I'm in the process of updating my website for its relaunch and i'm really enjoying how colourful its looking so far, which is what Quirky Boots is all about - fun colour

I'll be running a giveaway once its ready 

Its another rainy day here so we're currently watching RIO

Enjoy x

The school holidays have officially started, the boys have been with my parents for the first week whilst I spent the week in the shop - I totally loved it

 If you'd like to keep up to date with our little handmade store you can follow us via facebook here

The boys are home now so lots of fluffing, shuffling and keeping them busy is happening, we have lots of gardening to do, lots of craft projects to attempt, parks and friends to visit, a week away to enjoy and towards the end of the summer break we have year 6 and year 1 to prepare for! eek

Do you have some super fun things planned for the summer holidays, do share as we may just add it to our list :)

 Let me tell you a little about Emerald!

Emerald is a gorgeous sweet little elephant hand knitted with such love care and devotion by the ever so talented Little Cotton Rabbits

I've been following the blog for quite some years and adored her little bunnies, then she started to create elephants so I got super excited, although trying to get hold off one was not happening, everyone loves LCR so much that Julie changed the way she sold them by just leaving a comment and hopefully your number would be picked out.
Two years I've been trying, yep two years!!!

Then I got the email of all emails, I had won, and not just any one, Emerald the elephant :) I jumped for joy quite literally

She is now our shop mascot so you will see her when I post updates on my store :)

Pop on over to julies blog shes a wonderful knitter and a great read xxx

I'm re-organising and re-structuring my days at the moment, or at least i'm trying too! now the shop is open i'm trying to get a good balance of home and 'shop' life, I do seem to have so much to fit in but I do also know its very possible for it to all work well in harmony - once I get the balance right that is!

The Gift Box has been open one week and Rona and I have had so much fun playing shop, some lovely customers and wonderful sales which have made us very happy

Our neighbours 'Artisans Pantry' is a lovely little cake shop also selling breads, chutneys and jams and so so much more its truly delicious in there

Today was a day off, a family day, so we ventured out quite a few miles to a koi garden we've been told about and it was really wonderful, the koi were huge, like super huge!

Our journey home was quite mesmerising as I watched the countryside flit by, very calming indeed

Then when home we spent some much needed time in our garden having a tidy up, all this rain is really spoiling it for us at the moment as we have so many plans but they are all on hold until we have some sunny weather which thankfully today we did

I've so missed updating my blog, normality will resume, right i'm off to finish off some orders whilst supping a nice hot cuppa, enjoy the rest of your sunday x

we did it

 we're finally open, would you like a photo tour :)

we had a preview night for the sellers and it was made all the more special when Billie turned up in her bright orange camper van

Today was our first day trading to the public, we loved it so much, tomorrows another day and we're super looking forward to it x

its happening!

Tonight we are having a preview of the shop to all the wonderful crafters that are selling through us, we are super excited but deep down i'm emotional, scared and giggly all at the same time!!

Tomorrow we are officially OPEN and I'll be missing the first hour as I have Rileys first sports day, unless its rained off of course!

I'll share our shop later but until then i'm off to finish baking and we'll certainly be making lots of these tonight as we're offering tea and cake, pimms and schloer :)

If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again

A year ago today I lost one of  my closet friends, the pain is still here and I cant believe a year has passed so quickly
My sweet peas were in full bloom whereas this year I've yet to see them, they are the flowers that symbolise my friend as I filled the village hall with them for her goodbye tea party, I'm nurturing them to make sure I never lose them

Yesterday I spent the day blitzing the house to keep my mind clear, today I'm hoping to do the same, my way of trying to get through it I believe, but she was the same, she'd blitz when there was a crisis too

Heres my sweet peas from last year xxxx

shop update

The Gift Box will be open in 6 sleeps time, although I doubt i'll get that much sleep thanks to nerves and excitement!
Heres a peek

Wednesday evening we are holding a little thank you to sellers for supporting us with our dream, lots of baking will be done tuesday evening and wednesday x

Found this and just had to share

I love it I was quite inspired by it x

What I'm up too..

We're super busy at the moment as we have just over a week before The Gift Box opens to the public
To say Rona and I are excited is an understatement! I'll share updates of it all coming together, we cant wait to put all the finishing touches to it and to see our dream grow

At some point I will get out in the garden and plant up my herb garden, the weather is totally holding me back!

I'm attempting my health kick at home alone, due to not affording the money or time mainly to go to slimming group,  its difficult, but part of my regime includes feeling good about what I cook and bake and ignoring the urges for the 'rubbish' I often grab inbetween meals.
The wii has new batteries in so my indoor exercise regime will start with that which includes family fun games so a winner all round

On another note these are selling really well, I'm so pleased as I love this idea and its of course what we'll be using for teacher gifts this year :)

 Once the shop is open as its quite time consuming, I have lots of new products for Quirky Boots and for the shop that I'm working on, cant wait to share, toadstool cuteness springs to mind :)

Pop on over to jumbleberries blog and see what other peeps are up to this week x