26

This year I celebrated my birthday from my sofa, piled high with cushions and the duvet from the bed. I know this must sound like a fabulous way to spend your birthday, but for me, it really isn't! I am still recovering from the dreaded lurgy, whose full force has rendered me useless for two whole weeks (and to any of you who know me, know that I don't DO poorly!).Which also explains my distinct lack of posting here....

However yucky and sore I have been feeling, I was suitably spoilt by my loving friends and family. Dan made me breakfast in bed and couldn't wait to give me my amazing gifts before bouncing off to work. A beautiful, smart new coat and a William Morris handbag, what wonderful surprises! And the blow torch I've been wanting for a while (creme brulee and meringue toppings here I come!). Later, Mother Hen dropped Mr Bee home after his sleepover, he had chosen me some pink sparkly roses and paid for them all by himself and Mom gave me some of my favourite things, a joules top, a wicker shopping basket and some lavender plants! Oh and an ostrich feather duster which is utterly adorable!

I also had some lovely books, skincare and kitchen goodies from my lovely friends. They are keepers ;)

Hermit

I'm sorry I have been a little quiet the past week or two, we haven't been up to anything exciting really. Staying home because of the dull weather, trying to make the most of staying indoors building dens, playing trains and reading books.

 This week also involved some making, ready for a craft fair that took place today. Anna and I spent they day at Hinckley URC and although it wasn't a very lucrative day, I had lots of fun with little splodge, Issac!

How smiley is he! Cutie pie!

Photo an Hour: At Home

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 Today, Papa's car got in the way of our plans (again). Early morning playdough, special 'chocchoc toast' breakfast with Mama Tea and Baby Tea, brake disk change (which took ALL day), slumber, Mama time of playing with my camera and tea, biscuits and Saturday Kitchen, making lunch with all the play food in the kitchen, Welsh Rarebit lunch for the second day in a row, packing a bag to go to 'Peterbaba' to see Vito and Becka (followed by a failed escape mission on his trike), a documented nappy change in support of Real Nappy Week 2012, Chicken and Mushroom Risotto, more kitchen play, clearing the conservatory for a mass cleaning session, bath time, bed.

Typical weekend at home at the Bee Hive!

Padded Lens Bag

This afternoon whilst Mr Bee was sleeping, I sewed a padded drawstring bag for my lens. It is just the right size to fit either of my lenses and padded enough to provide enough protection if I don't want to take my big camera bag.
Just what the doctor ordered!

Sunday

 Walking in Nana's high heels

He stood like this for aaages!

I have been sewing a bag today - what do you think? (it isn't quite finished yet, of course!)

Birthday Party Preparation

Today I have spent most of my day preparing decorations and things ready for Mr Bee's bumble bee themed 2nd birthday party!

Here is a sneak peek...

Party Bags

Clay bumble bees (minus the wings...) Work in progress

Papercrafted bunting!

Mr Bee has started to get very excited about his birthday, and if you ask him how old he will be, he will tell you!

We are making our annual trip to Lollipops on Wednesday to make a keepsake gift for the birthday party. I think we are all getting excited for Mr Bees birthday, now we just need his presents to arrive!

Mr Bee

 L is currently obsessed with his Bee bag. He wears it everywhere.
He will  bring it to you and stand with his back to you until you put it on for him. Such a character!
It is super cute though.

Two Exciting Projects!

So this is my first item made on my shiny new sewing machine. It is a bag from the Cath Kidston 'Sew' book, the bag that I was eyeing up for months! I couldn't get any Cath Kidston fabric but saw this in John Lewis and fell in love. Although the pattern suggests using duck (canvas), this is just normal haberdashery cotton. I lined it with some quite thick fabric that we found in our attic which is just perfect because it gives the bag a little bit of structure without it being rigid. I altered the pattern quite a lot, giving it a lining, and sewing the straps straight on to the bag as opposed to making a button hole and stitching a button, it seemed like too much work for a feature I wouldn't accommodate anyway. Overall, I am very pleased with the outcome, as it is very tidy for something I have made! I wouldn't shy away from making it again :)

The reinforced straps

The lining

Today Dan and Louie accompanied me to Lollipops again, this time to make a commemorative plate for Louie's first birthday.

Mama hard at work!

Louie playing with the tile

The finished plate

I was a bit disappointed with the writing as it curved, I worked out that it would fit but in practice it didn't, which is a shame. But I am so pleased with the VHC spots around the edge, and the hand prints are lovely. The little caterpillar crawling up his hand was my favourite little finishing touch that turned out really well! I will post a picture when it has been fired and the colours will be in all their bright and lovely glory!

12/01/11

So the other day I went to John Lewis and treated myself to this beautiful fabric with some money I was given for Christmas. I saw it when I was in with Anna and fell in love! It is quite simple but I love the colour and I love all the little birdies on it :) Although it is just standard cotton, I am going to go ahead with my plans to use it for a bag, it will need lining though (and Nana thinks she has something perfect in the attic so that is wonderful!). 

Louie has now discovered that it is wonderful to tip his ball pit/tent up and on itself! He thinks it is rather fun to chase the balls around the floor as opposed to playing in the tent. (Much to Papa's dismay as he is the one to clear it all up! Tee hee!)

Just showing off my walking boy wearing his Jungle Fever Cushie Tushie!

 This evening I finished off my little project of a needle case. I went really quite wrong and used the cardboard the wrong way around so you can see that I used a box of Asda's 'Ready Oats' which is a shame, but it will be fine and do the trick. At least I will have learnt from my mistake.

As you can see it looks fine from the inside, with all the needles all pretty and straight :)