Sorting through

Still unable to do any lovely crochet so instead have spent a few hours filtering through and sorting out various piles and boxes.

This collection of oddments is a box of bits that I've been meaning for years to put into my scrapbooks. I used to keep hold of all sorts of things from places I've visited and shows/films I've been to see. It was lovely to sort through all the piles and remember some of the great places I've visited and also some of the funny things my then boyfriend (now husband) wrote for me.

Sam & Emily also were keen to help me sort out my button collection - they spent over half an hour admiring, finding different colours and matching up buttons.

Gathering ideas

While out ice skating last week I managed to fracture my elbow - which has resulted in plenty of free time but only one usable hand. So to ease my craft cravings I've been busy over on Pinterest browsing lots of pretty things and gathering some ideas for my next project.

I'm hoping to do some small patchwork bits with a lovely pack of pretty small print fabrics that were a Christmas gift.

How cute is this hexagon Christmas bauble - would love to make up one of these! Image from a Polish blog here.

Love this mini hexagon pin cushion too - tutorial from weallsew

Also there are some super stunning patchwork purses like this little beauty (image by Brigitte Giblin)

To see more of my patchwork & other crafty pin boards then have a look at my Pinterest boards.

Yarny Kirby

My Sam's current Wii gaming obsession is called "Kirby's Epic Yarn". It is so pretty to look at with all the wool & felt detail the game has. You've also got to love a game where the main baddie has giant knitting needles with which he knits up all the other baddies in the game.

This yarn Kirby was made from the lovely free pattern from Nerdigurumi's lovely blog (pattern is here) and it works up quick and easily. For my Kirby's eyes I embroidered his felt eyes instead of painting them in the hopes they last all the love Sam gives them :-)

Spring time

The garden is starting to come back to life and it has been lovely to watch the bulbs start to wake up and peep out.

Our snowdrops are almost all done but there are a few pretty flowers left enjoying the sun shine.

I didn't even realise we had crocus in our garden so I was delighted to find a few pretty purple flowers.

These little narcissi cheer me up every year when they pop back up next to Totoro's tree stump.

This little daffodil is on it's way to my Mum for Mother's day - hope she likes it!

(pattern is from Attic24's blog here)

Crafty costume update

So much has happened here at Tea Towers over the last year - there has been plenty of playing, making and living. I've been meaning to get a post together for a very long time but can't seem to organise my time well enough.

My solution is going to have to be quick posts with lots of photos and to start my posting for 2015 I thought I would treat you to a few more costumes!

First up we have two very suspicious characters that look up to no good. Simple paper eye masks with black beanie crochet caps and stripy tops - robber costumes ready just in time for a party :-)

Sam was very keen to dress up as a pumpkin for Halloween last year so after a bit of panicking finally came up with the idea of a drawstring bag type arrangement with a hole for his legs to come out the bottom. We stuffed it with bubblewrap and balloons and he loved it (though did have a little difficulty getting through doors!

For the school play this year we had to dress Sam in a Christmas jumper and Santa hat, so I decided I wanted to make his light up. Rich helped me out with the circuit diagram to do this and then I sewed it all with exciting conductive thread and then added a crochet Christmas tree patch over the top.

Sam really loved it.

Last costume is for World Book Day tomorrow - Sam has been reading the "Faraway Tree" series by Enid Blyton and adores them - so here he is as the Faraway tree itself.