Autumn busyness

 This past few weeks we have been keeping busy...

 visiting friends while M helped them plant up their flower beds.

Picking the last apples off our trees...not a good year for apples...apparently!

Creating a number of personalised baby pictures.

Leading a crafting workshop for a group of teenage girls...more pics to follow I hope.

Celebrating my 39th birthday with my little English nieces. 

Getting out and about over half term. This was taken at the Ulster American Folk Park.

The weather has turned cold but dry, Calvin has had a bad breakout of Hand, foot and mouth and the kids have completed their first half term at school...Autumn is well underway!

I'm back...

Where do I start and how do I start again?
It has been over two months since I posted and I really don't want those, rather important months to slip into the past with out a little blogging memory trail.

So I think I will start with today and work backwards as it was today that made me think that we are beginning to find our swing in this new life in this new place.

A few weeks ago the kids received a leaflet from school advertising the Millennium Court Arts Centre and the activities they have planned for Autumn. Today we went along to their 'Open Art Day'. A free event for families to attend, which consisted of watching a movie, today's was 'Honey, I shrunk the kids' followed by Art meets Science activities. We all enjoyed making paint explosions using vinegar, paint and baking powder and bubble pictures using water, paint and washing up liquid. It was a great event and with the Arts centre being in our nearest town I am so excited about spending more time there.

P.S. I also discovered a new wool shop just a few doors down which has me itching to get crocheting again.

Christmas bunting workshop

My adult sewing workshops continue but I haven't been very good at documenting them on here! Last Friday I had 8 lovely ladies squeezed around my table merrily sewing Christmas bunting.
Although I feel like I could sew bunting in my sleep now, I'm not bragging...I have just sewn so much of the stuff! I did learn how to fill a bobbin, load a bobbin and thread a very old, hand crank Singer sewing machine. The bobbin holder was the shape of a bullet and I enjoyed every minute of trying to work it all out with the help of a little You tube!

A fortnight round up!

 Kids are in the bath and another weekend is drawing to a close. I'm feeling sad that I have been neglecting my blog of late and am going to have a think tonight about how I can revive my interest and reconsider the reasons for updating it regularly.

So this is yet another little round up of some of the things we have been doing the last two weeks.

 There has been a baby boom of boys so this is the first of three birth name pictures I am working on. LOVE the name Hugo!

 During the half term break we visited M's parents and stayed with M's sister and family. They live in a beautiful area so we explored a few forests and relaxed in their new homes.

 I was  commissioned to make a zebra cushion for a little girl called Zoe...her name is on the reverse. I had fun coming up with some ideas but sadly my sewing machine was poorly (skipping stitches) so it was hard work getting it completed. I am pleased to say that my machine is now working well after a good clean out and a new needle, although I'm still not sure what the problem was exactly!

 This week we remembered the 5th November by making some edible sparklers and sharing them with our neighbours and then trying out the real thing when darkness fell.

 Today I had a craft party for a 7 yr old called Sophie. I'm still picking pva glue from my fingers!

 And finally, the Christmas present commissions have begun!

Before the kids kill each other in the bath I better finish up!

Have a great week everyone!

Back to blogging!

 Half term is almost upon us and I haven't been on my blog since before the new school year started...a whole 6 weeks or so ago. I have embarked on a new life stage, that of having both kids at full time school! A number of people have commented that they had never seen me without children before...that was a bizarre but true thought. We moved to this town when MJ was only 4 months and so in the 6.5 yrs that we have been here I haven't had a weekday without children around. I was looking forward to the new stage and have enjoyed it so far...apart from feeling a little broody for a few weeks when my little niece was just born.

Lj is loving school and seems to believe that she is next in command to the teacher...in fact I believe she would willing teach the class if ever her teacher was absent. Her new career aspiration is of course to be a teacher and she has turned her tiny bedroom into a classroom, kitted out with clock, behaviour rocket, story time and lots of pupils (aka soft toys).

MJ has taken on the responsibility of watching out for Lj at school and giving her the 'low down' on how things work. He loves to tell me where he saw her and what she has been doing. He is a proud big brother indeed.

As the weather has remained mild the kids continue to play outside on the street with their neighbours each evening. What a joy it is to watch as they play together, kicking football, riding their bikes, setting up shop and playing all manner of games. Tonight I wish I had taken a photo of them running around in the rain with their umbrellas as the sun was going down.

And me...I have been mixing work and pleasure with golf lessons, running, Architecture and the usual...

Present making

 Kids birthday parties

 Crochet

 Teaching Women to sew

and tonight I finished another Architecture sketch.

Craft parties

I finally bit the bullet and got some flyer's printed to advertise 'Lilyjean- Quirky&Handmade' craft parties. Last night I held one in my house for a few of my neighbours. We made a simple hanging lavender heart. I wanted to keep it simple so that no one would feel intimidated especially if they were not confident at hand sewing. We had some drinks and snacks, I did some introductions so everyone could get to know each other and then we sat round the table and got making. There was lots of chat and lots of laughs and it turned out to be a v late night (for me!). Schools out for the summer so at least we could have a little lie in this morning!

Everyday Creating #08 Imogens Sock Owl party

Today I had a Lilyjean, Quirky&Handmade Crafting party. A fun loving group of 7 yr olds made these totally quirky and lovable sock owls. They managed well with the challenge of sewing and the glue gun came in handy for the button eyes and feet. I loved how the girls wanted to customise their owls outfits adding hairbands, blankets and all sorts from my scrap bag. I must have threaded 100 needles today!

Well done girls and thank you Imogen for inviting me to your party!

The holiday is long gone!

Wow...was it only a week ago that we came back from our lovely holiday?
Since then I...

:: started working alongside a local architect and have two projects to get going on...need to get drawing
:: ran 4miles, my longest distance in a long long time, possibly ever...need to keep it up
:: did my first creative birthday party with a group of 9/10 year old girls...need to market it as a business venture
:: redesigned our playroom...now a family study which involved a trip to Ikea and late night building of furniture...need to repaint and hang shelving.

alongside all the other weekly bits and bobs that goes on here at Lilyjean HQ.

Here are some photos from Saturdays creative party...how fortunate am I that the birthday girls dad is a film maker and photographer!

Workshop 5.2 Make a Zippy Bag

A fun night sewing with lovely ladies. Feeling blessed to have amazing ladies in my life all with a unique and fasinating story of their own. Thanks girls!

Workshop 5.1 Make a Zippy Bag

Yesterday I was really looking forward to our sewing group in the evening and it did not disappoint! I'm surprised we got our Zippy bags made with all the chat and giggles. Well done girls...sorry if I have put you off zips for life!

Workshop 4.1 Make a cushion cover with a covered button

 I can't believe I forgot to take a photo of the girls and their finished cushion covers at last nights workshop. Well that's not actually true...I can believe I forgot, as it was one of those evenings where we were all feeling tired after the first full week of back to school. We did a lot of tiredness induced laughing and struggled to work out how to do a button hole on 4 different machines. But we got there and completed lovely cushion covers, with button holes and matching covered buttons. Well done girls!

This was my sample cushion with a little added sharpieness to add a bit of detail.

Workshop 3.2 Make a reversible beach bag

Last night we had the final 'reversible beach bag' tutorial. I was little ashamed of showing the ladies the sample of what they would be making as I have been using it everyday of the holidays and it is getting grubby! But what a useful bag it is!

The ladies worked hard and completed their bags with ease. It is lovely to see how their confidence is growing and I found that I had very little to do...perhaps I will soon be able to complete my own project on a workshop evening.

We talked of up and coming workshops so this morning I'm dreaming of 'advent calendars' and 'Christmas gifts' ideas!

Thank you Lj for the yummy crunchie cakes you made for Mummy's workshop.

Workshop 3.1 Make a reversible beach bag

Last nights first workshop on 'Make a reversible beach bag' was SO rewarding. The ladies pride in their finished bags was really fun to see. For a beginner sewer it is quite hard to get your head around how to sew a bag together so it forms the final 3D form. But following simple step by step instructions it is all revealed at the very end. A truly fun evening. Thanks ladies for your hard work and the delight you displayed on your faces as you turned your almost finished bag in the right way. Well done.

Workshop 2.3 Make pretty bunting

Last night I had the final of three workshops on 'Make summer bunting'. It was a warm evening and Andy Murray was playing in the Semi finals of Wimbledon but we still managed to make some beautiful bunting! Well done ladies and well done Andy!

Workshop 2.2 Make pretty bunting

Despite the torrential rain and dark skies outside we produced more bunting last night. I have a feeling that bunting will be taking over our town soon. Another good evening of sewing...well done ladies!

And great to hear that following last weeks bunting workshop most of the ladies have been producing more this week. Making bunting is very satisfying work!

Now I have a birthday cake to make for my little girl who is turning three on Monday. Birthday cakes make me feel nervous!

Workshop 2.1 Make pretty bunting

Another lovely evening of sewing and socialising. I was really looking forward to another class tonight. It feels like a treat for me to have a bunch of lovely ladies in my house without children interrupting the conversation. And yet again I have picked up a new idea of how to put colours and patterns together...I think my next set of bunting with be all the better for it :)

Good work girls and thanks for a very enjoyable evening!

Workshop 1.2 Make a summer skirt

Another fun evening of socialising and sewing. I just love how we all have a different eye and put things together differently but still beautifully. I hope there are 5 happy little girls this morning as they see what their Mummies created just for them.

Make Summer Bunting Workshop 02

Workshop Number 2...After enjoying 'Make a summer skirt' so much I thought I would get cracking with another workshop.

It is funny the feelings I go through from initial excitement of posting a new workshop, the fear and nervousness as I wait for people to sign up and the delight and relief I feel as places fill up. Is this what you feel when running a business...wishing people to enter your shop, wishing they purchase and then relief as they do?

For me it calls for a lot of trusting and patience...with an impatient, 'get the job done' personality like mine this is a test of faith!

Make a skirt Workshop 01

 The morning after the night before. I'm still in a great mood after my first workshop. We had a lovely evening sewing together and I'm amazed at how easy it is to make new friends in an evening. Here are some photos of the evening. Thank you to all who came along but also for those who have been praying, wishing us well and all your thoughtful messages. I can't wait to run another Workshop!

Cakes are ready...Lj and Zara helped me make Lemon cupcakes and Corrie provided delicious Caramac peanut squares. Yum.

 

Table set up ready for the ladies to arrive and choose a fabric.

Happy sewers busy measuring, cutting, sewing and ironing.

One of the finished dresses...well done Sarah, I hope your little one loves it!