Tour de France!

I am only too aware it's been quite a while since I posted anything here on the ol' blog but summer is always a busy time of year - for everyone - not just me.

We have just returned home a couple of days ago now from Yorkshire where we house sat for Christian friends for about 10 days and it was lovely.  When we weren't out and about I kept myself busy making all kinds of things so I have a ton of stuff to post.  It may take me a few days to get it all on here.  I even crafted as we traveled around (crochet) so I have some of that to post too.

For now I will just leave you with several pictures of the evidence left behind from the recent Tour de France that took place in and around Yorkshire.  Sadly we were a week or two late for the race but it was still lovely to see evidenc of it everywhere we went.  The yellow and green colours were still so vibrant!

 

I just loved the knitted T-shirt bunting!

 

Several of the shops had taken the time to have windows painted up with cycling scenes.

 

 

Bikes, bunting and flowers were crammed into every nook & cranny.

 

 

 

 

This tower of flowers was taller than me. I'm 5' 2" and was bursting with colour.

 

I snapped this one chained to a tree just across the way from York Minster when we visited the town of York.

 

Certainly makes ya think of summer with the bright yellow huh?

Enjoy!

Recycled Packaging

I promised to share a craft here on the blog - it could be argued it's not a craft, but I used a few crafty supplies so I think it counts - sort of LOL!

 

My work colleague Myra gave me a little gift when she came back from her holiday and it was in this pretty floral paper bag.  People often say they think about the packaging when giving me a gift because they know I will recycle them.  Do you remember the baby shower gift with the teddy and tags on top of the box?  Another work colleague gave me a small stone with the word 'FAITH' engraved on it when she came to my baptism last year.  The box was HUGE in comparison but she said "I knew you'd like the box and would probably re-use it".  Well, she wasn't wrong there!

 

Within a couple of days I needed a small but pretty bit of packaging in a hurry for a little handmade gift I was giving to a colleague who was leaving work the very next day and I simply didn't have any time to whip one up. 

 

I remembered this pretty paper bag on my desk at work, tucked down the side of my computer where I had left it when I took the gift out.  I wanted to look at it for a while (Am I sad or what LOL!).  I grabbed a pretty paper doily and rummaged through a tin I keep with left over bits and pieces when I craft.  I often mass produce cards and so I keep any bits that I don't use rather than throw them away.  It makes for a really handy 'go to' when I don't have time to stamp or die-cut something for a project and often I'll fit what I need around the bits and pieces left over rather than the other way around.  It makes for some very different and neat designs sometimes.  What is it they say? "Necessity is the Mother of invention!"

 

I grabbed a few bits, threw them in my bag, headed off to work and did a super quick assembly with a stapler and a couple of foam pads.  The stamped images are all Waltzing Mouse and really fit the gift inside.  I made up a pretty tissue holder with some Cath Kidston fabric and popped some pretty CK tissues inside it.  If you look real careful you can see where I hid the staples - just under the scrolls above where it says Waltzing Mouse Stamps. Ordinarily I'd have matched the green a bit better but it still worked - just athought that came to mind as I type and look at this photo in front of me :-)

 

It kinda makes me think I should go buy some really pretty paper and make up a few bags and then stamp up matching tags and bits.  I love the 'matt' finish on some of the more costly papers from places like Paper Chase.  It won't be long before I find myself needing another gift.  It's all change at work with babies due and people coming and going!  I don't know if we've ever been up to full capacity with staff at work and no sooner do we get more staff we find out more are planning to leave!  Why you'd be forgiven for thinking it's not a nice place to work but you'd be wrong.  There are such lovely girls at work and we've all been there for one another a time or two so it's a bit like a second family.

 

Enjoy!

 

Suezie

An Incredible Day!

I know I haven't posted for some time AND I also know I haven't posted a craft for some time too.  Today is not a craft post (I have one of those in the wings honest!).  Instead I want to share a few pictures of someone  very special to me - my besty - Jilly.

It was her birthday a couple of days ago and so her treat was a bit delayed - she was actually busy on her birthday and this was the first chance we'd had to get together - but I had a lovely treat planned for her.

 

I have been itching to plan another 'tea party' in the park since my first one and I have a vintage suitcase packed full of pretty china, cake stands, lace tablecloths etc. just waiting to be shown the light of day.  The only thing this requires is a venue with access to a picnic table.

 

 

I bought Jilly flowers for her birthday and set her the task of trimming them and arranging them in a Kilner jar.  There's something so pretty and simplistic about flowers in a pretty jar that I just love.  Best of all you fill the jar with water and screw the lid on really tight to get it to the park then take out the centre lid, leaving the screw ring in place, add flowers and then tip the water out to take the flowers home with you.  All you have to do then is ad water once you're home.

 

 

 

Whilst Jilly was busy with the flowers I set about setting the table, assembling the various cake stands.  I use mostly vintagey stainless steel stands & teapot for outdoors to avoid breakages on unsteady ground, most of which are charity shop or yard sale finds.  Then I put the scones, homemade red currant jam and sweetened whipped cream out, then the cakes, juice, fruit and Jilly cut the sandwiches and set them out.  I bought an old plate that has a removable handle so I use the handle on my matching china instead.

 

 

Then we sat and ate and chatted and whiled away several hours!  All this in lovely surroundings with just the right amount of sun and shade, plenty to eat and drink, cups of tea that were just right - it doesn't get much better than that. 

 

My time spent with Jilly is always very special.  We are the same age so we are growing older together.  I had to smile when two elderly ladies sat on a bench not far from us and ate icecream in the sunshine and chatted.  'Do you think that will be us one day Jilly?' I asked. With a smile she simply said 'probably'.  I certainly hope so! LOL!

 

And my dishes are all washed and ready to go again so I am already planning to do this again - hopefully this year if I get another day like today.

 

I'll be back with my craft post some time this week.  With weddings, birthdays, church BBQs, allotment & jamming plus our church outing to the seaside this Saturday summer is full on.  There's precious little time for the things I need to do never mind the things I'd like to do!

 

Hugs

 

Suezie