My week in pictures PART 1

Last Sunday we went to Bodenham Aboretum..... it was beautiful the colours of leaves were fantastic this one in particular really stood out.

Then Monday I found myself travelling to France.... along with 42 pupils and 4 members of staff.
Tuesday was spent in this place.......

Halloween celebrations Mickey Mouse style.

It was quite an odd experience, I have visited the park many times when I have taken pupils on the school trips and once when I was young. It has an unusual sort of charm. It was sweet seeing all the small childrens eyes filled with wonder. But odd to see adults, mooching around going mad for Mickey.

Lots of people it was very busy!!

OOOH snacks at lunch.

I took myself off for a walk and recorded lots of amazing little finds. It was a fine balance between a pretend reality and the very plastic fake feeling bright Halloween pumpkins, but I found beautiful pattern in lots of places.

OOPS more snacks !!

Ceiling of a walkway.

So tame the little French bird.

Store windows.

Display of vintage patchworks in an old fashioned cafe.

Quite inspirational.

It turned very dark and the park was strangely illuminated.

Then more pattern from the coach window whilst touring Paris on Wednesday.

In reflection this week, I have decided to learn to speak French..... I will keep you all informed.

I also decided to travel more and read Jane Austen's Novels. (Two English teachers went on the trip) I was inspired!!

Yesterday I spent the day (after a long sleep in), tidying the house and moving furniture. Today has been shopping and making a ottoman into a shaby chic window seat. Currently drying!!

Also so EXCITED we managed to get Jamie Cullum tickets for next May in Birmingham. Just caught up with his Radio 2 session tht played this evening.

My fave song!!

A bit of this and that..................

WELCOME

To my little bolt hole.

This is now my official mess making room or as I like to think of it my lil studio.

I mentioned I was working on a few things, this was one of them I may try to pull together a few more of these neck warmers to sell on Etsy. What do you think??? My intention was to try to get ready for a local Christmas Craft Fair but fear I am running out of time. After the wedding.....being poorly.... oh and a full time teaching job.....there is very little time left. Plus this half term I am heading off for three days on a school trip to France.

Finally finished my crocheted panel, I should have photographed the back too, as I have used a sweet vintage fabric to make an envelope style cushion back. I do like it, but I am now thinking of putting it up for sale. One way ticket to Etsy I think.

Another cushion, the front read's 'OOH ER ME HEARTY'

My talented sibling..... Now it may not be your thing to see car's on a textiley type blog, but I had to share this with the world. He is super clever, having built his own car. It has featured in this months Kit Car mag. So if you see a copy have nose, as its that there Piccalily girls brother.

5 dedicated pages and the front cover, very proud was I. Although strangely shocked too to read he is anticipating completing more of these erm.......... large scale projects.

Well done bro!!

Here he is...... in the last pic.

To end on a fabric high note.... a little textiles vintage purchasefrom Viv at Hensteeth. Well it was just rude to leave her over in Etsy.

Help...

Well this evening has come along and then gone again. What have I done.... Hmm well I logged on, became distracted by working out how to upload a picture from poopeegirl and then became even more distracted up loading said image on to the school intranet. (Think that is the correct technical term). This is so I have a picture on my profile page. So sad I know.

So I have not really got round to.....





1. Completing any more work for school


2. Any more work done on the 101 WIP's


3. Uploading pictures I took on Sunday for afore mentioned blog.





To top it off my bottom is now numb and I think I am stuck to the chair in the kitchen. The upshot of this is I am close to the biscuit tin. YIKES

Friend's and Flowers

I am so lucky to have lovely friends. Friday there was a knock at the door and on opening it I was greeted with this lovely arrangement of flowers. They came from the same florist (Paula's) who did my wedding flowers. Very clever ladies..... the sender was my beautiful friend Beth. Who cheered me up from my gloomy I feel sorry for myself being stuck indoors with a virus state!

Bloomin marvellous flowers.

Ah one of my fave pic's.

Hmmm its cake o' clock in our house!

Did I mention I love cupcakes??

Popped out for milk..... there just happens to be a Laura Ashley by Sainsburys near us, OOPS so I accidentally purchased a cute new mug.....(and cardigan (in the sale!)).

Oh and could not resist his charming buddy.

Did I also tell you about my oh so clever friend Beth?? She did this for me before I left school for the summer. She made it !! very clever lady and filled it with scented bath bombs candles and Wedding goodies. When I opened it I burst in to tears it was one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. Its amazing how a scent transports you back to a moment in time, every time I open up the box for a sniff I am transported back to July.

I haven't the heart to take all the bits out, so I treat myself every now and then with a cheeky lil look inside.

Oooh a cupcake.... heavens!!.

Let them eat cake!!

So today as i feel a lot better I have made Sean's favourite, chocolate brownies. He has after all suffered over the last two weeks hearing me moan about feeling so ill.

I even wrapped up a few for my friends at work who have covered all my classes whilst I have been away.

Ciao for now X

A Porschen of Peggy

Being off work ill is no fun, however I have started to feel a lot better today, after dosing myself with various potions supplied by the doctor on my two visits! So I have been trawling the blog world and well you know one thing leads to another. I have found a rather fun and exciting new blog Tcakes just lovely. I am very nosey and was delighted to read about everything she has been getting up to of late.

She too is a fan of Queen Peggy Porschen..... as I have been under the weather I did not mention about the Sainsburys mag cupcake masterclass article I fell upon after a dash to said store for small provisions probably CHOCOLATE and of course milk!

This divine wedding cake was inspiration for my cupcake colour scheme for my wedding, as our budget did not stretch to the GAWJUS cakey delight above. Sigh........ we did our own thing more FUN that way though.

The inspiration behind the Macmillan cakes I made.

Must say though credit where it is due the wee lassy from Tcakes is a whiz at the cake creations. I will try to keep up to date with that one!

Also check out RubysMammaMadeIt a truly idyllic lifestyle!

Well that is me done I am off for a snooze to recharge my batteries.

Counting my Chickens!!

More like Chicks, chick biscuits to be exact.

Today I had a really busy but positive day, much better than yesterday! The chick biscuit above was a present from two members of my GCSE class who thoughtfully bought me a snack to the after school club I have been running in order for them to finish off their GCSE coursework. They went for this biscuit as I have given up chocolate for lent! So thoughtful.

I must say I am never ceased to be amazed by the youngsters I teach, not just because they buy me biscuits!!, I admire their determination and the hard work they have to put in. So although they will not read this I wish them all luck for their final weeks finishing work.

SOCKS & A WEDDING BREAKFAST

What a busy weekend we have had again, so much so that I have been told that next weekend we are definitely going walking..... up the Wrekin apparently as Mr Pic n Blos (to be) has had enough of 9-5 and organising Weddings!! HMMM the latter being a wee bit debatable. But he did do well helping to finalise the Wedding Breakfast choices and details of the Reception today!!

We were doing our best to weave through the crowds of shoppers on Saturday whilst buying things for the wedding, we were tired and moody due to the lack of customer service in some stores!! and hunger (I will not go on). Anyway it's amazing how 30 min's in Waterstones can get you back on the straight and narrow. I chanced upon this book and just had to get it. Its full of quirky sock monster ideas and a few bizarre sketches which freak me out a little but hey....

I never really knew about Sock Monsters until I visited the Flair Fair last Christmas and purchased one. Pic of George to follow soon (when I'm less tired). So I was amazed at the weird and wonderful selection of said creatures I found on the net when I looked yesterday.

I had a eureka moments and now I'm planning a project for School making SOCK CREATURES as it will link nicely to the Sustainability module we do.

Watch this space for Sock Monster creations......coming soon!

2for1 and STRIVING FOR PERFECTION????

Why oh why? Do I constantly seek a level of perfection! I always push myself way too much, for what I do not know.....as nobody is ever there with a stopwatch and clipboard telling me to get a move on and work....be creative.....be a good daughter, girlfriend, sister, godmother, auntie, friend!! But still I whiz around like a loony and try as I might fit 101 things into my day. AHHHHHHHHHH I love it!!

Anyway, I was hoping to post earlier this week but as I was busy with the above it never quite happened. SOOO... I am going to do a 2 4 1 offer and blog as if it were, Wednesday and then continue as if it were Sunday. (Its working in my head!)

Wednesday Eve 7.30 ish...... somewhere in the Midlands

After a long day teaching and then staying behind school to assist a troop of Year 11 pupils with their coursework I had a jolly to IKEA Wednesbury. Well more of a mission. I restocked my supply of jars for tidying away those ribbons that I keep purchasing OOOPS (NOTE: If Your'e the FUTURE Mr Pic and Blos overt your eyes from this post!)

I came home and couldn't get in the porch.....Clever Mr Posty had hidden this parcel!! HURRAH The Wedding shoes!

Also on the mat was this little treasure my order from Michala of KAYLACOO. Even the envelope was beautifully adorned with this sketch.

I carefully unwrapped my gorgeous little broach all lovingly sent with ribbon and snippets of lace!! How very thoughtful!!

The FAB GORGEOUS Lil broach. Sorry pic does not do it justice!

AHH The Wedding shoe well an extreme close up! I tried them on carefully as instructed but unfortunately the right one played a creak/squeak tune as I walked. Now I know that I am very particular but if you are spending lots of the hard earned dollars on Wedding shoes you do not want a tune as you gaily trot down the aisle!! So they are going back and I have reordered some different ones. Keep you posted!

So by the end of my squeaky shoe trauma and sorting out tea and general day to day stuff blogging was not high on the list of things to do! Hence the post today.

SCOOBY DOO WIGGLY LINE (back to the present time)

Sunday (A day of rest.....HMMMM not sure about that!)

In fact if you are my boss and close mate Beth.....yep I had such a restful weekend !! Didn't do anything!! (I was told to calm down and chill out this weekend!!)

So after seeing this delight in a glossy mag I thought right........ Lets do a Nigella and get cracking...eggs...cracking see what I did there! Anyway enough... I decided to create a Victoria Sandwich. Surely the reason jam was invented I say!

I'm sort of impressed...well sort of. I guess the proof is in the eating just wasn't quite the picture I wanted its a bit wonky and slightly over cooked.

Whilst I was getting creative in the kitchen I noticed my Madeline tin my nan got me for Christmas! (Thanks nan X). So I thought Id give them a whirl.

I would like to say the ones below are mine!!

But sods law mine got a wee bit stuck!!

So if there is anyone with a penchant for these French little delights and your able to get them out the tin without smashing their delicate little sides just let me know how you do it PLEASE!!

They do taste nice though, I will have to retire now as I have eaten 5 and feel quite tired!! That and the fact I still need to dash to HOBBY CRAFT to obtain the shopping list my GCSE candidates have given me!

Oh and if anyone has a minute maybe you can check out my Art teachers FLICKR site. She was so ace when I was at School it was my all time favourite subject.

JUDE

Bless! Have a good week everyone ! X