How come it's December the 17th already !!!

Sorry I've been away from my blog for so long, life has been a bit of a pain lately, but I had to post about my lovely Shabby Chic swap that arrived today from the lovely (and over generous)
Shabby Angel.

The theme is Christmas, but neither the wrapping or the box inside was giving anything away
Then I opened the box to be met with a sea of white tissue each bit containing lots of sparkley doves and stars and pretty little crosses


And each little (and large) tissue-wrapped parcel held it's own delight.
There was lots of Christmas decorations....................
And some scrummy chocolates
The most gorgeous Christmas table runners
Then I found the most delicious Laura Ashley place mats and napkins
And the loveliest of hand made aprons with it's own matching potholder, absolutely beautifully made, and a sweet little chiffon scarf, so pretty.


All of this packed neatly into a felted magazine caddy !!!!
And to top it all off I got my lovely wooden tea caddy, I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So thank you so much Shabby Angel, you really are the sweetest angel ever xxxxxxxxxxx

With Love and Blessings in Christ
Elaine
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My brilliant day out

Now, I know I might sound a tad of a saddo in this post, but I really don't care LOL

It's my birthday soon, you know the kind when people expect a big party. Now personally I can't see the point. I celebrated being 21, and if I am working at the time, I can see the point of celebrating retirement (though how does one retire from working at home ????)
Anyway, if other people want to party, I will gladly wish them well, and even help them, but it's not for me.

So my lovely daughter came up with another way of celebrating.

All year I have (partly) jokingly said that all I want is a donkey, adopting a donkey would do fine. So my daughter arranged for my nephew to take me to a donkey sanctuary for the day.

It was brilliant. I felt like a child again, having gained a love of donkeys at the age of 10 while learning the poem by Walter de la Mare, Nicholas Nye.
When we were small, we didn't do donkey rides, I was 8 before I saw the sea, and that was a cold wet day. Of course I'd seen donkeys, but that poem just sparked something inside me.

Don't get me wrong, I don't go mad and have everything donkey around me. I do have a couple of ornaments, but the real thing is better. And today I got to cuddle and scratch lots of donkeys.
(Donkeys love to be scratched really hard, almost as much as eating!)

Anyway, here are a few pics of the most gorgeous donkeys, all of them rescued.




I love geese too, and this lovely fellow I could have bundled up and brought home, such a character!

I hope you can see him in the middle of the photo, he is very big!!!

So, that's been my day. Wonderful. Thank you Claudia xxxx

Love and blessings in Christ
Elaine

Sorry it's been so long

The last few weeks have been such a pain, I haven't bothered with blogging at all, I'm so sorry everyone. But I'm here now and the problems, unfortunately, are still here too.
Never mind.

I haven't sewn much over the last few weeks either, the decorating was a night mare, plaster falling off the walls and everything, and I still need to make new curtains too, but I needed somewhere to keep my small collection of buttons, so I have made these over the last few days. Hopefully they will fit my new dresser.


I did measure the gap for them, but I haven't tried them yet. I made 2, well because the shelf will take 2, but I didn't realise just how big they would be, so all my little boxes fit in one fabric box. Now the other is housing my huge rolls of ribbon with lots of room to spare.
The floral fabric I have had for years and I'm really pleased I finally have a use for it (it might even end up on the sofas as cushion covers too), and the lovely pink check fabric was part of a parcel from the very lovely Heather.

Even though I haven't posted for a while, I still haven't got much news without moaning on about what's been happening, so I won't bore you all with that.

Love and blessings in Christ
Elaine xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

And the winner is...................................

I wrote the names and cut them out...............
I put them in a lovely box.................

On went the lid and I shook them around........
And drew out the winning name......................

ANNIE-C !!!!!!

Congratulations Annie.

Thank you all for the lovely comments over the last week, and I'm sorry not everyone could win.

I'm also sorry that I didn't post the winner on Saturday as promised but we've had a nightmare weekend regarding the decorating. I won't bore you all with the details, but I will say that we have (I hope) turned a corner now.
If I have my way the bulk will be done by the weekend, but then again nothing has really gone to plan so far eeekkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll be in touch with Annie via the Shabby Chic Cafe (I opened the draw there too for people without google accounts.

I must say it has been fun running the draw, so I might not wait a year for the next one so Watch This Space.

With love and blessings in Christ
Elaine xxxxxxxxxxxx

Happy Blog-a-versary to me!!!!!!

I can hardly believe it's been just over a year since I started my blog, it's gone so fast. I almost missed my Blog-a-versary we've been in such a tiz this last week, so I thought I'd wait until the weekend before I made this post.

I remember when I started I really didn't know what I'd say, or if I'd have anything to say, but here I am still plodding on a year later.

The last week has been a bit of a trial, nothing really by worldly standards, but trying for us never the less. I won't bore you with all the details, I'll just say we're decorating the living room and it hasn't all gone to plan (I'm sure many of you know that feeling!)

So, just to say thank you to all my readers for being there for me, and putting up with my ramblings, I'm having a give-away to celebrate the last year.

And here it is!


I designed the bag a month or so ago (probably more like 2) and this is (so far) just 1 of 4. Each has its own little quirk, (this one has a different button to it's sister) so there is only 1 just like this.
This one is made from a beautifully pattern baby cord and faux suede outside, and has long straps to fit on your shoulder nice and secure for shopping.
It's got a ribbon draw string, and 2 pockets inside, a large zipped 1 and a little phone pocket too.
It's quite roomy inside and fully lined (even the pockets!)
And so far none are "owned" (not even by me) so the winner will be the first to have this design.

If you'd like a chance to own the bag, just leave a comment and I'll pull a name from the hat next Saturday (27th September) and announce the winner here.

I'd also just like to say a big thank you to everyone who has left comments over the last year,
it really does mean alot to know others are out there, and I am humbled by the comments left, especially on my last post. Thank you all xxxx

Love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
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Tea and Friendship.......

................... What a lovely combination (or maybe coffee or herbal for those who don't do tea)

Just how precious can friendship be? To me it's very precious. And to think I now have wonderful people who are my friends and all because of the WWW.
If anyone told me just a few years ago that I could have become such good and close friends with people I had never met I would have told them they were, quite frankly, barmy!!!!!!!!!
After all, how could I, who knew nothing at all about computers, possibly have friends because I use a computer. Just unheard of.

I thank God for the day my daughter decided to get an internet connection, over the past few years it has been a lifeline sometimes. I have found inspiration, conversation, ways of spending money I'd never dreamed of (oooppppsss) but the bestest thing, and the biggest blessing, has been the wonderful friendships formed.

So I'd like to share this lovely award from Lacey
with all of you out there, the wonderful people who share the one thing we all have in common.
Internet friendship and companionship.

Of course I am supposed to pass on this award, so the first thing I'll say is
"right back at you Lacey" xxx
I have to include my lovely friends Angel and Rasp, and all my very first internet friends from the now de-funct RTV forum, some of whom I'm still in regular contact with after all this time.
(to name a few...Anne, HG, Pip, Janie, Nige, Doug, Paul)
I'd love to include my newest friend Martha, and all my lovely friends at the Shabby Chic Cafe.

I should think I've waffled enough now so I'll just say a big "THANK YOU" to you all.

With love and blessings in Christ,
Elaine xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Green is the colour

August's swap at Shabby Chic Cafe was "Green", so I decided to set myself a challenge.
How much could I make from one thrifted pillow case? It was just an ordinary, average sized pillow case, and this is what I come up with.

Firstly a simple peg bag

Next came these napkin rings

I added paper napkins

Then I made the pillow

I had a little bit of fabric left so I made a small scented heart. I haven't loaded that picture on because it was dire, but you can see the heart dangling from the peg bag in the top photo.

So here's my challenge to you.
How much can you make from a pillow case?
Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.

Love and blessings in Christ
Elaine
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