About Me

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My name's Alison but for reasons too long to go into I'm known as Cockney Blonde or CB for short. I've been rubber stamping for several years but now spend most of my time either knitting or crocheting. However, with the advent of a New Year I have bitten the bullet and am tackling my usually hated pastime of sewing. I've even bought 'Sewing for Dummies' to guide me on my way. I've been with my hubby Dave for 24 years and between us we have 4 kids and 5 grandkids. We also have 2 cats and a dog, the latter features as my 'photo' image. I used to be able to blog daily but these days I struggle to blog weekly. Hopefully now we are settled into our new home in the country, I can get back to a daily (well almost) update from the room I now have to share with hubby. No more personal crafting space for me!!! Thanks to all the blogs and sites I follow for all your brilliant inspiration, and thank you to everyone who finds the time to comment on my blog.

Wednesday 30 January 2013

Oh Where, Oh Where, Has My Mojo Gone???


I don't know what's happened to my card-making/papercrafting Mojo. I think I must have left it behind in Bradford when we moved.
Whether its my new 'life' or the environment I don't know, but all I want to do at the moment is knit, crochet and sew.......Can you believe I just used the 's' word. Me and sewing......Note to self 'must see Doctor soon'.

So here are 3 more ear warmers that I knitted up a couple of weeks ago and only got around to sewing on the buttons yesterday. They'll appear in my Folksy shop a little later today.


I've also been busy knitting a cardi for our English Grandee which I should be able to share with you very soon

Oh, forgot to mention.....I'm also seriously into baking. Every Sunday since Christmas I've been making a loaf of bread, a cake and biscuits.....Yummy!

TTFN, x

Sunday 27 January 2013

52 Weeks of Happiness - 4/52

This is something you can start at anytime. Click on the link to read about this lovely idea started by Jen
http://jenlittlebirdie.blogspot.co.uk/p/52-weeks-of-happy.html

Basically, every week you show 4 pictures of things that have made you smile, made you happy...you get the idea
You can start at anytime and I'm sure it doesn't matter if you miss a week, or two.
I've numbered mine as week 4 (even though this is my first week) on the basis that its the end of the 4th week of the year.
So here are my 4 piccies for this week

1. Our grandee doing some 'on foot' dancing with one of my Mum's nurses
2. My new craft result - wine coasters which I'll tell you more about another day

3. The happy couple outside their snow covered wedding venue

4. In case you missed them first time round - those fab shoes

Join in the fun and bring a smile to more faces.

TTFN, x

Saturday 26 January 2013

90 Years Young

 Good Evening Bloggers. I've popped in this evening to share some very special photos with you. Despite poor health and several worrying spells my Mum celebrated her 90th Birthday today. As you can see from the photos she was having a good day today and enjoyed the little party at her Nursing Home with a 'George Formby' entertainer.

Below is her great grand-daughter helping to blow out the candles with her Daddy (my #1 Son) looking on.

My Mother always liked a tipple and this piccie made us laugh as she suddenly came to life when a glass of bubbly was poured for her. In the background is her photo taken nearly 5 years ago, more bubbly on view.

Here's our little lady with her own little baby in a Grandma knitted dress.

Finally a picture of the birthday girl smelling her flowers.
Happy Birthday Mum, x

Wednesday 23 January 2013

We made it to Leicester

 Hello Bloggers, how are you all bearing up in this cold weather. We still have several inches of the white stuff and so has Leicester, as you can see. The above is a piccie of the Guild Hall where the wedding was held that we were able to get to despite the weather. It was a fabulous medieval listed building that apparently has been used for many things before being licensed for marriages.

Below is a picture of the fireplace. I'm afraid my photography wasn't brilliant but the colours and detail were amazing.
Here are a couple of 'gate-crashers' posing infront of said fireplace.


The following photos are of an old 18th Century chair and desk which was possibly used in ceremonies of oath taking


I thought I'd also share with you a close up of the bride's bouquet. Very simple colour arrangement but stunning.

Finally, a bit of fun. I spotted these red shoes on a young lady at the wedding and couldn't resist taking a photo.
Hope you've enjoyed my snaps and I'll be back soon with some makes.

TTFN, x

Saturday 19 January 2013

A little bit of Stazon does youn good...


In the absence of anything else and in line with my New Year Resolution, I thought I'd share with you a card I made at our recent craft group.
Its a technique I originally learned from Cath Wilson and I've revisited it a couple of times and am always amazed by the vibrant and different results that can be achieved.
The flower was strategically placed to cover a mishap...

Hope you are all keeping warm in this cold weather. We have about 6" of snow on our little 'estate' and as yet I haven't ventured out in the car. Clearly the wrong time of year to have got rid of my 4 x 4 and I don't want to scratch my 'new' car. Fingers crossed we are able to travel to Leicester on Monday for a wedding.

TTFN, x

Monday 14 January 2013

No More Messy Handbags


Evening Bloggers, I hope you are all keeping warm as our tempertures plummet. This evening I want to share with you an idea I've been wanting to try for a while. I've seen several variations of these handbag tidies/inserts and this is my basic prototype, which I must say is working really well.
As you can see from the top picture the tidy comprises of several stitched pockets into which you can fit your bits and pieces, see below.

Then all you need to do is simply roll it up.


And pop it into your bag. If like me you usually carry a large handbag you will find that everything is always at the bottom when you are looking for it. This way everything stays in its place and when you want to swap bags you simply lift out the tidy and pop it into your next bag.
I'm working on some more colour variations now, and also looking at some fastening ideas. I'll  share these with you as soon as I can.

Hope you like it, x

Wednesday 9 January 2013

Playing Hookie


Good Evening Bloggers. Just a quickie tonight so that I can keep up with my blogging resolution. Wanted to share with you a cute little blanket I crochet up for my little grand-daughter's new dolly which she got from Santa. All made from leftover bits of wool, colours chosen by her.
Once I've finished my current ongoing projects I will then set too with either needles or hooks to make some clothes for dolly.

Next time I'll share with you something a little different, You never know I may even get around to making a card sometime soon.

Bye for Now, x

Sunday 6 January 2013

A Promise is a Promise


Yep. I said I had made a resolution to blog more so even though I haven't anything particularly new to show you I have found something to share.
Firstly another of my popular ear warmers. These sell like hot cakes.

Below is a photo I couldn't resist taking in China. The number 2 bus going to Argos???
Well, you never know.
That's all for now folks, x

Thursday 3 January 2013

A Taste of China


Well, so far so good. I'm back on here within the week. OK, nothing crafty to show you yet although I have plenty of photos of items finished or in progress,  but I promised you China and here is a little teaser from 3 of our excursions.

Above the amazing Wall. It was a clear day and although a little chilly it did not spoil the experience and the incredible views.

Below is one of many photos I took of the Terracotta Warriors. An amazing sight to behold. No two alike and still more being excavated.


Of course no trip to China would be complete without seeing the pandas. I could have stood all day watching them eating their bamboo. Such cute creatures.

So, that's all for today. I may not be back before Sunday as I'm working on the West Coast of Wales tomorrow and my car, returned from the garage again today, had better not let me down again or I'll miss my crafting buddies on Saturday.

By the way, you do not want to know about the car....trust me!

TTFN, x

Tuesday 1 January 2013

Happy New Year and a Resolution


HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

I can't believe its almost 3 months since I last blogged. Where has that time gone. So that has led me to make the following resolution:

I will endeavour to keep my blog updated and current and try not to neglect my blogging friends.

Of course, part of the reason for my absence was our enforced extended caravan holiday while we were waiting on our new place to be delivered. Above is a picture of the bare site (looking up) where our new home was to be sited.

 Here, below, is a photo looking down from the top of our garden with Hubby and #2 Son posing casually.

And here is a picture from the top this time with our home in place. The garden is all decked now and although the weather has been dull and dismal it promises to be a wonderful setting in the warmer months. So far we are loving living in the country and being right near Delamere Forest is just delightful. I get a real feeling of 'wind-down' when I drive home from work now.


So we've just had our first Christmas and New Year here and can honestly say this is the best move we've made. We're still getting organised inside, especially in the the craft/study room, so my card making is still not back into full swing but the year is yet young.

However, given that since we moved in we spent almost 3 weeks touring China I think I can be forgiven for neglecting my blog and crafting. But more of that for the next time including some photos.

So for now I will leave you to carry on recovering from any Christmas and New Year indulgencies and I promise to be back very soon, x