Wandering

I can't just nip to the boulangerie in this medieval village without taking a walk. Bella and I wandered down the side streets and over grown paths. If this village was in the UK it would be packed with visitors. There would be cafes and bars and tourist shops. But here apart from July and August when the theatre companies arrive, it is very quiet. I love the scruffiness of the place and the wildflowers that grow up doorways. I just need to get to grips with walking up those steep paths that I always regret venturing down.

First kiss

On the way back from camping, we stopped for lunch with our friends who were down from Paris for the weekend. Sam (as I've said before) loves Luka. They've known each other since they were 4 months old and it seems Bella and Louis have a something special too :-) And for future reference Bella, this was your first kiss!

Little campers

We took the children on a little camping trip this weekend, just an hour and half away to a lake with a beach and park. It was great. It was little difficult at first to contain Sam and Bella. Bella wanted to crawl off around the campsite and with a blink of an eye Sam was in the neighbours caravan. Luckliy the people around us were children friendly and didn't mind at all.

Bella loved the water and unlike her brother was straight in the water without a care in the world. Sam, kitted out in swimming shorts and armbands, dipped his toe in and said it was "too cold". He retreated to the sand to build sandcastles with Scott.

We are all very tired but it was worth it.

Up-cycled shorts

These were my second shot at making Sam a a pair of shorts. After the last attempt failed, I was determined to make him a pair he liked. The problem was, I didn't have any fabric. So, I set to looking through my old clothes ready for the charity shop and came across an old denim skirt. Et, voila! Not bad if I do say so myself :)

Framed!

I was wondering what to take photos of. Then I saw this old frame lying on my bed waiting to be attended to. So. I thought it would be a fun idea to frame the sky, the ground and flowers. Silly really.

Strawberries #2

So many strawberries. Scott and Sam planted them in the raised bed and in barrels too. They are everywhere and they taste fantastic!

The bermudas which were for Sam

those curls!

These were meant for Sam and I was so excited when I made them to show them to him. I wasn't really expecting the reaction I recieved. A full blown tantrum! It was a school day and he pleaded with me not to wear them. I was so upset, then I realised that he had a point. They are too 'babyish' and he felt embarrassed. Never mind. Bella is happy to wear them (she can't complain yet!) and I have made Sam some more appropriate shorts in the meantime which he has accepted :)

Making

I am terribly disorganised when it comes to sending greeting cards and the main reason is that cards in my local shopping area are truly awful and expensive and I never think far enough in advance to order them elsewhere. So yesterday Sam and I set about making a card for my mum's birthday and as he loves sewing at the moment, we decided to make a fabric card. I think this is the way forward. I just need a good card stock.

p.s. since Sam was ill the other week and lost near to a kilo, he has not stopped eating and looks happier and healthier for it :)

Flowers for the book

Flowers for the pressed flower book, picked by little hands on our little tours of the village....

Hotting up!

It's been more like summer here than spring. With temperatures reaching 29 degrees yesterday, we've been taking frequent breaks inside to cool down.

I've been trying to brighten some of the dull old furniture up with whatever paint I could find and Bella has been helping as you can see. I painted the fireplace which was a black marble like colour and brightened up the walls with  fabric - what else.

For now, Sam is playing with his birthday presents. Patch the dog ate the legs of all his dinosaurs, so I bought him a new lot, which hopefully will stay in one piece!

My creative space

My first ever commission! Even if it was from my husband. He requested a something to keep his precious Japanese chisels safely in. I found some canvas and stripy fabric and set to. He is a very happy customer.

Also, a tote bag made from my vintage fabric stash using my Cath Kidston 'Sew' book.

More creative spaces here