Review: Natural Slate Cheeseboard

Initial thoughts: When we were offered an item from The Handpicked Collection's top 25 gifts for Christmas to review it was hard to pick just one. In the end I decided on this Natural Slate Cheeseboard as it seemed unusual but functional.

I liked: It comes in a lovely gift box making this the ideal Christmas present for the foodie in your life. It is different and I think it will be a real talking point at the Christmas dinner table. We don't do much entertaining but I can think of a lot of other uses than just cheese for the board so that it gets plenty of use.

I didn't like: I would keep small fingers away from the edges as slate is naturally sharp but that is just a little thing and this is more likely to be used after the children are in bed!

Overall: I think that the Natural Slate Cheeseboard is a great gift. In fact there are so many lovely items on the website that I haven't been stuck for gift ideas for anyone at all this year. Plus there are lots of things that I would love myself, so I might be pointing others in that direction too.

Further information:
Product name: Natural Slate Cheeseboard
Product price: £14.95
Product details: Gift-boxed. With foam on base to protect table. Size: 35 x 25cm. One stick of chalk included. Suitable for dinner parties of 6-8 people. Made in the UK

Disclosure: We were sent a Natural Slate Cheeseboard free of charge for the purpose of this review.

Make it Monday: Christmas Cards

 Yes I know it is Wednesday but I am a bit behind this week!

I just wanted to show you what Piran and I have been making this week. Christmas cards! A couple weeks ago we tried potato printing for the first time and did some handprints as well. I cut them out and then we used them to decorate some cards which will be used for Grandparents and other special people.

We used the prints we had made and I have a box of festive card making bits I bought two years ago when a local craft wholesaler opened their warehouse and let us in to shop. I paid around £10 and over three Christmases I have barely made a dent. Brilliant value and loads of fun this year now that I have a helper.

Piran was obsessed by this snowflake stamper.

The designs are mostly mine with embellishments by Piran.

I wasn't feeling brave enough to break out the glitter so we stuck to stickers!

Each one has a Piran handprint and 'Made by Piran aged 2' on the back.

Review: The Art of Roughhousing

Initial thoughts: We were sent The Art of Roughhousing shortly after Kate was born and after an initial flick through I am afraid to say that it got put to one side and forgotten about. Then a couple weeks ago it was a rainy day and it caught my eye on the bookshelf so I had a quick browse and found myself really interested.

I liked: I was really interested in the first chapter which goes through the benefits of roughhousing. I know that it is just playing at the end of the day but it gave me the confidence to try some things that I might not have been confident enough to try otherwise. It also gave me some ideas to amuse a toddler on a rainy day.

I didn't like: My own limitations! I don't have a strong back and I have to be very careful with what I do. Mr C is the same and so a lot of the lifting type activities weren't good for us. Also, there are not many suggestions for younger children and so we are limited by what we can get from this book at the moment. As the children get older I am sure that will change.

Overall: I think that this book is great for confidence building and for ideas and suggestions of games and things to do. The chapter on getting started with instant roughhousing was the best part for us in the beginning. I think this would make a nice stocking filler for a Dad (or Mum).

Further information: The Art of Roughhousing is available on Amazon for £8.99

Disclaimer: We were sent a copy of The Art of Roughhousing free of charge for the purpose of this review.

Review: Scosche backSTAGE iPad case

Initial thoughts: When I was offered a Scosche backSTAGE car seat headrest mount for mounting my iPad in the car to review I jumped at the chance. We do lots of long car journeys and I had been considering buying a DVD player for Piran but this meant we could use my iPad instead.

We liked: The case seems sturdy and does the job it is meant to. It was easy to attach to the headrest and can be left in the car and the iPad just slid in and out. It comes with an anti-glade screen protector as well which is great for daytime watching.

We didn't like: The 'Ballistic nylon material' is a bit grey and dull and the way that it is made makes it look tatty around the edges. It is strong though and I guess as long as it does the job it is meant to then all is well but I am a fan of things that look good as well.

Overall: If Piran sees the iPad he wants to play his games so he was a bit put out that he was just meant to sit and watch. That said, he soon got the idea. The iPad is far enough away for him to see but close enough for him to wear headphones so we will be purchasing some so we can listen to music when he watches a film. Suddenly the trips to and from Cornwall don't seem too daunting.

Further information: The Scosche backSTAGE car seat headrest mount costs £27.99 and has the following features:

• Wide velcro strap easily secures to most headrests 
• Ballistic nylon material provides superior protection 
• Mesh pockets provide ideal accessory storage space 
• Open design allows access to all connection and ports 
• Includes Anti-Glare screen protecto

Disclosure: We were sent an iPad case free of charge for the purpose of this review.

Review: The Little Green Sheep Organic Baby Nightgown

Initial thoughts: When I received this for review we were in the middle of summer and at the time Kate wasn't wearing much more than a nappy to sleep in at night so it was popped into the back of the cupboard. I have been using it since the end of the summer and it has now been worn a number of times.

I liked: It is obviously a well made, quality item that washes well. As with most organic cotton it shouldn't go in the tumble dryer which is a bit inconvenient but it feels very nice and soft anyway. At £11.95 I think this is a great value price for an organic item. They also do a 2 pack and it comes in either eco-natural or white.

I didn't like: The sleeves are very long. They have ends that you turn over to stop the baby scratching their face which is useful but I would have felt it was too long on a small baby for quite a long time which would have stopped me using it. Now the sleeves are still long but Kate's feet are poking out of the bottom, and she is only 7 months, it does say that this is sized up to 9 months.

Overall: You can't beat these nightgowns for night time nappy changes, no poppers to fumble with when you are sleepy. This nightgown has a cloth tie at the bottom, others that I have used had elastic which I find better but it didn't cause any issues. Kate seemed really happy and snug in this nightgown and loved that she could get to her feet! This would make a nice gift for a new baby too.

Further information: Baby nightgowns can be purchased from The Little Green Sheep website.

They say: This luxurious baby nightgown is a newborn baby must-have, and makes for a comforting and snug night's sleep. Made from the finest soft organic jersey cotton, each nightgown is free from any chemicals and is unisex, suitable for either a baby boy or baby girl. Includes integrated scratch mitts.


Disclosure: We were sent a baby nightgown free of charge for the purpose of this review.

My name is Kelly and I have Postnatal Depression

When I started to realise that something wasn't right with me and how I felt after Kate was born I initally spoke to Mr C. Then, before even making that first trip to the doctor I turned to my blog to write. It is what I have always done when upset, or anxious or struggling in the past and it was the natural place for me to get it all out of my head. Snapshots was the post that I wrote on the 16th July this year.

Since then I have written a number of posts, some positive and happy, others not so much but always writing and sharing. And through doing so I have learned that I am not alone, that there are others out there who have felt this way and have found the time to leave me a comment and support me in some way.

I have never been afraid to admit how I am feeling I have openly told people that I have had Postnatal Depression this time round. Although I hated saying "I am suffering postnatal depression" so I have tried to say experiencing instead of suffering. To me suffering makes it sound like I am passive and I am not. I am doing everything I can to find a way out of this. Perhaps I am happier to talk because I have suffered from depression in the past. However I do know that others may feel completely different from me. And I cannot imagine what it could be like to feel so bad that you are unable to reach out and speak to anyone at all. I could not have got to the place that I am at now without the love and support of my friends and family, the doctor I have been seeing, the group that they sent me to.

I remember when I was talking to the Health Visitor in the first place, asking for the contact details so I could go to a group and she was very apologetic that we were talking in the room where the babies were being weighed and she hid her face and whispered. I remember being really shocked. If she acts like that then someone else might get the impression that it is something to be embarrassed about, or ashamed of. If that Health Visitor was the first person I had seen and she made me feel like that perhaps I would never have talked to others, or attended my group. 

Until people stand up and admit that this is NORMAL. That this happens to all sorts of people in all sorts of situations then there will always be a stigma attached to it. Today I have discovered a new blog Boo and Me and she feels the same and is doing something about it. The little badge below is from her site. Others have written about this recently and I just wanted to add my voice to the mix. Read about how she is trying to raise money for The Joanne Bingley Memorial Foundation by arranging a raffle. Please, visit the site A Helping Hand and then buy a ticket or two if you can.

A day full of friends

Today I was lucky enough to have a free day, to leave life and children behind and go and meet some very special friends. Traveling to and from I had time to crochet and to read.

We didn't do anything particular, just had a wander round Borough Market where we took pictures, and I took pictures of my friends taking pictures. Then we stopped for coffee and chatter, a bit of a walk, a wander to the Tate Modern, some lunch and somewhere else for tea and cake.

We basically fed and watered ourselves all day and just talked and talked and talked. The topics ranged from knitting and crochet, gadgets, holidays, children, food, discipline, relationships with families and parents, tales from our life, blogging, tweeting and so much more.

It is so nice to have made these friends. We live all spread out and getting together seems to only happen every few months but each time I come away refreshed and happy.

We met online but our friendships are definitely real. Heather and Emily are fantastic to talk to about toddler woes and sleepless nights. Victoria and Paula have older children and give an interesting perspective to all our parenting chats. They make me realise that this bit won't last forever and that soon weaning and lack of sleep with be replaced by emerging friendships and school and siblings growing up together.

I think that it's unlikely that I would have ever developed friendships like these in real life. My blog is the best and the worst of me, and I am always honest so there is no point pretending they already know what I am like!

Here are a few pictures from today. My favourite is everyone chatting.

The Gallery: Something I am proud of

This rather dodgy collage may seem like an odd thing to be proud of. It is not the collage itself but what it represents.

Today was our last session of our Postnatal Depression support group. We were asked to make a picture or write something that showed our journey over the past ten weeks. This was mine. It may seem a bit odd but in essence on the left is me having a baby and already being a mum to a toddler. That I was shaken to my core with how I felt afterwards. That I wanted some treatment.

Then I went to group and was made to feel welcome.

On the right hand side I picked words that describe what my life is starting to be like, and how I want our life to be.

At the bottom is my new mantra. Thank you to Emily for sharing this with me recently. The words have been firmly stuck in my head since I heard them and I think it sums up my new frame of mind perfectly.

I am proud of myself. I am proud of the other women on my course. I am proud of the way we opened up and supported each other. I am proud that I plucked up the courage and went on the first day. I am proud that even though Kate had a complete meltdown in our first session I still went back. I am proud that I went along with an open mind and heart. I have learnt so much about myself. I can see how lost I was back then, and how far I have come. I am proud that I have been able to acknowledge that something was wrong, that I needed help and that I sought the help I needed. I am proud that I have felt able to write about my experience here, and I hope that this might make others feel less alone.

I am proud that I have seen this course through to the end and taken the messages and techniques away and applied them to my life so we can all move on from this difficult time and start to enjoy our life as a family of four.

Make it Monday: Advent Calendar Part 1

The hardest thing about being so tired is not having the energy once the day is done and the kids in bed to do the things that I really want to do. Sewing takes braincells and if I am tired I make mistakes.

So progress on the advent calendar is slower than I would like but a deadline is a deadline so I am making time to do it bit by bit.


I am backing it with my fantastic reindeer fabric so I measured what I had an worked out what size the pockets needed to be to get six rows of four and then cut them out allowing for a 1cm seam around the two sides and bottom and 2cm at the top so I could fold it over twice for a neater edge. My pockets are 9cm square so I cut my material 11cm x 12cm. I cut out 24 pieces from 6 different materials.

I then emellished them slightly using bit of ribbon and the other fabrics so each one is different.

Last night I hemmed all of them.

Then I played around with the arrangement.

Afterward I lay them on the fabric and switched a couple around to make it more balanced. After some deliberation I finally settled on the layout and then used numbered stickers to mark where each of them belongs.

The next step is to embroider the numbers onto each. It is a simple enough thing to do in front of the TV so hopefully I will get them done this week. Piran being ill and staying home today didn't help much!

I am really pleased with how it is looking so far. I need to get on and get it done as I have bought the things to go in it!

Also I finally finished my tunic top! I am really pleased with it. Not the best photo mind you!

Review: Photobox Canvas

Initial thoughts: When I was contacted by Photobox asking if I would like to review a canvas I immediately thought it would be a nice idea to get a picture of Kate and Piran as a Christmas present for my inlaws. I was trying to get the perfect picture (it is impossible to get a picture of the two of them looking at the camera and vaguely normal) but hadn't found the right one yet. Then I had a sudden flash of inspiration and decided instead to make something special to decorate the smallest room in my house which is dull and not pretty enough. So I made this collage on Instagram pictures from the last six months.

I liked: I was so nervous when this arrived it took me a few hours to pluck up courage to open it. However once I did I was totally and utterly in love. The picture is fabulous and the print quality is brilliant. The canvas was well packaged and I thought delivery was quick (I ordered Thursday night, I received Tuesday first thing). It was very easy to upload the picture and create the canvas and the website tells you whether the picture quality is adequate.

I didn't like: My only issue was when the canvas was delivered the extra polystyrene padding for the corners had made a dent on each corner of the canvas. However a few taps to stretch the canvas on the frame and being left overnight seems to have done the trick.

Overall: Canvas prints are not cheap but I do think that they make lovely presents. This one is 40.6cm x 40.6cm and costs £41.99. However Photobox always have good offers on and they now also do a new Lite Canvas which have a thinner frame and are cheaper.

Here is my canvas. What do you think? I can spend hours pouring over all the pictures and talking about all the memories.

Further information: Check out Photobox's website for loads of gift ideas. Great for Christmas presents. Personally I want one of these iPhone 4 covers but I am really going to have to think hard about which photo to use.

Disclosure: I received a credit into my Photobox account to cover most of the cost of this canvas for the purpose of this review.

{If anyone is interested all the pictures were taken on my iPhone and edited and posted in Instagram. I then made a collage of 81 pictures in Picasa and saved it as a jpeg. This is what I uploaded and created my canvas from.}

Home

I have spent a lot of time recently thinking about what makes me happy and what makes me feel worried or upset or anxious. I am starting to realise that the chances are that life will never magically make me happy, that like everything good in this life, such as marriage or being a parent you have to really work at it to get the best from it. You get out what you put in I suppose.

So it is time for a change in perspective for me. I have decided that instead of thinking about what I want in the future or feeling worried that I will never achieve my dream of returning to Cornwall and living there with my family that I need to focus on the what I actually have in my life and how wonderful it is. Yes, the house is feeling smaller and smaller as we go on, and the kitchen is tiny and other things I could mention. But it has come a million miles from the cold, dark, unloved house that we viewed five years ago and we have made into a lovely place to live.

I have always loved living here but now it is time to start loving my house. Making it into the house that I want, that will contain my family and make us all feel happy and warm and cosy and loved. Make it into a home.

There are blogs that I read that instill these feelings in me. Everything Cherry Menlove writes inspires me and I am totally in awe of her spirit and beauty and the way that she writes about her home and family. This post in particular and what she wrote about how a home should work for you and nourish you really made me think. I left a comment on one of her posts recently and she sent me a personal email after reading some of my blog. I was totally awe struck!

I love Little Red Buttons and this post about how something in your home should be beautiful or useful (or both) has had me throwing rubbish out left, right and centre. No more tat. No more rubbish. This is not going to be a quick process but little by little I am going to reclaim bits of our house until it is a place I am proud of.

I have realised most of all that clutter makes me really anxious. I want those feelings gone and so I am working on finding a place for everything and then putting everything in its place. All I want to do once both children are in bed is collapse but ten minutes tidying means that when I do collapse I am also able to relax, and that is exactly what I need.

Review: Hotter shoes

Initial thoughts: When I was contacted and asked if I would like to review a pair of Hotter shoes I was a bit dubious that I would find something that I would like. They have a store in Eastbourne where I regularly shop and it is always choc full of shall we say a more elderly clientele. However I had a look at their website and found a trainer style that had good reviews. I had been looking for something comfortable to wear when out walking with the buggy and the Leanne Shoes seemed to fit the bill.

I liked: These shoes are so very comfortable. They are the first pair of trainers or shoes that I can ever remember wearing for the first time that didn't irritate me in some way. The soles are cushioned and comfortable and the trainers are light and easy to wear.

I didn't like: The only thing that I found strange is that they make my feet look a bit bigger than normal! However they have lots of room for me to wiggle my toes so it is totally worth it.

Overall: I am always nervous about ordering shoes online as I usually try on a number of pairs before picking the ones I want. Hotter have a 100% happy guarantee and hassle free returns policy so that seems great. Although these are by no means the most fashionable shoes I own they are perfect for walking and playing in the park and I don't mind if they get scruffy and dirty. At £55 they are a bit more expensive than I would have spent in the past but as they are so comfortable I definitely think they are worth it. I am going back to work in a couple of months and I am already eyeing up a couple of pairs that would be perfect, including a black patent pair of heels that look great.

Further information: Check out the Hotter Shoes website - they have a £5 off and free shipping offer at the moment.

Wearing my shoes, playing on the swings.

Disclaimer: I was sent a pair of these shoes free of charge for the purpose of this review.

Blog Camp Brighton: October 2011

Back at the start of October Kate and I went along to the Photography Blog Camp in Brighton put on by the Tots 100 and Photobox. It was a really interesting morning and I loved getting the chance to spend a little time with some of my favourite bloggers and pick up some tips on photography. It is something that I would love to have the time to learn properly, we have a digital SLR but it is always on automatic.

My favourite speaker was Ghene Snowdon (WARNING: clicking on this link may affect you in strange ways. Lots of very cute baby pictures. You know the sort, with them just wearing hats that make you want to have another baby RIGHT NOW!) who gave some great tips about lighting and framing. I was also impressed with the editing tips from Paul Sanders and I have been trying to use these as much as I can. The picture of mum from yesterday's post was taken the same day that I attended the Blogcamp session and I definitely feel that it benefited from some quick editing.

These pictures below were taken by Ghene at the end of the session. It was amazing to see how she can edit them directly in her camera and she kindly sent them through to me recently and I just had to share them with you. Even though Kate was not a particularly willing model and was only happy in my arms she still got two great shots that I love. The first one in particular.

Thanks once again to the Tots100 for such a fantastic free event. I would highly recommend that you register and try and attend any in your area.

Review and Discount: DaisychainBaby

Back at the beginning of the summer the ever so lovely Lindsay from DaisychainBaby sent Piran and Kate some clothes to try. I have been a bit behind with all of my reviews recently so I have managed to give them a really good test.

DaisychainBaby is an online eco-friendly retailer, specialising in organic and ethically sourced clothing, gifts and accessories for children aged 0-5. They offer a wide range of fairly priced items for babies and young children, ensuring that all products are sourced solely from suppliers who are as equally committed to protecting little peoples skin and their future as they are.

Piran was sent a size 2-3 lovely red long sleeved Rock Star T-Shirt from Green Eyed Monster. I am familiar with the brand as he had a pair of jeans shorts that were made by them. The top is a great quality item, it feels so soft and washes well. It has been worn and washed many times and still looks as good as the first time he wore it. At £17.50 I think it is at the high end of what I would spend but as long as he was going to get a lot of wear out of it I am happy to pay that price for an unusual item. The only issue I have had is that the neck hole is a little tight - he might have a bigger head than others I am not sure but I think that would stop him wearing it all the way to when he turns three.

Kate was sent a beautiful smock top and pair of trousers from Little Shrimp in size 3-6 months. She has been wearing these for the past three months and at six months she still has quite a bit of wear left in them, the top in particular due to the smock style. The green spotty top is just lovely and the trousers are very soft and comfortable. At £18 and £15 respectively they are a bit more than I would usually paid but the quality is fantastic and it is one of those outfits that I choose for Kate to wear as soon as it is clean again. I am not a person who irons but this top definitely needs it before wearing again, that is the only bad thing I could say. I loved the green and the fact it was spotty, I have an aversion to pink but the trousers were fine with the green. They would be a lovely gift for a special small person. We were also sent the sleeveless Purple Star Babyvest which was lovely in the warm weather. It is currently in the sale, could be worth stocking up for next Summer, they go up to 18 months.

Kate wearing the Little Shrimp outfit.

DaisychainBaby is kindly offering A place of my own readers 20% off all orders. Just use the code REVIEW at the checkout. Just in time for Christmas!

Disclosure: I was sent the clothes and a small gift for Piran free of charge for the purpose of this review.

Finding my way again

In my PND group last week we were talking about expectations and positive and negative thoughts and how you may say and think one thing but if you take the time to examine it then you realise that actually you are wrong.

One thing I have said over and over to Mr C in the past few months is that 'I don't get anything done on the days that I am with Piran and Kate all day' (Tuesdays and Thursdays). Now before people lynch me I know that there are many people out there that do the full time stay at home thing with two and more children all the time but I am talking about me here, and how I cope.

When I talked about this in group I set myself a homework to actually take note of what I did on these days. I feel like I don't achieve anything but the truth is that on those days the house gets very untidy and I rarely manage to clear the kitchen and do the washing up before Mr C gets home.

So last Thursday I wrote a list of everything I did all day. It was pages and pages long and it made me realise that if I lower my expectations a little (why do we expect so much of ourselves?) then more of my days will be a good day.

For weeks I have been going to group and the two other ladies say that they are feeling positive and that they are getting better and I drag myself in feeling like I am getting worse and that I am always bringing the group down. But I am now thinking that if I lower my standards then more of my days will be good days and I will feel better.

It really is already working. I didn't do the dishes or tidy up on Thursday last week but I did get two children dressed, fed and out of the house twice. I did a bit of laundry and played with my children. I was tired and stressed but overall it was a good day. And since I lowered my standards a little there have been more and more good days. Accepting that a bad hour doesn't ruin a day has helped a lot as well.

Finally I feel that the good days are outnumbering the bad. I do feel like the fog is lifting somewhat and I have the sparks of a bit of energy to expend on something other than just getting through the day. I feel a bit inspired and a bit silly. I have noticed myself laughing a little, and teasing Mr C. Behaviours that I didn't miss when they were gone but am shocked when I find myself doing them again. I sat and wrote my love letter to myself and it reminded me of more of these things. Like the fact I love animal socks and comedy dancing. I know I still have a long way to go but I feel like I am looking up, not down for the first time in a long time.

With clarity comes some sadness and regret. That my darling husband has had to deal with all of this. That I have perhaps not been playing with my children as much as I should have. Details, like the fact that at Kate and Piran's Christening I didn't get pictures of them with their godparents. I am really upset about that. I really was in a state back then.

But there is no point dwelling on the past, it is time to look towards the future. And the future is all sparkly and Christmassy so that is a winner. It is our first Christmas at home since we became a family and my mum and stepdad are coming to stay. The inlaws will be here too and I really hope that it is a special time. I am taking back control of me. I have lost 15.5lbs and gone from a size 16 to a size 14. Today I packed up all my size 16 clothes and put them in storage bags with my summer clothes. If I haven't had to get them down from the loft by next summer I will get rid of them.

I am also trying to get myself organised and back on track, with the blog and with life. I have many reviews to write so I may be posting one every day or two until they are cleared. I also have a couple of posts that I really want to write (this was one of them) as well as the Make it Monday posts so it might be a bit busy round here!

Because I don't really like a post without a photo, but I don't have one that goes with this post I have these two instead. Firstly, my MIL bought round some old pictures of Mr C and his sister and I made this little collage last night. I think they look so alike!

Secondly it is my wonderful Mum's birthday today so I thought I would put my favourite recent picture of her too.

Thank you all for all the love and support that you have shown me over the past few months. Every comment, every tweet means the world to me and I cannot imagine what my life would have been like if I didn't have such a wonderful amount of support.

Make it Monday: Projects

I have a very bad habit (or good habit depending on your point of view) of buying fabric and other supplies for all of the wonderful things that I am going to make and not getting time to start, or finish each of my projects.

So I thought this week would be the best time to list what I am in the middle of making, or that I would like to make and then I will have a list to refer to. I also need to organise what I need to make as some things have deadlines.

Tunic top

Last Friday I had a rare whole child free day so that I could go to my favourite shop in Eastbourne, the Owl and Sewing Cat for a dressmaking course. I decided to make myself a tunic top and after my usual indecisiveness when picking the fabric I got started, laying out the pattern, cutting my pieces and then sewing. I had a really lovely day. There were three other people and Tracey who owns the shop running the session. It was really nice to have people to talk to as I was sewing too.

I just have to sew on the button and the button loop and I am finished. Then I will get Mr C to take a better picture of the finished top. I am really pleased with my choice of fabric, I really wanted to have something autumnal. I had such a great time and I now feel confident enough to try and make Kate and Piran some clothes.

Advent Calendar

I have finally started my advent calendar this weekend. On Saturday I cut the fabric for the pockets and decorated them with ribbon and fabric and stuck it all on with Bondaweb. The next job is to stitch up the pockets on the machine and I would like to add a little decorative stitching too. Have to make sure it doesn't take too much time though as I still have to put it all together by the end of November.

Table Runner

An easy project using the amazing Christmas fabric I bought. I only got half a metre but the fabric is 280cm wide. I have had the 80cm piece for the advent calendar and the 2 metres  is going to be a table runner. I just need to sew bias binding round the edge. Needs to be done by mid December ideally.

Christmas Stockings

I want to make four special Christmas stockings for us. We have bought ones that we have used in the past but I want nice ones that we can use year after year. I need to design and template and make sure I have some batting as I want to make the front quilted. I also might need something to line them but I am not sure what to use (I might have something in my fabric stash). Definite deadline of the 24th December.

Dress for Kate

I really want to make something nice for Kate and I have lots of fabric around so I just need to pick a pattern and get sewing.

Skirts for my nieces

I have two lovely nieces and I want to make them skirts for Christmas. I need my mum to go and measure one of them and I need to pick fabric and buy elastic for the waistband. I am going to use this pattern. I should get these done by early December and they will need to be wrapped and posted.

Trousers for Piran

Potty training is on the horizon but I cannot find any trousers that have an elasticated waist that I like but I have found this pattern and I reckon I could manage it. Totally undecided on fabric though. Deadline will be when Piran stops refusing to sit on either the potty or the toilet and crying his eyes out when I suggest it. So, no rush.

Cushion for Mum

I have some Liberty fabrics that I want to make a patchwork cushion with for Mum for Christmas. Just need to pick a pattern and get sewing. December probably.

Cross stitch

Mr C bought me a lovely Campervan cross stitch tapestry thingy for my birthday. I have done some of it (maybe a quarter) but I tend to do that when we are watching TV. No rush.

Crochet Blanket

This has been in my crochet bag for at least six months and I started it well over a year ago. I have made it too long and each row takes forever but I like to do it on a cold evening in front of the television so maybe over the winter months there will be some progress.

Christmas Cards

Piran and I have started to make Christmas cards I just need to stick some bits down and then get him to  decorate them. Hope to do it this week.

Kate's shelves

I bought a set of wall shelves on eBay but the colour is almost identical to the paint I have used on Kate's wall so these need to be cleaned, prepared and painted before they are hung up. No rush but I need supplies first.

Christmas decorations

I have lots of ideas floating around about decorating for Christmas but I am not sure where to start! I am planning on getting all of the practical bits out of the way before this so I will revisit in December.

Napkins

I wanted to make napkins but have decided to order red ones from eBay and I will embroider them to make them Christmassy.

Button light and lamp

Kate's lampshade and light shade in her room are plain cream and I want to make them pretty by sticking on buttons. I treated myself to some fabric glue this weekend so I just need to pick up some cheap buttons from somewhere. Again, this can wait until after Christmas.


Oh my, that is a long list. Things kept coming to me as I typed. I am sure there are more but that is more than enough to be going on with.

What about you, do you have any works in progress or exciting plans of things to make? Please leave me a comment telling me more, I would love to know all about it.

Silent Sunday #52

Review and Giveaway: Home for Christmas by Cally Taylor

My lovely friend Cally Taylor has a brand new book published today (she also had a baby a few weeks ago, my mind boggles with how tired she must be). She very kindly sent me a copy to review which arrived the day before I went into hospital as a day case, which was a relief as I wouldn't normally have time to read a book. She has kindly offered me a copy to giveaway and answered some of my random questions that I came up with as I was reading. Read on to find out what I thought and how to enter.

Beth Prince has always loved fairytales and now, aged twenty-four, she feels like she's finally on the verge of her own happily ever after. She lives by the seaside, works in the Picturebox - a charming but rundown independent cinema - and has a boyfriend who's so debonair and charming she can't believe her luck! There's just one problem - none of her boyfriends have ever told her they love her and it doesn't look like Aiden's going to say it any time soon. Desperate to hear 'I love you' for the first time Beth takes matters into her own hands - and instantly wishes she hadn't. Just when it seems like her luck can't get any worse, bad news arrives in the devilishly handsome shape of Matt Jones. Matt is the regional director of a multiplex cinema and he's determined to get his hands on the Picturebox by Christmas. Can Beth keep her job, her man and her home or is her romantic-comedy life about to turn into a disaster movie?

I thought that this was a lovely story. I am a fan of the genre and I loved that the book is set in Brighton. Also it is set at Christmas and I love anything to do with Christmas. Cally writes characters that I can identify with and really like. I felt that the chemistry between the two main characters was really believable. The book is written from the point of view of the two main characters Beth and Matt and I felt that this made the story flow and made it hard to put the book down. It made me laugh out loud in places and I really got swept up into these characters lives. Overall I felt that it was a great romantic read and really put a smile on my face.

I put a few questions to Cally that had popped into my mind when I was reading 'Home for Christmas'.

I laughed aloud when reading the book, is it hard to be humourous when writing?

Writing humour is difficult. Sometimes, when I'm in a silly mood it just flows and I make myself laugh out loud. At other times, when my mood is a bit more serious, it can be like pulling teeth! Then there's the fact that things that make me laugh, other people don't get. But when I DO make people laugh it's the best feeling ever - you telling me that 'Home for Christmas' made you laugh when you were in the hospital made my day!

Home for Christmas is set in Brighton (where we met!). Did you enjoy writing about a place you know so well? Do you do most of it from memory or did you have to do lots of research?

I LOVED writing about Brighton because, at the time of writing it, I'd lived there for thirteen years and knew it like the back of my hand. I didn't have to do any research - I just had to shut my eyes to instantly transport myself onto the seafront on a rainy day or into a pub when it was snowing outside. Brighton's a little bit magical and I thought it was the perfect setting for a Christmas story about love. 

I remember seeing you tweet that you were getting a bit drunk to enable you to write a particular scene. Are there some parts that you find hard to write?

Hee hee! Yes, I had to have a couple of glasses of wine before I wrote the sex scene in Home for Christmas - partly to make myself feel less self-conscious and partly to block out the fact my mum and dad would read it when the book was published! 

Your first novel, Heaven Can Wait had a supernatural theme. Did you consider exploring that area further in your second novel?

The first draft of my second novel was called 'Happiness Ever After' and featured guardian angels however, unlike 'Heaven Can Wait' (my first novel) where the supernatural element was vital to the plot, myself, my agent and my editor agreed that the story would be stronger if it was a straight romantic comedy so we dropped the supernatural element and I rewrote the novel that became 'Home for Christmas'. 

Do you make you characters up from scratch or are they based on people you know in real life?

90% of my characters are created from scratch but I have written a couple of characters that are slightly based on people I know. And of course I do put a little bit of myself into some of my characters - but I'm not telling you which ones! ;) 

What is your favourite part of Christmas?

My favourite part of Christmas is the build up and the anticipation. I love getting in the mood for Christmas by decorating the tree and listening to Christmas music or going out shopping for presents and then wrapping them up. Ooh, and you can't beat a good Christmas film. I feel all Christmassy just thinking about it!

If you would like to win a signed copy of 'Home for Christmas' there are two ways to enter: 
1. Leave a comment on this post telling me which is your favourite thing about Christmas (please ensure that there is a way of contacting you - twitter ID or email address where possible). 


2. Tweet: 
I am entering @Kellyfairy's competition http://bit.ly/6S5eU to win a copy of Home for Christmas by @callytaylor #competition


If you tweet please leave a seperate comment so I can count it as an entry.

You can buy the book here. Also, check out Cally's blog where she is having an exciting competition to celebrate the publication of 'Home for Christmas'.

Small print: This competition is open until midnight on Wednesday 16th November 2011. It is open to UK residents only. The winner will be picked by my glamorous assistant Piran. The winner will need to provide me with their name and address which I will pass to the author for the purpose of sending the prize. 


Disclaimer: I received a review copy of 'Home for Christmas'.

Make it Monday: Burp Cloths

I am very excited about two things. One that Make it Monday is back, and two that I have a new nephew. Unfortuately he is in Cornwall and I am here but I will meet him after Christmas. For now though I am doing my bit from afar, packing up boxes of Piran's old clothes and sending them off, and making a little special present just for him.

So I thought I would share it with you all. It is a great little present for someone with a new baby and very easy to make, so a perfect beginners sewing project. Please note, my sewing is generally a bit wonky, and I am rubbish at sewing round corners, but I think that adds to the homemade appeal (at least that is what I tell myself).

I make these often so I have a template (just made out of paper but card would be better). It was an 8.5inch long by 8inch high rectangle with the two right hand corners rounded off (I used the corner of a side plate to do that).

I am using white flannel for the backing (one of Kate's old crib sheets) and a fat quarter of cotton quilting material for the front. Both fabrics have been washed and dried first. Lay the left hand side against a fold in your fabric, so when you cut it out you will have a piece that is twice the size as the template. I am making two burp cloths (as that is what I get from a fat quarter) so I did this twice on both pieces of material. Cut them out.

Place the front and back together, right sides facing and pin together.

I also use pins to mark my start and finish sewing points. You need to leave a 2 inch minimum gap so that you can turn it right sides out after sewing.

Sew all the way around the edge with a 3/8th inch seam. Remember to leave the gap!

Clip the corners to make it easier to turn them out.

Turn right sides out. Ensure that the corners are turned out fully and then press.

Topstitch a 1/4inch all the way around the edge, making sure that you catch the turned in seams of the gap so that everything is tidy.

All done!

These are so very useful and just a bit nicer than the usual muslin cloths. I made some for Kate and we have used them all the time. An added bonus is that they are small and light so a great present if you need to post a gift to someone.

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Make it Monday is back, and just in time for the festive season. I am hoping that I will manage to post on a regular basis about what I have been making, sharing my progress and any tutorials, either my own or from other places on the internet. Please let me know in the comments if you would like to do a guest post.