DpJRt9vGw7zQfQU6urC22y0UtsZx5p8IZ6AHf7zp369PKYH8947BMzAwGut-f6Da59Llt2ut2AgxINZCwGP5H_6fdFONcjfuId4aBQI/s1600/1398626384485.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">They have been well used already!</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZr2xo9KXupiVe4_Z8iJKKId1WCP6MbshLv8cbVetCt1Wv3InDiIMxz-Az_0SKgj6X42fk8G3tdipNdBflDvJEUZEsksXSwfE80i5-Iaun9yzZfZ2x2P5IZBMbPVj7gHJg9lHPMEC4w-Q/s1600/IMG_20140429_131003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZr2xo9KXupiVe4_Z8iJKKId1WCP6MbshLv8cbVetCt1Wv3InDiIMxz-Az_0SKgj6X42fk8G3tdipNdBflDvJEUZEsksXSwfE80i5-Iaun9yzZfZ2x2P5IZBMbPVj7gHJg9lHPMEC4w-Q/s1600/IMG_20140429_131003.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">This is what I sent her in return...</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzKV-vdWoosN5fbSnuzWtH4XizQz5QXbVS09-DNPM9DfJJjwQJutNjZnikRCinMb39gof8Pumz595scUSYZjqEOdyKj3ZzEQ2-qTncwmogyC-1CMLRiPZVrdAQHzTgdYEFU_FNMTH3Nw/s1600/IMG_20140424_141757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzKV-vdWoosN5fbSnuzWtH4XizQz5QXbVS09-DNPM9DfJJjwQJutNjZnikRCinMb39gof8Pumz595scUSYZjqEOdyKj3ZzEQ2-qTncwmogyC-1CMLRiPZVrdAQHzTgdYEFU_FNMTH3Nw/s1600/IMG_20140424_141757.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;">It started out life as a <a href="http://thiselandbean.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/sneaky-post.html" target="_blank">piece of appliqué 3 years ago</a> that had been tucked in with my stash waiting for some inspiration. I noticed on <a href="http://www.talesfrommountpleasant.com/" target="_blank">Andreas blog</a> that she was creating her own wall decorations from colourful materials and embroidery hoops and instantly, I knew what I'd make for her. I enjoyed doing it so much that might make one for myself now! I loved choosing the buttons. That green one has to be one of my favourites! So nice to have them on show.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 24px;">Second craft swap is still in progress so news on that one later.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Open Sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span></div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-1531692456699369402014-04-30T12:41:00.000+01:002014-04-30T12:41:00.111+01:00Wishful thinking<div dir="ltr">
Isn't it funny how the grass always seems greener elsewhere...</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
This is the bottom half of my friends garden. Down at the very bottom, just poking through you can see a big ol' timber built office, workspace and storage space. She will (once its all set up and working) be able to get her morning coffee, wander down and work in this gorgeous secret type garden. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
How lovely is that! Sigh...</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_0SAyttpRE-q3Or8Xg-_iuuhpFRFm0s_DzolCaDxH4Q8Yp8LK8b7D_AeiOeWp7sZSlTyo17kgWrZhckaJ7IdcV_4bSg2ys9XjHCuc2QUb_Yrhy4_NNTKdHomg7ATTR3K8PALA5ugDgg/s1600/IMG_20140420_220741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_0SAyttpRE-q3Or8Xg-_iuuhpFRFm0s_DzolCaDxH4Q8Yp8LK8b7D_AeiOeWp7sZSlTyo17kgWrZhckaJ7IdcV_4bSg2ys9XjHCuc2QUb_Yrhy4_NNTKdHomg7ATTR3K8PALA5ugDgg/s640/IMG_20140420_220741.jpg" height="400" width="400" /> </a> </div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-58853817998515186362014-04-29T13:33:00.001+01:002014-04-29T13:33:11.435+01:00A busy but crafty week<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Its been an eventful week or so at Thisel & Bean. My first sale to a completely unknown person was swiftly followed by a custom order by someone else...who then also bought a second custom crown! It was all very exciting. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These were the two creations...</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jj-7SiO_AU_sqx0IHdq05nIuuZN_6DlQGD6wLIuh9XnESm84CsiCctj3vsYn04p8wC4-7ujAsmHsXKtsNePfXwyuva-EN5rkOOCMNqLymxj8DoJtG3rpFOGydTLw-Wm-Y6bMDd3JXGI/s1600/IMG_20140423_162404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jj-7SiO_AU_sqx0IHdq05nIuuZN_6DlQGD6wLIuh9XnESm84CsiCctj3vsYn04p8wC4-7ujAsmHsXKtsNePfXwyuva-EN5rkOOCMNqLymxj8DoJtG3rpFOGydTLw-Wm-Y6bMDd3JXGI/s1600/IMG_20140423_162404.jpg" height="292" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKFYgZkR30BllAnQsOCSuX87VUNyB90n7xcK3yVJPWGOdBksKwQtYOBrpwsK9nkdV29Mu0U2V7PXqSvFc8fjdGh9O_zuXgtPq2QHiwNFC5pHkuC-BFKWe4CY-rKSHuIO4RZ-EWjKGs_Y/s640/IMG_20140423_162227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKFYgZkR30BllAnQsOCSuX87VUNyB90n7xcK3yVJPWGOdBksKwQtYOBrpwsK9nkdV29Mu0U2V7PXqSvFc8fjdGh9O_zuXgtPq2QHiwNFC5pHkuC-BFKWe4CY-rKSHuIO4RZ-EWjKGs_Y/s640/IMG_20140423_162227.jpg" height="288" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first crown I made was for a little girl having her 1st birthday. The lady requested lavender with butterflies. Here's the first sketch and the colour options. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOm8TrRat3AP14oXN51GnoVyxpyRo2dJOkI3hYtpBu9mjeH6aC-4qgHMi44wAOKzs8zppAi7YkoSQlOoobTlSsdoVqKegD4uCgd67L860y0vCpn5hySkVXqhwgHbMNi80vNjG5jI8Pz-A/s1600/IMG_20140413_214855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOm8TrRat3AP14oXN51GnoVyxpyRo2dJOkI3hYtpBu9mjeH6aC-4qgHMi44wAOKzs8zppAi7YkoSQlOoobTlSsdoVqKegD4uCgd67L860y0vCpn5hySkVXqhwgHbMNi80vNjG5jI8Pz-A/s1600/IMG_20140413_214855.jpg" height="275" width="400" /> </a></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEekX0Njk_FmSNjkmQ31FDlg2C5jvoVouiXXp-kuYzzyAVLlZpqp__06yx-pPwXY0LPkqoSHnzUSEkvXuI_m57RLdDz87ePMkagbwlOORPKVTw6xFvg8QahJQ6AB6k1jLPt4cExBiCruc/s1600/IMG_20140413_214623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEekX0Njk_FmSNjkmQ31FDlg2C5jvoVouiXXp-kuYzzyAVLlZpqp__06yx-pPwXY0LPkqoSHnzUSEkvXuI_m57RLdDz87ePMkagbwlOORPKVTw6xFvg8QahJQ6AB6k1jLPt4cExBiCruc/s1600/IMG_20140413_214623.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedY6pHpHHOcUBjjk4JfD4F34-Wg8NM77tyxAamCxL1iqcDW5zS89SOGOOJsiFfh_FD_zjT7O-I0URRV-xh65gVJVVwKY9pfBPvfE18DGTcB6_kpXg8e_gceJzBAiV12GFapoQc5jtd-4/s1600/IMG_20140429_132220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedY6pHpHHOcUBjjk4JfD4F34-Wg8NM77tyxAamCxL1iqcDW5zS89SOGOOJsiFfh_FD_zjT7O-I0URRV-xh65gVJVVwKY9pfBPvfE18DGTcB6_kpXg8e_gceJzBAiV12GFapoQc5jtd-4/s1600/IMG_20140429_132220.jpg" height="306" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I wanted the butterflies to look like they'd landed on the crown for a moment so only attached them in the centre.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The second crown was for a little boy who was also celebrating his first birthday. I was told that his favourite things were giraffes and balls, so this was the first sketch and colours.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPpnMQgEJ3zkQa-dThq8THmQVPo0jLA40F8MScN3ICy2_Ks3y1pqiFntBAoFSOk7s_ut9vTXBa279dWP_47hTv-BnwEBBa3U3aTPOlk6JEHlkKzX_q4ga8AwtkpDQ8xxnQMfAbzSzlJA/s1600/IMG_20140415_211341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPpnMQgEJ3zkQa-dThq8THmQVPo0jLA40F8MScN3ICy2_Ks3y1pqiFntBAoFSOk7s_ut9vTXBa279dWP_47hTv-BnwEBBa3U3aTPOlk6JEHlkKzX_q4ga8AwtkpDQ8xxnQMfAbzSzlJA/s1600/IMG_20140415_211341.jpg" height="278" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiQ7ra9f3xF3_hq18H7NYDbcs0hb8ZQwvrGGa7GqNl9bfbHZozO3V4XJjCSrn3GFHGe4vjoKNHoLY4BLwmXPMniM5eU_10Ua8isHlqMtjYbmlY70tKNTL2MXAHcXsyTwCfz_7UaiduPs/s1600/IMG_20140418_111352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiQ7ra9f3xF3_hq18H7NYDbcs0hb8ZQwvrGGa7GqNl9bfbHZozO3V4XJjCSrn3GFHGe4vjoKNHoLY4BLwmXPMniM5eU_10Ua8isHlqMtjYbmlY70tKNTL2MXAHcXsyTwCfz_7UaiduPs/s640/IMG_20140418_111352.jpg" height="300" width="400" /> </a></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMv6_JlRrPT3KVDglxvf7lQFSsU5xoP7H0K77JsorRByG7UIdHmTMS59hypY_sm1Z7Tt69K25CYBOoLnSqjE4oi47biesb-6V_FNnP6a6M32nvy7Bw-Eh_6lLyu0DJm7fWJ5tK0Y07Rco/s1600/IMG_20140429_132345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMv6_JlRrPT3KVDglxvf7lQFSsU5xoP7H0K77JsorRByG7UIdHmTMS59hypY_sm1Z7Tt69K25CYBOoLnSqjE4oi47biesb-6V_FNnP6a6M32nvy7Bw-Eh_6lLyu0DJm7fWJ5tK0Y07Rco/s1600/IMG_20140429_132345.jpg" height="288" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think my sketches are a bit on the basic side, but they seemed to give the right idea. I have to say I <i>really</i> enjoyed the process of discussing the options with the customer and then creating something that felt quite special.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm looking forward to making mo</span>re!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Flh4.ggpht.com%2F-miCX60UeeU4%2FU19BmZVvKVI%2FAAAAAAAAJDw%2FuD8haJ4RHwI%2Fs640%2FIMG_20140423_162227.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKFYgZkR30BllAnQsOCSuX87VUNyB90n7xcK3yVJPWGOdBksKwQtYOBrpwsK9nkdV29Mu0U2V7PXqSvFc8fjdGh9O_zuXgtPq2QHiwNFC5pHkuC-BFKWe4CY-rKSHuIO4RZ-EWjKGs_Y/s640/IMG_20140423_162227.jpg" -->Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-83692109355786009672014-04-09T21:51:00.000+01:002014-04-09T21:51:00.449+01:00Post dated post - Feeling the love <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today is another 'proper' work day and I have a mountain of work ahead. But whilst waiting for my pre-work morning brew to...well...brew, I started clearing my blog's 'drafts' box and came across this post. It lifted my spirits and has decided where I sit today for me!</span></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />A few weeks ago...</span></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Today is a 'proper' work day, and I've worked bloomin' hard despite having my fourth migraine in about 3 weeks and a perforated ear drum (thanks to a work flight yesterday - doh!). </span></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Anyway I have to admit to not always feeling my most inspired/motivated on my proper normal work days. I more often then not sit at the 'proper' work desk and look at a very bland wall whilst surrounded by mounds of paperwork. I often feel like I could/should be trying to build some kind of crafting empire instead which I would love Love LOVE but day dreams get shelved with my morning coffee mug and off I plod.</span></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />However today Mr T was working at home too, so I was relegated to the laptop and my crafting desk...and I found the love. My desk is surrounded by stuff I love, I have a lovely soft light in the corner and it has felt all snuggly. Definitely feeling the love. :-)</span></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDg15JkHGaqc7lzzEQKl_XD7oRXrDmGidfmzCQmaLzrXZwLoOzT4neRjCOvO7j_uhIbsrk34jTFtKPlNm6v6BOF8EzwgZe_LF3XqiAwdAZQIinVb9KFof7MWcQYCEBbzqAkdNFNUOll4/s640/IMG_20140220_163846.jpg" height="400" width="400" /> </div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-6780160918462930232014-04-07T09:00:00.000+01:002014-04-07T09:00:00.632+01:00Feeling full of springIts been a <strike>funny</strike> weirdly up and down week: feeling much less tired then last week and so far migraine free (yay!), a trip to A&E with Owen (boo!), considering applications to craft fairs (yay!), overtime in the day job (boo!) and my first 'real' sale on Etsy (the first person to buy from me without knowing me from Adam anyway!) (EXTRA yays, woops and other happy noises!!!). <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Amazingly quite a lot of crafting took place too. My main show and tell for this week is the floral crown I was working on last week. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx7muG8TmB67osbPkxDIDDz3R1QMTIwxGPuT0rxbh8QBonm0vyQ8Rpr6zR4VJvnGA8osmc6uJxmPekLfQWhhA-dWSexppPS9NbDNe84L4gMXEAuvZuxpckGCo7SHHnuaLzQH16axkhmjM/s1600/IMG_20140403_090049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx7muG8TmB67osbPkxDIDDz3R1QMTIwxGPuT0rxbh8QBonm0vyQ8Rpr6zR4VJvnGA8osmc6uJxmPekLfQWhhA-dWSexppPS9NbDNe84L4gMXEAuvZuxpckGCo7SHHnuaLzQH16axkhmjM/s1600/IMG_20140403_090049.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I wanted to use some of the gorgeous Pantone colours (see below) that are out there at the moment and I quite like it. Its a bit different from some of the others I've made so far.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiGIbTLMb5IpdkhWmGEsvLBjcIgIKkNoe1z-vXqcpnysXtig8cAa6MwPixjlizp0aTT-FbNsD7b3kpaF-8_byLBUZHHMQJPzMZZPnPxxoIqwo17VSGKv1WWKaPGe7qZB6JJVDm-IxsVk/s1600/Pantone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiGIbTLMb5IpdkhWmGEsvLBjcIgIKkNoe1z-vXqcpnysXtig8cAa6MwPixjlizp0aTT-FbNsD7b3kpaF-8_byLBUZHHMQJPzMZZPnPxxoIqwo17VSGKv1WWKaPGe7qZB6JJVDm-IxsVk/s1600/Pantone.jpg" height="268" width="400" /></a></div>
<i> (Image from<a href="http://pinkpetticoat.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/pantone-fashion-colour-report-spring.html" target="_blank"> here</a>)</i><br />
<br />
I used the closest felt colours I could get to Placid Blue, Radiant Orchid and Freesia. It was tricky doing the colour matching and even trickier to get the colours to come through in the photograph. Taking on some internet advice I threw together a couple of Amazon boxes and some white card and have created a rather unwieldy item that currently masquerades as my 'light box'. What do you reckon?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSGZJu9GP4yUm2l1jwFED4QS5JJGzeRFBjuslMVOva6kNljzBhN24SoXdlMZKWs-5ZtWgFN-v_wP096_OYSrIiPyKNfhycdvuhjhZ7KN1BViGqNVa2hpiHlMEf2TTlzKDqCIhRbfu5WY/s1600/IMG_20140218_163424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJSGZJu9GP4yUm2l1jwFED4QS5JJGzeRFBjuslMVOva6kNljzBhN24SoXdlMZKWs-5ZtWgFN-v_wP096_OYSrIiPyKNfhycdvuhjhZ7KN1BViGqNVa2hpiHlMEf2TTlzKDqCIhRbfu5WY/s1600/IMG_20140218_163424.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
It actually seems to have helped with the pictures I've taken so far, but now my challenge is to choose a consistent time of day and position in the house to take the photos and stick to it! I need to see if I can get some consistent results which represent the 'true' colours of what I'm photographing.<br />
<br />
Anyway the crown is now nestled comfortably in <a href="about:invalid#zClosurez" target="_blank">my Etsy shop here</a>. I'm not entirely happy with the title I've given it though: I started out thinking of it as a spring crown (and that's how its named), but the colours say 'summer' to me much more than spring. Hmmmm...it may change yet!<br />
<br />
For lots of other crafty folk head on over to <a href="http://handmadeharbour.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/handmade-monday-162.html" target="_blank">Handmade Monday</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-71443653422892668632014-04-06T20:37:00.002+01:002014-04-06T21:58:45.163+01:0010/52 - 14/52<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAg6ggWXYOKbZaPHx7rllsD_2Aj7EV0QZSTXdAtyViFadImXwCiuyYH-zNO9I0xlwQ0yIrK4tjWdnFF6PJWgo3_-5JtWjjT3Nrkcv6oRJAUhbWr60vuvvKf6V4A9s2mGiFVDjjj-ccns/s1600/IMG_20140331_133318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAg6ggWXYOKbZaPHx7rllsD_2Aj7EV0QZSTXdAtyViFadImXwCiuyYH-zNO9I0xlwQ0yIrK4tjWdnFF6PJWgo3_-5JtWjjT3Nrkcv6oRJAUhbWr60vuvvKf6V4A9s2mGiFVDjjj-ccns/s1600/IMG_20140331_133318.jpg" height="400" width="285" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUprtUOQxBGhUBktPA__1vNJ8A0hM-k9f9UVQEkUTO_UYtdjrC0K0_pkODmZ9nCMGHPYhqEc5ZaYeZbDyxBHORX-zV9q9kcFNOMxwLj-U00O6yoMmwwUKeWJd56nqo2a-EwB6Cz7G2Vk/s1600/IMG_20140331_133210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUprtUOQxBGhUBktPA__1vNJ8A0hM-k9f9UVQEkUTO_UYtdjrC0K0_pkODmZ9nCMGHPYhqEc5ZaYeZbDyxBHORX-zV9q9kcFNOMxwLj-U00O6yoMmwwUKeWJd56nqo2a-EwB6Cz7G2Vk/s1600/IMG_20140331_133210.jpg" height="400" width="286" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3Wk1Q6YmWkyuKP_PLa3pU2B-fSGIEt9eYYRpAsJDqvPIqmnx_0Eaq9PibJnj61yq5dv7ASesunubRgtFYpdyIaVc7cQPHAgRJawRpYae0VHcI8lc355kfBg9TWYLSRYzK34E5MTCN34/s1600/IMG_20140331_133050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3Wk1Q6YmWkyuKP_PLa3pU2B-fSGIEt9eYYRpAsJDqvPIqmnx_0Eaq9PibJnj61yq5dv7ASesunubRgtFYpdyIaVc7cQPHAgRJawRpYae0VHcI8lc355kfBg9TWYLSRYzK34E5MTCN34/s1600/IMG_20140331_133050.jpg" height="400" width="273" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrrJWmY8fBY70JtnMr2Tw4wIzUGi7xFJA9GMg5qekINhU7L5DrTAbN51LIY5fGhYMwGpiiDmp9RSbMRsIXnhPt3QQ6Ub0OC4rOWisFArqliLleinfoBLf4HVrq58W2RrkS_2InUkuyRk/s1600/IMG_20140331_132910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrrJWmY8fBY70JtnMr2Tw4wIzUGi7xFJA9GMg5qekINhU7L5DrTAbN51LIY5fGhYMwGpiiDmp9RSbMRsIXnhPt3QQ6Ub0OC4rOWisFArqliLleinfoBLf4HVrq58W2RrkS_2InUkuyRk/s1600/IMG_20140331_132910.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRVIBqIR5GuMZZuCMrYfssk2PGYHF8pvle3YHOnV5gsaMkCA57HE9LMFZUShoy3QA-gFP2dRjOmioaDGnXrW-0cw2bGTHYv67Q6xCtuRmGf3bMDLJDVv6i4-6Ju8ssTfSx4NGEQFJtV0/s1600/IMG_20140406_194826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRVIBqIR5GuMZZuCMrYfssk2PGYHF8pvle3YHOnV5gsaMkCA57HE9LMFZUShoy3QA-gFP2dRjOmioaDGnXrW-0cw2bGTHYv67Q6xCtuRmGf3bMDLJDVv6i4-6Ju8ssTfSx4NGEQFJtV0/s1600/IMG_20140406_194826.jpg" height="400" width="292" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"A portrait of my little boy, once a week, every week, in 2014."</span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've been a bit pre-occupied in the past few weeks. Mainly with work, a bit with crafting and generally with life...but I've still been snapping...</span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">From the top:</span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">10/52 - 'Choo Choo'. He's slightly obsessed. The tracks come out, they go away again, they come out and go away AGAIN. 'Oh no, track broken' (when he steps on it), 'Oh no, Zebra on the line' (always the zebra, the cheetah and lion don't get a look in). 'Oh no, CRASH!'. There's always some kind of emergency/imminent peril in his stories.</span></i></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">11/52 - A quiet moment at the garden centre whilst people watching with his bestie</span></i></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">12/52 - Owen bypassed all of the age appropriate park structures and went straight for the biggest. Then spent the next half an hour going up and down the enormous slide. He's turning into a bit of an adrenaline junky! </span></i></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">13/52 - 'Look mummy' (he says as he drags me across the garden) 'Truck in da bush!!!' ... with rising intonation as if 'how on earth did that get there?!?!'. He'd been told all afternoon to be careful of the plants.</span></i></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">14/52 - He was having a rough day. After falling onto his mouth at the weekend, lots of howling and a trip to A&E, a week day follow up visit to the dentist and the start of a cold on this particular day had pretty much finished him off. This was about as much enthusiasm as he could muster for home made popcorn.</span></i></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I finally have a proper camera again - hurrah! So hopefully I'll get to have some practice with it for this project again soon!</span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Joining in with Jodi's 52 Project on <a href="http://www.practisingsimplicity.com/2014/04/1452.html" target="_blank">Practising Simplicity</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-29136909146938595382014-03-23T21:12:00.000+00:002014-03-23T21:12:31.224+00:00Quick hello<div dir="ltr">
Desperately tired at the moment for no apparent reason so I have to admit, blogging is not top of my list at the moment. That being said I wanted to say hello to the <a href="http://handmadeharbour.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/handmade-monday-160.html" target="_blank">Handmade Monday</a> peops this week so figured I should probably do a quick post too. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
This week I mainly have works in progress. I got some new felts the other day so have been playing about with them. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
One idea I've had for a while is about doing some kind of seasonal bloom type crowns. Something a bit like this...</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhdZDkk8IZ5om_F6ghYIvKU1GKnTntxX1vgK4X6mcrPVgrzOUxmVPhUwsCccCNMnEXP4e6TO1wH9ss49eqNeKibqVS7yT_YRXsEc7Opwbncj6sXTfg2dHgstfgzKEWh2KcaR1gnNxpFg/s1600/IMG_20140323_204618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhdZDkk8IZ5om_F6ghYIvKU1GKnTntxX1vgK4X6mcrPVgrzOUxmVPhUwsCccCNMnEXP4e6TO1wH9ss49eqNeKibqVS7yT_YRXsEc7Opwbncj6sXTfg2dHgstfgzKEWh2KcaR1gnNxpFg/s1600/IMG_20140323_204618.jpg" height="277" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
I'm going to do more of a cherry blossom version later in the week if Owen's nap times allow me.<br />
<br />
As I was working away a second idea popped into my head and before I knew it, there was a little interloper on my floral crown! Can you see it? I started getting WAY sidetracked with anchors and waves so i didnt end finishing a version of either! Doh!<br />
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
As a little side note I gave my dad <a href="http://thiselandbean.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/look-at-what-i-just-got.html" target="_blank">the seagull bowl</a> yesterday and he was quite taken with it. :-)<br />
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Have a good week all! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-60456730101724028662014-03-13T12:13:00.004+00:002014-03-13T12:13:53.637+00:00Look at what i just got<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Look at what the postman just delivered! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCnvS-zKOFsa2dkBafACISGdjZIoXFaGYTK9WW-sbO0dg3Bu2_84dypUmgqm-G2SxJeARZ4S-cHZ0C7LIO0rsrBwJb5x9JPjbxjP5W10Z9iGa1iNETFrFTvNnKc1i7CoIeokpVsJVWRU/s1600/IMG_20140313_114935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCnvS-zKOFsa2dkBafACISGdjZIoXFaGYTK9WW-sbO0dg3Bu2_84dypUmgqm-G2SxJeARZ4S-cHZ0C7LIO0rsrBwJb5x9JPjbxjP5W10Z9iGa1iNETFrFTvNnKc1i7CoIeokpVsJVWRU/s640/IMG_20140313_114935.jpg" height="400" width="300" /> </a> </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I bought it as present for my dad's birthday and I have to say I am VERY pleased with it. It looks as nice as I thought it would and it feels deliciously. Its got a lovely weight without being to chunky. I am soooo tempted to keep it for myself! </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was made by a very talented lady Mecki that I came across on </span><a href="http://handmadeharbour.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/handmade-monday-158.html" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Handmade Monday</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. Here's to her blog</span><a href="http://meckimadeit.blogspot.co.uk/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank"> Mecki Made It </a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> if you'd like to see what else she's working on.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">She also (very kindly) included a little surprise which I am TOTALLY keeping just for me :-)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31WB2-H_po4xw3d1MQEnHB1VkujWiSep51gHbauI1nxvxNlNSmDr1tLEPiJV1LyyfFQ-zlfNmo5qjuHe7C5hzdCNYrKY6jLgkgteyr-rZS4WN9KRRci5aCldRDZrmVPg-heZfSpe1uUg/s1600/IMG_20140313_114930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31WB2-H_po4xw3d1MQEnHB1VkujWiSep51gHbauI1nxvxNlNSmDr1tLEPiJV1LyyfFQ-zlfNmo5qjuHe7C5hzdCNYrKY6jLgkgteyr-rZS4WN9KRRci5aCldRDZrmVPg-heZfSpe1uUg/s640/IMG_20140313_114930.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BUNNY!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPU1fjPi8LE691PylPLSyN3cYIbq2zjt3tzNniy1bB_JACfCBqg9ja6XqBcBJmXI-_-TfUrEf7NNL5gIIrtXCOuaudCJH6BeZ7rl2oV4XtxtfyezjH_JvKMy6-c_AUPMidWfv26EZiPU/s1600/IMG_20140313_115911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPU1fjPi8LE691PylPLSyN3cYIbq2zjt3tzNniy1bB_JACfCBqg9ja6XqBcBJmXI-_-TfUrEf7NNL5gIIrtXCOuaudCJH6BeZ7rl2oV4XtxtfyezjH_JvKMy6-c_AUPMidWfv26EZiPU/s640/IMG_20140313_115911.jpg" height="300" width="400" /> </a> </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bunny is going to stay with me in my workspace today, buy I'm hoping to find her a nice little spot in the kitchen to keep me company. :-)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You've got to love handmade!</span></div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-47919092107299428522014-03-05T09:30:00.001+00:002014-03-09T21:55:37.922+00:00No tantrums, just tiaras<div dir="ltr">
I was going through my crafty supplies the other day with a view to having a bit of a clear out. To my surprise I came across a few bits of sparkle tucked in away in one of the boxes that I had totally forgotten about. My first inclination was to put them straight into the 'freecycle' bag (I'm not much of a bling girl) but I got distracted by something else just in time. When I came back them a bit later, they'd been deposited next to a few other odds and ends which prompted a light bulb moment. Half an hour or so later, I had created my first felt tiaras (with sparkle)!</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Ta dah!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiWmDHprAZhgZocCVIsuv2TOEUCtNJFR2aKX5am6gPO2HJximZmgmHd9MDUhDEbl55UAkhVtFU-WjypDsBz1mk4jWzHvo5QJkAd9IwM262bfkvpSawrBlzd-dazN0oKbD5Rmho5gRxqk/s1600/IMG_20140114_185547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiWmDHprAZhgZocCVIsuv2TOEUCtNJFR2aKX5am6gPO2HJximZmgmHd9MDUhDEbl55UAkhVtFU-WjypDsBz1mk4jWzHvo5QJkAd9IwM262bfkvpSawrBlzd-dazN0oKbD5Rmho5gRxqk/s640/IMG_20140114_185547.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErQpQHDNFH-I0_3i6IaNAsQp5j5xDa19WCVZQr-9cXWNEUtkzyUvOKbAsrcEEX6GIH9eDDEnlA8b_yAKofIksZb0gmofe51BGVnqn44UW1VBBDp9o3E04m4qWXZAQYZI03v0Cp4ysBaI/s1600/IMG_20140114_185621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErQpQHDNFH-I0_3i6IaNAsQp5j5xDa19WCVZQr-9cXWNEUtkzyUvOKbAsrcEEX6GIH9eDDEnlA8b_yAKofIksZb0gmofe51BGVnqn44UW1VBBDp9o3E04m4qWXZAQYZI03v0Cp4ysBaI/s640/IMG_20140114_185621.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgvSRFtZiHht_FgMnb0q9IOELygUS3fSDvpgjgEeEfI6StuZbWF-gPHC95G-kKjsB2PClC_xegF8Mu8thfhMLzOm2wgnaRBn19R5ZA6Mq9hyphenhyphenCU9qKfOQruPlpULoo5cBySyUbBhE70Oo/s1600/IMG_20140114_185655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKgvSRFtZiHht_FgMnb0q9IOELygUS3fSDvpgjgEeEfI6StuZbWF-gPHC95G-kKjsB2PClC_xegF8Mu8thfhMLzOm2wgnaRBn19R5ZA6Mq9hyphenhyphenCU9qKfOQruPlpULoo5cBySyUbBhE70Oo/s640/IMG_20140114_185655.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9mWwRZcoG-1Z71g23Ys05NcgEcazXyecACqaydN75EeM7xEUlp6Jpd9ElUkLYk52pfMaLo4OoRZbOUyhDuACbSzY10Y9CNyBBT0jyC3bHZ1z6fu1BhMDcMJiy5eCJKqIMZnRCFY-0LI/s1600/IMG_20140114_185724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9mWwRZcoG-1Z71g23Ys05NcgEcazXyecACqaydN75EeM7xEUlp6Jpd9ElUkLYk52pfMaLo4OoRZbOUyhDuACbSzY10Y9CNyBBT0jyC3bHZ1z6fu1BhMDcMJiy5eCJKqIMZnRCFY-0LI/s640/IMG_20140114_185724.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOdeZRwb4wm0kcdUfll9Mb8Cqt22P3vtZvel17g3LPiBGOT6fFT-o311esmCi3e9Fhl3VaqqXA1gNIWVsKamDzKNAm0TtRlZQyNJddK0_xL6Mt4j403OoJjjrTfkQbSS_mY__xQsR7Qk/s1600/IMG_20140114_124738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOdeZRwb4wm0kcdUfll9Mb8Cqt22P3vtZvel17g3LPiBGOT6fFT-o311esmCi3e9Fhl3VaqqXA1gNIWVsKamDzKNAm0TtRlZQyNJddK0_xL6Mt4j403OoJjjrTfkQbSS_mY__xQsR7Qk/s640/IMG_20140114_124738.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
I have to admit I tried using a bit of bling when I first started making my crowns last year. I thought it would almost be an essential part of the decoration, but I got into a huge mess with it. They just didnt feel like 'me' and I love the simplicity of just the felt and ribbon that I use. So the sparkles got shelved...unitl now. For these little tiaras I think a bit of sparkle works perfectly!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqvYJZRJG8imuE8XRut_79GN6JnxZRP7rvsvfU53wGMC1qlnsu8HVVqtQciHHPVJJhJn0pnB4ocpyB9Ney0gBkr-OBHCmOfFKFyZ7FGlxJeaX9agq9qHkCDH7pQaEMbvBnhGbdgbQyhs/s1600/IMG_20140113_171941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqvYJZRJG8imuE8XRut_79GN6JnxZRP7rvsvfU53wGMC1qlnsu8HVVqtQciHHPVJJhJn0pnB4ocpyB9Ney0gBkr-OBHCmOfFKFyZ7FGlxJeaX9agq9qHkCDH7pQaEMbvBnhGbdgbQyhs/s640/IMG_20140113_171941.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<i>pic. my little helper very begrudgingly modelling the first Tiara!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Joining in with<a href="http://handmadeharbour.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/handmade-monday-158.html?m=1" target="_blank"> Handmade Monday</a></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-48577597061456226102014-03-02T21:42:00.003+00:002014-03-05T16:02:21.015+00:009/52<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsB_Zsltpoeo5DxNn44zMpbPZwmjeHsCe4JY37hT0PbAk_ZmWPz3sygAKh_ZWYcgi1rMqCWxIlF5fiQTTg4zJW9BGAJ2D-TcpEIlR0P5cNQVAO4Abxwt6UJ50Ti1qKiZVw9V8qn4I28Y/s1600/IMG_20140224_155847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsB_Zsltpoeo5DxNn44zMpbPZwmjeHsCe4JY37hT0PbAk_ZmWPz3sygAKh_ZWYcgi1rMqCWxIlF5fiQTTg4zJW9BGAJ2D-TcpEIlR0P5cNQVAO4Abxwt6UJ50Ti1qKiZVw9V8qn4I28Y/s640/IMG_20140224_155847.jpg" /> </a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">"A portrait of my little boy, once a week, every week, in 2014."</span><br /><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">Owen: Enjoying his babychino. </span></span><span style="color: #666666; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #666666; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">He is such a joyful little chap. I felt this picture captured the twinkle in his eye well. He was filled with such delight at even the thought of sitting with mummy to have drinks in a cafe. It obviously felt like a treat to both of us. :-)</span><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 18.479999542236328px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">I found it nigh on impossible to choose between the nine slight variations of this photo. I was very tempted to post a whole string of them but figured that it wouldn't really be in the spirit of the project!</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; line-height: 18.479999542236328px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Joining in with <a href="http://www.practisingsimplicity.com/2014/03/952.html" target="_blank">Jodi's 52 Project</a></span></div>
<div style="height: 0px;">
<br /></div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-33465485916620764652014-02-24T18:00:00.000+00:002014-02-24T18:00:00.363+00:00Woodland creatures cont...I was obviously <strike>in a grump</strike> having a bit of a 'moment' a couple of weeks ago when I <a href="http://thiselandbean.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/hmmmm.html#comment-form" target="_blank">posted about the woodland puppets</a> and and the woodland crowns. Since then the crowns that I refused to show(!) have quite grown on me. Now that the sun is shining again and I have some perspective I actually quite like them.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxKjTAHNIu5rWPsjgOlfAKbGzZcDMEOZSmIwgM_i3crowKPiZ_wnqBOIHh-yDowawonyGuvroDinnYLXukX-w16YfUXYUF_Gjx8CFcz-DRl0BGzwjc86NLadg_pQ52BPJgGfOWYF4Lik/s1600/PhotoGrid_1393226337497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxKjTAHNIu5rWPsjgOlfAKbGzZcDMEOZSmIwgM_i3crowKPiZ_wnqBOIHh-yDowawonyGuvroDinnYLXukX-w16YfUXYUF_Gjx8CFcz-DRl0BGzwjc86NLadg_pQ52BPJgGfOWYF4Lik/s1600/PhotoGrid_1393226337497.jpg" height="640" width="457" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwykgotXT3-VHGHqsgrECuC7LSGE5MzgJqxJQqI61iXZY2VIOM00Hxi-ZKMSInvUUJgTTNOrAQ7vs_hNGqWCpMwHjfl5rLNsXpfCcjmomvgOUHwfvO7QCvPbUXU2Ir2qZ2YQ-G03hXgw8/s1600/PhotoGrid_1393226372824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwykgotXT3-VHGHqsgrECuC7LSGE5MzgJqxJQqI61iXZY2VIOM00Hxi-ZKMSInvUUJgTTNOrAQ7vs_hNGqWCpMwHjfl5rLNsXpfCcjmomvgOUHwfvO7QCvPbUXU2Ir2qZ2YQ-G03hXgw8/s1600/PhotoGrid_1393226372824.jpg" height="640" width="456" /></a></div>
<br />
More then that, the process of disliking them and rethinking them, forced me to work out how I'd use the chevron ribbon differently if I didnt make the woodland crowns. I decided to do a range of very simple birthday crowns using it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RuzU-redwplgLxO94kOp4oFwnQOP4avno4pRDkjjAHKXEawUX2h3ig15O5LG7le3_LSRvPIgCxNoebLixveFjXwPPY1bdZj5kZY4W0QBwKE0e0xLRehW6686IKG08P8RPdhMzLs1Gqc/s1600/IMG_20140218_163029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RuzU-redwplgLxO94kOp4oFwnQOP4avno4pRDkjjAHKXEawUX2h3ig15O5LG7le3_LSRvPIgCxNoebLixveFjXwPPY1bdZj5kZY4W0QBwKE0e0xLRehW6686IKG08P8RPdhMzLs1Gqc/s1600/IMG_20140218_163029.jpg" height="275" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I REALLY like the POP of colour you get from the ribbon and think if people were looking for something simple but cheerful, this would suit the bill perfectly! I'm going to get some felt in the same colour as the ribbon I think for the number/initial as I think that will <b>a.</b> keep it simple and <b>b.</b> look best!<br />
<br />
Further on from that I have fallen for the puppets again; most likely aided by Owen who whenever he sees them exclaims 'Mr Fox!' with glee and insists I put them on him!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://hetkabinet.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Audrey</a> made a comment about how the russet fox looked a little more 'beary' and that sat with me for a while until I realised that actually yes they do - he really reminds me of a red panda. I might have to tinker with him a little. I think the original Mr Fox will stay though...if I can find a better red. And so the work on the woodland creatures continues!<br />
<br />
Joining in with <a href="http://handmadeharbour.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/handmade-monday-156.html" target="_blank">Handmade Monday</a>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-16935672719716793152014-02-24T12:01:00.002+00:002014-02-26T20:56:43.987+00:008/ 52<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXo_tPt-oKKXIalCpyGcTRknggKIweHAnuMhYs2iSmMrMUSE0jugxd9IewKAvZVBYBTFmr6NSYKley3-wYHneBzpw1W9alV01hLaqbxMicYh0lBaU64C9QBII8zIDcDsbw_KbIJKkSeVE/s1600/IMG_20140217_154943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXo_tPt-oKKXIalCpyGcTRknggKIweHAnuMhYs2iSmMrMUSE0jugxd9IewKAvZVBYBTFmr6NSYKley3-wYHneBzpw1W9alV01hLaqbxMicYh0lBaU64C9QBII8zIDcDsbw_KbIJKkSeVE/s640/IMG_20140217_154943.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">"A portrait of my little boy, once a week, every week, in 2014."</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This
was taken at the train station (by Mr T this week). We were waiting to saying goodbye to
daddy and watching trains as we waited. An especially fast train came
through the station. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is Owen caught mid "WOW!!!"</span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately I couldn't edit myself out of this picture in any way that didn't end up warping the picture of O, so sadly, I'm in this picture too!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Joining in with<a href="http://www.practisingsimplicity.com/2014/02/852.html#more" target="_blank"> Jodi's 52 Project </a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"> </span> </div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-73335829777642312142014-02-19T08:00:00.000+00:002014-02-19T08:00:00.315+00:00In celebration of a place i love #3: Day to day life<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Continuing on with my Chinese posts...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I came across a couple of emails explaining different aspects of day to day life in China. This generally meant that something seemingly 'simple' was inevitably the complete oppositte. Washing yourself and washing your clothes ranked highly! They still tickle me now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Clothes washing (when out of town one time):</b></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0.49cm;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">'Weather has turned crappy again, so I have gone from shorts to full thermals and woolies! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There's so much pollution from the cars </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">(the word unleaded is not even known) </span>and coal here that my chest is dying. In addition I have inground dirt in my nails, hands and ankles and all my clothes are a dull shade of grey now. Delightful!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The only way of cleaning my clothes is the hotels crappy twin tub thing. The delightfully helpful contraction plays jingle bells as it works and you have to fill and empty with water yourself. Come to think of it, it doesnt even rinse the clothes, so technically I'm hand washing everything to a dodgy Christmas tunes! Brilliant!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">To make things even better, our shower nevers runs with hot water, and being on the 4th floor I wouldnt even say that the water runs...it kind of dribbles (and slowly). You can imagine how great I look right now! The head scarfs are definately coming in handy.'</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Showering:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'..am giving up showering forever! Its just too much hassle, even when there is water - unlike today!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To explain the ritual it goes something like this. First I get down as little clothing as I can bear in the bedroom (the only room in the flat with any form of heating ed. in the winter the weather would get as cold as the UK with no central heating. Brrrrr!) and brave myself for the experience to some.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So then I sprint from the bedroom to the bathroom where I don the bathroom flip flops (plastic) and turn on the cold water tap/pipe which is FREEZING.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwA0MpgMIZJyhCS5-cjQbOY8kVjbFFj5_yeRQiSGA2g9j9xgGc41NtgnAmoW8VbEVrNCodYKjZvXB9jTd3wUXoqG4HZpqZNtri-QelhYHqA3ZdUk4j9nLDyql4xbaFmlxjd4ibsvH8En0/s1600/IMG_20140209_200652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwA0MpgMIZJyhCS5-cjQbOY8kVjbFFj5_yeRQiSGA2g9j9xgGc41NtgnAmoW8VbEVrNCodYKjZvXB9jTd3wUXoqG4HZpqZNtri-QelhYHqA3ZdUk4j9nLDyql4xbaFmlxjd4ibsvH8En0/s1600/IMG_20140209_200652.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bathroom <strike>made marginally less grim</strike> 'cheered up' by me with a few acrylic paints I had with me</span></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next I <strike>run</strike> shuffle at top speed (slippers are way too big) into the kitchen, swapping bathroom slippers for house slippers (woolly ones) to turn on the gas cylinder and ignite the water heater system. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKiFyhJaSC8WRQjAyJdCUeNrGSjZ5kKMQznF2hCErqxYxQDg5qFGw5Rkn6hiEmSw4qaESrOfQgWdFOW-Ye95bmHGbA_Y2nUVS0xYDlpvZkDia-JJiz95L3FLGRvYfZZdMCRpvpW5siqI/s1600/IMG_20140209_200728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKiFyhJaSC8WRQjAyJdCUeNrGSjZ5kKMQznF2hCErqxYxQDg5qFGw5Rkn6hiEmSw4qaESrOfQgWdFOW-Ye95bmHGbA_Y2nUVS0xYDlpvZkDia-JJiz95L3FLGRvYfZZdMCRpvpW5siqI/s1600/IMG_20140209_200728.jpg" height="263" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Kitchen...not much I can say about that really!</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I shuffle back to the bathroom (swapping slippers) to check the
temperature of the shower. If its too hot or cold its back to the
kitchen (changing slippers on the way - natch!) to adjust. And no you
cant leave it on the same setting as it changes according to water
pressure and the wind it would seem!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So back and forth I go until I finally leap into the shower hoping that the water pressure doesn't drop, kicking off the gas (leaving you mid shampoo having to sprint back to the kitchen to restart everything). Oh the fun!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just to show that my flat did at times look a tad friendlier...</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0.49cm;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4idKHAeUbNXJ_NuUnb10vMjUzoBW4ZrQ5c2rfGYkEDZieWf-rgur5UYSLFAbuKILevutFsyeypkFg6PYEYJFsEugnn3gHIYEZS1i33uq4n3GHFJJt_PJ6Hcbnnf2JPr_hvtD_Ly39Hw/s1600/IMG_20140209_200954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4idKHAeUbNXJ_NuUnb10vMjUzoBW4ZrQ5c2rfGYkEDZieWf-rgur5UYSLFAbuKILevutFsyeypkFg6PYEYJFsEugnn3gHIYEZS1i33uq4n3GHFJJt_PJ6Hcbnnf2JPr_hvtD_Ly39Hw/s1600/IMG_20140209_200954.jpg" height="263" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaSIEUF3KSP1qRpKamoPX-Q0COHeYhwwx0puoP90zSN3WtmYwhhbp_46yyRSYCaZDEvC9wH_x4nwuh2SKQRcb1S7UZ84wDLsswSMFLKYbOyQtiMo6FJYudnhdWoy_pGeaiT7SXmiIlms/s1600/IMG_20140209_201030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaSIEUF3KSP1qRpKamoPX-Q0COHeYhwwx0puoP90zSN3WtmYwhhbp_46yyRSYCaZDEvC9wH_x4nwuh2SKQRcb1S7UZ84wDLsswSMFLKYbOyQtiMo6FJYudnhdWoy_pGeaiT7SXmiIlms/s1600/IMG_20140209_201030.jpg" height="256" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetSQLf_JLIW5ONTCHfNGQQENRgu1lvlKE1lzpl504B3t8v6-ThWGGfnBcYv4sz_2uMHYpPwSfeBbSTvQCzuknVsCrPVHO3VfLoJZYMceaS4nof6vzoR-28ZOc-OH0yq5uZTYdcWLHIUQ/s1600/IMG_20140209_201126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetSQLf_JLIW5ONTCHfNGQQENRgu1lvlKE1lzpl504B3t8v6-ThWGGfnBcYv4sz_2uMHYpPwSfeBbSTvQCzuknVsCrPVHO3VfLoJZYMceaS4nof6vzoR-28ZOc-OH0yq5uZTYdcWLHIUQ/s1600/IMG_20140209_201126.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></span></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0.49cm;">
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pic 1. A summer shot of my flat looking marginally more friendly (my balcony was quite a nice - if dusty - sun trap) </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pic 2. With my adpotive mother, her daughter and my friend Martin during the winter </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pic. 3 Sharing a home cooked meal with some of my students (cooking with/for the teacher was a very motivating prize apparently! I learnt all the Chinese cooking I know from these meals - there were many. Lots of fun all round). Note the head scarf - they were my perpetual friends in China!</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0.49cm;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span>
</div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-64969247450567189662014-02-18T16:59:00.003+00:002014-02-18T16:59:24.149+00:007/52<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiiatPt1he5RzodQQ4l3CNgBO2YDD5a27SkpEhrx-iBnX1Hw-5GlnvtTJ0oj3Nuz9zaSAUSPMpHoH7pk2bzCelN6yV0cltVRipQt47_KzHkuqTN8Yz4x6Krjz9KFYeAmop4EzAmK_ktVM/s1600/IMG_20140217_131157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiiatPt1he5RzodQQ4l3CNgBO2YDD5a27SkpEhrx-iBnX1Hw-5GlnvtTJ0oj3Nuz9zaSAUSPMpHoH7pk2bzCelN6yV0cltVRipQt47_KzHkuqTN8Yz4x6Krjz9KFYeAmop4EzAmK_ktVM/s1600/IMG_20140217_131157.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">"A portrait of my little boy, once a week, every week, in 2014."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Bit late this week as we were dealing with 2nd birthday madness Friday - Monday so I've barely had time to think about anything else. Also (I shamefacedly say) I'm cheating on two fronts:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Lato, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">1. This was actually taken at the very start of this week (Monday morning). To be honest up until Monday lunchtime it all felt like last week anyway. Well that's my story anyway and I'm sticking to it!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">2. Its an instagram pic which I had promised myself NOT to use. Doh! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Regardless I love this picture both in its composition and because its soooo Owen. He was out for a birthday woodland walk with his friends and decided to have a lie down. There was no apparent reason for the lie down. Maybe he was listening to the woodpecker... or watching for squirrels... or literally just having a rest...who knows...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Lato, sans-serif; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Joining in with the <a href="http://www.practisingsimplicity.com/2014/02/752.html" target="_blank">52 project on practising simplicity</a></span>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5275914726893612762.post-12284923422932010552014-02-10T07:30:00.000+00:002014-02-10T08:01:17.270+00:00Hmmmm...Whilst Mr T. took the lad out for some play time this morning, I foolishly made the decision to clean an area of the kitchen that hasnt seen sponge in a long LONG while. I could have been crafting instead, but I managed to convince myself that I'd get more time later when the boy was napping or something.<br />
<br />
Naturally, that didnt happen! So whilst I feel super virtuous about the cleaning (even though no-one but me will know its been done), I'm now feeling frustrated about not being further ahead! In Homer Simpson's words 'Doh!'.<br />
<br />
With the scraps of time I did piece together I managed to finish my more russet coloured Mr Fox (left)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmTikiMT7J4uwt-N64WAwsH7TUOsmDpB9s8fT95wVBzKp9cNfjDv4mkkVYDIAl3l2F4KnWHpgeEW4bKpqXDpNOkeGFRP12jpjgGAhESvoDkL975UDiMYBUaNHh9QI0ZdCIksv5VVtDWQ/s1600/IMG_20140209_200531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmTikiMT7J4uwt-N64WAwsH7TUOsmDpB9s8fT95wVBzKp9cNfjDv4mkkVYDIAl3l2F4KnWHpgeEW4bKpqXDpNOkeGFRP12jpjgGAhESvoDkL975UDiMYBUaNHh9QI0ZdCIksv5VVtDWQ/s1600/IMG_20140209_200531.jpg" height="296" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
and gave him a new friend - Mr Badger<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTD3UUnaedLsmW2J2ZYWXnLcAK3tg37w28mV3G6I0FBnv300tiFDWLd5DQN3efjnQBmWFxXxpELam6xHvT_zbTCGraMUPgzwJaNkB_gkJSq1KuHXHZ8digG6bdhtp6KL4PRSB8-ET91g8/s1600/IMG_20140209_200451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTD3UUnaedLsmW2J2ZYWXnLcAK3tg37w28mV3G6I0FBnv300tiFDWLd5DQN3efjnQBmWFxXxpELam6xHvT_zbTCGraMUPgzwJaNkB_gkJSq1KuHXHZ8digG6bdhtp6KL4PRSB8-ET91g8/s1600/IMG_20140209_200451.jpg" height="305" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
(and yes the two foxes on the left of both photos are the same colour. The photos were taken seconds apart and inexplicably the light/colour is entirely different. And no, my camera isnt sorted yet!)<br />
<br />
I have to say that I'm feeling pretty underwhelmed by both them. I feel like Mr Fox has lost something something of the essence that his red counterpart had, and the badger (which should actually have round ears I've just discovered) needs something too. A natty green bow tie perhaps?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizE5EnJ2AjHTtJqJB6txdVgPF5KPbI0REVBGqmgf5ZroJLkBR7J41eT7GkppX5Spgw38Ynj_wUgB0zNr0Z73ybrSVqdiFRCoGgsBJMWOhhYjtJx6iAtlDnWHB8rf6BT7ks4fdt27EB1dI/s1600/IMG_20140209_200020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizE5EnJ2AjHTtJqJB6txdVgPF5KPbI0REVBGqmgf5ZroJLkBR7J41eT7GkppX5Spgw38Ynj_wUgB0zNr0Z73ybrSVqdiFRCoGgsBJMWOhhYjtJx6iAtlDnWHB8rf6BT7ks4fdt27EB1dI/s1600/IMG_20140209_200020.jpg" height="400" width="278" /></a></div>
<br />
At least someone had fun with them!<br />
<br />
I have managed made up a couple of the crowns but I'm <i>even less </i>enamoured with those than with the puppets (hence no picture)! Hmmmmm!<br />
<br />
I'm hoping that maybe I'm suffering with a lack of sun or something (has the weather been as awful with you as with us?) and that my enthusiasm will come back shortly. In the meantime I'm joining in with <a href="http://handmadeharbour.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/handmade-monday-154.html" target="_blank">Handmade Monday</a> to get a little dose of cheerfulness from all the lovely things everyone else has made this week.<br />
<br />
<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18187301496582305015noreply@blogger.com12