Happy Here and Now

I'm not much for New Years Eve, for some reason the looking back thing, well I try my best to be a here and now person, finding that the easiest way to contentment. Of course today theres also the looking forward bit too. Back, forward, sideways...oh sorry theres no sideways!

Then of course thinking on my last post I start feeling a bit hmmmm because its nearly time to pack Christmas away. Still tonight will involve, DVDs, wine and takeaway well you can'nt ignore the date totally.

So how ever your year has been, and will be in 2012, have a very Happy Here and Now.

Have you had a nice Christmas?

 

I was a child of the 70's, Tiny Tears.....

Weeble wobbles....but they don't fall down!

Pack of knickers.....

Pack of knickers!!!! Santa, I don't wish to be ungrateful but tell auntie Maureen I don't want knickers at Christmas.

Good old Wizard of Oz

Heres the thing though did'nt Christmas last until at least New Years day? In fact did'nt it last until you went back school?

Have you had a nice Christmas? I'm HAVING a nice Christmas thanks.....its not over yet!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas time....

I find it very hard to photograph my decorations so this is the best I could do. I am very sad in that I like colour themes and they tend to change each year. Just as well I've got a big loft. In the conservatory its winter white.

We'd recently wallpapered a feature wall in the kitchen so it was a grey/silver, fushia and black scheme.

The lounge this year was ivy, pine cones, gold, brown and a touch of green. The glowing candles were a brilliant present from hubby. They are glass, you turn them over, they light up and can be recharged. We went on holiday once and they had them on the tables outside. Still like my candles though!

OK I'm a sad theme queen....I used to decorate an old people's home at Christmas and I remember a girl doing some crafts with them and then hanging them on the tree! Errrr they don't 'go'....so I put them in the bedrooms. It used to take me ages, two lounges, dinning room and the corridors but everyone loved it. I just hate the putting back bit don't you?

Edit: just realised as I'm sat in front of the tree, hmmm.....I buy wrapping paper to match the colours and everyones pressies get wrapped to match my trees. Apart from Amy's hers get wrapped in Hello Kitty paper and get locked in a suitcase, no peeking now!

The senses of Christmas....

This was my view through the summerhouse window on friday. I'm well set up in there, internet, heating, telly, so sewing is very much a pleasure, although its not bear related at the moment. As the snow came down I felt like a little kid and what with the red berries, well so Christmassy!

Today it was home baked sausage rolls, oh the smell.....yummy. 

Then there is my favourite room spray from Dunelm, cinnamon and ginger.....

Oranges studded with cloves.....

Later in the week mince pies.....

The turkey roasting in the oven.....

And that long ago memory, the smell of pine needles.....

Whats your favourite smell of Christmas?

Mrs Laalaa's giveaway!

What can I say? Lynda at Hookin' with Laalaa has only gone and become Mrs! Congratulations Lynda. You're a lovely, warm, generous lady and deserve a fantastic wedding.

Talking of generous, Lynda is having a blog giveaway, so why not pop over and visit her at Hookin' with Laalaa.

Smudge

Heres my latest bear, Smudge. I used an old pattern and would like to do some more from it, when I get chance! Smudge is waiting to join lots of other panda bears in Australia, lucky Smudge.

Goodley

Introducing Goodley! 

Land Girls, series 3

Did you watch Land Girls today? Really enjoyed it. Check the link out if you want to know more and if you missed it watch it on the iplayer.

Bingle Bears giveaway

Cheryl from Bingle Bears is having a fabulous giveaway. She is a lovely person and her bears are delightful. Why not pop on over?

Fleur, a new bear

At long last here is a new bear! I'm trying to get a few ready to sell, as those all important Christmas shopping weeks will soon come around. I hope you like her.

Kelly's fabulous giveaway....

Kelly over at 'A Stuffed Life' is having a wonderful giveaway. She is an artist who I really admire and I also love reading her take on life in 'A Stuffed Life'. Every year I look forward to seeing Kelly's Halloween pieces as she has the best ideas. 

So go on and pop over!

Natwest offer some free Help!

Last month I read The Help, lovely story with wonderful characters. Just love the name Mae Mobley! Anyway, just went to my emails and as an 'everday banker' I could get free tickets to see a preview of the film next monday. Yay! I never go the cinema as I think its too expensive but this is one film I might have paid for. Heres the link if you bank with Natwest.

The Link 

And.... after a beary, beary bear drought this summer, I've finally made one.....watch this space for a peak at the new design.

Toadstool House giveaway

The lovely Julie from A Tale from Toadstool House is having a great giveaway, why not pop over and check it out.

With Amy now settled in college you'd think I'd be back to some routine, nah! My bearmaking is still on hold. I really am going to have to give myself a kick up the bum. Can't blame it on anything but laziness. I could go do some sewing now but I'd rather read some blogs.....

Schools out for ever!

I know lots of bloggers have children starting or going back to school and lets face it, it feels very much like we're doing the starting or going back. Amy was only just 16 a few weeks back and starts college on thursday. Oh for the building to look like this one, Clifton college but its a year old sixth form college. Her secondary school was also a brand new building.

We went for her interview the other week and I'm so happy (think Amy is LOL) that she is going to be doing three years instead of the usual two. I feel as if we've got back a year stolen due to her being so young. If she had been born one week later she'd be in her last year of school.

So lets hope any of 'us' who are starting school, college, university survive the week!

Line up in a straight line, walk don't run, it will soon be friday night.....

Typical bank holiday sunday

Well being a typical sunday on a bank holiday weekend, ie rubbish weather, I decided to watch Glorious 39. I had it on my player from a few weeks back. Well I really enjoyed it, hubby stopped watching as he said it was too 'jolly hockey sticks' LOL but the scenery, costumes and just general look was very much my thing in a movie. Of course the player had not recorded the last few minutes but You Tube to rescue. In fact you can watch it all on there, split into 13 parts. Just google it and you can find plenty of trailers to give you an idea of what its about.

Something else I enjoyed and again starring Romola Garai, is The Hour. Although there were some liberties taken with modern expressions in the lines (so they say, I was too busy just watching it) again I enjoyed something set in another era. They are going to do another series so good, good, good!

Catch them if you can!

Birthday girl and Dr Pooh

Tomorrow is my daughter Amy's 16th birthday. Here is the cake she made herself last year. This year she was'nt fussed on a party so we've had a meal out today as I'm working tomorrow. Shes a great daughter and no trouble at all, I think we've got away lightly over the years! We're all still enjoying the extended summer as shes finished school. Normal bear service will resume in the autumn as family life takes a slightly new direction.

Don't you just love this T-shirt design? Well perhaps you don't if you're not a Dr Who fan! I've just ordered one for my daughter here at othertees.com Just use the code blogtorwho to get a small discount.

A shout goes to a fave blog for letting me know about it.

Blogtor Who

What a few days....weeks....

Can you believe the news? I hope you are all safe out there.

Its been a funny old time here at home. I feel like I've been on an extended holiday. My daughter finished school so plenty of lie ins and general mooching around. I've even been lazy in my summerhouse, no bearmaking until Autumn.

I'm not much of a cook or baker but have really enjoyed making sushi and seeing as I'm the only one who likes it, eating it.

The kits are a bargain from B&M, 99p. You just need fillings like the cheap smoked salmon bits from Tesco or crab sticks. Everything else is included and each kit makes approximately 32 sushi as you get four seaweed sheets . I just cook all the rice, split everything into four and freeze the other portions. Anyone else like sushi?

Pretty Little Jewels giveaway

Juli at Pretty Little Jewels is having her first giveaway! Its a lovely girly giveaway so if you fancy a bit of pampering, check her out.

Time really did fly....

Like many of you Mollie Makes has been a lovely magazine to collect. I say collect as its one I like to come back to, even the adverts look good! A few weeks back it was mine and a friend's birthday. Kay is a fellow bearmaker under the name Katie Country Bears and I always try and make something for her. She sends me really thoughtful gifts so its always nice to think of new things for her. Here is a brooch I made using the kit in issue 2. I hope you like it.

Time flying? Yep that time of year and I've been lucky to have been away to Tunisia. I find in the few weeks before and after there are so many things to do of the most boring or tedious nature. Thats YOU ironing pile! Yes I do think of it as a living thing, because it seems to grow....and if hubby says one more time 'have you ironed this?' .....when I have....well then it will be a cry of 'I was provoked ma Lord, diminished responsibility.....

Everything stops for tea....

As a present for a friend I made one of these teacup pincushions. I managed to get three teacups for a £1 in the charity shop, smaller sized, so they did the job beautifully. Anyway, saying that I sew a lot my pincushion was a bit of foam! So I made the Hello Kitty one for me. It has come in very handy as my next sewing project is handsewn, a present, so I can't say too much yet.

Do you like the little chap above? I used to make miniature bears, he is 3" tall. A clue to my next idea.

As for everything stops for tea....its coffee for me, I can't stand tea to drink, but don't mind strawberry tea to dye my fabric!

Have a great weekend everyone.

A change is as good as a rest?

Well where did that month go? So much 'seems' to be going on.... there has been a massive change in routine at home. The last few weeks have been hectic work wise but that has now gone back to normal. The other big change is with my daughter Amy, she is doing her last few weeks at school, so is in an hour here and there for the lessons she still has exams for.

Then theres my dad who has just come out of hospital, a knee replacement. Its usually dad that runs me errands, helps with Amy, as her school is near to their house. My turn now!

So my poor bears and Blog have been very neglected. I still try to pop on by Blogland and one of my favourite bloggers was having a mega giveaway. Yippeeeeee, I was a winner and Annie could not have been more generous. Thank you Annie.

Annie at The Felt Fairy

Please pop over and see her, shes got a wicked sense of humour and I love reading her Blog.

Next change.....we have being going our local gym for over 10 years, found out this morning they are closing for 12 weeks while they have a total refit and change of brand/company. So need to find another gym in the meantime. Mind you the fee will be going down by half! £9.99 a month which is great value.

So is change as good as a rest? Not bloomin likely!

Happy Easter

Well can anyone one remember such a nice UK Easter? Not even a nasty cold will stop me enjoying this one. April makes.....a bit of bunting! With all the pale pink blossom then the black accessories in the garden, a pair of black and pink polka dot pyjama bottoms got cut up. Jollies it all up and goes rather nicely.

And because I've felt lazy, a bunny I made a couple of years back. Gotta have bunnies at Easter! Although we've got some robins visiting the garden...'ya don't go with the season or decor, come back in 9 months!'

My tree at night, the blossom looks like snow. The seasons sure do get mixed up around here.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Buddy and what a weekend!

Hi everyone...hope you've had some glorious weather. I've had a really good weekend, staring friday with LaaLaa's giveaway, then a charity Zumbathon.

Yesterday we spent the day and night at our local town, it only cost £9 to stop at the Travellodge so was cheaper than a taxi, lots of wine, chatting and a rather good curry to finish off with.

Then today, well, BBQ!!!! Yay, its so nice to sit as a family, have some lovely food and a good natter. Then fall asleep on the sunlounger :) Poor Buddy had to wait a bit as it was just too nice to be indoors, I hope you like him.

Enjoy the rest of the evening or day if you're further afield!

Laa Laa's giveaway

Look what I got! The lovely Lynda of Hookin' with LaaLaa had a great giveaway and I won. I'm so pleased, hubby agrees how lovely everything is. The bear below was made by a friend, I've now re-christened him Stanley. Lynda made the fine needlepoint brooche and also the Stanley keyring. A massive thank you to Lynda, its a lovely treat.