Teaching & Challenges

I start teaching again on Monday and so I'm starting to gear up to get in the swing of it again. Sorting through books and teaching materials ready for a new term. I was very pleased yesterday afternoon when I went for a wander around the charity shops to find this skirt.

This is quite different from what I'd normally wear, but I have a lovely jumper that will go with it nicely.

I also found this pair of very practical shoes as well. I needed a new pair of 'work' shoes and as these looked brand new and fitted comfortably I couldn't really pass them up for £4.99! It would have cost me more than that to get my other pair re-heeled.


On the crafting front, something I would like to make this year is a doll. I've never made one before. Yes I've made soft toys and clothes for dolls, but never a doll so when I found this book for £1.00 in the same CS with full size patterns inside I thought it would be perfect.


While reading through some of my favourite blogs yesterday afternoon Fi at MarmaladeRose wrote about how she is going to try and do at least 20 minutes sewing a day as her New Years resolution. I thought this was a good idea as the last week or so I haven't really achieved anything and so I have joined her and am going to attempt to do at least 20 minutes crafting a day. Just the motivation I need!

These place mats have been waiting for some time to be completed - the binding needed to be hand sewn.

Twenty minutes or so later they were finished! Thank you Fi for your encouragement.

I've also joined Floss and her 'No Frills Swap' which is very relevant to the Utmost Challenge and making the most of recycling and getting 'new' reading material.

Another challenge I've joined is Loft Creations 'No Strings Attached' Challenge whereby you use up scraps by making string quilting projects. As I also wanted to attempt some quilting/patchwork this year I thought this was a nice challenge to join. A bit of fun and hopefully some useful items will be made. Fits in well with my 20 minutes crafting a day!

Icicles!

This icicle is an incredible 40 inches long!

Look at the thickness of it. Amazing.

The wonders of nature.

Eerie

We awoke to an eerie calm on Wednesday morning. The sky was white and the snow was still falling. The boys were off school and doing their own thing so hubby and I took the dogs for a walk over the fields.

Our collie absolutely loves the snow and tried to catch snowballs, as well as scoop up snow as he walked along.

What we didn't expect was the strange shadowing and spots in our eyes. Although there was no sun the starkness and whiteness of the snow obviously had an effect. Must wear sunglasses next time as it was a very weird sensation!

We watched a programme about dogs on Horizon last night - I don't think we really learnt anything more than we already 'knew' although the dog identifying toys from a picture was pretty amazing. Seeing the dogs enjoy themselves so much in the snow, but also interacting with us was and is wonderful, they give so much back.

Yesterday was a much more glorious day - the sky blue and a very crisp snap to the air. We had to go into London and I was hoping for a lovely wander around, but the train was delayed so we only just got to the hospital in time for my appointment. I spent the rest of the lovely day enclosed in an MRI scanner having an MRI and two MRA's! Needless to say when I came out at 4.45pm we thought it more prudent to head straight home in case of more train delays. Fortunately the tubes were excellent, no delays and no crowds, as for the train - they only put on three carriages and it was positively heaving - talk about sardines in a can! Hopefully an experience not to be repeated.

Both boys are back at school today - yippee!

More snow and a cross stitch freebie.

This is what we woke up to this morning!

School is closed again so the boys are doing what teenage boys do....

The younger has been outside for a couple of hours playing in it and is now on the playstation...

The older one is still in bed! I think he is suffering from study-itis...

Now for a giveaway. A couple of days ago I mentioned I had rather a few partially completed (or should I say started?) cross stitch that I know I will never finish. So if anyone wants to give them a good home - one that will complete them and be able to later put up a picture of the completed project then I would be happy to send them to you.

The first I have available is actually one my DS1 started, oh probably about 10 years ago now.

Aliens and their space ship.

As you can see he'd made a start. There is slight staining on the fabric from the wooden embroidery ring, but I'm sure this will come out.

So if you would like this cross stitch project or know of someone who would let me know and I will happily post it to you!

How Many???

Today I found the box that contained all my cross stitch equipment and... an awful lot of unfinished projects! Goodness, I must have been rather scatterbrained when I first came to England as inside the box there must be at least 10 partially started projects on the go! (Of course I'm not at all scatterbrained now!) I look at these various projects now and realise that there is probably no way I have any interest in finishing many of them - life and times have changed rather significantly since they were started some 15 years ago. Some of course I would like to complete. Sadly my most favourite has rust marks from where I left the needle in all those years ago - so any remedies for getting these stains out will be gratefully received.

I've picked a relatively small unfinished project to start with that is half way completed. Over the next few days I will go through all the other projects and photograph them and any that I know I won't complete I will post on my blog and if anyone else is keen to complete them I will post them to you as it seems a shame to completely give up on them.

Reflections & Direction

The New Year often brings about a feeling for a sense of change for many, whether it be through resolutions, goals, a clearing out of the old, or a change in the sense of direction.

For me I can see this year bringing about more changes and possibly a change in direction, although what those will be yet I don't know for sure. I feel a need for change, and a simplification of life. I feel I am being pulled in many directions and when something that is a hobby, becomes a chore, then it is time for a re-evaluation.

My passions and interests very much tend to go in cycles, and can be all consuming at times, which I guess is partly how I have achieved some of the many things I have over the last few years, but sometimes it has been at the expense of relaxation.

Over the last couple of weeks I've not done a lot, I've read, lazed in bed and generally enjoyed the relaxing time that the Christmas period has been for us and as a result I feel even more tired than usual - perhaps an indication that in reality I need to slow down 'and take time to smell the roses'.

Looking back through my 'other' blog and at the last few years 'goals' and 'resolutions' some have been achieved but many a similar theme seems to run through them. A need for organisation and decluttering - which incidently from reading many other blogs I'm quite obviously not alone.

Trouble is I like my 'clutter', my various collections, but there does seem to be a need to cut down if I am going to have any hope of keeping the house more organised. Either that or move to a much bigger house!

However, I am not going to post any unrealistic goals or resolutions as I only get disappointed at my inability to achieve them. The next few weeks are going to go fast enough as it is I would imagine and it won't be long before I am off to New Zealand to visit my Mum and Dad - something I'm really looking forward to. So the more realistic thing is to prioritise those things that need to be completed before I go in order to make lovely hubby and the boys lives run more smoothly while I'm away.

Priority tonight - get an early night so that I can get up earlier in the morning!

Happy New Year

A Very Happy New Year - what will 2010 bring?