I just want to introduce you all to my friend Karen, who has just this week, started her adventure into the blogging world. She is a stay at home mom, just like me and is bursting with creative ideas and finally she has an outlet for her creativity. I think she will have a lot of lovely things for us to see in the future.
Good luck with it all Karen and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Posted by Maxine at 04:57 PM | Comments (1)
I finally mailed my mini-swap package today! I didn't think I was ever going to get it finished. But I did and Emily and I are so excited to see what comes in the post from our mini-swap partner. I will wait until the parcel has been received before I put up images of what we sent - don't want to spoil the surprise!
On a completely different note, I feel so yuck today, I doubt that I should even be using the computer. But I have a couple of things I need to get done and then its sleepy time for my Mac and rest for me. I have also been feeling the chaos that is my house lately and it is starting to fall slowly and surely into disarray. I need to be surrounded by calm and tranquility and that is not happening at the moment. I think its a combination of reading so many blogs that totally distract me and going out for too many coffees in the day with my mom friends. Its is so hard to get a balance. Staying in the house sends me crazy and it doesn't take very long at all for cabin fever to set in. Yet I need to stay in to even get anywhere near turning my house into a haven of peace and tranquility, which lets face it, is near impossible with a 2 year old running around.
Hmmm...well I need to muster up the energy, enthusiasm and desire to get sorted. A messy house is a messy mind and this is probably why I feel so yuck.
Posted by Maxine at 12:50 PM | Comments (1)
It is almost a week since our first Supper Club meeting. This week has flown by and was full of things to do and places to go, which is why I am only posting about this now!
The first meeting had an Italian theme and went really well. We all had a great night, with lots of great food, wine and even some end of night Bellini's! The logistics of people turning up with food to heat or prepare was certainly interesting and something which will hopefully get better as time goes on. Especially as only half of the intended people were able to make it! It was great way to try a variety of dishes, especially ones that I wouldn't think of making, like Jenny's risotto or Susan's summer fruit pudding.
I have put together a bulletin, which includes all the details of the recipes including where they originate from or what they were inspired by. Its available here as a PDF, so if you download it and make any of the dishes let me know how it goes, I would be really interested to know.
The next meeting is scheduled for the 18th March and as it is St.Patrick's day on the 17th we figured we would have to make it an Irish night!
Posted by Maxine at 09:28 PM | Comments (0)
Tonight is going to be the first of a monthly Supper Club. I have been meaning to start this for a long time but have just not got around to it, so I am quite excited that it is finally here.
The basis of the Supper Club is a bunch of people getting together round someone's house (mine tonight), with each person bringing a dish made to a particular theme - tonight's theme being Italian. A couple of people have been designated as dessert makers so that we get to sample something sweet!
Each person will also be bringing the recipe for their dish and where its from ie: a particular cookbook or a hand-me-down recipe from granny! Then I will compile them each month according to their theme, distribute them to the club members and put them online to download.
We also intend to drink lots of wine tonight and possibly even cocktails so it may be after the weekend before I report on the nights success!
Posted by Maxine at 12:13 PM | Comments (0)
Here's a few treats I made for my special valentine. I got carried away and made up a couple of other boxes that will also be going to some special people. Yummy chocolate chip shortbread. To be honest the boxes are only quickly thrown together with whatever I could lay my hands on, that being red felt and cotton, heart confetti and pinkish tissue paper, but they are made with 100% love and thats what counts. W left me a lovely surprise when he left for work, of a super cute card and the Amelie DVD, so perfect I nearly cried!
Today is always a strange day for as it is the anniversary of my dads death. Its 7 years since that day, but it still only seems like yesterday. I couldn't celebrate Valentines day for the first couple of years, it just seemed wrong and I certainly didn't feel like getting all gooey eyed and mushy. But then I just realised that life does have to go on and today is a day about love, commercial or not, and its a good reason to celebrate life and remind ourselves and each other of what is really important. Some people hate these commercial holidays and in some ways I do agree. But we are all so busy with our lives that it can be easy to take for granted the special people in our lives, so if there's a date to force us to think about it then why not?
I miss my dad a lot. We grew up apart in a way, because my parents separated when I was very young, but I always loved him just the same. I wish that he could've been around to see me get married or to meet Emily, he would've loved her. My dad visits me often in my dreams and I know that in some ways he will always be with us.
Take this day to acknowledge all the special people in your life and how powerful love really is.
Posted by Maxine at 02:50 PM | Comments (2)
I thought I would have a go at this simple tutorial from Mollychicken last night. What should've been really simple I totally over complicated, made too small, used the wrong fabric and was much too tired to really start working on something! But I just had to give it a go.
I didn't have enough felt lying around so I used a scrap of this woven fabric, that every time I touched it, it frayed and got more and more difficult to sew. I also made it slightly too small which made it awkward and went a bit mad on the old blanket stitches.
I will not give up though and I will find out my felt and start again, taking note of all my mistakes.
BUt just so you know Wonky Bunny is beautiful on the inside.
Posted by Maxine at 11:58 AM | Comments (9)
Here's a couple of things I got today in a quick look around some local thrift shops. The book is lovely. Its a classic fairy tale book and every page is delicately illustrated. Its so nice to have one resource with all the old favourites: Snow White, Cinderalla, Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel & Gretel, The Frog Prince plus many more. Its not a very old book, it was published in 1988, but its just lovely.
The fabric, believe it or not is a towelling tunic with those big pink buttons going all the way down the side. I can't work out in what capacity you might wear this, apart from maybe down the beach, but I thought it would be great for making something.
Not bad going for just £2!
Posted by Maxine at 05:31 PM | Comments (3)
Last week we were matched up with our Mini-Swap partners. I am so excited about this project, although totally daunted at the same time. My swap partner, Toni, is so talented and creative with such a beautiful, talented and creative family that I am hoping that I can come up with something just as good!
I have a couple of ideas, which for obvious reasons I can't divulge just yet, but I am hoping that they will work just as I want them. I will have to get working very soon.
Posted by Maxine at 01:10 PM | Comments (1)
Last night we had a get together as a final farewell to my lovely friend Rachel, who is moving to Germany on Saturday (Rachel is the one with the dark curly hair on the right). I decorated the house with balloons and heart confetti and made a scrumptious curry with the works. I have never made a curry for 8 people before and at 7.30 Warren looked and said 'Hmmm is there enough sauce do you think?' and there really wasn't. As they were coming round for 8 my lovely hubby quickly made a batch of extra sauce while I blew up the balloons. Phew!
We had such a lovely night and finished it off with a few glasses of Bellini's - yum! I have known Rachel for about 7ish years now and we have really grown close over these past couple of years. I will be sad to see her go. But she is embarking on such an exciting adventure, starting a new life and being close to her love (who is German) that I am so happy for her and hope it all works out.
Auf Weidersehn Rachel. Keep in touch. x
Posted by Maxine at 01:01 PM | Comments (0)
Why is it that everytime I leave the house, get in the car and go out on a look around the local thirft shops, the moment I set foot in the shop Emily decides to do a poo. This has happened the past 3 or 4 times we have gone on a thrifting mission and its starting to really bug me!
Especially as this morning I made sure she had a long sit on the potty before we left, just to make sure there was no chance of it happening. But what can i do? I have a toddler who needs to do what she needs to do. I just wish her timing was a bit better. Even worse today was the fact that one of the shop assistants followed behind us with a can of air freshner...hmmm...
Well despite this I managed to get a couple of things. Nothing major and not really what I had in mind but you can't win everytime. I got this newish coat for next to nothing, the photo doesn't do it justice but its just great and I don't have a warm long black, fairly smartish coat. The fabric was one of the things I was looking for, unfortunately it is a babygrow so there is not much to use, but I am hoping it will do for my next project.
Posted by Maxine at 12:50 PM | Comments (0)
Its great having a 2 and a half year old because you get introduced to things you might otherwise miss. Everyone in my house is a huge Charlie & Lola fan and it has become a ritual to watch an episode every night before bed. Not only is the style totally original and amazing, the story is so well observed it really is genius.
SO you can imagine how happy I was today, on one of our regular library visits to come across this book, also by Lauren Child. The story is far too detailed and complex to keep Emilys interest for too long, compared to Charlie & Lola but it is just amazing and prefect for me!. I would urge you all to take a look or hop down to your local library and order a copy!
Apologies for the image quality, I cheated and took it from Amazon and if you are reading this W I think this is one for our collection!
Posted by Maxine at 03:29 PM | Comments (0)
I received two more postcards today and they are just wonderful. A combination of textures, patterns, hand-drawn and inked elements. I just love them. I would never think of stitching card in this way, its given me something to think about.
The top one is from Karyn , Australia and the bottom one is from Robyn, Illinois, USA. Thank you for two well crafted cards, and Robyn what a wonderful message you sent me. You really took the time to write something personal and its just lovely. I am originally from England but I totally agree with you that Ireland is a beautiful place, I suppose thats why I have put down roots here.
Posted by Maxine at 01:54 PM | Comments (0)
Finally I can put up this lovely print that I purchased for Susans 30th birthday! I have been waiting until I gave it to her before I posted so she didn't see it. Its just so perfect for her. The funny thing is quite often she would sleep after work and be late turning up somewhere (sorry Susan hehe) and generally loves her sleep. I told her one day that I thought she was a cat and she said that I wasn't the first person to say this!
So when I saw this print in The Black Apple's shop on Etsy I thought it was perfect for her and luckily she loved it too! Etsy is such a cool place to buy original presents, I would thoroughly recommend it. In fact some day very soon, when I get my act together I will open a shop on there too.
Posted by Maxine at 08:52 PM | Comments (1)
More postcards arrived in the mail today. It is so amazing receiving things this way, how they come trickling in one by one. Thank you so much you four. Just so you know, starting with the pic of the 3 cards from left is from Bethiee in Seattle I think, the felt doggy on blue is from Sarah in Houston (Sarah for some reason I can't access your blog, so if you are reading this can you reconfirm the address) and the dog print with stars is from Reneé in the US somewhere! Thank you so much for all your kind and wonderful messages.
As for pink card & truly AMAZING felt doggy purse from Cynthia in Vancouver, Canada - what can I say? You have really gone the extra mile to wish us all a Happy New Year and honestly you have made my day. Your card and purse are both so adorable and I am so pleased to be your recipient! It was very thoughtful of you to go to that extra effort for 10 people!
I am having so much fun with this, thanks again Myra for such a wonderful idea.
Posted by Maxine at 02:50 PM | Comments (2)
I am a graphic designer & stay at home mom, originally from England, now living in Belfast. I love all things handmade & spend my time being creative by either making bags & accessories or producing original prints, paintings, photography & cards.
