Inspiring

I'm having a good break at the moment and wont be back to full blogging for a little while yet, but I'm getting there.
I just so badly wanted to share a blog that is totally inspiring me at the momentSophie Isobels blog 'Her Library Adventures' is so pretty and full of colour and vintage finds - do pop over and see how inspired you feel too x

Floral Shoes - Tutorial

I first saw this tutorial over here and thought it would be great fun to have a go

I got some cheap wedge sandals, a bargain actually for £2 from a local charity shop
I painted three base colours using acrylic paints
and then outlined with black
added a few white and mustard detailsand ta-daI like them - alot,

Meet me on Monday

I'm going to be quite brief today about what I plan to do this week

I need to sort myself out! I'm not feeling too well at the moment and feel that everything is getting on top of me, for those that dont know one of my closest friends passed away suddenly very recently and I was with her at the time, I think its only hitting me now. Because of actions her husband has taken its really upset me and I'm struggling with how someone can move on so soon!

I need to figure all of this out as after my first son nearly ten years ago, I suffered with post natal depression and it left me with horrible just horrible panic attacks, which I havent suffered from for years, and now they've come back and I feel like a scared little girl again :(

I'm still here but just not as much, I'm having super early nights as I'm affected more in the evening, thankfully when the boys are in bed so they dont get to see mummy poorly and upset. So if I'm away for a while you know, I'm sorting myself out, and putting no pressures on myself.

I've closed my shops so i'm going to concentrate on building up stock and new goodies for when I'm back

I hope everyones had a wonderful weekend :) I'll be back soon x

**edited to add - I've got some fun tutorials lined up whilst I take a break, I hope you enjoy**

September's Market

We had lots of new stall holders this month, there first time showing with our market, they soon relaxed and enjoyed the day

Heres a peek of their makes with links to their stores

Our gorgeous cakes and scones which are provided by The Cookie Box
Chocapop cakes and cake pops i came home with the eyeball and pumpkin & mummy cake pops
Quirky Boots felt gifts thats me :)
Wind the bobbin pretty dollies
Carolines jewellery
Bee Designs gorgeous cards - i love sues designs, this time i came home with a fun bookmark notebook and some handprinted gift wrap
Bloomin Fab wooden gifts - i wanted so much off this stall - so much
Drift Buy - fun signs from drift wood found on welsh beaches - i came home with a pretty sign for the garden saying 'butterflies welcome' :) *sigh*
Bierton & Burrows handmade soaps - the hall smelt beautiful all day thanks to this stall
Hags Bizzare fun gifts and accessories - the noughts and crosses went down a storm
Button it - button gifts and accessories - the other half of the market is Michelle with her fabby button makes
Pop along to our facebook page for more photos

Daily Reads

I havent had chance to scour the sites to share some recycled loves, so I thought I would list some of my most favourite daily reads

A beautiful mess - because I just find the whole red velvet experience an inspiration

One Pretty Thing - I love all the various crafts shared daily

Netmums - this is uk based, its so helpful in so many ways

Facebook - of course - I mean who doesnt right!

Whats your daily reads - I'll pop by xx

Meet me on Monday

Well what am I going to be doing this week!!!

oh I know

blubbing - as I take in that my little man is starting school! I remember Jack first starting school and I was pregnant with Riley at the time but that doesnt seem that long ago! :( many many many tears may well be shed

creating - using my new found time wisely, i have two events at the weekend so I would like to build up my stock a fair bit

sleeping - yes i'm struggling with that at the moment, so a few early nights are in order me thinks, although sleeping isnt the issue, its the fact I dont feel like i've had enough or had a disturbed sleep when I wake up

Cutting - hair off - yep me and riley are having new hair do's, in fact that was this morning and I feel so so so much better for ityes that is me, rare I know, and blurred, but what do you expect a four year old took it :)

Decorating - theres always decorating to be done here

Worrying - about Riley having his preschool booster on Friday!

Dreaming - off lots of positive happenings

Hows your week going to pan out :) Join us over at Jumbleberries x

Taking a moment today to remember those lost xxx

Crop Girls

Today was my crop day with the girls, I love running this group, its a time for us girls to get together, have a break away from the norm of daily life and for us to finish projects that just dont get done due to family life

This month I baked a crunchy top lemon cupcakes and vanilla cupcakes topped with maltesers and made homemade leek and potato soup

This is what our day consisted off!
sewing machine embroidery, scrapbooking, decopatching
embroidery, embellishments, knitting, card making
papier mache wall art, more knitting, more scrapbooking
I love the fact we all do different things and thanks to our humours we all get along just great
If you live near Kettering, Northamptonshire, why dont you pop along and join us, just message me for further details quirkyboots(at)hotmail(dot)com

late & hectic woyww

I know I'm late, I had a pretty busy day yesterday it was Jacks first day in Year 5I met up with my friend Lindsay who I havent seen for ages, so Riley and Eva had a play whilst we talked shop, I love her goodies lots, so always come home really inspired

Another friend in the afternoon as I'm taking photos of her fab crochet goodies for her, I love her stuff, this woman is amazing, no patterns nada! I'll share some more of her goodies once I've photographed them all xAlthough I have a HUGE phobia of the shell like creatures, I managed okay handling this one, although not for long!

The day seemed to take forever to finish and to top it off I didnt feel great - I didnt sleep well, my recent friends passing really hit me hard last night as today is her birthday, to celebrate myself and a friend are going out for a meal, so today I'm majorly struggling with my emotions and keep breaking down :(

As of yesterday this was my desk, its now even messier, busy making up more kits, I'm so happy because I think people actually like them, well there selling anyways x

Bin Collection - Jumpers

Theres nothing worse than shrinking that favourite wool jumper - is there!
Well these fab peeps do it with crafting style!

Pretty CushionsFunky PurseCute OwlFab PulloverAwesome CushionsWhat do you do with yours!

Meet me on Monday

well actually in about two mins it will be Tuesday, totally forgot about this until I saw Clares post lol

This week I have a huge list to conquer!

Caring - for my bezzies kiddies on tuesday whilst she's at work
Baking - lots of cakes especially for the craft group girls on Saturday
Preparing - my crafting goodies ready for my craft group on Saturday
Eating - out with a friend to celebrate my recently 'lost' friends birthday
Meeting - up with a few friends (three actually and all at different times and days) that I have not seen for ages (hence lots of baking)
Cleaning - the kitchen/diner constantly for fear of chewing on brick dust!!!

The boys out and about on our weekend walk

What are you up to this week - please share here with Clare

Opposites

I'm certain I've said over time how different my two boys are! I know that people say no two children are the same, but my two boys are so far from each other its amazing!

Jack is 9 so he's the eldest and he's quiet and lacks confidence (this is so stressful as he's not 'into' trying something new so not that adventurous) we're also getting to the stage of 'attitude' so we have that rearing its ugly head on occasion too
He loves to draw and paint and of course loves his xbox games, thankfully he loves to play outdoors, loves to help cook dinners and bake, still loves cuddles from Mummy which I think I'd force on him anyways

Riley is 4 so he's the youngest and he's very loud (there is no remote to turn him down, shouts to talk at you - yes his hearings been checked and its super duper perfect), stressy, a screamer, doesnt listen, stressy (i've said it twice I know but its well deserved) has too much confidence and does not stop from morning to night
He also loves to do role play, loves his 'play' food, loves to draw Mummy on his drawing board, thrives on been outdoors

Why am I sharing all this, well, over the weekend Pap bought them a car to paint each and it just summed up the boys totally.

Jack carefully opened the box, took it out, looked at it and put it to one side thinking about how to paint it - he then went back to it in the evening once Riley was in bed and it was quieter and spent time painting

Riley ripped the box open and within about 4 mins, which included the box ripping, he announced he had finished and ran outside to play, coming back to check on us at regular intervals and to show off his new carWould you agree now that these two cars resemble my boys :)

Baking

Yesterday I went along to a friends bbq so I did a tad of baking and took these with me

Carrot Cake - fab and only carrot cake recipe I use hereI personally dont like bananas or walnuts, but I manage one banana and its still lovely and moist and I dont add the walnuts to the recipe I just use them for decor

Crunch Lemon Cupcakes - recipe hereThis is one of my favourite cakes, so simple to make and such a tangy taste

Everyone enjoyed them so thats a huge bonus x

Discount Giveaway

How sweet - Ashley from Casa Y Cosecha contacted me about my friday loves feature to say any Quirky Boots reader can get a 20% discount using coupon code QuirkyBoots20Go vintage shop peeps there are some gorgeous goodies and a huge thank you to you Ashley x

Car boot finds and donated tea sets!

The mad mile is a car boot not far from us that use to be on once a month so we'd always miss it, but this bank holiday we managed to go along

I found this lovely glasses and jug set, I know its not vintage but I couldnt resist as its so pretty and it only cost me £1.50!I also got this at a bargain 50p, now this is for a project so take a good long stare as it wont look like this for long!We also managed to find some bargain games for Rileys little handheld game, there normally £20 each and we got two for £5 and Jack got some more soldiers cause thats all he wanted, and Tel well he got a dartboard for the garage!

After the car boot we popped along to see Tels dad as he's recently had an operation whilst there he found out these super goodies that were hiding in his loft!
The new glass jug will be used alotThis gorgeous tea set is another for my collection for our handmade market!Do you enjoy car booting :)