Macmillan Coffee Morning

On Friday I held a coffee morning for Macmillan. I thought that I wouldn't get many people to turn up as I hadn't sent out all my invitations, I had a cold the week before and I just didn't feel like doing anything. I've past it on to John now so he's feeling tired and no energy now. I spent Thursday baking cakes wondering if anyone would turn up, then Friday I was so surprised quite a few friends and family arrived and a great morning was had by all. I raffled off my spot teddy, (still haven't drawn the winning ticket yet as i think I may be able to sell a few more on my travels) and people popped donations in the box for their coffee and cake and at the end of the day I had raised £126.00 which I thought was great.

Spot The Teddy

He's a few pictures of what I've been up to whilst it's been raining and Hubbies been watching the Olympics. He sat nearly all day Saturday watching it so I decided to make a few pressies for one of the new babies at the Stock car racing. It's the first time for a while that I have used my embroidery machine. I like using this has it turns ordinary items into something special quite quickly. Whilst we were away in Spain we saw these cute little shoes that we all thought would be just right for Ruby so I decided to make a little cotton bag with her name on to give them in. Next I bought a pack of bibs and embroidered her name and a little motif on. On one I embroidered her Dad's racing number. This went down a treat at the racing yesterday.

I still had some of the Amy Butler material left from making my blouse and top so I thought I would have ago at the Teddy pattern I had. I used this many times when the kids were little but hadn't used it for about 8 years. I am quite pleased with the outcome. Photos could be better but it never seems to get light these days! I think I may raffle this at my Macmillan coffee morning next month.

Off to see what I can make this week, I need to use up some of the material I have stashed in the loft. Think I may have ago at something out of Amy Butler Instiches. Has anyone tried the clutch bag? I like the look of this.

Well Done!

Well my little lad has done it, he got 2 A's & 2 B's and is now off to Warwick Uni to study Finance and Accounting. We are all so proud of him, he's the first one out of our families to go to university.

His little sister had good AS level results too and hopefully this time next year she'll being going off to uni. Think Dad and me better get earning the pennies. Perhaps I should open an Esty shop and try to sell some of the things I have made.

Will pop back later with some photos of what I have been up to the last couple of weeks.

Aunties Birthday

Just thought I'd show you what I made my Aunt for her Birthday. I used some left over fabric from a dress I made for the jewellery roll and I used some of my bargain fabrics from Dudley market for the tea cosy. I got the tea pot for £1 from a charity shop and my Aunt's kitchen is blue so it should all match. I made a lavender heart to match too. Sorry the pictures aren't that good but I was in a rush to deliver my present this morning and literally took them just before I wrapped it.

Going away next week so busy weekend trying to dry the washing. Jack gets back from holiday tonight, can't wait, the house has felt so empty with just one of them missing. I still have been laying the table for four at meal times though.

Hope you all have a good weekend.

A Busy Monday Morning

Don't know where the weekend went to, they seem to go by so fast these days. We were busy trying to paint the large window on the side of the house before it begins to rain again. We seem to have been doing this forever and there's one just as big to do on the front now. We also spent some of the weekend helping my bother an his family move house, to one just over the road from us. I keep being nosey now watching who's coming and going from there.

When I got up this morning the lilies in our garden had opened, they are such a lovely salmon pink colour.

I need to use up some veg I had bought last week so I made tomato and sweet pepper soup, and butternut squash and chili soup.

Next I used up the left over chicken from yesterday, for tonight's dinner I made chicken and broccoli bake, then I boiled the carcass and made chicken and veg soup. I have put the soups in containers to freeze. I have now got quite a few meals prepared in advance so perhaps I'll have more time for crafting.

We were running out of cakes so I made a few rock buns which I put strawberry jam in instead of currants as the kids don't like currants. Managed to take a few photos of these to show you with the old camera as Jack as taken my new one away with him.

At Least These are Enjoying The Rain

Had to show you a picture of our grapes this year, they've gone wild. We put the vines in 4 years ago but this is the most grapes we have had. The white grapes seem to do better than the red ones for some reason, only a couple of bunches on them but about 15 on the two white ones. Looks like we'll have to have ago at wine making to use them up!

Back To It

Been back from holiday a week now but haven't got round to posting. We are trying to paint the outside of the house but the weather is not helping! Where as our summer gone? No time for sewing either because we go away again in three weeks time and Jack goes away Friday with his mates for the first time for a week. I'm a bit nervous about this but what can you do when they are 18? The picture is of us in Alicante on a Saturday evening. The beach was packed as there was some kind of fiesta on. 12 O'clock at night and they were still in the sea. Sophie's boyfriend took the photo for us as he came on holiday too. So as he doesn't feel left out here's a picture of the two of them taken at the bar down the road from our villa.