craft swaps

i've signed up for a couple of swaps lately

the first is MeridianAriel's 1980's fantasy movie craft swap
today is the last day for sign ups - i meant to blogg this earlier {sorry Meri} but time has been just zooming by this summer

http://meridianariel.blogspot.com/2009/08/1980s-fantasy-movie-craft-swap.html

i can't wait to get started on this one i love all those movies but i think Labyrinth really was my all time favourite David Bowie in thoose oh so very tight trousers *swoon*

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next is incywincystitches button jewellery swap
well how could i resist that?

http://incywincytogs.blogspot.com/2009/08/button-jewellery-swap-sign-up.html

i definately have plenty of supplies for this swap!

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both swaps have a nice long completion date
so i have no worries about getting these out before their deadlines {ha ha ha}
plus i need something to fill my time now my lovely boy is starting at school - i'm really going to miss him and feel quite sad about him going
but i know he's ready for it and he will love school and being with his friends everyday

so bring on the swaps!

just spreading the news!

- the first mr x stitch birthday bonanza -

On 27th August, Mr X Stitch will be one year old, and there’s lots happening!

First of all we will be launching a new range of cross stitch and embroidery patterns from some of the newest embroidery talents out there. When you find out who they are, you’re going to want them!

We’re also announcing a new roster of guest posters, who will be bringing you more views from the wonderful world of stitching.

And finally, the information
you’ve all been waiting for…
we’re having a giveaway!
Yes indeed, you will have the chance to win one of the following:

A gift pack from the awesome Subversive Cross stitch!

One of Emily Peacock’s fabulous needlepoint kits!

A free sampler of your choice from Miso Funky!

A copy of Manga Cross Stitch,
courtesy of Ilex Books!

An original Beefranck stitchery!

(And a piece of work from some wiseacre called Mr X Stitch)

We’ve also got a special prize of
a batch of light effects threads
that will end up with whoever
makes us laugh the most
by the end of the week.
Can’t be bad!

So spread the word, tell your friends,
and we’ll see you there!
www.mrxstitch.com

Holiday Diary!

So we just got home from our family summer holiday.
We managed to pack in loads but i think we could've easily found another weeks worth of things to do!
We are very lucky that that my partner's Dad has recently bought a holiday home in Dawlish, South Devon which our family and our {unfortunately VERY NAUGHTY} dog* can stay in

saturday
***
on Dawlish beach

colourful beach huts

sunday
***

We met up with the rest of the family for sunday lunch
note all the girls hiding from the camera
I of course always hide behind the camera!

monday
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a trip to Paignton Zoo
***
today was cloudy and we had very light drizzle
so we decided this would be the perfect day for a trip to the zoo zoo ZOO
much walking my poor legs had had enough after 6 hours!
we saw loads of great animals, it is a lovely zoo

monkey heights

prairie dogs

tuesday
***

On Tuesdays, Grandad Dave and his partner Sue,
look after her grandchildren,
so we all took a short trip on the train to Teignmouth
and then another very short trip on the ferry to Shaldon,
on our way up the hill to the smugglers tunnels and Ness Cove beach we found these fantastic hub-cap teepee's

wednesday
***
today we had a day out with Grandad Dave
first we went to see the caves at Kent's Cavern
which we all enjoyed my daughter especially
unfortunately all my photo's were rubbish
so you are spared photo's of stalagmites and stalactites!

we stopped off at a lovely pebbley beach for a pic-nic


and then we went to the Museum at Torquay
because they were having a sci-fi exhibition
my son went totally star struck when he was confronted
with props from his beloved Doctor Who
so although he looks likes he's miserable in the photo's
he was really happy honest!

"erm there's something behind you"

even Storm Troopers need hugs!

Tardis

"very scary monsters"

thursday
***
we had a much deserved lovely lazy day on the beach
picking through pebbles and shells
and building sandcastles and paddling
and watching the trains go by

Dawlish's famous Black Swans

friday

***
after a lovely week on holiday without a single arguement
and lots of fun and beautiful sunshine and cakes and icecreams
it was time to pack up and come home

my son as ever the joker
decided to steal various items and dress up
me and my daughter were creased up laughing.

*due to the naughty dog there was a bit of paintwork to repair!

not a lot of crafting!

but we went to a lovely wedding

father and son all suited up!

the ever present sonic screwdriver!

beautiful bride in her beautiful dress

"Tawstoch Church"
the wedding was in a really beautiful setting
and the reception was within walking distance
just up the hill with spectacular views

lego eleventh Doctor Who!

i hid a few things in my bag as boredom breakers

sweets for the church and lego for the speeches!

"Codden Hill"
my son found a new little friend to roll about on the grass with
i dread to think how many grass stains that dress ended up with!

he enjoyed a good old boogie on the dance floor!

being in charge of the camera meant no photo's of me
well there is one my son took on my flickr
but it is highly unflattering!
So here is one i took of us while getting the boy ready for bed
at midnight!
He was so well behaved and reallly would've been happy stay till the early hours!

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oh i do like to live beside the seaside!

the poor dog didn't get a walk on the day of the wedding
so we made it up to her with a walk on the beach the next day

good way to excerise boys too!

there was a regatta on and they had had a sandcastle competition
so we enjoyed checking out the funky castles/sculptures!

scary octopus!

arrgghhh!!!

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hopefully i'll get some crafting done this week!

Primrose Corner blog giveaway winner!

wow!
i have been so lucky lately
look what i won

four funky fat quarters

i love how they are folded

and some lovely buttons ric-rac and clips

i won these beauties from the Primrose Corner blog giveaway

http://www.gonetoearth.co.uk/primrosecorner/

and here is Julia's website
with loads of mouth watering fabrics and sewing essentials

http://www.gonetoearth.co.uk/

thanks again Julia x

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quick go enter some giveaways
someone's got to win and it may just be you!

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"polish doll update"

Alice got her hair done!
It is a slight bee-hive do
with a very fancy vintage diamonte
button and ribbon trim to match her sash.
Much tidier but still a bit wild
so after a comment on Flickr from GingerMonkey
she is now christened Alice Winehouse.

"polish doll"

My lovely Mum bought me this
sweet polish doll for my birthday

i'd been after one for ages
my Grandma had one
and i used to like
to play with it when i was little

she has wild hair but a sweet face
and i had a plan for a new frock!

oh yes it involved a vintage doily of course!

poor dolly stripped of her clothes
and looking a little worried!

i took a cut-work vintage doily

and cut out a small circle

then i hemmed it to form a waistband
i used a running stitch and left the threads uncut

then i had dolly try it on for size

then i got to play with my lace and trims stash
i found the perfect little trim for the bodice

and some vintage blue ribbon for a sash

i then sewed the trim together in a "v" at the front placed it on dolly and did the same at the back,
next i tucked the bodice into her skirt and sewed it on to the waistband after pulling tight the running stitches on the waistband and tying them off.
I could've glued this but i may just want to re-dress her in the future.

i then added the blue ribbon sash
with a generous bow at the back

now i just need to tame her crazy hair!
and perhaps add a button {or two}

I think i will call her Alice.

***update***

yesterday i received a letter from the nursery -

"After a particularly short period of notice from the LEA (4 weeks) to introduce the transition document, It is with regret that on this occasion the person responsible for ****'s documents did not produce something more positive. I have read the document and am inclined to agree that from what i've seen of ****, the document did not adequately reflect his achievements. This is such a shame as his time here has been a time of great learning and very positive. I also feel that the staff where under pressure by the LEA to produce these documents before the end of term, and as a result have made errors of judgement.

Therefore, i have discussed the transition document with the staff concerned, to ensure that they are completed appropriately. May i take this oppertunity to thank you for bringing this matter to my attention, and pleas accept my most sincere apologies for any distress this may have caused you."

hmmm . . . i think she is passing the buck. Plus as manager she should have "managed".
But i am really pleased that i did get this apology, not sure if i'm satified but i think i need to put it behind me now.

Thank you all for your comments and for taking time to read my post it really helped me x

LEA = local education authority.