All the fun of the fair...

It's that time of year again, last weekend was our village fair. 

This year the weather was perfect. The weekend starts off with an afternoon of funfair rides and stalls. 

Littlest had a dance show to perform, I wish I could put a piccie up of her Ms Hannigan in "It's a hard knock life" from Annie - so funny. And eldest was helping out on the Brownie tombola (so grown up!).

To celebrate the imminent royal baby there was babygro bunting all around the green, which looked amazing. All the babygros are going off to charity this week.

But most fun (for me anyway) happens in the evening the whole village turns up for a mass picnic, with bands, bagpipes, and a cheesy disco for entertainment. Lots of embarrassing mum dancing on my part. 

Sadly this year the ground was too dry for the firework display. But by 10pm, we were ready to go home anyway, and the kiddos certainly were. Cue tears and cries of "But I'm NOT tired!". Hmmm really?

Sunday = the fun dog show. Kipper was entered for waggiest tail, best young handler, and bonniest dog. We didn't get a rosette, (and how could this pup not win bonniest dog - we was robbed I tell you!) but it was definitely a giggle. A quick go on the swing ride, and that was enough for us - home for a barbecue, paddling pool fun, and a DVD. 

What a fun packed weekend but I was glad when Monday arrived so I could have some much needed recovery time, and luxuriate in the last 2.5 days before school's out.

Bye bye 2012.....

....and hello 2013.

I admit I'm usually itching to get the house cleaned up and "de-Christmassed" from Boxing Day onwards, but now it's all over and the dust has settled, the house seems so empty without the Christmas decs... And it'll be even emptier tomorrow when the kids go back. (sniffle)

I just couldn't say goodbye to some bits of Christmas, so this will be hanging on our back gate for a little while.

But truly, if I never see another piece of cheese again it'll be too soon.

I can't wait to get back to work properly tomorrow. I have a feeling 2013 is going to be a very good year. I've got lots of ideas - I just need to make them real.

Happy (slightly belated) New Year to you all.

Not a lot of jewellery....

Nope, there is not a lot of jewellery being made around here....and it's starting to make me a bit twitchy. The kids first week off school has been pretty eventful though.

For a start we went to choose our puppy.

Now that was difficult. They were all completely adorable. But we chose, eventually, and pick the little fella up in 3 weeks. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek I am beyond excited.

It was quite a trek to get there, so on the way back when we saw a National Trust place en route, we stopped for a bit of a leg stretch. It worked out really well. Wimpole is stunning!

I just wish I could capture the smell of those flowers on my camera, and the warm sun on my back.... ah it was a well spent hour. Hopefully we'll get a chance to pop in again on the way to pick the puppy up!

The rest of the week has been pretty fun packed too... .more of which later!

Love where you live....

I was brought up in the Derbyshire hills, and if I'm honest most other countryside I see seems to pale in comparison to that beautiful countryside of my childhood. I've always craved greenery and though I had a blast when I lived in London for 5 or 6 years, by the end of that period I was itching to get out.

So when were looking for somewhere to live that was both "countrysidey" and commutable to London for Mr P, we saw this village and knew it was the one for us.

These pictures were taken last weekend, 5 minutes walk from my front door....I'm not sure I could ever move back to city life. I love where I live.... What do you prefer? Town or country?

Chaos....utter chaos.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh, our building work started at the beginning of January, and we're nearly there, nearly done. The walls are up, the glass is in, the floor has been levelled and the radiators are plumbed. We even have plaster on the walls! (I know!) One thing we no longer have however, is a kitchen...

...no sink, no cooker, no...anything.

Tiling of the floor begins tomorrow, and the new kitchen is going in later in the week. I don't know how long it will take, but for now, like for the past couple of months we are living with utility room cupboards, a couple of sinks, a fridge, a dishwasher and an oven in boxes in our living room. The contents of the kitchen cupboards are strewn liberally around the house. It's great fun playing "find the cereal bowls" every morning. Aaaaaaaaaaaah how we laugh.

We have a microwave and a supply of reheatable meals. And lots of lovely friends inviting us round for dinner. It's all fine and cope-able, but feels so completey chaotic, and messy and cluttered and euuuurggggh.It feels like I can't think straight, which is silly.

I am itching to get my new space sorted. And itching to get back to work making jewellery. The jewellery has definitely taken a backseat over the last few weeks as I spend my time trying to get out of the house, shuffling kitchen contents, or purchasing paint. But I know it will all be worth it, and by April I will have no excuses left for why my handmade jewellery isn't made, listed and flying out of the door!

New Studio - Update

Our builders have been really cracking on with the build. It'll be 3 weeks tomorrow. (Is that all??)
And my new studio has changed from this....

To this...

and yesterday the front wall started going up...!

I must point out that I'm only having a teeny corner of what was the garage, not the whole thing (now wouldn't that be nice?) but I do know I'm a very lucky girl to be getting a little room I can leave all my stuff out in. Not ideal to have oxygen and propane tanks in reach of the kids!

A(nother) new beginning....

Every autumn I have a real sense of a new start. A fresh beginning. Probably more so in autumn than in spring to be honest.

Years of the back to school buzz have seeped into my subconscious, meaning that as soon as the leaves start to change and twirl to the ground, and once I have my pockets filled with conkers (by others you understand, not me) as we pass the horse chestnut tree on the way to school, I get a  sudden spurt of excitment and enthusiasm for the new things ahead.

This September has been extra exciting in our household...

... littlest has joined her sister at school! Eeeeeek!!! (sniff)

She's still there just for mornings, until tomorrow when she starts full days.

So far, she's loving it. I'm sure the adrenalin will wear off at some point and she'll be exhausted and grumpy but for now she is having the time of her life.

So, what am I going to do, home alone? I will dry my eyes and ha, yes you guessed it - I'm going to make jewellery. I'm still going to be childminding a couple of days a week, and we have just got planning permission for an extension to the house which'll eat up my time - but I'm so, so, so excited about having a bit of time to really get to grips with my jewellery business.

I've found in the past I've had lots of ideas, but at least two thirds never came to fruition due to a severe lack of hours in the day. That's all about to change!

We've also been getting some decorating done over the last few weeks, and jewellery making has been relegated from the spare room, to the garage (beats sleeping in the garage I suppose!). So that's all change too.  Yes, I can see it'll get a bit chilly in there as the weeks roll on, but at least I can hammer away to my hearts content without bothering anyone. And hopefully no one will complain when it's time to liver of sulphur the silver!!

I hope everyone else is enjoying their autumn. Whats new with you??

Flutterbies to be...

For Christmas this year the girls got a butterfly farm - which is a habitat for butterflies, and a coupon for some caterpillers. We send the coupon off about a month ago now, and got a little pot of 5 teeny caterpillers through the post.... the got bigger and bigger until...

 here they are as chrysalides (chrysalis, cocoons.....call them what you will)

and this is their home, where they have been for nearly 10 days now.... I'm hoping we'll have butterflies within a day or two. I'll keep you posted.