A Maud, a make and a mandala!

First Maud. 

A belated birthday present from Mr K. 

Here she is in all her glory.

Or should I say her birthday suit! 

Pretty roses all around.

But Maud! Where are your manners? Clothe yourself immediately!

Aha - I see you have chosen my latest make (did you see what I did there?!)

A tunic from The Great British Sewing Bee book  - the first series. Yes that's how long it's taken me.

But what's over there on yonder table?

Don't tell me ... it isn't ... you can't have?

You have! You've succumbed to mandala mania!

Destined for Yarndale and using the Petal and Puffs tutorial over at the very talented Bunny Mummy's blog here.

What fun!

Hold on - I sense mischief.

Hello Birdy, what can I do for you today?

You're hungry?

Oh dear - I don't think I have anything for you.

What's that - you've spotted some worms?

You haven't.

You're not going to...

BIRDY!!!

Jane

xxx

P.S. Some of us bloggers are going to meet up at Yarndale - anyone else going?

A Shameless Bit of Self Gratuity .....

I've been a.w.o.l. for some time owing to some rotten virus type thing that just won't seem to budge, but just wanted to pop on to say IT'S MY BIRTHDAY in a completely self gratuitous manner! Being nice and spoilt and taking it eeeeaaaaasy. 

Hope you're all virus free and will enjoy a slice of virtual cake with me (courtesy of Nigel Slater)

Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.

Bye for now my lovely bloggy buddies,

Jane 

xxx

Aaaaugust ...

Better late than never - my calendar page for August

'Puss 'n Boots' By Herbert Laupin

It's been a bitty month so far - lots going on but nothing really to write home about. So I'll put it here instead!

Little Sis turned sixteen

Part of her present included a bedroom makeover so out with the girly yellow and in with the - gulp - all white with one black wall look. It actually looks fab but as I keep reminding her if she wants to thoroughly achieve a minimalist look she does have to tidy up after herself - not sure if that one will work! To inject some colour we spent a pleasurable evening sticking bits of paper onto the back of a perfectly nice dressing table mirror.

This wasn't quite finished but I then went out for the evening and on return realised the wonderfully helpful Mr K had reinstated them on the dressing table. Hm. 

We've enjoyed glorious evening walks

With gorgeous skies

Loved this cloud

Regularly checked our fruit harvest

Just enough to keep the birds happy

Had a wonderful day trip to Buxton with its glorious opera house and pavilion (more on this another time)

Took some odd photographs

Underside of fern

Vapour moth caterpillar - we called him Leonard

Ridiculously big dogs - look at the bin for scale!

I've finally finished my crocheted object! 

It's a bag! I do realise however that I can only buy attractive objects to go inside - none of your reduced prawn butties in here.

And I have another project on the needles - this time I'm going to attempt a fancy nancy lace shawl although I'm finding the mohair blend a bit of a bind.

So do you see what I mean? Lots of stuff going on but none of it particularly newsworthy or indeed vaguely interesting. So I'll leave you with a happy picture - happy for me because the fact I'm looking up has given me an instant face lift (I'm going to insist Mr K stands on a ladder for all my forthcoming portaits)!

Enjoy the weekend!

Jane

x

Purple?

I think I've mentioned I like green. Many times. Any shade. Love it.

So this morning I was surprised and thrilled to receive these from my lovely man.

Flowers in glorious shades of purples, pinks and blues.

Followed by a punnet of pansies...

...in the deepest purple you could imagine.

Then came a wonderful blueberry bush

with the promise of delicious purple fruits

Some rosemary - renowned for it's spikes of purple/blue flowers

And finally - this

(I love the fact Big Sis has added a bell!)

I love green but maybe purple is pretty good too!

Thanks to my family and friends for their lovely thoughtful gifts on my birthday.

Hope you are surrounded by colour wherever you are.

Jane

xxx