My first crazy patchwork

Hello! I am doing my usual trick of disappearing for weeks and then pestering you every five minutes I'm afraid ;)


I can't remember where I first saw crazy patchwork but last night I couldn't resist having a go! We've been making over my youngest's room a bit now that she has a proper sized single bed and my eldest is moaning that "You never buy me anything!!!!" accompanied by stomping, so I decided to make something for her.


I know I saw a tutorial somewhere but I can't remember where so I just had a go at it freestyle, I'm not sure it looks quite how it should (originally it was going to be a hanging heart... but became a cushion...) but my eldest loves it! The heart fabric is used for backing as well as a bit on the front. I can't take credit for the flower, that was very kindly made and given to me by Kirsty and it's my daughter's favourite part. I've also used some scraps of some favourite fabrics including CK chintz and Rosali. Think I might have to make another very soon, it was fun and easy!


Thank you for all the gift suggestions for the little boy's birthday. In the end I've decided to go for one of Annie's name artworks so I will show that before I give it to him. It's nice to be able to support a fellow blogger :)

Hope you've had a great Wednesday, especially those who went to the CL fair... I am very jealous! xxx

PS if anyone knows what has happened to Rosesposes/A Decluttered life please let me know... just went for a catch up and it seems to have disappeared :(

First crafting in AGES!

Hello!

I doubt anybody will remember this from back in the mists of time but a friend of mine asked me to make her three cushion covers and I was all nervous. Then something happened and I not only had blogger's block but also crafter's block.... not good. Well I have finally dragged myself out of it kicking and screaming and have practically finished the fronts of the three covers and thought I would show them to you (as it's my first makes in soooo long!). Here are some sneaky peeks, I will show you the final looks once they are finished.

This first one is make of a CK paisley fabric embellished with old mother of pearl buttons and the word "Love" embroidered along with some hearts and kisses.


The second one is some pink Rosali with a vintage doily and a mother of pearl button in the centre, mounted on white linen. I like the way the colours show through the holes.


The last is my favourite and is another CK print with a a vintage embroidered handkerchief and a very frothy type of doily on top. I've added an old linen button sewed on with pale blue thread to echo the background colour of the floral print.



They all need much ironing and the backs doing (which will be white linen) but as far as I'm concerned the hard part is over! I really hope my friend likes them, she gave me free reign to do what I wanted - her confidence in me may well have terrified me into the crafter's block!!! - and she is going to base her new girly bedroom colour scheme around them.

I know some of you have seen my plea for help on Facebook for help with a birthday present for a five year old boy but I thought I'd ask here as well, I have trawled ebay and a big toy shop and just can't pick something! He's a boy from my eldest's class and I couldn't pick him out in a line up at the moment lol. My problem is that I can never give somebody something that I don't like so with boys' things that kind of narrows it down. Hmmm I really am a pain in the arse sometimes aren't I?! I've got until Saturday..... any advice gratefully received. I thought about making something but my husband thinks that's a terrible idea.

The weather lately is hideous isn't it? Though it does give my eldest an excuse to use her umbrella that looks like the one below, which does bring a smile to my face.


And finally thank you so much to Rockingloubylou for this Lemonade Award for "seeing blessings where they're not obvious and making lemonade instead of complaining about sour lemons.". I am meant to tell you some things I am grateful for. I have dug deep and here it goes...


* That my family are all healthy, something money can't buy.

* That I live in the South and the weather in general is pretty good! Can't be that bad normally if I don't even own any wellies ;)

* That my eldest is settling in so well into proper school after I was really worried about it.

* That I have a job I love (and HQ are even giving us a proper Christmas party this year, woohoo!)

* and that I am always welcomed back to Blogland even after disappearing!

I'm not sure who has or hasn't got this award at the moment so if you don't have it I would love you to take it, and pass it on if you wish to. I love anyone who reads my blog!!!

Have a great evening xxx

If you'd like to take a look...

... at this link then you are very welcome to have a peek at the items I've just put up for sale. Eek!

Don't worry, I am still going to be using this blog to write about life, the universe and everything! I've added just a couple of pics from Halloween, one is of the cakes I decorated from a Tesco kit (tasted vile but fun to do with the kids!), then there's the pumpkins we carved and my darling eldest making a scary face with her face painted using leftover cake icing... nothing wasted here ;)




Hope everyone has a lovely evening, please do leave a comment and let me know how you are as I've been so bad at keeping in touch and been missing you all xxx

Coming soon...

I have just created my very own little shop... at the moment the shelves are empty but I should be getting a few bits and pieces on there later. If you would like to check out the Crème Anglaise blog shop later I would love to see you there xxx

Quick hi

Hi all

Sorry I've been missing for so long and thank you for all your comments on my last post and to the new followers, you must be feeling quite cheated but I am very pleased to have you on board! Nothing huge has happened to keep me away but I've done no crafting in months and my eldest starting school seems to take up a lot more time than I imagined it would! Half term now already and although it's lovely not to have to do the school run the girls' arguing is driving me nuts already and we are only on day one!


The picture above is about the only one I've taken lately, it was when all the candles on the mantelpiece in the dining room were lit on my brother's birthday (1st October) and it was starting to feel more Autumn-y and cosy. As you can see the bunting that I "borrowed" from my eldest's bedroom for her birthday in May hasn't come down yet heehee.

Anyway I will be back soon but in case you haven't already it's definitely worth entering the ever lovely Annie's blog giveaway for some of her beautiful blocks.

Take care and see you soon xxxxxxxx

Three hours' worth of car boot finds!!!

Hi ladies, sorry I've been gone so long! This last week seems to have been quite hectic but there's not been much news. Glad to be Facebook friends with a few of you now... though now you will all know the unglamorous truth about my life, heehee!

This is just a quick one to show you my boot sale finds from today, there's always a huge one in Salisbury on August bank holiday Monday and even though it was drizzling we spent the best part of three hours trawling for goodies. So, enough words already, here are the results.

Two glass jars for 50p, which I have put some of my buttons into - much nicer than the jam jar they were in.


A mini cloche for £1, it is only plastic unfortunately but looks fairly realistic and as I've wanted one for ages I thought I'd go for it. Not sure what will go in there yet but I'll probably get that hook out when I find some pliers!


Two Paragon cups and saucers (which don't actually fit eachother but they are pretty!) for £2.


Three posy brooches for £3.50 in total, the quite damaged one was only 50p but I couldn't resist.


A Crown Staffordshire white on white anemone basket posy for £2. I've wanted a white posy for ages and this was the first thing I bought, it's in perfect condition so I'm really pleased.



An Addersley rosebud posy for £1, a Staffordshire one in an unusual tankard type pot for 50p and a Coalport trinket box for 50p.


A truly awful picture of a very sweet Meakin plate with a hickory dickory dock scene at the top, some little mice and some children playing blind man's buff for £1.50. Wish I'd bought the matching one now but it was near the end and I was trying to save money.



Three very little plates, I think they might be bit parts from dolls tea sets but I loved the forget-me-nots on two of them. This was £1.50 the lot.


Then a Royal Albert posy with no damage at all for 50p - I nearly ripped the poor woman's arm off!


The girls got all sorts of little bits and pieces but this space hopper for £1 got bounced on the entire way around!


Next is the last and my favourite find of the day. I've been after a plastic tea set for the girls' little house for ages because the ceramic one got broken in about five minutes, but I wanted something a bit more interesting - and cheaper! - than the usual ones. I found this Spot the dog set including the tray for £1 and I think it's from the 80's at about the time I would have really wanted it myself! I think the little images on it are so cute. The girls soon put it to use for tea as you can see (don't worry, I had washed it thoroughly first)....




How did you get on today? Hope you've had a lovely bank holiday weekend, Mel xxx

PS thank you for the awards I've been given lately, I will do a post about those next time!

Hello! Glad you all enjoyed the strange posies, if I find any more good ones I will keep you posted :)


This is just a quick hi really, I thought I'd do a quick update. Thought you might like to see the little paper dollies I made earlier with my eldest, they're enjoying it on top of this mini cabinet where they can see everything ;)


A friend asked me earlier today to make her three cushion covers, she trusts my taste so is letting me surprise her with whatever I fancy! Somehow this is terrifying, I don't mind fiddling about making stuff for me but when it's for someone else (and she's paying me) I get nervous. So far I've sewed a vintage doily onto some pink rosali fabric with a mother of pearl button in the centre but it's nowhere near a cushion yet! Will add some pics as I make more progress.

And lastly here is a picture of the banana bread I made with the girls yesterday - they LOVE cooking. My eldest doesn't like it so for once we have some cake left after the day we made it ;) It tastes better than it looks honest! I highly recommend the sort of loaf tin inserts you can buy in Lakeland, so much easier than having to bother to grease a tin.


I'm working tomorrow and Saturday, so I might not be about much in Blogland. I enjoy it work on the rare occasions I go in during the week because there is a lot more chat and banter than at weekends (when there are only two of us in). Mum doesn't work Fridays so she will have the girls for me thankfully. To be honest work is probably the most "me time" I get!

Hope you have a fun Friday xxx