Down at craft corner

Way back in August, I decided to start this blog. As I'm sure I've mentioned once or twice, I was heavily influenced by the only blog I read at the time; Mrs Priss, who after posting about her crafty area inspired me to create my own craft corner, be more true to my creative side and blog about the results.

So there it is, my craft area, it's been almost a year in the making but I've finally gotten round to revealing it to you

Decorative letters, bunting and my 'wall of frame'

and some under the desk storage. Usually I end up doing crafty things all spread out over the floor in front of this desk rather than on it, and I have yet to get hold of the perfect chair but the intention is there.

A REAL charity shop

I must admit I a bit of a charity shop addict, but recentely they have been letting me down left right and centre. I just don't really think the average old biddy knows what the, shall we say 'street value' of a lot of items are - but let's not get started on a great big rant because I do try to avoid that on here (one of the many reasons for my spasmodic posting!)

Aaaaaanyhoo... the little spot of paradise where my parents live seems to me to have, what I call REAL charity shops, in its vicinity;


this lot, cost me £2.98, that's right - and those suitcases were 99 english pence each! - but it's really not just about the price, because obviously I realise it's all for a good cause. It's just the sheer volume of quality items that they seem to have in comparison to my local treasure troves, basically, you don't have to work quite so hard to find a real gem item (which in all honesty, simply appeals to my lazy side)

Anyway, my plan for those suitcases is for crafty storage and the jar is going to be for either sugar or pasta I haven't decided yet....also, I have decided, my NEXT post WILL include a picture of the infamous craft corner, no more beating around the bush.

Baby Love

So Friday was my boss' youngest daughter's first birthday. She's also recently moved into my room (I work in a nursery), I thought I'd get my crafty head on to make her present.

Using a slight adaptation of Mrs Priss' floral creations - the difference being that I cut flower shapes instead of circles and used a more cotton-like fabric (which I actually recycled from an old pair of trousers!) I also kept it pretty much flat when sewing them together instead of doing the whole pinchy ruche effect I went for here. The outcome was a large, corsage style, baby pink flower which I then sewed three large pearls onto the centre of, again recyled from jewellery I've bought specifically for the purpose of destroying (this is a top tip by the way as beads work out so much cheaper this way).


After scouring pretty much every shop that sells baby clothes (including charity shops) I went into Shaws - a bedding and curtain shop for those of you who don't know, they also sell MASSIVE granny pants aaaand plain vests for varying ages from 2 to 11, at, wait for it... NINETY FIVE PENCE EACH! okay so it still isn't 1-year old size but I have decided plain tops for one year olds don't actually exist! My only regret was only buying one as I'm pretty sure I could churn out these cute little baby tops in the millions, for mass profit in the creation of my empire! move over Lord Alan Sugar...Only joking, kinda...
I also got my arty head on and cracked out my massive set of coloured pencils to make what I hope is a rather pretty first birthday card.
Big Love (I'll try not to leave it so long next time...)

My Other Mummy...

Perceptions and experiences of same sex parents' offspring - a two family case study

I am so pleased that effing thing is GONE, all nine thousand, five hundred and thirty five words of it! Let us just hope it comes back to me with news of a first (Yeah right) and that I don't fail anything else and have to repeat...I handed it in on Thursday and we had a champers reception (I am still not drinking since Sweden) but, amongst the politics and future career discussion there was also chocolate and vanilla marble cake, so that lack of champagne wasn't so bad.

I thought I would feel utterly elated at the fact that I am almost completely DONE with uni (I still have early Years professional status to do :-S) but although I was of course in a pretty good mood, I also felt quite empty, like, what now? and totally didn't know what to do with myself on my first evening of freedom - apart from vote. I guess it has just so totally sapped ALL of my energy reserves that it probably will take a while for me to get back on top form.

Bizarrely and slightly worryingly, winning $15 dollars to spend at Little Lovelies etsy shop yesterday (thanks to the lovely Crystal) made me much happier than finishing my dissertation did...but seriously;




...wow!

Nanny M.A.D

As promised I am taking a much needed break from my dissertation to introduce you to my wonderful, and of course, M.A.D... grandmother!



who made me this stunning apron;


and, reluctantly, the one semi-decent photo of me wearing it out of the roughly one hundred taken (I wish I was kidding)

Things I adore about it are as follows;

♥ The heart shaped pockets

♥ The fact that I ACTUALLY feel like Alice in wonderland when I wear it

♥ The beautiful laura ashley fabric, pink lining and lacy trim

♥ The fact that, although by definition an apron is technically supposed to protect your clothes during home makerish type tasks such as cooking, I don't wear it for any of these because I'd much rather get stains on my clothes...

♥ And of course it's deliciously massive amount of girliness!


Thanks Nanny!

Childhood in Crisis?

the cover of my scrap book entitled "Childhood in Crisis" for the module "Concepts of Childhood."

Really this is just to prove to you that I have not disappeared, am working hard and have merely turned my creative MADness to my academic work instead. I assure when it's all over I'll be putting my heart and soul into M.A.D, finally getting up the piccys of the elusive craft area I've become so fond of bragging about (but has actually just turned into a dumping ground) AND, maybe even start an etsy shop.....?
I love you all for checking me every day even when I'm not posting (god bless google analytics). Also look out next week as I'll try to post another Make and Do family member in the form of my gorgeous grandmother who has made me the most AMAZING apron, remember MAD Mummy?

Mmmmwah!

Flopbag

.....flop, floppy and flop bag, these are my new favourite words at the moment as I am all three. I don't want to do the whole excuses thing but you know it, the same ole song, work work work no time for play -sing along if you know the words! I even forgot one of my best friends birthdays and to send my wonderful nannies and grandmas thankyou cards for my birthday which was OVER a month ago!

til now when I have let myself have an evening off - I put these floppy excuses for thankyou (actually, "post") cards together, oh and wrote this floppy blog post...oh and finally plucked my eyebrows.

BRING ON THE DISSERTATION SO I CAN FLOP THAT TOO!