Little Bits and Pieces

It's very easy to feel overwhelmed these days.  It seems we always have something to worry about health, family, financial or just the daily trials of life in general.

My ability to do the things I used to do last month, last year or even in the past few weeks is diminishing, some days a bit and some days a lot but I have resorted to doing little things that make me happy and bring a smile to my day.

Before my spine became too bad I used to enjoy gardening...... a lot ....... we have over 1 acre of it but I can do no more than pull a handful of weeds on a really good day.  So now I am doing what I call tea cup gardening.

I have a lovely collection of little tea cups, containers and vases.  So I have been taking succulent cuttings that I inherited from my grandmother last year and I am making them in to little mini pot plants.

I've been having lots of fun getting them established and enjoy checking on their progress.  My dream is to end up with a beautiful indoor garden in our breeze through so that I can enjoy looking at it all without the work.  One little tea cup at a time for now ........

This tiny little jug is just over 2" High.  Isn't it sweet ?

One day soon I hope to have enough energy and pain levels bearable so I can visit a couple of my local op shops and find some more sweet little containers.

Bye for now.

Hugs,

Fee xx

Zippy Pouch

Want to make my Zippy Pouch ?  Hurry the pattern is only FREE for a short time.

GO HERE to my Craftsy store to download your copy.

Hugs - Fee x

Swapping + That Christmas Tree

I had a bit of a break from swapping in the past few years and only participated in a few but I find it's a great way to get me motivated and to get me sewing.  I sent off 3 swap gifts this week.  This one was for an online group I am in on facebook called 52 Handmade - A Year of Creativity.  These are the gifts that I made and sent to my partner Deb.  A linen cushion, a fridge calendar, tissue pack, key chain (retractable) and a hand painted little card.  

This is what I received from my partner Chrissy (It was a down the line swap) A needle book, pin cushion and chocolates (which I have hidden )

I had to take Amy into the city yesterday and just happened to park very close to my favourite store - Bed, Bath & Table .........  So whilst waiting for Miss Amy I hobbled around the store looking at all of the Christmas goodies.  It is just magical to see them all.  If only I had a lovely big fat bank balance.  This particular tree did win my heart though.  It instantly makes me think of red robins.  I'm not sure why.  It has little twinkle lights built into the ends of the twigs and is covered in snow.

They are currently out of stock in my local store but have some coming in this week and they have a 30% off sale.  I am seriously thinking of popping one on layby.  Everyone keeps asking me what I want for Christmas, maybe this is the answer ?  

I haven't had a traditional tree for a few years now - I wanted something different and I really think that this is it.

I spent the rest of the day in bed but it was worth it to get out for a change and be in the "real" world.

I'll be back tomorrow with a gift for you.

I'm giving you a FREE tutorial to make this gorgeous Zippy Pouch.  But hurry as it will only be available FREE for a limited time.

So check back in tomorrow to download.

Hugs,

Fee xx

From this day forward .....

I know that I said I would be back before this but things happened, I had a bad fall and my fatigue levels have been ridiculous !

Anyway I am back now.  My house is in disarray BIG TIME as the new carpet to replace the flood damaged carpet will be installed tomorrow.  

I have a team of helpers coming this afternoon to move all of the furniture.  Times like this I feel so useless.  When I do give in to the voice in my head and try to do anything physical, I pay for it by spending too many spoons and then spending way too much time resting because of it.  So in the end it's not worth it so I have to watch from afar as they move my precious treasures !  I may have to chicken out and actually go to bed so I can't see any of the process.

But the upside is that we will have some lovely new wool carpet installed in the colour of my choosing and then I can have the house put back together in a different configuration.  Our house guests (my daughter, SIL and 3 children) who have been staying with us since March have a new home and moved out over the weekend so it's a great opportunity to change things up a bit.

This is going to take quite some time as I will have to once again rely on other people to do things for me but the reward will be my home looking shabby, beautiful and feeling like "home" again,

I still haven't managed to embroider.  It's been weeks now but my fingers and wrists have been really bad and I can only manage what I call clumsy crafts like these shabby brooches made from upcycled textiles.  I had planned on having a market space with my handcrafts this weekend past but my health once again let me down from making any forward plans so I have shelved that idea !  The upside is that I have an abundance of Christmas gifts made.

Finally last week I got sick of looking at my dressing table without it's mirror and had a friend's son come over with his trusty drill and man hands to fit some chicken wire to the back of it for me.  I am so in love with it now.  It's perfect for hanging my treasured pieces of jewelry.

I haven't forgotten about the Christmas gift tutorials and will try my best to get some up in the next week or so.  Hopefully I can get on the blog a little more often too.

Love and Hugs,

Fee xx