A Fine Balance.

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a totally amazing book. So so wonderful, but so terribly sad. Beautifully written, totally engaging with such characters that stay with you for life. It educated me culturally. This will now and for ever be in my top 5!

View all my reviews

This week (creative friday)

Don't you find that simple things can give so much pleasure, or tasks that you have been wanting to do but never getting round too. I have been wanting to put up some family photos for, oh let me see two years at least! Well this week I finally got there and I'm really pleased with the out come.

I always have a pin board covered with images, children's certificates, all sorts. This also got an update.

I manges a little cross stitch, I'm really getting into it!

Arthur and his friends made cat masks and spent hours in not days being cats!

So rather a personal post of little lovelies, small but pleasing steps in our home. I hope your week has been as nice. I hope to share my new around the blogs, Linda, Sue and Justine have sharing sites over the weekend. Thank you to them for always hosting inspirational news.

Journal of a novice cyclist : Exeter route.

This a journal of my cycle rides (as if you couldn't guess!!) . I have had many grand plans about cycling instead of using the car but really I cycle for fun. Today's little route is a mix of towns, canals and country, and beaches! Yes we have it all.

We started off at Eexter quay side, a thriving little area of pubs, cafes, cute little shops (oh and a billion tourists in the summer) but now it's a great place to be. Mingling around are old and new boats canoeists, rowing boats, cyclists walkers and runners, everyone enjoying a little sun.

The lovely thing about this route is there are so many stop offs. We cycled along the canal to Topsham and the Estuary. The route is about 4/5miles I think. And at the tip of land space we arrive at the Turf locks, a lovely pub which does some good food.

We intended to cycle further, along the route that takes to the beach, but we found a gate that was locked on route and I just couldn't face getting Arthur out of his seat so we turned back.

We took another stop off after a few miles at the Double locks this time

And most importantly what was I wearing, yes in compliance to the Me Made May, I wore self stitched linen trousers and 70s style yellow top (one of my favorites!) What an awful photo though!!

                             Ah this is better!! Arthur had a great time too with lots of stop offs.

And when we got home he was enjoying his den that we made this year, it's looking lovely.

And finally look what we found in the park!! Even Callums hair matches his suit!!

 A great day when the sun is shining, although I think I'm ready for a slightly longer ride now.

pin cushion swap update.

How amazing Rachel and I are featured on the Molly Makes blog today. http://molliemakes.themakingspot.com/blog/join-a-pin-cushion-swap .

Just to let you know we will hopefully having at least 5 give aways between now and June 23rd, as well as tutorials and other updates.

If you haven't yet sign up, it's so much fun. x x x

Yarn along and Pin cushion / needle case swap.

Good morning all! It's the lovely Yarn along day, I so look forward to putting up my little creations and view everyone Else's amazing creations!

So firstly I have finished my little scarf, and yes it's little I ran out of  yarn. To be honest it was a practice run at the yarn over at each end to make a shawl, which now I really really want to do. Actually Arthur said I was wearing a bib!! Not deterred by this I think it will be quiet sweet under a jacket as a little neck warmer.

Over come with confidence I have started my next project, a cowl. Maybe not the weather for it but when I started it had been rain for for a week and a half solid! I'll continue though I think

The exciting news is that myself and a friend Rachel are hosting a pin cushion and needle case swap. It's open to everyone so I just wanted to invite you. See if I can tempt you, have a look  http://myfamilymyway.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/pin-cushion-swap.html

Finally still reading, it's so good. I couldn't tell you anything so not to spoil it, just wonderful, interesting, cultural...... So I go on.
Enjoy this weeks Yarn Along, Thanks Ginny.

Pin Cushion Swap

Pin Cushion Swap, come and join us!

Now everyone that is a sewer, dressmaker or crafter will be interested in this! 

Do you continually lose pins? Well what you will be needing is a new pin cushion, you know you can never have too many!

Today is a very exciting day, myself and Rachel from http://houseofpinheiro.blogspot.co.uk/ will be jointly hosting a pincushion or needle case swap.

Here is a lovely picture that you may add to your own blog if you wish.

 

here is a code for you 

<a href="http://myfamilymyway.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j407/HouseOFpinheiro/Public/Untitled1.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Now lets me tell you a few more details about this swap, tempting you to join if I can.

1.   Anyone can join this swap, it’s open for internationally.You don’t have to have a blog to join.

2.   Please send your name address and email address to me at houseofpinheiro(at)hotmail(dot)com  or to Charlotte at charlottepowellbrooks (at) gmail(dot)com by May 21^st 2012.

 It would be nice if you could add a little introduction to yourself, including your blog name if you have one, so your swap buddy can drawn inspiration from.

3.   You will then receive the details of your swap buddy by May 26^th. If not, let us know.

4.   You are free to make pin cushions or needle cases or any variation that keep your pins and needles tidy. Want to make it a little kit. Feel free to spoil your swap buddy.

5.   The only 'MUST' rule is that you need make the item(s) yourself and use fabrics and notion from your stash (Lets de-stash your fabric scrap boxes, girls.)

You are free to buy felt or emery sand as those materials help keep your pins and needles sharp.

6.   Please have your pin cushion finished and posted to your swap buddy by June 5^th. 

We have great plans to help your ‘stash burst’ projects until the big reveal review on June 23^rd.

Sounds fun hey?

Even better, Rachel and I will have lots of other related pin cushion and needle case goings on until the  June 23^rd. So you can see there is plenty of time to join in, we will have tutorials, give aways lots of give aways, and related blogs to keep you inspired and sewing on through out the month.

It will be so much fun if you can join us, and if you would like to send a guest post or tutorial to either of us relating to the swap we would love to hear from you.

I'm so very very excited.