And yet another 7 days passed...

Handmade Monday again.  Where has the week disappeared to.  I don't seem to have achieved much in the way of crafting this week so just a small offering from me.
I finished the third and last dressing gown, this is for an 18 month old little girl who is running around like there is no tomorrow, her Mum can't keep up with her.

And there was a a thread on Craft Forum this week about how many projects one had not finished off so I got my proverbial finger out and finished one of them.

I did not put the knobbly bits on the back. lol.

Thats it for this Handmade Monday but do pop along to www.1stUniquegifts.co.uk/blog and look at the growing number of crafters willing to share their beautifully crafted items with you.

A little self analysing

My little dog is nearing the end of her days.  She will be 15 this coming June which is quite a good age.  We have had her since she was a year old,  As I spend more and more time worrying about what I will do without her another question is forcing itself forward in my head.  Why do I waste what time she has left worrying about that, why can’t I simply throw myself into celebrating each day we have left? 

How selfish.  I am obviously more concerned with my feelings than hers.  I would not have believed I could be like that but I suppose it’s the old “Self Preservation” coming to the fore.

The other selfish thing I dwell on is “will I have to make the decision for her”.  “Maybe she will go in her sleep? “

I do know that if I can manage to adopt a more positive attitude towards this, recognise and remember that we all have a set lifetime span, probably laid out from the day we were born, and make the very best of what I have left with her I will be in a far better state of mind when her time finally comes.

The moral of the story is:-

Celebrate Life Whilst You Can.

People constantly surprise me

Even those whom I consider I know well.  And while I am on that subject I would like to thank all you kind people that leave such wonderful, heart lifting messages for me.  It is so lovely to have your work appreciated by someone which brings me neatly back to my other reason for blogging today.
My daughter has never appeared to show much, if any, interest in my crafting, if it didn't come from Next, TKMax etc., it wasn't worth a dime.
However, today I was having a chuck-out session in her sons' bedroom, (they have one at my house as well as their own home,) stuff they have grown out of like clothes and toys.  Amongst this was two rag dolls I made several years ago on a project with Daycare clients at Age Concern.  pic below:-

Known as Purple Pattie and Ginger Tom.
I now have an 18month step G.G.Daughter so thought I would pass them on as they are completely machine washable. 
MyDaughter threw her hands up in horror saying that I should keep them.  I replied that when I was gone someone would only throw them in the skip, which, lets face it, they do and that would be a waste if a child could benefit.  My daughter declared that when that time came she would give them a good home.
To say you could have knocked me down with a feather is understating it.
Of all the many things I have made she has taken to two rag dolls.  Life is full of surprises.

5th Feb. Handmade Monday

I am still making dressing gowns, 2 down, one to go and will show the last two later in the week if I get them completed.  I would have had one ready but the snow prevented me from going across the yard to my workroom for red cotton.  Well, thats my excuse anyway but in the meantime I have cobbled together a birthday card for my one and only Granddaughter.  I use the word "cobbled" as I am definately not a card maker as you can see but needed something for Handmade Monday and was the only thing I could offer at this late stage of the game. Critiques not requested. lol. 

Please follow this link to visit the other blogs in Handmade Monday.  http://www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk/blog/

I did finish the dressing gown after all so there will be one happy little boy tomorrow.

Next Christmas already?????

We are fairly democratic in our household, I prepare and cook and OH tidies away afterwards
I mentioned some weeks ago that I needed a couple of milk bottle tops  Big mistake.  I now have a Sainsburys Bran Flake packet full to overflowing with tops of all colours of the rainbow.  I had not realised that he was still saving them till I picked up said box in the utility room wondering what it was there for.
What to use them for - big question.  I used 7 this afternoon and made this:-

I only have another 493 left to go. lol.  I am quite willing to share if anyone else wants some and I am also open to suggestions.  (Clean ones only thanks)

Handmade Monday again.

I have nothing ready for showing this week so am going to cheat a little and show you something I finished months ago but I did screw the hinges on this morning, only because my friend for whom I did it was asking nicely how much longer it would be. lol.
It is not very good as not my field of expertise but I had a go.

Go to http://www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk/blog/ to see all the other goodies.

Any reader from CF will know I have been shovelling out my workroom for the last week or so, well I have finally finished. 
I took a few quick pics so it can be seen before it gets messy again which will probably be tomorrow. lol.
The worktops look bare because my sewing machines are adorning the dining table due to the inclement weather i.e. it was too cold out there.  I do have heaters but they cost a fortune to run.

I have worked it out, it will only remain that tidy for 18 hours.  Such a shame.

I thinkI will get these framed to remind me what it should look like.

A Guilty New Make

 I have just finished this dressing gown for my 9 yr old step-Great Granddaughter.  I made her one when she was around 4 and her Grandmother mentioned last weekend that she was still wearing it so guilt ridden I have made another.  An Aran jumper for her 7 yr old brother is finished too so everyone should be happy.

It is off white fleece with pink lace trim and her initial on the pocket.  I can't believe that the buttons cost almost as much as the fabric.  What a world we live in.