Bluebells - we're in love

 

The bluebells are finally out, hooray!

This year we headed to Pershore to follow their famous blossom trail but instead stumbled upon the beautiful Tyddesley woodland which was absolutely covered in bluebells.  We also spotted violets and primroses and lots of wild garlic.  It was just heavenly.

If you'd like to find your local bluebell spectacle the Woodland Trust has lots of information.

Magic sunny days

I think E looks like a fairy hiding in the woods in this picture.  It's a lovely piece of forever taken from today, which was as close to perfect as could be.  School was closed so we had all three children at home and the sun shone and shone and shone.  

In the morning we made flower crown and danced round a Maypole.  After, we prepared a picnic and headed to the woods.  We made up a story which re-cast Z and E as forest creatures named Willow and Holly, who lived in the woods and helped us find our way to a hidden stream.  After lunch, the children pottered around in the water, slightly out of sight but still  in earshot of J and I who were basking in the glorious sunshine.  When we went to find the children, they were all paddling naked in the sun-dappled shallow water where I took this picture before being spotted.

In the late afternoon we went to see our new house (fingers crossed) to talk through the electrical and plumbing work that needs to be done before we move in.  It's the first time I've visited the house and let myself get carried away with what it would be like living there.  It's more than 3 times the floor size of our current flat and needs lots of work but is full of period features - fireplaces, cornicing,  wooden floors, big sash-windows.  We'll be able to have friends round for long lazy Sunday lunches, picnics in the garden and sleep-overs for the children.  It's not quite ours yet (we have still to negotiate on the price following the survey) but I can't help but get excited.  So very, very excited!

Spring Woodland

We had a break in the cold weather on Saturday and were treated to morning of full sunshine and warmth . So we headed to our local woodland for a picnic and Spring walk. J made sandwiches for everybody and I love the way he labelled the bags. We sat by a stream, made dens, watched butterflies and drank hot coffee from a Thermos in the sun.  It made me realise how much I've been waiting, longing, for Spring.

There's something about this picture of E I really like, even though she doesn't quite look herself.

The winter has been so long this year there were no bluebells yet, but lots of wild garlic and primroses.

Personalised bunting

For E's 5th birthday I made personalised bunting for each guest and this is Eloise's, above.  I was super pleased with the result.

Instead of sewing the flags together I created a a seam at the top of each flag so that a ribbon could be threaded through.  At the beginning of the party everyone was given their first initial.  Then, as a prize after each game, they were given an additional personalised flag so eventually by the end of the party everyone had their full name.  Each child then chose a length of coloured velvet ribbon and we strung the letters together for them to take home.  I stencilled gold star flags for the children that had only 3 or 4 letters in their name so everyone had at least 5 flags.

This was a really easy project and not expensive.  I used plain calico which is about £4pm and then freezer paper to make the letter stencils. The biggest cost was fabric paint but the colours were amazing and the letters came out really bright.  The nicest thing was how pleased the children were with their gift and later earn being told how they have put them on their bedroom doors or above their beds.  

Thank you all so much for your comments on my flat - you were all so lovely and kind.  I'm hoping I'll be able to post about the new house soon too.  

Moving on....

  Our sitting room 

After almost twenty years we are moving house.

This is the flat in which Jamie and I met many years ago.  It was a party house during our 20's with decks in the corner, massive speakers and a lot of socialising.  It's very central so it was a good flat to go back to once the bars and clubs were closed!  We met, split up, got back together again, made 3 children, grew up, redecorated, stopped partying all with this flat as the backdrop.

It's lovely - high ceiling, big sunshine windows but it's too small.  All the children are in one bedroom as you can see and the room above is the only reception area.  Z is at the age where he'd like sleepovers and all the children need more space for hide and seek!

We have put in an offer on a new house and if that goes through I'll be posting about that too - I just want to make sure it doesn't fall through before getting too excited.  I know that in many years time we'll look back fondly at this flat so I wanted to post some pictures of it before we go.

It has been the happiest of spaces for me and I'm quite sentimental about leaving it.

The childrens room

Our bedroom

Holiday Highlights {Brecon Beacons}

We've just spent a blissful week's holiday in the Brecon Beacons.  When I booked last November, I imagined Spring walks and hiking in the Black Mountains in the early warmth of spring.  Instead we arrived under heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures - I couldn't believe it!  I'd packed some cookery books so we baked cakes and spent evenings by the roaring fire in the living room.

We managed to explore the stunning scenery on our doorstep in spite of the snow.  Highlights were discovering frozen waterfalls, going on a steam train through the snowy hills and just being outside amongst the stunning landscapes.  

We tend to holiday in the UK these days - it's so much easier with a young family.  One of the drawbacks can be the quality/standard of accommodation.  I don't want to spend a week sleeping under thin Ikea duvets and looking at Athena-eque prints on the walls.  This year we booked The Fro through Blaentrothy Cottages (thank you Claire for the tip!) and it was amazing.  Huge fireplaces, massive garden and beautifully decorated - just lovely. Definitely one to add to your list if you holiday in the UK (we're going to rebook the same place for next year).  

Eloise's Birthday Invitation {5 years old}

It's the start of birthday season.
The first is E's in March, then V's in June then finally Z's in August.  After Z's birthday I breathe a huge sigh of relief and get six months off before starting to plan things again in February.
I always design invitations and do the parties myself.  I think this is because when I was a child the trend for hiring party entertainers wasn't around and also because I really enjoy putting a party together myself. The other reason is because with three children they do so much day-to-day sharing I really like to be able to give them something special on their birthdays.
For E's invitation I scanned different Liberty fabrics and used this to design a bunting card.  I printed it onto thick A5 card and used a corner cutter to round off the edges. As it's E's 5th birthday I added glitter to 5 of the flags and put each invitation into glassine bags with 5 gold stars (and some hole-punch confetti).

For the actual party I'm planning on making personalised bunting for each child, and am just working out the quickest, cheapest, easiest but also most beautiful way of making it.  I'll keep you posted but I sense a few late nights ahead!