Dusty

Did you know that I have the most beautiful little girl in the world!?

These boots are made for walking - Sherborne, Gloucestershire

Today we went on a beautiful 2.5 mile walk around the woods and village of Sherborne in Gloucestershire.
 
In the village there is also the lovely 18th century Sherborne Estate, originally built by the Dutton family with the help of local quarryman Valentine Strong.  Aparently It is said to be haunted by the hunchback and gambler known as 'Crump' Dutton.  This estate, which was also once a boarding school, is now luxury flats.

The walk only took 1 hour and was lovely and flat and was only slightly muddy from the miserable winter weather.  There were lots on lovely views and it would be stunning in the summer months.

There were also some nice suprises in the woods along the way...

Art in nature!

Distance: 2.5 Miles

Duration: 1 Hour

Dogs: On lead around the small village and off lead through the woods and fields

Landscape: Village paths and National Trust woodland area.  Muddy paths in poor weather

Difficulty: Easy with very mild ascents

Rating: ***/**

Sew we dance some more

Sew we dance

I began dancing around the age of 4 and although I was really into the tap dancing, I was always a little jealous of the petite girls that were fabulous at ballet.  When the other girls were going 'en pointe' I was tapping away perfecting my 'wings' and 'pick up's'!

I truly loved my tap dancing but a little part of me would love to have been born with the grace and elegance of a ballet dancer.  These days I watch with huge admiration as ballet dancers twirl around en pointe making it look effortless and beautiful, but knowing the dedication and pain they have to go through to present themselves so stunningly.

Now with the help of my new best friend (the sewing machine), I have been hard at work this evening to combine my new love of cotton with my love of (watching) ballet.  It's not yet finished but here is my machine embroidery work in progress...

And so to sew

Huge thanks to Tracey (http://www.craftytrekky.blogspot.com/) for furnishing me with my first sewing machine.

The last time I used a sewing machne was about 16 years ago at school and I was HOPELESS.  But recently I've thought about having another go.  Now I can and have!

I think there will be many more sewing machine projects on the way.  At least now I wont have to hand repair the pockets in my man's trousers now!  Phew!

Learning the ropes with my teacher Tracey!

My first home made bag using Cath Kidston material

Complete with machine sewed buttons and machine sewed button holes

(which weren't easy but I think they turned out okay and I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon)

Free hand machine embroidery ballet dancer

(drawn onto the felt first)

Spin me right round like a record baby

While working in Mallorca in 2004 - 2008, my man and I would always listen to music by Journey whilst driving around the beautiful island descovering stunning areas where only the locals go.

Now with The X Factor and Glee covering 'Don't Stop Believing', originally released in 1981, Journey have now gained a new fan base;  I would like to point out at this point that my chap has liked them for years and introduced them to me before their new found popularity!

For his birthday this year, I managed to get 2 tickets to see them playing in Birmingham later in 2011, and as a bonus related pressie, I got Journey's 1981 LP, 'Escape' and modified it to make a really funky bowl!

I made sure that I purchased 2 of these just incase the project went pear shaped at the first attempt, and I was all too aware that he would be horrified that he could not listen to in on the vinyl as it was originally intended. 

Everyone's a winner!

Christmas Cupcakes

Christmas is a time when we all tend to over indulge and eat too much chocolate.  So what better activity for Boxing Day than to bake Cupcakes!

I was given 'The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook' for Christmas and I couldn't wait to get the flour out and get started.

So with the sister in law in tow, we set to and made Chocolate and Hazelnut Cupcakes and Stawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes and stood them beautifully on the stand given to me by one of my closest friends Kelly for Christmas. (See her blog at http://liketoswingonastar.blogspot.com/)