What a jolly, happy week.

I have had a lovely week.

I have received lovely e mails and received 3 unexpected gifts from new friends I have made since starting my blog.  Such thoughtfulness , and well DH has asked me what I have been up to as he said I have been smiling , humming away to myself and just seem happier than usual!!!

Diane from
http://thecheshirequilter.blogspot.co.uk/
Sent me a pattern for a crotchet hat that even I think I can manage!!!!

Jacquie from
http://myjourneystarting2013.blogspot.co.uk/

Sent me the most beautiful pin cushion...I love it!!!!! Thank you again Jacquie, the picture , well it doesn't really do justice to it...it is just so lovely and it sits on it's  new home on my sewing table
beside  my arm chair where I'd most of  hand sewing...  Jacquie also added a handmade button (top right) .  Jacquie does such beautiful sewing  , please pop over to have a look at her blog, I'm sure you'll be back!!! Jacquie said she was sending me my gift as a little smile, well Dear Jacquie it was not only a huge smile but a massive grin and a little Irish jig as well !!! ( well my dad was Irish and I did have Irish dancing lessons for a couple of years!!)

And then Stephanie from

http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.co.uk/
Sent me these lovelies

If you haven't had a look at these ladies  blogs before pop over for a look

I then have been receiving lovely  e mails too which have made me feel , I am very lucky to have such lovely
Blogging friends . This time last year whom  I had never " met, " yet here I am a year later with my own little
blog and a lovely list of blogs I follow and new friends....happy times.....

There are a few swaps I have heard about this week, all Christmas ones , so if anyone is looking to spread a little Christmas cheer  and be jolly here is what I have found and been told about


A Christmas card only swap ,hosted by Amy . http://lovemademyhome.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/christmas-card-swap-2015.html

A Christmas gift exchange by Kimberley at
http://creativechaosnz.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/send-us-your-christmas-swap-2015.html



And another Christmas sewing or knitting/crotchet themed swap at sewchet
http://sewchet.com/2015/10/13/stitchingsanta-blog-christmas-gift-swap/


There is still time to join in any of  of the above...

I spent yesterday making gifts for Diane ( who sent me the pattern, blog as above)
.... We have kept in touch lots since being partnered up for the Santa Sack swap.  I can't show you obviously what I've been up to , but the things are coming along nicely and more importantly I have so enjoyed making them for her.

I am looking forward to lots of  lazy days next week in the half term.  We have a couple of outings planned and in between my little girl and I are going to begin on her little list of things she wants to make.   I have been cutting things out for her and getting some patterns together , I can't wait to see her little face..happy days.  I have had a break from Christmas making for a few weeks , I think I
probably only need to make a dozen more things and also get Little Miss to make some more angels
together for the fairs.  I need to get a wiggle on with my Christmas gift making too.  I haven't done
any cross stitching apart from the one I finished off this week (still not made that up yet!') and am
missing it.  I have gotten a little side tracked with other daily events and projects , little lists are now pages long !!! So this afternoon I need to gather all those little lists together and sort myself out!!!

Friday  we went to Little Miss' first review in her new school.  We took little man too as he had a inset day.  Well he went to have a look around and play in the new unit and declared "this is cool mum, I like it here"  quite a endorsement for Little Man of few words!! So fingers crossed  if things  continue the way they are going with Little Miss he will join her there.  Well Little Miss is doing well and has settled really well and doing all that is asked of her.New targets have been set and we left feeling so happy we made the right choice for her.   Afterwards the boys had haircuts in Cardigan and I found a REAL old tatty junk shop I hadn't seen before and I bought two hand stitched tray cloths in perfect condition, a beautiful China cup , sadly missing it,s saucer, a lovely tiny plate and a little glass pot with a bird on it all for the princely sum of £2.75!!! Freshly washed the China and glass are on
the dresser(which is looking a bit full) but I like dressers that are full , I love looking at my dresser and most bits have been handed down or been a bargain and cost very little, and now some things swapped to me are being added too.   I also "found" a little China milk jug too with a mint green and gold pattern on the outside and the most pretty picture of a pansy on the inside..it just had to come home with me!! If I could only ever grow 2 flowers again in my life  it would be pansies and forget me nots ..no contest !  What flowers would you choose!

I think these are foreign , the sort of ones you see ladies 

In little med villages sewing, 

but they are hand sewn and just so bright and cheerful.

This little teacup is quite small 

But oh so pretty.

The milk jug 

with pansy picture inside 

I found a big box of old photo's in the annex and need to have a sort.  Some are rather old and I have found one of my sister (who is now 65) when she was a baby in the most beautiful gown, I can only imagine it was taken at her baptism , so I am going to get that a lovely frame and post it to her as a surprise.  I know she is not into blogging so she won't know my little plan.  We have very few photo's of when we were little....mum and dad never owned a camera as far as I can remember, never had a wedding photo of when they married , so the pictures I have well, I think I should share them out, I bet my brothers and sisters have forgotten some of them exist !!

I also received a message on Friday to say a missing swap parcel  has arrived,  yippee  !!! it took a month to arrive at it's new home but it is there now and that is all that matters.  More about that swap next time

Well this week has definitely put a spring in my step , I can't remember having such a super week like this for ages.......

See you soon xxx