Hot chocolate and marshmallows

Still at home today, but slowly starting to feel better so should be back at work tomorrow.  These couple of days have given me a chance to reflect on the first few weeks of 2012, it's hard to believe that a month of the new year has passed already!!

I haven't necessarily managed to stick to everything on my plan of things to work toward in 2012, but I can't be too disheartened with how I've done.  It takes time for new approaches and new ways of thinking to bed in and there are bound to be slip ups along the way.

I have been treating myself well, I have managed to get out and about a fair bit and I have made a couple of fabulous 'handmade' and 'local' purchases too, these are all things to be celebrated.  The main thing I'm finding difficult is to carve out enough time to fit in all of the things that I love in life, there never seems enough hours in the day.

Sometimes it's about accepting that we aren't all super human, it's about making the most of what we've got, the free time we have and forgiving ourselves for taking time out to just sit, relax and do nothing much for a while. 

So for the next few hours, if you need me .......

.... you'll find me drinking hot chocolate and marshmallows from my favourite mug, and sitting back to watch the new Rush DVD I treated myself to on payday .... nothing more, and I'll not be beating myself up about the million and one other things I could/should/ought to be doing instead of being sat around watching TV.

Hope you make sometime for yourself today to just sit, relax and be. X

Getting cosy

Am feeling pretty sick today.  I think I picked up a bug or something  :( 

It's been snowing on and off all day today.  Nothing major just a few flurries and nothing that has life enough to settle on the ground.  All round just one of those days to hunker down indoors under piles of blankets, keeping warm and snugly.

I've been watching TV, burning some of my favourite candles, and putting together some sketches for my city and guild course.  Just lots of nice homely things to distract from feeling sorry for myself.

Family Time

After a long and extremely busy week at work last week it was some much needed relief to escape to my family for the weekend.  Sadly I forgot to take my camera with me, so no pictures of my cute nephews running riot I'm afraid.

My oldest nephew is eleven next week and it's become our thing to go to the movies together.  This time round we went to see this film.  It was a slightly bizarre concept but the animation was beautiful.

I have another busy week coming up but I'm determined to squeeze in some creative time, which has been much lacking these last couple of weeks.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend just like I did.  X

My Castle

They say an Englishman's home is his castle.  Well in this Englishwoman's case my castle is tiny, but I'm really having fun with my new place and it's great when you are starting out on that adventure of making a new place your own don't you think?

Here are a few snapshots of the place that I call home these days.

Algerian Eyes

Before I get to the main point of this post I want to thank everyone who commented on my last post for their kind words of encouragement and support. Twelve comments so far so that is one person a month to send a little surprise to.  I'll be emailing you all soon for your snail mail details.

 I just realised that 2012 is the year of the Dragon in the Chinese horoscope, I was also born in a year of the dragon that has to be a sign that 2012 will be my year right?  :)

I've been a little lazy the last couple of weeks when it comes to creative endeavours.  I have been making a little progress on the surprise project though,

I've been working away on some Algerian eye stitching.  It's a bit hard going on the eyes working it on the linen fabric, but I love the delicate pattern that is emerging.  Well worth the effort I think.

Hope you all have a beautiful and fulfilling weekend.  XX

Self

Life is a funny thing is it not?  People, places, objects all constantly wander in and out of our lives bringing with them happiness, joy, love, surprise, sorrow, tears, but the one thing that remains constant is self.  It suddenly struck me that the one thing that will remain with me for all of my life is me.  An obvious thing I know but sometimes in the turmoil of life it's something that can easily become forgotten.

So 2012 is the year that I have decided I will take better care of myself.  I will strive to live in a way that I think is meaningful, I will do the things that bring me joy and happiness.  I will make time for family and friends, I will spend as much time as I can outside enjoying fresh air and all of the wonders that mother nature brings, I will buy local produce as much as I can and I will support the handmade community.  I will find joy and laughter in everyday and I will not let the things that I can't change worry me.  I will be kind to others even when they don't treat me in the same way.

So here's to a brand new me for 2012

If you leave me a comment and a way to get in touch with you, at some point in 2012 I'll send a little surprise your way.

Sunrise Today

Have been away to the beautiful english coast this weekend.  Here is a quick snap of Paignton Pier at sunrise today.  Had an amazing weekend away thanks to a bargain £12 room booked in a recent Travelodge sale, ended up getting a free breakfast into the bargain so a fantastically cheap weekend away.

I'll have some more shots to show you from the weekend soon.  Only three days until I'm back online again at home.  So hopefully back to regular blogging and I'm looking forward to catching up reading my favourite blogs too it's been months so I'll have plenty of posts to read I'm sure :)

It's never too late ...

.....to say thank you. Although time is marching on and Christmas is a good few weeks behind us, I only just got round to making some cards to send to friends and relatives who gave me some lovely gifts.

I admit I might not have been the quickest off the mark this year but it's never too late to tell someone you appreciate their gift and kindness.

New Project

I'll be back soon with some updates on a few of the projects that you saw me working on at the end of last year, but the new year isn't the new year without a new project to work on.

I

I won't be saying too much about this one and I probably won't show too many updates as it's a surprise gift for a friend who I know reads my blog, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm back to stitching again ... and loving it.

2011

I usually post this on New Years Day, just as an info list for me, but without regular internet access I'm a bit behind.  Sadly the list isn't really complete either as it didn't get completed for most of November and December but my year in projects, movies and books is almost complete

Projects I've completed in 2011.
 Five embroidered Coasters
 Kindle Pouch
 Bricks and Stones Red and White Quilt
 Two Mug Rugs
 Twenty One Zombie Pumpkin Felties
 Six fabric postcards
 Four Fabric Dolls
 Seven Stitched ATC's
 One Coil pot
 Seventeen Recycled and Reused postcards
 Three Pincushions
 One Sock Monster
 One cross stitched heart
 Siberian Gold Cross Stitch
 One Knitted Hat
 One quail bird
 Halloween Bird Cross Stitch
 Lakeside Farm Cross Stitch

 Movies I've Watched in 2011
 Gulliver's Travels
 The King's Speech
 127 Hours
 The Fighter
 The Green Hornet
 The Black Swan
 True Grit
 Paul
 Rango
 Limitless
 Sucker Punch
 Rio
 Source Code
 TT3D
 Thor
 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides 3D
 X-Men: First Class
 KungFu Panda 2
 Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows Pt 2
 Transformers
 The Rise of the Planet of the Apes
 Cowboys Vs Aliens
 Conan The Barbarian
 Friends with Benefits
 Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
 New Years Eve
My week with Marilyn

Books I've read in 2011
 Slash
 The Tattoo Chronicles by Kat Von D
 First Thrills - Lee Childs
 The Blood That Bonds by Christopher Buecheler
 The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
 The Visitor by Lee Child
 My Heart Wanders by Pia Jane Bijkerk
 The Girl in the Painted Caravan by Eva Petulengro
 High Voltage Tattoo by Kat Von D
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley