Off on our Hols!

We're off for a weeks holiday tomorrow with most of my family - my Mother, Mother-in-Law, Father-in-Law, Sister, Brother-in-Law, Niece, Nephew-in-Law (if that's the right label LOL) and Great Niece!

We're taking over three farm cottages at Villavin Farm in Devon. DH, Lia and I had a lovely week there last year so we're going back (and no, my enjoyment was in no way enhanced by the fact there is a quilting shop on the farm too, of course it isn't...)

Hopefully the weather will be kind to us as there are lovely beaches nearby but just spending time together will be fun, it's the first family holiday we've had since I was a kid and Lia is so excited about having her little cousin there to play with as they get on like a house on fire.

School (yet again)

So yesterday was our 'trial' school day. A two hour session in the morning with lots of the other kids who will be starting in September and then a parents session in the late afternoon to meet the Head and Deputy Head, buy uniform, etc.

Lia absolutely loved it. She did jigsaws, counting, painting, plasticine, sticking, jumping, climbing, hopscotch and much much more. She also got friendly with lots of the other children which is good, including several that live nice and close to us and I made friends with their Mums which is also good.

All in all it was a very positive start - I had to drag Lia out of there when it was time to leave, she didn't want to go. The teachers were fantastic and there were a couple of parents there who have kids in the school telling us how well they settled in. All very friendly and welcoming. The Head Teacher is very open and friendly with a great sense of humour which pleases me as I still remember my first Head with real affection and I'd love for Lia to have that. My Mum still sees Mr Davies and he always askes after my brother and I although that could mean we were unforgettable in a bad way as much as a good way LOL.

So we're now all looking forward to September. Lia only has five weeks left at nursery as we're on holiday next week and then we're off to Greece for ten days at the end of August. She's so excited about starting school - long may it last!

Some sewing finishes

I made this little guy on Wednesday - he's very simple to make and I intend to make some bigger ones for door stops. DH has bagsied this one for a paper weight at the office

I've been wanting to make another bag for a while and I picked this pattern because again it doesn't have a zip or anything too complicated. I'm really pleased with it as it was a really quick project - I started it last night and finished it this afternoon, about four hours work in all. Oh and it's not wonky - the flap is held down with velcro and I didn't realise it was attached slightly to one side.

A Name is a Name...

Again I'm guilty of assuming people know what I'm talking about LOL.

A Naming Ceremony is a non-religious baptism so the equivalent of a Civil Wedding or, as it was known in our family a Pagan Christening. My Bro and his wife aren't religious but wanted to do something to celebrate Finn's arrival - plus my brother said it was about time we had a family gathering that wasn't for a funeral...

July Goals

Stitching Goals
1. Work on Happy Haunting - a big push to finish this (I've ordered the Jill Rensel mat for framing)
2. Work on Snapperbets
5. Work on Lizzie*Kate ABC Lessons
6. Work on Wild Ones Alphabet

Quilting Goals
1. Get caught up with the Baby Jane blocks
2. Work on the flannel quilt blocks
3. Make a bag
4. Organise my sewing projects

Current Stitching WIP List
1. Teresa Wentzler - Tempest
2. Bent Creek - Snapperbets

3. Dimensions - Sleigh Ride
4. Bothy Threads - Row of Christmas Fairies
5. Margaret Sherry - Santa's Journey Afghan
6. Stitchy Kitty - Snowman Trio

7. Shepherd's Bush - Happy Haunting
8. Glendon Place - Murky Manor
9. Tournicoton - Coeur de Brodeuse
10. The Cat's Whiskers - Birds of a Feather Dilly Bag

11. Just Nan - Four Wishes
12. Michael Powell - Cottage Garden 2
13. Bent Creek - Snapperville Series
14. Ink Circles - Cirque de Cercles
15. Michael Powell - Handmade Houses 4

16. Stoney Creek - Noah's Sub
17. DMC - Wild Ones Alphabet
18. Teresa Wentzler - Tradewinds
19. Dracolair - Dawn Awakening

20. Midsummer Night Designs - Heaven Above
21. Shepherd's Bush - Be Attitudes Afghan
22. Dragon Dreams - Dragon Virtues Afghan
23. Bothy Threads - Cut Thru Fairy Hill

June Roundup

Stitching Goals
1. Work on Sleigh Ride - nope
2. Work on Tempest - a good start made
3. Complete Alphabet Baubles E - nope
4. Complete Boo Club - yes
5. Work on Snapperbets - a teeny tiny bit
6. Work on Cirque des Cercles - nope

Stitching New Starts:
Teresa Wentzler - Tempest

Stitching Finishes:
Lizzie*Kate Boo Club

Books Read
Stephanie Meyer - New Moon
Stephanie Meyer - Eclipse
Stephanie Meyer - Breaking Dawn
Enid Blyton - The Circus of Adventure
Enid Blyton - The Ship of Adventure
Enid Blyton - The River of Adventure
Enid Blyton - The Mountain of Adventure
Enid Blyton - The Sea of Adventure
Freya North - Secrets

Quilting Goals
1. Complete lots and lots of Baby Jane blocks (I'll have 30 blocks arrived by the middle of the month and only 2 done!) - 8 done
2. Finish up the outstanding flannel quilt top - nope
3. Finish up the outstanding jungle quilt top - nope
4. Sort out all 'current' projects and get a plan in place to get them finished - I made a start

New Stash Arrivals
Heart in Hand Christmas Markings
Picture This Plus - FOTM
Baby Jane BOM

I didn't manage so well with my stitching goals but I did re-organise my rotation in recognition of the fact that I just can't stitch as much and get on with quilting and having a life!

What's in a name?

We had a lovely weekend - we were back in the bosom of my family as it was my nephew's Naming Ceremony yesterday.

Here he is in all his smiley glory - not from yesterday I should say, he didn't get named in a 'Menace' shirt and a silly hat, this is from a couple of weeks ago. DH didn't remember his camera yesterday so we didn't get any pics of him in his finery.

He was an absolute angel, very good all day and the party was a real success. My Bro and SIL organised a clown/magician who was great - there were loads of kids under 10 there and she kept them entertained for a good hour. Lia is now obsessed with doing magic and announced last night that she wants to be a magician when she grows up!

Wednesday this week we've got Lia's new teacher visiting for the first meeting, paperwork, etc, etc so I've taken the whole day off so I can enjoy the men's quarter finals at Wimbledon in the afternoon. We're off next Wednesday too as Lia will be going to school for a couple of hours in the morning and we'll be going again in the afternoon to meet more of the teachers, buy uniform, etc. It's all getting very close now - just nine weeks till she starts! Thankfully she's very excited about it now and telling everyone that will listen that she's going to school in September.