Button Swap and Blog Hop

I think most crafty (and many non-crafty) types have early memories of rummaging through Grandma's button tin - all Grandmas seem to have them - a random mix of coat buttons, shirt buttons, the fabric covered ones that came off the sofa, the odd ones left over from the sets she has bought for various knitted cardies over the years. Grandmas knew all about the value of a good button mix - even if it was just a fab way of keeping grandchildren amused for a bit while they made tea...

Anyway I have carried my button love through into adulthood and now have a respectable collection of my own, boosted by the recent hand-crafting trend of button mixes.  Button mixes are great, usually themed, though not always, and an excellent way to build up your stash so you always have the right button to finish off that little project.

So when I spotted this great idea from NoodleBubble I just had to jump in...


The idea is you swap a 50 button mix with another button lover (as selected from those who sign up on NoodleBubble's lovely blog) - this swap is open internationally so you could get your button mix from anywhere in the world!!! How cool is that?

This is also a blog hop - add your linky to the list on NoodleBubble's blog and check out all the others there too - who knows you might discover something lovely you would never have found otherwise. Double bonus!

I've signed up. If you love buttons why not sign up too? You have until March 14th to join in and swap list will be published on March 21st.

ps: please read the rules on NoodleBubble's blog carefully. This only works if everyone does it properly ;-)

#SilentSunday 26/02/12

A hint of Spring...

Hard to believe that only two weeks ago I was posting pictures of our ice-encrusted Winter Wonderland. The weather has taken a (brief?) turn for the better this week, reminding us that the dark time is nearly over and very soon Spring will be here...

Crocuses

Mini Daffodils - I love these so much more than their  full-size cousins

Pink!

Ron enjoys the sunshine

Getting stuck in...

Ladybird takes a pollen bath!

The garden is just revving up and getting going now. Before long we will actually have sunshine in the back again and then I will really feel like Winter is finally over!

A New Year Promise

Now I know, what with it being two thirds of the way through February already, it's a little late to be blogging about New Years resolutions and all, but as I have only had my laptop back three weeks I think I have a pretty good excuse...

Most of the first half of January was spent catching up with my paperwork. Unlike the Other Half's business paperwork which I deal with every week, mine tends to get put to one side to sort out 'later'. Well the pressing matter of tax return deadlines reared its ugly head so I couldn't ignore it any longer.  As I sorted through I was pleasantly surprised at the volume of sales I had achieved through Folksy, Facebook and Twitter plus sales from bricks-and-mortar shops and craft fairs. Not to mention the special commissions from friends and friends-of-friends. But (there is always a but) despite having brought in a modest income from my work I had also spent a great deal of money on materials.
Yes, I made a profit (woohoo) but only a small one and the more I thought about it - about the stress of fulfilling orders whilst keeping a toddler occupied; of keeping up with the forums and promotion on social networks; of the OH dropping barbed comments about the amount of time I was spending with my head in my laptop; the late nights editing photographs, listing and tweaking the website/online shops; and most importantly, the frustration I felt because the Little Man just wouldn't let me finish one (more) little thing.  And, you know, actually, I wondered if it was worth it. Really.

Something else has also been playing on my mind recently too. The Little Man - he's not so little anymore. On a daily basis he proudly tells me he is getting bigger like daddy, "I am nearly four now!". In seven months time he will be starting school. Part of me is really looking forward to this. He's a smart kid, he is inquisitive and genuinely wants to know about everything. I know he will love school, but (there it is again) part of me is aghast. Where has the time gone? How can we possibly be thinking about school already? Why am I spending all my time fretting and stressing and worrying about my fledgling business when I should be making the most of every moment I have with him before SCHOOL takes over...

So I have made a promise to myself.

This time I have with the Little Man is precious. It is important. Once gone, I will never be able to get it back. So for the next seven months the business will be sitting on the back burner, gently simmering, while I get on with the important task of properly enjoying the spring and summer with my special little pre-schooler...

#Mumentum - A Week Off

I spent most of last week at my mums which meant portion control pretty much went out of the window.
My parents like to eat - although, to their credit, they do eat a lot less than they used to! They like BIG meals, usually meat based and in much larger quantities than we are used to.
As a grazer who prefers to eat little and often, I find the traditional eating three meals a day thing quite difficult. I find I simply can't manage the plate load put in front of me, and certainly don't have any room for pudding afterwards but a couple of hours later I am ready to eat again (while they are dozing). I also realised that I drink a LOT more than they do. And I am not talking about alcohol here. At home I virtually chain drink tea and coffee, although I am trying to alternate with water now. Whilst there I find myself flicking the kettle on and ending up making tea/coffee for the multitudes... (I should explain both my brother and sister still live at home. There is some rule that states whenever one wants a cuppa one MUST make a cuppa for everyone else in the house too. Which is probably why they don't drink nearly as much as I do...)

The weather wasn't brilliant either so, apart from a Friday morning bimble around town (which included a very lovely crafty purchase) there was not much exercise to be had, but I did manage to get to bed at a reasonable time and the Little Man was good and didn't wake up too early so I got a decent amount of sleep!

I am also proud to say I was able to turn down a (repeatedly) offered doughnut - I honestly don't think my mum believed me the first time!

Last night I did my first Wii workout for a week using the 'Combine Routines' function for 30 mins of varied exercise followed by a 20 min jog. After a week of nothing I noticed a definite drop in performance but it felt good to be back on it again.

And as for the scales - my new BFF - they neither frowned nor smiled. No change.

The Generic mp3 Shuffle Game - Round 2

You know,  I love my music but I don't get to listen to it nearly as much as I used to or want to (strangely the LM would rather listen to The Bopps than Bjork but I'm sure he'll grow out of it ;-) )

My lovely OH bought me a new phone a couple of Christmasses ago that had a built in MP3 and since the LM has been going to nursery, and I have had the long walk to pick him up, I have finally had the chance to indulge in all my old favourites (and a few new ones).

I spotted this game on Seasider in the City blog today, inspired by a similar game on the Chris Moyles Show. Apparently I missed round one, but nevermind. The idea is you set your MP3 on shuffle and share the first 5 tunes that come up - whatever they may be. Could be interesting (or a bit embarrassing or just down right hilarious)...

So lets Shuffle....

1 System of a Down - Forest



2  Duran Duran - Reach up for the Sunrise



3 All About Eve - Scarlet



4 Nirvana - The Man Who Sold The World



5 Green Day - Hitchin' a Ride




So there you go. Never let it be said that my tastes are not varied...


Visit Seasider in the City to see what others are listening to or to add your link if you want to join in!

Calling all yarn lovers!

Today I visited a beautiful wool shop in Abergavenny, The Wool Croft. Stuffed full of beautiful yarns including Rowan, Noro and Debbie Bliss plus Organic Welsh wool and some unusual skeins of beaded or hand painted yarns.
I was in a mood to treat myself and left with some new bamboo needles, some cute heart shaped wooden buttons and this...

Isn't it gorgeous?  It's a hand dyed, silk/merino wool mix yarn by Louisa Harding. It is smooth and soft with a fabulous sheen. Hand painted by artisans in Chile - every hank is unique.

This one is a blend of blues ranging from pale aqua to dark navy called 'Coastal' and I absolutely fell in love with it and just had to bring it home!

Only problem is I have no idea what I will make with it!

So I am looking for some suggestions.

Knit or crochet - I don't mind.

 The yarn weight is somewhere between DK and aran weight with a recommended needle size 4mm or hook size 5.5mm - 6.5mm. The hank is 110yds in length so there is only enough for a small project.

Please help! I would hate for this sublime yarn to end up in my stash box, taken out occasionally to be stroked and 'oooooed' over...