Monday 31 October 2011

Weekly Gratitude & Apology

Right, so, let me express my gratitude first... This week I'm very, very grateful for:


- our family finally living in a house!!!
- our dear, dear friends who helped with our move
- my husband getting much better; his plaster cast came off last week (after nine weeks...) :)
- more translating work, even though it takes up enormous amounts of my time
- my two sweet children on a school break this week
- enjoyable get-togethers with our friends, big and small



And now the apologies... what can I say? As usual in cases like this, life has taken over. I even skipped last week's Gratitude post, that says a lot. First of all, we moved. Finally. We spent our first night in the house on October 19th. We love it here. The flat is not completely empty yet - I'm amazed to see how much one family can stuff into a flat in a decade and a half... And unfortunately, I'm not one of those people who can get rid of things easily. I tend to keep everything. Put on a 'Made in England' sign - or at least 'Bought in Britain' - and it's a keeper! For life!

Anyway, we enjoy living in the house, even though we still partly live out of our boxes, the reason for that being my new translating work. I have no idea why people always come to me with last-minute commissions... Everyone needs their texts translated yesterday, which leaves me with afternoons and evenings behind my computer, typing in word for word and living in the world of the text topic for the following few days. This time, it's the church history of our capital... Amen!

Apart from my Gratitude post, I'm afraid I'm missing another important project this month (I was sooo hoping last month that this would not be the case!) - my Being Creative challenge. I really love this project, but what with the move and the evening translations, there was absolutely no time left for anything creative. Perhaps next month?

I've got a few more pages to go with my translation and then, hopefully, my normal blogging service will resume. I've got so much to show you! I do follow your blogs, though, my dear friends, and enjoy them enourmously. Let's stay in touch!

Monday 17 October 2011

Weekly Gratitude

On this sunny yet breezy October Monday I'm very much grateful for:


- my little girl and her fabulous sense of style (I wonder where she gets it from...)
- my big boy, still craving cuddles from his Mum (that's me!), but only within the four walls of our flat... :)
- blogging, which has enabled me to follow the incredibly creative crafting of my (mostly Scottish) friends; what's more, I can actually purchase their fabulous products (thank you so much, Alison & Aileen!)
- a very enjoyable party I attended last Saturday night - the reunion of my primary school friends!
- my dear friend from the capital who celebrated her birthday yesterday


Sunday 16 October 2011

Japanese Flowers & Granny Squares

I still have some early summer crafting to show you. Months ago (seems like ages and ages ago...) I made these pretty Japanese flowers from my beloved Liberty fabric scraps.



They're really tiny and delicate. For quite a while, I wasn't quite sure what to use them for. In the end, I decided to make a necklace.



It looks very pretty around the neck. The flowers resemble tiny little buttons. My necklace has already received a number of compliments!



My other summer project was this Granny Square belt. I wore it several times but I always managed to leave my camera at home at the time so no photos I'm afraid. Until next summer...



It was really easy to make. I crocheted twelve squares but it turned out eleven were more than enough to fit my waist (the belt is very stretchy, actually). I added some pearly buttons, and voila! The pattern of the squares provides the button holes so there's no extra work!



The colours are my usual yarn colours, nothing new in that department, but I totally love them. The belt was mostly worn with my blue dress. Like it?

Thursday 13 October 2011

Inspiration: Vanessa

Last week's outfit, of course. No socks, see?



It was inspired by the ever-so-stylish Vanessa from do you mind if i knit. I love her blog.



I also love this skirt, it's my favourite. Oh, the colours! And the pattern!



I'm pretty sure you recognise my accessories. An angel is always present!



I'm wearing:

- flats - local boutique
- leggings - NKD
- skirt - Boden
- grey top - H&M
- stripy top - Petit Bateau
- jacket - Tom Tailor
- angel pendant
- amber beads - borrowed from my Mum
- watch - Calvin Klein (graduation present, hence rather old...)
- leather bag - Zara



I've been definitely wearing socks this week...

Monday 10 October 2011

Weekly Gratitude

This week, my friends, I'm grateful for:


- my Dad - he's turned seventy today!
- my gorgeous new Scottish treasure box - thank you so much, Aileen!
- sunshine again after some serious winter weather - we had snow last Friday...
- delicious produce from our garden, yummy & healthy
- my very special best friend
- books, in general


Friday 7 October 2011

Roses & Tartan

Right, I've got a few outfit photos in stock, from last week. You will definitely know they're from last week, as I'm not wearing any socks and the background on the pictures is lush and green.



Not anymore, my friends, not anymore. We had the first snow today, imagine that! It was all summery yesterday, short sleeves and no socks, and today, bam, harsh winds, torrential rain and then snow. Just like that!



It's as if God the Father decided there would be no more springs and autumns, only summers, and then, out of the blue, winter! It's October 7, for crying out loud! And it's literally freezing outside! After twenty-five degrees Celsius yesterday afternoon...



Anyway, as I've said, I've got a couple or so oufit photos in store, so here they go.

I'm wearing:

- flats - local boutique
- cropped jeans - Wallis
- polo - PlayLife
- cord jacket - Tom Tailor
- scarf - Laura Ashley, borrowed from my mum, my absolute favourite (check the post title!)
- amber beads - borrowed from my mum as well, family heirloom
- leather bag - Zara
- sunglasses - M&S



Remembering the good times...

Tuesday 4 October 2011

Mirror, Mirror...



... in my purse! Aren't they absolutely gorgeous? Made by my cousin, who also makes these very pretty cards - remember? Anyone interested let me know, they're for sale for eight euro a piece!

Monday 3 October 2011

Weekly Gratitude

On this unbelievably warm first Monday in October I'm incredibly grateful for:


- my parents, the best grandparents to our boy & girl
- my husband, who has another three weeks to go with his left wrist in plaster cast
- absolutely gorgeous weather in the past few weeks
- hanging out with friends after church on Sundays
- cycling & walking
- kind & encouraging comments from fellow bloggers - yes, you!