Just

Well, I did it. I survived another long school summer holiday. My ears and my nerves are battered and shattered but I survived.

Just.

Anybody else find being a parent hard sometimes ?

Good, I thought so. I'm just going to stop typing for a moment and give all of you Mamas a great big hug.

(((   )))

Did you feel it ?

Anyway, at last I can feel my crafting mojo returning, I sat in the garden yesterday and sewed a little sewing,

mini tissue holders for Molly and her friend Ellie to put in their school bags. I could say that I made them mini size to fit in their pockets, but that would be a lie. They are mini because I completely buggered up the measurements and had to fold the tissues in half to make them fit.  They do fit in little girl's pockets though, so it's a happy accident as opposed to a complete f*%^ up. ( Do excuse my bad language - thats another thing I'll blame on the school holidays).

I also at last had time to peruse the pages of my latest Cotton Time mag,

I love these simple embroidery ideas,

and there's some lovely linen work too, nice linen seems so hard to get hold of in the U.K, anybody know any good suppliers ?

Some nice applique,

and lots of shopping bag ideas.

There are also some very cute softies

there are pattern pieces for Red Riding Hood, but no instructions, but I guess she 's simple enough to put together. Cute eh ?

And how about this little sweetie

I love his little apron.

Available from e-bay  amazonjp and  Superbuzzy usually stock these mags too.

Have a great weekend !

Comments

[Samantha]

I know just how you feel! I homeschool, so I barely have one day every couple of weeks without kids! I have just finished writing a book, and boy was it hard with kids sitting on my arms!

[Christy]

Thanks for the hug!

I'm thrilled that DS has started Kindergarten. The first week was tough on both of us, but he is doing wonderfully and I'm adjusting to time alone in a quiet house!

[gena]

Oh dear, Lyn! I have just been laughing because I have been celebrating the first day back at school and having gotten through the first whole week! I never thought I would be woman that celebrated the day her child went back to school, but I also never thought I would be the mother of a child who celebrated the first day of school either. I assure you I am not "mean mommy" even if that's what she currently calls me, but I do believe in the benefits of a "boring" summer. So funny, I have a similar post on another blog! Hurray for our crafting mojo coming back!

[gena]

Oh dear, Lyn! I have just been laughing because I have been celebrating the first day back at school and having gotten through the first whole week! I never thought I would be woman that celebrated the day her child went back to school, but I also never thought I would be the mother of a child who celebrated the first day of school either. I assure you I am not "mean mommy" even if that's what she currently calls me, but I do believe in the benefits of a "boring" summer. So funny, I have a similar post on another blog! Hurray for our crafting mojo coming back!

[lisa/milkshake]

((( )))
Some hugs right back at ya :)

Hopefully my daughter will be going to preschool in January, but for now I'll have to cram my craftiness into her rest time (formerly known as nap time).

Love your blog!

[Jessica Daisy]

Yes I completly agree, I'm am certainly better with my 3 year old back at nursery, and I think she is too, we drive each other crazy, especially arguing over what clothes she's going to wear (she wants to wear the england football kit that my husband bought her on a daily basis, and I want her to the funky little clothes I buy her from H&M and Zara!) and I can ever get any work done because of the constant 'muuuuummmm!! can I have, I want, etc etc..........'.
I have an alarming amount of wine bottles stacking up in the kitchen, and down the side of the house, when I eventually get round to taking them to the recycling, I'm sure I'm going to get funny looks!
Loving the mini tissue holders very cute, glad I'm not the only one who f***** ups the measurements though.
Jessx

[Tammy]

What are you talking about - beinga parent hard?
You mean the sleepless nights? Car-shuttling? making lunches (that come home squished in the bottom of the bag b/c they decided they didn't like it anymore)? the pre-teen long list of hormone inspired agony? the constant hemming of pants? um - did I leave anything out?

[Tammy]

Not to be so negative sorry about that - I love the photos of your little tissue holders & putting up the Cotton Time picks - it's very inspiring and a nice escape to have crafting to unwind with.

[Steph]

I'll go a step further and say, at times, parenting is the hardest thing I've EVER done. =)
By the way, I just noticed the category on your sidebar titled "Posts that contain mild swear words-Warning"............too funny. =) I love your blog.

[alisonb]

If you're after a bargain then I understand that Ikea stock natural coloured linen. I LOVED going to Ikea but since relocating to New Zealand, the closest one to us is Sydney, Australia!!!!

[ayu]

is Cotton Time or cotton paint much interesting for this issue?

[Daphne]

I don't know if they ship to the UK but I've heard wonderful things about Gray Line Linens in NYC:

http://www.graylinelinen.com/

[raggyrat]

eeeeh, int it piecful now the childlers have all gone back? how old are your lot lyn - have you got any growed-up helpful ones? the twins may not go to school but they do nap twice a day, and if they refuse to nap they are 'put down' anyway... but that wont wash with my 9 year old, yegads she's nearly 10! i have been known to pattern-cut just on the other side of the baby gate too, and fling them large scraps to hit each other with. thanks for the hug. crafty mums are the best as they know how to keep sane - just. [i'm also feeling very green and knackered and not very cretive even tho im posed to be sorting out an exhibition this week - im expecting baby number 4 - im crazy right? exciting and ermmmm ... wow ! now please delete that bit and a HUGE thankyou for deleteing my typos the other week and making me look cool. ish ...or it might be more twins ...eeek! ] love you, cat xxxx

[Katy]

Thanks for that hug, I needed one....my little boy pooed on the floor today :( I have spent a good while sniffing the rug to make sure I picked it all up!!!!

[Kelly]

Where do you get your lovely fabrics from. And how easy is it to applique??

[Isabelle]

Oooh, lovely mini kitty tissue holders!
Of course you didn't mess up. That was a creative departure from the original plan.

[scribblesnbits]

I love the little bunny and bear in that one picture! how tac ky would it seem to buy the magazine just for them! Not that I'm not idgging on the other things, but they make my heart sing!

[RI]

YES I AM GLAD FOR YOU ALL THAT THE CHILDREN ARE BACK AT SCHOOL ...ALL THE MUMS LOOK MUCH CALMER GOING ROUND THE SUPERMARKET,WITHOUT THE LITTLE HELPERS IN TOW...BUT I AM MISSING LOOKING AND LISTENING TO THE CHILDREN...I KNOW ITS VERY DIFFERENT WHEN ITS YOU BEING THE MUM...BUT ONE DAY YOU WILL LOOK AND REMEMBER...AND SMILE

[Diana]

The mini tissue holders are adorable! That print would make cute coin pouches as well. And arent those japanese craft books the best? I just got one on felt mascots and everything is so darn cute!

Diana

[dottycookie]

My little one has been after me for a tissue holder to take to school as well - I love the buttons on yours.

Very cute softies!

[Swirlyarts]

Yeah to the end of the school holidays! My elder daughter only goes to nursery in the morning and my younger daughter is 14 months old but I was so glad when it was September again! A little more time to try and craft!

[Tanya Whelan]

Thank you for the info. on where to get those beautiful magazines! Just found your blog, fantastic!

[Linda]

You are a dear for posting these. I would like to go into a shop and buy up an armful of Japanese craft magazines and books, but 1) I can't afford it and 2) we have no such place in the backwoods town I live in. *sigh* So I am dependent on kind internet souls who take the time to scan and post their own. I *love* the Little Red Riding Hood. The bear is very cute too.

[Kat]

I know just how you feel,but if you can read Japanese AND sew in a straight line I want the wine that you're drinking please!!!!LOL
Best Wishes Kat x

[Anne]

Hard being a parent? You've heard your mother exclaim how tired she is etc but you never believe it till you get there yourself!