Happiness Is

Each evening, once theres a bit of quiet time to write a post, I fall asleep. Staying up late for days on end has finally caught up with me. Seems I just can't stay up until 2am knitting anymore and then get up at 7am to do a full days teaching. I do struggle so keeping the same hours as everyone else.

I was planning to write a post with a bit of a history show and tell about it. Being as it's something we got all excited about, I've decided it'll have to wait a few more days. It needs a head that's less fluffy than mine is tonight to get written properly.

 Instead I thought I'd share with you a few Happy Things from the last week or so. 

Well a parcel plopped  through the door one day, full of the most lovely things from Mrs Bertimus.

 We'd decided to send a wee parcel of bits and bobs to one another just because. What a lot of happy things there are in that.

 Our older rescue cat Pip sleeping at home more has made me very happy too. Pip really hates Lily our 1 year old cat. Lily endlessly trails after Pip when she's home so Pip avoids coming home so often. I just wish Pip would give her a wallop and then Lily would leave her alone. Aahhh well, you can't tell them anything.

 Third Happy thing was finding the delightful Daisy Bee Necklines on Instagram. Her place is full of the most delightful colour and felty makes. 

Now I loved a brooch of hers a lot. In fact her style is divine, colourful and kooky I'd say. It's been a while since I got out the felt for a play. I couldn't stop thinking about one of her brooches so I decided I'd make one for myself. In fact I had so much fun, I made a couple and I don't think I've finished with these two alone. I really hope she doesn't mind me making them just for me.

I can't find a link to her in blogworld so if you want to see more of her fabulous makes then just have a peek on Instagram.

 

Another Happy Thing last week was having the most lovely day on my mum's birthday.

We found an old fashioned waterside pub for lunch, ate so much we though we'd burst and then went home to repeat it all for birthday tea.

Alongside all the half-term shenanigins I was as Happy as a Lark having lots of making time.

I was thrilled to stitch up a couple of custom Annual Top orders. While I was at it I cut out patterns for a few new things for me. 

The most amazing Happy thing though was to actually finish knitting the cardigan I started making last year. It's the first clothing thing I've knitted for myself as I usually get bored halfway through. I've always stuck to small stuff and things for the girls when they were younger. This time I made myself keep going because I loved the yarn and colour so much.

 

If you look back to the beginning of this post you'll see my Pink Stinks Regan cardi from the Soft knit Cotton collection by Rowan. This yarn is chain spun so there's no splitting at all and it lives up to it's name, being the softest yarn to knit with. I'll definately be getting more of this when the pennies are flowing once more. 

Next time I'll share Tales from the Grave with you. Ta Ta for now.

Contentment

Where to I start when I've so many different things to say? At the beginning would probably be the best place wouldn't it and then have the odd diversion here and there every now and then.

Well I'm thrilled that so many of you have shown an interest in the Four Happy Things Swap. There's still oodles of time to pop your name down if you fancy joining in, the more the merrier I say. It's been a wonderful chance for me to hear from some of you who visit who I didn't already know.  I'll say a hello here to those of you who don't have a link to follow and I'll definately be popping over to say hello to everyone else. Hello also to new followers. 

Now on to what's been happening around here. I did a quick stitch job the other evening and made a belated christmas present for Mr B. As I only had a really small amount of this elderly cowboy fabric patching with it seemed the best way to get the most out of it.

Cowboys doing cowboy things on the front. Inside I patched a wee mule (or donkey) as Mr adores these and has a grand desire for one one day alongside making cheese and daydreaming the days away in his own shepherd's hut.

For now the world of work beckons so a handy Boys Bits & Bobs Pouch for glasses, pennies and keys will have to do. I asked him if he showed anyone his cowboy pouch today. He said funnily enough in all the meetings he was at today it just would have sounded plain wrong. Ho Ho Ho.

Now before this work stuff came back for Mr B we made sure we had a grand end of the christmas hols for us all being together. On Wednesday we headed off to the coast rain or no (and boy did it rain). First stop to sit the rain out was the harbour pub on the estuary for fish and chips and a veggie version (halloumi in chilli and coriander batter - delicious).

Then we walked into the town for I had a mission to search for an antiques place I'd spied in the summer.

In an old shed tucked behind a wall was a pretty unexciting collection of stuff which was a disappointment to be sure. The setting promised so much.

However, I did find a lovely bit of fabric with 25% off and Little Bun found a ring with a small leather moustache on. Both of us were happy indeed.

Still refusing to let the rain call off play, we headed towards the pier for our last stop of new year hot choc and games. On the walk back to the car I was so cold it felt like knives were being thrown at my skin. Bliss then to come in and light the woodburner and the coal fire in our other sitting about room.

Today has been a day of Build-a-Bear Factory, uniform shopping and visiting friends. I also managed to squeeze in a C.Shop visit which added to my new years reading pile. A very mixed bag from intense and intelligent reads to informative and then just ploppy and fun depending on my mood.

At the bottom of the pile you can spy a crafty book. Even though I can knit it's full of some really helpful tips to improve my knitting more. The main reason I bought it is it's full of some great accessory patterns which in the main use only 50g of yarn. Ideal for an impatient knitter like me who prefers quick projects.

I love the diamond pattern on this scarf as much as it makes me feel like wearing red lipstick again.

The Bun's adore wearing fabric bows in their hair so I think a knitted hairband would go down a treat.

Then there's these very simple ribbed wristwarmer's for which I ended up picking up a ball of never before used yarn. I hear again and again how wonderful artesano yarn is so I thought that justified me getting some to try out on a small project.

I still have a glove waiting for a partner so I really should be getting on with making it's mate before I succumb to the temptations of this new yarn.

Well, after a few twists and turns, that's me done for today other than I must just mention I've put a 25% discount on all items in my shop until the end of the month. I fancy having a good old clearout and to start afresh for the new year ahead. 

Snap & Swap

I was so happy when I found some more playing cards at the fleamarket on Friday. My stash is getting pretty low and then all of a sudden I 've found a few more packs to boost it up. These Holiday Snap are my favourites, I especially love Bubble Car Betty with Dennis and his Dinghy a close second!

I've kept a a few of the originals back so I can frame them up. Something else to add to the growing list of will sort out one day soon.

I was also lucky enough to get a gorgeous parcel of gifts from Lorraine over at The Balancing Kiwi on Friday morning. We were paired up as swap partners in Tilly Rose's Vintage and Shabby Swap. I love the idea of swaps, but this is only the third one I've taken part in and the second one I actually managed to do properly. With the disastrous swap we both cocked it up so I don't feel quite so bad, although it's still pretty embarassing to think about.

I was overwhelmed by how generous Lorraine was and how beautiful the gifts she had sent were. Mr Bun was here when I opened up the parcel and was impressed by the whole thing of a stranger sending me presents. He thought it was a marvellous idea. Amongst all the lovely handmade, thrifted and vintage gifts were this stunning handmade patchy tea-cosy and brooch. 

Lorraine even kindly included a gift for each of the Bun's which they loved.

I really enjoyed putting together the parcel I was sending in return. I hope Lorraine will be happy with what I've sent to her. 

I feel like a real blogger now

I was just about to write my post, when I was suddenly struck by the realisation that I actually have a blog. Nothing ground breaking in the whole world of possibilities, but for ages I have read other peoples blogs, admired their work; their beautiful photographs; the easy friendship that exists between this community of crafty bloggers (as all blogs seem to exist in their own little orbits) never thinking for one moment that I would take join in. Then one day I decided I wanted to take part and now only a month and a bit later here I am. I have met some lovely people and now taken part in my first ever swap.

The Valentine's Swap as organised by A Thrifty Mrs paired me up with Rosesposes. I got my parcel from Dom this morning and I am overwhelmed by her generosity and thoughtfulness. Here they all are wrapped up to keep me guessing.

The Argus is there for Mr Bun as Dom kindly sent him a little piece of Brighton. The homemade card is so beautiful, I think I have given quite a lot of hints about my love of toadstools.

Here they are all unwrapped and fabulous. The tin says 'frugal is such an ugly word' so I think money for unfrugal (is this a word?) things can be kept in here until spending day. The cake book will be great for jotting ideas down ( you can never have enough notebooks or tins in my humble opinion) and the floral measuring tape great for the only DIY person in the house. The one's I have are so ugly. I think the picture will look great in the kitchen. And lastly ....

Isn't this just gorgeous. Eldest Bun now wants one of her own. I might hang this on the door to say I am at home to visitors.

Look who was hiding under the table as I unwrapped my gifts. Alfie often nods off sitting up and sometimes standing, leaning into our legs. Such a baby really.

The next important job of the morning had to be trying out the hot chocolate with a crunchie. I made it in my favourite mug and sat down to work. The smell alone was yummy, I think I'm hooked.

Now I think I should show you what tempted me last night after school. It was pouring with rain yet again, our garden is flooded beyond belief so I needed to do a bit of spring is on the way day dreaming. The bun's and I went to get the cats their new collars and toys and some more rabbit food. At the front of the shop we spied these lovely bursts of colour. We have lots more, but I don't know that I could hold your interest for that long.

The Iris' are my favourites, but they never seem to last long and then end up looking like long grey fingers.

Finally beautiful spring flowers on the table. I even decorated the cake Easter style so I know I'm getting itchy to make our Easter tree and hide eggs, but before that we have little buns birthday. She was born the day before Good Friday, but this year Easter falls late so it will make the celebrations last longer. Can you spot her trying to sneak into the picture. Cheeky chops.

Once we had munched on cake the buns needed some button therapy. I left them counting and sorting into colour piles while I got on with the boring adult jobs I had ignored all day.