To Blog or Not to Blog?

Hello there.  Remember me? Crafty chick, curly hair, talks too much about nothing in particular?
How you doing?

So I have neglected this little blog of mine, again.  Very badly.
To be honest, part of me was thinking maybe I should just leave it altogether, let the cyber-dust gather and just get on with other things.  See, as well as a lack of time, I've had a complete lack of motivation for blogging - partly because I've been having a bit of a blog identity crisis. I don't really know where I 'fit' in the blog universe, if there is such a thing. I'm really not a 'mummy blogger', although I do have a little dude, I don't think I count as a craft blogger just because I like making things, I'm not so deluded as to class myself as any sort of 'writer' and I definitely don't have the domestic goddess skills to keep up with all the 'home/cooking/lifestyle' blogesses I love so much.

But then it hit me, the whole 'point' of my blog, is that there isn't really a point.  It's just me.  Babbling about life.  Things i'm making, things I'm doing, things I'm thinking just... things.  And that's fine.  Actually, that's perfect.  I've never been the sort of girl that really 'fits in', so why start now?

I like that my blog doesn't fit neatly into a category.  I like that it's just a bit of a jumble - of memories, photos, thoughts and things. It's why there's no way I could ever just 'leave' this little chunk of internet to gather dust.  It's like my favourite pair of boots - bit beaten up, not always in style, but so comfy, so me, and I just love them - couldn't ever bear to throw them away.

 

So in short, I'm going to give it another whirl.  I'll do my best to post more often, may even spruce the place up a little, but I'm not making any promises.  My blog will remain what it's always been.  A place for me to put things, and if anyone else feels like taking a look, well that's lovely too.

 

With that in mind, and for posterity & my own neurotic craziness, here is the end of 2012 in photo mosaic form.  Because y'know, the world might go pop if I don't do it.  And also, it was a lot of fun.

 

September:

 

October:

 

November:

 

December:

 

It's been a great year, but I have every confidence that 2013 will be even better.

Hope yours is fantastic too.

 

 

 

Au-revoir August, you were awesome.

I liked August, a lot.

I found that elusive Summer Holiday balance between busy days of planned adventures and lazy days with spontaneous ones.

We met Timmy the sheep (possibly pipped Mike the Knight for the short one's moment of the holiday) at Brighton Sealife Centre - which is looking gorgeous after it's refurb - the reclaimed Victorian arches are just stunning.

We spent a LOT of time at the beach (every Summer I am reminded of just how lucky we are living where we do, sand or no sand.)

We had barbequeues a plenty on our new patio (the garden as a whole, is still a big unfinished mess, and I successfully grew NOTHING this year, which continues to taunt me a bit, but hey ho, always next year.)

We loved The Olympics.  A whole lot more than I expected to if I'm honest.

And of course, we had our first proper family holiday.  Caravan style. It was brilliant. Exhausting, but brilliant.  It was a four night chunk of merriment that merits it's own post really, so I won't say anymore for now, I'll just leave you with the usual gratuitous helping of pictures saying it better than words:

 

Thank you August, you rocked.

Puddle Splashing, Fire Engines & Sunshine

It's the 8th of August, so it must be time for a July review, right? (Well, who actually expects me to be on time with these anymore anyway?)

I was a bit mad with July at the start, mainly because it was making no effort to be Summer whatsoever. So. Much. Rain.  The sort of rain that feels a bit biblical, like it might never stop. Not that The Short One minded - have wellies, will splash, became his motto.  Gotta love the 3 year old ability to find the silver lining even in the biggest rain cloud.

It did get better though, the sunshine finally fought it's way through and there was time for picnics, and strolling, and gardening (sore point - everything is dead or dying on account of the topsy turvy weather), barbequeues and blowing bubbles on the beach.

And of course there was Butlins, The Tall One's band had another gig (I may have had a few too many fizzy pops that night, but it was a lot of fun.), the seafront fayre came to town, there were fireworks, and Shortie had a ball at the Fire Station open day. (The plastic helmet has left his head only occassionaly since.)

So what looked like being a complete wash out of a month actually pulled it's socks up & turned it around in the end. Phew.

It all looked a bit like this:

The Elevated Envelope

Once upon a time, I used to have a lot of penpals. I LOVE getting post, and getting it from all over the world made me smile loads. From there, I heard about the world of mail art - deco books, ATCs, mail art objects, travelling journals... I was hooked.

Then I had a baby, and although I still chat to most people I used to write to online, free time to frivolously mess about with paper & glue became a distant memory. 

Now that Dylan's a little older, able to amuse himself for at least a small chunk of each day (plus go to nursery two afternoons a week), I find myself with a little time to play again. (Yes, yes, maybe I should be sorting out my neglected etsy shop, or catching up on Mount Laundry, but a girl's gotta have SOME fun, right?).

So, imagine my excitement when I found The Elevated Envelope on a friend's facebook page.

Essentially, it's a one off mail art project.  You sign up, get assigned a swap group, make some beautiful envelopes, send them off out into the world, and wait for some to come your way too. I couldn't resist, and I'm glad I didn't.

I've had so much fun with this project. It's got me drawing again for a start, which I really need to make more time for - I forget how much I love it.

Anyway, the prompt for the design was 'Sweet' - totally open to interpretation. My thought process went 'Sweet... cake... biscuit... tea... tea party... Mad Hatter!'.  I also had it in my head that I wanted each of my 9 envelopes to be part of a bigger picture when all grouped together.

So I started sketching, then inking, and eventually, addressing & embellishing.  I even got it all done before the deadline, happy face! Here they are, before getting dropped in the post box:

And here, are all nine, together in order, making up my own version of The Mad Hatter's Tea Party. (Click to view bigger) Drawn & coloured by hand, embellished with rubberstamps & collage, topped off with stamps featuring her Madge for true quintessential Brittish-ness. 

What do you think?

I've already received a few beauties from other participants, but they deserve a post of their own once they're all here.

Thank you, Tara, for a super fun project, I'll definitely be playing again :)

Happy Anniversary to My Man & Me

On this day, fifteen years ago, I met a random bloke, in a terrible night club and I fancied the pants off him.
Little did I know he'd actually turn out to be the love of my life, my baby daddy & my best friend.
Happy Anniversary Gorgeous, love you a whole lot.

< / end shameless slushiness >