Happy Days :)

Yesterday I received my utterly gorgeous Winter Comforts ATC from Rachel and I couldn't be happier. Organised by Ali, I always love participating in these swaps. 

On a very wet and windy day, getting such a treat in the post is guaranteed to put a smile on my face. Look what I've got...

There are so many details in such a teeny tiny space - these ATCs measure only 2.5" x 3.5"!

I love all the layering and different textures that have been packed into it. 

As I've said many times before - I love taking part in these swaps. There is a real pleasure in creating a little piece of textile art for someone who doesn't know what they're going to get. There is immense joy when receiving one and knowing that it has been specially stitched for you!

It really is a cosy rectangle of happiness :) Thank you so much Rachel xx

Roll on the next swap!

Hope your week is going well :)

Sherry - one happy bunny xx

Finishing a few things with a smile..

The last couple of weeks have seen a few things finished. Cue big smile...

My ATC swap card went off in the post at the beginning of last week. 

Ali over at VeryBerryHandmade was as wonderful as ever organising another Artist Trading Card Swap - this time the theme was Winter Comforts. Taking part in these swaps are always such a pleasure - the planning and creation of a textile treat for someone else.

So what springs to mind? As ever I start with a mind map. It was pretty clear that hot chocolate, log fires, warm Winter woolies and snoozing hounds were high on my list. I sat in my favourite spot (another Winter comfort!) looking out of my window one afternoon thinking about the theme. 

This is my view...

Through the window I could see lots of these little guys feeding on the various treats we put out for them. Blue Tits are just the most relaxing and entertaining creatures - they squabble, chatter, feed and flutter non stop. They land on the window frame and peck on the window to get attention and we sit looking at each other. In the middle of a gloomy day, they make me smile. Ta- dah! ATC planned.

Using photos that my hubby takes of them clutching to the feeder, I sketched out the card... and stitched...

It's bit wonky - the finishing off always takes me for ever and sorry about the lighting - it's been so overcast and rainy here lately.

Ready to go :)

I hope my swap partner likes it. The birds truly are our Winter Comfort and the food we put out for them is their Winter warmer. Thank you Ali for another great swap! I can't wait to receive mine  and I'll post it here when it arrives!

I've finished reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Oh my word. What an emotional page turner! The film has since been watched. 'Read it!' I'm telling everyone - most people already have. I'm a bit slow off the mark like that. 

Archie might give it a whirl...

...although he's already dozed off before the good bit...

I've sent off an embroidered thank you card and personalised glasses case to some special people - forgot to photograph.. grrrrr

I'm sneaking in here, the fact that I've almost finished the blanket I've been working on (the one that was supposed to be ready for Christmas), but with only another few rows and the edging to go - hey, nearly there...

I've finished clearing out some of my wardrobe space that has definitely made me smile, although I just know I'll want to wear it once it's gone or wish I'd kept the fabric...

Hello February - here's to some more finishings this month!

Sherry xx

This past week

Lots of tidying going on this week. Therapeutic tidying. Starting with my work room. There were piles of 'stuff' hanging around. Patterns cut out, little remnants of fabric (too small to go back into the fabric stash but way too precious to be discarded so it sits there in a sorry pile waiting to be organised), embroidery threads, receipts - both posting and purchases, sketches of planned embroidery patterns, crocheting in progress, knitting in the last stages of completion, art supplies not put away.....you get the picture. All the product of the mad Christmas rush. So the clear up started with my room - it's all tidy and organised now, which means I can think clearly again in there.

I need some more storage in there and more colour. I'm on the lookout.

I've been cooking and so enjoying it. Lots of soups to warm us up. It's finally got wintry here after such a mild few weeks and that means a temporary end to the rain. Yay! Also been making lots of smoothies having finally purchased a Nutri Ninja.

Some home-made granola

I'm reminding myself of how much I love my art. I used to spend untold hours sketching and painting. Why did I stop? Instagram has inspired me- there are so many daily sketches so out have come my watercolours, my pens, pads and pencils. An art journal is my latest pleasure - I'm excited at the artistic possibilities it presents in a manageable chunk. Not too daunting. I'm not quite confident enough to 'show and tell' yet tho'!

I've started dedicating time to reading again - something I promised myself I would do way more of this year. Far too much time spent on the laptop. Instagram and Pinterest literally absorb hours of my life - like a black hole. So far this year I've read:

Mystery in White: A Christmas Crime Story - J. Jefferson Farjeon 
A traditional crime mystery first printed in 1937. A perfect easy read on a snuggly night in front of the fire. I don't normally read crime stories but really enjoyed getting to know the characters in this novel and trying to work out the outcome of this mysterious tale, which begins on Christmas Eve. I've also got The Santa Klaus Murder by Mavis Doriel Hay, another British Library Crime Classic but I think I'll save it for reading towards the end of the year as it's another Christmas mystery!

The Dressmaker - Rosalie Ham
Loved this book. A real page turner. Quite a cast of characters to familiarise yourself with but well worth the effort. Can't wait to see the film!

Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
Only a fifth of the way through this book and so far really enjoying it. Why though, does the blurb on the back covers persist in telling you about plot lines that don't happen until after a 100 pages or so? Why? Grrr.

Still really slow progress when I think I used to read around three books a week but hey ho I'm getting there.

I'm looking out to the garden deep in the throes of winter and I look forward to the first shoots of spring.
 I love winter - all cosy and snug with the chance (crossing my fingers) of snow. But spring somehow seems irresistibly close and beckons to me. I expect those of you who have snow regularly, wonder what all the fuss is about, but in the UK (certainly in the south), we can get pretty excited about it.

Highgrove - the home of The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall is only a few miles away and I'm already looking forward to another look around the gardens - I haven't managed to see it in early spring yet. My back garden could do with a bit of inspiration that Highgrove always brings (albeit it on a small scale!)

Our garden may look slightly bare and uninteresting at the moment but beauty and inspiration are out there. Frozen leaves with stunningly intricate ice crystals and the birds feeding outside our sitting room window - so close and so beautiful.

What have you been up to this week?

Sherry xx

Today I'm the Bad Guy...

Today is the day when I'm regarded as the bad guy. It's January 2nd and the day that we I take down the Christmas tree. It's not Christmas any more - not for me. It's a new year. I'm still full of Christmas spirit and indeed still eating my way through the Christmas food but it's not Christmas any more.

I know some folks keep their tree up for longer..Twelfth Night...I know... but maybe it's how it always was for me as a child when Mum took the tree down New Year's Eve to 'let the New Year in fresh'. The Christmas tree feels a little (say it quietly)...sad. 

It's a reminder that gone for another year are .....the cheesy Christmas films, the slow ramp up of excitement, the family gathering together, the endless Christmas songs playing in the stores, the secret squirrel texts and e-mails, trees going up in the high street, looking out for the delivery van, the panic, the wrapping (ohhh the wrapping) the cooking and the fun. 

:( 

Why am I the bad guy? I miss it too you know. But somehow I need to get back to normal. I need the routine that blissfully goes out of the window at Christmas but which I need to surround myself with again. 

So, this morning I have my 'nasty' hat on. Sideways glances, tutting and muttering. Sorry guys it's going for another year. But oh Christmas tree..how lovely were your branches..weren't you just the best tree ever? How we loved you and how magical you made it all.

Check out Archie's woeful expression. He knows it's coming down. Both dogs sulked for a while.

Still.... only another 357 sleeps until next Christmas....

Sherry xxx

Thinking Happy Thoughts

So, a new year...the inevitable new year resolutions....lots of ads on TV and in my inbox encouraging me to 'detox'...myriad sales every where and peoples' thoughts turning to Summer holidays. 

Being a bit rebellious, instead of beginning a new year diet, I'm having a Katsu curry today and rather than new year resolutions, I'm making a list of what makes me happy. I'm going to do my best to fit more of these feel good, warm, fuzzy moments into my life. 

My Happy List - in no particular order :) 

First of all , my favourite Christmas present. I opened this..

A Coldplay vinyl = happiness.

'Look inside' urged my sons who had bestowed said gift upon my hubby and me.

Cue a few tears after seeing this drop out...

A promise of 2 tickets to see them at Wembley. Wow! Genuine top notch happiness anticipating this concert.

Moving on...

An early night. When I was a wee little one, I remember very clearly having to go to bed while it was still daylight outside. Boy that was frustrating. Now fast forward ... quite a lot of years and I love an early night - laying in bed in Summer listening to sounds of the outside world going on, or snuggling up in Winter with a hot water bottle, listening to the rain on the window. 

A new book to read. I'm determined to try and read one book a week this year. My reading was dismal last year. I'm currently reading this. 

That first cup of tea in the morning.

The first daffodil appearing.

Twinkle lights

Our new bed -sooo comfy 

Curling up on the sofa with the dogs my husband... ahem

Stripy gloves

Fresh linen on the bed. 

Cow parsley

Giving a handmade gift

Notebooks/ journals. I have so many - I can't resist. I got a beautiful William Morris V&A lined journal for Christmas...with matching pencils. 

Yay! I also love these. I never know quite what to use them for so this year I will start using them, they are not too precious to use Sherry.

Feeding the birds. Especially our little robin who flies into my hand every morning for his breakfast of grated cheese. 

Baking

Liberty print fabrics

Cherry cake

The Boden sale

Le Petit Marseillais products

Scented candles

Having a whole evening stretching out ahead of me when I can embroider, knit, or crochet (any of the former) while watching an Audrey Hepburn film. Strictly speaking - two happinesses there.

A soak in a hot bath

There are so many things that make me happy. I think I'll do a monthly list to keep a smile on my face throughout the year :) 

What makes you smile?

Happy 2016 to you. Think happy thoughts xx

A New Year Beckons

Well, Christmas and 2015 are drawing to a close. 

We enjoyed a wonderful family time - with much Lego building taking place. I have really enjoyed a bit of colouring in (!), started an Audrey Hepburn jigsaw (clever husband) and have a pile of yummy new books waiting to be read. We have played games (an epic Game of Thrones Monopoly battle that went on for about 5 hours), watched cheesy Christmas movies, snoozed and forgotten what day it is. 

Tetbury looked wonderful and as festive as ever. All twinkles and magic. 

Monty and Archie had their wet noses in EVERYTHING!

As 2016 beckons I'm reflecting on last year from a personal viewpoint and with thoughts on how the world has changed this past year. This time before a new year always makes me feel a little pensive, sad even. Don't know why. 

Next year, things are moving in a slightly new direction and I'm excited about that. 

I have many resolutions already written up and I'm looking forward to the simplicity of the New Year after the excesses of Christmas. 

I hope you've enjoyed a merry Christmas and I wish you a very Happy New Year wherever you are

Sherry xxxxxx

Trying to make sense of it all..

The tragic events that took place in Paris on Friday have left me struggling to make sense of it all.

Friday evening began so happily. After a busy week, we were sitting watching Children In Need on the BBC - an annual telethon that takes place to raise money for this wonderful charity. Celebrities give their time to entertain us with sketches, songs and comedy, in return we donate generously, very generously. It's an emotional evening, there is usually much sniffing and sobbing in between the laughter, as films are shown of families who have encountered the most heart rending difficulties. 

As the programme went to a break, the BBC started reporting on events unfolding in Paris. Phones rang, had we seen the news? We sat in silence, the wind knocked out of us. As the evening wore on, the scale of the tragedy was becoming apparent. 

As French president François Hollande prepared to address the congress of the National Assembly and the senate today at Versailles, I was reminded of the happy day we spent there a couple of weeks ago. Some of our happiest times have been spent in France and my heart breaks for them. We are all of us in this together.

Paris, we stand with you x