The rhythm of the family

I totally feel in love with this book, I'm sure the changing of seasons made me enjoy it just that little bit more. There is so much to enjoy, a families journey through the year, both mother and father write an essay for each month, followed by something to make , something to do. A real celebration of a family living by their own ethos, being close to nature. There is plenty of criticism for the oh so simple and idyllic lifestyle of which many felt un attainable, but personally I am a mum who likes to harvest, gather make and do. Granted not always to the ability I aspire but that means there is always a next time. I feel this is a book to be celebrated and refer back to time and time again, which I intend to do so.

Swaps, gifts, and nice things.

This is a bit of a show off post really.Goodies have been sent and received for the lovely spring sewing swap over at kestrelfindsandmakes.blogspot.com .

 

I was lucky enough to be swapping with Vicki from vickikatemakes.wordpress.com/ it has been so lovely creating a parcel for a new friend. Vicki has an amazing talent makes the most wonderful fitted dresses. Being a swap this is what I received, oh lucky me! I just love the skirt pattern and plan an autumn skirt already.

This is what I sent Vicki, a hard task but good fun making a parcel that is liked by a new blogger friend.

 

 

I have also been a winner this week, Super Debbie from  minnado.blogspot.com  

 Look at this lovely plaid (as it's called in the US) and beautiful lace. Thank you so much Debbie.

And finally, a confession, I just couldn't help myself, it was only £10 and when I looked inside I surprised at how many lovely makes there are inside. So I bought it!

Sewing update : Yes I'm still working on that maxi dress, I hope to finish it soon as I'm planning to join in with the bombshell swimming costume sew along.

Hope all is well in your world. x x x 

This is my favourite book of the moment!

Honestly Healthy: Eat with Your Body in Mind, the Alkaline Way by Natasha Corrett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book ROCKS!!!! I totally love it. It is clean and fresh for the eyes and the palette. All the information is simple and thought around real people that can slowing make positive changes to their diet without the crash and burn 'I can't keep this up' kind of mentality. The recipes to have a few weird and wholefood shop only ingredients but I think that is good as we should be supporting these shops, any way that's a different subject all together. Recipes, they are colorful and inspiring. Just buy it, make stuff from it, feel good. ;)

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A Little Sewing

I have great pleasure to inform you that I Charlotte Pb has ventured back to the world of dressmaking. It has been over six months since I have last made myself anything, taking the pressure away and treating myself to some shop bought clothes really help my busy times. Although I have actually missed my crafting/ hobby times, so with a week off work I indulged myself, just a little.

Firstly I have to say I was going to enter this into Faye's essential top sew along, I even finished it in time BUT I lost the lead to my camera and had to order a new one. So the sew along has been and gone and it was tremendous with over a hundred participants, so well done Faye!

My little effort as you know I don't tend to push the boundaries of effort was an easy top, taken form this lovely book.

This book is a real gem, so may other have noted that often this style of book comes with limited sizing. I used small pattern and I am generally a size 14.  The garments in this book really lend themselves to English weather, lots of layering of clothes to suit ant season. I chose a basic top, but I am also eyeing up the drawstring trousers and a a cute dress.
 

I was true to form very easy to make up, and I am enjoying the way it hangs, I don't like anything too tight around my middle! It does have an essence of a smock, due to the lack of darts, but with home made binding a cute sleeves I think this is a wearable little number. Note to self though, is to improve with the binding around the neck, I had give it a little pleat as it gaped. I'm sure there are better ways to deal with this.
 

The fabric is thrift from a duvet cover bought from a boot fair last summer. I just long for a bit of warmth to wear it now.

Book Review

The Allotment Chef: Home-Grown Recipes and Seasonal Stories by Paul Merrett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a wonderful book. Really honest and down to earth stories. A family trying to start allotmenting and changing consumer habits, or the reality of making an effort.
In the past this is the kind of book I flick through, but I read every page, Paul has a great sense humor and I didn't feel it was cliched veg growing/ cooking book.
The only grind I had with the stories was that Paul was able to spend so so much time raising his plot when only some of us can dream! Which leads me nicely to say that next on my allotment series of book planned to be read will be allotment gardening in half an hour.
Well worth a read!

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Patch book review and Self stitched Tablecloth

Patch! by Cath Kidston
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Like many other goodread reviewers I felt the projects where simple, but I did still enjoy browsing over the lovely Cath Kidston fabrics. And I have even managed to be inspired enough to have a go. A nice book but glad I got my copy from the library!

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 I must add though I did try out the tablecloth idea. In the book Cath has a great collection of beautiful french linen tea towels, without this kind of stash myself I invested in some and Patched together my own tablecloth. I am pleased with the results, happy I have made something for the home.

I think I would like to finish off by making some nice place mats. I would also like to make the cute pin cushion in the patch book, it's simple hexagon patchwork, effective!

Running

Running Made Easy by Susie Whalley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is such a brilliant book. A magazine style enables you to flick backwards and forward finding the information you need at the time. It certainly inspired me and helped to complete my first runs all 60 seconds of them! I followed the first 10 week plan and feel unstoppable.

View all my reviews Something I haven't blogged about yet is my new found love. I have for some time wanted to get my heart pumping, be a fitter healthier me. I had this book on my shelf for three years before really thinking I could do it. I have finished the first plan of couch to 5k and now run three times a week with every week getting better!Although this is a scary thing to do I will share my hopes that I would really like to be able to run 10k events next spring, so watch this space!

A Fine Balance

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a totally amazing book. So so wonderful, but so terribly sad. Beautifully written, totally engaging with such characters that stay with you for life. It educated me culturally. This will now and for ever be in my top 5!

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Book review : Home dressmaking by Good Housekeeping.

Can you believe this, I picked up this book for a staggering 1 penny! Yep, I am feeling a little pleased with myself!!

 

So what attracted me to this book other than the price and that I have countless teach you how to sew book? Well the front cover of course!

Those lovely girls look so sweet and the they look even better inside. All images are drawn but very good and informative, just like a step by step guide to successful sewing should be from Good Housekeeping. It does have everything basic sewing needs and a good problem solving chapter at the back.

Other than the girl pictures I totally feel in love with the first chapter, The Total Look. The very beginning was completely relevant today although it was published in 1977. 

And just like the recent Colette book it asks us to take a good look at our figures, although it has wonderful terms such Tall, plump girls, and A round Roley poly figure!!

I did think this was a great book though and it will be firmly staying on my bookshelf and ready to remind myself the best way to achieve better sewing.

 

 

A bit of Crafting.

If you enjoy crafts as well as dressmaking you probably also have the same problem as me. Yes books! I just can not help myself, anything with a pretty picture and I need a copy. So here is the latest edition to the book shelf

As craft books go I really enjoyed this, all the projects are manageable without having to buy loads of new equipment or fabric. Amanda seems to share my love affair of old blankets too. A few of the projects we have certainly seen before but it's always nice to be inspired or see how someone else makes bags or pot holders etc.

I would also add that it's pretty much a yummy mummy's kind of book, which is fine with me. It also has a good look using up those vintage bits of fabric.

So this is my attempt at a bedroom banner for Arthur. We have been decorating his room with a budget of £0. 

We also made ART with Arthur to hang in his room. I had this canvas lurking in the loft so still sticking to budget.

A bit of thrifting always helps on the decorating, so we found this great print for a staggering £1. It's so sweet and we are huge fans of Beatrix Potter.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend. x x x

The Vintage Tea Party Book.

I adore vintage so this was a must have just because of the front cover! The art work is just wonderful, if not magical with it's animals and old style all mixed up to create a rather special tea party!

The tea parties themselves are in chapters breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening. Even including how to make invitations and not to forget the thank yous!

Initially at glance I thought the food looked fun and nice to look at in a book but pro bally not something I would ever really attempt. Reading more I was inspired more that I now have a few favourites that I like to use. The easiest being the heart cream cheese and cucumber hearts.

Amongst all that party food for grown ups, oh and drinks I really loved the crafts ideas. Flags and hats, anyone who like to make an effort or a bit a show even, this is the perfect book to inspire an essence of fun, food, crafts and that a touch of English eccentrics . I think you would like this book, I did.