READY TO PLAY

well hello there! + thank you for bearing with me.

has it really been 2 months plus since i put finger to keyboard here? it feels longer in some ways...but i am very much ready to type type type again + as it's been a while i thought i'd make a fresh start.

tomorrow you'll find me at my new home...if you'd like to join me once more i would be delighted to welcome you over. hope to see you soon xxx

PRESSING PAUSE

i can't help but notice that the gaps between my posts are getting bigger these days...the words fewer too...so i've decided to take some time away from this space. only a little interval but just so's i can free up my feelings + come back when spring is in full sprint + i have more focus.

thank you for all the lovely comments that you leave for me...i've become particularly bad at responding to them but each + every one really makes my day.

see you back here soon...xxx

THE CUTE ON SUNDAY

from our village shop today...the owner's daughter is now writing the names on the papers!

BEING GOOD TO MY BODY

loving these delicate colours
+ enjoying the ritual in preparing healthy feasts

taking some quiet time
peaceful
cosy indoors with my friend mr b

whilst the stormy rain
beats on the windows

NOEL + THE NEW FRIDGE

thank you for all the lovely comments on the last post...i did feel frozen once or twice lately but have thawed out nicely. i think the chilly weather put me into hibernation mode : )

since my unplanned absence i am now sat looking at a blank screen thinking "how/what to come back with?"...for today it's just a few things i've done/seen/liked over the past week or so.

got all excited at the arrival of a new nephew (little noel)

bought a new blue fridge
ate ham cooked in cola (trashy i know but so good!)
for mother's day
i like this top from tulip + nettle
(the blue gingham has a spring vibe no?)

listened to this by the whitest boy alive in my car
...a good driving song

baked some venetian biscuits

covered a mini-mannequin
in bits of cath kidston catalogue for my mum

fell in love with fanja's lumi dolls

i've also been happy to see jodie posting again over at vintage film...go see this beauty of a dress on her blog along with some wonderful polaroids...she's going to share some of her collection of vintage clothing over the next few weeks + i plan to join in to show mine too : )

my list of new blog posts to read is bursting at the seams. everyone is being good. i have been bad + have also neglected my 366 project on flickr...it needs a serious update! oh well...tomorrow is another day. xxx

blogging about a fridge? a case of from the sublime (baby noel) to the ridiculous i know! but the colour does make me smile when i see it standing in our kitchen + it's so good not to have to go outside to fetch the milk in every time we make a cup of tea!

DIAMOND DUST

still chilly here!
some call it a haw frost
some said it was snowing
but the local weather lady told us
it's official name is diamond dust

COLD CAR

chilly greetings friends...
from me + my very cold car + it's pretty ice patterns

keep warm wherever you are reading from
+ enjoy your sunday! xxx

PAPERWHITES + A NEW SKIRT

a friday at home
+ a chance to do some sewing
whilst listening to this
(shari...it made me think of you!)

paperwhites + pussy willow
in a bottle
on my desk
every time i glance at them
i can't get over how pretty they are

this is my new rita skirt
another curtain creation : )
the lacy pockets remind me of eyelashes
i liked how it turned out
so i may make another for my shop

off now to chop wood for this evening
it's going to be another chilly one here
but there's talk of nice weather coming
+ i hope to get out to my neglected garden!

enjoy your weekend whatever you get up to
xxx

CAKE FOR C

as ordered...
this year it's a victoria sponge
for your 34th

filled with a lot of love
(plus raspberries + cream of course)

happy birthday my sweet ciaran!
i hope i bake you cakes for many many years to come
xxx

H IS FOR...

a new baby for my cousin...harvey

+ i finally got round to making him something
(from this book :: pattern by the wonderful hillary lang)

for some reason i had some trouble putting this little elephant together. my friday brain couldn't compute the instructions...but i kept going + i'm really pleased with how he turned out + c actually commented on him...he never usually notices what i'm making! now i've made my 1st softy i think i could get quite hooked + even have a go at my own design.

h is also for...hanging the washing outside (at last!)
for we have sunshine
dare i say it even feels a wee bit spring-like!

happy weekend everyone : )

GIGI + RITA

i had some nice stitching time on my hands this weekend

mainly thanks to cold weather
a fire to sit by
watching the rugby with c
eating rhubarb crumble

so today i've been able to update my shop
with 2 new collections
gigi (inspired by lynn)...a dressing up cuff + a corsage
rita...a shoulder bag + a corsage

happy monday everyone!

I HEART FEBRUARY

february...you are a sweet month
a special birthday + of course an excuse to get romantic
first blossom on the trees
feeling that spring isn't too far away
+ pancakes to make!

i took a little look in this shop today...oh the goodies it holds!

i love the headpieces in their catalogue + they've nudged to me into thinking of a making something along this line again for some weddings we'll be going to this year

a teensy bit of snow fell this afternoon here

this sky tonight makes me wonder if we'll wake up to white in the morning? keep warm friends! i'm off to light the fire + get cosy. happy weekend! xxx

KITTEN-SITTING

we have had an extra fur boy in the house for a few days
mr freddy pumpkin

he's a bit tricky to catch on film

but when he sits still he's terribly cute

WINTER WHITE

a little contribution to shari's winter whites week
at the glass doorknob
an old fake fur jacket that my dad bought my mum years back

a bit grubby...but it warms my heart to think of how beautiful my mum must have looked in it...feeling totally glamourous i'm sure...for years it has lurked in dressing up boxes various but i took advantage of it for a winter party outfit just before christmas.

lots of wonderful photos around as part of this project. i love this this + this.

TEMPLATE FIDGET

i can't quite settle with my template
(as you might have guessed!)

i'm still adjusting
but for now have settled on a new arrangement
going back to a once-liked formula

this year i joined a flickr group
project 365
where i'm posting a photo a day
that'll be 366 this year then
here's a couple of my january contributions

i'm noticing how muted all the colours are
which i suppose is down to the winter light here
next week i'm looking forward to seeing more winter whites
over at the glass doorknob + all around