Transformations

It has taken time, lots of paint and the most dedicated hardworking husband a woman could ask for but we are close to getting number 79 where we would like it.

We are just attacking the last room needing decorating-our room. I am hopping with excitement as C has given his stamp of approval on a radical and fresh design! Half painted walls in coral no less! I can't wait to see it complete-lets hope it looks like my Pinterest board. 

After that overhaul its time to add finishing touches! The house is like a nice blank canvas now in muted fresh tones and ready to be brought alive and made homely with pictures, trinkets and crafted pieces. The best til last as they say. 

There you see. Neutral but not in a boring way I hope. Good old Farrow and Ball! 

Here's a snippet of what we had to contend with...

Some people found it quirky and fun but I found it claustrophobic but that's just me I guess. 

It feels good to have a cool calming room that we can all relax in. I love curling up in my cozy living room. Over winter the fire was just blissful! 

Sorry about the picture quality. I'll get practising on the 'proper' camera! 

I've been a fan of a fellow Lucy's blog over at attic24 for many years and have always longed for a fire not least so I could adorn it with Lucy's festive bunting (seen above). 

Home

Wow. I can't believe 1) how useless and nervous I have been about starting a blog and 2) how much has changed since I first started my little bloggy home!

I very much enjoy reading blogs, they satisfy my nosey streak by allowing me to peep into others lives to see what they get up too. It's especially lovely when you find like minded people out there! How lovely it would be to join an army of crafty mums who like to blog, create and bake at home! 

I have wanted to join this community for so long but I suppose never had the faith that 1) I had anything of interest to say and 2) anyone would drop by to read it! Then I thought right lets get on with it, have a good go and see where it takes me. If no one drops in at least I have a little space in blog land to record bits of my life. My motto in life is that I'd rather regret doing something than not doing anything at all-so lets get doing! 

I have absolutely no idea where to begin other than continuing my story and telling you about what I am up to. 

Since I took the time to make a blog and write a post a lot and I mean a LOT has changed! This has included, 2 failed house purchases, 6 months staying at my kind and welcoming in laws, my son turning 1, massive changes to my husbands career and a huge change in direction in terms of where we chose to settle. We came back to Lancaster! 

It took great deliberation but we decided that our heart and soul 
wasn't in the area of Cheshire we were planning on and anywhere else would simply be pin in map territory, which didn't seem all that sensible. We had just spent 2 years in Lancaster and loved it and thought, why leave then? So we got looking at houses and a little gem came up. 

It was a house I didn't dream of owning in a lovely part of town. It's mo huge or grand but it is (or will be!) very pretty, is very old and has a quirky charm to it. Tall and skinny with good sized rooms and a delightfully long garden to get stuck into. And at th bottom of the garden is a Walnut Tree. 

We are still in the midst of redecorating but have done lots in the 3 months we have had number 79. It's cozy and very us. Ahhh. Breathing a sigh of relief. Home. home. A home of our own. Feels great to finally say that! 

Quiet observation

I am currently sat relaxing on the sofa quietly observing my little boy. He's 10 months old and, although I am biased, he's the most adorable little rascal. Super inquisitive and on the go walking around all the time. I love sitting and watching him learn new things, play with toys, explore. You see I really am very lucky that I can be a stay at home mummy with him. So very lucky to get to see his every tiny development. 

I am also making time to look out of the window to quietly observe the wonderful canal side view from our balcony. I am going to miss this view dearly when we move soon. I can't wait to have the space to spread our wings in a house rather than an apartment however the setting of our new home isn't so scenic unfortunately. 

I am trying to muster the enthusiasm to get on with chores and start packing up our belongings-just can't seem to find the energy at the moment though. Perhaps when little man goes for a nap I can make a cup of tea and have a cheeky slice of honey cake to improve motivation? Or maybe I'll devour it quietly observing that view again. 

Before I go I shall tell you the cake was made from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstalls Everyday cookbook. It was incredibly simple to make, a lovely moist cake full of almondy goodness and slathered in honey while warm. I am finding it a touch too sweet but it just means I have a smaller slice and it lasts longer! 

Room for a little one?

Well hello blogosphere!

For a long time now I have been daring myself to start a blog, a little space all of my own that will track what I get up to, recipes I bake, projects I make, places I go and the like. Teetering on the edge I have been, wondering if I could possibly join such talented, expressive and witty people that have entertained and inspired me for so long.

Baking is my passion much to my waistlines' dismay! The cakier the better but all manner of cooking and baking is relished in my kitchen. I love to bake homely goodies for the family but my heart truly sings when I am creating celebration cakes! Any event or celebration is an excuse to roll out the fondant and challenge myself to a new skill. My dream would be to have my own home business providing yummy pretty celebration cakes...ahh.....*sigh*....one day!

I had never thought of myself as creative-GCSE in art being the best it got really. Until around a year ago I got a niggle, a small nagging niggle saying ‘hey...try something creative...make something!’ Well, who am I to start challenging those niggling naggles (ahem!), and at that I picked up a crochet needle hopped onto YouTube and taught myself to crochet.  I browsed the blogosphere to find tips and patterns and gain inspiration and thus crochet led to knitting (which I have discovered that I am not so hot at!), which led to a spot of sewing, which led to the purchase of a swanky new sewing machine, yearlong accumulation of fabrics and yarns Eep!  

So here I am. Halfway through a delightful Hexagon blanket inspired by another creative Lucy over at Attic 24, a patchwork baby quilt and ready to start making my very first item of clothing-Collette Patterns Sencha blouse inspired by the lovely Tilly from Tilly and the Buttons! Excited much! The Sencha blouse may have to wait until I move home as it's only 3 weeks until move day and everything is getting packed around me!

I am hoping that having a blog will encourage me to stay focused as I have a massive tendency to get lured into different creative ideas, get all the gear and never actually achieve anything before I move onto the next wantee-does anyone else have this problem?

Right must be off I have a honey cake baking away and need to get more packing done!