Hello, Hello, Hello :o)

HELLO lovely people :o)

How are you?

Oooo, it's lovely to be back :o)

I've had a really lovely break, and I'm pleased I backed off for a little while. It made me realise just how much of my time is spent on the computer, and how little is spent creating and 'home loving' !

Anyway, i'm hoping that I've learnt enough to make things a bit more even now.

It was my youngest daughters 13th Birthday a couple of weeks back, and I was lucky enough to be a winner (yes ME!!) of some tickets to the pre-launch of the Harry Potter Warner Brothers Studio Tour.

So on her Birthday we whizzed up the M3 and M25 (motorway roads in case you're wondering:o)

to Levenden where they filmed parts of the Harry Potter films...

The model castle was magnificent. Shame about my crappy photography really, otherwise you would be able to see it better :o)

Obviously we had to have a glass of Butter Beer (no alchohol) which I have to say was delicious!  I shall be trying to replicate this during the summer months as I can still taste it now..Mmmmm

There was loads to see and do, even though it hadn't yet opened 'proper' to the public. We won tickets to go on 17th March, and it didn't officially open until 31st March.

I'd say it's a brilliant attraction to any Harry Potter fan, and my eldest daughter and husband aren't 'into' Harry at all, but they really enjoyed it too.

Just one thing to remember if you do go though.  I know generally the souvenir shops at places are expensive, but the one at the studios was extortionate in my opinion. It was really expensive as things go, so just be ready to take your credit card, cos' you'll need it!

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The garden has been popping out all over the place. My forsythia bush has been flowering since before Christmas (which at the time I have to admit had me a bit worried as to what would happen to it in the spring), but now it looks divine!

And we have frothy blossom everywhere, although i'm still waiting for my apple blossom :o)

And I've been getting on really well with my makes.

I'll be opening my Litte tiny stitches Etsy store again today or tomorrow, so it'll be good to pop my new makes in there :o)

All sorts of patchwork has been happening here,

which has been making me happy.

And I see that this super lady has had a gorgeous patchwork quilt made by one of her customers from the fabrics from her Etsy store which sells the most fantastic vintage, soft and cosy fabrics.

And I see this super lady is making the most gorgeous patchwork quilt too!  And as well as that, she does the most fantastic crazy patch blocks which are to die for!! 

Just pop over and have a look at these two lovely, brilliant people. I admire them both tremendously :o)

Well, that's it for me today lovely bloggers.

Pop back in a few days, as I'm gonna introduce you to my 'thrift store'.

Happy happy week to you all.

Take care now,

Love Donna xx

Happy Leap Day :o)

Yes, Happy Leap Day bloggers :o)

How are you this fine and dandy Leap Day morning?

Any proposals planned out there?  Ooooo, I do like a bit of a romantic tale don't you? So if you have one, do leave a comment and share with us!

Well my new boiler has just arrived! YAY! The men are supposed to be here at noonish to start fitting it!  And guess what else?  My washing machine started leaking last night! LOL  I have to laugh, or i'll start crying! :)

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Some of our pretty flowers are starting to come out now. I was a tad worried about what all the spring flowers would do to be honest, especially after the early arrival of some in December...

But it seems that they are recovering well, if somewhat slowly :o)

I know what I was going to ask you...  Can anyone let me know what would be a really basic site for editing my photos on?  I mean as basic as you can get girls :o)

I feel that obviously my photos were benefit hugely from some editing for my etsy stores, but can't quite work out how to do it..doh.. So any advice, hints and tips on which site would help me best would be greatly appreciated :o)

*****

Well, I've finished both my practice quilts now..

I was a bit naughty with this one!  I'd ordered some special cotton batting to go in the the quilt sandwich, but I was in such a hurry to make it that I went to my local bedding store and bought some plain white towelling, (You know the thin cheapy stuff? ) and used that in the middle.

I mean it would have been ok perhaps on a lap quilt, as it's so soft and drapey, but not on a little wall quilt!

D'you like my little bee? :o)

Now, I didn't realise I hadn't actually taken a photo of the whole finished quilt, so here is the last photo I've got with one of the hanging loops half sewn! 

And it isn't all wonky like that in real life...that's the way it was sitting when I took the picture...:o)

(See? The drapey-ness of the towelling! :o)

And here's a practice at one of those 'shaggy edge' homespun quilts..I only did the eight little blocks..

This is it before it goes in the washing machine..

And this is it after! -See? All shaggified :o)   (I'm having to be very careful how I describe this as i can't think of the real words, and all *kinds* of shaggy words keep popping in my lil' ole' head, so I hope I haven't offended anyone!)

It was really easy to do bloggers, and if you google it, there's lots of inspiration and tutorials out there :o)

I feel that I got a good lot of shaggy style in there even though I didn't use true homespun cottons, I used vintage sheet fabric on the back..

Oh, but make sure when you pop it in the wash to get the 'homspun shaggy style' you put it in a pillow case first to catch all the threads that come off the fabric. I even basted the top of my pillow case so none came out, and it works a treat :o)

(Good job I did actually, or I'd be blaming myself on the leaking washing machine! LOL)

*****

Well, that's about it for me today.

I've got the boiler being fixed this afternoon and tomorrow. Then on Saturday I'm off for a day out girls!!  Yes, me! A full blown day out with lunch, and mooching around charity shops!

A lovely lady whom I know is emigrating to Canada in May (She is so brave!) and I really wanted to spend a day with her before she got really busy with all the stuff that goes with emigrating.

So for weeks we've had Saturday planned.

We're going into Salisbury, we're going to have lunch (OOoo, this sounds posh to me! ;o) and then we're going to have a nice leisurely walk around the shops, then go for coffee later.

I am terribly over-excited about it now its near. And I really feel I need a special day like this after my last few weeks I can tell you.

But i'm so pleased we're going. I can't tell you the last time I went out for a day like this!

Well, I remember last year when I went to the Vintage at the Village Hall fair, and before that I went and had a coffee with another dear bloggy friend. So It's nearly a year then! (Whewie, doesn't time fly?)

But it's all planned, and even if my eldest daughter is having poorly, I'm to go my hubby says!  He is quite capable! :o) ( AND I've saved some spending money ;o)

So, wishing you all a fabulous leap day, and rest of our leap year, and I hope you all have happy weekends too :o)

Take care now 

Love Donna xxx

EDITED TO ADD!  ::

Sorry lovely bloggy people!  Its RAGGY quilts! Nothing to do with shaggy at all! :D

Thanks jennie :o)



Well hello lovely bloggers :o)

Hope this post finds you all fine and dandy this cold Friday evening ?

Apologies for not getting out and around to you all the past couple of weeks, but things a been a bit down here at Little Tiny Towers.

Hopefully things will pick up a bit now a few problems have been sorted out, but next wednesday is a BIG DAY for us as we go back up to Kings college London to get the results of all my eldest daughters tests from last October! Remember?

But I'm hoping it won't bring on more stress! So keep your fingers crossed for us my dears won't you?

Anyway, I'm here now, so I shall make the most of it:o)

Guess what?

Go on guess!

Okay, I'll tell you...

We had SNOW last night !!!  WOOOHOOOO!

I got seriously over-excited when it started snowing, and when I was up at 3am this morning, I wanted to go out in it!!

This was our garden at about midnight....

This was 7.30 ish this morning...seee it's going already!

I always love the way that the snow or frost stay on this little tree, it always makes me think of a mountain :o)   (See how many real-life mountains I've seen? lol)

Well, that was my most exciting piece of news!

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We had an un-expected visitor to the garden this week too..

No, not Mr Blackbird, he was one of the unfortunate casualties from our visitors visit..

We've recently been having a Kestrel come and visit us :o(

Whilst he is a most handsome bird, it does make me sad to see all the little (and big!) birds flying everywhere in panic.

Mr Kestrel sits on our fence, and picks off the little birds from over next doors garden as they eat from their feeders :o(

Mr Blackbird ended up a casualty as in his panic, he flew straight into out conservatory window. A load of feathers came out of his head which means in this weather he's going to have rather a cold head, as well as a massive headache from the bang he got.

He sat there on the window ledge recovering for about half an hour bless him.....

Alas peoples, Mr Kestrel was a bit too quick to take a picture for you......But I have my eye on him.....

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I really haven't been up to much you know, other than stressing!  I have several wips...I have lots of thrifted bits still waiting to shine on my Etsy shop shelves, and I have a couple of presents to send out, which I'm sure are going to sprout their own legs if they have to wait any longer!!

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But I have got one thrity find from a good few weeks back now.

Whilst visiting one of my local charity shops a while back, I came across this little paperback type book..

Called 'Flower Festivals'....

It's the most charming little work of art I've seen in a while, and I think what's so nice about it, is it's just *so* English and 'olde fashionde'.

It was originally a handmade book from a lady to her friend who was celebrating an anniversary. 

The page above reads :

This book was created for me by my friend Meriel Hodgetts for a special anniversary present.

It is too beautiful to keep to myself, so together we offer it to a wider circle.

May it bring much pleasure to many people is the wish of Marion Cadbury.

I just think is is so delightful and beautiful..

With the most detailed drawings.

There are twelve pages in all, one for each month of the year with the flaura, fauna and little celebratory festival for that month.

What a thoughtful and precious present it must have been to receive!

Have you ever found any books that you think are just so special?

Well, that's it from me this week my dears.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Be you having a mini holiday, (:o)  or snuggling up out of the cold, take care now won't you?

Love Donna xx

This n' that..

Well Hello lovely bloggy people :o)

Hope the world is treating you well?

I've had a busy, kinda stressful few weeks.  My eldest daughter was finally admitted to King College Hospital last weekend, and we've been up there all week.
Thankyou most kindly for all your well wishes that you sent us :o)

She had loads of tests, a MRI scan and a PET scan. We're hoping that after all the tests she had, they may find a reason for her epilepsy.

I had a 'discharge letter' for her GP, and what I read there looks extremely interesting, but obviously we'll have to wait for the test results and to hear from the Professor before we know what happens next...

Not alot's been happening round here. I've still kinda lost my way blogging wise, but I'm going to just take my time and keep plodding on.
Blogs are such a good thing to have. I like to write mine so that I can have a record of things done/made. I'd like my children to be able to read through it in the future if they so wish.  And I think it's nice for people to know a bit about you if you take the time to comment on their blog.

I've been busy making my gift labels for my Etsy shop..

I've been trying to think of ways of styling my photo's, but I have such a lack of imagination sometimes!

 

I've also started to make hot water bottle covers, but I forgot to take the photos!

And I've made a few of my zip flowers into hair slides..

 

And since i've been back from hospital, our passion flowers have bloomed..

Look at that glorious sky! That was yesterday too, the 13th November!  14.c  it was here :o)

Well, I'm off to the shops now to fill up the cupboards again..

Is it just me, or does shopping get more boring the older you get? LOL

Have a great week lovely people, and take care,

Love Donna xx



Wild Wednesday....

Well, hello lovely people :o)

Hope this post finds you all fine n dandy this Wednesday evening :o)

I thought I'd take the opportunity of my internet working properly to introduce you all to Henry :o)

I bought him in the spring, and just never got around to blogging him :o(

And today when I was taking some dodgy, fuzzy photos of my lovely gladiolis I realised that you hadn't met him yet!

AAaaaw....Isn't he gorgeous?

Now, as I said, I got him in the spring...

I went into my local Charity shop, and the lady behind the jump had him in her hand...

I said "Oh my" (or something similar :o)  "isn't he gorgeous?" (Yes, I probably did say that)

And she said "Yes he is. D'you want him?"

And I said (thinking of my girls..) "Eerm, how much is he?"

And she said with a smile " £1.00" !!

Yes, lovelies, one whole pound!  

I promptly got my quid out of my purse, and left before she changed her mind!

'Cept now comes the bit where by I show my true nature :o)

I won't hardly let anyone touch him!  Let alone give him to my girls!!!

"No No!" I said when they both clamoured for him ('specially my youngest-she's got enough cuddly critters to fill a shop that one :o)

"He's mine!  he's called Henry, and he's going to guard the fireplace :o) "

He is rather special though. he appears to be made exactly like a polar bear's body, with super soft fur which I think may even be real.  I've looked all over for a label, but alas there isn't one.

But still, label or no he's a beauty. Don't you agree?

He guards the fire place along with our cheshire cat..

(yes I know my geraniums have a few yellow leaves...)

Something I find very strange to do, (and if truth be told, a bit 'naughty' even) is to just go out and pick flowers, then just 'bung 'em' in a vase!

You see for several years in my youth (haha!) I trained and worked as a florist. And rigid flower arranging was the order of the day in the 80's and early nineties.

none of this just 'bunging 'em in' lark.

I arranged everything. I used to go round friends houses and they'd get me to arrange the flowers I bought with me, till in the end I started taking chocolates!

So just out of habit, whenever I buy or pick flowers I have always 'arranged' 'em.

So I feel like I'm living a bit on the wild side lately by just nipping out into the garden, picking what ever I like, and just bunging it in :o)

D'you ever break out of a routine/habit and feel a bit wild?  :o)

And these pretty jars (if I do say so myself :o) will be hitting my newly cleaned Etsy shelves sometime soon  too.  I've been busy working on jars all summer along with other bits and bobs, and as soon as I've got the correct packaging, on the shelf they're gonna go :o)

Well, that's it for me tonight.

You take it easy, and keep safe.

Love Donna xx

LOL. PS.  I just read back through my post to check spelling etc...and I noticed my nicely arranged gladioli in their vase on the fireplace....  lol   :o)

Crafty bits & Thankyou....

Well hello lovely people!  :o)

How are you this blustery, rainy, sunny Sunday?  All fine and dandy I hope?

I was supposed to be at a handmade/vintage craft fair today, but due to our recent emergencies and the like, it was most sensible that I cancel, although I do wish I was there today.....

But still, I have been a busy bee crafting at home ;o)

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I would like to thank you all kindly for your supporting comments and emails from my last post.

I didn't actually mean to post that, it just kinda came out whilst I was sitting here, but at least you know what I've been up to, and what I get up to when I don't post for a while. But thankyou for your kind support, it does mean such a lot to me!    :o)

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Over the summer we had a few little Jollies here and there. And on one good day, we even drove for a very long day trip back down into Devon. 

Whilst having a little stroll about Brixham - a quaint little fishing village in the Torbay area..

We saw our first Christmas tree of the year...

Made from driftwood, in a designers studio window..

I love the huge shells hanging from it...

I do apologise, I forgot her name!  But she does have a beautiful shop in Brixham if your ever down that way ;o)

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After one of my migraines, I got up to find my youngest daughter had been up to this....

I still have no idea why she hung these leaves on the line, and nor does she!

But I do know why she was playing with the rocks that we bought home as souvenirs from our Devon holiday...

These little rock piles are dotted all around the garden with labels on, in strategic places :o)

Just to remind us of the beautiful wildness of Cornwall and Devon..

(I hasten to add, we didn't bring home all the grey slate, that's already in our garden, just the few bigger rocks...  ;o)

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On the shopping front I had some lovely thrifty finds over the summer.

I found three vintage crochet and knitting magazines from the early seventies.

For some reason, I only photographed two of them...

If anyones see anything they like and would like a copy of the pattern, just email me :o)

The picture above,- that knitted all in one just reminds me so much of Star Trek....lol

Oh well, Bloggers not playing anymore this afternoon, so I can't load any crafty photos up at all!!

I'll just let you know that I'm in the midst of sweeping and scrubbing my Etsy shop shelves, so I can pop all my new goodies on them  :o)

Hopefully, I can show you some pictures in the week.

Take care now, and have a great week everyone :o)

Love Donna xx