Surprise Page!

Well no sooner had I said I might not get time to craft but then I found myself crafting this very afternoon! We were due to have dinner with some friend's this evening so we could meet their new baby boy - just 3 weeks old and I'd promised an additional gift once he was born.  I made some hand sewn items for the baby shower but had in mind to do a framed scrapbook page once baby arrived.

I didn't think I'd have time since I was elbow deep in zucchini bread most of today (I'd promised to make and donate some for the allotment sale tomorrow) but I ran short on eggs after the first couple of batches so I decided to make good use of my unexpected free time and craft.

The page was framed and under glass when I took these shots so apologies for the slight glare - I didn't want to have to take it out of the frame.  Jo is mad about Winnie the Pooh and Tigger and has kitted out the nursery in these characters with lots of bright colours so I knew I wanted to add to her theme.

I tucked a bouncy Tigger cut out in one corner just for fun and to draw attention to a special date - the day they became a family!

I also wanted to add a piece of scripture since these were Christian friends of ours and I knew it would mean a lot to them.

I chose from Psalm 139 and it reads 'you created every part of me; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully & wonderfully made'.  This is particularly appropriate because after having been married 13 years this was very much a miracle baby and an answer to prayer.  Then I finished off the entire page with some machine stitching using an orange thread so it would stand out.

They were both thrilled with this gift which made it all worth while and their little baby boy was lovely.  He's really suffering with colic right now so I really felt for him and hubby got christened all down his trousers.  It's been a few years since that kind of thing happened.  And when we left them to come home, baby was asleep and they were headed for a long night while they wait for their dog Daisy to give birth to her own babies.  I was sooo hoping she'd have a puppy or two while we were there to see it but she didn't.  I love the miracle of child birth no matter who or what it is.  I was my daughter's birthing coach for all 3 of our grandchildren plus I love to watch shows like 'One Born Every Minute' .  I cry every time!

As I type this post I can hear bag-pipes playing outside and every now and then a big cheer goes up.  We saw the pipers as we were driving home. The town is full of ladies walking for charity, in the dark and in their PJs no less and the pipers have positioned themselves just outside our house.  Our two girls are out for the evening and they won't be expecting to see so many ladies out but I hope they stop to cheer them on.

As for me?  Well I'm headed off to Bedfordshire.  It's been a real long and busy day and tomorrow promises more of the same.

Sleep tight and don't let the bed-bugs bite!

Suezie

A Little Bit AWOL

Just stopping by to say I'm still around.  Despite finishing and delivering Caroline's invitations (she was thrilled) I've been a little bit AWOL.  Our youngest daughter has come home unexpectedly - too long a story to go into here - but let's just say we've rallied around her as a family and continue to do so.

I've mentioned before that we live in a tiny 2 bedroom town house which means she's taken up residency in the spare room.  This room was converted into my craft room some years ago complete with a pretty but fully functional day bed in the event we ever needed to house guests.  I may well have gained a daughter but I've now lost a craft room for the time being at least.  This won't stop me crafting - there's always the kitchen table (which I use a lot anyhow) but it does call for adjustments shall we say?

Anyways I thought I'd share the latest Waltzing Mouse Sketch Challenge.  I am hopeful I might get a chance to play this week.  If nothing else Jilly's coming over Wednesday and maybe we can craft together - sounds like a plan to me!

Isn't this week's sketch pretty in pink? LOL.  You can check out the details here.  Right now I am still trying to be patient while I wait for the newest stamps to arrive so I can go shopping and I'm checking Claire's blog daily so I can get in there real quick - so, so frustrating - for me and for Claire I'm sure!

We have a busy weekend with dinner at a friend's house tonight when we get to meet their new baby boy for the first time - I'm real excited!  Hope I can have a lovely long snuggle with him.  Plus there's an event at the allotment that hubby and I are helping with tomorrow and then I'm back to work full time next week so I'll be doing good if I manage to get a single post up next week but I'll definitely try!  Our computer also happens to be at the desk in the spare room - just to make things even more inaccessible LOL!

Have a good weekend.  Hugs to all

Suezie

Still Here

Thought I'd pop a quick picture on here so you could see I'm still here - just in case anyone was wondering.

This is where I've been hanging out - well when I haven't been at work, cleaning house, cooking or down the allotment anyhow.  I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and should get Caroline's wedding invites finished up today.  I ended up hand making the envelopes to the RSVPs and last night they sat out waiting for the envelope glue to dry.  I even stamped them with the WMS flourishes to match everything else.

All I have left to do is finish up the front squares, add the ribbon tie closures and then give them each a final inspection before packaging them up.  Hopefully I can deliver them tomorrow some time.

And this is what I've been picking when we've been down at our plot - yummy raspberries.  We planted new plants this year so we didn't expect any fruit but these just sprung up around everything and rather than cut them down we left them to grow.  We figured we could always pull them up later and we've been really surprised at how many berries we've had off of just a few stray plants.  I can only imagine how many scrummy berries we'll get off our new plants next year!

Well that's me done.  I am patiently waiting for Mr Grocery Man to deliver my groceries to me so I can get ahead for the weekend plus the kids are all coming for dinner tonight.  I'm treating them to 'southern fried chicken' and I'm so very glad we have glorious sunshine today.  If I don't get these invites finished we'll be eating 'al fresco'.  Okay technically we will whether I finish them or not - I'd much rather have dinner outside and enjoy what's left of this lovely weather than be couped up indoors but I won't get them done unless I sign off for a while.  

Chat soon.  Big HUGS!

Suezie