Day 31

My crafty creating is in full flow this afternoon. Here you can see my punched-out stars, just underneath the deluge of chads from the one-hole punch.

I know, I know it's cheating but I had to post 2 photos today - please indulge me! I found a recipe for some Homemade Edible (although not yummy) Paint*; I made it this morning and thought I'd share...

* http://www.theimaginationtree.com/2011/03/homemade-edible-finger-paint-recipe.html

Day 30

I've been gathering some stars and starry things for nursery next week and I'd decided to make some saltdough stars this weekend. So, B&F helped me out ... their lovingly rolled out and carefully cut out stars are currently baking in the oven. Some for me at nursery, some for them. 

Thank you for your help, lovelies x

Day 29

In response to my Armadale post (Day 25), K commented her expectation that all my Wilkie Collins books are matching editions ... alas not. They are a hodge-podge of different editions although the Oxford Classics are tipping the balance as I think them aesthetically pleasing with excellent notes. But the same cannot be said for my Wodehouses! All the same gorgeous editions!

Day 28

What does it say when my blog post is a picture of my food shopping? Does it make it worse to say that this was taken while the shopping was in the car and there it remains?! I think I've posted this partly to say that it's hard to hit a good rhythm, to feel like life is working, functioning not dragging. I'm looking forward to a restorative weekend...

(By the way, the muffins went down really well; my friend/colleague said "Thank you for the muffins, they were amazing. Actually, they were beyond amazing!")

Day 27

An odd photo, I know. I've baked some muffins (the new cake cases you've seen) and prepared a card to share in the staff room tomorrow and, as it's been on my mind, I'd thought I'd share it as today's photo. 

"Long before He laid down earth's foundations, God had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love ... He wanted us to enter into the celebration of His lavish gift-giving by the hand of His beloved Son." Ephesians 1:3-6 MSG

May you know the joy of celebrating His lavish gift-giving this Resurrection time xx

Day 26

A quick peek at a little bird I bought in Devon this weekend.

Day 25

It's time to talk about books. I savour, cherish and delight in a good book and a Wilkie Collins book is, generally, excellent. I first came across Collins nearly three years ago, when I read The Woman in White - I know it's a cliché, but I really, really couldn't put it down. I believe this is my 8th Wilkie Collins novel ... only 242 pages to go! 

Day 24

On the way back from Devon, we visited Lynton and Lynmouth and this quite extraordinary Cliff Railway connecting the two. This photo was taken from inside the Victorian water-powered lift. The passenger next to me remarked "I'm confident because it was made in the 1890s; if it had been made in the 1980s, I'd be really scared!"

Day 23

What I have to say is that wetsuits are incredible! I have wanted to surf for years and today was the day... Having driven down to Croyde Bay, fought my way into a wetsuit and carried my board down to the beach, it was time! So, so good - I loved it even though it was really hard work and I didn't even make it onto my knees, let alone my feet. But, my goodness, my arms, chest and stomach ache!!

Day 22

Arise, shine, bake some muffins and get on with your day! 

(PS - Happy birthday, my dear Z xx)

Day 21

 All of my photo plans were derailed today, so I looked around and found something pretty and precious, given to me a few years ago. For some reason, I really liked this one so here it is... but just in case you want to see the whole thing, here it is!

Day 20

Irresistible Numbers - stage 2!

Day 19

Irresistible Numbers - stage 1...

Day 18

Today my (bordering on garishly pink!) trainers made it out of the cupboard and onto my feet. So good to be out running again, even if briefly, especially in the glorious sunshine.

Day 17

Goodness me, the actual sewing hardly takes any time but the preparation sometimes feels endless! In the middle of another afternoon of fabric prep, I thought I'd show you some of my lovely heart pins. Hopefully, I'll be able to show you some finished projects in the next couple of days!

Day 16

It's been a few hours of pattern piece copying in preparation for the pattern piece cutting, in preparation for the sewing together. Obviously, I stopped to take some photos along the way. Here's some seriously fab safety pin fabric.

Day 15

Here are my new, rather delightful, heart cake cases... 
More on them in a couple of weeks! :-)

Day 14

About an hour ago, B came up to me and said "I think this duck would like to go on your blog." Wish granted!

Day 13

Is this what happens when you embark on a photography blog ... you go a bit crazy? You find yourself thinking about the different playdoughs you've made for your toddlers, you think about how to share it on your blog, you go to work early and start playing with it in order to do so? Crazy or not, snails seemed the best way to go! From left to right: red sparkly, lilac coloured lavender scented and uncoloured with sunflower and pumpkin seeds. 

PS - The birds (see Day 11) were a hit!!

Day 12

Day 11

My little plan for this evening was to make a bag out of the bird fabric remnants I have, share a lovely picture of it with you, then to fill it with these funky bird pegs and take them to nursery tomorrow to play with. (Good colour learning and matching opportunities, as well as honing those fine motor skills with some pegging!) However, the bird bag wasn't feeling very photogenic, but the birds were. So, here they are! 

Day 10

I went for a walk this morning - ooh, the wind was bitterly cold! Here's the first little bridge I came to. 

Day 9

At Jenna's this evening.

Day 8

Earlier this week I was flicking through a book about playfulness, checking out the chapters. The first chapter's sub-headings were as follows: Why children play | Fostering Closeness instead of Isolation | Fostering Confidence instead of Powerlessness | Fostering Emotional Recovery instead of Emotional Distress.

The sentiments - placing value on children and honouring the contribution they have to bring  - utterly resonate with me. I consider it my responsibility and my privilege to provide protected space for children both to explore and enjoy, with other children and adults whose pleasure it is to nurture and invest in them. 

It's not 'just play'; it's life-giving and it's essential.  

Day 7

Some current knitting projects.

Day 6

Some things about the past couple of days have been hard. Today was a day of those things. And getting back at 10.30 pm still without a photo, despite my plans to make it happen, was a step too far. I wept in my frustration, weary of feeling trapped; being slowly suffocated by a hundred small restrictions. And then I decided to go to the Clifton Suspension Bridge and find a photo, so I did. 

Day 5

I'm glad I walked to work today, the weather was so gorgeous! Having got there 10 minutes early, my camera and I went to see the crocuses.

Day 4

A sea of buttons.

Day 3

I got up this morning and pulled open the blind, revealing my thickly frosted car. I was outside within minutes, taking some photos of frosty grass, quite enjoying this angle.

Day 2

Today I took a little stroll in the garden, enjoying the sunshine, searching for inspiration. I found a lovely, bare tree and some glorious, blue sky.

Day 1

The last few days have confirmed what I have long suspected - that it's really quite hard to take a good photograph! So, I'm starting simply with some tulips.