Wednesday 30 November 2011

Thanksgiving and needlework

Ugh. Time again. I won't whinge too much though.

I have managed some crafty time though, when I probably should be in bed!

Here is my first needle-felted mousey for my big pixie:




I am really pleased with my little self, and enjoyed making it. I have another one to do now, for the small pixie, and I'm after some of those old-style cigar boxes to make into little houses for them. 

Also some hand-embroidery which will be a door name plaque:


Again, another few of those to do.

We've just put our Thanksgiving tree up this evening, in the children's play room. Lots of pretty lights.

From the 1st to the 25th, everyone writes one thing a day they are thankful for, and hangs it on the tree. We have a box of pre-cut cards with threads through, and when it has been written, it gets folded so no one sees the inside of it.



On the 25th, we open the cards at dinner and we all read them. It's worked really well for a few years now, and it's really important to us to focus the children on things that aren't material.

I'll hopefully blog again this week with a picture of the tree!

Saturday 19 November 2011

I need a Time-Turner...

...I wonder if Ms Granger would lend me hers??





Another busy week again. Where do the hours go to? I have a list as long as both arms put together, nestled on my desk; conveniently being hidden by crystals and a cup of tea. Because it's hidden, I can't see my jobs, hence bugger all gets done.


It's a simple pattern really: try it sometime! 


We are awaiting shipments from Hong Kong for some stock, and awaiting the final version of the website from our designer. I hate waiting. It makes my grumpy. Well, more grumpy than usual.


Our client base is shooting off in all weird and wonderful directions, which whilst being awesome, it means we need to rethink our stock, staffing and premises again. But not today. I can't be arsed. A few broken night's sleep has left me a bit disjointed so I need to regroup and re-org again.


As I type, I can see our hens completely decimating the garden. Totally. They have crapped *everywhere* and eaten everything, even the stuff that wasn't even remotely edible. Not the best thing when you're trying to run two businesses from home. Ho hum, I still love them, although they will be returned to their little pen shortly, when we've extended the fence higher.


So I have actually managed to do some crafting:




.925 sterling silver crochet pendant, interspersed with citrine and topaz, for an 18th birthday gift.


A sterling bracelet with drop citrine and topaz charms, and a crystal and silver heart charm.




Some earrings to match




All packaged, ready to go.






And a new stash of crystals for me!




It was quite nice to play with jewellery again as I rarely get the time these days.


And I'm back on the training programme. I have another race  next week, only a 10k, but I feel quite fit and my knees no longer resemble little puddings after the half-marathon!

Monday 7 November 2011

Shocking, I keep forgetting to blog! Such is being a super-busy girl here.


My first half-marathon was yesterday - awesome! I had a great run and crashed in much quicker than I thought. Due to a persistent groin injury I thought I would be hugely slowed down (well come on, I can't very well ask my physio to give me a little rub 'down there' can I?!).


So yeah, all cool there. I have a 10k race in a few weeks, and am hoping to enter the NYC Marathon 2012...THE big one! Hooyah!


So what else? Errrrr....lots of work, interspersed with my glorious pixies, lashings of cakey and the love of a good chap, actually.


We also have more new hennies, not such great pictures as I was chasing them around the garden at the time.



















We have a White Sussex, two Rhode Island Reds, a Warren, a Silver Speckledy and a Blue Star. We lost our oldest girl last week *sob* Small pixie said "For tea?" I was horrified! The Boy thought it was hilarious (me and the children are vegetarian).


We are going to get another two girls soon.


We've been working really hard on the business and it's gotten rather busy, so I've done slightly less writing and more admin for the website and deliveries...it has taken some setting up and isn't finished yet, but we're really pleased with the progress. We have a great designer who has an excellent eye for colour and graphics.