Would like to meet . . .

Anyone fancy a wee blogger's get-together ? 

Blogland really is a small world, and I love that on a daily basis we get to chat about & share little snippets into the lives of our fellow bloggy friends.  And it's even more fab, when we get to meet the person behind the blog and make "real life" friends : -)

 SO, having fairly recently discovered that some of the lovely bloggers that I follow live literally just down the road, I thought it'd be a fun idea to make a plan and organize a little get-together.  A chance to meet up, have a natter, inspire one another  . . . and enjoy some yummy eats.

Here on this Great British Island of ours, it's pretty easy to get around, and no place is really that far away from any other - especially here in the middle of the country.

So here's an invitation to all fellow crafty Midlanders and UK bloggers:
fancy a wee trip to the heart of England ?

More tea, anyone ?

Nothing fancy, just a fun, informal get-together of creative bloggy peeps on  

Saturday, 29 June 

 in the pretty county of Worcestershire** ,

 right in the middle of this green & pleasant land. 

If you'd like to come along, or you think you'd love to join us but would like more details about where/what/when/trains/planes & automobiles, then please leave me a comment on this post or drop me a wee email : gillymakes(at)gmail(dot)com to let me know, and we'll chat about the finer details.

Looking forward to getting together  . . .

love Gilly

xoxo

ps. Must love dogs ;-) 

** easily accessible by train and just off the M5 & M42 motorways.

Catching up . . .

It's catch up time here at GMHQ . . .

I have a long "To Do" list for today - all those mundane things like laundry & housework etc etc, which I'd usually do on a Monday, but then the small (and annoyingly expensive) matter of me (accidently, I feel I should add) dropping my iPhone into the water and the resulting trip to the Genius Bar at the Apple shop yesterday kind of scuppered my day.

Anyhooo . . . 'nuff about my clumsiness and back to my holiday . . .

We sailed from Venice,  down the Dalmation coast to Split and the pretty town of Trogir in Croatia . . .

. . . then onward to Kusadasi & Ephesus in Turkey . . .

and the beautiful Greek island of Mykonos . . .

. . . back into the Ionian Sea to Argostoli on Kefalonia . . 

and back to Venice.

I do so love travelling and exploring new places . . .  wanderlust is in my genes. 

And the upside to that, is that we're off again next week . . . YAY . . . so best I get that load of laundry done ; - )

Hope you're having a terrific Tuesday,

xoxo

It's holiday time . . .

"All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go . . . "

                                              - John Denver {Leaving on a Jet Plane}

I'm off on a wee holiday for a few days,  so it's the usual mad rush to get everything organized and packed. 

But before I go, here's a wee bit more about my adventures with Annie last weekend . . .

Firstly,  invite artistic & fellow creative friend around for the day {with promise of roast lamb for dinner, and reciprocal assurance that she would in turn bring yummy pudding},  then cover kitchen table and spread dust sheet over floor {the initial plan was to work outside, but the morning rain foiled that one} and then at last,  let the fun commence . . .

 

Take a bunch of various old bits of charity shop finds . . .

 and some other bits & pieces . . . 

 

. . .  add some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in a variety of oh-so-pretty colours . . .

and let the painting begin : - )

 

Oh this is sooo much fun . .
As a few of you predicted, I think I am addicted !  I keep looking around the house and mentally ticking off all the things I could paint . . .
Ok, so I know these pics look like we just used "Original", but I assure you there was "Old Ochre", "French Linen" and "Antoinette" involved too.

The two most-adorable-pups-in-the-world initially watched with interest, but soon the idea of a nap in the sunny spot proved more alluring.

Watching paint dry really is sooo boring . . . ZZzzz

But I'm afraid you'll have to wait 'til I return from my hols before I can show you the end results, as I'm not quite finished yet.  Still some sanding and waxing to do.  So that's a table, a mirror, and a cake stand added to my WIP list . . .

Arrivederci for now,

catch up when I get back.

'til then, take care and be happy . . .

xoxo

Something for the Weekend: the Winners . . .

Good morning, and I hope you've had a lovely weekend . . .

Thanks to everyone who entered my holiday weekend giveaway, I've just popped all the names in a box {the usual hat has been packed away with my winter things} and drawn out the two lucky winners.

First up was the Crochet winner, then out came those wee bits of paper and into the box went the names for the Blog book. 

And the winners are . . . 

Hazel

Which one? I hear you ask.

Well . . . BOTH of them ; - )

I kid you not !!  How spooky is that ?

So, congrats to Hazel at Hazel's Crochet and Hazel at Cupcakery.   I'll email you both shortly to get your details and pop your prizes in the post a.s.a.p.  I hope you enjoy them : - )
And if you don't already know their blogs, do pop over and say hello - they are guaranteed to inspire you !

* * * * * *

Oh, and a wee sneak peek of just one of the things I got up to at the weekend . . .

More about that soon, but right now I need to dash around and run some errands.

Having an extra day at the weekend is lovely, but it does tend to throw the rest of the week out of kilter, don't you think ?

 

Back soon,

have a happy day

xoxo

Something for the weekend . . .

It's Friday {and the start of a long weekend here in the UK},

 the sun is shining,

 the birds are chirping, 

 the temps are on the way up, 

 and my little blog has reached the 200 followers milestone . . .

. . . just the perfect excuse for a wee giveaway, don't you think ? 

Firstly a BIG thanks to all you lovely peeps who follow along on my little crafty adventures.  

Your sweet comments delight and encourage me, and in turn, all your lovely blogs inspire me to greater crafty heights : -)

Right, so, how would you like to add one of these lovely books* to your shelf ?

First up,

one for all you crocheters out there . . .

Hip Crochet

by Natalie Clegg

 ". . .includes fun crochet projects to give your home a touch of colour, with patterns to suit all tastes and levels of ability. "

 and

a little crocheted hook holder 
 {just like this one that I posted about here } which I'll make especially for the lucky winner in the colour of your choice.

This book is filled with some really fun & fab projects . . .

OR

if you're not much into crochet, then how about this lot ?

Blogging for Bliss 
- Crafting Your Own Online Journal

{ A Guide for Crafters, Artists & Creatives of All Kinds }

by Tara Frey

It's full of lots of hints & tips and all sorts of bloggy ideas & inspiration, and showcases some beautiful pics and lovely blogs.

". . . offers encouraging advice and solid how-to information on creating an inventive blog that reflects your unique style."

and two fun little WI books that offer all sorts of practical know-how regarding the wardrobe and the garden.  At the very least they will give you a giggle : -)

* * * * * * *

So, if you'd like to participate in my little holiday weekend giveaway, all you need to do is:

• already be a follower, or follow my blog, either with GFC or Bloglovin' {both links are to be found in the column to the right}; and
•  leave me a comment on this post, and mention which one of the giveaways you'd like - crochet or blog book. 

It's that simple  !

Entries will close after the Bank Holiday weekend, let's say 08h00 {GMT} on Tuesday morning,
 7th May 2013, and I'll announce the lucky winners a.s.a.p thereafter.

Good luck . . . and I hope you have a happy, sunshiney weekend.

xoxo

* This is not a sponsored giveaway, nor have I been asked to review any of the books. 

Oh-sew-much-fun . . .

If you caught this post from last week, you'll know that I was taking part in an all-day workshop at the lovely Sew Me Something Emporium in Stratford-upon-Avon, to learn how to make a Reversible Skirt.

ooh, & there's a fab little vintage shop right next door too . . .

So, we spent the day pinning & cutting & sewing & pressing & nattering & learning all sorts of new things 

{like how to make not just one, but two skirts, and how to pin and cut them both out at the same time, and how to make a bias binding, and how to make a button placket . . .

for example !}.

Needless to say there was a wee bit of unpicking / seam-ripping / frogging . . . call it what you may, either way it's still most annoying. 

But that didn't distract from the fun, one little bit.

And gradually our lovely skirts took shape . . .

how about that button placket, eh ?

 We had all chosen different fabrics so it was fab to see how unique each of our skirts looked.  I must confess to a tad wee bit of fabric envy here - they're all so lovely, don't you think?

I didn't quite finish mine by the end of the day . . . did I mention there was nattering, tea, yummy biscuits and lunch inbetween too?  Oh and the sweetest choccie Lab to be fussed & cuddled . . .

 Jules' rescue dog, and the new Sew Me Something's mascot, Shadow, kept a look out from his bed - every now & again having a wee wander around the studio to check on our progress.

 I've still got to make the button holes, sew on the buttons and take up the hem, but I am so chuffed with my skirt and can't wait to make another one : - )

And that's the workshop that was . . . another well-spent creative day.

BIG thanks to the ever-so-patient Jules for her guidance & inspiration, and to Sarah, Jayne, Carolyn, June & Samantha for keeping me company. 

xoxo