happy halloween

we've just come home from an afternoon of spooky fun. While I cheated an bought a costume for the boy, I spent this morning on the machine, quickly adorning our clothes in scary spiders

However, it became clear almost immediately that the Boy was not happy to particitpate in any kind of fancy dress...so we went with face paints instead

apparently what I'd overlooked, is that while he was no longer willing to wear the bat costume that he chose yesterday, he would have been perfectly content to wear a witches costume... so much so that he stole a little girls hat and broom!

well, I know what to get next year!

Happy Halloween.

PS I'm putting a last call out for Bev to claim your giveaway gift!

friday find

I've been struggling with lights for the Boys room for some time now.. in the run up to bedtime having a main light on always seemed a bit too bright, and the opposite of the calm space required to persuade him that night time is for sleeping. However he's already managed to break two lamps (don't ask) Lately, I've gone a tiny bit shelf mad in his bedroom, and managed to find a small Lack shelf in ikea that fitted almost perfectly between his chimney breast and wardrobe, which I decided would be the perfect spot for a lamp, as it's quite well protected by a large laundry basket. The only problem with this plan was having to hide away the wire for the lamp. or so I thought...

...until I found this little beauty in John lewis. Having a bright green flex trailing down the wall is entirely another matter in my book (although I have to hope that this won't make it become infinitely more tempting for a small pair of hands - eek!) The photo on the JL website really didn't do the colour of this lamp justice, which in the flesh is just the right vibrant shade of green for a little boys bedroom. The lovely silkscreen printed giraffe card is waiting to be framed, and was a Folksy find from Nant Designs.

Lets hope that this lamp lasts longer than its predecessors!

take one boy, add a bit of brown paper...

and have lots of fun...

hummm...

Fun for who though?!

tuesday treasures

Two little groups waiting to be made into something

I may even bring myself to chop into some liberty lawn for this.

autumn prints

I have finally been brave enough to join my fist swap - it's being kindly hosted by GiddyStuff and is on the theme of autumn leaves. As I'm still building up my stash of fabric, I can't yet rely on being able to delve into the cupboard and just see what I can come up with... so I now have the perfect excuse to do a little fabric browsing (because obviously I needed an excuse) ..

ok, so at this point I started getting a little distracted and going off the autumn theme..

but you've gotta love crosshatch..

I found all of these at Fabric Rehab. Right, time for a bit more .. 'research'

drumroll please...

votes have been counted and verified

And aided by my helpful assistant

I can now announce the winner is...

Bev

Congratulations! If you could please send your address to alittlebirdtoldme@twoforjoydesign.com then I'll get it in the post to you.

Thanks to all who entered.

a focus on...

Hope bags

For some time now, I've been wanting to do a feature on this bag pattern

All money raised by the sale of this pattern goes to the very deserving Velindre cancer research charity. It's available to buy on line from the Cotton Patch - and here are the details: Sally Ablett just so happens to also be my very talented Mum, and this project was inspired by a good friend of hers very saldy loosing a long battle with cancer.

Designer Sally Ablett has created this charming "Hope Bag" that's available as a pattern. It is generously proportioned at 40cm wide x 40cm high x 17cm deep. It has two side pockets and a large internal pocket.

The bag can be made from just 6 Fat quarters plus 1m of coordinate for the bag lining and base

But the best thing about the Hope Bag is that all the money raised from sale of the pattern will go to the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff (www.velindrefundraising.com). So if you would like to make a practical and stylish bag and raise money for a good cause. Hope is the answer!

So go on, and treat yourself to a great pattern, and feel good about helping a very good cause too