Handmade Monday - sort of!

Since my last post was rather long, this is a very quick and nearly late Handmade Monday.
As always, many thanks to Wendy at 1st Unique Gifts for hosting this. Please have a look at her blog and click through some of the other handmade links on there :)

So, this week I have been painting and decoupaging lots of wooden letters - so here are a few!

I have also made a start on my daughter's Sock Monster - she chose a lovely yarn with shades of brown, green and aqua, so maybe it will be a sea monster! Here it is in progress...

Sock Monster in progress!

That's all for now - I must get on with some 'proper' work!

My Blog Awards!

I have been so lucky this week - two lovely ladies decided (for some unknown reason!) that I should get awards for my blog. First was the One Lovely Blog award from Dorset Girl

and then there was a Versatile Blogger award from With U in mind

so thank you both very much! I'm afraid I'm going to cheat and combine the two into one post, mainly because I'll never find the time to do them both separately!

And now the tricky bit.... because I have to think of 7 random things about myself to tell you, which is really difficult because I don't want to bore you all to death. Anyway, here we go....

1. I am addicted to my iphone - my husband must be cursing the day he bought me an ipod touch!
2. I am currently reading 'The Girl Who Played With Fire'.
3. I once reversed into my husband's car on our own driveway - wasn't I popular that day! Not one, but two lots of insurance to sort out!
4. I love eating peanut butter and raspberry jam sandwiches.
5. Before I had the kids, hubby and I used to travel all over the country birdwatching.
6. I have a degree in classical music, and play the oboe and piano.
7. I taught myself to crochet about 18 months ago.

There you are - so now you know a little bit more about me!
Now for 7 of my favourite blogs - all of them are recent discoveries really, since I only started blogging this year and am still finding so many good reads...

1. The Lime Garden - Anna makes gorgeous things, and blogs about other things including books and health stuff.
2. LottyBlue - my friend has recently rediscovered her love of vintage and mid-century items, so her blog is full of lovely items and tales of times gone by.
3. The Linen Cat - Beth used to know my hubby when they lived up in Yorkshire, and we discovered her again via twitter! Her creations are gorgeous!
4. Grace Marshall is an amazing lady - a wonderful life and business coach. Her blog is full of great advice on anything from combining business with family life, growing confidence, setting goals, how to survive the summer hols etc. etc.
5. Growing Spirit - a lovely lady who has recently discovered her artistic side, and blogs about her family and her healing business.
6. Views from my Garden Gate - if you live in a town or city like me, then this blog will transport you to the Staffordshire countryside! Angela is also a talented jewellery maker.
7. Feltmeup Designs - it's amazing what you can make from wool! These creations are just adorable, and the markings on the birds are very true to life, which I really admire.

So there they are - not all crafty blogs, because there are so many other sides to life than just creativity. Many of us are also in business trying to sell our wares, we have other interests, and families that need looking after, houses that need cleaning, meals to cook.... the list goes on doesn't it?!

I hope you find time to have a look at the lovely blogs listed above - I shall hopefully be back tomorrow for a Handmade Monday post so see you then!
Jenny x

Apologies for lack of blogging... and a sock monster!

Well, I don't know where the last couple of months went... well, actually I do. It seems to have passed by in a blur of baby impressions and wooden letters. Oh, and we also fitted in a week in Turkey!

Anyway, last week brought a couple of exciting events so I thought it would be a good idea to get me motivated and blogging again, and I also wanted to share a finished project with you, which was half done last time!
As always, do have a browse through the other Handmade Monday blogs please, courtesy of 1st Unique Gifts

The first bit of excitement came from Giftwrapped & Gorgeous who told me that my crochet bootees had been picked to be in a shopping guide in a magazine. This is the first time I've had my crafty things in the press - very exciting! So, you can find them in the current edition of Popular Crafts' current edition called 'Kids Crafts'

My baby boots in a magazine!!

I've also just finished a pair of these in pink - I'm really pleased with the way they turned out :) Luckily I spotted some more of the same wool on ebay - it's been discontinued, so I bought LOADS to keep me going over winter!

Pink bootees, made from organic merino wool

And the second bit of exciting news was that I finally finished the knitted Sock Monster! Here he is - my son has decided to call him 'Sock'! (Apologies that my son is slightly lacking in imagination! lol!)

Knitted Sock Monster

That's all for now - I will try my best to blog again soon!
Thanks for sticking with me so far :)