I'M A WINNER!

I was the lucky winner of Mrs L's monthly giveaway on her blog 21st Century Housewife. I won this wonderful pair of hand knit socks. They feel so soft and snugly and I just know they are going to be really cosy - thank you Mrs L.

If you have not visited Mrs L's blog before there are some wonderful hand knits that she makes and also some really nice recipes and photographs of nature. In fact her whole blog is centered around nature and living more in harmony with it. A really lovely blog.

ROLO TARTS

Ingredients
1pk Shortcrust Pastry
24 Rolos
24 White Chocolate Buttons

Preheat oven to 180'C. Grease 2 x 12 hole bun tins. Roll out pastry and cut out 24 round or square pastry shapes big enough to cover holes in bun tin. Put one Rolo in each tart. Bake for 10-15 minutes, then immediately put one large white chocolate button on top of each tart. Leave to cool slightly. Eat while warm.

MY CATH KIDSTON BAG

I recently bought the book Make by Cath kidston. It came with a blank bag that you could applique yourself, so at the weekend I cut stars from the pattern inside the book and decorated the bag with them. The fabric I used was left over from the curtains from my doll's house.

The bag is just the right size for holding my lunchbox and book that I take to work and it's nice and light to carry.

COLOUR SWAP GOODIES

I recently joined a Colour Swap with Jessica at Kid's Napping? I'm Scrapping. You had to send your partner craft items in a colour that they specified. My swap partner was Emma from Stitching Magpie, and this morning I received a beautiful pink parcel from her.

There were some really lovely items in the parcel including a hand made bunny (according to the kids it's name is Miffy, so this is what we have called her), a cupcake bath bomb, lots of ribbon and beads and some gorgeous fabric in various shades of pink. There was also 2 beautiful wooden pink hearts.

Thank you to Emma for the lovely gifts - I am so pleased with them. Also thank you to Jessica for organising the swap - I have really enjoyed it.

I'VE RECEIVED AN AWARD!

Thank you to Nana Grace at Nana Grace's Place for giving me the Sisterhood Award. I am so honoured to receive this award from her. Please check out her blog to view her lovely crafts.

The rules connected to the award are thus:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post

2. Nominate at least 10 (11) blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!

3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received your award.

I am passing the award over to the following people:

At Home With MelMel

21st Century Housewife

Jose-Mary

Stitching Magpie

Vintage Tea

Faerie Nuff

Tiny Treasures

La Stanza di Guiggiola

Kitschen Pink

Little Gems World

I have informed everyone about the above, but I am having problems reading MelMel's blog tonight. If you are reading this Mel, then you will know I have given you this award!!

VINTAGE TREASURES

As promised, here are the pictures of the things which my Aunt brought for me last night. There was a huge suitcase to sort through but I only wanted a few things. These have been in my Aunts loft for between 10 and 15 years since my Nan and Great Aunt died.

It started by my saying that I quite fancied taking up crochet and my aunt said she had some hooks that belonged to my Autie Gertie (yes, I said Gertie - my Nan's name was Florence Winifred - lovely old fashioned names!!) To get some idea of their era my nan was born in 1907 and my Aunt Gertie 1905, although some things are fairly new, such as the crochet hooks. I had an apron, a set of crochet hooks, a vintage pattern book complete with patterns for woolly knickers, an unfinished embroidered tea cosy, embroidered tray cloths , some filet crochet lace edging that my aunt made (no picture) and some old knitting patterns for doll clothes.

Next week my Aunt said she would bring some cookery books for me that go back to the war.

KIM'S BIRTHDAY

Monday 2nd March was Kim's birthday (she was 14). As it was a school day I said she could have some friends to sleep over at the weekend, so this is what she did last night. Not sure what time they went to sleep as I was asleep first! (My two are the two with the lighter hair).

She had some birthday money so she decided to buy a Wii Fit, which of course I had to have a go of! I'm still aching - but they are fantastic, well worth the money. This has nicely coincided with the fact that I started a diet last Tuesday. I'm not overweight but my BMI could do with lowering from 24 to about 22, which I hope to achieve in about 6-8 weeks.

The picture is of the girls after invading the kitchen and making ice cream soda! They stayed in their pyjamas until about 2pm, which is not normally allowed as I like them up and dressed straight away in the mornings, so this was a bit of a novelty.

My Auntie came this evening and let me sort through some craft items belonging to my Grandmother and my Great Aunt. I was told to take whatever I wanted, so tomorrow I will show you what I have got - lots of lovely vintage items!