Tick tock, tick tock... I'm sure the clock is ticking faster than it should be!!!

I can't believe it is the end of the summer holidays, can you?  One week today, and the children will be back at school and everyone will be settling back into their daily routines... well, not quite for us as we are going to have a sneaky trip to Cornwall at the end of next week for a few days!!!

I feel so out of touch with my blog at the moment, which is a real shame as I do like revisiting my posts as time goes on... it's like a record of what I have been up to... my diary :-).  I post more frequently on my facebook page, so if you would like more frequent updates on what I am up to, please do feel free to pop over and like my page so that you are included in the news feeds.

Soooo, what have I been doing all summer?  Let's have a brief look back.

We started the summer holidays with a trip to stay with my brother and his family.  The weather was glorious while we were there, and most of the pictures are similar to this one.  It was fabulous being able to sit in the garden and watch the children play whilst relaxing and experiencing various 'o'clocks' ('Pimms o'clock', G&T o'clock and 'Wine o'clock'!!!)

We also had a few family days out.  This was Skipton castle, which was okay, but a few too many signs saying we weren't allowed to do things (e.g. stand on the grass which was mown so that it had perfect stripes across it... aghhhh!)

I've also done a bit of paper cutting (more than I thought actually!!)...

 ... a Family Tree Commission (which you can find more details about here)...

... a Baby Name Memory Tree (click here for more details)...

... and a few of my new Wedding Day Memory Trees (these have been really popular and there will be more to share with you once they have been given... click here for more details!)

I also did a little bit of doodling... 

... and shared my 5th wedding anniversary with my hubby.

And then we (me and the children) visited my sister in her New Castle (as the Tinker says), where we had a lovely time with her and the children...

... eating ice-cream...

...having a trip to Whitley Bay to eat fish and chips, before climbing a multitude of steps (with an 8 year old and 3 children under 4!?!?) to the top of St. Mary's lighthouse. 

We also had a trip to a farm to pick some strawberries (they turned out to be the most expensive strawberries we had ever eaten!).

In the evenings when the little monkeys were in bed, we had a good natter whilst drinking wine and doing a spot of sewing (my sisters first sewing project!).

 Fabulous times and ones to be treasured.

Hope you had a good summer too :-).

New Papercut - Family Tree

A few weeks ago I was asked to create a family tree papercut, so I jumped at the chance.  I've been itching to share it with everyone since last week, but as it was a gift, I was unable to.  Now the gift has been received, I can share it!

Tree, all drawn (with back to front names) and ready to go.

I find cutting really addictive.  Once I've picked up my scalpel, I'm reluctant to put it down.  I spent hours stooped aver my desk, my shoulders, hand and fingers really hurt after.  There's always a phrase my dad always uses that pops into my head at times like that 'no pain, no gain'.  I'm not convinced by it, but it always pops into my head none the less.

Finished!

The pain was definitely worth it, I'm reaaly please with it and I'm going to miss looking at it sat on my desk!

I find that finishing a papercut is a bit like finishing a good book.  I can't just jump straight into something else and spend a little while feeling a little lost!

I am happy to do some of these on commission, and you can find details here.

Winter Sun

Each year our family get together in France to enjoy a week in the snow with each other.  As the years increase, so does the family!  This year we had 6 adults and 6 children (7 and under)... pretty hectic!  Fortunately for us there was lots of snow at the chalet (last year was pretty miserable, and the younger children didn't enjoy the snow as much as we would have liked) and so the children spent lots of time wrapped up throwing themselves around...

... climbing...

...making an igloo... 

... sledging...

 

... and learning to balance on ski's!

We also enjoyed the beautiful scenery, although there aren't too many shots... it was very very cold, and time up the mountain was spent skiing as it was so limited (we took skiing and looking after the children in shifts!)

One of the things I love about France are their patesseries and chocolatiers.  Fabulous cakes, breads and chocolates, and the most beautiful displays.  This one is in Samoen.

These are yummy, they are a bit like a doughnut pastry with
myrtille berries (a bit like blackcurrents but not as sharp). 

And look at this for a sweet shop!!!

This was the front...

... and this the rear.  A gorgeous balloon display.  I love it!

Fabulous France!

N.B.  Just a reminder, I am celebrating, and so have...

...one of these...

... ans two of these up for grabs...

... if you want one just let me know by leaving me a message on here, on Facebook or on Twitter

I am also offering 20% of in my shop until the end of Feb.  Just enter CELEBRATION2012 at the checkout.

Spread the word :-)

Feeling Shy.

This is the pressie that I made for my hubby for Christmas, that has taken me almost two months to pluck up the courage to share with you!!!

I hadn't mounted and framed it until today, and now that has been done, I feel much happier.  It is a family portrait!

Actually, it was the family bit that I wasn't happy with!

I just don't think they are good enough, and yet when you take a step back and look at it on the wall, they are fine.  They did upset me at the time though!

The words are special, and it is them that spurred me to create the papercut in the first place.  My mother-in-law had written them on a piece of paper that my husband found in her belongings after she died a few years ago.  He's had them pinned up in his studio since.

'Dance as though no-one is watching you

Love as though you have never been hurt

Sing as though no-one can hear you

Live as though heaven is on earth'

Writing them makes me get all emotional!!!

I'm not sure where they come from or who wrote them, but they are perfect.

On a completely different note, I'd just like to remind you that the giveaway for my Foxy Loxy Journal finishes tomorrow.  Here's the link to find out more.