Gratitude

So grateful I get to work from my little sunny garden and listen to the hennies pecking around their run. Sipping tea whilst I contemplate *actually* doing some work. Peace.

My name is Claire and...

...I have a stationery addiction.

These are just a sample from my stash. I also have particular pens I like to use, and I can't write or edit until I have the *right* pen. It's like a form of OCD.

I am also on my 4th diary of the year *cringe*.

So I really needed a new combination of a diary and a note book for on the move. The Dodo pad is great for our office but isn't handbag friendly. I found this:

Had to have it. I now know where I should be, who I should be meeting and I can scribble any inspiration down on the way. Whether or not I shall ever be on time is an entirely different factor.

Another one off the Bucket List...

Running will now be taking a back-seat due to my poor damaged body begging me for a break!

Crochet, French and less impacting sports are on my agenda for the next few months. Finally, I can breathe again!

Lamp revamp!

An old table lamp needed a new shade so I thought I'd renovate it with paper and Mod Podge. I have previously done similar with the children's table and it worked well. 

I used an old Paris map to cover it,.

 

Really pleased with the outcome. 

*Looks around for other projects to Mod Podge...*

Happy New Year!

A party with friends and then a Champagne supper with the boy to welcome in another exciting year!

Happy New Year to you all!

Intuitive art

A lovely evening with two special friends; painting and percentages - wine and art always go so well together I find!

This is my result, waves of some sort I think. Doesn't matter what it is as it totally chilled me out and relaxed my head.

Christmas in Wales

This year, we escaped from the crazy Chrisumerism that hits the UK from about September on. We also have a big girl's birthday on Boxing Day to celebrate so we booked a fabulous and luxurious cottage in the back end of nowhere in Wales and hid away for a week. Perfection.

We were so relaxed and I had floods of ideas although managed to write nothing while I was there - I have it all stored though.

We had hunts for The Gruffalo in the woods, plenty of outdoor time and family time together. Also, lots of boozes :-)

We saw a little snow but mostly enjoyed cuddling up and watching DVDs, reading to each other and playing board games. Time was lost on us. I can't think of a more relaxing holiday we've had as a family.

Holidays

The beautiful sunset over La Gomera. A fabulous family holiday with my people. Feeling grateful and loved.

I am a tart!

In the diary sense, of course. I literally go through at least five diaries a year. I like pretty notebooks, stationery, pens etc. One client even remarked that I had changed diaries since last month's meeting. That would be ok, but it was only March when he said that. Errr, maybe I have continuity issues. But I'm a writer, so that's ok ;)

I have an abundance of Filofaxes - they are pricey! I didn't think the husband would be so thrilled with *another* new Filo therefore my black shabby one was due an airing.I wondered if I could 'back' it, you know, like we did at school with wallpaper and a chemistry book?

I used one of the children's baby dresses that I had previously upcycled into a bag for them (on here somewhere...) and some stick-your-fingers-together sticky glue.

Finished off with some matching ribbon (but this might be replaced with Washi tape) and an old hair band to fasten it. I love it. For now.

Long Meg and her Daughters

A little road trip with some special friends to visit a magical stone circle. Doesn't get any better than this. Back to the editing pen tomorrow though!

Our new addition

This is Hattie Cat. She is bloomin' cute and rather mischievous.

14 months!

Well, bloody hell! 14 months have passed since I even logged in here. I used to be a regular Blogger, but I suppose life just moves on and keeping up with an online journal proves much harder.

In that time, I have run a marathon, clocked up over 600 running miles, worked goodness knows how many writing hours and managed to break my foot and tear all the ligaments and tendons. It wasn't the best situation, as it was during a winter race. Two days before Christmas, actually. Friggin' freezing. Oh, and I was dressed as an elf. So pretty normal then. I fell down a pot hole after being all smug and overtaking some chap dressed as a woman (it WAS a fancy dress race, after all). Fast forward to 3 men in drag having to carry me 300 yards off the trail to the ambulance (paramedics did not even bat an eyelid at my friends and their inflatable breasts...) and then an afternoon in A & E, high off my ass on gas and air and Tramadol, with the bell on my hat still ding-a-linging and me talking complete shite as I was so wasted.

But enough of the grim, 5 months later and I was running again, so all is good.

A small pixie starts school in September, only part-time, but it's still a big change. Probably more so for me.

And I have really itchy feet. Not in the oh-so-you-have-an-infection? style, but travelling itchy feet. I want to flee and explore. Obviously, the practical husband is having none of it, so my dreams of driving one of these babies...

...across Europe, are probably on hold somewhat. I'll convince him, I'm sure...

Hopefully I will write again, although I shan't promise that as I'm pretty flaky right now :-)

I am...

...disgustingly aware that I am not keeping up with my own bargain of regular blogging. I did intend to use my blog as a personal diary, but, well, I'm too feckin' busy to be frank!

Running two businesses from home is hectic, but enjoyable. If I could only squeeze some extra hours into my day, then I could spend MUCH more time on Pinterest (my time-wasting hobby). How much prettiness is out there to gaze at

I have managed to see about half of my friends this month - so much harder now one pixie is in school. Small pixie and meetings/coffee dates/consultations combines pretty well, as long as I am armed with distraction techniques (a grown-up pad and pen works amazingly well). So whoever is reading this that I haven't seen, hugest of apologies, a large slice of virtual cakey, a kiss and I promise I'll see you soon. Gah.

Marathon training is still rockin' - five months to go and I'm well up for it. I've lost nearly 2 stone since December (I'm running 40 miles a week - it's gonna happen) and my old injuries are holding up well (*touches headboard of bed with, well, one's head*). The trouble with a commitment to running 26.2 miles in one go is that it requires training that is disciplined and regular. I am neither So it's a battle with myself, my diary and negotiating with the husband that yes, I AM off out running AGAIN and no, I have no clue when/if I'll be back. I'm sure he understands...

A race to prepare for tomorrow and I've just found my bloody shorts in the washing basket so another flippin' load to bung in this evening, so I'll leave you with a picture of the only proper job I've managed to complete today: tidying of my desk. Ta da!

Conversations

Conversations. 

With the Big Pixie:

"Mummy, I was thinking. If we write down all the opening paragraphs to a new 
exciting story, then we can see how many similes and sections of alliteration 
we can spot! That'll be fun!"

With the Small Pixie: 

Me: "Sweetheart - what are you doing?"

Small "Me no say. Me needa gimp. Me no fine me cock me go a garnen pay." (I 
can't say the words. I need a drink. I've lost my Crocs again and I want to play in the garden)


I LOVE the intensity changes! I have one child who doesn't know which colour is which, and one who could breakdown the compounds and decipher the electronic bonds. Makes for an interesting breakfast conversation.

I am rubbish!

I am scarily aware that it has been 4 months since I last blogged! 


I don't really have much to say to be honest! I am so busy living and loving life, that there is little time to write about it.


Business has been all-consuming with our new shop and website set-up; freelance writing has also been steady, and I have turned work away so we can concentrate on the expansion on the sweets.


The pixies are still bloody gorgeous: one is extra tall, smiley, in-love with school and has been assessed as gifted, able and talented. She is having the curriculum altered to keep up with her pace and so it seems one year of HE has given her the room to expand at her own rate. 


Little pixie couldn't care less; has no idea of the difference between red and green and laughs manically when one suggests that we should learn our colours. 


I love how polar opposite they are.


She will probably end up going to school, to be frank. She says she is definitely going. Definitely. But she also says she definitely ate a button. You decide. It will be her choice however, but I will encourage her to go to school, as having experienced both sides, school has definitely provided the most normal social contact for the big pixie. She is flourishing.


And training is going well. 6 months until the marathon, and I'm happily running up to 16 miles. I slipped a disc a few months back, but hey, shit happens. It's all good now.


Gay Paris at the end of May, so I am hastily bookmarking all the tourist and literary things to see. Hopefully I will have some company to them!


So long :)

Tick-tock

Tick-tock, tick-tock...time has gone and skipped a few weeks again. Madness.


Here is the new addition in our house:

He is the most mischievous kitten I have met and is currently residing somewhere inside my piano - I have no clue where or how, but it's true. Tiger Tonks is his name. He is so cuddly. Aside from when I have spent hours editing a client's work, he casually hops across my laptop, trampling on delete-delete-delete, for a laugh.


So first day back at school today after the Chrisumerism break for my Big Pixie, who is now a whopping six-year-old. She was so excited to see her friends again and was up early (well, 07.30, but that is early in our house). The beautiful little weirdo.


She won a prize at the end of last term, for the child who had done the most book reviews. My swotty little mushroom did 47, which is not surprising as her head is in a book continually. She has been placed on an enrichment programme for high-achieving children, so they are constantly providing interesting tasks for her to take part in. The latest is a Dragon's Den-style challenge to build and design a moving toy. I hate to say it, but she is totally built for school.


She is also teaching me how to play chess. Honestly, I'm freakin' lost. She is like a sponge, soaking up information and regurgitating it at the most appropriate times. Which is good, because my memory is shocking. "Now, mummy, let me explain how you move your prawns..." Ugh. My head hurt after an hour of instruction.


Small Pixie is doing incredibly well too, and is the most playful thing. We've been away staying with good friends and she was the sweetest child, unlike her older sister who cannot cope with any sort of sleep deprivation and turns into a moaning Mary. Lots of late nights, but we really enjoyed our time away.


Small Pixie is a entirely different child: she has no interest in anything other than play; is content to make cupcakes in her wooden kitchen and couldn't give a shit if she knows her colours or alphabet. Which is a huge relief after the bombardment of questions the Big Pixie has thrown our way. I'm glad our two girls are polar opposites.

We've just booked a holiday with the above-mentioned friends, to a Gite outside Paris - I'm so excited to visit the Louvre and the cellar tours we've planned. It might make up for me missing the NYC Marathon this year :( I'm thinking of the Dublin Marathon in Oct '11 to compensate, and do NYC next year when I can afford it!


Lots of 10k and 16k races lined up. And a bit of a juicing fast for a few weeks until I shed my festive pot belly that has appeared (probably from a cakey fest and few sessions with Jack Daniels).


So Happy New Year, enjoy the fresh new feeling of 2012 and aim high.


xxx

Even quicker still!

Ok, another hurried blog! I have a few writing deadlines, which are running late, due to one client's rubbish time-keeping, not mine! Why can't people just flippin' do things on time?? It would save my diary looking like the arse-end of paper-shreddings, because of the amount of rubbing-out I've done this last week, re-scheduling and re-arranging. Seriously. Grrrr. 


Anyhoo, here are some of my Chrisumerism makes:

Some turquoise and glass bead earrings for my aunt

Part of the GS season swap for Talie - I was going for it's-friggin'-cold-theme of blue crackle glass earrings

A tree decoration for Talie (there was a bookmark but I can't find a picture so I probably haven't taken one. Biff.

Some freshwater pearls in candy and chocolate, for the mother and MIL

A make for someone 

The finished mice for my pixies 


And their new home

I couldn't get the box out of my head; it's identical to one I had as a child, and I managed to find a vintage one on eBay for pence. Awesome!

Half a scarf I'm crocheting for my big pixie, with some left over wool


And the finished upcycled bags for the pixies, just need to add a flower brooch to them both and tidy up loose thread etc


Both children have worn both pairs of these jeans, before I made them into little bags so they have something to remember if their childhood clothing!

Loose thread waiting to be chopped! The flower lining is from a cord Mini Boden dress that little pixie has grown out of, but managed to stain it so I couldn't pass it on. I'm really pleased with the outcome.


So there you go, nearly done now. Just a little bit of embroidery to finish and then I can relax, collect our new kitten as a surprise for the pixies and celebrate my girl's birthday with some awesome cakey.


Merry Yule and Christmas to you all, have a peaceful New Year, and I'll catch you in 2012 :)


xxx

Quickly, quickly...

Crafting furiously, in an attempt to finish projects for a big pixie's birthday and the vileness that is Chrisumerism.


So, I have finished my two needle-felted mice. Hurrah! They are rather cute and I managed to find a vintage cigar box, exactly the same as I had when I was a small girl. I used to hide lots of precious things in there.


Anyhooo, I thought it would be a fabtastic little house for the micey mice, filled with delicate little paper shreddings. 


I've also finished two little handbags for the pixies, upcycled from their old trousers. Just need to do two little matching flower brooches out of the remaining fabric.


And I am 3/4 through a crochet scarf for big pixie. It's a lovely colour and I don't at all want to keep it for myself...


I can't show you anything today, because my bloody husband has nicked the batteries from my camera to power some lights for his tree. *insert a big grrrrr here*


So hello, hurrah and ta ta!

Our Thanksgiving Tree

A quickie again!

Our little tree, on our seasonal hearth, that we use to hang on notelets of things that we are thankful for. The children hung some decorations that they made onto the tree. We open the notes of thanks all together on the 25th December during dinner and read them out. It's a lovely way to encourage the children to think about the lives they have and the things that matter most to them (as opposed to the material shite that Argos will have churned out at this time of the year...*gets down from soapbox*).

And my companion whilst I turned the entire house upside down and moved sofas from here to there and back again

My faithful boy, snoring comfortably on his sheepskin rug (one of our friends' sheep *sob* but at least the whole animal was used).

I do get itchy feet in the house, with regards to shifting and moving furniture. Last night was no exception and I finally got to bed at 01.00hrs, following my fabulous decision to move 4 bookshelves and their contents into a different spot. And I also got an armchair stuck between the kitchen and children's play room. But we won't mention that to the chap, because I think I *may* have buggered the paintwork too...anyhoooo, it's all organised again now, ready for the blasted Chrisumerism tree to go up on Saturday.

Can you tell I'm not a twinkly-and-sparkly-Santa-loving kinda gal?!

I shall now crawl away to my cave of doom and misery and emerge in January, happy and jolly when most folk will be pissed off, dreading the flippetty-flap of the letterbox as their Visa card lands and the imminent New Year Blues set in. Hurrah for 2012!

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!