Swap Goodies

I signed up for Rachel and Emma's Little Bit Greener Green Swap and was paired with Sue, the goodies she sent me are lovely, thanks Sue!!

I got an amazing book on the uses of vinegar (a book I have often looked at but never bought) a beautiful handmade cotton shopping bag which had it's first outing yesterday and is pretty and also pretty roomy (just what one needs in a bag), some yummy fair trade choccie (which makes me feel bad as I didn't include any munchables in Sue's parcel, sorry!), a reusable cleaning cloth, a handmade brooch (with a button!!) and some lovely organic hand cream;


There was also some choccie for the children and a very kind donation for the Hospice following my midnight walk, thanks Sue, your parcel was so thoughtfu, and generous!!

Here's what I sent;


The blue flowered fabric in the background is a large shopping tote made with reclaimed fabric from the scarp store. I also sent a small packet of reclaimed and vintage buttons (a must for any girls' sewing box) and some funky ribbon, one length covered in veggies and the other covered in fruit;

I included an iceskate decoration to be put away for Sue's Christmas tree made with a left over scarp of felt, a stray piece of embroidery floss and a piece of ribbon from the neck of a t-shirt (you all know what I mean surely?), the only thing not reused on this little project is the paperclip;

I also included some notecard sets made using repurposed wallpaper samples;

I really enjoyed this swap, thanks Emma and Rachel for organising and a big thanks to Sue for the parcel of goodies!

Daisie xxx

Pin Cushion Swap Take Two

This is not quite what I wanted to do, I have been keeping my beady eye out for a small pretty screw top glass jar but it wasn't to be so I resorted to using an old metal sweetie tin. I randomly embroidered a flower onto some felt and then padded the top of the tin and finished it off with the hot glue gun and some ribbon;


It makes a great little hidey hole for twinkley things and other treasures.

Here are all the goodies I sent;


Some long pins with little hearts at the end, a bag of my buttons, a wellie peg, a felt flower card, some dasiy hair slides and no swap would be complete without some posh chocs!

Daisie xxx

Pin Cushion Swap Goodies

Claire set up a pincushion swap a few weeks ago and I put my name in the hat. I was partnered with the lovely Eileen and this is what arrived this morning;


A pretty covered shoe box that I've no doubt will be used for keeping treasures safe in my stash cupboard. Look inside;

A funky stick-it-on-your-wrist patchwork pincushion, some yummy bits of fabric, some buttons, sparkly sequins, ribbons, chocolate and a lovely patchwork piece with an appliqued bird;

Wonderful, thanks Eileen!

And the excitement got far too much for my small boys, they fell asleep;

And looked like dozing bookends;

Daisie xxx

Day Eight Was Rubbish!

I want to start by saying a big thank you to Ali for such a wonderful idea and an even bigger thank you to Jo for sending me beautiful gifts that I will treasure.

Day seven is so lovely I was (very nearly) speechless and slightly tearful;


It's to keep my coffee warm, which in itself is wonderful but look at the little family;

L-R: Sebastian, Francecsa, Simon, me, Nathaniel and Elizabeth.

It's purple, it has daisies, a miniature family and a heart on the back;

A perfect, thoughtful, effort filled gift!

Day six was good too, this little flower brooch, all stitched and lilac and beaded and buttoned;

I must say though, that after a week of little treasures and surprises every morning today was somewhat of a let own :-(

Hoping we can all do the same thing again next week year?

Daisie xxx

Have You Seen My New Hat

Just look at the lovely purpleness of it and how well it fits and how beautifully knitted it is;


And see how happy it made me this morning;

Thank you Jo, day four is my fave (so far)!!

Daisie xxx

Great Questions Of Our Time

Why was it this morning NB: first day of half term holiday, my children were all up and making a none too quiet 'den' on Elizabeth's top bunk at 6:45am? And on any other school-attending Monday morning when I have been up for an age; showering, packing lunches, laying out clothes and making breakfasts that I then have to stand at the foot of the stairs yelling for them to get up!? I think this is the very bestest example of the law-of-sod I have come across for a while.

I was very glad that we are on special day number three and I was able to open this yummy package with the coffee that Simon so thoughtfully brought me;


Unlike yesterday's yarn I know exactly what this is going to be, squeal!

And after the mad moving of shit decluttering yesterday morning for the party and then being the bestest, calmest, not shouting, stash sharing Mummy I had a good sit down and bit of a knit and as Elizabeth was feeling a little left out she sat with me and created a master piece of her own. Can you guess what it is yet;


Ta-Da;

She is rather pleased with herself and I have a feeling my felt scraps bag will be raided at least once more this holiday.

Daisie xxx

A Special Day With Added Specialness!

Today Francesca celebrated her birthday with her special friends.

We ate cake;


And decorated paper chinese fans with a huge array of sparkles and paint and then they decorated small heart shaped jewellery boxes. We had a great time as no one wanted to be 'in charge' and there were no arguemnets and very little silliness. I had a great time and Sebastian enjoyed the attentions of four small girls;


Seb sat by and enjoyed some toys while we crafted and chatted away, even though she is my baby she is so grown up in the company of her friends, I had a wonderful time;

And the added specialness today came in the form of some rather posh and yummy looking chocolates (these have been stashed away for a quiet evening when all small people are in bed so I don't have to share);

And in yesterday's rather funky box;

Is some amazingly soft yarn in a lovely colour that is neither pink, mushroom or purple;

Any pattern suggestions for 100g of this and two needles (I still can't get my head round four) gratefully received :-)

Off for a good sit down and maybe some more breast knitting, kinda needless to say that I didn't get them all finished, no one minded though!

Daisie xxx

A Busy Two Days

I am much much better and want to say a big thank you for all the lovely comments left on my last post.

Yesterday saw the boys and I on a very exciting adventure to visit some new friends. We travelled across to the Black Sheep Barn, somewhere I will definately be going back to, to meet the lovely Jo and her beautiful son Aidan. He is small and clever with shining eyes and a mop of curly blonde hair. He and Nathaniel are very alike; they think far too much for boys who are only two! We did a little shopping at the big barn (oooh, it was so exciting, could have spent a fortune) and then set off to the nearby village of Culcheth to find some coffee and cake.

We had a lovely chat about our boys and babies and breasts (yes, sorry) and swap anxieties (so glad to know it's not just me that suffers).

Nathaniel met Postman Pat;


And a Thomas impersonator;

Then Nathaniel completley showed me up in public lodged a very vocal complaint at having to visit another wool shop. So we wound up our visit and headed home. I think had it been warmer and we'd have been in the park the boys would have been happier and our conversation would have gone on much longer (thought of loads of things I wanted to know after we'd parted) but it was just all too much for two small, serious, blonde boys. Nathaniel only just made it out of the car park before falling asleep;

And the reason we met up was to exchange our Seven Days Of Specialness Swap gifts in person. We know it's a little late but figured what Ali didn't know couldn't hurt her!

I am so excited for the coming week, look at all these goodies;

They are wrapped in crafting magazine pages and a dress pattern, very imaginative Jo, I may be stealing the idea. I numbered my gifts for Jo so she would know what order to open them in, I'm not sure if there was any reasoning behind my numbering other than my terrible anal retentiveness. The gifts I was given are not numbered. Jo only said to open the biggest one last. So I grabbed the biggest one and quickly wrote '7' on it. I then asked Elizabeth to randomly number the others one to six. I was concerned that it would have taken me a good hour every day this week to decide which gift to open, this way I'll know.

And then today has seen a huge boobie meet up day. It's called a 'Planning Day' and happens a couple of times each year where all the peer supporters from the surrounding area come together and discuss issues that affect some or all of us and how best to address them. It's also a chance for us all to meet socially and update any training.

As I missed my graduation last thursday I was handed my certifictes and ID badge and gubbins* today infront of everyone. As the guest who delivered the certificates to the rest of my group wasn't there I was given my certificates and a big hug from a lovely lady called Tina who is the chair 'breast mate' over in Rossendale. She also happens to be the very nice staff nurse who supported my choice to breastfeed during Sebastian's hospital stay before christmas!

I am knackered now, a very long day indeed (although probably longer for Simon as he has had the big three and is also marking exam scripts for AQA).

Another long day tomorrow as I am entertaining three of Francesca's friends who are coming to make some crafty goodness and celebrate her birthday.

Night all, Daisie xxx

*I will elaborate at a later date.