Pies

Me and my partner are always having 'discussions' about pies!
You see pies to him have pastry top and bottom! whereas pies to me just have a nice pastry top!
So I treat him sometimes by making him a bottom!

I also made a very yummy apple pie crumble!

This was more of a bit of this and that but it tasted really scrummy :)

Hearts

I made quite a few mini crochet hearts and made them into a bunting, theres not a better place to photo them than in our little shop

 

I'm going to treat myself to a hair dye after doing this!!!!! I'm going to need it!

I'm super decluttering and sorting and moving things and .... I dont know I suddenly need space and organisation and control!
This unit is now gone! see all that clutter! thats me sorting out my studio as Ive organised a craft suppliesd destash sale local to me, so if i dont use it, its going!

Thats a start right!

Party Party

Last week we had to cancel our little ones party because of the snow!
So it was re-arranged for today
I have to say I totally love putting party bags together, sweets, toys and handmade gifts, love it

He had fun with all his friends, but to Riley a party isnt a party without a cake :)

 Thats that over for another year!

yarn and stuff!

After finding this gorgeous pattern on Etsy and speaking with the designer she said that I can sell the finished design in my little shop and at craft fairs
So this is my first attempt, I believe it needs a little tweaking but I love it :)

Pattern can be found here

exciting times

I'm working on our shop website at the moment

Its a little exciting as our retail shop has been open now for 8 months and we are taking things slowly with building the business so as not to make any mistakes
Rona and I are super proud of how its all working out x

snow peeps

Our neighbours built some snowmen using their wheele bins
I couldnt help but take a snap on the way home from school

We still have so much snow here but its getting super slippy on the school run now, I havent even drove the car since last week!

proud

My boys are normal boys, they fight, argue, laugh and play with each other, what I do like is helping my little one with his reading and the big boy with his homework projects, its sometimes stressful but fun too!
I do enjoy seeing if they just pick up their school work and get on with it themselves, so I couldnt help but secretly snap these pictures, of reading outloud

and doing maths homework

bit of fresh!

We're feeling super boxed in, I'm not well and the boys are on teacher training/snow days! so we went for a walk to my friends for a cuppa and to clear the lungs and run out the energy! well the boys anyway, personally its made my chest worse!  but hey ho

Still using up crafty stash, I've started on some little wreath projects

Just little ole me!

I love my blog I truly do, its so many things for me! a journal a reminder a fun way to document and meet friends and of course sometimes its good to off load! to be truthful
I dont think I gloss over my lifestyle! I dont believe I portray my life to be something that it isnt!
I hope I dont!
I've gone through so many tests the last few months for this and that and the other and thankfully everything has come through with normal test results, thats a good thing right!
Then why doesnt it feel it?
I try so hard to just be happy with what I have and its not that I want more! Its more that I probably need less! Does that make sense!

I've decluttered so much the last few months and finally feel like i'm getting there! rooms that are partially decorated are very nearly finished! huge relief...

I think i'm just feeling a little bleurgh and my babies are in bed and quite possibly thats where I should be!

so night nights

fun to do list!

I always see fun projects whilst browsing online and so want to do them but they just get bookmarked, these are ones currently that I really really want to attempt!

diy cardboard house - but a boyish one

spool business cards

groovy-ghan

 Can you share any fun projects that you want to do?

bla bleurgh

I'm feeling a little sorry for myself today, super tight chest and sore throat to the point I had no voice this morning, it hurts like crazy but I'm muddling on as him indoors is working away for a few days due to the snowy weather
So I've been snuggled up on the sofa at times watching curious george with my little man and crocheting cute teeny tiny hearts

Creating note books for little mans party bags, book binding is a first for me, took ages!

I ordered some instagram photos and they turned out great, I'm using the christmas ones in my gorgeous journal made by Lorna from Dab and a Dash

and to end, mr went missing for ten mins last night and then this appeared! hmmm I wonder... x

 I must learn when ill to snuggle up but I keep finding jobs to do, I'm a terrible patient for myself!

Trade Show Fun

Well I attended my first trade show on Tuesday as a buyer/viewer with the hope of obtaining a couple of gorgeous gift wrap suppliers with the same creative aim as our little shop
I popped along with my lovely friend Lindsay from EvaJeanie, thankfully she knows London a whole lot better than me so I was kind of safe in her hands! apparently

Its the first time I've been since Kings Cross was re done and this roof is just totally jaw dropping!

 One of the stands I really wanted to see was Dots and Spots by Becky Peabody as I use your makes already but wanted to see what else was on offer from here for the shop, I was not disappointed at all!
Her gift wrap was just amazing, so many ideas already for both quirkyboots and the shop

To be honest I met a handleful of the designers I wanted to and was very impressed, some stands left much to be desired and gave me lots to think about as I'm hoping to do a stand possibly next year with my sewing kits! eek

After a few hours and then some lunch Lindsay and I both felt a little boxed in so off we went to Nottinghill and Portobello Road, I loved seeing all the side streets that you just dont get here, super pretty

This is where I found that the most disgusting drink in the world is a caramel frappucino!!! yuk!

We had a 6.30pm train home, so were super tired, we ate our little picnic fodder on the train and had lots of giggles to keep us awake for fear of falling asleep and missing our stop!

 In the words of Mirandas Mum 'Such Fun'...

Tomorrow i'm off to Top Drawer in London, I dont do London, it scares me its soooo busy
I'm going with my friend Lindsay from EvaJeanie and to say I'm a little giddy with excitement is a bit of an understatement!
Its the first trade show I've been too and I'm super excited to see a few of the people i've been following on facebook and blog land - eek
I'm quite certain I'll be sharing all my favourite finds
Be back soon

so many...

birthdays this month
yesterday saw our pooches birthday, we cannot believe he is 5 years old
I got this card because I just thought it was super funny with a doggie on it

He loved his birthday treats too especially the cuddly toy 

Shop News

This week has been busy as we turned our shop from a little grotto selling sparkly christmas goodies back to our shabby chic cute little shop with a big SALE, we've also had some gorgeous new items and been restocked with much required smellies

pretty little valentine chick 

 one of the chicks is in the hen house!

 this gorgeous little madam is a one of a kind as the creator has no more of this fabric, totally gorgeous

 these amazing journals have paper and fabric pages and as soon as they came into the shop they were sold

 again the bath bombs sell so quickly so the shop smells divine again now we've been restocked

 some new additions to the glass lampwork jewellery

 we run out of these gift bags so quickly so its good to be restocked with them

 these dresser knobs are just amazing

 

 we've re done our wardrobe with a new display

We are so lucky to have so many talented people selling in our shop, we have so many plans for our little empire, we totally love what we do, watch this space

Facebook!

I've re-opened my quirky boots facebook page after having a break over the festive period
I also thought new year new start, so i'm starting again with all my albums
Do pop on over here to follow me

I've also started up a monthly newsletter which you can sign up for below, theres a giveaway that all subscribers are automatically entered into as well

Subscribe to our mailing list

Aim for 2013

My aim is quite simple for this year but could also be quite overwhelming!

To be better  ~ organised ~

I mean is it even possible to be better organised, I know I really need to be! I'm starting by sorting each room in our house into a workable order for us as a family! 

Do you have aims for 2013

Cant not have a photo! Heres some pretty button heart keyrings

New Hopes & Fears!

I'm back after a very long break from online activities
It was a much needed break to re assess all that I do and want to do

Heres a peek into my festive holidays via instagram
I love the look of multicoloured baubles in a glass jar, this was our table decoration

 our porch looked simple but pretty and I again totally loved our real christmas tree again this year

 my family were here for christmas day which was lovely

 6am christmas eve food shopping with my lovely friend, these black cherry hot chocolates got us through it

 love the carousel at milton keynes

 I played with my sewing machine and managed to create a few items I also managed to fix an issue of the needle dropping off too!

 some time was spent sorting out my studio ready for the new year

 

2013 planning! 

 we enjoyed watching worlds strongest man, little man kept joining in

 new years eve meant a few interesting beverages! never again tastes disgusting!

 my friends will be finding this confetti for weeks I think as it went everywhere

 we've had a poorly boy at the end of the holidays and he's managed to miss his first day at school, at the new building as well!

 Wickets hair cut this time around has meant he looks more like spike from the gremlins!

 and just another picture postcard that I totally love, warkton church

New Year, New Start....