Wonderful Books for Wonderful Girls

Here are some of wonderful books I purchased as gifts for my two wonderful nieces...

The eldest of the two is six and just beginning to experience the joys of reading alone. Johnny got her Fox in Socks by Dr Seuss for her birthday, which she loved and resulted in much rhyme making of our own. I've always tried to get them books as they have so many toys already, I loved books (well I still very much do!) as a kid and I really want them to feel the same way. So Bethany is six and I'm pretty sure that was probably around the time that I read a whole book all on my own, I remember it well and how proud I was, the book was Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach. I went on to work my way through all of Roald Dahl's books right up until I was a grown up and read his adult short stories (which are amazing by the way) Johnny also has many fond memories of his books so we thought this would be an ideal starting point for her. I used amazon's age guides to assist in working out which ones would be best, I really don't want to give her something so difficult it puts her off. I also got here the Where's Wally Solid Gold Collection for some silly fun.

Nicole is only 2 and a half, but, as most little sisters do, copies everything Bethany does! She might not have the patience to sit through a story, she tends to attempt a conversation with Bethany in loud whispers, as if we won't notice, but she likes to open a book up on her lap and pretend she's reading aloud. Plus I figured it would be really nice to get her something that Bethany could attempt to read for her. I'm a bit of a creature of habit and once I find an author/illustrator that I (and of course they) like I tend to buy all of their books. So as usual Oliver Jeffers' new book has appeared in the pile of Christmas presents. I absolutely adore his pictures and the stories are so simple yet so beautiful.

I've been very good and haven't read it yet...I'm waiting for the pleasure of reading it two very special girls on Christmas day!

It's so strange to think that next year I'll be buying gifts for my own little one!

Mince Pies...

I LOVE mince pies...I reckon I could eat about a hundred of them before feeling sick! I love them even more with a tiny smidge of brandy butter sneaked in under the lid, melting into the filling....mmmmmmm.

So a couple of years ago I attempted my own mincemeat, before this I'd always just bought a jar and the pastry which kind of took away the whole point of making them myself! I took the recipe from a magazine and had it safely stored in my precious notebook of recipes...which seems to have disappeared somewhere between my many moves the last couple of years. So this year I took the recipe from Nigella's "How to be a domestic goddess" (which I managed to pick up in a charity shop for £2, what a bargain!). The recipe uses apple as a substitute for suet, she also has a recipe using suet but I thought I'd give this one a go. It does seem to be missing something but I'm not sure if it's the suet or whether I was a bit skimpy on the brandy. The pies themselves are still delicious but I'm not sure whether I'll use the recipe again.

I used puff pastry, rolled it out with icing sugar and glazed it with milk and a little bit of brandy. I bought the pastry...I always buy the pastry, I don't think that I've ever attempted to make it myself! It just seems so silly when you can buy it so easily! Maybe next year!

So it's feeling ever so festive here this evening....if only I had some mulled wine to accompany those pies...

Oh Christmas Tree...

When I got back from work on Sunday there was the sweetest (and quite tiny) Christmas tree waiting for me, still wrapped up and crying out to be decorated!

So here he is. I can't really get any great pictures because of the light, but I can assure you that it looks fantastic, very traditional. And every single decoration that adorns his branches was hand made by myself of Johnny which makes it even more special.

Last time we were up visiting my Mum we painted this in her shop.

I hope that it's a tradition we keep up adding a new one to our collection each year...obviously next year there will be little fingers helping us to paint one!

I also made these little stars from some decopatch...

Johnny made some paper chains...

It's made me a very happy girl, I've never had my own REAL Christmas tree before it smells wonderful and looks fabulous, all the gifts are wrapped and carefully placed under it's branches...I am so very very excited now!

Last day for US shipping...

Just a quick note to let you know that today is the last day I can accept US orders in the shop and guarantee them in time for Christmas. Because of this I'm offering FREE shipping on all orders in store for today only (that's on all orders, even if you aren't in the US)! I'll refund the amount through paypal.

That's all for now....Happy Tuesday xxx

Some wonderful things in the post...

I've been such a terrible blogger this week, my unexplained absence is mostly down to attempting to go back to work, but finding it to be so incredibly difficult. The problem is, I'm actually not any better than I was 2 weeks ago, but I want so much to go back, if they can't find out what's wrong with me then I may just feel this way through the whole pregnancy and if that's the case then I definitely can't stay at home the whole time, 2 weeks was sending me insane! But at the same time I make myself so panicked about the prospect of falling over somewhere dangerous that I just make myself feel even worse. To top it all off I developed some kind of eye infection yesterday, my right eye is so swollen I can hardly see out of it!

Anyway....some nice things, whilst spending all that time couped up at home attempting to recover, but not making any progress, I spent quite a lot of time (and money) on internet (well etsy mostly) shopping. Here are some of the lovelies I received...

Some wonderful treats from Belle and Boo,

She's having a 25% off sale on all her prints at the moment and also has some great offers on stocking fillers which is what I went for. The quality of everything is lovely right down to the super beautiful packaging. I want so so much to get a print for the baby's room, but Johnny is convinced they are too girly. I disagree, this is the one I would choose but no still too girly apparently. Hey ho...maybe I'll just have to get some for the craft room, once I get round to actually turning into a craft room from a junk room!

I also purchased these lovely christmas cards from The Black Apple

Again they were so beautifully packaged, and the cards themselves are lovely. They are really big, which is great because I only really tend to send christmas cards to people I don't see very often so lots of room is good to fill them in on lots of news and gossip.

I had so many lovely things arrive for me in the post the last couple of weeks but as most of them are christmas presents and I'm not sure about who does and doesn't read my blog, I must keep them hidden away, for now at least. Which is a massive shame, as I would love to share the names of all the wonderful etsy sellers I have encountered.

Happy Sunday all...I'm going to attempt a full day at work! Wish me luck! xx

Becoming a Ninja factory...

That's certainly what my front room felt like yesterday as I spread out all my newly purchased supplies and begun making a mammoth amount of ninjas! I even went out in the rain especially to buy those supplies! It was not at all nice...and I'm absolutely certain that cars were deliberately speeding up to go super fast through those many puddles that soaked me from head to toe! I thought people were supposed to be nicer to pregnant women, obviously not me! Anyway it was all worth it as this is what I returned home with...

And here is just some what I produced...

I absolutely adore seeing them all lined up like that! Once they've been photographed they all live on a shelf in our lounge, all the rest of my crafts are neatly put away in boxes, but the ninjas get pride of place on full display until they sell and travel away to distant lands!

Talking of which, got some parcels to pack up. Have a lovely Wednesday xx

A Baby Blue Blanket...

As promised...here are some pictures of the (still very much in progress) baby blanket I've been knitting. I'm by no means an expert knitter, but I do really enjoy doing it as, a result this blanket will be incredibly simple, but well loved I hope.

I've been using Rowan Milk Cotton, I'm not really sure what inspired someone to make a yarn out of milk protein, but it is so so beautifully soft and light. I think it will make a really lovely summer blanket once it's finished, which is good because the chances of me finishing it before the summer are probably quite slim!

I'll keep you updated on the progress, now I must return to the making of many many more ninjas!!!

Errr...yet more ninjas...

Sorry to be so predictable...I will try to be more varied in the future I promise. But I did make some more ninjas yesterday and these are super special festive ones...with their own candy canes and everything!

I also made some new colourful ones...including a brand new colour altogether...purple!

Otherwise it really was just a lazy Sunday as promised...mostly just knitting. A blanket for the baby, I'll show you pictures tomorrow!

Happy 1st of Dec, I don't have an advent calender but I wish I did! And don't forget...today is the last day for...

Buy one, get one FREE in the shop

So pop along today if there was anything you had in mind for Christmas gifts!

xxx

Why more ninjas of course...

Seeing as the buy one get one free sale in my shop has quite depleted my stock of ninjas quite substantially, yesterday I made a few more...

Not as many as I'd have liked as I'm running very short on polymer clay, I didn't make it to the craft shop yesterday and unfortunately it's closed today, however I'm going to do my best to create what I can with what I have left though!

I also made this little man, who I love...

He doesn't have a weapon as I was a little bit worried that if were going to thrown around in handbags and pockets amongst a whole load of keys the sword/nunchucks/throwing star might not do all that much to defend him in the end! But I'm quite happy about his simplicity. I'll see how in fares in the shop, but hopefully I'll be making more in the future.

I hope that everyone has had a lovely weekend...think I'm going to have a lovely lazy Sunday here.

xx

The postman did not come yesterday...

He did not bring me my black apple christmas cards, or my moo stickers and he most certainly did not bring me amelia's magazine. I know that is nearing christmas and I must learn to be patient with the postman...he probably is very busy, but one of the few things to do when you are stuck at home poorly sick is order things on the internet and wait for them to arrive. Plus I've been so busy internet shopping that I've kinda gotten used to a package (at least) everyday!

I suppose there is a plus side to all of this I did manage to produce these...

Something that probably wouldn't have happened had my lovely magazine arrived.

Anyhow enough of my moaning...I must be off got lots of parcels to post...hopefully the postman will be nicer and quicker with those than he has been with mine!

Don't forget it's buy one get one FREE in my shop all weekend.

xx

Black Friday-Cyber Monday SALE!!

This weekend, all the way through from today until midnight on Monday I'll be hosting a very special sale! Here are the details...

Buy one get one(cheapest) FREE on all items in store!

Add the two items you want to purchase to your shopping cart, pop "sale" in the message to seller and choose "other" as your form of payment, I will then send you an updated invoice via paypal.

ALSO...all of my beads have FREE shipping anywhere in the world and I also have a lot of sale batches in store at the moment!

Click here for my shop!



There are loads of other etsy sellers getting involved too...take a look here.

What a fabulous time to start your christmas shopping!

Happy Friday all. xx

A good old clearout...

This is exactly what I've doing this morning...ever since I've been making beads I've been filling up a jar with all the not so perfect and last of ones that I've produced, well today I emptied that jar and went through them all, bagging them up into lovely little sale bundles.


So over the next few days I will be listing all these lonely beads in need of a home, at super discount prices...as always all my beads are free shipping, you'll be able to find them all grouped together here.


In other news I managed a photo of the little baby booties I made a couple of days ago...


I did find a free pattern online but unfortunately it wasn't the most comprehensive and as a result these pretty much came out of my head. I won't post a link to the pattern as it really wasn't much help at all!

As well as having a big clearout of stock this weekend I'll also be hosting a big black friday thru cyber monday sale, as I'm pretty sure lots of other etsy sellers will be...more details can be found here. I'll be announcing my sale offers tomorrow, here and they'll also be posted up on the front of my shop.

Happy Thursday all xxx

More Baby Pictures...

Here he is yesterday. Can't believe I'm halfway now! Despite everyone telling me it'll fly by I can assure you so far it hasn't!

Not much crafting to display I'm afraid as I haven't been up to much at all, and also it's so miserable and dark around here these days it's hard to take any decent pictures! I have made some baby booties, but I'll have to show you pictures of those another day.

I'm still off work and really starting to get bored now...although they have actually prescribed me some tablets and given me a bit more advice on what I can do to get better, so hopefully it won't be long now and I'll be full of that pregnancy energy everyone says you get in the 2nd trimester!

Stitching Little Houses...

As I've been trying to spend more time relaxing as advised...I've mostly been stitching up these little houses.

They seem kind of festive to me, I don't know why I think they remind me of the houses I painted on a mug a few years ago...

I'm really enjoying embroidery at the moment, I love it because you can sit in front to of the telly and relax whilst you're doing it and unlike crochet or knitting you don't have to keep so much of a track of numbers and stitches and rows etc...  It's perfect for me right now.  This little lovelies will be backed and framed in embroidery hoops and will go on sale in my shop.

Some more pictures for you... 

I hope everyone has been enjoying lovely sleepy Sundays like myself.

xx

Saturday Night Sales...

Just a quick note to let you know...

Saturday Night Special at Lilley's runs from now until Midnight (tonight-22.11.08) wherever you are.

Free Shipping anywhere in the world, on all items in store!!!!

Just pop "SNS" in notes to seller at the check out and wait for an updated invoice before paying.

xxx

More Chrismas type treats....

Getting a little carried away on the Christmas theme...well it's not too long now...I've been creating candy canes and snowmen this morning...

You can see many more pictures of my Christmas creations over here and of course they'll be on sale over here.

I also made some little candy canes which will be extra little gifts to add to my Christmas sales parcels, and as I near my 100th sale I have decided that the person who purchases that 100th item will receive a whole bundle of Christmas goodies!

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend. xx

Festive Treats...

Well I didn't actually get around to making Christmas decorations until today what with one thing and another. Mostly just not being particularly well, I'm not really feeling any better but the doctor has banned me from doing ANYTHING and I'm starting to get a little bored. I figured a little crafting can't be that dangerous for my health!

Anyway...these are the pieces I put together this afternoon and fortunately finished just in time to catch the last bit of light.

As always they will be available for sale in my shop later on this evening. Along with these little lovelies...

They say it's going to snow this weekend and there is an eerily shade of purple light outside at the moment, which makes me believe it may be true. I do not like snow in the slightest...however if I don't have to leave the house and can admire from the warmth of inside, I can appreciate it's beauty.

Happy Friday all xx

Some MORE ninjas...

The ninjas in my shop have been flying out the last few days, especially the pink ones, so as I only had the one pink one left so far today I have mostly been making more ninjas!

As the pink ones have been such a success I decided to have a go at some other colours. I'm not sure they'll be quite as big a hit as those lovely pink ones but hey it's worth a go.

Hopefully this new found energy will result in the creating of some christmas decorations this afternoon.

The reason I've been absent...

This little one has been exhausting me in the most unbeliveable way!
Here he is at just 11 weeks now he's nearly 19 and some days I feel even more tired than I did back then. However I really want to get back into my internet and blogging life before he actually arrives and I have even less time to spare!

Crafting has been playing such a small part in my life that I really have little to show for my absence. Mostly I have been knitting and doing small amounts of embroidery. Anything I can do whilst paying little attention and sat under a blanket on the sofa! But with a few days off work I hope to produce some new items to add my shop this week.

xxx

Even more ninjas

This morning has mostly just been spent making Ninjas...I really should be unpacking our many possessions in order to make our house just a little more livable but hey ho...this was much more fun!
They will all be available in my shop at some point...some will definitely be making there way over there this afternoon.

So on with tidying and unpacking for me. Happy Monday x

Hot Water at Last!

I have been terrible this week for keeping updated on my blog. And I had so much to share too.
We finally have hot water again!! It is wonderful, everytime I wash my hands I jump in surprise that this amazing thing is happening!

I did do a lot of crafting on Monday but have been pretty terrible at doing much of anything this week. Yesterday I was really unwell, woke up with a migraine, tried to sleep it off but was just sick all morning, managed to sleep most of the afternoon and Johnny made me some soup when he got home, but unfortunately that didn't last long either, however I'm feeling a million times better this morning and have already cleaned most of the house and made a start on baking some banana bread. Hopefully we're going on that shopping trip this afternoon that was promised to me last weekend, but I won't hold my breath.

As for crafting, I made some yummy magnet treats with polymer clay this week. All of which are already available in my shop.

Chocolates...

And Fruit Pies....

Not much else to share today really. I hope to get onto making a lot more ninjas soon and also have a new interest in making soap, which I've been thinking about so much I've even begun dreaming about. I'm hoping I can find a shop in which to buy all the supplies I need, as I'm finding internet shopping for them a little daunting.

Anyways, happy weekend. xx

Alphabets and Ninjas

With no work yesterday (or today for that matter!), I had a pretty productive day overall. I didn't get to do the fun kind of shopping I was hoping for as it just isn't very good for that where we live and didn't quite get ourselves ready in time for travelling to Bristol or Birmingham, but did get to do some of the boring "stuff we need for the house" kind of shopping. When we got home we ate lots of toffee yum yums and I made many beads with some special cutters that Johnny spotted for me.



Obviously they are cookie cutters really, but then so are all my other polymer clay cutters and they've always worked pretty well and as it turned out so did these. I was really pleased as although the principle would be same as with another cutter, letters are a lot more delicate and fiddly overall. But (well I think so anyway) they are quite well defined, you can certainly make out what they are meant to be anyway. These are for my niece, well one of each letter at least, but I'm thinking about doing custom orders for my shop.

I also made some more of these little fellas who were originally for the UK etsy challenge. I haven't participated since back then, over a year ago now, but am thinking of doing so again soon. October's challenge is King Arthur! I have absolutely no idea what I'd do for that, but I guess that's why they call it a challenge!!

Anyway...these are my new ninjas who will be making their way into my shop sometime this afternoon.

There's not much else to share yet for today, but I intend to spend the rest of day crafting, so no doubt there will be tomorrow at least if not later on this afternoon!!