Apple Harvest

I've got to say I really do love Autumn.

The weather is cooling significantly, leaves are starting to fall 

& crab apples are plentiful.

Apple jelly time, making jams & jellies gives me a real homely

feeling, sort of "I'm actually a great housewife" .......NOT ......feeling!

Seriously though it is a good feeling making your own

homemade apple jelly.

Tastes pretty nice too, & quite easy to make!!

Looking forward to smothering some hot toast with it for breakfast in the 

morning.......did my grammar sound a bit wonky there, I'm 

reading back & raising an eyebrow.....just wondering?????

This week is an all out attack on the bridesmaid dresses, have a little under 

four weeks left & I want to be done in two, so its war!!!!

Sew, sew, sew.......chiffon & satin.

I hate sewing chiffon, it behaves so badly, slipping & sliding

& moving every which way it can, I'm 

boggle eyed from it.

Just to keep sane I decided to sew up a wee cushion with some scraps from 

this quilt in progress ( needs to be quilted)

Front done & I'm sane & calm again

Two inch squares, pretty & pink

I'll finish it tomorrow

Also trying to get the second bee block finished

Lovely to cut....wish the 'pain in the butt' chiffon was as easy.

Oh I can't wait to be done & to show you guys some pics 

of the dresses, they really are girly & pretty.

Will pop back soon with a tah dah or two

Also have decided what I want to do for my Bee Quilt

Can't wait to show you, have to prepare 

the fabrics to send off to the other ladies before October 1

So a busy time ahead

Thats all the waffle for today .....I think

Thanks for popping by

Lots of love Karen xxxxxxxx

Happy 21st Sophie

Today is the day my lil girl Sophie turns 21, its 

crazy but I remember the day she was born & it feels like 

such a short time ago, but its been 21 years almost to the hour.

Wow life sure does fly by.

Sophie's the second to reach the big 21, Lauren's now 22!!!!!

How did it all happen so fast.

Sooooo we had a great party for her at the weekend, a lot of fun 

was had with friends, family .....people we love.

I baked............

White chocolate birthday cake, boy it was rich, and rocky

roads with lots of marshmallows slurpppppp!!!!!

We indulged in so much food its embarrassing.......

Dad sang Happy Birthday...well we all did but he played guitar & danced 

by the look of the photo :)

Big blow.....21 candles...hope all your wishes come true lovely girl.

Oh it was good, real sweet & so much fun.

I think we'll do it again

Have a great evening 

lots of love Karen xxxxxxxxx

Bee block

A quick pop by to show you the bee block for this month.

This one is for Cindy at http://fluffysheepquilting.blogspot.ie/, go check

out her blog, its great.

Anyway this was quite a challenge

But I think it turned out ok, I have one more to do & will post them off 

to Cindy.

October is my month & I'm soooooo excited as this is the first quilt bee 

I have ever taken part in.

Some ideas floating around in my brain & its just floating......

nothing def decided  yet.

Tonight we are celebrating Sophie's 21st so its gonna be a busy cooking/baking kind of

afternoon, then a houseload of friends eeeekkkkkk!!!!!

Wish me luck

See you soon

Lots if love Karen x

Back from Hols

Thats what I've been up to........actually not been up to, away doing 

absolutely nothing in the south of Spain.

I turned 45 last week & my darling husband took me off 

for a break in Malaga!!!!!!

Ohhhhh it was sooo nice

Beautiful sandy beaches

Palm trees for shade, I'm not a sunbathing babe..........too hot

........not me....the sun!!!!!!

Great shopping

Warm, balmy sunshine

Sandcastles....cool ain't it!!!!!!

Night time strolls & dinners :)

Even one or two cute guys heh heh!!!!!

It was so sweet out there, but it was sweet to get home.

Actually Aidan laughed at how soppy & sentimental I am about home.

As we were flying back into Cork i got teary eyed at how beautiful Ireland really is, I 

get so excited when I see all those green fields, guess I'm just an Irish lass at heart.

Hope to get back to some creative makes real soon

And some blog catching up......with you guys of course

Lots of love Karen x

Squeezing in some happy crafts

I'm a sad puppy when I can't craft 'a lot'.

I love to be making pretty things, crafty things, things that make me smile 

with satisfaction, all this roman blind making is

wrecking my peace!!!!!!

Not really, but I do miss being able to sew or crochet freely.

I have managed to squeeze in some bits though,

these bee blocks for instance

Enjoyed piecing these together for Agnes, lovely fabrics that

she sent made the job a pleasure.

Have also been able to do some more scrappy blocks

Love working on these, not my usual type of quilt but I feel it's like a whole new me!!!!

The freedom of just sewing scraps of cute color together.......

sheer joy!!!!

Am liking scrappiness :) 

On the hookey side.....I'm sooooo inspired by this Lady at Cocorose Diaries & the 

beautiful blanket in the post I've linked to.....

so I'm aiming for one, maybe two a day....five to six weeks 

to tah dah

More  loviness feelings, they remind me of Dahlias

One of my favorite flowers which by the way I never seem to be able to grow.

They die .......every single time I've planted a Dahlia...........

It DIED !!!!! What!!!!!

Still love em though

There's something soft & marshmallowy about them

Yes marshmallowy IS most definitely a word

A marshmallowy............... cup of hot choc Yummmmmm

Think I'll indulge.

 Am about to watch North & South (Patrick Swayze)

Its one of those indulging type series, so chocolate with pink marshmallows

& a slice of this.....Perfect!!!!

Want some ?????????

Whipped cream toooooooo.......

Can you tell I'm sick of calorie watching & exercise,

Just for one day 

Love you lots

Have a sweet evening

Karen xxxx

Busy Week Down !!!!

S'right it was a busy one.......

One bridesmaid's dress down, two more to go...

Four roman blinds completed, four more to do............

And just for a bit of satisfying chill out crochet time

one wee cushion finished.....

A simple picot edging & a nice injection of sweet colour in my 

living room....makes me smile :)

Crochet cushions really are quick & easy to make

A sense of achievement in days.

Also I wanted to give you a glimpse of the dress

Think I'd be strung up if I gave a complete reveal.....

Just in case !!!

I know its not much but I was dying to show a little piece

Will def post pics after the wedding

Can't wait to see it on (hope it all fits just right)

Hope you all have the best weekend

Thanks for dropping by

Lots of love Karen xxxxxx

I never thought I'd finish this one

Do you know I can't remember when I actually started this blanket

but it feels like a long time ago.

I must check my archives to see.....but yayyyyyy its done now

& in situ in my bedroom.

I have to say it most def is NOT my fav, guess I'm just glad I'm done 

with it....here's a few peeks

I like it here on the back of my bed,

feels restful & dreamy & matches the colours there.

Isn't it so satisfying to have your own makes around the house

makes it all so personal & imperfect in the nicest way!!!!

So whats next.......I'm thinking a nice shawl.

Have two weddings coming up & would love a dreamy soft feminine 

wrap to wear with the dresses I have for them.

If anyone knows some good pattern links I'd sure would

be grateful.

First dress fittings today, always make up a trial top of the dress

in some cheap fabric first to make sure of the fit (learnt that in college,

my technical tutor was a stickler for a perfect fit).

Old habits die hard I think.

Its always funny though to see the reaction of the wearer....

IS THIS MY DRESS!!!!!!!

& I have to reassure them that I know it looks like 

nothing & not to get excited....but the REAL dress will

actually look like a dress!!!!

The first one has to be done by this time next week, the 

Bride is from Latvia & her sister is here for another week 

sooooooooo dress number one coming up fast.

Anyway the weekend is here & I have friends 

coming for dinner tomorrow, desserts need to be 

made, veggies have to be peeled & chopped, plus 

I promised a nice pasta dish for dinner today, fresh tomatoes & herbs

are waiting to be thrown together

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend

Lots of love Karen xxxx