as you can see we wouldn’t have seen much from the bridge, no matter how flat it is!  We also went to Steels, the famous fish and chip restaurant.  It’s great, it never changes, from the banquets to the decoration to the bread and butter and tea served on tap.  Coming from Grimsby I think I know my fish and chips and these are some of the best.  (I would have taken a photo but they didn’t last long enough…)

Its a fair old drive back home, around 5 hours and after doing it I really do take my hat off to reps who do it all the time and work, I’m good for nothing after driving that far!  To make me feel even more inadequate, you must read the blog caribou crossing chronicals.  Its who I sent my fabric swap too.  Karen is in the middle of a massive 8000 km drive to pick her daughter up from uni.  She lives in the Yukon Territories in Canada, what a fantastic address!

What I sent, some Joel Dewberry, Amy Butler and vintage fabric as well as some beads and silks.

But best of all, after my pathetically epic drive, I found this parcel waiting for me.

How beautifully wrapped!  And look inside…

3 exciting little bags

a detail of some of my faves

Thank you so much Linnhe!  I have made some great Internet crafting buddies and found some wonderful blogs through swaps and wee mindings is one of them.  Thanks to to Ali of very berry for organising a great swap too and introducing me to a load of new blogs xx

Cheryl of cherylbugs clearly loves sewing and is quite good at it, and I had found this pattern in my stitch dictionary that I had wanted to try and here was the perfect occasion!  What do you think?

I also included some little extras, some fabric, a little flower and of course some chocolate!  I heard back from Cheryl today and she absolutely loves it, the pincushion is in use, the flower had been worn and the fabric is loved – I love a good swap!

Update:  Just received my swap parcel

a really cute heart from Zoe of top floor treasures , isn’t the fabric gorgeous!

Unfortunately, unlike Emma, my swapee, I was too excited to take pictures of it all wrapped up (her blog post is lovely about my bits), so sorry, I was excited!  I could I could take a picture of the magazine wrappings in the recycling bin…

So what to show you first, well, how about this

Isn’t the card wonderful, it must have taken hours, they are cut out from the scraps Emma has left over (and I think its in the recycling logo), and that pincushion – how cute!  Much to my shame I’d never have thought of keep such tiny scraps and then to make something so great from them!  (a lesson learnt)

My favourite colours too.

Next up is some lush fabric which has got my mind whirling already, especially the teal one on top…

Yes, there is more!  Some ’green’ toiletries, I’m looking forward to trying the face scrub tonight, I’ll also be sampling the chocolate too, in the interests of politeness of course!  Though it is perfect for me, I love sweet and savoury together, if I have a bit of chocolate I have to have savoury nibbles too, so this chocolate has caramelised salted almonds in which sound totally lush!

And finally an inpired idea.  Made from left over hessian Emma has made these vegetable bags – not only are they gorgeous and well made, they are mega practical too!

A huge thanks to Emma and Rachel for not only organising but coming up with the idea too for this swap, its been brilliant, the making and the receiving!  If you keep popping over to thatlittlebitgreener blog they are going to post links to everyone’s blogs who took part so you can see all the other lovely goodies that people have made and received.

Firstly my new top, not finished but its too cold anyway yet!  Crocheted in Kon-Tiki which is a lovely cotton/acrylic mix.  Its going well, such a simple pattern.  I’ve tweeked it a bit, the top part was supposed to be buttoned, but I thought that might be a little bulky so I joined it up with a slip stitch.  You then work in rounds down from that and I have to say its looking lovely!

Next I’d like to introduce you to Janebutalittlebitbetterthoughalotsmaller!

Wearing my usual get up of red converse (not a mouse Julie/Rich!) jeans and a floaty top with jewellery.  I was going to go with a nice little skirt and funky top but as I rarely make the effort myself I thought it wouldn’t be a true interpretion…

Obviously the hair is quite similar i.e scruffy, though I have to be honest and say my mate Nicki came round to do my hair today (dye, cut, try to style) and gave mini me a little snip too.  You can imagine how bad it was before!

And of course, I had to be crocheting, well that or drinking and I didn’t fancy crocheting a bottle of wine!  I’m quite chuffed with this bit, I used a cocktail stick and a nail file to shape it!

And finally, another swap, but its okay because its green …

Rachel from contented has another blog with a friend of her’s, called That little bit greener, full of info and tips and documenting their green journey. 

And they are hosting a swap – a green swap – so I couldn’t say no, could I…

and the back too

I honestly don’t know which side is my favourite, I mean I feel cruel not to use the front; look at that fabulous stitching and as for the design, I totally love it.  But the back; how glorious are those fabrics!

And the other ‘bits’ lurking in my parcel – sock wool – my mind is racing with possibilities already and my hand itching to get my 3mm hook out I mean, look at those colours!

And the buttons, yes, vintage buttons and that print, look at the colours, can you tell I’m excited!

There was also a lovely little treat in there for my boys, Rachel, thanks for being a wonderful swap partner and Claire thanks for organizing it!

p.s. Rachel should have received her’s now too, but just in case I won’t post a picture, just a little teaser instead!

I love the way she has finished the edging off, and what beautiful fabrics.

And they both have such lovely sentiments on too, how can you not look at these and smile and feel the warmth of a spring day reflect on you!

The backs are as lovely as the front!

So thanks Georgina, you’ve really made me smile!

Edit

One of my fellow ‘crafteroo’ peeps, Joe has written the most fantastic post on genius occupations, this is absolute brilliance, click here and be amazed!

Well, I’ve posted my secret santa – I really hope my swapee likes it, I think she will.  I really, really enjoyed putting it together, it is so much fun creating something for someone who you know appreciates the thought and enjoys handmade.  And on the plus side, I too received mine - SO EXCITED!!!

Also the craft neutral bauble swap I was doing is finished, Emma of Paddymade received mine and loved it!  And I received hers and really loved it – look

And this is what I did Emma, she said she had a liking for black tinsel and I thought the pink would go nicely!

A massive thank you to Elaine of cup of tea for organising this – it really was a great idea, a simple bauble swap- beautiful in its simplicity like all the best things are.

I’ve signed up for another swap – I know i’m a muppet, but I do love a swap and this one is a quick and simple one, and its Christmas decorations and who doesn’t love handmade dec’s?!

Eileen, over on her wonderful blog came up with this fab idea of making a decoration from stuff you have already, with a little edible pressie if you want, see, simple!

I’ve been partnered with Emma who does some amazing origami, (and has a great taste in men!) I can’t wait to see what I get!

I’ve also been busy on a new idea I kinda got from my mum, handwarmers, that i’m going to do as a set with the scarflettes, so I’ve been playing with different ideas.  If we get some sun here in Wales i’ll post some pics.  (Don’t hold your breath)

This is from my (small) stall at the craft fair in Dinas Powys last Saturday, and to be fair, the set up didn’t change much during the day – but ever the optermist, I nearly finished another scarf while I was there!  Also, a lovely lady with a gallery in Pontyclun loved my stuff, and might be stocking it soon, so, every cloud eh!

Also, Gemma, my button swap partner finally recived her parcel, only 3 weeks to get from South Wales to London!  I can finally post some pics of what I sent now.  I tried a new idea for the necklace and I’ve been dying to know what she thought … she loves it!  So I’m going to explore some variations of it that have been brewing in my mind, so here are some pics, I’m off experimenting – have a good week all!

As well as the jewellery, I sent some white chocolate (her favourite) a handmade notebook, some vintage fastenings, beads, some brilliant stickers that really reminded me of her work and of course, some relaxing tea!

I am rubbish at this blog keeping aren’t I, could you imagine if I kept a diary?  The diary itself would be a beautifully handbound book with lots of inviting crisp white pages, I would sully it with enthusiasum on the 1st of January, probably with a list of what I intended to document, and it would go downhill from there…

However, I do have valid excuses, the boys are back at school so its getting into the routine of clubs, I only got the time of 2 of them wrong, 1 by an hour, the other by a day!  And I have just finished a hugely exciting, though for the time being very secret, project that if it comes off will be FANTASTIC!

The other project that has been keeping me busy is also secret, though for a different reason!  I’ve signed up for another swap over on incy wincy stitches blog

and I am very excited!  Ive been partnered with Gemma from jimjam sandwich and her stuff is beautiful!  I love her use of fabrics and delicate embroidery, look at these

and she has a 15% discount in her folksy shop for National Cupcake week, I’ve got my eye on that blue one! 

I’ve had great fun making Gemma’s jewellery, her favourite colours are teal and cerise, and i’m really pleased with what i’ve done.  Its an idea i’ve had trundling through my head for a while, and I think i’ll do some for my shop, but I can’t post any pics, it’ll spoil the supprise!