Around Here Lately.....

Ok, so I seem to be doing a few of these posts.

Life is crazy, does it ever slow down? I wonder do I do it to myself? Should I just stop? 

What would happen if I did? Would everything fall apart in slow motion? 

I have felt so tired this last week. I had a lovely weekend in Bristol with a friend - Cleveden - it was beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but have been playing catch-up ever since - mainly sleep!!!!

This weekend I have pottered and done little things I have wanted to do for a while.

I went to have some photo's printed, buy frames and a plant pot and some gifts for a 

couple of friends who have recently had baby girl's!

I have numerous jobs to do, said as I look out at my overgrown jungle, but have made a nice cuppa and sat myself here awhile, having caught up with my favourite blogs too ;-)

 Three pictures from the Western Wedding now framed!

(Frame was a pound from Oxfam!)

 Tour de Yorkshire now framed :-) Mr.L happy...

 Two gifts for friends made & ticked off the list!

Heart maps, one Slovakia, one France. Done & done!

 Baby girl presents wrapped!

A gift of heather from a friend now in it's pot!

I love these buckets, cheap and look better with age!

Ok, so I treated myself...but I've liked this for ages. Never bought from JCrew before 

but it seems I'm a large - luckily I reordered and large is on the way!!

Had a night out to celebrate two girls from Running Club completing the 

Lakeland 100 Ultra Marathon - I mean WOW!

So tell me, what are you up to?
Promise to be back soon!
XX

Wearing: Mint Velvet Jumpsuit (now on sale), Jeffrey Campbell Wedges & Mulberry Clutch

Crafty Makes

I do like to be creative, always have, for me this blog, the writing 

and the curation of photos allows me to do that. 

On Sunday I had some spare time, so decided to make a simple gift for some special people.

I have made these before in a larger format, they are easy to make but can take a while to do.

You could make it easier with ready painted frames.

To start I have an old Atlas of The World (good old Reader's Digest!), 

a foam heart, some thick coloured card and a box picture frame.

The Range

I painted the frames with some lovely gold paint I had lurking.

I then draw around the country (using the heart) that means something to the person I am making for - in this case Portugal and the United Arab Emirates.

 I found in the Atlas a Cairngorm Mountains heart forgotten about, but know someone who would like this - so I need to go and buy another frame!!

Next I mount them on the card using crafting spray glue :-) 

place a dozen heavy books on top for 24 hours to dry and hold in position!

Et Voila - 

A simple gift for a beautiful couple!

Whilst the paint brushes were out I decided to give a quick coat of 

varnish to a typography I had bought.

These have been a popular home accessory for a while and until now I hadn't succumbed -

 but this one sang to me and shall be hung in the bathroom (hence the varnish).

I will show it properly hung in its new home ;-)

LOVE productive weekends!

How about you?

XX