2013

Well I'd planned to do the obligatory 2013 Round Up Post, but after looking through my photos I realised I didn't achieve much in 2013. Don't get me wrong, it was a busy year, it's just that it seems like I spent most of it helping others achieve things. It was a year of change with my hubby's business becoming extremely busy, my eldest began high school, my youngest started full time school & my middle child had to deal with not only these changes but also the start of recognising that she is different to her friends (my daughter is autistic).

I started to feel quite sad that I hadn't achieved much for myself when I have friends that have started businesses, gone back to college, started new careers. But then I thought of the people that matter the most to me, my husband & my girls. I hope that if they look back on this year, of the ups & downs, of the challenges they overcame, I hope that they felt that I was there for them, that I hugged them when they were sad, picked them up when they fell, made them smile, encouraged them, celebrated their successes & loved them.

So 2013 was a year helping others achieve their goals.

2014 is going to be My Year. (Well, I will still be there 100% for my family, but I'm not going to feel guilty anymore for taking time to do stuff for me).

I'm now going to spend the last few hours of 2013, planning on what I want to do/achieve/experience in 2014.

I hope that wherever you are, you are having a fantastic time celebrating the New Year & that 2014 brings you everything you wish for.

Xxxxxxx

One month to go.....

......till Christmas!! 

So far, I've actually completed a fair bit of the shopping. This is a bit of a miracle as normally I'm completely unorganised. I haven't started the crafty bits I need to make, so will have to get a wriggle on.

I was inspired over the weekend to make some Christmas decorations, Kawaii style.

I've been telling my girls that before they start to make something that they need to draw it out & plan it. So I decided to take my own advice & draw my idea, before making it. I love how cute Kawaii is!!

My 1st attempt wasn't exactly how I wanted it to be, but I know what I need to change. Still pretty cute though <3 ( apologies for the poor lighting, this was taken last night)

But the decorations will have to wait for now, I have a new pot of Annie Sloan paint waiting for me......

Happy Monday!!

Xxx

Popping in to say Hi!!

Is it just me, or does it seem like this year is flying by? I cannot believe is halfway through November & Christmas will be here before we know it!

I have been busy, crafty wise.

I'm loving autumn as its the perfect time to stay indoors, with hot tea, candles lit, trashy TV & crafting time!!

Xxx

The one where it was very Cloudy

 Oops! I did it again & took a bit of a break from the old blog. Was totally unintentional but once again life is kicking my backside. But enough about that, lets talk about more interesting things.

For a while now I've had an idea about making a felt cloud mobile type of thingymabob. I've seen lots of cloud cushions, mobiles etc around Blogland, & wanted to make my own but just never seemed to get around to it. I've recently introduced my eldest daughter to the world of Kawaii (I'd add a link but am posting from my iPad & haven't figured out how to link from it, any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!). One evening whilst pinning lots of Kawaii images to show my daughter, I had a lightbulb moment & decided to try a Kawaii style cloud. A few days later, I actually had some time to sit down & try it.

In progress.

Ta Dah!!!!!!!!!

One little felt cloud with crocheted rain drops.

& a happy Kawaii style face!!

I posted the above photos on IG & got some brilliant feedback, in fact a few people even requested to buy one.

These three Sweet Dreams Clouds sold straight away!!

& there's a few more waiting to be finished!! I've named them Sweet Dreams Clouds as I'd imagined them hanging above my daughters beds & I've lightly scented them with dried lavender. They measure 17cm x10 cm approx, & I'm selling them for £10.00 each & £3.70 p&p (uk 2nd class recorded), if anyone is interested, please drop me an email at mcevoy.lisa@yahoo.co.uk.

It's a great feeling knowing others like what you create so much so they want to buy it. I'm definitely one of those people that are super critical of themselves so this has been a massive boost to my confidence! (Don't worry about me getting big headed though, no chance of that!)

So once these clouds have been completed, I've got some more ideas I want to try, the main one being an autumn style garland (autumn is my favourite season), something along these lines:

But bigger, with leaves, acorns, maybe a squirrel or two.

What makes you think of autumn?

Well cloud stuffing (& maybe a bit of crochet) is the plan for today, along with making a big pot of stew. We are having a grey & rainy Sunday here, def a day for staying inside in the warm.

Have a good one.xxx

Adventures in using chalk paint

A few months ago I was browsing in Ikea, trying my hardest not to buy anything I didn't really need. But Ikea being the sneaky little minx she is, tempted me with the wooden drawer unit pictured above (along with a few picture frames, a couple of latte cups, a vanilla candle or two & the obligatory bag of tea lights!)

I had a vague idea of painting the drawers, then whilst visiting the lovely shop Tiger, I bought some little  decorative knobs with the bright idea of adding them to the drawer fronts. Unfortunately I'd forgotten about the cut out section on each drawer. 

Lets just say that the knobs looked pretty stupid next to the cut out section. Hmmmm, back to the drawing board.

One day, whilst washing up, I had a lightbulb moment. Leaving the washing up half done, I rushed to the drawer unit & pulled out one of the drawers to find that the back of the drawer was a solid piece, perfect!!

We (by using the term 'We', I mean the Hubby) then proceeded to drill a little hole in the centre of the back of each drawer.

Once all the holes had been drilled, me & a can of Annie Sloan 'Old White' got busy!!

Now I've used Annie Sloan before & whilst I loved the ease of use (no sanding or priming etc), I didn't seem to achieve the smooth finish I'd hoped for. 

This tin of paint had so far painted my dresser, a small side table & a chair, so it was just the dregs in the bottom that I was left with to paint with. I wasn't too sure it was going to give me enough coverage until I noticed on the back of the tin that this paint could be watered down. So I added a small amount of water & mixed well, then slapped the paint on. The coverage was brilliant, even better after a slight sanding, how had I not realised this before *smacks head against wall!!* 

I'm not too keen on the chalky feel of furniture painted with chalk paint, but you don't seem to get this when the paint is watered down. I still need to varnish or wax the unit, but for now.......

Ta Dah!!!!!!!!

Since these photos were taken, I have switched the knobs about. But I have to admit, I'm loving how well it turned out!! It sits on 'That Counter' in the kitchen, the one that everything including the kitchen sink gets dumped on, & so far, it's doing a great job keeping the side uncluttered & tidy. 

Now I just need to get around to painting the 4 chairs that are stored in the conservatory, I'm thinking of painting them in different pastel tones.

Have you used chalk paint? What did you think about it? Any hints or tips?

Xxx

This week.....

Has been a week where nothing has gone to plan.

All 3 kids were due to be in school full time this week. For the first time in 11 years, I wouldn't have a child at home with me for at least part of the day. It's something I have to admit that I was not looking forward to.  Whilst I love watching my girls grow up, & become individuals in their own right, I'm not dealing very well with the fact I won't be having anymore babies. People told me to enjoy having 'Me' time (what's that?), enjoy having time to craft, bake & take bubble baths in the day. My Hubby has been encouraging me to finally take the leap & start making things to sell. (It's a dream of mine to have my own little business, but taking the steps to realise that dream is pretty terrifying!)

So I was slightly dreading this week. I thought I'd ease myself in by just concentrating on a bit of housework, some baking & getting around to finishing a CK inspired quilt (the top has been assembled for ages!!) It was starting to sound like a pretty good week to me.

But Monday rolled around, & involved my eldest daughter being sick off school. No crafting or baking took place as she needed looking after ( I'm not complaining about looking after her, it was nice to have that time together). So my plans were postponed till Tuesday. 

Then Tuesday involved a emergency doctors appointment for my middle daughter, & picking eldest daughter up early from school as she was feeling poorly again. Plans postponed again.

This morning, I woke up to all 3 girls feeling poorly. Autumn has definitely arrived here, not only has it brought the cold, darker mornings & evenings & a fair bit of rain, it's also brought a bunch of nasty colds. So today I'm in full Mum mode, to 3 poorly girls home sick from school. I'm not holding out much hope for the rest of the week being easier, tomorrow is full of hospitals appointments for middle daughter, Friday will be spent grocery shopping & doing housework. Maybe this is life's way of helping me cope with the kids going off to school, as I'm sure I will appreciate a bit of peace & quiet & routine next week lol!

& because no post is complete without a photo

I wish we were back on the beach.

Hope you are having a good week.

Xxx

Prototype Ta Dah!!!

I made a needle book.

Well it looked better in my head but for a first attempt I guess it's ok.

I know what I will do differently next time.

But it will do me for now.

My stitching is a bit dodgy ( my machine needs a good clean, that's a job for the weekend) & the corners are a complete mess. It's been so long since I've sewn & it shows. But I've needed a needle book for ages & I've finally got around to it.

& I even made a space for my scissors.

Definitely need more practice, the one in my head had neater stitcher & corners lol.

But hey, practice makes perfect right?

Xxx