Reasons to be cheerful........

The sun is shining here today and the signs of spring are on the way, the flower on my Amaryllis burst into a glorious bloom a couple of days ago 

I had a girly day yesterday with friends for lunch ,lots of good chat, we had tea and homemade cupcakes in the afternoon.  This cyclamen was a gift, thanks girls.

Happy Valentines Day........

Looking around the Patch today, I find hearts everywhere....

 

on  Greeting Cards..................

For wedding favours...........

As treats......

Cookie cutters.......

a  door hanging........

on tiny little tin boxes.......

the bunting I made last year.........

Ribbons and trims..............

 I hope you are having a lovely day.

Following on........

........from my post yesterday, I thought I would try making some Oatcakes from the " Mother to Daughter" book.  I often get hungry between meals and as I am trying to battle the bulge I thought these very low calorie oatcakes might just be the job to stave off the hunger pangs.  They are literally porridge oats,bicarbonate of soda, salt, olive oil and warm water.

 I have just had one out of the oven and they are very nice.  And I am sure they will be lovely with a chunk of mature cheddar and  some pickle, but that is not allowed on the diet. Oh well, just a tiny bit, I won't tell the lady at the slimming club!!!!  

February......

It's here and I am so pleased, It feels like we are leaving the winter behind and spring is just around the corner.  I am patiently waiting for the crocus's in the garden to flower so I shall content myself with this image until they show their colourful flowers........

I bought this book from a well known book discount stores last week, it was very cheap.  It is one of those books with lots of information, handy hints and tips, old and new.  A bargain. 

Having finished the favours last week for my friends wedding it is time to start thinking of the next ones.  My sister is getting married in April and I am going to make favours for her wedding.  It is a smallish affair, I have 20 to make.  She is having a bit of a vintage theme, so I have started to make the fabric myself with silk and old lace , it is filled with dried lavender ,this is the prototype.

Keeping Busy........

I have had the last 2 days off work and have been kept busy making these hearts.  A friend at work is getting married in 2 weeks and asked me to help her out, she is going to put them on the wedding buffet table as favours for the ladies.  It is a smallish wedding with about 50 guests.  She asked me to make twenty two.  Not too many but enough to keep me busy for a few days.  I have stuffed  half of them with lavender and the other half with petal scented wadding.  They have been edged with sequins, some little gold and glass beads hanging from the centre of the heart and  a organza ribbon to hang .  If I have time I am going to make a ring pillow........... better get back to the stitching.

More pages from the Journal........

....... pages, it feels good to get the paints out again. I'm really enjoying putting this together, each page has a different theme.

              the Journal is entitled "things I love", which are..... 

           

My Family,  Hearts,  Cupcakes, Sewing, Flowers and Gardening,  The Sea

Robbins.

Enjoy the weekend.

Making the most of..........

What do you do when you have a weeks holiday in mid January, take it easy, get creative and do some exercise. Well I have been doing all of the above and have thoroughly enjoyed my week off work.  Starting the day with .....porridge and fresh fruit, an hour at the gym, coming home and having a relaxing shower using my lovely new Jo Malone soaps.  Putting my feet up with a hot chocolate and my fix of the monthly magazines.  That's the morning's taken care of..........

I have spent the afternoons in the studio getting creative.  Before Christmas I signed up to do an online-journal workshop hosted by.kiwicarole.  I have been preparing papers and fabrics and collecting bits and bobs.

I have started to put the pages together, the first page is all about hearts.

I have really enjoyed this week, it has been so relaxing and just what the Doctor ordered after the busy busy 
time before Christmas.  Tomorrow is my last day and I shall be doing it all again....bliss.