A little present for you

I wish my creative brain worked like this - all ordered and structured

but it doesn't and so the sewing room is back to looking freshly burgled. 

This evening I will be sending out my last newsletter for the year, full of Holiday wishes, a discount code for the shop and a brand new free pattern. That makes right now just about the perfect time to sign up if you haven't already. You won't get another newsletter untill next year and you can unsubscribe once you get the freebie if you like.

Let your friends know, let your mum know -  I hope you like it !

(The winner of the AQM goodies is Jody Herbert )

You wouldn't believe me,

if I told you that the broken ankle was just the starting point to a month of crazy medical interventions for the Ric Rac clan. We have had biopsies and lumbar punctures and flesh eating parasites. (not all on the one person) It has been bonkers.

Amidst the bonkers was AQM, the last big event on the crafty calendar. A trade-only show, it seems to be as much about showing of new products as it does about everyone catching up. This is part of my little section on the Creative Abundance booth.

It is always fun to get together and hang out with the other crafty folk. This is part of Emma's booth ( and matching arm), showcasing her latest range of fabric , The Linen Cupboard.

Rosie's awesome Ikea lamp hack using her range Chirpy Lola !

Of course, there are also goodies at AQM , so I bought a few and begged a few and brazenly snaffled some to share with you guys. To enter, just leave a comment. Tell me the best thing you have made this year, leave a blog link if you so desire.

The winner will be picked at random tomorrow, and no shouting from the mountaintops will increase your chances, but just between you and me, I did aquire quite a few goodies so there is another giveaway on Bookface and one on Instagram as well. ( shhhhh).

Posted with Blogsy

Blog hoppity hoppity hop

 A few weeks ago I was contacted by Stitch Craft Create  to participate in a  Handmade Christmas blog hop  of course, having no idea life was about to head south in a big way, I thought I would join in.

I was offered a range of books to choose from: Washi Tape Christmas, Crochet your Christmas, Handmade Scandinavian Christmas, and Kids Make Christmas.

I chose Kids Make Christmas, thinking it would tie in well with our Christmas Fair preparations at school.

Lickety split they sent me  a copy of the the ebook

I was actually surprised at how many things there were to choose from in this book, from really simple paper crafts, to a bit of cooking and some really really cute practical gifts. 

Some of my little school friends agreed to be my guinea pigs and they chose to make the pine cone birds from the front cover.

My plan was to stay out of the action as far as possible and see if they managed it on their own

(An exercise in restraint for a control freak like me).

Does anything make kids happier than googly eyes ? Well yes , glitter apparently, but I no matter how hard I looked I just couldn't manage to find any. (shame)

The kids totally loved it, improvising as they went along.

Apart from a bit of hot-glue gun action, they did the whole thing themselves and then made a list of all the other things they wanted to attempt. 

(I suggested they take some of those ideas home to share with their parents - aren't I nice?)

Alongside the blog hop, Stitch Craft Create are also running a competition where you can win a gift voucher to their store.

All you have to do is share a picture of your own handmade Christmas decoration with the gang at Stitch Craft Create and you could win £100 voucher Just add your photo to their share board or use the hashtag #SCCXmas on Twitter or Instagram.

I'll see you soon blogfriends.

Going then stopping

This was meant to be one of those "you will not believe all the things I am doing" type of posts.

I have just finished a  secret charity project. It took me forever and included one massive crisis of confidence.

I made a mushroom garland and have eight more (yep 56 mushies) cut out and ready to sew. Don't even bother adding up the number of spots.

I have almost made myself a new froggy friend - one last tweak has been twuck since this photo and I have 11 little crowns finished awaiting 11 little frogs .

 I was going to tell you how I have a new project that I would like to get finished and written before Trade show at the end of the month,

 I was going to tell you I have nine D-is-for-Deer friends in various stages of completion.

 I was going to to rant and rave at my own crazy pants ways.

 Yesterday the Mr broke his ankle. Yep,  I know, I remember it too. As the verdict was delivered in the curtained off room in casualty, I know that our brains both went to exactly the same place .

So now, the one-armed, one-legged man is in a not-too-happy-state with a giant boot and a walking stick and the able bodied woman is breathing deeply and hiring bathroom equipment.

(The able bodied woman is also wondering how long it has been since the bathroom floor got a wash)