Monday 17 October 2011

Zara Marion


'Baby Zara' (as my children call her) has arrived...so it was time to make another quilt. I kept this one plain and simple.

I think I'm improving with the freestyle sewing...it is difficult to see here as I used a purple thread.

Wednesday 12 October 2011

Lj and her bag



When out for a walk Lj loves to pick up acorns, cones, apples, stones or whatever her little chubby hands can carry. So for a long time I have been meaning to make her a little bag for her to store her treasures until she gets home. Yesterday when in town I almost bought her a little Cath Kidson bag. Indeed it was very cute but I'm not sure Lj would really have appreciated it. So I felt spurred on to make her one myself.

It was finished just in time for a walk in Hatfield forest.

Tonight as the kids were in the bath, I decided it needed a little embellishment. So some little felt flowers with a button in the centre were added.



MJ keeps remarking on how much he likes Lj's new bag, so perhaps I need to make him a slightly more manly one!

Friday 7 October 2011

Kooky children




Lj- An explorer. Afraid of nothing. Has a love of bags, shoes, dress up and phones! I thought if I zipped my knitting bag up the yarn inside would be safe...apparently not!







MJ- I can't believe I considered keeping him at home to home school him! A child who wanted me to play with him all of the time, in a unfamiliar place would cling to my legs, wouldn't play dress up and didn't want to be taught numbers or letters has  become a different child since he has started school. Of course there will always be negatives involved, a bit more back chat, more toilet talk and more desire to play fighting games but in my eyes the good is out weighing the bad. He is so much more confident, he loves dress up, plays in his room on his own for long stretches and actually enjoys sharing his new phonics with me.

Wednesday 5 October 2011

The Winter Bear


I'm not quite sure how this children's story book ended up on our bookshelf but 'The Winter Bear', written by Ruth Craft and illustrated by Erik Blegvad is magical. I can't really explain why, all I know is that every night at story time I am drawn to it.

The story is of three children out walking in the depths of a winter landscape when they discover among more ordinary winter things, a small knitted bear discarded. They bring him home, care for him and adopt him.

As I searched for a photo online to share with you I discovered that I am not the only one drawn to this book, there were many reviews of how this book was a childhood favourite in the 1980's and one that is read to many children today. Sadly it is out of print, but should you happen across it, buy it and share in the beauty and adventure of it.

But how did it get on our shelf...I will have to ask around!

Monday 3 October 2011

Spuds


On Saturday we dug this seasons potatoes at the allotment. As the high twenties degree sun beat down on us I was reminded of how as a child of 8/9/10 years old I would help my cousins to pick potatoes. They were potato farmers so it didn't just take an hour or so, it was long days of picking potatoes out of the muddy ground and throwing them into large wooden crates.

It is funny the specifics that stick out in my mind...
Temperature- Instead of baking in the sun I remember being wrapped up like an onion and wearing gloves as the potatoes which were caked in mud were so cold to touch.
Food- The best part of the day was lunchtime...walking back to the farmhouse for a steaming hot bowl of Irish stew.
Payment- I was always miffed that at the end of the day I was given £5 while my older brother received £20.

Despite my annoyance at being paid less (I don't even remember spending the money...knowing me, I probably put it straight into my bank account!!!) I always wanted to help out. I think it was being part of the gang, having fun and spending time with my older male cousins (I was a bit of a tom boy!).

Ohhh the memories :)

Now, I'm going to get started on dinner...a Spanish omelette with our freshly dug potatoes.