Monday Morning

 The boys are back at school today. The holidays have been wonderful but there is such a sense of joy that floods through my being when they hop onto the school bus ready to fill their minds with all sorts of things (mainly at lunchtime when they hang out with their friends). 

As you've probably picked up over the past few years, I'm not one for housework. But there is something almost mystical about that moment when you sweep and the floor stays looking sparkly for more than 5 minutes. I'm having a moment aren't I!

Anyhoo - I wanted to show you the watercolour above that my neighbour Dominique painted for my birthday.

 And that's me, blue hair and all, balancing on my own pair of stilts. I did have blue hair for the first half of this year but now it's blond. I like to think it's been captured for eternity in this painting. Look at the tiger's expression!

My dogs were looking a little sheepish this morning being used to store pav hats and birds so I had to take a photograph of them. Poor little things.

And I couldn't not show you my wisteria wisteriaring away. It's a glorious spot for a cup of tea or glass of wine.

 And my first bunch of roses. Yip, yip, wahoo!

Lots of love,

Kate. xxx

Macrame and Candles - A Skill Swap Morning.

 Gaaaahhhhh! I have been missing blogging so much! The past few days I have seen me falling into bed each night exhausted and unable to speak, let alone write. So I am posting even if words are only used sparingly.

And thank goodness I have something fun to write about! Today my friend Maddy (who made the dream catcher) came over and we had a morning of swapping skills. Maddy taught me how to make soy candles (wahooooooo!!!) and I shared my extremely meagre knowledge of macrame.

 This is Maddy in action.

 In this day and age it's a wonderful thing that we can sign up here and there for classes but they are expensive and something that just isn't always in the budget. I love the idea of bringing different talents together and sharing knowledge for the joy of it. It would be a great thing to set up some kind of forum bringing people together in this way. Thinking cap on!

 I made a couple of quick nets (?) and have swivelled with a new direction - crocheted, macramed, bonsai balls - there is going to have to be a catchier title than that! Watch this space.

 I can't wait to get going!

 I love, love, love candle making - it really is one of the most relaxing crafts ever, especially when you have a lovely teacher.

And here is some bunting I bought on the weekend. I'm so annoyed because I lost the label telling me who made it. The colours are sublime though aren't they. 

Lots of love,
Kate. xxooxx.

Dream Catchers and Other Things

My very clever friend Maddy came to my house today with this amazing dream catcher that she made. I was so blown away that the camera suddenly appeared in my hands before my head had even considered taking its photo!

 The detailing that has gone into it AND the colour scheme is just sublime.

Gaaahhhh - if Miss Haversham was ever to turn into a dream catcher I think she would look like this.

 AND cowrie shells - my sister and I were obsessed with finding them at the beach when we were little. 

 It's huge too. She is selling them here although I don't think this is up on the web yet. By the way, this is not a sponsored post, I am just so impressed and inspired my my friend and I thought you would like to see what she is up to.

 In the meantime, your Christmas present is so near to completion. The final stages of a pattern always suprise me by how time consuming they can be. Thank goodness it is so much fun.

Lots and lots of love,

Kate. xxooxx.