Fairy greetings.........................x

And Happy New Year you lovely lot!

 

I feel like this year, is the start of some magical happenings down at the cottage. Something is stirring, awakening, growing...................something quite exciting,  something new, and something shared.

 

There is a reason I have been quiet in bloggy land for a while now. It's because of the something.

 

I can't give you a date, or anymore chatters on the something. Just this...................................you will be the first to know.

 

I balance the something, with my other day jobby. So let me leave you with a little picture of a fairy post box I made for some little people.....to post their secrets, their wishes, their worries, and hopes and dreams....

 

Speak soon.....N x

A Christmas message..................x

Wishing all Florence and Rose readers........old and new.........a most wonderfully special sparkly time. Thankyou so much for all you comments, emails and support the past year.  I think I may bow out over the festivities, to take a breath, relax, giggle and eat with my beautiful family. And look forward to re connecting with you all in the new year.

May your Christmas be everything you hope it will be, spent with the important people you love, enjoying their company over a glass of something sweet.

I always feel so grateful at this time of year, for my lovely lot. And you guys are part of that, so thankyou again.................and.....

Merry Christmas.

A little chatter..................x

The chances of actually getting a decent photo on here for you guys, is becoming sooo tricky.....though I do love these cold, dark, wintery nights.

As I type today, the bumblebee's are on their way to the Grandparents with the Q. They are all having a sleepover, 'cos it's ladies night here tonight.....ooooooh I say........food, giggles, wine, snowballs, secret Santa's....I am ridiculously excited. I did a little dance and a clap. 

But while the house is still and quiet ( saaaaay whaaaaaat?! I know! It's quiet! ) I thought we should have a little catch up.

How far are you all with your Christmas prep? Apart from having mini seizures every day trying to find little bumblebee a perfect- but- within- budget- rocking horse.....I'm nearly there...really? Naaaahhhhhh.

So a slightly delayed reaction in showing you piccies from the School Christmas Fair Cake Stall........we did ever so well, nearly sold the lot. But I can honestly say don't ever stand by a speaker blaring Christmas music, if I hear Cliff Richard again........well.........I may crawl under the nearerst table and rock myself.

I did a little cheat. Top tip coming up ladies. Any mummies out there that need to bake something Christmassy for a fundraiser soon? I used an Ikea pre-made gingerbread kit ( think you can get smaller ones in the supermarkets too ).......whizzed up some royal icing ( icing sugar, egg white, lemon juice ) grabbed bags and bags of sweeties ( not all made it on the house...hehe ).....and decorated the gingerbread house. I feel like, more is more......go wild.

Add cellophane and ribbon..........mine sold for a whopping £10. 

I also definately want to talk Christmas table decorations with you. But, my nails must be painted, the ham needs to go in the oven........and I simply must have a bop to Buble. 

Lets chat again in the week? Happy weekend.............xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Preperations a go-go...............x

 

 

 

Like every other super mummy out there, I'm not content with juggling my work/home/social balls in the air.....I have to add some more.

 

I do like being busy, planning, especially now, my favourite time of year.

We've had a few crazy months here at the cottage I don't mind telling you, I'm looking forward to the holidays.......to pop my slipper clad feet up.

 

 

 

 

One of my lovely super duper friends and I decidied we would man the cake stall at the school Christmas Fair........we don't do normal. Or things by halves.

We may have discussed candy stripes, gingham table clothes, twinkly lights, perfect home baked goods. We may also be having a "special" meeting, to plan..........that's just how we do it......

 

 

 

 

 

Big bumblebee is on the lucky dip. This is a big deal. She is uber excited. Frantic with anticipation. She invited a little pal over for supper tonight, so they could wrap up the prizes....giggle, put the prizes in the box, take them out again and count them. Put them in the box again, then take them out again to count....and so on.

 

 

( I may have given the dip box a makeover......ermmmm I was told to add a bit of tinsel, and got carried away covering the whole thing in stripes...........sorry bout that, ladies. )

 

 

An exhausting evening for some...........

 

B.T.W...........I should have warned you, this is a Christmassy post. Too late? Too bad Grinches........go and get on with your Christmas shopping!

 

xxx

I love it when a project comes together.........x

Is it a year.....really.......a year ago? That I began my favourite fabrics blanket? 

Gosh, I had such high hopes, thinking the beauty of the fabric would carry me through it. As well as buying a few quilting books...." I can do this I CAN. " 

Turns out I really couldn't....at all.

I started because I wanted a snuggly quilt on our bed. Our bedroom is so super cold in the winter, I thought, in my madness....that if I created a blanket, picking out all my favourite fabrics, that not only would \I be warmer, but warmer with a smug smile on my face. Basking in the glorious colourful  loveliness that would be the bed quilt.

Oh I hand stitched the whole of the patchwork.....oh yes I really did. So that does make me feel proud, though.....I'm not sure I can even bear to tell you this....so I shall have to whisper........

When it came to cutting it into shape ready to attach wadding, backing, and edging.....I got...errr....very scissor happy ......what should have been a double duvet sized blanket........became....somewhat smaller. humpfffff.....The patchwork brick effect was popped in the sewing table.........for a year, or perhaps more. The shame kept it there.

Then the realisation of another cold winter urged me to make a call. To my Mummy.

You know the rest, don't you?

I fed-exed her the bodged patchwork, wadding, edging, backing........

And like Mummies seem to do, came up trumps.

I am one warm, snuggly, happy, smug-ish.......nattie.

There was no colour theme. I simply chose fabrics I loved, Cath kidston, Liberty, Clarke and Clarke, vintage, french.......they all went in. I suppose I wanted that granny look. The one where, when they made a patchwork, it wasn't to colour co -ordinate, it was to just use what fabrics they had to hand.

The wadding is all natural, the edging came from a friends shop, and the backing was the biggest bargain of £2.00......an old duvet cover from a charity shop.

What do you think? 

I think it's perfect for feet up, cup of hot chocolate ( with cream AND marshmallows ) and a film.

xxxxx

P.S If you have not done so already, please hop over to the lovely Jools at SEW SWEET VIOLET she is having THE.BEST.GIVEAWAY..............EVER!!! xxx

And by the way...........x

 

 

I suppose picture taking in the dark is not the best idea...........BUT I just knew I would forget to take them during the day ( which I did ) so I had not choice I tell you. I HAD NO CHOICE.

 

 

Today has been one of those gorgeous Autumn days, a splash of Christmas decoration shopping, and a wander round Stourhead gardens. A brisk walk, ooohing and aaaahing at the changing colours of the leaves, finding cutesy little cottages we want to live in, giggling at daft swans bobbing bottoms up in the lakes......mittens on, red noses. Perfect.

Sorry, back to dark pictures.

I love my home, I truly do, but just sometime I have a freak out. With two growing girls, space is a huge issue.

As parents we compromise all the time...in this house we go a little further. The bumblebee's have the big bedroom of a 2 bedroomed cottage.

It makes sense. They have more "stuff " than we do. They make more mess than we do.

( though I will hanker after their bedroom until I get it...........one day...........sigh )

So we are tucked snuggly into a teeny tiny bedroom..............whilst they can play at starfish on their bedroom floor. Tis what we do innit? Anyway...their room...ahhhhhhhhh their room, is ever so lovely if I do say so myself. Though, we still struggle with storage, and always will. That's the choice we made in buying this house, so don't feel bad for us, it's fine, we are happy!!!

Desk storage was needed. Hours go by when those crazy girls sit there playing schools, writing storys, doodling............but they needed MORE space ( what's new? )

x   wine case used for knitting needles and wool   x

 

Wine cases.

I love them, cheap easy affordable.

The bumblebee's chose their paint colours........pom pom trim, ....ready......set.....go.

 

 

 

Such a cute little space. I can't tell you how grown up they feel, and how much better is that, than going to Ikea ( I'm not knocking it, I'm it's biggest fan.....Example. Popped in to LOOK at Christmas wrapping paper.....spent £70  )  and having a shelf like everyone else?

 

 

And by the way....who dosnt like a pom pom trim? ( If you just put your hand up, seriously? What are you doing here at florenceandrose?????? )

 

She travelled from afar......x

A birthday has been and gone at the cottage. 9.........how did big bumblebee grow to be 9?

Of course every little girl deserves a special present. A friend, a pal, to share their most secret secrets with, to whisper long into the night, to cuddle and preen, to gaze at and love....forever.

So along came Talulla doll.

Made perfectly, sprinkled with love, she came from a magical kingdom far far away. She crossed seas and countries she had never seen before.

To get here, her home. To her 9 year old Talulla, to be loved and looked after, and played with and snuggled up with in bed, every. single. day.

After such a long and exhausting journey, Talulla dolly needed to stretch her legs, find herself in her new home.......

She drank green tea from ditsy teacups, ate shortbread and flicked the crumbs to the floor for Sethy dog. She even applied more rouge to her lips, and smartened her hair, ready for the grande meeting with her new best friend.

On 27th October, in a hotel in the Cotswolds, an eager new 9 year old awoke with hair danced in by the fairies, sleep filled eyes,  and a sweet smile upon her face.

There was one present sat on a chair, that she gazed at longingly, wondering what delights lay inside, for she knew this was a special present. Her parents had said so. 

So she slowly but deliberately undid the yellow satin ribbon. She forcefully but carefully opened up the floral wrapping paper at each end.........

Talulla and Talulla dolly have been inseparable ever since. That day though, that 9th birthday day, they skipped, held hands and cuddled their way along the pavements of Broadway, kicking yellow, brown and rusty fallen leaves. They marvelled  in astonishment together, at the beauty of the village Snowshill, and meandered round the country house we stumbled upon.....an adventure...the first of many together.

Talulla dolly was made by the wonderfully talented and beautiful Tracey over at PIXIE if you are new to her blog, pop her in your favourites. Shes a good giggle, and perfectly poetic writer, has the most cutsie little girl, and a very pretty house. Plus, you might just spy a few of Talulla doll's friends over there.

The birthday girl had a fantastic weekend away for her birthday. I think the child's face must have ached from all the smiling she did that day.

Happy Wednesday to you all xxxx