Stop the world i want to get off!

Things around here are mad, crazy, busy- hence the lack of posts for a week or so. There's all the usual family things going on, plus because it's the end of term there's school trips, summer fairs and parents' evenings. On top of this Maisie will be starting school in September, so there's meetings, a home visit from her teacher and story times in school to attend, uniform to buy etc.Work-wise, we're getting ready to exhibit at the falconry festival next weekend in Reading, which means lots of running around to printers, framers etc , and lots of phone calls to be made, emails to be sent and lists to be written.The whole list making thing has spiraled almost out of control!
Everything that's going on is positive really, so it's not that I'm complaining, I'm just having to juggle more balls than usual, which is getting to me a bit.Running has been dropped down the list of priorities and I'm definitely missing it. I'm eating too much cake - sugar boosts- and consequently my tummy is growing, and I feel sluggish. Housework- well it's best to just not mention that.
The reality is that once the festival is over things will calm down considerably, so I'm just hanging in there for that. Joe and Maisie have been really good considering how hard we've been working over the last few weeks. Frequently Andy's not been around at tea-times and bedtimes which has been quite trying at times.To make up for it , and also to give us a break I've booked a last minute caravan holiday in Cornwall for a few days when school finishes.Joe and Maisie are very excited as we hadn't planned to go away in the summer. I just made a spontaneous decision a couple of days ago, then trawled the internet looking for a bargain. And now I just can't wait!

venturing into the loft......

I wrote a post a week or so ago, with 100 facts about me... one was that i don't do ladders, so have never been up into our loft. Having wrote this and read it back, i thought, how pathetic does that sound!!!! I don't like heights, even little heights, i really do go wobbly so ladders aren't good. I want to do a carboot sale, hopefully this weekend, to get a few pounds and declutter a bit.And I knew from Andy's descriptions that the loft needed sorting out, and basically that unless i did it it wasn't going to happen. So I decided today was the day to get over it , and get up in that loft! And I did it, I did take my mobile up incase of emergencies- which Andy though was hilarious, I thought it was very sensible myself, it wasn't as if he was going to hear me yelling from out in the studio, was it?! Anyway, of course he was right- i was fine, and after being very wobbly on the first go up and down it did get easier. I minimised the journeys by lobbing down as much as possible, which I'm sure the neighbours really appreciated.I did find one bit of "treasure" lurking up there- a huge box of soft toy material, that sort of fake fur, plush stuff. My nan gave it me years ago and i'd completely forgotten about it. There's all sorts of colours and patterns, so I'm sure I can fnd a use that.
Now, I'm having a little coffee break whilst writing this, before i carry on sorting through, and work out what can be sold and what should be binned. We seem to have had an obsession with keeping the packaging from electrical items, so i've broken up the boxes and got that into the recycling bin just before the lorry arrived , and i'm going to ring the scrapstore and see if they want the polystrene. My main problem will be that the kids will come home and see all this stuff that they suddenly "need" to keep, despite it having been up there since time began. I think I'll try and convince them it's a good idea to sell everything , by promising them an indian takeaway if i get enough money- hopefully that will do the trick.

just couldn't resist it

I saw this book the other day and just had to have it! now i'm off to rifle through my stash and see what i can make, or at least start making before it's time to pick up Joe and Maisie from school/preschool.

plymouth race for life

Well today was the big day... and i did it! it was pretty warm which made it a bit harder but I'm so glad I took part. I'm really chuffed to say we managed to run it in 30 minutes.There was a brilliant atmosphere, with over 5000 women taking part, it was great to be part of something like that and I'll definitely do it again.
Joe and Maisie having fun before the race started.

We didn't realise everyone would be wearing pink- but at least that made us easy to spot!
It was moving to read what everyone had written on their backs.

On mine I wrote that I was running for Geraldine Walters and Anne Spencer- the mums of 2 of my best friends who have had breast cancer in recent years and thank goodness survived.

Geraldine was there today to support me with my friend Sarah. It was great to have them there.Geraldine nearly had me in tears at the end when she said that the reality is if she'd got cancer years ago she would have died and that she is so grateful to everyone running to raise money to help make sure more people survive.It just brought it home to me that we had been part of something very important. It's bringing a lump to my throat now just thinking about it.
A sea of pink.
We did it!!!
A big thank-you to everyone who has supported and sponsored me I really appreciate it. And if you haven't donated but would like to, just click on my online sponsorship page ( link in side bar) where you can make a pledge of £2 or more. Thanks.

I have an etsy shop!

Well I've been and gone and done it! I decided it was worth risk and I've opened an Etsy shop. Only a few things there at the moment but I'll be adding more in the coming days and weeks.
It's called D Made It, and you can find it here. I'd appreciate any feedback you have. Don't be put off by the prices being in dollars, you have to list them, like that.- Good exchange rate at the mo! :)

To Etsy or not to Etsy

I'm toying with the idea of opening an Etsy shop, to try and sell some of my crafty creations. I've had a quick look and the fees are pretty low so I'm thinking it might be worth a go. I'm not looking to make tons of money , but if it pays for the materials and allows me to buy more bits to play with i'd be happy. I love making things so it would be a bonus to make a few pounds at the same time.

Have any of you sold on Etsy? I'd love to hear how you got on.

meet Dweee and Schmoo

Here's the latest sock creatures...

Here's Dweee
and this is Schmoo!
I've made these for Joe and Maisie. In a few weeks time Andy and I have to go away for work over a weekend so Andy's parents are kindly looking after them. I thought it would be nice to make the kids a little goody bag for then, so I've got them each a "where's Wally? " book , and now they've each got a new sock friend, and I'll look out for or make a couple more little treats.