Knit, Knit, Knit, Knit, Knitting!!

I haven't done any real knitting for ages, please bear in mind that I only do little projects anyway as I like to finish and move on, instant gratification and all that. Last night I knocked out this funky girlie beanie hat for me (well, it has to be for me as I made a small mistake in the pattern and although I have been reassured by everyone in the house that it's not visible, I know it's there and couldn't be bothered to frog). It does look good though and is rather cosie;

There must be a way to take good pictures of yourself, tips anyone?!

In my new knitty mood, am sure it's the colder and darker evenings that drive me to it, I got out all the boxes of yarn that are stashed upstairs looking for inspiration, I found some beautiful and silky feeling yarn I bought at the Knitting and Stitching show last year. It was a big twisted skien and looked so amazing and professional until I wound it, badly, into this uninspiring 'ball';

But then I turned it into this;

Ooooooh, it's pretty and is available (with free postage and packing) in my shop!

I'm not the only one knitting in the Davies' househlod this weekend, a crippled Elizabeth (she tripped last night and hurt her toe, I told her to not be so silly and get some sleep and it would be better in the morning, actually by this morning it was huge and purple, it is the worst bruise I have ever seen!), slippers for school tomorrow! While she's been laying around feeling sorry for herself she has started on her finger knitting christmas gift list;

Don't you just love her old lady slippers!? Am hoping that the children will get me some for christmas.

Daisie xxx

Thanks

Thanks for all the lovely comments and emails I've had over the last few days about my disasterous fair. It's in the past now, I shan't take it personally and I feel much much better. My temp has come back down and I have enjoyed sports days at school (even if we did get very wet) with the boys and Simon cheering on the girls. I am very tired but well on the way to recovery.

I attended an amazing breastfeeding coneference on monday and my eyes have been opened further and my brain stretched with more social and scientific eveidence to support my cause and the work I do. Anyway that's that for here, more info to come on the other side (so to speak), maybe see you there?

There is an exciting engagement on friday if I can pluck up the courage to go..........

The ironing pile is scary after being ill and the bathroom is somewhat of a danger to public health so both are on today's to-do list.

Lots of people have contacted me about the bunting;


And the glass bead bracelets;


They are now available in my folksy shop.

Daisie xxx

Camera Practice

Argh!!!! My camera screen has died so I can't see what I'm taking pictures of so as you can imagine it's a bit hit and miss. I look intently at the white screen and squint my eyes over the top of the camera and cross my fingers that the subject is vaguely in shot.

We took 78 pictures on our walk in the woods on sunday and managed only a handful of good ones;

Quite impressed with myslef, maybe I'll get even better with practice?

This weekend also saw the completion of a t-shirt order for the lovely Clare at Calladoodles, I was so excited when she emailed and asked and then I was scared that I'd taken on too much and then I was frightened I wouldn't be able to do it, four children and a sewing machine etc etc..

But here they are ready to go;

It was lovely ironing on stabaliser and pinning and sewing and having a lovely garment at the end of it. I wish them all happiness with their new owners!

And in celebration of my applique skills I put Nathaniel in one of the t-shirts I made him last summer;

Please click on the link to see just how much he has grown, it's got the very first bloggy picture of Sebastian too!!

Daisie xxx

A Snow Day

Altough it has turned out to be a bit more of a pyjama day. Neither of my son's slept very well last night, school is shut and I have no other reason to be dressed!

Blogger has put all my pictures in the wrong way up so maybe you should be reading this from the other end but that would just be far too complicated to type it the wrong way too. Blathering now, sorry!

I have made lots more lovely sparkles;


In an attempt to clear out some of the stash that I have to make room for more space in the house I have been going through all my beads and have created these lovelies and put them in my shop.

The children have made a cafe with the play food. Francesca is in charge of tea making and hot beverages, Elizabeth is in charge of cooking the food and the waiter is the cutest I have ever seen;

And we made this beauty to scoff after our tea tonight;

Hoping you are all warm and having fun!

Daisie xxx

A Bit More More Snow

Ooooh, it's very snowy indeed but I have no photos today as I didn't take the camera out with me.

We went to school on foot and by bus yesterday as it was very slippy slidey and I didn't really fancy driving in the ice and the children love an excuse to wear their wellies. We had a brilliant adventure!

Today the snow was falling thick and fast from early on although it was more than passable so we wrapped up, packed bags and set out for school to find that it was shut when we were nearly there so we went round to our friend's house and made a snowman and played with her children in their garden.

The snow was still falling and I thought we ought to make a move before it got any worse. The buses had stopped running so we set off on foot for the long hike home. Nathaniel was very tired and cold and was getting slower and slower when suddenly a big man appeared through the blizzard (well, snow in the wind). My big husband man, college had been shut and he was on his way home too. Nathaniel on his shoulders and the girls all holding hands with us we were intrepid explorers all the way home.

Someone very bad has knocked the head off our snowman and trampled it into the ground. Why are people so horrible?!


Being at home in the warm has allowed me to start crafting! Some knitting is on the go and I made this lovely bracelet;


Off now to snuggle with needles in hand, children all around me and watch The Lion King before I make a warm filling tea.

Daisie xxx

Oh For Goodness Sake!

Blimey, we are ill! My poor daughters especially so. But because they have raised temperatures I cannot take them to see our doctor. We all have a rather nasty bug (to varying degrees) but I think Elizabteh also has a throat infection that would benefit from a course of anti-biotics (much as I dislike the things) but after answering lots of questions we now have a code number for tamiflu. I am not going to bother going to the swine flu tratment desk at the health centre. It's a virus. And just how many times have we been told as mothers of ill children that what they have is a virus and it will go away in 5 to 7 days. And how exactly can a diagnosis of swine flu be made using a tick sheet over the phone/internet?! We are doing the age old thing, lots of warm drinks, regular paracetamol and plenty of snuggles! Elizabeth is coming out the otherside already. I have no doubt that Francesca and Nathaniel will be back to usual by the end of the week too. I am not too concerned for Sebastian as he is getting homemade DaisieDavies antibodies every two hours (or more if he feels like it)! It's no wonder really that the number of cases of swine flu are so high if everyone who has a sore throat or headache is being given tamiflu! Oooooooooh, am ranting now, must stop.

Anyhoo, being stuck at home has enabled me to put some of these fab christmas buttons in my shop;


I have also managed to complete a very special custom order for a very special customer *waves at Laura with a silly grin* when the calpol has been effective and have managed to knit a little and Nathaniel managed to make a wonderful tower before the drugs started to wear off and he had to lay down again;


And I have discovered that it matters not the size of fevered child laying in your lap, you can still sew these;

Yes, I know they don't yet have laces but lets not be too picky!

Hoping you are all well!

Daisie xxx

Independant Clothing Label?

I have been featured in a blog all about style!! A lovely lady called Sharon contacted me and said she liked to feature independant clothing labels, after I finished choking on my cup of tea and stopped laughing I agreed to answer some questions. Go have a little look see!!

Daisie xxx

Shameless Self Promotion

Sorry, I don't like blogs that do it but if I don't big me up a little bit no one else will so here goes..... I have spent today with two lovely models (thanks Francesca and Claire) and have taken pictures of lots of my craft fair stock (as I won't be doing any until Christmas time now) and have started the mammoth task of adding them to my Folksy shop (button over there on the left <--------------- )

Here are some of today's shots;

Sorry, Daisie xxx

Do You Like My New Banner?

Hello, only a quickie for now, I have two small boys today (Li-Bau is having a day with us) and although I daren't really mention it, all is well, no fallings out as yet.

My lovely friend has helped me create a banner for my shops. I don't do computer speak and have been trying to figure it out for an age. You can see it here and here. I think you can tell it's been made by a man but I really love the purple daisies!!

Have a happy Friday!

Daisie xxx

Remember These?

Well they are now available in my folksy shop in 100g bags. Don't usually do my own advertising (perhaps that's why there are so few sales) but so many of you expressed delight and thought you might like some too. If we use the code word "Strawberry Marmalade" in notes to seller on paypal (if you buy some of course) I will chuck in something extra for being a blog reader!

Today has been sunny and the children have been in and out of the back door all day. We spent the morning bed hunting and we ended up spending far more money then we had intended but I can't wait for it all to be delivered :-))

So no makes today yet but am feeling full of beans so will maybe make a start on the handbag orders from yesterday before bed.....

Daisie xxx

Tired

I am so sorry to have neglected my blog so much this week but I feel like a dog chasing it's tail or like I said the other night running up a sand dune and not getting anywhere near the top!

I have started a first aid course on monday mornings, haven't done one since I was pregnant with Elizabeth but haven't been back to work so it has mattered little until now. I need it if I am going to be working with new mums in their homes and at various children's centres. Nathaniel went into the creche for two and a half hours and mostly cried. I felt awful :-( To be honest I didn't think he would mind so much as the building and staff are familair (we are there several times during the week for different things). He wasn't inconsoleable though and it is the first time he has been left, other than at home with Daddy. Can't wait to see what he's like next monday?!

Tuesday sees the regular playgroup I have been attending weekly since Elizabeth was baby. I am a very old hand!!

Wednesday sees Boobie Club and we were a little busier this week although not as busy as we would like! Followed by Tiny Trumpets (a local performer who comes and does song and dance and brings lots of yummy child sized instruments) for an hour.

Thursday I avoided playgroups as I went to see my poorly Dad and it was really nice to sit and chat and drink tea and not have to do anything at all. He was glad of the company and I was glad of the rest!!

Friday (today) we go to our local Tumble Tots group and Nathaniel has a wonderful time climbing on things and generally being a 'boy'.

I like to be busy with him as it won't be very long beofre he's at nursery and school :-( time goes by too quickly!

But in amongst the self improvement and childcare are also the laundry and cooking and cleaning and reading books and spelling tests and this week I am so tired and seem to have little time to myself. Shouldn't complain really but there you go!

Yesterday saw the first crafting for an age!! Nathaniel woke from his nap in the foulest of moods and I really wanted to try running some flet through my bighsot. So I sat him on the floor next to me expecting him to continue in his crankiness but he found some scrap paper, shoved it into the machine (no plates or anything) and cranked the handle and laughed. I showed him how to layer all the pieces and he found me bits of felt and helped for about an hour. He had great fun when I got the buttons out too.

We created some felt flower cards;

They have ribbon stems and button centres. I really like them. I have some more flowers cut but they need buttons finding to match. I am waiting for some time and some light so I can stick some in my folksy shop. Think they'd be great for valentine's, mother's day or a spring birthday!

And I really need to find some time to knit. I am knitting a scarf in a really easy 'waffle' pattern in a beautiful russet toned yarn and my plan was to finish it and then start a beret (I have found a pattern for one on two needles!) to match. I think I had this notion some time before christmas........

Daisie xxx

The Victorious Breast!!

It would appear that my breast and Niftyknit's clanger are joint winners of the folksy comp.

Maybe it wasn't the landslide I had hoped for (in my wildest dreams) but it does mean that I now have £20 to spend on buttons, squeal!!!!!

Daisie xxx

My New Toy

Firstly a quick snap of how I spent my day on thursday;



Kae-Lei and Elizabeth are in the picture with me, Nathaniel and Li-Bau are in the pram. After dropping the girls off at school (Francesca was there somewhere, probably hiding behind Claire to make sure she took a good pic) I took the boys into town to do a little shopping and also to allow them to have a little snooze. My tummy muscles and bisceps were really sore by the end of the day. It is a borrowed pram so I'm not used to it anyway and the handle is quite low and with two big boys snuggled inside it gave me a really good workout!!

Now this little Christmas present didn't arrive until well after the day as I had planned to put some extra money with the vouchers that my parents gave me for christmas but the big shot was way too expensive at hobbyvraft :-( when I left I was a bit disheartened but said I'd get some more vouchers for my birthday. Anyhoo, Simon, the techi nerd that he is spend an age surfing the interweb and found one for £50. So that was his Christmas/birthday present to me. Back I went to hobbycraft to buy some dies with my vouchers, got a brilliant alphabet and some other bits and pieces. I just need a silicone mat for texturising, can't get one anywhere!! Then later, while I am sitting on the floor spinning my little handle, Simon found this amazing site. If you have a sizix of any knid go have a look, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the prices!!

Here's my little (big) beauty;



I am mostly really loving the bigz 'flower' die;

I have cut some in black and blood red too for valentine's cards. The light is really crap but will hopefully get some good pics tomorrow.

Seems I'm running in second place in the folksy comp :-( maybe there are more of you yet to vote? Hint, hint!! There's still time, voting open until midnight tonight!

Daisie xxx

Make The News

The voting blog is now up and voting ends midnight on sunday so click on the link and go and have a look!

The breast is entry number 6, incase you have lost all function of your eyes and mind!! It is saturday morning after all!!

Hopefully am off to Preston in a little while to buy something for the something Simon bought me for Christmas.....oooh, the intrigue.........I love a good mystery............will be back later....

Daisie xxx

Breast!!

I know, I know, here she goes again!!

This is my entry for the Folksy "Make The News" competition;


You can see it and all the blurb here. The brief was to handcraft an item that was inspired by a news item. The story that has struck a chord with me of late is how Facebook have been deleting pictures of women breastfeeding their children from profile pages as they have deemed them 'pornographic' and 'indecent'. You can read more here. I know I always bang on about the same old shit but at least I am consistant!!

The deadline for entries is midnight tonight and voting (as far as I know) is over the weekend. I will be back tomorrow with a link to the blog post on Folksy. I am assuming it will be the same as the Folksy Angel comp where votes are cast by leaving a comment with the name of your favourite. Don't think I'll be as near the top as last time, some of the entries are fab!!

Where have you been all week? I hear you all ask (or not as the case may be)!

Well, I have been stomping around with the pram in the cold burning off all those extra Christmas calories and doing school runs and running a breastfeeding group (a bit quiet this week but it was the first one and we're hoping we'll be busier in future), meeting with Elizabeth's teacher (she's having trouble with her confidence when it comes to maths and I've got some reinforcement work to do with her at home), struggling with a double buggy and two small boys (pics will follow) and singing and playing at assorted playgroups! I have also been highly deprived of sleep as Nathaniel is very unhappy at the moment with his teeth. Nothing seems to be combatting his pain and he cries alot! Still, only four more to go and then he has a full set and hopefully we can get some sleep.

Our bedroom is looking wonderful and we're just waiting for a plasterer and then hopefully we can move back in (and off the futon in the spare room) and then soon after the children's bedroom can be organised and redecorated, woo-hoo!

Daisie xxx

Wednesday Night Blues

Just been listing some hotties that didn't get nicked!

And the lovely Louise has been in touch to tell me she has started work on her website, go take a look here.

And that's it for now as I am feeling slightly fed up. I am going out with some Mums from school tomorrow night for a curry (proper, grown up event!) but most of my wardrobe is still in boxes in the attic while we wait for a plasterer and after nearly an hour trying on clothes earlier today with no success I have given up! So it'll be clean (ish) jeans and a snot free t-shirt (provided I can find one) girls :-S

Daisie xxx

How Can You.....

....stay cross at a boy who is so tired he falls asleep standing up!?

Nathaniel walked up to me yesterday and sank his teeth into my thigh (ouch!) I told him 'no' in a very stern voice and sat him in the middle of the floor. He screamed and wailed and threw himself around and I stood my ground and ignored him, thought 'I'll give him a love when he calms down' but then he stood still, rested his head on the sofa and fell asleep. I could hear him softly snoring and could be cross no more. I carried him up to bed and snuggled him tight all the way.

It's been a long, draining day. The clinic went well (although not as well as expected due to the weather) and we added another 22 people to the Anthony Nolan Register.

And I can't count! It appears I came in in second place, not third as I had been thinking all day!! Der!!

Daisie xxx

Giveaway!!!

Well, I am currently in third place :-( but ahead of me is Niftyknits in first place and Lupin in second so I am at least pleased to be up there with the big players in online craftiness!

Thank you to everyone who has cast a vote in my favour and if you've not been to the big folksy blog vote yet you can see it here.

I have listed ice skate boot tree decoration in red, white and green here in my folksy shop as there has been lots of requests as to whether the entries can be bought (if I don't win then my entry will be available later too).

I found a beautiful piece of bright blue felt last night but sadly there was only enough for one ice skate. I have decided to have a little giveaway and if you would like to be the owner of this little blue skate;

Simply leave me a comment and I will pick a name from the hat (or mixing bowl as it was last time) on friday this week and then this little skate will be on it's way to you to hang on your tree in time for Christmas!!

Daisie xxx

Voting Now Open!!

It's here not there!

It would appear that the arse doesn't know what the elbow is doing, something like that anyway!!

Go say you love me (or my ice skates at least)!!!!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!

Well, the post is not up yet but I know the running order and I am number 4 so scoot on over here and cast your vote, now (or when they eventually get the voting post up)!

Thanks, Daisie xxx