Loving to crochet

I am just loving crochet at the moment, and inspired by similar cushions made by Julia and Jane I decided to make one of my own, and I am just loving it! - It is so nice to start a project and see it through to completion, especially since I have recently taught myself to crochet and six months ago, didn't even know how to hold a hook!
In the background is the granny blanket I started in the summer, and I am hoping this photo will guilt trip me into sorting it out - typical of me, I thought I could take short cuts and didn't bother to block the pieces, but now I have decided I must take apart the pieces I have stitched together so far, block them and then crochet them together.
Here is proof that I blocked my circular cushion

It really does give a better finished result and I am now planning on making some more of these cushions to display (and hopefully sell) in my next shop window display which will be in shades of dusky pink and mink.
Almost forgot there about my one year giveaway - I put the names in a hat (well, actually a bowl) and the name the little hand pulled out was English Teacup, so congratulations and hopefully I will get a little parcel of goodies off to you in the next couple of weeks.
Next on the 'to do' list is working on the heart swap, I have been paired with Gemma and I can't wait to see what heart shaped lovlies she sends me - I love receiving things in the post! - Anyway hope you are all having a wonderful weekend and enjoying the mild spring weather
Natalie x

What a tosser!

Sorry about the title - couldn't resist! Happy Pancake Day everyone - this is of course my lovely hubby Tim, tossing our pancakes for Shrove Tuesday, the pancake is actually out of shot, somewhere between the pan and the ceiling (hopefully not on the ceiling!)

It is also my one year blogiversary tomorrow - where has the last year gone to? To celebrate I will be doing a little giveaway, which I will draw in a week or so's time. A pretty little package of goodies will wing its way to the lucky winner! - It would be lovely to hear from you all, so come on, even if you're usually just a lurker, let yourself be known - you never know you might be the lucky winner. To add to the fun, simply tell me something you could not live without (and you are not allowed to include family or friends!)
Be back next week with the results!

Sunday: Fun with yarn

On Sunday, with a few hours to relax and do as I please, I felt like I wanted to make something, It has been a while since I knitted or crocheted anything and I decided to do a bit of both. I had seen the tutorial over on Lucy's blog and thought I would have a go, and without really knowing how, I managed to create these cute little flowers. Lucy's instructions are so well written and the photos so clear, that I honestly think anyone could make them - so thank you Lucy!
Although the flowers are very pretty, I don't yet know what will become of them, but it did give me the idea that I would like them to adorn an item of clothing, and so in a few hours I knocked up this hat for Georgia, It has a deep rib which tuns up and the rest of the hat is knitted in double moss stitch. I added two of these little flowers in the same colour as the hat, this time with a button in the centre. It was a very satisfying project combining both knitting and crochet, not bad to say 6 months ago I didn't even know how to hold a crochet hook!

I have a feeling that these little flowers are going to be turning up everywhere from now on!

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

Christmas Eve in Paris

The 23rd December is mine and Hubby's Wedding Anniversary (that's last Tuesday if you're anything like me and forget what day of the week it is at this time of year!) and Hubby took me out to Dinner........in Paris. If you'll just allow me a minute or two to be slushy, I'd just like to brag a bit about how wonderfully romantic my man is - He always likes to treat me for our anniversary, last year we spent a lovely couple of days in London, another year it was New York, but this year he chose Paris as we visited there on our honeymoon and loved it. He always tells me how ridiculous it was to get married so close to christmas and do I have any idea how difficult it is booking something at this time of year? (no is the answer!) But secretly we both loved our Winter Wedding and it makes the whole christmas and new Year festivities even more special. In fact we like christmas in our house - if you read my last post you will see that it was our Nathaniel's birthday on the 28th December, mine is one New Years Day and Hubby's is the Day after mine, the 2nd January so we are pretty busy anyway at this time of year.

I wasn't planning on doing much shopping in Paris (not with the current state of the Euro) in fact on arriving at St Pancras International it seemed that everyone was going in the opposite direction to us - that is, the French were all heading to Oxford Street to do their christmas shopping, seeing as they were getting much more for their money. I wanted my 24 hours is Paris to be more about soaking up the atmosphere, wandering up and down the Champs Elysees and having some nice food and wine

I had intended to go up the Eiffel Tower, having run out of time to visit there on our Honeymoon, but when we arrived the queues were so long, I decided that my time in this beautiful City was too precious to be spending it in a queue. You will have to make do with a photo looking up at it instead!

I didn't intend to do any shopping, but there was one shop on my list which I had to visit - the huge Sephora Store on the Champs Elysees. As a self confessed make up junkie, this store is my idea of heaven, I don't know why we don't have them in the UK, as a trip to their website shows that just about every other country going has a chain of Sephoras. I didn't take a photo this time, but here is a photo taken of me looking very happy with my purchases way back on our honeymoon

Although we weren't in Paris for too long, the trip didn't end when we arrived at the Gare du Nord, travelling back to York first class was a truly relaxing experience which I spent planning my next trip to Paris, and snoozing, and sipping my lovely red wine.
Thank you Tim for our lovely trip - You are a wonderful Husband who never fails to surprise me - love you lots x x x x
So one week later, and what has everyone else been up to? - After recovering from our trip, and visiting family, we now have a few lovely relaxing days at home - at the moment one son is starting a Simpsons puzzleball, the other is playing on his DS Lite, my little girl is tired out from her bike ride (don't you know how tiring it is being pushed whilst peddling backwards?!) and I am going to spend my afternoon finishing off my new Maeve Binchy Novel and catching up with all your news.
If I don't see you again before Thursday then I would like to wish you all a VERY HAPPY 2009 thank you all for your friendship, your kind comments and your generosity throughout 2008 - Natalie x

Happy Birthday Nuggs

My little boy turned 9 today. How time flies! It seems like only last year, let alone 9 years ago that I spent my christmas on the edge of my seat with a baby who was too laid back to arrive on time and entered the world 10 days late and 9lb 2oz.
Nathaniel Joseph was named so, because the meaning of Nathaniel translates to 'Gods Gift' and Joseph means 'Second Son' so it seemed a perfectly fitting choice, his nickname of Nuggs came around the age of 3, due to his love of chicken Nuggets and boy has it stuck, even his teachers and school mates know him as Nuggs!
Nathaniel was the perfect baby, so laid back, he made no fuss and always had a cheeky smile on his face. I can't believe that the boy sitting on my sofa right now, looking so grown up and playing with his new ipod shuffle is that same little boy who sucked his fingers and never let pooh bear out of his sight.
Nathaniel, you are an absolute joy to your dad and me, so loving and so generous - and clever too (well done for coming top of the class in your recent maths test!) The dedication you show when you are doing something that interests you like the 5 hours you spent building Indiana Jones aeroplane out of lego is amazing - Don't ever change - we love you just how you are - Happy Birthday x x x x x x

Housey Pics

See, I told you I wouldn't leave it so long!
Thought I would just share with you a few photos of my dining room - although it is downstairs (our lounge is on the first floor) I like to trim up in there, so its nice and festive for christmas dinner. I usually have a second tree in there, but since I borrowed it for the shop window this year, I am making do with this little white tree and a few decorated twigs.

The table centrepiece is from Next - I have it on the table all year round, but with a few silver pinecones and baubles thrown in, it looks kinda festive don't you think?

I think I am more or less organised for christmas now - my big food shop is being delivered on Sunday, and Im finding it really handy being able to keep 'logging on' and adding to my basket when I think of another 'essential' I've forgotten!
Hope you enjoy the pics, I'm loving looking at all your christmassy rooms