Victoria Rose Crafts

Happy New Year!

2012-01-06T14:37:00.001Z

Yes, as usual, I am well behind the times, and running late! lol

I do have my excuses though…

With Chris’s parents with us over Christmas, Rianna’s Birthday, trying to fit in visits to/from all the relations and the two little ones to look after it has been EXTREMELY BUSY here is usual!

(I am sure you all find the same!).

School is back now though – mixed blessings – I am enjoying some relief from Rianna’s relentless talking/questions/general noisy excited-ness (all good things for her to possess I know, I would rather she was interested and playful that a vegetable in front of a tv all day long! But noise all day long and constant “I’m bored!”can take it’s toll on a somewhat tired and strung out mummy as any of you with littlies of you;re own will know!), but not so much enjoying the mad rush in the mornings (despite getting up at stupid o’clock most days, we are still not out the house when I would like to be!).

It is somewhat of a relief to be back to the routine of daily life!

I have a HUGE list (as always) of projects I want to make this year.

I am going to mainly be concentrating on Folksy rather than events, at least until the autumn, mainly because I just can’t face any more working days with a baby in tow, it’s too hard!

I also have some projects for the home I want to get done – the big one being a rag rug.

We also want to build the kid’s a play area in the garden, which is going to be hard work once the weather improves, but worth it to see them playing :-)

Plus there’s TONS of work to do at the allotment, and poor Chris has largely been left to his own devices there since Evie was born.

All in all there is LOADS to look forwards to this year, and lots to keep us busy

My main resolution for the year?

(Apart from the usual “lose 2 stone” that never happens!)

To use up all the fab materials I have with my projects rather than spending what little pennies I have on loads more!

Hmmm… what are the chances of that happening?!

Rose X

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-15T09:33:00.001Z

Another belated post from the mad house!

Wow I have been SO busy trying to get all my Christmas Orders out (no matter how often you try & tell people to be early, it’s ALWAYS a last minute rush in December!).

I think I am done on my Christmas shopping now – all wrapped and under the tree apart from the few bits I am still waiting for from the postman (the pic below was taken BEFORE I wrapped the pressies!).

It’s always extra busy here in the run-up to Christmas, as it’s little madam No.1’s birthday, so we have to find time to fit in birthday celebrations and make it special outside of the whole Christmas madness that is going on!

The nativity play was last week, which went really well – I was kind of hoping the practising of songs from it may stop now it’s over, but I am still hearing “Hey Star!” pretty much every minute of the day…. :-/

They’ve had their school Christmas party & school dinner this week, as well as visiting the local hospice to sing to the old people, which apparently went down really well! Just the Grandparent’s Christmas Sing-a-long to go on Thurs & the Carol Service at the church Friday morning & then school is over until the new year!

Not that it stops with the end of school, next week we are expecting many visitors for the 7th birthday celebrations, we have her bowling Party & we are off to see the local pantomime!

Hmmm, I think I should prob be making a cake this weekend too….

I shall no doubt not be back before Christmas & New Year are over now, but wish you all a wonderful time whatever you are doing :-)

Before I go, I must do a QUICK plug! My Folksy shop shuts tomorrow morning (Fri 16th Dec) until the new year, but I am currently having a sale – so if you are short of a few gifts or stocking fillers please do have a browse! It’s free postage this week for orders of £15 or more – postage will be refunded after order is placed.

Merry Christmas!

Rose XXX

Better late than never!

2011-11-03T17:34:00.001Z

Hi all,

Firstly, apologies again that it’s been such a long while since I posted.

There’s been a lot happening!

My main reason for posting today is to let you all know (if you haven’t seen on Facebook already!) that baby Evelyn finally arrived – all be it 10 days late!) on 20th October!

As you can imagine, I have been rather busy ever since! Largely as it took 5 days for my milk to come in. so there have been A LOT of rather stressful sleepless nights, but things are slowly starting to come together now & hoping that once we establish a proper routine things will be a bit more settled.

I have had to pull out of a few events because of her late appearance, but I will still be attending Chelmsford Vintage & Handmade Market at the end of November & the Christmas Craft & Gift Fair at Ongar the first weekend of December (please see my website or Facebook Page for more info).

I have managed to add some new bits to my Folksy shop, plus you can still order custom items for Christmas delivery up to the end of the month (subject to change dependant on how many orders I get, but things are currently on approx 2 week wait).

Rose X

2011-09-07T09:38:00.001+01:00

Is it just me, or is everyone else REALLY pleased the schools have gone back?!

I know towards the end of July we’re all longing for them to start, longing for the lie ins (that very rarely happen!) and the long days of sunshine and fun (that often become rainy days and boredom!) but I think come the end of August, all us mum’s are well and truly ready for the littlies to put on their new uniforms & pack off back to school & get back into the routine!

I know I am!

Rianna looked very smart in her new red uniform for her new school yesterday :-)

Since we moved I have moved her to the local primary school here, where everyone seems very friendly! She had a lovely day yesterday and was very much looking forward to today, as they are making cakes, AND it’s show & tell, and she has taken in the rocks, stones & shells (and sharks tooth!) she got on holiday with her dad this summer.

I am very much enjoying the quiet time that the new school year is bringing back to my daytimes – making the most of it til bubba arrives when I am sure there won’t be a great deal of quiet time anymore!

I feel fairly enormous now – even more so than before if that’s at all possible!

I was 35 weeks on Monday, but this pic is from Saturday when I was 34 weeks & 5 days…

I am kinda hoping it won’t be TOO much longer til baby makes an appearance now, and sleep is practically non-existent due to the constant toilet trips and general uncomfortableness/aches & pains…

Although really, there’s only 4 1/2 weeks to go, so even if she stays put til the due date it’s really not long now!

I am off to do some more making now. Have LOTS of stock to get ready for this autumn/winters craft fairs, and am not sure how much will get done once she is here, so need to be a busy bee now!

I won’t be putting lots of pre-made stuff on line this year as I will be saving the stock to take to markets, until after my last one on 4th December.

But as always you can order mittens, armwarmers & ear warmers plus various other items in colours of your choice as a make to order item – on Folksy OR on the website. You can order custom kid’s visor hats on the website, and pre-made kid’s hats on Folksy.

Plus there are plenty of stocking filler & gift ideas listed on my Folksy shop too!

Have a fab week everyone :-)

Rose X

Find Me On Folksy!

2011-08-25T15:06:00.001+01:00

Hello again lovely bloggy friends :-)

NO, don’t fall off your chairs!
I AM posting twice in a short space of time… lol

Just a quick message to let you know that I have joined Folksy

If any of you are sellers on there please do let me know your shops – feel free to leave a link as a comment – so I can drop by!

If you want to see my lovely things you can find my shop here

Just a few pics of new things I have added over the last week or so on this post – more to come!

I am trying to get up to date with Christmas & Winter stuff early, as the impending arrival may mean a lack of making time!

I would recommend if anyone would like anything make to order (particularly for Christmas) to please try and make it nice and early this year :-)

Thank you!

I shall look forward to seeing some of your shops & lovely handmade goodies!

Rose XXX

A few days away

2011-08-23T08:14:00.001+01:00

I must apologise once again to all my blog followers, because it has been more than a few days since I have written!

But we have just returned from a much needed break to the seaside for a couple of days.

After the hectic time of moving (and anyone who has moved house will know very well there are STILL boxes in my house/garage that aren’t unpacked… lol), and trying to get the nursery ready for the new arrival, and taking on the allotment as well, there doesn’t seem to have been much time to breathe lately, never mind anything else!

So we decided to take a long weekend down to Frinton, on the Essex coast, just over an hour away from where we are (short car journeys only for me now!).

All in all we had a fab time on the beach at Frinton (our guesthouse was walking distance to the sea which was nice!) and on the pier at Walton

-although it has to be said the small person had much more fun amongst all the noise and chaos than the heffalump who had to spend most of the time sitting down in order to not be falling down!

On the way home we stopped in at Colchester Zoo – it seemed silly not too as we practically drove past it on the way there!

Now we are back home, and I am just about done with the mountains of washing (we were away two nights, how does that happen?!) and getting back to “normal” again.

I am not feeling so “normal” at the moment though. I have got to the tired, achy & uncomfortable beached whale stage of pregnancy now lol

Although not many weeks left to go, so I promise to try & do a post about the new house before the baby comes – I have yet to take the photos! But the house is getting straighter, so hopefully soon :-)

This is the pic from the sales listing – to give you an idea! It looks really small compared to the next house in this photo, but they are actually semi detached (and the same size!) just ours is set back from the one on the right, making them not so attached!

Hope everyone else is enjoying the summer holidays?

Rose X

On the move

2011-07-21T11:32:00.002+01:00

On the move!

Just a quick one to say...

So sorry I haven't posted for such a long time...

There has been A LOT going on in my world...

As you will know from previous posts I am expecting...

I am now 29 weeks, and everything is going well...

I am about the size of a small house & getting quick uncomfortable & irritable (already!) but baby seems to be fine

One of the reasons I have been so busy away from the computer is that we are (finally!) moving this weekend!

After many houses falling through I had come to the conclusion that we just weren't going to find anywhere before the baby came, but all seems to be working out well at the moment, and we are moving on Saturday :-)

Hoping once we get settled in the new place that I can get things more back to normal work & blogging wise, although I am sure that once the new addition makes an appearance I will be rushed off my feet again!

I will be attending a few events throughout the summer/autumn/winter - you can find the events listings on my website. Plus there WILL be new stuff for autumn/winter too. Although I wont have internet access for a few days from this weekend, so please bear this in mind if you go online to place any orders.

Hopefully will be back soon with lots of good news about the move and some pics of the new house.

In the meantime, hoping the weather cheers up for us all - it's more like October outside today than July!

Rose X

I’m still here!

2011-06-10T10:47:00.001+01:00

My poor blog is being neglected more and more this year!

I hope the excuse that I am 22/23 weeks pregnant, a full time mum already AND trying to make some money from my enterprise is a fairly good excuse though…?!

I do miss having the time to sit down, read everyone else’s blogs, catch up on what is happening else where in the world…

I just seem to find time to catch up with various facebook status updates and write on here once every couple of weeks at the moment!

We have had a few days out recently:

Firstly Chris, my dad & I went to Essex Arena to see the banger racing a couple of weekends ago (yes I am THAT far behind – rubbish I know!)

My dad used to take us a kids so thought it would be a nice idea!

It was fun (if a little windy and we had to wear our sunglasses to stop all the bits of dust going in our eyes!)

There were also stock cars

and a big demolition derby at the end following a caravan race

Bank holiday weekend I was working – firstly at Sheering Farmers Market. Always a nice event to attend as lots of regulars and nice to see some of the same faces each time! I did forget my camera though (useless!) so no pics of that this time…

Then on Bank Hol itself I was working at Blackmore Village Fayre. It’s an annual event that goes for the whole weekend, and this year was in aid of Help the Heroes.

All in all a fab day was had by everyone – Rianna enjoyed the rides & games, Chris enjoyed the beer and sunshine, and I got to sit in the sun and sell my wares to the lovely people of Blackmore & surrounds (and have Hog Roast for lunch which is always a bonus lol).

Hope everyone has a fab weekend :-)

I will be back soon with an update of how the garden’s getting along (A LOT different from how it looked in FEB when I last took photos!)

And hopefully with some pics of my new tealight candle lanterns & teapot cozies!

Rose X

New Additions (2)

2011-05-24T08:58:00.001+01:00

FINALLY I have some new stuff to show you…

I have been really rubbish the last few months, I guess I just haven’t really felt like doing much (from my last post you can prob see why now!)

I seem to have my crafting mojo back now though – just as well as I was starting to run low on stock on the website & for the markets I have coming up!

Just a few quick pics of what I’ve been making, and what’s now available to buy on the website, or at any of the summer events in the next couple of months:

Girl’s Flower Headbands

Fruit Coasters – 100% cotton & machine washable

Triangle Bunting

Kiddies Hats

Granny Headbands – these are from a pattern I found on the Tangled Happy blog (I LOVE this blog and I urge you to go have a look if you are a fellow crocheter & haven’t discovered it already!)

This week I am mainly working on some slippers, as I did a stock evaluation and realised I have sold all those I made last year!

That and washing the 2 black bags full of baby clothes I just got on freecycle… I am SOOOO pleased with them!

We are trying to be extra thrifty as (hopefully) the house search is nearing an end, so every penny we can scrimp for buying and making it nice is much needed! As a consequence I have put some craft bits on Ebay & Amazon if anyone gets a chance to take a look I would much appreciate it :-)

Oh and before I go, big thanks to all your lovely comments on my last 2 posts. I think I have pretty much almost got back to every one now… all those that have email addresses that I can reply to anyway!

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Rose XXX

New Additions (Part 1)

2011-05-20T19:20:00.001+01:00

Firstly, I must apologise to all of you here in blogland who are last to hear the news…

As of October (or earlier if this one is like it’s sister!) there will be a new addition to our household!

I have had my 20 week scan today, and have just found out we are having a little girl :-)

Rianna is going to be so happy she is getting a sister (even if I do have visions of her tantrums as a 16yr old when her 10 yr old sister steals her makeup! lol)

20 wk scan

I have wanted to tell you all for sooooooooo long, but I couldn’t mention anything before we went to Australia as we wanted to tell Chris’s parents face to face rather than them finding out through here!

And I have just been rubbish since I got back, as I didn’t want to do a blog post without sorting the scan photos, and left it so long that I thought I might as well wait until today when I could post the 20 week photos too!

14 wk scan

Those of you who keep an eye on Facebook will prob know already as I have mentioned it on there a few times recently :-)

Hopefully I will be back with some new work additions shortly, I have actually been making stuff since we got back from Oz (unlike beforehand when I was so tired and feeling sick that not much got done at all!), but I haven;t been able to photo anything as I lost the cable for the camera charger while away… but a new one arrived from Ebay yesterday, so i am busy photoing, then updating the website, then I shall share them with you here!

Have a fab weekend everyone :-)

Rose XXX

Australian Adventures

2011-05-16T21:16:00.001+01:00

I have just checked my last post and it was in March!

Wow, I know I don’t blog as much as I used to, but I think it has been a LONG time since I have skipped a whole month!

I have A LOT to catch you all up on though, and lots to post about, so I am starting with a few pics from our recent visit to Australia.

A fab time was had by all!

It has taken a little while to get back to normal, but we are all back in the swing of work/school etc now (boooooo!)

I for one have lots of boring accounts to catch up on, as well as updating websites & photoing & listing new stuff, & getting things ready for the many events that are coming up!

Which I guess I best be getting on with…

Back soon!
Rose XXX

A day on the farm + bits & pieces

2011-03-25T12:25:00.001Z

Howdy blog peeps!

I trust you have all been enjoying the sunshine of late?

I would have been here to show you pics of last weekend sooner, however my camera/computer have been refusing to interact until today… so no photos until hurrah at last it worked this morn!

We visited Marsh Park Farm last Saturday, which is a lovely place to visit by all accounts :-)

Here are a few pics of the day:

I do have some new makes to show you. Very few I must admit, I have been abysmal on the creative front of late, not so much the ideas but the motivation to actually DO anything -particularly now the sunshine has arisen!- is somewhat lacking…

I haven’t got around to photoing any of them yet though (rubbish I know!) so I will try & get some at Hatfield Heath/Sheering Farmers Market tomorrow (9:30-12:30 for any local peeps, would be lovely to see you!).

Also, there’s still time to book yourself into my first crochet group next Saturday at Beaullah’s Boutique in Chelmsford.

It’s £20 per 2 hour session and that includes tuition on one of my patterns (you can purchase pattern kits which include all the bits you need on the day) or help with another pattern/project you are working on (you will need to bring this with you, but you can purchase crochet supplies at the store) plus drinks & nibbles. All skill levels welcome :-)

Have a fab weekend :-)

Rose XXX

Sunshine Weekend

2011-03-07T10:36:00.001Z

YAY! What a fab sunny weekend!

The sun is even shining here this morning, although it was a crisp frosty start to the day (more de-icer needed!) it is Soooooo lovely to have the sun shining on Essex again :-D

We spent a much needed afternoon in the garden on Saturday (after taking little miss to see TANGLED – FAB film!).

(notice the missing tooth in the pic below!)

It’s been looking a little bit worse for wear outside, but it’s very exciting now that everything green & colourful is starting to spring up!

The cherry tree is starting to blossom, and even the jasmine I thought I had killed, as it had done NOTHING since we put it in this time last year, is starting to look like it’s ALIVE again!

I had ONE Chrysanthemum survive the snow & ice this year…

Shame the same can’t be said for my chilli plant (which I SHOULD have brought indoors before it turned cold) and ALL my lovely Fuschias which all turned brown & shrivelled up in the bitter December we had…

We even have some growth on the edible plant front:

With white radishes (that I’ve actually decided I don’t like! any recipes ideas to disguise them would be great!)

Winter/Spring Cabbages

and Lambs Lettuce (which I thought would never survive the blanket of snow!)

Then on Sunday we visited the local Pets Corner, a regular feature on my blog!

Where we saw some week old chicks!

Then we went to feed the ducks:

and after taking the above… I was AMAZED to spot this handsome fellow lurking in the background!

So I crept closer to get a better shot – how impressive!

Hope you all had a great weekend too?

Rose XXX

New Stuff :-)

2011-03-04T14:00:00.001Z

Eeek two blog posts in as many days… I know, a RARITY these days!

Man, I think I managed just two all of last month in total… now THAT is bad…!!

Anyways, I have spent a couple of hours updating the website this arvo, and adding new pics etc to facebook, so I thought to myself, it would be a shame to neglect my bloogy friends and not too share the new things with them!

So here are my new items that you can now buy online:

FLOWER BUNTING - £12:

red white & blue

Pastels

(more will be added as it’s done, but happy to take custom orders of particular colours if anyone wants them?)

The bunting was made up from the flowers I used for my coasters. You can download the pattern on my website here and give it a go yourself! (for the bunting I added a 3chain picot in the center of the last petal to make it easier to string them)

CUPCAKES - £6:

again, those shown are made up ready to buy, but happy to make up into specific colours of peoples choice

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It appears that we are forecast something SUNSHINE this weekend (YAY!) so although it will still be chilly, it will be perfect photo taking weather outside to get some snaps of all the lovely spring things emerged in the garden!

So fingers crossed I can get some good pics to show you next week!

Have a great weekend everyone

Rose XXX

PS - in response to Mrs Cozy Home, my other half (who is doppleganger to yours ) is Australian, of British/Aussie decent!

Away a while…

2011-03-03T12:51:00.001Z

It has been quite a while since my last post. We were all suffering from the dreaded lurgy a few weeks back, and have been away over half-term to Center Parcs.

We had a fab time, and a much needed break for all of us – finding it a bit hard to get back into the swing of things now! Having one of those massively un-motivated days (if not weeks).

Anyway, here’s a few pics from the holiday:

Waiting for a day of sunshine to be able to get outside & take some photos of the spring flowers that seem to be emerging. We have crocuses of various colours & snowdrops already, with the cherry blossom attempting to make an appearance, and the daffodils getting taller by the day.

I will do my best to give myself a big kick up the arse work-wise & be back soon to show you the lovely garden, the mittens pattern that’s taking forever to do (and may well be the death of me) and all the new ideas I have in mind (if I can mange to turn them from a daydream to reality!)

Rose X

ps – was nice to meet some fellow bloggers/facebook fans at Chelmford Vintage & Handmade Market last weekend!

Crochet Workshops

2011-02-11T11:08:00.001Z

Just a quick post today, to let you know you can now book places on my crochet workshops, at Beaullah’s Boutique in Chelmsford (Essex).

Would be really lovely to see some friendly faces there if any of you are keen to learn crochet?

There are currently 3 to choose from:

Basic Chunky Scarf - Beginners

Earwarmer – Next Steps/Intermediate

Flower Coasters – Intermediate/working in a round

Workshops will be £40 for a 3hr session, and includes your materials (quality yarn, crochet hook & pattern/tutorial to take home) plus drinks & nibbles.

If you are sadly too far away to attend workshops, you can download copies of my patterns/tutorials here :-)

They also offer classes in knitting, jewellery making & sewing, and are hoping to offer classes on candle making & bath product making very soon!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Rose X

Pattern Progress & Exciting News for the year ahead!

2011-02-07T16:06:00.001Z

Already the start of another week, and into a new months already too!

It’s been a good week or more since I last posted I think… but I have been working very hard on lots of exciting things!

Firstly, I have promised news of my Ear Warmer Pattern & Tutorial – it is now available to download, alongside the Flower Coaster Pattern & Tutorial & a Beginner’s Basic Chunky Scarf Pattern/Tutorial on my website.

**All of these pattern are available for FREE, all I ask is that those who can afford to do so can offer a small donation to help cover my time/yarn costs to enable me to keep writing/designing!**

Writing these (and taking the photos for them!) has been taking up LOADS of my time, so much so that the mittens one is still a work in progress… photos DONE but just writing up to do now!

Hopefully it will all be worth it in the long run!

I have been slowly and steadily working my way from crocheting for fun or as a hobby to making this my lifelong “career” for a while now, as those of you who have been following my journey will know!

I have been a self-employed crafter officially since April last year, and things have been steadily improving sales wise since then.

I am now trying to work my way from just a crafter following patterns, to a designer, making my own items, from my own ideas in my head, and writing these designs up as patterns for others to follow. So yes, I do think all this hard work writing up my first very own patterns is very very important!

I have been using these patterns/tutorials as the basis for workshops that I have been asked to run at a local crafting boutique which currently runs classes in sewing/knitting and various other crafts already.

We are currently in the process of setting up my first workshops in MARCH, so apart from being a wee bit scared I am also very excited! Please do keep an eye on Beaullah’s Boutique in Chelmsford if you are local, it would be fab to see some friendly faces in the workshops!

The first few workshops will probably be fairly basic ones, but we are hoping to offer lots more as the year progresses!

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You may be wondering where the cupcakes fit into all of this…

Well they are the new design I have been working on!

It has taken a fair while and A LOT of hard work crocheting, unpicking, re-crocheting to get them how I want.

Based on an original pattern I purchased from the very talented Rachel at Crochet Spot, I have re-worked & re-jigged it til I have them how I want them, the right size & looking how I pictured them in my head, but worked in DK rather than the worsted/aran weight that is typically used in the U.S.A.

There aren’t any for sale on the website just yet, as I had 5 to make as a custom order for Kathryn of Bespoke Nappy Cakes & Baby Gifts. But I am happy to take custom orders until I get the chance to build a stock up – just email me rose@victoriarosecrafts.co.uk to order.

They will be £5 pain or £6 beaded plus P&P which is £1.50 for one, but can be combined for multiple items.

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I also now have many events (craft fairs/markets that sort of thing!) booked in the diary for this year, so if any of you are close to the Essex/Hertfordshire/London area and want to come along and say hi, please see my events listings here or on Facebook.

My first event of the year is Chelmsford Vintage & Handmade Market, run by Truly Madly Vintage on Saturday 26th Feb.

Have a great week everyone

Rose XXX

Belated Birthday Post

2011-01-27T18:04:00.001Z

This time last week (Thursday) it was my 28th birthday!

I haven’t had a chance to talk about it much yet as have been a busy bee making orders & writing patterns/tutorials (I am NEARLY finished taking all the photos now though, so there will be more to go with the flower coaster pattern soon!).

To add to all the work, my car decided to not work (AGAIN!) and although it did start running again, we came to the conclusion that it was about time we gave up throwing good money after bad, and have traded it in for a new(er) car!

So I am now the proud owner of a shiny almost-new Vauxhall Astra – yeah, I know, I really must be getting old now I am driving a proper mummy car! lol

The pic obviously isn’t my actual car, but it’s pretty close! It was owned by an older guy who’s driven it just to the shops & back for 5 yrs, and must have polished it every day! After driving that other heap of junk for a year I feel very lucky to now have climate control & heated leather seats and automatic everything! (even if I don’t really know how most of it works…)

Anyway, I am digressing, as none of the car news is why I am posting is it?!

I am here to tell you about my birthday goodies!

Mostly I have received money from my family, as my laptop died before Christmas (yes, me & technology are not getting on great at the moment!), so we bought a netbook in the sales & before the VAT increase, so I asked for money to help pay off the credit card bill!

We do have a PC upstairs in my office, that we use for most things, but it is nice to have a laptop that we can use to surf the net downstairs & avoid being too anti-social in the evenings (even if we might fight over it now lol).

My lovely in-laws in Australia bought me a beautiful Cath Kidston craft bag:

and a lovely L’Occitane gift set!

These were both completely unexpected gifts so all the more exciting to receive – thank you to Chris’s family :-D

My brother bought me The Sopranos DVD box set.

I have seen it all before (borrowed from Victoria) but Chris hasn’t and I loved it, so very happy to watch them all again! – even if the ending does bother me A LOT!

The lovely Victoria bought me The Inbetweeners DVD box set.

I have missed it on the telly from the start (I am not really a late night girl and struggle to stay awake to see any good telly!), but have heard people rave about it, so am really keen to catch up & see what all the fuss is about!

Finally we come to my gift from Chris (apart from the car of course!) which was Photoshop Elements 9

Now this might sound a tad boring to some of you, but I have wanted this software FOREVER, & have thought it too expensive to “just buy” for myself, even if it is technically (most of it!) for business use…

and especially as this is officially the year of thrift & we are saving like mad for our house deposit (just the right time for a new car & laptop, NOT!!).

I am so looking forward to finding the time to play with it! I have barely had a glimpse of it so far!

If anyone can recommend a good guide book for it I would really appreciate it!

With any luck you will be viewing professional looking photos with all sorts of fancy editing in no time!

Hopefully back very soon with news that I have finally finished the tutorials I am preparing!

Have a great weekend everyone :-)

Rose XXX

My first pattern!

2011-01-25T12:51:00.001Z

A super quick post today as I am uber-busy

(as per usual!)

Just wanted to let you know that I have finished my first pattern/tutorial!

It’s for my crochet flower coasters and you can now download it from my website.

It’s not a newbie pattern, (some are coming I promise!), but if you are fairly avid crocheter that can work in a round & use treble/double crochet you should manage it no probs :-)

It has been tested by the lovely Josie-Mary for me (thanks again Joe!) and she said the petals were a bit hard to start off with (it was the hardest part of the pattern to write up!), so if you get stuck, please feel free to email me: rose@victoriarosecrafts.co.uk

If you can’t crochet, but would like to buy some ready made coasters, you can do so here.

I am happy to make up into practically any colour, and the colours I have in stock are shown on the drop down lists.

I have a squillion things I need to finish off this week, as well as lots of lovely orders to keep me busy, but I fully intend to post about my birthday goodies (it was last thurs and I didn’t even get to post then!) as soon as I get the chance :-)

Rose XXX

Flower Power

2011-01-14T16:04:00.001Z

I thought it had been a week since my last post… but I just checked and it was Monday.

So here I am, two whole posts in a week! Woo hoo! It’s been a while since that happened…

Lot’s in the pipeline at the moment, some of which I can’t really talk about yet, because it involves projects that haven’t exactly been confirmed, but I am sitting her with my fingers and toes crossed that they come off & then I get to share them!

I am going to be a very busy lady doing things I can’t talk about for the next few weeks, but I CAN tell you about my patterns…

As you will all know I have my own website: www.victoriarosecrafts.co.uk

Where I sell handmade bits & pieces that I make myself and sell on online & at craft fairs, markets, that sort of thing!

Well, I have been thinking for some time about writing up the patterns I have made up myself, so I am (FINALLY!) getting around to it!

I almost have one done, and hopefully will have it added to the site soon!

They will be available as a PDF which I will email to any one who purchases it for a nominal fee (which is as yet undecided!).

I would like to test them out though, so if there are any crocheters out there who would like to volunteer to test run the patterns before I launch them, please do email me: rose@victoriarosecrafts.co.uk

The pattern I have nearly finished is for my new flower coasters, which I added to the site this week.

They are currently fitting in very well with my wish to encourage spring to come early!

You can order them in packs of four, all one colour or a mixed pack, can be ordered in custom colours.

I will be stringing some as bunting soon too!

Spring appears to be very distant here at the moment… It’s very dull & miserable…

Not that I’ve had to go out in it the last few days… My car is playing up again, so poor Chris has been on school run duty, alongside work.

It has given me extra time to work on my projects though, so I guess I should be thankful for that!

As a consequence to the car issue, we will be off to test drive some newer, and hopefully more reliable cars this weekend. Sadly a newer car will eat into the house deposit savings, but there’s not really a lot we can do about that…

*whispers stupid car under breath*

Not sure when I became the target market for Astras & Focuses, but that’s what we’re going to look at! lol yeah I MUST be getting old!

Still, at least I’m not in Volvo territory JUST yet… even if I am another year older next week!

I will be back next week, (hopefully to announce a finished pattern/tutorial!)

Hoping everyone has a fab weekend :-)

Oh, and before I go, I have had a lot of interest in ear warmers for Kid’s & babies, so I have added a page to my site where you can order them in the colour/size you need for littl’uns!

Back soon!

Rose XXX

Hopeful…

2011-01-10T10:10:00.001Z

I am still on a mission to get spring to arrive early here…

The end of last week, was pretty miserable to say the least, thoroughly wet & windy!

But the weekend (although cold!) was blue skies and sunshine here. So nice to see the sun shining again even if it isn’t all that warm just yet!

Loads of bulbs starting to come up in the garden now, so hoping the wintry weather doesn’t come back to kill them all off… We did have a frost this morning, so fingers crossed it’s just the snowdrops we planted last year showing themselves and not anything less hardy just yet!

The hyacinths are now in full bloom in the kitchen, and smell wonderful (much nicer than cat litter tray which is often the scent drifting into the kitchen from the utility room thanks to a certain little miss Pickles!).

I have made an effort to get some more tulips as the ones in my last post were on their last legs, and they were so cheerful – New Years Resolution 1: keep happy things around, and flowers I think are happy things!

I even bought some for the living room, to go in the jug I found at TK Maxx, but maybe should have bought 2 bunches as they don’t fill it up that well and look a bit sad poor things!

I also got a lantern in TK Maxx to go by the fire. I have been looking for some sort of basket, but I haven’t been able to find the sort of thing I am imagining, and if I buy a basket I have to find something to put in it… so I saw the lantern and thought, that will do!

At least this will allow me to burn candles without the fear of having an oversized kitten go up in flames!

We heard back from the allotment people last week (we have had our name on the list for AGES waiting for one, or part of one, or anything!) and they think they should be able to offer us something this spring!

So this weekend the book below was purchased, and Chris has already started planning what we would like to grow this year

I am really looking forward to having some real space to grow some lovely things in, and also to getting the garden back for flowers.

As much as it’s wonderful to grow veggies at home, we really don’t have a big garden, and it will be really nice to have it bright and colourful this year!

Speaking of bright and colourful…

This last week, after finishing off the last of my custom orders:

I have been working on dish cloth sets in lots of lovely spring colours – perfect for spring cleaning!

You can buy them online now for £5 per set of 2 + P&P.

I do have some more colours of cotton, and will be adding some more once I have finished them!

I hope everyone has a fab week – and the sun shines where you are!

Rose XXX

Spring?

2011-01-03T15:59:00.001Z

I know, I know… just because Christmas is over and the New Year is here does not mean the end of the cold and dark!

But today the weather has been so mild, and we have even seen bits of blue sky and dare I say it SUNSHINE in between the grey clouds!

I bought some tulips the last time I went food shopping, as I had purchased a rather lovely jug in the Laura Ashley sale…

It’s left over from last year’s spring collection there, and I had longingly eyed it up on numerous occasions last year, but as much as I loved it could not warrant £22 for it! You can imagine how pleased I was when I managed to pick it up for just £11 last week!!

I even managed to find another lovely spring jug in the charity shop on the same day, for the bargain price of £1!

I think it will look fab with some of those mini daffodils in!

You can see in the pics that I also have some hyacinths on the go… They are supposed to be one each of blue, pink & white, but are not quite out yet, so fingers crossed they will show themselves soon!

While taking photos of my jugs I couldnt help taking one of my Tilda tins…

I’ve had them for Aaaaages now, but I still love them!

Thinking I may spray those ugly tin pots the hyacinths are in with some white paint in the summer & put some Tilda roses on those too!

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In amongst my busy self packaging parcels to post when the PO is open again tomorrow, we managed to find time for a walk today – to the local Pet’s Corner.

I know I have posted about it before, but I love it there (as does Rianna!) and it’s FREE. All they ask is for donations towards the animal’s upkeep if you can afford it.

The main reason we went was to see the first newborn piglets of the year – born on Christmas day no less!

Last year’s litter were keen to see what all the fuss was about!

aww so cute!

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Hoping you all had a fab Christmas & New Year?

I can’t believe it’s gone so quick….

Today is Chris’s last day off (back to work tomorrow- boooo!) and even little miss is back to school on Wednesday!

Which means back to work for me too… I have several orders to be getting on with already!

Although to be fair I haven’t been lazing around the ENTIRE Christmas period…

I have found tome to use my scraps & oddments to put together a few spring-ish things that are now available to buy on the website for a few ££ each.

You can also get online & order any custom items again now too (even ear warmers!).

A big thanks to everyone who has purchased things from me in the last year, I really have been overwhelmed, particularly in the last few months at the popularity of some of my items!

Rose XXX

Christmas Catch Up

2010-12-21T21:31:00.001Z

Once again it has been too long since the last post!

I am sorry everyone, but I have been manically busy (as I bet you all have too!) with Christmas preparations, many many markets, so many wonderful custom orders, little Miss’s 6th birthday, and of course, all this SNOW!

Here are a few pictures from the last few weeks:

Hatfield Heath Christmas Fayre

Much Hadham Christmas Market

Poorly Christmas Tree that has taken many kitten beatings!

Rianna’s Christmas Play

Bowling!

Snowy House

Snowy Garden

Snowy Trees

Snow Everywhere!

Some of my custom orders:

Ear Warmers

Christmas Spice Hearts

Lavender Cushion

The website is still open to orders over Christmas, and I will post pre-made items as & when I can, although no custom orders will be started until the new year now!

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas if I don’t get the chance to post again before the big day!

Hope you are all keeping warm & safe in the big freeze too!

Rose XXX

Tis the season to be… Busy!

2010-12-06T10:59:00.001Z

Fa la la la la, la la la la…

Yes I am in a super good mood this morning!

It makes me so happy when I have a big long list of custom orders to make

Big thanks to every one who has ordered!

If you haven’t yet, but have had your eye on some goodies, then please pop along to the website & place your orders by this Friday (10th Dec)

I will continue to post pre-made items right up to Christmas (but remember Royal Mail get very busy from 17th Dec onwards, so please don’t leave it too late!)

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This weekend, I was supposed to be at Upminster Christmas Festival, but it got cancelled (due to adverse weather conditions) right at the last minute.

I was lucky enough however, to manage to get a pitch at Hatfield Heath Christmas Fayre, and had a great time!

This Sunday I will be at Much Hadham Christmas Market, so as well as custom orders, I have LOTS of re-stocking to be getting on with!

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Saturday I am having a small gathering for Rianna’s Birthday, which isn’t until the following weekend, but the way it’s worked out with work & her seeing her dad, this is the only weekend day I have left before Christmas to celebrate properly!

We are just meeting a few friends & family at the local Bowling Alley, where the kids will get to bowl, dance along to cheesy music (one of Rianna’s favourite past times!) and stuff their little faces with burgers/nuggets & chips!

I really can’t beleive another year has gone by so quick & little madam is practically SIX already!

(it’s another reminder that it’s not long til MY birthday and I will be another year closer to the big 3.0. lol)

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I will leave you know with some pictures of the garden (looking a bit sad!) over the past few weeks, and Pickles investigating the snow (which has thankfully now disappeared!)

“Squirrel Proof” Bird Feeder…

Let me in! I am COLD!

Pickles’ New Toy…

Rose XXX

Bit of a catch up…

2010-11-22T08:53:00.001Z

Hi All, signing in after a fairly restful weekend – which was much needed I can assure you!

We are finally managing to shake off the dreaded lurgy bugs that have been lurking around here for tar too long now.

Poor Chris has the worst of them now!

I have been working hard on custom orders from lots of lovely ladies, some who I have met at events, some who I have met on here! Thank you to everyone who has placed custom orders :-)

These are in the post already (if you have not already received them!

5 pairs blue mittens for Sheila:

1 pair charcoal mittens & charcoal headband with plum edging/flowers for Claire:

2 Pairs grey mittens, one with pink & one with teal for Lisa:

Now I just have a hat to edge & a hat to make and that is all my custom orders done for now, and onto bits & pieces for the next event, Chelmsford Vintage & Handmade Christmas Market this Saturday!

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Despite working hard on custom orders, I have found a few spare minutes here & there to try & get some work done on my gorgeous blankets, that do very much get neglected when I have “real” work to do!

Lovely stripeyness – for my bed/bedroom when finished :-)

Lovely zig-zaggyness – for Rianna’s Bed/Bedroom when finished :-)

I am hoping once the Christmas rush is out of the way I will have lots of time to work on these lovelies before starting on the spring/easter goodies (that I am already thinking about – eeek!)

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Continuing the Christmas Theme for now, I have been making red/white/green cotton coasters (packs of 6) for Christmas. These sell at my events for £3.50, but I am happy to sell to you guys for £4 INC postage.

If you want some please paypal me: rosie_cheeks_83@hotmail.com

(remembering to leave me a note explaining what it is you want!)

I can also do plain red/green with white edging (like these below only in the red or green of Christmas!) or a mixed pack of both red & green – 3 of each.

If you do want to order some of these, or any other custom items from my website, please try & do so on or before 6th December, as I will need to have enough time to make things & post them out before Christmas :-)

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I have also been lucky enough to win another giveaway recently!

The lovely Zoe from Pennyblossoms was kind enough to send me this beautiful towel, and various other goodies for Rianna and Pickles!

You are very kind & thoughtful Zoe :-)

I think I am going to use the towel for Rianna’s swimming badges, as I have been promising her a new & special towel for these for some time, and this one is perfect!

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Right, I best be going now :-)

This morning I am going to the dentist (yuk!).

I have been having some pain in my jaw the past few days, which I am thinking means Wisdom Teeth & maybe an operation to remove them :-(

but to be honest, right now, I would do anything for the pain to go away, so being poked around in the dentist will be worth it!

Have a great week everyone!

Rose XXX

Epping Handmade Christmas Craft Fair

2010-11-18T09:06:00.001Z

After all the hard work preparing for the first event I have had a hand in organising, Saturday was the big day!

I was at the very least rather nervous (as well as excited of course!).

We had a wonderful selection of stallholders, with some really great goodies for sale.

Here are a few pictures of the day:

I didn’t get the chance to get any where near as many pictures as I would have liked!

Sadly I was far too busy running around with my clipboard, making sure everyone was ok, checking up on my dad & Chris doing the refreshments, and selling myself!

You can see some of the items available on the day (and purchase them yourselves!) through the following links:

My usual partners in crime, Ladybird Beads & Lilly Rose’s Luxuries

oh and of course me! lol

Victoria Rose Crafts

We raised a fabulous £300 for the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit fund at the local hospital :-)

So WELL DONE to everyone! :-D

If you would like to make a donation to the fund, you can do so on their Just Giving site by clicking on the picture below – however large or small they are grateful for every penny.

Both Rianna & myself were premature babies, both saved by this hospital, so it is a cause very close to my heart.

Lots & lots of custom orders to be getting on with now, so I better get myself away from the computer before I get distracted again lol

Rose X

Mini Giveaway

2010-11-16T09:29:00.001Z

Hi all, just a quick one today.

I have some old knitting patterns up for grabs if anyone is interested?

If so, please leave a comment on here and if more than one of you wants them I will randomly pick a name out to get them.

Rose XXX

Awards, Giveaway Win & more!

2010-11-12T09:29:00.001Z

Happy Friday bloggy friends :-)

I am later than expected with this post as I have been working away to get lots of lovely things made for my event tomorrow!

(more about that later in the post!)

Firstly, lovely Annie from Birdcages & Butterflies has very kindly given me this great Versatile blogger Award which I am so happy about.

I don’t blog anywhere near as much as I used to nowadays, largely because now I am self-employed I HAVE to use my time the best I can to make lots of goodies to sell & try and bring in some ££££’s (or Chris will make me go and get a “proper” job Boooo! lol) so it’s nice to know that there are people out there who do still read my ramblings despite the fact I don’t post as much as I did before (I can’t believe I used to find time to post EVERY day!)

The rules are to link to the blogger who sent you the award and to share 7 interesting facts about myself.

Now there’s a challenge! lol

OK so here goes…

(can;t promised you they are “interesting” but they are certainly facts!)

1) I am a Harry Potter FANATIC

I have read all the books at least once each and seen all the films about a thousand times (really not much of an exaggeration). I am SOOOOO excited about the new film! It feels like forever since the last one came out, and I can’t wait to see how they have done with these next two (if you didn’t know the final book has been split into two films).

As much as a lot of fans have not been impressed by the turning of their beloved books into a film that leaves out a lot of the details I can’t help but love them anyway.

2) I have FIBROMYALGIA

Which a lot of you who have read my blog since I started will know.

Most people have never heard of this condition, but most will have heard of M.E. or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome which are similar conditions that seem to fall under the same umbrella in medical terms.

It is not life threatening, but is life changing.

After becoming ill I lost my job, because I couldn’t handle full-time work any longer, in fact for a long time I was ordered to bed rest.

Thankfully I am so much better now than when first diagnosed, but it has meant changing the way I live my life in order to cope with a condition that leaves you with little stamina, a lot of pain on occasion (especially if you do “too much”) and that leaves your immune system open to attack from every passing cold & viral germ that gets brought home from school!

3) I am terrified of flying…

Which you may think odd considering I have been to Australia, Egypt & Las Vegas in the last year!

But Honestly I HATE it, everything about it, and the whole experience makes me feel quite ill!

(I even get a bit funny if a plane flies rather low overhead….)

I have never travelled much at all until recently, and although having a really long list of dream places to visit (have ticked off the Pyramids & the Grand Canyon no!) I never thought I would get to any of them, as the whole flying experience was so traumatic for me.

You may be thinking “what a wuss” all that fuss over a little aeroplane… but I am someone who can’t even get on a big wheel or rollercoaster without having a melt down! It’s not even just an “I don;t like it” sensation, it’s a 100% feeling ill all over thing that only goes once my feet are back on solid ground!

That said, now I have made a few trips I am much less embarrassing to take on a plane and take off & landing are prob the worst parts for me (and everyone around me!).

4) I am passionate about chickens!

Which sounds a bit odd, especially as I eat them…

But I hate the whole battery chicken thing…

I think it started because we had chickens when I was little and I LOVED them. I used to clean them out every day and feed them and stroke them and let them out to eat my mum’s plants… lol

I can;t bear the thought of getting hundreds of these cute fluffy things:

shoving them in like this:

so then end up like this :-(

There is just no need to be so cruel to something just because we want a cheaper way of getting eggs & chicken to eat.

If I won the lottery one of the first things I would do is buy somewhere with enough room to re-house as many battery chickens as I could and try and give them a better life for what they have left.

One day I WILL have a house big enough to keep chickens!

5) I am a space geek…

I love watching/reading about space & the earth, I find it fascinating.

I think Steven Hawking is a GENIUS

and I also love the X-Files….

Not so scientifically correct, but I can’t help it!

6) I am also a HUGE Jeremy Kyle fan…

I try to get a grip and not tune in at 9:25 every day, but it is probably sadder that I record every episode them watch them in bulk (usually on a Friday) when I am sitting down stairs doing my crochet!

Friday’s are like my “treat” day as after the school run I don’t have to go back to school in the afternoon as Rianna’s dad picks her up and I have all afternoon to work on my projects and watch arguing fighting on the TV :-)

Which is probably a really pathetic thing to like, but it’s like car crash TV! It sucks me in every time!

(plus requires zero brain power which is exactly what I need on a Friday afternoon!)

7) I have a problem with cake…

No huge shocker here! lol

If I could I would eat cake for breakfast lunch and dinner.

As long as it doesn’t have raisins in, I will eat it is pretty much the rule…

Which is why we can’t have cake in the house! Because if we did I would eat it ALL and would need a crane to get out of bed in the morning…

So there we go…. 7 “interesting” facts about myself!

I hope you don’t think I’m too wierd now?! lol

Now, for the winners of this award…

I am nominating:

KC’s Court

Dollytub Cottage

Kandi

I would love to here 7 interesting facts about you guys!

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Next I must write about the lovely goodies I received from Josie-Mary!

Sorry it has taken me so long to get around to posting about these Joe.

I left you with this pic of the neatly wrapped goodies (naughty me!)

Here are the lovely things Joe sent me :-)

A pretty purple brooch

A gorgeous smelling lavender heart

A cute pink hairclip (don’t you just know a little girl who is going to LOVE that!)

Thank you so much Joe :-)

I spend so much time making stuff to sell & for other people, it is very rare that I get to keep any handcrafted goodies for myself, so this little lot are going to make me very happy :-)

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Last but not least, as you will know, I have been busily working about to make lots and lots of items for the Epping Handmade Christmas Craft Fair this weekend

The first event the Kirsty, Sioban & I have organised ourselves, and it’s in aid of the Neo-Natal baby unit at the local hospital

I am very excited (and also very nervous!) and am hoping it goes really really well :-)

If you are local to the Essex area it would be great to see any of you!

Epping is pretty accessible, by tube, bus, train, & easy distance from the M25 & M11 motorways (please see the facebook page for more details).

Here are some pics of the last few bits I have been making to sell tomorrow

LOTS of flower mittens

some more earwarmers

Some new flower brooches

There are also some Christmas coasters, but these are not finished enough to photo just yet…

So I better go get on with them now!

I will be back next week with some pictures of the day & news of how it went!

Rose XXX

Viva Las Vegas!

2010-11-05T12:42:00.001Z

Well, I may be extremely knackered, but yes I am back from Vegas, and we had a wonderful time!

We stayed at the MGM Grand, which was a wonderful hotel, HUGE buffets for breakfast & dinner (we were never hungry enough to venture down at lunch and find out what that was like, but I assume it would be much the same!)

Day 1 we drove the Hoover Dam & The Grand Canyon

HOURS in a car, but beautiful scenery & the dam & the canyon were well worth it.

Wish we had known how freezing it was at the canyon though, as we would have dressed more appropriately for the arctic conditions!

*Note to self * sandals in freezing location = bad idea, and blue sky & sunshine does not necessary = warm…

I guess these fellas don’t mind it up there though:

Day 2 was shopping – Walmart, Michael’s, Jo-Ann’s (by which point everyone ELSE on the holiday lose the will to live, I think I could spend FOREVER looking round those huge stores!)

I was very restrained (I think) and only brought home the necessary yarn to complete projects that are on the go right now -or at least on the to do list!.

Day three was bus riding down the strip to the “old strip” at Fremont – well worth a look, but def more err run-down I guess than the new shiny end of Las Vegas Boulevard

Rianna very much enjoyed the free plastic beads we got just for entering each casino!

On the bus ride home we stopped at the Venetian hotel, which was just amazing.

If you have not been, they have canals & an entire court yard inside the building that is made to look like it is outside – with a sky painted on the ceiling that you would swear is real!

A very surreal experience!

Day Four was somewhat of a rest day (during the day anyway) as we were going to see Cher in the evening.

We did however manage to explore the hotel, visit the lions:

and the pool!

In the evening we trotted off to Caesar’s Palace for the buffet dinner & Cher’s Performance

You couldn’t take pics of the show, but this is a pic of the stars screen we were left watching for almost an hour as she turned up late!

I thoroughly enjoyed the show, as did Rianna, but I couldn’t comment on how many of the songs she ACTUALLY sang… lol

It was much more of a “show” than a traditional music concert, with lots of video clips from her younger days, and focusing a lot on her talking about her life & her dramatic costume changes than hearing her singing songs.

I am glad I went though :-)

Day 5 was spent wandering around the closer hotels. Excaliber:

Which is renowned for it’s “Tournament of Kings” jousting dinner (we spent a while in the arcades, but didn’t have time to stick around for the show)

We did happen upon this little fellow in the foyer

– Sponge Bob has played a HUGE part in our holiday this year, mainly due to the marathons of him on Nickelodeon!

and New York New York:

We did go right up to the rollercoaster on the top, but I was too chicken to go on, Rianna was too small & Chris didn’t want to go on his own!

A quick visit to the M&M shop followed:

We now have a LOT of M&M’s due to allowing Rianna to pull the levers on the chutes and them coming out really rather fast!

The last thing to do before leaving was visit the Rainforest Cafe for lunch before heading off to the airport:

Much food was eaten by all, and then just a few hours wait in the airport (we were delayed a bit coming home) before 9 hrs on a plane and landing at a rather grey & miserable looking Heathrow airport on Monday afternoon!

I would really love to go back to Vegas, maybe do an overnight stay at the canyon, head over to Pheonix for a day or so too…

*sigh* one day maybe!

That is it for my Vegas trip, I will be back shortly with my award from Annie & pics of my lovely giveaway goodies from Josie-Mary.

Before I go, I must say a HUGE thanks to Angie of Artwork By Angie for my new logo design & blog/web banner. She really has done a good job!

Please do go check out her site, as she makes some fab original prints & greetings cards, as well as offering graphic design.

Have a lovely weekend folks :-)

Rose XXX

Happy Days & Holidays

2010-10-25T09:37:00.001+01:00

Morning everyone :-)

Wow I have had an amazing weekend (that has gone really quickly!) and am super tired this morn…

Saturday I had a craft fair at Budworth Hall in Ongar, and it went really well, by far the best event I have had this year.

Everyone was out doing the first bits of their Christmas shopping, the lovely ladies from the Bereavement charity the day was in aid of were really interested in my crafting. One has taken my card to discuss the possibility of me teaching crochet at her weekly ladies group :-) and another has put in a custom of of FIVE pairs of mittens for her grandchildren!

I got to meet Trasie Inkersole who is one of you lovely people I have met through t’interweb, (she bought so much stuff from me, thank you so much Trasie!) and Julie Crouch of Darling Buds, another web-friend who will be coming to the event I am organising in November in Epping.

Julie and her mum!

She really has some fab creations – beautiful gifts made to look completely different from what they are! Things like baby clothes & face cloths made to look like bunches of flowers & cupcakes, and even a pint of Guiness!

There is no rest for the wicked, after 3 hrs of wrapping parcels yesterday, this morning I am off to the post office to post off all the fabric & yarn that sold on Saturday (thank you to everyone who has bought some!) and to pick up the parcel of items I sent Annie of Birdcages & Butterflies when she used them in her photoshoot.

In that parcel is a lovely Choc-Mint Tea Dress I caught sight of on Annie’s Birdcages & Butterflies Shop and HAD to have, very excited about receiving it!

Annie has been kind enough to give me an award! But it requires some thought on my part as to what to write, so I will tell you about that when I get back from hols!

I have also been lucky enough to be the winner of Josie-Mary’s Giveaway :-)

I will tell you all about that when I get back from Vegas too (along with what I have been up to in Vegas and all the lovely crafty things I have bought!), but for now here is a sneaky peek of Josie-Mary’s Goodies!

I have also got lots of new goodies that I have been making to show you too!

Have a fab week & a bit everyone, and I will be back as soon as I can to tell you all about my hols :-)

Rose XXX

Sale!

2010-10-20T13:10:00.001+01:00

Not really a “real” post today, I just wanted to let you know that I am having one of my clearout sales on Ebay.

I really really really want some new boots, but they are massively expensive (to me!) and I have no money, so I have decided to once again have a clearout and see if I can raise some funds :-)

I have already listed some clothing, mostly size 14 and new without tags, plus have put a load of vintage fabrics & lining materials as well as patchwork pieces too.

I still have some yarn & some craft mags to go, but I can’t face any more listing right this second! lol

Plus some vintage knitting patterns to come too…

There are Christmas die cuts listed too if any one wants to get crafty making their own cards this year!

Everything is on a 3-day listing so I can get it posted out to you before I go on hols on Tues

(Vegas here I come! wey hey!)

This is my new Vegas dress (another reason I have no money!) but was a bargain (£18!!) from Matalan… I couldn’t resist!

Please do come check out my listings & see if you can grab yourself a bargain or two!

Rose X

Pickles

2010-10-18T19:46:00.001+01:00

A few of you have asked me how my fluffy little friend is getting on, so here is a post dedicated to the cute (yet troublesome!) little madam :-)

Here I am at my foster carers when I was very tiny. My new mummy came to visit me but couldn’t take me home straight away as she had to buy lots of things to help look after me in my new home

Here I am in my new home… There are LOTS of things to play with…

My favourite new toy is the curtains… but then mummy tells me off, so I put on my “innocent face” just like this… “who me?! but I am not playing with the curtains honest I am not!”

All this playing makes me tired, but I have a very comfy bed to rest in

I have discovered that I like hiding very much…

Hiding from mummy is a really fun game…

I like to hide behind doors and jump out when people walk through though!

I like mummy’s office very much.

There’s baskets of papers for me to climb in

Mummy’s computer to sit on, it’s very warm.

I like to lie in front of the screen & chase the mouse as it moves around

Sometimes I sit on mummy’s lap while she is working

I also like to lie on the desk and fill this big space that was clearly made just for me!

And I can look out of the window and see what all those noisy bin men are up to when it’s raining and I’m not allowed outside to be nosy!

I do like to help mummy with her work…

Here I am assisting in photography

I also help to rearrange mummy’s wool stash for her…

She calls it stealing.. and sometimes I get in trouble… but I am only trying to help!

So I put on my “innocent” face again and this seems to get me out of trouble…

And then when mummy is not looking I can sneak off to play with the wool again….

My favourite time of day is when Rianna comes home from school

She plays with me lots and lots and we have so much fun!

I do very much like it outside… chasing bees & flies… birds are a bit big for me just yet!

Mummy says I must not chase the birds… so I have a very loud bell that scares them away when I run towards them!

I also like playing with my Daddy Chris

Sometimes he pretends not to like me, and says I am Mummy’s cat – usually when I am being naughty and have made a big mess… – but he loves me really and always pats me and plays with me

One of our most favourite games is ninja cat where I play karate…

But really my favourite toy of all is Mummy…

I can climb up her legs and stomp on her for attention

And even if I have been really really bad, I just have to put on the “innocent” face

and all is forgiven and I can have a nice snooze…

XXX

Happy Birthday Dad

2010-10-15T08:43:00.001+01:00

OK, so this one is a wee bit late, as it was my dad’s birthday on 5th Oct (last Tuesday), but he only sent me the pics last night and I wanted to wait for those before posting!

As anyone who has read my blog for some time will know, my dad is/was an alcoholic.

There have been some pretty harrowing times for us over the years when he has been particularly ill, and some painful posts from me when he has been sick.

But last year (just after his birthday around this time) he just stopped drinking. I am still not 100% sure why, whether he was frightened by how ill he had become (we came pretty close to losing him a few times through lung infections – he also has pulmonary lung disease from a tetanus infection- and acute alcoholic hepatitis/cirrhosis of the liver), whether it was because a few people he knew were in hospital alongside him with alcohol problems (and died of them while he was there), or whether he just decided to stop.

I guess it doesn’t really matter why now!

But 1 year on, he is doing incredibly well, there have been (to my knowledge) no “wobbles” although I am sure there have been many occasions where he would have loved to have had a drink (as an ex-smoker I know there are many days, most in fact, that I would kill for a cigarette, so I guess alcohol addiction must induce the same longing).

I am immensely proud of how well he has done, staying “dry”, eating better and keeping himself well (something that came second to alcohol previously), and even working with my uncle on a house he is renovating.

So happy birthday to my Dad, the first birthday in a long time that I can remember being “normal” and, well, happy I suppose!

We are all very proud of you and your hard work!

Have a great weekend everyone :-)

Rose XXX

Birdcages & Butterflies

2010-10-13T08:53:00.001+01:00

Morning Bloggy Friends,

I hope you are all well this morning?

It is about time I fulfilled my promised & showed you the lovely pics of my items that were used as accessories by Annie of Birdcages & Butterflies for her Autumn/Winter Vintage, Thrifted & Refashioned photoshoot.

I did put them on facebook a few days ago, so sorry to those of you who have already seen them!

But I am a bit behind on the blogging front….

Before I add the pics, I must say, please do go check out Annie’s blog as she is very lovely and her blog shop is now full of the most wonderful clothing (I particularly like the vintage dresses!) in a wide variety of sizes.

Cream/Grey Striped Scarf

Cotton/Acrylic Blend (Wendy Viva)

£15

Purple Big Softie Scarf

(51% Wool/Acrylic Blend)

£20

Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxury Tweed Chunky Scarf

(100% Wool)

£20

Cherry Big Softie Scarf

(51% Wool/Acrylic Blend)

£20

Ribbon Scarf

(Wool/Acrylic/Ribbon Blend)

£15

Purple Scalloped Scarf & Hat Set

(100% Acrylic Marbled)

£15

All can be purchased online at my website right now!

I hope you enjoyed the fashion show, I must say a massive thanks again to Annie & her lovely models for the wonderful pics!

Rose XXX

New Look!

2010-10-06T09:54:00.001+01:00

Hi guys, again it has been an AGE since I have posted… yes I am currently a RUBBISH blogger!

I have been very busy here though, as usual (along with fighting off the evil viral germs that are taking over Essex at the moment! – EVERYONE has been so ill!)

I have been giving the website a bit of a revamp in preparation for the addition of the 2010 autumn winter collection OOOH!

I have moved the categories around (just to confuse things lol) but the idea is that it’s now easier to find what you want!

I have added some bits already, but am still working on lots of kiddies bits & pieces, as well as some lovely arm warmers.

So far I have added some new colours to the scalloped hat & scarf sets:

Some fab earwarmers, with fashionable flowers on:

(more colours to come soon!)

Also some new mittens for this season:

I have lots more of these to come in other colours soon too!

I have made some kid’s scarves, although forgot to add them to site before I published (d’oh!) so these will be available to purchase when I do the next update next week :-)

I also want to give you a sneaky peek of the fab photos of my items that were used as accessories in a photoshoot for Annemarie Vaughan of Birdcages and Butterflies for her autumn/winter collection:

There are more to come, but I am waiting for Annie to publish them before I add them to my website & show you all!

You can also purchase the ring in the picture from Tilly Rose, her items were used as accessories too!

I am so pleased with the photos she has sent though, I think my stuff looks amazing! So big thanks to her & her team for creating these wonderful pics :-D

Right I must go now, as I have a poorly sick little one downstairs who is feeling very sorry for herself, back soon :-)

Rose XXX

So much to say!

2010-09-22T13:29:00.001+01:00

Hi all, it feels like forever since I have posted on here…

I have been a busy little bee attending craft fairs trying to raise a few quid for the kitty!

(at some point we are going to get a massive bill for my car, which is STILL in the garage since breaking down in JUNE so every penny counts!).

Last weekend I attended the Truly Madly Vintage, Vintage & Handmade Market at Shire Hall in Chelmsford.

It was fab to meet a lovely fellow twitterer, Lucy of Lucy Loves Fabric – look at her lovely stall below!

We also got to meet the lovely people from Truly Madly Vintage & Sparrow & Nightingale, to watch the wonderful vintage fashion show and chat to all the customers :-) We had a really wonderful day!

There will be another Vintage & Handmade Market at the same place on Sat 27th November, so if you are local, please do come along and say hello!

Along with making lots of new bits & pieces for the markets, I have been making lots and lots of slippers for another fellow twitterer, Gail of Addicted 2 Knitting. After making her one pair she very kindly came back & ordered another 6 pairs for her daughter! As well as being a full time carer to her daughter, Gail runs a fab online knitting store. I recently ordered some wonderful sparkly beads to use on my scarves from her. They arrived the next day, very impressed Gail!

I have also been planning my own event (with my two crafty friends that I usually attend craft fairs with Kirsty of Ladybird Beads & Sioban of Lilly Rose’s Luxuries) that is taking place in Epping, Essex, on Sat 13th November.

We have found it so difficult to find events in our local area, there are many in Hertfordshire, London & the furthest away places in Essex, but none right near us, so we decided it was about time there was!

It is proving much harder work than I expected, but we are pretty much full up right now of the most fabulous stalls (pending a few getting back to me to confirm!).

I am hoping it will be a massive success, as the pitch donations, as well as proceeds from the raffle & refreshments will be going to the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit at our local hospital.

If you would like to attend our event then you can see further information on the Facebook Page. This also includes a list of confirmed stallholders and links to their pages – we have candles, jewellery, bath goodies, fabric & wooden decorative items, books, face painting, beauty treatments, decopatch, cards, gifts, cupcakes, chocolates plus refreshments available.

I have also had interest today from ladies of Jamie at Home – I am quite excited despite knowing that in all probability Jamie wont actually be coming lol.

I am afraid we are currently fully booked for stalls, but if anyone is interested in going on our reserve list in case any of the current pitch-holders drop out, or wants to go on a mailing list for future events then please email me: rose@victoriarosecrafts.co.uk

If you are interested in helping out with the refreshments or raffle on the day, you can email me too, we have a few family helpers but all help will be gratefully accepted!

We will also gratefully accept raffle donations from individuals or local business.

If you are interested in donating to the NICU fund but are too far away to attend, please click on their picture above and it will take you to their Just Giving site where you can donate online.

Lastly, I am really looking forward to meeting fellow blogger Michaela this weekend on her visit to the UK to stay with my friend & fellow blogger Kelly.

I hope you have a safe trip Michaela, and I will see you Kelly & Victoria bright & early (ish!) Saturday morning for breakfast :-)

Rose XXX

PS – I will be back as soon as I can to tell you all about my planned trip to Vegas next month, Rianna’s sports badges & all my makes! X

Crochet Catch Up

2010-09-03T11:12:00.001+01:00

I have been busy with the hooks getting ready for autumn & ensuing craft fairs… so…

Now little madam is back at school and I have had a chance to take photos & update my website…

Time for another crochet catch up!

YAY!

I hope I don’t bore you with these posts of things I have made, but I enjoy making them so much that I can’t help but want to show off all my creations to you :-)

First up, I have been working on a new shop category called “Winter Accessory Sets” where people can buy matching sets of mittens/scarves/hats etc.

So far I have made a few hat & mitten sets:

Rather than put flowers on, I thought I would give people the option to buy them plain for £10, or add flowers for an extra £5.

I have also made a couple of scalloped hat & scarf sets:

I think I like making scarves the most as you can use so many different types of yarn to make them, or add two lots together for a different effect!

I have been playing with blending two yarns together while making new twisty scarves:

My current project is glitzy mittens using a plain yarn mixed with a glitzy one, hoping they will turn out ok and I can show you soon!

I have also got round to finally using some of my cotton yarn stash. I was really excited when my Rico & Peaches & Creme came from First4Yarns recently, but because of all the other things I had started making, I had to wait to use it!

After the new hat/scarf/mittens sets were done, I had the time to attempt my first coasters and I am really pleased with them:

I know the design is fairly plain, but they do what they are designed for! lol

And hopefully I will have time to experiment with some more colours and designs soon :-)

If you want some or in different colours please email me and I will make some up for you! They are £3.50 for a set of 6.

I also made some dishcloths and am really pleased with how they have turned out:

They are fab bright colours, and completely machine washable so I am hoping lots of people will want some!

Sets of two are £5, and there will be more colours to come soon :-)

On top of all this I have also had a chance to make some more pretty headbands, which are great fun!

They are quick to do and mean I get to use lots of different colours and make some flowers up as I go along :-)

Because they are on stretchy elastic bands they are suitable for both adults and children

I have also added some more colours to the wide headbands I have in stock:

Phew! Hopefully that will keep me with enough stuff for the markets coming up…

I have a stall at the local Dog Show in North Weald, Essex, this Saturday (open from 10am) and at Chelmsford Vintage & Handmade Market, Shire Hall, Chelmsford, Essex, on Saturday 18th Sept (10am-3om), so would be great if any local followers would be able to come and say hello!

I am off to price up all the new bits & pieces and pack them into boxes for tomorrow and then to work on my new glitzy mittens while catching up with the new series of Waterloo Road I missed this week!

Hope everyone has a fab weekend (YAY the sun is shining again!).

Rose X

PS – thanks to Gail for your slippers custom order, hope your daughter loves them V much!

Summer Blues

2010-08-26T13:33:00.001+01:00

As the title may suggest, I am struggling a little bit this week.

What with the washout weather constantly down pouring outside, and the complete absence of sunshine, creating a B.O.R.E.D 5 yr old during the day – no matter what activities I try and lay on within 5 mins we are on to HATING the current thing and wanting something else… Hama Beads, Painting, Drawing, Sticking, Plasticine, Sylvanian Families, Cartoons, DVD’s, Baking, Nintendo…

Add in the lack of sleep due to her new-found night-time wakeness (thought we had grown out of this!) “Mum I need a drink/the toilet/had a bad dream/have a headache/generally don’t want to sleep so thought I’d come wake you up AGAIN…”

You have one tired and rather miserable mummy!

Still, this time next week we will be back to school once more, and I will no doubt be cursing the joys of the school run in the rain!

We have managed to squeeze in a few outdoors activities in between the autumnal showers, but I have to admit we have seen rather too much of the tantrum face this week for my liking…!

Tomorrow little miss is off to her daddy’s for the long weekend, and I have tonnes of stuff to catch up on…

Fist exciting job of the day will be my accounts for June, July & August so far.

Then I have lots of new makes to photo and add to the website.

I am also a bit sad because Pickles the kitten is being spayed tomorrow.

Now I know it is for the best, the world is already over-run with lots of little fluffy kittens looking for homes and we don’t need to be adding more to the mix, but I do feel bad that I am about to inflict a lot of pain on the poor little thing :-(

I am assured she will get over it very quickly, but I hope she doesn’t hate me afterwards!

I hope everyone has a fab bank holiday weekend – wouldn’t it be nice if the rain stopped and the sunshine came out for just a short while?!

Rose XXX

Summer Sale

2010-08-20T12:36:00.001+01:00

Hi Everyone, not so much a “real” blog post today…

Just a note to let you know that a lot of the prices in my web shop are lower than they were…

and that I am offering free postage to all UK orders between now & Sunday…

and the same to all overseas orders of £15 or more…

To make way for all the new autumn bits & pieces I will be adding in a few weeks time (if I get it all finished!)

So please do go have a look and see if anything takes your fancy…

As most of you prob know by now I stock papercrafts die cuts, useful for making your own cards & scrapbook pages

As well as handmade items which makes great gifts for others (or for yourself!)

I can’t remove the postage option from my paypal cart (if anyone knows how to do this please let me know!) but all postage costs will be refunded back to you through paypal when your order is processed :-)

Offer also includes custom requests, although these will not be posted straight away, please allow 7 days for me to make & post item to you!

Have a fab weekend everyone :-)

Rose XXX

Where is summer?!

2010-08-16T09:11:00.001+01:00

I don’t know about where you all are, but it’s been a bit bloody miserable on the weather front round here of late!

Summer started with such promise…

Flaming June flamed… July was just as gorgeously sunny… then August came along and ruined it… lol

Despite the grey and miserable days, I have managed to get a few shots of the garden, that will hopefully help cheer you up with their bright & sunny colours :-)

(the garden has been enjoying the wet weather even if I haven’t!)

Rianna is back home today, and we are off to buy new school shoes in town!

Hope everyone has a fab week!

Rose XXX

2010-08-12T09:31:00.001+01:00

Happy Thursday :-)

(yes it IS Thursday ALREADY… I know, I can’t believe it either!).

It has been a busy, yet eerily quiet week here, without my little madam running around singing, dancing and “mmmmuuuuummmm”ing me every 5 mins…

I hope she is having a fab time on holiday :-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have got a lot of what I wanted done though:

Registering as Self-Employed
Printing out paperwork from Apr to date to start accounts
(haven’t actually DONE the accounts yet… lol)
I have made some website sales (yay!) which were sent off this morning if anyone is waiting on them.
I have updated the website with goods leftover from the market on the weekend, special offers for August and new “one-off” die cut packs

Last weekends market went ok – financially it could have been better, although there were not huge amounts of people through the door.

Lots of people stopped to chat about my work and took my card, so it was nice to meet everyone there :-)

LOTS of events planned in the run up to Christmas, please visit my events page to see what is coming up - if you are local to the Essex area, it would be great to meet you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So much I need to still get done before Rianna comes home Sunday eve (including those horrible spreadsheets :-( *sigh*)

My list of what I want to do for this autumn’s craft fairs & new stuff for the website is HUGE:

Granny Square Fingerless Gloves
Beaded Hats & Scarves
More curly wurly, chevron & scalloped scarves
Hats, scarves & gloves for the kiddies
Christmas Stockings
Dishcloths
Cotton Heart Coasters (and other coasters)
More slippers, gloves, headbands & hair accessories
Keyrings & Phone Charms
Christmas Tree Brooches
Christmas Die Cut Tags
More “make your own Christmas Card” packs
Kiddies Halloween & Christmas Craft Packs
Glittery Shawls
Christmas Home Decor

I could go on forever… it’s no wonder I lie awake at night sometimes wondering how I am going to do it all!

Although I still need to find some time to continue with my current WIP’s:

Beautiful Stripy Blanket

Short Pink Cardi – no photo yet…

Long Camel Cardi (Sleeveless)

(and the countless others I have stashed away waiting for a “free” rainy day!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have managed to finish an order for crochet flower headbands for the lovely Sioban of Lily Rose’s Luxuries :-)

They are for party bags for her daughter’s birthday :-)

I am somewhat hampered in my crocheting at the moment by a little friend…

Oooh this looks like a nice soft pillow….

I think I’l just shut my eyes… ZZZZZzzzzzzzz

lol!

Back soon with updates from my garden – if the rain goes away long enough for me to take some pics!

Have a fab weekend everyone :-)

Rose X

2010-08-06T09:13:00.001+01:00

Happy Friday Bloggy Friends!

Wow, I cannot believe another week is nearly over ALREADY…

The summer holidays seem to be flying by this year!

As usual we have been quite busy – the entertainments manager is badly paid, overworked and feeling a bit strung out at the moment… lol

Not helped by the fact I must have slept awkwardly last night and now cannot move my head/neck/shoulder properly! Grrrrr….

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anyway, on to more of the FUN stuff!

We have been to Barleylands Farm & Craft Village (seriously worth a visit for anyone crafty, they have stacks of interesting shops & workshops!)

Also we visited the natural History Museum’s Butterfly Exhibit on Tuesday. You may remember that I took Rianna several times last year, and she thoroughly enjoyed it then and this time too!

Unlike the museum, it is not free to get into, I think it cost us £10 in total, but she really lovely seeing the butterflies, so to me it is well worth it!

As well as providing full-time entertainment for little miss bored, I have been rushing to get stock ready for a summer fete I am doing tomorrow – last minute decision and I have to admit I was getting a bit panicky there for a while! lol

But I have done a stock take of everything I already had, and priced up, and I already have two massive boxes of stock :-S

Plus this little lot:

I have been really rubbish with keeping you up to date with my recent makes, blogging has had to take a back seat to making & entertaining!

But these are some of them:

Lavender Hearts

Headbands with flowers or swirly ruffles

This pretty silver evening bag

A couple of happy floral cats (which I am very sad to see go, I love their happy smiley faces in my workspace cheering me up!)

Red, White & Blue crochet cushion

Backed like a pillow/envelope so the cover can be removed for washing

Sadly all this work elsewhere has meant that the poor stripy blanket has been neglected :-(

But we are hoping to meet again next week, as Rianna is off on hols with her Daddy on Saturday for a week, and (after I have tackled the backlog of housework and ironing… *sigh*) I will have lots of time – I hope! – to get some serious crocheting done :-D

I hope every one has a fantastic weekend :-)

I shall be back with news of the summer fete next week, when hopefully I will have more time to catch up with you guys :-)

Rose XXX

Summer Fun

2010-07-26T20:11:00.001+01:00

Wow, I can’t believe it’s been over a week since I posted – and the summer holidays are well and truly upon us already!

I for one am absolutely knackered – which does not bode well for the rest of the week, never mind another 6 weeks! lol

We have had a busy few days though…

On Saturday we visited Audley End House & Garden’s in Cambridge.

It really was a lovely day out – and Rianna was very well behaved considering it was a place that could be considered “boring” by small children!

They did have a playground and an excellent booklet to keep the kids entertained looking out for fascinating objects in the house.

We had a picnic for lunch by the side of a lovely pond with a waterfall

I even managed to get some crochet done!

I have joined in the hook-a-long at Attic24 (somewhat behind the rest of the world!) to make a lovely stripy blanket.

Lucy has finished hers now, but you can see her instructions on how to start your own here

I think Rianna’s favourite part of the day though had to be feeding the ducks!

Then on Sunday we went to visit my nan & grandad (who also live in Cambridge) and we took Rianna to the little river we used to go to as children and go fishing

Rianna is a bit small for a proper fishing rod just yet, but she had a great time swishing her net around trying to catch some fishies

Poor Chris got sent off to try and get some “big ones” further up the river! lol

We did manage to get a few small fish

And it certainly put a big smile on someone’s face!

Today we have been to the cinema to see Toy Story 3 – I am sure I stayed awake for the whole thing despite being woken up at stupid o’clock this morning by Rianna (why do kids do that in the holidays?!) but I can’t remember ALL that much that happened lol

We have many more activities happening throughout the rest of the week, but I am already exhausted!

Hoping for a good night’s sleep tonight…

Hope you are all enjoying the summer fun?

Rose XXX

2010-07-19T07:28:00.001+01:00

Hi guys, hope you all had a good weekend?

My last post started a bit negatively – I just felt a bit fed up I suppose!

Well the sun seems to be shining here again after a week of clouds & showers, and I am feeling better after a nice relaxing weekend.

On Saturday we went out viewing cars as Chris will get a company car once he’s passed his probation in the new job, we had dinner out (yummy steak!) and the went to the cinema.

We saw the new Leo DiCaprio movie Inception. Which was better than I expected (if a little confusing at times!). I could not believe how packed the cinema was – there were no seats left!

Sunday we did the ritual house cleaning, then Chris went & played golf with his friends that he hasn’t seen for ages, while I caught up with the weeks Eastenders and finished off some crochet projects.

This week I have been making slippers:

I am really pleased with how well these turn out, and can even make them turn out to at least 3 different sizes now! lol

I bought the big colourful buttons from Felt Girl recommended to me by the lovely Bekimarie :-)

She sells loads of stuff, not just felt and buttons!

Last weekend and earlier in the week I was busy making crochet food for The Bothered Owl’s stall at Knit Nation at the end of the month.

Stupidly I forgot to take pictures before I sent them off, but I have photo’d some of the cakes I have put on the website - which one of the girl’s spied and messaged me on Facebook to ask if I could send them some for their stall!

I was also lucky enough to win a competition run by Abakhan Fabrics Hobby & Home recently - £20 gift voucher for their store! – and this is what I chose to spend my winnings on:

I have bought yarn from them before, but they also sell fabric & tonnes of other crafty goodies and often have giveaways and competitions on their Facebook Page so please do go check them out!

Right, I think that is about it for what I have been up to…

I better get off and face my Monday morning job of the ironing!

At least there wont be any school uniform for a while after thurs :-) bring on the summer hols!

Rose XXX

Ups & Downs

2010-07-14T10:47:00.001+01:00

Hi Everyone, sorry it has been such a long time since I last posted!

I do try and do at least one post a week, if not more, but the time seems to have disappeared lately.

I have had a job interview at a local school – which sadly I did not get :-(

I got down to the last two apparently, but the other lady had finance qualifications (which I don’t) so they picked her.

Hopefully something similar will come up soon…

I wasn’t really looking for a “proper” job, but it would have been ideal to have something that would fit around school hours.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rianna has been unwell, just a cough and cold, but lack of sleep all round has not been much fun.

Still, she seems to be feeling better today, so back to school tomorrow!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Then my hotmail email account (which is linked to every online account & website I use) got hacked into again :-(

Not only did they send out a load of spam mails – sorry if any of you got them – but they have also completely screwed up the account

None of the emails being sent to it are being delivered so I haven’t been able to see any emails at all.

I have now changed the email address linked to Blogger, Etsy, Facebook, my Bank Account and tons of others – although I am sure there are plenty I have forgotten!

All a bit of a pain in the backside really, but most of it is sorted now…

I have emailed the hotmail help page but they haven’t responded yet…

Has any one else had this happen to them?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anyway, I thought I would catch up with things that have been going on in the garden over the last couple of weeks as that is much nicer than some of the other things that have been going on!

Firstly, we are having such luck with our vegetables this year :-)

The green Beans and Mange Tout Peas have really started to grow now

I was so suprised when a few days after the flowers started to show on the Mange Tout Peas that we actually had peas that were ready to eat!

We had a lovely stir fry with them in the other night!

After a slow start the Tomatoes seem to be doubling in size every day now

They even have quite a few green ones on already :-)

We get more sun here than at the old place, so hoping they will start tot run red quicker and we wont have to have half the plant hanging on the window sill like before!

Our “cut & come again” lettuces are really massive now, we can’t seem to eat is fast enough to keep up!

Our Onions are slowly getting bigger.

I have never grown these before, so not 100% sure when they will be ready… I thought they were an autumn harvest, but I could be wrong!

After waiting and waiting for flowers to appear on our potatoes before harvesting them, we came to the decision that maybe we had planted a non-flowering variety…

So we decided to have a “test-harvest” at the weekend

The pic (above) is off of one plant!

So on Monday I dug up the remaining plants, and put in some cauliflowers that were starting to look a bit sad in their trough:

Hoping that now they are in the ground they might start to cheer up a bit!

It is not just the veg in the garden that is looking good, I think our garden is starting to come together :-)

It’s still more green than colourful, but that is better than brown & boring any day of the week!

Another one of the roses that we inherited has come out.

It really seems to have benefited from a haircut and has gone mad!

We now have Nasturtiams in a variety of colours:

Plus lots of other pretty flowers:

Pickles is allowed in the garden now she has had her full dose of injections (only spaying and 1 yr injections to come now) and is thoroughly enjoying herself chasing flies and running around underneath the decking (despite my best efforts to block up all kitten sized holes!)

After weeks of wondering what this will turn out to be…..

It FINALLY flowered yesterday:

I am really pleased it is so lovely :-)

Now all we have to do is work out what this is…. lol

Hope everyone is having a lovely week :-)

Rose XXX

Giveaway Winner!

2010-07-01T09:17:00.001+01:00

Thank you to everyone who has entered my giveaway over the last week or so :-)

I gave everyone a number (or two if you posted about the giveaway or put the pic on your blogs) and put the numbers into a random number generator….

and the winner is………..

Lolo of Lolo Designs!

Congratulations Lolo!

Please drop me an email – rose@victoriarosecrafts.co.uk

with your address, plus your colour prefs for the headband, corsage, lavender heart & slippers (and of course your shoe size!) and I will get your things sent of asap (if I need to make stuff in other colours then please bear with me, it might take a few days!)

If anyone would like to order slippers, they will be on the website soon, but you can email me (same address as above) and order a pair in your size/colour for £8.00 (inc postage) – they will be on the website for £7.50 plus postage.

Also, I was lucky enough to win a £20 gift voucher for Abakhan Fabrics Hobby & Home this week :-)

I will show you the goodies I have ordered when they arrive!

Rose XXX

2010-06-30T07:48:00.001+01:00

It’s another warm one here, not that I should be moaning – if it was raining we wouldn’t like it! – but we seem unprepared for heat here (much as we are for snow when it hits us each winter! lol)

I think it’s worse here at the moment because we have all the windows and doors shut because of the kitty!

She had her last injections yesterday though (until she is 1yr old anyway) so she can go outside from now on (although we have to be very careful before she is spayed at the end of august!), so hopefully I will be brave enough to let her venture outside soon!

The garden is starting to look lovely :-)

The troughs are really starting to come out

Including the Fuschias I planted

The gifted Fuschia is still looking really good too!

I am still not sure what the plant in the back of this picture is (being swamped by Lobelia), my dad said it might be an “Ice Plant”?

The inherited Hosta is also being swamped by Lobelia…

Which has come out in a mixture of colours now!

The inherited Roses are looking good :-)

Some more pink Roses to come

We have yellow Roses too!

No flowers on this one yet, but it has gone absolutely mad, bushing out everywhere! There are tonnes of small buds on it too, so should have some lovely flowers soon!

The baskets are starting to look really pretty

I pulled a load of whatever this is out, thinking it was a weed, and then these pretty pink flowers come out… :-(

Still not sure if it is a flower or a weed as I have never seen it before and I’m sure it’s not something I put in!

Our climbing rose is climbing for the sky!

And whatever this is has produced loads of flower spikes, so I am interested in seeing what it does!

The edible part of the garden is looking good too :-)

Here are our Tomato plants

Mange Tout Peas

More Peas & Beans

Onions

The only thing that looks a bit unhappy is the Chilli plant…

Fingers crossed it will recover!

Before I go, you still have one day left to enter my giveaway!

I will draw the winner tomorrow :-)

Rose XXX

Lanky Lettuces & other weekend stuff…

2010-06-28T12:33:00.001+01:00

Wow, it’s Monday again ALREADY!

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend in the sunshine?

I intend to do a garden pictures & flowers update later in the week, but I MUST show you these pics of my lettuces!

Have you ever seen anything like it?!"

Rianna and I went to see this on Saturday:

It was really funny – much the same sort of thing as the previous ones, so if you liked those then I would definitely recommend it!

Sunday we went to my Nan’s for lovely roast dinner & rhubarb crumble & custard :-)

Another thing I did over the weekend is make some new toys for my furry little friend – who likes my yarn stash at least as much as I do!

Hopefully these will keep her entertained while I carry on with projects…

It’s ok when I have my other little “helper” around as they entertain each other!

But I have discovered that it is very hard to do any work, or ironing, or anything much really when I have a small fluffy animal hanging off me by it’s claws!

She also likes the camera a bit too much, so it can be hard to take photos at times!

Poor Pickles though, She has to have her injections tomorrow :-( not much looking forward to that!

It does mean however that it wont be all that long until she has had enough injections to come and play outside! Then we can throw open all the doors and windows again instead of being shut up in this heat and sneaking outside to cries of “don’t let the cat out!” lol

Wishing everyone a lovely week :-)

I will be back at some point to share my flowers with you, and of course on Thursday to announce the winner of my Giveaway!

Please hurry along to my Giveaway post if you haven’t yet entered!

Rose XXX

Just a ramble…

2010-06-25T11:27:00.001+01:00

The sun has shone enough this week for me to get a few snaps of the flowers in the garden :-)

Although I have to be super quick in and out the door at the moment or this little madam tries to escape!

Who? Me? I am an innocent! lol

She even jumped out of a top floor window the other day… Thankfully she is completely fine, but it gave me the shock of my life, and all windows will be sealed firmly shut from now on!

Anyway, onto the flowers:

Lovely purple spikes on our chives :-)

Edible and pretty, what a great combination!

The lobelia has started to come out – although I am not sure it was this colour on the box I picked up in the shop, I was expected paler blue & white!

Plus my mum bought us the freesia to the right of the picture

I did plant some freesias myself, this one looks like it’s going to have white flowers rather than the bright pink variety.

The campanulas I nearly killed by water logging them in a trough have started to recover now they are in the ground so hoping they will start to cover some space in the flower bed soon

The baskets are starting to look good as the petunias are out. The lobelia in here is a bit behind, but we have some flowers:

Not sure why these are pale pink as they came out of the same box as the dark blue ones, that I was expecting to be pale blue & white! lol

The winter Violas I bought last autumn are STILL going strong…I am so pleased, they are the best value for money plant I have ever bought!

That is the extent of the flower collection so far… But hoping for more soon!

Our potatoes haven’t flowered yet, but the plants are getting enormous! I really hope there are some good potatoes under there…

I have also been busy making a bag this week – one of my “make it up as you go along” projects…

I am quite pleased with the results :-)

I have also lined it with some colourful fabric.

Hoping someone will spy it on my website and give it a home!

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My car has broken down AGAIN this week – thank fully the garage have lent me a car while they try and fix it, let’s hope it’s third time lucky!

I will have to work extra hard trying to bring some cash in over the next few weeks as it’s really starting to eat into the finances now…

So I have decided to re-open my Etsy shop.

It will have a different set of things to those I sell on Ebay & my website.

I am going to use it for papercrafts only, and will be selling one off scrapbooking & cardmaking die cut packs in patterned & fancy cardstock.

I only have two things on there so far, but am planning on getting some more listed shortly!

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Wishing everyone a great weekend, it looks like we are set for a scorcher!

Fingers crossed for the footie on Sunday…

and don’t forget, you have until the end of the month to enter my giveaway if you haven’t done so already!

Rose X

Light Relief

2010-06-22T14:58:00.001+01:00

I don’t know about you, but my brain is struggling to get around all the news of the budget today…

From what I can gather the majority of us will be worse off even by a small amount, so I guess it’s thrifty hats on from now on (as if they weren’t already)

Chris has also taken a new job this week (starting on August 1st & 5 mins from home!) so on top of budget belt tightening we will have to add in £15k a year pay cut (although it will be worth it to have Chris around more often, he is happier about this job than his current one & we will save money in petrol when he no longer has to drive the entire way round the M25 each day…)

Thankfully we are not onto beans on toast forever just yet, but we will be if we don’t do something about our own budgeting, so things will be less Dominoes Pizza and more Asda Deli from now on!

Still, we have lots and lots to be thankful for, our new friend Pickles for one, who despite chomping her way through vast amounts of Whiskas Kitten is well worth the extra £££’s in entertainment value.

Who wouldn’t have a smile on their face watching this cutey?

Although we will fall out if she continues to be a yarn thief… lol

Hope everyone is having a good week, and that the budget doesn’t leave you all too despondent!

(if all else fails crack open a bottle of wine, apparently the cost of that is unaffected!)

Rose X