10 days???!

I can't quite believe that it has been 10 days since I last posted. I'm not quite sure if there is any one particular reason - only that life got incredibly complicated and busy. All at once. My mum has been in hospital for an operation on her spine, I found out my best friend is pregnant with twins, and what with that, family life, and going to court, I've found very little time to do anything - let alone blog. I've a stack of ironing almost taller than me, I've got cakes to bake for the school tomorrow - just told this morning, and a house that looks like it may have been the epi-centre for the recent earthquake, its so disorganised, and the cherry on the top is that I've been tagged. Which I have to say I'm eternally grateful for - as it seems to have re-connected me with this blog. So having never been tagged before - I do hope I do this right!!

Firstly I was tagged by the lovely 'Clothcat' who produces some rather wonderful items over on the hallow ground that is Etsy. I need to post the rules::

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.


So here goes
Fact 1:: I like to drink plain hot water. This typically involves people swirling round, hand still poised over the kettle and going "What? Just hot water? I think I've got a lemon?". No, you heard right, I like to drink just hot water - no lemon, no anything. This started when I worked in a call centre, cups of tea/coffee would go cold whilst on a call, and so hot water started - I like to drink it hot and if it goes cold, all is not lost.

Fact 2:: I've been kissed by Timmy Mallet. Okay I was about 5 at the time, and he came to my school (can't remember what for), and gave me a badge saying 'Timmy on the Tranny' which I'm sure has a whole heap of different connotations now.

Fact 3:: I met my husband at work. He left, we then met socially as friends (evidently 'everyone' else could see 'it'), and it wasn't until he moved to Felixstowe that we realised we loved each other. That was June 1996. We bought a house together in September 1996 (only hope I'm as cool as my parents!) and are now coming up to our 10th wedding anniversary this year.

Fact 4:: I'm a Quaker. I love the freedom this gives me.

Fact 5:: Last year I started to learn to play the cello. As a child I wanted to play the cello. My parents weren't keen and so I was encouraged to learn the piano instead (my dad plays). I did, and got to Grade 5, before stopping. I met a woman at a Quaker gathering who learnt the Viola in her 30's who told me it was never too late. I'm so pleased she encouraged me - I'm not good, but I love it!

Fact 6:: I'm infertile. Cor - what a statement! I suffer with Endometriosis, and it was diagnosed too late. The damage to my reproductive organs was done. We toyed with the idea of IVF, but the chances of success were slim, and there was every chance it would seriously agravate my Endometriosis. So we didn't. We finally adopted two children in 2003, and I went on to have a Hysterectomy in 2005 and have been pain free since then (yay!!!).

Fact 7:: I don't like milk. There - thats lightened the post a little! I tolerate milk, but I don't like it. I'll eat Weetabix only cause it soaks up the milk, else I have to drain it off from my spoon. I know I should have more - but I really don't like the taste and too much can make me feel queasy.

Well that was less painful than I thought. Possibly more personal that light hearted - but they are facts about me. Now loads have already been tagged - but I'm not sure these have so.

*tag*
Angharad
SallyF
DomesticAli
PennyPincher
Charlotte
Karen
Melissa




Phew - I think thats it, and hopefully normal service will resume on the blog now. Thanks Cloth.

Another Photo

This is the sight that greeted me yesterday morning. Fresh fruit salad made by my children, with proper napkins, a pot of tea and toast. Now thats a Sunday to remember.

Happy Mothers Day to you all

I was woken this morning by two munchkins at 8:30 - they'd been popping up to see me since shortly after 7, but lovely Chris kept shooing them till a little later. I've had two lovely cards with some carefully chosen words, plus a handmade one from Lou and a beautiful necklace that they chose together - which incidently goes exceptionally well with my recent bargain I got from Monsoon at Bicester Village.

A bath has been run for me, and they are currently folding proper napkins, unpacking the dishwasher and laying the table for breakfast. I'm off to wallow in my bath....

Mothering Sunday

I think I am sorted for Mothering Sunday. When asked what I wanted, my reply was simple, and the same as every year - to have a meal with my mum, my children, husband, and sisters. I don't 'need' any gift - just to spend time with those important to me.

However, Mothering Sunday falls early this year - and caught my husband out. He rang our local pub to book a table for us all on Tuesday this week - not surprisingly they were booked. He then did lots of frantic ringing round to try to find somewhere for the 8 of us. It looked like it was going to be Pizza Express - when my sisters came up trumps by offering to cook. So one sister is doing the starter, another the main and my husband has made Chocolate Chilli Mousse. Now my mum isn't one for gifts either - which is why the meal out is always nice, as for once she lets us treat her. However, I haven't a gift for her - but I have made her her Mothers Day card. I got the inspiration from the invites I did for Lou's birthday, where the original inspiration came from Mel over at Day to Day. I knew I wanted to sew a card - but didn't know what to put on the front, that is, until I saw this lovely button on Raspberry's blog.

Apologies for the poor quality picture - there is no good light in a home with only energy saving bulbs and its dark outside!

Sweetly Inspired

Inspired by the Flickr group Etsy UK Challenge for 'Sweets from your Childhood' I made a crayon roll with Dolly Mixtures.

My fav sweets from my childhood were Pacers - but they don't make them anymore and Dolly Mixtures run a very close second!

I didn't have plain enough material for this - I really wanted the Dolly Mixtures to be the focus, so used soft fleece and felt - and I love it! With a notepad added so that it really is enough to keep a child happy I think I've come up with a variation on my original. Future crayon/pencil rolls will be made of felt and fabric, I just need to work out a way of making them pretty in a less time consuming way!

More aprons

Yes, time for another apron post - however how could I not! Today I got my apron from my swap partner. She didn't send any information in the packet about her - but she did put her address on it, and I've managed to 'find' her!

Isn't this apron just lovely. I've worn it (and twirled in it!) already. The detail on the pockets are just great (two pockets cleverly disguised as one!). If you like mine, you might like to check out Judy's shop on Etsy where she has some similar for sale.

Thank you Judy!

Future

A couple of posts ago I was wondering about my shop. Did I still want it? What did I actually want to do? I'm a firm believer that actions speak louder than words, and over the last 2 weeks I've been in 3 Treasury's over on Etsy (a Treasury is where someone lists some of their favourite items and shows it off to all and sundry). I've never been in a Treasury before, and suddenly I was in 3 at once, over one weekend! Proof that someone likes my things. Plus I continued to list new things!

I think the future has been decided and 'Made By Cara' is here to stay - albeit with a few changes. A new banner, and avatar for starters. I've decided to concentrate on a more cohesive range of items, things that are useful - but lovely all the same! I've changed the design of some of my items and drawn up some new ideas as well. March is going to be a good month for me, and to cement my commitment I've agreed to do a craft fair in London in June!

Made By Cara is going places !

However, can I just say that blogging is a lonely place without comments!