Keeping Busy and Pretty Things

Well, its taken a while but I think my mojo is coming back! - Thank you to all who left kind messages after my last post, its nice to know that so many people care. Anyway - anyone else wish the sun would come back? - that will be all of us then! - No sooner had I got used to wearing my white linen trousers, I have had to put them back in my wardbrobe in favour of warmer gear - Oh to live in England, and our great British 'summer time'
I have been busy as you can see, making another batch of pincushions which I sell in my shop, I have also been doing a lot of crochet too, but I will save that for another post.

I also made a little purchase this week from the Charity Shop (well, I use the word 'I' loosly, in actual fact what happened was I sent darling Hubby into the charity shop to make aforementioned purchase for me!) - You can't see on the photo very well, but the dress is a really vibrant emerald green and white print with a lovely cerise sash. It cost just £4 and is 100% silk - Bargain!

Next is this lovely Aynsley posy ornament which mum found when she was sorting out my Grandmas things, and she knew I would like it, and also this lovely china posy brooch, also a gift from my mum

Finally, I know so many of you are a fan of hand embroidery, so I thought I would show you this gorgeous bolster cushion which my mum made for me a month or two ago, she has even embroidered a lovely personal message on the reverse. Isn't it pretty? It sits on my bed at the moment and I get pleasure every time I look at it.

Well, that's about it from me for the time being, the training for the half marathon is still going well and I am running about 5 miles at a time now roughly 3 or 4 times a week, I can feel myself getting fitter and that is motivating me to keep on, even though sometimes when I get in from work, running 5 miles is the last thing I want to do!
See you all again soon, and in the meantime cross your fingers for some sunshine!

Pretty things

Just wanted to show you this delightful tin I picked up this week at a lovely little shop in Scarborough. Thankfully we don't have much call for first aid supplies in this house, but I daresay that might change when the weather warms up and the little ones get out and about on their bikes a bit more! - I think it will look lovely on my kitchen shelf to hold my collection of barbie plasters, cotton wool and TCP!

Secondly, here is a photo of the goodies ready to send off to Gemma of Deravelled for the heart swap organised by mollycupcakes - Goodness knows how I have managed to be so organised, that I have them wrapped and ready to send a week early! - I even found another use for one of my crocheted flowers, can you see it there adorning the gift tag? - I am enjoying this week, it has been very busy with work, the shop, parents evenings and all the usual housey stuff but the lovely Spring weather has put a Spring in my step! - Hope you are all enjoying your week - Natalie x

The little things that make me happy!

A lovely roaring fire when its snowing outside

A cheery vase of daffodils giving a glimpse of the Spring to come

A Little treat to myself - my new Cath Kidston travel purse

Lovely new catalogues to browse.

Sorry I've not been around much lately but there have been some major changes here in the Summer by the Sea household. Just after christmas I was offered a job interview out of the blue, a job related to the kind of work I used to do ages ago had come up and they thought of me - After much deliberation I decided to take the job although it would mean big changes, it is a good salary and with things as they are in the retail industry, I thought it couldn't hurt to have some of our eggs in a different basket. I am only 3 weeks in, but things are going ok so far - I am quite tired as I am still working 2 days in the shop, so Sundays are to be cherished, and hubby has had to adapt as well, now doing most of the childcare whilst trying to run the shop on his own for the 4 days I am at work. It has also meant some other changes as well, once a self confessed train virgin, I now find myself hopping on 08.11 train every morning with confidence. Evenings so far have been a blur of household jobs before falling into bed around 11pm exhausted but hopefully as the weeks go on, our new routine will start to become easier.

We have added a blog feature to our website now and seem to be moving up the google rankings, we have had quite a few orders and as soon as we find the time we have a pile of about 50 more fabrics to upload to the site.

Finally it is coming up to my one year blogiversary (on the 25th Feb) so I may do something special then, maybe a little giveaway?! Which leads me on to the Valentine swap - I am so sorry I missed out there, I typed a response to add my name to the list of participants, but it obviously never registered, and when I logged on to see who I was paired with, I wasn't there (boo hoo) I had even started making/collecting bits to pop in my parcel, so if anyone else missed out and would like to do a belated valentine swap please let me know!

Take care everyone - Natalie x

Lovely Swaps from Sarah

A couple of months ago, Sarah and I from Pink Petal designs decided to do a swap, it has taken us some time to get round to it, but last weekend I received these lovely items in the post

I love everything, although I said to Sarah that the lovely crocheted coasters are destined for my dressing table, I don't want anyone dripping tea on those! - Look at the little baboushka doll, isn't she sweet? and Sarah made the little rolling pin especially, after I saw it on one of her previous posts. Sarah sells lots of her lovely things on etsy, you must go and have a look.
I thought I would also give you an update on the Granny squares. With 19 done, there's still a long way to go, but I am still enjoying it and think it will be a lovely project to crack on with now the nights are pulling in again (Boo Hoo!) My mum had a look at her stash and sent me a big parcel full of wool oddments, some of which were jumpers she knitted for the boys when they were babies, so each time I look at my blanket it will remind me of those days.

So we are into September now, the boys went back to school on Tuesday and the Summer seems all but over. It has been another strange Summer hasn't it ? - My thoughts are now turning to Christmas, I like to start my christmas shopping early, or at least get ideas together, and with lots of christmassy craft projects lined up for those long winter nights, I'm sure it will be here before I know it!
Natalie x

Random lovliness

Well so far I'm doing ok in my efforts to blog more often, suddenly it seems I have loads to talk about and loads to show you!


First off is the drawer in my 'new' dressing table - although I intend painting it up, I couldn't resist using it straight away. The plastic box with my earrings in, is an organiser I bought from hobbycraft, its supposed to be for storing embroidery threads, but its ideal for jewellery too.

Next up is these gorgeous glass draw knobs I wanted to show you which are going to go on the said dressing table - the picture frame is also a new purchase, just £1.99 from Ebay - I just need to find a piccie to put in it now!

Third up is these goodies which I received in the post from Faye
I saw the glass 'violets' bottle and thought it would also look lovely on my dressing table (hmmm this dressing table is starting to look not so much of a bargain!) and the little pink cushion at the back is a little something Faye popped in the package and it smells lovely. I can't show you what is in the other 2 packages as they will be winging their way into someones christmas pressie this year and i can't risk spoiling the surprise, but just look how beautifully Faye has wrapped them.
Last and not least was the little surprise I received in the post from Jessica - A lovely handmade birthday card and some pink floral fabric which I'm sure to find a use for - Thank you Jess!


Well, my next post won't be too far away as I've been busy working on Rachel Rabbits 'Cupcake and Tea' swap, so I'll show you some piccies of what will be winging its way to Australia soon
Natalie x