Summer fun.

And so the summer rolls on.

Last week we went off on our hols. A good old fashioned seaside holiday in Guernsey.

I can't quite believe how beautiful the island is. Have you been? It's so completely and utterly unspoilt. Beautiful (mostly empty!!) beaches. Gorgeous countryside. I can't wait to go back.

And now, we're back and we only have a week and a half of the summer holidays left. Autumn seems to be knocking on the door already. They even said on the weather forecast this morning that there might be a frost over night! A frost! August!

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.

Is that the time?

Oh wow, is that the time, five to September already? Cripes. The "summer" (hahahaha) is flying past.

It's funny that my usual feelings over the summer holidays with the girls seem to go...

Weeks 1 - 4 "oh the summer is way too short, I don't want them to go back....sniffle"
Weeks 5 - 6 "is it nearly school time yet?"

Love them as I do, I reckon they're good and rested now and ready for the new term. Then maybe I can have a bit of rest. Or at least make some jewellery!

It's been a busy old summer so far...

We saw the olympic torch come through town....

We saw some olympic cyclists come through town....

And played at being Jessica Ennis in the garden...

We went to Copenhagen for a few days....

 

They have a particularly wonderful food market there.... 

Then we welcomed Kipper to his new home...

Goodness me. Having a puppy reminds me of having a baby - up at night, clearing up "accidents". Bless him.

We've got a few more exciting things to do before the holidays are out. Paralympics athletics, friends and family coming to stay. We're also still decorating... the cloakroom, living room, hall, and bathroom are currently "in progress".

But as you can probably tell, jewellery has slipped a little down the list due to the non stop fun-fest in Pearce towers. I've done a few custom orders, and the sales have come in from the web shop - but no new designs or listings for a while. I'm itching to get back to it!

How has your summer been?

Holidays ahoy....

The girls finished school today. Six and a half weeks of summer holiday stretch before us and I am truly thrilled!

No school run. No packed lunches (I truly don't know why I hate making lunches so much - it's not as though it takes long, but I hate it. With a vengence!). No overtired school pick ups followed by Brownies. Oh and I get to see my lovely girls all day.

Bliss..... or so it seems at the moment. I'll get back to you on that in a few weeks when they're fighting over playmobil people and I'm trying to get some earrings made!

 Not only was school out today, but the Olympic torch went passed the top of our road!

How ridiculously lucky are we? I've been trying to make sure the kids realise how special it is; how they might not see another Olympics in the UK for 50 years, or more. I think they get it.

I haven't enjoyed watching sport on the tv for decades, probably since I was pre-teen, but I'm getting so excited about how it could inspiring the kids. Bring it on!

Half term..

I can't believe it was just a week ago.... sigh...sunshine, lazy days, warmth.... what a half term holiday. We had a great holiday. Long days in the pool, sunset on the beach, way way too much ice cream.

But saying that, it's good to be back. I love that buzz you get after a holiday. All refreshed, and ready to get back into it (once the washings been done that is!).  I've got a hundred and one new ideas, ready to work on (and lots of lovely orders and commissions to crack on with too!).

I just hope our UK summer happens sometime soon.....

Oh I do like to be....

...beside the seaside.

We've just got back from a fantastic few days down at the beach. Can you guess where we went?

Some of you will have got it from the pebbles alone!

How's about this for a clue?

The weather wasn't up to much, but we still had a great time, and Chloe loved the Pavillion.

What have you been up to over the summer? Any nice holidays to report?

Kids, creativity, and biscuits.

I just love watching the way kids are creative. They have no barriers, no self consciousness... they just do. For children, (or for my two anyway) it doesn't need to be "beautiful or useful" as per William Morris' famous quote. It just is. The finished product is great, but most of all it's about the process and fun they have making. The experimentation of the process. The learning of new skills.

I have a lot to learn from this unrestrained creativity. What freedom!

There was a summer show recently in our village; where people can enter produce and flowers they have grown in their garden. There are loads of different categories you can "show" in, and they also have categories for kids. Chloe got involved as all the children under 7 in her school were asked to draw a portrait of their best friend which we could enter into the competition if we wanted to. She wasn't that keen to be involved, but went along with it anyway. Evie asked to be entered in one of the categories too, for the 3 - 5 age group, she had to decorate 3 biscuits.

So, I got some sprinkles, some coloured icing and some rich tea biscuits and away she went.

Nearly an hour later... and she really did spend 55 mins (thats nearly 15 whole minutes on each and every biscuit!!!) perfecting them... the results....

 The icing was oh so carefully placed. The jelly tot delicately (ahem) covered with 2 shades of icing..

 And of course they have to taste good to, so she made a test one too!

She took them so, SO proudly into the village hall, and put it on the display for her category. She was keen to win, but already it had been brilliant to take part. Then there were the 3 nail-biting hours wait whilst the judging got underway! And what do you know.... she won.

The award ceremony was very sweet, she was awarded a whole pound as her prize.

 

Big sister went up with her for moral support.

 Look at that proud face!

Ever since then Eve has been even more keen to decorate biscuits, make cards, build junk modelling, just MAKE. Her enthusaism has doubled, and her confidence has grown. I know without a doubt that it wasn't the fact that she won, it was that she enjoyed making, enjoyed proudly showing what she had made, and also enjoyed hearing all the lovely and positive comments from people walking by. She would not have cared if she hadn't won, but what a bonus!

But please, nobody tell her that hers was the only entry in her category!!

Time flys on....

No way! Has it really been THAT long since I blogged?? Where's the time gone?
Since then we've been on a little holiday to Italy...

...the girls had such fun. The little seaside town we stayed in, is just completely geared up for kids. As well as the beach there was a pine wood in the centre of the town with meandering paths, and an amazing number of kids rides, and play areas.

And then there was the ice cream.

Think I need to get back on track with my running. ahem..

It was also Eve's 4th birthday. I love that she loves to wear her pretty her party dress so much, but still wants to accessorize it with spiderman face paint! (even though all her friends chose butterflies and flowers). How cool is she? hee hee.

I've also been really busy making jewellery - mostly my fingerprint range. I will take some pics and let you see later in the week....

Take care

Becky

Treasure hunt

I hope you all had a great Easter. The weather was fantastic, so the girls had a little easter egg hunt in the garden. I can't believe I had my winter coat on again today, yet on Sunday we were worried about the eggs melting in the garden while they were looking.

Aha..... spotted them!



Do you like the girls skirts. I got a little over excited over the Easter break and actually got my sewing machine out. I know they're nothing fancy, and the seams'll probably go in the first wash, but hey I'm feeling pretty darn proud of myself.

I followed this simple skirt tutorial.....

and trust me - it was really simple.

I'm also making some of these circle skirts but stalled trying to get hold of the right size elastic and have ground to a halt now... maybe in the summer hols when I get all domestic again!

For now, it's my first free morning for ages, and here I am on the computer, so I'm going to turn it off and go make some jewellery!

Folksy Friday - The kids are alright

My eldest will be 6 years old in a weeks time. I know it's a huge cliche, but I can't believe how quickly it has gone, but at the same time, just six years ago she wasn't here (she's been here forever, surely?)

Anyway, I've been thinking about buying pressies for kids, and so here's my Folksy Friday on a kids theme.