just around the house

 Here is one of the two lovely new shades we have bought for the lounge. Every purchase is being made carefully... we looked and looked for what we needed. Not too small, short enough to hang, simple...not too difficult, you would think. Even Ikea - where we have bought some faves - let us down.

We came across this option www.wallpaperlampshades.com on ebay. Perfect! A basic drum shade can be covered in anything you like, but there are lots of great options. The pricing is very reasonable, we also bought the specially fitted 'diffuser' that sits underneath for each shade - total £40 each. Much much less than anything designer we had seen on the scale. (The diameter is 45 cm). The quality is excellent and we are really happy with our orange textured wallpaper choice from the stock. It picks up the orange from our favourite picture - a large canvas from an aboriginal artist, Margaret Scobie.

Also around the house... many lego models. I thought I'd share this with you :

 Of course, it is a lego ambulance for looking after injured people. With a radiator under the patient's head to 'keep him warm'. The spare helmets are for emergencies I think. From Harry.

rosettes

After some lovely bunting and 'queenie' aprons, here is a batch of jubilee rosettes. Beautiful! The aprons look great, although I haven't picked up a good photo of them - they are now residing in the 'coffee dog' down the road here in Flamstead. Hip hip hurray for the Jubilee!

The village is having its own 'jubilation' celebration in a couple of weeks.

I have my own reason to celebrate but will keep quiet for a week or so unless everything is done and dusted. (No, I'm not pregnant, before you ask).

tim minchin

After being treated to a gig last week, I am turning into a Tim Minchin groupie. He is fab! A very talented comedian / musician, who is well worth a listen...

Here he is in London last week in the iconic 100 Club. Thanks brother Jon for getting me at ticket.

I was sewing my bunting last night and scrolling through songs on Youtube. A great way to spend the evening!

You might like this one :
inflatable you

(it is a bit rude - be warned).

For Harry.

As a teacher, I have used praise and rewards for all sorts of reasons. It can be so effective to single out individuals for their efforts. Maybe we don't do this so much as adults, to other adults.

Harry was on the school praise bench today. He was sooo proud of himself. And he was up seeing the Headteacher for his efforts yesterday as well. And it was because, in his words, he 'did good sewing'. Well done little bloke.

Harry seems to have really calmed down an matured at the moment. He has sometimes been a bit more challenging than my oldest but that is so much part of him. He gets so engrossed in what he is doing, it is very difficult to pull him away from his 'building' for example. So we might pop upstairs at 9 o'clock and there he is, scraping through the lego searching for the last couple of pieces he needs.

jubilee loveliness

I am back to a little sewing at the moment. And a frenzy of cutting out for some jubilee bunting. You can't go wrong with the old red, white and blue... I have mixed up some new celebration fabrics (I bought them locally in a great shop in Hemel - www.patchworkcorner.co.uk) plus some old favourites including the stars and the vintage blue flowers you can see. It is amazing how much better the old rotary cutter works with a sharp blade - lethal that it is though. I am notorious for slicing my finger whenever Keith sharpens the set of Global knives we have. so am keeping my fingers away!

I am making rosettes (£4) and strings of 3m bunting (£18). All beautifully finished, of course! Let me know if you would like to place an order. If you read this blog you'll know that my creativity comes in spurts so there is no guarantee of lots of these being made! I get a little distracted by ... children, fundraising, job applications, washing the floor... you know what I mean.