These are some of the things that I have been working on for the last couple of day.

A tea cosy for a friend who loved another one that I'd made and so wanted one of her own (I first blogged about it here when I talked about my 1960 pattern): Some bunting for a lovely little girl:

I have also recently been teaching myself to crochet using this book that I picked up in a charity shop:When I looked at this page I knew the book was coming home with me...

This was my first project...
Then I progressed to this...
I couldn't possibly complete a project could I? So I decided that I really wanted to have a go at a crochet flowers (I ripped out the first one so this is my second attempt)...

I have seen some flowers here made by the very talented Lucy. Anyway as you know one quickly became many more...
Now to sew all those ends in :0(

I called in at school today, I hadn't seen my class since before half term. It's a long time for me so to 4/5 year olds it must seem like forever. They were all very excited, thank goodness it was playtime where they could shout as much as they like!

Before we could stop them they had very kindly collected the heads off the daffodils to give to me as a gift.

Thankfully the head teacher wasn't there and I had escaped before she came back. They were all very interested in my scar and wanted to know if the lump had gone.

Whilst I was there I collected my mail from my pigeon hole. Guess what I'm not an NQT anymore! (If you don't know what that means, it is the first year of teaching after leaving college - Newly Qualified Teacher) I thought I would never be a 'proper' teacher with only doing 2 days a week. Anyway that's my good news for the day. I've also finished another couple of projects, I'll show you those tomorrow otherwise I will have nothing to write about!

TTFN Jille x

A while ago I blogged about a cushion I was making for my cousin here. well at last I have finished it. I'm going home to Wales during the Easter holidays and needed it to be finished. I've filled it with a feather pad and it feels plump and squishy all at the same time!

Here it is (dodgy picture but hey!):

I've also posted my gifts for the flower swap.

When I was over at Bustle and Sew I fell in love with a beautiful embroidered bag that Helen has made. A picture of it is here. Helen has very kindly supplied the embroidery pattern and like her, I have completed it in applique. Here is my attempt...


I used a pale green linen with matching polka dot lining. The fabrics I have used for the applique are scraps of vintage Laura Ashley. This is going to be my Spring bag - only to be used when the sun shines! I had intended to get some branches for our Easter tree ready for decorating when my children came home from school, but it is pouring with rain at the moment.
I have a list as long as my arm of housework I should do, but it would be a shame to waste my sewing machine still being out! So a little more sewing is in order...

Yesterday I spent the whole day at Bishop Grosseteste University College. I was fortunate to have gained a place on a Maths Specialist Teacher Master's degree course. It was a very intense day and I returned home exhausted. I couldn't sit around for long because I needed to get ready to go out. Ten of us had got tickets to see the Full Monty at the theatre. It was hilarious and with a theatre pretty much full of women you could imagine that the atmosphere was well...pretty raucous at times!


Today we have decided to cut back the apple tree in the front garden...

Husband balancing carefully on the ladder and looking slightly unsafe with a chainsaw...
Our lovely Dog (no he isn't in jail, he just likes to lie at the best viewpoint which is the corner of the garden behind the fence) watching the work being done whilst keeping an eye on the passers by...

This is what our tree looked like at the end of the day...

The before and after pictures are very different. It's a good thing that husband isn't a hairdresser!

Once a month a village pub that we know holds a gourmet evening, consisting of a set menu of SEVEN courses! Husband and I make the effort to go every month otherwise between work and ferrying children around we would never see each other. Anyway last night was our evening out. Despite husband shaking his head in disbelief I still took photographs of every course!

Watercress soup with lemon chantilly and parsley oil...

Warm rocket salad of asparagus and chilli pickled oranges with white truffle oil dressing... Monkfish osso bucco with risotto milanese and gremolata...
Roasted venison with cinnamon, cherries and walnuts...

Chef's speciality banana and orange upside down sponge with a warm creme anglaise...

Chef's selection of farmhouse cheeses with celery, homemade chutney and water biscuits...Handmade petit fours and coffee...

Mmmmmm! A delicious evening!

Another trip to the Doctor's, more antibiotics and hopefully this chest infection that has been hanging around for the last 4 weeks will go. Everyone tells me that I am doing too much and must rest. I just can't bring myself to do it - I always have to be doing something. Anyway, this morning I decided to do nothing (after I have put the washing on, tidied the kitchen, unloaded the dishwasher and hoovered...). I was given this DVD for Mother's Day:

So I made myself a cup of tea and sat down and watched it (obviously knitting at the same time). It was a lovely film and I really enjoyed it, it almost made me want to cook, but not quite.
Just as the film finished there was a knock on the door. First thing that went through my mind is Dear Husband has been buying more tyres from Ebay (don't ask!).
But no...My swap gift from Gill had arrived. My heart was beating like mad with excitement, but I couldn't rush - I needed to take photos for you!

I have received what I can only describe as the prettiest notice board that I have ever seen, a gorgeous knitted corsage, a lavender Stanley, a floral book mark (this will go very nicely with a book I have just started to read), a french Easter card and some cute floral tags. I feel so lucky, my gifts are wonderful. Dearest Gill, thank you, thank you, thank you.

Jille x

What is wrong with this picture...



Now that our boy is getting more mature in his years, he has decided that his place is on the settee! We know that he has sneaked up in the past when we were out but we had never really caught him! (Flattened cushions - comfort is a must, a warm seat and dog hair tended to give it away) However now, he doesn't even look an ounce remorseful! And to top it all, the look of disgust if anyone dares to sit near him! Talking of which, I've just sneaked into the living room to find him flat out again. It's a dog's life alright...

I have just received a lovely comment from Gill over at The Vintage Gardener, which tells me that she has received her parcel of goodies for the Tilda Swap. I have been itching to show you what I have sent her, I was really pleased with how they turned out.

A notebook covered with vintage Laura Ashley fabric (I am ashamed to say that I bought this in 1985!) I think I was waiting for that special project. The brooch on the front is removable and wearable too!

Gill's favourite colour is orange at the moment, so I made her a bag from the Tilda 'Sew Pretty Homestyle' book. I also made a removable Tilda rose brooch to embellish the bag.

This is the complete package, the bag, the book, buttons, bows, beads, ribbon and of course chocolate!

Making these gifts gave me a lot of pleasure and I am so pleased to have taken part in the swap.

I must share this... the other morning we were getting ready for school. Child 2 did something cheeky and annoying to Child 4 (as usual in this madhouse!). She turned to her and called her a d***head! There was a sharp intake of breath by all, accompanied by wide eyes. I was shocked. Child 2 said, "Who taught you that word? Was it Child 1?" (nothing like a bit of sibling rivalry!) Child 4 rolled her eyes and said, "Of course not, Mum always says it when people jump in front of her in the car!" She then added all knowingly, "she also says another one it begins with n and ends in head too!"
My shoulders are slumped. My head is hung in shame. Clearly I have failed as a Mother. I should have taught that child about the 'silent k' ;o)

Enjoy the remains of your weekend. Jille x

Part 2: After leaving my friends, I went to watch child 4 playing football. As luck would happen they were half way through the second half. The 15 minutes left didn't really give me the time to worry about mud and grass stains and their removal. It was a good game and the final score was 3-all. Child 4 having scored a goal, yay!! And they were against the strongest team in the league!

After that I popped into another of my favourite shops - Decorative Country Living The lovely owner allowed me to take some photos for my blog:

I treated myself to one of these tea towels (the ones hanging up). How could I resist?

All in all a day to gladen the heart. Jille x

Part 1: Despite the dark and mizzley day I have had a lovely day today. Firstly I met some friends from work for a coffee. It was a lovely catch up, I'm missing them and my class too. My class had made me this...



I'm so glad they think I'm a smiley teacher!

I was also given this beautiful orchid:



I now have to collect child 2 so part 2 will have to wait. Speak to you later x

It's been a busy few days. We have had some new windows and doors. Our front door has looked very sad for a while...

It was rotten around the door frame. We have had it replaced with this...

I know in the photo it doesn't look hugely different, but in real life wow!

Youngest child was off school, so we did a little crafting together. This is Brenda the Butterfly:

Finally I have my swap ready for my swap partner. Here is a little tempter...

I do hope Gill likes it. I am really pleased with it and hope she is to. It will be posted first thing in the morning. TTFN x

I have been looking through some of my old books and patterns and have settled on a booklet dated 1960. It cost a princely sum of 2'6. It was originally bought from a little shop called Daphne's in my home town of Welshpool (I hasten to add I did not by it, despite the fact my children think I was around with the dinosaurs - I truly wasn't!). Sadly the shop is long gone, as are so many independent wool shops. This is the pattern book:

So I sat with a cup of tea and carefully selected my next project. This is the start of it.

Can you tell what it is yet?

After 4 weeks exactly my scar is looking like this...



I think the Bio-Oil is working as I am religiously rubbing it in twice daily. My husband bless him, has offered me some diesel oil to use instead!
I'm hoping to reveal what I have been sewing soon, it's my top secret swap gift so shhh!

I was lucky enough to visit one of my favourite shops over the weekend...

They are a family owned business called Jolly Posh who sell lots of beautiful goodies...

I am off now to get my sewing machine out - I do hope I remember how to use it - it's been a while!